NewzIntel.com

Category: Politics

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murray Discusses Government Funding and Resolution Affirming Right to Lifesaving Emergency Care

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    ***WATCH: SENATOR MURRAY’S REMARKS HERE***
    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, joined Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) at Senate Democrats’ weekly leadership press conference to discuss the path forward on government funding and to discuss her efforts to seek unanimous consent to pass her resolution affirming the right to lifesaving emergency care for women.
    Senator Murray’s full remarks as delivered are below:
    “After some completely unnecessary drama from House Republicans, we do now have a bipartisan compromise to avoid a shutdown, and we are working to get it passed in a timely way.
    “And, I should mention, the path forward, the way we got a bill we can actually pass, was exactly the way Leader Schumer and I have been calling for.
    “No poison pills, no bending over backward for the far right—a bipartisan compromise on a fairly straightforward CR, something all sides can agree on, so that we can avoid a government shutdown, and negotiate full year funding bills in a bipartisan way in order to tackle the many urgent issues left unaddressed.
    “We should all be very glad we won’t have a painful shutdown, but let’s also remember the pattern we saw play out here yet again, so that perhaps we can finally avoid another pointless repeat.
    “The simple trick here is just this: If you want to avoid a shut down—don’t focus on appeasing the people calling for a shutdown!“It’s really that easy. We have shown here in the Senate there is BIPARTISAN interest in writing serious funding bills. Vice Chair Collins and I passed 11 bills out of our Committee with overwhelming bipartisan support.
    “Compromise takes time and it takes hard work, but I think it has been proven this Congress, many times over, that the path of bipartisanship is far easier—and far and away more productive—than the dead end MAGA extremism House Republicans keep making their first priority.
    “So I hope once we get this CR passed, we can all skip that drama, get to the negotiating table, and cut to the chase to write serious, bipartisan full year funding bills that can get signed into law.
    “On another important issue: last week I introduced a simple resolution with Senate Democrats which reaffirms a very basic principle that when a woman needs emergency care—including abortion care to save her life—no politician should stop her from getting that.
    “But the reality is in America, Donald Trump’s abortion bans are killing women. The reality is that a majority of Senate Republicans actually signed onto a brief to the Supreme Court saying essentially, ‘No, we DON’T think doctors should be required to provide abortion care when a patient’s life is at stake.’
    “26 of them to be exact. Their brief rejected the idea—the basic medical reality—of abortion as stabilizing care.
    “You should ask every one of them, what concrete policy changes in federal law they would support to save the life of a mother whose doctors can’t treat her because of a Republican abortion ban.
    “We should all refuse to accept a status quo in America where pregnant women are dying not because doctors can’t save them, but because doctors don’t know if Republican politicians will let them.
    “Later this afternoon, on the Senate floor, I will put forward our resolution on emergency care and we’ll see if Senate Republicans will join Democrats in saying, ‘Yes, women have a right to get abortion care when their life is at stake.’
    “This should be the absolute bare minimum, but no matter what, Senate Democrats will hold Republicans accountable for the cruelty of these abortion bans and fight to fully restore the rights Donald Trump ripped away.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: AI is fuelling a deepfake porn crisis in South Korea. What’s behind it – and how can it be fixed?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sungshin (Luna) Bae, PhD student, Gender Equality Policy Special Public Officer at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office in South Korea, Monash University

    It’s difficult to talk about artificial intelligence without talking about deepfake porn – a harmful AI byproduct that has been used to target everyone from Taylor Swift to Australian school girls.

    But a recent report from startup Security Heroes found that out of 95,820 deepfake porn videos analysed from different sources, 53% featured South Korean singers and actresses – suggesting this group is disproportionately targeted.

    So, what’s behind South Korea’s deepfake problem? And what can be done about it?

    Teenagers and minors among victims

    Deepfakes are digitally manipulated photos, video or audio files that convincingly depict someone saying or doing things they never did. Among South Korean teenagers, creating deepfakes has become so common that some even view it as a prank. And they don’t just target celebrities.

    On Telegram, group chats have been made for the specific purpose of engaging in image-based sexual abuse of women, including middle-school and high-school students, teachers and family members. Women who have their pictures on social media platforms such as KakaoTalk, Instagram and Facebook are also frequently targeted.

    The perpetrators use AI bots to generate the fake imagery, which is then sold and/or indiscriminately disseminated, along with victims’ social media accounts, phone numbers and KakaoTalk usernames. One Telegram group attracted some 220,000 members, according to a Guardian report.

    A lack of awareness

    Despite gender-based violence causing significant harm to victims in South Korea, there remains a lack of awareness on the issue.

    South Korea has experienced rapid technological growth in recent decades. It ranks first in the world in smartphone ownership and is cited as having the highest internet connectivity. Many jobs, including those in restaurants, manufacturing and public transport, are being rapidly replaced by robots and AI.

    But as Human Rights Watch points out, the country’s progress in gender equality and other human rights measures has not kept pace with digital advancement. And research has shown that technological progress can actually exacerbate issued of gender-based violence.

    Since 2019, digital sex crimes against children and adolescents in South Korea have been a huge issue – particularly due to the “Nth Room” case. This case involved hundreds of young victims (many of whom were minors) and around 260,000 participants engaged in sharing exploitative and coercive intimate content.

    The case triggered widespread outrage and calls for stronger protection. It even led to the establishment of stronger conditions in the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes 2020. But despite this, the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office said only 28% of the total 17,495 digital sex offenders caught in 2021 were indicted — highlighting the ongoing challenges in effectively addressing digital sex crimes.

    In 2020, the Ministry of Justice’s Digital Sexual Crimes Task Force proposed about 60 legal provisions, which have still not been accepted. The team was disbanded shortly after the inauguration of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s government in 2022.

    During the 2022 presidential race, Yoon said “there is no structural gender discrimination” in South Korea and pledged to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, the main ministry responsible for preventing gender-based violence. This post has remained vacant since February of this year.

    Can technology also be the solution?

    But AI isn’t always harmful – and South Korea provides proof of this too. In 2022, a digital sex crime support centre run by the Seoul metropolitan government developed a tool that can automatically track, monitor and delete deepfake images and videos around the clock.

    The technology – which won the 2024 UN Public Administration Prize – has helped reduce the time taken to find deepfakes from an average of two hours to three minutes. But while such attempts can help reduce further harm from deepfakes, they are unlikely to be an exhaustive solutions, as effects on victims can be persistent.

    For meaningful change, the government needs to hold service providers such as social media platforms and messaging apps accountable for ensuring user safety.

    Unified efforts

    On August 30, the South Korean government announced plans to push for legislation to criminalise the possession, purchase and viewing of deepfakes in South Korea.

    However, investigations and trials may continue to fall short until deepfakes in South Korea are recognised as a harmful form of gender-based violence. A multifaceted approach will be needed to address the deepfake problem, including stronger laws, reform and education.

    South Korean authorities must also help to enhance public awareness of gender-based violence, and focus not only on supporting victims, but on developing proactive policies and educational programs to prevent violence in the first place.

    Sungshin (Luna) Bae 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. AI is fuelling a deepfake porn crisis in South Korea. What’s behind it – and how can it be fixed? – https://theconversation.com/ai-is-fuelling-a-deepfake-porn-crisis-in-south-korea-whats-behind-it-and-how-can-it-be-fixed-238217

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General’s remarks at the Opening of the General Debate of the Seventy-ninth Session of the General Assembly [trilingual, as delivered, scroll down for all-English and all-French]

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    Mr. President of the General Assembly,

    Excellencies,

    Ladies and gentlemen,

    Our world is in a whirlwind.

    We are in an era of epic transformation – facing challenges unlike any we have ever seen – challenges that demand global solutions.

    Yet geo-political divisions keep deepening. The planet keeps heating.

    Wars rage with no clue how they will end.

    And nuclear posturing and new weapons cast a dark shadow.

    We are edging towards the unimaginable – a powder keg that risks engulfing the world.

    Meanwhile, 2024 is the year that half of humanity goes to the polls – and all of humanity will be affected.

    I stand before you in this whirlwind convinced of two overriding truths.

    First, the state of our world is unsustainable.

    We can’t go on like this.

    And second, the challenges we face are solvable.

    But that requires us to make sure the mechanisms of international problem-solving actually solve problems.

    The Summit of the Future was a first step, but we have a long way to go.

    Getting there requires confronting three major drivers of unsustainability.

    A world of impunity – where violations and abuses threaten the very foundation of international law and the UN Charter.

    A world of inequality – where injustices and grievances threaten to undermine countries or even push them over the edge.

    And a world of uncertainty – where unmanaged global risks threaten our future in unknowable ways.

    These worlds of impunity, inequality and uncertainty are connected and colliding.

    Excellencies,

    The level of impunity in the world is politically indefensible and morally intolerable.

    Today, a growing number of governments and others feel entitled to a “get out of jail free” card.

    They can trample international law.

    They can violate the United Nations Charter.

    They can turn a blind eye to international human rights conventions or the decisions of international courts.

    They can thumb their nose at international humanitarian law.

    They can invade another country, lay waste to whole societies, or utterly disregard the welfare of their own people.

    And nothing will happen.

    We see this age of impunity everywhere — in the Middle East, in the heart of Europe, in the Horn of Africa, and beyond.

    The war in Ukraine is spreading with no signs of letting up.

    Civilians are paying the price – in rising death tolls and shattered lives and communities.

    It is time for a just peace based on the UN Charter, on international law and on UN resolutions.

    Meanwhile, Gaza is a non-stop nightmare that threatens to take the entire region with it.

    Look no further than Lebanon.

    We should all be alarmed by the escalation. 

    Lebanon is at the brink. 

    The people of Lebanon – the people of Israel – and the people of the world — cannot afford Lebanon to become another Gaza.

    Let’s be clear.

    Nothing can justify the abhorrent acts of terror committed by Hamas on October 7th, or the taking of hostages – both of which I have repeatedly condemned.

    And nothing can justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.

    The speed and scale of the killing and destruction in Gaza are unlike anything in my years as Secretary-General.

    More than 200 of our own staff have been killed, many with their families.

    And yet the women and men of the United Nations continue to deliver humanitarian aid.

    I know you join me in paying a special tribute to UNRWA and to all humanitarians in Gaza.

    The international community must mobilize for an immediate ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and the beginning of an irreversible process towards a two-State solution.

    For those who go on undermining that goal with more settlements, more landgrabs, more incitement — I ask:

    What is the alternative?

    How could the world accept a one-state future in which a large a large number of Palestinians would be included without any freedom, rights or dignity?

    In Sudan, a brutal power struggle has unleashed horrific violence — including widespread rape and sexual assaults.

    A humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding as famine spreads.  Yet outside powers continue to interfere with no unified approach to finding peace.

    In the Sahel, the dramatic and rapid expansion of the terrorist threat requires a joint approach rooted in solidarity – but regional and international cooperation have broken down.

    From Myanmar to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Haiti to Yemen and beyond – we continue to see appalling levels of violence and human suffering in the face of a chronic failure to find solutions.

    Meanwhile our peacekeeping missions are too often operating in areas where simply there is no peace to keep.

    Instability in many places around the world is a by-product of instability in power relations and geo-political divides.

    For all its perils, the Cold War had rules.

    There were hot lines, red lines and guard rails.

    It can feel as though we don’t have that today.

    Nor do we have a unipolar world.

    We are moving to a multipolar world, but we are not there yet.

    We are in a purgatory of polarity.

    And in this purgatory, more and more countries are filling the spaces of geopolitical divides, doing whatever they want with no accountability.

    That is why it is more important than ever to reaffirm the Charter, to respect international law, to support and implement decisions of international courts, and to reinforce human rights in the world.

    Anywhere and everywhere.

    Excellences, Mesdames et Messieurs,
     
    L’augmentation des inégalités est un deuxième facteur de l’insoutenabilité et une tache sur notre conscience collective.
     
    L’inégalité n’est pas une question technique ou bureaucratique.
     
    Au fond, l’inégalité est une question de pouvoir, aux racines historiques.
     
    Les conflits, les bouleversements climatiques et la crise du coût de la vie étendent ces racines historiques plus profondément encore.
     
    Dans le même temps, le monde peine encore à se relever de la flambée des inégalités engendrée par la pandémie.
     
    Si l’on regarde les 75 pays les plus pauvres du monde, un tiers d’entre eux se trouve aujourd’hui dans une situation pire qu’il y a cinq ans.
     
    Au cours de la même période, les cinq hommes les plus riches de la planète ont plus que doublé leurs fortunes.
     
    Et un pour cent des habitants de la planète détient 43 % de l’ensemble des avoirs financiers mondiaux.
     
    Au niveau national, certains gouvernements décuplent les inégalités en accordant des cadeaux fiscaux massifs aux entreprises et aux ultra-riches — au détriment des investissements dans la santé, l’éducation et la protection sociale.
     
    Et personne n’est plus lésé que les femmes et les filles du monde entier.
     
    Excellences,
     
    La discrimination et les abus généralisés fondés sur le genre constituent l’inégalité la plus répandue dans toutes les sociétés.
     
    Chaque jour, il semble que nous soyons confrontés à de nouveaux cas révoltants de féminicides, de violences fondées sur le genre et de viols collectifs – en temps de paix comme en tant qu’arme de guerre.
     
    Dans certains pays, les lois sont utilisées pour menacer la santé et les droits reproductifs.
     
    Et en Afghanistan, les lois sont utilisées pour entériner l’oppression systématique des femmes et des filles.
     
    Et je suis désolé de constater que, malgré des années de beaux discours, l’inégalité de genre se manifesteet je vous demande pardon de le dire, elle se manifeste aujourd’hui encore, pleinement dans cette enceinte.
     
    Moins de 10 pour cent des intervenants au Débat général de cette semaine sont des femmes.
     
    C’est inacceptable, surtout quand on sait que l’égalité entre les femmes et les hommes contribue à la paix, au développement durable, à l’action climatique et bien plus encore.
     
    C’est précisément pour cela nous avons pris des mesures spécifiques pour atteindre la parité hommes-femmes parmi les hauts responsables de l’Organisation des Nations Unies,objectif qui est déjà complété.
     
    C’est faisable.
     
    J’exhorte les institutions politiques et économiques du monde dominées par les hommes à le faire aussi.
     
    Excellences,
     
    Les inégalités mondiales se reflètent et se renforcent jusque dans nos propres organisations internationales.
     
    Le Conseil de sécurité des Nations Unies a été conçu par les vainqueurs de la Seconde Guerre mondiale.
     
    À l’époque, la majeure partie du continent africain était encore sous domination coloniale.
     
    À ce jour, l’Afrique n’a toujours aucun siège permanent au sein de la principale instance de paix du monde.
     
    Un changement s’impose.
     
    Il en va de même pour l’architecture financière mondiale, mise en place il y a 80 ans.
     
    Je félicite les dirigeants de la Banque mondiale et du Fonds monétaire international pour les mesures importantes qu’ils ont entreprises.
     
    Mais comme le souligne le Pacte pour l’avenir, la lutte contre les inégalités exige une accélération de la réforme de l’architecture financière internationale.
     
    Au cours des huit dernières décennies, l’économie mondiale s’est développée et transformée.
     
    Les institutions de Bretton Woods n’ont pas suivi le rythme.
     
    Elles ne sont plus en mesure de fournir un filet de sécurité mondial, ni d’offrir aux pays en développement le niveau de soutien dont ils ont tant besoin.
     
    Dans les pays les plus pauvres du monde, le coût des intérêts de la dette dépasse, en moyenne, le coût des investissements dans l’éducation, la santé et les infrastructures publiques réunis.
     
    Et à l’échelle du monde, plus de 80 % des cibles des Objectifs de développement durable ne sont pas en bonne voie.

    Excelencias,

    Volver al camino correcto requiere un aumento de financiamiento para la Agenda 2030 y el Acuerdo de París.

    Esto implica que los países del G20 lideren un Estímulo para los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible de 500.000 millones de dólares al año.

    Implica reformas para aumentar sustancialmente la capacidad de préstamo de los Bancos Multilaterales de Desarrollo – y permitirles ampliar masivamente la financiación asequible a largo plazo para el clima y el desarrollo.

    Implica ampliar la financiación de contingencia mediante el reciclaje de los Derechos Especiales de Giro.

    E implica promover una reestructuración de la deuda a largo plazo.

    Excelencias,

    No me hago ilusiones sobre las barreras a la reforma del sistema multilateral.

    Los que tienen poder político y económico, o y los que creen tenerlo, son siempre reacios al cambio.

    Pero el status quo ya está agotando su poder.

    Sin reformas, la fragmentación es inevitable, y las instituciones globales perderán legitimidad, credibilidad y eficacia.

    Excellencies,

    The third driver of our unsustainable world is uncertainty.

    The ground is shifting under our feet.

    Anxiety levels are off the charts.

    And young people, in particular, are counting on us and seeking solutions.

    Uncertainty is compounded by two existential threats – the climate crisis and the rapid advance of technology — in particular, Artificial Intelligence.

    Excellencies,

    We are in a climate meltdown.

    Extreme temperatures, raging fires, droughts, and epic floods are not natural disasters.

    They are human disasters — increasingly fueled by fossil fuels.

    No country is spared. But the poorest and most vulnerable are hardest hit.

    Climate hazards are blowing a hole through the budgets of many African countries, costing up to five per cent of GDP – every year.

    And this is just the start.

    We are on course to careen past the global limit of a 1.5 degree temperature rise.

    But as the problem gets worse, solutions are getting better.

    Renewable prices are plummeting, roll-out is accelerating, and lives are being transformed by affordable, accessible clean energy.

    Renewables don’t just generate power. They generate jobs, wealth, energy security and a path out of poverty for millions.

    But developing countries cannot be plundered in that journey.

    Our Panel on Critical Minerals has recommended fair and sustainable ways to meet global demand for these resources, which are essential to the renewables revolution.

    Excellencies,

    A future without fossil fuels is certain.  A fair and fast transition is not.

    That is in your hands.

    By next year, every country must produce an ambitious new national climate action plan – or Nationally Determined Contributions.

    These must bring national energy strategies, sustainable development priorities, and climate ambitions together.

    They must align with the 1.5 degree limit, cover the whole economy, and contribute to every one of the COP28 energy transition targets.

    An International Energy Agency report released today breaks this down.

    By 2035, on average, advanced economies must slash energy emissions 80 per cent, and emerging markets 65 per cent.

    The G20 is responsible for 80 per cent of total emissions.

    They must lead the charge – keeping with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities in the light of different national circumstances.

    But this must be a joint effort — pooling resources, scientific capacities and proven and affordable technologies for all to be able to reach those targets.

    I’m honoured to be working closely with President Lula of Brazil – who is both G20 Chair and COP30 host – to secure maximum ambition, acceleration and cooperation. We just met for that purpose.

    Finance is essential.

    COP29 is around the corner.

    It must deliver a significant new finance goal.

    We also need a Loss and Damage Fund that meets the scale of the challenge – and developed countries meeting their adaptation finance promises.

    And we must finally flip the script on a crazy situation:

    We continue to reward polluters to wreck our planet.

    The fossil fuel industry continues to pocket massive profits and subsidies, while everyday people bear the costs of climate catastrophe – from rising insurance premiums to lost livelihoods.

    I call on G20 countries to shift money from fossil fuel subsidies and investments to a just energy transition;

    To put an effective price on carbon;

    And to implement new and innovative sources of financing – including solidarity levies on fossil fuel extraction – through legally-binding, transparent mechanisms.

    All by next year and this taking into account that those who shoulder the blame must foot the bill.

    Polluters must pay.

    Excellencies,

    The rapid rise of new technologies poses another unpredictable existential risk.

    Artificial Intelligence will change virtually everything we know — from work, education and communication, to culture and politics.

    We know AI is rapidly advancing, but where is it taking us:

    To more freedom – or more conflict?

    To a more sustainable world – or greater inequality?

    To being better informed – or easier to manipulate?

    A handful of companies and even individuals have already amassed enormous power over the development of AI – with little accountability or oversight for the moment.

    Without a global approach to its management, artificial intelligence could lead to artificial divisions across the board – a Great Fracture with two internets, two markets, two economies – with every country forced to pick a side, and enormous consequences for all.

