NewzIntel.com

Category: Latin America

  • MIL-OSI Europe: MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on attacks on freedom of expression, in particular, in Brazil – B10-0056/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Jorge Martín Frías, Hermann Tertsch del Valle, Jorge Buxadé Villalba, Juan Carlos Girauta Vidal, Mireia Borrás Pabón, Margarita de la Pisa Carrión

    B10‑0056/2024

    Motion for a European Parliament resolution on attacks on freedom of expression, in particular, in Brazil

    The European Parliament,

    – having regard to the recent attacks on freedom of expression, including the decision of the Brazilian Federal Court to block access to the platform X,

     

    – having regard to Article 11 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union,

     

    – having regard to Rule 149 of its Rules of Procedure,

    A. whereas those attacks are unlawful and a reflection of ideological interests;

     

    B. whereas the banning of X in Brazil breaches that country’s constitution, in particular, the right to freedom of expression and access to information enshrined in Article 5 thereof, along with other international laws and treaties;

     

    C. whereas a global trend has emerged in which online freedom of expression is censored in an effort to control public opinion, and whereas the EU is no exception to that trend, taking into account that a European Commissioner directly threatened a social network and that it has a regulatory framework that promotes the censorship of content;

     

    1. Condemns the attack on freedom of expression and fundamental rights in Brazil;

    2. Urges the Commission to propose amendments to the current regulatory framework with a view to protecting freedom of expression and putting an end to any pressure being placed on both media and social media platforms.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: OpenET: Balancing Water Supply and Demand in the West

    Source: NASA

    At the end of 2022, 65 percent of the Western United States was in severe drought, the result of a two decades long mega drought in the Colorado River Basin that had captured headlines around the world. 
    However, it was flooding, not drought, that was making headlines when we began our research for this story about OpenET, a revolutionary new online platform geared towards helping farmers and water managers monitor and reduce water use in watersheds where supplies were not keeping up with demand.  
    The start of 2023 brought flooding to many counties in California, leaving 68 percent of the state with suddenly little to no drought. And caused Forrest Melton, the NASA Project Scientist for OpenET and Associate Program Manager for agriculture and water resources with the NASA Earth Action program, to pause our video interview after a tree fell down outside his Bay Area home on a rainy day in March, 2023. 
    Coming online again after calling the fire department, Melton didn’t seem all too optimistic that the wet conditions would last. “California tends to swing between the two extremes of drought and flood,” Melton said. He referenced the 2016/17 winter which had particularly high precipitation but was followed by dry conditions during the following years, before the relief brought by the heavy rains, and flooding, in early 2023. 
    According to NOAA’s National Integrated Drought Information System it will take more than one wet winter to replenish groundwater in many parts of the western United States. Groundwater levels across the California Central Valley and many parts of the Ogallala Aquifer continue to decline. The need for better water management remains essential, and yet the data necessary to support new approaches has not been broadly available. 
    Enter the OpenET project, a multi-disciplinary, collaborative effort to make satellite-based evapotranspiration (ET) data available to the public. Melton describes the project as providing invaluable and scientifically robust data at all scales, “that can be used to support day to day decision making and long range planning to try to solve some really long standing and important water management challenges in the West.”

    Evapotranspiration is the combined process of evaporation and transpiration, both of which transfer water from the land surface to the atmosphere as water vapor. Evaporation transforms water from the surface of the ground or bodies of water into water vapor, while transpiration is water vapor that is evaporated from plant tissues and escapes through the stomata, the tiny pores in plant leaves and stems. It is a process that is happening all around us almost all the time, but because water vapor is invisible to the human eye, it is very hard to measure on the ground.  

    To understand the effect evapotranspiration has on a local water cycle, picture a large decorative fountain. Typically, these fountains recycle the same water over and over. As a fountain runs, water is pumped out of the fountain heads, falls back into the fountain’s basin, and then flows back through the pipe system before starting the process all over again. We can think of the water remaining within this fountain’s local water system as non-consumptive water use. Some water, however, will be lost from the fountain’s local water system by evaporating from the pool’s surface or mist from the fountain’s spray.
    Imagine the fountain also has lily pads growing in its basin. The lily pads will use the fountain’s water to survive and grow, losing some of that water to transpiration. The total water lost is evapotranspiration, and is considered consumptive water use, because it cannot be reused by the fountain. Tracking evapotranspiration can tell you how much water is removed or “depleted” from a local water system, and how much water needs to be added back in to support plant growth and maintain a healthy balance between water supply and water use. If too much water leaves the fountain, it will stop running. If too much water is added, it will overflow.  
    These concepts can be applied more broadly to the hydrologic cycle as a whole, and evapotranspiration data can play an important part in designing and implementing sustainable water management practices to combat larger issues like drought, as well as both short and long-term reductions in water availability. Historically, ET data have been obtained from ground-based instruments and methods, such as weighing lysimeters, which weigh soil and plants to track the water volume lost by evaporation or transpiration. Another common method is called eddy covariance, which calculates the amount of water vapor transported away from the land surface by wind eddies as they move across the land surface. But both are expensive and difficult to install and maintain, and measurements are only representative of a small portion of an individual agricultural field. It is cost prohibitive to collect these measurements over larger areas. 

    The OpenET team saw the important niche left open by traditional evapotranspiration measurement methods and filled it. They built upon decades of research funded by NASA, USDA and USGS and developed a new platform that can take easily accessible and already available data from satellite programs, like Landsat, and combine it with weather data to calculate the ET for every quarter acre of land. Satellites can record information like the Earth’s surface temperature and how much of the incoming light from the sun is being reflected back out to space. OpenET is able to use physically-based mathematical models to combine the satellite and weather data and output accurate data on evapotranspiration rates and volumes. 
    This information is then made easily accessible through OpenET’s Data Explorer, a free web-based tool that allows anyone with an internet connection to access the data OpenET provides. Users begin by selecting an area of interest from a map of the western United States that provides data at the satellite resolution of a quarter-acre, and also broken down into known areas of interest and individual agricultural fields, each color coded with a heat map of evapotranspiration. Cooler colors indicate higher rates of evapotranspiration while warmer colors indicate lower rates. Users can zoom into specific areas on the map, and with just a click, a chart pops up showing the evapotranspiration trends for a given area, for the current year and the past five years. 
    The chart can show monthly ET trends, useful for understanding seasonal fluctuations, and also cumulative trends, useful for understanding year-to-year changes in evapotranspiration. “The OpenET team took a user-driven design approach from the beginning, and each element of the Data Explorer and the open data services is there because a water manager or farmer asked for it,” Melton explained. As we played around with the map, it became apparent how much work was put into developing this project. Scientists needed to improve models and assess the accuracy of data, programmers had to develop the user interface and data services, designers needed to make the interface intuitive enough to be impactful, agriculture and environmental groups needed to help validate the model’s accuracy, and users of all types needed to provide requirements and then test the product to make sure their needs were actually met. 
    The OpenET consortium includes NASA, USGS, USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), Google Earth Engine, California State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB), Desert Research Institute (DRI), Habitat Seven, Chapman University, Cornell University, University of Nebraska-Lincoln and close to a dozen other universities and experts across the U.S. NASA Ames Research Center and CSUMB have played key roles in the scientific and technical leadership of the effort from the outset, working closely with DRI, EDF and the recently formed non-profit OpenET, Inc. In addition, over 100 partners from the water management, agriculture and conservation community provided user requirements and assisted with the design and testing of the OpenET platform and tools.
    “OpenET would not be possible without the contributions of each one of those partners,” Melton said. “Both on the implementation side and those who are translating the data from OpenET into solutions to long standing challenges.” 

    Models like those built into OpenET can be extremely useful tools for understanding patterns in ET and water use, but are only helpful if their accuracy is known. The OpenET science team recently completed the largest accuracy assessment to date for field-scale satellite-based ET data, comparing the satellite data to ground-based measurements at more than 150 sites across the U.S. Led by John Volk of the Desert Research Institute, the study was published in Nature Water earlier this year. A key finding was that across all sites, an ensemble value computed from six different ET models performed the best overall, leveraging the strengths of each individual satellite-driven model. 
    However, the study also found that some models performed best for particular crop types or regions, which is important information for water managers and farmers who need the most accurate data possible. Publishing the results as an open access study with all data and analysis made publicly available was also important to build trust in the data. While the study highlighted some limitations of the models and priorities for future research, the rigorous and reproducible accuracy assessment helps to build user confidence that they can use the data, while being aware of the expected accuracy for different applications of the data.  

    OpenET has already contributed to one significant win for farmers that affects how water use will be monitored and reported in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. 
    This inland river delta covers 750,000 acres and is an important water resource in California, but one where accelerated demand combined with habitat loss and water quality issues has led to major concerns. In the Delta, large portions of the agricultural land are below sea level. Levees protect the fields and contain the river channels that supply water for irrigation. In 2023, the state began requiring farmers to maintain a water meter or measuring device on each diversion, where water is diverted from a river for irrigation. However, this measurement proved challenging and costly as there are thousands of diversions in the Delta, and the measuring equipment was inaccurate and difficult to maintain in this environment. In addition, water users also had to pay for meters at the locations where water that drained from the fields was pumped back over the levees and into the river channels.

    “Mostly, what the state was interested in was the consumptive use: how much (water) was actually removed from the supply in that region,” Melton said. “So, it’s the perfect place for using OpenET because evapotranspiration really is the majority of the consumptive use in the Delta, if not all of it.”
    After the launch of OpenET, farmers in the Delta worked with the Delta Watermaster, the California State Water Resources Control Board, the OpenET team and the Delta Measurement Consortium to develop an alternative compliance plan that used OpenET data to help streamline the water use required reporting for this complex region. Once the alternative compliance plan was approved, Forrest Melton and Will Carrara of NASA worked with the state Water Resources Control Board, the Delta Watermaster and water management agencies, and Jordan Harding of HabitatSeven to implement this solution. The Delta Alternative Compliance Plan, also known as the Delta ACP, allows farmers to use OpenET data to estimate their water usage; enabling farmers to complete their use reports in a matter of minutes. 
    “It’s the first time that satellite-based evapotranspiration data has been automatically integrated with a state-managed water reporting system,” Melton said. 
    Last year, more than 70% of farmers in the Bay-Delta region chose to use OpenET and to report their water use through the Delta ACP website, and they expect this percentage to continue to increase over time. 
    “The best part is that it is saving farmers hundreds of hours on preparing and submitting reports, avoiding millions of dollars in costs for farmers to deploy and maintain meters, and giving the state consistent and reproducible data on water use that has been reviewed and approved by the water user,” Melton said. 
    According to Delta Watermaster, Jay Ziegler, this approach has a clear benefit in the unique water flow setting of the Delta. “In reality, OpenET – and the use of publicly accessible data measuring ET is the only way to really discern consumptive use of water in the Delta on a reliable basis,” Ziegler said. “Candidly, we don’t really have a viable “plan B” in the absence of applying Open ET for water use reporting.”

    Jay ziegler
    Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Watermaster

    As water scarcity is increasingly becoming an urgent issue all around the world, it’s easy to imagine how many countries could benefit from OpenET data. 
    OpenET’s first international partnership is led by Anderson Ruhoff, a professor in Hydrology and Remote Sensing at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, where his team developed an evapotranspiration model called geeSEBAL for Brazil’s Water Agency.
    Ruhoff learned about OpenET while he was in the US on a visiting professorship in Nebraska. He was intrigued and reached out to Melton who encouraged him to attend an upcoming conference in Reno, Nevada, where OpenET would be featured. The conference was due to start in just a few days time.
    “So I had to find a last minute ticket to Reno and I’m glad I bought it, because when I arrived there they invited me to join Open ET. It was quite a coincidence,” Ruhoff said, smiling as he remembered the spontaneous decision. “We adapted our model for the US and started to participate in their work.”
    In March, 2024, Ruhoff and OpenET launched an extension of the tool, called OpenET Brazil, with financial support from the Agência Nacional de Águas e Saneamento Básico (ANA), the Brazilian national water agency. The tool, called OpenET Brazil, will have similar goals as OpenET in the U.S., and the data collected will help improve Open ET’s accuracy overall.
    Melton feels this will be a “great test case” for both working with new environmental conditions (in Brazil there frequently is more cloud cover than in the US during key parts of the growing season) and also developing new collaborations.
    “The partnership will help us figure out how we can work with international partners to make the ET data useful,” Melton said. “The key aspect of our approach to geographic expansion is that leading scientists in each country and region, like Dr. Ruhoff, will lead the implementation, accuracy assessment, and the development of applications and partnerships for their country.”
    Brazil has one of the world’s largest sources of freshwater, the Amazon River, and yet it can still be affected by drought. This is partly due to the fact that deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest has an impact on the entire region’s water cycle. Trees draw water up from the soil and during photosynthesis they release vapor into the atmosphere. This water vapor will accumulate and form precipitation. Trees are “basically a huge water pump,” Ruhoff said, and the Amazon Rainforest is large enough that it helps to produce the rainy season. But when deforestation is allowed to happen over large areas, that mechanism is interrupted. As a result of this disruption, the dry season is predicted to intensify, becoming longer and dryer, which in turn can affect crop production in Brazil as well as the rainfall that is critical for sustaining water supplies in Brazil and other areas of South America.
    “Water doesn’t see borders. It doesn’t follow our rules,” Ruhoff said. “Deforestation in one place can affect people thousands of kilometers away.”

    Anderson Ruhoff
    Professor of Hydrology and Remote Sensing, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

    Studying evapotranspiration can reveal the impacts of deforestation with even more clarity. And importantly, it’s also public information. “So not only the farmers and water managers but every citizen can check how much water is being used in their area, especially during drought. It’s democratic information in that way,” Ruhoff said. “I think it’s important to have this information openly available and to try and reach as many people as possible.”
    Melton feels there’s the potential to expand the project, if more people like Ruhoff are there to lead the way.
    “There’s huge potential, but there do need to be stakeholders that come to the table and say that this is something that they’re interested in,” Melton said. “Water is so important and at times so contentious that it’s really important the data is seen as trusted. When there is a local leader, that substantially increases the likelihood that it will be trusted, and most importantly, used to bring people together to develop solutions.”

    Even when you live in a water-scarce region like California it’s easy to take water for granted. What platforms like OpenET can do for us, however, is make water, even in its most diffuse form, more visible to everyone.
    Written by Jane Berg and Rachel Sender, co-published with the Bay Area Environmental Research Institute
    To learn more about OpenET, visit https://etdata.org/
    Program Contact:Forrest MeltonNASA Ames Research Centerforrest.s.melton@nasa.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Mount Fanjing in southwest China inscribed in IUCN Green List

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

    This aerial drone photo taken on May 4, 2024 shows a view of Mount Fanjing in Tongren City, southwest China’s Guizhou Province. [Photo/Xinhua]

    GUIYANG, Oct. 14 — Mount Fanjing National Nature Reserve in southwest China’s Guizhou Province has been officially included in the Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), said local authorities in Tongren City on Sunday.

    The Green List is a global program established by the IUCN in order to promote biodiversity conservation based on protected and conserved areas. It serves as a global standard for measuring the management status of such areas.

    The inclusion of the Mount Fanjing National Nature Reserve in the IUCN Green List signifies international recognition of its conservation achievements and its significant role in global biodiversity conservation, according to authorities in Tongren, where the mountain is located.

    The IUCN plans to announce the new list of protected and conserved areas included in the Green List for 2024 at the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16), which is scheduled to be held in Colombia in late October.

    Mount Fanjing is a World Heritage Site that covers an area of 775 square kilometers. It not only provides an important glimpse into geological evolution in southern China but also serves as an ecological security barrier in the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River.

    Mount Fanjing boasts a typical and intact ecosystem of the Central Asian subtropical primeval forests, with 7,925 species of wild plants and animals. It is home to many ancient relict plants and rare and endangered species such as Guizhou golden monkey and Abies fanjingshanensis.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Mount Fanjing in SW China inscribed in IUCN Green List

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    This aerial drone photo taken on May 4, 2024 shows a view of Mount Fanjing in Tongren City, southwest China’s Guizhou Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Mount Fanjing National Nature Reserve in southwest China’s Guizhou Province has been officially included in the Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), said local authorities in Tongren City on Sunday.
    The Green List is a global program established by the IUCN in order to promote biodiversity conservation based on protected and conserved areas. It serves as a global standard for measuring the management status of such areas.
    The inclusion of the Mount Fanjing National Nature Reserve in the IUCN Green List signifies international recognition of its conservation achievements and its significant role in global biodiversity conservation, according to authorities in Tongren, where the mountain is located.
    The IUCN plans to announce the new list of protected and conserved areas included in the Green List for 2024 at the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16), which is scheduled to be held in Colombia in late October.
    Mount Fanjing is a World Heritage Site that covers an area of 775 square kilometers. It not only provides an important glimpse into geological evolution in southern China but also serves as an ecological security barrier in the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River.
    Mount Fanjing boasts a typical and intact ecosystem of the Central Asian subtropical primeval forests, with 7,925 species of wild plants and animals. It is home to many ancient relict plants and rare and endangered species such as Guizhou golden monkey and Abies fanjingshanensis. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI: Policyholder expectations pose challenges for life insurers at every stage of the customer journey

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press contact:
    Fahd Pasha
    Tel.: + 1 647 860 3777
    E-mail: Fahd.Pasha@capgemini.com

    Policyholder expectations pose challenges for life insurers at every stage of the customer journey

    • Best-in-class life insurers – those delivering quantifiably outstanding customer experience – achieve a 38% higher Net Promoter Score (NPS®) than their mainstream counterparts
    • 67% of best-in-class carriers are ready to leverage generative AI to innovate their policyholders’ experience and optimize operations
    • Life insurance industry must shift perception away from simply ‘death insurance’ to engage new generation of policyholders

    Paris, October 15, 2024 – The Capgemini Research Institute’s World Life Insurance Report 2025, published today, reveals that the life insurance industry is struggling to meet today’s customer experience expectations, with legacy technology being a major barrier to driving meaningful change. However, the report identifies a small group of life insurers globally delivering quantifiably outstanding customer experience to achieve ‘best-in-class’ status. In comparison to mainstream insurers, these innovative companies have been rewarded with a 38% higher Net Promoter Score (NPS®), an 11% lower expense ratio, and a 6% higher revenue growth than the rest of the industry in the last three years.

