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Category: MIL-Submissions

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Global Economy – KOF Economic Barometer: Recovery tendency confirmed

    Source: KOF Economic Institute

    In September, the KOF Economic Barometer continues to rise, albeit only very slightly. However, this month’s small increase nevertheless confirms the much more pronounced rise in the previous month. The Swiss economy is slowly working its way out of the trough.

    The KOF Economic Barometer rises by 0.5 points. It now stands at 105.5 (revised from 105.0 in August). In August, the Economic Barometer had climbed by a revised 3.7 points. In September, almost all indicator bundles for the economic sectors point to a more favourable outlook than before. Above all, the indicators for the manufacturing industry and, to a lesser extent, those for the financial and insurance services, the construction industry and the other services. In the hospitality industry, the rather above-average prospects remain almost unchanged. On the demand side, the indicators for consumer demand are also almost unchanged, pointing to a rather above-average further development. By contrast, the indicators for future foreign demand are weakening.

    In the producing industries (manufacturing and construction), in particular the indicators for the general business situation, export opportunities and intermediate input purchases are increasingly pointing to an improvement. By contrast, those for production activity and employment development suggest a less favourable further development than in the previous month.

    Within the manufacturing, the outlook for chemical and pharmaceutical companies as well as for the metal industry is improving. By contrast, it is weakening for the electrical industry as well as the textile and clothing segment.

    KOF Economic Barometer and Reference Series: Annual Update

    The annual 2024 revision took place in September. These updates always comprise the following steps: a redefinition of the pool of indicators that enter the selection procedure, an update of the reference time series and a renewed execution of the automated variable selection procedure. For further background information, we refer to a separate document.

    The updated pool of indicators now consists of 553 economic time series. The updated reference series is the smoothed growth rate of Swiss GDP distributed across the three months of a quarter from 2014 until and including 2023, based on the official quarterly real GDP statistics, adjusted for the effects of major international sporting events, as released by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) in early September 2024. SECO, in turn takes the release of the previous year’s annual GDP data published by the SFSO into account.

    The 2023 vintage of the KOF Economic Barometer (published until August 2024) comprised 324 indicator variables. The current 2024 vintage, which is now replacing the 2023 vintage, consists of 360 indicator variables. Compared to the previous vintage, 74 indicators are new and 38 dropped out of the set of selected indicators. The Barometer is the rescaled weighted average of the selected indicators, where the weights correspond to the loadings of the first principal component.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Telecommunications – Industry growth and rising energy demand put pressure on tech sector sustainability efforts

    Source: The International Telecommunication Union

    Cutting value-chain emissions could be key to reducing carbon footprints to net zero, ITU-WBA report shows.

    Geneva, 30 September 2024 – The carbon footprint of the digital technology sector is growing to keep pace with global demand for hardware, network services, data storage and emerging technologies, according to a report co-authored by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the World Benchmarking Alliance (WBA).  

    Alongside commitments expressed across industry to embrace both digital growth and environmental sustainability, the report reveals an overall decline in progress towards climate goals. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy consumption in the global tech sector have increased, while transparency and accountability remain a challenge.

    Greening Digital Companies 2024 offers insights and best practices to help tech companies worldwide accelerate their emissions reductions, achieve low-carbon operations, and improve climate reporting.

    “An effective green transition needs digital companies to drive progress and lead by example,” said ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin. “This report is an important tool for understanding where to focus efforts to maximize digital technology’s immense potential to advance sustainability in the face of climate change for the digital future we want. The report’s findings formulate a clear call for action for leaders gathering at the Green Digital Action meeting at COP29’s landmark Digitalisation Day.”

    Balancing benefits and costs

    Digital technologies offer numerous socio-economic benefits and can accelerate progress on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    Tech can enhance weather predictions and climate-change monitoring, optimize energy use, and help integrate low-emission technologies.

    But to advance sustainable development, industry must monitor and address its own environmental challenges, including carbon emissions, energy and water consumption, e-waste, and raw-material depletion.

    Greening Digital Companies 2024 evaluates the greenhouse gas emissions and energy use of 200 leading digital companies around the world.

    Of the 200 companies covered in the report, 148 reported electricity consumption totaling 518 terawatt-hours (TWh) in 2022, about 1.9 per cent of the world total. The 10 companies with the highest consumption levels – all headquartered in East Asia or the United States – consumed 51 per cent of this total, 9 per cent higher than in 2021.

    Assessing the corporate value chain

    The report’s 2024 edition provides the first comprehensive overview of corporate value-chain emissions. Often referred to as “Scope 3,” these make up most of the emission footprints of digital companies.

    Scope 3 emissions include everything from material suppliers and outsourced device production to the use of a company’s end-products by consumers. Such end-products range from cell phones and computers to search engines and AI chatbots.

    On average, these emissions are six times greater than the combined Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions that a company produces itself or is responsible for indirectly, according to the report.

    Many companies struggle to accurately calculate and attribute their Scope 3 emissions, with common challenges including lack of data from suppliers, double counting, and inconsistent application of emission-allocation principles.

    “Digital companies need to do their part in the fight against climate change,” said Lourdes O. Montenegro, Director of Research and Digitisation at the World Benchmarking Alliance. “This report uniquely offers evidence-based insights on the sector’s state of play. We are bringing these data and insights to the attention of the international community to help ensure that the impact on people and planet is consequential to success in business.”

    Managing emissions from emerging technologies

    The rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies will further strain energy resources and keep adding to emissions, the report makes clear.

    The report also notes the contributions that AI and other transformative technologies can make to support sustainable development.

    To help digital companies meet sustainability goals, Greening Digital Companies 2024 underscores the role of governments in implementing monitoring frameworks and accelerating the availability of green energy.

    “From the development point of view, it is increasingly important for industry players to more closely monitor their own greenhouse gas emissions and act to reduce emissions and energy use,” said Cosmas Zavazava, Director of the ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau.

    “GHG impacts can be devastating and include extreme and changing weather patterns and rising sea levels. If left unchecked, climate change will undo part of the development progress of the past. Governments can support the tech industry’s efforts to balance innovation with sustainability, fostering a twin transition towards digital growth and environmental responsibility.”

    Liberalizing energy markets, reducing red tape for permitting, modernizing power grids, and investing in energy storage are all ways that governments can support industry sustainability efforts. Renewable energy investment is also critical.

    Research and analysis to support green digital action

    Greening Digital Companies 2024 reflects ITU’s wider push for effective climate action across the global tech industry.

    ITU, the UN Agency for Digital Technologies, urges the industry to take responsibility for its own emissions; helps develop and promote technical standards to cut emissions in line with global climate goals; and encourages industry partners worldwide to support ITU’s Green Digital Action, aiming to strengthen the contribution of digital technologies to climate and environmental action.

    Notes:

    Advance interviews under the embargo are available.

    The full report is available for media preview at https://bit.ly/4gAdZYI

    The report will be launched Monday 30 September during the ITU-WBA webinar: “Greening Digital Companies 2024: Monitoring emissions and climate commitments,” taking place in two sessions to accommodate different world regions:

    Session One: 9:00 – 10:15 CEST / Session Two: 18:00 – 19:15 CEST

    To register: http://www.itu.int/go/gdc-24

    The upcoming UN Climate Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan (COP29) will host the first Digitalisation Day at a COP, shining a spotlight on the growing opportunities and challenges posed by increasing digitalisation. This will include the inaugural high-level meeting on digitalisation at a COP.

    Resources and background information:

    • Virtual launch event of the Greening Digital Companies 2024 report, 30 September 2024
    • Greening Digital Companies 2024: Monitoring Emissions and Climate Commitments
    • Greening Digital Companies 2023: Monitoring Emissions and Climate Commitments
    • Greening Digital Companies 2022: Monitoring Emissions and Climate Commitments.

    International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

    About ITU

    The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies (ICTs), driving innovation in ICTs together with 194 Member States and a membership of over 1,000 companies, universities, and international and regional organizations. Established in 1865, it is the intergovernmental body responsible for coordinating the shared global use of the radio spectrum, promoting international cooperation in assigning satellite orbits, improving communication infrastructure in the developing world, and establishing the worldwide standards that foster seamless interconnection of a vast range of communications systems. From broadband networks to cutting-edge wireless technologies, aeronautical and maritime navigation, radio astronomy, oceanographic and satellite-based earth monitoring as well as converging fixed-mobile phone, Internet and broadcasting technologies, ITU is committed to connecting the world.

    Learn more: http://www.itu.int

    About WBA

    The World Benchmarking Alliance (WBA) is a non-profit organization that assesses and ranks the performance of the world’s most influential companies on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Data in this report were collected as part of the WBA Digital Inclusion Benchmark, which assesses the world’s leading technology companies on their performance in enhancing access to digital technologies, improving digital skills, fostering trustworthy use, and innovating openly, inclusively and ethically. In addition, WBA produces the Climate and Energy Benchmark, which measures corporate progress against the Paris Agreement and covers 450 of the world’s most influential companies in high-emitting sectors such as the automotive, utilities, oil, gas and transport industries.

    Learn more: https://www.worldbenchmarkingalliance.org/ 

    Appendices

    Greening Digital Companies 2024 report: a focus on Scope 3 emissions

    The Greening Digital Companies 2024 report provides the first comprehensive overview of corporate supply chain, or Scope 3, emissions, which are roughly six times Scope 1 and 2 emissions combined.

    Scope 3 emissions are indirect emissions from a company’s upstream and downstream activities, such as outsourced suppliers in information and communication technologies (ICTs) manufacturing and emissions from the use of products like computers and smartphones.

    By definition, Scope 3 emissions are outside the company’s direct control. But firms can exert important influence through their choice of suppliers, on the one hand, and the energy efficiency of their products and services, on the other.

    Scope 3 reporting, however, is beset by a lack of data from suppliers and transparency. A total of 75 of the 200 companies provide relevant data across all 15 categories, ranging from purchased goods/services, upstream transportation and distribution, waste generated in operations, to business travel, use of sold products, and downstream leased assets. But most fall short in their reporting.

    “Despite an abundance of guidance, the majority of digital companies do not calculate a full Scope 3 emissions inventory,” said the report. “This makes it impossible to assess progress in reducing emissions across their value chain.

    While 103 digital companies covered in this report have submitted an emissions reduction target to SBTi, only 73, just over one-third, have a Scope 3 target.

    By the numbers:

    ASSESSMENT: DISCLOSURE, TARGETS, PERFORMANCE

    • The Greening Digital Companies report assesses companies on their data disclosure, targets and performance.

    • Only three of 200 digital companies scored 90% or higher (Apple, Logitech, Telefonica).

    • 26 companies scored 75% or higher (see figure below), up four from the assessment in the 2023 edition of the report.

    • Only 70 companies had at least a “passing grade” of 50%, and 27 scored zero.

    • The top 26 performers are all headquartered in Europe or the US

    SCOPE 1 & 2: OPERATIONAL EMISSIONS

    ● 166 companies reported emissions totaling 293 million tCO2e in 2022, amounting to 0.8% of global emissions from energy use and 12% more than in 2021.

    ● Top 10 emitting companies – all in the US or East Asia – accounted for 55%of the total, with all but one reporting increased operational emissions in 2022.

    ● The Science Based Target initiative (SBTi) has not validated the emissions reduction target of any top ten emitters as aligned with the Paris Agreement 1.5°C target.

    ELECTRICITY & RENEWABLE ENERGY

    ● 2022 electricity consumption for the 148 companies providing data topped 500 terawatt-hours (TWh), 1.9% of the global total.

    ● The top ten – all headquartered in East Asia and the US – consumed 51% of the total, 9% more than in 2021.

    ● The top four corporate purchasers of renewable energy globally in 2022 were digital companies: Amazon, Meta, Alphabet and Microsoft (see figure below).

    ● Sixteen companies reported sourcing 100% renewable electricity (see figure below). Four of which – Alphabet, Amazon, Microsoft and Deutsche Telekom – highlight that despite purchasing renewable electricity, it is not always available where their data centres are located or the electricity grid was not always supplying them.

    ● Four top ten companies consuming electricity in 2022– Alphabet, Amazon, Microsoft and Deutsche Telekom – purchased 100% renewable energy, but it has not always been available where needed.

    ● Samsung and TSMC have committed to 100% renewable electricity, but not before 2050 and 2040 respectively.

    ● None of the three Chinese telecom operators in the top ten electricity consumers have made commitments towards 100% renewable electricity.

    TARGETS VALIDATED BY THE SCIENCE BASED TARGETS INITIATIVE (SBTi)

    ● 104 (out of 200) digital companies have submitted Scope 1 & 2 emissions reduction targets to the SBTi, of which 69 have been validated.

