NewzIntel.com

Category: Politics

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Press release: PM meeting with Prime Minister Mottley of Barbados: 26 September 2024

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

    The Prime Minister met Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados at UNGA. 

    The Prime Minister met Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados at UNGA. 

    Both leaders stressed the strength of the relationship between their two countries and discussed the importance of working together on key issues such as international financial institution reform, climate change and pandemic preparedness.

    They looked forward to meeting again soon.

    Updates to this page

    Published 27 September 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI China: U.S. political manipulation of human rights issues unpopular worldwide: Chinese FM

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

    U.S. political manipulation of human rights issues unpopular worldwide: Chinese FM

    NEW YORK, Sept. 25 — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here on Wednesday the political manipulation of human rights issues by a few countries, such as the United States, is becoming increasingly unpopular across the world.

    Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting with United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk and multiple countries’ foreign ministers on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

    Over 100 countries have voiced their support for China’s position and opposed the politicization of human rights at the 57th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) held in Geneva on Tuesday, said Wang.

    During the session, nearly 80 countries, including many Muslim nations, delivered a joint statement supporting China, and more than 20 other countries expressed their support in various ways, backing China’s just position when a few countries, including the United States, used Xinjiang-related issues to attack and smear China’s human rights situation.

    The vast majority of Muslim countries have long seen through the tricks of the United States and understand that it is merely using human rights as a pretext to interfere in the internal affairs of China and other developing countries, he added.

    Wang said that the clear support from over 100 developing countries at the UNHRC is not only to defend China’s legitimate rights but also to uphold international fairness and justice, safeguard the common interests of developing countries, and protect the fundamental principle of non-interference in internal affairs in international relations, said Wang.

    Wang pointed out that such action of the United States and its followers once again exposed their double standards on human rights issues to the world. People cannot help but ask: if the United States is so concerned about the human rights of Muslims, why does it continuously provoke or support wars in regions like the Middle East, causing numerous innocent Muslim casualties? Why does it turn a blind eye to the historical injustices faced by the Arab people and not support Palestine in becoming a full member of the United Nations? Why does it fail to play its due role in achieving a permanent ceasefire and full military withdrawal from Gaza?

    The top Chinese diplomat emphasized that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, and China’s achievements in protecting and promoting human rights are widely recognized, and the development and progress in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region are evident to all.

    Wang said China is willing to engage in dialogue with all countries on human rights issues on the basis of equality. China’s doors are open to the world, and it welcomes friends from all nations to visit China and see for themselves, he added.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Equinox Seas report published

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Fatal fall from height on bulk carrier Equinox Seas at ONEX Syros Shipyard, Ermoupoli, Syros, Greece.

    Today, we have published our accident investigation report into the fatal injuries sustained by a crewman on board the Cayman Islands registered bulk carrier Equinox Seas on 17 April 2023, when he fell down an open ventilation trunk where a fan had been removed for maintenance by the shipyard.

    The report, available via this link, contains details of what happened, subsequent actions taken and recommendations.

    This investigation was carried out by the UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) on behalf of the Cayman Islands Government in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding between the MAIB and the Red Ensign Group Category 1 registries of Isle of Man, Cayman Islands, Bermuda and Gibraltar.

    Media enquiries (telephone only)

    Media enquiries during office hours 01932 440015

    Media enquiries out of hours 0300 7777878

    Updates to this page

    Published 27 September 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: PM meeting with Prime Minister Mikati of Lebanon: 26 September 2024

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The Prime Minister met Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati at UNGA.

    The Prime Minister met Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati at UNGA.

    The Prime Minister opened by giving his sincere condolences to Prime Minister Mikati for the loss of civilian life in recent weeks. 

    They discussed the escalating conflict in Lebanon, and agreed on the importance of an immediate ceasefire and a negotiated solution.

    Updates to this page

    Published 27 September 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The government has exempted regions from paying off part of their restructured debt on budget loans

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

    Resolution of September 26, 2024 No. 1307

    Document

    Resolution of September 26, 2024 No. 1307

    Regions will be exempted from repaying two-thirds of the restructured debt on budget loans in 2024. According to the resolution signed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, the said debt will be written off in 2025.

    The decision was made on the instructions of the President. During the announcement Addresses to the Federal Assembly on February 29 Vladimir Putin noted that he considers it necessary to reduce the debt burden of the regions and proposed writing off two-thirds of the regions’ debt on budget loans.

    Mikhail Mishustin, presenting a report on the Government’s work to the State Duma in April, clarified that writing off debt with the possibility of using the released funds to implement major projects will help regions solve infrastructure problems, including construction, upgrading utility networks, gasification, and laying transport highways.

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

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

    http://government.ru/nevs/52806/

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: News story: PM meeting with Prime Minister Mikati of Lebanon: 26 September 2024

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

    The Prime Minister met Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati at UNGA.

    The Prime Minister met Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati at UNGA.

    The Prime Minister opened by giving his sincere condolences to Prime Minister Mikati for the loss of civilian life in recent weeks. 

    They discussed the escalating conflict in Lebanon, and agreed on the importance of an immediate ceasefire and a negotiated solution.

    Updates to this page

    Published 27 September 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Press conference, Beijing

    Source: Australian Treasurer

    JIM CHALMERS:

    Yesterday afternoon and into last evening I co‑chaired with Chairman Zheng Shanjie, the Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the first Strategic Economic Dialogue in 7 years.

    These were frank and fruitful discussions between myself and the Chairman of the NDRC. The discussions ran for more than 3 hours. They ran over time. We are very grateful for the time that the Chairman was able to give us at a time when there’s a lot going on here in China, and I wanted to talk about that a bit as well.

    These were the first meetings by an Australian Treasurer here in 7 years. It’s another really important part of our efforts as a government to stabilise this really key economic relationship in the interests of our people.

    This economic relationship is full of complexity and full of opportunity, and we believe we give ourselves the best chance to manage and maximise those complexities and those opportunities when we engage in a meaningful way, as we have been doing over the course of the last couple of days.

    Obviously Australia and China – we have our differences. But we have agreed to work together where we can when it comes to really important areas like trade and investment, decarbonisation of our industries and business engagement as well.

    I’m really pleased that we agreed yesterday that we would conduct these Strategic Economic Dialogues annually, and the next one will be in Australia next year.

    We were able to have advanced discussions, frank and fruitful, productive and practical discussions, about the key issues confronting both of our economies and the global economy more broadly as well.

    There couldn’t have been a more important time to be engaging with Chinese counterparts than right now. We saw the announcements made earlier in the week and more signalled yesterday by senior policymakers here in China.

    I want to make it really clear – we welcome efforts to boost growth in the Chinese economy. We are very pleased to see these additional steps being signalled by the Chinese government in order to boost economic activity and boost growth here in China.

    China is Australia’s biggest partner. We have a lot at stake and a lot to gain when it comes to this key economic relationship. If you look at the Treasury forecasts for growth in the Chinese economy, if they eventuate, those 3 years of forecasts, that would be the weakest period of growth here in China since the opening up in the late 1970s. What happens here and what is decided here has big consequences for our own economy, our own workers, businesses, investors and for our country more broadly.

    We do have a lot at stake, and we do have a lot to gain when it comes to the engagement and the stabilisation of the relationship with China as well. We know that a more stable relationship is good for Australia, and that’s why I’m here. It’s as simple as that. That’s also why I consulted with the Chairs and CEOs and senior executives of around 15 different very major China‑facing Australian businesses, because we do know just how important it is that we get this right.

    Growth in the Chinese economy has been a key contributor to weakness in the global economy. When the Chinese economy is soft, we’re not immune from that. We understand that. That’s an important reason for the timing of this visit being so crucial.

    Shortly I’ll be meeting with the Chairman of the Chinese Securities Commission as well, Wu Qing, and I will get from him some further insights about the performance of the Chinese economy, particularly the financial conditions here. That will also be another opportunity to talk about the measures announced and signalled through the course of this week.

    I was very grateful to Chairman Zheng last night for the opportunity formally in the dialogue and then informally at the dinner to canvass some of the contexts for the decisions that have been taken, announced or signalled in the course of this week. The NDRC is really going to be one of the most important institutions when it comes to rolling out this support for the Chinese economy at a really important time.

    It was crucial that we restart these discussions, the Strategic Economic Dialogue. It’s a very good outcome for Australia that we will be hosting counterparts next year to continue to advance these discussions on areas like trade and investment, decarbonisation of our industries and business engagement. I’m looking forward to hosting colleagues and counterparts next year in Australia.

    So very valuable and well‑timed discussions. Very practical, very productive. I’m grateful for the generosity of our Chinese host as we canvass some of these really important issues.

    I’m happy to take some of your questions.

    JOURNALIST:

    Treasurer, as you say, you couldn’t have got luckier with the timing. How convinced are you by the extent of the stimulus measures announced by the Chinese this week?

    CHALMERS:

    Clearly some of the detail of these measures is still to come and subject to those details we think this is a really welcome development, a very welcome development here in China but also for the global economy, and especially for our own economy.

    We are very pleased to see the Chinese authorities announce or signal the sorts of steps that we have been hearing about this week publicly and also in our private discussions with our counterparts.

    This can only be a good thing for Australia, subject to those details, because we know that weakness in the Chinese economy does flow through to our own economic conditions. Some of the key reasons why our own economy is slowing considerably are global economic uncertainty, of which China is a part, combined with inflationary pressures at home and the impact of higher interest rates – those 3 things are combining to slow our own economy considerably.

    When steps are taken here to boost economic activity and to boost growth for the Chinese economy, subject to the details that will be released in good time, we see that as a very, very good development for Australia.

    JOURNALIST:

    But do you think they’ll work?

    CHALMERS:

    It remains to be seen. But we’ve seen on earlier occasions when the authorities here, the administration here, steps in to support activity in the economy that is typically a good thing for Australia – good for our businesses and workers, our industries, our investors, and good for the global economy as well.

    Like a lot of people around the world, we have been concerned about the softer conditions here in the Chinese economy. Subject to the details that will be made public in good time, any efforts to boost growth and support activity here is a welcome one around the world and especially at home in Australia.

    JOURNALIST:

    Can you talk us through some of the specific impacts that happens in Australia, the flow‑on effects, when you have an annual growth figure here in China that is below that 5 per cent target?

    CHALMERS:

    We see that across a range of different indicators, but the easiest to understand is the demand for and the price that we’re getting for some of our bulk commodities. One of the reasons why I consulted with BHP and Rio and Fortescue and Woodside and others before I came here to China is to understand the implications for our exports of a softer Chinese economy.

    We’ve seen the iron ore price, for example, is really quite low by recent historical standards. I think it’s down about 40 per cent since the start of the year. Similarly, when it comes to thermal coal. That has implications for us. It has implications for the Budget but, more importantly, it has implications for the economy. Even if in the course of this week we’ve seen a minor correction, a minor improvement, in the prices we get for some of our bulk commodities. That’s obviously a good thing when it comes to our major exporters.

    But more broadly, softness here has implications for growth in the global economy. We’ve even seen in the last 24 hours or so our own Reserve Bank putting out its financial stability analysis and has talked about the consequences of weaker Chinese growth for the global economy. We’re not immune from that, really, right across the board. But the easiest way to understand it is when it comes to the impact on our exporters.

    JOURNALIST:

    Treasurer, there’s been a lot happening in Beijing on the economic front. There’s also been lot going on on the military front. There was the first intercontinental ballistic missile shot in more than 4 decades a few days ago, and on Wednesday before you arrived Australia, Japan and New Zealand sailed their navy vessels through the Taiwan Strait. We’ve also had all 3 of China’s aircraft carriers for the first time operating on [inaudible].

    Can I get a direct comment on the ballistic missile [inaudible] and a comment on Australia’s freedom of navigation operation? And then maybe just talk to us about how you reconcile, obviously, the economic relationship is so important, but there’s other things going on as well, just talk to us about you reconcile that, thanks very much for that.

    CHALMERS:

    Thanks very much for that, Will.

    Australia, like other countries in our region and around the world, has a lot at stake when it comes to a stable, secure, peaceful and prosperous region. It’s not unusual for navies to conduct the kind of exercises that you’re describing in the Taiwan Strait. These are routine activities, and they’re conducted in accordance with international law. That wasn’t part of our discussions yesterday.