    Faced with high inflation, economic uncertainty, and waning interest, life insurers are at a critical juncture as the industry confronts a 33% fall in penetration in mature markets1 between 2007 and 20232, with one-in-two policyholders saying their experience is underwhelming. Much of this dissatisfaction permeates through the entire customer journey, particularly across product offerings, onboarding, servicing and claims/surrenders.

    Insurers face challenges at every stage of the customer journey
    At the onboarding stage, one-in-three (35%) retail policyholders struggle with complex terms and 27% don’t like the lengthy application process. After purchasing a policy, one-in-four (25%) retail and group customers express frustration due to long wait times, while 23% are frustrated by the inability to access self-service options for policy changes. The claims process also poses challenges, primarily due to a lack of digitization: one-third (35%) of retail policyholders say they face a complicated claim application process, with 27% noting a lack of empathy during the claims experience.

    The research shows that younger policyholders (between 18-40 years) are more frustrated by a challenging experience than older customers (between 41-60 years) throughout their insurance journey. This includes slow and complex onboarding processes, lack of dedicated communication channels, and an inability to self-service policies. They also demand greater claims flexibility, with 42% citing inflexible payouts as a critical concern, versus only 26% of older customers.

    Despite a desire to redesign the onboarding, service and claims experience, only 9% of carriers have established ecosystem-wide processes that capture data from multiple sources to create a unique view of customers, and in turn, deliver personalized experiences through policyholders’ preferred channels.

    “Life insurance is shifting from a must-have to a maybe proposition. Carriers must shake off the perception that life insurance is just ‘death insurance’. They can achieve this by focusing on engaging the next generation of policyholders, moving beyond a product-driven approach to put the customer at the center of their strategies,” said Samantha Chow, Global Leader for Life Insurance, Annuities and Benefits Sector at Capgemini. “Many insurers are struggling with legacy technology or investments that have failed to deliver the target returns. The path forward is a customer-centric transformation that draws inspiration from the best-in-class by embedding AI-augmented, human-touch service into core processes.”

    Efforts to improve customer experience have stalled for most carriers
    Insurers recognize an urgent need to modernize their operations, however, only 41% met or exceeded their latest transformation goals. Past transformation initiatives fell short of delivering the intended results as insurers prioritized multiple goals which hindered their efforts. The challenges were further complicated by unexpected integration complexities (50%), lack of alignment with business objectives (42%) and insufficient skilled resources (42%).

    Despite these headwinds, the report finds an elite group of 5% of best-in-class insurers who are delivering a superior customer experience. These best-in-class carriers lean into the latest technologies, like generative AI, to offer exceptional onboarding, self-service, and claims capabilities.

    The best-in-class stand out against their counterparts:

    • 78% of best-in-class insurers have automated underwriting compared to 15% of mainstream insurers to optimize onboarding efforts
    • 78% offer policyholders self-service portals compared to only 13% of mainstream carriers
    • 56% provide a seamless and intelligent claims experience through AI assistance for voice and sentiment analysis versus only 3% of mainstream insurers

    Generative AI can be a catalyst, although talent gaps remain a hurdle
    While the transformative potential of generative AI is undeniable for the life insurance industry, it brings to light a pressing talent challenge. Today, 67% of best-in-class insurers are technically ready to leverage and maximize generative AI’s capabilities across their operations, with readiness levels dropping to 25% for mainstream insurers. Generative AI, when augmented with human intelligence, can revolutionize the consumer experience, while simultaneously driving operational efficiencies. However, one-in-three executives (34%) highlight identifying talent as a significant obstacle hindering their ability, with critical gaps in roles such as behavioral scientists, experience designers, and AI prompt engineers.

    According to the report, success will hinge not only on the implementation of the technology, but also on insurers’ ability to attract, develop, and retain the right talent. Carriers who can effectively blend cutting-edge technology with skilled professionals will be well-positioned to lead the industry into a new era of innovation and customer-centricity.

    Report Methodology
    The World Life Insurance Report 2025 draws data from two primary sources: the Global Voice of the Customer Survey, administered during May and June 2024, and the Global Insurance Executive Survey, conducted during May and June 2024. This primary research covers insights from 20 markets: Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. First, our comprehensive Voice of the Customer Survey, administered in collaboration with Phronesis Partners, polled 6,186 life insurance customers in 18 countries. These markets represent all three regions of the globe – the Americas (The United States, Mexico, Canada, and Brazil), Europe (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom), and Asia-Pacific (Australia, Hong Kong, India, Japan, and Singapore). Second, the report also includes insights from interviews with 213 leading life insurance company executives across 16 markets. These markets together represent all three regions of the globe – the Americas (The United States, Canada, and Brazil), Europe (Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and the United Kingdom) and Asia-Pacific (Australia, Hong Kong, India, and Singapore).

    About Capgemini
    Capgemini is a global business and technology transformation partner, helping organizations to accelerate their dual transition to a digital and sustainable world, while creating tangible impact for enterprises and society. It is a responsible and diverse group of 340,000 team members in more than 50 countries. With its strong over 55-year heritage, Capgemini is trusted by its clients to unlock the value of technology to address the entire breadth of their business needs. It delivers end-to-end services and solutions leveraging strengths from strategy and design to engineering, all fueled by its market leading capabilities in AI, cloud and data, combined with its deep industry expertise and partner ecosystem. The Group reported 2023 global revenues of €22.5 billion.

    Get The Future You Want | http://www.capgemini.com

    About the Capgemini Research Institute
    The Capgemini Research Institute is Capgemini’s in-house think-tank on all things digital and their impact across industries. It is the publisher of Capgemini’s flagship World Report Series, which has been running for over 28 years, with dedicated thought leadership on Financial Services focussing on digitalization, innovation, technology and business trends that affect banks, wealth management firms, and insurers across the globe.

    To find out more or to subscribe to receive reports as they launch, visit https://worldreports.capgemini.com

    1 Note: Mature markets: North America includes Canada and the United States. Western Europe includes Portugal, Luxembourg, Italy, Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Austria, France, Greece, Malta, Finland, Spain, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Cyprus. APAC includes Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan.
    2Swiss Re – sigma explorer

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: “Advancing New Zealand and Asia relations”

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Good evening

    Before discussing the ‘advancing of New Zealand and Asia relations’, we would like to congratulate the Asia New Zealand Foundation and acknowledge its significant contribution to New Zealand’s relationship with, and understanding of, Asia over the past 30 years.

    Can we also welcome Thitinan Pongsudhirak, one of the Foundation’s Honorary Advisers, and Michael Fullilove, Executive Director of the Lowy Institute.  

    I would also like to acknowledge Members of Parliament; members of the diplomatic corps; Asia New Zealand Foundation founders Sir Don McKinnon and Philip Burdon; and its Chair, Dame Fran Wilde.

    A lot has happened over the past 30 years – in New Zealand, in Asia, and indeed in New Zealand’s engagement with Asia.

    30 years ago

    It is, of course, difficult to talk about Asia in general terms. The region has 23 countries, hundreds of languages and a vast swathe of peoples and cultures and political systems. 

    This is to say nothing of the vast distances in Asia.  Indeed, it’s closer from London to Moscow than Auckland to Jakarta, and yet we tend to think Indonesia as our back yard. 

    We tend to zone in on one country, or one issue.

    Our understanding needs to be more nuanced than this – something the Asia New Zealand Foundation knows well and is in fact its core mission.

    We can, however, look at some trends, as we think about New Zealand’s relationship with Asia over the past 30 years.

    In 1994, for example, Asia’s population was over three billion people. The region accounted for one quarter of the world’s GDP, and economic growth was underway in many countries. 

    The region had experienced years of peace and stability, albeit with some notable exceptions. Many parts of the region were at the start of a long, although sometimes uneven, path of rising urbanisation, productivity and incomes.

    In New Zealand, our population had just tipped over three million. Asian countries had become important trading partners – this was 20 years after Britain joined the European Economic Community and forced us to look beyond our traditional trading partners. 

    We had adapted by looking closer to home. 

    Thirty five percent of New Zealand’s exports went to Asia, with Japan accounting for close to half of this. 

    Remarkably, at that time China took just two percent of our exports, compared to 20 percent of today.

    Many New Zealanders had come to realise the importance of Asia to our future prosperity.

    Along with this came a recognition that we needed to better understand the vast range of cultures, languages and peoples of the region. This would be a shift for us. 

    Just three percent of New Zealanders at the time identified as being of Asian origin – compared to 17 percent today. 

    We had the beginnings of some cultural and culinary influences, with tourists and students starting to flow. 

    Under the Colombo Plan, we had welcomed many Asian students to New Zealand. But for the most part, these cultural influences were not mainstream or well-understood at the time.

    It was in this context that the Asia New Zealand Foundation was born and began its important work that we are here to discuss today.

    What has changed in Asia? 

    Even those who were aficionados back in 1994 might have been surprised at just how important Asia would become to New Zealand.

    The Asian financial crisis in 1997 was devastating to the region. It was an unsettled and unpredictable time. But the region has recovered, and in fact boomed.

    The figures are certainly impressive. More than one billion people have been lifted out of poverty in Asia since 1990. Asia now comprises over 40 percent of the world’s GDP. In the next quarter century, this is forecast to reach 50 percent. 

    It is important for us all to remember that there has not been just one linear trajectory in the region. Each country has had its own path, and these paths can have different twists and turns over time.

    China’s growth story is of course well-known, but the statistics remain extraordinary. Today, China stands as the world’s second-largest economy worth nearly 18 trillion US dollars in 2023, soaring a staggering 4,000 percent since the 1990s.

    This is not, however, just a China story. There has been astonishing success in other countries, too. 

    India overtook China to become the most populous country in the world last year, and with 900 million registered voters it is also the world’s largest democracy. This year India’s economy will be the fastest growing in the G20, and it is expected to overtake Germany and Japan to become the world’s third largest economy in the next few years. 

    India’s advances in science, technology, education, and space, are inspiring to many countries around the world. In short, India has become a significant global actor playing a key role in securing a stable and prosperous region.

    Japan itself continues to be an economic powerhouse.

    We must also recognise that ASEAN’s growth, after starting down the path of economic integration, has been remarkable. 

    If ASEAN today were one economy, it would be New Zealand’s fourth-largest trading partner. Its countries are growing at an impressive clip – more than five percent year in, year out. 

    The total GDP of ASEAN reached nearly four trillion US dollars last years, positioning it as the fifth largest economy in the world. 

    Projections indicate that ASEAN’s GDP is poised to reach an estimated four and a half trillion US dollars by the year 2030. This will propel ASEAN to become the world’s fourth-largest economy by 2040.

    Much of Asia’s economic growth has been built on trade and manufacturing. But the region is now also central across many facets of the modern economy – from finance and capital, to people, and to innovation.

    To take just two examples, Asia’s services trade is growing 1.7 times faster than the rest of the world. And by 2030, Asia’s fintech revenues are expected to be larger even than North America’s.

    We know economic growth doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It is regional security that has provided the foundation for the significant rise in living standards we have witnessed across Asia. 

    In this time of global upheaval and challenges to the rules-based order, the role of regional security in our collective economic security is undeniable. 

    In Southeast Asia, ASEAN centrality is playing a pivotal role. ASEAN has led the way in bringing the region together in peaceful dialogue. This includes initiatives like the Regional Forum we attended in July, or last week’s East Asia Summit – which was attended by Prime Minister Luxon.

    Notwithstanding the various peaceful offramps that exist, Asia has had, and continues to have, security challenges. 

    The liberal rules-based order – underpinned by US hegemony – is under strain.

    As China’s power and influence have increased, so too have the areas of difference that we have had to navigate.

    We are seeing a rising and more active India.

    And we shouldn’t forget that Russia considers itself an Indo-Pacific power, too.

    Added to this are hemispheric wild cards: the DPRK; other nuclear powers; arms build-up; and alliance and proxy relationships.

    We also have population trends that will have not just economic but also geostrategic consequences. 

    Also, fierce competition for resources: protein and commodities like rare metals.

    Finally – environmental challenges, which are an existential threat for many countries in the region – are exacerbating all of these factors. 

    What has this meant for New Zealand? 

    For New Zealand, the message is clear: we need to continue to understand and engage Asia.

    The Coalition Government, via the Foreign Policy Reset, is focused on building and advancing relationships in a way that engages more actively the region’s opportunities and risks. 

    The work of the Asia New Zealand Foundation remains as relevant today as it was 30 years ago. 

    Understanding Asia starts here at home. The past 30 years has seen a boom, and our ethnic communities have grown significantly. 

    While there is still some way to go, we have started to see Asian New Zealanders in leadership roles – from Members of Parliament to business leaders, sports, and entertainment. 

    Along with this has come a richness of culture and language. Kiwis have enjoyed new festivities and embraced an array of Asian cuisine, at home and at restaurants – something almost completely unavailable 30 years ago.

    The top 25 languages spoken in New Zealand include many Asian languages, such as Mandarin, with nearly 100,000 speakers, as well as Hindi with almost 70,000, Cantonese, Tagalog, Punjabi, Korean, Japanese, Gujarati, and Tamil.

    We celebrate Diwali, Lunar New Year and Eid – festivals that showcase cultural traditions to New Zealanders.

    Last year, 54,000 students from Asian countries came to study in New Zealand education institutions. 

    In the last year we have welcomed over 700,000 international visitors from Asia – nearly double that of a year ago – and we’re looking forward to seeing this growth continue over the coming years as the pandemic fall-out recedes.

    Over the last 70 years, we have provided scholarships and training to 21 countries from the Asian region under our International Development Cooperation programme. This remains a foundation of our enduring people-to-people connections.

    Thanks to the Asia New Zealand Foundation, we have some tangible evidence of how New Zealanders’ attitudes toward Asia have changed over time. 

    The first Perceptions of Asia survey was conducted in 1997 and showed that New Zealanders saw Asia as something largely external. 

    Today, however, over half of New Zealanders feel a connection to Asia in their daily lives, with more than a third regularly enjoying Asia-related entertainment. 

    Over the past decade, public awareness and engagement with Asia has grown significantly. In 2013, one third of New Zealanders said they felt knowledgeable about Asia. 

    That number has now risen to an all-time high, with nearly 60 percent saying they possess at least a fair amount of understanding about the region.

    This is wonderful and thanks in no small part to the work of the Foundation. We hope we will see this familiarity grow further in the coming years.

    New Zealand in Asia

    Alongside these developments in New Zealand, we have been engaging both with Asia but also in Asia.

    Today you can fly direct from Auckland and Christchurch to 14 destinations across Asia, connecting New Zealand to the region and providing opportunities for New Zealanders to interact with and learn about Asia.

     

    Kiwis have been broadening their traditional “OE” and heading to Asia. As just one example, 3,300 New Zealanders have travelled to Japan under the Japan Exchange and Teaching, or “JET”, programme since its inception, teaching English in Japan. 

    Programmes such as the Prime Minister’s Scholarships for Asia have seen thousands of young New Zealanders study at Asian institutions and return with meaningful skills and experience. 

    The Asia New Zealand Foundation has also contributed to this through the internships, grants, and residencies it offers throughout Asia.

    It is important to highlight that seven of our top 10 export destinations are Asian economies. 

    Exports to China amounted to 20 billion New Zealand dollars last year; Japan more than four billion. Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Indonesia round out the list of our top export destinations in Asia.

    This has been supported by the network of free trade agreements we have negotiated to support our commercial partnerships over the past 20 years. It is notable that our second oldest FTA is with Singapore – second only to Australia. 

    The origins of CPTPP, one of our most significant trade agreements, also finds its origins in our relationships with Asia. 

    Its precursor, the P4 agreement with Singapore, Brunei, and Chile in 2006, provided the foundation stone for what would become CPTPP.

    CPTPP is itself a high watermark agreement that includes other economies from the region such as Japan, Malaysia, and Viet Nam, and we continue to encourage others who can meet the agreement’s high standards to seek to join in the future.

    All in all, 95 percent of our trade with Asia takes place under a trade agreement.

    New Zealand has also invested in regional institutions. This architecture provides space for dialogue and the exchange of ideas on key issues impacting us. 

    We were the second country to become an ASEAN dialogue partner, and we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of this next year. In that time New Zealand has been and continues to be a trusted partner to ASEAN and its member states. 

    We know that by contributing to ASEAN’s success, and the success of ASEAN-led councils like the East Asia Summit, we contribute to our own success and to that of the region.

    In 1994, New Zealand was a member of one regional body – APEC, which was founded just five years earlier. 

    This platform gives us a venue to influence regional economic policy together with members, who today make up two thirds of global economic growth and take 80 percent of New Zealand’s exports.

    Just over 10 years later, in 2005, our delegation was proud to take part in the inaugural East Asia Summit in Kuala Lumpur. 

    We had put intensive effort into laying the groundwork for the shape of the grouping and New Zealand’s participation. 

    Our membership as a founding partner made clear to all that New Zealand was part of the region and had a role to play in regional decisions. 

    The EAS is now the premier forum for strategic dialogue and regional cooperation. 

    New Zealand is showing up today, as we did then, because we want to support peace and stability in the region in tangible ways.

    Recent years have seen the emergence of new plurilateral and ‘minilateral’ architecture alongside established multilateral architecture. 

    New Zealand supports new groupings that advance and defend our interests and capabilities, and we no reason why these can’t coexist as long as they are constructive, advanced in an open and transparent way, and are respectful of ASEAN centrality.

    We have championed a stable, peaceful and nuclear-free Korean Peninsula. In the current climate, it is not possible to visit North Korea. But in the past, we have. 

    During a 2007 visit, we met with political leaders and advocated in favour of multi-party peace talks. 

    To this day, New Zealand Defence Force assets and personnel are deployed in Korea to maintain the armistice. The Defence Force also has a separate deployment to monitor and deter North Korea’s evasion of UN sanctions.

    In 2006, we received a request from Timor-Leste, seeking assistance to restore stability and freedom of movement. We responded swiftly, deploying police and military troops. 

    In a testament to our security cooperation in the region, Singaporean personnel were integrated seamlessly into a New Zealand battalion.

    New Zealand has a long-standing development programme in Asia. It is our largest programme outside the Pacific and is growing. 

    It goes beyond training and scholarships to respond to the priorities of our ASEAN partners, as well as humanitarian assistance. 

    Just last month, for example, we contributed humanitarian assistance in response to the devastating impacts of Typhoon Yagi in Viet Nam and Myanmar, and to extreme flooding in Bangladesh. 

    It is also worth noting that, for the past 30 years, New Zealand has advanced its policy towards Asia in a bipartisan way wherever possible. 

    This has ensured successive governments can follow through on policy commitments and is one of our greatest strengths.

    What next? 

    It is instructive to think about how far we have come in the past 30 years

    But it is also clear that we need to do more. 

    The world today is disordered and becoming more dangerous. 

    As we said to the NZIIA in May, “the challenges we face are stark, the worst that anyone today working in politics or foreign affairs can remember.” 

    As MFAT’s own strategic assessment has identified, one of the drivers for this has been a shift from rules to power:  the Cold War era of predominant US western hegemony is over. 

    The multipolar world is here to stay, and states: large, middle, and small are all jostling to advance their interests.

    Added to this is the fact that global problems – whether health, environmental, demographic, or migratory – present global risks, but at the same time require state-to-state cooperation to resolve. 

    We offer this simply to point out that we’re living in a time where relationships, norms and rules – many of which have enabled the rise of countries in Asia, including those which seek to challenge those same rules – are changing at the very time when we need to maximise global cooperation.

    This is at the heart of what’s happening in Asia, as well as around the world more broadly. 

    This is why the Government decided earlier this year on a Foreign Policy Reset. A fundamental driver was that our foreign policy needs to reflect and respond to the challenging strategic context we find ourselves in. We need to act now to bring more energy, ambition and engagement to our relationships. 

    Under the Foreign Policy Reset, we have been explicit: we will be increasing the focus on and resources applied to Southeast Asia, South Asia especially India, and North Asia. This is what will have a major impact on our security and prosperity. 

    We are already delivering on this. The Prime Minister and international-facing Ministers have been incredibly active in our engagements with the region, having travelled between us to over 20 countries.

    We have taken forward concrete initiatives to demonstrate the importance and future trajectory of our partnerships. 

    This ranges from cooperation with Japan on a hospital in Kiribati, to a Customs Cooperation Arrangement with India, to advancing toward Comprehensive Strategic Partnerships with ASEAN and Korea.

    Conclusion 

    New Zealand is an Indo-Pacific country. This is our identity, and we know this is where our future lies. With every forecast about Asia’s trajectory, this becomes clearer and clearer.

    It was this realisation that led to the Asia New Zealand Foundation’s birth 30 years ago. And as we have heard today, a lot has changed since then. Asia has evolved, and New Zealand’s relationship with Asian countries has evolved too, in some ways beyond recognition. 

    As we navigate our own pathway forward, we need to understand Asia. If we don’t, our relationships will be characterised by misconceptions, bias and miscalculation. So, our work has really only just begun. New Zealand’s security and prosperity depends on us continuing it.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Media Registration for the 2024 APEC Economic Leaders’ Week Opens Singapore, Peru | 15 October 2024 APEC Secretariat APEC Secretariat

    Source: APEC – Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation

    Media registration is now open for the 2024 APEC Economic Leaders’ Week (AELW), which will be held in Lima, Peru, from 9 to 16 November 2024. Peru President Dina Boluarte will chair the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting on 16 November.

    Minister for Foreign Affairs of Peru Elmer Schialer and Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism Úrsula León will host their foreign affairs and trade counterparts for the APEC Ministerial Meeting. The AELW will also include the 2024 APEC CEO Summit and the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) Dialogue with Leaders.

    Media representatives are invited to apply for accreditation to cover these high-level meetings and associated events.

    Background

    APEC Peru 2024 is centered around the theme “Empower. Include. Grow.” This theme reflects Peru’s commitment to fostering inclusive growth and sustainable development across the Asia-Pacific region. The priorities for this year include:

     

    1. Trade and Investment for Inclusive and Interconnected Growth: This focus aims to strengthen open and inclusive trade policies that facilitate economic growth across diverse sectors of society, ensuring long-term sustainability.

       

    2. Innovation and Digitalization to Promote Transition to a Formal and Global Economy: This priority seeks to support vulnerable economic actors in their transition from informal to formal participation in the global economy through innovation and digital tools.

       

    3. Sustainable Growth for Resilient Development: This involves promoting energy transitions, decarbonization of economic activities, and enhancing food security to build resilience in the face of climate change and other challenges.

     The AELW schedule is as follows:

    • 10-12 November: 4th APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) Meeting
    • 11-12 November: Senior Officials’ Retreat and Concluding Senior Officials’ Meeting
    • 13 November: Dialogue on Indigenous Peoples: Indigenous Perspectives on Inclusive Growth and Economic Empowerment
    • 14 November: APEC Ministerial Meeting
    • 14-15 November: APEC CEO Summit
    • 15 November: APEC Economic Leaders’ Dialogue with ABAC
    • 16 November: APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting

    Accreditation procedure

    Access to media facilities, services and specific events will only be available to accredited media representatives. Media badges will be issued for accredited media only. To be accredited for the AELW, media representatives need to submit a cover letter in PDF format to [email protected] that includes information outlined below:

     

    • Name of the media organization
    • Contact person responsible for the accreditation including their email and mobile number
    • Full name of team who will cover the AELW
    • Passport or ID of the team who will cover the AELW

    After the submission, the media accreditation officer will review the documents. The person responsible for the accreditation will then receive a user ID and password to initiate the registration process for the media team through the registration portal.

    Once the pre-registration process is completed, the verification stage will begin, which may take several days. A notification email with either confirmation or request for additional requirements will be sent to the contact person responsible for the accreditation process.

    Details regarding the date, time and place for credential pick-up will be provided via email. The deadline for the media registration is Monday, 4 November, Peru time. We strongly encourage media representative to register as soon as possible to allow sufficient time for visa arrangements, as needed, and the temporary importation of equipment.

    Media credentials will be available for pickup from 1-16 November at Prom Peru at Av. Jorge Basadre 610, San Isidro, Lima, Peru from 08:00 to 17:00. Please address all media-related inquiries to [email protected] and [email protected]. Read the full media accreditation details in this link.

    For further details, please contact:

    APEC Media at [email protected]

    Michael Chapnick +65 9647 4847 at [email protected]

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI China: Global sci-tech experts to address sustainability at annual forum

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    The sixth World Science and Technology Development Forum will be held in Beijing from Oct. 22 to 24, the organizer announced Thursday.
    This year’s session, themed “Science and Technology for the Future,” will focus on six key ideas: intelligence, interdisciplinary, infrastructures, innovation, interaction, and integration.
    Since its initiation in 2019 by the China Association for Science and Technology, the annual forum has addressed various sustainability challenges. Previous sessions have covered topics ranging from food security to disaster prevention.
    At the inaugural session, Vania G. Zuin Zeidler, professor of green chemistry and sustainable chemistry at the Federal University of São Carlos in Brazil and visiting professor at the Green Chemistry Center of Excellence at the University of York, U.K., said about 1.3 billion tons of food is wasted annually. She discussed how the farm-to-table model can prevent food waste and how São Paulo produces healthy food through sustainable agricultural systems.
    At a previous subforum on food security during the fourth session, Deng Xingwang, a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and dean of the School of Advanced Agricultural Sciences of Peking University, discussed the advantages of third-generation hybrid rice breeding technology. He emphasized that this internationally leading technology is cost-effective and safe, making it easier to apply. It has already been successfully validated and commercialized in China.
    At a subforum on carbon reduction during the fourth session, Lei Xianzhang, a member of the German National Academy of Science and Engineering, introduced electric-hydrogen coupling technology. This technology supports carbon peaking and neutrality by enabling efficient conversion between hydrogen and electricity, using clean energy sources like wind, solar and hydropower to produce hydrogen or hydrogen-based energy. 
    At the NexTus SDGs Youth Innovators’ Assembly during the fourth session, Yan Luhui, founder of Carbonstop, introduced a carbon management SaaS platform. Yan explained how big data and artificial intelligence can visualize carbon, analyze data and help companies improve carbon reduction efficiency.
    At a subforum on disaster prevention and mitigation at the fourth session, Ge Yonggang, director of the Science and Technology Division at the Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, detailed how Sichuan province combines weather monitoring with tracking mountain floods and debris flows. This innovative approach aims to create a more precise early warning system. The research, currently focused on Liangshan, is set to expand to Chengdu and Mianyang.
    Cui Peng, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, described a new platform for predicting mountain disasters. He explained how the platform includes a risk baseline database, physical parameter library and risk analysis system. With these tools, the platform can forecast mountain disasters every hour in real-time, pinpoint specific disaster locations and their features, and provide precise early warnings. Cui also suggested combining disaster management with efforts to restore nature and develop eco-friendly industries.
    The U.N. General Assembly adopted a resolution in August 2023 declaring 2024-2033 the “International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development.” The upcoming forum will be held during the first year of this decade. 
    The organizer said the event will continue to gather global expertise to promote high-quality development and enhance international scientific and cultural exchanges.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: MOFA sincerely thanks international community for taking concrete actions to support Taiwan’s UN participation

    Source: Republic of Taiwan – Ministry of Foreign Affairs

    October 4, 2024
    No. 058

    The General Debate of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) concluded on September 30. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) sincerely thanks the diplomatic allies, like-minded countries, and friends from around the world who expressed support for Taiwan’s participation in the UN and refuted China’s deliberate misrepresentation of UNGA Resolution 2758 in various ways, both in the chamber and on the sidelines of the event. 

    High-level government officials from Taiwan’s diplomatic allies Paraguay, the Marshall Islands, Palau, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Eswatini, Tuvalu, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Belize spoke up for Taiwan at the UN General Debate and Summit of the Future. Officials from the Marshall Islands, Palau, Tuvalu, and Saint Lucia explicitly pointed out that UNGA Resolution 2758 did not preclude Taiwan’s participation in the UN system. Following similar remarks in 2022, US President Joe Biden again used his speech to the UN General Debate to spell out the United States’ commitment to maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Australia mentioned the Taiwan Strait for the first time at the UN General Debate, with Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong stating that Australia had consistently pressed China on peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.  

    At a US House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs hearing held a few days before the UN General Debate, US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell criticized China for using UNGA Resolution 2758 as a diplomatic tool to suppress Taiwan’s status. In response to a question in parliament, Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Caspar Veldkamp openly acknowledged that the resolution had nothing to do with Taiwan. Following a meeting on the sidelines of the UNGA held by the Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers and the European Union high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, the chair of the meeting released a statement reaffirming the importance of cross-strait peace and stability to international security and prosperity as well as supporting Taiwan’s international participation. 

    Joint statements expressing a high regard for cross-strait peace and stability were issued after other recent high-level meetings, including the Quad leaders’ summit, the seventh high-level meeting of the EU-US Dialogue on China, the US-Japan summit meeting, the UK-US Strategic Dialogue, the Japan-Australia Foreign and Defence Ministerial Consultations, the Republic of Korea-New Zealand bilateral meeting, and the Lithuania-US Strategic Dialogue on the Indo-Pacific.

    In terms of legislative branches, the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China passed a model resolution on UNGA Resolution 2758 on July 30 for its members’ reference. The Australian Senate, the Dutch House of Representatives, and the Guatemalan Congress have since adopted motions in support of Taiwan based on the model resolution. The Foreign Affairs Committee of the Italian Chamber of Deputies also approved a resolution backing Taiwan’s international participation, demonstrating staunch support for Taiwan.

    Speaking for the first time on the sidelines of the UNGA at the annual summit of the New York-based nonprofit organization Concordia through prerecorded remarks, President Lai Ching-te told the UN family that Taiwan would strive to maintain regional peace and stability and urged the international community to support Taiwan’s participation.  Ambassador Alexander Tah-ray Yui, Representative to the United States, held a discussion with former US Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Keith Krach on cross-strait peace and security and Taiwan’s campaign to participate in the UN. During the UNGA, Taiwan cohosted a seminar in New York with the United States, Japan, Australia, and Canada under the Global Cooperation and Training Framework. The event underscored Taiwan’s resolve to contribute to the global community.

    MOFA also appreciates the unwavering support of the Legislative Yuan. A cross-party delegation of legislators—including Ngalim Tiunn, Wu Tsung-hsien, and Wu Chun-cheng—visited New York during the UNGA to provide guidance and take part in related activities. The group powerfully conveyed the strong desire of the Taiwanese people to be part of the UN system.

    Through an international publicity and new media campaign, the government effectively communicated Taiwan’s demands for UN participation to all quarters. An op-ed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung, letters to the editor from Taiwan’s overseas missions, and interviews with Taiwanese ambassadors and representatives appeared 455 times in mainstream international media outlets. These included the Diplomat, the Hill, the Washington Times, National Review, and the New York Sun in the United States; Modern Diplomacy and the European Business Review in the European Union; the National Post in Canada; Le Figaro in France; Norrbottens-Kuriren in Sweden; La Razón in Spain; De Telegraaf and Nederlands Dagblad in the Netherlands; Euractiv in Greece; Rzeczpospolita in Poland; La Verità and Le Formiche in Italy; the Sankei Shimbun in Japan; the Chosun Ilbo in the Republic of Korea; the Philippine Star in the Philippines; the Hindustan Times and the Tribune in India; the Jerusalem Post in Israel; La Razón in Peru; the Eswatini Observer in Eswatini; La Nación in Paraguay; O Tempo in Brazil; Jelen in Hungary; and the Daily News in Thailand. 

    The short promotional film IC You received more than 25.4 million views—again breaking the record for Taiwan’s annual campaign. During the UNGA, MOFA and its overseas missions released 2,922 posts about Taiwan’s bid on social media platforms including Facebook, X, Instagram, and Threads. The posts were seen over 48.378 million times and received an unprecedentedly warm response. A short animation video, UNity through Peace: Chip in with Taiwan, was shown on a large billboard in New York City’s iconic Times Square. The advertisement featured elements including semiconductor circuits and Taiwan’s contributions to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The video conveyed Taiwan’s strengths in IC technology, highlighted its image as a responsible member of the global community, and broadened worldwide recognition and support for Taiwan’s call for international participation.

    MOFA reiterates that UNGA Resolution 2758 does not mention Taiwan. The resolution therefore has nothing to do with Taiwan and cannot serve as the basis for precluding Taiwan from the UN system and other international organizations. Taiwan is determined, willing, and able to contribute to the global community. Continuing to exclude Taiwan from multilateral endeavors will not only be a loss to humanity but also detrimental to realizing the SDGs. To uphold the UN principle of leaving no one behind, MOFA again calls on the UN to stop bowing to pressure from China and swiftly allow Taiwan’s full participation. (E)

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Foreign Minister Lin and his wife host welcome luncheon for Guatemala First Lady Peinado and her delegation

    Source: Republic of Taiwan – Ministry of Foreign Affairs

    Foreign Minister Lin and his wife host welcome luncheon for Guatemala First Lady Peinado and her delegation

    • Date：2024-10-10
    • Data Source：Department of Latin American and Caribbean Affairs

    October 10, 2024

    No. 346

    Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung and his wife hosted a welcome luncheon on October 9 for a delegation from the Republic of Guatemala led by First Lady Lucrecia Peinado. On behalf of the government, Minister Lin warmly welcomed First Lady Peinado on her first visit to Taiwan and thanked her for representing President Bernardo Arévalo at the 2024 National Day celebrations, thereby enhancing bilateral diplomatic relations.

     

    Minister Lin stated that Taiwan and Guatemala were loyal partners that had enjoyed remarkable success in joint endeavors in such domains as public health, medicine, agricultural technology, higher education, and basic infrastructure. He pointed out that under proactive efforts by the governments of the two countries, economic and trade exchanges had grown closer. Noting that numerous Taiwanese businesses were interested in investing and setting up manufacturing facilities in Guatemala, Minister Lin said that this was a concrete outcome of economic and trade diplomacy promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in its implementation of integrated diplomacy.

     

    First Lady Peinado conveyed President Arévalo’s congratulations on Taiwan’s National Day and thanked Taiwan for its long-standing assistance to Guatemala’s development in various areas. Emphasizing that Taiwan was an important member of the global community, she said that Guatemala would continue supporting Taiwan’s international participation. First Lady Peinado reaffirmed the importance that President Arévalo placed on attracting business investment, as well as his keen interest in developing the semiconductor sector. She expressed the hope that the two countries would further deepen cooperation and jointly help transform Guatemala into a technologically advanced country. 

     

    Minister Lin and First Lady Peinado also exchanged in-depth views on several issues, including women’s empowerment, care for disadvantaged groups, talent cultivation, and bilateral collaboration. Both agreed that Taiwan and Guatemala, building on the existing solid foundation, would continue to bolster reciprocal and mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation. (E)

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Foreign Minister Lin and his wife host welcome luncheon for Guatemala First Lady Peinado and her delegation

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan 3

    Foreign Minister Lin and his wife host welcome luncheon for Guatemala First Lady Peinado and her delegation

    Date：2024-10-10
    Data Source：Department of Latin American and Caribbean Affairs

    October 10, 2024
    No. 346

    Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung and his wife hosted a welcome luncheon on October 9 for a delegation from the Republic of Guatemala led by First Lady Lucrecia Peinado. On behalf of the government, Minister Lin warmly welcomed First Lady Peinado on her first visit to Taiwan and thanked her for representing President Bernardo Arévalo at the 2024 National Day celebrations, thereby enhancing bilateral diplomatic relations.
     
    Minister Lin stated that Taiwan and Guatemala were loyal partners that had enjoyed remarkable success in joint endeavors in such domains as public health, medicine, agricultural technology, higher education, and basic infrastructure. He pointed out that under proactive efforts by the governments of the two countries, economic and trade exchanges had grown closer. Noting that numerous Taiwanese businesses were interested in investing and setting up manufacturing facilities in Guatemala, Minister Lin said that this was a concrete outcome of economic and trade diplomacy promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in its implementation of integrated diplomacy.
     
    First Lady Peinado conveyed President Arévalo’s congratulations on Taiwan’s National Day and thanked Taiwan for its long-standing assistance to Guatemala’s development in various areas. Emphasizing that Taiwan was an important member of the global community, she said that Guatemala would continue supporting Taiwan’s international participation. First Lady Peinado reaffirmed the importance that President Arévalo placed on attracting business investment, as well as his keen interest in developing the semiconductor sector. She expressed the hope that the two countries would further deepen cooperation and jointly help transform Guatemala into a technologically advanced country. 
     
    Minister Lin and First Lady Peinado also exchanged in-depth views on several issues, including women’s empowerment, care for disadvantaged groups, talent cultivation, and bilateral collaboration. Both agreed that Taiwan and Guatemala, building on the existing solid foundation, would continue to bolster reciprocal and mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation. (E)

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Dairy export quota Bill passes first reading

    Source: New Zealand Government

    The Government’s work to boost export value has hit another milestone, with a new dairy Bill passing its first reading in Parliament today, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.

    “The Dairy Industry Restructuring (Export Licences Allocation) Amendment Bill will modernise New Zealand’s dairy export quota system to grow export and farmgate returns,” Mr McClay says.

    “More dairy companies are manufacturing niche and high-value products, but the current system excludes many of them from receiving dairy export quota – this is a lost opportunity for those businesses and for New Zealand.”

    This Bill follows a review of the dairy export quota system in 2023, which identified opportunities to improve quota allocation, to better reflect the diversity of the dairy industry.

    New Zealand currently administers quota allocation for bovine dairy exports to the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Japan, and the Dominican Republic.

    “The Bill proposes changes to the export quota system that include shifting quota allocation from the proportion of milk solids a company collects from farmers, to a system based on their export history. 

    This will maximise and further boost dairy’s $23 billion in annual export revenue by allowing a wider range of exporters to tap into new markets and opportunities,” Mr McClay says.

    The Bill also enables portions of individual quotas to be reserved for dairy exporters currently ineligible for quota and those only eligible for less than 200 tonnes.

    “It will also unlock quota for non-bovine animal dairy exporters, such as sheep, goat and deer milk processors, opening up new export opportunities and revenue streams.”

    “This is all part of the Government’s work to support a successful primary sector and achieve our ambitious goal of doubling exports by value in ten years. 

    “The Government is committed to backing our primary producers, returning value to the fame gate and boosting our economy, because it is only through a strong economy we can lift incomes, reduce the cost of living and afford the public services Kiwis deserve.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 2024-45 ATTORNEY GENERAL LOPEZ URGES FEDERAL JUDGE TO ORDER THE FDA TO REVIEW ITS RESTRICTIONS ON ABORTION MEDICATION MIFEPRISTONE

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    2024-45 ATTORNEY GENERAL LOPEZ URGES FEDERAL JUDGE TO ORDER THE FDA TO REVIEW ITS RESTRICTIONS ON ABORTION MEDICATION MIFEPRISTONE

    Posted on Oct 14, 2024 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

     

    DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

    KA ʻOIHANA O KA LOIO KUHINA

     

    JOSH GREEN, M.D.

    GOVERNOR

    KE KIAʻĀINA

     

    ANNE LOPEZ

    ATTORNEY GENERAL

    LOIO KUHINA

    News Release 2024-45

     

    ATTORNEY GENERAL LOPEZ URGES FEDERAL JUDGE TO ORDER THE FDA TO REVIEW ITS RESTRICTIONS ON ABORTION MEDICATION MIFEPRISTONE

     

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    October 14, 2024

     

    HONOLULU – Attorney General Anne Lopez is urging a federal judge in Spokane, Washington, to rule that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s restrictions on the abortion medication mifepristone are inconsistent with the Administrative Procedure Act.

     

    “Since 2000, more than 5.6 million patients have safely used mifepristone. We should not be afraid to increase access to a medication whose safety and efficacy is based in science and proven over time. Artificial limitations on safe and effective medication are actual limitations on access to healthcare,” said Hawaiʻi Deputy Attorney General Erin Lau.

     

    The multistate lawsuit was filed last year in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington by 17 plaintiff states, including Hawaiʻi, and the District of Columbia.

     

    Of the more than 20,000 drugs approved by the FDA, only 73 drugs have extra restrictions known as a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS), including highly addictive drugs such as Oxycontin. An even smaller subset of drugs carries additional restrictions known as Elements to Assure Safe Use (ETASU), including certain risky cancer drugs and high-dose sedatives. Despite its proven safety and efficacy, mifepristone has both a REMS and an ETASU restriction.

     

    Although the REMS and ETASU restrictions have been relaxed over time, certain restrictions remain. To prescribe mifepristone, health care providers must be specially certified by the drug distributor and submit their certification form to every pharmacy to which they send a mifepristone prescription—an administratively burdensome requirement that is unique to mifepristone. The pharmacy must also be specially certified with the drug distributor before it can dispense a prescription.

     

    To receive the prescription, the patient and their provider must sign an agreement that certifies the patient has decided to take the medication to end the pregnancy—regardless of whether they are seeking an abortion or are being treated for a miscarriage, which is a common use for mifepristone. These remaining requirements are excessive when considering mifepristone’s safety profile.

     

    The multistate lawsuit asserts the restrictions on prescribing and dispensing mifepristone are unduly burdensome, harmful and unnecessary, reduce access to a critically important drug, and expose providers and patients to unnecessary privacy and safety risks. The risks are exacerbated by the growing criminalization and penalization of abortion around the country in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. The Dobbs case overturned nearly a half-century of precedent, stripping away the constitutional right to abortion recognized by the Court’s Roe v. Wade decision.

     

    The plaintiff states recently filed a motion for summary judgment, seeking to require the FDA to review whether mifepristone still meets the statutory requirements to impose a REMS with ETASU restriction based on its safety profile. The motion argues that decades of data conclusively show that mifepristone is safe and effective, and that medical experts have long opposed the FDA’s restrictions on the medication. By keeping the restrictions on mifepristone, the states argue that the FDA is unnecessarily and unlawfully limiting access to a medication that is safer than Tylenol, Viagra, and insulin.

     

    Along with Attorney General Lopez, attorneys general for Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Washington, D.C. joined the case.

     

    A copy of the motion can be found here.

     

    ###

    Media Contacts:

    Dave Day

    Special Assistant to the Attorney General

    808-586-1284

    Email: [email protected]

    Web: http://ag.hawaii.gov

     

    Toni Schwartz
    Public Information Officer
    Hawai‘i Department of the Attorney General
    Office: 808-586-1252
    Cell: 808-379-9249
    Email: [email protected]

    Web: http://ag.hawaii.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Newsom signs legislation to prevent gas price spikes and save Californians money

    Source: US State of California 2

    Oct 14, 2024

    What you need to know: New measure will help prevent price spikes that cost Californians upwards of $2 billion last year, giving the state more tools to require that petroleum refiners backfill supplies and plan ahead for maintenance.

    SACRAMENTO – Today, surrounded by legislators and community leaders in the rotunda of the California State Capitol, Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation to help prevent gas price spikes and save consumers money at the pump.

    The legislation — ABX2-1 authored by Assemblymembers Gregg Hart and Cecilia Aguiar-Curry and Senator Nancy Skinner — allows the state to require oil refiners to maintain a minimum inventory of fuel to avoid supply shortages that create higher gasoline prices for consumers and higher profits for the industry. It also authorizes the California Energy Commission to require refiners to plan for resupply during refiner maintenance outages. A signing message can be found here.

    “Price spikes have cost Californians billions of dollars over the years, and we’re not waiting around for the industry to do the right thing — we’re taking action to prevent these price spikes and save consumers money at the pump. Now, the state has the tools to make sure they backfill supplies and plan ahead for maintenance so there aren’t shortages that drive up prices. I’m grateful to our partners in the Senate and Assembly for acting quickly to push this forward and help deliver relief for Californians.”

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    “With this new law, big oil companies are now responsible for stabilizing prices at the pump. It’s a critical accomplishment, but our work is not done. I will continue to fight to lower the cost of living, because housing, groceries and everyday necessities must be more affordable for all Californians.” — Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Salinas)

    “Today, we’re coming together to provide needed relief at the pump and help keep hard-earned dollars in the pockets of Californians. I’m grateful to Governor Newsom, Speaker Rivas, and members of the Senate and Assembly for taking swift action on this critical issue. That said, our work isn’t stopping. We’re going to continue to grind away to help lower the cost of living for folks in every corner of the Golden State. It’s a necessity.” — Senate President pro Tempore Mike McGuire (D-North Coast)

    Why it’s needed

    Price spikes at the pump are profit spikes for oil companies, and they’re overwhelmingly caused by refiners not backfilling supplies when they go down for maintenance. If this proposal had been in effect last year, Californians could have saved hundreds of millions — if not billions — of dollars at the pump according to analysis from the  Division of Petroleum Market Oversight (DPMO):

    Experts have come out in support of this measure, including Stanford economists who praised the proposal for being “an economically sound policy that addresses an important problem in a well-targeted way” and the “additional supply would free up refinery capacity to serve Nevada and Arizona, also reducing prices in these markets.”

    Supporters of the bill include mayors, local leaders, consumer organizations, environmental advocates, labor, business leaders and consumer groups. Last month, the Governor and supporters met and discussed how gasoline price spikes affect millions of Californians’ everyday lives, and shared why this plan will help California families.

    How we got here

    The Governor convened a special session to focus on saving Californians money at the pump. The proposal authorizes the California Energy Commission (CEC) to require petroleum refiners to maintain a minimum inventory of refined fuel throughout the distribution chain to avoid supply shortages that create higher prices at the pump for consumers. It also authorizes the CEC to require refiners to plan for resupply during scheduled refiner maintenance. The text of the proclamation calling for a special session is available here.

    Following gasoline price spikes in 2022, Governor Newsom called for a special session and worked in partnership with the Legislature to sign into law a package of reforms holding Big Oil accountable. 

    California’s new watchdog found that higher gasoline prices were caused by a suspicious market transaction, refinery maintenance without properly preparing for it, and more. 

    In January of this year, the watchdog sent Governor Newsom and the legislature a letter outlining specific proposals to reform California’s gasoline spot market, which included a minimum inventory requirement to prevent price spikes due to lack of stable supply.

    The state’s gasoline price watchdog also found that, in 2023, gasoline prices spiked largely due to refineries going offline without adequately planning to backfill supplies, which caused refining margins to spike as spot and retail prices jumped — indicating that refinery margins made up the largest proportion of the price spikes between July and September 2023.

    Convening experts, community leaders, and consumer advocates

    The Governor today also announced his appointments to the Independent Consumer Fuels Advisory Committee:

    Martha Dina Arguello, of Los Angeles, has been appointed to the Independent Consumer Fuels Advisory Committee. Arguello has been Executive Director at Physicians for Social Responsibility – Los Angeles since 2007. She was Director of Health and Environmental Programs at Physicians for Social Responsibility – Los Angeles from 1999 to 2007. Arguello is Co-Founder and Co-Chair of Standing Together Against Neighborhood Drilling and Californians for a Health and Green Economy. She is a member of the California Air Resources Board AB 32 Environmental Justice Advisory Committee and the Steering Committee of Californians for Pesticide Reform. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Arguello is a Democrat. 

    Michael Jorgenson, of Mill Valley, has been appointed to the Independent Consumer Fuels Advisory Committee. Jorgenson has served as Supervisory Deputy Attorney General at the California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General since 2018. He was Deputy County Counsel IV at the Marin County Counsel’s Office from 2017 to 2018. Jorgenson served in several roles at the California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General from 2003 to 2017, including Deputy Attorney General in the Public Rights Division, Supervising Deputy Attorney General in the Civil Division and Deputy Attorney General in the Civil Division. He was an Associate at Berman Tabacco from 2001 to 2003 and at Kelly Gill Sherburne & Herrera from 1999 to 2001. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and History from University of Michigan. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Jorgenson is a Democrat. 

    Neale Mahoney, of Stanford, has been appointed to the Independent Consumer Fuels Advisory Committee. Mahoney has been a Professor of Economics at Stanford University since 2020. He was a Special Policy Advisor for Economic Policy at The White House from 2022 to 2023. Mahoney was a Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago from 2013 to 2020. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Economics from Stanford University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Mathematics and Economics from Brown University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Mahoney is a Democrat. 

    Deborah “Debbie” Meeks, of Walnut Creek, has been appointed to the Independent Consumer Fuels Advisory Committee. Meeks has been Manager of United States West Coast Policy and Business Coordinator at Shell USA since 2021. She was a Manager of Alliances and Portfolios at Shell US Retail from 2017 to 2021. Meeks was Americas and Mexico Regional Manager, Principal Account Executive, and Senior Account Manager at Shell Catalysts and Technologies from 1995 to 2017. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from California State University, Long Beach. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Meeks is a Democrat. 

    Norman Rogers, of Santa Ana, has been appointed to the Independent Consumer Fuels Advisory Committee. Rogers has been Second Vice-President at United Steelworkers Local 675 since 2021, and a Plant Operator in Oil Movements at Marathon Petroleum Corporation since 2018. He was a Plant Operator for Oil Movements at Tesoro Refinery from 2013 to 2018. Rogers was a member of the Fire Brigade at the Carson Refinery from 2001 to 2021. He was Plant Operator for Oil Movements at BP from 2001 to 2013, and at Arco Refinery from 1999 to 2001. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Rogers is registered without party preference.

    Astrid Zuniga, of Modesto, has been appointed to the Independent Consumer Fuels Advisory Committee. Zuniga has been President at United Domestic Workers/AFSCME 3930 since 2024 and was Vice President from 2016 to 2024. She has been Executive Secretary/Treasurer at the Stanislaus and Tuolumne Central Labor Council since 2013, and an In-Home Support Services Caregiver since 1998. Zuniga is a member of the California Democratic Party Executive Board and the Women’s Advisory Committee for AFSCME International. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Zuniga is a Democrat. 

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  • MIL-OSI China: Defense attachés from over 60 countries visit Chinese PLA Eastern Theater Command: Defense Spokesperson 2024-10-15 “At the invitation of China’s Ministry of National Defense, defense attachés from more than 60 countries went to the Chinese PLA Eastern Theater Command on October 14th for a five-day visit,” said Chinese Defense Spokesperson Senior Colonel Wu Qian at regular press briefing on Tuesday.

    Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense 2

      BEIJING, Oct. 15 — “At the invitation of China’s Ministry of National Defense, defense attachés from more than 60 countries including Pakistan, Singapore, South Africa, Jordan, the United Kingdom, Kazakhstan, Canada and Argentina went to the Chinese PLA Eastern Theater Command on October 14th for a five-day visit,” said Chinese Defense Spokesperson Senior Colonel Wu Qian at regular press briefing on Tuesday.

      According to the spokesperson, this visit will help them better understand the Chinese path to modernization, the great achievements made by the people’s military in the new era, and promote the friendly and cooperative relations between the Chinese military and the militaries of these countries.

    loading…

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China sees new trend in booming cultural, tourism consumption

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

    BEIJING, Oct. 12 — With neon lights sparkling against the night sky, a group of models, clad in vibrantly colored and intricately crafted costumes of ethnic minorities, sauntered down the catwalk, each step met with raucous applause.

    This fashion show featuring intangible cultural heritage is the first of its kind held on Qilou Old Street, a national historical and cultural street in Haikou, Hainan Province, south China.

    Both professional and amateur models walked the show, including Pan Yuzhen, in her seventies, a well-known inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage of Miao embroidery of the Miao ethnic group who had been a guest on the fashion stage in London and Paris.

    “This is my first time in Haikou, and I like it very much,” said Pan, adding that she was happy to have the opportunity to promote the intangible cultural heritage of her people.

    The performance, which integrated tradition with modernity, serves as a microcosm of how localities explored creative approaches to better meet the surging cultural and tourism demand during the National Day holiday ending earlier this week.

    Official data showed that 765 million domestic trips were made during the just-concluded holiday, up 5.9 percent year on year, with total tourist spending rising 6.3 percent to 700.8 billion yuan (about 99.1 billion U.S. dollars).

    People’s interest in traditional cultural attractions was reflected in the travel boom, with many flocking to historical sites over the vacation period. During the week-long holiday, the demand for taxi services to tourist attractions like ancient cities and towns soared by 111 percent compared to the pre-holiday period, according to data from Didi Chuxing, a popular ride-hailing platform in China.

    With multiple scenic spots featured in the Chinese hit video game “Black Myth: Wukong,” north China’s Shanxi province was experiencing a boom in tourists even before the holiday kicked off.

    In response to the travel peak, the local government and businesses intensified efforts to provide better services for all visitors. “Many local temples that were not accessible for hundreds of years are open to the public this time,” said a travel vlogger in her video on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok.

    As treasure troves of history and culture, museums have also been gaining popularity among the Chinese in recent years, with 1.29 billion visits to nationwide museums in 2023, surpassing the figures of previous years, data from Chinese authorities revealed.

    Aside from traditional hotspots, lower-profile cities and counties started to rank among the top travel destinations, as an increasing number of people, especially the youth from first-tier cities, prefer to spend their leisure time in less crowded areas.

    Data from Ctrip, a leading online travel agency, noted that tourism orders to counties during the National Day holiday grew by 20 percent compared to the same period last year.

    While venturing to different places, many tourists picked up cultural and creative products as mementos of their trips, and more thoughtfully designed items have started to make their way to market.

    This summer, a plush toy modeled after roujiamo, which is sometimes called the “Chinese hamburger,” went viral among visitors to Xi’an in northwest China’s Shaanxi province. A purchase was combined with learning to make this local street food, which has been hailed as a new, enticing experience. The toy has proved popular far and wide, with more than 10,000 orders made within three months, with people living as far away as New York and Sydney managing to snag one.

    Such consumption frenzy is evident across various cultural activities, including movies, concerts, music festivals and sporting events, with many willing to travel long distances for the experience.

    Mo Zhenqi, from south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, took his child to Rongjiang County, the birthplace of the Guizhou Village Super League, also known as “Cun Chao” in southwest China’s Guizhou Province. They came to watch friendly soccer matches featuring international players from countries including Brazil. He felt “extremely excited” about the fierce competition on the field, the wonderful song and dance performance, and the enthusiastic atmosphere.

    Tourists like Mo revved up the county’s holiday economy, as the holiday week witnessed nearly 500,000 trips to Rongjiang County, with over 600 million yuan in tourism revenue, an increase of nearly 22 percent year on year.

    “The booming cultural and tourism industry could play a more important part in upgrading the economy, boosting consumption, and meeting people’s needs for a better life,” said Miao Muyang, an official with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: 12/10/2024 Statement by the UNIFIL participating states following the recent attacks on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon.

    MIL ASI Translation. Region: Polish/Europe –

    Fuente: Gobierno de Polonia en poleco.

    At the initiative of Poland, a group of 34 countries participating in the UNIFIL peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, including three permanent members of the UN Security Council, issued a joint statement in New York on 12 October condemning the recent attacks on the mission’s force base. The countries called for an immediate cessation of attacks and for ensuring adequate protection for UN personnel in accordance with international law. The countries reaffirmed their full support for the UNIFIL mission and activities, the main objective of which is to ensure stability and lasting peace in southern Lebanon, as well as in the Middle East, in accordance with the relevant Security Council resolutions. They stressed that the role of UNIFIL is particularly important in light of the escalating situation in the region. The statement was addressed to the UN Secretary-General António Guterres, the President of the UN General Assembly Philemon Yang, the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix and the members of the Security Council. The UNIFIL mission is staffed by 10,000 personnel. peacekeeping troops, including over 200 Poles. Below is a list of countries that have joined the Polish initiative:

    1. Armenia2. Austria3. Bangladesh4. Brasilia5. Cambodia6. Chino7. Chipre8. Salvador9. Estonia10. Fiji11. Finland12. France13. Ghana14. Guatemala15. Hungary16. Indonesia17. Ireland18. Italy19. Kazakhstan20. Republic of Korea21. Latvia22. Malaysia23. Malta24. Mongolia25. Nepal26. Netherlands27. Poland28. Qatar29. Sierra Leone30. Spain31. Sri Lanka32. Tanzania33. Turkey34. Great Britain35. Germany36. Peru37. Uruguay Content of the statement:Statement by the States participating in the UNIFIL mission following the recent attacks on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon.As States participating in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), we reaffirm our full support for the UNIFIL mission and activities, the primary objective of which is to ensure stability and lasting peace in South Lebanon, as well as in the Middle East, in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.We consider the role of UNIFIL to be particularly important in light of the escalating situation in the region.In this regard, we strongly condemn the recent attacks on UNIFIL peacekeepers. Such actions must be immediately stopped and properly investigated.We call on the parties to the conflict to respect the presence of UNIFIL, which entails the obligation to guarantee the safety of its personnel at all times, so that they can continue to implement their mandate and continue their work of mediation and support for peace and stability in Lebanon and the wider region.We reaffirm our commitment to multilateral cooperation with the UN at its core. We call for respect for international law, in particular the UN Charter and the relevant Security Council resolutions.

    MILES AXIS

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Financial News: BRICS Central Bank Governors and Finance Ministers Discuss Cooperation Priorities

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Central Bank of Russia –

    At a meeting in Moscow, the Chairman of the Bank of Russia Elvira Nabiullina and the Minister of Finance of the Russian Federation Anton Siluanov summed up the results of the Russian presidency of BRICS in terms of central banks and finance ministries.

    The meeting participants adopted a statement on key areas of joint work:

    BRICS Contingent Reserve Pool and development of macroeconomic information exchange; cooperation in the payment sector; development of the BRICS channel in the field of information security; interaction in the settlement and depository sector; joint research in the field of transitional financing and financial technologies; conducting training events and seminars with the central banks of the BRICS countries.

    The central bankers noted the successes achieved this year in integrating new BRICS members into the financial track. The BRICS representatives stressed the importance of the Bank of Russia’s initiative on joint central bank cyber exercises and supported their implementation every year.

    Elvira Nabiullina thanked the central banks of the BRICS countries for their joint work within the framework of the Russian presidency and expressed support for Brazil’s presidency in 2025.

    Preview photo: Roscongress

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

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

    http://vvv.kbr.ru/press/event/?id=21080

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: A Serendipitous NASA Family Reunion

    Source: NASA

    Growing up in Puerto Rico, Yomayra Cruz-Diaz didn’t imagine that one day she would work at NASA. Today, she serves as technical project coordinator at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Virginia, supporting its Aeronautics Research Directorate. 
    Cruz-Diaz’s position requires her to travel in support of public engagement events and recently she supported NASA’s presence at the Miramar Airshow in San Diego, California where the agency’s booth featured Spanish-language STEM materials.
    Something, or rather, someone, made this event especially unique for Cruz-Diaz: Her son, Israel Martinez-Cruz, is currently serving in the United States Marine Corps and is stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. 
    In a stroke of serendipity, they were both working the same event for their respective employers. Living on opposite sides of the country, they hadn’t seen each other in person for nearly a year. With surprise and joy, they hugged.
    Growing up in a Puerto Rican household, conversations about core values revolved around family, Martinez-Cruz said. He recalled seeing his mom work at NASA and feeling inspired by her work ethic. That level of commitment ran in the family.
    “Israel and I would carpool,” she said. “He would drop me off at Langley and then he would go on his way to his aircraft mechanic school.”
    Martinez-Cruz serves as an air traffic controller, work that Cruz-Diaz knew about but had never seen in person.
    “He’s explained to me what his job entails but taking a tour of his job site gives me a whole new understanding,” she said after a tour of the air traffic control tower.  
    NASA is proud to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month, the annual observance honoring the wide and rich histories, cultures, and contributions of the Hispanic and Latino community. In the words of NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, “Adelante y hacia arriba,” or “Onward and upward!” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Una reunión familiar de la NASA por casualidad

    Source: NASA

    Al crecer en Puerto Rico, Yomayra Cruz-Díaz no imaginó que algún día trabajaría en la NASA. En la actualidad, se desempeña como coordinadora de proyectos técnicos en el Centro de Investigación Langley de la NASA en Virginia, apoyando a su Dirección de Investigación Aeronáutica.
    El puesto de Cruz-Díaz le requiere viajar para apoyar eventos de participación pública y recientemente apoyó la presencia de la NASA en una exhibición aérea, en San Diego, California, donde el puesto de la agencia presentó materiales STEM en español.
    Algo, o, mejor dicho, alguien, hizo que este evento fuera especialmente único para Cruz-Díaz: su hijo, Israel Martínez-Cruz, actualmente sirve en los Marines de los Estados Unidos y está destinado en la Estación Aérea del Cuerpo de Marines de Miramar.
    En un golpe de suerte, ambos trabajaban en el mismo evento para sus respectivos empleadores. Al vivir en lados opuestos del país, no se habían visto en persona durante casi un año. Con sorpresa y alegría, se abrazaron.
    Al crecer en un hogar puertorriqueño, las conversaciones sobre los valores fundamentales giraban en torno a la familia, dijo Martínez-Cruz. El recuerda haber visto a su madre trabajar en la NASA y sentirse inspirado por su ética de trabajo. Ese nivel de compromiso era hereditario.
    “Israel y yo compartiríamos el viaje”, ella dijo. “El me dejaba en Langley y luego seguía el camino a su escuela de mecánica aeronáutica”.
    Martínez-Cruz se desempeña como controlador de tránsito aéreo, trabajo que Cruz-Díaz conocía pero que nunca había visto en persona.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China sees new trend in booming tourism consumption

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    People visit a historical and cultural street in Xixiu District of Anshun City, southwest China’s Guizhou Province, Oct. 2, 2024. (Photo by Chen Xi/Xinhua)

    With neon lights sparkling against the night sky, a group of models, clad in vibrantly colored and intricately crafted costumes of ethnic minorities, sauntered down the catwalk, each step met with raucous applause.

    This fashion show featuring intangible cultural heritage is the first of its kind held on Qilou Old Street, a national historical and cultural street in Haikou, Hainan Province, south China.

    Both professional and amateur models walked the show, including Pan Yuzhen, in her seventies, a well-known inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage of Miao embroidery of the Miao ethnic group who had been a guest on the fashion stage in London and Paris.

    “This is my first time in Haikou, and I like it very much,” said Pan, adding that she was happy to have the opportunity to promote the intangible cultural heritage of her people.

    The performance, which integrated tradition with modernity, serves as a microcosm of how localities explored creative approaches to better meet the surging cultural and tourism demand during the National Day holiday ending earlier this week.

    Official data showed that 765 million domestic trips were made during the just-concluded holiday, up 5.9 percent year on year, with total tourist spending rising 6.3 percent to 700.8 billion yuan (about 99.1 billion U.S. dollars).

    People’s interest in traditional cultural attractions was reflected in the travel boom, with many flocking to historical sites over the vacation period. During the week-long holiday, the demand for taxi services to tourist attractions like ancient cities and towns soared by 111 percent compared to the pre-holiday period, according to data from Didi Chuxing, a popular ride-hailing platform in China.

    With multiple scenic spots featured in the Chinese hit video game “Black Myth: Wukong,” north China’s Shanxi province was experiencing a boom in tourists even before the holiday kicked off.

    In response to the travel peak, the local government and businesses intensified efforts to provide better services for all visitors. “Many local temples that were not accessible for hundreds of years are open to the public this time,” said a travel vlogger in her video on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok.

    As treasure troves of history and culture, museums have also been gaining popularity among the Chinese in recent years, with 1.29 billion visits to nationwide museums in 2023, surpassing the figures of previous years, data from Chinese authorities revealed.

    Aside from traditional hotspots, lower-profile cities and counties started to rank among the top travel destinations, as an increasing number of people, especially the youth from first-tier cities, prefer to spend their leisure time in less crowded areas.

    Data from Ctrip, a leading online travel agency, noted that tourism orders to counties during the National Day holiday grew by 20 percent compared to the same period last year.

    While venturing to different places, many tourists picked up cultural and creative products as mementos of their trips, and more thoughtfully designed items have started to make their way to market.

    This summer, a plush toy modeled after roujiamo, which is sometimes called the “Chinese hamburger,” went viral among visitors to Xi’an in northwest China’s Shaanxi province. A purchase was combined with learning to make this local street food, which has been hailed as a new, enticing experience. The toy has proved popular far and wide, with more than 10,000 orders made within three months, with people living as far away as New York and Sydney managing to snag one.

    Such consumption frenzy is evident across various cultural activities, including movies, concerts, music festivals and sporting events, with many willing to travel long distances for the experience.

    Mo Zhenqi, from south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, took his child to Rongjiang County, the birthplace of the Guizhou Village Super League, also known as “Cun Chao” in southwest China’s Guizhou Province. They came to watch friendly soccer matches featuring international players from countries including Brazil. He felt “extremely excited” about the fierce competition on the field, the wonderful song and dance performance, and the enthusiastic atmosphere.

    Tourists like Mo revved up the county’s holiday economy, as the holiday week witnessed nearly 500,000 trips to Rongjiang County, with over 600 million yuan in tourism revenue, an increase of nearly 22 percent year on year.

    “The booming cultural and tourism industry could play a more important part in upgrading the economy, boosting consumption, and meeting people’s needs for a better life,” said Miao Muyang, an official with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: NGV’s Reko Rennie retrospective asks whether he should be considered Australia’s Keith Haring

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sasha Grishin, Adjunct Professor of Art History, Australian National University

    Installation view of
    OA_RR, 2016-2017 at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia     Photo Kate Shanasy

    Is Reko Rennie Australia’s equivalent of Keith Haring? Both Rennie, a Melbourne-based Aboriginal artist who celebrates the heritage the Kamilaroi people of northern New South Wales, and Haring, the American pop art great, emerged out of an urban graffiti culture.

    Both create a widely recognisable visual language that has a striking vitality, sense of authenticity and a pulsating vibrancy. Both are deeply autobiographical artists who created a visual code through which to share their personal histories.

    Rennie is an interdisciplinary artist who seamlessly moves between video, printmaking, sculpture, painting and neon art. With more than a hundred works on display, drawn from the artist’s two-decade-long career, this is the first significant retrospective of his art.

    Rennie possesses the gift of creating memorable images that are simultaneously puzzling, intriguing and entertaining. On entering the gallery, you encounter a 1973 Rolls-Royce Corniche decorated with the strange camouflage colours that reoccur throughout Rennie’s art. The physical car is accompanied by a three-channel video work with a Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds soundtrack.

    Installation view of REKOSPECTIVE: The Art of Reko Rennie at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia.
    Photo Kate Shanasy/NGV

    Beginnings

    Although born in Footscray in Melbourne, the artist’s grandmother Julia, who belonged to the Stolen Generation in the 1920s and was enslaved on a pastoral station, raised him and imparted to him his Kamilaroi heritage. In his youth, Rennie saw a photograph of a pastoralist and his wife dressed up for Sunday church and seated in their luxury Rolls-Royce car. At the time, he reflected on the poverty his grandmother would have experienced while working on a pastoral station.

    The markings he made on the car, that are layered with a traditional diamond pattern of the Kamilaroi people, claim ownership over the vehicle. Inside it is a photograph of his grandmother. In the video, with a setting sun as a backdrop, Rennie drives the car down dirt tracks to his home country and, in something resembling burnouts, he makes traditional sand engravings with the tyres of the car. The work is poignant, evocative and becomes quickly embedded in your memory.

    The piece references an earlier one, with a pink 1973 Holden Monaro. In that video, the car performs a series of burnouts and doughnuts, the traditional initiation ceremony with Westie drag-racing culture of suburbia into which the artist was born. This is in contrast with the initiation practices and traditional sand engravings of the Kamilaroi people. The video is accompanied with an operatic score from Yorta Yorta woman, composer and soprano, Deborah Cheetham, performed with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. Again, the video becomes a haunting and somewhat surreal experience.

    Street spaces

    Rennie is an artist who looks best when he operates in a public environment.

    His early street art, accompanied by break dancing and hip hop, thrives in the accidental lighting of urban spaces. He loves the way street art can ambush the viewer and employ strategies that catch and hold the gaze of the casual passerby. Keith Haring and Howard Arkley were two of the artists who pointed a way for Rennie to move from the street and onto the gallery wall. Although they may have suggested some of the formal strategies, Aboriginal culture provided the content that would consummate the work and give it a narrative.

    When in 2020 there was a commemoration of the 250th anniversary of Lieutenant James Cook’s first landfall at Botany Bay and the HMB Endeavour’s charting of the East Coast of Australia, the Carriageworks in Sydney commissioned Rennie to make a piece for the occasion.

    Reko Rennie, REMEMBER ME 2020, LEDs, plastic, aluminium, electrical components, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Gift of the Eva, Mila and Reko Collection through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program, 2023.
    2023.229
    © Reko Rennie

    His monumental text work is made up of LED neon lettering held up in an aluminium armature. It measures over two-and-a-half metres in height and almost 19 metres in length. The simple message, one anchored in a tradition of street art, reads: “REMEMBER ME”. Cook’s landing marked the beginning of a process of invasion and dispossession, Rennie’s text affirms an opposition to the invasion and stresses that First Nations people survived. Sovereignty was never ceded.

    This message has been at the core of much of Rennie’s art, for instance, in the two neon pieces, OA Warrior I (pink) and OA Warrior I (blue), both from 2020. They are based on an 1800s photograph of a defiant Kamilaroi warrior with his raised club. The message is that the OA (Original Aboriginal) will never cede sovereignty.

    Reko Rennie, Kamilaroi born in 1974, Initiation 2013, synthetic polymer paint on plywood, Collection of the artist.
    Supported by Esther and David Frenkiel
    © Reko Rennie, courtesy blackartprojects, Melbourne

    In a much earlier piece from 2016, that has always been one of my favourites in Rennie’s art, a ten-metre-long banner bears the inscription, “I was always here”. It is made of hand-pressed metallic foil on satin where he employs the geometric diamond patterning of the Kamilaroi people as a background to the words.

    The work commemorates all of the Frontier Wars, massacres and oppression suffered by First Nation peoples in this country and in many other countries in a powerful way.

    ‘We’re not a monoculture.’ Artist Reno Rennie introduces his works.

    Impressive and consistent

    Rennie, who turns 50 this year, exhibited at the 56th Venice Biennale in 2015 and with the 2016 XIII Bienale de Cuenca in Ecuador and has held numerous exhibitions across Australia, Asia, the United States and Europe.

    His star is in the ascendancy and he is widely regarded as one of Australia’s most distinctive and versatile artists, who is attracting international acclaim.

    Beautifully curated by Myles Russel-Cook as his final show at the NGV before he takes up the directorship of ACCA, Rekospective is impressive in scope, consistent in content but not repetitive.

    While Keith Haring died at the age of 31, I feel Reko Rennie will be viewed, in retrospect, as an artist at least as significant as Haring and one of growing importance in Australian art.

    REKOSPECTIVE: The Art of Reko Rennie is at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia until 27 January 2025. Free admission.

    Sasha Grishin 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. NGV’s Reko Rennie retrospective asks whether he should be considered Australia’s Keith Haring – https://theconversation.com/ngvs-reko-rennie-retrospective-asks-whether-he-should-be-considered-australias-keith-haring-238881

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Exercise empowers lung cancer patients to take active role in treatment

    Source: University of South Australia

    14 October 2024

    Coughing, chest pain and a shortness of breath – they’re all distressing symptoms of lung cancer. So, while exercise may seem a counterintuitive activity for lung cancer patients, new research shows otherwise.

    In a cornerstone review from a team of global experts*­ – including Southern Cross University and the University of South Australia – researchers show that exercise may not only improve quality of life and treatment effectiveness, but also boost survival rates for lung cancer patients.

    Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. In Australia, it is estimated that 15,122 people will be diagnosed with lung cancer this year alone.

    Examining the effects of exercise on various lung-cancer associated health outcomes, researchers have now developed recommendations for patients and health practitioners, to support exercise before, during and after lung cancer treatments.

    Combined aerobic and resistance training, performed 2-5 times per week, is typically prescribed across the cancer continuum. Researchers say that exercise can support lung cancer patients by:

    • Improving quality of life: Exercise programs demonstrate improvements in fitness, strength, and quality of life for people with lung cancer before, during, and after treatment.
    • Reducing symptoms: Exercise can help manage cancer-related symptoms such as fatigue, breathlessness, and muscle weakness.
    • Reducing post-op complications: Preoperative exercise programs may lead to reduced postoperative complications and shorter hospital stays.
    • Boosting wellbeing: Exercise during treatment can help patients maintain muscle mass, reduce fatigue, and improve psychological well-being.
    • Increasing appetite: Exercise may play a role in managing cancer cachexia (a common complication of cancer that causes you to lose significant amounts of skeletal muscle and body fat) and can be safe for patients with bone metastases when properly prescribed.
    • Easing advanced symptoms: Exercise can be beneficial even for patients with advanced-stage lung cancer, helping to manage symptoms and improve quality of life.

    Lead author Southern Cross University’s Associate Professor Kellie Toohey says to optimise exercise interventions for lung cancer patients, an integrated approach across interdisciplinary care teams was needed.

    “Lung cancer care involves a broad range of healthcare professionals – oncologists, clinical exercise physiologists, dieticians, psychologists, and physical therapists – all of whom must work together to support a patient with exercise,” Associate Professor Toohey says.

    “To facilitate this integration, we need to educate healthcare providers and patients about exercise in lung cancer care.

    “By highlighting the mental and physical benefits of exercise, we hope that patients can be empowered to take a more active role in their treatment and recovery, potentially transforming their lung cancer journey from passive endurance to active participation in health improvement.”

    UniSA researcher Dr Ben Singh says the research challenges beliefs about the inability of people with lung cancer to exercise.

    “There’s an often-held misconception that lung cancer patients are too ill or frail to exercise, particularly because their illness affects their lungs and breathing. But contrary to this belief, research shows that exercise can have many benefits for people with lung cancer,” Dr Singh says.

    “Exercise has the potential to counteract many health issues, not only improving their quality of life, but also potentially influencing treatment outcomes.

    “This is particularly striking given the historically poor prognosis associated with lung cancer.

    “Regular, tailored exercise can help improve a patient’s physical condition, helping them better tolerate the physical demand of diagnosis, surgery, treatment, and recovery. It can also vastly improve a patient’s mental health, helping counteract feelings of depression and anxiety, so often associated with a lung cancer diagnosis.”

    Notes for editors:

    *This research has been conducted by a team of researchers from Southern Cross University, University of Canberra, University of Sydney, University of Technology Sydney, Edith Cowan University, Flinders University, Queensland University of Technology, University of Notre Dame Australia, University of South Australia, Universidade de Caxias do Sul (Brazil), Institute for Respiratory Health, University of Western Australia, University of Queensland, University of Pittsburgh (USA), Campbelltown Hospital, University of Melbourne, The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Griffith University, and Cancer Council Queensland.

    Media contacts

    Southern Cross University: Sharlene King, media office, M +61 429 661 349 E scumedia@scu.edu.au
    UniSA: Annabel Mansfield, media & communications, M +61 479 182 489 E Annabel.Mansfield@unisa.edu.au
    UniSA contact for interview:  Dr Ben Singh E: Ben.Singh@unisa.edu.au

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Fall of Khrushchev: 60 years since the ‘most democratic coup’ in Soviet history, how Comrade Nikita was toppled

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Tomas Sniegon, Associate Professor, Department of European Studies, Lund University

    The overthrow of Nikita Khrushchev from the posts of first secretary of the Soviet Communist Party and the leader of the Soviet state in October 1964 was an unprecedented event in the history of the Soviet Union.

    The old leader was deposed by the opposition without violence. He was not imprisoned or killed after losing power. While his predecessors Lenin and Stalin and successors Brezhnev, Andropov and Chernenko all died in power, Khrushchev was sent into retirement, where he lived under supervision for another seven years.

    Unlike the era of the last Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, the Soviet Union did not disintegrate when its leader had to relinquish power. Six decades have now passed since what has become known as the “most democratic coup” in Soviet history – sometimes referred to as the “little October revolution”.

    Khrushchev, who rose to power on the death of Josef Stalin in 1953, actually came close to being overthrown as early as 1957. At that time, Stalin’s former collaborators and close comrades, including Georgy Malenkov and Vyacheslav Molotov, opposed him. They even gained an upper hand in the party’s highest body, the presidium. But Khrushchev was saved by the support of the army leadership, the KGB political police and the wider party leadership, the central committee.

    Seven years later, however, he was brought down by politicians from the next generation – men who largely owed their powerful positions to him.

    Strongest among them was Leonid Brezhnev, who duly took Khrushchev’s place as first secretary (shortly afterwards renaming his position general secretary, the same title as Stalin). Next in line was Alexander Shelepin, the powerful secretary of the party’s central committee who had run the KGB from 1958 to 1961.

    The role of the KGB, which in October 1964 was headed by Shelepin’s successor Vladimir Semichastny, was crucial in ensuring Khrushchev’s downfall, as its ninth directorate – which was responsible for the protection of state officials – not only protected but also constantly monitored them.

    Semichastny not only knew about the revolt against Khrushchev but was actively involved in it. Had he informed the leader about the plotting, pretty much what he was in the job to do, Khrushchev would more than likely have averted the palace coup this time as well.

    In his memoirs, Semichastny even mentioned the fact that Brezhnev raised the possibility of Khrushchev’s assassination during one conversation with him. But this plan was never put into action. In the event the plot to remove the Soviet leader was completed by non-violent means.

    Reforming leader

    Khrushchev has gone down in history as a reformer who wanted to make Soviet communism less brutal. He strongly criticised Stalin for his abuse of power but, at the same time, he gradually increased his own powers.

    His efforts at political and economic reforms stopped when they posed a threat to maintaining the monopoly of communist power. Despite paying lip service to the idea of less heavy-handed domination of the Soviet bloc from Moscow, he became known for his bloody suppression of the Hungarian revolt in 1956. During the Cuban missile crisis in 1962, he then brought the world to the brink of nuclear war.

    New kind of leadership: Kruschev meeting US president John F Kennedy in Vienna in 1961.

    His initially positive reforms improved the living standards) of the people in his country, but later became chaotic and led to social unrest, including the massacre of workers in Novocherkassk in 1962 and the need to buy grain from the west, which he had previously wanted to ideologically “bury”.

    Also, the rift between the Soviet Union and China at the turn of the 1950s and 1960s caused a certain resentment in Moscow. Khrushchev’s moves towards liberalisation had not caused the rift, which was more due to China’s increased authoritarianism under Mao Zedong during that era. This was exacerbated by border disputes between the two countries as well as disagreements over international relations. But Khrushchev’s critics felt he could – and should – have handled relations more skilfully.

    Fall and legacy

    Having faced down a coup attempt in 1957, by October 1964 Khrushchev found himself politically isolated and without support in either the presidium or in the central committee. His opponents forced him to return prematurely from his vacation in the Georgian report town of Pitsunda to Moscow where he was confronted by his political opponents, led by Brezhnev with the support of other powerful politicians, including Shelepin, Alexei Kosygin and Mikhail Suslov.

    Realising his supporters in the presidium were in the minority and that to retain power would mean involving the army or KGB, which he was not confident would back him, Khruschev resigned.

    Reflecting on how his leadership had rejected Stalinism, he is reported to have said: “I am glad that, finally, the party has matured and can control any individual.”

    But Brezhnev, who manoeuvred himself into power in Khrushchev’s stead, learned from the fall of his predecessor and tightened his grip on the levers of power. Yet the Soviet Union – thanks in large part to Khrushchev – never returned the state terror and mass murder of Stalinism.

    The Soviet Union was to experience another coup attempt against a leader in 1991, when conservative opponents tried to overthrow another reformer, Mikhail Gorbachev. But this attempt, much less prepared and elaborate and lacking the necessary wider support, failed. The Soviet Union collapsed and was formally disbanded just a few months later.

    But for many people, it’s Khrushchev whose reforms and governing style began the gradual disintegration of the Soviet Union as far back as the 1950s, partly thanks to his efforts to impose more democratisation. It is not surprising that the current Russian president, Vladimir Putin, disdains him – especially since Khrushchev, according to Putin, “senselessly donated” Crimea to Ukraine in 1954.

    At least Khrushchev himself was able to live to focus on the positives. He would recall in his memoir how he freed his country from the suffocating fear of Stalinism and was able to raise a generation of younger politicians who were finally not afraid to stand up to him. Sadly, this is no longer a hallmark under the current leadership.

    Tomas Sniegon 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. Fall of Khrushchev: 60 years since the ‘most democratic coup’ in Soviet history, how Comrade Nikita was toppled – https://theconversation.com/fall-of-khrushchev-60-years-since-the-most-democratic-coup-in-soviet-history-how-comrade-nikita-was-toppled-241053

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor issues statement on the passing of Rep. Dona Irwin

    Source: US State of New Mexico

    SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued the following statement Thursday on the passing of former New Mexico Representative Dona Irwin, who served District 32 and the people of Deming with dedication and strength for 18 years:

    “I had the privilege of working alongside Dona Irwin for many years, and I will always remember her as a stalwart advocate for New Mexico’s children, families, and rural communities. She was especially skilled at connecting our agricultural heritage with educational opportunities, especially through her work with the Cooperative Extension Service. Dona understood the vital connection between agriculture, our land-grant, university families, and programs like 4-H that support the next generation.

    Rep. Irwin’s contributions to New Mexico extended far beyond that. Long before universal meals and healthy cooking became national priorities, Dona was ahead of her time, working to bring healthy meals and community gardens to senior centers across rural New Mexico. Her visionary leadership improved the lives of so many in our state.

    Above all, when Dona gave you her word, she kept it. She embodied integrity and strength in everything she did. My deepest condolences go to her children, Craig and Janet, her grandchildren, and her entire family. Dona’s legacy will live on through the many lives she touched.”

    Irwin represented Deming and New Mexico’s House District 32 from 1999 to 2017, serving her district with determination and dedication.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Experts of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women Commend New Zealand’s Promotion of Gender Equality, Ask about Initiatives to Address Violence against Women and Discrimination against Māori Women and Girls

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women today considered the ninth periodic report of New Zealand, with Committee Experts praising the State’s achievements in promoting gender equality and raising questions about initiatives to address high levels of violence against women and discrimination against Māori women and girls, and reports of reduced funding for those initiatives.

    In the dialogue, several Committee Experts commended New Zealand’s efforts promoting gender equality.  One Expert welcomed that the State party had achieved gender parity in Parliament recently, while another Expert congratulated the State party on ranking fourth in the Global Gender Gap Index.

    Natasha Stott Despoja, Committee Expert and Rapporteur for New Zealand, said the rates of violence against women and girls in New Zealand were alarming. She also expressed concern about reports of reduced funding for initiatives to prevent violence against women.

    Another Committee Expert said Māori women and girls continued to face disproportionate levels of discrimination.  The Committee was alarmed by austerity measures which weakened efforts to fight discrimination in many Government bodies, including the disestablishment of the Māori Health Authority.  How would the State party promote the rights of indigenous peoples?

    Saunoamaali’i Dr Karanina Sumeo, Acting Chief Human Rights Commissioner of New Zealand, said that although Māori women and girls continued to experience various inequalities, the Government was reviewing the role of the Māori Tribunal and had stopped all efforts to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.  The Government needed to implement the Declaration, she said.

    Introducing the report, Kellie Coombes, Secretary for Women and Chief Executive of the Ministry for Women of New Zealand and head of the delegation, said New Zealand’s women leaders had held the role of Prime Minister for 16 out of the last 27 years.  In October 2022, women Members of Parliament gained an equal share of seats in the New Zealand House of Representatives, making the State one of only six countries in the world to have achieved gender equality in Parliament.

    The delegation added that the Government had implemented temporary special measures to improve women’s representation in political bodies and the defence force.  A woman had been appointed as the leader of the New Zealand Army in September 2024. New Zealand also held back funding from sporting bodies that did not have a certain level of female representation on their boards.

    Emma Powell, Chief Executive of the Interdepartmental Executive Board for the Elimination of Family Violence and Sexual Violence of New Zealand, said the National Strategy for the Elimination of Family Violence and Sexual Violence guided efforts to address the underlying social conditions and norms that led to family violence and sexual violence.  The State party aimed to reduce the number of annual crimes against women by 11,000 in the next two years.  For 2024, ministers had agreed not to cut the budget devoted to combatting family and sexual violence.

    Paula Rawiri, Deputy Secretary of Policy at Te Puni Kōkiri (Ministry for Māori Development) of New Zealand, said New Zealand was working to ensure that it was a nation where Māori women and girls could thrive.  The Ministry for Māori Development would soon publish reports on disparities in justice, health, education, employment and socio-economic wellbeing.  This body of work would yield valuable insights on legislative and policy levers to combat intersecting forms of discrimination against Māori women and girls.

    In closing remarks, Ms. Coombes said New Zealand had made good progress toward gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, underpinned by its commitment to the Convention.  There was more work to be done, and the Committee’s concluding observations would help the State party to achieve its goals.

    Ana Peláez Narváez, Committee Chair, in concluding remarks, thanked the delegation for the constructive dialogue, which had allowed the Committee to better understand the situation of women and girls in the State party.  The Committee called on the State party to implement its recommendations for the benefit of all women and girls in New Zealand.

    The delegation of New Zealand consisted of representatives from the Executive Board for the Elimination of Family Violence and Sexual Violence; Te Puni Kōkiri (Ministry of Māori Development); Ministry for Women; and the Permanent Mission of New Zealand to the United Nations Office at Geneva.

    The Committee will issue the concluding observations on the report of New Zealand at the end of its eighty-ninth session on 25 October.  All documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage.  Meeting summary releases can be found here.  The webcast of the Committee’s public meetings can be accessed via the UN Web TV webpage.

    The Committee will next meet in public at 3 p.m. on Monday, 14 October to hold a meeting with non-governmental organizations and national human rights institutes from Chile, Canada, Japan and Cuba, whose reports will be reviewed next week.

     

    Report

     

    The Committee has before it the ninth periodic report of New Zealand (CEDAW/C/NZL/9).

    Presentation of Report

    KELLIE COOMBES, Secretary for Women and Chief Executive of the Ministry for Women of New Zealand and head of the delegation, said New Zealand strongly valued diversity and took pride in promoting human rights and equal treatment for all people.  It was the first country where women gained the right to vote and had a strong record of women’s political leadership.  In September, the State marked the one hundred and thirty-first anniversary of women’s suffrage.  Women leaders had held the role of Prime Minister for 16 out of the last 27 years. In October 2022, women Members of Parliament gained an equal share of seats in the New Zealand House of Representatives, making the State one of only six countries in the world to have achieved gender equality in Parliament.  New Zealand ranked fourth out of 146 nations on the World Economic Forum Global Gender Gap Index.

    Since the last report was submitted, New Zealand had had a change of Government.  The new Government’s key focus areas included rebuilding the economy, restoring law and order, and delivering better public services.  It was committed to the protection of the human rights of all women and girls in New Zealand, the promotion of gender equality, upholding women’s safety and wellbeing, protecting women and girls from all forms of violence, and reducing gender inequities in health.  Through deliberate action, the public service gender pay gap had fallen from 12.2 per cent in 2018 to 7.1 per cent in 2023, its lowest level. Work was now progressing alongside New Zealand businesses to develop a gender pay gap calculation tool.

    Work towards improving health outcomes for women and girls included the extension of free breast cancer screening for women aged 70-74, which would mean around 120,000 more women would be eligible for screening every two years.  The introduction last year of a world-leading self-test for cervical screening had seen more than 80 per cent of women being tested take up this option.  In 2023, for the fourth consecutive year, women’s representation on public sector boards reached 50 per cent or above, with women now holding 53.9 per cent of these roles.  Women were also better represented in board chair roles, reaching 46.2 per cent – a significant increase from 41.9 per cent in 2022. 

    Māori and ethnic diversity of public sector boards had also continued to increase since data collection for ethnicity began in 2019. The Global Women and the Champions for Change Group had achieved at least 40 per cent representation of women at board level.  Women’s representation on councils was the highest it had ever been, at nearly 46 per cent at the 2022 elections.  The online safety organization “Netsafe” was developing an online toolkit for workplaces to protect women in leadership positions from harassment and abuse.

    Women’s participation in the New Zealand labour force had steadily increased, from 54.3 per cent in 1991 to 67.4 per cent in June 2024. The women’s employment rate was currently at 64.5 per cent, remaining the fifth highest since measurement began in 1986.  Families in New Zealand had been negatively impacted by rising living costs.  Recent initiatives to support working parents included a six per cent increase in paid parental leave, and the introduction of the “FamilyBoost” payment to help families meet the cost of early childhood education.  The Government had also committed to prioritising a bill to allow parents to share parental leave as they see fit and introduce a three-day stay policy to ensure mothers and babies were entitled by law to 72 hours post-partum care.

    Health outcomes were improving overall for women in New Zealand and women had a longer life expectancy than men.  However, women spent more years in poor health than men with more medical interventions for conditions experienced across their lifetime. Health challenges were bigger for many groups of women and girls, including wāhine Māori (Māori women), Pacific women, rural women and disabled women.

    The State party was committed to gender equality in New Zealand for all women and girls.  Despite significant progress, challenges remained, and the Government needed to continue to build on the progress it had made to improve outcomes for all women and girls.

    EMMA POWELL, Chief Executive of the Interdepartmental Executive Board for the Elimination of Family Violence and Sexual Violence of New Zealand, said New Zealand had high and concerning rates of family violence and sexual violence.  Women were three times as likely as men to experience intimate partner violence. One in three women experienced sexual assault in their lifetime. In December 2021, the National Strategy for the Elimination of Family Violence and Sexual Violence was launched. It guided the efforts of the Government, indigenous peoples, communities and specialist sectors to address the underlying social conditions and norms that led to family violence and sexual violence. 

    The first action plan to implement the strategy, spanning 2021-2023, was now complete, and from its 40 actions progress had been made across a range of areas, including the development and implementation of new family violence workforce capability frameworks and training, and expanded community-led responses to violence.  The next action plan would be published by the end of the year.  It would prioritise improving multi-agency responses, and strengthening the evaluation of what worked to support investment, further equipping workforces to respond to victims of violence.

    PAULA RAWIRI, Deputy Secretary of Policy at Te Puni Kōkiri (Ministry for Māori Development) of New Zealand, said that after a period of nationwide mourning of the recent passing of Kingi Tuheitia Pōtatau Te Wherowhero IIV, a beacon of implicit reverence for indigenous women had appeared through the anointment of a young Māori queen.  New Zealand was driving a transformational journey of advancement for Māori women and girls, working to ensure that New Zealand was a nation where Māori women and girls could thrive.  The Ministry for Māori Development had implemented research arising from the Mana Wāhine Kaupapa Inquiry on systemic discrimination, deprivation and inequities experienced by Māori women as a result of Treaty of Waitangi breaches by the Crown.  An initial tranche of reports would shortly be published on the representation of Māori women in public sector decision-making roles and disparities in justice, health, education, employment and socio-economic wellbeing.  This body of work would yield valuable insights on legislative and policy levers to combat intersecting forms of discrimination against Māori women and girls. 

    The Ministry had also developed a series of national strategies, which were driving better outcomes and equality for Māori women and girls across fields such as justice, child protection, living with disabilities, access to technology, housing and education.  It was working to ensure greater representation of Māori women in public sector decision-making roles and within Māori communities. Māori women, girls and families continued to carry the burden of socio-economic inequity.  There was much more to do but when Māori society thrived, New Zealand society also thrived.

    SAUNOAMAALI’I DR KARANINA SUMEO, Acting Chief Human Rights Commissioner of New Zealand, said the Human Rights Commission had “A” status accreditation under the Paris Principles.  Māori women and girls continued to experience various inequalities. The Government was reviewing the role of the Māori Tribunal and had stopped all efforts to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.  The Government needed to implement the Declaration and provide mental health support for Māori women and girls.  There had been a recent reduction in funding for responses to gender-based violence. 

    This year, a report from a Royal Commission of Inquiry revealed cases of torture of women and girls in New Zealand institutions. The State party needed to implement the Inquiry’s recommendations and develop legislation to reduce online harm against women.  The social security system disadvantaged women and could lead to their financial entrapment.  In 2023, one in eight children lived in poverty in New Zealand and gender and ethnic pay gaps persisted.  For every one dollar a New Zealand man earned, Māori and Pacific women earned less than 70 cents.  The Government lacked urgency to address this issue.  Workplace harassment was also affecting women.  The Government needed to reinstate the Fair Payment Agreement Act and ensure the right to equal work for all genders and persons with disabilities.

    Questions by a Committee Expert 

    NATASHA STOTT DESPOJA, Committee Expert and Rapporteur for New Zealand, said that New Zealand had long been a global leader in national development, both with regard to its labour force, being the first country to introduce minimum wage, and with regard to gender equality, being the first country in the world to afford women with the right to vote.  She commended the progress that had been made toward ensuring women in rural communities had access to abortion through the national establishment of the abortion telehealth service.  However, there were concerns around the Government’s reinterpretation of the Treaty of Waitangi and the removal of several equity measures, including the Māori health authority, and removal of State support for the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.  Māori women and girls had reported feeling unhoused, unnoticed and unsafe.  What progress had been made in protecting their rights, and in implementing the recommendations issued by the Royal Commission of Inquiry into abuse of Māori women and girls in institutions?

    The Committee noted recent steps taken to address family and sexual violence, including the 2018 passing of the Family Violence Act, the Sexual Violence Legislation Act in 2021, and the launch of the National Strategy and Action Plan to Eliminate Family Violence and Sexual Violence in 2022.  However, the rates of violence against women and girls in New Zealand were alarming.  Women were disproportionately at risk of facing violence.  Ms. Stott Despoja expressed concern about reports of reduced funding for initiatives to prevent violence against women, and the cessation of a safety-focused regulatory review of online services and platforms before it was completed.  What had been the impact of the 2019 Christchurch mosque shooting on women and girls?  Were women and girls of Muslim faith facing increased social hostility in the public space?

    It was welcome that the Convention and New Zealand’s reports had been published on the Ministry for Women’s website.  Did the State party plan to publish these in Pacific languages? There was a concerning lack of specific mentions of gender within New Zealand’s Human Rights Act.  What steps had been taken to amend the Act to include specific prohibitions of discrimination on the grounds of gender identity, gender expression, and sex characteristics?  It was also concerning that legal aid funding for cultural reports had been removed.  Around 67 per cent of women in prison in New Zealand were Māori.  Did the State party have a replacement strategy for these reports? How many times had gender-discrimination cases been brought before the courts in the last five years, and how many times had the Convention been invoked?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said the New Zealand Law Commission was reviewing whether the Human Rights Act adequately protected transgender people and people with diverse sexual characteristics.  The Government would consider any recommendations made when the review was completed in 2025.  In September this year, the Government launched a Human Rights Monitor, which recorded and tracked recommendations from the United Nations treaty bodies. The Government would consider the recommendation to publish information related to the Convention in Pacific languages. 

    Recently, New Zealand had changed the threshold for persons who could receive legal aid, increasing access for marginalised women and girls, including Māori and Pacific women and girls.  There had been six court cases since 2018 that had referred to the Convention.

    The Ministry for Women had developed a working relationship with the New Zealand Islamic Council since the Christchurch shooting and was working to support Muslim women and girls in the community, including to reach leadership positions.  The Government had launched an impactful campaign that sought to challenge perceptions of this group.

    New Zealand was committed to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Treaty of Waitangi, and the positive outcomes that both sought for the Māori community.  The Government had decided to focus on meeting targets in nine key areas, aiming to support families at community level, so as to implement the Declaration.  Recent policy changes had affected the Māori community.  The Government would work together with Māori organizations to address concerns related to these changes.

    Questions by Committee Experts 

    One Committee Expert congratulated New Zealand for ratifying all nine of the United Nations human rights treaties.  New Zealand’s first national action plan on women, peace and security concluded in 2019.  The Committee hoped that the next iteration of the plan would include measures addressing security both internally and externally.  Could more information on New Zealand’s feminist diplomacy be provided? The omission of language as grounds for discrimination in State legislation needed to be revisited.  It was welcome that the 2023 budget included a gender lens.  Did the budget address intersectional discrimination against women with disabilities?

    It was welcome that there were six Supreme Court judgements on the Convention. Did the Māori Tribunal apply the Convention in its decision making?  Data was part of the Māori knowledge system, and the way that the digital domain was governed had implications in this regard.  The Government had reportedly failed to protect Māori from online risks, including related to the protection of their data.  How would the Government protect and support access to data for Māori women?

    Another Committee Expert said that New Zealand had made history in the nineteenth century by being the first country to allow women to vote.  It was welcome that the State party had achieved gender parity in Parliament recently.  Māori women and girls continued to face disproportionate levels of discrimination. The current Government had disestablished the Māori Health Authority.  The Committee was also alarmed by austerity measures which weakened efforts to fight discrimination in many Government bodies.  What temporary special measures was the State party planning to achieve full gender parity in political representation?  How would the State party address gaps created by budget cuts in the protection of the rights of women and girls?  How would the State party increase Māori representation in local governments and promote the rights of indigenous peoples domestically and internationally?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said New Zealand continued to progress work aligned to its national action plan on women, peace and security.  It was developing a second national action plan, but no decisions had been made yet.  The State had co-hosted a women, peace and security summit in Samoa in 2019, which had launched a gender defence network that included defence forces from countries in the region.  New Zealand had also supported gender mainstreaming in Fiji and the development of the State’s first women, peace and security action plan.  There was also a gender focal point network within the defence force.  The New Zealand police provided support in eight Pacific nations to strengthen the frontline response to gender-based violence.

    New Zealand supported women’s leadership, and equitable access to health and education in the Pacific.  In 2021, it launched a gender action plan to ensure that its official development assistance incorporated a gender lens.  At least 60 per cent of official development assistance focused on promoting gender equality.  The State party published an annual report of official development assistance, which outlined spending on policies promoting gender equality.

    The State party had ministries supporting Pacific peoples and persons with disabilities.  It had developed databases of women in leadership positions.  The Ministry for Women had developed a tool that supported Government bodies to implement a gender perspective.

    The State party ensured the independence of the judiciary.  Judges and members of the judiciary received training that encouraged them to operate in a gender responsive manner.

    The Government had implemented temporary special measures to improve women’s representation in political bodies and the defence force.  A woman had been appointed as the leader of the New Zealand Army in September 2024.  New Zealand held back funding from sporting bodies that did not have a certain level of female representation on their boards.  Women currently held 31 per cent of board-level roles in private companies. The Government was considering policies to accelerate progress in this area.  New Zealand was encouraging women and girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and maths fields, and was working to address online harassment of women in leadership through its “Netsafe” programme.

    New Zealand was advocating for issues, including reproductive health and rights, equal pay for equal work, and women’s participation within the United Nations human rights mechanisms.  The State had also worked to strengthen language on gender equality and women’s empowerment in General Assembly resolutions.

    Funding for the Ministry for Women had recently been reduced by around seven per cent. It continued to work to fulfil its mandate with this budget.  The Ministry worked collaboratively with other Government bodies to achieve results for the communities they represented.

    Questions by Committee Experts 

    NATASHA STOTT DESPOJA, Committee Expert and Rapporteur for New Zealand, asked whether the 2024 budget had gender budgeting.  Was the Government planning a national action plan on the rights of women and girls?

    A Committee Expert congratulated the State party on ranking fourth in the Global Gender Gap Index and for its efforts to reduce harmful gender stereotyping.  However, some stereotypes against women remained prevalent.  What measures were in place to address these?  The high level of violence against women and girls was alarming.  Domestic violence rates had increased over the last five years.  How was the Government responding to this?  How did it protect women who left violent partners? Two-thirds of family violence incidents were not reported to the police.  Was the Government considering restorative justice models to address family and sexual violence, and raising awareness on economic harm as a form of family violence?

    There had been an increase in gender-based abuse on online platforms, yet funding for reducing online harm had been reduced.  Would the State party review laws to increase accountability and transparency for online companies?  The Committee welcomed a new bill that would make stalking a crime.  What was the timeline for its implementation?

    The Crimes Act of 1961 was amended in 2016 to address trafficking in persons for various purposes, including forced labour.  How many traffickers had been penalised for sex trafficking over the reporting period?  The Government had implemented legislation to address modern slavery, but had this year disbanded the modern slavery leadership group.  How was the Government addressing modern slavery?  The State party fully decriminalised prostitution in 2003.  What had been the positive and negative implications of this legal measure?

    The Government had also rolled back protections for migrant workers in work visa and seasonal employment schemes.  Employers were now allowed to increase accommodation costs, and visa applications for migrants’ spouses and children were no longer supported.  Did the State party intend to ratify the International Labour Organization Convention 190 on workplace violence?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said gender budgeting was not included in the 2024 budget due to time constraints after the formation of the new Government.  However, agencies reported on the implications of budgeting for women.  The Ministry for Women was not currently prioritising the development of a national action plan on the rights of women and girls.

    Sport played an important role in countering gender stereotypes.  The 2023 Women’s World Cup, which was co-hosted by New Zealand, had increased the profile of women’s sports and athletes. The Broadcasting Standards Authority monitored portrayals of women and girls in the media and had issued guidance on their representation.

    New Zealand’s Crime and Victims Survey showed that there had been an increase in family violence and sexual assault in the last two years.  The State party aimed to further strengthen data collection on these crimes and reduce the number of annual crimes against women by 11,000 in the next two years.  The National Strategy on Family and Sexual Violence had been renewed and the Government was developing a new set of actions under the strategy.  For 2024, ministers had agreed not to cut the budget devoted to combatting family and sexual violence.  Judicial and police training programmes had clear curricula addressing family and sexual violence and capacity building efforts were ongoing.

    Work was underway to recognise stalking as a crime and the bill on stalking was expected to pass by the end of this year.  Economic harm against women and girls was pervasive in New Zealand. The Government would strengthen awareness raising campaigns on this issue, targeting vulnerable groups.

    New Zealand’s policy was to not ratify international conventions until domestic law aligned with them.  The State party would consider aligning domestic legislation with International Labour Organization Convention 190 before ratifying it.  Employers were allowed to recruit seasonal migrant workers in sectors where there were staff shortages.  They were required to pay for half of workers’ airfares, provide quality accommodation for employees, and respect their rights.

    Work on addressing trafficking in persons was ongoing.  In the last 12 months, there had been 17 certified instances of trafficking identified, but there had been no convictions secured related to people trafficking over the reporting period.  The action plan against forced labour, people trafficking and slavery was in place until 2025.  There had been various policies and laws implemented to prevent trafficking and exploitation of migrants under the action plan.  Training in trafficking in persons had been provided for 400 frontline border officials, and fora on combatting trafficking in persons were held annually.

    The Prostitution Reform Act of 2003 decriminalised prostitution, aiming to protect sex workers’ rights.  There was an issue with section 19 of the Act, which prohibited foreign nationals from engaging in sex work.  This section aimed to protect migrants from exploitation but could have a negative impact on migrant workers.  Changes to this legislation would require careful consultation with stakeholders. On balance, the Act was a positive advancement for sex workers’ rights in New Zealand, but the State party would continue to assess how it was implemented.

    Questions by Committee Experts

    A Committee Expert asked about the causes of the recent rise in gender-based violence.  The Expect welcomed the State’s efforts to prevent underage marriage.  What these made any achievements?  Was the Government working to identify underage and forced marriages that went under the radar?

    Another Committee Expert welcomed efforts by the State party to promote women’s participation in sports and address sexual and family violence.  What work was the State party doing with perpetrators of sexual violence?  How many complaints were reported of discrimination against intersex persons each year?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said the cost-of-living crisis had exacerbated the situation of vulnerable families, potentially leading to an increase in rates of violence. There was also a high rate of revictimisation, indicating that some State responses lacked effectiveness. The State party was working with civil society to address this issue.

    Coerced marriage was illegal in New Zealand.  A Family Court judge needed to provide permission for young people aged 16 or 17 to marry.  The police’s policy on forced and underaged marriages had been updated to address a wider range of coerced unions.  Sexual offenders were required to participate in 50 hours of counselling sessions.  The Government was changing the design of rehabilitation programmes to counter reoffending and implementing awareness raising programmes promoting positive masculinity.  The Ministry of Māori Development was involved in community-led efforts to address sexual and family violence against Māori women.

     

    Questions by Committee Experts

    One Committee Expert said New Zealand had made remarkable steps in promoting gender balance.  The Inter-Parliamentary Union ranked New Zealand at fifteenth worldwide in women’s representation in political bodies.  However, the representation of women in Parliament had recently decreased from the 2022 peak.  Some political parties had implemented quotas of 50 per cent female representation, but not all had.  Only 29 per cent of the managerial positions of private companies were held by women. Did the State party plan to introduce gender quotas for all political parties?  What initiatives were in place to support women politicians and women in the foreign service?  What was the representation of women in the judiciary?

    Another Committee Expert said that since 2006, persons born in New Zealand were not automatically entitled to New Zealand nationality; at least one parent needed to now be a New Zealand or Australian citizen for the child to receive nationality.  What was the status of the bill to repeal this legislation and were there measures to address the harm it had caused, including for Western Samoan persons? The process for granting citizenship for stateless persons was too long and did not have a deadline.  Would the State party consider ratifying the 1954 Convention relating to the status of stateless persons?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said that in 2022, the Government announced funding for intersex healthcare, including peer support and training for practitioners.  The Government promoted a human rights-based approach to intersex health.  There was a lack of data on intersex healthcare, but work was underway to collect such data by 2027.

    New Zealand had a Harmful Digital Communications Act that addressed online stalking and posting images without consent.  Complaints related to online abuse could be sent to the Online Safety Authority “NetSafe”, which could bring cases to courts as necessary.  The Authority was pushing back strongly against online abuse.

    The issue of gender quotas within political parties was a matter for the parties themselves.  There was a push to make Parliament more family friendly.  Parliamentary recess periods were being aligned with school holidays and there was a play area on Parliament grounds.  Several women parliamentarians were balancing work and childcare.  The share of women in the judiciary was 53 per cent.

    Questions by Committee Experts 

    NATASHA STOTT DESPOJA, Committee Expert and Rapporteur for New Zealand, asked if there would be further legal amendments to ensure intersex persons had the same protection as males and females.

    Another Committee Expert commended New Zealand’s progress in women’s education, including its endorsement and implementation of the Safe Schools Declaration, and provision of educational support to pregnant teenagers and Māori girls. Around 34 per cent of women with disabilities had received no education and there was a lack of teaching aides for children with disabilities.  How would the State party address these issues? 

    Indigenous and poor children lacked access to internet services.  How would the State party facilitate online learning for poor and indigenous women?  There continued to be high levels of bullying of marginalised children in schools.  How would the State party address impunity for bullying in schools?  The Government had recently cut funding for the school lunches programme by over 100 million United States dollars.  Did the State party intend to revive this funding?  How was the State party facilitating the teaching of indigenous and Pacific languages in schools?

    One Committee Expert said New Zealand had progressive traditions that had been reflected in its achievements in women’s employment and representation in managerial positions.  What measures were being developed to support migrant women and Pacific Islander women to access employment, particularly in the private sector?  Was the State party using new technologies to analyse the employment market and barriers to it? 

    There was reportedly a high level of workplace violence; 38 per cent of women had suffered such violence.  The State party had not ratified International Labour Organization conventions related to workplace violence.  How many complaints had been submitted to the Human Rights Commission on workplace harassment?  What progress had been made in the plan to combat workplace harassment?  Had the State party considered measures to support working mothers, such as a four-day working week?  Were women able to access employment in fast-growing technology sectors?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said the Law Commission had published an issues paper on legislation on intersex persons.  Consideration of this paper would address increased protection for intersex persons.

    New Zealand was committed to ensuring that education was accessible and inclusive for all students, including women and girls.  School boards needed to ensure that schools were safe, inclusive places for all students and staff and that students could receive the highest standard of education.  There were measures in place to strengthen the learning support system for children with disabilities, including measures to increase teachers’ ability to meet the needs of all learners. 

    The Ministry of Education’s digital technologies programme aimed to increase students’ access to digital technology for learning and their digital literacy. The rural broadband initiative had significantly increased access to the internet in rural areas.  When the programme was completed in 2025, more than 99 per cent of rural areas would have access to the internet.  More than 650 Māori communities had gained access to the internet through the programme. 

    Data on bullying indicated that students with disabilities, poor students and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex students were disproportionately affected by it.  Bullying prevention and response work by the Bullying Prevention Advisory Group aimed to foster safe and inclusive environments in schools.  The Department of Internal Affairs had developed resources that helped children and parents to stay safe online.  The school lunches programme was still in place, though its funding had been reduced.

    Education legislation included provisions that called on the Crown to respect Māori persons’ education rights.  The Government had committed to a Māori education action plan that promoted their identity, culture, language and rights as indigenous peoples, and fostered educational environments free from racism.  Barriers to implementing this plan included the lack of teachers in rural areas.

    In August 2024, the employment action plan was launched, which aimed to promote access to employment for marginalised groups, including women.  The State party was developing a voluntary calculation tool for the gender wage gap.  It would consider whether to make the tool mandatory in the future.  Over 100 businesses had already published their gender pay gaps online as part of the initiative.

    In 2023, changes were made to the legal system to help women to seek justice when they experienced workplace harassment.  The deadline for filing a complaint was extended from 90 days to one year.  Grievances related to workplace harassment could be raised with mediation bodies, the Employment Relations Authority, or courts if required.  The Government provided 26 weeks of paid parental leave for workers of either gender.  Pay was equal to workers’ normal pay up to a threshold of 700 New Zealand dollars, and leave could be shared between both parents.

    Questions by Committee Experts 

    A Committee Expert said it was remarkable that the Government provided free period products to students.  Was the State party considering making education in indigenous languages compulsory in all schools across the State?

    Another Committee Expert said New Zealand had a shortage of nurses due to the aging of society and the demands of the profession.  There was also a shortage of midwives.  The wages of these professions were not following inflation. What measures were in place to increase the number of nurses and midwives, particularly in rural areas? What measures were in place to protect persons with disabilities from sterilisation procedures being implemented on them without their free, prior and informed consent?

    Abortion services had been made legal and available for most women, but there was a lack of training on abortion for rural health workers, limiting access in rural areas.  How was the State party ensuring access to abortion services in rural areas and preventing stigmatisation of persons who sought abortions?  What measures were in place to speed up the diagnosis of endometriosis? How would the State party prevent cervical and uterus cancer in Māori women and implement the Committee’s general recommendation 39 on indigenous health?

    NATASHA STOTT DESPOJA, Committee Expert and Rapporteur for New Zealand, said women made up 90 per cent of COVID-19 pandemic-related redundancies in 2020. Marginalised women had disproportionately high levels of poverty and women obtained an average of 25 per cent less superannuation than their male counterparts.  How was the State party addressing this?  The 2023 budget had included funds for free early childcare for two-year-old children.  Had these funds been invested as planned in 2024?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said education providers were required to provide Māori language education to all students who wished to receive it.  Making such education compulsory would require extensive consultations with stakeholders.

    The health workforce plan for 2023 and 2024 aimed to address challenges in the workforce and attract more healthcare staff.  Support funding was provided to former midwives to encourage them to return to the profession.  Support was also being provided to nursing and midwifery students to help them to access work, with additional support being provided to Māori and Pacific students. The State party had exceeded its targets for recruiting Māori and Pacific nurses.

    It was illegal for sterilisations to be performed without consent.  Persons with disabilities had the right to informed consent regarding such procedures and the right to refuse medical treatment. The Health and Disability Commissioner received and worked to resolve complaints related to health services. In 2024, the Ministry of Health had implemented a programme to respond to the needs of persons with disabilities and promote supported decision making.

    Medical practitioners were provided with training on abortion care and contraception.  Self-screening technologies were being implemented to increase cancer screenings. The Māori Health Authority’s role had been brought within the Health New Zealand agency.  The Authority had provided health services tailored to Māori, including Māori women.  Health New Zealand would continue with this mandate, aiming to provide faster and higher quality health services, including cancer screening, for Māori women.

    The 2024 budget included a partial refund for early childhood education fees. The first allotment of these funds had recently been distributed to families.  Families could access 20 free hours of early childhood education per week once their children turned three.

    New Zealand had a high level of occupational segregation, which led to the COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately impacting women in the tourism and hospitality sector.  Support payments were provided to persons impacted by the pandemic.

    Questions by Committee Experts 

    ANA PELÁEZ NARVÁEZ, Committee Chair, said that the 1979 law on sterilisation allowed parents and guardians to make a decision on sterilisation on behalf of persons with disabilities in their care.  Was this law still being applied?

    A Committee Expert asked how women could lead data governance.  What mental health services would be made available to rural women farmers, who were disproportionately affected by climate change? Was the State party implementing relevant international conventions on climate change?

    Would the State party follow the Bangkok Rules in its treatment of women prisoners?  What legal services were available for migrant women who were victims of harmful practices?  Forty per cent of women with disabilities experienced intimate partner violence. How was the State party addressing this?

    Another Committee Expert asked about measures implemented to address issues in the family court system, including measures with a gender lens.  There was a shortage of family law legal aid providers, especially in rural areas.  How was this being addressed?  What child support payments had been ordered for fathers in the past 10 years?  Had payments decreased?  How did the State party train family court mediators on parental alienation?  How were family members protected from violent fathers?  Was the State party investigating discriminatory inheritance practices?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said the Ministry of Health was focused on delivering better outcomes for women living in rural communities.  It was working to increase awareness of telehealth services and improve transport and accommodation assistance for rural people seeking healthcare.

    The State party had implemented measures to increase access to healthcare, including maternal healthcare, for women in prisons and had invested in employment, re-education and training programmes for those women.  The Bangkok Rules were reflected in the State’s 2004 and 2005 legislation on correctional facilities.

    New Zealand had victims support services and legal aid services that were available for migrants.  In 2025, the Government planned to conduct a review of its legal aid services. Migrants, including temporary migrants, who were victims of family violence could apply for a special residency visa that fast-tracked access to New Zealand citizenship.  The State party would engage with stakeholders to assess how harmful practices were affecting migrant women.

    The State party would continue to increase the reach of training for family court staff.  Resources had been updated to increase the accessibility of family courts for children and young people.  There were bills before parliament that aimed to protect women from abuse in courts and that removed the mandatory two-year period for resolving family disputes. Judges were compelled to take note of family violence when considering guardianship of children, and to incorporate child witness statements when assessing family violence.  The Government continued to pursue improvements in legislation related to family courts.

    Concluding Remarks 

    KELLIE COOMBES, Secretary for Women and Chief Executive of the Ministry for Women of New Zealand and head of the delegation, said the Committee’s questions and reflections showed the time and energy it had invested into analysing the situation of women and girls in New Zealand.  New Zealand had made good progress toward gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, underpinned by its commitment to the Convention.  There was more work to be done, and the Committee’s concluding observations would help the State party to achieve its goals.  The dialogue with the Committee had been positive, constructive and engaging.

    ANA PELÁEZ NARVÁEZ, Committee Chair, thanked the delegation for the constructive dialogue, which had allowed the Committee to better understand the situation of women and girls in the State party.  The Committee called on the State party to implement its recommendations for the benefit of all women and girls in New Zealand.

    Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media; 
    not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

     

    CEDAW24.026E

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Prominent Law Enforcement Groups Back Rep. Gabe Vasquez’s Bipartisan Stop Fentanyl at the Border Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Gabe Vasquez’s (NM-02)

    National Fraternal Order of Police, U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s union and more endorsed Vasquez’s bill

    LAS CRUCES, N.M. – U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (N.M.-02) announced the support of several prominent law enforcement organizations for his bipartisan Stop Fentanyl at the Border Actthatprovides increased funding, technology and staffing for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to keep our communities safe and combat the growing fentanyl crisis. Endorsements include the National Fraternal Order of Police, National Association of Police Organizations, National Treasury Employees Union (representing CBP officers), National Narcotic Officers’ Associations’ Coalition, and Major County Sheriffs of America.

    These groups, representing thousands of officers and law enforcement professionals on the front lines of the opioid crisis, support Vasquez in his efforts to combat fentanyl smuggling and stop the flow of illicit drugs into the United States.

    “Having the support of the men and women in law enforcement who work to protect our communities is an important endorsement to stop this crisis at the source. Fentanyl is having a tragic impact on young people and our families. I’m grateful for law enforcement’s support of my bill to combat fentanyl smuggling,” said Vasquez. “My bipartisan Stop Fentanyl at the Border Actprovides additional screening resources and staff to U.S. Customs and Border Protection to help save lives. This is not a partisan issue, we must come together to prevent further tragedy, overdoses and death.”

    The Stop Fentanyl at the Border Act provides increased funding for personnel, advanced inspection technology and equipment to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), ensuring that officers have the resources to effectively detect and stop the flow of fentanyl into the United States. This bipartisan bill also addresses the illegal exportation of goods, firearms and currency, which are often tied to drug trafficking networks.

    “Our law enforcement members are the first line of defense against the scourge of fentanyl that comes across the American border each day,” said Patrick Yoes, President of theNational Fraternal Order of Police. “On behalf of more than 377,000 members of the Fraternal Order of Police, I thank you both for your leadership on the issue.” 

    “The Stop Fentanyl at the Border Act provides much needed support, resources, and funding to the southwest border to help federal, state, and local law enforcement fight the trafficking of fentanyl and other illicit drugs into the country,” said William J. Johnson, Executive Director of the National Association of Police Organization (NAPO). “Law enforcement at all levels of government have long been asking for these resources to support their efforts to prevent and detect fentanyl coming into this country and our communities. NAPO continues to fight for resources to support law enforcement’s efforts to combat fentanyl, its analogues, and similar opioids. We thank [Rep. Vasquez] for your leadership on this issue and we look forward to working with you to pass this important legislation.”

    The opioid crisis continues to devastate hundreds of thousands of American families as deadly, illicit narcotics are smuggled into the county. Fentanyl-related overdoses are responsible for over 70,000 deaths a year in the United States. Vasquez’s bill addresses CBP’s lack of necessary personnel, technology and resources to prevent these deadly substances from entering the United States.

    Vasquez’s Stop Fentanyl at the Border Act remains a key part of his broader commitment to safeguard New Mexico’s families and address the opioid crisis. The bill has gained momentum as it continues to receive bipartisan support and endorsements from law enforcement professionals dedicated to ending the fentanyl epidemic.

    In Congress, Vasquezhas worked across the aisle to find real solutions to these problems, securing over $280 million for border security, voting to add 22,000 new Border Patrol agents and introducing a series of bipartisan bills that would improve security at ports of entry, crack down on cartels and ensure that those who work hard and play by the rules have an opportunity for legal citizenship.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hurricane Milton Crosses Florida

    Source: NASA

    Your browser does not support the video tag.

    Hurricane Milton barreled into Florida’s west-central coast on the evening of October 9, 2024, making landfall south of Tampa as a major Category 3 storm. The hurricane lashed the region with heavy rainfall, damaging winds, and life-threatening storm surge, according to the National Hurricane Center.
    This animation shows Milton in the days before, during, and after its devastating encounter with Florida. The false-color images depict infrared signals known as brightness temperature, which is useful for distinguishing cooler cloud structures (white and purple) from the warmer surface below (yellow and orange). Data for the animation were acquired by the MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) and VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) instruments on several NASA and NOAA satellites.
    Since infrared data are based on temperatures rather than visible light, the data can be obtained day or night. This animation shows both daytime and nighttime images, beginning at 3:35 p.m. Eastern Time (19:35 Universal Time) on October 8 and ending at 3:08 a.m. Eastern Time (07:08 Universal Time) on October 10.
    Shortly before the first image of this series, Milton was a Category 4 storm with sustained winds of 155 miles (250 kilometers) per hour. It soon grew to a Category 5 storm and then weakened to a still-potent Category 3 storm prior to making landfall on October 9. The storm maintained hurricane-strength intensity and fast, forward speed while crossing Florida, emerging over the western Atlantic as a Category 1 storm with sustained winds of 85 miles (140 kilometers) per hour at the end of this animation on October 10.

    On the morning of October 8, 2024, an astronaut aboard the International Space Station took this photo of Hurricane Milton as it churned over the Gulf of Mexico as a Category 4 storm. Astronaut photos of the region are being made available to various agencies via the International Disasters Charter and NASA’s Disasters Response Coordination System (DRCS).
    NASA’s DRCS has been activated to support agencies responding to the storm, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Florida Geospatial Information Office. The team will be posting maps and data products on its open-access mapping portal as new information becomes available about flooding, power outages, precipitation totals, and other topics.
    NASA Earth Observatory images by Michala Garrison, using MODIS and VIIRS data from NASA EOSDIS LANCE and GIBS/Worldview and the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS). Astronaut photograph ISS072-E-29325 was acquired on October 8, 2024, with a Nikon Z 9 digital camera using a 50 millimeter lens and is provided by the ISS Crew Earth Observations Facility and the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, Johnson Space Center. The image was taken by a member of the Expedition 72 crew. The image has been cropped and enhanced to improve contrast, and lens artifacts have been removed. The International Space Station Program supports the laboratory as part of the ISS National Lab to help astronauts take pictures of Earth that will be of the greatest value to scientists and the public, and to make those images freely available on the Internet. Additional images taken by astronauts and cosmonauts can be viewed at the NASA/JSC Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth. Story by Kathryn Hansen.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley, Ossoff Laud Senate Passage of Bipartisan Prison Contraband Bill

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
    WASHINGTON – Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a senior member and former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) applauded the Senate’s unanimous passage of their Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act. The bipartisan bill aims to increase the penalty for smuggling or possessing a contraband cellphone in federal prisons from a misdemeanor to a felony. It now awaits passage in the House of Representatives. 
    “Contraband cellphones allow prisoners to coordinate illegal activity from behind bars. That’s an obvious security risk to prison staff, other inmates and the public,” Grassley said. “I’m glad the Senate passed our bipartisan legislation to stiffen penalties for cellphone smuggling, and the House ought to follow suit.” 
    “My bipartisan investigations of corruption, abuse, and misconduct in the Federal prison system have revealed systemic challenges that allow for the dangerous flow of contraband, which is a threat to safety and security,” Ossoff said. “Bringing Republicans and Democrats together, we’ve passed our bipartisan bill to strengthen penalties for smuggling contraband into Federal prisons.” 
    “A cell phone in a prison is a deadly weapon. Yet, as our investigative work continues to demonstrate, contraband cell phones have proven to be pervasive inside many federal prisons—a reality that undermines the safety and security of these institutions for BOP staff, inmates, and the public,” said Department of Justice (DOJ) Inspector General Michael Horowitz. “Lieutenant Albarati was a true hero, selflessly dedicated to making his community and MDC Guaynabo safer by preventing criminal activity inside the facility. I commend Senators Ossoff, Grassley, and Booker for honoring his memory by sponsoring this public safety reform and for recognizing the severity of this problem. By making the introduction of a cell phone into a prison a felony, the Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act will allow investigators and prosecutors to more effectively bring to justice those introducing cell phones into prisons, curb the flow of illicit cell phones into prisons, make our communities and prisons safer, and help to save lives. We look forward to working with the House of Representatives on a bipartisan basis, as it considers this critical public safety reform.” 
    Additional cosponsors include Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), and Ted Cruz (R-Texas).
    Bill text is available HERE.
    Background:
    The Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati Stopping Prison Contraband Act builds on the Grassley-Feinstein Cell Phone Contraband Act, which became law in 2010, designating cellphones as contraband in federal prison.
    Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati, a Bureau of Prisons (BOP) correctional officer, was murdered in 2013 after completing his shift at a federal prison in Puerto Rico. Five men who plead guilty to the crime admitted they targeted Albarati as a direct result of continuous seizures of contraband, including cellphones. The inmate who placed the hit on Albarati did so using a contraband cellphone.
    A recent DOJ report from Inspector General Horowitz found nearly a third of deaths in BOP custody have occurred as a result of contraband, drugs or weapons.
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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: To Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, Reed Leads Tour of Latino-Owned Small Businesses

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
    CENTRAL FALLS, RI – In an effort to highlight the Ocean State’s vibrant Latino culture, restaurants, and small businesses, U.S. Senator Jack Reed today teamed up with the City of Central Falls and the Rhode Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and lead a special walking tour along Broad Street in Central Falls.
    The theme of this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month is “Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together.” Hispanic Heritage Month is observed annually from September 15 to October 15.  It is a time to appreciate and celebrate the colorful cultures, rich histories, and diversity of the nation’s Hispanic population whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
    The special walking tour: “Un recorrido por los negocios hispanos que impulsan y elevan a nuestras comunidades” (“A tour of hispanic businesses that fuel and uplift our communities”), featured several small businesses, both new and long-standing establishments, and amplified ventures that are helping power the local economy forward while also giving back to their neighbors.
    “The theme of this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month is about shaping the future.  As we saw during today’s walking tour, Mayor Rivera, the Rhode Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and Central Falls’ diverse small business community have embodied that theme through their actions, advocacy, and commitment to their neighbors,” said Senator Reed.  “I will continue to stand with Rhode Island’s vibrant and diverse Hispanic and Latino communities to ensure that the future of our state remains strong, prosperous, and welcoming to all who want to plant their roots here.”
    “Central Falls celebrates the rich cultural contributions of our Latino and Hispanic communities and is home to many Latino-owned small businesses that make our city vibrant,” said Central Falls Mayor Maria Rivera.  “Thank you, Senator Reed, for your incredible partnership and support for Latino communities across Rhode Island, and to the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for ensuring these businesses have the resources they need to succeed.”
    At the beginning of the tour, Senator Reed joined Mayor Rivera, Oscar Mejias, and members of the community for lunch at La Hacienda Restaurant, a family-owned restaurant dishing out authentic Salvadoran Mexican cuisine. The group then visited a host of local businesses that help the community celebrate together, eat together, and join together.
    The tour included stops at Krystal’s Flower Shop, a small business providing specialty floral arrangements and decorations for celebrations and ceremonies; Esperanza Convenience Store; Tony’s Shoe Service; Rossell’s Beauty Salon, a community institution that has been a fixture on Broad Street for nearly 30 years; and Elsy Nutrition, a family-owned small business promoting the importance of good nutrition.
    Hispanic or Latino residents now make up 18 percent of Rhode Island’s population, up from 12.4 percent in 2010, according to the latest numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau.  The Ocean State has long been home to thriving Colombian, Dominican, Guatemalan, Puerto Rican, and Mexican communities among others, each with its own unique traditions and identities within the Hispanic community that all contribute to Rhode Island’s shared culture and heritage.

    MIL OSI USA News –