    The United Nations is the universal platform for dialogue and consensus.

    It is uniquely placed to promote cooperation on AI – based on the values of the Charter and international law.

    The global debate happens here, or it does not happen.

    I welcome important first steps.

    Two resolutions in the General Assembly, the Global Digital Compact, and the recommendations of the High-Level Body on AI can lay the foundations for inclusive governance of AI.

    Let’s move forward together to make AI a force for good.

    Excellencies,

    Nothing lasts forever.

    But a feature of human life is that it appears otherwise.

    The current order always feels fixed.

    Until it is not.
     
    Across human history, we see empires rising and falling; old certainties crumbling; tectonic shifts in global affairs.
     
    Today our course is unsustainable.

    It is in all our interests to manage the epic transformations underway; to choose the future we want and to guide our world towards it.

    Many have said that the differences and divisions today are just too great.

    That it is impossible for us to come together for the common good.

    You proved that is not true.

    The Summit of the Future showed that with a spirit of dialogue and compromise, we can join forces to steer our world to a more sustainable path.

    It is not the end.

    It is a start of a journey, a compass in the whirlwind.

    Let’s keep going.

    Let’s move our world towards less impunity and more accountability …. less inequality and more justice … less uncertainty and more opportunity.

    The people of the world are looking to us – and succeeding generations will look back on us.

    Let them find us on the side of the United Nations Charter … on the side of our shared values and principles … and on the right side of history.

    I thank you.

    ***
    [all-English]

    Mr. President of the General Assembly,
     
    Excellencies,
     
    Ladies and gentlemen,
     
    Our world is in a whirlwind.
     
    We are in an era of epic transformation – facing challenges unlike any we have ever seen – challenges that demand global solutions.
     
    Yet geo-political divisions keep deepening. The planet keeps heating.

    Wars rage with no clue how they will end.
     
    And nuclear posturing and new weapons cast a dark shadow.
     
    We are edging towards the unimaginable – a powder keg that risks engulfing the world.
     
    Meanwhile, 2024 is the year that half of humanity goes to the polls – and all of humanity will be affected.
     
    I stand before you in this whirlwind convinced of two overriding truths.
     
    First, the state of our world is unsustainable.
     
    We can’t go on like this.
     
    And second, the challenges we face are solvable.
     
    But that requires us to make sure the mechanisms of international problem-solving actually solve problems.
     
    The Summit of the Future was a first step, but we have a long way to go.
     
    Getting there requires confronting three major drivers of unsustainability.
     
    A world of impunity – where violations and abuses threaten the very foundation of international law and the UN Charter.
     
    A world of inequality – where injustices and grievances threaten to undermine countries or even push them over the edge.
     
    And a world of uncertainty – where unmanaged global risks threaten our future in unknowable ways.
     
    These worlds of impunity, inequality and uncertainty are connected and colliding.
     
    Excellencies,
     
    The level of impunity in the world is politically indefensible and morally intolerable.
     
    Today, a growing number of governments and others feel entitled to a “get out of jail free” card.
     
    They can trample international law.
     
    They can violate the United Nations Charter.
     
    They can turn a blind eye to international human rights conventions or the decisions of international courts.
     
    They can thumb their nose at international humanitarian law.
     
    They can invade another country, lay waste to whole societies, or utterly disregard the welfare of their own people.
     
    And nothing will happen.
     
    We see this age of impunity everywhere — in the Middle East, in the heart of Europe, in the Horn of Africa, and beyond.
     
    The war in Ukraine is spreading with no signs of letting up.
     
    Civilians are paying the price – in rising death tolls and shattered lives and communities.
     
    It is time for a just peace based on the UN Charter, on international law and on UN resolutions.
     
    Meanwhile, Gaza is a non-stop nightmare that threatens to take the entire region with it.
     
    Look no further than Lebanon.
     
    We should all be alarmed by the escalation. 
     
    Lebanon is at the brink. 
     
    The people of Lebanon – the people of Israel – and the people of the world — cannot afford Lebanon to become another Gaza.
     
    Let’s be clear.
     
    Nothing can justify the abhorrent acts of terror committed by Hamas on October 7th, or the taking of hostages – both of which I have repeatedly condemned.
     
    And nothing can justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.
     
    The speed and scale of the killing and destruction in Gaza are unlike anything in my years as Secretary-General.
     
    More than 200 of our own staff have been killed, many with their families.
     
    And yet the women and men of the United Nations continue to deliver humanitarian aid.
     
    I know you join me in paying a special tribute to UNRWA and to all humanitarians in Gaza.
     
    The international community must mobilize for an immediate ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and the beginning of an irreversible process towards a two-State solution.
     
    For those who go on undermining that goal with more settlements, more landgrabs, more incitement — I ask:
     
    What is the alternative?
     
    How could the world accept a one-state future in which a large a large number of Palestinians would be included without any freedom, rights or dignity?
     
    In Sudan, a brutal power struggle has unleashed horrific violence — including widespread rape and sexual assaults.
     
    A humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding as famine spreads.  Yet outside powers continue to interfere with no unified approach to finding peace.
     
    In the Sahel, the dramatic and rapid expansion of the terrorist threat requires a joint approach rooted in solidarity – but regional and international cooperation have broken down.
     
    From Myanmar to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Haiti to Yemen and beyond – we continue to see appalling levels of violence and human suffering in the face of a chronic failure to find solutions.
     
    Meanwhile our peacekeeping missions are too often operating in areas where simply there is no peace to keep.
     
    Instability in many places around the world is a by-product of instability in power relations and geo-political divides.
     
    For all its perils, the Cold War had rules.
     
    There were hot lines, red lines and guard rails.
     
    It can feel as though we don’t have that today.
     
    Nor do we have a unipolar world.
     
    We are moving to a multipolar world, but we are not there yet.
     
    We are in a purgatory of polarity.
     
    And in this purgatory, more and more countries are filling the spaces of geopolitical divides, doing whatever they want with no accountability.
     
    That is why it is more important than ever to reaffirm the Charter, to respect international law, to support and implement decisions of international courts, and to reinforce human rights in the world.
     
    Anywhere and everywhere.

    Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

    Rising inequalities are a second driver of unsustainability and a stain on our collective conscience. 

    Inequality is not a technical or bureaucratic issue. 

    At its heart, inequality is a question of power with historic roots.

    Conflict, climate upheaval and the cost-of-living crisis, are pushing those roots deeper. 

    At the same time, the world has not recovered from the surge in inequalities caused by the pandemic.

    Of the world’s poorest 75 countries, one-third are worse off today than they were five years ago.

    During that same period, the five richest men in the world have more than doubled their wealth.
     
    And the top one per cent of people on earth own 43 per cent of all global financial assets.

    At the national level, some governments are supercharging inequalities by doling out massive tax giveaways to corporations and the ultra-rich, while shortchanging investments in health, education and social protection.

    No one is being short-changed more than the world’s women and girls. 

    Excellencies, 
     
    Rampant gender-based discrimination and abuse are the most prevalent inequality across all societies. 
     
    Every day, it seems we are confronted by yet more sickening cases of femicide, gender-based violence and mass rape, both in peacetime and as a weapon of war. 
     
    In some countries, laws are being used to threaten reproductive health and rights. 

    And in Afghanistan, laws are being used to lock-in the systematic oppression of women and girls. 
     
    And I am sorry to observe that despite years of talk, gender inequality is on full display, and I am sorry for mentioning it here, gender inequality is on full display in this very Hall. 

    Less than 10 per cent of speakers during this week’s General Debate are women. 
     
    This is unacceptable – especially when we know gender equality delivers for peace, sustainable development, climate action and much more. 

    That is precisely why we took targeted measures to achieve gender parity among the United Nations senior leadership, an objective that has already been achieved.

    It’s doable. 

    I call on male-dominated political and economic establishments around the world to do it as well.
     
    Excellencies,

    Global inequalities are reflected and reinforced even in our own global institutions.

    The United Nations Security Council was designed by the victors of the Second World War. 

    Most of Africa was still under colonial domination. 

    To this day, Africa has no permanent seat on the world’s preeminent council of peace. 

    This must change.

    So must the global financial architecture, set up 80 years ago. 

    I commend the leaders of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund for taking important steps.

    But as the Pact for the Future emphasizes, tackling inequalities requires accelerating reform of the international financial architecture.

    Over the past eight decades, the global economy has grown and transformed.

    The Bretton Woods institutions have not kept pace.

    They can no longer provide a global safety net – or offer developing countries the level of support they need.

    Debt interest payments in the world’s poorest countries now cost more, on average, than investments in education, health and infrastructure combined.

    And around the world, more than 80 per cent of Sustainable Development Goal targets are off track. 

    Excellencies,

    Getting back on track requires a surge of financing for the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement.

    That means G20 countries leading on an SDG Stimulus of $500 billion a year. 

    It means reforms to substantially increase the lending capacity of Multilateral Development Banks and enable them to massively scale-up affordable long-term climate and development finance.

    It means expanding contingency financing through recycling Special Drawing Rights.

    And it means promoting long-term debt-restructuring.

    Excellencies,

    I have no illusions about the obstacles to reform of the multilateral system.

    Those with political and economic power – and those who believe they have power – are always reluctant to change.

    But the status quo is already draining their power.

    Without reform, fragmentation is inevitable, and global institutions will become less legitimate, less credible, and less effective.
     
    Excellencies,
     
    The third driver of our unsustainable world is uncertainty.
     
    The ground is shifting under our feet.
     
    Anxiety levels are off the charts.
     
    And young people, in particular, are counting on us and seeking solutions.
     
    Uncertainty is compounded by two existential threats – the climate crisis and the rapid advance of technology — in particular, Artificial Intelligence.
     
    Excellencies,
     
    We are in a climate meltdown.
     
    Extreme temperatures, raging fires, droughts, and epic floods are not natural disasters.
     
    They are human disasters — increasingly fueled by fossil fuels.
     
    No country is spared. But the poorest and most vulnerable are hardest hit.
     
    Climate hazards are blowing a hole through the budgets of many African countries, costing up to five per cent of GDP – every year.
     
    And this is just the start.
     
    We are on course to careen past the global limit of a 1.5 degree temperature rise.
     
    But as the problem gets worse, solutions are getting better.
     
    Renewable prices are plummeting, roll-out is accelerating, and lives are being transformed by affordable, accessible clean energy.
     
    Renewables don’t just generate power. They generate jobs, wealth, energy security and a path out of poverty for millions.
     
    But developing countries cannot be plundered in that journey.
     
    Our Panel on Critical Minerals has recommended fair and sustainable ways to meet global demand for these resources, which are essential to the renewables revolution.
     
    Excellencies,
     
    A future without fossil fuels is certain.  A fair and fast transition is not.
     
    That is in your hands.
     
    By next year, every country must produce an ambitious new national climate action plan – or Nationally Determined Contributions.
     
    These must bring national energy strategies, sustainable development priorities, and climate ambitions together.
     
    They must align with the 1.5 degree limit, cover the whole economy, and contribute to every one of the COP28 energy transition targets.
     
    An International Energy Agency report released today breaks this down.
     
    By 2035, on average, advanced economies must slash energy emissions 80 per cent, and emerging markets 65 per cent.
     
    The G20 is responsible for 80 per cent of total emissions.
     
    They must lead the charge – keeping with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities in the light of different national circumstances.
     
    But this must be a joint effort — pooling resources, scientific capacities and proven and affordable technologies for all to be able to reach those targets.
     
    I’m honoured to be working closely with President Lula of Brazil – who is both G20 Chair and COP30 host – to secure maximum ambition, acceleration and cooperation. We just met for that purpose.
     
    Finance is essential.
     
    COP29 is around the corner.
     
    It must deliver a significant new finance goal.
     
    We also need a Loss and Damage Fund that meets the scale of the challenge – and developed countries meeting their adaptation finance promises.
     
    And we must finally flip the script on a crazy situation:
     
    We continue to reward polluters to wreck our planet.
     
    The fossil fuel industry continues to pocket massive profits and subsidies, while everyday people bear the costs of climate catastrophe – from rising insurance premiums to lost livelihoods.
     
    I call on G20 countries to shift money from fossil fuel subsidies and investments to a just energy transition;
     
    To put an effective price on carbon;
     
    And to implement new and innovative sources of financing – including solidarity levies on fossil fuel extraction – through legally-binding, transparent mechanisms.
     
    All by next year and this taking into account that those who shoulder the blame must foot the bill.
     
    Polluters must pay.
     
    Excellencies,
     
    The rapid rise of new technologies poses another unpredictable existential risk.
     
    Artificial Intelligence will change virtually everything we know — from work, education and communication, to culture and politics.
     
    We know AI is rapidly advancing, but where is it taking us:
     
    To more freedom – or more conflict?
     
    To a more sustainable world – or greater inequality?
     
    To being better informed – or easier to manipulate?
     
    A handful of companies and even individuals have already amassed enormous power over the development of AI – with little accountability or oversight for the moment.
     
    Without a global approach to its management, artificial intelligence could lead to artificial divisions across the board – a Great Fracture with two internets, two markets, two economies – with every country forced to pick a side, and enormous consequences for all.
     
    The United Nations is the universal platform for dialogue and consensus.
     
    It is uniquely placed to promote cooperation on AI – based on the values of the Charter and international law.
     
    The global debate happens here, or it does not happen.
     
    I welcome important first steps.
     
    Two resolutions in the General Assembly, the Global Digital Compact, and the recommendations of the High-Level Body on AI can lay the foundations for inclusive governance of AI.
     
    Let’s move forward together to make AI a force for good.
     
    Excellencies,
     
    Nothing lasts forever.
     
    But a feature of human life is that it appears otherwise.
     
    The current order always feels fixed.
     
    Until it is not.
     
    Across human history, we see empires rising and falling; old certainties crumbling; tectonic shifts in global affairs.
     
    Today our course is unsustainable.
     
    It is in all our interests to manage the epic transformations underway; to choose the future we want and to guide our world towards it.
     
    Many have said that the differences and divisions today are just too great.
     
    That it is impossible for us to come together for the common good.
     
    You proved that is not true.
     
    The Summit of the Future showed that with a spirit of dialogue and compromise, we can join forces to steer our world to a more sustainable path.
     
    It is not the end.
     
    It is a start of a journey, a compass in the whirlwind.
     
    Let’s keep going.
     
    Let’s move our world towards less impunity and more accountability …. less inequality and more justice … less uncertainty and more opportunity.
     
    The people of the world are looking to us – and succeeding generations will look back on us.
     
    Let them find us on the side of the United Nations Charter … on the side of our shared values and principles … and on the right side of history.
     
    I thank you.

    ***
    [all-French]

    Monsieur le Président,

    Excellences,

    Mesdames et Messieurs,

    Notre monde est pris dans un tourbillon.

    Nous vivons une ère de transformation aux proportions épiques et faisons face à des défis sans précédent qui exigent des solutions mondiales.

    Et pourtant, les divisions géopolitiques ne vont qu’en s’aggravant. La planète continue de se réchauffer.

    Les guerres font rage sans que l’on sache comment elles vont se terminer.

    Les gesticulations nucléaires et les nouvelles armes font planer sur nous une ombre inquiétante.

    Nous allons tout droit vers l’inimaginable : une poudrière qui risque d’engloutir le monde.

    En 2024, la moitié de l’humanité doit se rendre aux urnes – et c’est sur l’humanité tout entière que pèsera l’issue de ces scrutins.

    Je me tiens devant vous, face à ce tourbillon, convaincu de deux vérités primordiales.

    Tout d’abord, l’état dans lequel se trouve notre monde n’est pas viable.

    On ne peut pas continuer ainsi.

    Et deuxièmement, il est possible de relever les défis auxquels nous sommes confrontés.

    Mais pour cela, nous devons nous assurer que les mécanismes de règlement des problèmes internationaux permettent bel et bien de régler les problèmes.

    Le Sommet de l’avenir était un premier pas, mais le chemin à parcourir est encore long.

    Pour y parvenir, il faut s’attaquer à trois grands facteurs de l’insoutenabilité.

    Un monde d’impunité – dans lequel les violations et les atteintes menacent le fondement même du droit international et de la Charte des Nations Unies.

    Un monde d’inégalités – où les injustices et les griefs auxquelles elles donnent jour menacent d’affaiblir les pays, ou pire, de les précipiter dans le gouffre.

    Et un monde d’incertitude – où les risques mondiaux ne sont pas gérés, ce qui hypothèque notre avenir, bien au-delà de ce que l’on peut imaginer.

    Ces mondes d’impunité, d’inégalité et d’incertitude sont liés entre eux et se télescopent.

    Excellences,

    Le degré d’impunité dans le monde est indéfendable sur le plan politique et moralement intolérable.

    Aujourd’hui, un nombre croissant de gouvernements et d’autres acteurs se sentent autorisés à bénéficier, comme au Monopoly, d’une carte « Vous êtes libéré de prison ».

    Ils peuvent fouler aux pieds le droit international.

    Ils peuvent violer la Charte des Nations Unies.

    Ils peuvent ignorer les conventions internationales relatives aux droits humains ou les décisions des tribunaux internationaux.

    Ils peuvent bafouer le droit international humanitaire.

    Ils peuvent envahir un autre pays, dévaster des sociétés entières ou mépriser complètement le bien-être de leur propre peuple.

    Sans que rien ne se passe.

    Partout ‒ au Moyen-Orient, au cœur de l’Europe, dans la Corne de l’Afrique et au-delà ‒ c’est l’ère de l’impunité.

    La guerre en Ukraine s’étend et rien n’indique qu’elle va s’arrêter.

    Ce sont les populations civiles qui en paient le prix. À preuve, les morts de plus en plus nombreuses, les vies et les communautés brisées.

    Il est temps d’instaurer une paix juste, fondée sur la Charte des Nations Unies, le droit international et les résolutions des organes des Nations Unies.

    Pendant ce temps, Gaza vit un cauchemar permanent qui menace d’entraîner toute la région dans le chaos.

    À commencer par le Liban.

    Nous devrions tous être alarmés par cette escalade. 

    Le Liban est au bord du gouffre. 

    Le peuple libanais, le peuple israélien et les peuples du monde ne peuvent se permettre que le Liban devienne un autre Gaza.

    Soyons clairs.

    Rien ne peut justifier les actes de terreur abominables commis par le Hamas le 7 octobre, ni les prises d’otages, que j’ai condamnés à maintes reprises.

    Mais rien ne peut justifier d’infliger un châtiment collectif au peuple palestinien.

    La rapidité et l’ampleur du massacre et des destructions à Gaza ne ressemblent à rien d’autre de ce que j’ai connu depuis que je suis Secrétaire général.

    Plus de 200 membres du personnel des Nations Unies ont déjà été tués et, souvent, des membres de leurs familles ont aussi péri à leurs côtés.

    Et pourtant, les femmes et les hommes des Nations Unies continuent d’accomplir leur mission.

    Je sais que vous vous joignez à moi pour rendre un hommage appuyé à l’UNRWA et à tous les humanitaires à Gaza.

    La communauté internationale doit se mobiliser pour obtenir un cessez-le-feu immédiat, la libération immédiate et inconditionnelle des tous les otages et le lancement d’un processus irréversible pour qu’une solution des deux États voie le jour.

    J’aimerais poser une question à ceux qui continuent de saper cet objectif en multipliant les implantations, les expulsions, les provocations:
    Quelle est l’alternative ?

    Comment le monde pourrait-il accepter un État qui inclurait un grand nombre de Palestiniens et de Palestiniennes privés de liberté, de droits et de dignité ?

    Au Soudan, une lutte brutale pour le pouvoir a donné lieu à d’horribles violences, notamment des viols et des agressions sexuelles à grande échelle.

    Une catastrophe humanitaire est en train de se produire dans un pays en proie à une famine rampante. Pourtant, les puissances extérieures continuent de s’ingérer sans aucune approche unifiée pour trouver la paix.

    Au Sahel, l’expansion dramatique et rapide de la menace terroriste exige l’adoption d’une approche commune fondée sur la solidarité, mais la coopération régionale et internationale est en panne.

    Du Myanmar à la République démocratique du Congo, en passant par Haïti et le Yémen, les populations restent exposées à des violences et des souffrances effroyables, sur fond d’incapacité chronique à trouver des solutions.

    Pendant ce temps, nos missions de maintien de la paix opèrent trop souvent dans des lieux où il n’y a tout simplement pas de paix à maintenir.

    L’instabilité que l’on observe en de nombreux endroits du monde est la conséquence de l’instabilité des relations de pouvoir et des clivages géopolitiques.

    La Guerre Froide était pleine de dangers, mais elle avait aussi ses règles.

    Il y avait le téléphone rouge, des limites à ne pas franchir et des garde-fous.

    On a parfois l’impression que l’on n’a rien de tout cela aujourd’hui.

    Nous ne vivons pas non plus dans un monde unipolaire.

    Nous sommes en train de passer à un monde multipolaire, mais nous n’y sommes pas encore.

    Nous sommes en fait dans le purgatoire de la polarité.

    Et dans ce purgatoire, de plus en plus de pays occupent les espaces laissés vides par les divisions géopolitiques et font ce qu’ils veulent sans avoir à rendre de comptes.

    C’est pourquoi il est plus important que jamais de réaffirmer la Charte, d’appuyer et de respecter le droit international et de renforcer les droits humains à travers le monde.

    Partout et en tout lieu.

    Excellences, Mesdames et Messieurs,

    L’augmentation des inégalités est un deuxième facteur de l’insoutenabilité et une tache sur notre conscience collective. 

    L’inégalité n’est pas une question technique ou bureaucratique. 

    Au fond, l’inégalité est une question de pouvoir, aux racines historiques.

    Les conflits, les bouleversements climatiques et la crise du coût de la vie étendent ces racines historiques plus profondément encore. 

    Dans le même temps, le monde peine encore à se relever de la flambée des inégalités engendrée par la pandémie.

    Si l’on regarde les 75 pays les plus pauvres du monde, un tiers d’entre eux se trouve aujourd’hui dans une situation pire qu’il y a cinq ans.

    Au cours de la même période, les cinq hommes les plus riches de la planète ont plus que doublé leurs fortunes.

    Et un pour cent des habitants de la planète détient 43 % de l’ensemble des avoirs financiers mondiaux.

    Au niveau national, certains gouvernements décuplent les inégalités en accordant des cadeaux fiscaux massifs aux entreprises et aux ultra-riches — au détriment des investissements dans la santé, l’éducation et la protection sociale.

    Et personne n’est plus lésé que les femmes et les filles du monde entier.

    Excellences,

    La discrimination et les abus généralisés fondés sur le genre constituent l’inégalité la plus répandue dans toutes les sociétés.

    Chaque jour, il semble que nous soyons confrontés à de nouveaux cas révoltants de féminicides, de violences fondées sur le genre et de viols collectifs – en temps de paix comme en tant qu’arme de guerre.

    Dans certains pays, les lois sont utilisées pour menacer la santé et les droits reproductifs. 

    Et en Afghanistan, les lois sont utilisées pour entériner l’oppression systématique des femmes et des filles.

    Et je suis désolé de constater que, malgré des années de beaux discours, l’inégalité de genre se manifeste, et je vous demande pardon de le dire, elle se manifeste aujourd’hui encore, pleinement dans cette enceinte.

    Moins de 10 pour cent des intervenants au Débat général de cette semaine sont des femmes.
     
    C’est inacceptable, surtout quand on sait que l’égalité entre les femmes et les hommes contribue à la paix, au développement durable, à l’action climatique et bien plus encore.

    C’est précisément pour cela nous avons pris des mesures spécifiques pour atteindre la parité hommes-femmes parmi les hauts responsables de l’Organisation des Nations Unies, objectif qui est déjà complété.

    C’est faisable.

    J’exhorte les institutions politiques et économiques du monde dominées par les hommes à le faire aussi.
     
    Excellences,

    Les inégalités mondiales se reflètent et se renforcent jusque dans nos propres organisations internationales.

    Le Conseil de sécurité des Nations Unies a été conçu par les vainqueurs de la Seconde Guerre mondiale. 

    À l’époque, la majeure partie du continent africain était encore sous domination coloniale. 

    À ce jour, l’Afrique n’a toujours aucun siège permanent au sein de la principale instance de paix du monde. 

    Un changement s’impose.

    Il en va de même pour l’architecture financière mondiale, mise en place il y a 80 ans. 

    Je félicite les dirigeants de la Banque mondiale et du Fonds monétaire international pour les mesures importantes qu’ils ont entreprises.

    Mais comme le souligne le Pacte pour l’avenir, la lutte contre les inégalités exige une accélération de la réforme de l’architecture financière internationale.

    Au cours des huit dernières décennies, l’économie mondiale s’est développée et transformée.

    Les institutions de Bretton Woods n’ont pas suivi le rythme.

    Elles ne sont plus en mesure de fournir un filet de sécurité mondial, ni d’offrir aux pays en développement le niveau de soutien dont ils ont tant besoin. 

    Dans les pays les plus pauvres du monde, le coût des intérêts de la dette dépasse, en moyenne, le coût des investissements dans l’éducation, la santé et les infrastructures publiques réunis.

    Et à l’échelle du monde, plus de 80 % des cibles des Objectifs de développement durable ne sont pas en bonne voie.

    Excellences,

    Pour que l’on puisse redresser le cap, les financements mobilisés pour le Programme 2030 et l’Accord de Paris doivent connaître un véritable bond.

    Cela implique que les pays du G20 montrent l’exemple sur le Plan de relance des Objectifs de développement durable, de 500 milliards de dollars par an.

    Cela implique également d’engager des réformes pour renforcer considérablement la capacité de prêt des Banques multilatérales de développement, afin qu’elles puissent proposer bien davantage de financements abordables et à long terme pour l’action climatique et le développement.

    Cela implique de débloquer plus largement des financements pour imprévus, à travers le recyclage des droits de tirage spéciaux.

    Et cela implique de promouvoir une restructuration de la dette à long terme.

    Excellences,

    Je ne me fais guère d’illusions sur les obstacles que nous rencontrerons dans le cadre de la réforme du système multilatéral.

    Ceux qui détiennent le pouvoir politique et économique – et ceux qui croient le détenir – ont toujours une aversion au changement.

    Pourtant, le statu quo ébranle déjà leur pouvoir.

    Sans réforme, la fragmentation est inévitable, condamnant les institutions mondiales à perdre en légitimité, en crédibilité et en efficacité.

    Excellences,

    Le troisième facteur de l’insoutenabilité de notre monde est l’incertitude.

    Le sol se dérobe sous nos pieds.

    L’anxiété est à son comble.

    Les jeunes, en particulier, comptent sur nous et recherchent des solutions.

    L’incertitude est aggravée par deux menaces existentielles : la crise climatique et les bouleversements technologiques rapides, notamment l’intelligence artificielle.

    Excellences,

    Nous assistons à un véritable effondrement du climat.

    Les températures extrêmes, les incendies violents, les sécheresses et les inondations catastrophiques ne sont pas des catastrophes naturelles.

    Ce sont des catastrophes humaines, dont les combustibles fossiles précipitent l’enchaînement.

    Aucun pays n’est épargné. Mais ce sont les pays les plus pauvres et les plus vulnérables qui paient le prix fort.

    Les calamités climatiques obèrent les budgets de nombreux pays d’Afrique et leur coûtent jusqu’à 5 % de leur PIB – chaque année.

    Et ce n’est que le début.

    La température mondiale est sur le point de dépasser la limite de 1,5 degré.

    Mais si le problème s’aggrave, les solutions que l’on y apporte deviennent plus efficaces.

    Prenons l’exemple des énergies renouvelables : leur prix diminue fortement, leur déploiement s’accélère et des populations voient leur quotidien transformé par une énergie propre, accessible et d’un coût abordable.

    Les énergies renouvelables ne servent pas qu’à produire de l’électricité. Elles créent aussi des emplois et de la richesse, sont gages de sécurité énergétique et permettent à des millions de personnes de sortir de la pauvreté.

    Mais cela ne doit pas passer par le pillage des pays en développement.

    Notre Groupe chargé de la question des minéraux essentiels a recommandé que des mesures équitables et durables soient prises pour répondre à la demande mondiale dans ces ressources, indispensables à la révolution des énergies renouvelables.

    Excellences,

    Il est certain qu’un monde sans combustibles fossiles verra le jour. En revanche, rien ne dit que la transition sera rapide ou équitable.

    Cela dépend de vous.

    D’ici à l’an prochain, tous les pays devront élaborer de nouveaux plans d’action nationaux pour le climat ambitieux – ou déterminer leurs contributions au niveau national.

    Ils devront faire converger leurs stratégies énergétiques nationales, leurs priorités en matière de développement durable et les ambitions climatiques.

    Ils devront ne pas dépasser la limite de 1,5 degré, couvrir l’ensemble de l’économie et concourir à la réalisation de tous les objectifs de transition énergétique convenus lors de la COP28.

    Dans le rapport qu’elle a publié aujourd’hui, l’Agence internationale de l’énergie chiffre le niveau d’ambition à atteindre.

    D’ici à 2035, en moyenne, les émissions de gaz à effet de serre doivent diminuer de 80 % dans les économies avancées, de 65 % dans les marchés émergents.

    Les pays du G20 sont responsables au total de 80 % des émissions.

    Ils doivent mener la charge, en respectant le principe des responsabilités communes mais différenciées et en tenant compte des capacités de chacun, en fonction des différents contextes nationaux.

    Mais cette action doit s’inscrire dans une démarche collective et suppose la mise en commun des ressources, des capacités scientifiques et de technologies abordables à l’efficacité avérée pour que tous puissent atteindre cet objectif.

    J’ai l’honneur de collaborer étroitement avec le Président Lula, dont le pays préside le G20 et accueillera la COP 30, afin de garantir le plus haut degré d’ambition possible, d’accélérer le rythme des progrès et de favoriser la coopération.

    Nous venons de nous rencontrer pour discuter de cela.

    Les financements sont d’une importance cruciale.

    La COP29 arrive à grands pas.

    Elle doit être l’occasion de fixer un nouvel objectif ambitieux en matière de financement.

    Il faut également que le fonds pour les pertes et les préjudices soit à la hauteur de l’enjeu et que les pays développés tiennent leurs promesses en matière de financement de l’adaptation.

    Et l’heure est venue de faire bouger les lignes face à une situation insensée.

    Nous continuons de récompenser les pollueurs qui détruisent notre planète.

    Le secteur des combustibles fossiles continue d’engranger des profits et des subventions considérables, mais ce sont les populations qui supportent les coûts de la catastrophe climatique, depuis la hausse des primes d’assurance jusqu’à la perte de leurs moyens de subsistance.

    Je demande aux pays du G20 de mettre fin aux subventions et aux investissements liés aux combustibles fossiles et de financer à la place une transition énergétique juste,

    De mettre un prix au carbone.

    Et d’adopter des sources de financement nouvelles et novatrices – notamment en instaurant une redevance internationale de solidarité sur l’extraction des combustibles fossiles, au moyen de mécanismes juridiquement contraignants et transparents.

    Et ce, d’ici à l’année prochaine.

    Et ce en tenant compte du fait que pour les responsables, l’heure des comptes a sonné.

    Les pollueurs doivent payer.

    Excellences,

    L’essor rapide des nouvelles technologies est une autre menace existentielle dont les conséquences sont imprévisibles.

    L’intelligence artificielle transformera notre monde du tout au tout : le travail, mais aussi l’éducation, la communication, la culture ou encore la politique.

    Nous savons que l’intelligence artificielle progresse rapidement, mais où nous mène-t-elle ?

    Vers plus de liberté ou plus de conflits ?

    Vers un monde plus durable ou de plus grandes inégalités ?

    Serons-nous mieux informés ou plus faciles à manipuler ?

    Une poignée d’entreprises et même de particuliers ont déjà acquis un pouvoir immense grâce au développement de l’intelligence artificielle, sans, pour le moment, avoir véritablement à rendre des comptes et sans grand contrôle.

    Faute de mesures mondiales pour en gérer le déploiement, l’intelligence artificielle risque d’engendrer des divisions artificielles dans tous les domaines, de donner lieu à une grande fracture entre deux internets, deux marchés et deux économies et, ainsi, de faire naître une situation où chaque pays serait contraint de choisir un camp, ce qui serait lourd de conséquences pour l’humanité tout entière.

    L’ONU est une instance universelle de dialogue et de consensus.

    Elle est particulièrement bien placée pour promouvoir la coopération en ce qui concerne l’intelligence artificielle, sur la base des valeurs de la Charte et du droit international.

    C’est dans cette enceinte, et nulle part ailleurs, que les membres de la communauté internationale débattent.

    Je salue les premières mesures importantes qui ont été prises.

    Deux résolutions de l’Assemblée générale, le Pacte numérique mondial et les recommandations de l’Organe consultatif de haut niveau sur l’intelligence artificielle, peuvent asseoir les bases d’une gouvernance inclusive de l’intelligence artificielle.

    Ensemble, faisons de l’intelligence artificielle une force au service du bien.

    Excellences,

    Rien n’est éternel.

    Mais l’humanité a ceci de particulier qu’elle croit le contraire.

    L’ordre en place a toujours l’air d’être indémontable.

    Jusqu’au jour où tout bascule.

    L’histoire de l’humanité a été marquée par l’essor et la chute d’empires, l’effondrement de vieilles certitudes et de véritables séismes sur le théâtre du monde.

    Aujourd’hui, nous allons droit dans le mur.

    Il est dans notre intérêt à toutes et à tous de gérer les transformations colossales qui sont en cours, de déterminer l’avenir que nous voulons et de faciliter son avènement dans le monde.

    Beaucoup pensent que les divisions et les divergences d’aujourd’hui sont insurmontables,

    Que nous ne parviendrons pas à nous rassembler pour le bien commun.

    Vous avez prouvé que ce n’était pas le cas.

    Le Sommet de l’avenir a montré que nous pouvons unir nos forces dans un esprit de dialogue et de compromis pour engager le monde sur une voie plus durable.

    Ce n’est pas une fin.

    Ce n’est que le début, une boussole dans la tempête.

    Il faut continuer sur cette lancée.

    Ne ménageons pas nos efforts : pour lutter contre l’impunité et renforcer le respect du principe de responsabilité… pour moins d’inégalités et plus de justice… pour échapper à l’incertitude et élargir le champ des possibles.

    Les populations du monde entier comptent sur nous, et les générations futures nous jugeront à l’aune de ce que nous aurons accompli.

    Nous devons ne pas les décevoir. Nous devons être à la hauteur de la Charte des Nations Unies… de nos valeurs et principes communs… et du bon côté de l’histoire.

    Et je vous remercie.
     

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Experts of the Committee on Enforced Disappearances Commend Ukraine’s Law on Missing Persons in Special Circumstances, Ask Questions on Secret Detentions and the Forced Transfer of Children to the Russian Federation

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

     

    The Committee on Enforced Disappearances today concluded its consideration of the initial report of Ukraine, with Committee Experts commending the State on the adoption of the law on the legal status of persons missing in special circumstances, while asking questions on secret detentions and the forced transfer of children to the Russian Federation.

     

    Several Committee Experts paid tribute to the courage and resilience of the people of Ukraine in the context of the ongoing war on its territory.  Carmen Rosa Villa Quintana, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, said the Committee could not be indifferent to war in any circumstances.  It was essential to bring about peace in line with the United Nations Charter.

    Olivier de Frouville, Committee Chair and Country Rapporteur, congratulated the State party for adopting the law on the legal status of persons missing in special circumstances, and for its 2022 revision, which contributed positively to the search for missing persons.  Could Ukrainian State agents be held accountable under the law?

    Mr. de Frouville said there were allegations of secret detentions in Kharkiv, particularly during the period of 2014 to 2016, and that basements of buildings in Kyiv were being used as unofficial detention sites.  Did the State party have information on these allegations?  There did not seem to be an effective mechanism to prevent these practices from continuing.

    Addressing the forced transfer of children to the Russian Federation and occupied territories, Mr. de Frouville asked how many of the 19,546 children who had been transferred were considered as victims of enforced disappearance.  Was there a specific procedure for reviewing placements of children who had been illegally adopted?

    Introducing the report, Leonid Tymchenko, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine and head of the delegation, said that the law on the legal status of persons missing under special circumstances stipulated that the Ukrainian State was obliged to take all possible measures to trace a person missing in special circumstances.  The law also established enforced disappearance as an offence in national criminal law.

    Since September 2015, Mr. Tymchenko reported, law enforcement agencies had registered more than 5,000 criminal offences directly related to enforced disappearances, including the deprivation of liberty of more than 14,000 civilians.

    The delegation said investigations had been carried out that had disproven allegations of incommunicado detentions.  The State party investigated all such allegations.

    Regarding the forced transfer of children, Mr. Tymchenko said several heads of the occupation authorities and two deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation were charged by Ukraine with committing criminal offences in this regard, while the International Criminal Court had issued an arrest warrant for President Putin and lvova-Belova, the Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights.

    The delegation added that the State party was doing everything possible to obtain information on the missing children.  It was negotiating an agreement regarding the return of around 300 children.  Russian officials had not recognised the transfer and illegal adoption of Ukrainian children and had made falsified documents to hide these crimes.

    In concluding remarks, Horacio Ravenna, Committee Vice-Chair and acting Chair for the dialogue, said the Committee and the State party shared a common goal: full implementation of the Convention. Ukraine had shown its commitment to this goal.  He called on the State party to remain in contact with the Committee, which would support its efforts to implement the Convention.  The Committee’s strong hope was that peace would be achieved in Ukraine.

    Mr. Tymchenko, in his concluding remarks, said cooperation with the Committee would help the State party in its efforts to uphold its international obligations. He called on the Committee to keep in mind the current circumstances in Ukraine.  Every day, aerial attacks were being carried out across the State.  The State party was aware that it needed to uphold human rights, even those of its enemies.

      

    The delegation of Ukraine consisted of the Commissioner for Persons Missing in Special Circumstances and representatives of the Office of the Prosecutor General; Security Service; Ministry of Internal Affairs; National Police; and the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the United Nations Office at Geneva.

     

    The Committee will issue its concluding observations on the report of Ukraine at the end of its twenty-seventh session, which concludes on 4 October.  Summaries of the public meetings of the Committee can be found here, while webcasts of the public meetings can be found here.  The programme of work of the Committee’s twenty-seventh session and other documents related to the session can be found here.

     

    The Committee will next meet in public this afternoon, Tuesday 24 September, at 3 p.m. to consider the initial report of Morocco (CED/C/MAR/1).

    Report

    The Committee has before it the initial report of Ukraine (CED/C/UKR/1).

    Presentation of Report

    LEONID TYMCHENKO, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine and head of the delegation, said this dialogue was an important event that marked a new chapter in the protection of human rights and freedoms.  In the midst of an unprovoked war with the Russian Federation, Ukraine remained committed to human rights principles and this dialogue was an important part of the collective struggle for justice.  In 2015, Ukraine became a State party to the Convention, and thus undertook to eradicate and prevent enforced disappearances.  Currently, enforced disappearances committed on Ukraine’s sovereign territory were related to the armed aggression of the Russian Federation.  Despite these challenging times, Ukraine continued to comply with its international obligations.

    Ukraine took measures to ensure the uniform application of the Convention within its internationally recognised borders, including in the territories controlled by the aggressor State and its occupation forces, including Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Kharkiv regions, as well as the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.  It ensured that all reports of unlawful acts as defined in article two of the Convention deliberately committed by representatives of the occupation administration of the Russian Federation were promptly, thoroughly and impartially recorded and properly investigated, with all perpetrators identified and brought to justice, and, if found guilty by a court, punished in accordance with the gravity of their actions.

    The law on the legal status of persons gone missing under special circumstances stipulated that the Ukrainian State was obliged to take all possible measures to trace a person missing in special circumstances.  The law also established enforced disappearance as an offence in national criminal law.  On 21 August 2024, the Verkhovna Rada adopted a law on the ratification of the Rome Statute.  In order to implement the Rome Statute, it adopted in the first reading a draft law that would add articles to the Criminal Code on crimes against humanity, which would include enforced disappearance within the meaning of article five of the Convention.

    Since September 2015, law enforcement agencies had registered more than 5,000 criminal offences directly related to enforced disappearances, including the deprivation of liberty of more than 14,000 civilians.  Special attention should be paid to the results of the investigation conducted by the State into the forced transfer of Ukrainian children to the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine from 2022 to 2024, their deportation to the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus and the forced granting of Russian citizenship, and their placement in Russian families and adoption.

    Several heads of the occupation authorities and two deputies of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation were charged with committing criminal offences by Ukraine in this regard, while the International Criminal Court had issued an arrest warrant for President Putin and lvova-Belova, the Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights, for the illegal transfer and deportation of Ukrainian children.

    The Prosecutor’s Offices had served 275 persons with notices of suspicion in 137 criminal proceedings, and 119 indictments against 241 persons were sent to bring the perpetrators to justice.  The State party had also established a unified register of persons gone missing under special circumstances, which had been in operation since May 2023.  As of today, it contained information on 48,324 such individuals who were currently being sought to determine their fate.  Around 4,700 people had been confirmed to be in captivity; the actual number could be much higher.  The aggressor State was not fulfilling its international obligations under the Geneva Conventions, denying the Red Cross access to visit places of detention and holding civilian hostages.  This made it impossible to exert influence on the Russian Federation, which was not a State party to the Convention.

    Measures had been taken to release both captured Ukrainian defenders and illegally detained civilians.  In the period before the full-scale invasion, 3,497 people were released; since the invasion, 3,669 people had been released.  More than 90 per cent of persons returned from captivity reported that they were subjected to various forms of violence and torture by representatives of the aggressor State, and in the period before the full-scale invasion, all detainees without exception were subjected to psychological and physical violence.

    The Constitution of Ukraine stipulated that everyone had the right to liberty and personal inviolability.  No one could be arrested or held in detention, except by a reasoned court decision and only in accordance with the conditions and procedures established by law.  Ukraine had established a national preventive mechanism to ensure the effective prevention and elimination of enforced disappearances.  In 109 territorial units of the national police, the “Custody Records” information subsystem was implemented, designed to guarantee the safe stay of detained persons under police control.

    The State ensured the police’s ability to effectively fight crime without violating human rights through the introduction of electronic recording of all actions against persons under police control, as well as a mandatory interview of the detained person and the police officer who carried out the detention.  The State also ensured that there was sufficient infrastructure in the police unit; round-the-clock video surveillance; a human rights inspector; and remote oversight by authorised officials of the central police authority.  In 2018, Ukraine established the State Bureau of Investigation, a State law enforcement agency responsible for preventing and investigating criminal offences committed, in particular, by law enforcement officers.

    During this time of crisis for Ukraine, the country had a special responsibility to take strict measures to prevent and eliminate enforced disappearances in accordance with the requirements of the Convention.  The end of the aggressive war of the Russian Federation would prevent enforced disappearances in Ukraine.  Ukraine’s strategic goal was a comprehensive, just and sustainable peace in the State for the security of the whole world, which it hoped to achieve through the Ukrainian peace formula initiative put forward by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

    Questions by Committee Experts

    OLIVIER DE FROUVILLE, Committee Chair and Country Rapporteur, said the Committee acknowledged that Ukraine had a situation of armed conflict in its territory which affected the implementation of the Convention.  This was particularly true in the context of the large-scale invasion conducted since February 2022.  Mr. de Frouville paid tribute to the resilience of the Ukrainian people.  Despite the difficult situation, Ukraine continued to exert efforts to comply with its international obligations.  It was acting to search for victims of enforced disappearance on its territory and uphold the rights of families.  He expressed hope that the dialogue would help the State party to better apply the Convention.

    The report was drafted by the national Ukrainian police in collaboration with other State agencies.  Were victims’ associations or other civil society organizations involved in drafting the report?  Had the State party made any response to communications sent to it under the urgent actions procedure?  Were there any examples of courts directly invoking the Convention?  The Ukrainian Human Rights Commission had contact with the Russian Human Rights Commission.  Had the sharing of information between these bodies led to the identification of missing persons?  What efforts had been made to increase the financing and human resources of the Human Rights Commission and to implement its recommendations?

    Mr. de Frouville congratulated the State party for adopting the law on the legal status of persons missing in special circumstances, and for its 2022 revision, which contributed positively to the search for missing persons.  The law covered some cases of enforced disappearance, but not cases that did not have a link to the armed conflict or other special circumstances.  The law also potentially excluded enforced disappearance committed by the Ukrainian State.  Could Ukrainian State agents be held accountable under the law?

    The Committee welcomed the unified register of missing persons.  The register was limited to cases of special circumstances leading to disappearances. The clear category of enforced disappearance was not included in the register; would this be done in future? When would DNA data be included in the register, and was the DNA data of relatives of disappeared persons being collected?  The State party had several different databases related to human rights violations; were these connected to the register of missing persons?   The Prosecution Service had identified over 1,000 victims of enforced disappearance.  Could this data be included in the missing persons register?

    What risks had the State party identified related to martial law declared as part of Ukraine’s state of emergency?  Had the State party taken steps to prevent violations in the context of the state of emergency?

    CARMEN ROSA VILLA QUINTANA, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, paid tribute to the courage of the people of Ukraine.  The Committee could not be indifferent to war in any circumstances.  It was essential to bring about peace in line with the United Nations Charter.

    The State party had reported that it had not identified any facts implying that Ukrainian authorities were involved in any cases of enforced disappearance.  However, the Ukrainian Security Service was investigating several cases of violations of the laws and customs of war.  Were there any cases that could fall into the category of enforced disappearance?  Third party information indicated that there were individuals or groups involved in cases of enforced disappearance.  In one case, two police officers had been found to have committed crimes of enforced disappearance and torture in 2021.  There was information about the enforced disappearance of 30 journalists. What investigations had been carried out into these cases?  Had perpetrators been held accountable?  How was the State party implementing the Istanbul Protocol?

    There were cases of Russian officials being prosecuted without being informed of the charges against them. Would the State party make informing accused persons of the charges against them a legal requirement?  Did judges have the ability to define crimes as enforced disappearances?  How did the State party address violations of the Convention in the territories occupied by the Russian Federation?

    What institutions were involved in investigating the disappearance of two members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church? How was the State party investigating cases of enforced disappearance in the context of human trafficking, migration or forced displacement due to armed conflict and working to prevent this phenomenon?  Did the State party intend to define the forced transfer of children to the Russian Federation as acts of enforced disappearance?  Could information be provided on the outcomes of investigations into these cases?

    Ms. Villa Quintana welcomed planned amendments to the Criminal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure.  Did the State party plan to increase the penalty for the crime of enforced disappearance, which was currently not commensurate with the seriousness of the crime?  When would the amendments to the two Codes be adopted?  Was enforced disappearance being considered as a stand-alone crime in these amendments, and were aggravating circumstances being considered?

    Legal provisions on hierarchical responsibility were not in line with international standards. What progress had been made to adopt draft legislation on hierarchical responsibility?  What was the statute of limitations for enforced disappearance? When did it start?  The provisions on the statute of limitations in the Convention had not been incorporated in national law.  Could foreigners responsible for enforced disappearance who were not residing in Ukraine be tried in Ukraine?  Were accused persons given access to a lawyer, and appointed a lawyer if they could not afford them?  What measures were in place to notify accused persons from Russia to guarantee their active participation in trials?  What was the procedure for the appointment and removal of judges and prosecutors, particularly those charged with corruption?

    Which authorities were responsible for searching for missing and disappeared persons?  How did the State party ensure that they cooperated and carried out their mandates effectively?  The Code on Criminal Procedures established that persons charged with a crime could be suspended from their positions.  How rigorously was suspension applied; could the State party provide examples?

    A Committee Expert paid tribute to the courage and resilience of Ukraine.  Were the 5,000 cases of enforced disappearance registered by Ukraine cases of disappearance carried out by State agents against non-State actors?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said the State party had established a database of persons who went missing in special circumstances to address disappearances related to the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine. However, the national police collected biological material and DNA of persons who went missing in all contexts and registered it in relevant databases.  Authorities could also collect the DNA of the relatives of missing persons.  Data in State databases on enforced disappearances was unified.  In future, Ukraine planned to add DNA data collected by the International Commission on Missing Persons to its databases to help identify missing persons.  The Commissioner for Persons Missing in Special Circumstances and relatives of victims, including those who lived abroad, had access to the information in registries of missing persons.

    Judges could apply the Convention directly and there were examples of cases in which judges had done so.  The State party did not have access to occupied territories and could not conduct investigations there.  However, it had identified two mass graves in liberated regions, in which around 125 bodies were buried, and around 400 bodies buried in other graves in these regions.  It predicted that there were many more such graves in the occupied territories.

    Victims of human rights violations committed by Ukrainian authorities had the right to seek redress.  All persons had the right to a lawyer.  Persons who could not hire a lawyer were provided one by the State.  In cases where authorities were not able to arrest suspects residing in the Russian Federation, trials could be held in absentia.  After the State party had ratified the Rome Statute, it would be required to investigate hierarchical responsibility.  Prosecutors who were suspended for corruption or other violations were no longer able to work on cases; they were replaced immediately.

    There was a clear division between trafficking in persons and enforced disappearance in the Criminal Code.  The State party had registered cases of the trafficking of persons to the occupied territories.  Seven minors had been identified as victims in these cases and four perpetrators had been identified.  All cases of disappearance of children by Russian authorities qualified as war crimes.  Investigations into such crimes were being carried out in cooperation with non-governmental organizations to determine the fate of these children.

    When authorities received allegations that State agents had committed a crime, the State Bureau of Investigation investigated these allegations independently.

    The law on the legal status of persons missing in special circumstances did not define the precise characteristics of the victims of enforced disappearance.  The State party welcomed the Committee’s advice concerning the revision of the law in this regard.

    Questions by Committee Experts

    CARMEN ROSA VILLA QUINTANA, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, asked for information on regions where large numbers of enforced disappearances were reported, and how the State party obtained information on these cases.  Was there a specialised unit within the Security Service for investigating enforced disappearance?  Were there investigations being carried out into disappearances of activists?  What protection mechanisms were in place for persons involved in investigations of enforced disappearances and family members of victims?  Had specialised protection been provided to such persons?

    What conditions were applied regarding extradition agreements?  Had there been applications for extraditions of persons allegedly involved in enforced disappearance?  How did the State party uphold international standards in the investigation of missing persons and exhumations?  Were there any cases of intimidation or reprisals against witnesses of enforced disappearance?  How were prosecutors nominated?

    OLIVIER DE FROUVILLE, Committee Chair and Country Rapporteur, asked about the mandate of the Commissioner for Persons Missing in Special Circumstances.  How was Ukrainian law that addressed hierarchic responsibility adapted to the provisions of the Rome Statute?  What follow-up was carried out regarding urgent actions, particularly when protection measures were requested?  Was cooperation between the Ukrainian Human Rights Commission and the Russian Human Rights Commission effective?  Did the Ukrainian Commission promote the provisions of the Convention?  How did the State party prevent prolonged detention and arbitrary arrests in the context of the state of emergency?

    A Committee Expert asked whether the 5,000 enforced disappearances reported by the delegation included cases carried out against Ukrainian forces.  These should not be considered enforced disappearances.  Did the State party investigate Ukrainian citizens who were accomplices in acts of enforced disappearance?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said the State party worked together with the Commissioner for Persons Missing in Special Circumstances and the Ukrainian Human Rights Commission to provide truth for the families and loved ones of victims.

    The State party had qualified 438 war crimes involving enforced disappearance.  At least 14,000 Ukrainian civilians were being detained by the Russian Federation.  The Government had given the Human Rights Commission the power to work on liberating Ukrainian prisoners of war; this had led to cooperation with the Russian Human Rights Commission.  The Prosecution Service had a war crimes department, which conducted investigations into war crimes. 

    Ukraine had ratified bilateral agreements with five countries that addressed extraditions.  The State did not extradite persons unless it received guarantees that the safety and fair trial rights of the person involved would be respected.  Judicial registries were open to the public.

    The 5,000 cases of enforced disappearance recorded by Ukraine mainly concerned detained citizens held by Russian authorities.  The State party did not have statistics on journalists and the occupations of detained persons; Russian authorities often classified civilian prisoners as combatants. Prosecutors were faced with a large workload and their work was hindered by ongoing attacks.  Some investigators had been killed while carrying out investigations.

    The Commissioner for Persons Missing in Special Circumstances was empowered to cooperate with relevant national and international institutions, including the Ombudsman and law enforcement personnel, in investigations.  The Commissioner provided family members and relatives with information on the outcomes of investigations, and determined whether disappearances were committed by military personnel.

    Complaints of enforced disappearance against Ukrainian State agents could be taken to civilian courts, whereas complaints of enforced disappearances carried out by Russian authorities needed to be submitted to the dedicated Commission.  The Government provided protection measures for victims of enforced disappearance such as name changes; however, it did not have a sufficient budget to provide measures such as safehouses.

    In 2023, responsibility for searching for missing persons in special circumstances was transferred to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.  Special circumstances included armed conflicts and natural or man-made emergencies. In October 2023, a hotline was established within the Commission for Persons Missing in Special Circumstances, which relatives of missing and detained persons could use to file reports. The Commissioner had met with more than 5,000 family members and held meetings with several non-governmental organizations.

    The armed forces participated in searches for missing persons.  They removed bodies and documented deceased persons.  Around 55,000 people had been given “missing” status.  This number included both military personnel and civilians. Around 5,000 cases had been discontinued due to the discovery of the body.

    Questions by Committee Experts

    OLIVIER DE FROUVILLE, Committee Chair and Country Rapporteur, asked whether the State party planned to incorporate the risk of enforced disappearance into its legislation on extraditions?  There was an agreement with Sweden regarding the confidential exchange of information towards locating missing persons.  Could more information be provided about this positive practice?

    There were allegations of secret detentions in Kharkiv, particularly during the period of 2014 to 2016, and that basements of buildings in Kyiv were being used as unofficial detention sites. There were also credible allegations that around 240 prisoners of war were being held in unofficial detention sites after a drone attack on a detention centre.  Did the State party have information on these allegations? Rulings had been made on incommunicado detention conducted by the police, but there did not seem to be an effective mechanism to prevent these practices from continuing.

    The Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture had reported that not all persons deprived of liberty were given the right to contact family members and lawyers.  This right needed to be respected.  How was the right to habeas corpus implemented?  Had there been complaints of delays in the registration of deprivation of liberty, or gaps in registration?  What follow-up was made?  There were reports of difficulties in registering the transfer of detainees. This could lead to enforced disappearance.  How was the State addressing this?  What training on enforced disappearance and international human rights law was provided for State agents, judges, prosecutors, civilians and family members?

    It was positive that Ukraine was addressing legal difficulties created by disappearances.  How was the State party working to resolve overlaps between the laws that addressed enforced disappearance?  There was criticism that legislation related to enforced disappearance was complicated and that the compensation it provided was not sufficient. Did the State party plan to expand protection to all civilian victims of enforced disappearance, rather than only civilian prisoners?

    The State party needed to adopt specific legislation to address crimes listed in article 25 of the Convention. How many of the 19,546 children who had been transferred to the Russian Federation were considered as “disappeared”? How were the best interests of the child and the rights of children to express their opinions respected regarding the return of children to their families?  Was there a specific procedure related to the revision and review of a placement of a child who had been illegally adopted?

    CARMEN ROSA VILLA QUINTANA, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, asked whether persons who were not relatives of victims but were under their guardianship could be categorised as victims.  How were the rights established in the Criminal Procedural Code and the Criminal Code regarding truth, reparation and compensation provided to victims?  Could the crime of enforced disappearance be subject to a reconciliation measure? 

    Damages for crimes of enforced disappearance could be obtained through a civil case in some cases, but the State was responsible for reparation in other cases.  In what cases were perpetrators responsible for providing reparations?  What amount was paid by the State?  Did the State party plan to make amendments to legislation in this regard?  Was access to compensation subject to a conviction, and was there a deadline by which compensation needed to be provided? How many victims of enforced disappearance had received reparation?  What was the standard of proof for the granting of reparation?

    What measures were in place related to medical, social and educational support for persons deprived of liberty?  Did the State party adopt a differentiated approach for different categories of victims?

    The Human Rights Commission and the Office of Persons Missing in Special Circumstances, as well as the Ukrainian police and other State and international bodies were involved in searches for disappeared persons.  How did the State party coordinate these efforts and what resources were available in this regard?  What outcomes had these activities achieved; how many disappeared persons had been identified overall?  Were investigations being carried out by sea and water?  Had sentences for enforced disappearance been handed down that were commensurate with the severity of the crime?

    Were the two separate registries on missing persons interconnected and how did they contribute to the identification of deceased persons?  How were places of burial registered?  In how many cases had deceased persons been identified?  There were allegations that State authorities had refused to provide information to relatives of victims regarding the whereabouts of disappeared persons.  How would the State party prevent this?

    In which registry were persons who had been transferred to the Russian Federation registered?  How did the State party conduct searches for such persons?  How many burial sites was the State party aware of that had not been exhumed?  How many exhumed bodies had been returned to relatives?  Had the State party mapped mass burial and common grave sites and taken measures to protect them?

    The inclusion of missing persons in State registers could take around 48 hours.  Did search activities begin before registration had finished?  Did the State party follow the Committee’s guidelines on search practices?  Were tools such as photographs and fingerprints used to identify missing persons?  What organization was responsible for keeping human remains? Did relatives of victims have access to the State registry on human genomic information?  Biological material was taken on a compulsory basis from State agents in cases of martial law.  Was this information included in the registry on human genomic information?  Who could access this information?  In which registries were unidentified bodies registered?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said the Ministry of Reintegration was responsible for collecting information about persons relocated within the country.  It maintained a registry of reintegrated persons.  To identify persons, the State party used facial recognition systems, tattoos, personal documents and fingerprints.  When these methods were unsuccessful, DNA tests were conducted.  The biological material of military personnel was collected by each military division, which held this material while the person was under their charge.  When military personnel went missing, this data was registered in the missing persons registry.  There was a DNA database that would soon be integrated with the registry of missing persons.

    As of today, Ukraine had registered over 55,000 missing persons, including around 48,000 persons who had gone missing under special circumstances.  The State had located around 2,500 unidentified bodies. Around 4,000 bodies had been identified through cooperation between State bodies and a procedure for identification had been developed. 

    Relatives of persons who went missing in special circumstances had the right to a comprehensive investigation of those persons’ whereabouts.  Their property was subject to protection and marriages were valid until investigations were closed or the missing person was declared dead. Searches were not stopped until the person or their remains were located.

    The family members of persons who went missing in military service were provided with payments by the State in line with the missing person’s salary.  Families had the right to social protection. Guardianship for dependents of persons who went missing was established in accordance with domestic law.  Persons whose family members had died or gone missing were not subject to conscriptions.

    Investigation had been carried out that had disproven allegations of incommunicado detentions. The State party investigated all allegations of incommunicado detentions.

    Training was provided to prosecutors and investigators, including by international experts.  Seven training sessions were held for over 400 prosecutors and investigators on torture and enforced disappearance.  Staff of the national police’s missing persons unit received special training on international humanitarian law.

    There was no statute of limitations currently on the crime of enforced disappearance.  Judges decided on the sum of money granted for compensation to victims by the State in civilian court cases.  The Government was working to make the compensation process easier for civilians.  Debate was ongoing about the amount and source of compensation funds.  Under the Criminal Procedure Code, non-relatives who were close to victims could be recognised as victims.

    A draft law was being prepared that would provide compensation for victims of illegal activities conducted by Russian authorities.  The Register of Damage for Ukraine, which recorded claims and evidence on damage, loss or injury caused by the Russian Federation’s acts in or against Ukraine, had been established in the Netherlands, supported by the Council of Europe.

    The Prosecutor General’s Office coordinated investigations involving a range of State bodies.  It convened roundtables on investigations that included United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations.  It was open to revising its processes.  All identified bodies from mass graves were returned to families and buried in accordance with the family’s religion.

    Ukraine had no bilateral agreement with Sweden.  Its relationship with Sweden was governed by the Association Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine. 

    The Commissioner for Persons Missing in Special Circumstances was appointed and dismissed by the Cabinet of Ministers and the term of their office was not specified by law.

    Questions by Committee Experts

     

    CARMEN ROSA VILLA QUINTANA, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, asked whether the Register of Damage for Ukraine was a physical register.  Was there a single register of victims that allowed the State to assess the scale of compensation?  Was the State party providing measures promoting non-recurrence? Almost all court cases held in absentia had led to guilty verdicts.  Were the persons subject to trials properly notified?  There were allegations that conscientious objectors had been held in police stations, sometimes in incommunicado detention.  Had investigations identified State agents who had carried out incommunicado detentions?

    A Committee Expert asked about the criteria that judges used to decide whether to provide compensation in criminal proceedings or whether to refer the case to civil proceedings.  Was there a State fund that provided compensation when perpetrators were unable to provide compensation?

    OLIVIER DE FROUVILLE, Committee Chair and Country Rapporteur, asked about measures to improve the monitoring of deprivation of liberty.  Were there cases of the transfer of Ukrainian children that had been classified as cases of enforced disappearance?  Was there legislation that allowed for the review of adoption procedures that had arisen out of enforced disappearance?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said a specific compensation mechanism was being created for persons who were victims of serious crimes to support these persons to integrate back into society. Many returned Ukrainian soldiers had suffered torture.  If Ukrainian State agents were found to be guilty of enforced disappearance, the State provided compensation to victims.  Judges assessed the nature of the crimes to determine compensation amounts.

    The State party was doing everything possible to obtain information on the missing children. It was negotiating an agreement regarding the return of around 300 children.  Russian officials had not recognised the transfer and illegal adoption of Ukrainian children and had made falsified documents to hide these crimes. There were specific rules regarding investigations of crimes involving children.  Special child-friendly rooms were used for interviews with child victims to prevent traumatisation.

    Closing Remarks

    HORACIO RAVENNA, Committee Vice-Chair and Acting Chairperson for the review of Ukraine, said the Committee and the State party shared a common goal: full implementation of the Convention.  Ukraine had shown its commitment to this goal.  He called on the State party to remain in contact with the Committee, which would support its efforts to implement the Convention.  The Committee praised the efforts exerted by civil society partners and the Ukrainian Human Rights Commission to prevent enforced disappearance.  Its strong hope was that peace would be achieved in Ukraine.  Humanity had been deeply shaken by the horrors that were unfolding in the war.  The Committee was aware that the aid that it could provide the State party in this situation was limited.  It wished for a swift end to the dreadful war.

    LEONID TYMCHENKO, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine and head of the delegation, said the dialogue had been fruitful.  The presence of the high-level Ukrainian delegation demonstrated the importance that Ukraine attached to the issue of enforced disappearance.  Cooperation with the Committee would help the State party in its efforts to uphold its international obligations.  Mr. Tymchenko called on the Committee to keep in mind the current circumstances in Ukraine. Every day, bombs could be heard, and aerial attacks were being carried out across the State.  The State party was aware that it needed to uphold human rights, even those of its enemies.  Both State agents and citizens had had very difficult experiences over the past few years.  The war had made the citizens of Ukraine aware of the price of freedom, independence, and the territory of their country.

    ___________

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

     

    CED24.007E

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: FACT SHEET: Leaders’ Summit of the Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug  Threats

    Source: The White House

    Today, President Biden hosted a Summit of the Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats, which the President directed Secretary of State Antony Blinken to launch in June 2023, in order to mobilize international action to tackle the synthetic drug crisis.  In just over a year, the Global Coalition has grown to include 159 countries and 15 international organizations working together to disrupt the supply chain for fentanyl and other synthetic drugs; detect emerging drug threats; and prevent and treat through effective public health interventions.
     
    With the Summit as a motivating force, 11 core Coalition countries announced new initiatives that will advance the work of the Coalition, including efforts to disrupt the supply chain of fentanyl and enhance public health interventions.  These international commitments complement intensive work being done domestically, including an increased focus on coordinated disruption of drug trafficking networks and concerted efforts to make the opioid overdose reversal medication, naloxone, widely available over-the-counter.
     
    As a result of these efforts, we are starting to see the largest drop in overdose deaths in recorded history.  When President Biden and Vice President Harris came into office, the number of drug overdose deaths was increasing by more than 30% year over year.  Now, the latest provisional data released from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics show an unprecedented decline in overdose deaths of 10% in the 12 months ending April 2024. 
     
    These aren’t just numbers – these are lives.
     
    Background on the Global Coalition
     
    The 159 countries and 15 international organizations that are now part of the Coalition are working together on three key lines of effort:

    1. Disrupt the supply chain for fentanyl and other synthetic drugs;
    2. Detect emerging drug threats; and
    3. Prevent and treat through effective public health interventions. 

    For the past year, three working groups and seven sub-working groups have met monthly to create detailed plans of action.  These working groups have made tangible progress, including implementing new efforts to increase seizures of synthetic drugs and precursor chemicals at ports of entry, sharing best practices with respect to the identification of emerging drug threats, and taking actions to schedule an increasing number of synthetic drugs and precursor chemicals, thus subjecting these drugs and chemicals to increased controls. 

    New Initiatives Being Announced

    At today’s Summit, 11 core countries announced new initiatives that will move the work of each of the Coalition’s core lines of effort even further:

    1. Australia, Belgium, the Dominican Republic, India, Mexico, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom will lead new efforts to disrupt the supply of fentanyl and other synthetic drugs.  These efforts include the development of regional coalitions to disrupt the transit routes for illicit drugs, precursor chemicals, and associated equipment, protect against the diversion of chemicals for illicit use, and improve the detection and disruption of production sites.
    2. Italy and Ghana will lead new initiatives to detect emerging drug trends, to include Italy helping other Coalition countries to develop early warning systems to identify emerging drug patterns.
    3. Canada and the United Arab Emirates will work to prevent and treat the overdose epidemic, including by expanding public health interventions and making life-saving medications widely available.

    Core Coalition countries also signed a Coalition Pledge agreeing to take additional actions to regulate all relevant drugs and precursor chemicals, take needed steps to fill gaps in their own domestic authorities, expand public-private partnerships to more effectively combat the supply chain for illicit fentanyl, develop mechanisms to monitor real-time data on trends in illicit drug use, and expand access to treatment.  At the Summit, President Biden called on all other Coalition countries to likewise sign this pledge.

    Domestic Actions to Fight Fentanyl and Other Synthetic Opioids

    Since day one, the Biden-Harris Administration has made disrupting the supply of illicit fentanyl and other synthetic drugs a core priority.  As part of their Unity Agenda for the Nation, President Biden and Vice President Harris have made it a priority to invest in public health and to tackle both the supply and demand for drugs.  And those efforts have paid off:

    1. Border officials have stopped more illicit fentanyl at ports of entry in the past two fiscal years than in the previous five fiscal years combined.  In the past 11 months, over 974 million potentially lethal doses of fentanyl were seized at U.S. ports of entry.
    2. The Biden-Harris Administration deployed cutting-edge drug detection technology across our southwest border, adding dozens of new inspection systems, with dozens more coming online in the next few years.
    3. The Biden-Harris Administration has made naloxone, a life-saving opioid overdose reversal medication, widely available over the counter, and has invested over $82 billion in treatment – 40 percent more than the previous Administration.
    4. In 2021, President Biden issued an Executive Order targeting foreign persons engaged in the global illicit drug trade, and the Administration has since sanctioned over 300 persons and entities under this authority, thereby cutting them off from the United States’ financial system.
    5. The Biden-Harris Administration has prosecuted dozens of high-level Mexican cartel leaders, drug traffickers, and money launderers, including Chapitos leader Nestor Isidro “El Nini” Perez Salas, and Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación’s top chemical brokers—placing dangerous drug traffickers behind bars.  Just last week, the son of a fugitive Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación boss, Ruben “El Menchito” Oseguera, was convicted for his violent acts, including the deadly downing of a military helicopter in Mexico, in support of his father’s drug trafficking organization.

     
    In July, President Biden issued a new National Security Memorandum (NSM) calling on all relevant Federal departments and agencies to do even more to stop the supply of illicit fentanyl and other synthetic opioids in our country.  The NSM directs increased intelligence collection, more intensive coordination and cooperation across departments and agencies, and additional actions to disrupt the production and distribution of illicit fentanyl.  And the Biden-Harris Administration has called on Congress to pass the Administration’s “Detect and Defeat” counter-fentanyl legislative proposal to increase penalties on those who bring deadly drugs into our communities and to close loopholes that drug traffickers exploit.
     
    As stated above, these measures are having an effect.
     
    Provisional CDC data show a 10% drop in overdose deaths in the 12 months leading up to April 2024 – the largest drop in overdose deaths in recorded history.
     
    Other International Engagements
     
    Under the leadership of President Biden and Vice President Harris, the United States has engaged around the world – both as part of the Coalition and in numerous bilateral and multilateral engagements – to spur global action in the fight against synthetic opioids.
     
    In early 2023, President Biden, together with the President of Mexico and the Prime Minister of Canada, directed the establishment a Trilateral Fentanyl Committee, and the Biden-Harris Administration engages regularly with both countries to tackle the supply chain for fentanyl.
     
    In November 2023, President Biden negotiated the resumption of counternarcotics cooperation with the People’s Republic of China (PRC), spurring the creation of a U.S. – PRC Counternarcotics Working Group that has led to increased cooperation on law enforcement actions and ongoing efforts to shut down companies that fuel illicit fentanyl and synthetic drug trafficking and cause deaths in the United States.  
     
    The United States and India have worked together to increase counternarcotics cooperation, including by signing a new Memorandum of Understanding and Framework for ongoing work to disrupt the supply of fentanyl and other synthetic drugs just this past week. 
     
    The Biden-Harris Administration has worked extensively with law enforcement partners across the globe to hold drug traffickers to account.  These partnerships pay dividends – including by generating support for extraditions that have enabled the United States to put dozens of cartel leaders, drug traffickers, and money launderers behind bars.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Carter successfully urges FEMA to assist GA-01’s Hurricane Debby recovery with major disaster declaration

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Earl L Buddy Carter (GA-01)

    Headline: Carter successfully urges FEMA to assist GA-01’s Hurricane Debby recovery with major disaster declaration

    WASHINGTON, D.C. –  Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) gave the following statement after the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today issued a major disaster declaration for counties impacted by Hurricane Debby, including several in Georgia’s First Congressional District (GA-01):


    “I am glad FEMA approved this necessary funding for Georgia counties impacted by Hurricane Debby. After touring flooding in Richmond Hill, it became clear that these funds were urgently needed to help residents rebuild their homes and businesses. Today’s major disaster declaration officially puts GA-01 on the road to recovery,”     said Rep. Carter.


    This announcement comes after Rep. Carter led the entire Georgia Congressional Delegation in a     letter to the White House, in which the members expressed “full support of Governor Brian Kemp’s request for a major disaster declaration for the counties in the state of Georgia significantly impacted by Hurricane Debby, which caused severe damages beyond the combined capabilities of our state and local governments’ ability to respond.”


    The Major Disaster Declaration releases federal funds for:

    • Individual Assistance for Bryan, Bulloch, Chatham, Effingham, Evans, Liberty, Long, and Screven Counties.
    • Public Assistance for Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Cook, Echols, Effingham, Evans, Jeff Davis, Jenkins, Lanier, Long, Lowndes, McIntosh, Pierce, Screven, Tattnall, Thomas, Tift, Toombs, Ware, and Wayne Counties.


    Individuals in Bryan, Bulloch, Chatham, Effingham, Evans, Liberty, Long, and Screven Counties can apply with FEMA the following ways:

    1. Apply online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov. 

          2. Constituents may call the application phone number at 1-800-621-3362 (TTY: 800-462-7585).

    In light of Tropical Storm Helene’s potential landfall in GA-01 this week, Rep. Carter urges residents to stay safe and vigilant:


    “Hurricane season is not over. We must continue to prepare for every weather emergency. My website has links to emergency readiness resources, and I encourage all residents to follow updates from GEMA. Stay safe, Georgia,”     said Rep. Carter.

    Apply for disaster assistance here.

    Hurricane resources available here.

    Read the full letter here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Federal government launches Health Emergency Readiness Canada to strengthen preparedness for future health emergencies

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    New agency will provide sustained focus on growing innovation and industrial capacity in the life sciences and biomanufacturing sector to support Canada’s health emergency readiness

    New agency will provide sustained focus on growing innovation and industrial capacity in the life sciences and biomanufacturing sector to support Canada’s health emergency readiness

    September 24, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario 

    The COVID-19 pandemic has had devastating effects on Canadians and their livelihoods. That’s why the federal government is taking action to be better prepared for future health emergencies and build a stronger life sciences ecosystem in Canada.

    Today, the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, and the Honourable Mark Holland, Minister of Health, jointly announced the launch of Health Emergency Readiness Canada (HERC), a new federal organization within Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada dedicated to protecting Canadians against future pandemics and delivering on Canada’s life sciences and medical countermeasures readiness objectives.

    HERC will serve as Canada’s focal point to help mobilize industry to respond in a coordinated approach to public health needs and to support the growth of a domestic life sciences sector. This new organization will bridge the gap between research and commercialization, meaning Canadians could get faster access to the most relevant and effective vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics and other products, including when they need them the most.

    Once HERC is fully operational, its key features are expected to include:

    • integrated decision making to build life sciences capacity
    • strengthened partnerships with industry, academia and international counterparts
    • the development and maintenance of a Canadian industrial game plan to mobilize research and industry in the event of a health emergency
    • world-leading innovation to advance next-generation technology platforms

    With the creation of this new agency, Canada joins G7 peers that have created specialized entities to support health emergency readiness, following similar initiatives such as the United States’ Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and the EU’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA).

    Media Relations
    Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
    media@ised-isde.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Mike Levin Introduces Bipartisan Nuclear Waste Administration Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Sander Levin (9th District of Michigan)

    September 24, 2024

    New Legislation Would Create Independent Federal Agency to Tackle Country’s Nuclear Waste Challenges

    Washington, D.C. – Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49) and Rep. August Pfluger (TX-11) today introduced the bipartisan Nuclear Waste Administration Act of 2024, which would modernize our country’s nuclear waste management program by establishing an independent Nuclear Waste Administration to manage the country’s nuclear waste. In line with recommendations from the Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Energy Future, this bill would establish a new, single purpose organization to manage the back end of the nuclear fuel cycle, provide for a consent-based siting process for nuclear waste facilities, and ensure adequate and reliable funding for managing nuclear waste. It builds on legislation that the late Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) championed while she served in the United States Senate.

    “The federal government has a responsibility to safely manage our nation’s nuclear waste, but we’ve been caught in an impasse for decades,” said Rep. Levin. “This legislation represents a comprehensive pathway to modernize our nuclear waste program, based in consent. Our bipartisan bill would empower a new single-purpose, independent federal agency to consult and collaborate with communities to chart a path forward for safely storing and disposing of our nuclear waste. Years of inaction have left nuclear waste stored in communities all across the country – including ours – and with the federal government currently spending $2 million per day for the failure to fulfill its obligation to find a real solution. It’s clear that now is the time to act on bold solutions.”

    “Nuclear energy plays an important role in our energy mix, especially as a significant increase in energy demand is projected over the next decade. However, one of the most significant challenges to broad deployment is the impasse regarding a permanent repository. West Texas has experienced the consequences of this impasse as evidenced by the Andrews County interim storage site. I am proud to introduce the ‘Nuclear Waste Administration Act of 2024’ with Rep. Levin to move our country closer to developing a permanent repository and robust fuel management plan. We cannot meet our nuclear goals without this piece of the puzzle,” said Rep. Pfluger.

    Though the Department of Energy (DOE), which currently manages spent nuclear fuel, has made strides in recent years—including restarting a consent-based siting process for a consolidated interim storage (CIS) facility—a new single-purpose, independent federal agency solely dedicated to the safe, secure management, storage, and ultimate disposal of nuclear waste will be in a stronger position to focus on solving the long-term challenges unique to nuclear waste. It would be insulated from political headwinds and ever-changing funding levels. Additionally, this new agency acknowledges lessons learned and provides for a flexible, consent-based pathway for siting and operating both a CIS facility and ultimately a permanent repository.

    This legislation allows for a CIS facility to first prioritize storing waste from shutdown nuclear reactors so that those sites can be redeveloped, while the Nuclear Waste Administration simultaneously works to site and construct a permanent repository to ultimately dispose of the nuclear waste. The new Nuclear Waste Administration will have access to a working capital fund in the U.S. Treasury, without needing further appropriation.

    The Nuclear Waste Administration Act is also co-sponsored by Rep. Scott Peters (CA-52). 

    “As co-chairs of Spent Fuel Solutions and the County Supervisors who represent the communities closest to the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, we support this important legislation and applaud the leadership of Representatives Levin and Pfluger,” said Spent Fuel Solutions co-chairs Supervisor Jim Desmond and Supervisor Katrina Foley. “Our coalition is encouraged by recent progress on consent-based siting for interim storage and urges the swift consideration of this bill to support the development of a permanent repository, as well. Through this bipartisan effort, we are confident the U.S. can secure offsite, federally licensed storage and disposal solutions for the spent nuclear fuel being stored in 34 states across the nation.”

    “It is terrific to see progress in framing new legislation on the nation’s nuclear waste strategy.  Moving the spent fuel from sites like San Onofre is long overdue. Now the even harder work begins to get this legislation passed in the House and the Senate,” said David Victor, Professor of Innovation and Public Policy at UC San Diego and Former Chair of the SONGS Community Engagement Panel.

    “Legislation to accelerate a vibrant and durable nuclear waste program is necessary and I am very pleased to see this thoughtful initiative. We need to meet our obligations to current and future generations. I am hopeful this will lead to enactment soon,” said Tom Isaacs, the Lead Advisor of The Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future.

    Since taking office in 2019, Rep. Levin has made safety at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) and moving the spent nuclear fuel from the facility one of his top priorities. As part of that work, he convened the SONGS Task Force to develop policy recommendations to address long-term storage and disposal solutions for spent nuclear fuel. The task force issued a recommendation that an independent federal agency be established to manage nuclear waste. This legislation meets that recommendation.

    To view the bill text of the Nuclear Waste Administration Act of 2024, click here.

    To view a one-pager fact sheet, click here.

    ##

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Phillips Reintroduces Bill to Bolster Police Recruitment Nationwide

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Dean Phillips (MN-03)

    Washington, D.C. — Today, Rep. Dean Phillips reintroduced the bipartisan Pathways to Policing Act to address the police shortage in Minnesota and across the nation. The bill is endorsed by the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association, the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association, and the Fraternal Order of Police. Original cosponsors of this legislation include Representatives Brad Finstad (R-MN), Angie Craig (D-MN), David Valadao (R-CA), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Don Bacon (R-NE), Dan Kildee (D-MI), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA).

    The Pathways to Policing Act invests in programs designed to support state and local law enforcement agencies struggling to maintain adequate staffing levels. While the root causes of the nationwide officer shortage are multifaceted, bolstering the pipeline of service-oriented individuals is a crucial strategy to ensure agencies have the resources they need to protect our communities and keep officers safe.

    “Every American deserves to feel safe and protected in their own community. Unfortunately, the increasing difficulty in recruiting and retaining principled officers has threatened public safety across the country,” Rep. Phillips said. “We must provide new tools for law enforcement agencies to attract the best and brightest Americans to serve the communities in which they live. Minnesota has shown the country how to do just that, and it’s time to inspire and recruit the next generation of principled police officers who will ensure safety, security, and justice for all.”

    “Across our country and here in Minnesota, local law enforcement has experienced historic staffing shortages which has strained the law enforcement agents who work tirelessly to protect and defend our communities.” said Rep. Finstad .“I’m proud to introduce the Pathways to Policing Act with my colleagues to enhance officer recruitment and bolster the police force in southern Minnesota.”  

    “Keeping our communities safe is non-negotiable, and that’s why we’ve got to ensure we’re building a strong pipeline of new police officers – my bipartisan bill with Reps. Phillips and Finstad will help get it done,” said Rep. Craig. “Our bill will help law enforcement leaders recruit and retain the talent they need across the Second District, and I’ll be working with both parties to get it passed.

    This legislation will provide $50 million to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to operate nationwide recruitment campaigns and an additional $50 million to create and operate “Pathways to Policing” programs supported by local and statewide marketing and recruiting efforts. These campaigns will encourage members of communities traditionally underrepresented in law enforcement, or those with non-traditional educational or career backgrounds to pursue careers in the field. 

    Inspired by Minnesota’s “Pathways to Policing” programs, the Pathways to Policing Act aims to reduce the barriers for individuals pursuing careers as full-time law enforcement officers.

    Priority for grants to states, local governments, and law enforcement agencies under this program will be given to applicants seeking to build a diverse police force that represents the communities they serve.

    Jeff Potts, Executive Director, Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association:
     “Law Enforcement is facing historic workforce challenges. New officer candidate numbers have plummeted in recent years resulting in dozens of police agencies in Minnesota permanently shutting down. U.S. Representative Dean Phillips’ Pathways to Policing bill will help address this challenge. The MCPA fully supports Rep. Phillips’ efforts to pass this legislation as quickly as possible to avoid additional police agencies from shutting down.”

    Brian Peters, Executive Director, Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association:
     “The Pathways to Policing Act would address a critical issue for police departments across America – and Minnesota – who face a growing shortage of new officers and major retirements in the near future. This proposal is vitally important for community safety.”

    Patrick Yoes, National President, Fraternal Order of Police
     “Law enforcement agencies across the country are struggling to maintain a healthy police force and recruit the best and brightest candidates to serve in their communities. We believe that this legislation, which will develop and operate a nationwide marketing and recruitment campaign, will help State and local governments with their own recruitment efforts.  The “Pathways to Policing” model worked in Minnesota and we believe this success can be replicated at the national level.  We’d like to thank Representative Phillips and all the original cosponsors for their leadership.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ernst on Biden’s Final UN Speech: Kamala Harris Owns His Policies of Chaos

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)

    WASHINGTON – Following President Biden’s final address to the United Nations (UN), U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) blasted the Biden-Harris White House for sowing chaos around the world.
    She pointed out that, by allowing Iran’s president on American soil for the UN General Assembly, Biden and Harris are giving the murderous regime a platform on our homeland while ignoring its election interference, bounties placed on President Trump’s head, and targeting of Americans.

    Click here to watch Senator Ernst’s remarks.
    Background:
    Ernst has been a leading critic of the Biden-Harris administration’s decision to welcome the Iranian government to America and allow them to speak at the UN General Assembly.
    Last month, Senator Ernst urged President Biden to refuse visas for the oppressive dictators from Iran, Cuba, and Venezuela to prevent giving a microphone to the most evil leaders on Earth to promote their dangerous views.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Ontario’s closure of youth detention facilities has not resulted in more support for young people

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Jessica Evans, Assistant Professor, Criminology, Toronto Metropolitan University

    The closure of youth detention centres is a positive development. However, without adequate investment in community organizations that serve youth, it is a move set up to fail.
     (Shutterstock)

    The Ontario government said it would save $40 million per year by closing 26 youth detention centres in 2021, with promises to use those savings to support community services for youth.

    Framed as a cost-savings strategy aligned with the objectives of the Youth Criminal Justice Act, the money saved through the closures would be reinvested in community-based services and alternatives to youth detention.

    Since these closures, however, there has been no government reporting on where or when this $40 million will be reinvested. Meanwhile, organizations that serve youth report ongoing resource constraints.

    The closure of youth detention centres is a positive development. However, without adequate investment in community organizations that serve youth, it is a move set up to fail.



    Read more:
    Ontario closes half of its youth detention centres, leaving some young people in limbo

    Youth detention in Ontario

    Between 2018 and 2022, youth imprisonment numbers fell by around 50 per cent in Ontario. That continued a longer trend which has seen youth detention numbers fall by over 85 per cent over a 25-year period from 1997 to 2022. There has also been a recent uptick in youth imprisonment numbers, increasing from 9,654 in 2021-22 to 10,960 in 2022-23.

    Currently, Ontario’s youth prisons are at overcapacity, and the Sudbury youth detention centre is set to close next year.

    Several of the 26 youth detention centres that were closed were situated in northern Ontario. The Ontario Ombudsman, Nishnawbe Aski Nation and Grand Council Treaty #3 have said the abrupt closures would disproportionately impact Indigenous youth in detention.

    A CBC News report on overcrowding in Ontario’s youth detention centres.

    Community organizations overwhelmed

    We have examined the annual reports for 2019-24 from 46 organizations serving youth in the justice system from Kenora, Thunder Bay and Kingston where a significant number of the youth detention closures occurred.

    While many community organizations believe closing detention centres is a good long-term decision, there are many immediate concerns. We found consistent reporting of limited funding to support all youth in need.

    Organizations are impacted by record-high numbers of youth seeking access to services, with some organizations seeing a significant increase in the number of youth accessing their services — especially mental health programs. This has resulted in some organizations increasing the hours and days they are open to accommodate as many youth as possible, while also balancing staff burnout.

    Organizations did not report any substantial increase in funds from the government due to the closure of youth detention centres. Some noted challenges around fundraising, as many events were put on hold during the pandemic. This has resulted in organizations being unable to hire new staff or increase their services. In some cases this has also led to staff layoffs.

    Investing in community

    Deinstitutionalization refers to the period when institutions that housed or confined people with mental, cognitive, intellectual and physical disabilities were shut down, and people were released to live in communities.

    However, this process is often not met with sufficient funding for social supports. Inevitably, more people struggling with mental health end up in hospital emergency departments and in conflict with the law. This shift in responsibility has been referred to as transinstitutionalization.

    We have written about these trends in Ontario following the 2021 youth detention centre closures. Many of the young people in these centres struggle with mental health issues, neurodivergence and addictions.

    Significant investments in community supports are needed. Otherwise, many youth will continue to be funneled into other institutions, including hospitals and adult prisons.

    Since 2009, Ontario has seen a significant increase in hospital emergency room visits for mental health or substance-related concerns, especially among 14–21 year olds. Mental illness and drug dependence are some of the most prevailing health problems for criminalized Canadians. In a study of 1,770 young people in Québec, researchers found those struggling with alcohol or drugs and familial problems are more likely to face re-imprisonment.

    The Brookside Youth Justice Centre in Cobourg, Ont., was among the facilities the provincial government closed in March 2021.
    (Infrastructure Ontario)

    Helping youth in detention

    In 2023, a justice centre was opened in Kenora, and in 2024, funding was announced for child and youth mental health in Ontario. Yet, more support is needed. In many northern, rural and remote communities, services for children and youth with intensive needs simply do not exist.

    Youth face a number of additional barriers accessing support and treatment. These include long wait lists, overemphasis on illness-based and medical models, fragmented services, lack of developmentally and culturally appropriate services, and support that fails to consider the preferences and perspectives of youth and families.

    Strains on youth community supports are also felt in other provinces. Researchers interviewed youth justice community workers in Alberta who reported inadequate funding with impacts on resources for youth, including psychological support and the ability for staff to give enough attention and time to youth. Conditions also lead to staff burnout and exit from the sector altogether.

    The move to shift youth in the justice system away from confinement and towards community is a positive one. However, without investment in community-based service providers to support youth being transitioned out of custodial settings, it is unlikely that youth will thrive.

    Such failures are likely to increase acute mental health crises and demands on ambulatory care within general medicine and psychiatric hospitals. These gaps are also likely to increase the number of youth who will come into conflict with the criminal legal system as adults.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Ontario’s closure of youth detention facilities has not resulted in more support for young people – https://theconversation.com/ontarios-closure-of-youth-detention-facilities-has-not-resulted-in-more-support-for-young-people-238748

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Kim Named Small Business Investing Champion

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Young Kim (CA-39)

    Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Young Kim (CA-40) received the 2024 Champion of Small Business Investing Award from the Small Business Investor Alliance (SBIA) for her commitment to growing small businesses across the nation and advancing U.S. critical technologies and national security. 

    Rep. Kim serves on the House Financial Services Committee and was Ranking Member of the House Small Business Subcommittee on Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Workforce Development in the 117th Congress. 

    “Small businesses support local economies, create jobs, and keep our communities running,” said Congresswoman Kim. “Entrepreneurs deserve our support as they adapt to keep their doors open and staff on payroll while dealing with inflation, tax hikes, supply chain backlogs, and labor shortages. I thank SBIA for the Small Business Investing Champion Award and will keep working on commonsense policies that cut regulatory costs and help our small business owners access the capital they need to expand and create more jobs.” 

    “Access to long-term, patient capital is essential for our domestic small businesses to grow and succeed,” said SBIA President Brett Palmer. “Our small business champions in Congress, have demonstrated a strong commitment to investing in American jobs by supporting better access to capital for American small businesses and entrepreneurs.”

    Rep. Kim has worked on policies to support small businesses such as: 

    • Providing an estimated 2.7 million loans totaling roughly $54 billion by helping lead the PPP Extension Act, which allowed small businesses more time to access targeted Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans during the COVID-19 pandemic; 
    • Helping introduce the Improving Access to Small Business Information Act, a bipartisan bill to streamline the process for the Securities and Exchanges Commission (SEC) to collect information, such as conducting field surveys to ensure the government can access better information on challenges facing entrepreneurs; 
    • Providing education and mentorship services for entrepreneurs through the SCORE for Small Business Act of 2022, a bipartisan bill to invest in the success of small businesses; and, 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Carter Praises Almost $125 Million to Help LA-02 Build Flood Resilience

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Troy A. Carter Sr. (LA-02)

    WASHINGTON, D.C.– Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA) announced $124,319,367 in funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Flood Mitigation Assistance Program to support 13 projectsthroughout LA-02. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Congressman Carter helped craft and voted for, greatly increased funding for the Flood Mitigation Assistance Program.

     

    “The Flood Mitigation Assistance Program has been a game-changer for Louisiana, providing critical funding to help communities build resilience against devastating flood disasters,” said Rep. Carter. “With nearly $125 million allocated for 13 projects in my district, including efforts to elevate 132 flood-prone homes in St. John the Baptist Parish, the program is making significant strides in protecting both lives and property. By focusing on disadvantaged communities and targeting localized flood risks, the FMA is not only reducing future flood damage, but also ensuring that vulnerable Louisianians can continue to live where we call home.”

     

    Background

     

    LA-02 will receive nearly $125 million in funding for 13 projects, including:

     

    Applicant

    Subgrant ID

    Subapplication Title

    Federal Share

    Louisiana

    EMT-2023-FM-004-0038

    St. Charles Parish Norco Drainage Project Scoping

    $675,000

    Louisiana

    EMT-2023-FM-004-0008

    St. Charles Parish Elevation Project

    $720,926

    Louisiana

    EMT-2023-FM-004-0028

    Ascension Parish Climate Resilient Mitigation – Elevation of Severe Repetitive Loss/Repetitive Loss Properties – Priority #1

    $1,083,772

    Louisiana

    EMT-2023-FM-004-0004

    Ascension Parish Climate Resilient Mitigation-Elevation Non Severe Repetitive Loss-Repetitive Loss Properties – Priority #2

    $1,689,895

    Louisiana

    EMT-2023-FM-004-0033

    Lafourche Basin Levee District Stormwater Master Plan

    $1,800,180

    Louisiana

    EMT-2023-FM-004-0030

    Jefferson Parish Elevation

    $1,803,675

    Louisiana

    EMT-2023-FM-004-0025

    Jefferson Parish Severe Repetitive Loss Mitigation Reconstruction

    $2,133,967

    Louisiana

    EMT-2023-FM-004-0015

    East Baton Rouge Parish Elevation and Acquisition Project

    $3,306,691

    Louisiana

    EMT-2023-FM-004-0024

    Jefferson Parish Elevation

    $8,982,520

    Louisiana

    EMT-2023-FM-004-0029

    City of New Orleans Elevation Project

    $11,257,052

    Louisiana

    EMT-2023-FM-004-0007

    Livingston Parish Elevations and Acquisitions

    $11,899,733

    Louisiana

    EMT-2023-FM-004-0003

    St. John the Baptist Parish Elevation Project

    $27,133,131

    Louisiana

    EMT-2023-FM-004-0023

    Gretna Green Distributed Green Infrastructure Network

    $51,832,825

     

    The Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) grant program is a competitive program that provides funding to states, federally recognized Tribal governments, U.S. territories, and local governments. Since the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994 was signed into law, FMA funds have been used for projects that reduce or eliminate the risk of repetitive flood damage to buildings insured by the National Flood Insurance Program.

     

    Flood Mitigation Assistance competitive selections focus on reducing or eliminating the risk of repetitive flood damage to buildings and structures insured by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

     

    Learn more about Louisiana’s projects here.

     

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Jonathan L. Jackson (D-IL) calls on the Missouri Supreme Court to spare the life of Marcellus Williams

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Jonathan Jackson – Illinois (1st District)

    Innocent man set to be executed; Rep. Jackson calls on Courts to intervene

    Congressman Jonathan L. Jackson (D-IL) calls on the Missouri Supreme Court to spare the life of Marcellus Williams

    September 24, 2024: PRESS RELEASE

    Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Jonathan L. Jackson (D-IL) joined activist around the country calling on the Missouri Supreme Court to step in and spare the life of an innocent man set to be executed tonight, Marcellus Williams.  Williams was convicted in 2001 of killing Felicia Gayle in 1998. The top Prosecutor fought to have his conviction repealed based on new evidence.The family of the woman he’s accused of killing has agreed to a life sentence for the inmate instead of the death penalty. Former Missouri GOP Gov. Eric Greitens previously halted Williams’ execution and formed a board to investigate his case and determine whether he should be granted clemency. The current governor terminated the board investigating the case and refused to grant a stay of execution following a flurry of appeal efforts based on new evidence.There is No DNA evidence or forensic evidence.New testimony from the 2001 trial prosecutor shows inconsistencies at trial and recent DNA testing shows evidence of contamination.At least 200 people sentenced to death since 1973 were later exonerated, including four in Missouri.The Missouri Supreme Court “must step in to prevent this irreparable injustice.”

    “Today, we gather to reflect on the life and case of Marcellus Williams, a man whose story has sparked significant debate and concern. Convicted of the 1998 murder of Felicia Gayle, Marcellus has always maintained his innocence. Despite the lack of forensic evidence linking him to the crime and the support from various advocacy groups, his execution is scheduled for today. And while the Governor of Missouri saw fit to pardon Mark and Patricia McCloskey, the wealthy St. Louis couple who brandished firearms at peaceful Black Lives Matter marchers in 2021; the Governor has failed to act thus far to save the life of Marcellus Williams.

    This case highlights critical issues within our justice system, including the handling of evidence and the fairness of jury selection. It reminds us of the importance of due process and the need for continual scrutiny to ensure justice is truly served.

    As we reflect on Marcellus Williams’ case, let us remember the broader implications for our society. I call on Governor Parson to act immediately to stop the execution of Marcellus Williams and for the Missouri Supreme Court to step in and save the life of this innocent man. May we strive for a justice system that upholds fairness, integrity, and the value of every human life.”

    ####

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Williams Goes Against Party Leadership, Joins Bipartisan Group Forcing Vote on Social Security Fairness Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brandon Williams (NY-22)

    WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Brandon Williams (NY-22) signed Discharge Petition #16, which will force the House of Representatives to hold a floor vote on H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act.

    Introduced by Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA) and Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), this bill will repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), which have both been in place for forty years. Rep. Williams, already a cosponsor of this legislation, signed the corresponding Discharge Petition this morning.

    Rep. Williams released the following statement on his decision to sign the Discharge Petition:

    “I came into office as a political outsider who believes in common sense solutions to our most pressing issues and that means standing up against my own party when it is for the betterment of Central New York and our working families. For over four decades, our nation’s police officers, firefighters, teachers, and many others have been negatively impacted by the WEP and GPO. They paid into this system for their entire lives—they must not be penalized for doing the right thing. We owe it to our constituents to place the Social Security Fairness Act on the President’s desk, and this Discharge Petition will give us an opportunity to do so before the end of this year.”

    The full text of the Social Security Fairness Act  is available here.

    GROUPS IN SUPPORT:

    American Federation of Teachers

    National Education Association

    The Fraternal Order of Police

    National Association of Police Organizations

    International Association of Fire Fighters

    The Senior Citizens League

    National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association

    American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees

    National Association of County Office Employees

    National Treasury Employees Union

    Federal Managers Association

    Alliance for Retired Americans

    National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association

    National Association of Letter Carriers

    American Postal Workers Union

    American Federation of Government Employees

    National Committee of Preserve Social Security & Medicare

    National Postal Mail Handlers Union

    Society of Former Special Agents

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Sewell Recognizes the Victims of Birmingham’s Five Points South Shooting on the House Floor, Calls for Action on Gun Violence

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Terri Sewell (AL-07)

    Washington D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) spoke on the House Floor to honor the victims of Saturday night’s mass shooting in Birmingham’s Five Points South. She called on her colleagues in Congress to pass common sense gun safety measures, including universal background checks, red flag laws, and a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. She also called on state officials to reverse the state’s 2022 permitless carry law. This morning, Sewell was briefed by the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Steven Dettelbach, regarding the federal response to the shooting.

    Watch it on YouTube here.

    Rep. Sewell: Mister Speaker, it is with great sadness that I rise to honor the victims of the horrific mass shooting that rattled the Birmingham community over the weekend.

    On Saturday night, just after 11:00 p.m., twenty-one people were shot in Birmingham’s Five Points South entertainment district. Four of them tragically lost their lives.

    Let me be clear. This, indeed, is a senseless violence and unacceptable and it must stop.

    Our thoughts are with the families as they endure this unimaginable loss. Nothing compares to the pain of losing a loved one to gun violence. We stand with them in this time of great sadness, and we pray for a speedy recovery for those that were injured.

    I join in expressing my gratitude to the police officers and first responders, as well as our county, state, and federal partners, for their quick response. 

    My staff and I have been closely monitoring the situation, and we stand ready to assist the City of Birmingham in any way that we can.

    While this horrific tragedy has focused the eyes of the nation on Birmingham, Alabama, the surge of gun violence is a reality that far too many of my constituents endure every day.

    Our communities are crying out for change, and we as elected officials owe it to them to do all that we can—at every level of government—to keep them safe.

    Again, I want to be clear. This senseless violence is unacceptable and it must stop. 

    That means bringing more resources to community organizations fighting to break the cycle of violence. It means teaching our children about alternatives to gun violence. And yes, it means passing common sense measures to keep weapons off the streets of America.

    Mister Speaker, our thoughts and prayers are important. They are needed. But they will not bring back the lives of those lost to gun violence, nor will they prevent such tragedies from happening again.

    The members of this body cannot continue to sit by as family after family, community after community are torn apart. It is time for Congress to finally pass universal background checks, red flag laws, and a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.

    It is also time for state officials in the State of Alabama to reverse the permitless carry law, which has allowed the unchecked proliferation of guns on our streets.

    Only by taking meaningful action can we stem this needless loss of life.

    I ask my colleagues to keep the entire Birmingham community in your prayers, and I hope that we can come together and turn this pain into purpose and do something about it.

    Thanks, and I yield back.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Amata Gives House Speech on Protecting Religious Freedoms Worldwide

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Aumua Amata (Western Samoa)

    Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amataspoke on the House floor on Monday, emphasizing the importance of U.S. efforts to protect religious freedoms worldwide, while serving as Floor Manager for House passage of the reauthorization of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), S. 3764, a bipartisan effort which passed by a vote of 365-20. 

    Congresswoman Amata speaking in the House on protecting religious freedoms worldwide

    Video of her floor speech is available HERE.

    “Religious persecution is a tragic reality in many parts of the world – whether it be against Uyghur Muslims in China, Christian minorities in parts of Africa and the Middle East, the Baha’i in Iran, or religious communities attempting to worship without official control by repressive regimes in Burma, China, or North Korea; and anti-Semitism is on the rise,” said Congresswoman Amata. “This bipartisan bill, which unanimously passed the Senate, will continue the good work of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, or USCIRF. Congress created USCIRF as an independent federal entity in 1998; although the fundamental freedom of religion was under siege around the world, it did not receive enough attention in U.S. foreign policy.”

    She continued, “USCIRF is a body of experts who speak out on behalf of persecuted believers of any faith, and push for accountability beyond what the State Department or the White House may view as diplomatically comfortable. The Commission’s independent voice remains critical today, as the State Department too often pushes religious freedom to the side. Although the law requires the Department to designate ‘Countries of Particular Concern’ for religious freedom violations, their list of CPC countries never includes all the countries that meet the statutory criteria.”

    “Thankfully USCIRF continues its truth-telling to identify the other persecutors that should be designated. Those countries include Vietnam, where communist authorities severely repress Christians, Buddhists, and other believers who attempt to worship outside of state control.  They also include Nigeria, where Islamist militias murder Christians with impunity. They include Afghanistan, where the brutal Taliban have re-taken power and moved that country back to an intolerant darkness. If any countries are ‘Countries of Particular Concern’ for serious violations of religious freedom, those should be among them,” Amata stated.

    “S. 3764 is a simple extension of USCIRF’s statutory authority so that the Commission can continue its bipartisan, non-sectarian work on behalf our nation’s ‘first freedom’ – religious liberty,” said Aumua Amata. “I am very pleased that this is a clean reauthorization and does not include any of the previous attempts by some in the other body to make USCIRF more partisan, or to dilute its mandate with extraneous issues. Through robust oversight, we also must work to ensure that USCIRF remains focused on its true, bipartisan statutory mandate. Namely, ‘the annual and ongoing review of the facts and circumstances of violations of religious freedom.’”

    “I want to thank Senator (Marco) Rubio and his bipartisan colleagues who introduced this bill in the Senate, where it received unanimous support. I also want to recognize the important work of the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs human rights subcommittee, the gentleman from New Jersey, Mr. (Christopher) Smith, the author of the House-side reauthorization.  He has been a leader on religious freedom issues throughout his 43-year career in this House,” she concluded. “We need to pass this bill immediately, to help ensure that freedom of religion – under threat from extremists and authoritarian governments around the world – remains front and center.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Energy Sector – Energy Resources Aotearoa welcomes Crown Minerals Amendment Bill

    Source: Energy Resources Aotearoa

    Energy Resources Aotearoa welcomes the introduction of the Crown Minerals Amendment Bill to the House, which will include reversing the 2018 ban on new gas exploration outside onshore Taranaki.
    Chief Executive John Carnegie says reinstating exploration in new permit areas provides a welcome signal to industry and international investors that New Zealand is ‘open for business’.
    “We urgently need more investment in exploration and production to ensure a reliable power supply and grow a flourishing, job-rich energy and resources sector.
    “This Bill provides a more balanced pathway for investment and enables reliable, home-grown energy that can secure New Zealand’s energy future.”
    Carnegie says the sector welcomes a return to sensible, pragmatic policy settings that fairly manage the upstream oil and gas sector.
    “We have all seen how critical natural gas is for our electricity system, our factories and homes this winter, and actions to secure future gas supply show how we can have secure and affordable energy while achieving our long-term climate goals.
    This Bill will help New Zealand reduce its reliance on coal to keep the lights on in our increasingly renewable weather-dependent energy system.” says Mr Carnegie.
    The draft Bill outlines a more balanced regulatory framework outlining clear responsibilities for decommissioning and environmental impacts. It gives the public confidence that explorers and producers are clear in their responsibilities and that the government possesses the necessary regulatory tools to hold them accountable.
    Energy Resources Aotearoa believes that affordable, reliable energy is crucial for the well-being and prosperity of all New Zealanders. We welcome the new legislation as an essential step in protecting our future energy security and well-being.
    About Energy Resources Aotearoa
    Energy Resources Aotearoa is New Zealand’s peak energy industry body. We represent participants from right across the energy system, providing a strategic sector perspective on energy issues and their adjacent portfolios. For further details about our members and to learn more about Energy Resources Aotearoa’s initiatives, please visit our website. https://www.energyresources.org.nz/

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Minister Joly to meet with Yulia Navalnaya in Ottawa

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French

    Press release

    September 16, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

    The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced that she will welcome Yulia Navalnaya, Chair of the Advisory Board of the Anti-Corruption Foundation and widow of former Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, to Ottawa, Ontario, on September 17, 2024.

    Minister Joly will take part in a high-level meeting with Ms. Navalnaya to discuss human rights in Russia and the challenges and risks facing political dissidents.

    Minister Joly and Ms. Navalnaya will participate in an informal meeting to discuss the role of Canada and the international community in supporting democracy, justice, and the defense of human rights, as well as Ms. Navalnaya’s resilience in the face of immense personal and political adversity, which has made her a powerful voice in the fight for freedom and justice.

    During her visit to Ottawa, Ms. Navalnaya will also meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

    Quotes

    “Yulia Navalnaya is a strong and inspiring voice for the Russian people and those fighting for their right to live in a free and democratic society without fear of reprisal and oppression. I look forward to welcoming Ms. Navalnaya to Ottawa and hearing in person about her experience of continuing her late husband’s legacy in the fight for justice.”

    – Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs

    Quick Facts

    On February 16, 2024, after numerous failed assassination attempts by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s henchmen and years of brutal imprisonment, Alexei Navalny died after months of deteriorating health due to poor prison conditions. A symbol of hope in the fight against abuse and tyranny, the news of his death devastated millions around the world.

    On March 21, 2021, in response to the poisoning and imprisonment of Mr. Navalny, Canada sanctioned several individuals involved in gross and systematic human rights violations in Russia. In November 2022, August 2023, and June 2024, Canada announced sanctions against members of the Russian justice and security sectors, including police officers and investigators, prosecutors, judges, and corrections officials, as well as senior Russian government officials. These individuals have been implicated in gross and systematic human rights violations in Russia against opposition leaders, including Alexei Navalny, Vladimir Kara-Murza, and other Russian citizens.

    Ms. Navalnaya has traveled around the world to meet with world leaders and deliver speeches from major platforms denouncing President Putin’s cruel regime and human rights abuses.

    Related links

    Contact persons

    Media Relations OfficeGlobal Affairs Canadamedia@international.gc.caFollow us on X (Twitter): @CanadaPELike us on Facebook: Canada’s foreign policy – Global Affairs Canada

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI: Intermap’s Team Chosen for Major NGA Data Contract

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Luno A budget increased to $290 Million—10x original amount

    Team CACI named key partner for NGA’s commercial Earth observation program

    Intermap advances AI/ML innovation in geospatial intelligence

    DENVER, Sept. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Intermap Technologies (TSX: IMP; OTCQB: ITMSF) (“Intermap” or the “Company”), a global leader in 3D geospatial products and intelligence solutions, today announced that, in partnership with CACI, Inc. – Federal (“CACI”), its team has been selected by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (“NGA”) as one of 10 qualified vendors for the Luno A program.

    Luno A, a new NGA initiative, focuses on providing continually updated, low-latency foundation data to support critical national security indicators. This program represents a significant advancement from the previous Economic Indicator Monitoring (EIM) effort, which began in 2021. Luno A aims to enhance U.S. National Security Community (NSC) insights by leveraging commercial satellite data to monitor a range of factors, including economic activities, military capabilities and environmental conditions. With recent advancements in computer vision and AI-driven geospatial intelligence, Luno A will integrate these technologies to provide real-time, actionable intelligence directly into NSC’s analytic workflows.

    The Luno A contract, valued at up to $290 million over five years, marks a substantial increase from the initial EIM budget of $29 million and the previously planned $60 million ceiling. This growth underscores the expanding role of unclassified computer vision capabilities within U.S. government operations.

    Further to the previous announcement on June 16, 2021, Team CACI’s next-generation platform will combine Intermap’s patented IRIS™ processing suite with CACI’s Feature Trace software. This integration will leverage advanced geospatial AI/ML models to deliver precise, near-real-time feature datasets, reflecting dynamic changes in land usage and infrastructure. This technology can be used standalone to generate insights for analysts as well as powering DEM and map sheet updates through change detection of manmade and natural features.

    This award builds on Intermap’s strategic partnerships with U.S. government agencies and their key suppliers, including NGA, the Pentagon, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Geological Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Affairs and NASA.

    “We are pleased to partner with CACI on the Luno A program and contribute to advancing real-life, 3D computer vision capabilities for the NSC,” said Patrick A. Blott, Chairman and CEO of Intermap. “Our proprietary processing suite, combined with CACI’s technologies, will add context to analytic assessments and power unparalleled insight for national security.”

    Intermap Reader Advisory
    Certain information provided in this news release, including reference to revenue growth, constitutes forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate”, “expect”, “project”, “estimate”, “forecast”, “will be”, “will consider”, “intends” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Although Intermap believes that these statements are based on information and assumptions which are current, reasonable and complete, these statements are necessarily subject to a variety of known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Intermap’s forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties pertaining to, among other things, cash available to fund operations, availability of capital, revenue fluctuations, nature of government contracts, economic conditions, loss of key customers, retention and availability of executive talent, competing technologies, common share price volatility, loss of proprietary information, software functionality, internet and system infrastructure functionality, information technology security, breakdown of strategic alliances, and international and political considerations, as well as those risks and uncertainties discussed Intermap’s Annual Information Form and other securities filings. While the Company makes these forward-looking statements in good faith, should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary significantly from those expected. Accordingly, no assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits that the Company will derive therefrom. All subsequent forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, attributable to Intermap or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as at the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the forward-looking statements made herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities law.

    About Intermap Technologies
    Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Denver, Colorado, Intermap (TSX: IMP; OTCQB: ITMSF) is a global leader in geospatial intelligence solutions, focusing on the creation and analysis of 3D terrain data to produce high-resolution thematic models. Through scientific analysis of geospatial information and patented sensors and processing technology, the Company provisions diverse, complementary, multi-source datasets to enable customers to seamlessly integrate geospatial intelligence into their workflows. Intermap’s 3D elevation data and software analytic capabilities enable global geospatial analysis through artificial intelligence and machine learning, providing customers with critical information to understand their terrain environment. By leveraging its proprietary archive of the world’s largest collection of multi-sensor global elevation data, the Company’s collection and processing capabilities provide multi-source 3D datasets and analytics at mission speed, enabling governments and companies to build and integrate geospatial foundation data with actionable insights. Applications for Intermap’s products and solutions include defense, aviation and UAV flight planning, flood and wildfire insurance, disaster mitigation, base mapping, environmental and renewable energy planning, telecommunications, engineering, critical infrastructure monitoring, hydrology, land management, oil and gas and transportation.

    For more information, please visit www.intermap.com or contact:
    Jennifer Bakken
    Executive Vice President and CFO
    CFO@intermap.com
    +1 (303) 708-0955

    Sean Peasgood
    Investor Relations
    Sean@SophicCapital.com
    +1 (647) 260-9266

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Britain’s return to responsible global leadership will help drive growth at home, Prime Minister to tell United Nations

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Britain will return to responsible global leadership under my watch, the Prime Minister will tell the UN General Assembly in New York this week.

    • Prime Minister will travel to New York today to participate in United General Assembly meetings with important international partners. 

    • He will contribute to sessions on major global challenges such as the situation in Ukraine, the Middle East and climate change. 

    • PM will pledge to return the UK to responsible global leadership to tackle the issues that rebound on British people at home.

    Britain will return to responsible global leadership under my watch, the Prime Minister will tell the UN General Assembly in New York this week.  

    He will use several interventions across his two-day visit to argue that our participation and reputation abroad is directly linked to our security, stability and prosperity at home. 

    In a speech to the UN General Assembly on Thursday, he will say that it is only by being a reliable and trusted international partner, working together to solve global problems such as war, poverty and climate change – that we can build a safer and more prosperous UK. 

    The Prime Minister will say: 

    We are returning the UK to responsible global leadership. This is the moment to reassert fundamental principles and our willingness to defend them. To recommit to the UN, to internationalism, to the rule of law. 

    Because I know that this matters to the British people. War, poverty and climate change all rebound on us at home. They make us less secure, they harm our economy, and they create migration flows on an unprecedented scale.  

    The British people are safer and more prosperous when we work internationally to solve these problems, instead of merely trying to manage their effects. So, the responsible global leadership that we will pursue is undeniably in our self-interest.

    He will use his speech to set out how the UK will step up to play its part, guided by the rule of law, in tackling these challenges in a world that is increasingly dominated by conflicts – including those in Ukraine, the Middle East and Sudan.

    It follows a major drive by the Prime Minister in his first few months in office to reset the UK’s relationship with its key allies and prove that Britain is back as a major player on the world stage – a key part of his ambition to drive growth and improve the lives of hardworking British people.

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 September 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Stowe Man Charged with Drug and Firearms Violations Related to Two Homicides

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

    Burlington, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that on September 12, 2024, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging  Theodore Bland, 29, of Stowe, Vermont, with conspiracy to distribute cocaine base, possession of cocaine base and fentanyl with intent to distribute, using and carrying a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime, and discharging that firearm during the commission of the offense.

    Bland is currently scheduled to be sentenced on October 21, 2024, following his March 22, 2024, guilty plea to knowingly possessing a firearm while being an unlawful user of controlled substances related to a March 17, 2023 event. The United States has filed a motion asking the Court to order Bland to remain in custody based on these new charges following the completion of any sentence imposed on October 21, 2024. Bland’s arraignment on the new charges will occur on a date to be determined by the United States District Court for the District of Vermont, at which the Court is anticipated to rule on the government’s detention motion.

    According to court records, on October 12, 2023, Bland used, carried, and discharged a firearm, in relation to his drug trafficking activities. Also, according to court records, Bland’s October 12 firearm discharges caused the deaths of Jahim Solomon and Eric White. Bland used social media messaging to communicate with his co-conspirators regarding, among other topics, the procurement of controlled substances for distribution, the pricing of controlled substances for sale to drug customers, and the distribution of controlled substances to drug customers. Bland also used social media messaging to communicate with his co-conspirators following the homicides of Solomon and White on October 12, 2023, including communications about his attempts to conceal the homicides. Court documents also state that Bland induced others to help him move the bodies of Solomon and White to two wooded areas in Eden, Vermont, where the bodies were discovered by law enforcement on October 24 and 25, 2023.

    The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that Bland is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Bland faces a term of imprisonment of up to life, with a mandatory minimum of ten years, if convicted. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.

    United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the investigatory efforts of the Vermont State Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Morristown Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Lamoille County Sheriff’s Department.

    The prosecutors are Assistant United States Attorneys Jason Turner and Paul Van de Graaf. Bland is represented by David Sleigh, Esq.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Leader of $4 Million International Telemarketing Scheme Convicted

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

    A federal jury in North Carolina convicted a man today for his role in orchestrating a years-long telemarketing scheme that defrauded victims in the United States from a call center in Costa Rica.

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Roger Roger, 40, of Costa Rica, led a fraudulent telemarketing scheme in which co-conspirators, who falsely posed as U.S. government officials, contacted victims in the United States to tell them that that they had won a substantial “sweepstakes” prize. After convincing victims, many of whom were elderly, that they stood to receive a significant financial prize, the co-conspirators told victims that they needed to make a series of up-front payments before collecting their supposed prize, purportedly for items such as taxes, customs duties, and other fees. Co-conspirators used a variety of means to conceal their true identities, including Voice over Internet Protocol technology, which made it appear as though they were calling from Washington, D.C., and other locations in the United States. Roger personally called victims from Costa Rica, using fake names and documents to trick the victims into believing they had won a sweepstakes prize. He also recruited and directed co-conspirators to mislead victims on the phone and to transmit victims’ payments from the United States to Costa Rica. The evidence at trial showed that Roger and his co-conspirators stole over $4 million from victims.

    Roger was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, four counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and two counts of international money laundering. The defendant faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison on each of the conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and the wire fraud counts, because the jury found that these counts involved telemarketing that victimized at least 10 people over the age of 55, and 20 years in prison on each of the conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering counts. Sentencing will occur at a later date. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Dena J. King for the Western District of North Carolina; Inspector in Charge Tommy Coke of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Atlanta Division; Special Agent in Charge Karen Wingerd of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Cincinnati Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Robert DeWitt of the FBI Charlotte Field Office made the announcement.

    The USPIS Atlanta Division, IRS-CI Cincinnati Field Office, and FBI Charlotte Field Office investigated the case. The La Grande, Oregon Police Department and Union County District Attorney Victim Assistance Office provided valuable assistance. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Costa Rica to secure Roger’s arrest and extradition.

    Trial Attorneys Andrew Jaco and Amanda Fretto Lingwood of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.

    If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud, and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is staffed 7 days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish and other languages are available.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murkowski Welcomes Historic Confirmation for United States Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Affairs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alaska Lisa Murkowski

    09.24.24

    Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), co-chair of the Senate Arctic Caucus, welcomed the historic confirmation of the United States’ first Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Affairs, Dr. Michael Sfraga. Senator Murkowski was the chief advocate for the creation of the position, which the State Department initiated in 2022. The Senate confirmed Dr. Sfraga’s nomination today.

    “Finally, we have officially joined the rest of the Arctic nations at the table after the Senate confirmed the United States’ first Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Affairs. The need for this leadership in the Arctic has become even more urgent as we saw last night the fifth publicly reported incursion by Russian military aircraft in Alaska’s Air Defense Identification Zone in the last two weeks,” said Senator Murkowski. “Our new Ambassador will not only help America push back against our adversaries heightened aggression in the Arctic, but will be a critical resource in advocating for economic expansion in this increasingly vital region, committing to do everything in his power to protect American economic and security interests in the Arctic. I congratulate Dr. Michael Sfraga on his confirmation and look forward to the progress he will usher in.”

    Prior to today’s vote, Senator Murkowski spoke on the Senate floor regarding the importance of confirming Dr. Sfraga. A video of her remarks can also be found here.

    Read the full speech below:

    “Mr. President, I have come to the Floor to speak to the nomination of Dr. Mike Sfraga, an Alaskan, to be our nation’s very first Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Affairs. 

    As the person who recommended Dr. Sfraga, I’ve come to the Floor to reiterate my strong support for his nomination, and to urge the Senate to ensure we are no longer the only Arctic nation that does not have an Arctic ambassador. 

    I want to speak to two specific considerations: why we need to focus on the Arctic, and why Dr. Sfraga is the right person for this important role. 

    First, the Arctic.  I won’t detail the entire history; I would just ask you to think about the past couple months alone. 

    On July 24, Russian and Chinese bombers flew a joint patrol for the first time off the coast of Alaska.  While the Russians regularly fly into our Air Defense Identification Zone, our “ADIZ” – I don’t ever recall hearing of the Chinese flying into the area, let alone on a joint mission.

    The day after Russia and China’s joint exercise, I would have told you that this escalation was the most disturbing thing we’d see this year.  But unfortunately, our adversaries quickly found a way to top that – upping the ante even further.

    On September 10, Russia began its massive, weeklong, worldwide Ocean-24 exercise with hundreds of warships, more than a hundred aircraft, and nearly 100,000 troops.  The exercise, the largest since the fall of the Soviet Union, also saw Chinese participation.  Between its start and end, NORAD and the Air Forces stationed in Alaska detected, tracked, and intercepted four different Russian incursions into the Alaska ADIZ. 

    In previous years, we’ve come to expect six or seven incursions a year.  So think about that: in just five days, our air defenses were tested almost as much as they tend to be tested in any given year.  We are now way ahead on publicly-reported intercepts this year—up to 10, with three months left.

    There has also been an unprecedented level of naval activity off the coast of Alaska.  During that same Russian exercise, the U.S. Coast Guard detected four Russian naval vessels 50 miles to the northwest of Point Hope in Alaska.  The vessels moved to avoid sea ice in the area during their exercise—which is accepted under international law–but that brought them 50 miles into the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone.

    Hearing that, I can’t help but think back to when Russian warships chased Alaska fishermen out of an area within our EEZ back in August 2020.  And these are hardly isolated incidents.  Last August, the Coast Guard detected and shadowed a Russian intelligence ship operating off the Aleutians.  This past July, the Coast Guard detected and shadowed a Chinese Surface Action Group within our EEZ in the Bering Sea.

    I could also remind the Senate of the Chinese surveillance balloons that transited above Alaska and the Arctic last year. 

    I could remind the Senate of a lot more events and incidents that warrant greater attention, policy, and resources for the Arctic.  

    What I hope we can agree is that this an unprecedented time for the region.  Normally we think of the Arctic as “High North, Low Tension.”  But right now, it’s “High North, Rising Tension.”  And one thing that is absolutely missing is a Senate-confirmed diplomat, who will spend his or her time focused on Arctic issues, working with our allies, and engaging our adversaries. 

    The United States is alone in having inadequate diplomatic representation in the Arctic.  It’s not that no one at State Department is thinking about the region; it’s that no one, at a high level, is specifically tasked with and responsible for and empowered to lead the way. 

    So, we need an Arctic Ambassador.  When we established this position in August 2022, I hoped it would mark a more serious effort to lead and maintain a rules-based order in the region.  But it’s been two years, and only now are we able to confirm a highly capable, well-qualified individual to actually do that work. 

    Which brings me to Dr. Sfraga.  He was nominated in February 2023.  His nomination was favorably reported by the Foreign Relations Committee in March 2024.  And today, we have the chance to confirm him. 

    I would contend that there is no one better suited to be the first person in this role than Dr. Sfraga.  For all of the questions that some have raised about him, I would argue that we know exactly what we are getting. 

    Dr. Sfraga has dedicated himself to a career of service to the Arctic and our nation. 

    He is an accomplished geographer, researcher, and teacher, with a PhD from the University of Alaska.

    He helped establish the University of the Arctic, and co-created and co-led the State Department’s Fulbright Arctic Initiative. 

    He established the Polar Institute at the Wilson Center, which has become the “Arctic Public Square” for high-level conversations about the Far North. 

    And, he Chairs the U.S. Arctic Research Commission, which advises Congress and the President on international Arctic research.

    Dr. Sfraga has decades of experience, deep expertise, and strong relationships with Arctic leaders.  Our allies support him, our Arctic partners support him, Alaskans support him, and I support him.  He is clear-eyed about the strategic realities of the Arctic and the intentions of our adversaries.  He understands how to position the United States to lead in the Arctic and to protect our national security interests.  His vast experience means he knows how to handle Russia and China – across the interagency process and with allies and partners – through a position of strength.

    Some have argued that Dr. Sfraga’s past interactions with regional players disqualify him from serving in this role.  But remember: he’s an Alaskan.  We share a maritime border with Russia.  We used to have regular nonstop air service to Russia.  That’s our part of the world, and when relations were better, it wasn’t uncommon for Alaskans to visit and work with and know people who lived there.

    Dr. Sfraga has been criticized for attending international forums, but remember: he was hardly the only American or U.S. government official in attendance at these events.  He’s just the only one being criticized for it, even though his participation helped give us a voice at those events.

    I also find it fascinating that some have criticized Dr. Sfraga’s past language as advocating for a “competition-free” Arctic.  I can tell you: that is how we spoke about the region for a long time.  We strived to establish a rules-based order that would protect our people and maintain low tensions.  Even former President Trump called for a “competition-free” Arctic.

    The criticisms that Dr. Sfraga has faced are a great way to ensure that the United States never has an Arctic ambassador – or that we ultimately confirm an individual who has never been there, knows little about it, and won’t do anything to protect or advance our strategic interests. 

    To me, that would be a loss.  The Arctic is no longer an isolated, distant region.  It is a place of strategic importance, economic potential, and growing competition.  The United States must be prepared to lead – and that starts with representation.  Personnel is policy, and Dr. Sfraga is ready to take on this important role. 

    I urge the Senate to see through the attacks on Dr. Sfraga.  There is nothing in his past or in his file that is disqualifying.  We know exactly what we are getting; he has been a public figure, sharing his views of the Arctic, for years. 

    I thank those who have already offered their support for Dr. Sfraga, and would encourage the rest of my colleagues to be happy that we aren’t confirming yet another judge—but instead, a qualified Alaskan who can lead on Arctic matters from day one, at a time when that matters more than it has in decades. 

    I urge all of my colleagues to join me in voting yes to confirm Dr. Sfraga and yield the Floor.”

    Background: Senator Murkowski is an internationally recognized leader on Arctic issues and is dedicated to strengthening America’s position as an Arctic nation. In October 2021, she and Senator Angus King (I-ME) introduced the Arctic Diplomacy Act to establish an Assistant Secretary of State for Arctic Affairs.

    Following Senator Murkowski’s persistent advocacy, the State Department announced in August 2022 that “the President plans to elevate the Arctic Coordinator position by appointing an Ambassador-at-Large for the Arctic Region, subject to the advice and consent of the Senate. The Ambassador-at-Large for the Arctic Region will advance U.S. policy in the Arctic, engage with counterparts in Arctic and non-Arctic nations as well as Indigenous groups, and work closely with domestic stakeholders, including state, local, and Tribal governments, businesses, academic institutions, non-profit organizations, other federal government agencies and Congress.”

    Dr. Mike Sfraga is the first nominee for the new Ambassador-At-Large position. His official biography from the U.S. Arctic Research Commission appears below.

    “Dr. Michael Sfraga was the founding director of the Polar Institute and served as the director of the Global Risk and Resilience Program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, DC. He currently serves as chair and distinguished fellow in the Polar Institute, where his scholarship and public speaking focus on Arctic policy.

    “An Alaskan and a geographer by training, his work focuses on the changing geography of the Arctic and Antarctic landscapes, Arctic policy, and the impacts and implications of a changing climate on political, social, economic, environmental, and security regimes in the Arctic.

    “Sfraga served as distinguished co-lead scholar for the U.S. Department of State’s inaugural Fulbright Arctic Initiative from 2015 to 2017, a complementary program to the U.S. Chairmanship of the Arctic Council; he held the same position from 2017 to 2019. He served as chair of the 2020 Committee of Visitors Review of the Section for Arctic Science (ARC), Office of Polar Programs, National Science Foundation, and currently serves on the Scientific Advisory Council of the Finnish Institute for International Affairs. Sfraga previously served in several academic, administrative, and executive positions at the University of Alaska, including vice chancellor, associate vice president, faculty member, department chair, and associate dean. Sfraga earned the first PhD in geography and northern studies from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: British nationals should leave Lebanon, as UK bolsters contingency teams in region

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    British nationals should leave Lebanon immediately, Ministers have warned, as the Government bolsters its presence in the region.

    • Brits warned to act now, and leave Lebanon as soon as possible .
    • Military teams move to Cyprus as contingency planning is rolled out to support British nationals in Lebanon and the region
    • Ministers continue to call for a ceasefire immediately to end the cycle of violence, as more than 500 people killed in Lebanon in the past 24 hours

    British nationals should leave Lebanon immediately, Ministers have warned, as the Government bolsters its presence in the region.

    Around 700 UK troops will move to Cyprus in the coming hours, as the Government continues to prepare its contingency plans following significant escalation between Israel and Lebanon in recent days.

    The military teams will be supported by Border Force and FCDO officials.

    The Government continues to advise against all travel to Lebanon, as the situation continues to deteriorate rapidly, with devastating consequences.

    Defence Secretary, John Healey MP said:

    Events in the past hours and days have demonstrated how volatile this situation is, which is why our message is clear, British nationals should leave now.

    We continue to urge all sides to step back from conflict to prevent further tragic loss of life. Our government is ensuring all preparations are in place to support British Nationals should the situation deteriorate. I want to thank the British personnel who are deploying in the region for their commitment and professionalism.

    The UK already has a significant diplomatic and military footprint in the region, including RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus and Royal Navy ships RFA Mounts Bay and HMS Duncan, which have remained in the eastern Mediterranean to support British nationals and allies over the summer.

    The Royal Air Force also have aircraft and transport helicopters on standby to provide support if necessary.

    The call comes after the Defence Secretary held a meeting with Ministers, intelligence chiefs and diplomats on Tuesday afternoon to test government planning.

    Media enquiries

    Email newsdesk@fcdo.gov.uk

    Telephone 020 7008 3100

    Contact the FCDO Communication Team via email (monitored 24 hours a day) in the first instance, and we will respond as soon as possible.

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 September 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Press release: Britain’s return to responsible global leadership will help drive growth at home, Prime Minister to tell United Nations

    Source: United Kingdom – Prime Minister’s Office 10 Downing Street

    Britain will return to responsible global leadership under my watch, the Prime Minister will tell the UN General Assembly in New York this week.

    • Prime Minister will travel to New York today to participate in United General Assembly meetings with important international partners. 

    • He will contribute to sessions on major global challenges such as the situation in Ukraine, the Middle East and climate change. 

    • PM will pledge to return the UK to responsible global leadership to tackle the issues that rebound on British people at home.

    Britain will return to responsible global leadership under my watch, the Prime Minister will tell the UN General Assembly in New York this week.  

    He will use several interventions across his two-day visit to argue that our participation and reputation abroad is directly linked to our security, stability and prosperity at home. 

    In a speech to the UN General Assembly on Thursday, he will say that it is only by being a reliable and trusted international partner, working together to solve global problems such as war, poverty and climate change – that we can build a safer and more prosperous UK. 

    The Prime Minister will say: 

    We are returning the UK to responsible global leadership. This is the moment to reassert fundamental principles and our willingness to defend them. To recommit to the UN, to internationalism, to the rule of law. 

    Because I know that this matters to the British people. War, poverty and climate change all rebound on us at home. They make us less secure, they harm our economy, and they create migration flows on an unprecedented scale.  

    The British people are safer and more prosperous when we work internationally to solve these problems, instead of merely trying to manage their effects. So, the responsible global leadership that we will pursue is undeniably in our self-interest.

    He will use his speech to set out how the UK will step up to play its part, guided by the rule of law, in tackling these challenges in a world that is increasingly dominated by conflicts – including those in Ukraine, the Middle East and Sudan.

    It follows a major drive by the Prime Minister in his first few months in office to reset the UK’s relationship with its key allies and prove that Britain is back as a major player on the world stage – a key part of his ambition to drive growth and improve the lives of hardworking British people.

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 September 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

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

    Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)

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

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

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

    IPU Charter on the Ethics of Science and Technology

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

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

    Addressing the impact of AI on democracy

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

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

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

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

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

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

    2024 Cremer-Passy Prize

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

    A full programme of parliamentary meetings

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

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

    Practical details

    Date: 13-17 October 2024.

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

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

    The Assembly will be livestreamed at ipu.org/149

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

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Remarks by President  Biden at the Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats | New York,  NY

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    1:57 P.M. EDT
    THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  To all the — my fellow leaders from nations around the world, thank you for being here.  It makes a big difference.
    A couple of years ago, a father who I got to meet from a small town here in the United States wrote me a letter about his daughter.  Her name was Courtney.  She was bright and smart, she had a laugh that was contagious, and wanted to travel the world.  But in high school, she became addicted to pills. 
    Her father eventually brought her to a treatment facility, but his insurance company wouldn’t cover the cost.  They said, quote, “It wasn’t a matter of life and death.”
    A month later, Courtney died from a fe- — fentanyl overdose.  She was just 20 years old — 20 years old. 
    In his letter that he wrote to me, he described life without his child.  He said, and I quote, “There is no greater pain.”  “There is no greater pain.”
    I told him I know what it’s like, having lost several children myself — two children.  There is no greater pain.  They still live in your heart, but there’s no greater pain.
    Ladies and gentlemen, that’s why we’re here. 
    Too many people all across our nation have stories like this.  Too many families have suffered unbearable pain and unbearable loss. 
    Opioids are the deadliest drug threat in our history.  I’ve been working on drug control for a long, long time — since the days I was a senator, but this is the deadliest of them all.
    For years, too little has been done to beat this threat here at home and around the world. 
    In fact, before I came to office, overdose deaths in our country were increasing by more than 30 percent year over year. 
    But when I became president, I made beating the opioid endemic [epidemic] a central part of the Unity Agenda, something that our entire nation could rally around and has. 
    For over the last four years, we’ve turned that agenda into action.  My administration made Nal- — excuse me, Na- — made Naloxone, a lifesaving overdose reversal medicine, available over the counter.  You can purchase it over the counter for the first time.  We invested over $80 billion across 50 states to expand access to addiction treatment and support.  I issued an executive order that cut cartel leaders off from fina- — our financial system, including issuing 300 sanctions.  And I’ve deployed hundreds of advanced X-ray ou- — machines to stop the threat of pills and powder coming across our border. 
    Because I want to be clear: This is — this is a national security threat. 
    In July of this year, I signed a national security memorandum.  It officially recognized that fact, that it is a national security threat.  It calls on every part of our government to do more to stop fentanyl and protect our homeland from this threat. 
    But as all of you know, this a global challenge and it requires a global solutions. 
    So, we established the Tri- — the Trilateral Fentanyl Committee with Canada and Mexi- — and Mexico to stop narcotics from crossing our border. 
    I reignited counternarcotics cooperation with China to increase law enforcement cooperation and tackle the supply chains of precursor chemicals and pill presses. 
    And I directed my team to build this coalition — this Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drugs.  As all of you here know, this coalition now has, as the secretary of State said, 150 nations as part of it. 
    The result of these efforts: More fentanyl has been seized at our border in the last two years than the previous five years combined — in the previous five years combined.  Nearly 60,000 pounds of fentanyl have been seized.  That’s enough to kill every single American many times over. 
    Dozens of major cartel leaders and traffickers are now behind bars. 
    And I’m proud to announce, for the first time in five years, overdose deaths are actually coming down across America.  The latest data shows a 10 percent drop.  That’s the largest decrease on record. 
    Folks, this matters.  These aren’t just facts and figures.  They’re families — families who don’t have to bear the loss of a child, a parent, a spouse — families who are kept whole. 
    But there are too many that are still dying.  There’s so much more that needs to be done. 
    So, my message today is very simple: We can’t let up.  We cannot let up.
    Drug manufacturers and cartels continue to adapt their practices, develop new chemicals, move fast to evade our efforts.  We have to move faster.
    They continue to exploit the global supply chains to expand their networks.  We’ve got to cut them off. 
    They continue to fuel violence, corruption, and instability.  We’ve got to protect our people and our communities. 
    So, that’s why I’m calling on every nation here to commit to our new global coalition pledge.  This lays out the action we must all take to seize more drugs, stop more cartels, save more lives. 
    I also want to thank the leaders here who are stepping up and launching a new initiatives today to advance coalition efforts all across three key — key areas.  First, disrupting supply chain, including production and distribution of illicit — of illicit drugs.  Secondly, detecting emerging drug threats and increasing information sharing across all our countries.  And thirdly, preventing more deaths by treating more people through public health interventions, increased access to lifesaving medications.
    It’s possible.  It’s about disrupt, detect, prevent, and treat. 
    Together, we’re making it clear: Enough is enough is enough. 
    Let me close with this.  As leaders, we all have one solemn responsibility: protect our people from harm. 
    Together, through this coalition, I believe we can do just that.  We can disrupt the cycle of violence and instability that drug cr- — traffickers create.  We can get our people the care they need and deserve.  We can save lives, but only — but only if we come together and work together.  The choice is ours. 
    And I believe there can be only one answer: We can, we will, and we must. 
    So, thank you all for being here.  Let’s get to work.
    And I want to — you to hear from other leaders in this room as well. 
    So, thank you, thank you, thank you.  (Applause.)  
    2:04 P.M. EDT

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Investing in public transportation in the Municipality of the District of St. Mary’s

    Source: Government of Canada News

    News release

    Sherbrooke, Nova Scotia, September 24, 2024 — Residents in the Municipality of the District of St. Mary’s will have access to a new transportation service following an investment of $234,548 from the federal and provincial governments.

    This funding is supporting the establishment of SMART-GO: St. Mary’s Association for Rural Transit, a bookable transit system that will provide a dependable and low-cost transportation option for those in the Municipality of the District of St. Mary’s.

    Quotes

    “Public transit is an invaluable tool in helping people get around their communities easily and conveniently. SMART-GO will do just that for the residents of the Municipality of the District of St. Mary’s, and I’m incredibly proud that our government could support it.

    The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

    “Everyone deserves access to transportation so they can get to medical appointments, work, see family and friends and do everyday activities that improve our quality of life. In our rural communities there are often less options for transportation and that’s why I’m proud to support SMART-GO as they will make a huge difference in Guysborough County.”

    The Honourable Kim Masland, Nova Scotia Minister of Public Works

    “SMART-GO is thrilled and incredibly grateful to receive government funding, which allows us to bring our much-needed transportation service to the St. Mary’s community. By providing accessible and convenient door-to-door transit, we aim to enrich the lives of our residents, ensuring they remain connected to essential services and fostering a deeper sense of unity within our community. This invaluable support from the government will empower us to make a positive difference in the daily lives of those who call St. Mary’s home, and for that, we extend our heartfelt thanks.”

    Heather Kreffer, Executive Director, SMART-GO

    Quick facts

    • The federal government is investing $187,638 in this project through the Rural Transit Solutions Fund (RTSF), and the provincial government is contributing $46,910.

    • The RTSF helps Canadians living in rural and remote areas get around their communities more easily. It supports the development of rural transit solutions, including new transit service models that could be replicated or scaled up.

    • The RTSF’s Capital Projects stream helps cover capital costs like the purchase of vehicles or digital platforms, as well as support for the purchase of zero-emission vehicles. This stream closed on February 28, 2024.

    • The RTSF’s Planning and Design Projects continuous intake remains open. Through this stream, eligible applicants can receive a grant up to $50,000 in support of a communities’ projects to plan and design a new or expanded transit solution for their communities. Some examples of eligible Planning and Design Projects activities are assessment of routes and modes of travel, feasibility studies, public and stakeholder engagement and surveys.

    • A minimum of 10% of RTSF’s funding is allocated to projects that benefit Indigenous populations and communities.

    • One in five Canadians live in rural communities. Rural communities in Canada account for nearly 30% of the nation’s gross domestic product.

    • The RTSF complements Canada’s strengthened climate plan: A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy. Through the plan the federal government has committed to providing federal funding for public transit in support of making clean and affordable transportation available in every community.

    • The new Canada Public Transit Fund (CPTF) will provide an average of $3 billion a year of permanent funding to respond to local transit needs by enhancing integrated planning, improving access to public transit and active transportation, and supporting the development of more affordable, sustainable, and inclusive communities. 

    • The CPTF meets the needs of communities of all sizes, from large metropolitan areas, to mid-size and smaller communities, including rural, remote, northern and Indigenous communities. 

    • Since 2015, the federal government has committed over $30 billion for public transit and active transportation projects. These historic investments have resulted in close to 2000 projects across the country.

    • The funding announced today builds on the federal government’s work through the Atlantic Growth Strategy to create well-paying jobs and strengthen local economies.

    • Federal funding is conditional on the signing of the contribution agreement.

    Associated links

    Contacts

    For more information (media only), please contact:

    Sofia Ouslis
    Communications Advisor
    Office of the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
    Sofia.ouslis@infc.gc.ca

    Media Relations
     Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada
    613-960-9251
    Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
    Email: media-medias@infc.gc.ca
    Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn
    Web: Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada

    Blaise Theriault
    Communications Advisor,
    Nova Scotia Department of Public Works
    902-476-5092
    blaise.theriault@novascotia.ca

    Heather Kreffer
     Executive Director,
    SMART-GO: St. Mary’s Association for Rural Transit 
    902-522-2000
    info@smart-go.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Manitobans Asked to Help Select Design for Province’s New Health Card

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    September 24, 2024

    Manitobans Asked to Help Select Design for Province’s New Health Card

    The Manitoba government is following through on its commitment to deliver a new and modernized health card this year and as part of the next step in the process, Manitobans are invited to help choose the design of the new card, Premier Wab Kinew announced today.

    “The initial response to our new health card designs was amazing,” said Kinew. “However, we want to make sure that all Manitobans have the opportunity to provide feedback on which card best reflects our unique province and people. Let us know and have a say about our province’s new health card.”

    Manitobans can view and vote for their favourite Manitoba health card design at EngageMB. The designs feature iconic Manitoba symbols such as a bison, a polar bear and the northern lights.

    The premier noted that all Manitobans can also help ensure a smooth transition to the new health card by reviewing their current health card and ensuring that all information is accurate and up to date. This includes making sure the card accurately reflects everyone in the household who is eligible for health-care coverage in the province and the mailing address is current.

    To make updates to Manitoba health cards and changes to personal information visit: www.gov.mb.ca/health/mhsip/updatehealthcard.html.

    To view and vote for Manitoba’s new health card design, visit https://engagemb.ca/health-cards. This engagement is open until midnight on Sunday, Sept. 29.

    – 30 –

    MIL OSI Canada News –