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Category: Politics

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Health Secretary addresses Annual India Leadership Summit organised by the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum in New Delhi

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Union Health Secretary addresses Annual India Leadership Summit organised by the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum in New Delhi

    The medicines from Indian companies provided 219 billion USD savings to the US healthcare system in 2022 and a total 1.3 Trillion USD savings between 2013 – 2022: Union Health Secretary

    “50% of all vaccines manufactured in the world are from India. In the last one year alone, of the 8 billion vaccine doses manufactured and distributed across the world, 4 billion doses were manufactured in India”

    “India appreciates the NCDC and ICMR Field Epidemiology Training Programs (FETP) organized in collaboration with the U.S CDC which has trained over 200 Epidemic Intelligence Services Officers so far with another 50 currently undergoing training through various programs”

    “U.S.-India Cancer Moonshot Dialogue launched in August aims to enhance U.S.-India biomedical research cooperation, particularly focusing on cervical cancer”

    “Initiatives like the Indo-U.S. Health Dialogue have yielded tangible results in disease surveillance, pandemic preparedness, and antimicrobial resistance. Joint efforts, such as the recent U.S.-India Cancer Dialogue, focus on enhancing biomedical research and cancer prevention in the Indo-Pacific region”

    “India and the U.S. can further strengthen global health security by prioritizing research, technology transfer, and capacity building”

    Posted On: 14 OCT 2024 8:04PM by PIB Delhi

    Smt. Punya Salila Srivastava, Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, addressed the annual India Leadership Summit 2024, organised by the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum, here today.

    Addressing the gathering, Smt. Punya said that India has emerged as a global leader in pharmaceuticals, being the third-largest producer and a key supplier of generic medicines. This sector’s success has resulted in substantial savings for healthcare systems worldwide, including a notable contribution to the U.S. healthcare system. “The contribution of the Indian Pharmaceutical Industry is evidenced by the fact that India has the highest number of US FDA-approved pharmaceutical plants outside of the United States. This is 25% of the total number of US FDA-approved pants outside of the US. The medicines from Indian companies, I am told, provided 219 billion USD savings to the US healthcare system in 2022 and a total 1.3 Trillion USD savings between 2013 – 2022”, she stated.

    The country also leads in vaccine production, with a significant share of global manufacturing, underscoring its role as the “pharmacy of the world”. “50% of all vaccines manufactured in the world are from India. In the last one year alone, of the 8 billion vaccine doses manufactured and distributed across the world, 4 billion doses were manufactured in India”, she said.

    To ensure a robust healthcare system, the Union Health Secretary noted that India has reformed medical education, replacing outdated regulatory frameworks with the National Medical Commission Act and related laws. This has led to a significant increase in medical and nursing college numbers and enrolment, addressing disparities in healthcare professional availability”. Consequently, India is poised to produce a competent health workforce that meets both national and global needs.

    Smt. Punya emphasized that government efforts have progressively improved the quality, scale, and cost-effectiveness of healthcare in India. “It is a testament to our expanded healthcare services that the Out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE), which is borne entirely by the households, has declined by 25 percentage points as a share of Total Health Expenditure between 2013-2014 and 2021-22.

    On the strong Indo-US Partnership in the health sector, the Union Health Secretary stated that “our mutual and shared priorities in the field of surveillance, pandemic preparedness and anti-microbial resistance are underscored in the deep partnership between National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the US Centre for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)”. “India appreciates the NCDC and ICMR Field Epidemiology Training Programs (FETP) organized in collaboration with the U.S CDC. We are happy to inform that over 200 Epidemic Intelligence Services (EIS) Officers have been trained so far with another 50 currently undergoing training through various programs”, she added.

    India and US have also agreed to initiate a joint strategic framework for optimizing the biopharmaceutical supply chain, for optimizing and strengthening global supply chains and to reduce dependencies on single-source suppliers, through the Bio- 5 alliance. 

    In 2023, Prime Minister, India and President, USA committed to accelerating the fight against cancer, leading to the inaugural U.S.-India Cancer Moonshot Dialogue launched in August. Smt. Punya highlighted that this initiative aims to enhance U.S.-India biomedical research cooperation, particularly focusing on cervical cancer. It includes partnerships with institutions like AIIMS and Tata Memorial Hospital and has evolved into the Quad Cancer Moonshot Initiative. She said that “reflecting India’s vision of ‘One World, One Health,’ a grant of $7.5 million has been dedicated to cancer testing and diagnostics in the Indo-Pacific region. India will also support radiotherapy and cancer prevention efforts in the region, contributing 40 million vaccine doses under GAVI and Quad programs to assist several countries in need of these services.”

    Smt. Punya noted that the India-U.S. partnership in healthcare exemplifies collaborative efforts to address shared health challenges. Initiatives like the Indo-U.S. Health Dialogue have yielded tangible results in disease surveillance, pandemic preparedness, and antimicrobial resistance. Joint efforts, such as the recent U.S.-India Cancer Dialogue, focus on enhancing biomedical research and cancer prevention in the Indo-Pacific region”.

    She concluded her address by stating that “looking ahead, India and the U.S. can further strengthen global health security by prioritizing research, technology transfer, and capacity building. By fostering public-private partnerships and expanding collaborative vaccine initiatives, both nations can improve health outcomes”. Guided by the philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,’ India emphasizes that global security depends on collective efforts, aiming for inclusive growth and shared well-being, she further added.

    ***

    MV

    HFW/ Secy addresses Annual India Leadership Summit /14th October 2024/2

     

    (Release ID: 2064818) Visitor Counter : 63

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: RE sector set to dominate Indian power industry in the coming years: MNRE Secretary Shri Prashant Kumar Singh

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 14 OCT 2024 8:30PM by PIB Delhi

    The renewable energy sector is set to dominate the Indian power industry in the coming years, stated Shri Prashant Kumar Singh, Secretary of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. He was speaking at the Brainstorming Conclave organized by the Central Electricity Authority on the Indian Power Sector Scenario by 2047 in New Delhi. He mentioned that RE capacity, which was 76 GW in 2014, is now almost 210 GW, and achieving 500 GW by 2030 is within reach.

    Shri Prashant Kumar Singh highlighted that a major part of this growth in RE will come from the solar sector. Solar capacity has surged from a mere 2.6 GW in 2014 to an impressive 91 GW today, with projections indicating it could reach close to 300 GW by 2030. Initiatives such as PM Surya Ghar and PM KUSUM are driving this demand, complemented by rapid advancements in manufacturing capabilities. Solar power module manufacturing, which stood at 2 GW in 2014, has surged to 60 GW and is expected to surpass 100 GW by 2030.

    He also highlighted the excellent growth of the solar cell manufacturing sector from 1 GW in 2014 to an estimated 8-10 GW today. By the end of March 2025, it is projected to reach 20 GW, with a target of over 70 GW by 2030. Between 2014 and 2023, investments in the RE sector have totalled ₹8.5 lakh crore. At the recent ReInvest event of MNRE, financial institutions, including public sector banks, pledged ₹25 lakh crore in support of RE projects through 2030.

    Secretary Shri P.K. Singh also emphasized the importance of initiatives such as the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme and the Green Hydrogen Mission in the RE sector. He urged the industry to collaborate on advancing the Green Hydrogen sector in the country. India has set a target of 7.7 metric tonnes of green hydrogen by 2030, alongside establishing 15 GW of electrolyser capacity. Shri Singh also noted advancements in research and development, highlighting the National Physical Laboratory’s development of a reference solar cell—a significant milestone for the sector.

    The Brainstorming Conclave by the Central Electricity Authority on the Indian Power Sector Scenario by 2047 was inaugurated today by Union Minister of Power Shri Manohar Lal Khattar in New Delhi. Union Minister of State for Power & New and Renewable Energy Shri Shripad Y. Naik also addressed the event. The conclave involves policymakers, government leaders, ministers, senior officials from Central and State Governments, industry experts, distinguished guests, and other stakeholders. The event aims to provide a unique platform for knowledge exchange, networking, and collaboration towards a sustainable and resilient power sector.

    ******

    Navin Sreejith

    (Release ID: 2064829) Visitor Counter : 33

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – ‘Blue Homeland’, including EU territories, in teaching material used in schools in Türkiye – E-001741/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001741/2024/rev.1
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Nikolaos Anadiotis (NI)

    On 7 December 2023, Greece and Türkiye signed the Athens Declaration on Friendly Relations. Türkiye, however, instead of toning down its aggressiveness, is unfortunately doing the exact opposite. It has fully and officially adopted the ‘Blue Homeland’ (or ‘Mavi Vatan’ in Turkish) doctrine which, although it does not refer to it, is reminiscent of the concept of ‘living space’.

    In fact, not content with issuing a plethora of declarations, since September 2024 it has also incorporated the doctrine into the teaching material used in its schools. The new 9th-grade geography textbook includes, on page 62, a section devoted to ‘Mavi Vatan’, with maps, military aircraft and historical information.[1] Furthermore, it refers to the National Oath of 1920, sworn by the most extreme elements in the country, which declares that ‘the lawful frontiers of Türkiye include regions such as Western Thrace, the Dodecanese and Northern Iraq’. The first two of these regions belong to Greece!

    In view of this:

    • 1.Has notice been taken of these facts?
    • 2.What is the Commission’s reaction to the above references by Türkiye, in its teaching material, to territories belonging to the Union?

    Submitted: 17.9.2024

    • [1] https://www.kathimerini.gr/politics/563217235/toyrkia-apokalyptiria-tis-galazias-patridas-se-scholiko-vivlio/
    Last updated: 14 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Setting the European political priorities 2024-2029 – 14-10-2024

    Source: European Parliament

    The EU’s priorities for the 5-year institutional cycle are outlined in the European Council’s Strategic Agenda. Subsequently, the European Commission sets its priorities in the president’s political guidelines, which are a first step in operationalising the EU priorities outlined in the Strategic Agenda. These priorities will then be translated into concrete initiatives included in the Commission’s annual work programmes, before being submitted to the European Parliament and the Council of the EU in the form of legislative (and non-legislative) proposals. This briefing outlines the main policy priorities for the EU in the coming years, and analyses the differences in views of the European Council and the European Commission. With some exceptions, the European Council’s and the Commission’s policy priorities generally converge, as both documents, although organised differently, focus on three main priorities: democracy, security and competitiveness. When comparing them with the political priorities of the previous institutional cycle, it becomes evident that democracy and defence have gained in importance, while climate and energy are less salient than before. The analysis shows that the political guidelines pay significantly more attention to social issues than the Strategic Agenda. Conversely, the two policy clusters ‘external policies’ and ‘climate and energy’ receive more attention in the Strategic Agenda. However, external policy in general now feeds into all policy areas, intertwining with internal policies. While this is more explicit in the Strategic Agenda, the emphasis on Europe’s role in the word runs like a red thread through both documents, reflecting a major shift away from past political priorities. The comparison identifies the topics that are missing from one or the other document, points out where different approaches are being taken on specific policy issues and where particular concepts have changed since the last institutional cycle. The briefing also outlines the specific initiatives mentioned in the political guidelines by policy cluster, notably those with a timeline.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Israel’s murderous operations in the West Bank – E-001939/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001939/2024
    to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
    Rule 144
    Lefteris Nikolaou-Alavanos (NI)

    A new cycle of barbarous attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank has been launched by the occupying state, Israel, in conjunction with the massacre and genocide of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, using tanks, drones and helicopters.

    The Israeli army attack has left a large number of Palestinians in the West Bank dead and wounded, while Israeli settlers are carrying out murderous attacks. In the Gaza Strip, the Israeli Army has killed more than 40 000 Palestinians, and the number of those wounded has risen to more than 94 000. Incalculable damage has been done to buildings. In many cases, it has not even been possible to provide health care, and the population are stricken by hunger, thirst and disease.

    Israel’s aggression is supported by the EU, the United States and NATO, which defend Israel’s so-called ‘right to defend itself’, equating the perpetrator with the victim.

    Israel’s aim is to expel the Palestinians from their territories by force and maintain the barbaric occupation.

    Will the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy state what his position is on the following matters:

    • 1.the unacceptable escalation of Israeli atrocities against Palestinians following the recent military operations in the West Bank aimed at permanently expelling the Palestinians from their territories;
    • 2.the call for condemnation of the criminal policy of Israel, which has murdered thousands of Palestinians, and for the ending of the EU’s economic, political and military cooperation with it?

    Submitted: 3.10.2024

    Last updated: 14 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Debt sustainability analysis framework – E-001956/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001956/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Irene Tinagli (S&D), Jonás Fernández (S&D), Nikos Papandreou (S&D), Carla Tavares (S&D), René Repasi (S&D), Evelyn Regner (S&D), Elisabetta Gualmini (S&D), Aurore Lalucq (S&D)

    Debt sustainability analysis (DSA) plays a key role in the reformed EU fiscal rules. DSA is used to assess how much fiscal adjustment is required to ensure that the public debt ratio is on a plausible downward trajectory. For the first round of ‘reference trajectories’ submitted to Member States in June 2024, the Commission used its existing DSA framework based on the last Debt Sustainability Monitor. It assumes a constant short-run fiscal multiplier of 0.75, a fast dissipation of the output effect of fiscal adjustment, and that fiscal consolidation efforts by trading partners do not spill over into domestic economic activity.