    In terms of the other parts of your question, I was able to reiterate in the meetings yesterday afternoon our expectations of safe and professional conduct of all militaries operating in our region. Obviously I’m aware of the reports about the testing and other reports that you refer to in your question, and I was able to raise that in the conversation yesterday afternoon. But as you would expect, the overwhelming focus of our discussions here has been the economy.

    JOURNALIST:

    So in your discussions yesterday about the stimulus measures, was there any discussion about whether these plans are aimed at very short term now or whether this was medium term? [Inaudible] And also, how do you see [inaudible]? Is this actually going to supercharge Chinese national output and Chinese exports? [Inaudible]

    CHALMERS:

    In reverse order, I was able to talk about the importance of safeguarding the global rules‑based system of open trade in the context of some of the issues you raise in your question and the free and fair and open markets that have served the global economy and our economy so well for so long.

    When it comes to the urgency or otherwise of steps that have been flagged to boost growth here, I don’t want to go too deep into the informal conversations that we had about some elements of that, but it was a feature of our discussions.

    This balance that we’re all trying to strike between doing what is necessary in the near term – whether it’s here supporting growth, in Australia, a primary focus on inflation on the cost of living without ignoring the risks to growth – balancing those near‑term considerations with what we need to do to set ourselves up for another generation of growth and prosperity.

    The discussions were about those steps flagged and announced throughout the course of the week. Some elements of that will have some urgency associated with it. But the government here wants to make sure that anything that they’re doing in the near term also serves a useful longer term purpose. In that, we have a lot in common. In Australia fighting inflation without ignoring the risks to growth, budget repair but also investing in skills and housing and energy and in a Future Made in Australia – all that is about trying to recognise our near‑term pressures and our longer‑term opportunities, and that’s how my Chinese counterparts see it as well.

    JOURNALIST:

    [Inaudible] the US is [inaudible] some kind of [inaudible]. What will Australia be doing about that? And did your Chinese counterpart raise that in his [inaudible]?

    CHALMERS:

    My colleague the Energy Minister has made it clear that we don’t intend to ban imports of EVs from any particular country.

    We will continue to discuss with American counterparts the steps that they’ve announced and the steps that they’re taking when it comes to EVs. But we will take our own advice when it comes to the best way to manage and maximise that really important market for EVs.

    These sorts of issues came up in the broad in the discussions yesterday afternoon. We know that this is an issue of concern to our Chinese counterparts. But from our point of view, when it came to technology and innovation and the net zero transformation, our highest priority and our focus in the discussions was on other areas, including the decarbonisation of steel, for example, trying to maximise the chances that we have working together when it comes to our iron ore and their steel production. We both have an interest in greener steel production, and so that was a bigger part of the conversation than some of these other issues around EVs and other technology.

    JOURNALIST:

    Treasurer, I’m sure Australian lobster farmers would be very interested to know whether you raised their concerns yesterday. Are you any closer to knowing when the ban will be lifted? Will it be this year?

    CHALMERS:

    I did raise it last night and yesterday afternoon. We’re seeking a speedy resolution of the restrictions on lobster.

    We’ve made really quite encouraging progress, engaging with Chinese counterparts, to see something like 20 of the $21 billion in trade restrictions lifted. That’s good for our workers and our businesses, our exporters and our investors. I wanted to pay tribute there to the efforts of our people here in China led so capably by our Ambassador, but also Ministers Wong and Farrell and the Prime Minister.

    This is a very tangible way that we have seen progress made as a consequence of our effort to stabilise the relationship. There is more trade of more goods than when we came to office because of those efforts.

    Obviously we’re aware we have a little ways to go yet, particularly when it comes to lobster. I did raise that. We are seeking the speedy resolution of those issues. We know that teams on both sides are discussing the issue of lobster in particular, trying to get to a resolution on that. We’d like to see that before long.

    JOURNALIST:

    What’s the hiccup?

    CHALMERS:

    As I understand it, there are still a couple of technical issues being worked on between our agriculture and trade departments and administrations. We knew that coming here.

    I intended to raise it here and I have. We do want to see a speedy resolution, but we know that there’s a little bit more work to do. But ideally, hopefully, we will see our wonderful Australian lobster gracing the tables of Chinese homes and restaurants as soon as possible.

    JOURNALIST:

    The Chinese delegation was seeking reassurances around Chinese investment in Australia. Did they raise anything specific [inaudible]?

    CHALMERS:

    I really welcomed the opportunity to convey to Chairman Zheng and to his colleagues the same thing which I have said publicly, and I mean it.

    Our foreign investment regime does not target any one country. Ours is a non‑discriminatory regime, which is about managing risks in foreign investment. It’s about strengthening the foreign investment regime and streamlining it where we can to manage the economic and security risks which are sometimes part of foreign investment proposals. That doesn’t single any one country out. It is just a sensible, considered, commonsense way to manage foreign investment in Australia.

    Foreign investment in Australia is welcome. We support overwhelmingly most of the applications that are made to us. Where a proposal is rejected it hasn’t all been from one country. It hasn’t all been from here.

    I really did genuinely welcome the opportunity to step the Chairman through that. We agreed to have more discussions about some of those issues. Wherever we can provide more clarity on these sorts of issues we welcome the chance to do that.

    JOURNALIST:

    What did they say about critical minerals? Because obviously some of those investors have been in that industry. It’s something the Chinese dominate in, and we have seen the announcement earlier this week of the co‑financing agreement between Australia and the US and other countries. So were they concerned about these efforts to diversify supply chains in critical minerals?

    CHALMERS:

    There’s a recognition that every country manages its economic and national security interests in a way that’s appropriate for them.

    Every country has some system or set of arrangements to screen investment, and countries make agreements with each other about key supply chains like this one.

    We think that critical minerals are the opportunity of the century for Australia. I am a huge supporter of the Australian critical minerals industry. But our efforts there aren’t about protecting. They’re about engaging with the world, providing wonderful critical – Australian critical minerals – to markets around the world. Obviously not just with our Chinese counterparts but right around the world there’s a lot of interest in Australian critical minerals, and that’s for good reason.

    JOURNALIST:

    Do you see the Chinese overcapacity in thins like rare earths as being a threat to Australia’s industries? Australia’s paying billions of dollar to companies like Arafura to develop the industry and yet Chinese exports are growing and prices are falling. Are those – firstly, are those investments by the Australian Government and those companies at risk, and, secondly, did you raise those issues with the Chinese?

    CHALMERS:

    We’ve been one of the world’s major beneficiaries of properly functioning global markets for resources and for other goods and services as well. The global economy has been a major beneficiary of that, and we’ve been a major beneficiary of that. We want to see it continue.

    Clearly, when it comes to some markets for some resources, we’ve seen some extraordinary volatility in some of those markets. I was able to reiterate with Chairman Zheng just how much we value the proper functioning of global rules‑based markets. I believe that it’s in everyone’s interests that see those markets function properly.

    JOURNALIST:

    Just following on on investment, [inaudible] Australia‑China Business Council Summit. There’s been a lot of confusion among Australian China facing businesses and Chinese businesses who want to operate in Australia, they heard the comments you repeated today about Australia not having – not targeting any one country. But then they say, well, look at the reality of it. They said they’re very confused about where they’re allowed or not. You have approved or allowed the investment of Rio and [inaudible] for that new iron ore project 2 years ago. Clearly Investment can be approved from China. Can you speak to the model? Is it that? Is it a 50–50 JV with an Australian partner? Is that what Chinese businesses should be coming to Australia with if they want success? Just speak to that a bit.

    CHALMERS:

    We approach each proposal on a case‑by‑case basis, and we’ve done our best to provide as much information and clarity and certainty about the sorts of things that we consider when we judge those applications on a case‑by‑case basis.

    We’ve made it very clear, for example, that we take a harder look where it applies to critical infrastructure, critical data, critical minerals. I think that’s understood. It’s certainly been clearly communicated by our government. But if there’s more information and more clarity that we can provide, I was able to convey to Chairman Zheng yesterday afternoon that we’re happy to try and provide that.

    We approve overwhelmingly the vast majority of proposals which come to us when it comes to foreign investment. Rejecting proposals is a very rare thing, and it isn’t just from one country. We run a genuinely non‑discriminatory Foreign Investment Review Board process. It is rightly robust. We want it to be robust, but we also want it to be clear and transparent, and if we can do more on that front, we will.

    JOURNALIST:

    Treasurer, you’re flying back into a really big storm over negative gearing. Did you ask Treasury to model reforms, and when will we get a definitive answer from the government about whether you will take a new policy to the election on negative gearing?

    CHALMERS:

    First of all, I hope I’m flying back into another Brisbane Lions premiership, but I’ll also be flying back into the opportunity to do a couple of things when I’m back.

    I’ll be releasing the Final Budget Outcome on Monday with Katy Gallagher, which will show a bigger second surplus than forecast in the Budget in May. There’ll be a number of opportunities to talk about this and these engagements here as well.

    When it comes to negative gearing changes, it is not unusual at all for governments or for treasurers to get advice on contentious issues which are in the public domain, including in the parliament. It is not unusual for treasurers to do that, but we have made it very clear through the course of this week that we have a broad and ambitious housing policy already and those changes aren’t part of it.

    JOURNALIST:

    So you’ll rule out any changes to negative gearing before the next election and during the next term?

    CHALMERS:

    We’ve made it really clear through the course of the week that our priority and our focus is on rolling out $32 billion worth of investment, because our highest priority and our biggest focus is supply. Whether it’s in Brisbane on Wednesday where I took a number of questions about this or throughout the course of the week when the Prime Minister was able to take a whole bunch of questions on this as well, we’ve made it clear. Our policy is to boost supply. Our policy is to invest $32 billion in that effort and these changes which we get advice on from time to time because they’re in the public domain or they’re in the Parliament, they’re not part of our policy.

    JOURNALIST:

    Is the Australian economy at risk of shrinking if Trump is elected in the US, given he’s flagged up to 60 per cent tariffs on all imports and overruling the Federal Reserve on interest rates [inaudible]?

    CHALMERS:

    As you’d appreciate, we don’t comment on the domestic political debate, especially from another country and especially in the most intense part of an American election campaign.

    We have shown a willingness and an ability across Australian Governments of both political persuasions to work with whoever the Americans choose as their President and the people that they elect to their representative bodies. We play the cards that we’re dealt when it comes to decisions taken appropriately by the American people.

    I share President Biden’s view that nobody has anything to gain from a trade war between the US and China. The policies being proposed by either side of politics in the US are a matter for them. Broadly and in principle I hold President Biden’s view – nobody has anything to gain from a trade war between this country and the US, least of all Australia.

    JOURNALIST:

    How much did the US election come up in your discussions yesterday?

    CHALMERS:

    I don’t think it came up at all. It may have come up informally, but I don’t believe so.

    Thanks very much.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Marat Khusnullin opened a bank office and a monument to construction workers and restorers in the DPR

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

    Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin made a working visit to the Donetsk People’s Republic, where he took part in the opening of a bank office, a monument, and held a meeting on the socio-economic development of the region.

    “The financial system is the foundation without which new regions will not be able to develop at a sufficient pace. After the opening of the updated PSB office, we held a meeting on this topic. We discussed, among other things, growth points for mortgages and lending to enterprises participating in the SEZ,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

    He added that this PSB office is one of more than 20 branches of the bank in Mariupol. It works for both individuals and legal entities. The bank has a mortgage center, as well as several ATM zones, including with 24/7 access.

    In addition, the Deputy Prime Minister opened a monument to the builders and restorers. On each side of the memorial are bronze bas-reliefs of the restored objects – the School of Arts, the Intensive Care Hospital, the Priazovsky State Technical University and images of the builders at work.

    “It was largely thanks to them that life in the new regions was revived. So this monument is a kind of ‘thank you’ to the 35 thousand builders from all over the country involved in the restoration work in the new regions,” said Marat Khusnullin.

    Concluding his working visit, the Deputy Prime Minister saw how the Central School of Arts had been restored and discussed the program for the socio-economic development of the DPR.