    ● Of the 69 validated targets: 45 companies are on track, 13 are not on track, and 11 have seen emissions rise.

    ● Validated targets account for 19% of the 200 companies’ total emissions (56 million tCO2e).

    ● 81% of the 294 million tCO2e of total operational emissions are not covered by an SBTi target.

    SCOPE 3: CORPORATE VALUE CHAIN EMISSIONS

    ● Among companies that report all relevant Scope 3 emissions, Scope 1 accounts for 4%, Scope 2 for 15% and Scope 3 for 81%. Scope 3 emissions are on average 6 times greater than Scope 1 and 2 combined (see figure below).

    ● Only 75 of 200 companies provided a complete Scope 3 inventory despite it accounting for most digital company emissions.

    AI & DATA CENTERS

    • Generating responses to Chatbot queries (“inference”) accounts for up to 90% of total machine learning cloud computing costs according to research by Amazon Web Services.

    • A ChatGPT inquiry needs almost ten times as much electricity to process as a standard web search.

    • Data centers consumed about 460 TWh of electricity in 2022, a figure which is projected to increase 35% to 100% by 2026. At the upper end of this range, this demand is roughly equivalent to the electricity consumption in Japan.

    • Large cloud providers are experiencing rapid growth in energy use and consequent emissions. Alphabet, Amazon and Microsoft operational GHG emissions are up 62% from 2020 reaching 47 million metric tons in 2023 (see figure below). Electricity use has grown even faster, up 78% over the same period and standing at just over 100 TWh in 2023, around what the entire country of the Philippines uses in a year. The trio have made huge investments to decarbonize their operations: they all procure 100% renewable electricity and they were three of the top four corporate purchasers of green energy in 2022.

    • Given the uncertainty surrounding the climate impacts of AI, it will be important for energy usage and GHG emissions to be included as key metrics when evaluating AI models.

    ADDITIONAL NUMBERS

    ● The number of global Internet users has doubled since 2010, and data traffic has expanded 25-fold

    ● E-waste increased 82% from 2010 to 2022, and on current trends will reach 82 million metric tonnes by 2030, equivalent to nearly 8 kg of e-waste per person every year according to the Global E-waste Monitor 2024.

    The International Telecommunication Union: http://www.itu.int
    World Benchmarking Alliance: worldbenchmarkingalliance.org

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Environment – Civil Society Groups call on Plastics Treaty negotiators to agree on a text that effectively tackles plastic pollution across its lifecycle

    Source: Global Plastics Treaty

    Oct. 1, 2024 – Nairobi, Kenya—As countries conclude a Head of Delegations meeting today in Nairobi for an international legally binding agreement to end plastic pollution or the Global Plastics Treaty, civil society groups have been uniting their voices and held simultaneous actions to emphasize a call for a strong and effective global plastics treaty and show solidarity with high ambition countries, such as those in the African Group, Group of Latin America and the Caribbean (GRULAC), Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS),  and the Philippines that have been advocating for strong treaty measures.

    The final scheduled plastics treaty negotiations will take place in Busan, Republic of Korea later this year. Since the process started in 2022, civil society groups, alongside Indigenous Peoples representatives and independent scientists have been calling on governments to ensure that the treaty includes legally binding measures that cover the whole life cycle of plastics, including rules and targets on the production and supply of primary plastic polymers to drastically cut plastic production with aims to phase out plastic production.

    “Over 400 million tonnes of plastics are produced every year, suffocating our planet and every living thing on it. Now is not the time to sacrifice ambition and submit to the lowest common denominator: a minority of countries blocking progress for their own short-term gain,” said Ana Rocha, Global Plastics Policy Director of the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA). “Indigenous Peoples, waste pickers, and Global South governments on the frontlines of the plastics crisis have long been at the forefront of the solutions, yet their critical voices have been sidelined. The world needs ambition to be aligned with strong means of implementation including a financial mechanism that will provide the necessary financing for action. The intergovernmental negotiating committee must listen to the millions of people around the world demanding a strong treaty to end plastic pollution.”

    The groups also call for the elimination of chemicals that are hazardous to human health and the environment throughout the lifecycle of plastics, as plastics expose people to more than 16,000 chemicals and 4,200 of them are classified as hazardous to people and the environment.

    “A treaty that does not prioritize production reduction of primary plastic polymers (PPP) and eliminate chemicals of concern will only serve to perpetuate plastic pollution and the poisoning of Indigenous and environmental justice communities around the world who have been sacrificed by industry and enabling governments for generations,” said Frankie Orona, Executive Director of Society of Native Nations. “We welcome the common goal of the High Ambition Coalition (HAC) to end plastic pollution by 2040, while reaffirming that no amount of production of PPP is sustainable. The HAC should explicitly support, at minimum, a reduction target of 75% by 2030 if not sooner.”

    Additional demands include the support for reuse systems, a strong, dedicated financial mechanism to facilitate the flow of financial resources from the developed to the developing world, and measures for a just transition to safer and more sustainable livelihoods for workers across the plastic supply chain.  

    “As we reduce plastic production, it is essential we ensure a just transition to reuse and refill systems, which present numerous benefits for people and the environment,” said Marian Ledesma, Zero Waste Campaigner at Greenpeace Southeast Asia – Philippines. “In addition to reducing plastic waste, reuse and refill solutions can decrease greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption and material resource usage. These systems also bring socioeconomic gains for communities through reduced costs and risks arising from plastic pollution.  As integral solutions in ending plastic pollution, we need ambitious reuse and refill targets to be reflected in the treaty alongside reduction targets for plastic production and use.”

    “As we come towards the final round of negotiations, we must not sacrifice ambition for speed. Ambition means both legally binding control measures and finance to help solve the problem,” said Jacob Kean-Hammerson, Ocean Campaigner with the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA).  “Ending plastics pollution is a generational effort we must undertake as a global community. Global North countries should join calls in the Global South for a new dedicated fund and ensure adequate funding to ensure we have a treaty that truly works.”

    Since the beginning of the INC process, civil society organizations, as well as many governments, have been calling for an open and transparent process that facilitates the widest possible public participation. Instead, observers have been met with limitations that have ranged from caps on attendance, restricted access to negotiations and relevant meetings, and curtailed opportunities to make formal statements. With possibly one last round of negotiations remaining, civil society groups renew their calls for greater transparency and participation in the process to ensure that the demands for a strong and effective plastics treaty are heard.

    “By not including pathways for robust observer participation, meeting organizers are contradicting established international norms and are ignoring and disrespecting the experience, knowledge, expertise, and distinct perspectives of Indigenous Peoples and other frontline and fenceline communities disproportionately impacted by plastic pollution across its life cycle,” said Merrisa Naidoo of GAIA Africa.

    Having a global plastics treaty is a rare opportunity to systematically end plastic pollution through a legally binding international agreement that covers the complexities of the plastic pollution crisis beyond waste management. As UN Member states are expected to wrap up negotiations by December 1st, 2024, in Busan, Republic of Korea, civil society groups will continue to urge governments to deliver a strong treaty that would be effective in truly ending plastic pollution, not a watered-down agreement that fails to holistically address the plastic pollution crisis, for the sake of meeting deadlines.

    About BFFP — #BreakFreeFromPlastic is a global movement envisioning a future free from plastic pollution. Since its launch in 2016, more than 3,400 organizations and 14,000 individual supporters worldwide have joined the movement to demand massive reductions in single-use plastics and push for lasting solutions to the plastic pollution crisis. BFFP member organizations and individuals share the values of environmental protection and social justice and work together through a holistic approach to bring about systemic change. This means tackling plastic pollution across the whole plastics value chain – from extraction to disposal – focusing on prevention rather than cure and providing effective solutions. http://www.breakfreefromplastic.org.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Gebrüder Weiss bikes to the moon and back

    Source: Gebrüder Weiss

    Third GWcycles cycling campaign sets new record / International bike community comes together to cycle over 768,800 kilometers / Corporate forest project in Nicaragua grows by 7,000 new trees

    Lauterach, October 1, 2024. Gebrüder Weiss’ international community of bike enthusiasts has raised the bar with this year’s GWcycles cycling campaign: More than 600 participants came together to cycle over 768,800 kilometers – the distance it would take to the moon and back.

    Between March and September, the logistics company ran its third and latest cycling campaign, aptly titled “Cycling to the moon and back,” calling on cyclists around the world to dowload the Radbonus app and cover as many kilometers as possible on two wheels. 

    “It’s clear that bicycle mobility is growing in popularity,” remarks Frank Haas, Head of Communications at Gebrüder Weiss, “and rightly so: Cycling gives people a chance to enjoy being active and boosts both personal health and climate protection. I’m particularly pleased that we were once again able to encourage so many people to do their best to support a good cause. Thank you to everyone who got involved!”

    Another benefit is that each kilometer cycled helps to protect the climate. The 2024 cycling campaign has enabled Gebrüder Weiss to plant 7,000 new trees in the corporate forest in Nicaragua. A total of 19,000 trees have been planted since the campaign was launched in 2022. Once fully grown, these trees will absorb around 285 tons of CO2 from the atmosphere per year.

    For more information about “Cycling around the World”, go to: https://info.gw-world.com/gwcycles.

    GW Team Lauterach

    Frank Haas

    Duathlon Malaysia

    GW Team Czech republic

    GW Team Singapore

    Corporate forest Nicaragua

    GWcycles Logo

    About Gebrüder Weiss

    Gebrüder Weiss Holding AG, based in Lauterach, Austria, is a globally operative full-service logistics provider with about 8,600 employees at 180 company-owned locations.

    The company generated revenues of 2.46 billion euros in 2023. Its portfolio encompasses transport and logistics solutions, digital services, and supply chain management. 
    The twin strengths of digital and physical competence enable Gebrüder Weiss to respond swiftly and flexibly to customers’ needs. 
    The family-run organization – with a history going back more than half a millennium – has implemented a wide variety of environmental, economic, and social initiatives. Today, it is also considered a pioneer in sustainable business practices. http://www.gw-world.com

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Universities – Earthly pleasures: Ecologists show how ‘white noise’ is ‘music’ to microbes – Flinders

    Source: Flinders University

    Music and noise can evoke many responses in humans. Now Flinders University scientists are using soundwaves in soil to aid ecosystem recovery.  
    In their latest study, experts led by microbial ecologist Dr Jake Robinson, demonstrate the benefits of acoustic stimulation on the growth rate and sporulation of a plant growth-promoting fungus.  
    “In our experiments, we show that the acoustic stimulation resulted in increased fungal biomass and enhanced Trichoderma harzianum spore activity compared to controls,” says Dr Robinson in a new article in Biology Letters.  
    “We strive to find novel ways to speed up and improve levels of beneficial fungi and other microbes in degraded soils. It could have wide-ranging benefits for restoring degraded landscapes and farming land to feed the world.”

    The researchers previously found a monotonous ‘white noise’ – set at 80 dB sound pressure level – also increased a similar response in soil bacteria E. Coli.
    “Think of the monotone sound an old-school radio makes in between channels,” explains Dr Robinson.  

    The fungus T. harzianum was selected for the latest study because of its known beneficial effects on plants, such as disease protection, plant growth and improved nutrient utilisation. In agriculture, it has been shown to parasitises other fungi which are often plant pathogens.    
    Dr Robinson says one of the next steps will be to study the benefits of various microbial growth on plant health, and then seek to scale up the experiment outside the lab.  
    “While still in its early stages, the next steps will involve studying the microbiome response mechanisms, the flow-on effect on plants and how to work out how to scale it up in the field. 
    “We also need to understand whether this approach could have any potential cascading or unintended consequences,” he adds.  
    In the absence of large-scale ecosystem restoration and effective monitoring strategies, 95% of the Earth’s land is projected to be degraded by 2050. The United Nations’ global initiative – the Decade of Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030 – forecasts that 75% of the world’s soils described as degradation could increase to more than 90% by 2050. 
    Urbanisation, deforestation, overgrazing and other harmful practices has led us to this dire situation, which is now affecting human health and undermining food production and natural ecosystems, researchers say.
    Coauthor of the new article, Associate Professor Martin Breed from the Restoration Ecology lab at Flinders University’s College of Science and Engineering, says the potential for this kind of approach is vital in a bid to head off biodiversity loss and speed up ecosystem restoration. 
    Sonic restoration: acoustic stimulation enhances plant growth-promoting fungi activity (2024) by Jake M Robinson, Amy Annells, Christian Cando-Dumancela and Martin F Breed will be published in Biology Letters (Royal Society Publishing) on 2 October 2024. 
    Funding: M Breed is funded by the Australian Research Council (grants DP210101932, LP190100051 and LP190100484) and the New Zealand Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (grant UOWX2101).
    Acknowledgements. We acknowledge that this research was conducted on the land of the Kaurna people in Tarntanya (Adelaide, South Australia).