    Against this background:

    • 1.Can the Commission provide a justification for these assumptions?
    • 2.How does the Commission justify its hypothesis according to which fiscal adjustment by a given government only affects domestic economic activities and does not spill over into other countries, considering its oft-repeated emphasis on the importance of accounting for how individual fiscal stances affect the euro area aggregate as a whole?
    • 3.Can the Commission explain whether including spillover effects into other countries in the methodology could alter the results of the DSA, and if so, how?

    Submitted: 4.10.2024

    Last updated: 14 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Press release – Ukraine: Trade Committee endorses financial support backed by Russian assets

    Source: European Parliament

    MEPs in the Trade Committee voted on Monday to support a loan of up to €35 billion to Ukraine as the EU’s contribution to the G7’s support initiative.

    The Trade Committee voted by 31 in favour, 4 against and no abstentions on the Commission proposal to support Ukraine with an exceptional Macro-Financial Assistance (MFA) loan of up to €35 billion. This is the EU’s contribution under the G7’s initiative to support Ukraine with up to $50 billion (approximately €45 billion) to address Ukraine’s urgent financing needs in the face of Russia’s brutal war of aggression.

    The repayment of this exceptional MFA loan and of the loans from other G7 countries will come from the extraordinary revenues made from immobilised Russian Central Bank assets, and enabled by the Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism, newly established under the Commission’s proposal.

    The future revenues from frozen Russian assets, as well as possible contributions from EU member states and other countries, are set to be made available to Ukraine through the mechanism in order to assist the country in repaying the exceptional MFA loan, as well as loans from other G7 partners considered as eligible by the Commission. These funds will only be used for servicing and repaying eligible loans and the MFA loan.

    The new MFA loan is undesignated, allowing Ukraine to allocate the funds as it deems appropriate. The management and control systems outlined in the Ukraine Plan, along with specific measures to prevent fraud and other irregularities, will also apply to the MFA loan. The new MFA funds will be made available by the end of 2024, and disbursed until the end of 2025. The MFA loan is conditional upon Ukraine’s continued commitment to uphold effective democratic mechanisms, respect human rights, and further policy conditions to be set out in a memorandum of understanding.

    Quote

    ”Using profits from immobilised Russian assets sends a clear signal that the burden of rebuilding Ukraine must be shouldered by those responsible for its destruction, namely Russia. The new macro-financial assistance and loan cooperation mechanism supports Ukraine to maintain important basic functions in society. Making Russia pay is an important step. Ukraine is not only fighting for its own existence and freedom, but also ours. This proposal underscores the EU’s unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and economic resilience,” rapporteur Karin Karlsbro (Renew, SE) said.

    Next steps

    Parliament is expected to vote on the proposal during its 21-24 October session. The Council endorsed the proposal last week, and it plans to adopt the regulation by written procedure after Parliament’s vote. The regulation is expected to enter into force on the day after its publication in the Official Journal of the EU.

    Background

    In September, the Commission announced a €35 billion EU loan for Ukraine as part of a plan by G7 partners to issue loans of up to $50 billion (€45 billion). Future revenues coming from the frozen Russian state assets would finance the loans. Approximately 210 billion euros assets from the Central Bank of Russia are held in the EU and have been frozen under sanctions imposed over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. EU governments decided to set aside the extraordinary revenues from these assets, and use them to support both military efforts and reconstruction in Ukraine. Setting up the Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism underlines the EU’s continued support to Ukraine.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Diminishing water resources in the EU – E-001602/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The political guidelines[1] of the President of the Commission announced the development of a water resilience strategy to ensure water resources are properly managed, water scarcity addressed and the competitive innovative edge of the water industry enhanced by a circular economy approach.

    The aim, inter alia, is to better support Member States in strengthening their water security, as water is increasingly under stress from uses and climate change.

    It will build on ongoing efforts to tackle water scarcity and droughts and enhance drought management, taking into account the impacts of climate change[2], including through a working group on water scarcity and droughts[3], as well as the EU Climate Adaptation Strategy[4].

    The Commission has been assessing the severity of droughts[5], drought impacts[6] and future drought risks[7] and offered support to Member States to either establish or improve national and regional drought observatories by leveraging the European Drought Observatory of the Copernicus Emergency Management Service.

    The EU is also providing significant support to water resilience investments. Between 2021 and 2027, some EUR 13 billion of Cohesion Policy funds[8] will be invested in water management. Moreover, the Common Agricultural Policy[9] supports more efficient irrigation and measures to render farming more sustainable for ground and surface water.

    Horizon Europe[10] also supports research and innovation on water resilience[11], through partnerships, Missions and the Work Programme .

    • [1] https://commission.europa.eu/about-european-commission/president-elect-ursula-von-der-leyen_en
    • [2] In the context of the implementation of the Water Framework Directive, 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy, OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, p. 1-73, as amended by Commission Directive 2014/101/EU of 30 October 2014, OJ L 311, 31.10.2014, p. 32-35.
    • [3] https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/water/water-scarcity-and-droughts_en
    • [4] https://climate.ec.europa.eu/eu-action/adaptation-climate-change/eu-adaptation-strategy_en
    • [5] https://drought.emergency.copernicus.eu/tumbo/edo/map/?id=1000
    • [6] https://environment.ec.europa.eu/news/commission-publishes-new-tools-help-predict-and-adapt-sectoral-drought-impacts-2023-10-11_en
    • [7] https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/21a1984a-7478-11ee-99ba-01aa75ed71a1/language-en
    • [8] https://cohesiondata.ec.europa.eu/stories/s/21-27-Sustainable-water-management/ehce-gj6d
    • [9] https://agriculture.ec.europa.eu/common-agricultural-policy_en
    • [10] https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe_en
    • [11] Of particular relevance are the partnerships ‘Water Security for the Planet (https://www.water4all-partnership.eu/), the Partnership on Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA, https://prima-med.org/) together with the Missions “Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030” (https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe/eu-missions-horizon-europe/restore-our-ocean-and-waters_en), Adaptation to Climate Change’ (https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe/eu-missions-horizon-europe/adaptation-climate-change_en) and ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’ (https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe/eu-missions-horizon-europe/soil-deal-europe_en#what-are-eu-missions).
    Last updated: 14 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis attends annual foreign ministers’ meeting of German-speaking countries in Luxembourg

    Source: Switzerland – Federal Administration in English

    The foreign ministers of the five German-speaking countries met today in Luxembourg to discuss cross-border and multilateral cooperation. They also discussed the role of the United Nations Security Council, which Switzerland is chairing for the second time this October, in the current geopolitical context.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Video: Nobel Peace Prize, Lebanon & other topics – Daily Press Briefing | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

    Highlights:
    – Nobel Peace Prize
    – Noon Briefing Guest
    – Secretary-General
    – Lebanon
    – Security Council
    – Lebanon/Humanitarian
    – Occupied Palestinian Territory
    – Ukraine
    – South Sudan
    – West and Central Africa Floods
    – UNHCR
    – International Days

    Nobel Peace Prize
    The Secretary-General warmly congratulated the grassroots Japanese organization Nihon Hidankyo on being awarded the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize. 
    The atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, also known as the hibakusha, are selfless, soul-bearing witnesses of the horrific human cost of nuclear weapons. While their numbers grow smaller each year, the relentless work and resilience of the hibakusha are the backbone of the global nuclear disarmament movement.  
    In a statement, the Secretary-General said that he will never forget his many meetings with them over the years. Their haunting living testimony reminds the world that the nuclear threat is not confined to history books.  Nuclear weapons remain a clear and present danger to humanity, once again appearing in the daily rhetoric of international relations. 
    It is time for world leaders to be as clear-eyed as the hibakusha and see nuclear weapons for what they are: devices of death that offer no safety, protection, or security. The only way to eliminate the threat of nuclear weapons is to eliminate them altogether. 
    The United Nations proudly stands with the hibakusha.  They are an inspiration to our shared efforts to build a world free of nuclear weapons.  

    Noon Briefing Guest
    Izumi Nakamitsu, the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs briefed reporters on the Nobel Peace Prize being awarded to Nihon Hidankyo for its work advocating for a world free of nuclear weapons.

    Secretary-General
    The Secretary-General this morning addressed the ASEAN-UN Summit in Vientiane. He underscored the importance of the relationship between the two organizations which, he said, is a strategic partnership. In a world with growing geopolitical divides, with dramatic impacts on peace and security and sustainable development, the Association of South-East Asian Nations [ASEAN] is a bridge-builder and a messenger for peace, he said.
    He also underscored how much the United Nations is grateful for ASEAN’s important contribution to UN peacekeeping operations. The Secretary-General took the opportunity to express his solidarity with Indonesia, as two of its peacekeepers serving with UNIFIL were wounded yesterday by Israeli fire in south Lebanon. 
    The Secretary-General outlined the key areas of the recently adopted Pact for the Future, which offers a strong vision for the time ahead. 
    In a press conference, the Secretary-General was asked about the wounding of the two peacekeepers in Lebanon, and he condemned the shooting against the UN premises in which the two peacekeepers were wounded, adding that it was a violation of international humanitarian law. Peacekeepers must be protected by all parties of the conflict, he said.
    Prior to the meeting, the Secretary-General also held bilateral meetings with the President of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Thongloun Sisoulith, and with the Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, Pham Minh Chinh. We have issued readouts of those meetings.

    Office of the Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General Website
    https://www.un.org/sg/en/spokesperson/

    Full Highlights
    https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5X_cjKpmog

    MIL OSI Video –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: Giving First Nations names to our bird species is a lot more complex – and contentious – than you might think

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Garnett, Professor of Conservation and Sustainable Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University

    Shuterstock

    First Peoples’ names for animals and plants undeniably enrich Australian culture. But to date, few names taken from a language of Australia’s First Peoples have been widely applied to birds.

    About 2,000 Australian bird species and subspecies occur in Australia and its territories. However, just 35 of these have common names taken directly from First Peoples’ languages. These names are variations of just a handful of First Peoples words: galah, gang-gang, budgerigar, currawong, brolga, kookaburra, chowchilla, Kalkadoon and mukarrthippi.

    By contrast, many more bird names promote colonial power, by memorialising (mostly male) foreign explorers, naturalists, administrators or royalty – some of whom never even visited Australia.

    There is growing interest in the use of First Peoples’ words, as a global movement to decolonise the common names of species gathers pace. But as we and our colleagues explain in a paper published today, the practice is far more complex, and sometimes contentious, than it might appear.

    Budgerigar is one of eight First Peoples words used for Australian bird names.
    Shutterstock

    A bird by many names

    In Aoteoroa/New Zealand, many birds are known by their Māori names. Kiwis have never been known by any other name, and nor have kākāpō or kākā.

    It seems natural to assume using Indigenous names for our flora would help recognise First Peoples’ rights and knowledge, and their important role in Australian bird conservation.

    But we should proceed with both caution and respect.

    More than 250 First Peoples languages exist in Australia. This is unlike New Zealand where there is one Māori language (though many dialects).

    Most Australian birds occur on Country of more than one First Peoples’ group, and each group is likely to have at least one name for each species.

    The galah is a good example. For the first 100 years after Europeans arrived, naturalists most commonly used the name rose-breasted cockatoo.

    Gradually, however, the name used by the Yuwaarlaraay of north-western New South Wales – gilaa – took hold. In 1926, the Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union, now BirdLife Australia, adopted a variant of this, galah, as the official Australian name for the species.

    Since then, galahs have become deeply embedded into the national psyche. When Home and Away character Alf Stewart calls someone a “flamin’ galah” most Australians knows he is being uncomplimentary.

    Similarly, there could be no mistaking which species a survey respondent was referring to when they stated their favourite bird was a “glar”.

    But in the Kimberley region, the Gooniyandi peoples call galahs girlinygirliny. In the NSW Riverina, the Wemba-Wemba name is wilek-wilek.

    Galahs are known by myriad names.
    Shutterstock

    Likewise, the white-throated grasswren is known by the name yirlinkirrkkirr or yirrindjirrin in the Kunwinjku dialect. It’s also known as djirnidjirnirrinjken in the Kune dialect, from the Bininj Kunwok language group. The Jawoyn name for the same species is nyirrnyirr.

    The situation is even more complicated for birds shared with other countries.

    These multiple words for a species mean governments and other organisations could be seen as favouring one group over another if they recognise a particular First Peoples’ name.

    So sometimes it’s best to keep the English name, even though First Peoples’ names exist. This was the case with the endangered golden-shouldered parrot, known by Queensland’s Olkola people as alwal.

    The bird is highly significant in the Olkola creation story. However, a team working on the species’ recovery, chaired by an Olkola representative, decided to stick with the English name because neighbouring language groups refer to the bird by other names.

    Sadly, the parrots themselves no longer occur on the Country of some First Peoples, and only the name of the bird remains.

    Golden-shouldered parrots no longer occur on the Country of some First Peoples.
    Shutetrstock

    Protecting the secret and sacred

    The words First Peoples use to describe species may have special cultural significance.

    First Peoples’ names for birds, and other species, are often built around the birds’ relationships with people, kin and with Country. For example, the name may describe:

    • a connection between a person and a species
    • a group of people’s relationship with each other which is related to a shared ancestor
    • relationships between people and a sacred site or Dreaming track.

    Sometimes the names have sacred or secret meanings – and these can change with the place or with the speaker.

    For these reasons, First Peoples may not want names from their language to be publicly available or used in official documents without their consent.

    Permission is key

    There are cases where English names should and can be replaced by a First Peoples’ name.

    For example, in 2020 the bird now known as the mukarrthippi grasswren was recognised as a separate subspecies and needed its own common name. Australia’s rarest bird, it is known from just a few sand dunes on Country of the Ngiyampaa people in western New South Wales.

    Ngiyampaa elders together settled on the name mukarrthippi. It is a combination of Ngiyampaa words – mukarr or spinifex (the spiny grass in which the grasswrens live) and thippi which means little bird.

    Across Australia, 14 other bird subspecies have only ever been known from Country of a single First Peoples group. This means conversations with elders could be had about ascribing a First Peoples’ name to these birds.

    In other cases, language users from multiple First Peoples groups could decide together on a name.

    Where First Peoples offer alternative names for animal and plant species, governments should embrace the change. But no new First Peoples’ names should be adopted for species without explicit permission of the speakers of the language.

    Stephen Garnett receives funding from the Australian Research Council. He is affiliated with BirdLife Australia where he is a board member.

    Sophie is a proud Alywarr woman currently working at CSIRO

    – ref. Giving First Nations names to our bird species is a lot more complex – and contentious – than you might think – https://theconversation.com/giving-first-nations-names-to-our-bird-species-is-a-lot-more-complex-and-contentious-than-you-might-think-238432

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Translation: 14/10/2024 Minister Radosław Sikorski at the Berlin Process Summit

    MIL ASI Translation. Region: Polish/Europe –

    Fuente: Gobierno de Polonia en poleco.

    Minister Radosław Sikorski at the Berlin Process Summit14/10/2024The head of Polish diplomacy represented Poland at the Berlin Process Summit, which took place on October 14 in the German capital.

    El minister Radosław Sikorski devoted his speech to the issues of regional cooperation, the Common Regional Market and Polish support for the Western Balkan countries on their way to membership in the European Union. – “Poland supports the process of EU enlargement and intends to maintain the high pace of European integration of the Western Balkans during its Presidency of the Council of the European Union. We also attach great importance to the issue of convergence of the policies of the countries of the region with the Common Foreign and Security Policy. This is an element that will influence the dynamics of this process,” emphasized the head of the Polish MFA in his speech. The Minister, on behalf of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland, emphasized our readiness to continue the technical support for the accession process of the Western Balkan countries. Since 2015, the MFA Enlargement Academy project has been developed, the task of which is to train officials of countries aspiring to membership and share good practices from the pre- and post-accession period. Minister Sikorski’s speech also included emphasis on the significance of the results of the Berlin Process to date, including, above all, the establishment of the Single Regional Market – the foundation of cooperation between the countries of the region. Thanks to their involvement, further trade barriers are being removed, which means that trade exchange is constantly growing, and the region is enjoying increasing interest from investors. At the same time, Minister Sikorski appealed for further efforts from all partners to develop this initiative and, above all, full implementation of the agreements to date. The head of Polish diplomacy also pointed out that economic development is only possible in favourable conditions, which are achievable thanks to political stability and ensuring external security. The EU and its partners should ensure that peace prevails in the Western Balkans, and cooperation prevails over divisions. In the Minister’s opinion, all tensions can be overcome and provide a foundation for reconciliation and good-neighbourly relations, as the example of Polish history shows.

    MILES AXIS

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

    MIL Translation OSI

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Statement by the Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs on the RCMP’s findings regarding criminal activity in Canada with connections to agents of the Government of India

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Today, the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs, issued the following statement:

    Ottawa – October 14, 2024

    Today, the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs, issued the following statement:

    “Earlier today, Commissioner Duheme and Assistant Commissioner Gauvin of the RCMP released findings with respect to the involvement of agents of the Government of India in serious criminal activity on Canadian soil. The RCMP took this unprecedented step in response to the fact that despite law enforcement action, the activities have continued, which pose an ongoing and significant threat to public safety, particularly to members of the Sikh and broader South Asian community in Canada.  

    I want to thank all those involved in this deeply complex investigation, including the many municipal police services with whom the RCMP has worked closely to mitigate threats to public safety throughout Canada.

    In addition to the actions taken by our independent law enforcement agencies, I am working closely with my colleague, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, who has taken additional actions to reduce this threat and together, we are employing every possible action to address these criminal activities, which must stop now.

    For many Canadians, particularly Indo-Canadians, this news will come as a shock.

    The actions that are alleged to have taken place on Canadian soil are a grave violation of our sovereignty and our rule of law.

    But I also hope that Canadians can find relief in knowing that our law enforcement and national security agencies are working to keep you safe and hold to account those who seek to harm our communities. I strongly encourage all Canadians and in particular, leaders in the South Asian community, to continue to work with law enforcement officials.

    For generations, people from every corner of the globe have come to Canada seeking a better life, precisely because they felt that the Canadian government would duly fulfill one their most fundamental duties – keep them safe.

    Our law enforcement and national security agencies work every day to uphold that promise, and I once again want to thank them for their work on this file.

    The Government of Canada takes the issue of foreign interference extremely seriously. We will continue to take all necessary actions to keep Canadians and those on Canadian soil safe.” 

    Jean-Sébastien Comeau
    Director of Communications
    Office of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc
    Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs
    343-574-8116
    Jean-Sebastien.Comeau@iga-aig.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Translation: 14/10/2024 orzysz “East Shield” is an investment in peace and security

    MIL ASI Translation. Region: Polish/Europe –

    Fuente: Gobierno de Polonia en poleco.

    The program is to strengthen Poland’s eastern border and ensure security. El primer minister Donald Tusk took part in exercises to test elements for the construction of the “East Shield” at the Land Forces Training Center in Orzysz. The implementation of the program has been accelerated – key elements of the fortifications will appear this year. We will allocate PLN 10 billion for the implementation of the “East Shield” program.El irritable within the framework of the “East Shield”

    The exercises were to test the effectiveness of barriers and defense systems that are key to protecting Poland’s eastern border. The program includes activities that aim to increase the country’s security in the face of potential threats.

    This is an undertaking designed to last for years. Its main task is to effectively deter a potential enemy so that there is no war here. A peaceful task to be carried out in a civil war

    – the Prime Minister emphasized at the training ground in Orzysz. The exercises were conducted by subunits from the 16th and 12th Mechanized Divisions and the 2nd Engineer Regiment. Thanks to these activities, it will be possible to thoroughly examine operational needs and adapt the defense infrastructure to future challenges.

    All these exercises, installations and billions that we will spend here are to serve to prevent the potential enemy from daring to enter

    – said Donald Tusk. The Prime Minister emphasized that part of the infrastructure that will be built as part of the “East Shield” will have civilian applications. It will benefit residents of border areas.

    There will also be European funds for all of this, not just national ones. I will also be talking about this in the coming days and weeks in Brussels

    – said the Prime Minister at the Land Forces Training Center. The head of government drew attention to the importance of rapid implementation of the program in order to ensure Poland’s long-term security. The exercises in Orzysz are the first step towards full implementation of the “East Shield” assumptions. The Prime Minister also thanked the services and soldiers for protecting Poland’s eastern border.

    Acceleration of work on the “East Shield”

    The security of Polish women, Poles and our homeland is a priority for the government. Poland plans to allocate 4.7% of GDP for defense in 2025, PLN 187 million – PLN 50 million more than in 2023.

    The National Deterrence and Defense Program “East Shield” is a priority for our government. Homeland security, defense, community building, strong alliances and army modernization are our key goals

    – said the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence in Orzysz. The activities within the framework of the “East Shield” have three main goals: To hinder the mobility of enemy troops. To facilitate the mobility of Polish troops. To ensure the protection of Polish soldiers and civilians.

    The East Shield is there to deter the enemy, so that no one would ever think of attacking Poland, of attacking the eastern flank of OTAN. That is why we will build it

    – emphasized Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz. The Deputy Prime Minister also noted that the program will be implemented faster than originally planned. Construction of fortification elements was to begin in 2025, but it will be possible in the first places in 2024. Implementation of activities within the framework of the “East Shield” will last until 2028.

    Modern infrastructure and technology

    Drone systems, military warehouses and modernized fortifications will constitute the foundation of the country’s defense, as well as support for units operating on the borders.

    The anti-drone system, reconnaissance system, anti-access system, ensuring uninterrupted functioning of the communication system are the next elements that will be built as the “East Shield” program progresses. This military operation aims to make these areas inaccessible

    – said the deputy chief of the General Staff of the Polish Army, Lieutenant General Stanisław Czosnek. The training and testing center in Orzysz allows for training of subunits in the preparation of engineering barriers and their testing. The exercises proved that the possibility of illegal crossing of the border has been minimized.

    MILES AXIS

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

    MIL Translation OSI

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Cooper Proclaims October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month and Reminds North Carolinians to Beware of Hurricane-Related Scams

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Governor Cooper Proclaims October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month and Reminds North Carolinians to Beware of Hurricane-Related Scams

    Governor Cooper Proclaims October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month and Reminds North Carolinians to Beware of Hurricane-Related Scams
    mseets
    Mon, 10/14/2024 – 15:54

    Governor Roy Cooper has proclaimed October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month in North Carolina to recognize the ongoing importance of online safety, especially in the wake of Hurricane Helene, which brought historic devastation to the state.

    “Storms like Helene offer prime opportunities for cybercriminals looking to take advantage of others during a crisis situation when they may have their guard down,” Governor Cooper said. “Every North Carolinian must remain vigilant about staying safe online and protecting their personal information.”

    Scammers can pose as official representatives of disaster aid organizations or charities and use phishing emails, social media messages, texts and phone calls to obtain personal and financial information and access devices and networks that hold sensitive data. Be careful with any messages that include hurricane-related subject lines, attachments or hyperlinks.

    “Our department continues to emphasize the importance of cybersecurity education and awareness,” said N.C. Department of Information Technology Secretary and State Chief Information Officer Jim Weaver. “We are committed to ensuring that everyone can access the internet safely and guard against cyberthreats, which can happen to anyone at any time.”

    Here are some ways you can protect yourself, your family and your workplace from online threats: 

    • Recognize, resist and delete phishing attempts. Do not click links or open attachments in suspicious messages. Always double check web and email addresses to make sure they are legitimate. If you think the message could be real, look up another way to contact the company or person directly to verify.
    • Avoid sharing personal information. Don’t send sensitive information such as passwords, account numbers and Social Security Numbers over email, text or chat.
    • Make passwords long, random and unique. Strong passwords should be at least 16 characters and include a random string of mixed-case letters, numbers and symbols. Use a different strong password for each account. Password managers can generate strong passwords and remember them for you.
    • Enable multifactor authentication for every account or app that offers it. Multifactor authentication requires you to enter more information than just a password, such as a text code or fingerprint.
    • Update software. Make sure your devices are running the latest version of operating systems, software and web browsers. When notified about updates, be sure to install them as soon as possible or turn on automatic updates to install updates without any input as soon as they are available.

    The N.C. Department of Information Technology, along with other state, local and federal partners, works to protect North Carolina’s government IT systems, data and assets against cyberthreats.

    In addition, NCDIT’s Division of Broadband and Digital Equity has launched a series of grant programs that have awarded $44 million to date to ensure North Carolinians can access and afford high-speed internet, obtain digital devices and safely and effectively navigate today’s digital world.

    NCDIT will share tips and information on social media using hashtags #SecureOurWorld and #CyberSecureNC throughout the month. More information about online safety is available at it.nc.gov/CyberSecureNC.

    Read the proclamation.

    ###

    Oct 14, 2024

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Ensure that every citizen of India has access to safe, reliable and highly quality products and services: Shri Pralhad Joshi

    Source: Government of India

    Ensure that every citizen of India has access to safe, reliable and highly quality products and services: Shri Pralhad Joshi

    Enhancing public awareness about standards is essential for empowering the consumers: Shri Joshi

    One nation, one standard to ensure coherence and synergy among stakeholders working towards unified standards framework: Shri Joshi

    Bureau of Indian Standards commemorates World Standards Day

    Posted On: 14 OCT 2024 3:17PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution & New and Renewable Energy, Shri Pralhad Joshi during his keynote address on World Standards Day in New Delhi today said that Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) should ensure that every citizen of India has access to safe, reliable and highly quality products and services. He said the well-being of consumers depend on the access to quality products while the growth and profitability of the industry is directly linked to the demand for these high-quality goods. This is a holistic approach acknowledging the interdependence of the consumers and producers fostering the robust quality ecosystem, he said.

    Shri Joshi emphasised PM Shri Narendra Modi’s vision for the country to be recognised for its best quality and for India to strive to make itself synonymous with the world standards. He said that the BIS should focus on quality as India’s economy is rapidly growing along with its contribution in global trade. He stressed that the BIS has a huge role to play in enriching economic growth, enhancing the ‘Made in India’ label and establishing Brand Bharat at a global level. 

    The Minister said that under the guidance of Hon’ble PM, the new BIS Act of 2016 will further strengthen ease of doing business and will provide a fillip to the ‘Make in India’ campaign. Praising the BIS for their relentless efforts in standardisation of products, Shri Joshi said that today more than 22,300 standards are in force and 94% of Indian standards are being harmonised with ISO and ISE standards. Shri Joshi mentioned that today 174 QCOs of 732 products have been notified for compulsory BIS certification, while till 2014 there were only 14 Quality Control Orders (QCOs) of 106 products.

    The Union Minister said that enhancing public awareness about standards is essential for empowering the consumers. The Minister said that the challenge for the government is to generate widespread interest and awareness among citizens in the standards programmes being undertaken by BIS. We have to set a standard where awareness is created among consumers to verify ISI and BIS certification before buying any product, that is the challenge for us, he said.

    Shri Joshi said that India, currently being the fifth largest economy in the world, should focus on improving standards as they serve as the backbone of the society, ensuring the safety, quality and trust in the product and the service. Standards work as catalysts for technical development, industrial growth and well-being of the society. They facilitate both domestic and international trade contributing both for economic growth and environmental sustainability, he noted.

    Shri Joshi said that for businesses, standards improve processes, systems, reduce waste and customer satisfaction supported through the compatibility with other markets while for consumers standards ensure reliability, consistency and safety of the products and interoperability.

    During his address, he also applauded other standard development organisations (SDOs) like Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) and Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) operating across sectors. He further stated that the concept of one nation and one standard becomes paramount ensuring the coherence and synergy among stakeholders working towards the unified standards framework.

    During the event, Shri Joshi launched BIS Care App 3.0. BIS CARE app is a one stop utility platform to empower consumers. It not only provides means to verify genuineness of BIS certified products and Hallmarked Jewelries, but it also facilitates lodging of complaints against sub-standard products and misuse of BIS Standard Marks. The brand-new upgrade of BIS CARE App to version 3.0 comes with a new set of features specifically aiming to increase visibility of relevant information for stakeholders pertaining to Standards and Certification.

    Shri Joshi also launched a film on the Standards Promotion Activities of BIS along with a Quality Quest Game for consumers to enhance their knowledge on quality. To mark World Standards Day, he released Reference Handbooks to disseminate information regarding important national standards and also comic books developed by BIS to be distributed to Standards Clubs across the country.

    The event was also graced by the Union Minister of State, Shri B.L. Verma, alongside Secretary of Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India, Smt. Nidhi Khare, Additional Secretary, Shri Bharat Khera, Director General of BIS, Shri Pramod Kumar Tiwari. Key stakeholders from government, industry, and academia were also present on the occasion.

    ***

    AD/NS/AM

    (Release ID: 2064652) Visitor Counter : 108

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Phillips 66 announces agreement to sell interest in Switzerland-based joint venture

    Source: Phillips

    HOUSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Phillips 66 (NYSE:PSX) announced today that its subsidiary, Phillips 66 Limited, has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its 49 percent non-operated equity interest in Coop Mineraloel AG (“CMA”) to its Swiss joint venture partner. It will receive cash of 1.06 billion Swiss francs (approximately $1.24 billion) consisting of a 1 billion Swiss franc sales price (approximately $1.17 billion) and an assumed dividend of 60 million Swiss francs (approximately $70 million) for financial year 2024 to be paid at or prior to closing. The sales price is subject to adjustment based on the amount of the dividend.
    “This transaction marks significant progress in delivering on our commitment of over $3 billion in divestitures,” said Mark Lashier, chairman and CEO of Phillips 66. “As we manage our portfolio, we will continue to evaluate monetization of assets that no longer fit our long-term strategy.”
    CMA operates 324 retail sites and petrol stations across Switzerland.
    Proceeds from the sale will support the strategic priorities of Phillips 66, including returns to shareholders.
    The transaction is subject to approval by the Swiss Competition Commission. It is expected to close in the first quarter of 2025.
    About Phillips 66
    Phillips 66 (NYSE: PSX) is a leading integrated downstream energy provider that manufactures, transports and markets products that drive the global economy. The company’s portfolio includes Midstream, Chemicals, Refining, Marketing and Specialties, and Renewable Fuels businesses. Headquartered in Houston, Phillips 66 has employees around the globe who are committed to safely and reliably providing energy and improving lives while pursuing a lower-carbon future. For more information, visit phillips66.com or follow @Phillips66Co on LinkedIn.
    CAUTIONARY STATEMENT FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE “SAFE HARBOR” PROVISIONS OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995
    This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws with respect to the sale of Phillips 66’s 49 percent non-operated equity interest in Coop Mineraloel AG. Words such as “anticipated,” “estimated,” “expected,” “planned,” “scheduled,” “targeted,” “believe,” “continue,” “intend,” “will,” “would,” “objective,” “goal,” “project,” “efforts,” “strategies” and similar expressions that convey the prospective nature of events or outcomes generally indicate forward-looking statements. However, the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements included in this news release are based on management’s expectations, estimates and projections as of the date they are made. These statements are not guarantees of future events or performance, and you should not unduly rely on them as they involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecast in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements include: any delay in, or inability to obtain, necessary regulatory approvals, including from the Swiss Competition Commission; changes in governmental policies or laws that relate to our operations, including regulations that seek to limit or restrict refining, marketing and midstream operations or regulate profits, pricing, or taxation of our products or feedstocks, or other regulations that restrict feedstock imports or product exports; our ability to timely obtain or maintain permits necessary for projects; fluctuations in NGL, crude oil, refined petroleum, renewable fuels and natural gas prices, and refining, marketing and petrochemical margins; the effects of any widespread public health crisis and its negative impact on commercial activity and demand for refined petroleum or renewable fuels products; changes to worldwide government policies relating to renewable fuels and greenhouse gas emissions that adversely affect programs including the renewable fuel standards program, low carbon fuel standards and tax credits for biofuels; unexpected changes in costs for constructing, modifying or operating our facilities; our ability to successfully complete, or any material delay in the completion of, any asset disposition, acquisition or conversion that we may pursue; unexpected difficulties in manufacturing, refining or transporting our products; the level and success of drilling and production volumes around our midstream assets; risks and uncertainties with respect to the actions of actual or potential competitive suppliers and transporters of refined petroleum products, renewable fuels or specialty products; lack of, or disruptions in, adequate and reliable transportation for our products; potential liability from litigation or for remedial actions, including removal and reclamation obligations under environmental regulations; failure to complete construction of capital projects on time and within budget; our ability to comply with governmental regulations or make capital expenditures to maintain compliance with laws; limited access to capital or significantly higher cost of capital related to illiquidity or uncertainty in the domestic or international financial markets, which may also impact our ability to repurchase shares and declare and pay dividends; potential disruption of our operations due to accidents, weather events, including as a result of climate change, acts of terrorism or cyberattacks; general domestic and international economic and political developments, including armed hostilities (such as the Russia-Ukraine war), expropriation of assets, and other diplomatic developments; international monetary conditions and exchange controls; changes in estimates or projections used to assess fair value of intangible assets, goodwill and property and equipment and/or strategic decisions with respect to our asset portfolio that cause impairment charges; investments required, or reduced demand for products, as a result of environmental rules and regulations; changes in tax, environmental and other laws and regulations (including alternative energy mandates); political and societal concerns about climate change that could result in changes to our business or increase expenditures, including litigation-related expenses; the operation, financing and distribution decisions of equity affiliates we do not control; and other economic, business, competitive and/or regulatory factors affecting Phillips 66’s businesses generally as set forth in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Phillips 66 is under no obligation (and expressly disclaims any such obligation) to update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

    Source: Phillips 66

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Gaza: Medical care under fire UPCOMING EVENT Oct 15, 2024

    Source: Doctors Without Borders –

    Palestinian Territories 2023 © Pierre Fromentin/MSF

    UPCOMING EVENT

    Palestinian Territories 2023 © Pierre Fromentin/MSF

    October 15, 2024

    1:00PM-1:45PM ET

    Event type: Live online

    October 15, 2024 | 1:00PM-1:45PM ET

    Gaza: Medical care under fire

    We invite you to join us for a live online event on Tuesday, October 15, from 1:00-1:45 pm ET, with Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) aid workers reflecting on the catastrophic health impacts of the war in Gaza.

    MSF teams were already active providing medical care in Gaza when conflict escalated following the horrific attacks by Hamas on Israel on October 7. In response, the Israeli government launched a ferocious military offensive on Gaza. More than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed, tens of thousands more have been injured, and some 1.9 million people have been displaced–often multiple times. Much of the Gaza Strip has been reduced to rubble.

    MSF staff are providing urgent medical care even while facing the personal impacts of the war themselves–the deaths of loved ones, destruction of their homes, and constant dangers everywhere. Hospitals and health facilities have repeatedly come under fire or been forced to evacuate. The medical needs are exploding, including the spread of infectious diseases and the risk of starvation.

    Join us for a conversation with Dr. Javid Abdelmoneim, emergency physician and former medical team leader in Gaza, and Dr. Amber Alayyan, pediatrician and medical program manager for MSF in Palestine, Afghanistan and Haiti. Dr. Mohammed Abu Mughaisib, MSF deputy medical coordinator in Gaza, will share testimony directly from Khan Younis, and Avril Benoît, MSF USA chief executive officer, will moderate the live discussion. Together they will bear witness to this unfolding emergency and reflect on the medical challenges ahead.

    Meet the speakers

    Dr. Javid Abdelmoneim

    Dr. Javid Abdelmoneim is an emergency physician and was president of MSF UK from 2017-2021. Born and raised in the UK to Sudanese Iranian parents, Javid volunteered with MSF as a medical student, and later joined MSF as an aid worker for his first assignment to Iraq. Since then, he has worked for MSF in conflict zones, crises and disease outbreaks around the world. He has completed assignments in Ukraine, Haiti, Lebanon/Syria, South Sudan, Sierra Leone (for Ebola), and on the Mediterranean Sea on one of MSF’s search and rescue vessels. Most recently, he worked as an emergency medical team leader in Gaza. 

    Dr. Amber Alayyan

    Dr. Amber Alayyan is a pediatrician and international public health consultant with over 20 years of experience in health care in conflict and post-conflict zones particularly in the Middle East, as well as malnutrition and environmental health in conflict settings. She currently works as MSF’s medical program manager for Afghanistan, Palestine, and Haiti and previously managed medical programs for Peru, Syria, Lebanon, Iran, and Iraq. In her current role, she manages the medical operational strategy and activities in the West Bank and Gaza. These activities include burn and trauma surgery and multi-disciplinary pre/post-operative care, pediatric inpatient care, antibiotic resistance management, primary health care, mental health, and sexual and gender-based violence. Her work with MSF over the past 13 years includes assignments in the Central African Republic, Pakistan, Yemen, Iraq, Jordan/Syria, Turkey/Syria, Lebanon, Croatia and Greece.

    Dr. Mohammed Abu Mughaisib

    Dr. Mohammed (Abu Abed) Abu Mughaisib is the deputy medical coordinator for MSF’s operations in Palestine. He holds degrees in both medicine and mental health and has worked with MSF for nearly 23 years. Last fall, he was forced to flee his home in Gaza City, and was displaced multiple times thereafter. While his wife and children managed to cross the border into Egypt, Abu Abed continues to provide lifesaving care as a critical member of our project team in Palestine. 

    Avril Benoît

    Avril Benoît is the chief executive officer of Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières in the United States (MSF USA). She has worked with the international medical humanitarian organization since 2006 in various operational management and executive leadership roles, most recently as the director of communications and development at MSF’s operational center in Geneva, a position she held from November 2015 until June 2019. Throughout her career with MSF, Avril has contributed to major movement-wide initiatives, including the global mobilization to end attacks on hospitals and health workers. She has worked as a country director and project coordinator for MSF, leading operations to provide aid to refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants in Mauritania, South Sudan, and South Africa. Avril’s strategic analysis and communications assignments have taken her to countries including Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Haiti, Iraq, Lebanon, Mexico, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sudan, Syria, and Ukraine. From 2006 to 2012, Avril served as director of communications with MSF Canada. Prior to joining MSF, Avril had a distinguished 20-year career as an award-winning journalist and broadcaster in Canada. She was a documentary producer and radio host with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), reporting from Kenya, Burundi, India, and Brazil on HIV stigma, rapid urbanization, sexual violence in conflict, and political inclusion of women, among numerous other assignments and topics. Recent articles: Surge of humanity needed for migrants and refugees  

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    MIL OSI NGO –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why FEMA’s disaster relief gets political − especially when hurricane season and election season collide

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Jennifer Selin, Associate Professor of Law, Arizona State University

    President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the effects of Hurricane Milton on Oct. 10, 2024, in Washington, D.C. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

    Rumors and lies about government responses to natural disasters are not new. Politics, misinformation and blame-shifting have long surrounded government response efforts.

    When Hurricane Harvey hit Houston in 2017, for example, rumors and misinformation both originated from and were spread by government, news and individual user accounts on social media. And after Hurricane Sandy in 2012, rumors about the storm were so widespread that even CNN’s live coverage of the event was inaccurate.

    Those rumors don’t usually come from former presidents. Yet in the wake of hurricanes Helene and Milton, former President Donald Trump spread falsehoods about the federal government’s response to the disaster. Misinformation on the topic became so widespread that the Federal Emergency Management Agency, known as FEMA, set up a webpage to debunk the rumors spawned by Trump.

    President Joe Biden responded angrily, calling the falsehoods that Trump and his followers spread “reckless, irresponsible” and “disturbing.” He also suggested Trump’s claims undermined the rescue and recovery work being done by local, state and federal authorities.

    Disaster relief often becomes political because so many people are affected – and because there is a lot of media coverage surrounding hurricanes, floods and other major weather events. Additionally, relief requires a lot of money and coordination by high-profile elected officials.

    The rhetoric around federal emergency management is made only more complicated because most people do not know that much about the federal law that governs disaster relief. Indeed, even state and local officials find navigating the details of the law and accompanying regulations difficult.

    And finally, the law’s design and the timing of hurricane season can lead to politicization. Elected officials – politicians – are always involved in coordinating government response efforts, adding a layer of politics to disaster relief. The fact that hurricane and election seasons coincide only heightens the politics of such relief.

    Former President Donald Trump saying falsely that the Biden administration “stole a billion dollars” meant for disaster relief and used it to help immigrants.

    Explaining government responses to natural disasters

    The Disaster Relief Act of 1974, as amended and now known as the Stafford Act, is the law that governs how the federal government responds to natural disasters and other emergencies.

    But the act does not guarantee federal assistance to the communities affected by hurricanes or other natural disasters.

    Instead, the governor of an affected state or the chief executive of an affected tribal government must ask the president for a disaster declaration. The request can be made before or after a storm hits but must show that the disaster is of such a severity and magnitude that the state, local or tribal governments cannot respond on their own.

    Responding to such requests, Biden issued declarations covering eight states before and after Helene. He also issued a declaration for the Seminole Tribe and the state of Florida in response to Milton.

    After the president issues a declaration, the federal government can begin to assist state, local and tribal governments. This includes coordinating all disaster relief assistance – from evacuations to recovery – provided by federal agencies, private organizations such as the Red Cross, and state and local governments.

    Federal assistance can be financial or logistical. It covers everything from help repairing roads and restoring utility services to providing assistance and services, such as temporary housing, legal services and crisis counseling, to the people who have been affected by the disaster.

    The number of federal agencies and employees involved in disaster relief is astounding. For example, thousands of federal personnel from FEMA, the Coast Guard, Army Corps of Engineers, Environmental Protection Agency and the departments of Defense, Energy, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, and Transportation are helping respond to Helene and Milton.

    Several state and local officials also play key roles after a disaster declaration. Each state’s governor or tribe’s chief executive serves as the leading official for coordination of state and federal efforts. That person also designates an officer to serve as a liaison between the federal government and the state or tribe. And in each affected community, a local elected official leads the response on the ground. This is usually a city or town’s mayor.

    Federalism in action

    Implementation of the Stafford Act requires cooperative, healthy relationships between the president, federal agencies and state, local and tribal governments.

    When done well, government disaster response is a prime example of what’s called “federalism” in action. Federalism involves the sharing of power between the national and state governments. The framers of the United States Constitution created this system of shared power so that the national government could solve coordination and capacity problems among the states, and the state governments could respond to the nuances of local circumstances.

    In response to state government requests in the wake of Hurricane Helene, for example, Biden directed federal efforts to help those most affected. The federal government’s response has so far included working with over 450 state and local officials to ensure that those affected by the hurricane have everything from housing assistance to financial support for medical and funeral expenses.

    Politics in the mix

    The very things that the framers designed the federalist constitutional system to do, however, can create opportunities for political manipulation. The Stafford Act creates a system of emergency management that is highly decentralized and responsive to local needs.

    But that decentralization also means that, because of their different perspectives, the officials involved in disaster response prioritize different things, which can lead to conflict.

    For example, various officials involved in the response to Hurricane Helene have advocated for federal resources such as money and personnel to go toward restoring utilities, law enforcement, fire, health, communications and transportation services. How can the national government possibly choose between all of these necessary services?

    Everything is made more complicated because, as studies have shown, on average, the officials in charge of making such decisions – elected officials and their appointees – have less experience in government than the career civil servants who work on a daily basis with the people affected by natural disasters.

    As a result, the Stafford Act’s decision to place elected officials and their appointees in charge of emergency management could reduce the quality of government response.

    Members of the FEMA Urban Search and Rescue task force search a flood-damaged area in Asheville, N.C., in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene on Oct. 4, 2024.
    Mario Tama/Getty Images

    Debating size and role of government

    Elected officials’ different political leanings add another wrinkle. Debates over disaster response often reflect larger political debates such as those over the size and role of government.

    The history of the Stafford Act provides an illustrative example. Traditionally, disaster relief was the responsibility of state and local government. But a series of natural disasters, including the Alaska earthquake in 1964 and hurricanes Betsy in 1965 and Camille in 1969, were so large in scale that the federal government had to step in and help.

    In the aftermath of Camille, accusations of racial discrimination in the relief process and partisan squabbling over who was to blame for the ineffectiveness of the government’s response to the disaster mounted. Media and congressional attention on government mismanagement of the relief effort created a window for the expansion of the federal government’s role in the process and ultimately led to the passage of the first version of the Stafford Act.

    Fast-forward 35 years and many of the same issues – racial discrimination, government mismanagement and politicization of relief – arose in 2005 in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. Media and congressional attention led to legislation that amended the Stafford Act and restructured FEMA and how the federal government responds to state and tribal requests for assistance.

    Trump’s lies are from the same playbook – false claims about money being diverted to migrants and that relief efforts are being used only to help areas where Democrats live.

    Yet the devastation left by Helene and Milton do raise questions about local and federal coordination in preparation for and response to natural disasters and has led to calls for Congress to pass reforms to improve equity, efficiency and effectiveness in government responses to natural disasters. Whether this reform is possible in such a contentious political climate remains an open question.

    Jennifer L. Selin has received funding and/or support for her research on the executive branch from the Administrative Conference of the United States. The views in this piece are those of the author and do not represent the position of the Administrative Conference or the federal government.

    – ref. Why FEMA’s disaster relief gets political − especially when hurricane season and election season collide – https://theconversation.com/why-femas-disaster-relief-gets-political-especially-when-hurricane-season-and-election-season-collide-241092

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: This year’s Nobel prize in economics awarded to team that examined what makes some countries rich and others poor

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra

    Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson and James A. Robinson Nobel Prize Outreach

    The 2024 Nobel Prize in Economics has been awarded to three US-based economists who examined the advantages of democracy and the rule of law, and why they are strong in some countries and not others.

    Daron Acemoglu is a Turkish-American economist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Simon Johnson is a British economist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and James Robinson is a British-American economist at the University of Chicago.

    The citation awards the prize “for studies of how institutions are formed and affect prosperity”, making it an award for research into politics and sociology as much as economics.

    At a time when democracy appears to be losing support, the Nobel committee has rewarded work that demonstrates that, on average, democratic countries governed by the rule of law have wealthier citizens.


    Johan Jarnestad/Nobel Prize Outreach

    The committee says the richest 20% of the world’s countries are now around 30 times richer than the poorest 20%. Moreover, the income gap is persistent; although the poorest countries have become richer, they are not catching up with the most prosperous.

    Acemoglu, Johnson and Robinson have connected this difference to differences in institutions, and they find this derives from differences in the behaviour of European colonisers in different parts of the world centuries ago.

    The denser the indigenous population, the greater the resistance that could be expected and the fewer European settlers moved there. On the other hand, the large indigenous population – once defeated – ofered lucrative opportunities for cheap labour.

    This meant the institutions focused on benefiting a small elite at the expense of the wider population. There were no elections and limited political rights.



    Read more:
    Sidelined no longer, Claudia Goldin wins the 2023 Nobel Prize in Economics for examining why gender pay gaps persist

    In the places that were more sparsely populated and offered less resistance, more colonisers settled and established inclusive institutions that incentivised hard work and led to demands for political rights.

    The committee says, paradoxically, this means the parts of the colonised world that were the most prosperous around 500 years ago are now relatively poor. Prosperity was greater in Mexico under the Aztecs than it was at the same time in the part of North America that is now called Canada and the United States.


    Johan Jarnestad/Nobel Prize Outreach

    More so than in previous years, this year’s winners have written for the public as well as the profession. Acemoglu and Robinson are probably best known for their 2013 best-seller Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity and Poverty.(It has pictures and no equations.)

    Last year Acemoglu and Johnson published Power and Progress: Our Thousand-Year Struggle Over Technology and Prosperity.

    In May this year Acemoglu wrote about artificial intelligence, putting forward the controversial position that its effects on productivity would be “nontrivial but modest”, which is another way of saying “tiny”. Its effect on wellbeing might be even smaller and it was unlikely to reduce inequality.

    Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.

    This year’s award makes the cohort of Nobel winners a little less US-dominated.

    Although all three are currently working at American universities, Acemoglu is from Turkey and the others are British. There is even an Australian link. Robinson taught economics at The University of Melbourne between 1992 and 1995.

    Winning the prize is life-changing for more reasons than the 11 million Swedish kroner (about $A 1.5 million) the winners share. As Nobel winners, they will have a higher profile. Their opinions will be accorded more respect by most but not all.

    Sixteen former winners recently issued a widely reported statement saying they were “deeply concerned about the risks of a second Trump administration for the US economy”. Rather than address their arguments, the Trump campaign called them “worthless out-of-touch Nobel prize winners”.

    The new winners might get the same treatment. Johnson has critiqued Trump’s proposal to raise tariffs. Acemoglu has called Trump “a threat to democracy”.

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

    – ref. This year’s Nobel prize in economics awarded to team that examined what makes some countries rich and others poor – https://theconversation.com/this-years-nobel-prize-in-economics-awarded-to-team-that-examined-what-makes-some-countries-rich-and-others-poor-240890

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Unprecedented Storm Response by Local, Federal and State Resources Continues in Western North Carolina

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Unprecedented Storm Response by Local, Federal and State Resources Continues in Western North Carolina

    Unprecedented Storm Response by Local, Federal and State Resources Continues in Western North Carolina
    mseets
    Mon, 10/14/2024 – 17:15

    An unprecedented response to damage caused by Hurricane Helene continues in Western North Carolina. State, federal and local response workers are working around the clock to surge assistance into the region.

    Law enforcement is working to ensure the safety of responders amid reports of threats and misinformation. FEMA officials remain in communities and will resume door-to-door operations to help people impacted by these storms recover as quickly as possible following reports of threats on the ground. Governor Roy Cooper has directed the Department of Public Safety to work with local law enforcement to identify specific threats and rumors and coordinate with FEMA and other partners to ensure the safety and security of all involved as this recovery effort continues.

    “State, federal and local response workers, including FEMA, are working around the clock to bring assistance to western North Carolina,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “We know that significant misinformation online contributes to threats against response workers on the ground, and the safety of responders must be a priority. At my direction, the North Carolina Department of Public Safety is helping partners like FEMA to coordinate with law enforcement to ensure their safety and security as they continue their important work.”

    North Carolina National Guard and Military Response

    Approximately 3,500 Soldiers and Airmen are working in Western North Carolina. Joint Task Force- North Carolina, the task force led by the North Carolina National Guard is made up of Soldiers and Airmen from 12 different states, two different XVIII Airborne Corps units from Ft. Liberty, a unit from Ft. Campbell’s 101st Airborne Division, and numerous civilian entities are working side-by-side to get the much-needed help to people in Western North Carolina.

    National Guard and military personnel are operating 11 aviation assets and more than 1,200 specialized vehicles in Western North Carolina to facilitate these missions. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is helping to assess water and wastewater plants and dams. Residents can track the status of the public water supply in their area through this website.