    “Our task is to draw it up for three and six years so that it will lead to the achievement of the goals set by the President as much as possible. We need to define the strategy and priorities now. The key ones are housing, roads, social and economic blocks, launching production,” Marat Khusnullin noted.

     

     

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

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

    http://government.ru/nevs/52813/

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UNESCO Regional Office in Cairo and Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation Launch Dual Exhibitions at the Museum of Islamic Art

    Source: United Nations

    The UNESCO Regional Office in Cairo is pleased to announce the opening of two major exhibitions in collaboration with the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation and the Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo.

    These exhibitions, hosted by Museum, offer an immersive exploration of the history, culture, and architecture of the Islamic world, focusing on two distinct themes which are interlinked.

    The first exhibition, “Madinat Al-Zahra, The Shining City,” focuses on the palatial city of Madinat al-Zahra, commissioned by the Umayyad Caliph Abd
    al-Rahman III in 940 CE near Córdoba, Spain. Known as the “Brilliant City,” this UNESCO World Heritage site reflects the caliph’s power, ideological ambitions, and artistic excellence. The city, named after Abd al-Rahman’s beloved Azahara, served as a political statement as well as a hub of cultural and architectural innovation.

    Since 2016, a joint German-Spanish project led by Felix Arnold, a renowned architect and archaeologist, has been investigating the entrance area of the
    city, uncovering new insights into its construction process, urban design, and the role of gardens and walls in shaping the city’s structure. At the opening ceremony, Felix Arnold delivered a keynote speech, where he emphasized the importance of Madinat al-Zahra in the broader context of Islamic architectural heritage.

    The exhibition features original photographs and key findings from Arnold’s research, as well as two captivating photographic series: “Intimate Diary of Madinat al-Zahra,” which showcases iconic locations like the Salón Rico and Casa Yafar, and a new collection by Rafael Carmona, documenting the ongoing restoration of the Salón Rico.

    The second exhibition, “UNESCO Historic Urban Islamic Landscape,” complements the first by exploring the material culture and architectural achievements of Islamic societies, particularly those represented in UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This exhibition highlights the enduring impact of Islamic urban planning, featuring artifacts from the Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo. Themes include the foundation of Fustat as the foundation of Cairo city, Capitals of Islamic Empires, Architecture, The Genius of the Muslim Engineer, and Urbanization in Islamic Cultures, offering a deeper understanding of the urbanization processes that shaped Islamic cultures. Together, these exhibitions emphasize the preservation of Islamic heritage and its profound influence on world architecture and urbanism.

    By showcasing the connections between Madinat al-Zahra and other Islamic cities like Cairo, UNESCO and AECID provide visitors with a unique opportunity to explore the intertwined legacies of Islamic history and culture. UNESCO, AECID, and the Museum of Islamic Art invite visitors to experience these exhibitions, which offer a comprehensive view of the cultural and architectural contributions of Islamic societies from Córdoba to Cairo and beyond.

    Read the leaflet

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Alexander Novak met with the Minister of Mines and Hydrocarbons of Equatorial Guinea Antonio Oburu Ondo

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

    Alexander Novak met with the Minister of Mines and Hydrocarbons of Equatorial Guinea Antonio Oburu Ondo

    September 27, 2024

    Alexander Novak met with the Minister of Mines and Hydrocarbons of Equatorial Guinea Antonio Oburu Ondo

    September 27, 2024

    Minister of Mines and Hydrocarbons of Equatorial Guinea Antonio Oburu Ondo at a meeting with Alexander Novak

    September 27, 2024

    Previous news Next news

    Alexander Novak met with the Minister of Mines and Hydrocarbons of Equatorial Guinea Antonio Oburu Ondo

    Alexander Novak held a meeting with the Minister of Mining and Hydrocarbons of Equatorial Guinea Antonio Oburu Ondo on the sidelines of the international forum “Russian Energy Week”. The meeting was also attended by the Minister of Energy of Russia Sergey Tsivilev.

    “Russia and the Republic of Equatorial Guinea have long-standing friendly relations, which we invariably build on the principles of respect and consideration of mutual interests. The spirit of solidarity and mutual understanding continues to be the basis of our cooperation, which is not subject to momentary opportunistic considerations,” noted Alexander Novak.

    The parties discussed the possibilities of expanding bilateral trade and economic cooperation and its promising areas, including the supply of Russian industrial and oil and gas equipment to the country, the conditions for the entry of Russian oil and gas companies into hydrocarbon exploration and production projects in Equatorial Guinea, the participation of Russian contractors in the construction of solar power generation facilities, peaceful nuclear energy, LNG production, etc.

    Currently, Russia mainly exports pharmaceutical products, mineral and chemical fertilizers to Equatorial Guinea. This year, a significant increase in trade turnover has begun. The parties agreed to create a mechanism for consultations on economic, trade and investment cooperation in the near future.

    Russia and Equatorial Guinea will continue to work together within the Gas Exporting Countries Forum to develop measures in the interests of promoting the role of gas in global energy markets, which ensures the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals as an affordable, universal and environmentally friendly type of fuel.

    Alexander Novak and Antonio Oburu Ondo also highly praised the role of OPEC in coordinating the balance of supply and demand in the global oil market.

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

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

    http://government.ru/nevs/52814/

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Chernyshenko: Over 58 million tourist trips were made in Russia in eight months

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

    Veduchi Resort in the Chechen Republic

    Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko and Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov spoke about the development of the domestic tourism industry and its achievements.

    “Today, the tourism sector in Russia unites more than 200 thousand companies, employing over 1 million people. The national project “Tourism and Hospitality Industry” helps to create new resorts, points of attraction and make travel around the country safer, more accessible and more comfortable. More than 50 thousand hotel rooms are being built under the preferential lending program alone. Another 70 thousand will appear during the construction of federal year-round seaside resorts within the framework of the “Five Seas and Lake Baikal” project, which is being implemented on behalf of President Vladimir Putin,” noted Dmitry Chernyshenko.

    The Deputy Prime Minister added that almost 58.5 million tourist trips were made in Russia in the first eight months of this year, an increase of 11.4% compared to the same period last year. In July and August, the number of tourist trips was the highest in the history of statistical observations – 10 million monthly.

    It is expected that by the end of the year the number of tourist trips within the country will reach a record 91 million.

    By 2030, the tourist flow in the country should grow to 140 million trips per year – this is the goal set by President Vladimir Putin.

    Today, tourism is becoming a driver for other industries, as well as a growth point for regional economies. Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov noted that investments in the industry exceeded 800 billion rubles last year alone.

    Elbrus, Kabardino-Balkarian Republic

    “Today we are seeing a real investment boom in the tourism market. In the first half of the year, the volume of investments amounted to 377 billion rubles, which is 64% more than last year. These figures include new hotels, new ski resorts, amusement parks, and tourist attractions. This year alone, we will allocate over 30 billion rubles under three key programs of the national project – the preferential lending program, support for the construction of modular hotels, and a single subsidy. We are currently finalizing the updated national project “Tourism and Hospitality”. The national project retained the support measures that have already proven themselves well. We have finalized the rules taking into account current tasks. For example, for the development of car tourism, we determined that projects related to the development of infrastructure for priority automobile tourist routes will receive additional points. This way, we will be able to more actively develop infrastructure that will make car travel more comfortable and safer. The industry has excellent prospects,” concluded Maxim Reshetnikov.

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

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

    http://government.ru/nevs/52812/

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: OSCE supports international workshop on Financial Action Task Force standards

    Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE

    Headline: OSCE supports international workshop on Financial Action Task Force standards

    The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (POiD) supported an international workshop on Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards, which took place from 24 to 27 September 2024 in Dushanbe. The workshop was hosted by the National Bank of Tajikistan and was attended by 60 participants from the nine member states of the Eurasian Group on Combating Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism. The purpose of the workshop was to prepare for the fourth round of FATF mutual evaluations, scheduled to begin in September 2025. As part of a new approach to the selection of assessors, candidates received pre-training on the FATF standards before the assessor training.
    The workshop covered in-depth discussions on the complex framework and best practices of the FATF standards, fostering a deeper understanding of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing protocols. Participants benefited from expert-led presentations, practical case studies, and group discussions aimed at enhancing their skills in evaluating and implementing FATF recommendations. The workshop also included scenario-based exercises to provide hands-on experience in addressing practical challenges, ensuring that participants are well-equipped to apply these standards effectively in their respective jurisdictions.
    This activity is part of the ongoing efforts of POiD to support the strengthening of Tajikistan’s institutional capacity and co-operation in combating money laundering.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Governor Olli Rehn: Old and new frontiers of the ESRB: Systemic risk, non-banks and data analysis

    Source: Bank of Finland

    Olli Rehn, First Vice-Chair of the European Systemic Risk Board
    Keynote speech at the 8th ESRB annual conference ‘New Frontiers in Macroprudential Policy’, Frankfurt, 27 September 2024

    Old and new frontiers of the ESRB: Systemic risk, non-banks and data analysis

    Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Friends,

    Good morning everyone!

    May I also welcome you all and thank the secretariat for putting together an impressive programme for this ESRB flagship event.

    Today, I would like to reflect on the role of the ESRB and its mandate regarding financial stability and macroprudential policy in the EU.

    Slide 2: The ESRB’s track record & new frontiers

    I will discuss three interlinked issues. Firstly, the ESRB at 15, an adolescent, with a solid record. Secondly, key starting points for the forthcoming ESRB review. And thirdly, new frontiers, especially dealing with non-banks and better use of data and analysis.

    Let’s look at where we have come from. Since the global financial crisis, major efforts have been made to ensure financial stability in the EU and globally through better regulation and supervision. I think it is indeed fair to say that financial stability has risen forcefully up the agenda of central banks, not least as it provides essential support for the central banks’ primary goal of price stability.

    In recent years, financial systems and financial stability measures have been subject to real-life stress tests, with the global economy being hit by a series of major shocks over just a short period of time. Primarily, that is, the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia’s illegal, brutal war in Ukraine, the surge in inflation and the sharp rise in interest rates.

    In my view, the financial systems in the EU and elsewhere have withstood these shocks rather well. The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision points out that the strong resilience has been largely thanks to the tightened capital and liquidity requirements for banks.

    Slide 3: Sturdy capital buffers provide banking resilience

    True, the capital ratios of European banks have roughly doubled since the global financial crisis. The increased capital buffers have been – and will continue to be – necessary in the current operating environment, which is filled with geopolitical and other uncertainties.

    I would add that the active use of macroprudential policy has further supported the resilience of the financial system in Europe.

    As part of its mandate, the ESRB assesses systemic risks in the EU, and, where appropriate, issues warnings and recommendations.

    Slide 4: Key risks for EU financial stability

    In our recent systemic risk assessment, we conclude that while disinflation in the EU is on track, financial stability risks remain elevated amid heightened geopolitical risks and the still fragile recovery of the EU economy. In the latest ECB projection, growth outlook was revised down, and the risks to the growth outlook are tilted to the downside.

    In particular, we have to be aware of both the direct and indirect impacts of current geopolitical risks on the EU financial system. Geopolitical events may directly impact financial markets by increasing volatility, affecting capital flows, exchange rates, and credit spreads. Indirectly, they can disrupt global trade and increase commodity prices, challenging households and businesses in the EU.

    In the financial markets, the risk appetite has been unusually strong, especially in the context of high macro-financial uncertainty. The abrupt, albeit short-lived, market correction in early August showed how sensitive this can be. If repeated, the vulnerabilities in the non-bank sector could amplify adverse market dynamics.

    Moreover, vulnerabilities in the banking sector could resurface, especially if the first two risks were to materialise. This would increase credit risks and tighten funding conditions at the same time.

    In any case, it continues to be essential to maintain the resilience of the EU financial system. Ensuring adequate resilience and effective but flexible regulation is one building block in promoting European competitiveness, along the lines of the recent report by Mario Draghi. As part of the efforts for more investment and higher productivity, it is crucial to advance the savings and investment union – or the ex-capital market union – and to complete the banking union.

    Slide 5: ESRB’s members reflect on its future – ATC survey

    Fifteen years ago, the global financial crisis revealed weaknesses in EU banking supervision. It was clear that major changes to financial supervision were necessary to help prevent and mitigate future crises.