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Africa – Big Data and Technology Key to Fast-tracking Development of Smarter Cities, Huawei Says

    Nairobi, September 26, 2024 – Huawei has underscored the transformative impact of Big Data and cutting-edge technologies in fast-tracking the development of smarter, more sustainable, and human-centric cities.

     

    Speaking at the 41st International Association of Science Parks and areas of innovation (IASP) World Conference 2024 held in Nairobi, Steve Kamuya, Executive Director at Huawei Kenya, highlighted the transformative potential of data-driven solutions in urban development.

     

    Kamuya stressed the importance of a human-centric approach to city planning, adding that technology should be used to enhance the quality of life for all residents, making cities more livable, inclusive, and sustainable.

     

    “By leveraging data, we can better understand the needs of diverse populations and address challenges such as traffic congestion, pollution, and resource management. As urban populations grow, data and technology will play an even greater role in ensuring cities remain sustainable, resilient, and adaptable to future needs,” he said.

     

    He further noted that technologies such as 5G, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cloud Computing, and the Internet of Things (IoT) were already being integrated to fast-track development of smarter cities like Konza Technopolis and at the same time were being used to optimize critical city operations like transportation, energy management, and public safety, globally.

     

    “Overall, smart cities rely on a combination of cloud computing, robust networking, edge computing, and date aggregation to optimize urban operations. These technologies not only increase efficiency but also reduce environmental impact, a key pillar in creating sustainable urban environments. Huawei’s vision aligns with the broader goals of smart cities worldwide – creating cities that are not just technologically advanced but also prioritize the well-being and inclusivity of their inhabitants,” he added.

     

    Huawei Kenya’s Director for Government Affairs and Policy, Adam Lane, provided a focus talk presentation to kick-off the session on Transformative Models in Sustainable Development. He focused on the large opportunities available from even simple interventions such as using microphones in forests to detect deforestation as well as making advanced AI solutions easier for communities to develop through Huawei Cloud’s Pangu Models, many of which are already pre-trained and easily applicable to different industry uses.

     

    Lane provided further details on how Integrated Operations Centers can transform coordination, management, and governance through integrating data from multiple sources and thus improving public service delivery, efficiency and sustainability. Huawei’s exhibition stand at the conference provided opportunities for participants to interact with these tools and solutions and discuss with Huawei experts.

     

    Huawei is the Platinum Sponsor of IASP World Conference 2024, which is being hosted by Konza Technopolis on behalf of the Kenya Government.

     

    The conference has brought together global leaders, innovators, and stakeholders in the science park and innovation district sectors from more than 50 countries, to explore how demographics, entrepreneurship, and technology are shaping future global economies.

     

    The conference is also featuring discussions on how innovation hubs like Konza Technopolis are pioneering digital transformation in Africa, offering a glimpse into the future of urban development.

     

    The 42nd IASP World Conference will be held in Beijing, China, between September 9-16, 2025.

     

    For more information on Huawei’s initiatives in smart city development, please visit

    https://www.huawei.com

     

    About Huawei

    Huawei is a leading global provider of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart devices. With integrated solutions across four key domains—telecom networks, IT, smart devices, and cloud services—Huawei is committed to bringing digital to every person, home, and organization for a fully connected, intelligent world.

     

    About IASP

    The International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (IASP) is a global network that connects professionals managing science, technology, and research parks.

     

    With membership of more than 300 associations, the IASP World Conference brings together experts from around the world to explore the latest trends in innovation ecosystems.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Universities – New book describes the rise of the ocean’s most fearsome predators – Flinders

    Source: Flinders University

    If you think Jaws is scary, then imagine a 16 metre super-sized shark weighing more than 60 tonnes  attacking a dolphin or small whale.
     
    The rise and fall of the ancient megalodon (Otodus megalodon) is among the stories contained in a major new book by leading Australian palaeontologist, Flinders University Professor John Long.
     
    The Secret History of Sharks, to be launched at a special event hosted by the South Australian Museum, covers the complete, untold story of how sharks emerged as Earth’s ultimate survivors.
     
    Professor Long says: “Sharks have been fighting for their lives for 500 million years and today are under dire threat.
     
    “They are the longest-surviving jawed vertebrate on Earth, outlasting all five major global mass extinction events that decimated life on the planet.
     
    “But how did they thrive for so long? By developing superpower-like abilities that allowed them to ascend to the top of the oceanic food chain.”
     
    As well as the megalodon, the book describes a gigantic shark with a deadly saw blade of jagged teeth and bizarre sharks fossilised while in their mating ritual.
     
    Flinders University Strategic Professor of Palaeontology Long has been studying fossil fishes and sharks all his life, and draws upon his own experiences and adventures in remote localities around the world when he was involved in some of the key discoveries contained in the book.
     
    Over the past 30 years, Professor Long’s own research efforts led to the discovery of the first fossil found in the Kimberley region Gogo fossil field in Western Australia. This demonstrated how early sharks had remnant bone cells in their cartilage. He also named a fossil shark found in Victoria (Maiseyodus).
     
    Among a range of global experts in shark evolution and biology are Flinders University Southern Shark Ecology researchers Professor Charlie Huveneers and Dr Lauren Meyer who study the tourism attraction of White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias) cage diving in South Australia and elsewhere.
     
    Other novel research outlined in the book includes ways sharks contribute to medical advances and how Flinders University Professor Youhong Tang and other experts’ discovered the potential for marine vessels to copy the streamlined pattern of shark skin.  
     
    “These amazing scientific discoveries have ramifications far beyond the ocean and can teach us about our own survival.”
     
    Hear Strategic Professor Long discuss his latest book – The Secret History of Sharks: The Rise of the Ocean’s Most Fearsome Predators – at the SA Museum.
     
    Tuesday 8 October 6pm-8pm
    South Australian Museum
     
    Listen to Professor Long on RN Conversations here  https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/conversations/sharks-megalodon-ocean-history-paleontology/104215338
    The Secret History of Sharks: The Rise of the Ocean’s Most Fearsome Predators by John Long (Quercus Books, Australia; Ballantine Books, USA).

    Professor John Long is the strategic professor of palaeontology at Flinders University, one of Australia’s largest palaeontological research groups. The former vice president of research and collections at the Museum of Natural History of Los Angeles County, Long has published more than 200 peer-reviewed papers, some 25 books and over 150 popular science articles. His groundbreaking research work on the evolution of fishes and the origins of sex has appeared in the magazines Nature, Science, and Scientific American.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Japan: Acquittal of man who spent 45 years on death row pivotal moment for justice – Amnesty International

    Source: Amnesty International

    Responding to the acquittal of Japanese man Iwao Hakamada, who spent nearly five decades on death row, Amnesty International’s East Asia Researcher Boram Jang said:

    “We are overjoyed by the court’s decision to exonerate Iwao Hakamada. After enduring almost half a century of wrongful imprisonment and a further 10 years waiting for his retrial, this verdict is an important recognition of the profound injustice he endured for most of his life. It ends an inspiring fight to clear his name by his sister Hideko and all those who supported him.

    “As we celebrate this long overdue day of justice for Hakamada, we are reminded of the irreversible harm caused by the death penalty. We strongly urge Japan to abolish the death penalty to prevent this from happening again.

    “Japanese authorities must also review all existing death sentences, particularly when there are concerns of mental and intellectual disabilities. Only complete abolition of capital punishment will ensure that such grave errors are never repeated, and people not irreversibly and arbitrarily deprived of their lives. Amnesty International will continue to push for the abolition of the death penalty and for reforms that ensure fairness and justice for all.”

    Background

    On 26 September 2024, a long-awaited ruling was delivered by Shizuoka District Court to acquit Hakamada Iwao, described as the world’s longest-serving death row prisoner.

    During his first trial, Hakamada was convicted of the murder of his employer and his employer’s family, largely based on a forced “confession”. He “confessed” to the crime after 20 days of interrogation by police. Hakamada proceeded to retract the “confession” during the trial, alleging that police had threatened and beaten him. Hakamada was sentenced to death by Shizuoka District Court in 1968 and spent over 45 years held on death row.

    In March 2014, Hakamada was granted a retrial by Shizuoka District Court and was released from prison after DNA evidence surfaced which questioned the reliability of his conviction.

    The decision to open a retrial was based on more than 600 pieces of evidence disclosed by the prosecutor. This evidence undermined the legitimacy of earlier evidence.

    In June 2018, the Tokyo High Court overturned the decision of the lower court denying Hakamada’s retrial after an appeal from prosecutors. Hakamada’s lawyers appealed this ruling, which led to Japan’s Supreme Court reversing the High Court decision in December 2020 and asking it to re-examine the appeal. Eventually, the Tokyo High Court also ruled in support of the Supreme Court decision for retrial in March 2023.

    Hakamada’s retrial officially commenced in October 2023. The forced “confession” was excluded from the evidence. Prosecutors have since continued to voice their support for upholding the conviction and for Hakamada to be sentenced to death.

    Japan has continued to carry out executions − including of people who had judicial appeals pending, which is in violation of international safeguards guaranteeing protection of the rights of those facing the death penalty. The last execution in Japan was carried out on 26 July 2022. As of 31 December 2023, 107 out of the 115 people on death row had their death sentences finalized and were at risk of execution. Those on death row continued to be held in solitary confinement; and in the absence of effective safeguards or transparent regular psychiatric evaluations, persons with mental (psycho-social) and intellectual disabilities continued to be subjected to the death penalty, in violation of international law and standards.

    Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases without exception regardless of the nature or circumstances of the crime; guilt, innocence or other characteristics of the individual; or the method used by the state to carry out the execution.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Census release of iwi data a significant resource for Te Whata  – Stats NZ media release

    Source: Statistics New Zealand

    Census release of iwi data a significant resource for Te Whata  – 26 September 2024 – From today, individuals and dwellings data by Māori descent and iwi affiliation will be available on Te Whata.

    Te Whata is a by iwi, for iwi data platform developed by Te Kāhui Raraunga and supported by Stats NZ. It is available at http://www.tewhata.io.

    Customised census iwi data requests are also available through Te Ara Takatū.

    This is the second time Stats NZ has partnered with Te Kāhui Raraunga to release Māori data from the 2023 Census on the Te Whata platform. The historic joint initiative is part of work under the Mana Ōrite Relationship Agreement between the Data Iwi Leaders Group and Stats NZ.

    Visit Statistics NZ’s website to read this news story:

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Air pollutant trends decrease at most monitoring sites over the last eight years – Stats NZ media release

    Source: Statistics New Zealand

    Air pollutant trends decrease at most monitoring sites over the last eight years – 26 September 2024 – Concentrations of air pollutants decreased at many air quality monitoring sites between 2016 and 2023, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.

    “PM10 trends decreased at 30 out of 41 local government monitoring sites, while trends for PM2.5 decreased at 12 out of 16 sites. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) trends decreased at 99 out of 114 NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi monitoring sites between 2014 and 2023,” environment and agricultural statistics senior manager Stuart Jones said.

    PM10 and PM2.5 are particles that can be suspended in the air and are less than 10 micrometres and 2.5 micrometres in diameter, respectively. They are primarily formed by residential wood burning, dust from unsealed roads, and industrial and construction activities. NO2 is a gas primarily formed through burning fossil fuels.

    “PM10 can be breathed into lungs and PM2.5 is small enough to enter the blood stream. Concentrations of particles, gas, and liquid in air can be harmful to human health and contribute to health issues such as cardiovascular and respiratory health problems and increased mortality,” Jones said.

    Visit Statistics NZ’s website to read this news story in full and view the indicators published today:

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Economy – KOF Economic Forecast, autumn 2024: Lack of recovery in Europe clouds prospects for the Swiss economy

    Source: KOF Economic Institute

    The economic recovery in Switzerland and internationally is sluggish. The KOF expects real sports-adjusted gross domestic product (GDP) to increase by 1.1% in 2024. Weak investment is holding back growth, while the pharmaceutical industry is providing a boost. Sports-adjusted GDP will increase by 1.6% in 2025 and 1.7% in 2026. The main reason for the gloomy outlook is the economic weakness in Europe – for instance in Germany, Switzerland’s most important trading partner.