    FEMA Assistance

    More than $96 million in FEMA Individual Assistance funds have been paid so far to Western North Carolina disaster survivors and more than 160,000 people have registered for Individual Assistance. Approximately 4,600 households are now housed in hotels through FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance.

    1,000+ FEMA staff are in the state to help with the Western North Carolina relief effort. In addition to search and rescue and providing commodities, they are meeting with disaster survivors in shelters and neighborhoods to provide rapid access to relief resources. They can be identified by their FEMA logo apparel and federal government identification.

    The Major Disaster Declaration requested by Governor Cooper and granted by President Biden now includes 27 North Carolina counties (Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey) and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

    North Carolinians can apply for Individual Assistance by calling 1-800-621-3362 from 7am to 11pm daily or by visiting www.disasterassistance.gov, or by downloading the FEMA app. FEMA may be able to help with serious needs, displacement, temporary lodging, basic home repair costs, personal property loss or other disaster-caused needs.

    Help from Other States

    More than 1,500 responders from 38 state and local agencies have performed 135 missions supporting the response and recovery efforts through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC). This includes public health nurses, emergency management teams supporting local governments, veterinarians, teams with search dogs and more.

    Beware of Misinformation

    North Carolina Emergency Management and local officials are cautioning the public about false Helene reports and misinformation being shared on social media. NCEM has launched a fact versus rumor response webpage to provide factual information in the wake of this storm. FEMA also has a rumor response webpage.

    Food, Water and Commodity Points of Distribution

    Efforts continue to provide food, water and basic necessities to residents in affected communities, using both ground resources and air drops from the NC National Guard. Food, water and commodity points of distribution are open throughout Western North Carolina. For information on these sites in your community, visit your local emergency management and local government social media and websites or visit ncdps.gov/Helene.

    Shelters

    A total of 13 shelters are open in Western North Carolina supporting over 560 people.

    Storm Damage Cleanup

    If your home has damages and you need assistance with clean up, please call Crisis Cleanup for access to volunteer organizations that can assist you at 844-965-1386.

    Power Outages

    Across Western North Carolina, approximately 19,000 customers remain without power, down from a peak of more than 1 million. Overall power outage numbers will fluctuate up and down as power crews temporarily take circuits or substations offline to make repairs and restore additional customers.

    Road Closures

    Travel remains dangerous, with hundreds of roads closed. Many of these roads are primary routes connecting the region.

    NCDOT has posted at ncdot.gov an interstate detour map for those traveling in the region. North Carolinians can visit DriveNC.Gov for the latest roadway conditions. NCDOT currently has approximately 2,100 employees and 1,100 pieces of equipment working on approximately 6,700 damaged road sites.

    Fatalities

    Ninety-five storm-related deaths have been confirmed in North Carolina by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner. We expect that this number will continue to rise over the coming days. The North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will continue to confirm numbers twice daily. If you have an emergency or believe that someone is in danger, please call 911.

    Volunteers and Donations

    Due to dangerous road conditions and the need to maintain open routes for emergency operations, travel to Western North Carolina is difficult. Consider the following options for donations and volunteer opportunities:

    • If you would like to donate to the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund, visit nc.gov/donate. Donations will help to support local nonprofits working on the ground.
    • For information on volunteer opportunities, please visit nc.gov/volunteernc

    Additional Assistance

    There is no right or wrong way to feel in response to the trauma of a hurricane. If you have been impacted by the storm and need someone to talk to, call or text the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990. Help is also available to anyone, anytime in English or Spanish through a call, text or chat to 988. Learn more at 988Lifeline.org.

    If you are seeking a representative from the North Carolina Joint Information Center, please email ncempio@ncdps.gov or call 919-825-2599.

    For general information, access to resources, or answers to frequently asked questions, please visit ncdps.gov/helene.

    If you are seeking information on resources for recovery help for a resident impacted from the storm, please email IArecovery@ncdps.gov.

    ###

    Oct 14, 2024

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Universities – How can governments better support migrants? – UoA

    Source: University of Auckland (UoA)

    A new study emphasises the need for tailored approaches that balance migration’s economic and social complexities.

    As global migration intensifies, the question of how to integrate migrants while supporting cultural diversity, economic stability and a cohesive society is a central challenge for policymakers.

    A new paper published in the Journal of Political Economy: Microeconomics by University of Auckland researchers Dr Chanelle Duley and Professor Prasanna Gai offers insights into how policymakers can better support migrants and society as a whole.

    The researchers explored historical and contemporary nation-building efforts and developed a novel model to help understand the impacts of two approaches: assimilation and biculturalism.

    Assimilation policies, like promoting a single language or streamlining education, have for many years, been seen as a way to foster unity. These policies can help people communicate more efficiently and reduce friction, allowing societies to function smoothly.

    However, assimilation often comes with a cost for minority groups, who may feel pressured to give up their cultural identity to fit in. The authors refer to this as ‘lock-in’ costs, where individuals lose something valuable, such as language or customs, in exchange for social and economic benefits.

    Meanwhile, biculturalism aims to celebrate and protect the distinct identities of different groups. Examples of this approach include recognising minority languages or supporting Indigenous rights.

    While this strategy allows cultural groups to thrive, the study points out that it can complicate cooperation between different communities, potentially affecting social cohesion and productivity.

    So, which approach is best?

    According to Duley and Gai, it depends on the specific makeup of a society and the degree of cultural distance between groups.

    They say the ease with which different cultural groups can interact and the size of the cultural gap between them matters when it comes to deciding what mix of policies will work best.

    In countries where one cultural group is dominant, assimilation might seem like the simplest way to create a unified national identity. However, in more diverse societies, bicultural policies could help ease tensions by ensuring minority groups have space to maintain their traditions while still being part of the broader community.

    The authors argue for more nuanced and context-sensitive nation-building strategies that account for the welfare of minority groups and avoid the long-term social and cultural costs of extreme assimilation.

    “There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution for nation-building,” says Duley. “Policymakers need to evaluate the specific cultural context, including the size of minority groups and the degree of cultural differences to try to find the right balance between assimilation and biculturalism.”

    The study also highlights the role of political imperatives. Politicians, who typically seek to appeal to the majority, usually favour more aggressive assimilation policies. But if the aim is to maximise overall societal welfare, more moderate forms of assimilation or bicultural policies that protect minority groups may be better placed to foster national cohesion.

    Read the full paper: Cultural Assimilation and Nation Building: http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/732244?journalCode=jpemi

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Animal Welfare – Are you really ready to give that puppy a furr-ever home? – NZVA

    Source: NZ Veterinary Association
    Are you really ready to give that puppy a furr-ever home?
    Potential dog owners should think twice before getting a puppy to make sure they can financially provide for the animal, and ensure it is safe, well-socialised, trained, and mentally stimulated.
    The New Zealand Veterinary Association Te Pae Kīrehe (NZVA) strongly advocates for people having animals in loving homes, saying pet ownership is an enriching and rewarding experience, but it is a decision that should be never rushed. The comments follow the release of Auckland Council’s latest Animal Management Annual Report, which outlines a rise in dog-related incidents between 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024.
    The report found welfare-related complaints increased by 80 per cent; there was a 14 per cent increase in dog attacks on people; a 19 per cent increase in attacks on other animals; a 19 per cent increase in the number of high-risk dogs; and a 19 per cent increase in roaming complaints.
    NZVA Head of Veterinary Services (Companion Animal) Sally Cory said the rising figures could be an indication of dog owners experiencing increased financial hardship but the issues also came down to responsible dog ownership. “Having a pet comes with great responsibility, and is never a decision to be taken lightly,” she said. “People need to weigh up whether they can financially support the animal throughout its life. This involves providing preventative healthcare, such as regular check-ups and vaccinations, ensuring de-sexing is carried out at a recommended time, and that early socialisation and training is prioritised. Dogs require not only a financial investment but an investment in time to ensure that they behave appropriately for their families and wider communities.”
    The report showed animal management staff responded to 37,558 requests during the year, up 13 per cent; fewer people were registering their dogs; and the number of roaming or uncontrolled dogs continued to increase. Sadly, the rate of impounded dogs claimed by their owners sat at just 43 per cent. Animal shelter staff have also noticed increased numbers of impounded dogs presenting with challenging behaviour and failing to pass behavioural temperament tests. This determines if the dog is suitable for rehoming.
    NZVA Companion Animal Veterinarians (CAV) President Becky Murphy said potential dog owners must also give considerable thought to the type of dog they choose and make sure it fits in with their lifestyle and expectations. “We must not forget that dogs have natural behaviours, for example chasing, guarding, and hunting, and humans often try to make them fit into moulds that suit our lives,” she said. “This can result in normal, innate dog behaviours being perceived as behavioural issues. Owners need to make sure they do adequate research into dog breeds before selection, and provide their dog with a safe, mentally stimulating, and enriching home environment to ensure they are happy, healthy, and under effective control at all times.”
    Sally adds that it is important dogs are de-sexed (if owners are not intending to breed from them), registered, and microchipped, and young children are always supervised around them.
    Under New Zealand law, dog owners must comply with minimum standards for animal care and management set out in the New Zealand Animal Welfare (Dogs), Code of Welfare 2010, as well as the requirements of their local city or district council.
    NZVA’s Dog Ownership Guidelines
    • Before getting a dog, consider how much time they will take, what they will cost, how big they will get, and if they fit into your lifestyle and living environment.
    • Adequate quantities of nutritious food, clean water, and appropriate shelter should be provided for the dog over its lifespan.
    • Regular health checkups and appropriate exercise should be provided.
    • The dog should be registered and microchipped.
    • Dogs not intended for breeding should be de-sexed.
    • Emergency action planning and alternate care arrangements should be made, should unforeseen circumstances arise.
    • Dogs should be well socialised early, walked on a lead, and waste should not be left in public spaces.
    Read the full Animal Management Annual Report 2023-2024: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:AP:87576f48-a64c-4013-913e-d7301a420402

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SPEECH BY DR JANIL PUTHUCHEARY, SENIOR MINISTER OF STATE, MINISTRY OF DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT AND INFORMATION AND MINISTRY OF HEALTH, AT THE DUKE-NUS CENTRE OF REGULATORY EXCELLENCE’S 10TH ANNIVERSARY SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE 2024, 14 OCTOBER 2024

    Source: Asia Pacific Region 2 – Singapore

          Good morning everybody. Thank you for inviting me to join you here today. It’s great to be back here at the Academia. It is my pleasure to join you for the 10th anniversary celebration of the Duke-NUS Centre of Regulatory Excellence (CoRE).

    2.     One of the advantages of having been to many gatherings and meetings, such as scientific meetings, academic meetings, government regulatory meetings, you start to have the ability to have a feel for the community. You have a little bit of a sense, if this is one of those places where tech startups are exchanging cards because everyone’s trying to introduce themselves. Or is this community of practice which has been together with deep respect, and a deep understanding of each other’s contributions in the academic, scientific, and policy areas. I was asking Professor John Lim earlier this morning: “How long have you all been together?” Because there is a palpable sense of a community of practice, of professionals with deep expertise who have met each other over many meals, over many years, and flown not just halfway around the world, but all the way around the world, to be together. I had that sense of privilege walking in this morning that this is a community of professionals who have been working together for many years and understanding the importance of the work that you do, the effect that you will have on our healthcare systems.

    3.     CoRE was established as an academic centre at Duke-NUS Medical School with support from the Singapore Ministry of Health (MOH), Health Sciences Authority (HSA) and Economic Development Board (EDB) to promote regulatory capacity development and innovation in Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific. Officially inaugurated in November 2014, this is the first Centre in the region that focuses on promoting regulatory excellence for healthcare regulators and industry. A panel of international regulatory experts forms the CoRE Advisory Board that oversees the governance of the Centre, many of whom are current or former chief officials of their respective regulatory agencies. Some of them in the audience today.

    4.     Over the past decade, CoRE has become an important player in Singapore’s healthcare landscape. You have made significant strides in advancing regulatory science, not only in Singapore but also across ASEAN and the Asia-Pacific. Through your capacity building, thinktank and advisory initiatives, CoRE has become a trusted partner in a wide collaborative network to actively coordinate and strengthen regulatory systems, comprising international and regional regulatory authorities, industry, non-governmental organisations and academic institutions.

    5.     The Centre also supports MOH and HSA in building up the healthcare regulatory ecosystem, and more recently, advocating the convergence of products and services regulation to enhance healthcare systems’ efficiency. By bringing together key stakeholders and fostering collaboration among healthcare regulators, CoRE has created a platform for the exchange of knowledge and best practices.

    Future of Health – Digitalisation and Precision Medicine
    6.     As we celebrate these achievements, and there are many, we must also anticipate the challenges on the horizon. Singapore’s healthcare landscape is undergoing fundamental changes, driven by demographic shifts and our evolving healthcare needs. To meet these changes, we are embracing digital health and precision medicine technologies. We will innovate to improve population health and ensure the sustainability of our healthcare system. This shift in our healthcare regulations will also be needed to keep pace with innovation and to continue our commitment to patient safety and welfare. Our goal is to create a regulatory framework that acts as a catalyst for progress, not a barrier to it.
    7.     The challenges, whether it’s our demographic shifts, evolving needs, the tensions and trade-offs within our approach to what we do within the regulatory space, underscores the need for regulators to be innovative and also prudent. We want to maximise the benefits of new technologies and safeguard against the risks. HSA already regulates Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Medical Devices and MOH has issued the national AI in Healthcare guidelines. This is a space where you can see that there are potential significant transformative benefits just around the corner, but there are already extant risks that we need to safeguard against, to shore up public trust and to make sure these tools are deployed in the clinical spaces. And so we publish these guidelines and they lay out good practices for AI developers and influencers, and we’re revising this to account for newer technologies such as generative AI. We intend to provide unified guidance for AI developers, service implementers and healthcare professionals on the safe development of AI in healthcare.
    8.     With increasing use of precision medicine technologies, we may encounter ethical dilemmas in the potential misuse of genetic test information, for example, in insurance underwriting. To address this, MOH has worked with the Life Insurance Association to put in place a Moratorium on Genetic Testing and Insurance. It sets out specific protections over the use and disclosure of genetic test results, to prevent Singaporeans from being deterred from undergoing genetic testing which can be vital and useful for early detection, prevention and management of genetic conditions.

    9      The challenges that I described transcend borders and they make international collaboration amongst regulators essential. Through exchanging best practices and developing partnerships for regulatory harmonisation, we can collectively have regulatory frameworks that are nimble, forward looking, and adaptable to rapid technological advancements.

    Nimble and Forward-Thinking Regulatory Framework

    10      MOH collaborates with agencies such as the European Partnership for Supervisory Organisations in Health Services and Social Care (EPSO) and HealthAI. We also collaborate with CoRE to strengthen training in healthcare services regulations with ASEAN countries.

    11      CoRE is focused on advancing regulatory science and policy in healthcare, both domestically and regionally, through capacity building, thought leadership and fostering collaboration.

    12      To grow domestic capability in healthcare regulation, CoRE has launched key educational initiatives, including the flagship Graduate Certificate programme in health products regulation covering pharmaceutical and medical technology regulations. It also supports regional capacity building through the Asian Development Bank Projects in the Greater Mekong Subregion. By identifying regulatory gaps and conducting in-country capacity-building workshops in Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Indonesia, CoRE is helping to shape more effective regulatory environments.

    13       CoRE also facilitates joint initiatives research projects and roundtables for collaboration between academia, industry and international partners. One example is the CoRE Standards Development Organisation, set up in partnership with Enterprise Singapore, which manages over 60 Singapore Standards and Technical References in the biomedical and healthcare domains, ensuring alignment with global standards.

    CoRE’s Role in the Next Decade

    14       Regulatory innovation will play a part to shape the future of biomedical science and healthcare and delivery. The diverse topics covered at this conference – ranging from AI and digital health to healthy ageing and disease prevention – highlight the complexity of the challenges that face us. Working together, we can develop regulations that are robust, forward-looking and conducive to both access and innovation.

    15       We have with us regulators from around the world, the Asia-Pacific region and Africa, alongside experts from the Ministry’s Regulatory Advisory Panel. Surely, with this brain trust that you have brought together, and the concentration of capability, expertise and experience, this professional community that has been working together to develop these big relationships, can effectively address these challenges and shape the future of healthcare regulation. Our partnerships will shape the next chapter of healthcare regulation, and so it’s my pleasure to declare this conference open.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Foreign Minister to visit Thailand, attend Indonesian Presidential inauguration

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters is travelling this week to Bangkok for talks with his Thai counterpart, and to Jakarta to attend the inauguration of Indonesia’s next President, Prabowo Subianto.  

      

    “New Zealand is committed to our Comprehensive Partnership with Indonesia, and our shared ties as democracies in the Indo-Pacific region,” Mr Peters says. 

      

    “It is important we show our strong support for the transition of power in the world’s third largest democracy.” 

      

    Mr Peters will also express New Zealand’s appreciation for Indonesia’s assistance in securing the recent release of New Zealand pilot Philip Mehrtens, who was held hostage in Papua, Indonesia. 

      

    Before travelling to Indonesia, Mr Peters will visit Thailand to meet with his Foreign Minister counterpart to advance discussions on lifting the Thai-New Zealand bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026.  

      

    “Our engagement with Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa will underline the importance we place on our partnership with Thailand,” Mr Peters says.   

      

    “The Coalition Government is seriously focused on boosting New Zealand’s engagement with Southeast Asia. Since taking office we have been backing up our words with action.  

     

    “Thailand will be the seventh member of ASEAN that we will have visited this year.”     

     

    While in Bangkok, Mr Peters will engage with key Thai political and business leaders and New Zealand alumni and meet with New Zealand businesses active in Thailand. 

      

    Mr Peters will return to New Zealand on 21 October. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Statement by President Joe  Biden Marking One Year Since the Killing of Wadee  Alfayoumi

    Source: The White House

    On October 14th, one year ago today, six-year-old Wadee Alfayoumi, a bright and cheerful American Muslim boy of Palestinian descent, was brutally killed in his family’s home in Plainfield, Illinois. The attacker also repeatedly stabbed and seriously wounded Wadee’s mother, Hanan Shaheen, resulting in murder, attempted murder, and hate crime charges in Illinois. After this heinous attack, Jill and I spoke with their family, as did Vice President Harris. We joined Americans from across the country in expressing our horror and offering our condolences and prayers.

    One year later, we continue to think about them. We are grateful for Hanan’s recovery and her powerful voice for peace. But we know the hole in their heart that remains without their beloved son. Days like this are hard because it brings it all back. We keep them in our hearts.

    On this day, let us all take steps that honor Wadee’s memory and reaffirm together that there is no place for hate in America, including hatred of Palestinians, Arabs, and Muslims. We can all reject hatred and expose misinformation and disinformation that is cynically aimed at turning us against one another. We can all reach across divides of background and belief to create greater understanding and unity in our country. No one in this country should be subjected to violence or hateful and dehumanizing rhetoric simply because of who they are. No one of any background in this country should be made to feel unsafe in America.  

    Today, we also reaffirm our commitment to mobilize government to counter hate in all its forms. In May 2021, I signed into law the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, which includes the Khalid Jabara and Heather Heyer NO HATE Act, to enhance hate crime data collection and provide community-centered solutions to assist hate crime victims and their communities. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has elevated hate crimes and criminal civil rights violations to its highest-level national threat priority, which has increased the resources for hate crimes prevention and investigations and made hate crimes a focus for all of the Bureau’s field offices. My Administration will continue to spare no effort in countering hate in all its forms.

    Together, we must work to end acts of senseless violence and stand united in support of all of our fellow Americans, no matter their race, ethnicity, or creed. May we summon the courage and the strength to do so. 

    May God bless Wadee Alfayoumi and his family.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA News: FACT SHEET: Biden-⁠ Harris Administration Takes New Actions to Counter Islamophobia and Anti-Arab  Hate

    Source: The White House

    Over the past year, the Biden-Harris Administration has continued to take action to fight hatred and violence against Muslim and Arab communities. Members of these communities, including Palestinian Americans, have been murdered or wounded in hate-fueled attacks; shot and subjected to other assaults as they simply walked down streets; bullied at schools, including by having their religious head coverings ripped off; and denied jobs, harassed, or demoted at work merely because of their faith or ethnicity.

    President Biden and Vice President Harris are leading efforts to bring about much-needed change and have repeatedly condemned such violence, discrimination, and bias. These efforts are part of a larger Administration initiative to counter hate in all its forms, to keep every community safe, to promote equal justice, and to afford all Americans a fair shot at success. For generations, Muslim and Arab Americans have contributed to the enrichment and prosperity of our nation through their public, military, and community service, in addition to many other invaluable contributions. And like all Americans, they are entitled to the promise and opportunities of our great nation.

    Today, the Biden-Harris Administration is highlighting some actions taken as part of its forthcoming National Strategy to Counter Islamophobia and Hatred Against Arabs in the United States, including important steps to address daily concerns regarding safety and discrimination, as well as issues related to travel. The Administration will continue to lead a whole-of-government and a whole-of society effort to counter hate.

    Completed executive branch actions that are part of the forthcoming Strategy include:

    Improving Safety and Security

    • The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) have completed an unclassified assessment on violent threats facing Muslim and Arab communities in the United States. The assessment will be published this week, and is the first of what will be an annual assessment by these agencies regarding threats facing these communities.
    • Since 2021, DOJ has awarded over $100 million in grants to law enforcement and prosecution agencies, community-based organizations, and civil rights groups to address hate crimes through outreach, investigations, prosecutions, community awareness and preparedness, reporting, hotlines, and victim services. This figure includes nearly $30 million in grants announced last month.
    • DOJ continues to support law enforcement agencies’ transition to the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS). Beginning in January 2021, NIBRS became the national standard for law enforcement crime data reporting in the United States and the transition to NIBRS represented a significant improvement in how reported crime is measured and estimated by the federal government. Since 2015, DOJ’s Bureau of Justice Assistance and the FBI have provided more than $150 million to law enforcement agencies and state Uniform Crime Programs to support their transitions to NIBRS.
    • The DOJ Civil Rights Division continues to prosecute Islamophobic and other hate crimes, including hate crimes directed at students on campus. Last week, a New Jersey man pleaded guilty to a federal hate crime for breaking into the Center for Islamic Life at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, during the Eid-al-Fitr holiday and damaging and destroying religious artifacts because of the Islamic faith of those associated with the facility.
    • DOJ’s United Against Hate initiative, led by all 94 United States Attorneys’ Offices (USAOs), combats unlawful acts of hate by teaching community members how to identify, report, and help prevent hate crimes and by building trust between law enforcement and communities. To date, at least 45 USAOs have engaged directly with Muslim communities.
    • Attorney General Garand directed the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and all 94 USAOs across the country to work with local law enforcement and community leaders to protect communities from hate-fueled violence in the last year and recently reaffirmed DOJ’s commitment to combat the disturbing rise in the volume and frequency of threats against Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian as well as Jewish communities here in the United States. DOJ created a webpage aimed at raising awareness of resources for addressing these threats, and it will continue to publicize its efforts.
    • During the September 2024 Protecting Places of Worship Week of Action, the DHS Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships and White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships hosted workshops to encourage partnerships to take collective action against hate-based violence, including Islamophobic violence and hate crimes against Arabs. This emphasis included promotion of a guide to applying for Nonprofit Security Grant Program funding.
    • DHS has announced that it will distribute $210 million in Nonprofit Security Grant Program funds as the second tranche of additional funding the Biden-Harris Administration secured to protect faith-based institutions and nonprofit organizations against targeted attacks. This funding opportunity will be made available in late October.

    Tackling Discrimination and Bias

    • The U.S. Office of Personnel Management has published the Workplace Rights Federal Toolkit, a compilation of resources for employees of the federal government regarding their workplace rights, including information about their rights to nondiscrimination and religious accommodation.
    • The Department of Labor sent a letter to American Job Centers and other public workforce entities reminding them about their legal obligations to enforce prohibitions on discrimination based on actual or perceived religion, shared ancestry, or ethnic characteristics — including Islamophobia, Antisemitism, and related forms of discrimination – in federally funded activities and programs. The letter also included a fact sheet with examples of these forms of discrimination in the workforce development system.
    • DOJ issued a fact sheet titled Confronting Discrimination Based on Religion in Schools: A Resource for Students and Families, which discusses scenarios involving students’ rights to pray and wear religious attire in schools.
    • ED’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued a Fact Sheet on Harassment based on Race, Color, or National Origin on School Campuses, reminding schools of their federal civil rights obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI) to take prompt and effective action to respond to harassment that creates a hostile environment. ED OCR continues to investigate and resolve claims of shared ancestry discrimination under Title VI at schools. For example, ED OCR recently entered into a resolution agreement with the Ann Arbor Public Schools in Michigan to address concerns about a hostile environment for students based on shared Muslim/Arab Palestinian ancestry.
    • The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued a letter to the over 200 federally-funded Fair Housing Initiatives Programs and Fair Housing Assistance Programs on how to identify and counter Islamophobia, Antisemitism, and related forms of bias and discrimination in housing. Also, HUD created a webpage on protections against housing discrimination on the basis of religion, shared ancestry, or ethnic characteristics, which include the Fair Housing Act of 1968 and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
    • The Department of Transportation (DOT) provided a number of resources related to travelers’ rights and opportunities to file a complaint when there may be an instance of discrimination by airlines or recipients of federal funding, including discrimination on the basis of religion or national origin. The Passengers’ Right to Fly Free from Discrimination is a guide designed to explain DOT’s role in protecting aviation passengers from unlawful discrimination. Similarly, the Guidance for Airline Personnel on Non-discrimination in Air Travel assists airline personnel in understanding their legal obligations not to discriminate against passengers. For example, this guidance notes that it is impermissible to remove a passenger from a flight simply because he is holding a book that appears to be a Quran.
    • DOJ sent a letter to state, county, and municipal officials reminding them of the obligation of public officials to comply with the land use provisions of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) and to inform them about documents issued by DOJ that may be of assistance to them in applying this federal civil rights law. RLUIPA is a federal law that protects people and religious institutions from discriminatory and overly burdensome land use regulations. For example, DOJ recently filed a complaint and consent decree in United States v. Hendricks County, settling allegations that Hendricks County violated RLUIPA and the Fair Housing Act by twice unlawfully denying zoning approval to an Islamic educational organization that sought to develop a religious seminary, school, and housing on land in Hendricks County.
    • Some Americans, including many Muslims and Arabs, have documented how financial institutions use de-risking, a practice to terminate or restrict business relationships indiscriminately with broad categories of clients rather than analyzing and managing the risks of clients in a targeted manner. To help address de-risking, the U.S. Treasury Department has published its National De-Risking Strategy. The Treasury Department also has issued a proposed rule to improve the effectiveness of how banks manage potential risks associated with anti-money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism in a risk-based manner, while avoiding one-size-fits-all approaches that can lead to financial institutions declining to provide financial services to entire categories of customers.

    Addressing Issues Related to Travel

    • On January 20, 2021, President Biden rescinded the previous administration’s discriminatory Muslim Ban, which included many Arab countries and was inconsistent with our nation’s foundation of religious freedom for all. At President Biden’s direction, the U.S. Department of State conducted a review of visa applications and has taken various corrective actions to process applications that were impacted by the prior travel ban, including reconsidering previously denied applications and implementing a one-time fee credit for certain applicants.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Financial news: Three Federal Treasury deposit auctions will take place on 15.10.2024

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –

    Application selection parameters
    Date of the selection of applications 10/15/2024
    Unique identifier of the application selection 22024529
    Deposit currency rubles
    Type of funds funds of the single treasury account
    Maximum amount of funds placed in bank deposits, million monetary units 697 200
    Placement period, in days 2
    Date of deposit 10/15/2024
    Refund date 10/17/2024
    Interest rate for placement of funds (fixed or floating) FIXED
    Minimum fixed interest rate for placement of funds, % per annum 18.14
    Basic floating interest rate for placement of funds –
    Minimum spread, % per annum –
    Terms of conclusion of a bank deposit agreement (fixed-term, replenishable or special) Urgent
    Minimum amount of funds placed for one application, million monetary units 1,000
    Maximum number of applications from one credit institution, pcs. 5
    Application selection form (open or closed) Open
    Application selection schedule (Moscow time)
    Venue for the selection of applications PAO Moscow Exchange
    Applications accepted: from 09:30 to 09:40
    Preliminary applications: from 09:30 to 09:35
    Applications in competition mode: from 09:35 to 09:40
    Formation of a consolidated register of applications: from 09:40 to 09:50
    Setting a cut-off percentage rate and/or recognizing the selection of applications as unsuccessful: from 09:40 to 10:00
    Submission of an offer to credit institutions to conclude a bank deposit agreement: from 10:00 to 11:00
    Receiving acceptance of an offer to conclude a bank deposit agreement from credit institutions: from 10:00 to 11:00
    Deposit transfer time In accordance with the requirements of paragraph 63 and paragraph 64 of the Order of the Federal Treasury dated 04/27/2023 No. 10n
    Application selection parameters
    Date of the selection of applications 10/15/2024
    Unique identifier of the application selection 22024523
    Deposit currency rubles
    Type of funds funds of the single treasury account
    Maximum amount of funds placed in bank deposits, million monetary units 20,000
    Placement period, in days 182
    Date of deposit 10/15/2024
    Refund date 04/15/2025
    Interest rate for placement of funds (fixed or floating) FLOATING
    Minimum fixed interest rate for placement of funds, % per annum –
    Basic floating interest rate for placement of funds RUONmDS
    Minimum spread, % per annum 0.00
    Terms of conclusion of a bank deposit agreement (fixed-term, replenishable or special) Urgent
    Minimum amount of funds placed for one application, million monetary units 1,000
    Maximum number of applications from one credit institution, pcs. 5
    Application selection form (open or closed) Open
    Application selection schedule (Moscow time)
    Venue for the selection of applications PAO Moscow Exchange
    Applications accepted: from 12:30 to 12:40
    Pre-applications: from 12:30 to 12:35
    Applications in competition mode: from 12:35 to 12:40
    Formation of a consolidated register of applications: from 12:40 to 12:50
    Setting a cut-off percentage rate and/or recognizing the selection of applications as unsuccessful: from 12:40 to 13:00
    Submission of an offer to credit institutions to conclude a bank deposit agreement: from 13:00 to 14:00
    Receiving acceptance of an offer to conclude a bank deposit agreement from credit institutions: from 13:00 to 14:00
    Deposit transfer time In accordance with the requirements of paragraph 63 and paragraph 64 of the Order of the Federal Treasury dated 04/27/2023 No. 10n

    RUONmDS = RUONIA – DS, where

    RUONIA – the value of the indicative weighted rate of overnight ruble loans (deposits) RUONIA, expressed in hundredths of a percent, published on the official website of the Bank of Russia on the Internet on the day preceding the day for which interest is accrued. In the absence of a publication of the RUONIA rate value on the day preceding the day for which interest is accrued, the last of the published RUONIA rate values is taken into account.

    DS – discount – a value expressed in hundredths of a percent and rounded (according to the rules of mathematical rounding) to two decimal places, calculated by multiplying the value of the Key Rate of the Bank of Russia by the value of the required reserve ratio for other liabilities of credit institutions for banks with a universal license, non-bank credit institutions (except for long-term ones) in the currency of the Russian Federation, valid on the date for which interest is accrued, and published on the official website of the Bank of Russia on the Internet.

    Application selection parameters
    Date of the selection of applications 10/15/2024
    Unique identifier of the application selection 22024524
    Deposit currency rubles
    Type of funds funds of the single treasury account
    Maximum amount of funds placed in bank deposits, million monetary units 50,000
    Placement period, in days 35
    Date of deposit 10/16/2024
    Refund date 11/20/2024
    Interest rate for placement of funds (fixed or floating) FLOATING
    Minimum fixed interest rate for placement of funds, % per annum –
    Basic floating interest rate for placement of funds RUONmDS
    Minimum spread, % per annum 0.00
    Terms of conclusion of a bank deposit agreement (fixed-term, replenishable or special) Urgent
    Minimum amount of funds placed for one application, million monetary units 1,000
    Maximum number of applications from one credit institution, pcs. 5
    Application selection form (open or closed) Open
    Application selection schedule (Moscow time)
    Venue for the selection of applications PAO Moscow Exchange
    Applications accepted: from 15:30 to 15:40
    Preliminary applications: from 15:30 to 15:35
    Applications in competition mode: from 15:35 to 15:40
    Formation of a consolidated register of applications: from 15:40 to 15:50
    Setting a cut-off percentage rate and/or recognizing the selection of applications as unsuccessful: from 15:40 to 16:00
    Submission of an offer to credit institutions to conclude a bank deposit agreement: from 16:00 to 17:00
    Receiving acceptance of an offer to conclude a bank deposit agreement from credit institutions: from 16:00 to 17:00
    Deposit transfer time In accordance with the requirements of paragraph 63 and paragraph 64 of the Order of the Federal Treasury dated 04/27/2023 No. 10n

    RUONmDS = RUONIA – DS, where

    RUONIA – the value of the indicative weighted rate of overnight ruble loans (deposits) RUONIA, expressed in hundredths of a percent, published on the official website of the Bank of Russia on the Internet on the day preceding the day for which interest is accrued. In the absence of a publication of the RUONIA rate value on the day preceding the day for which interest is accrued, the last of the published RUONIA rate values is taken into account.

    DS – discount – a value expressed in hundredths of a percent and rounded (according to the rules of mathematical rounding) to two decimal places, calculated by multiplying the value of the Key Rate of the Bank of Russia by the value of the required reserve ratio for other liabilities of credit institutions for banks with a universal license, non-bank credit institutions (except for long-term ones) in the currency of the Russian Federation, valid on the date for which interest is accrued, and published on the official website of the Bank of Russia on the Internet.

    Contact information for media 7 (495) 363-3232PR@moex.com

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

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

    https://www.moex.com/n73969

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Joint press release on the meeting between High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell and the UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The Foreign Secretary and EU High Representative reaffirm the importance of the relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom for European security and agree to advance work towards a security partnership to address common challenges and threats.

    The United Kingdom Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Rt Hon David Lammy MP, and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, met today ahead of attending the EU Foreign Affairs Council to exchange views with EU Foreign Affairs Ministers on shared security challenges facing Europe. 

    The Foreign Secretary and the High Representative reiterated their ironclad commitment to maintain support to Ukraine as it defends its freedom and sovereignty against Russian aggression; and their condemnation of third-country support to Russia’s military.  

    They shared their deep concern about spiralling violence in the Middle East and call for an immediate ceasefire across the Israel-Lebanon border; and in Gaza for the release of all hostages, unhindered access for humanitarian aid and renewed focus on a two-State solution. They underline their unwavering support to UNIFIL’s role. It is vital that peacekeepers and civilians are protected. They fully support UNIFIL’s work in South Lebanon, which is mandated in UN Resolution 1701.

    They condemn Iranian attacks on Israel and its supply of ballistic missiles to Russia for use against Ukraine and are committed to sanction Iran’s regime on that account.  

    In the light of a difficult geopolitical context, the High Representative and the Foreign Secretary reaffirmed the importance of the relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom for European security and defence and agreed to advance work towards a security partnership to address common threats and challenges.

    They underlined the importance and value of regular exchanges and the need for the EU and the UK to stand together as close partners in security and defence. High Representative Borrell and UK Foreign Secretary Lammy agreed during their meeting that the UK and EU will establish a six-monthly Foreign Policy Dialogue between the UK Foreign Secretary and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, to enable strategic cooperation on the highest priority issues and first meeting in early 2025.  In addition, they also agreed to a number of regular UK-EU strategic consultations to sit underneath this on Russia/Ukraine, the Indo-Pacific, the Western Balkans and Hybrid threats. 

    In the face of an increasingly volatile and unstable world, the time is right for friends to stand together in partnership and work together on our shared foreign policy and security challenges.

    ENDS

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    Updates to this page

    Published 14 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: Albanese government has surcharges in its sights, as it pursues the votes of consumers

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

    The Albanese government has announced a first step in what it says is a crackdown on excessive card surcharges and threatened a ban on surcharges for debit cards from early 2026.

    In the latest of its cost-of-living measures, the government will provide $2.1 million for the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission “to tackle excessive surcharges”.

    The government also says it is prepared to ban debit card surcharges from January 1 2026, subject to further work by the Reserve Bank and “safeguards to ensure both small businesses and consumers can benefit from lower costs”.

    The government is not considering a ban on credit card surcharges, although the ACCC scrutiny will cover both debit and credit cards.

    The bank is reviewing merchant card payment costs and surcharging. Its first consultation paper will be released on Tuesday.

    The government said in a statement: “the declining use of cash and the rise of electronic payments means that more Australians are getting slugged by surcharges, even when they use their own money”.

    “The RBA’s review is an important step to reduce the costs small businesses face when processing payments. We want to ease costs for consumers without added costs for small businesses, or unintended consequences for the broader economy,” the statement from the prime minister, treasurer and assistant treasurer said.

    Funding for the ACCC “will enable the consumer watchdog to crack down on illegal and unfair surcharging practices and increase education and compliance activities”.

    The Reserve Bank required card providers such as Visa and Mastercard to remove their no‐surcharge rules in 2003 allowing retailers to directly pass on the costs of accepting card payments.

    With the spread of payments by card, surcharges have become ubiquitous.

    In a parliamentary hearing in August the head of the National Australia Bank Andrew Irvine complained about having to pay a 10% surcharge when he bought a cup of coffee in Sydney.

    He told an inquiry it was “outrageous”, saying he didn’t like “the lack of transparency and lack of consistency”.

    The ACCC regulates surcharges and can require merchants prove a surcharge is justified. It can take merchants to court to enforce the regulations governing surcharges, and has done so. But many charges are still higher than they are supposed to be.

    The European Union bans surcharges.

    Treasurer Jim Chalmers said: “Consumers shouldn’t be punished for using cards or digital payments, and at the same time, small businesses shouldn’t have to pay hefty fees just to get paid themselves”.

    The total cost to Australian consumers of surcharges is disputed – the RBA review will look at the likely cost.

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

    – ref. Albanese government has surcharges in its sights, as it pursues the votes of consumers – https://theconversation.com/albanese-government-has-surcharges-in-its-sights-as-it-pursues-the-votes-of-consumers-241251

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    January 23, 2025
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