    Thus, Commission President José Manuel Barroso set up an independent High Level Group on Financial Supervision in the EU to make recommendations on strengthening European supervisory arrangements, covering all financial sectors.

    The High Level Group, chaired by Jacques de Larosière, was given a very broad mandate and very little time. In only three months, the Group delivered an important and insightful report. It provided the basis not only for establishing the ESRB but the whole European System of Financial Supervision, including the European Supervisory Authorities.

    One of the key conclusions of the report was that regulators and supervisors had not sufficiently focused on “the macro-systemic risks of a contagion of correlated horizontal shocks”. As a policy response, de Larosière proposed establishing the ESRB (or the European Systemic Risk Council as he then called it).

    As a member of the European Commission at that time, I had the privilege of being present at the ESRB’s creation, specifically by preparing with my team the legislative proposals for setting up the ESRB, while my dear colleague Michel Barnier introduced the legislation for the European System of Financial Supervision. The legislative process was swift. The General Board of the ESRB held its inaugural meeting in the Eurotower in January 2011.

    Given the constantly evolving environment, it is necessary to review the mandate and workings of the ESRB from time to time. The Commission is now tasked – for the second time – with reporting to the European Parliament and to the Council on the review of the ESRB.

    While the ESRB will not take a formal position on its founding regulation, it believes it is important that the legislator has the opportunity to benefit from the experience of those who have been deeply involved in the work of the ESRB. For this purpose, the ESRB has set up a High Level Group to (i) identify which adjustments to the mission or framework of the ESRB might be required and to (ii) provide its insights to the EU co-legislators before the review process. I have the honour of chairing the Group.

    Let me give you an interim snapshot of the key issues in the review.

    First, as part of the High Level Group’s work we have been seeking feedback more broadly from the ESRB membership by way of a survey among the members of the Advisory Technical Committee on how the ESRB has succeeded in its core tasks over the years. We have also sought to explore whether the current operating model of the ESRB is fit for purpose and how the ESRB and its tasks should be renewed and developed as the financial system evolves.

    The feedback received from the members of the ATC has been most valuable. It indicates that the current model and mandate of the ESRB do not need a complete overhaul but rather some targeted adjustment.

    The work done by the ESRB over the years is considered especially valuable with regard to the definition of macroprudential policies and the development of a comprehensive framework for macroprudential policies in Europe, particularly in the banking sector.

    And this work has had a significant impact: the ESRB, through its determined efforts, has helped to pre-emptively identify and mitigate the build-up of systemic risks in Europe.

    Going forward, the ESRB could, in my view, play an even stronger role in the holistic analysis of systemic risks within the EU. The ESRB has a unique ability to examine cross-sectoral, cross-border and interlinked risks – and the truly systemic dimension of these risks.

    The ESRB is also in an excellent position to work with academia and international organisations. A particular advantage for the ESRB is that the European Supervisory Authorities (the EBA, ESMA and EIOPA) participate in our work and provide their own perspectives. It is crucial that their expertise will continue to support the work of the ESRB.

    Leading on from this, I would like to call for deeper collaboration at the EU level on country risk analysis. Given the macroprudential mandate of the ESRB, there is scope for capitalizing on the ESRB’s analytical work in the EU’s Macroeconomic Imbalance Procedure.

    In particular, the ESRB has been developing the concept of macroprudential policy stance to analyse the way in which national authorities are using macroprudential tools to mitigate the systemic risks to which their financial sector is exposed. A deepening of EU collaboration in this field would contribute to strengthening economic stability in a particular Member State and/or the EU in its entirety.

    The feedback we received also highlighted that, in its systemic risk assessment, the ESRB should be able to incorporate a range of new emerging risks and vulnerabilities. Several members underlined the need to better understand systemic risks related to the non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs). Other increasingly relevant risks include climate change, AI and cybersecurity.

    The ESRB has already engaged in risk monitoring and analysis of the non-bank sector and has identified many structural vulnerabilities that require our attention. But more work is needed to better understand the systemic risks of the non-bank sector in the same depth as those for the banks. This is important not only for financial stability, but also for ensuring a solid basis for the saving and investment union.

    Let me underline the critical importance of data – access to data, better use of data – in the analysis of non-banks. To understand the systemic risks related to NBFIs, we simply need better data to be able to identify and map the vulnerabilities and interconnections. Only once that’s done, we will be able to capitalize on more advanced methods, such as system wide stress-testing, to locate the vulnerabilities in the system.

    Our future challenges include not only the complexity of the evolving financial system, but also the increased speed of its operations. Due to digitalisation, financial operations are becoming ever faster. It will be even more important that the ESRB is able to perform risk analysis and policy evaluations in a timely manner.

    Dear Friends,

    Slide 6: Three priorities in the way we work

    Before concluding, I’d like to highlight three priorities for the way we work in the coming years that I find critical for the ESRB. We should:

    1. Enhance our analytical capacity by making better use of data and research.
    2. Bring into use new analysis methods and technologies.
    3. Focus on our core activities.

    Let me just elaborate on these a little more.

    Slide 7: Analysis based on data and research – a key priority

    1. Active development of data analytics and research-driven analysis is nothing new at the ESRB as such.

    But I firmly believe that the importance of analysis which is based on data and research cannot be overemphasized in our times, where disinformation is being used as a weapon. In today’s world, there is a great risk that genuine information will be crowded out.

    Data is the gold or oil of our digital world today – it is a valuable resource and a necessary basis for high-level analysis. Following the global financial crisis, the reporting requirements for financial operators were increased. Financial supervisors and central banks consequently also have a duty to use the new data effectively and efficiently.

    The challenge for the ESRB is that not all relevant data are readily available to it. The rules governing the ESRB’s access to data can be broadly divided into two types:

    • ex ante access, whereby the ESRB has access to data on a regular, ongoing basis, as soon as it is reported. We already benefit from quite a few datasets under this framework, which is well aligned with our mandate and tasks.
    • ex post access, through ad hoc requests, which take time to process. For some important datasets we have only ex post access. This includes granular datasets collected by the ESAs.

    While cooperation regarding data sharing between the ESAs and the ESRB has been excellent, the ex post framework has inherent limitations that hamper the ESRB’s ability to continuously monitor and mitigate risks to financial stability.

    For this reason, the ESRB sent a letter last month to European co-legislators, urging them to broaden the ESRB’s access to information from supervisors, so that the data can be shared with the ESRB by default.

    This is extremely important for the ESRB to be able to effectively fulfil its mandate in assessing the systemic risks and to promptly react in instances of projected instability.

    As the volume of data increases, we must also invest in new high-level analysis methods. Modern methods of risk assessment make use of advanced tools and technologies, such as AI and machine learning, which enable better forecasting and analysis. With these technologies, it is possible to process large amounts of data.

    Finally, to focus on our core activities has been rightly underlined both by the other High Level Group members and in the ESRB member feedback. We should, in my view too, focus on our core activities even in the midst of various crises. We cannot be experts in everything, and nor do we need to be. The added value that we bring as an organisation should focus on the area where we are the best experts: systemic level risk analysis of the financial system.

    Our added value should always come from a deep understanding of vulnerabilities and interconnections in the financial system and of the various factors that get amplified when shocks hit the system.

    Dear Friends,

    Let me now conclude.

    In the grand scheme of things, financial stability fundamentally depends on the geopolitical and macroeconomic context. The best service for EU financial stability now is to maintain European unity and firmly support Ukraine in the face of Russia’s threat.

    Furthermore, it is crucial to strengthen the structural foundations of the European economy, by focusing policy actions on productivity growth and industrial competitiveness, while retaining the European model of social inclusion.

    On its part, the European Systemic Risk Board, together with the ESAs, the SSM, the FSAs and the central banks, continues to play a strong role in safeguarding the stability of the EU financial system. Our work will focus on the evolving systemic risk and will be based on comprehensive data and research, high-quality analysis and wide-ranging cooperation between different authorities.

    I look forward to continuing to work with you towards this immensely important goal of maintaining financial stability in Europe.

    Thank you for your kind attention!

    Presentation (PDF)

    Olli Rehn ESRB financial stability speech

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI China: China innovates carbon footprint assessment

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Chinese scientists have developed a carbon footprint assessment system which spatializes a carbon footprint by integrating a geographic information system (GIS) into a full life cycle assessment (LCA). This comes as the country has advanced efforts to establish a carbon footprint management program that is both tailored to national conditions and aligned with international standards.

    Software for the GIS-LCA system was released at a seminar focusing on the construction of a carbon footprint management system. The seminar was held in Beijing on Sept. 26, 2024. [Photo courtesy of the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences]
    Software for this GIS-LCA system was released Thursday at a seminar in Beijing that gathered representatives from relevant government departments, academia, companies and industrial associations.
    During his speech at the seminar, Xie Kechang, academician and former vice president of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, expressed how current international standards do not account for variations in carbon footprints of products that are the same but produced in different locations. He went on to add that this limitation does not suit China’s national conditions well. Xie offered guidance to the team who developed this new carbon footprint assessment system.
    Tian Yajun, chief scientist of the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and leader of the team who developed this new system, also emphasized the significance of accuracy in carbon footprint calculation, stating that “an accurate and reliable carbon footprint is one of the important foundations for promoting the green and low-carbon transformation of the economy and society.”

    Tian Yajun, chief scientist of the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and leader of the team developing the GIS-LCA system, spoke during the seminar held in Beijing on Sept. 26, 2024. [Photo courtesy of the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology at the CAS]
    Both academics highlighted that the integration of GIS with LCA addresses this limitation and enhances assessment accuracy.
    According to Tian, also head of the Extended Energy Big Data and Strategy Research Center at the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology at the CAS, this carbon footprint assessment system, built on a decade’s worth of accumulated big data, can model real-world scenarios, planning the actual paths of carbon footprints while supporting visualization in the form of flow charts.
    He added that this system can be applied in a wide variety of contexts and by a diverse array of institutions, including products, services, supply chains, companies, industrial parks, industries and governments.
    With this GIS-LCA system, Yueqing city in Zhejiang province has developed China’s first carbon footprint calculation model for local industrial clusters. It has also created a carbon footprint roadmap for electrical product supply chains. On this basis, the model has identified key points and provided plans for carbon reduction.
    In addition, the city has developed the country’s first spatialized, high-resolution background dataset for the electrical industry, as well as has established a public carbon footprint service platform that integrates products, supply chains, industries, businesses, certification bodies and the government.
    “The technology that integrates geographic information with carbon footprint assessment provides an open exploration for establishing the country’s carbon footprint management system, and a good start for us to promote a science-based, standardized and internationally recognized carbon footprint management,” said Xia Yingxian, director general for the Department of Climate Change of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE).
    According to an action plan released in June by the MEE in collaboration with 14 other government departments, China aims to preliminarily establish a carbon footprint management program with national guidelines for calculating product carbon footprints as well as calculation rules and standards for approximately 100 key products by 2027, with the intent to expand this system to include calculation rules and standards for approximately 200 key products by 2030.
    The national guidelines GB/T24067-2024, titled Greenhouse gases—Carbon footprint of products—Requirements and guidelines for qualifications, are scheduled to take effect on Oct. 1.
    Looking ahead, Tian said that he and his team look forward to developing their GIS-LCA system into an important component of China’s carbon footprint management program, and even part of international rules.
    Xia said that the MEE will collaborate with other government departments to motivate stakeholders across society to step up scientific theoretical research; establish calculation standards through pilot efforts in key regions, industries and companies; encourage collaboration in developing a national emission factor database of product carbon footprints; create diverse application scenarios; and advance international and mutual recognition of the standards.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Abbas urges efforts to stop Israeli occupation, ‘genocide’

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas delivers a speech during the General Debate of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 26, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas received a long round of applause as he addressed the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Thursday, insisting that “we will not leave, Palestine is our homeland,” and “if anyone were to leave it would be the occupier.”

    He proceeded to accuse Israel of perpetrating a “full-scale war of genocide,” dismissing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s claim that Israel didn’t kill civilians in Gaza. “I ask you, who is it then that killed more than 15,000 children?” he said.

    “Stop this crime. Stop it now. Stop killing children and women. Stop the genocide. Stop sending weapons to Israel. This madness cannot continue. The entire world is responsible for what is happening to our people,” Abbas said.

    Sanction and exclusion

    During his speech, Abbas called on the international community to impose sanctions on Israel and also its exclusion from the United Nations following the “genocide in Gaza.”

    “We call for sanctions against Israel. Israel does not deserve to be part of this organization. I don’t know how the United States can insist on depriving us of our rights,” Abbas said, adding that Israel must be stripped of United Nations membership for failing to accept a two-state resolution to the conflict and allowing the return of Palestinian refugees to their homes. “We are going to submit an application to the UNGA on this matter,” he said.

    “We regret that the U.S. administration — the largest democracy in the world — on three occasions obstructed draft resolutions at the Security Council demanding Israel to observe a ceasefire,” Abbas said, accusing the United States of encouraging Israel’s military actions by repeatedly using its veto power and supplying Israel with weapons used in the conflict.

    “This is the United States — the same country that was the only member in the Security Council that voted against granting the state of Palestine full membership in the UN,” Abbas said, expressing disbelief over what he sees as the U.S. consistent opposition to Palestinian statehood and rights.

    He also touched upon the situation with settlers in the West Bank, specifying that 600,000 settlers currently live there. “We want ICJ (the International Court of Justice) ruling on Israel to be implemented,” he noted.

    Crime and genocide

    Highlighting that Palestinians have endured nearly a year of what he described as one of the most heinous crimes of the time, the leader said that “it is the crime of a full-scale war of genocide that Israel is perpetrating. A crime that has killed more than 40,000 martyrs in Gaza alone, and thousands remain under the rubble. A crime that has injured more than 100,000 to this day.”

    He pointed out that whole Palestinian families have been annihilated, their family names completely erased, stressing that amid the onslaught, diseases are spreading, clean water and vital medicines are in scarce supply, and over two million Palestinians have been displaced, many forced to flee multiple times in search of safety. The deaths and injuries continue unabated, not only in Gaza but in the West Bank and in Jerusalem.

    Abbas underscored that he was not speaking today “to respond to the lies” of the Israeli prime minister, who claimed before the U.S. Congress in July that Israeli forces did not kill innocent civilians in Gaza.

    “I ask you, who is it then that killed more than 15,000 children of the 40,000 and an equal number of women and elderly persons. And who is it then that is continuing to kill them, I ask you?” he said.

    “Palestine will be free, despite anyone who objects. Our people will live in the land of their fathers and grandfathers … The occupation will end,” concluded Abbas.

    Strike and ceasefire

    Right after Abbas, Gambian President Adama Barrow addressed the UNGA that “the Israeli occupation, expansion of settlements, blockade of Gaza, and restrictions in the West Bank, together with the threat of intensifying the war to a regional conflict, continue to worsen the ongoing tensions in the Middle East.”

    “Accordingly, I call on the United Nations, the international community, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Member States to join forces and urgently bring about permanent peace in Palestine,” he said, adding that “we call on the international community to prioritize support for the post-conflict reconstruction of Gaza and the improvement of economic conditions in the West Bank. Even though the situation in that region is extremely serious, the intense destruction of lives and property continues.”

    In the meantime, Netanyahu instructed his military to keep fighting “with full force” on Thursday, as high-stakes international diplomatic efforts were underway to pause the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel.

    Netanyahu is heading to New York for the UNGA, as members of his government dismissed a ceasefire proposal that the United States, European allies and several Arab nations put forward. Israel’s military carried out new strikes in Lebanon, including one in Beirut, the capital, that targeted the commander of Hezbollah’s drone unit.

    The UNGA adopted a resolution on May 10 supporting the Palestinian bid to become a full UN member and recommending that the Security Council “reconsider the matter favorably.” The resolution was adopted with 143 votes in favor and nine against, including the United States and Israel, while 25 countries abstained. China voted for the resolution.

    The resolution states, “The State of Palestine … should therefore be admitted to membership” and “recommends that the Security Council reconsider the matter favorably.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: We invite you to the II Eurasian Marketing Conference “Marketing of Economic Growth”

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    The State University of Management invites you to take part in the II Eurasian Marketing Conference “Marketing of Economic Growth”, which will be held on November 29-30, 2024 at the State University of Management.

    The aim of the conference is to discuss the impact of marketing on economic growth in the context of destabilization of political, market and social processes.

    The topics of the plenary discussion cover the main areas:

    — The role of Russian marketing in overcoming the negative impact of economic sanctions; — Marketing technologies for developing vacant market niches; — Successes and problems of using digital technologies to accelerate sales; — Reasons for the slow development of B2B marketing; — Acceleration of the implementation of high-tech solutions to achieve import independence based on marketing models, technologies and tools; — New industries and areas of activity for marketers.

    The conference will include the following sections:

    Section 1. Marketing in Greater Eurasia: experience and trends; Section 2. Marketing of innovative products: conquering market niches; Section 3. Development of industrial marketing; Section 4. New digital marketing solutions; Section 5. Loyalty and gamification in marketing; Section 6. Personalization in marketing: finding relevant buyers; Section 7. Marketing technologies in retail and marketplaces; Section 8. Design and capitalization of sustainable brands; Section 9. Development of advertising and PR technologies.

    Conference format: mixed. Participation in the conference is free. To participate in the conference, you must register before October 15, 2024.

    The conference articles will be published in a collection and submitted to the Russian Science Citation Index. The best articles will be published in a monograph by decision of the organizing committee. Details and particulars in the information letter.

    All additional information can be found in the information letter or on the official website of the conference.

    II EURASIAN MARKETING CONFERENCE

    Subscribe to the tg channel “Our State University” Announcement date: 09/27/2024

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

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

    We invite you to the II Eurasian Marketing Conference “Marketing of Economic Growth”

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Government Cuts – Devastating cuts to Whaakata Māori and Māori Teacher Training funding – PSA

    Source: PSA

    The Government’s decision to cut funding to Māori Television – Whakaata Māori – and Māori Teacher Training is another devastating attack on Māori, says PSA Te Kaihautū Māori Janice Panoho.
    “This is yet another breach of Article 2 of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, which protects our taonga tuku iho, including the language and cultural heritage of Māori,” Panoho says.
    “This attack on indigenous broadcasting is an affront to our people, and part of an ongoing attack on Māori. We must oppose this government’s agenda to exploit race as a political tool to undermine Te Reo Māori and eliminate Māori news and programmes.
    “It is a fact that Māori tamariki and rangatahi thrive in Kaupapa Māori education environments fare better than in mainstream schooling. We need more Māori teachers to inspire our young ones and to reinforce the importance and future of learning Te Reo Māori.
    “The recent remarks made by Education Minister Erica Stanford, where she claimed that maths achievement take priority over the revitalization of Te Reo Māori, are typical of this government’s disregard for our culture. These comments ignore the reality that both academic and cultural success go hand in hand for Māori students.
    “The loss of $30 million to fund Māori Teachers training and $10.3 million in time-locked funding, provided by the previous government, will have serious consequences for the future of Māori broadcasting and education.
    “Despite the pleas in Parliament yesterday by former Māori Development Minister Willie Jackson, who urged the government to invest in Whakaata Māori, there has been no indication that this coalition government intends to step in and provide the necessary support.
    “This is a direct attack on the future of Te Reo Māori and the Māori voice in media. Māori will not stand by while our language and our identity are diminished. The Government must be held accountable for their actions and their disregard for the commitments of Te Tiriti o Waitangi,” Panoho says.
    The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 96,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Shigeru Ishiba will be Japan’s next prime minister. What should we expect?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sebastian Maslow, Associate professor, University of Tokyo

    In a vote to replace Fumio Kishia as head of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), party members have elected Shigeru Ishiba as their new leader. Given the LDP’s majority in parliament, the party leader will become prime minister by default.

    Ishiba, aged 67, joined the parliament in 1986 and held key cabinet posts throughout his career, including director of then Defence Agency (now Ministry of Defence).

    Amid growing public opposition to the LDP, in 1993 he left the party, only to return four years later. The move cost him the trust of many of his LDP colleagues, many of whom still consider him a traitor.

    Ishiba has run five times for the LDP’s top position and frequently opposed former prime minister Shinzo Abe’s policies. Though unpopular among the LDP’s top members, Ishiba has nourished broad support among the LDP’s base. In today’s race, he won over Sanae Takaichi, a close ally of Abe and the face of the LDP’s revisionist brand of conservatism.

    Ishiba, who has his constituency in rural Tottori, has pledged to revitalise economic growth through supporting local regions. A defence expert, he is an outspoken advocate of stronger security relations with the United States and a more robust military.

    What does this tell us about Japanese politics?

    The election was one of the most contentious in recent political history and came after Kishida announced he would not seek re-election as LDP leader when his three-year term ends this month.

    Kishida’s tenure as prime minister has been marred by political scandals, leading to a sharp decline in public support for the cabinet.

    In particular, the revelation of the LDP’s links to the Unification Church following the assassination of Abe in 2022 and recent reports of LDP slush funds have undermined voter confidence in the party.

    In an effort to restore public confidence, Kishida promoted the dissolution of the LDP’s factions, which had served as the party’s main internal mechanisms for mobilising support and financial resources and allocating government portfolios since its founding in 1955.

    At the same time, the factions were seen as the main source of the LDP’s scandals.

    In a logic of “numbers are power”, the factions mobilised internal support for either their own leader or the faction’s ally to become prime minister.

    By challenging the LDP’s old power structures, Kishida’s re-election prospects diminished. However, with the disappearance of most of the LDP’s factions, internal power politics has become competitive.

    As a result, an unprecedented nine candidates vied for the party’s leadership.

    Will politics change much?

    The LDP’s constitution stipulates that in the first round of voting, the votes of each of the 368 members of parliament are added to the 368 votes allocated proportionally to rank-and-file members.

    The top two candidates then go through to a second round, where the 368 National Diet members cast their votes, while each of the 47 prefectural branches gets one vote.

    This means candidates who are popular with the LDP’s base have a good chance of surviving the first round, while only those who are popular with the party’s Diet members will ultimately win the race.

    The exception to this pattern is when the party’s national elite is so unpopular that its Diet members make a strategic move to support a locally popular candidate in an appeal to the public to reform the LDP and thus avoid punishment at the polls.

    This was the case when Junichiro Koizumi was elected LDP leader in 2001 after campaigning against his own party, which was embroiled in a series of scandals, while securing the support of the grassroots.

    With a runoff between the top two contenders seen as the most likely scenario early on, the candidates have been courting the support of the LDP’s old guard and faction leaders, hoping for their influence in mobilising the votes of LDP Diet members.

    Ishiba has remained highly unpopular among LDP Diet members. LDP Vice-President Taro Aso and others have pledged to support his rival Sanae Takaichi.

    Takakichi herself has promised not to further investigate the party’s slush funds or to punish members linked to them. While Ishiba has been critical of the LDP’s initial response, he has remained silent on the issue during his campaign in order to avoid further alienating the party’s Diet members.

    The LDP’s internal politics have come under intense public scrutiny. With the LDP’s internal power structures destabilised, fears of a return to revolving-door governments have resurfaced. The party operates in crisis mode.

    Selecting Ishiba has increased its chances to compete in the next general election and thus keep the LDP in power. How Ishiba can secure enough support from within the LDP to implement his policies while responding to the public’s expectations to hold the party accountable for its past scandals, however, remains to been.

    If he fails to deliver on the latter, his tenure may be short-lived too.

    What happens now?

    The Diet will convene on Tuesday and LDP members will elect Ishiba as the new prime minister, who will then announce her new cabinet and LDP leadership.

    If the past serves as lesson, Ishiba will dissolve the lower house soon after the supplementary budget is passed. This would set Japan on track for general elections later this year.

    Faced with a fragmented opposition, it remains to be seen whether his policies alone will be enough to secure public support. A critique of “Abenomics” (Shinzo Abe’s economic approach), Ishiba is considered being in favour of fiscal discipline.

    Meanwhile, he has also called for more public works spending to reduce Japan’s growing inequality while revitalising the depopulated regions.

    Ishiba has also been critical about Kishida’s return to nuclear power, calling for more investment in regenerative energy.

    In addition, he has expressed support for legalising same-sex marriage and separate surnames – though broadly supported by the public, both issues are controversial among the LDP’s conservative base.

    Promoting a more active and equal role of Japan in its alliance with the US, Ishiba most recently advocated for expanding security cooperation to an Asian version of NATO. Moreover, he has called for more diplomatic efforts to engage China and Russia instead of relying on military pressure.

    At the same time he has repeatedly called for a robust military posture to counter China’s rise and North Korea’s military actions.

    What Ishiba means for relations with South Korea – a key legacy of Kishida – or for handling a potential Donald Trump White House, however, remains to be seen. His pledge for a more active Japan certainly resonates well with Trump.

    What is clear is that the LDP, operating in crisis mode, has voted for a leader who is willing to change the party and to restore the public’s trust in government.

    Sebastian Maslow 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. Shigeru Ishiba will be Japan’s next prime minister. What should we expect? – https://theconversation.com/shigeru-ishiba-will-be-japans-next-prime-minister-what-should-we-expect-239314

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Public servants applauded for transforming public service

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Public Service and Administration Minister Mzamo Buthelezi has applauded all those who have played and continue to play a vital role in transforming the public service which is a responsibility that most bear with utmost seriousness.

    “The history of our public service has been shaped by the very people who dared to envision a future where public administration serves as a catalyst for positive change and a beacon of hope for every citizen,” Buthelezi said.

    Addressing the Annual Conference of the South African Association of Public Administration and Management (SAAPAM) 23rd gala dinner held in Johannesburg on Thursday, Buthelezi said as the country marks 30 years of democracy, the country reflects on the giants who laid the foundation of service, such as the father of democracy President Nelson Mandela and the Statesman Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi.

    “It is unarguable that their legacy challenges us to build a capable, ethical and professional public service. It does not matter the many difficult and different challenges we face. It remains our duty to restore trust and uphold their values of integrity,” Buthelezi said.

    Buthelezi said it is this vision that has inspired countless leaders to go above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that service delivery is not just a function but a manifestation of the principles of fairness, justice and inclusivity.   

    “While we continue cutting a cloth woven in the fabric of such rich and great legacies and trying to navigate the landscape of the 7th Administration, we also find ourselves at a crossroads – where values and legacies of the past must guide us in crafting a future that reflects our highest aspirations.

    “The 7th Administration which is the Government of National Unity (GNU) has placed at its core the principles of accountability, transparency and inclusive governance. These are the very ideals that our predecessors embodied – and it is upon this very same foundation that we must build,” Buthelezi said.

    Buthelezi said the demands of the 21st century call for a public service that is agile, skilled and grounded in the principles of Batho Pele – which is putting people first.

    “We must be unwavering in our commitment to ensuring that every decision we make and every action we take – reflects the values that our predecessors strongly championed.

    “It is upon each of us, especially the current generation of public servants to draw inspiration from their courage and wisdom as we strive to create a government that truly works for its people,” the minister said.

    Buthelezi said the relationship between the public service, public servants and SAAPAM, in addition to being concerned with how things are and work right now, must also be about innovation and creating new and better forms of delivery of public goods and basic services.

    “For this to work, we also must explore the idea of expanded peer review mechanisms for academia, to include the intended beneficiary of the knowledge produced by SAAPAM academics. 

    “This means that as scholars, it is important to make the knowledge you produce to be accessible, relevant and responsive to the needs of South Africans,” the minister said.

    The SAAPAM mission is to encourage and promote good governance and effective service delivery through the advancement of professionalism, scholarship and practice in public administration and management.

    SAAPAM consists of a National Board and Provincial Chapters. The National Board is elected every two years from among the SAAPAM membership. – SAnews.gov.za 

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: International film curator and champion of African cinema Keith Shiri appointed Lead Curator to Film Africa 2024 – now open for submissions

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    LONDON, United Kingdom, September 27, 2024/APO Group/ —

    Keith Shiri

    The Royal African Society is honoured that Keith will lead Film Africa’s curation, bringing his extraordinarily rich and wide experience in international curation and film festivals, as well as a record of championing African cinema and its profile in the United Kingdom, Europe, Africa and the Caribbean.

    As well as being the founder and director of Africa at the Pictures, a London-based festival of African cinema, Keith is a programme adviser to the London Film Festival and a founder member and current chair of the Africa Movie Academy Awards, and has advised the curation of international film festivals including the Venice Film Festival, the Berlin International Film Festival, the Dubai International Film Festival, the Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou and the Tampere Film Festival. He is also the Regional Secretary (Europe) for the Federation of African Filmmakers (FEPACI), and a Visiting Research Fellow at the Centre for Research and Education in Arts and Media (CREAM) at the University of Westminster.

    Keith sits on the advisory board of New York’s Focus Features Africa First Programmed, which has long supported young African filmmakers through its mentorship programme.

    In keeping with the Royal African Society and Film Africa’s ethos of expanding access to, and inclusion within, African culture and perspectives, the festival’s programme and emphases will reflect input from and be enriched by a diverse range of curators, filmmakers, and critics, to reflect the complexity and nuances of different African and diasporic voices.

    Keith Shiri said: “I am excited to join Film Africa as a curator. African artistry – especially in cinema – is experiencing a period of unparalleled invention and experimentation, and Film Africa provides the ideal forum in which to share these cultural treasures with audiences from the continent, as well as Britain’s various diaspora communities and the wider British public. I look forward to working to assemble a bench of films and speakers to progress our collective conversation about African film – as well as African cultural trends and the perspectives of those whose continent will, this century, emerge as the world’s most important and populous.”

    Film Africa 2024

    Film Africa, London’s unrivalled celebration of African and African diaspora cinema presented by the Royal African Society, is delighted to announce the appointment of Keith Shiri – a titan of African cinema and visual culture – as the Festival’s Lead Curator. In 2024, Film Africa will take place from Friday 25 October until Sunday November 3 continuing its mission of highlighting African and African diaspora filmmaking. The Festival is now open to submissions from African and African diasporic filmmakers.

    All entries will be considered for inclusion in the Festival and prizes will be awarded to two entries: The Baobab Award for best short film and the Film Africa Audience Award for best feature-length entry. Both awards have a £1000 cash prize.

    In 2022, the 10th edition of Film Africa spanned over 10 days from 28 October – 6 November. The festival hosted screenings at 7 venues across London – Picturehouse Central, BFI Southbank, Rich Mix, The Ritzy, Bertha DocHouse, South London Gallery and The Africa Centre – as well as featuring a selection of 7 narrative and documentary films on the BFI Player. Film Africa 2022 presented an eclectic hybrid programme of 47 films from 16 countries (including 22 World, European or UK premieres).

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke Delivers Remarks Announcing the Justice Department Findings of Civil Rights Violations by the Lexington, Mississippi Police Department and City of Lexington

    Source: United States Attorneys General 7

    Remarks as Prepared for Delivery

    Good afternoon. My name is Kristen Clarke, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division at the U.S. Justice Department. Joining me is Todd W. Gee, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi.

    We are here today to announce the findings from our pattern or practice investigation into the City of Lexington, Mississippi, and the Lexington Police Department.

    We find reasonable cause to believe that the Lexington Police Department and the City of Lexington engage in a pattern or practice of conduct that violates the First, Fourth and 14th Amendments of the Constitution, Safe Streets Act and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

    Specifically, we find that the Lexington police use excessive force; unlawfully stop, search and arrest people — including by jailing people on illegal “investigative holds” — unlawfully jail people without affording prompt access to court; violate the rights of people engaged in free speech and expression, including by retaliating against critics of the police; and unlawfully discriminate against Black people.

    The department also unlawfully arrests, jails and detains people based on their failure to pay money without assessing their ability to pay; unlawfully arrests people just because they owe outstanding fines; and imposes money bail without justification and, again, without assessing ability to pay. The fact that fines and fees fund the department drives its law enforcement, resulting in a crude policing-for-profit scheme. The Lexington Police Department operates under an unconstitutional financial conflict of interest.

    Lexington’s focus on revenue and its overly aggressive form of policing leaves the people of Lexington harassed, feeling helpless and hopeless. For example, on the day we opened our investigation, Lexington officers chased a man down and tased him until he foamed at the mouth. In the previous months, police officers had repeatedly arrested the man for minor offenses most police departments would have handled with a ticket. For stealing sugar packets from a gas station, the man spent 13 days in jail. He spent four days in jail for taking a second cup of coffee after paying for the first. Each time, the Lexington police kept him in jail because he could not afford to pay the fines or the $50 processing fee Lexington charges for every arrest. Especially for a person in poverty, these fines are no small thing. Even though he has no money, the man owes the Lexington Police Department over $7,500. At no point did the police or city assess his ability to pay those fines.

    In America, being poor is not a crime, but in Lexington, their practices punish people for poverty. On Feb. 29, we provided official notice to Lexington city officials and the police department about our concerns regarding illegal arrests and detentions that penalize people for lacking resources. Lexington has made some changes in response to our notice. But, as today’s findings show, more meaningful reform is necessary.

    Lexington’s fines and fees have been absolutely devastating for the people who live there. Although Lexington is in one of the poorest counties in America, people owe the police department $1.7 million in outstanding fines. The Lexington municipal court has issued bench warrants for over 650 people based on unpaid fines — equivalent to roughly half of Lexington’s population. Based on these warrants, police officers have unlawfully arrested and jailed people, using the leverage of incarceration to extract more money from them.

    Other times, the Lexington police send people to jail for days or weeks for minor offenses. These people wait in jail until they can go before a judge or they can get enough money together to pay their fines. This, too, violates people’s civil rights. For example, the Lexington police arrested a Black man for allegedly taking $15 worth of gas. The police told him his fine was $300. He couldn’t pay it. The police sent him to jail until the next scheduled court date — two weeks later.

    Unjustly enforcing fines and fees creates a two-tiered system of justice that can perpetuate a cycle of poverty. It also fuels a financial conflict of interest for the police department. The police must enforce the law even-handedly, not based on generating revenue. Lexington, though, focused its law enforcement on strategies that generated income, even at times linking officers’ paychecks to the number of arrests they made. Over the past two years, Lexington has made nearly one arrest for every four people in town — more than 10 times the per capita arrest rate for Mississippi.

    The Lexington police also illegally arrest people for using profanity, and they retaliate against people who film officers or criticize the police. The First Amendment protects swearing, yet the Lexington police broke down a man’s back door and arrested him for swearing in a public place. The First Amendment also protects the right to film or criticize officers. But when a man filmed officers approaching his suicidal brother with their guns raised, a police officer batted the man’s phone out of his hand, pushed him to the ground and arrested him.

    While making arrests, the Lexington police frequently use excessive force. We found instances in which officers used a taser like a cattle prod to punish people or to make them comply more quickly with officers’ orders. For example, officers used a taser to shock a Black man 18 times until he was covered in his own vomit and unable to speak or walk. Officers punch, hit or kick people who are unarmed and handcuffed. One officer kicked a Black man in the groin so hard that he wet himself. Another used his gun to repeatedly hit a Black man already in handcuffs. An officer knocked an elderly Black man unconscious. Nor are children spared from attack. An officer grabbed a Black child by the neck and shoved him into a patrol car, banging the child’s head against the door frame.

    Black people bear the brunt of the Lexington Police Department’s illegal conduct. Lexington’s former police chief, Sam Dobbins, who regularly spoke disrespectfully to Black men, set in motion the aggressive enforcement of low-level violations. Dobbins left the department when recordings of him using other racial slurs were released. Officials told us that with Dobbins gone, so too was the problem. We found, however, that the discriminatory practices he initiated continue unabated. Lexington officers frequently tase, punch and beat Black people without justification, while we identified no such use of force on white people. Low-level traffic violations that resulted in arrest for Black people yielded only warnings or citations for white people. The result? 98% of people arrested for traffic offenses are Black. This pattern of racial discrimination not only violates the law. It also erodes the community’s trust in law enforcement, the judicial system, and the government more broadly.