    Export industry suffers from lack of demand from abroad – domestic consumption provides support

    The economic recovery in Switzerland is progressing more slowly than expected. The lack of stimulus from abroad in particular prevent the Swiss economy to fully utilise its production potential in the forecast period. The euro area is struggling to gain momentum. Above all, there are no signs of a significant economic recovery in Germany. In addition, momentum in the USA will slow in the near future. As a result, the Swiss export industry is suffering, particularly the tech industry, while the pharmaceutical industry is one of the few positive exceptions. Swiss exports in total (goods and services) will virtually stagnate until spring and only pick up speed after the first quarter of 2025.

    The weakness in equipment investment remains pronounced. It is only towards the end of the year that they will develop a little more momentum. Bright spots in Switzerland are the solid development of the labour market and the easing of inflation. Private consumption continues to support the economic development and public consumer spending is also making a positive growth contribution this year. Public consumer spending will remain stable over the remainder of the forecast period.

    GDP growth will be less dynamic in the years ahead

    According to the KOF forecast, real Swiss GDP will increase by an annual average of 1.1% this year if major sporting events such as the European Championships in Germany and the Olympic Games in Paris are excluded (1.5% including sporting events). Next year, GDP growth will be 1.6% after adjusting for sporting events (1.2% including sporting events). In its current forecast, the KOF extends the forecast period to 2026 and assumes that GDP will increase by 1.7% (excluding sporting events; 2.1% including sport events) in 2026, a similar rate to the previous year.

    Employment continues to grow – higher real wages allow scope for additional spending

    Employment growth will continue at a solid pace not only in the short term, but also over the next two years. The KOF expects employment to increase by 1% in 2025. This growth is slightly below the medium-term average rate. For 2026, job growth is expected to be almost as high at 1.1%. The unemployment rate will tend to rise slightly but steadily over the forecast period. However, with rates of 2.7% and 2.8% (according to SECO) and 4.6% and 4.7% (according to ILO) in 2025 and 2026, unemployment will not rise at an above-average rate.

    After two years of declines, real wages will rise again this and in the next two years, allowing scope for additional spending. These developments, the solid labour market and high population growth mean that private consumption will remain an important pillar of the Swiss economic development. Depending on how the 13th AHV is financed, it could also provide a small boost to private consumption towards the end of the forecast period.

    Inflation decreases below 1% – further interest rate cuts by the SNB expected

    Inflation will continue to weaken in the forecast period, so that inflation is likely to be 1.2% this year and 0.7% in each of the next two years. While prices for goods and energy have fallen, price increases for services are above average. In view of the disinflationary trend, the Swiss National Bank (SNB) will lower its key interest rates further. The KOF anticipates an interest rate cut of 25 basis points in September and a further cut of the same magnitude in December, bringing the key interest rate down to 0.75%.

    Significant forecast risks due to geopolitical conflicts – Swiss franc could appreciate

    In view of the geopolitical tensions in various regions of the world, the risks to the forecast are currently considerable. The war in Ukraine, but especially the conflict in the Middle East, could have a strong impact on both economic development and inflation if it escalates further. The supply and prices of energy commodities could react strongly. The exchange rate of the Swiss franc is likely to react to a further escalation with an appreciation.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Africa – Averi Finance Endorsed and Supported by the White House and United Arab Emirates (UAE) Government as a Leading Private Investor and Financier of the Energy Sector in Africa

    SOURCE: Averi Finance

    With a proven track record of success, Averi Finance’s management has participated in over 100 projects and transactions, arranging more than $16 billion across 15 emerging market countries.

    WASHINGTON, D.C., United States, September 25, 2024/

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: UN Political Declaration on antimicrobial resistance essential step, but concrete action from governments now critical

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières

    AMR remains a leading cause of death worldwide nearly a decade after UN member states agreed to make it a priority.

    Geneva/New York, 25 September 2024 – Ahead of the second-ever United Nations (UN) High Level Meeting on antimicrobial resistance* (AMR) tomorrow, where world leaders will come together to agree on commitments to advance the global response to AMR, Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) called on governments to take swift, bold action to translate this political declaration into meaningful progress against drug resistance. 

    Headway against AMR since the first declaration nearly a decade ago has been inadequate and inequitable, with low- and middle-income countries – and humanitarian contexts, in particular – least equipped to respond despite bearing the highest burdens of drug-resistant infection. 

    Drawing on years of experience tackling drug resistance around the world, MSF urged governments to build on the commitments made and take an ambitious set of follow-on steps to empower those most affected by AMR to prevent, detect, and respond to it. AMR is a leading cause of death worldwide, and contributed to 4.95 million deaths in 2019 alone, with recent estimates showing the threat is still growing at alarming rates, possibly contributing to 8.2 million deaths annually by 2050.

    “We are seeing staggering rates of drug-resistant infections in many of the low-resource and humanitarian settings where we work, in large part because healthcare workers don’t have what they need to prevent, detect, and respond to AMR,” said Dr Christos Christou, International President of MSF. 

    “The UN Political Declaration on antimicrobial resistance is a welcome step towards strengthening the global AMR response and expresses important aspirations for global equity and solidarity. Considering the magnitude of the challenge of AMR though, and how few of the hardest-hit countries have been able to fund and implement national action plans, the declaration text should have been much more concrete and ambitious. 
    “The declaration must now go beyond words on paper: governments must not only enact and be accountable to the commitments they’ve made, but they must also build on and refine them to ensure low-resource and humanitarian settings are no longer left behind.”

    People in low- and middle-income countries experience the highest rates of AMR and infectious diseases globally, but are the least likely to have access to healthcare, including the medicines, vaccines, and diagnostics they need. In humanitarian settings, other factors compound the AMR crisis. Conflicts or natural disasters, for example, can result in traumatic injuries that can easily become infected and force people to take refuge in overcrowded settings where resistant bacteria can spread easily.

    In the political declaration, governments acknowledged the importance of addressing AMR in humanitarian settings like those in which MSF works, as well as several issues that MSF has highlighted as key priorities in responding to AMR. However, the commitments made to address these issues should have been bolder and more precisely calibrated to address global inequities. MSF recommends that governments build on and refine these commitments in the following ways:

    The declaration’s commitment to include affected communities and humanitarian organisations in the governance of platforms and mechanisms to address AMR must now be put into practice. Only by ensuring the inclusive participation of these groups in global AMR initiatives can an effective roadmap for reaching the most underserved settings take shape. 

    For example, if established, the proposed Independent Panel on Evidence for Action Against AMR must adhere to principles of impartiality, transparency, and accountability to all countries, and prioritise research in and for communities most affected by AMR. 
    This is important, because communities in conflict-affected, fragile and humanitarian settings are more vulnerable to AMR, but evidence needed to inform the response in these settings is acutely lacking.
    The declaration recognizes the need for strengthening laboratory capacity and commits to “improve access to diagnosis and care,” but this broad commitment must be made more specific and precise in follow-on agreements and accountability frameworks to ensure expanded and equitable availability of quality-assured microbiology laboratories. Access to microbiology laboratories is a critical foundation for preventing, detecting and controlling AMR more effectively, but many places with high rates of AMR do not have quality laboratories.
    The commitment to increased international financing and technical assistance to enable low- and middle-income countries to implement national action plans to address AMR must result in stronger and more ambitious funding, as the currently proposed US$100 million to see 60 per cent of countries achieve funded plans to tackle AMR by 2030 is not sufficient to address a health issue of this magnitude.
    The commitment to ensure timely and equitable access to affordable medical tools, including antimicrobials and diagnostic tests, must translate into concrete action. The significant global gaps in access to medical tools must be tracked and quantified to guide efforts to achieve more equitable access, and resources allocated accordingly for both access strategies and antimicrobial stewardship programs. 
    Furthermore, when governments provide funding for research and development for new antimicrobials, they should prioritise public and nonprofit initiatives, as these facilitate access, stewardship, and collaborative approaches to research. Funders must also attach upfront conditions ensuring equitable global access to any resulting medical tools into agreements when providing the “push” and “pull” funding called for in the declaration.

    “To effectively combat AMR globally, governments must address the significant discrepancies in the amount of evidence for action available in high-income and low-resource settings,” said Dušan Jasovský, Antimicrobial Resistance Pharmacist with the MSF Access Campaign. 

    “This means that the Independent Panel on Evidence for Action Against AMR proposed in the declaration must prioritise research in communities most affected by AMR, which are often in humanitarian or low-resource settings where there is currently the least evidence to guide action. This panel is in a great position to inform a response to drug resistance in the hardest-hit areas based on interventions that work, but to do so it must operate with transparency, accountability, and impartiality, backed by ambitious financial means of implementation, and in close collaboration with affected communities.”

    *AMR — when microbes like bacteria, viruses, and fungi evolve and survive despite the antimicrobial medicines, such as antibiotics, used against them — can make medical care less effective and much more difficult, prolonged, and costly for patients and treatment providers.

    MSF is a leading actor in preventing, detecting, and responding to AMR in humanitarian settings, with infection prevention and control, and stewardship initiatives across multiple contexts and 50 sites with planned or existing access to diagnostic microbiology in 20 countries worldwide. MSF has developed an interdisciplinary approach to addressing AMR which includes targeted training and support for infection prevention and control, and antimicrobial stewardship, and in some cases also efforts to provide access to microbiology lab-based diagnosis.

    MSF Australia was established in 1995 and is one of 24 international MSF sections committed to delivering medical humanitarian assistance to people in crisis. In 2022, more than 120 project staff from Australia and New Zealand worked with MSF on assignment overseas. MSF delivers medical care based on need alone and operates independently of government, religion or economic influence and irrespective of race, religion or gender. For more information visit msf.org.au

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Global Bodies – WHO recognizes healthy, innovative cities across Asia

    Source: World Health Organization (WHO)

    SEOUL, Republic of Korea l 25 September 2024 — Eight cities across Asia were recognized today by the World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Region for outstanding contributions to urban health. The 2024 WHO Healthy Cities Recognition Awards were presented during the 10th Global Conference of the Alliance for Healthy Cities taking place this week in Seoul, Republic of Korea, with the theme “Smarter and Healthier Cities for a Better Future”.

    “Urbanization is not just a challenge − it is an opportunity,” said Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific. “With more than half of the world’s population now living in cities, we have a responsibility to ensure that our urban spaces are designed to promote health, equity and well-being for all. The cities we are recognizing today have shown that through innovation, collaboration and strategic governance, we can build a healthier future for generations to come.”

    Award-winning cities and initiatives

    This year’s awards were presented to cities in Japan, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea and Singapore for exceptional achievements promoting health and well-being across eight categories:

    “Safe, Sustainable and Health-Enabling Transport System”: Owariasahi City, Japan

    o   Owariasahi City’s comprehensive approach to traffic safety, particularly for vulnerable groups like children, older people and people with disabilities, has led to a significant reduction in deaths from road traffic crashes. The city’s green and user-friendly transport system exemplifies how urban mobility can promote the health and safety of all residents.

    “Tobacco-Free City for Future Generations”: Carmona City, Cavite, Philippines

    o   Carmona City’s tobacco control measures, focused on protecting children and young people, have gone beyond local ordinances to create a tobacco-free environment. The city’s strategic approach involves community engagement to safeguard future generations from the harmful effects of tobacco.

    “Age-Friendly Cities: Bridging Generations for a Healthier Tomorrow”: Seoul Metropolitan Government, Republic of Korea

    Seoul’s “Healthy Ageing Support” initiative focuses on bridging generations through intergenerational activities that foster mutual support between younger and older residents. The programme, run by the Seoul Metropolitan Health and Well-Ageing Centre, is a model for how cities can adapt to the challenges of an ageing population through collaboration, innovation and inclusivity.

    “Let’s Be Active!”: Songpa District, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Songpa has promoted active living through creation of a 21-kilometre walking and running trail and a 15-kilometre bike path, supported by public bike-sharing systems. These efforts benefit visually impaired and older residents in particular. The “G-EYE” app provides barrier-free navigation, including sound signals and location-based assistance, ensuring safe and independent walking for the visually impaired. For older residents, 35 shelters, 305 benches and accessible exercise equipment have been installed, providing comfortable rest stops and encouraging physical activity. These initiatives have increased walking and cycling rates, emphasizing the importance of accessibility and equity in urban transport planning.

    “Community Engagement to Advance Health Equity”: Dong-gu District, Gwangju, Republic of Korea

    Dong-gu’s community-driven approach to health equity addresses both housing and urban development, creating policies shaped by the voices of local residents. The project empowers communities to engage in decision-making processes that directly impact their living conditions, fostering greater health equity.

    “Climate Resilience and Environmental Sustainability for Health in Cities”: Chungju City, Republic of Korea

    Chungju’s ecological parks and carbon sinks offer green spaces for physical activity and contribute significantly to climate resilience. Combined with educational programmes and long-term budget planning, these initiatives demonstrate a sustainable model for other cities facing environmental health challenges.

    “Safeguarding Communities Against Alcohol-Related Harms”: Dobong-gu District, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Dobong-gu has implemented a comprehensive alcohol reduction strategy, particularly focused on women, resulting in a measurable decrease in binge drinking and alcohol-related health issues. By engaging various sectors to support alcohol use disorder recovery and treatment, the district is addressing an important public health concern.

    “Transforming Food Environments for Healthy Diets and Optimal Nutrition”: Singapore

    o   Singapore’s front-of-pack labelling system and ban on advertising of unhealthy drinks have empowered consumers to make healthier choices. These government initiatives have also driven the beverage industry to reformulate products, showing how actions from cities can help to shape food environments in ways that improve public health.

    “WHO Regional Director’s Special Award”: Pasig City, Metro Manila, Philippines

    Pasig City in the National Capital Region of the Philippines received the WHO Regional Director’s Special Award this year in recognition of its long track record of implementing Healthy Cities activities and promoting the approach nationally and internationally. An active member of the Alliance for Healthy Cities, Pasig City continues to play a key role in advancing Healthy Cities in the Philippines..

    Pasig is among the early adopters of WHO’s Urban Governance for Health and Well-being initiative which supports local actions that promote good governance for health. The city’s community engagement efforts, driven by a participatory and multisectoral approach, aims to improve the health and well-being of its population.

    Pasig’s achievements in building a healthier, more sustainable environment through innovative actions has set a benchmark for other cities to follow, inspiring similar initiatives across the country. By implementing greening projects, the reforestation of the Marikina Watershed and the establishment of bike lanes and a bike-sharing programme, the city has improved its climate resilience and urban mobility. Programmes like the Civil Society Organization (CSO) Academy empower local organizations through capacity-building focused on health and social issues, while the city’s skills development and livelihood training programmes strengthen residents’ economic and social well-being.

    Speaking at the 10th Global Conference of the Alliance for Healthy Cities in Seoul, Dr Susan Mercado, Director of Programme Management for WHO in the Western Pacific Region, emphasized: “Cities are our hope for immediate action. Cities are our hope for innovation when changes like climate or conflict or communicable diseases threaten lives. Cities are catalysts for the health and well-being of humanity, and our cities in the Western Pacific need to be safe havens in the context of a changing planet.”

    Urbanization as a catalyst for health and well-being

    More than half (58%) of the population in the Western Pacific Region − some 1.1 billion people − now live in cities. The rapid pace of urbanization presents both opportunities and challenges for public health. By adopting sustainable urban policies, cities can promote health, provide equitable access and protect populations while ensuring health equity remains at the forefront of urban development.

    “Urbanization is not just about building cities; it is about building futures,” added Dr Mercado. “By harnessing the power of urbanization, we can turn cities into engines of health and well-being, paving the way for a healthier, more equitable world.”

    Smarter and healthier cities for all

    The WHO Healthy Cities Recognition Awards highlight the transformative potential of urban environments in promoting health and well-being. By prioritizing health equity, sustainability and innovation, the recognized cities are leading the way towards a future where urbanization drives positive change, creating healthier, more inclusive communities.

    “As cities continue to grow, we must ensure that no one is left behind,” emphasized Dr Piukala, stressing the importance of inclusivity and access to health for all. “Healthy cities are for everyone. They should provide opportunities for all citizens to live healthier, more fulfilling lives, regardless of their background or circumstances.”

    WHO remains dedicated to building healthier, more resilient and sustainable cities for the future. Urbanization offers a unique opportunity to improve people’s well-being, and the Alliance for Healthy Cities has demonstrated that change is possible. Through collective action, cities can become smarter, healthier and more inclusive, ensuring a safer and healthier world for future generations.

    Notes:

    Since 2004, the WHO Healthy Cities Recognition Awards have provided a platform for cities to showcase best practices in areas such as healthy ageing, urban mobility, health equity, climate resilience, environmental sustainability, tobacco and alcohol control, healthy diets and health-enabling societies. This year’s awardees exemplify how the Healthy Cities approach and urbanization can be harnessed as a positive force for health, safety and sustainable development.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Economy – Earnings season, not central banks, will now drive markets – deVere Group

    Source: deVere Group

    September 25 2024 – With central banks beginning to lower interest rates, earnings season will be a primary driver of stock markets, affirms the CEO of one of the world’s largest independent financial advisory and asset management organizations.

    Nigel Green of deVere Group is weighing in ahead of the critical reporting season which moves up a gear next week and as US futures dipped on Wednesday morning as Wall Street seems on track to extend its impressive September gains.

    “As the Federal Reserve, and its global central bank peers, shift gears by lowering interest rates, the spotlight is turning to the broader economy, raising the stakes for the upcoming Q3 earnings season,” he says.

    “Investors are now eagerly awaiting company reports that will provide crucial insights into how key businesses are doing.

    “With the recent rate cuts signaling concerns about economic growth, corporate performance and guidance will play a critical role in shaping market sentiment and investment strategies in the coming months.”

    This move has shifted investor focus from the central bank’s actions to the overall health of the economy.

    “As interest rates drop, the effectiveness of this monetary easing in stimulating growth and sustaining corporate profitability becomes a key concern for market participants,” notes the deVere CEO.

    While the rate cut provides some relief from borrowing costs, it also indicates that the economic outlook may be less robust than previously thought.

    This has raised the importance of corporate earnings reports as investors seek tangible data on how companies are coping with challenges such as changing consumer demand.

    Nigel Green continues: “Beyond the top-line and bottom-line numbers, the commentary from corporate leaders will be particularly telling. Executives’ perspectives on demand trends, cost pressures, and strategic adjustments will provide deeper insights into the business climate and potential growth opportunities or pitfalls.”

    As the Q3 earnings season ramps up, it is likely to bring increased market volatility.

    “Unexpected earnings results or cautious forward guidance is going to trigger sharp market moves, particularly in sectors most sensitive to economic changes, consumer discretionary, financials, and industrials. Investors should be prepared for a period of heightened activity and adjust their strategies accordingly,” he confirms.

    Financials and consumer goods companies typically report early, followed by tech and industrial firms.

    The deVere Group CEO concludes: “This earnings season will be the true barometer of economic health.

    “As companies report their results, the narratives they share will carry more weight than any central bank policy change.

    “The earnings we see in the coming weeks will not only illuminate the resilience of businesses, but also provide crucial insights for investors facing this transitional phase.”

    deVere Group is one of the world’s largest independent advisors of specialist global financial solutions to international, local mass affluent, and high-net-worth clients.  It has a network of offices around the world, more than 80,000 clients, and $12bn under advisement.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Global Bodies – IPU Assembly to focus on AI, science and technology

    Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)

    Geneva, 24 September 2024 – Hundreds of parliamentarians from around the world will gather in Geneva for the 149th IPU Assembly, taking place from 13-17 October 2024.

    Under the overarching theme: Harnessing science, technology, and innovation for a more peaceful and sustainable future, legislators will consider parliamentary action to maximize the benefits, but also mitigate the risks, of new technologies, with a particular focus on artificial intelligence (AI).  

    Bertrand Picard, Swiss psychiatrist, explorer and technology pioneer, will address the Assembly on the importance of placing humanity back at the centre of science and innovation.

    IPU Charter on the Ethics of Science and Technology

    The Assembly is set to adopt a new Charter on the Ethics of Science and Technology, drafted by the IPU’s Working Group on Science and Technology.

    The Charter aims to create a regulatory framework of principles to guide legislation and decision-making, ensuring that science and technology serve to benefit humanity, society and the environment.

    Addressing the impact of AI on democracy

    Parliamentarians are also expected to adopt an IPU resolution entitled The impact of artificial intelligence on democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

    The resolution urges parliaments “to develop strong legal frameworks and policies for the responsible creation, deployment and use of AI technology”.

    It seeks to address the vulnerabilities of democratic institutions to AI and mitigate harmful impacts such as the spread of misinformation, hate speech, or incitement of violence through AI-generated content.

    Marking the 25th anniversary of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention

    The Assembly will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the entry into force of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC) and its role in reducing the harm caused by anti-personnel mines.

    H.R.H. Prince Mired Raad Zeid Al-Hussein of Jordan, Special Envoy for the APMBC, will participate, encouraging parliaments that have not yet ratified the Convention to do so.

    2024 Cremer-Passy Prize

    The winner of the 2024 Cremer-Passy Prize will be announced during the Assembly. This prestigious award, now in its third edition, will recognize an outstanding parliamentarian who has made an exceptional contribution to supporting peace efforts.

    A full programme of parliamentary meetings

    Throughout the Assembly, various IPU bodies will convene, including the four thematic Standing Committees, the Forum of Women Parliamentarians, the Forum of Young Parliamentarians, and the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians.

    Additionally, IPU bodies dedicated to parliamentary diplomacy and maintaining dialogue between countries at war will meet, including the IPU Task Force for the peaceful resolution of the war in Ukraine and the IPU Committee on Middle East Questions.

    Practical details

    Date: 13-17 October 2024.

    Venue: The International Conference Centre Geneva (CICG), 7 rue de Varembé, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland.

    Media attendance: All UN-accredited media representatives will be able to access the Assembly venue. For international media travelling to Geneva, please register here https://registration.ipu.org/event/149Assembly/regProcessStep1

    The Assembly will be livestreamed at ipu.org/149

    The IPU is the global organization of national parliaments. It was founded more than 130 years ago as the first multilateral political organization in the world, encouraging cooperation and dialogue between all nations. Today, the IPU comprises 180 national Member Parliaments and 15 regional parliamentary bodies. It promotes democracy and helps parliaments develop into stronger, younger, greener, more gender-balanced and more innovative institutions. It also defends the human rights of parliamentarians through a dedicated committee made up of MPs from around the world.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: New Zealanders’ trust in key institutions declines – Stats NZ media and information release: Wellbeing statistics: 2023

    Source: Statistics New Zealand

    New Zealanders’ trust in key institutions declines – 25 September 2024 – Data from the 2023 General Social Survey (GSS) found that trust held by New Zealanders in institutions like the health system, education system, parliament, media, police, and courts has declined since 2021, according to wellbeing statistics released by Stats NZ today.

    People in Aotearoa New Zealand remained satisfied with their lives as a whole in 2023, with an overall satisfaction rating of 7.6 out of 10, which is similar to the 7.7 rating in 2021.

    “As a result of recent global events such as COVID-19, our society has faced a number of challenges. Institutional trust, trust in other people, sense of belonging, and a sense of safety are all important measures of people feeling part of society,” wellbeing and housing statistics manager Sarah Drake said.

    Some key measures of trust and social wellbeing have declined since 2021. These areas included trust in institutions, trust in most people in New Zealand, sense of belonging to New Zealand, and a sense of safety.

    Visit Statistics NZ’s website to read this news story and information release and to download CSV files:

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Universities – Combating ‘climate burnout’ – Flinders

    Source: Flinders University

    As the occurrence of weather extremes continues to escalate, the climate change movement now grapples with a new challenge, ‘climate burnout’.

    The troubling trend of despair and fatigue among those who work for environmental and climate change – a phenomenon described as ‘climate burnout’ – could jeopardise vital commitment to the cause.

    New Flinders University research explored the exacerbating and attenuating factors of despair-induced climate burnout to learn how people can overcome despair and maintain motivation to fight climate change.

    “Our research highlights the growing issue of climate burnout, where people involved in the climate justice movement experience sheer exhaustion and disengagement due to feelings of despair about the crisis,” says lead author, Dr Lucy Bird from the College of Education, Psychology and Social Work.

    “We found that people are more likely to experience burnout when they feel despair and exhaustion about tackling climate change.

    “But importantly, our findings show that when people contemplated pragmatic steps, such as using their car less and reducing waste, as well as acting collectively to encourage organisations to make changes, they felt markedly less disengaged.

    “When people focus on actionable steps and fostering a sense of community and shared purpose, they can combat burnout and continue to make meaningful progress in addressing one of humanity’s most defining challenges,” she says.

    The research involved two studies using over 1,200 participants to examine whether despair about the climate crisis is associated with experiencing burnout.

    It also explored whether thinking about a positive future where the climate crisis has been addressed (utopian thinking) or considering the steps necessary to address climate change (pragmatic thinking) could reduce climate burnout.

    In some instances, the findings show that simply imagining a climate utopia could reduce peoples’ urge to disengage from the climate movement.

    “Given the urgent need to address the climate crisis, it is important to protect people from experiencing despair induced burnout and disengaging from the climate movement,” says Dr Bird.

    “This approach aligns with evolving strategies within the climate advocacy community, focusing on actionable solutions rather than overwhelming sentiments of despair.

    “As communities around the globe strive for impactful climate policies and initiatives, it is imperative that they foster an environment that encourages sustained engagement and mutual support.”

    She says that future research needs to consider different interventions to reduce peoples’ exhaustion and fatigue regarding climate change as this was not always reduced by engaging in pragmatism and utopian thinking.

    Dr Bird sums up her research by referencing street artist Banksy’s mural near London’s Hyde Park in support of Extinction Rebellion protests in 2019, “From this moment despair ends and tactics begin.”

    The article, ‘Thinking about the future: Examining the exacerbating and attenuating factors of despair-induced climate burnout’ by Lucy H. Bird, Emma F. Thomas, Michael Wenzel and Morgana Lizzio-Wilson has been published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology (2024), DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvp.2024.102382

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Economy – GlobalData outlines strategies adopted by businesses to minimize the impact of inflation

    Source: GlobalData

    Inflation remains a significant concern for economies globally, with some experiencing moderation while others facing persistently elevated levels. This disparity has led companies to reevaluate their strategies to mitigate inflation’s effects. Companies across industries are taking decisive steps to deal with the pressure emerging out of these challenges, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    An analysis of GlobalData’s Company Filing Analytics Database reveals the various action plans of companies to tackle inflation or minimize its impact on margins in their respective filing documents.

    Misa Singh, Business Fundamentals Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “While some companies are seen to be keen on covering inflation with pricing actions, some are focused on cost management. Meanwhile, some companies are considering reducing the pressure on their lower-end customers as inflation begins to ease.”

    Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc believes that inflation is beginning to ease and interest rates are expected to be lowered in the coming months. The company hopes this will lessen some pressure on the lower-end customers. The Canada-based Convenience store company is also working to provide customers with value and ease inside stores and on forecourts.

    Darden Restaurants Inc revealed its attempt to minimize the annual effects of inflation through appropriate planning, operating practices, and menu price increases. The filing documents reveal that some of the impacts of the inflation have been offset by menu price increases and other adjustments made during the year.

    Bio-Techne Corp discussed its plan to fund all new investments with productivity initiatives and cover inflation with pricing actions. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co expects the pricing to remain competitive, which might impact the company’s financial results. The information technology company plans to mitigate the impact of these dynamics through disciplined cost management.

    Haier Smart Home Co Ltd revealed in its latest report that the company strengthened its supply chain and distribution network, enhanced its high-end product lineup, and increased price indices to achieve 9.9% revenues growth in South Asia, 12.4% in Southeast Asia and 26.8% in Middle East & Africa in the first half this year.

    Singh concludes: “As businesses navigate these pressures and try to maintain profitability it requires a careful balance between cost management, market development, and portfolio diversification. Companies will need to stay agile to adapt to the ongoing economic uncertainties and the evolving inflationary landscape.”

    About GlobalData

    4,000 of the world’s largest companies, including over 70% of FTSE 100 and 60% of Fortune 100 companies, make more timely and better business decisions thanks to GlobalData’s unique data, expert analysis and innovative solutions, all in one platform. GlobalData’s mission is to help our clients decode the future to be more successful and innovative across a range of industries, including the healthcare, consumer, retail, financial, technology and professional services sectors.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: FinTech – Experian Ranked 7th on 2024 IDC FinTech Rankings Top 100; Wins IDC Real Results Award in Bank Deposit Transformation

    Source: Experian
     
    COSTA MESA, Calif. – Experian has been ranked 7th on the 2024 IDC FinTech Rankings, placing in the top 10 providers for the third consecutive year. The FinTech Rankings evaluate the top 100 providers of financial technology based on 2023 calendar year revenues from the financial services and FinTech industries. In related news, Experian is also an IDC Real Results Award winner, ranking in the top spot for Bank Deposit Transformation.

    The Real Results Awards recognize IT providers that have enabled a genuine, measurable and future-enabling change at a client financial institution (bank, capital markets firm, or insurer) in the worldwide financial services industry. The Bank Deposit Transformation award was based on customer data and their use of the Experian Ascend Fraud Sandbox.

    “Placing first for Bank Deposit Transformation demonstrates how this new Experian fraud solution enables our customers to use state-of-the-art fraud-prevention and identity-protection technology to dramatically improve approval rates for online deposit accounts, directly impacting their bottom line while simultaneously lowering fraud losses,” said Alex Lintner, Chief Executive Officer of Experian Software Solutions. “These honors underscore our delivery of advanced modeling and comprehensive data insights that advance and accelerate our customers’ business. They also promote better financial outcomes for our clients compared to incumbent ways of solving this difficult trade-off and mitigate risk from the rising tide of sophisticated AI-driven approaches by bad actors to defraud consumers.”

    Ascend Fraud Sandbox provides an analytical environment that enables users to explore data to discover new fraud patterns and build, test and deploy new models in days rather than months. It pairs an organization’s own data with unique cross-industry identity and fraud data assets. It employs more than 10 billion identity and fraud events that include applications, login activity, and transactions, along with fraud tags, adding tens of millions of new events daily.

    “In the 2024 IDC FinTech Rankings program, Experian is ranked as the 7th largest global provider of technology solutions to the financial services industry and won its first IDC Real Results Winner Award for Bank Deposit Transformation,” says Marc DeCastro, research director at IDC. “Experian offers the data, technology and scalable solutions to enable financial institutions to make informed business decisions at the necessary speed to help them remain competitive in a rapidly changing and competitive marketplace.”

    In its 21st year, the IDC FinTech Rankings categorize and evaluate technology providers strictly based on previous calendar year revenues from financial institutions (banking, insurance, and/or capital markets) or directly to fintech solution providers for hardware, software, and/or services To view the complete rankings, visit www.idc.com/prodserv/insights/financial/fintech-rankings.

    About Experian

    Experian is a global data and technology company, powering opportunities for people and businesses around the world. We help to redefine lending practices, uncover and prevent fraud, simplify healthcare, deliver digital marketing solutions, and gain deeper insights into the automotive market, all using our unique combination of data, analytics and software. We also assist millions of people to realize their financial goals and help them to save time and money.

    We operate across a range of markets, from financial services to healthcare, automotive, agrifinance, insurance, and many more industry segments.

    We invest in talented people and new advanced technologies to unlock the power of data and innovate. As a FTSE 100 Index company listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN), we have a team of 22,500 people across 32 countries. Our corporate headquarters are in Dublin, Ireland. Learn more at experianplc.com.

    Experian and the Experian marks used herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Experian and its affiliates. Other product and company names mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Universities – Love match and boldness pay off in geese reproductive success – Flinders

    Source: Flinders University

    Birds of a feather flock together but strong pairing in geese has been shown to produce better breeding results, according to a new study.
    Focusing on a group of captive greylag geese, bird behaviour experts from the University of Vienna and Flinders University have looked into the parental benefits of ‘made in heaven’ matches between well-paired couples.
    “Like in humans, the personality of both parents and their similarity in personality traits can influence their success as parents,” says Lauren Common, a Flinders University PhD candidate now based at the Konrad Lorenz Research Centre for Behaviour and Cognition, University of Vienna in Austria.
    “Successful pair bonds where partners were similar in their boldness, mainly by responding to risky situations in the same way, can have higher hatching success.
    “This bold parenting style can lead to consistency and responsiveness, which can result in successful reproductive output and survival of young and fledgeling success.”
    In the new article published in the journal Animal Behaviour, researchers studied a flock of more than 100 habituated greylag geese over three breeding seasons, and reproductive and fledgling success was measured.
    University of Vienna Professor Sonia Kleindorfer, who founded the BirdLab at the College of Science and Engineering at Flinders University, says the coordination of a united male and female couple is crucial during incubation when thermal stability and protection from predators is crucial.
    “In species with biparental care and monogamy, reproductive output and success may be influenced not only by the personality of each individual but also the behavioural compatibility of the pair.
    “This kind of pairing in greylag geese is linked to their well-developed cognitive capacity and social awareness and individuals consistently differ in personality traits such as boldness, aggressiveness, sociability and other behavioural traits.”
    Professor Kleindorfer says “animal personality was once considered a figment of human imagination and, worse, anthropomorphism”.
    “This study adds to a growing body of work showing that animals such as greylag geese have consistent individual differences in behaviour, also called personality,” she says.
    “But more than that, personality traits in animals can be linked to successful love matches and reproductive success. Therefore, these traits may be targets of natural and sexual selection.”
    The article, Effects of assortative mating for personality on reproductive success in Anser anser(2024) by Lauren K Common, Andrew C Katsis, Didone Frigerio and Sonia Kleindorfer has been published in Animal Behaviour DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2024.08.004.
    Acknowledgements: This project was supported by the University of Vienna and the Konrad Lorenz Research Centre and Cumberland Foundation.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: China: World leaders must act to end decade of injustice for jailed Uyghur academic – Amnesty International

    Source: Amnesty International

    Prisoner of conscience Ilham Tohti handed life sentence 10 years ago
    Governments urged to step up diplomatic efforts to secure his freedom
    Tohti’s daughter says Chinese authorities have tried to silence her activism
    Amnesty launches petition calling on Chinese government to release Tohti

    The international community must take concrete steps to help secure the release of the Uyghur academic Ilham Tohti, Amnesty International said ahead of the 10-year-anniversary of his conviction on baseless charges of “separatism”.  

    Tohti was sentenced to life imprisonment on 23 September 2014 after an unfair trial. He was targeted by the Chinese government after peacefully advocating for dialogue and conciliation between the Uyghur ethnic group and China’s majority Han population.  

    “When Ilham Tohti promoted cooperation and peaceful coexistence between China’s Uyghur and Han communities, the Chinese government responded with repression and imprisonment. His decade-long incarceration is a further shameful stain on China’s troubled human rights record,” said Agnes Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International.

    “This unhappy anniversary not only reminds us of Beijing’s inhumanity. It also highlights the failure of other governments to secure Ilham Tohti’s release. The shocking milestone of his 10th year behind bars underlines the need for the international community to do more.”

    The charges against Ilham Tohti stemmed from his writings and teachings on systemic discrimination and oppression faced by Uyghurs in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of northwest China (Xinjiang).

    While critical of Chinese government policies in Xinjiang, Ilham Tohti consistently opposed violence and separatism and worked to build bridges between ethnic communities in accordance with Chinese laws.

    He was awarded the Sakharov Prize – the European Parliament’s top human rights prize – in 2019.

    “The bestowal of awards recognizes and affirms Ilham Tothi’s leading human rights contribution, as well as his own human rights plight. Yet what he needs most is freedom, and to achieve that he deserves unswerving public advocacy from the international community, calling for his release. That means world leaders directly demanding action from their Chinese counterparts – at every high-level meeting, every UN conference, every time,” Agnes Callamard said.

    “It is the compassionate stance of Ilham Tohti that makes his imprisonment particularly heinous, and that compels the global community to do more to defend his rights. Ilham Tohti is a prisoner of conscience, and his freedom would be a crucial step in advancing human rights and justice in China.”

    During his imprisonment, Ilham Tohti has reportedly been subjected to torture and other ill-treatment, including wrist and ankle shackling, prolonged solitary confinement and denial of adequate medical care and food, as well as political indoctrination.

    His daughter, Jewher Ilham, has campaigned tirelessly for his release. She told Amnesty International that Chinese authorities have attempted to silence her by offering her conditional contact with him in exchange for her stopping her public advocacy on his case.

    Her last conversation with her father, over Skype while she was studying in the USA, was on 14 January 2014 just hours before his arrest in Beijing. Tohti’s China-based family has not seen him since spring 2017, when their quarterly prison visits abruptly stopped.

    “It should be a daughter’s fundamental right to see her father, and as a human being it is my right to call out injustice anytime I see it,” Jewher Ilham told Amnesty International.

    Speaking of their last meeting 10 years ago, she said: “If I knew (that) would have been my last time communicating with my father, I would have called him for hours and hours and hours to tell him I love him. Unfortunately, many Uyghur people, many Uyghur daughters and sons, share the same fate as me.”

    Since 2017, there has been extensive documentation of China’s crackdown against Uyghurs, Kazakhs and other predominantly Muslim ethnic people in Xinjiang, carried out under the guise of fighting terrorism.

    In 2021, a report by Amnesty International found that the systematic state-organized mass imprisonment, torture and persecution perpetrated by Chinese authorities amounted to crimes against humanity.  

    Many of Amnesty’s findings were mirrored by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ (OHCHR) assessment of the situation in Xinjiang, published in August 2022.

    The UN report found that the “extent of arbitrary and discriminatory detention of members of Uyghur and other predominantly Muslim groups … may constitute international crimes, in particular crimes against humanity.” The report added that “the conditions remain in place for serious violations to continue and recur,” creating additional urgency for a prompt and effective effort to address the situation.

    However, in October 2022, Human Rights Council member states rejected by a narrow margin a decision that would have called for a debate on the report.

    OHCHR High Commissioner Volker Türk committed in December 2022 to “personally engage with (Chinese) authorities” about the grave human rights violations highlighted in the report.

    In March 2024, the High Commissioner urged the Chinese government to implement recommendations of his office and other UN bodies, including those from the 2022 report. And in August 2024, the OHCHR issued a press statement highlighting glaring gaps in China’s implementation of UN recommendations, stating that “many of the problematic laws and policies remain in place.”

    “It is an outrage that the persecution of Uyghurs including Ilham Tohti continues unabated, and with impunity,” Agnes Callamard said.

    “Since the Chinese authorities show no signs of relenting, the onus is on world leaders to ramp up pressure on Beijing – including at the UN – to end all discrimination and arbitrary detention of certain ethnic groups and hold perpetrators of violations accountable.”

    Meanwhile, Jewher Ilham continues her long wait to be reunited with her father.

    “I hope you can help me bring him home,” she told Amnesty International. “I would just tell him that you don’t have to worry (about) anything anymore. Now I’m standing by your side. You’re not alone anymore.”

    Amnesty International has launched a new petition calling on Chinese President Xi Jinping to ensure Ilham Tohti’s immediate and unconditional release. (ref. https://www.amnesty.org/en/petition/china-must-end-decade-of-injustice/ )

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Australia – CommBank Matildas on loan to Aussie businesses – CBA

    Source: Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA)

    Fifty CommBank business customers will have the opportunity to have the CommBank Matildas promote their business as the bank launches marketing support for its customers.

    CommBank’s business customers will have the opportunity to have some CommBank Matildas promote their business, as the bank launches further support to help its customers with the rising costs of doing business.

    The Aussie sporting legends will lend a helping hand to 50 customers across the country by promoting their business and helping spread the word about the products and services that particular business offers.

    Commonwealth Bank Executive General Manager Small Business Banking, Rebecca Warren, said many small business owners were facing challenges on multiple fronts as revenues decline with tightening household budgets and costs of doing business continue to rise.

    Recent research commissioned by CommBank1 shows 70 per cent of Australian small to medium businesses have had to cut costs in the last 12 months due to economic pressures, with marketing being one of the top categories where they’ve reduced spend.

    “Running a small business is hard work, and often stressful. We know that right now small business owners are finding it particularly tough, and our customers are showing incredible resilience,” Ms Warren said.

    “One of the best ways of maximising spending events, especially if you’re running a small business, is targeting your local community with promotions, and a little marketing budget can go a long way.

    “We wanted to see what else we could do to back our small business customers at this time, to complement our existing suite of measures to support with cash flow or expenses.

    “Whether you’re a dog walker on the Central Coast of NSW, a baker in Fremantle WA, or an online fashion brand based in Melbourne, our business customers could soon have some CommBank Matildas feature on their ads, all paid for by us. We’re excited to be shining a spotlight on some of the amazing businesses around the country.”

    The campaign is designed to boost the visibility of the winning businesses with their target audience, be it their local community or online target demographics, and help with the costs of marketing. Along with providing the opportunity to have some CommBank Matildas promote the winning business, CBA will be paying to run the ads in the business’ local area.

    To be eligible, applicants must hold an active CommBank Business Transaction Account, have an ABN and operate in Australia. The competition, which can be accessed online, launches today and closes on 1 December 2024. For full details, visit: commbank.com.au/backingbusiness

    1 YouGov research conducted on behalf of CommBank (August 2024)

    About YouGov research

    All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov. Total sample size was 510 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 1 – 7 August 2024. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all Australian small and medium business owners and decision makers (aged 18+).

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Hong Kong: T-shirt sedition sentencing shows malice of new national security legislation – Amnesty International

    Source: Amnesty International

    Responding to the 14-month prison sentence handed to Hong Kong man Chu Kai-pong for wearing a “seditious” T-shirt and mask, Amnesty International’s China Director Sarah Brooks said:

    “Just when you thought the human rights situation in Hong Kong couldn’t get any bleaker, a man is condemned to more than a year in prison just because of the clothing he chose to wear. This is a blatant attack on the right to freedom of expression.

    “The conviction and sentencing of Chu Kai-pong over his choice of clothing also highlights the sheer malice of Hong Kong’s new Article 23 law, which expands the government’s powers to punish so-called ‘seditious’ acts.

    “Chu Kai-pong is the first person convicted under this legislation, but its vague wording, vast scope and repressive nature leaves Hong Kongers fearing that he will not be the last. We once again urge the Hong Kong authorities to repeal this law.

    “The government must also end its use of  ‘sedition’ laws to crack down on dissent under the pretext of protecting ‘national security’. Chu Kai-pong has committed no internationally recognized crime and he must be released immediately.”

    Background

    Chu Kai-pong was today sentenced to one year and two months in jail for “doing with a seditious intention an act or acts that had a seditious intention” under section 24 of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO), the new national security legislation enacted in March 2024 based on Article 23 of the city’s Basic Law.

    He is the first person charged, convicted and sentenced under the SNSO. He was arrested on 12 June 2024, the anniversary of the 2019 anti-extradition protests, for wearing a T-shirt bearing the 2019 protest slogan, “Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of Our Times”, and a yellow mask printed with the letters “FDNOL”, the abbreviation of another protest slogan, “Five Demands, Not One Less”. He has already been detained for more than 3 months and denied bail.

    He was also charged with two other offences – loitering and failure to produce proof of identity for inspection – but these were dropped after he pleaded guilty to the sedition charge.

    According to section 24 of the SNSO, a person convicted of sedition can be imprisoned for seven years. If the sedition is conducted in collusion with an “external force”, the maximum sentence rises to 10 years. The offence was previously punishable by up to two years.

    Hong Kong’s Legislative Council voted unanimously on 19 March 2024 to pass the SNSO under Article 23 of the Basic Law, Hong Kong’s mini-constitution. The SNSO increases penalties for acts relating to sedition and contains many troubling provisions, such as the vague and broadly worded crime of “external interference”.

    According to Amnesty International’s records, 12 people have been arrested for sedition – and three charged – under the SNSO since its enactment.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Stats NZ information release: Injury statistics – work-related claims: 2023

    Source: Statistics New Zealand

    Injury statistics – work-related claims: 2023 – 24 September 2024 – Injury statistics for work-related claims give information about claims accepted by ACC for work-related injuries.

    Key facts

    • A total of 226,600 work-related injury claims were made in 2023 (up 1,200 from 2022).
    • The incidence rate for claims related to work-related injuries was 86 claims per 1,000 full-time equivalent employees (FTEs) in 2023. This is the lowest rate since the start of the series in 2002.
    • The manufacturing; agriculture, forestry, and fishing; and construction industries had the highest incidence rates of work-related injury claims in 2023.
    • Trades workers had the highest number of claims by occupation in 2023, with 39,000 claims.

    Visit Statistics NZ’s website to read this information release:

     

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Economy – Gebrüder Weiss opens second location in Greater Bucharest

    Source: Gebrüder Weiss

    New terminal in Popesti-Leordeni to optimize the delivery of goods in the metropolitan area / Logistics expert celebrates 30-year anniversary in Romania / 700 employees at 13 locations handle 1.1 million consignments per year

    Bucharest / Lauterach, September 24, 2024. The international transport and logistics company Gebrüder Weiss has expanded its location network in Romania. South-east of Bucharest, in Popesti-Leordeni, the logistics provider has officially launched operations at a new terminal, following a major investment of 20 million euros.

    “The second location complements our existing facility west of the capital in Bolintin-Deal, thus facilitating an even more efficient distribution of goods in the metropolitan area. In this way, we offer first-rate conditions to provide even better logistics support to Romania’s emerging economy,” affirms Wolfram Senger-Weiss, CEO of Gebrüder Weiss.

    The modern terminal has an area of around 19,000 square meters for warehouse logistics, transshipment, administration, and favorable transport connections to the Black Sea port of Constanta and neighboring Bulgaria. It is equipped with heat pumps, and the installation of a photovoltaic (PV) system is under consideration for the future, along with charging stations for electric vehicles. One of the location’s customers is an international paint manufacturer, for whom Gebrüder Weiss stores 12,000 pallets for distribution across the country.

    “The increasing traffic load in the capital requires a two-terminal solution enabling us to supply the metropolitan area from two geographic directions, thus making the distribution of goods more efficient,” Country Manager Viorel Leca explains. In the first six months of 2024, the new hub handled 78,000 shipments with a total weight of more than 35,000 tons. “In light of our current warehouse occupancy rate of 70%, we are planning to expand our client portfolio in the near future. The purchased land, with a total area of 70,000 square meters, allows us to build additional storage and cross-dock spaces, depending on future projects”, Viorel Leca added.

    30th anniversary of Gebrüder Weiss Romania

    The opening of the new terminal coincides with Gebrüder Weiss celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of its entry into the market in Romania. Gebrüder Weiss operates a comprehensive network of 13 locations across the country’s key economic regions.

    “Over the past 30 years, Romania’s economic development has been impressive, and the country has become a sought-after manufacturing location. We are going to support the growth of industry and commerce in Romania with our logistics know-how into the future,” says Thomas Moser, Director and Regional Manager Black Sea/CIS at Gebrüder Weiss.

    In the past year, 700 employees handled some 1.1 million shipments. Customers include international companies in the automotive, technology, and consumer goods sectors. From its Romanian locations, the logistics provider operates transports by truck to Germany, France, Hungary, and the Czech Republic and handles air and sea freight transports to destinations all over the world.

    About Gebrüder Weiss

    Gebrüder Weiss Holding AG, based in Lauterach, Austria, is a globally operative full-service logistics provider with about 8,600 employees at 180 company-owned locations. The company generated revenues of 2.46 billion euros in 2023. Its portfolio encompasses transport and logistics solutions, digital services, and supply chain management. The twin strengths of digital and physical competence enable Gebrüder Weiss to respond swiftly and flexibly to customers’ needs. The family-run organization – with a history going back more than half a millennium – has implemented a wide variety of environmental, economic, and social initiatives. Today, it is also considered a pioneer in sustainable business practices. www.gw-world.com

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: India: Death penalty never the solution to crime and violence against women – Amnesty International

    Source: Amnesty International

    Responding to the Aprajita Woman and Child (West Bengal Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill adopted today by the West Bengal state government that introduces the death penalty for the offence of rape when it results in the victim’s death or leaves them “in a vegetative state”, Aakar Patel, Chair of Board at Amnesty International said:

    “The authorities must deliver justice and accountability for the horrific rape and murder of the woman doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and hospital in Kolkata in August. However, the death penalty is never the solution, nor it would offer a ‘quick fix’ to prevent violence against women. There is no evidence that it has a unique deterrent effect. Even the Justice Verma Committee that was constituted in 2012 to reform the laws and criminal justice practices relating to crimes of sexual violence, including rape in India and Law Commission of India have opposed the death penalty in cases of violence against women.

    “What is actually needed is far-reaching procedural and institutional reform that deals with the root causes of crime and put emphasis on its prevention. Authorities in West Bengal and across India must fully implement recommendations made by the Justice Verma Committee, including police training and reform, preventive measures, and addressing how reports of sexual violence are registered and investigated. These are important first steps that will in the long run make India safer, including for women.

    “We urge the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct a swift and thorough investigation into this appalling case and bring those responsible to justice without recourse to death penalty. Undue delays will further the climate of fear, impunity and uncertainty.”

    Background

    On 9 August, a 31-year-old trainee doctor was raped and murdered at the RG Kar Medical college and hospital in Kolkata, capital city of the state of West Bengal in eastern India. The events sparked a wave of protests across the country.

    On 13 August, the Kolkata High Court reassigned the investigation of the case from the police to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), citing the lack of significant progress and possibility of destruction of evidence. The court also noted serious lapses on the part of the hospital administration.

    Today, the West Bengal government adopted the Aprajita Woman and Child (West Bengal Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill that amends the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, Bharatiya Nyaya Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 and the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. The amendments tighten the punishment for various rape offences in the state.

    Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases and under any circumstances, regardless of the nature of the crime, the characteristics of the offender, or the method used by the state to carry out the execution. The organization considers the death penalty a violation of the right to life as recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Ukraine: 30% increase in ambulance referrals shows ongoing devastation of war in Ukraine – MSF

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF)

    Kyiv, 3 September 2024. Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) ambulances in Ukraine have transported more than 8,000 patients from hospitals near the frontline between January and July 2024, more than half with burn, blast and other injuries directly caused by the fighting. This represents a thirty per cent increase from the previous six months and shows the alarming and ongoing human impact of the war, warns the medical, humanitarian organisation.

    MSF’s 17 ambulances transport patients at the request of health facilities across areas near the frontlines in the east, south and northeast of the country to hospitals that are less overwhelmed or better equipped to treat their injuries. More than 15 per cent of patients transported so far this year were so ill that they needed to be referred in specially equipped intensive care unit (ICU) ambulances. Of those requiring ICU transportation, 38 were children, the youngest just three years old.

    “We need ICU ambulances to transport patients with severe injuries and breathing problems, such as head traumas, burns, multiple fractures, and damage to internal organs. They need equipment like ventilators and oxygen,” said MSF deputy medical coordinator Maksym Zharikov. “Sixty per cent of the patients we transport have war-related injuries such as head injuries, trunk and limb injuries, soft tissue injuries, and massive haemorrhages.”

    On 6 August, an MSF team in the east transported a 45-year-old man who had suffered burns to 90 per cent of his body, including his internal organs, as a result of shelling. Patients like this require specialised medical care, which is often only available in hospitals far from the conflict areas. MSF has been running an ambulance referral system since April 2022 and currently has 17 ambulances, including five ICU ambulances and three vehicles capable of transporting multiple patients at a time. Multi-patient ambulances can transport up to seven patients at a time, making it possible to transport several patients with varying degrees of severity. Additionally, during intense shelling, making one trip instead of several reduces the risk for patients and staff.

    The need for medical transportation by ambulance becomes especially acute during heavy missile attacks when hospitals are overwhelmed by mass casualties. It is difficult to predict how many intensive care or surgical beds will be needed in any given hospital from day to day. Shelling can occur at any moment, and our teams operate in a state of constant emergency. MSF paramedic Dmytro Bilous reports that when he asks civilians why they continue to live near the frontline despite the danger, the most common reply is that they just didn’t have time to evacuate.

    “We’re gravely alarmed by the devastating impacts of repeated attacks, including on civilian areas. We see the consequences every day. A recent attack in Kostiantynivka, Donetsk region, on 9 August left 14 dead and over 40 injured. MSF doctors helped to respond, and two severely injured patients were transferred to Dnipro,” said Christopher Stokes, MSF emergency coordinator in Ukraine. “With a constant influx of trauma patients needing referrals, MSF ambulance teams ensure that patients are transferred to hospitals where they can receive the specialised care they require. But as more and more health facilities are destroyed, damaged or closed, and attacks like this continue, the pressure on the remaining hospitals is only going to grow, leaving more and more people without any access to the healthcare they need.”

    Notes:

    The war in Ukraine, ongoing since 2014, escalated significantly in 2022, with intense fighting in the east, southeast, and northeast.
    Civilian casualties and significant damage to medical infrastructure, particularly in Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Kherson regions.
    MSF operates 17 ambulances near the frontline, including five ICU vehicles and three multi-patient transport vehicles.
    Ambulances are strategically based in Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, and other regions, covering the whole of Ukraine as per Ministry of Health requests.
    In 2024, patient transport increased by 30% compared to late 2023, with over 8,000 patients transported in the last six months.
    Ambulances cover up to 120,000 km monthly, with 40% of cases being non-traumatic and 60% war-related injuries.
    Among those transported, 136 were children, 38 of whom required ICU care. The youngest patient was three days old, and the oldest was 98.
    MSF first worked in Ukraine in 1999.

    MSF Australia was established in 1995 and is one of 24 international MSF sections committed to delivering medical humanitarian assistance to people in crisis. In 2022, more than 120 project staff from Australia and New Zealand worked with MSF on assignment overseas. MSF delivers medical care based on need alone and operates independently of government, religion or economic influence and irrespective of race, religion or gender. For more information visit msf.org.au  

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Investment Sector – Leo Capital Sets Up Nordic HQ in Helsinki and Launches a €25M Fund Reinforcing Helsinki’s Emerging Role in Attracting Venture Capital Firms

    Source: Helsinki Partners

    Helsinki’s tech ecosystem continues to attract international venture capital firms, as Leo Capital, a successful Singapore-based venture capital firm, launches its Nordic headquarters to support regional B2B startups. Alongside this strategic move, Leo Capital is launching a €25 million fund specifically targeting the Nordic region, marking its first fund focused on Europe. The 90 Day Finn program, which one of Leo Capital’s founders, Shwetank Verma, was part of in 2022, played a crucial role in choosing Helsinki as the location.

    Founded in 2018, Leo Capital has previously managed three funds primarily focused on the APAC region and has actively invested in Europe since 2021. Their successful portfolio includes companies like Apica, Atoa, and Eir. The newly announced fund, Europe Fund I, represents a significant milestone for Leo Capital, as it extends their investment reach into the Nordic startup ecosystem. Business Finland Venture Capital has made an anchor investment in the fund, showing confidence in Leo Capital’s approach amidst challenging market conditions.

    “Europe Fund I continues Leo Capital’s successful strategy of investing in the world’s most capable, ambitious, and resilient founding teams. It is these founders that we are looking to partner with, combining their vision and dynamism with our own networks, resources, and years of cross-border experience to help supercharge their trajectory and realize their global ambitions”, said Shwetank Verma, Co-founder of Leo Capital.

    Helsinki: A New Hub for Venture Capital

    Leo Capital’s decision to expand its operations to Finland came after participating the 90 Day Finn program, an initiative by Helsinki Partners designed to attract international entrepreneurs and investors to Helsinki. Shwetank Verma’s participation in the program provided deep insights into the Finnish business environment, which shares key qualities with Singapore, such as strong government support, a high level of expertise, and a vibrant entrepreneurial spirit.

    “For us, Finland is exciting because we see parallels with what we know best in Singapore, for example. We can see that combination of government support, talent, and entrepreneurial zeal. They’re small markets but very dynamic”, Verma noted.

    Despite the abundant opportunities, Helsinki’s potential remains relatively underexplored on the global stage. Programs like 90 Day Finn have been crucial in bridging this gap, as they have successfully brought international investors like Leo Capital to recognize Finland’s unique offerings.

    “To attract investments, talent, or companies to expand to Helsinki, we need to generate interest and ensure they experience what Helsinki and Finland has to offer. Programs like 90 Day Finn have proven to be incredibly effective. For instance, Leo Capital originally considered another European location for their headquarters but shifted to Helsinki after participating in the program,” commented Johanna Huurre, Business Director at Helsinki Partners.

    The Nordic region, known for its openness and global perspective, provides an inviting ecosystem for international funds. However, while early-stage funding is relatively accessible, there is a notable gap in later-stage funding, an area where Leo Capital aims to make a significant impact.

    “One of the challenges in Finland is the relatively small and local nature of funds. To elevate Finland’s success stories, we need to attract larger international funds and investors. The entry of Leo Capital, with its extensive network, into Helsinki’s ecosystem is a significant step towards this goal,” Huurre added.

    About Leo Capital

    Leo Capital is a Singapore-based early-stage venture fund founded by serial entrepreneurs with global experience. The firm’s portfolio spans 60 early-stage companies supported by a cross-border team across three continents. Leo Capital backs founding teams powering a software-enabled world, supporting them in their journey from great start-up to great company. Leo’s “India Advantage” offers founders support in talent acquisition, go-to-market strategies, and access to a robust network of global co-investors.

    About Helsinki Partners

    Helsinki Partners is the investment promotion agency owned by the City of Helsinki. We have over a decade of experience in helping international companies set up or expand their business, find quality investment opportunities, and expand their network in the Nordics.

    About 90 Day Finn Program

    90 Day Finn program is an unique initiative run by Helsinki Partners and designed to immerse international business leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators in Helsinki’s business ecosystem and Finnish culture. The program offers participants the chance to explore new market opportunities, network with industry leaders, and experience Finland’s renowned work-life balance. This year, the program welcomed its fourth cohort of participants and took place throughout the entire month of August.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Asia Pacific – Governments, tech experts gather to boost regional commitments towards digital inclusion and transformation – ESCAP

    Source: ESCAP, United Nations

    Policymakers and industry experts today underscored the critical need to bridge the vast digital divide in the region, further calling for breakthrough solutions, more harmonized policy frameworks and increased investments toward scalable innovations with sustainable development impacts.

    Organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), in partnership with the Government of Kazakhstan, the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Digital Inclusion and Transformation aims to promote more inclusive digital economies and societies in the region, as well as foster digital cooperation to bridge the digital divide, strengthen digital connectivity, ensure robust digital skills training, and enhance digital trust and security.  

    “Digital by default has become our norm. It is restructuring our economies, bringing new opportunities for value creation, and reweaving the fabric of society to help tackle some of our most persistent sustainable development challenges. At the same time, digital transformation intersects with economic, environmental and social risks of unseen complexity and uncertainty,” said United Nations Under-Secretary-General and ESCAP Executive Secretary Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana in her opening remarks.

    Underscoring the importance of digital transformation, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov shared, “These technologies open new horizons for business, education, and healthcare, ensure economic growth, and expand opportunities for millions of people. We are actively developing these areas. Digital inclusion is also a crucial element, without which it is impossible to achieve the set goals. Only through cooperation, the exchange of knowledge, and best practices can we ensure a sustainable and prosperous future for all. We are ready to share our experience and knowledge.”

    While 96 per cent of the population live in areas covered by mobile broadband networks, only one-third productively use Internet services. Up to 40 per cent of people lack access to the Internet, most of whom are from vulnerable and marginalized groups. This significant divide also runs along income, age, education, geographic and gender fault lines.

    Zhaslan Madiyev, Minister of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry of Kazakhstan was elected as the Chair of the Conference. “Kazakhstan is firmly committed to advancing a sustainable digital future. Today, digital technologies are key tools for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. We have made significant progress: in 2023, we provided 274 million online services, 93 per cent of which are accessible to our citizens directly from their homes. We are also implementing proactive services automatically provided by the government, with 44 such services already available and used more than three million times. Kazakhstan is proud to rank eighth in the UN’s online services index and is ready to continue introducing innovative solutions for the benefit of society.”

    On the opening day, ESCAP also launched its Asia-Pacific Digital Transformation Report 2024 which considers how digital transformations will structurally and irreversibly affect the trajectory of climate change. It presents 27 illustrative case studies demonstrating the power of digital applications for smarter climate actions – across infrastructure, governance, mobility, industry and trade, disaster risk reduction, agriculture and biodiversity ecosystems.

    The report reveals that as the use of more advanced digital technologies is scaled up, there is a turning point beyond which carbon emissions tend to decline. Furthermore, the increased use of AI-driven geospatial data analytics is improving the accuracy and timeliness of early warning systems, so that the right information reaches the right people at the right time, thus contributing towards climate adaptation and mitigation measures in many countries.

    Policymakers from over 30 countries as well as representatives from the tech industry, start-ups, academia, international organizations, youth, business and civil society are participating in the two-day Conference and its associated events.  The Conference is expected to culminate tomorrow with the adoption of the Astana Ministerial Declaration on Digital Inclusion and Transformation.

    On the sidelines of the Conference, the Government of Kazakhstan is also hosting the Kazakhstan Tech Solution Day on 5 September, which will highlight the country’s tech companies, start-ups and digital innovations, such as SmartBridge (service showcase), Smart Data Ukimet (smart data government), and eOtinish.

    For further information: https://www.unescap.org/events/2024/asia-pacific-ministerial-conference-digital-inclusion-and-transformation

    Read report: http://www.unescap.org/kp/2024/asia-pacific-digital-transformation-report-2024-digital-innovation-smarter-climate-action

    Watch the proceedings: 

    www.youtube.com/unescap

    The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is the most inclusive intergovernmental platform in the Asia-Pacific region. The Commission promotes cooperation among its 53 member States and 9 associate members in pursuit of solutions to sustainable development challenges. ESCAP is one of the five regional commissions of the United Nations.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –