Category: Law and Justice

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Safety first: Polytechnic junior students explained how to avoid problems

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    A safety lesson for first- and second-year students was held in the White Hall of SPbPU. The event, organized by the Civil Security Department of SPbPU, was also attended by representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the Kalininsky District of St. Petersburg, the Main Directorate of the Federal Service of the National Guard Troops of the Russian Federation for St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region, the Kalininsky and Vyborgsky District Directorates of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia for St. Petersburg, and the private educational institution of additional professional education “Fire Safety”.

    Head of the Department for Ensuring Anti-Terrorist Security and Safety at SPbPU Facilities Aleksandr Fedorov reported that the peace of the Polytechnics is protected by employees of the organization “Kvadrat”. 98 people are on duty at 65 stationary posts, another seven groups periodically drive around the territory by car and two mini-scooters. In addition, the university campus is patrolled around the clock by the Russian National Guard.

    All entrances and exits of the university are equipped with access control and management systems, students and staff use electronic passes. In the academic buildings and dormitories, 45 panic buttons are installed – the call goes to the centralized security point of the Russian Guard. Order is also monitored by 3.5 thousand video surveillance cameras.

    The University Security Center operates 24/7. You can call it in case of danger at the following numbers: 7 (812) 534-61-18, 7 921 940-66-75.

    To practice the actions of employees and students in emergency situations, the Civil Security Department regularly conducts exercises and training.

    Alexander Fyodorov reminded that smoking is prohibited on the entire territory of the Polytechnic University – not only indoors, but also outdoors, including in the park. This applies to both regular cigarettes and electronic ones. Smoking areas are located behind the fence.

    Deputy Head of the Supervisory and Preventive Work Department of the Vyborg District Pavel Proshkin spoke about the operation of fire protection systems, which fire extinguishers are best to use in what conditions, and answered questions.

    “It is important for you to know that when the fire alarm goes off, you must immediately leave the building,” Pavel Aleksandrovich emphasized. “You can only start putting out a fire yourself when the fire is small and you understand that you can cope with it. If the fire has developed, then there is no need to be a hero. It is better to help get people out and notify the fire department. The 112 telephone number accepts all calls, and professionals will be sent to help you immediately.”

    Deputy Director of the Center for Professional Education “Fire Safety” Alexander Salabutin spoke in detail about compliance with fire safety rules at the university and dormitories. He said that recently the number of fires of devices with lithium-ion batteries, in particular, electric scooters, has increased. There are special fire extinguishers for them. Alexander Nikolaevich noted that the use of electric scooters is prohibited on the territory of the university.

    The students were also addressed by the Deputy Chief of Police of the Kalininsky District Alexey Amosyonok and the Chairman of the Council of Veterans of the OMON “Baltika” (on transport), a member of the St. Petersburg city branch of “Combat Brotherhood” Vadim Matveyev. They warned about the danger and consequences of thoughtless actions that young people can commit at the very beginning of their independent life. They explained in what situations one should be vigilant and careful so as not to harm their future.

    At the end of the lesson, youth workers from the Harmony Volunteer Projects Center, rescuers and first aid instructors Violetta Lee and Tatyana Plekhanova talked about what volunteering in the Emergencies Ministry is, and invited people to join their work and participate in collecting humanitarian aid.

    Arina Puchkova, head of the student fire and rescue squad “Pyotr Velikiy”, also spoke. She reported that the squad is part of the All-Russian Student Rescue Corps, whose main activity is assistance in eliminating emergency situations, and announced that a new recruitment will soon be taking place: those who wish can join.

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    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://www.spbstu.ru/media/nevs/student_life/safety-above-all-junior-year-students-of-Polytechnic-explained-how-to-avoid-problems/

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

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Tougher sentences on the horizon for criminals

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Sentencing reforms that will ensure criminals face tougher consequences and victims are prioritised have passed first reading in Parliament today, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. 

    “Despite a 33 per cent increase in violent crime, there has been a concerning trend where the courts have imposed fewer and shorter prison sentences.

    “We must restore confidence in our justice system to denounce and deter criminal activity. 

    The upcoming reforms will strengthen the criminal justice system by:

    • Capping the sentence discounts that judges can apply at 40 per cent when considering mitigating factors unless it would result in manifestly unjust sentencing outcomes.
    • Preventing repeat discounts for youth and remorse. Lenient sentences are failing to deter offenders who continue to rely on their youth or expressions of remorse without making serious efforts to reform their behaviour.
    • Responding to serious retail crime by introducing a new aggravating factor to address offences against sole charge workers and those whose home and business are interconnected, as committed to in the National-Act coalition agreement. 
    • Encouraging the use of cumulative sentencing for offences committed while on bail, in custody, or on parole to denounce behaviour that indicates a disregard for the criminal justice system, as committed to in the National-New Zealand First coalition agreement. 
    • Implementing a sliding scale for early guilty pleas with a maximum sentence discount of 25 per cent, reducing to a maximum of 5 per cent for a guilty plea entered during the trial. This will prevent undue discounts for late-stage guilty pleas and avoid unnecessary trials that are costly and stressful for victims.
    • Amending the principles of sentencing to include requirement to take into account any information provided to the court about victims’ interests, as committed to in both coalition agreements.  

    “Two aggravating factors are also included in the bill,” Mr Goldsmith says.

    These respond to: 

    • Adults who exploit children and young people by aiding or abetting them to offend; 
    • Offenders who glorify their criminal activities by livestreaming or posting them online.

    “Communities and hardworking Kiwis should not be made to live and work in fear of these offenders who clearly have a flagrant disregard for the law, corrections officers and the general public.

    “These reforms will help ensure there are 20,000 fewer victims of violent crime by 2029, alongside a 15 per cent reduction in serious repeat youth offending.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI Security: Policing will always use Artificial Intelligence responsibly

    Source: United Kingdom National Police Chiefs Council

    Trials of AI programmes have been ongoing to help ease call demand, tackle child exploitation and to identify DA

    That’s the message from policing’s first-ever lead for Artificial Intelligence (AI) as he reaffirms his commitment to transforming the service.  

    Temporary Chief Constable Alex Murray took up this role in March this year and wants to focus on three key areas: improving productivity, making policing more effective in cutting crime and tackling the criminal use of AI. 

    He is also keen to highlight the innovative work and ambitious pilots already underway to help meet those key objectives.  

    They include:  

    • AI trials in control rooms to help call handlers manage demand and focus on those most at risk.  
    • The development of redaction tools, transcription and translation services.   
    • Tools which can search through huge amounts of data to find out where potential child exploitation is taking place.    
    • The NPCC is also taking part in the Probable Futures programme, a four-year research project which reviews all AI systems across law enforcement and will create a responsible and ‘operational-ready’ framework for using AI. 

    T/Chief Constable Murray said:

    “There are huge benefits to using AI across the wider criminal justice system, not just in policing, and we should not shy away from it. 

    “Technology is moving at such a fast pace, and it will never be this slow again which means we need to mobilise now and equip our workforce for the future. If we don’t, we risk falling behind the criminals who are embracing and exploiting these tools.  

    “AI offers huge opportunities for policing. It can automate a range of administrative tasks such as closing call logs, redacting huge court bundles and translating documents. It can help our call handlers to prioritise those who need their assistance most and can even help identify patterns and trends in evidence. These gains in productivity mean officers and staff will ultimately have more time to be back out in their community.  

    “There is always more demand for policing than it can supply and AI helps release officer time so they can concentrate on those who need them most. 

    “The public can be assured that AI is not replacing officers. Police will remain at the heart of everything we do because violent disorder, domestic abuse, child sexual exploitation for example, will always need a trained human officer to interact, offer support and make the final decisions and that will never change.” 

    The former West Mercia officer, now a Director in the NCA, added:

    “I want to be very clear with the public that our use of AI will always be responsible, transparent and explainable and this is why we have all signed up to the first-ever AI covenant

    “The responsible use of AI is paramount if we are to deliver a service that is trusted by communities. People will see the only motivation here is to improve what we do and to better achieve our mission of making people safer.   

    “We are open to scrutiny and want to build transparency into what we do. For us, innovation is about keeping our communities safe, not for profit, not for the sake of it.  

    “We will are committed to working with key partners, academia and industry leaders to improve but will always be open and transparent about our actions and intentions.”  

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Europe: EU Blue Card will promote highly qualified labour immigration

    Source: Government of Sweden

    EU Blue Card will promote highly qualified labour immigration – Government.se

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    Ministers on this page who have changed areas of responsibility

    Between 18 October 2022 and 10 September 2024 he was Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade.

    Ministers on this page who have changed areas of responsibility

    Between 18 October 2022 and 10 September 2024 he was Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade.

    Press release from Ministry of Justice

    Published

    The Government has presented a government bill to the Riksdag with proposals aimed at improving Sweden’s ability to attract and retain highly qualified workers.

    “The rules regarding highly qualified workers must be improved. Sweden must be an attractive country for highly qualified workers, and employers in highly qualified professional sectors must be sure that they can get the workers they need in time. This is an important part of the Government’s efforts to strengthen Sweden’s competitiveness,” says Minister for Migration Johan Forssell.

    The proposals are aimed at implementing the new Blue Card Directive, which replaces the 2009 Blue Card Directive. An EU Blue Card is a combined residence and work permit that can be granted to foreign workers who have an employment contract for highly qualified positions in Sweden and who meet other conditions.

    In the bill, the Government proposes the legislative amendments needed to implement the new Blue Card Directive. The proposals aim to improve the ability to attract and retain highly qualified workers and facilitate their mobility within the EU, and include the following:

    • lowering the salary threshold to be granted an EU Blue Card and lowering the required period of employment to 6 months;
    • making more categories of workers eligible for an EU Blue Card;
    • expanding the possibilities of switching from other types of residence permit to an EU Blue Card; and
    • making it possible to switch to another highly qualified position without applying for a new EU Blue Card.

    It is proposed that the legislative amendments enter into force on 1 January 2025.

    Press contact

    Ministers on this page who have changed areas of responsibility

    Between 18 October 2022 and 10 September 2024 he was Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade.

    Ministers on this page who have changed areas of responsibility

    Between 18 October 2022 and 10 September 2024 he was Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade.

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – EU measures in response to the ICJ advisory opinion on the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory – E-001713/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001713/2024/rev.1
    to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
    Rule 144
    Vicent Marzà Ibáñez (Verts/ALE)

    The advisory opinion issued on 19 July 2024 by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) states that the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory is clearly illegal. The opinion further stresses that there are ‘legal consequences’ for UN member states, who are ‘under an obligation not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the situation created by Israel’s illegal presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory’.

    In this context:

    • 1.What specific action has the EU taken or does it intend to take within the scope of its powers to ban trade with the settlements, sanction companies operating in them, withdraw eligibility for subsidies and limit participation in EU programmes for, inter alia, companies and universities active in the settlements?
    • 2.What measures to sanction settlers are under consideration?

    Submitted: 13.9.2024

    Last updated: 25 September 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: RAF 60 Second Update25 Sep 2024

    Source: United Kingdom – Royal Air Force

    We’re back with the latest RAF 60 Second Update from the RAF Police Military Working Dog Trials at RAF Honington.

    In this episode:‌

    • Wedgetail, the UK’s newest Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft, has completed its maiden UK test flight.
    • Teams battle for ‘Top Dog’ at the RAF Police Military Working Dogs Trials.
    • Her Majesty The Queen visits RAF Leeming in her role as Royal Honorary Air Commodore of the Station to meet personnel and their families.

    Thanks for watching and see you next time!

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Population and migration statistics 2023 published25 September 2024 ​​​​Statistics Jersey have today released population and migration statistics including:a provisional estimate of the resident Jersey population at the end of 2023a revision of the estimate of the… Read more

    Source: Channel Islands – Jersey

    25 September 2024

    ​​​​

    Statistics Jersey have today released population and migration statistics including:

    • a provisional estimate of the resident Jersey population at the end of 2023

    • a revision of the estimate of the resident Jersey population at the end of 2022

    • new experimental statistics breaking population and migration statistics down by eligibility for Control of Housing and Work Law status (Registered, Licensed, Entitled for Work, Entitled)1

    • new experimental statistics breaking population and migration statistics down by self-declared nationality1

    Summary

    The resident population at the end of 2023 is provisionally estimated to be 103,650, an increase of 350 people from the end of 2022.​

    There were more deaths than births in 2023 for the second year in a row, resulting in a negative natural change of -110. More people inwardly migrated than outwardly migrated during 2023 leading to net migration of +470 people. 

    In the five-year period 2018 to 2023:

    • the number of over 64-year-olds grew by 12%

    • the number of under 16-year-olds fell by 5%

    • the number of working age people (16 to 64 years old) was relatively stable (fell by 1%)

    Although relatively stable in size, this report shows that the working age population would have fallen every year since 2012 by an average of 230 people each ​year without migration.

    ​The report provides detailed experimental statistics by eligibility for Control of Housing and Work Law statuses.1​ Over the five-year period 2018 to 2023:​

    • the number of people with Registered status decreased by 15%

    • the number of people with Licensed status increased by 38%

    • the number of people with Entitled for work status decreased by 4%

    • the number of people with Entitled status increased by 2%

    ​The self-reported nationalities of the resident population are also presented as experimental statistics in the report.1 Over the five-year period from 2018 to 2023:

    • the number of people with a European nationality decreased by 7% from 16,740 to 15,610

    • the number of people with a rest of world nationality (excluding Jersey, British, and European) increased by 150% from 1,720 to 4,300 people

    Statistics Jersey have produced these population and migration statistics using administrative data (data that is already held by government for running public services). See report for detailed data sources and methods, linked below.

    Population and migration statistics 2023​

    1Experimental statistics are considered to be in the testing phase. The statistics potentially have a wider degree of uncertainty and should be interpreted with care. Publishing experimental statistics gives an opportunity to involve potential users an​d stakeholders in assessing their quality and suitability, while still providing useful information for users. You can read more in the​guidance and interpretation of experimental statistics policy linked below.

    guidance and interpretation of experimental statistics policy

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SB co-ordinates management of passenger and vehicular flows during Mainland’s National Day Golden Week

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    SB co-ordinates management of passenger and vehicular flows during Mainland’s National Day Golden Week
    SB co-ordinates management of passenger and vehicular flows during Mainland’s National Day Golden Week
    ******************************************************************************************

         The Security Bureau (SB) held an interdepartmental meeting today (September 25) to co-ordinate the management of the passenger and vehicular flows at various land boundary control points (BCPs) during the Mainland’s National Day Golden Week to properly prepare for the passenger traffic during the long holiday. The interdepartmental meeting was chaired by the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung. Joining him were representatives from the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB), the Hong Kong Police Force (Police), the Immigration Department (ImmD), Hong Kong Customs and the Transport Department.           “The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is closely monitoring the operation of the land BCPs during the Mainland’s National Day Golden Week. Relevant government departments will maintain close liaison and co-ordinate with one another to properly manage the passenger and vehicular flows, providing an orderly and smooth clearance experience for members of the public and visitors to Hong Kong. The SB will activate the Emergency Monitoring and Support Centre in a timely manner to closely monitor and co-ordinate the public order situation at various BCPs and facilitate interdepartmental follow-up actions where necessary to respond promptly to various kinds of emergencies,” Mr Tang said.           To ensure smooth and orderly operation of the land BCPs during the Mainland’s National Day Golden Week, relevant government departments will strengthen manpower as well as co-ordination of transport and cross-boundary services at various BCPs, including strengthening crowd management and increasing transport frequency. To cope with the anticipated heavy traffic during the festive period, relevant departments of BCPs have minimised leave for frontline officers for the flexible deployment and operation of extra clearance counters and kiosks for easing passenger and vehicular flows. Additional security guards will also be deployed at individual BCPs to provide crowd management support.           In addition, the Inter-departmental Joint Command Centre set up by Customs, the Police, the ImmD and other departments will be activated during the Mainland’s National Day Golden Week to monitor the real-time situation at various control points. The relevant departments will also maintain close liaison with the CSTB and Mainland counterparts, take timely contingency actions to flexibly deploy manpower at the BCPs and open more e-Channels and counters to facilitate passenger movement and vehicular flow, where necessary, to ensure smooth operation of the land control points.           The Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre of the Transport Department will also operate 24 hours a day to closely monitor the traffic conditions and public transport services of different districts, including various BCPs and major stations, disseminate the latest traffic information through various channels and implement response measures where appropriate. If necessary, the Police will make appropriate traffic arrangements according to the actual circumstances, including arranging public transport to use the designated dedicated lane on San Sham Road to travel to Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang Port.           Members of the public and visitors can check the estimated waiting time at each land BCP via the Immigration mobile application to plan and arrange their itineraries. The ImmD will also upload the daily arrival figures for each control point to its website (www.immd.gov.hk).           Relevant government departments will continue to maintain close communication and co-ordination regarding passenger flow at the land BCPs during the Mainland’s National Day Golden Week, with a view to providing high-quality passenger clearance services for members of the public and visitors to Hong Kong.

     
    Ends/Wednesday, September 25, 2024Issued at HKT 17:56

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Helping to prevent domestic homicides and suicides

    Source: Scottish Government

    Review process will ensure lessons are learned from each case.

    Legislative proposals to help reduce the number of domestic homicides and suicides in Scotland have been published in Parliament.

    If passed by MSPs, the Criminal Justice Modernisation and Abusive Domestic Behaviour Reviews (Scotland) Bill, would require a robust new review process to take place following the death of a partner, ex-partner, or child where abuse is known or suspected.

    The reviews will ensure justice, health, social care, local government and third sector agencies identify and agree any areas for change and improvement so further deaths may be prevented.

    Those with direct experience of domestic abuse and families who have been bereaved because of such abuse overwhelmingly backed the plans for this national multi-agency review model during a public consultation.

    The model, informed by the work of a Scottish Government-led multi-agency Taskforce, is a key part of the new Bill. 

    As the Bill was published, an information board at a previously unmarked memorial cairn in Holyrood Park was installed by Historic Environment Scotland. The cairn, built in memorial to domestic homicide victim Margaret Hall, who was murdered by her husband in 1720, was visited by Justice Secretary Angela Constance and partners involved in developing the review model.

    Elsewhere, the new Bill proposes measures to modernise the justice sector through greater use of digital technology, including evidence-sharing, and efficient processes. It will make permanent a number of temporary measures put in place during the COVID pandemic which have improved how the criminal justice system works and which have support to become permanent measures. The reforms include allowing more ‘virtual’ attendance at criminal courts, electronic signing and sending of documents in criminal cases and increasing the maximum level of fiscal fines that can be imposed.

    Justice Secretary Angela Constance said:

    “One death involving domestic abuse is one too many. While overall homicide rates are falling, there remains a significant number of victims who are killed by a partner or ex-partner, with the vast majority being women.

    “Our plans for a new review process will ensure agencies across justice, health, social care, local government and the third sector are working together to identify what lessons can be learned following known or suspected domestic abuse deaths. I hope that identifying what needs to improve will mean there are fewer deaths of this kind. Ultimately, however, the change we need to see will only happen when those who perpetrate domestic abuse – the majority of whom are men – change their actions and behaviour.

    “This is a dual-purpose Bill and some of the criminal justice measures included are already delivering better outcomes and experiences for those using justice services, so it is right that we look to make them permanent. The Bill, which is backed by justice partners including the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service, also supports greater use of digital technology, which will modernise the justice system even further.”

    Fiona Drouet, founder and CEO of EmilyTest, said:

    “The introduction of domestic homicide and suicide reviews marks a critical step forward in Scotland. These reviews will help us better understand the warning signs so often missed before a tragedy. They will be crucial in helping to prevent so many avoidable deaths, whether by murder or suicide.

    “I am privileged to have been invited to chair the Domestic Abuse Related Suicide Task and Finish Group under the Taskforce, helping to ensure that lessons are learned and precious lives are not lost. Through the support and expertise of my depute chair, Sarah Dangar, and the wider group, I am confident we will ensure meaningful lessons are learned.”

    Kate Wallace, Chief Executive at Victim Support Scotland, said:

    “The Domestic Homicide and Suicide Review offers a unique opportunity for lessons to be learned from homicides and suicides within the context of domestic abuse in Scotland, so that we can help ensure these types of crimes can be prevented. 

    “We welcome the opportunity to bring forward legislation which will embed this entirely new approach for Scotland, and fully acknowledge the work and collective efforts required to address the unique issues inherent to this type of crime. We welcome these progressive measures, especially how victims will be considered within the legislation.”

    Background

    Criminal Justice Modernisation and Abusive Domestic Behaviour Reviews (Scotland) Bill

    The Domestic Homicide and Suicide Review Model is being developed by the Scottish Government’s Domestic Homicide and Suicide Review Taskforce, Model Development Subgroup and ‘Task and Finish’ Groups.

    The commitment to developing a domestic homicide review model is within the Equally Safe Delivery Plan.

    Domestic Homicide Reviews: Consultation Analysis

    For further information about the cairn, contact Historic Environment Scotland – communications@hes.scot; 07721 959 962

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Text of the Vice-President’s address at the 2nd edition of Uttar Pradesh International Trade Show at Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh

    Source: Government of India

    सभी को नमस्कार, 

    The largest state of the Union is blossoming and flourishing under his dynamic governance. Yogiji has turned out to be a game changer for this state, and that will help the nation. I am particularly amazed at his 24×7 watchdog governance. 

    Personally, for me, this is an absolute delight to be at the inaugural ceremony of the second edition of UP International Trade Show 2024. I had the good occasion to go around and see for myself. There could not be a greater assurance for a man like me that all is well, things are on the right track. What I witnessed was beyond my concept, imagination, and dream. I felt I was in the most developed country in the world.

     This is indeed a very well-thought-out platform that not only showcases what is there in India, in Uttar Pradesh, it affords an opportunity for people to snatch those opportunities, to be in touch with the best minds, the artisans, the skilled workers, the products, and personally flourish. My congratulations to the Honourable Chief Minister for being so thoughtful, farsighted, and practical.

     The beginning was made for the first edition by the Honourable President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji and in this context, it is my absolute privilege to be part of the second. We are indeed very happy that the trade show will significantly showcase Vietnam as a partner country. As one of Southeast Asia’s robust economies, Vietnam has an impressive GDP of 435 billion US dollars, and we look forward to witnessing their exceptional products and innovative manufacturing practices but I can assure them, they are in the right place, their participation will enormously benefit them and their people to fully exploit their talent and connect with the best artisans and economic potential.

     Friends, this will also be an occasion to get a feel for the rich cultural heritage of Vietnam. They will, ofcourse, everyone will feel the rich heritage of Uttar Pradesh and Bharat, but we will also get a feel for the rich heritage of Vietnam. I had the occasion to have a look at it, full display through captivating traditional music and what a similarity there was with Indian instruments. I am sure there will be enough for them to carry home. The dance performances, it was enriching.

    And it is a state which, in the last few years, is seeing the happiness factor rising. When the happiness factor rises, your appetite is functional.

     My friends from Uttar Pradesh and all over the country who are here will have the occasion to indulge in authentic Vietnamese cuisine. Renowned for its unique flavours, when we look at Vietnam, the savoury delights of Pho and its spring rolls to the mouth-watering Banh Mi, our palates will be treated to a culinary journey. I have had the occasion to know about them and taste them.

    This, in a sense, is a natural partnership if we go into a historical perspective, will surely foster cultural and economic challenges collectively. The exchanges will be rewarding, further enhancing our bilateral relations and strengthening the resolve for a greater role for the Global South in international affairs. 

    It was the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, that at the G20 platform, he brought on the international radar, the voice of Global South. This is an important event, their participation is memorable, and I am sure they will carry happy memories of this event.

    The exhibition — the scale, the display, the technological penetration, the cultural wealth, each district’s products. I instructed my team that they will, at the micro level, handle each store, each product, so that the nation comes to know it through Sansad TV. Mr. Chief Minister will seek your cooperation. My team will be here this evening. 

    Friends, the synergy between the Prime Minister of India, his vision, coupled with the Honourable Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi’s execution, sharp execution, execution which has no accommodation for corruption, no tolerance for inefficiency, this has transformed Uttar Pradesh into Uttam Pradesh. The sustained efforts of Yogiji are leading to another milestone development and achievement, soothing to the entire nation, Uttar Pradesh is fast becoming Udyam Pradesh of the country. 

    This venue is very soothing for development. This venue was also witness to the recently concluded SEMICON India 2024 conference, where the Honourable Prime Minister outlined India’s vision of making the semiconductor industry, and that is going to be the foundation of Viksit Bharat. The conference was a crucial step towards realising India’s goal of becoming a global hub for semiconductor manufacturing.

     Let me, friends, come to the state of the nation, the state of Bharat. For ages, India has been the cradle of civilisation, a crucible of innovation, and a global hub of learning. Our Vedas are a gold mine of knowledge and information. India takes pride in being one of the oldest civilisations with 5,000 years of civilisational ethos. We lost our way somewhere in between, but now we are on our way to regaining it  and that too fast enough to be a beacon for the planet in several ways in this century. 

    Nothing can be more satisfying for me to note than that in this regaining, the largest state of the union, under the leadership of Yogi Adityanath, is playing with the straight bat on the front foot to deliver for the nation. Look at a decade ago; the scenario was alarmingly worrisome. The economy was staggering, and the mood of the nation was shaky. From every aspect, governance was challenging for the citizens but what a 360-degree change, soothingly. 

    The last decade is marked by unprecedented transformation — a transformation for the better. Bharat has emerged as the most buoyant economy in the world. It is now the favourite global destination for investment and opportunity, with an ecosystem of hope and possibility all-pervasive in India. Undoubtedly, we are set to regain our pristine glory. India is now a global happening place, and Uttar Pradesh is bubbling with activity. Activity in every sector: infrastructure, growth, industry, and innovation. 

    Today, Bharat is a near 4 trillion dollar economy that has 8% growth prospects for decades to come,  world institutions have analysed. In 2 years, our economy will march ahead of that of Japan and Germany to be the world’s third-largest economy. Incremental infrastructure growth is reflected in 8 new airports annually. The Honourable Chief Minister has indicated the scenario here. Unbelievable achievement! Look at the express highways, virtually doubling, and the state will be on the global map when it comes to the world-class largest airport in Jewar.

     It’s a state where dreams are fructified into ground realities. That’s what I’ve seen. Every 2 years, 3 or 4 metro systems are getting added. Friends, there is daily laying of 28 km of highways and 12 km of railway tracks. In PM Modi’s third term, historic term, 12 new industrial zones are taking shape to boost manufacturing. The nation is fully geared to tap the benefits of artificial intelligence, of electric mobility, green hydrogen, space, and semiconductors. For want of time, I am not focusing on it, but we are among the few countries focusing on the green hydrogen mission, quantum computing. We are in single digits when it comes to the exploitation of 6G technology commercially.

     The journey towards Viksit Bharat is well on track. It will fructify in 2047, if not earlier. The mood of the nation is now one of hope and possibility, with accolades pouring in from global institutions. 

    I have had a long political career, having been elected to Parliament in 1989 and a minister in 1990. The World Bank and IMF are praising us to heights, and rightly so. 

    Based on factual premise, our digitisation and technological penetration is turning out to be a global model for emulation. A decade of Make in India initiative has yielded significant results. Following successes in agriculture and services, India is now poised for manufacturing growth. State governments, UP being in the lead, are competing to attract investments by improving business conditions. 

    Sir, nothing is more important for investment than law and order. Law and order defines democracy and the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath defines law and order. It is in this soothing ecosystem that UP has emerged as an MSME hub by leveraging the sector strengths to create a robust supply chain.

    Technology has enabled greater participation from skilled youth in tier two town and rural areas. 

    Imagine skill mapping, skill mapping during challenging, daunting days of COVID-19. You did it. 

    Bharat is now frog leaping from Make in India to conceptualise, design and make in India. We are having our own concept of evolution. We are engaged in design and Make in India. It is encouraging to see multinationals and Indian companies getting in a synergetic stance. They are establishing innovation centres nationwide. Uttar Pradesh is a shining example of it, the defence corridor being one. 

    Micro, small and medium enterprises are much beyond their nomenclature, as I said earlier. This segment is the spine of the economy and a major contributor of human resource employment. 

    Coming to Uttar Pradesh, I state, with that kind of history, cultural background was plagued with law and order challenges, and atmosphere of fear. 

    Not long ago, growth prospects were all time low. And this state now is a beacon of progress and development. The long, long dark tunnel was negotiated with great speed by the Honourable Chief Minister. And there is great light at the end of the tunnel. The tunnel is much behind. From the tunnel, the dark tunnel, the state is on the expressway. 

    On the way to take a flight for higher economy on the largest airport that is coming up in Jewar. The state is full of hope and possibility. The transformation is unbelievable. Normally, people would not undertake it. They would get adjusted to the status quo. Because the challenge was really very, very, very, very daunting. 

    In a sense, there is a complete makeover of Uttar Pradesh. You are regaining its pristine glory in every sense. Because the governance exemplifies transparency, accountability, worth emulation, the kind of handholding of the entrepreneur. 

    And corruption is a word unheard in Uttar Pradesh. Power corridors are fully sanitised. Decisions are fast-tracked and duly tracked. 

    The state is now turning out to be a great strength to the nation. In phenomenal economic upsurge and unprecedented infrastructure growth in the nation, the largest state of Uttar Pradesh is now an asset and a major contributor unlike a scenario that existed a few years ago. 

    Uttar Pradesh aspires and rightly so, and why not? To reach the target of $1 trillion economy by 2027 and will be mightily adding to the dream of Prime Minister Modi to his $5 trillion economy by 2027. As rightly focused by the Honourable Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh’s advantages include fertile land, young population, religious tourism, and MSMEs. And look at the size of MSMEs. 

    Some countries in the world may not have that population. As you have a number of units, the massive focus on infrastructure, one has to see to believe it. It’s easier to say that yes, six new expressways are being added. 

    It takes time, planning, execution, and funds. This is happening. All this has a Yogi multiplier, Yogi effect, Yogi impact. 

    Noida contributes 10% of U.P. GDP, I’m told, is crucial for economic growth in the industrial base, IT sector, and upcoming projects like Jewar Airport and Film City. But this city has emerged as one of the leading habitations at a global level. The kind of talent that is there in Noida, I know for sure, I come from the legal profession. 

    It’s becoming a favourite destination. Uttar Pradesh, no longer a sleeping giant, no longer a state with a promise. It’s a state in action with its vast resources, burgeoning population, and strategic location. It’s a growth engine in itself, and tied to the larger growth engine of the nation to take the nation forward. 

    I am particularly impressed by the inclusive growth in the country under Prime Minister Modi’s vision. He believes in a plateau kind of a growth. Everyone has to rise in every sector, every social element. U.P. is in line with it. 

    The trade show focuses on a great opportunity for everyone for boosting MSMEs, promoting geographical indications, and GI products. It was with utmost reluctance that I moved fast. Otherwise, one geographical indicator was good enough to take a few hours. Because it has enormous potential of opportunities. What I saw today was not an exhibition. I saw a basket of opportunities for all. 

    This event, friends, aligns with Prime Minister Modi’s vision of an Atma Nirbhar Bharat and embraces the motto, local to global. 

    India’s progress is evident in various sectors. But this is the right epicentre to take it to the next level, local to global. First it was vocal for local, now local to global. 

    I wouldn’t take long, but India is on the rise as never before. The rise is unstoppable. If I quickly take you, metro services have expanded from five cities to 23. 

    We have the world’s second largest metro network. The number of cities with airports has doubled from 70 to 140. India is now the largest connected nation globally with over 800 million broadband users. Digital technologies have enabled initiatives like housing for 170 million, health coverage for 60 million, and loans for 58 million small businesses annually. India records the highest digital financial transactions globally with 13 billion transactions per month. The country boasts the world’s third largest startup ecosystem with 107 unicorns and the third largest purchasing power in the world. 

    The semiconductor industry, which is very critical. It was here that the beginning was made by the Honourable Prime Minister. It is poised by 2026 to surpass 55 billion. I have no doubt this century belongs to Bharat. This century rightly belongs to Bharat. And that being the situation, let us all get together, ladies and gentlemen, because along with Bharat, we are witnessing a new dawn of Uttar Pradesh, a future where the nation stands tall as a global leader in trade, innovation, and cultural heritage. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has painstakingly brought about 360 degree improvement. Not easy. I feel tasked. He brought it about in law and order, in development, in cultural revolution, in giving skill to the people, and in bringing happiness to the people. The vision of Prime Minister Modi and passion of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath are in synergy, preparing this transformation towards the grand mission of a Viksit Bharat by 2047. I have no doubt that this trade show will be a beacon of opportunity, collaboration, and success in our journey ahead. 

    And friends, I conclude by an appeal. एक बहुत बड़ा महायज्ञ भारत में हो रहा है, यह महायज्ञ विकसित भारत के लिए हो रहा है। यह महायज्ञ की पूर्ण आहुति आजादी की शताब्दी का जब महोत्सव होगा तब होगी। इसमें हर किसी को आहुति देनी है और आहुति देने के लिए संकल्प की आवश्यकता है की हम भारतीय हैं, भारतीयता हमारी पहचान है, राष्ट्रवाद हमारा धर्म है। We can never put self or political interest over nationalism.

     

    Thank you so much.

     

    ****

    JK/RC/SM

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union MoS for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav Presides over 69th Foundation Day Celebrations of AIIMS New Delhi

    Source: Government of India

    Union MoS for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav Presides over 69th Foundation Day Celebrations of AIIMS New Delhi

    AIIMS New Delhi is a pioneer in the field of medical education, research and healthcare in India whose legacy of excellence continues to inspire medical institutions worldwide: Shri Jadhav

    “AIIMS continuous unchallenged status of being ranked number one among medical institutions of India for the seventh consecutive year is a remarkable achievement”

    AIIMS New Delhi now serves as the National Resource Centre of the National Medical College Network of the Union Health Ministry

    In the last 2 years, inpatient beds in AIIMS have increased by more than 30%, Intensive care and operation theatre services by nearly 40%

    Posted On: 25 SEP 2024 2:49PM by PIB Delhi

    AIIMS New Delhi is a pioneer in the field of medical education, research and healthcare in India whose legacy of excellence continues to inspire medical institutions worldwide.” This was stated by Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Ganpatrao Jadhav as he presided over the 69th Foundation Day ceremony of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, today.

    Speaking on the occasion, Shri Jadhav said, “AIIMS New Delhi has achieved remarkable milestones and is determined to achieve its goal of being one of the top-ranked medical institutions in the world.” Highlighting that for the seventh consecutive year since the National Institute Ranking Framework (NIRF), AIIMS New Delhi has been ranked number one among medical institutions of India, the Union Minister said, “this Institute’s continuous unchallenged status is a remarkable achievement.”

     

    He informed that AIIMS New Delhi now serves as the National Resource Centre of the National Medical College Network (NMCN) of the Ministry of Health and Family welfare. This has enabled linkages with more than 100 medical colleges for enhancing undergraduate, postgraduate and continuing medical education. “This objective is being facilitated by the creation of a National Learning Management & Information System, SAKSHYAM, which was launched last year”, he said.

     

     

    Shri Jadhav highlighted that AIIMS New Delhi has established a Centre of Excellence for development of artificial intelligence in healthcare. Created by MOHFW, this centre is expected to deliver AI based solutions for evaluation of chest x-rays, early detection of diabetic retinopathy, and identification of skin lesions, among other tools, for enhancing national programs. He noted that “AIIMS is set to be the biggest robotic surgery skill training centre with 2 state-of-the-art robotic surgery equipment dedicated for training of surgeons.”

     

    It was informed that over 900 extramural research projects are being funded by national and international agencies, amounting to a total grant of nearly Rs. 200 crores while AIIMS itself has funded over 240 intramural research projects apart from providing travel fellowships to students, residents, PhD scholars, and staff to participate in national and international conferences. AIIMS Delhi has also started the Centre for Medical Innovation & Entrepreneurship as a Bio-Incubator under the BIRAC – BioNEST Scheme.

    Shri Jadhav said that AIIMS has planned for building a new hostel complex with 2200 rooms, with an estimated cost of approximately Rs 900 crores. He also highlighted new academic facilities that were added recently such as the Mother and Child Block, Surgery Block and the National Centre of Ageing which are fully functional now. Over the last 2 years, the inpatient beds have increased by more than 30%, Intensive care and operation theatre services by nearly 40%. These new facilities will improve the ability of AIIMS to cater to the huge clinical demand. AIIMS has also been entrusted with the responsibility to operationalize the Central Armed Police Forces Institute of Medical Sciences (CAPFIMS) at Maidangarhi.

    The Union Minister kicked off the Foundation Day celebration by officially inaugurating an exhibition showcasing the innovative research and projects undertaken by various departments at AIIMS. He also took a tour of the exhibition.

    The Union Minister also inaugurated the awards ceremony, recognizing the achievements of students and staff with medals and book prizes. Awards were also given for outstanding contributions to the Institute Day Exhibition, celebrating excellence in research and innovation.

    AIIMS New Delhi has undertaken various IT initiatives and has developed various softwares in-house for a wide range of services. The SANTUSHT portal enables patients to register their grievances online, track the status, and provide feedback regarding the resolution. To increase transparency and to maintain the trust that the patients have in AIIMS, realtime dashboards have been developed and made available to the public. The management of IT infrastructure and network has also been digitized for prompt resolution of any hardware or network issues. Triage Register for Emergency Department is a web application which helps to keep the record of patient’s Disease Condition, Medical Examination and improves patient safety by ensuring timely cross-consultation by various departments. The Union Minister launched these digital initiatives during the event. He also inaugurated a fire station at AIIMS which will have a manpower of 6 men. It is the first such station exclusively for any medical institute.

    Prof. M Srinivas, Director, AIIMS New Delhi said “AIIMS has already received NABH certification for some of its blocks and centers and is in the process of NABH certification of all the centers including the main hospital. He highlighted that NABL accreditation of all laboratories in a phased manner is under process. He also informed that AIIMS has also been the forerunner in the implementation of Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). “It has overcome various challenges and has been a role model for the country by creating more than 7 lakh ABHA IDs and more than 20 lakh scan and share tokens”, he said.

     

    Background:

    Established in 1956, AIIMS was created with the vision of providing high-quality medical education and comprehensive healthcare services. The institute was established as part of a larger effort to address the critical need for well-trained healthcare professionals in India. Recognizing the challenges in healthcare access and quality, the Indian government aimed to create an institution that would set benchmarks in medical training and patient care.

    From its inception, AIIMS has been a pioneer in developing innovative medical practices and cutting-edge research. Its comprehensive approach includes a focus on preventive, curative, and rehabilitative care, making it a model for medical institutions across the country. Over the decades, AIIMS has evolved to become not just a premier medical college, but also a leading research center, contributing significantly to advances in various fields of medicine.

    Importance of AIIMS in National Healthcare

    AIIMS, New Delhi, has played a pivotal role in shaping India’s healthcare landscape. Here are some key aspects of its importance:

    1. Quality Medical Education: AIIMS has been instrumental in training thousands of medical professionals who have gone on to serve in various capacities across the country. Its rigorous academic programs ensure that students receive not only theoretical knowledge but also practical training, enabling them to provide high-quality care to patients.
    2. Research and Innovation: The institute is known for its cutting-edge research in various fields, including cardiology, oncology, and neuroscience. AIIMS researchers have made significant contributions to medical science, often translating their findings into real-world applications that benefit patients.
    3. Public Health Initiatives: AIIMS has actively engaged in public health outreach programs, focusing on preventive care and health education. These initiatives aim to improve healthcare access for marginalized communities, aligning with the government’s goals to promote health equity.
    4. National Health Policies: AIIMS has served as an advisory body to the government on various health policies and programs. Its research findings and expert recommendations have influenced health policy decisions, ensuring that they are evidence-based and aligned with the needs of the population.
    5. Response to Health Crises: During health emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, AIIMS played a crucial role in managing care, conducting research, and providing guidance on best practices. Its leadership in crisis management has been vital in safeguarding public health.

    ***

    MV

    HFW/MoS AIIMS Foundation Day/25th September 2024/2

    (Release ID: 2058569) Visitor Counter : 118

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI USA News: FACT SHEET: Biden-⁠ Harris Administration Announces New Investments to Protect Freshwater Resources, Enhance Drought and Climate  Resilience

    Source: The White House

    Our nation’s lakes, rivers, streams, estuaries, and wetlands are fundamental to the health, prosperity, and resilience of our communities and are held sacred by many Tribal Nations. They are not only the sources of clean drinking water that flows into the taps of our homes, but are also economic drivers supporting jobs and outdoor recreation across the nation. By absorbing and storing carbon, our nation’s waterways and wetlands – and the forests, grasslands, and farmlands they nourish – also play a critical role in the fight against climate change.

    Since Day One, the Biden-Harris Administration has worked to secure clean water for all communities, protect our vital freshwater resources, and mitigate the impacts of drought. Given that communities often acutely experience the climate crisis through water-related impacts – from floods and droughts to polluted drinking sources and waterways – this Administration is making historic investments through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to protect, conserve, and restore our freshwater basins and ecosystems.

    Meanwhile, many Republicans in Congress continue to deny the very existence of climate change and remain committed to repealing the President’s Inflation Reduction Act – the biggest climate protection bill ever – which would undermine the health, safety, and economic vitality of their own constituents.

    Today, during Climate Week, the White House is announcing new funding and whole-of-government initiatives that build upon its ambitious freshwater agenda and help restore and conserve our freshwater resources and address climate impacts felt across the nation:

    • Investing in Long-Term Colorado River Basin Resilience: The Biden-Harris Administration is leading a comprehensive effort to make Western communities more resilient to climate change and address the ongoing megadrought across the region, including the Colorado River Basin, by harnessing the full resources of President Biden’s historic Investing in America agenda. The Administration’s investments in the Lower Colorado River Basin bridge the immediate need for water conservation while moving toward improved system efficiency and more durable long-term solutions. Overall, the funding for long-term water conservation initiatives in the Lower Basin is expected to save more than 1 million acre-feet of water, putting the Basin on a path to a more resilient and sustainable water future.
      • The Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation is announcing the execution of the first three contracts for long-term water conservation under the Lower Colorado Basin System Conservation and Efficiency Program. Totaling approximately $107 million, taken together these first three projects – all with the Gila River Indian Community in the Lower Colorado River Basin of Arizona – will provide over 73,000 acre-feet of water conservation to support the sustainability of Lake Mead while also helping ensure long-term water resilience for the Community. The Bureau of Reclamation is also working on the companion program for the Upper Basin, which will provide additional water savings for the Basin’s long-term sustainability.
      • The Bureau of Reclamation is working with the following sponsors in the Lower Colorado Basin to negotiate water conservation contracts for ten additional proposed projects, including:
        • City of Phoenix
        • City of Tucson
        • Coachella Valley Water District
        • Salt River Valley Water Users’ Association & Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District
        • San Diego County Water Authority
        • Southern Nevada Water Authority
        • The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
        • Town of Gilbert
    • The Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation is also signing agreements with the Imperial Irrigation District and the Bard Water District in partnership with the Metropolitan Water District in California to ensure the conservation of up to 717,100acre-feet of water by 2026. This water will remain in Lake Mead in an effort to benefit the Colorado River System and its users.
    • Investing in Indian Country: The Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation has announced historic Tribal water infrastructure investments totaling over $1.2 billion through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act, Reclamation Water Settlement funding, and annual appropriations. This includes a new investment of $9.4 million for Tribal drought relief and technical assistance projects that will restore wetlands, improve irrigation efficiency, and support groundwater monitoring.
    • Reconnecting Waterways and Restoring Aquatic Ecosystems: With over $3 billion in funding for ecosystem restoration and fish passage projects, the Investing in America agenda is helping secure cleaner rivers, safer communities, greater recreational opportunities, and improved fish and wildlife habitat, driving change across the landscape for people, communities, species, and ecosystems.
      • The Administration is announcing a suite of 10 transformational fish passage projects that to date have received over $150 million from eight Federal agencies. When completed, these fish passage and aquatic connectivity projects – located in communities from Maine to Ohio to California – will reconnect nearly 5,000 miles of rivers and streams across the United States. Reconnecting waterways allows natural functions to be restored in freshwater systems, improving their climate resilience and water quality, and therefore their ability to protect communities from catastrophic floods, droughts, catastrophic wildfire, and water pollution. Improving fish passage and reconnecting aquatic systems is one of the most effective ways to help conserve vulnerable species, while building safer infrastructure for communities and improving climate resilience. To date, the Administration has spent over $970 million on more than 600 fish passage projects in 45 states across the country.
      • The Department of the Interior today is announcing an additional $92 million in new resources from the Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSMART Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Program to help restore important salmon and other native fish habitat across the West. These projects, when complete, will provide increased water quality, floodplain stability, and drought resiliency.
    • Collaborating with Stakeholders to Protect Freshwater Systems: At a Climate Week NYC event focused on the Global Freshwater Challenge, White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory announced a doubling of new partners in the America the Beautiful Freshwater Challenge – a nationwide initiative to protect, restore, and reconnect 8 million acres of wetlands and 100,000 miles of our nation’s rivers and streams by 2030. Over 100 members from across the country initially signed on to support freshwater restoration in their communities. That number has now more than doubled to over 211, including 14 states, 16 Tribal entities, 27 local governments, and 79 private sector members.

    Today’s announcements build on recent actions that deliver on the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to ensuring safe drinking water, including providing approximately $1 billion in funding to bring safe, clean water to Tribal communities; finalizing the first-ever standard to protect communities from toxic “forever chemicals,” along with rulemakings to hold polluters responsible for PFAS cleanup and to enhance safeguards against dangerous chemical spills in our nation’s waters; and continuing to deliver on President Biden’s goal to replace every lead pipe in America in the next decade. The Department of the Interior has invested more than $6.95 billion to fund over 831 Western water projects through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act; the Environmental Protection Agency has leveraged more than $9 billion in the last two years alone to communities across the West; and other agencies from the Department of Agriculture to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers continue to make investments that increase water availability, reduce water use, and enhance resilience.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Newsom announces appointments 9.24.24

    Source: US State of California 2

    Sep 24, 2024

    SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:

    Steve Juarez, of Truckee, has been appointed to the California State Teachers’ Retirement Board. Juarez served as a Deputy State Treasurer at the California State Treasurer’s Office from 2016 to 2018. He was Associate Vice President of State Government Relations for the University of California from 2008 to 2016. Juarez was a Senior Investment Banker at J.P. Morgan from 2006 to 2008. He was Director of Financial Management for the J. Paul Getty Trust from 1998 to 2006. Juarez was Associate Vice Chancellor of Government and Community Relations for the University of California, Los Angeles from 1996 to 1998. He was Chief Legislative Representative for the County of Los Angeles in 1995. Juarez was Executive Director of the California Debt Advisory Commission from 1991 to 1995 and Principal Committee Consultant in the California State Assembly from 1987 to 1991. Juarez was Manager of Government Relations for the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission from 1984 to 1987. He was a Program Analyst in the Legislative Analyst’s Office from 1981 to 1984. Juarez is Chair of the National Association of Counties EDGE Board of Directors and a member of the California Museum and Keep Tahoe Blue Board of Directors. He earned a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Juarez is a Democrat. 

    Derek Urwin, of San Clemente, has been appointed to the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board. Urwin has been an Assistant Adjunct Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of California, Los Angeles since 2022. He has been Chief Science Advisor at the International Association of Fire Fighters since 2021. Urwin has been a Firefighter and Engineer at the Los Angeles County Fire Department since 2010. He was a Firefighter at Miami-Dade Fire Rescue from 2007 to 2010. Urwin is a member of the Los Angeles County Firefighters IAFF Local 1014. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree and a Master of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of California, Los Angeles and a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Mathematics from the University of California, Los Angeles. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Urwin is registered without party preference.

    Sandra Sims, of Los Angeles, has been appointed to the Baldwin Hills Conservancy Governing Board. Sims has been a Human Resources Business Partner and Personnel Manager for the University of California, Los Angeles since 2023. She was a Human Resources Manager for Long Beach City College from 2021 to 2023. Sims was a Freelance Reporter and Writer with various news publications from 2016 to 2021. She was a Principal Analyst and Policy Human Resources Analyst for the Los Angeles County Department of Human Resources from 2007 to 2016. Sims was a Civil Service Advocate for the Department of Children and Family Services at the Los Angeles County Department of Human Resources from 2006 to 2007. She is a member of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. Sims earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angles. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Sims is a Democrat. 

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Newsom signs bipartisan legislation to strengthen California’s gun laws

    Source: US State of California 2

    Sep 24, 2024

    What you need to know: Governor Newsom today signed a bipartisan legislative package to further reinforce California’s nation-leading gun laws and prevent traumatic incidents of mass violence. The laws build on California’s successful strategies to address gun violence, including new measures to reduce domestic violence. 

    SACRAMENTO — Building on California’s nation-leading gun laws, Governor Gavin Newsom today signed a number of bills into law to bolster California’s nation-leading gun laws, adding stronger protections against gun violence. 

    “California won’t wait until the next school shooting or mass shooting to act. In the absence of congressional action, our state is once again leading the way by strengthening our nation-leading gun laws. Data shows that California’s gun safety laws are effective in preventing gun-related deaths — which makes the ongoing inaction and obstruction by politicians in the pocket of the gun lobby even more reprehensible.”

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    What these new laws do

    PROTECT KIDS FROM GUNS by strengthening safe storage requirements and creating stricter penalties for gun owners whose guns are accessed by a child, resulting in death or injury to themselves or others. Strengthens safety measures to protect students during active threats.

    PREVENT GUN-RELATED HATE CRIMES by building on California’s red flag laws and creating more training for law enforcement officers and courts to assess and identify extremism and potential for hate-based crimes, allowing more effective use of restraining orders. 

    SAFEGUARD VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE by creating more training and tools for child custody caseworkers and law enforcement officers to determine whether abusers may have access to guns. 

    ✅ PROVIDE MORE TOOLS TO KEEP GUNS OUT OF DANGEROUS HANDS by restricting animal abusers and persons found incompetent to stand trial from possessing firearms, as well as by strengthening California’s red flag laws.

    ✅ INCREASE INFORMATION-SHARING TO CLOSE ENFORCEMENT GAPS by making it easier for California courts to ensure that people who are deemed a threat to themselves or others no longer have access to firearms. 

    California’s history of gun violence prevention

    California has long led the way in enacting commonsense and effective protections against gun violence. California’s gun safety laws save lives. The Golden State is ranked #1 for gun safety and last year experienced a gun death rate 43% lower than the national average. In comparison, Texas and Florida, who ranked 31st and 24th respectively in gun law strength, had firearm mortality rates more than 1.5 times that of California. Since the early 1990s, California has cut its gun death rate in half. By 2022, California had the 7th lowest gun death rate in the country. If other states’ gun death mortality rates matched California’s, an estimated 140,000 Americans would still be alive today. 

    Nationwide, firearms kill more children and adolescents than any other cause. Compared to the rest of the nation, California has made substantial long-term progress in reducing per capita rates of youth firearm homicide. 

    Preliminary CDC data showed that in 2022, California’s age-adjusted per capita firearm homicide rate for youth under 25 was 45% below the rate recorded for the rest of the U.S. By contrast, the rest of the U.S. experienced a 37% increase in youth gun homicide rates over the same period. The next two most populous states after California – Florida and Texas – experienced substantial increases over this same period, with youth homicide rates rising by 24% in Florida and 49% in Texas. 

    The following measures have been signed into law:

    • AB 960 by Assemblymember Devon Mathis (R-Porterville) – School safety: web-based or app-based school safety programs
    • AB 1252 by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland) – Office of Gun Violence Prevention
    • AB 1858 by Assemblymember Christopher Ward (D-San Diego) – Comprehensive school safety plans: active shooters: armed assailants: drills
    • AB 1974 by Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Irvine) – Family conciliation courts: evaluator training (signed earlier this year)
    • AB 2565 by Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento) – School facilities: interior locks
    • AB 2621 by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino) – Law enforcement training
    • AB 2629 by Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco) – Firearms: prohibited persons
    • AB 2642 by Assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park) – Elections: intimidation
    • AB 2739 by Assemblymember Brian Maienschein (D-San Diego) – Firearms
    • AB 2759 by Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Irvine)
    • AB 2822 by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino) – Domestic violence
    • AB 2842 by Assemblymember Diane Papan (D-San Mateo) – Firearms
    • AB 2907 by Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Los Angeles) – Firearms: restrained persons
    • AB 2917 by Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Los Angeles) – Firearms: restraining orders
    • AB 3064 by Assemblymember Brian Maienschein (D-San Diego) –  Firearms
    • AB 3072 by Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Irvine) — Child custody: ex parte orders (signed earlier this year)
    • AB 3083 by Assemblymember Tom Lackey —  Domestic violence: protective orders: background checks
    • SB 53 by Senator Anthony Portantino (D-Burbank) – Firearms: storage
    • SB 758 by Senator Thomas Umberg (D-Santa Ana) – Firearms
    • SB 899 by Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) – Protective orders: firearms
    • SB 902 by Senator Richard D. Roth (D-Riverside) – Firearms: public safety
    • SB 965 by Senator Dave Min (D-Irvine) – Firearms
    • SB 1002 by Senator Catherine Blakespear (D-Encinitas) –Firearms: prohibited persons
    • SB 1019 by Senator Catherine Blakespear (D-Encinitas) – Firearms: destruction

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    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Nexomus GmbH: BaFin warns against website nexomus.com

    Source: Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht – In English

    Anyone conducting banking business or providing financial or investment services in Germany may do so only with authorisation from BaFin. However, some companies offer these services without the required authorisation. Information on whether companies have been authorised by BaFin can be found in BaFin’s database of companies.

    The information provided by BaFin is based on section 37 (4) of the German Banking Act (KreditwesengesetzKWG).

    Please be aware:

    BaFin, the German Federal Criminal Police Office (BundeskriminalamtBKA) and the German state criminal police offices (Landeskriminalämter) recommend that consumers seeking to invest money online should exercise the utmost caution and do the necessary research beforehand in order to identify fraud attempts at an early stage.

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SJ continues ASEAN visit in Vietnam to strengthen ties with legal and business sectors (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    SJ continues ASEAN visit in Vietnam to strengthen ties with legal and business sectors (with photos)
    SJ continues ASEAN visit in Vietnam to strengthen ties with legal and business sectors (with photos)
    ******************************************************************************************

         The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, today (September 25) continued his visit programme in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, with a delegation comprising representatives from the Law Society of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Bar Association and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) organisations.     In the morning, Mr Lam and his delegation met with the Chief Supervisor of the China Business Association Ho Chi Minh City Branch, Mr Sun Guo Qiang, to discuss and explore business opportunities in both places and learn about the demand for legal services in the local business sector. They then had lunch with Vice-Chairman of the Hong Kong Business Association Vietnam Mr Fred Burke to have a better understanding of the Vietnam business environment and their need for cross-jurisdictional legal services.     In the afternoon, Mr Lam and his delegation met with representatives from the Vietnam International Arbitration Center to exchange views on recent developments in the arbitration landscape in both places and explore ways to strengthen collaboration. They then had a meeting with representatives from the Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association to discuss the development of the legal profession and explore potential future collaborations in building stronger and closer ties.     In the evening, Mr Lam will have dinner with the Acting Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Ho Chi Minh City, Mr Xu Zhou, to share with him the latest developments in Hong Kong’s legal and ADR sector.     Upon arriving in Ho Chi Minh City yesterday afternoon, Mr Lam and his delegation attended a forum titled “Hong Kong: The Common Law Gateway for Vietnamese Businesses to China and Beyond”, followed by a networking dinner, organised by the Department of Justice, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry to meet local legal and business sectors. Speakers from the Hong Kong delegation shared their views with the audience on various topics, including Hong Kong’s diversified legal and dispute resolution services, its unique advantages of enjoying strong support from the motherland while being closely connected to the world under “one country, two systems”, and the opportunities arising from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Belt and Road Initiative. The event received an enthusiastic response with over 120 participants from the legal, business and other sectors of Vietnam.     Mr Lam and the delegation will conclude their visit to Ho Chi Minh City and depart for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, tomorrow (September 26) to attend a seminar to promote Hong Kong’s legal and dispute resolution services.

     
    Ends/Wednesday, September 25, 2024Issued at HKT 18:50

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Security: Grand Barachois  — Have you seen this stolen car?

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    The Shediac RCMP is asking for the public’s help to locate a stolen car from Grand Barachois, N.B.

    The theft is believed to have occurred in the overnight hours of September 12, 2024, on Peat Moss Road in Grand Barachois.

    The vehicle is described as a white 2011 Honda Civic, with New Brunswick licence plate KCJ 643 and vehicle identification number 2HGFG1A6XBH001784.

    If you have seen the car since the evening of September 12, or if you have information that could help further the investigation, please contact the Shediac RCMP at 506-533-5151. Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), by downloading the secure P3 Mobile App, or by Secure Web Tips at www.crimenb.ca .

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Golden Week travel meeting held

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Security Bureau today held an interdepartmental meeting to co-ordinate the management of passenger and vehicular flows at land boundary control points (BCPs) during the Mainland’s National Day Golden Week holiday.

    To ensure smooth and orderly operation of the land BCPs during the holiday period, relevant departments will strengthen manpower, as well as co-ordination of transport and cross-boundary services, at these points. This will include strengthening crowd management and increasing transport frequency.

    Relevant departments have minimised leave for frontline officers to enable the flexible deployment and operation of extra clearance counters and kiosks. Additional security guards will also be deployed at individual BCPs to provide crowd management support.

    The Inter-departmental Joint Command Centre set up by customs, Police, the Immigration Department and other departments will be activated during the National Day Golden Week to facilitate monitoring of the situation at control points.

    The relevant departments will also maintain close liaison with the Culture, Sports & Tourism Bureau, and Mainland counterparts. They will take timely contingency actions to flexibly deploy manpower at the BCPs and open more e-Channels and counters to ease passenger and vehicular flows where necessary.

    The Transport Department’s Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre will operate round the clock to monitor traffic and public transport services in different districts, including at BCPs and major stations. It will disseminate the latest traffic information via various channels and implement response measures where appropriate.

    Police will make appropriate traffic arrangements according to the circumstances. If necessary, this will include arranging for public transport to use the dedicated lane on San Sham Road to reach Lok Ma Chau/Huanggang Port.

    The public and visitors can check the estimated waiting times at each land BCP via the Immigration Department’s mobile application in order to plan their itineraries. The daily arrival figures for each control point will be uploaded onto a designated web page.

    Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung, who chaired the interdepartmental meeting, said relevant departments will maintain close liaison and co-ordinate with one another to properly manage passenger and vehicular flows, providing an orderly and smooth experience for the public and visitors to Hong Kong.

    The bureau will activate its Emergency Monitoring & Support Centre in a timely manner to closely monitor and co-ordinate the public order situation at various BCPs and facilitate follow-up actions where necessary, he added.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Security: Norboro — Prince District RCMP investigating fatal two vehicle collision

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Prince District RCMP is investigating a fatal two vehicle collision that occurred on route 2 near the Grahams road in Norboro involving a car and a tractor.

    September 24, 2024, at approximately 4:10 p.m., Prince District RCMP, Kensington Fire Department and Island EMS responded to a two-vehicle collision on Route 2 in Norboro. RCMP officers learned that a car collided with a tractor hauling a potato equipment as the tractor was making a left turn.

    The driver and sole occupant of the car, a 27-year-old Prince County woman, was pronounced deceased at the scene and the driver of the tractor was uninjured.

    A collision reconstructionist attended and the investigation is ongoing.

    Route 2 was closed for several hours but has since reopened.

    Our thoughts are with the victims’ families at this difficult time.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Statement by Antonio Tajani, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy in his capacity as Chair of the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting at the High-Level Week of the UN General Assembly (23 September 2024)

    Source: Republic of France in English
    The Republic of France has issued the following statement:

    1. Introduction

    In today’s meeting in New York, in the wake of the Summit of the Future, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and the High Representative of the European Union reiterated their commitment to upholding the rule of law, humanitarian principles and international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, and to protecting human rights and dignity for all individuals.

    They re-emphasized their determination to foster collective action in order to preserve peace and stability to address global challenges, such as the climate crisis and to advance the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    In doing so, the G7 members renewed their commitment to the promotion of free societies and democratic principles, where all persons can freely exercise their rights and freedoms.

    2. Summit for the Future

    In the spirit of the renewed determination to strengthen the multilateral system based on the UN Charter’s principles, as reflected in the Pact for the Future adopted at the Summit of the Future by world Leaders, the G7 members committed to continue working with countries and all relevant stakeholders within the UN system through dialogue, mutual understanding and respect in the pursuit of common solutions, with the aim of upholding and reforming the multilateral system so that it better reflects today’s world and is fit to respond to the complex global challenges of the future. They reaffirmed their commitment to work with all UN member states to strengthen the roles of the UNSG as well as the UNGA. They also recommitted to the reform of the UNSC.

    3. Steadfast Support to Ukraine

    The G7 members reaffirmed their unwavering support to Ukraine as it defends its freedom, sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, against Russia’s brutal and unjustifiable war of aggression. The G7 members strongly condemned Russia’s blatant breach of international law, including the UN Charter, and of the basic principles that underpin the international order. They strongly condemned the serious violations of international humanitarian law perpetrated by Russia’s forces in Ukraine, which have caused a devastating impact on the civilian population. Violence against civilians, including women, children, and prisoners of war is unacceptable.

    They expressed their outrage at Russia’s repeated attacks against critical infrastructure and they condemned in the strongest possible terms any targeting of civilian buildings and even hospitals. Ensuring the protection and resilience of Ukraine’s energy grid and its power generation capacity remains a fundamental and urgent priority as winter approaches. They welcomed the international conference on energy security held on August 22. .as well as the ongoing coordination of the G7 energy group. They reiterated their commitment to help Ukraine meet its urgent short-term financing needs, as well as support its long-term recovery and reconstruction priorities.

    Russia must end its war of aggression and pay for the damage it has caused to Ukraine. The G7 members reiterated their commitment to explore and use all possible lawful avenues by which Russia is made to meet those obligations.

    The launch of the Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) Loans for Ukraine, as mandated by G7 leaders, will make available approximately USD 50 billion in additional funding to Ukraine that will be serviced and repaid by future flows of extraordinary revenues stemming from the immobilization of Russian sovereign assets held in the European Union and other relevant jurisdictions.

    The G7 Foreign Ministers and the High Representative are working, together with Finance Ministers, to operationalize the G7 Leaders’ commitment by the end of the year. They will maintain solidarity in this commitment to providing this support to Ukraine. The G7 members confirmed that, consistent with all applicable laws and their respective legal systems, Russia’s sovereign assets in their jurisdictions will remain immobilized until Russia ends its aggression and pays for the damage it has caused to Ukraine.

    They also committed to strengthening the Ukraine Donor Platform to help coordinate the disbursal of funds and ensure they align with Ukraine’s highest priority needs at a pace it can effectively absorb. This will play a key role in advancing Ukraine’s reforms in line with its European path and in contributing to a successful Ukraine Recovery Conference to be held in Italy in 2025.

    Any use of nuclear weapons by Russia in the context of its war of aggression against Ukraine would be inadmissible. They therefore condemned in the strongest possible terms Russia’s irresponsible and threatening nuclear rhetoric, as well as its posture of strategic intimidation. They also expressed their deepest concern about the reported use of chemical weapons as well as riot control agents as a method of warfare by Russia in Ukraine.

    The G7 members remained committed to holding those responsible accountable for atrocities in Ukraine, in line with international law. They also condemned the seizures of foreign companies and called on Russia to reverse these measures and seek acceptable solutions with the companies targeted by them.

    They condemned Russia’s seizure and continued control and militarization of Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which poses severe risks for nuclear safety and security, potentially affecting the entire international community. They reiterated their support to the International Atomic Energy Agency’s efforts directed at mitigating such risks.

    They underlined once again their support for Ukraine’s right of self-defense and reiterated their commitment to Ukraine’s long-term security, recalling the launch of the Ukraine Compact in Washington on 11 July 2024. They re-affirmed the intention to increasing industrial production and delivery capabilities to assist Ukraine’s self-defense. They highlighted their support to Ukraine in its efforts to modernize its armed forces and strengthen its own defense industry. They expressed their resolve to bolster Ukraine’s air defense capabilities to save lives and protect critical infrastructure.

    They remained committed to raising the costs of Russia’s war of aggression by building on the comprehensive package of sanctions and economic measures already in place. Though existing measures have had a significant impact on Russia’s war machine and ability to fund its invasion, its military is still posing a threat not just to Ukraine but also to international security.

    The G7 members expressed the intention to continue taking appropriate measures, consistent with their legal systems, against actors in China and in third countries that materially support Russia’s war machine, including financial institutions, and other entities that facilitate Russia’s acquisition of items for its defense industrial base.

    They expressed their intention to continue to apply significant pressure on Russian revenues from energy and other commodities. This will include improving the efficacy of the oil price cap policy by taking further steps to tighten compliance and enforcement, including against Russia’s shadow fleet, while working to maintain market stability.

    They especially emphasized the urgency to support Ukraine’s energy security, including by coordinating international assistance through the G7+Ukraine Energy Coordination Group. They underscored the importance to continue working with the Ukrainian authorities and International Financial Institutions through the Ukraine Donor Platform, and by mobilizing private investments and fostering participation of civil society.

    They highlighted the reality of millions of internally displaced Ukrainians and the importance of an inclusive rights-based, gender-responsive recovery, including the reintegration of veterans and civilians with disabilities, and to address the needs of women, children as well as other population groups who have been disproportionately affected by Russia’s war of aggression. They reiterated their condemnation of Russia’s unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children and welcomed coordinated efforts to secure their safe return. They called on Russia to release all persons it has unjustly detained and safely return all civilians it has illegally transferred or deported, starting with children. They welcomed the Ministerial Conference on the Human Dimension of Ukraine’s 10 point peace formula that will be hosted by Canada on October 30-31.

    They reiterated the need to support Ukraine’s agriculture sector, which is critical for global food supply, particularly for the most vulnerable nations, and called for unimpeded exports of grain, foodstuffs, fertilizers and inputs from Ukraine.

    They acknowledged the importance to involve the private sector in the sustainable economic recovery of Ukraine. They welcomed and underscored the significance of Ukraine itself continuing to implement domestic reform efforts, especially in the fields of anti-corruption, justice system reform, decentralization, and promotion of the rule of law. These endeavors are in line with the Euro-Atlantic path Ukraine has embraced. The G7 members were unanimous on the need to continue to support efforts of the Ukrainian government and people in these endeavors.

    They resolutely condemned Russia’s holding of illegitimate ‘elections’ in the occupied Ukrainian Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol. Russia’s actions once again demonstrate its blatant disregard for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence, and the UN Charter. They called on all members of the international community to refrain from recognizing Russia’s illegitimate actions.

    They welcomed the Summit on Peace in Ukraine that took place in Switzerland on June 15-16 and its focus on the key priorities needed to achieve a framework for peace based on international law, including the UN Charter and its principles, and respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. They remained committed to follow up on the Conference through constructive engagement with all international partners to reach a comprehensive, just and lasting peace.

    The G7 members acknowledged that Russia continues to expand its campaigns of foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI). They condemned Russia’s use of FIMI to support its war of aggression against Ukraine. They reiterated their determination to bolster the G7 Rapid Response Mechanism by developing a collective response framework to counter foreign threats to democracies.

    4. Situation in the Middle East

    The G7 members reiterated their condemnation of Hamas’ horrendous attacks on October 7, 2023. 101 hostages are still in the hands of Hamas. They noted with deep concern the trend of escalatory violence in the Middle East and its repercussions on regional stability and on the lives of civilians shattered by this conflict, from the Gaza Strip to the Israeli-Lebanese Blue Line. Actions and counter-reactions risk magnifying this dangerous spiral of violence and dragging the entire Middle East into a broader regional conflict with unimaginable consequences. They called for a stop to the current destructive cycle, while emphasizing that no country stands to gain from a further escalation in the Middle East.

    They expressed their deep concern about the situation along the Blue Line. They recognized the essential stabilizing role played by the Lebanese Armed Forces and the UN Interim Force in Lebanon in mitigating that risk. They demanded the full implementation of UNSCR 1701 (2006) and urged that all relevant actors implement immediate measures towards de-escalation.

    The G7 members reaffirmed their strong support for the ongoing mediation efforts undertaken by the United States, Egypt and Qatar to reach a resolution between the parties to the conflict in Gaza. They reiterated their full commitment for the implementation of the UNSC Resolution 2735 (2024) and the comprehensive deal outlined by President Biden in May that would lead to an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, a significant and sustained increase in the flow of humanitarian assistance throughout Gaza, and an enduring end to the crisis, to secure a pathway to a two-state solution with a safe Israel alongside a sovereign Palestinian state. They urged the parties to the conflict to unequivocally accept the ceasefire proposal, stressing the need for countries in a position to directly influence the parties to cooperate in strengthening mediation efforts. They called for the full implementation of the terms of the ceasefire proposal without delay and without conditions.

    They called on all parties to fully comply with international law, including international humanitarian law. They expressed their deep alarm for the heavy toll this conflict has taken on civilians, deploring all losses of civilian lives equally and noting with great concern that, after nearly a year of hostilities and regional instability, it is mostly civilians, including women and children, who are paying the highest price. Protection of civilians must be an absolute priority for all parties at all times.

    The G7 members expressed concern at the unprecedented level of food insecurity affecting most of the population in the Gaza Strip. Securing full, rapid, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access in all its forms and through all relevant crossing points remains an absolute priority. They urged all parties to allow the unimpeded delivery of aid and ensure protection of humanitarian workers by properly implementing de-confliction measures. They recognized the crucial role played by UN agencies and other humanitarian actors in delivering assistance especially health care for the most vulnerable persons, including the polio vaccination campaign. They expressed their support for UNRWA to effectively uphold its mandate, emphasizing the vital role that the UN Agency plays.

    The G7 members reaffirmed their unwavering commitment, through reinvigorated efforts in the Middle East Peace Process, to the vision of a two-state solution where two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, live side by side in peace within secure and recognized borders, consistent with international law and relevant UN resolutions, and in this regard stress the importance of unifying the Gaza strip with the West Bank under Palestinian Authority. We note that mutual recognition, to include the recognition of a Palestinian state, at the appropriate time, would be a crucial component of that political process. They expressed their concern about the risk of weakening the Palestinian Authority and underlined the importance of maintaining economic stability in the West Bank. They welcomed the EU’s 400 million Euro emergency package for the Palestinian Authority. All parties must refrain from unilateral actions and from divisive statements that may undermine the prospect of a two-state solution, including the Israeli expansion of settlements and the “legalization” of settlement outposts. They condemned the rise in extremist settler violence committed against Palestinians, which undermines security and stability in the West Bank and threatens prospects for a lasting peace. They expressed their deep concern regarding the deteriorating security situation in the West Bank.

    They reiterated their commitment to working together – and with other international partners – to closely coordinate and institutionalize their support for civil society peacebuilding efforts, ensuring that they are part of a larger strategy to build the foundation necessary for a negotiated and lasting Israeli-Palestinian peace. The G7 members called on Iran to contribute to de-escalation of tensions in the region. They demanded that Iran cease its destabilizing actions in the Middle East. They underlined that they stand ready to adopt further sanctions or take other measures in response to further destabilizing initiatives.

    They reiterated their determination that Iran must never develop or acquire a nuclear weapon and that the G7 will continue working together, and with other international partners, to address Iran’s nuclear escalation. A diplomatic solution remains the best way to resolve this issue. As the IAEA remains unable to verify that Iran’s nuclear program is exclusively peaceful, they urged Iran’s leadership to cease and reverse nuclear activities that have no credible civilian justification and to cooperate with the IAEA without further delay to fully implement their legally binding safeguards agreement and their commitments under UNSCR 2231(2015).

    They condemned in the strongest possible terms Iran’s export and Russia’s procurement of Iranian ballistic missiles. Evidence that Iran has continued to transfer weaponry to Russia despite repeated international calls to stop represents a further escalation of Iran’s military support to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Russia has used Iranian weaponry such as UAVs to kill Ukrainian civilians and strike their critical infrastructure.

    They reiterated that Iran must immediately cease all support to Russia’s illegal and unjustifiable war against Ukraine and halt such transfers of ballistic missiles, UAVs and related technology, which constitute a direct threat to the Ukrainian people as well as European and international security more broadly.

    They reaffirmed their steadfast commitment to hold Iran to account for its unacceptable support for Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine that further undermines global security. In line with their previous statements on the matter, they underscored that they are already responding with new and significant measures.

    They also reiterated their deep concern about Iran’s human rights violations, especially against women and minority groups. They reiterated their call on Iran to allow access to the country to relevant UN Human Rights Council Special Procedures mandate holders.

    De-escalation efforts in the region must also include the immediate and unconditional termination of any attack by the Houthis against international and commercial vessels transiting the Gulf of Aden, the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea. The G7 members reiterated their strong condemnation of these attacks and the right of countries to defend their vessels from attacks. They called for the immediate release by the Houthis of the Galaxy Leader and its crew. They expressed their strong concern about the August 21 attack on the merchant vessel Sounion and the ongoing risk of an environmental catastrophe as salvage operations continue. They welcomed the efforts by the EU maritime operation Aspides and by the US-led Operation Prosperity Guardian to protect vital sea lanes. They appreciated the efforts of those countries that are committed to protect freedom of navigation and trade, as well as maritime security, in line with UNSCR 2722 (2024) and in accordance with international law.

    5. Fostering partnerships with African Countries

    The G7 members reaffirmed their commitment to support African nations in the pursuit of sustainable development as well as the creation of jobs and growth. The focus remains on fostering fair partnerships, built on shared principles, democratic values, local leadership, and practical initiatives.

    They reiterated their intention to align actions with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the specific needs of African countries, including plans to improve local and regional food security, infrastructure, trade, and agricultural productivity. They expressed their support for the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area, a crucial factor for Africa’s growth in the next decade.

    The G7 members emphasized the need to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation with African countries and regional organizations. In addition to maintaining financial support for African nations, they expressed their determination to improve the coordination and effectiveness of G7 resources, mobilizing domestic resources and encouraging increased private investments.

    They welcomed the African Union’s permanent membership in the G20, and the creation of an additional Chair for Sub-Saharan Africa on the IMF Executive Board in November.

    They reaffirmed their commitment to the G20 Compact with Africa, a tool aimed at enhancing private investment, driving structural reforms, supporting local entrepreneurship, and fostering cooperation, particularly in the energy sector. The G7 Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII), and initiatives like the EU’s Global Gateway can contribute to promote sustainable, resilient, and economically viable infrastructure in Africa, ensuring transparency in project selection, procurement, and financing. In this framework, they welcomed Italy’s Mattei Plan for Africa.

    They recognized that sustainable development, peace and security and democracy go hand in hand, reaffirming their commitment to help African governments in strengthening democratic governance and respect for human rights, while addressing conditions conducive to terrorism, violent extremism, and instability.

    They expressed their deep concern about the destabilizing activities of the Kremlin-backed Wagner Group and other Russia-supported entities. They called for accountability for all those responsible for human rights violations and abuses.

    6. Indo-Pacific

    The G7 members reiterated their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, based on the rule of law, which is inclusive, prosperous and secure, grounded on sovereignty, territorial integrity, peaceful resolution of disputes, fundamental freedoms and human rights. They reaffirmed the importance of working together with regional partners and organizations, notably the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). They reaffirmed their thorough support for ASEAN centrality and unity. They reaffirmed their intention to work to support Pacific Island Countries’ priorities, as articulated through the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.

    As they seek constructive and stable relations with China, they recognized the importance of direct and candid engagement to express concerns and manage differences. They reaffirmed their readiness to cooperate with China to address global challenges. They expressed their deep concern at the China’s support to Russia. They called on China to step up efforts to promote international peace and security, and to press Russia to stop its military aggression and immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw its troops from Ukraine. They encouraged China to support a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on territorial integrity and the principles and purposes of the UN Charter, including through its direct dialogue with Ukraine. They also expressed their deep concern at China’s ongoing support for Russia’s defense industrial base, which is enabling Russia to maintain its illegal war in Ukraine and has significant and broad-based security implications. They called on China to cease the transfer of dual-use materials, including weapons components and equipment, that are inputs for Russia’s defense sector.

    They recognized the importance of China in global trade. However, they expressed their concerns about China’s persistent industrial targeting and comprehensive non-market policies and practices that are leading to global spillovers, market distortions and harmful overcapacity in a growing range of sectors, undermining our workers, industries and economic resilience and security, as well as impacting on currencies. The G7 members are not decoupling or turning inwards. They are de-risking and diversifying supply chains where necessary and appropriate and fostering resilience to economic coercion. They called on China to refrain from adopting export control measures, particularly on critical minerals, that could lead to significant supply chain disruptions. Together with partners, the G7 members will invest in building their respective industrial capacities, promote diversified and resilient supply chains, and reduce critical dependencies and vulnerabilities.

    They remained seriously concerned about the situation in the East and South China Seas and reiterated their strong opposition to any unilateral attempt to change the status quo by force or coercion. They reaffirmed that there is no legal basis for China’s expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea, and they reiterated their opposition to China’s militarization and coercive and intimidation activities in the South China Sea. They re-emphasized the universal and unified character of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and reaffirmed UNCLOS’s important role in setting out the legal framework that governs all activities in the oceans and the seas. They reiterated that the award rendered by the Arbitral Tribunal on 12 July 2016 is a significant milestone, which is legally binding upon the parties to those proceedings and a useful basis for peacefully resolving disputes between the parties. They reiterated their strong opposition to China’s dangerous use of coast guard and maritime militia in the South China Sea and its repeated obstruction of countries’ high seas freedom of navigation. They expressed deep concern about the dangerous and obstructive maneuvers, including water cannons and ramming, by the China Coast Guard and maritime militia against Philippines vessels.

    The G7 members reaffirmed that maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is indispensable to international security and prosperity, and called for the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues. There is no change in the basic position of the G7 members on Taiwan, including stated One-China policies. They supported Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations as a member where statehood is not a prerequisite and as an observer or guest where it is.

    They remained concerned by the human rights situation in China, including in Xinjiang and Tibet. They are also worried about the crackdown on Hong Kong’s autonomy and independent institutions, and ongoing erosion of rights and freedoms. They urged China and the Hong Kong authorities to act in accordance with their international commitments and applicable legal obligations.

    The G7 members strongly condemned North Korea’s continuing expansion of its unlawful nuclear and ballistic missile programs in violation of multiple UNSC resolutions and its continuous destabilizing activities. They reiterated their call for the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and demanded that North Korea abandons all its nuclear weapons, existing nuclear programs, and any other WMD and ballistic missile programs in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner, in accordance with all relevant UNSC resolutions. They called on North Korea to return to dialogue to promote peace and stability in the Korean peninsula. They urged all UN Member States to fully implement all relevant UN Security Council resolutions. They reiterated their deep disappointment with Russia’s veto last March on the mandate renewal of the UNSC 1718 Committee Panel of Experts.

    They condemned in the strongest possible terms the increasing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, including North Korea’s export and Russia’s procurement of North Korean ballistic missiles and munitions in direct violation of relevant UNSCRs, as well as Russia’s use of these missiles and munitions against Ukraine. They are also deeply concerned about the potential for any transfer of nuclear or ballistic missiles-related technology to North Korea, in violation of the relevant UNSCRs. They urged Russia and North Korea to immediately cease all such activities and abide by relevant UNSCRs. They urged North Korea to respect human rights, facilitate access for international humanitarian organizations, and resolve the abductions issue immediately.

    They called on China not to conduct or condone activities aimed at undermining the security and safety of our communities and the integrity of our democratic institutions, and to act in strict accordance with its obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.

    7. Regional Issues

    Venezuela

    The G7 members reiterated their deep concern about the situation in Venezuela, following the vote on July 28.

    They emphasized that the announced victory of Maduro lacks credibility and democratic legitimacy, as indicated by reports of the UN Panel of Experts and independent international observers as well as data published by the opposition. They underscored that it is essential for electoral results to be complete and independently verified to ensure respect for the will of the Venezuelan people.

    They expressed their outrage for the arrest warrant and constant threats to the security of Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who decided to seek refuge in Spain. According to the above-mentioned independent reports, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia appears to have won the most votes.

    They urged Venezuelan representatives to cease all human rights violations and abuses, arbitrary detentions and widespread restrictions on fundamental freedoms, particularly affecting the political opposition, human rights defenders, and representatives of independent media and civil society. They called for the release of all political prisoners and for a path to freedom and democracy for the people of Venezuela.

    They urged the international community to keep Venezuela high on the diplomatic agenda and they expressed their support for efforts by regional partners to facilitate the Venezuelan-led democratic and peaceful transition that the people of Venezuela have clearly chosen in the polls.

    Haiti

    The G7 members expressed their determination to continue supporting Haitian institutions – including the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT) and the Government of Prime Minister Conille – in their commitment to create the necessary conditions of general security and stability for the convening, by February 2026, of free and fair elections. The expression of popular will would set the foundation for the full restoration of democracy and the rule of law in Haiti.

    They also expressed full support to the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, which is providing critical support to the Haitian National Police as they counter criminal gangs engaged in illicit trafficking and inflicting brutal violence upon the population.

    The G7 members emphasized the importance of continued support to the MSS mission through financial contributions to the UN Trust Fund as well as contributions in kind. They expressed their strong appreciation for the commitment of the Government of Kenya – which has already deployed 380 personnel on the ground – to support the Haitian National Police in restoring peace and security.

    They called on all countries that have committed to deploy their contingents to the MSS mission to do so as soon as possible, to consolidate the mission and its fundamental role in the Country. They called on Haiti’s partners to continue their humanitarian assistance to the Haitian people and to expedite their financial and in-kind contributions to the MSS mission to help ensure that the mission is resourced for success.

    They called also on the United Nations Security Council to consider a UN Peace Operation to maintain the security gains of the Haiti National Police and the MSS mission for holding free and fair elections and called on the Secretary-General accordingly to provide support.

    The G7 members welcomed the work of the G7 Working Group on Haiti in monitoring institutional, political, social and security developments in Haiti, with a view to supporting the stabilization of the country and the restoration of full democratic governance.

    Libya

    The G7 members reiterated their unwavering commitment to Libyan stability, sovereignty, independence and unity. They expressed deep concern about recent developments in the country, in particular those involving the leadership of the Central Bank of Libya and the High Council of State, which show the fragility and unsustainability of the present status quo. They urged relevant Libyan parties to rapidly reach the necessary compromises to begin to restore the institutional integrity of the Central Bank of Libya and its standing with the international financial community. They called on Libyan political actors to refrain from taking harmful unilateral actions that create further political tension and fragmentation and make the country vulnerable to harmful foreign interference.

    They noted advances made in the organization of local elections and they called for a free, fair and inclusive participation of all Libyans. It is now imperative to relaunch a Libyan-led and Libyan-owned political process facilitated by the UN towards free and fair presidential and parliamentary elections.

    They expressed their support and commended the efforts made by UNSMIL officer in charge Stephanie Koury in support of the stabilization of Libya. They called on the Secretary General to appoint a new Special Representative without delay.

    Sudan

    The G7 members reiterated their grave concern over the ongoing fighting, mass-displacement and famine in Sudan.

    They condemned the serious human rights violations and abuses against the civilian population, including widespread sexual and gender-based violence, as well as international humanitarian law violations by both sides to the conflict. They called for an immediate end to the escalating violence, which is creating further displacement, and urged the warring parties to ensure the protection of civilians. They reiterated their commitment to holding accountable all those responsible for violations of international law in Sudan.

    They condemned the emergence of famine in Sudan as a direct consequence of efforts to restrict access of humanitarian actors. They noted recent progress in relation to the re-opening of the Chad-Sudan Adre border crossing, in the wake of the Paris Conference and of the Geneva talks. They called for full, rapid, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access both into Sudan and across lines of conflict so aid can reach all those in need.

    They urged all parties to cease hostilities immediately and to engage in serious negotiations aimed at achieving a lasting ceasefire, humanitarian access and protection of civilians without pre-conditions.

    They called on external actors to refrain from fueling the conflict, to respect the UN arms embargo on Darfur, and to play a responsible role in resolving the crisis.

    They welcomed mediation efforts by regional and international actors and organizations to facilitate a durable peace for the country.

    Inclusive, national dialogue, aimed at restoring democracy, re-establishing and strengthening the civilian and representative institutions after the end of the conflict, is a prerequisite for lasting peace. The G7 Members emphasized that it is necessary for representatives of Sudanese civil society, including women, to be fully engaged in the reflection on the political future of the country.

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Economics: BaFin warns consumers about the website coinaimex.net

    Source: Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht – In English

    The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about the website coinaimex.net. According to information available to BaFin, Coinaimex Ltd, London, United Kingdom, offers financial and investment services there without authorization.

    BaFin has warned consumers about several almost identical websites that have come to its attention recently. The homepage of each website begins with the following sentence: “Step Into the Trading Arena With Confidence & [name of website]”.

    Anyone providing financial or investment services in Germany may do so only with authorisation from BaFin. However, some companies offer these services without the necessary authorisation. Information on whether a particular company has been granted authorisation by BaFin can be found in BaFin’s database of companies.

    The information provided by BaFin is based on section 37 (4) of the German Banking Act (KreditwesengesetzKWG).

    Please be aware:

    BaFin, the German Federal Criminal Police Office (BundeskriminalamtBKA) and the German state criminal police offices (Landeskriminalämter) recommend that consumers seeking to invest money online should exercise the utmost caution and do the necessary research beforehand in order to identify fraud attempts at an early stage.

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Minister praises support for families and children In Wolverhampton

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    Minister for Children and Families, Janet Daby, visited Graiseley Family Hub last Wednesday 18 September to see at first hand an area which has successful embedded Family Hubs and the Families First for Children Pathfinder (FFCP), meeting staff along with children and families.

    A Family Hub is a place where children, young people and their families can go when they need support of which eight have been set up in Wolverhampton. 

    The FFCP programme aims to test new ways to reform the children’s social care system, ensuring early support, family help and intervention is available for families facing challenges, helping them to overcome adversity and stay together where possible. 

    Ms Daby said: “I’ve loved my visit here today. It’s been great to meet all the people that help to support families, children and young people: visiting the Family Hub, being able to have a tour and meet a young person today – it’s been delightful.

    “I was impressed with the way in which I was able to meet representatives from the Health Visiting and School Nursing Services, the Police and Midwifery. It was great to hear about the support given to mothers in areas such as breastfeeding. I also liked hearing about what’s being done with the LGBTQ+ community and how diverse needs are being met. 

    The Minister added: “I get a sense that people have job satisfaction, and I observed that people have a genuine need to want to improve families and children’s lives: there was a lot I was impressed with.”

    Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, Cabinet member for Adults and Wellbeing for City of Wolverhampton Council said: “This visit has been a fantastic opportunity to showcase the collaboration between ourselves and the Wolverhampton 0-19 Service, as well as demonstrating how well we’ve managed to achieve frontline support for families.”

    Alison Hinds, Director of Children’s Services, added:” We are always more than willing to host any visits  to be able to share what we believe is the great work we’re doing in this space; I felt very proud of listening to a parent, a carer and a young person who we have been working with speaking with Minister Daby about how they have welcomed the support from the Hub.”

    Rachel King, Deputy Director for the Families First for Children Pathfinder for the council, said: “Minister Daby was really approachable, genuinely interested and supportive of the work we do. Hopefully, what we were able to demonstrate in the short time we had will influence ongoing discussions centrally.”

    Denise Williams, Service Manager, Family Hubs for the council added: “We enjoy sharing the work we do across the city and staff from across the partnership, as well as families, found Minister Daby to be really approachable and supportive of the work that we are doing collectively in the Family Hubs.”

    Catherine Draycott, School Nurse Team Leader, said: “It was lovely today to welcome Minister Daby to Wolverhampton. We were honoured that she took the time to sit with our 0-19 service and ask questions about our service – she could tell how passionate we are about developing these services in Wolverhampton.”

    Marion Astbury, Matron for Health Visiting, added: “It was a real pleasure to speak to the Minister and her colleagues to showcase the fantastic work being done by our staff. There was genuine interest in how we are supporting our families and the challenges we face in delivering our service.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI USA: FACT SHEET: During Climate Week, Biden-⁠ Harris Administration Announces Continued Progress on the American Climate  Corps

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    American Climate Corps Has Already Put 15,000 Young Americans to Work as Part of Its Inaugural Cohort
    Environmental Protection Agency and AmeriCorps Announce a New Environmental Justice Climate Corps; the Department of Housing and Urban Development Joins the Interagency American Climate Corps Initiative
    Since taking office, President Biden has delivered on the most ambitious climate, clean energy, conservation, and environmental justice agenda in history – signing into law the largest investment in climate action ever, protecting more than 42 million acres of public lands and waters, creating good-paying clean energy jobs, and establishing the Justice40 Initiative, which sets the goal that 40 percent of the overall benefits from certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.
    As part of his historic commitment to tackle the climate crisis, President Biden launched the American Climate Corps (ACC) to mobilize the next generation of clean energy, conservation, and climate resilience workers, with a goal to put 20,000 young people to work in the clean energy and climate resilience economy in the initiative’s first year. Today, in celebration of Climate Week, the White House is announcing that more than 15,000 young Americans have been put to work in high-quality, good-paying clean energy and climate resilience workforce training and service opportunities through the American Climate Corps – putting the program on track to reach President Biden’s goal of 20,000 members in the program’s first year ahead of schedule.
    Across the country, American Climate Corps members are working on projects to tackle the climate crisis, including restoring coastal ecosystems, strengthening urban and rural agriculture, investing in clean energy and energy efficiency, improving disaster and wildfire preparedness, and more. The American Climate Corps is giving a diverse new generation of young people the tools to fight the impacts of climate change today and the skills to join the clean energy and climate-resilience workforce of tomorrow.
    Today, the Biden-Harris Administration is making several additional announcements:
    The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and AmeriCorps are Announcing a New Environmental Justice Climate Corps, which will put more than 250 American Climate Corps members to work over the next three years providing technical assistance to community-based organizations in environmental justice communities – helping them access resources to carry out locally driven projects that reduce pollution, increase community climate resilience, improve public health and safety, and build community capacity to address environmental and climate justice challenges. Environmental Justice Climate Corps members will be paid a living allowance and reimbursed for selected living expenses. In total, this allowance is equivalent to receiving more than $25 per hour throughout their year of service. They will also obtain the benefits of AmeriCorps VISTA service—including the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award, which is valued at $7,395 in FY24, and streamlined pathways into certain federal jobs—and gain mentorship and professional development opportunities. Applications for the Environmental Justice Climate Corps will open in early 2025, with a goal for its first cohort to start later that year.The partnership with EPA is AmeriCorps’ largest environmental partnership in the agency’s history and will build on the success of three other partnerships announced under the American Climate Corps: AmeriCorps NCCC Forest Corps, Working Lands Climate Corps and Energy Communities AmeriCorps, which together will support more than 500 new ACC positions over the coming years.
    The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is Joining the ACC Interagency Initiative. Joining the seven initial signatories of the December 2023 ACC Memorandum of Understanding, today HUD will become the eighth federal agency member of the ACC Interagency Initiative. This step brings the ACC to the communities HUD serves, building upon the Department’s commitment to using low- and zero-carbon energy and supporting communities to increase their resilience, advance environmental justice, and create good jobs for residents.
    The American Climate Corps is Fostering Federal-State Partnerships by establishing a partnership with state service commissions, which support national service in states across the country, to grow the number of state climate corps and strengthen existing state climate corps programs. Together, the American Climate Corps, state-level climate corps programs, and state national service leadership are committed to strengthening state climate corps, supporting impactful program implementation, and leveraging state and local partnerships to scale climate corps efforts across the country. To date, 14 states have launched their own state-based climate corps programs, including New Jersey who just today announced the creation of the New Jersey Climate Corps. 
    American Climate Corps Will Host a Virtual Job Fair. The American Climate Corps is working to ensure that its members have a pathway to good-paying jobs following their terms of service, which is why later this year, ACC will host a virtual job fair for current and past members to learn about high-quality career opportunities in the clean energy and climate resilience economy. The virtual job fair will bring together the private sector, labor unions, and the public sector, including Federal agencies, to showcase career pathways available to ACC members.
    Today’s announcements build on a year of successful program implementation, including:
    Launch of the American Climate Corps Tour. This fall, to showcase ACC members’ important work across the nation, the American Climate Corps and senior Biden-Harris Administration officials is embarking on a national tour and visiting ten locations to highlight ACC members’ impact in communities across the country.The tour is making stops at a range of ACC project sites and featuring remarks by representatives of the Biden-Harris Administration and other Federal, state, and local elected officials. Visits include ACC member swearing-in ceremonies, service projects, and roundtables with ACC members.
    Creation of the American Climate Corps Storytellers Project. Inspired by the Works Progress Administration’s Federal Art Project, the ACC launched the Storytellers Project, engaging artists and storytellers to capture the impact of President Biden’s American Climate Corps.The ACC Storytellers Project solicited applications from artists across the country. Ten accomplished storytellers were selected to document the impact of the American Climate Corps in communities across the country through photographs, videos, and other visual art mediums. 

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese research ship harassed by Philippine vessels

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    A Chinese research ship was approached and harassed by a military speed-gunboat and a coastguard vessel of the Philippines while conducting scientific research in the South China Sea on Tuesday.
    According to personnel aboard the Chinese ship, a speed-gunboat from the Philippine side approached and zigzagged around the Chinese ship Haiyang Dizhi 12, or Ocean Geology 12 in English, in the early morning, disrupting its normal research operations.
    Subsequently, vessel No. 4411 of the Philippine coastguard crossed in front of the Chinese research vessel and passed through with malicious intent, violating international rules on averting maritime collisions and gravely hampering the safety of the Chinese vessel and its operation.
    According to the captain of the Chinese research ship, this was the second time that the Philippine side had harassed China’s research vessels since the start of the scientific research mission.
    Previously, a Philippine vessel with the number 298 painted on its side deliberately covered the name on its bow, turned off its lighting and automatic identification system, and passed in front of the Chinese research vessel about 300 meters away at a high speed during nighttime, the captain said, noting that the Philippine vessel neither steered to make way nor answered radio communication from the Chinese vessel, posing a serious threat to the latter’s safety of navigation.
    The Chinese scientific research mission carried out by the ship is based on peaceful purposes and aimed at enriching humankind’s scientific knowledge of the ocean, said the chief scientist of this mission, adding that the methods and tools used in the mission are scientific and appropriate.
    The mission comply with the general principles outlined in article 240 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea regarding the conduct of marine scientific research, and are both legitimate and legal, the chief scientist said.
    Ding Duo, a researcher with the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, noted that China’s marine scientific exploration activities in relevant waters are based on China’s territorial sovereignty over the Nansha Qundao and its corresponding maritime rights. China’s relevant activities are exercising the rights of coastal countries granted by international laws, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, said Ding.
    China welcomes scientific research institutions of other countries in the South China Sea to conduct joint maritime scientific research activities with China, promote practical maritime cooperation in various fields, and create favorable conditions for peace and stability in the South China Sea, as well as regional development and prosperity, Ding added.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Government representatives discussed the organization of children’s recreation with deputies at a joint meeting of the State Duma committees

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Previous news Next news

    Dmitry Chernyshenko in the State Duma at an expanded meeting of the Committees on Family Protection, Fatherhood, Motherhood and Childhood, Labor, Social Policy and Veterans Affairs and Control

    Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko spoke in the State Duma at an expanded meeting of the committees on family protection, fatherhood, motherhood and childhood, labor, social policy and veterans’ affairs and control.

    The event was also attended by the Minister of Education Sergei Kravtsov, the Minister of Health Mikhail Murashko, the Deputy Chairperson of the State Duma Irina Yarovaya, the Chairperson of the Committee on Labor, Social Policy and Veterans’ Affairs Yaroslav Nilov, the Chairperson of the Committee on Family Protection, Fatherhood, Motherhood and Childhood Nina Ostanina, the Chairperson of the Control Committee Oleg Morozov, the Auditor of the Accounts Chamber Dmitry Zaitsev and others.

    During his speech, Dmitry Chernyshenko noted the importance of ensuring effective approaches to health promotion, upbringing and additional education in children’s camps.

    “The topic that united us all here is summer recreation and health improvement for children. It is extremely important and has significance for ensuring a full future and development of our children. I would like to thank the entire deputy corps and personally the Chairman of the State Duma Vyacheslav Viktorovich Volodin for their special attention to this area and their readiness to resolve pressing issues,” the Deputy Prime Minister noted.

    He expressed confidence that all participants of the joint meeting will make every effort to make an effective approach to strengthening health, developing physical and creative skills of children, providing the opportunity for upbringing and additional education during their vacation and stay at the camp.

    Dmitry Chernyshenko emphasized that education must correspond to the instructions given by Russian President Vladimir Putin and to domestic spiritual and moral values.

    “We are taking a completely sober approach to assessing the situation. We understand how much still needs to be done. We clearly assess the positive dynamics, they are in all areas. It is important to understand whether they are sufficient or not and whether we need to redistribute priorities and make some more efforts. We analyze all these parameters and make sure to refer to them during our regional visits,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

    He also thanked Irina Yarovaya for developing the draft law “On Amendments to the Federal Law “On the Basic Guarantees of Children’s Rights in the Russian Federation”, which provides for the preparation of a unified program of educational work in children’s camps.

    Minister of Education Sergei Kravtsov reported that the issue of raising the status of the interdepartmental commission on issues of organizing children’s recreation and health improvement to the level of a government commission has been worked out.

    “We are discussing the interim results of the past health campaign and talking about the tasks for the future. Currently, there are slightly more than 2 thousand stationary children’s camps operating in Russia. We are building new children’s camps, the International Children’s Center “Artek” is expanding. The construction of the federal center “Pechory” continues. We hope that we will open it next year,” said Sergey Kravtsov.

    The head of the Ministry of Education noted that a common strategy for the development of education is needed, which will unite the system of secondary vocational education, general education and children’s recreation.

    “Today we are preparing a general strategy for the development of education, where children’s recreation will be one of the components. And we set the task of approving this strategy before the start of the next summer health campaign,” he said.

    In addition, Sergey Kravtsov said that all pedagogical universities subordinate to the Ministry of Education have organized training for camp counselors, and their training program has been approved. Today, there are almost 88 thousand camp counselors in Russia. The monitoring of organizations involved in their training is currently being completed. Its results will be presented at the All-Russian forum “Big Meanings” in October of this year.

    Health Minister Mikhail Murashko reported that issues of medical care for children during summer holidays are legally regulated, and that children’s camps are sufficiently staffed with medical workers.

    “In 2024, 20% fewer children fell ill in health camps than the year before. The trend is positive. The health period with the formation of healthy habits and healthy behavior allows us to work with children most effectively, including with physical activity. We must not forget the issue of childhood obesity, introducing programs for proper eating behavior, prevention of bad habits,” the Minister of Health added.

    Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Irina Yarovaya noted that the common task of all departments and regions is to help organizers of children’s recreation, to create conditions that will make accidents and any unfavorable consequences impossible. She emphasized that it was precisely these approaches that had yielded their high-quality results.

    Irina Yarovaya added that universal formats for raising children in summer camps are needed; counselors should have a tool that will allow them, regardless of their experience and education, having a set of uniform programs, to implement them with equal quality.

    During the event, the deputies asked the speakers questions of interest to them about the development of the children’s recreation system.

    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://government.ru/nevs/52792/

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

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Global: Continuing crackdown on churches and NGOs moves Nicaragua further from democracy to authoritarianism

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Richard Wood, President of the Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

    A man prays at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Managua, the capital of Nicaragua, in August 2022. Oswaldo Rivas/AFP via Getty Images

    The Nicaraguan government recently shut down more than 1,500 nonprofits – many of them civic and religious groups doing humanitarian work in a country long mired in political violence, economic upheaval and social strife.

    The August 2024 closures were the latest in a long-running crackdown on civil society, including religious groups – some of the last influential, independent organizations in the country. That same month, the government revoked churches’ tax-exempt status. Over the past few years, many houses of worship have been closed or had their bank accounts frozen.

    As a sociologist, I have worked with Central American scholars to research the role of religion in public life in Central America, including Nicaragua. Several hundred Catholic figures have been detained in an ongoing crackdown under President Daniel Ortega, now 78, who leads the Sandinista National Liberation Front.

    Sweeping suppression

    Ortega’s FSLN party, as it is known in Spanish, is the authoritarian remnant of the group that led a broad national movement against Anastasio Somoza Debayle’s dictatorship in the 1970s. After overthrowing Somoza in 1979, Ortega and the Sandinistas governed until losing the 1990 election.

    Since Ortega returned to power in the 2006 elections, moderates have fled the FSLN, which since then has used oppression and violence for political and social control. In 2013, the National Assembly removed presidential term limits set by the Nicaraguan constitution.

    In April 2018, Ortega’s regime began targeting student protesters. Since then, hundreds of citizens — religious leaders, university students, academics, journalists and doctors — have been killed or arrested, gone into hiding or been forced to flee the country.

    Ortega’s crackdown has been broad. Universities had their assets confiscated and funding cut, and some have been shut down as the government took control of higher education. Media outlets have been shuttered, and international aid organizations have been expelled.

    Paramilitary police officers and prison guards have been accused of engaging in arbitrary killings and torture. Meanwhile, a record number of refugees are fleeing the country.

    Parishioners attend Mass at St. Agatha Catholic Church in Miami, which has become the spiritual home of the growing Nicaraguan diaspora.
    AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell

    Silencing churches

    Among the nearly 5,500 nonprofits that closed in Nicaragua between 2018 and 2024 are Catholic, evangelical Christian and historical Protestant organizations, as well as secular humanitarian ones. Of those, 1,650 organizations and churches were shuttered in August 2024, with government officials claiming their closure was due to ties to private enterprises or a lack of financial records.

    Catholic media and radio stations, missionary orders and humanitarian groups have been shuttered, too, as Ortega and the vice president – his wife, Rosario Murillo – have sought to eliminate settings where ideas and information freely flow, and people act independently of the government.

    The highest-profile religious leader caught up in the clampdown is Rolando Álvarez, a popular bishop, critic of Ortega, and a prominent Catholic voice of protest. Álvarez was detained in August 2022, accused of “conspiracy and spreading false news,” stripped of his citizenship and sentenced to 26 years in prison.

    Police officers and riot police block the main entrance of a church building in Matagalpa, Nicaragua, in August 2022 to prevent Bishop Rolando Álvarez from leaving.
    STR/AFP via Getty Images

    With international pressure mounting, Alvarez and a group of fellow detained Catholic clergy were released in January 2024 and exiled to the Vatican – where the regime had previously expelled the apostolic nuncio, the pope’s top diplomat in Nicaragua. They are among 245 Catholic figures the country has expelled in recent years. An additional 135 people, including Catholics and evangelicals, were expelled and stripped of their citizenship in September 2024.

    Today, 43% of Nicaraguan citizens identity as Catholics. But that percentage used to be much higher, and the country has deep cultural roots in Catholicism.

    In Nicaragua, as in much of Latin America, the Catholic Church is the most powerful source of social authority and the largest independent institution for public debate. It represents a key channel through which democratic values may take root, grow and thrive – an obstacle, in the regime’s eyes.

    For many years, the church was the only organization to escape Ortega’s grip – but no longer.

    Dangerous path

    I have witnessed firsthand Nicaragua’s shift from a country with promising seeds of democracy to violent autocracy. As civil war raged between the original Sandinista regime and U.S.-backed Contras in the 1980s, I led travel seminars to Nicaragua for faith groups, journalists, congressional aides and university students. I once personally encountered Ortega, serving as translator during a meeting with American journalists when his official translator failed to show up.

    Today, as Ortega continues to consolidate power by crushing opposition, Nicaragua has deteriorated into an oppressive state ruled with an iron fist. This reality reflects broader dynamics globally, from autocratic movements in the U.S. and Western Europe to current regimes in Russia, India, Turkey, Hungary and China.

    Nicaraguan citizens wave from a bus after being released from a Nicaraguan jail and landing in Guatemala City on Sept. 5, 2024.
    AP Photo/Moises Castillo

    Closer to home, Ortega poses a regional threat as a model for other potential autocrats. This is especially the case for neighbors like El Salvador, where President Nayib Bukele – the popular, self-described “coolest dictator” – is going down a similar path of turning the nation into an authoritarian state.

    I have seen Nicaraguans’ generosity and courage in the long fight for liberty and justice. The closure of democratic spaces, civic institutions and humanitarian organizations, along with the suppression of religious freedom, is a glaring sign that the country is being marched toward more oppression and violence – and, as history shows, risks becoming ripe for revolution.

    Only a gradual rebuilding of civil society, I believe, may save Nicaragua from that fate. The tragedy is what Nicaragua could have been: a thriving democratic society, with a commitment to empowering the poor.

    From 1983-1987 and part-time from 1987-1992, Richard Wood worked running travel seminars in Mexico and Central America. From 2010-2012, he received funding from the Center on Religion and Civic Culture at the University of Southern California and The John Templeton Foundation for research collaboration with Central American researchers.

    ref. Continuing crackdown on churches and NGOs moves Nicaragua further from democracy to authoritarianism – https://theconversation.com/continuing-crackdown-on-churches-and-ngos-moves-nicaragua-further-from-democracy-to-authoritarianism-238178

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI Global: What America’s history can teach us about debates on religious freedom and its importance for democracy

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Corey D. B. Walker, Dean and Wake Forest Professor of the Humanities, Wake Forest University

    The decline in church attendance has not resulted in a diminished Christian presence in American public life. selimaksan/E+ via Getty images.

    Supporters of both major U.S. political parties tend to claim their presidential candidate is the “real” Christian or the “better” Christian or just the “true” Christian.

    For a majority of white evangelical protestants, Trump is the good Christian. Christians for Kamala, a newly created group of self-identified Christians who support the Democratic nominee, say that her campaign embodies the “compassionate heart of Jesus and his teachings.”

    Yet, most American adults agree that religion should be separate from government. This widely shared belief is a cornerstone of religious freedom. As a scholar of religious freedom, I have studied the complex and ever-evolving role of religion in American politics. I argue that this election year, while the Christian character of each candidate is discussed everywhere, religious freedom, one of the core freedoms of American democracy, is not.

    The case of Ezra Stiles Ely

    America’s history of religious freedom is filled with stories that are instructive for our current moment. One such instructive lesson comes from the early 19th century.

    The Second Great Awakening was an intense period of religious revival. Evangelical Christians sought to reform American law and politics to reflect what they considered to be true Christianity. According to legal scholar Geoffrey R. Stone, it was at this time the claim that the “United States is a ‘Christian nation’ first seriously took root.”

    Ezra Stiles Ely.
    The New York Public Library digital collections

    A striking figure from the period is the Philadelphia Presbyterian minister Ezra Stiles Ely. On July 4, 1827, the Yale-educated minister delivered his infamous call for “a Christian political party” in the run-up to the 1828 presidential election.

    Ely’s oration, The Duty of Christian Freemen to Elect Christian Rulers, is a 19th-century version of what is today called “Christian nationalism.” In it, Ely lays out his view of a distinctly Christian vision of who should serve as political leaders and how they should govern.

    Before an Independence Day audience in Philadelphia’s Seventh Presbyterian Church, Ely declared, “Every ruler should be an avowed and sincere friend of Christianity. He should know and believe the doctrines of our holy religion, and act in conformity to its precepts.” Ely also advocated for “a new sort of union, or, if you will, a Christian party in politics.”

    Ely closed his sermon by exhorting Christians to “awake … to our sacred duty to our Divine Master; and let us have no rulers, without our consent and cooperation, who are not known to be avowedly Christians.”

    Critiques in defense of religious freedom

    While Ely sought to wed Christianity and American politics, others voices responded against this move. Religious freedom was new for the young nation. Yet, its supporters recognized its importance for American democracy.

    On Feb. 7, 1828, a pamphlet titled Sunday School Union, or Union of Church and State was placed on the desk of each member of the Pennsylvania Senate. The pamphlet contained excerpts of Ely’s speech that advocated the union of Christianity and politics. Ely’s speech was also the subject of debate in several 19th-century newspapers, including the Harrisburg Chronicle and The Pennsylvania Reporter.

    Notable among these voices was Massachusetts-born and Harvard-educated Supreme Court Justice Joseph Story.

    In an 1828 speech delivered in Salem, Massachusetts, Story boldly declared his support for religious freedom. He stated: “Religious freedom is the birthright of man; that governments have no authority to inflict punishment for conscientious differences of opinion; and that to worship God according to our own belief is not only our privilege, but is our duty, our absolute duty, from which no human tribunal can absolve us.”

    “Wherever religious liberty exist,” he argued, “it will, first or last, bring in, and establish political liberty.”

    Politics and American democracy

    America is not the same as at the time of the Second Great Awakening. Yet, the role of Christianity in political life is seemingly as alive as ever.

    The steady decline in church attendance has not resulted in a diminished Christian presence in American public life. The public square still contains powerful appeals to Christianity rather than a shared democratic heritage.

    Former president and Republican nominee Donald Trump recently stated, “We have to bring back our religion. We have to bring back Christianity in this country.”

    Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has commended the religious convictions of citizens, stating, “People with deep religious convictions may be less likely to succumb to dominating ideologies or trends, and more likely to act in accordance with what they see as true and right. Civil society can count on them as engines of reform.”

    A 2023 survey, in which the nonprofit, nonpartisan research and education organization PRRI interviewed more than 22,000 adults, found that approximately 3 in 10 Americans either supported or held Christian nationalist views. Christian nationalists tend “to see political struggles through the apocalyptic lens of revolution and to support political violence.”

    In my opinion, the linkage of Christianity and politics in the United States undermines American democracy. Amanda Tyler, executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, a prominent public voice, explains how Christian nationalism undermines both Christianity and American democracy. In her 2024 book “How to End Christian Nationalism,” Tyler writes, “Christian nationalism is the greatest threat to religious liberty in the U.S. today, as well as a clear and present danger to our constitutional republic.”

    While debates over the Christian virtues of the candidates may be important for Christian communities, religious freedom is important for American democracy. The response to Christianity and politics is not more Christianity but more democracy. And religious freedom is key.

    Corey D. B. Walker does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    ref. What America’s history can teach us about debates on religious freedom and its importance for democracy – https://theconversation.com/what-americas-history-can-teach-us-about-debates-on-religious-freedom-and-its-importance-for-democracy-238174

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI Global: What is ‘dark money’ political spending, and how does it affect US politics?

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Emily Lau, Staff Attorney, State Democracy Research Initiative, University of Wisconsin-Madison

    Where exactly did this money come from? Manuel Augusto Moreno/Moment via Getty Images

    Every campaign season brings renewed attention to the amount of money influencing American politics, and who is spending it, and for what purposes. In particular, people are concerned about what is called “dark money.” For instance, recent media coverage has pointed to escalating dark money spending on both the Democratic and Republican sides.

    The term sounds scary and raises the specter of shadowy people manipulating the nation’s politics. As a researcher who studies the American democratic system, I think it’s worthwhile to unpack what dark money is, what concerns it raises and what might be done to address it.

    Unidentified political donors

    When people talk about dark money, they’re usually referring to money spent on elections that comes from sources that cannot be identified.

    Federal and state laws impose some limits on contributions and require some political contributions and expenditures to be publicly disclosed. Candidates for federal office, for example, must report their campaign donors to the Federal Election Commission. The FEC makes these reports available to the public.

    Likewise, super PACs – groups permitted to spend unlimited amounts on independent electoral advocacy – must also report some information about donations, such as the identities of and amounts given by people who donate more than US$200 in a year.

    But campaign finance disclosure laws have gaps.

    Federal law, for example, allows certain entities – most notably nonprofits designated as “social welfare” organizations or trade associations under Sections 501(c)(4) and 501(c)(6) of the tax code – to raise and spend large sums on electoral advocacy without disclosing their donors.

    A CBS News investigation into dark money in U.S. politics.

    Another dark money pathway involves making donations to super PACs through shell companies, which are companies set up for the purpose of hiding the financial activities of other people or groups – in this case, political contributions. Although super PACs are legally required to report who they received the contributions from, if the funds come from shell companies, the super PACs may not know and are not required to disclose where the money actually came from. That information remains hidden from public view.

    A lack of donor transparency raises multiple concerns. Voters may have a harder time assessing the validity of political messages or discerning whether candidates may be beholden to certain interests. Regulators and watchdogs can have trouble detecting illegal activity, such as campaign spending by foreign nationals. And unscrupulous people and groups can spread misinformation or destructive rhetoric without being identified or held accountable.

    Undisclosed political expenditures

    While discussions of dark money usually focus on where it comes from, the term can also describe a lack of transparency about where it goes.

    Under federal law, campaign committees must report their direct disbursements, such as payments to vendors or consultants. These vendors and consultants, however, sometimes function as pass-through entities that receive campaign funds and then purchase undisclosed goods and services. And any of these recipients can be set up as shell companies, making the flow of funds even more difficult to track.

    For instance, Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign and the Democratic National Committee faced FEC complaints for failing to disclose indirect payments made through the campaign’s law firm to researchers who compiled a dossier on Donald Trump’s Russia ties. The Clinton campaign and the DNC paid a fine to settle the matter without conceding wrongdoing.

    But enforcement can be difficult. In 2020, a watchdog group filed an FEC complaint alleging that Trump’s reelection campaign directed hundreds of millions of dollars to a pass-through entity in an improper effort to hide its expenditures – which included payments to top advisers and family members that, by law, would have otherwise been disclosed. The FEC dismissed the Trump complaint in 2022 when commissioners deadlocked 3-3 on whether to pursue it.

    As with a lack of donor disclosure, a lack of expenditure disclosure can deprive voters and regulators of valuable information. Lack of transparency can also invite questionable campaign practices, such as using donated funds in ways that enrich candidates, campaign staff or their associates.

    It can be hard to determine who is really behind shell companies and campaign donors.
    nicodemos/E+ via Getty Images

    Stalled federal reforms

    Proponents of greater campaign finance transparency have had little success pressing federal lawmakers and regulators to address dark money.

    Since 2010, congressional Democrats have been introducing legislation known as the DISCLOSE Act. Among other requirements, it would make dark money groups reveal major donors and restrict the use of shell companies to conceal donors’ identities. While versions of the bill have passed the House, they have repeatedly stalled in the Senate. Opponents maintain that these measures would infringe people’s privacy rights and chill constitutionally protected speech.

    Advocates have also made minimal headway persuading Congress or federal agencies to adopt new disclosure regulations or tighten enforcement.

    The FEC, which has an even partisan split among its six commissioners, has often been unable to get a majority to agree to take action. And the FEC’s most notable recent decisions have been to loosen, rather than tighten, campaign finance rules. Congress has barred the Securities and Exchange Commission from establishing new political spending disclosure rules for public companies, although some companies self-report more than the law requires.

    States’ efforts to curb dark money

    Dark money is also an issue in state and local elections. The strength of state and local transparency laws varies. Because these elections typically receive less attention and scrutiny than federal elections, money sometimes flows even more opaquely.

    Unlike the federal government, a number of states and localities have bolstered their disclosure rules in recent years. Arizona, California, Colorado, New Jersey and Washington, for example, have passed new laws requiring more donor information, including about the original sources of funds that are transferred between multiple groups before being spent on electioneering.

    Meanwhile, states such as Iowa, Massachusetts and Texas have adopted laws requiring campaigns to provide details about how consultants and vendors spend the campaign’s funds.

    Even in these states, disclosure gaps remain. The reality is that efforts to improve transparency can seem like a game of whack-a-mole: Each new round of regulations tends to generate new workarounds. But the experiences in these states and elsewhere may offer models and lessons for other jurisdictions.

    The current Supreme Court has given mixed messages about campaign finance transparency.
    Fred Schilling, Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States

    Constitutional questions

    Beyond the political challenge of getting stronger transparency regulations adopted, proponents of such measures also face potential constitutional challenges by opponents of disclosure.

    In multiple cases, including the 2010 Citizens United v. FEC ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court has rejected First Amendment claims brought by political spenders who wished to conceal their identities. In that case, the court observed that transparency helps the electorate “make informed decisions and give proper weight to different speakers and messages.”

    However, the Supreme Court has also recognized a right to engage in anonymous political speech. And in recent years, the court’s conservative supermajority has become somewhat more skeptical of disclosure rules, including in a 2021 case, Americans for Prosperity Foundation v. Bonta, which overturned a state law requiring charities to identify major donors. In her dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor warned that the court’s argument could be applied to campaign finance disclosure regulations.

    Therefore, even if public momentum builds for stronger transparency regulations, the Supreme Court could stand as an obstacle to such reforms.

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

    ref. What is ‘dark money’ political spending, and how does it affect US politics? – https://theconversation.com/what-is-dark-money-political-spending-and-how-does-it-affect-us-politics-236294

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SJ visits Vietnam

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Secretary for Justice Paul Lam continued his Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) visit in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

    In the morning, Mr Lam met China Business Association Ho Chi Minh City Branch Chief Supervisor Sun Guo Qiang to explore business opportunities in Hong Kong and the Vietnamese city, and learn about the demand for legal services in the local business sector.

    He then had lunch with Hong Kong Business Association Vietnam Vice-Chairman Fred Burke for a better understanding of Vietnam’s business environment and need for cross-jurisdictional legal services.

    In the afternoon, Mr Lam exchanged views with representatives from the Vietnam International Arbitration Center on recent developments in the arbitration landscape in both places and explored ways to strengthen collaboration.

    During a meeting with the Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association, he discussed the development of the legal profession and explored potential future collaborations in building stronger and closer ties.

    Mr Lam also attended a dinner with Acting Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Ho Chi Minh City Xu Zhou and shared with him the latest developments in Hong Kong’s legal and alternative dispute resolution sector.

    Upon arriving in Ho Chi Minh City yesterday, he attended a forum, followed by a networking dinner to meet the local legal and business sectors.

    The justice chief will conclude his visit to Ho Chi Minh City and depart for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia tomorrow to attend a seminar to promote Hong Kong’s legal and dispute resolution services.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Security: Summerville  — Have you seen this stolen boat and trailer?

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    The Grand Bay-Westfield RCMP is asking for the public’s help to locate a stolen boat and trailer from Summerville, N.B.

    The theft is believed to have occurred sometime between the overnight hours of September 20, 2024, and the morning of September 22, 2024, at a residence on Milkish Road near Summerville.

    The boat trailer is silver, with New Brunswick licence plate TMG 528.

    The boat is described as a green 2008 14-foot Tracker Grizzly 1448 aluminum boat. The boat has a grey 25 hp Yamaha four stroke outboard motor, with serial number 6BPK1031421, and model number F25LMHB.

    Anyone who has seen the trailer or the boat since the evening of September 20, or who has information that could help further the investigation, is asked to contact the Grand Bay-Westfield RCMP at 506-757-1020. Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), by downloading the secure P3 Mobile App, or by Secure Web Tips at www.crimenb.ca.

    MIL Security OSI