    According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, half of America’s police departments have 10 officers or fewer. Every person in the United States enjoys certain fundamental civil rights, regardless of the size of their town, the contents of their bank account or the color of their skin. Residents of rural and underserved communities have the same rights and deserve the same protection as people who live major cities. The Justice Department is committed to providing that protection. Police misconduct in smaller communities may not always garner national attention, but rest assured, the Justice Department is watching. No city, no town, no law enforcement agency is too large or too small to evade our efforts to safeguard the constitutional rights that every American enjoys. Small and mid-sized police departments must not be allowed to violate people’s civil rights with impunity.

    To the people of Lexington, I want you to know that we heard you. We listened carefully to your testimonies. We thank you for having the courage to speak out.

    The Lexington Police Department and the City of Lexington have agreed to cooperate with the Justice Department to address the challenges we outline today. As we begin the hard, essential work of rebuilding trust and restoring equal justice under law, we need to continue to hear from the Lexington community in the coming days and weeks.

    We stand with the people of Lexington to extend justice to all its residents, rich and poor, regardless of their race.

    I’ll now welcome U.S. Attorney Todd Gee.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Connecticut-Based Energy Trader Convicted of International Bribery Scheme

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    A federal jury in Bridgeport, Connecticut, convicted a former oil and gas trader today for his role in a nearly eight-year long scheme to bribe Brazilian government officials and to launder money to secure business for two Connecticut-based commodities trading companies.

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Glenn Oztemel, 65, of Westport, Connecticut, paid bribes to officials of Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. (Petrobras), the Brazilian state-owned oil and gas company, to obtain lucrative contracts for Arcadia Fuels Ltd. (Arcadia) and Freepoint Commodities LLC (Freepoint).

    “Glenn Oztemel paid and laundered more than $1 million in bribes to employees of Brazil’s state-owned oil and gas company to obtain lucrative contracts for his commodities-trading companies in Connecticut,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Bribing public officials to win business undermines the rule of law and creates unfair competition. Today’s verdict reaffirms the Criminal Division’s commitment to combatting foreign corruption that violates U.S. law.”

    “Bribery and money laundering are well-established federal crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery for the District of Connecticut. “This conviction serves as another warning to anyone involved in the financial industry who seeks to gain an unfair advantage and illegally profit, both here in the U.S. and abroad. This office and our law enforcement partners will continue to keep a watchful eye to ensure that representatives from U.S. businesses operating overseas comply with our nation’s laws.”

    “Individuals and companies who collude to thwart free market competition through bribery ultimately erode public trust in the marketplace,” said Assistant Director in Charge Akil Davis of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office. “Today’s conviction demonstrates the commitment of the FBI and our partners to investigate anti-competitive behavior and hold accountable those who try to cheat the system for their own benefit and profit.”

    The trial evidence showed that, between 2010 and 2018, Oztemel worked as a senior oil and gas trader — first at Arcadia and then at Freepoint. With the assistance of others, Oztemel paid and caused the payment of bribes to Petrobras officials for their assistance in helping Arcadia and Freepoint to obtain and retain fuel oil contracts with Petrobras and by providing Oztemel and others with confidential information regarding Petrobras’ fuel oil business. Oztemel and his co-conspirators caused Arcadia and Freepoint to make corrupt payments — disguised as purported consulting fees and commissions — to a third party intermediary and agent, Eduardo Innecco, 74, knowing that Innecco would pay a portion of those funds to Brazilian officials, including to Houston-based Petrobras trader Rodrigo Berkowitz.

    To conceal the scheme, Oztemel, Innecco, and their co-conspirators used coded language like “breakfast” and “freight deviation” to refer to the bribes and communicated using personal email accounts, encrypted messaging applications, disposable phones, and fictitious names like “Spencer Kazisnaf” and “Nikita Maksimov.” In total, Oztemel paid more than $1,000,000 in bribes, which were split between Berkowitz and other Petrobras officials in Brazil. The bribe money moved from the trading companies to shell companies around the world controlled by Innecco, who then made payments to a bank account in Uruguay controlled by Berkowitz’s father.

    The jury convicted Oztemel of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), conspiracy to commit money laundering, three counts of violating the FCPA, and two counts of money laundering. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison on each of the FCPA and conspiracy to violate the FCPA counts, and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each of the money laundering and money laundering conspiracy counts. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Charges against Oztemel and Innecco were unsealed on Feb. 17, 2023. In a superseding indictment returned on Aug. 29, 2023, both were charged alongside Oztemel’s brother, Gary Oztemel. Gary Oztemel pleaded guilty to money laundering on June 24. In May 2023, Innecco was arrested in France and his extradition to the United States is pending. An indictment is merely an allegation, and Innecco is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    In a related matter, in December 2023, Freepoint admitted to bribing officials in Brazil in violation of the anti-bribery provisions of the FCPA. Freepoint entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut. As a part of the resolution, Freepoint agreed to pay more than $98 million in criminal penalties and forfeiture.

    The FBI Los Angeles Field Office’s International Corruption Squad investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and authorities in Brazil, Latvia, Switzerland, and Uruguay provided assistance with the investigation.

    Trial Attorneys Allison McGuire and Clayton P. Solomon and Assistant Chief Jonathan P. Robell of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael McGarry for the District of Connecticut are prosecuting the case.

    The Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting FCPA and Foreign Extortion Prevention Act (FEPA) matters. Additional information about the Justice Department’s FCPA and FEPA enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Delivers Remarks at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    Remarks as Delivered

    Good morning. Thank you, Jonathan, for that warm welcome.

    I am very happy to be here in Arkansas.

    In just a few moments, U.S. Attorney Ross and I will meet with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners about our shared work to protect communities here in Little Rock and across the district.

    I am grateful to have the chance to thank our law enforcement partners, in person, for the difficult and often dangerous work they do every single day.

    I am also grateful to have the chance to recognize the public servants of this office for their extraordinary work.

    This U.S. Attorney’s Office is the face of the Justice Department here in the Eastern District of Arkansas. When people in this District look to see what the Justice Department stands for, they look to this U.S. Attorney’s Office.

    I have been consistently impressed not only with the work you do, but with the way you do that work.

    Those efforts, in addition to the efforts of our state and local law enforcement partners, are making a difference.

    Three- and-a-half years ago, the Justice Department launched an ambitious strategy to combat violent crime. That strategy is rooted in exactly the kinds of partnerships that are represented in this room. While we know that progress in too many places is still uneven — and there is no acceptable level of violent crime — today we are seeing results.

    Just earlier this week, the FBI released a report showing an 11.6% drop in homicides last year and one of the lowest violent crime rates in 50 years nationwide.

    And recent data indicates this trend is continuing. Earlier this month, the Justice Department’s Violent Crime Reduction Steering Committee announced new data from across 88 cities that indicates that violent crime has continued to decline considerably in 2024. That included a further 16.9% drop in murders.

    But we know we have so much more work to do, here in Arkansas, and across the country.

    That is why this office, and our entire Department, are working in partnership with state and local law enforcement to arrest violent felons, seize and trace guns used in crimes, disrupt violent drug traffickers, and prosecute the individuals and gangs who are responsible for the most violence.

    For this office, that meant working with the DEA, the FBI, and the North Little Rock Police Department to secure a 25-year prison sentence last month for a Little Rock man for distributing fentanyl resulting in someone’s death.

    Also last month, this office worked with DEA, the Arkansas State Police, the Saline County Sheriff’s Office, and the Little Rock Police Department to secure a 15-year prison sentence of a defendant on fentanyl and firearms charges.

    In July, this office, together with the U.S. Marshals Service and U.S. Postal Inspection Service, secured the guilty plea of a man who threatened to assault and murder a United States judge and a federal law enforcement officer.

    Earlier this spring, this office worked with DEA, FBI, the second Judicial District Drug Task Force and seven other state and local partners as part of a large-scale enforcement action to charge and arrest 15 people on drug, money laundering, and firearm offenses related to the distribution of methamphetamine in Northeast Arkansas.

    In March, this office worked with the DEA, ATF, the Pine Bluff Police Department, and the Little Rock Police Department to secure a 30-year prison sentence for a man with a lengthy criminal record of domestic violence who was found guilty of being a felon in possession of ammunition. In October of last year, the defendant shot his former girlfriend and then shot into an apartment where the victim and her young son were hiding.

    And in January, this office worked with ATF to secure a 20-year prison sentence against a man who had assaulted a victim after she ended their relationship. The defendant then set fire to her business after she changed the locks. During the sentencing, the victim told the Court how hard she worked to build her business as a single mother and spoke about the impact of the defendant’s violence against her.

    In addition to using our investigative and prosecutorial resources to protect communities in this district, we are also committed to using our grantmaking capabilities to invest in public safety.

    For example, today, the Justice Department is awarding more than a million dollars in funding to the state under the DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Program, to enhance laboratories’ capacity to process DNA samples.

    And this week, we awarded more than $4 million to Arkansas under the National Criminal History Improvement Program, which provides funding to states and localities to improve the quality, timeliness, and immediate accessibility of criminal history records and related information.

    Today’s grants are part of the more than $26 million that the Department is awarding to organizations and government agencies in Arkansas this month to support law enforcement activities and community initiatives.

    These funds will, among other things, help law enforcement agencies in Arkansas hire more officers, help to prevent and combat violent crime and drug trafficking, and improve services for survivors of domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and other crimes.

    We remain committed to providing our law enforcement and community partners with the resources they need to protect people across this District.

    The examples I have shared today are just a snapshot of the work this office is doing every day to protect communities in the Eastern District of Arkansas, and to fulfill the Justice Department’s mission to keep our country safe, to protect civil rights, and to uphold the rule of law.

    I am very proud of the public servants who make up this office. And I am equally proud of the relationships they have nurtured with the people and the agencies around this table, who are the Justice Department’s indispensable partners.

    I look forward to our meeting. Thank you.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Blood donation: free of charge and no discrimination to be included in the law from 2025

    MIL OSI Translation. Government of the Republic of France statements from French to English –

    Source: Switzerland – Department of Foreign Affairs in French

    Federal Council

    Bern, 27.09.2024 – In Switzerland, it is forbidden to pay for blood donations, and every person must have the right to donate: these are the rules laid down in the Constitution. Parliament has decided to enshrine these principles in law through an amendment. At its meeting on 27 September 2024, the Federal Council decided to bring the corresponding provisions into force in the Therapeutic Products Act on 1 January 2025.

    The amendment to the Therapeutic Products Act (TPA) provides that blood donations are not remunerated in Switzerland. The principle of free donation already applies today, in accordance with the Federal Constitution, to human organs, tissues and cells and prohibits the guarantee or acceptance of any advantage in exchange for a blood donation. It is also not permitted to import blood or labile blood products for transfusion purposes if such advantages have been guaranteed or accepted. This amendment thus anchors this constitutional principle in the TPA.

    The same applies to the ban on discrimination in blood donation, which is now included in the LPTh. No one may be excluded from donating blood because of, for example, their sexual orientation. The new legal provisions will come into force on 1 January 2025.

    By amending the law, the Federal Council is implementing parliamentary initiative 16.504 “Guaranteed blood supply and free blood donation”. In the final vote on 29 September 2023, Parliament unanimously adopted the bill drawn up by the National Council’s Committee on Social Security and Public Health (CSSS-N). The referendum period expired on 18 January 2024 without having been used.

    Address for sending questions

    Federal Office of Public Health, Media and Communication, 41 58 462 95 05, media@bag.admin.ch

    Author

    Federal Councilhttps://www.admin.ch/gov/fr/accueil.html

    Social sharing

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Tax Reform – Petition Calls for Capital Gains Tax

    Source: Tax Justice Aotearoa

    27 September 2024 – A petition has been launched today calling on the leaders of all our political parties to consider a capital gains tax in Aotearoa.

    Tax Justice Aotearoa’s petition seeks to level the playing field of the current tax system and highlights the urgent need for more revenue to fund essential services and infrastructure.

    “Our tax system is way out of balance and a capital gains tax (CGT) is a good first step that would help level the playing field between wage earners and those who mainly earn their money through investments,” says Tax Justice Aotearoa chair Glenn Barclay.

    “There has been growing support for a capital gains tax from a range of individuals and organisations in the media in recent weeks and it is timely to give the public of New Zealand the opportunity to express their support too.

    “The additional revenue raised could be used to fund vital services such as education, healthcare and infrastructure and to help address climate change, leading to a better quality of life for all New Zealanders.”

    ActionStation is hosting the petition and Director Kassie Hartendorp agrees it’s time to make capitalgains tax a reality.

    “Just over 72% of the members we talked to support a capital gains tax – including 18% of those people who would benefit from that tax and yet still thought it would have a positive impact.

    “Our country is ready to join many others around the world, and just make it happen.”

    It’s a kaupapa shared across a range of advocacy groups including Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG).

    “We welcome a discussion on capital gains tax, especially this week when the Minister for Child Poverty Reduction rejected a $3 billion proposal from officials that would have kept us on track to achieving the goal of halving child poverty by 2028,” says CPAG Executive Officer Sarita Divis.

    “This is at the same time the government is giving tax cuts of $2.9 billion for landlords, allowing them to deduct interest as an expense and receive tax free capital gains on sales of their houses.  

    “Taxes allow us to do the things we want to do as a nation, like ending child poverty,” Sarita Divis says.

    New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) also backed the petition.

    “Fairer taxes would support appropriate levels of health funding and better patient outcomes by enabling safe levels of health care professional to patient ratios,” says Anne Daniels, President of the NZ Nurses Organisation.

    Another organisation supporting the petition was the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions.

    “The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi strongly believes that our current tax system isn’t fit for purpose and isn’t delivering the outcomes New Zealanders deserve,” says Craig Renney, NZCTU Economist and Director of Policy.

    “Workers pay tax on every dollar earned, while those who make huge capital gains pay nothing at all.

    “Levelling the playing field through a well-designed CGT would benefit workers, the economy, and the housing market while delivering revenue to invest in underfunded public services.

    “There is a reason why so many other countries have a CGT and continue to do better than Aotearoa,” Craig Renney says.

    It was a message shared by the Public Service Association (PSA).

    “The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi believes we need a fairer tax system that helps properly fund public and community services, so that they are there when we need them,” says Kerry Davies, PSA’s national secretary.

    “A capital gains tax should be part of a fair tax system that generates the revenue the Government needs to do its job of looking after all New Zealanders.”  

    Tax Justice Aotearoa calls on all New Zealanders to sign and share the petition to show their support for a fairer and more equitable tax system:

    https://our.actionstation.org.nz/petitions/it-s-time-for-a-capital-gains-tax

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Shigeru Ishiba elected Japan’s ruling party leader

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Shigeru Ishiba casts his ballot at Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) leadership election in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 27, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba won Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential election on Friday, virtually ensuring that he will become the country’s next prime minister.

    The 67-year-old lawmaker, in his fifth attempt to lead the party, was elected as the new LDP president by securing 215 votes in a runoff to defeat his female contender Sanae Takaichi, who received 194 votes.

    As the LDP-led coalition constitutes a majority in both chambers of the parliament in Japan, the new party president is almost certain to be elected prime minister in the extraordinary Diet session scheduled to be held on Oct. 1, succeeding the incumbent Fumio Kishida, who is not seeking re-election due to mounting criticism over the LDP slush fund scandal.

    LDP parliamentarians cast 367 votes in the first round of voting, while another 368 votes were allotted to rank-and-file members. Ishiba, winning 154 votes, entered the runoff vote round with Takaichi who took the lead at 181 votes.

    In the runoff voting, the LDP lawmakers cast the same number of votes, but the rank-and-file members’ votes were reduced to one for each of the LDP’s 47 prefectural chapters.

    Shigeru won the final race with advantages in the votes from both LDP parliamentarians and local chapters.

    43-year-old Shinjiro Koizumi, who is former environment minister and son of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, lost out in the nine-candidate race in the first round of voting earlier in the afternoon.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Holiday travel to see around 2B cross-regional trips

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    China is poised to experience an estimated 1.94 billion cross-regional trips during the upcoming week-long National Day holiday, starting Tuesday, Li Yang, vice-minister for transport, said in Beijing on Friday.
    This translates to an average of 277 million daily trips, reflecting a 0.7 percent increase from last year and a significant 19.4 percent rise compared to 2019.
    Notably, around 80 percent of these journeys will be made via self-driving vehicles, amounting to about 1.53 billion road trips. The remaining 20 percent will utilize commercial public transportation options, including trains, planes, and ferries.
    Family travel is expected to dominate domestic tourism, with inter-provincial trips becoming increasingly common. Anticipated popular destinations include major cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, as well as Chongqing and the provinces of Shanxi, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Sichuan. In terms of international travel, neighboring Southeast Asian countries are forecast to attract a significant number of travelers.
    As the holiday approaches, Li emphasized that the transportation sector is prepared to meet the anticipated challenges, aiming to fulfill traveler expectations and government mandates. Preparations are already underway to implement effective travel support plans designed to enhance safety and convenience for all holiday travelers.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI: MOBIA Technology Innovations Proudly Earns a Place on The Globe and Mail’s Sixth Annual Ranking of Canada’s Top Growing Companies

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DARTMOUTH, Nova Scotia, Sept. 27, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MOBIA Technology Innovations is delighted to announce it has ranked No. 274 in the 2024 Report on Business magazine’s ranking of Canada’s Top Growing Companies.

    Canada’s Top Growing Companies ranks Canadian companies on three-year revenue growth. MOBIA earned its place on the list for a fourth year in a row with three-year growth of 140%.

    MOBIA’s passion for creating value for customers fuels innovation and drives the company to push the limits of what’s possible, creating custom technology solutions to solve complex business problems. Added to its deep technical bench, this focus on innovation has helped MOBIA achieve growth during a time of economic uncertainty. “The rise of new technologies, like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and automation, has opened a whole new world of opportunities for our customers,” said Mike Reeves, President at MOBIA. “But the evolution of these technologies creates its share of challenges, too. As a company, we’re committed to being the partner they can lean on to execute complex business transformations that create competitive advantage in shifting markets.”

    Canada’s Top Growing Companies is an editorial ranking that was launched in 2019 to celebrate the achievements of innovative businesses in Canada. To qualify for this voluntary program, companies had to complete an in-depth application process and fulfill revenue requirements. In total, 416 companies earned a spot on this year’s ranking.

    The full list of 2024 winners along with editorial coverage is published in the October issue of Report on Business magazine.

    “Our annual ranking of Canada’s Top Growing Companies reflects the sector-spanning ingenuity of this country’s entrepreneurs and corporate leaders,” says Dawn Calleja, Editor of Report on Business magazine. “And we think it’s important to tell their stories, to help inspire the next generation of up-and-comers across the country.”

    “The Globe and Mail congratulates this year’s Canada’s Top Growing Companies’ winners for achieving exceptional growth and resilience in facing business challenges,” says Andrew Saunders, CEO of The Globe and Mail. “It is a testament to dedication, strategic vision, and innovative drive.”

    ABOUT THE GLOBE AND MAIL

    The Globe and Mail is Canada’s foremost news media company, leading the national discussion and causing policy change through brave and independent journalism since 1844. With our award-winning coverage of business, politics and national affairs, The Globe and Mail newspaper reaches 6.2 million readers every week in our print or digital formats, and Report on Business magazine reaches 2.9 million readers in print and digital every issue. Our investment in innovative data science means that as the world continues to change, so does The Globe. The Globe and Mail is owned by Woodbridge, the investment arm of the Thomson family.

    ABOUT MOBIA
    MOBIA is a leading expert in business transformation and innovative enterprise technology systems. With hundreds of customers across North America, MOBIA partners with organizations of all sizes, across all verticals to transform the way they work. Focused on people, processes, technology, and culture, MOBIA helps businesses reach their full potential. MOBIA is proud to be recognized as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies and Canada’s Top Growing Companies. To learn more, visit Mobia.io

    To learn more about MOBIA contact Nicole Murphy at nicole.murphy@mobia.io.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Twaao Launches Incubation Center and Data Services to Enhance User Investment Value

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, Sept. 27, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Recently, Twaao Exchange announced a series of innovative business initiatives, including the launch of an incubation center, an enhanced wallet, and new data services. These innovative solutions will be rolled out gradually, aiming to provide users with more comprehensive and professional digital asset management solutions. Through continuous innovation and service upgrades, Twaao is committed to creating higher investment value and more profit opportunities for its users.

    The Twaao Incubation Center is a core component of this innovation initiative. It will offer comprehensive support to promising blockchain projects, including funding, technology, marketing, and management consulting. Through a rigorous project selection and evaluation process, the incubation center will assist high-quality projects in achieving rapid growth and market success. Twaao aims to drive the development of the blockchain ecosystem through the incubation center, providing users with more premium investment opportunities.

    The product manager at Twaao stated, “Our incubation center is not just about providing resources and support to projects, but about building a bridge for users to discover and invest in promising projects. Through the incubation center, we hope to help more blockchain innovation projects come to fruition and promote the prosperity of the industry.”

    Twaao has also launched a data service platform. This platform uses big data and artificial intelligence technologies to analyze market trends and trading data in real-time, providing users with precise investment advice and decision support. The data service platform will regularly publish market analysis reports and research findings to help users grasp market trends and investment opportunities.

    This series of innovative initiatives marks a significant step for Twaao in enhancing digital asset management services. With the introduction of the incubation center, digital wallet, and data services, Twaao offers users more comprehensive and professional solutions to better manage and invest in digital assets.

    Looking ahead, Twaao will continue to increase its investment in innovation and service upgrades, continuously optimizing and enhancing the service quality of the platform. Through close collaboration with partners both within and outside the industry, Twaao will keep exploring more possibilities in digital asset management, creating higher investment value and more profit opportunities for users.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Alexander Novak met with the Executive Vice President, Vice President for Economy, Minister of People’s Power for Oil of Venezuela Delcy Rodriguez

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

    Alexander Novak met with the Executive Vice President, Vice President for Economy, Minister of People’s Power for Oil of Venezuela Delcy Rodriguez

    September 27, 2024

    Alexander Novak met with the Executive Vice President, Vice President for Economy, Minister of People’s Power for Oil of Venezuela Delcy Rodriguez

    September 27, 2024

    Alexander Novak met with the Executive Vice President, Vice President for Economy, Minister of People’s Power for Oil of Venezuela Delcy Rodriguez

    September 27, 2024

    Delcy Rodriguez, Executive Vice President, Vice President for Economy, Minister of People’s Power for Oil of Venezuela, in a meeting with Alexander Novak

    September 27, 2024

    Previous news Next news

    Alexander Novak met with the Executive Vice President, Vice President for Economy, Minister of People’s Power for Oil of Venezuela Delcy Rodriguez

    Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Alexander Novak held a meeting with the Executive Vice President, Vice President for Economy, and Minister of People’s Power for Oil of Venezuela Delcy Rodriguez on the sidelines of the international forum “Russian Energy Week”.

    “Venezuela remains a reliable partner and ally of Russia in Latin America and in the world as a whole. The strategic nature of our relations is based on a mutual desire to build a more just polycentric world order, coincidence of positions on most issues on the global agenda, mutually beneficial cooperation in the trade and economic, credit and financial, investment, cultural and humanitarian spheres,” the Deputy Prime Minister noted.

    The parties discussed cooperation in the oil and gas sectors, including coordination of positions within the Gas Exporting Countries Forum and OPEC, terms of equipment supply for industrial projects in the Venezuelan fuel and energy complex, as well as prospects for implementing joint projects in the non-energy applications of nuclear technologies to solve problems in medicine, agriculture, education and industry as part of expanding cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy. The meeting participants touched upon the topic of promoting trade with settlements in national currencies and issues of financial and credit relations.

    The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized the positive trend in bilateral trade, the volume of which has grown by almost 50% over the past six years. In January-July of this year, Russian-Venezuelan trade turnover increased by 80% compared to the same period last year. The volume of tourist flow from Russia to Margarita Island also increased over this period to 12 thousand people.

    Alexander Novak invited a delegation from Venezuela to participate as guests of honor in the International Export Forum “Made in Russia”, which will be held on October 14, 2024 in Moscow.

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

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

    http://government.ru/nevs/52815/

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –