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Category: Statistics

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 8th Expert Meeting on Statistics for Sustainable Development Goals & 2024 Workshop on Statistics for SDGs

    Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

    The 2024 Workshop & Expert Meeting on Statistics for Sustainable Development Goals is aimed at experts from national statistical offices, international organizations and other stakeholders involved in the production, communication and coordination of the reporting of statistics for SDGs. The meeting focuses on strategic issues and serves as a platform to share experiences, good practices and lessons learned; to showcase innovative solutions to the challenges faced; and to identify priorities for future methodological and capacity-development work in this area.

    The meetings will be held in person. The Workshop will take place on 15 October 2024 and the Expert Meeting on 16-17 October 2024. 

    Find out more about UNECE’s work on Statistics for SDGs here.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Microgravity in space may cause cancer − but on Earth, mimicking weightlessness could help researchers develop treatments

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Sai Deepika Reddy Yaram, Ph.D. Student in Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, West Virginia University

    Cancer cells are more hardy in the low-gravity conditions of space. koto_feja/iStock via Getty Images Plus

    As space travel gains traction and astronauts spend increasing amounts of time in space, studying its effects on health has become increasingly critical.

    Is space travel truly safe? Far from it – research has shown that the effects of space radiation and microgravity on the human body are both detrimental and long-lasting. Creating space conditions on Earth, however, could potentially help researchers treat cancer.

    We are biomedical engineers studying how the body’s cells change under microgravity. Mimicking microgravity conditions on Earth allows researchers to study its effects without the need for space travel.

    Lab research in space

    Microgravity is a condition where gravity is extremely weak and objects are almost weightless. This occurs in space, where Earth’s gravity barely affects astronauts.

    Being in a microgravity environment for an extended period of time can lead to several health issues, including bone loss, muscle weakness, face puffiness and heart changes. Even after astronauts return to Earth, their bodies do not completely go back to normal.

    Studying how cells, organs and tissues respond to microgravity can help scientists better understand how to address any related harmful changes to the body. However, conducting research on lab samples in space faces significant challenges.

    In addition to monitoring lab samples, astronauts have no small number of other tasks to attend to while in space.
    NASA/AP Photo

    It is costly to launch equipment and samples, and experiments need to be planned around weightless conditions and the force of launch. Strict deadlines, limited access to space missions and dependence on astronauts to conduct experiments increase the complexity of these studies, making accuracy and cooperation crucial for success.

    Accessing samples after they have been sent to space can also be difficult. They risk being damaged while in the harsh conditions of space and during transport back to Earth.

    The process of planning and carrying out a lab study in space can be time-consuming, limiting the practicality of frequent experimentation.

    Studying microgravity on Earth

    To address these issues, scientists have developed equipment capable of simulating microgravity conditions on Earth.

    One such device is the clinostat, a machine that continuously spins samples to mimic the effects of low gravity. By constantly rotating, it spreads the effects of gravity evenly so that the sample is “weightless” or close to it. To mimic the effects of microgravity, the clinostat must rotate at just the right speed – fast enough that the sample doesn’t react to gravity, but not so fast that it feels other strong forces.

    Another method called dielectrophoresis places particles such as cells in a nonuniform electric field. Unlike a uniform electric field, which is the same strength and direction everywhere, a nonuniform electric field changes in strength or direction at different points. This uneven field causes cells to move based on differences in their electrical properties compared with the liquid surrounding them, enabling researchers to separate and study them. While this technique has been widely used on Earth, exploring its application in microgravity environments could allow researchers to more precisely manipulate particles and conduct research not feasible under Earth’s gravity.

    Tools such as clinostats and dielectrophoresis provide an easier, cheaper and faster way to study microgravity’s effects on cells compared with space missions. They are cost-effective and portable, requiring less expensive equipment and a smaller volume of samples to quickly generate reliable data.

    This video demonstrates particles separating via dielectrophoresis.

    Microgravity and cancer

    While microgravity can cause cancer, it could also potentially help researchers better understand and treat cancer.

    Cancer is one of the most challenging diseases to treat because it evolves rapidly and often becomes resistant to available treatments. By observing cancer cells in microgravity, researchers can study how they grow, divide and respond to drugs under different conditions. In simple terms, we are taking cancer cells out of their comfort zone to see how they react to an unknown environment.

    For example, researchers have observed that cancer cells have improved survival under microgravity. They also saw changes to their electrical properties. Other studies have shown that microgravity can alter immune cell function and how cells communicate with each other.

    Our team and others hypothesize that cancer cells may respond more effectively to certain drugs when exposed to a weightless environment. We’re looking into whether we can use microgravity to manipulate cancer cells to behave less aggressively and become more vulnerable to treatment.

    This research is still in its infancy. But if successful, these insights could help researchers develop new treatments that are more effective back here on Earth.

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

    – ref. Microgravity in space may cause cancer − but on Earth, mimicking weightlessness could help researchers develop treatments – https://theconversation.com/microgravity-in-space-may-cause-cancer-but-on-earth-mimicking-weightlessness-could-help-researchers-develop-treatments-242895

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Retail Trade Remains Strong in Saskatchewan

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on January 24, 2025

    Province Ranks Second in Year-Over-Year Retail Trade Growth

    Latest data released by Statistics Canada shows retail trade sales in the province increased by 5.1 per cent from November 2023 to November 2024 (seasonally adjusted), reaching $2.2 billion. This ranks second in terms of percentage change among the provinces.

    “Saskatchewan’s nation leading retail trade numbers demonstrate the strength of our provincial economy,” Trade and Export Development Minister Warren Kaeding said. “This key economic indicator is reflective of our province’s thriving local business sector, supported by our strong and stable leadership. The growth we are experiencing is creating new jobs and opportunities for all those who call Saskatchewan home.”

    The Monthly Retail Trade Survey compiles data on sales, including e-commerce sales, and the amount of retail locations by province, territory and selected census metropolitan areas from a sample of retailers.

    Retail sales is a measure of total receipts at stores, or establishments, that sell goods and services to final consumers.

    The province continues to see economic success across several key indicators. Saskatchewan exports totalled over $102 billion for 2022 and 2023 combined. This is an increase of more than 52 per cent from the previous two-year period, and the highest export numbers in the province’s history. 

    Statistics Canada’s latest GDP numbers indicate that Saskatchewan’s 2023 real GDP reached an all-time high of $77.9 billion, increasing by $1.77 billion, or 2.3 per cent from 2022. This places Saskatchewan second in the nation for real GDP growth, and above the national average of 1.2 per cent.

    Private capital investment is projected to reach $14.2 billion in 2024, an increase of 14.4 per cent over 2023. This is the highest anticipated percentage increase in Canada.

    The Government of Saskatchewan also unveiled its new Securing the Next Decade of Growth – Saskatchewan’s Investment Attraction Strategy last year. This strategy, combined with Saskatchewan’s trade and investment website, InvestSK.ca, contains helpful information for potential markets and solidifies the province as the best place to do business in Canada.  

    To learn more, visit: investSK.ca.

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The Holocaust poets who can help us to understand genocides past and present

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jean Boase-Beier, Emeritus Professor, School of Literature, Drama and Creative Writing, University of East Anglia

    On Holocaust Memorial Day we remember the victims of the Nazi Holocaust in 1940s Europe and all those affected by later genocides.

    I believe that reading poetry is an important way to commemorate these victims because it is such a personal form.

    The events of the Holocaust are familiar to many people as dates and numbers. The first concentration camp opened in Dachau in 1933. In 1942 the infamous meeting at the Wannsee took place in Berlin to decide upon the “final solution” to the perceived problem of Jewish people in Germany and beyond.

    Some 6 million Jewish people were murdered, some 200,000 disabled and ill people were killed in Germany alone and 400,000 people were forcibly sterilised because they possessed traits the Nazis deemed undesirable.

    Such statistics are well documented by Holocaust historians. But behind these numbers, overwhelming in their sheer vastness, are individuals, those whose voices we hear especially clearly in poems.

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    People wrote poetry as realisation grew of their likely fate even before the murderous events that later came to be called the Holocaust. Many wrote poetry about the Holocaust later, because they survived and wanted the world to hear their stories, or because they lost family members and wanted to remember them.

    Among those who wrote after the Holocaust was German poet Volker von Törne, who was wracked with vicarious guilt for his father’s Nazi past.

    But it is the poems written as the events of the Holocaust were unfolding that strike a particular chord. These are poems by prisoners facing execution, by Jewish members of society forced to live in overcrowded ghettos, by those in camps and those about to be transported to camps. Often such poems were written on odd scraps of paper, carefully hidden or buried in the ground, or smuggled out of prison, ghetto or camp.

    These writers, desperate to tell their stories, chose poetry because of its immediacy, its conciseness, its emotional impact and its ability to say what cannot easily be said in prose.

    Almost none of them wrote in English, so English speakers read them via translators who can speak their words for them, fashioning new versions that aim to capture the style of the originals with all its resonances and as much of their immediacy and impact as possible.

    Poets of the Holocaust

    Some Holocaust poets became famous, and their work has been translated many times. One of the best known, Paul Celan, was a Romanian-German poet. His parents died in the Holocaust. He died by suicide in 1970, having written some of the most memorable poems about the Holocaust, including Death-Fugue (1948), which described the repetitive and deadly rhythm of camp life and death.

    German poet Nelly Sachs, who escaped at the last minute to Sweden, won the Nobel prize in 1966. Her work is readily available in a number of excellent recent translations.

    Other famous poets of the Holocaust include Yiddish poet Abraham Sutzkever, Italian essayist Primo Levi and Hungarian poet Miklós Radnóti.

    But the stories told by these famous poets, important though they are, can only give a partial picture. Often the fine details of everyday experience, the fears and hopes of individual women, men and children, have a particular resonance in the work of lesser-known poets.

    Romanian-German poet Selma Meerbaum-Eisinger was only 17 when she wrote her poetry of fearful anticipation. She was transported to a concentration camp where she died a year later.

    Lithuanian poet Matilda Olkinaitė was murdered at 19. How would their poetry have developed had they lived? We will never know. But what they have left us, recreated through their translators, is a highly sensitive view of life in the chaos of approaching catastrophe.

    Voices in anthologies

    For readers who want a fuller picture of Holocaust poetry, anthologies are invaluable. They usually have an introduction, or notes, providing the context that is so crucial to understanding the poems.

    Two older anthologies, Holocaust Poetry by Hilda Schiff (1995) and Beyond Lament by Marguerite Striar (1998) are still very useful.

    More recently, I co-edited the anthology Poetry of the Holocaust (2019), which arose from a research project funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council. Our aim was to collect less well-known Holocaust poetry, and, with the help of 35 translators from languages as varied as Yiddish, Norwegian, Japanese and Hungarian, to present the poems in original and translation, with a contextual note for each.

    We tried to include a broader range of poems than earlier anthologies have tended to do. The anonymous Song of the Roma, for example, laments the fate of the more than 200,000 Gypsy, Roma and Traveller victims of the Nazis.

    Many poems in the anthology document very specific events, such as French writer Andrė Sarcq’s To the Twice-Murdered Men, which depicts the dreadful detail of his lover’s death at the hands of the Nazis, who treated gay men with unfathomable barbarity.

    Polish Resistance member Irena Bobowska suffered the cruel removal of the wheelchair upon which she depended. She imagined the world she has lost in So I Learn Life’s Greatest Art.

    German poet Alfred Schmidt-Sas wrote with extreme difficulty, as his hands were bound. He reflected on his imminent beheading in Strange Lightness of Life. And in My God, French poet Catherine Roux told of the horrifying and mundane details of her arrival in a concentration camp: “I’ve no hair / I’ve no hanky.”

    It is only by listening to these individual voices that we can really begin to understand what the many millions of Holocaust victims went through, and what victims of genocides all over the world have suffered and are suffering at this moment. Poetry helps us to do this.

    Jean Boase-Beier acts as Translations Editor for Arc Publications. She has received funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council for research relevant to this article.

    – ref. The Holocaust poets who can help us to understand genocides past and present – https://theconversation.com/the-holocaust-poets-who-can-help-us-to-understand-genocides-past-and-present-248205

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI China: Qinzhou Port sees surge in NEV parts exports in S China’s Guangxi

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

    Qinzhou Port sees surge in NEV parts exports in S China’s Guangxi

    Updated: October 26, 2024 10:08 Xinhua
    A truck transports containers carrying new energy vehicle (NEV) parts at a station in Qinzhou, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 24, 2024. By Oct. 22 this year, new energy vehicle (NEV) parts made in Liuzhou of Guangxi and transported from Qinzhou Port have reached more than 11,370 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), which is about 71 times of the quantity in 2019, according to statistics of China Railway Nanning Group Co., Ltd. The export destinations have reached more than 40 countries and regions from Southeast Asia to Latin America and the Middle East. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 24, 2024 shows a container ship carrying new energy vehicle (NEV) parts at the Qinzhou Port in Qinzhou, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 24, 2024 shows cranes transporting containers carrying new energy vehicle (NEV) parts at a station in Qinzhou, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 24, 2024 shows a train leaving Qinzhou Port in Qinzhou, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 22, 2024 shows the Qinzhou Port in Qinzhou, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A worker transports new energy vehicle (NEV) parts in a logistics center in Liuzhou, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 23, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 23, 2024 shows workers preparing containers carrying new energy vehicle (NEV) parts in a logistics center in Liuzhou, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A new energy vehicle (NEV) moves at an autorack in a logistics center in Liuzhou, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 23, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 24, 2024 shows the automatic container terminal at the Qinzhou Port in Qinzhou, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: LNP wins Queensland election, likely with a clear majority

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne

    With 45% of enrolled voters counted in today’s Queensland state election, The Poll Bludger’s results have the Liberal National Party (LNP) winning 38 of the 93 seats, Labor 26, Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) three and independents one.

    Including undecided seats where one party is ahead, it’s 49 LNP, 39 Labor, three KAP, one Green and one independent. A majority is achieved with 47 seats, so the LNP are on track for a majority.

    The statewide two-party estimate is a 53.1–46.9 win to the LNP, a 6.3% swing to the LNP since the 2020 election. Current primary votes are 40.9% LNP (up 5.7%), 33.4% Labor (down 6.6%), 10.3% Greens (up 0.7%), 7.8% One Nation (up 1.0%) and 2.3% KAP (down 0.3%).

    As pre-poll and postal votes have come in, the swing to the LNP has increased as these votes have had stronger swings to the LNP than election day votes. There are many more pre-poll and postals still to be counted, so it’s more likely that the LNP will exceed its current projections than fall below them.

    I believe the Resolve poll that gave the LNP a 53–47 lead will be the most accurate. While Labor recovered from landslide defeat margins in polls taken about the middle of this year, it wasn’t enough. The uComms poll that gave the LNP just a 51–49 lead two days before the election was poor.

    The Greens lost South Brisbane to Labor, after the LNP recommended preferences to Labor on their how-to-vote material after recommending preferences to the Greens in 2020. Analyst Kevin Bonham said this is the first time the Greens have lost a single-member seat that they won at the previous general election.

    The key reasons for Labor’s defeat were an “it’s time” factor, as Labor has governed since winning the January 2015 election, the federal Labor government tending to hurt state Labor parties, and Queensland easily being the most pro-Coalition state at the 2022 federal election.

    At that election, Queensland was the only state where the Coalition won the two-party vote (by 54.1–45.9). The second best state for the Coalition was New South Wales, where Labor won the two-party vote by 51.4–48.6.

    Labor’s defeat in Queensland will give some assistance to federal Labor. An unpopular and old Queensland Labor government would have hindered federal Labor’s prospects in Queensland at the federal election that is due by May 2025.

    Late polls

    The Newspoll and uComms poll were both released after Wednesday’s preview article on the Queensland election.

    A Newspoll, conducted October 18–24 from a sample of 1,151, had given the LNP a 52.5–57.5 lead, a 2.5-point gain for Labor since a mid-September Newspoll. Primary votes were 42% LNP (steady), 33% Labor (up three), 11% Greens (down one), 8% One Nation (steady) and 6% for all Others (down two).

    Labor premier Steven Miles gained seven points for a -3 net approval, with 48% dissatisfied and 45% satisfied. LNP leader David Crisafulli’s net approval plunged 15 points to -3. Miles led Crisafulli by 45–42 as better premier, a reversal from a 46–39 Crisafulli lead in September.

    A uComms poll that was conducted Thursday from a sample of 3,651 using robopolling, gave the LNP a 51–49 lead. Bonham had primary votes from this poll, which was not commissioned by anyone. The primary votes were 39.3% LNP, 33.6% Labor, 12.9% Greens, 7.8% One Nation, 2.9% KAP and 3.5% others.

    Federal Essential poll: Labor slumps and Dutton’s ratings jump

    A national Essential poll, conducted October 16–20 from a sample of 1,140, gave the Coalition a 48–46 lead including undecided (49–47 to Labor in early October). Primary votes were 35% Coalition (up one), 28% Labor (down four), 12% Greens (steady), 7% One Nation (down one), 2% UAP (up one), 9% for all Others (steady) and 6% undecided (up one).

    Anthony Albanese’s net approval improved one point from September to -4, with 48% disapproving and 44% approving. He has improved six points since August. Peter Dutton’s net approval jumped six points to +6, his best in any poll this term.

    King Charles had a 50–26 approval rating. By 45–39, voters supported Australia becoming a republic (42–35 in January). On Australia’s colonial history, 26% thought it something we should be proud of, 12% something we should be ashamed of and 62% said it had both positive and negative elements.

    On the National Anti-Corruption Commission, 46% thought it is largely operating as intended but could be improved, 14% wanted it abolished and 10% said it’s successful.

    Freshwater poll: Coalition holds narrow lead

    A national Freshwater poll for The Financial Review, conducted October 18–20 from a sample of 1,034, gave the Coalition a 51–49 lead, a one-point gain for Labor since the September Freshwater poll. Primary votes were 41% Coalition (down one), 30% Labor (steady), 13% Greens (steady) and 16% for all Others.

    Albanese’s net approval was up one point to -14, with 49% unfavourable and 35% favourable. Dutton’s net approval improved two points to -2. Albanese was just ahead as preferred PM by 44–43 (45–41 in September).

    Asked about Albanese buying a $4.3 million house, 52% said it had no impact on their view of him, 36% said it had worsened their view and 4% improved their view.

    Cost of living remained the top issue with 72% saying it was important. The Coalition retained a 14-point lead over Labor on this issue and a 16-point lead on managing the economy.

    Morgan poll: Labor jumps ahead

    A national Morgan poll, conducted October 14–20 from a sample of 1,687, gave Labor a 52–48 lead, a two-point gain for Labor since the October 7–13 Morgan poll.

    Primary votes were 36.5% Coalition (down one), 32% Labor (up two), 13.5% Greens (down 0.5), 5.5% One Nation (down 0.5), 9% independents (steady) and 3.5% others (steady).

    The headline figure uses respondent preferences. By 2022 election preference flows, Labor led by 53–47, a two-point gain for Labor.

    Adrian Beaumont 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. LNP wins Queensland election, likely with a clear majority – https://theconversation.com/lnp-wins-queensland-election-likely-with-a-clear-majority-241918

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Total greenhouse gas emissions rise 1.1 percent in the June 2024 quarter – Stats NZ media and information release: Greenhouse gas emissions (industry and household): June 2024 quarter

    Source: Statistics New Zealand

    Total greenhouse gas emissions rise 1.1 percent in the June 2024 quarter – 22 October 2024 – Seasonally adjusted industry and household greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions increased 1.1 percent in the June 2024 quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.

    “This increase of 224 kilotonnes during the quarter was due to more emissions from industry, particularly from the electricity, gas, water, and waste services industry,” environment statistics unit manager Tehseen Islam said.

    Over this quarter, industry emissions (excluding households) increased by 1.7 percent (292 kilotonnes). By comparison, gross domestic product (GDP), which accounts for industry production, decreased 0.2 percent in the same period.

    Emissions from households fell 1.2 percent (26 kilotonnes) in the June 2024 quarter.

    Visit our website to read this news story and information release and to download CSV files:

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Stats NZ information release: Overseas merchandise trade: September 2024

    Source: Statistics New Zealand

    Overseas merchandise trade: September 2024 – information release – 22 October 2024 – Overseas merchandise trade statistics provide information on imports and exports of merchandise goods between New Zealand and other countries.

    Key facts
    This release refers to trade in goods only.

    In September 2024, compared with September 2023:

    • goods exports rose by $246 million (5.2 percent), to $5.0 billion
    • goods imports fell by $67 million (0.9 percent), to $7.1 billion
    • the monthly trade balance was a deficit of $2.1 billion.

    Visit our website to read this information release:

     

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UN Peacekeeping marks 25 years of protecting civilians as record levels of conflict highlight growing need

    Source: United Nations – Peacekeeping

    Written by the UN Peacekeeping’s Protection of Civilians (POC) team in the Division of Policy, Evaluation and Training (DPET) at UN headquarters in New York. The team provides resources, expertise and support to UN peacekeeping missions, UN member states and bodies such as the Security Council, and other stakeholders working to protect civilians in conflict.

     

    Twenty-five years ago, the United Nations Security Council decided that the protection of civilians (POC) in armed conflict was an issue of international peace and security, and it tasked the UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) with the first explicit mandate to protect civilians from threats of physical violence. Prior to this, peacekeeping missions helped protect populations through key activities like monitoring ceasefires, disarming combatants, and supporting peace negotiations, but were not authorized by the Security Council to intervene with force to protect populations.

    This was a groundbreaking step, establishing the protection of civilians as a core responsibility for UN peacekeeping missions operating in conflict zones. Today, this role remains critical, as conflicts have surged globally, with catastrophic effects on civilian populations, including an alarming 72 percent rise in civilian deaths in 2023 alone.

    National state authorities are responsible for protecting the population in their territory, and peacekeepers support them to do so. However, in some peacekeeping contexts where host states are unwilling or unable to fully meet this responsibility, the Security Council empowers peacekeepers to step in. In these cases, peacekeeping missions are authorized to prevent and stop threats of physical violence against civilians, including through the use of force when needed.

    In missions with a POC mandate, all peacekeepers – civilian, police and military – are responsible for protecting civilians. They coordinate with each other as well as with local authorities and UN staff outside the mission. And while peacekeepers are not resourced to protect all populations at all times, peacekeeping missions use all their available tools to prevent conflict before it starts and protect those most at risk from violence.

    Over the past 25 years, the POC mandate has become a cornerstone of UN peacekeeping operations, shaping how missions prevent and respond to violence against civilians. Sixteen peacekeeping missions have been mandated to protect civilians, including five missions deployed today in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), Lebanon (UNIFIL), Abyei (UNISFA), and South Sudan (UNMISS).

    To commemorate this 25-year journey, UN peacekeeping is launching the Profiles in POC campaign that will, over the next few months, share a collection of personal stories and reflections showcasing POC efforts on the front lines. The series traces the evolution of the mandate from its inception in 1999 to the present day. From field operations in conflict-affected areas to strategic decision-making at the UN Security Council, the stories capture the breadth of contributions from those advancing the POC mandate. Each profile reveals a unique narrative, shedding light on the challenges, successes, and lessons learned in ongoing efforts to protect civilians from the violence of war.

    The stories honour the commitment of all those working to uphold the POC mandate and remind us of the immense dedication and resilience of peacekeepers, uniformed and civilian, and peacekeeping stakeholders.

    As we reflect on 25 years of progress, we invite you to explore these profiles and learn more about the people behind the mandate who work tirelessly to protect civilians and promote peace amidst some of the world’s most challenging conflicts.

    Visit the protection of civilians website to read the profiles as they are posted.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lee, 64 House Democrats Write to Biden Administration Urging Unimpeded Media Access to Gaza

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Barbara Lee 13th District of California

    October 21, 2024

    Members asking Biden Administration to take immediate action to advocate for unrestricted, unimpeded media access

    *Full Text of Letter (PDF)*

    WASHINGTON, D.C.— Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA), has joined 64 of her colleagues including Representative James McGovern (D-MA), in a letter to President Joseph Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken calling for the United States to push for Israel to allow unimpeded access for U.S. and international journalists. The constantly shifting dynamics on the ground inside Gaza make unimpeded press access more urgent than ever.

    “The restrictions on media reporting have created significant challenges in obtaining accurate, verifiable information from Gaza, leading to increased skepticism about the limited reports that do emerge. At a time when reliable information is more critical than ever, the restrictions on foreign reporting undermine the very foundation of press freedom and democratic accountability,” wrote the members.

    In July, over 70 media and civil society organizations signed an open letter calling on Israel to grant journalists access to Gaza. Yet foreign media remains largely prohibited from entering the region, except for a few controlled trips arranged by the Israeli military. This effective ban on foreign reporting has placed an overwhelming burden on local journalists who are documenting the war they are living through. Tragically, at least 130 journalists have lost their lives since the start of the war, and those who remain face conditions of extreme hardship and danger.

    The International Federation of Journalists has reported that the mortality rate for media workers in Gaza is over 10%. Seventy-five percent of all reporters killed worldwide in 2023 lost their lives between October 7 and the end of the year.4 In December 2023, just two months into the conflict, the Committee to Protect Journalists declared Gaza the “most dangerous ever” war zone for reporters. These staggering statistics underscore the critical importance of allowing independent journalists to document and report from the ground.

    “We urge the administration to take immediate action to advocate for unrestricted, independent media access to Gaza. A free press is essential to ensuring that the world can bear witness to the realities on the ground and hold all parties accountable,” conclude the members.

    In addition to McGovern, the letter was signed by Representatives Lloyd Doggett (TX-35), André Carson (IN-07), Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07), Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-03), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-00), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Maxine Waters (CA-43), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Stephen F. Lynch (MA-08), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Seth Magaziner (RI-02), Jamaal Bowman, Ed.D. (NY-16), Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12), Greg Casar (TX-35), John Garamendi (CA-08), Gerald E. Connolly (VA-11), J. Luis Correa (CA-46), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Sean Casten (IL-06), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (IL-04), Cori Bush (MO-01), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Linda T. Sánchez (CA-38), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Emanuel Cleaver, II (MO-05), Daniel T. Kildee (MI-08), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Jonathan L. Jackson (IL-01), Donald S. Beyer Jr. (VA-08), Maxwell Alejandro Frost (FL-10), Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-03), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Paul D. Tonko (NY-20), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Al Green (TX-09), Summer L. Lee (PA-12), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Becca Balint (VT-AL), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Eric Swalwell (CA-15), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Andy Kim (NJ-03), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Mark Takano (CA-39), Jason Crow (CO-06), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Lauren Underwood (IL-14), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Gabe Amo (RI-01), John B. Larson (CT-01), Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29), Nikema Williams (GA-05), and Dwight Evans (PA-03).

    To read the full letter, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: With AI translation tools so powerful, what is the point of learning a language?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elba Ramirez, Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader BA International Studies, Auckland University of Technology

    In the age of artificial intelligence (AI), foreign language learning can seem like it’s becoming obsolete. Why invest the time and effort to learn another language when technology can do it for you?

    There are now translation tools to understand song lyrics, translate websites and to enable automated captions when watching foreign videos and movies. Our phones can instantly translate spoken words.

    At the same time, foreign language programmes are closing at New Zealand and Australian universities.

    But while technology can translate messages, it misses an important component of human communication – the cultural nuances behind the words.

    So, while AI translation might bridge language barriers and promote communication because of its accessibility, it’s important to be clear about the benefits and challenges it presents. Merely relying on technology to translate between languages will ultimately lead to misunderstandings and a less rich human experience.

    The rise of translation technology

    Translation technology has rapidly grown since its emergence between the 1950s and 1960s. This progress was bolstered by the commercialisation of computer-assisted translation systems in the 1980s.

    But recent advances in generative AI have led to significant breakthroughs in translation technologies.

    Google Translate has dramatically changed since its launch in 2006. Initially developed as a limited statistical translation machine, it has evolved into a “portable interpreter”.

    AI translation is useful in some circumstances. For example, helping teachers communicate with parents who speak a different language, or when travelling.

    Translation technology may even play a role in the preservation of Indigenous and minority languages on the verge of disappearing by supporting online collections of literature. Incorporating AI-powered technology in these digital libraries can help users access and understand these texts.

    But the new technology also comes with limitations.

    In 2019, staff at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention centre in the United States used AI translation to process an asylum application. The voice-translation tool was unable to understand an applicant’s regional accent or dialect, leading to the asylum seeker spending six months in detention without being able to meaningfully communicate with anyone.

    In 2021, a court in the US determined Google Translate wasn’t reliable enough to ensure someone’s consent. A trooper had used the translation app to ask a Spanish-speaking suspect if he could search her car. Google Translate used the word “registrar” (which translates as “register” but can be used to say “examine”) when, in fact, the word “buscar” (to search) would have been more appropriate.

    Brain health and other benefits

    Learning additional languages also stands out as one of the best ways to improve ourselves, with benefits for brain health, social skills, cultural understanding, empathy and career opportunities.

    An analysis of studies from 2012 to 2019 found speaking more than one language can enhance the brain’s flexibility, delay the onset of dementia, and improve cognitive health later in life. The analysis also recommended starting language learning early.

    In 2022, the Council of Europe emphasised the significance of plurilingual and intercultural education for fostering democratic culture, noting its cognitive, linguistic and social benefits.

    And this year, the council launched the “Language education at the heart of democracy” programme. The goal is to highlight the importance of learning language for a fairer society.

    Lost in translation

    In Aotearoa New Zealand, English is widely used. Te reo Māori and New Zealand Sign Language are also recognised as official languages. Some 29% of citizens are born overseas. There are more than 150 languages spoken, with at least 24 spoken by more than 10,000 people.

    But interest in learning languages has fallen. In 2021, 980 full-time equivalent students studied a language other than Māori or New Zealand Sign Language at one of the country’s eight universities, falling from 1,555 less than a decade earlier.

    As a consequence, a number of universities have closed, or announced plans to close, their language programmes.

    While AI-powered translation technology has its uses, a great deal can be lost if we rely solely on it to communicate. The nuances of languages, and what they say about different cultures, are difficult to communicate via translation tools.

    And the benefits of being bilingual or multilingual – both personally and for the wider community – risk being lost if we don’t support second language learning.

    Elba Ramirez 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. With AI translation tools so powerful, what is the point of learning a language? – https://theconversation.com/with-ai-translation-tools-so-powerful-what-is-the-point-of-learning-a-language-238068

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: I have hay fever. How can I tell what I’m allergic to?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ryan Mead-Hunter, Senior lecturer, School of Population Health, Curtin University

    Kaboompics.com/Pexels

    When we think of spring we think of warming weather, birdsong and flowers. But for many people, this also means the return of their seasonal hay fever symptoms.

    Around 24% of Australians get hay fever, with sneezing, a runny or blocked nose, and itchy or watery eyes the most common symptoms. In severe cases, this may impact sleep and concentration, or be linked to increased frequency of sinus infections.

    The exact timing of the symptoms depends on your exposure to an allergen – the thing you’re allergic to. Those impacted by tree pollen (from plane trees or cypress pine, for example) may experience symptoms at different times of the year than those impacted by grass pollen (such as rye grass). This will also vary around the country.

    In Perth, for example, tree pollen (cypress pine) is generally present in August to October, while grass pollen counts tend to be highest in October to November. Other cities and regions may have longer pollen seasons, which may extend further into summer.

    Remind me, how does hay fever impact the body?

    What we know colloquially as hay fever is called allergic rhinitis. Exposure to a specific allergen (or allergens) triggers an immune response in the body. This leads to inflammation and swelling of the tissue lining the nasal passages in the nose.

    A range of allergens may trigger such a response: pollen (from trees, grass or weeds), dust mites, pet fur, dander, mould and some air pollutants.

    Those with allergies that are only present for part of the year, such as pollen, experience what we call seasonal hay fever, while those with allergies that may be present at any time, such as dust mites and pet dander, experience perennial hay fever.

    Getting a diagnosis

    Many people with hay fever self-manage their symptoms by limiting exposure to allergens and using over-the-counter antihistamines and steroid nasal sprays.

    But this may require assistance from your GP and confirmation that what you’re experiencing is hay fever. Your GP can assess your symptoms and medical history, provide a diagnosis, and help with treating and managing your symptoms.

    Your GP may also be able help you identify potential allergens, based on when you experience symptoms and the environments to which you’re exposed.

    If symptoms persist, your GP may suggest allergy testing. They may refer you to a specialist called an immunologist, to determine what particular allergen is causing your symptoms, using skin prick tests or blood tests. Tests typically involve controlled exposure to small quantities of suspected allergens.

    But note, there are a number of tests marketed online that are unproven and not recommended by reputable bodies.

    How else can I work out what I’m allergic to?

    For those with seasonal hay fever, resources are available to help manage exposures, based on the flowering seasons for common allergy-related species or through pollen forecasting services.

    The Australian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy provides a useful pollen guide for each species and when they’re most likely to cause symptoms, broken down for each state and territory.

    Pollen monitoring and forecasting services – such as Perth Pollen, Melbourne Pollen and Sydney Pollen, as well as for other cities – can help you plan outdoor activities.

    There are also associated phone apps for these services, which can give notifications when the pollen count is high. You can down load these apps (such as AirRater, Perth Pollen, Melbourne Pollen and Sydney Pollen) from your preferred app store.

    Apps such as AirRater also allow you to enter information about your symptoms, which can then be matched to the environmental conditions at the time (pollen count, temperature, smoke, and so on).

    Using statistical modelling, the app may be able to establish a link between symptoms and exposure. If a sufficiently high correlation is established, the app can send you notifications when the exposure risk is high. This may prompt you to limit outdoor activities and have any medication readily available.

    Further information about managing allergic rhinitis is available from healthdirect and Allergy and Anaphylaxis Australia

    Ryan Mead-Hunter receives funding from the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (WA) and the NHMRC. He is part of the Perth Pollen team.

    – ref. I have hay fever. How can I tell what I’m allergic to? – https://theconversation.com/i-have-hay-fever-how-can-i-tell-what-im-allergic-to-240450

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Improved recording of A&E activity

    Source: Scottish Government

    New method backed by Royal College of Emergency Medicine.

    A new methodology to accurately capture all emergency care activity in weekly and monthly Public Health Scotland statistical publications will be applied from 4 February 2025.

    The move, backed by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, means published statistics will now include ‘planned’ A&E attendances. This is where a patient is given a specific time slot to attend a minor injury unit or A&E department to receive emergency care.

    The update follows recommendations from an expert working group, that was asked to consider how to improve the consistency in the recording of A&E activity nationally. The inclusion of ‘planned’ attendances in Scottish A&E statistics aligns with the inclusion of booked ‘new’ appointments in A&E statistics reported in England. 

    In a published analysis of the new methodology, Public Health Scotland have confirmed the changes will have a minimal impact on performance figures.

    National Clinical Lead for Quality & Safety NHS Scotland Dr John Harden said:

    “On behalf of the Scottish Government, I thank the expert working group for their work to explore how we can improve the consistency in the recording of A&E activity.

    “As we strive to improve A&E performance, it is vital that we have a clear picture of emergency care across the country, and that the data we collect reflects the hard work of staff on the ground, so we have accepted the group’s recommendation to include planned A&E attendances in published stats.

    “This means weekly and monthly stats will now provide a more accurate and consistent reading of the levels of emergency care being provided by our Health Boards.”

    Vice President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine Dr John Paul Loughrey said:

    “The Royal College of Emergency Medicine welcomes the Scottish Government’s ‘Four Hour Emergency Access Standard: Expert Working Group Recommendations Report’. Accurate and consistent performance monitoring is crucial for improving Emergency Care in Scotland.

    “The working group formed to assess performance data has provided recommendations that will significantly enhance data collection and prevent variations across health boards. The measures will help provide a clearer representation of the pressures faced by A&Es and ways for Policy Makers to work with clinical experts and RCEM to resuscitate emergency care.”

    Clinical Director of Emergency Medicine at NHS Lothian Dr David McKean said:

    “This revision of the Emergency Access Standard demonstrates a further commitment to providing safe, timely care to patients across Scotland. It should help to remove variation and ensure that all patients requiring emergency care are treated consistently across services.”

    Background

    Four Hour Emergency Access Standard: Expert Working Group Recommendations Report – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

    The Scottish Government, along with Public Health Scotland, established the Four Hour Emergency Access Standard Expert Working Group to consider how to improve the consistency in the recording of A&E performance across NHS Scotland.

    The Working Group was formed of: clinical experts from across Scotland’s Health Boards; information and data representatives from Boards; Data Management and Analytical Teams from Public Health Scotland; representation from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine and officials from the Scottish Government’s Health and Social Care Directorate.

    Overview – Accident and emergency – Urgent and unscheduled care – Acute and emergency services – Our areas of work – Public Health Scotland

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Central Library hosts breast cancer information event

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    It takes place on Thursday (24 October) from 10.30am to 12pm in aid of Breast Cancer Now and in partnership with AgeUK. People are invited to come along for a cuppa, a cake and to find out more about support services in the local area. They can also wear something pink and make a donation for charity.

    Meanwhile, staff from the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Public Health team and the Black Country Integrated Care Board will be at Asda, Wolverhampton, next Monday between 10am and 3pm, to talk to people about the importance of breast screening and of routinely checking their breasts for any changes.

    Statistics show that around 1 in 7 women in the UK will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lives, making it the most common cancer in the UK. It leads to around 11,500 deaths each year – but the NHS breast screening programme is helping to reduce breast cancer mortality by around 20% in women who are regularly screened.

    Anyone registered with a GP as female will be invited for NHS breast screening every 3 years between the ages of 50 and 71. Those over 71 can request screening. If you have not been invited for breast screening by the time you are 53 but think you should have been, please contact the Dudley, Wolverhampton and South West Staffordshire Breast Screening Service – for more details.

    As well as screening, the NHS recommends that people check their breasts once a month. This will help with what is normal for your body therefore it will be easier to detect any changes that may need further examination from a health professional. For help, visit Check your breasts. You can also sign up to a monthly text reminder to check with Breast Cancer UK.

    John Denley, Wolverhampton’s Director of Public Health, said: “Cancer screening and routinely checking your breasts for any changes is essential for early detection, which is critical in improving treatment outcomes and survival rates.  

    “Early stage cancers are often more treatable and have a better prognosis than those detected at a later stage, and almost all women diagnosed with breast cancer at the earliest possible stage in England survive their disease for at least 5 years after diagnosis.

    “Screening can also identify precancerous conditions that can be treated before they develop into cancer, further reducing the risk of cancer development. By catching cancer early, screening programmes can reduce the overall burden of cancer, decrease healthcare costs, and improve the quality of life for patients.

    “If you have any questions or concerns, or simply fancy having a chat with experts while enjoying some free refreshments, please come along to our coffee morning and information session at Central Library on Thursday, or pop into Asda next Monday.”

    For more information about breast cancer in women please visit Breast cancer in women.    

    Though rare, men can also get breast cancer – for more information, please visit Breast cancer in men.

    For more information, resources and support, visit Living with breast cancer.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: This Week in NJ – October 18th, 2024

    Source: US State of New Jersey

    Governor Murphy Signs Bipartisan Legislation Increasing Penalties for Home Invasions

    Governor Phil Murphy visited Edison to sign S3006/A4299 into law, establishing the crimes of home invasion burglary and residential burglary. The two new burglary classifications will raise penalties for crimes of burglary, reinforcing legal protections for New Jersey communities and ensuring that individuals who commit these crimes are held accountable.

    “The safety and well-being of New Jerseyans is our Administration’s highest priority,” said Governor Murphy. “Today’s bipartisan legislation ensures that the penalties for burglary and home invasion reflect the severity of these crimes and deter individuals from entering a home illegally. We are grateful to the Legislature, our law enforcement community, local mayors, and community members for supporting our shared goal of keeping New Jersey residents safe.”

    “We are grateful to the Biden-Harris Administration, New Jersey’s congressional delegation, and the Environmental Protection Agency for their continued support in helping us build a cleaner and healthier Garden State through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” said Governor Murphy. “This newly announced funding will help New Jersey communities with the vital task of replacing all lead pipes within the next ten years as we work to ensure that everyone in New Jersey has access to clean, safe drinking water. These critical investments in our drinking water infrastructure will help protect our children from lead exposure, create good-paying jobs for New Jerseyans, and ensure a stronger drinking water system for generations to come.” 

    Home invasion burglary refers to a person who enters a home to commit an offense and ultimately inflicts bodily injury or is armed with a deadly weapon, whether or not that weapon is used. Under the new law, home invasion burglary is a crime in the first degree. A crime of the first degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of 10 to 20 years, a fine of up to $200,000, or both.

    Residential burglary refers to a person who enters a home to commit an offense. Under the new law, residential burglary is a crime in the second degree. A crime of the second degree is punishable by a term of imprisonment of five to 10 years, a fine of up to $150,000, or both.

    Both classifications of burglary are subject to the “No Early Release Act,” which requires the convicted person to serve at least 85% of their incarceration term before becoming eligible for parole. Any person convicted of home invasion burglary or residential burglary may be denied a professional license from the Division of Consumer Affairs within the Department of Law and Public Safety.

    This legislation, which takes effect immediately, builds upon the Administration’s commitment to reducing crime and bolstering public safety. Over the past seven years, the Murphy Administration has taken a holistic approach to crime reduction, including tightening gun laws, investing in mental health resources, deploying new data collection technology, and increasing penalties for violators.

    READ MORE

    Governor Murphy Announces Second Round of Medical Debt Elimination, Totaling $120 Million in Debt Abolished for 77,000 New Jerseyans

    Nearly two months after effectuating the first round of medical debt abolishment through the State’s partnership with Undue Medical Debt, Governor Phil Murphy announced that 77,000 eligible individuals and families across New Jersey are set to benefit from the elimination of an additional $120 million in medical debt. Governor Murphy sat down with Andrew Rose Gregory, who was a special guest at the 2024 State of the State Address, to discuss the announcement. Andrew and his wife, Casey, partnered with Undue and raised $1.1 million following her passing to help eliminate medical debt for others. The video is available here.

    By leveraging approximately $900,000 in American Rescue Plan funds, Undue has worked with the Atlantic Health System to identify and purchase qualifying, unpayable medical debts. Impacted residents may have all or some of their debts abolished as part of the Governor’s mission to make health care more affordable and accessible. Through the State’s partnership with Undue, $220 million in medical debt has been eliminated for 127,000 New Jersey residents so far.

    “Investing in affordable and accessible health care allows residents to prioritize their well-being without having to take on the significant burdens of medical debt, which has long served as a debilitating barrier to receiving the life-saving care and services they deserve,” said Governor Murphy. “That is why our Administration has taken action to both protect residents from accumulating debt and eliminate existing debt so that New Jerseyans can focus on what matters most: their health. This announcement marks a monumental step forward and builds upon our efforts to create a health care system that relieves financial constraints and ensures quality, comprehensive care is within reach of every New Jerseyan.”

    READ MORE

    AG Platkin, Division of Consumer Affairs Announce New Rules Aimed at Promoting Greater Transparency in Prescription Drug Pricing, Including How and Why Prices Are Increased

    Advancing the Murphy Administration’s efforts to rein in the high cost of prescription drugs in New Jersey, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division of Consumer Affairs (“Division”) announced specially adopted new rules promoting greater transparency in prescription drug pricing.

    The new rules, which became effective upon acceptance for filing by the Office of Administrative Law yesterday, implement P.L. 2023, c. 106, signed into law by Governor Murphy in July 2023 as part of a legislative package to combat the rising costs of prescription drugs in the state.

    “The high cost of prescription drugs is a financial burden that disproportionately impacts the health and well-being of the most vulnerable among us: low-income families, the elderly, the uninsured, and people with disabilities,” said Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin. “Until now, we’ve been kept in the dark about the main drivers of high prescription drug costs. The new rules allow us to gain greater insight into prescription drug pricing and a better understanding of how we can help advance the goal of prescription drug affordability and accessibility.”

    The new rules establish registration, reporting, and compliance requirements for five entities across the prescription drug supply chain—manufacturers, insurance carriers, pharmacy benefits managers, wholesalers and pharmacy services administrative organizations. The entities will be required to provide the Division with information and data pertaining to drugs with significant price increases or high launch prices and other drugs of interest. The Division will then use this information to produce an annual report on emerging trends in prescription drug prices. The report, which will be posted on the Division’s newly created prescription drug pricing webpage, will also be used to help the newly created Drug Affordability Council formulate legislative and regulatory policy recommendations focused on prescription drug affordability.

    READ MORE

    Governor Murphy and Acting Commissioner Dehmer Award $20 Million to Expand High-Quality Preschool in 18 School Districts

    Governor Phil Murphy and New Jersey Department of Education Acting Commissioner Kevin Dehmer announced that 18 school districts have received Fiscal Year 2025 preschool expansion funds to establish or expand access to high-quality preschool programs in the 2024-2025 school year.

    The nearly $20 million, which was included in the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget, is estimated to provide more than 1,200 additional children the opportunity to attend a high-quality preschool program. State-funded, high-quality preschool programs now exist in 293 New Jersey school districts – 229 of which have been established during the Murphy Administration.

    “Our investment in early childhood provides the youngest learners with a solid foundation for success,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “Today’s announcement builds on my ongoing commitment to expand early childhood education to more communities, with the long-term goal of ensuring every 3- and 4-year-old in the State has access to a high-quality preschool program.”

    “The rapid expansion of preschool programs throughout New Jersey has been nothing short of extraordinary,” said Kevin Dehmer, Acting Commissioner of Education. “Governor Murphy’s continued support means that, with the addition of the programs that are being announced today, we are now providing nearly 77,000 children in New Jersey with a state funded high-quality preschool program, each and every year. That’s a huge number of young lives whose futures will be broadened by our state’s efforts.”

    READ MORE

    New Jersey Added 19,200 Jobs in September

    Preliminary labor market estimates for September, produced by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, show that the unemployment rate decreased by 0.1 percentage point from August to 4.7 percent. Total nonfarm employment increased by 19,200 jobs to reach a seasonally-adjusted level of 4,393,100 jobs in the state.

    Revised estimates of total nonfarm employment from July to August saw an increase of 4,500 jobs (preliminary estimates indicated a loss of 4,400), for a net gain of 100 jobs. The state’s unemployment rate for August remained unchanged at 4.8 percent.

    In September, seven out of nine private industries recorded employment gains compared to August. Sectors that recorded employment gains include education and health services (+10,100), trade, transportation, and utilities (+3,800), construction (+1,700), leisure and hospitality (+1,500), manufacturing (+1,300), professional and business services (+1,300), and other services (+200). Sectors that recorded job losses include financial activities (-600), and information (-300). Public sector jobs increased by 200 for September.

    Over the past twelve months, New Jersey has added 51,600 nonfarm jobs. About eighty-eight percent of those gains were in the private sector, with four out of nine private sector industries recording a gain between September 2023 and September 2024. These include private education and health services (+45,500), trade, transportation, and utilities (+11,200), construction (+2,000), and other services (+1,300). Losses were recorded year-over-year in information (-4,700), financial activities (-3,300), manufacturing (-2,400), professional and business services (-2,200), and leisure and hospitality (-2,200). The public sector has recorded a gain of 6,400 over the past twelve months.

    READ MORE

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Endeavor Bancorp Reports Pretax Income of $1.3 million for the Third Quarter of 2024; Results Highlighted by Record Loan Growth and Net Interest Margin Expansion

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN DIEGO, Oct. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Endeavor Bancorp (OTCQX: EDVR) (the “Company,” or “Bancorp”), the holding company for Endeavor Bank (the “Bank”), today reported net income of $924,000, or $0.22 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2024, compared to net income of $760,000, or $0.18 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2024, and $1,218,000, or $0.29 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2023. Pretax net income was $1.3 million in the third quarter compared to $1.1 million in the preceding quarter and $1.7 million in the third quarter of 2023. All financial results are unaudited.

    Results for the third quarter of 2024 included a $609,000 provision for credit losses, compared to a $451,000 provision for credit losses in the second quarter of 2024, and a $301,000 provision for credit losses in the third quarter of 2023. Also noteworthy was the increase in interest expense on borrowings the past two quarters, with interest expense on borrowings of $493,000 for the third quarter of 2024, $492,000 for the preceding quarter, and $201,000 for the third quarter of 2023. The additional interest expense was associated with the recent subordinated debt issued late in the first quarter of 2024. Excluding taxes and loan loss provisions, the Company’s core pretax, pre-provision earnings were $1.9 million in the third quarter of 2024, compared to $1.5 million in the preceding quarter and $2.0 million in the third quarter of 2023.

    “Our third quarter operating results were highlighted by strong net interest income generation and record quarterly loan production,” stated Julie Glance, CFO. “Our earning assets yield also increased, up 28 basis points during the third quarter, which is contributing to net interest margin expansion. While the high-interest rate environment continues to be a challenge, we believe we are well positioned with a strong balance sheet and ample capital to continue to grow.”

    Income Statement
    Strong core earnings were driven by loan growth and higher rates on earning assets. Total interest income on loans and bank deposits and investments was $10.2 million, an increase of $983,000 compared to the preceding quarter, while total interest expenses increased $425,000 during the same timeframe. Net interest income was $5.9 million in the third quarter of 2024, which was an increase of $557,000, or 10.4% compared to the preceding quarter and a 14.6% increase compared to the third quarter of 2023.

    “We are encouraged by our net interest margin improvement. Third quarter net interest margin expanded 15 basis points compared to the prior quarter, boosted by robust loan growth and higher interest earning asset yields, combined with stabilizing funding costs,” said Dan Yates, CEO.

    Net interest margin (NIM) increased 15 basis points to 3.85% in the third quarter of 2024 compared to 3.70% in the second quarter of 2024 and increased 8 basis points compared to 3.77% in the third quarter of 2023. The yield on total earning assets increased 28 basis points during the third quarter of 2024 to 6.61%, compared to 6.33% in the preceding quarter, and up from 5.97% in the third quarter of 2023. The cost of deposits rose in the third quarter, increasing the overall cost of funds by 14 basis points during the third quarter of 2024 to 2.98%, compared to 2.84% in the preceding quarter.

    Non-Interest income decreased to $217,000 in the third quarter, compared to $390,000 in the second quarter of 2024, and increased compared to $181,000 in the third quarter 2023.

    The Company’s annualized return on average equity for the third quarter of 2024 was 8.17%, compared to 6.96% in the second quarter of 2024 and 11.71% in the third quarter of 2023. The annualized return on average assets for the third quarter of 2024 was 0.59% compared to 0.52% in the second quarter of 2024 and 0.88% in the third quarter of 2023.

    Balance Sheet
    Total assets increased $61.5 million, or 10.4%, during the third quarter of 2024 to $655.3 million at September 30, 2024, compared to $593.8 million at June 30, 2024, and increased $101.4 million, or 18.3%, compared to September 30, 2023. Balance sheet liquidity remains strong with cash balances of $87.4 million, which represents 13.3% of total assets as of September 30, 2024. The Company’s bond portfolio increased $1.9 million to $20.1 million as of September 30, 2024, representing only 3.0% of total assets. Total available borrowing capacity through the Federal Home Loan Bank and the Federal Reserve discount window exceeded $168.6 million as of quarter end.

    “The robust loan growth during the quarter was the highest in our history, excluding Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans in 2020, as our lenders are doing an excellent job at finding high quality lending opportunities in our market where many banks are pulling back,” said Steve Sefton, President. “We continue to have minimal office exposure with very few office building loans in the portfolio, and 50% of the commercial real estate loans were owner-occupied as of quarter end.”

    Total loans outstanding increased $55.0 million, or 11.4%, during the third quarter of 2024 to $538.4 million at September 30, 2024, compared to $483.4 million three months earlier, and increased $121.7 million, or 29.2%, when compared to $416.7 million a year earlier. Total non-performing loans increased to 1.2% of the total loan portfolio as of September 30, 2024, up from 0.06% in the prior quarter. The rise in non-performing loans was temporarily inflated by a borrower in the renewal process, who had no credit issues and represented over a third of the reported non-performing loans. These loans have since been successfully renewed and are now current. The Company had no net charge offs during the third quarter of 2024, or in the prior quarter.

    Total deposits increased $59.6 million during the quarter to $577.8 million at September 30, 2024, compared to $518.2 million three months earlier. Compared to a year ago, deposits increased by $85.1 million, up 17.3%. The loan to deposit ratio was 93.2% at September 30, 2024, compared to 93.3% at June 30, 2024.

    “Earlier this year, we expanded our team and moved into the greater Los Angeles Metro and Inland Empire markets. While this expansion north is still in its early stages, we are already seeing positive momentum,” added Sefton.

    As a result of its participation in a reciprocal deposit placement network, the Bank accepted “reciprocal” deposits from other institutions, enabling the Bank to offer customers FDIC insurance on accounts in excess of the typical $250,000 FDIC insurance limit. Although the reciprocal deposit accounts maintained through the network are core deposits seeking FDIC insurance, the FDIC rules indicate that reciprocal deposits aggregating over 20% of total liabilities are classified as deposits obtained by or through a deposit broker. The total reciprocal deposits reported as brokered deposits were $127.0 million at September 30, 2024, and $127.8 million as of June 30, 2024. To support the strong loan growth, the Company is utilizing a conservative amount of wholesale deposits. As of September 30, 2024, total wholesale deposits, excluding the reciprocal deposits, was $40.7 million, representing 7.0% of total deposits compared to $10.0 million as of June 30, 2024, or 1.93% of total deposits.

    Shareholders’ equity was $45.0 million at September 30, 2024, compared to $43.8 million at June 30, 2024, and $41.5 million at September 30, 2023. Tangible book value per share increased to $12.97 at September 30, 2024, compared to $12.55 three months earlier and $12.16 a year earlier.

    Capital 
    The Bank’s Tier 1 leverage ratio was 10.95% as of September 30, 2024, compared to 11.70% at June 30, 2024. The Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio was 10.95% as of September 30, 2024, compared to 11.84% on June 30, 2024, and the Total risk-based capital ratio was 12.13% compared to 13.04% three months earlier, all of which were well above regulatory minimums.

    On March 5, the Company completed the issuance of $12.5 million in fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes. The subordinated debt was structured such that it qualified as Tier 2 capital at the holding company with most of the new capital down streamed to the Bank as Tier 1 capital.

    Stock Dividend
    On May 20, 2024, the Company distributed a 2% stock dividend to shareholders of record on May 10, 2024.

    Recent Events
    Board member Jillian Murrish has announced her resignation due to personal reasons from the BanCorp and Bank board of directors, effective October 18, 2024.

    About Endeavor Bancorp 
    Endeavor Bancorp, the holding company for Endeavor Bank, is primarily owned and operated by Southern Californians for Southern California businesses and their owners. The bank’s focus is local: local decision-making, local board, local founders, local owners, and relationships with local clients in Southern California.

    Headquartered in downtown San Diego in the Symphony Towers building, the Bank also operates a loan production and executive administration office in Carlsbad and a branch office in La Mesa. Endeavor Bank provides traditional business banking services across a broad spectrum of industries and specialties. Unique to the bank is its consultative banking approach that partners our business clients with Endeavor Bank’s senior management. Together, we build strategies and provide resources that solve problems, plan for the future, and help clients’ efforts to grow revenues and profits. Endeavor Bancorp trades on the OTCQX® Best Market under the symbol “EDVR.” Visit http://www.endeavor.bank for more information.

    EDVR Shareholders 
    With many of our shareholders transferring their EDVR shares to their brokerage companies, along with ongoing trading taking place, Bancorp may not have the most current shareholder contact information. If you are an EDVR shareholder and would like to receive information via a more timely method, please complete the Shareholder Communication Preference Form on our website: https://www.bankendeavor.com/investor-relations so we can keep you updated on EDVR news, and invite you to various shareholder networking events throughout the year. 

    Forward-Looking Statements 
    This press release includes “forward-looking statements,” as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs of the Company’s directors and executive officers (collectively, “Management”), as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company’s Management. All statements regarding the Company’s business strategy and plans and objectives of Management of the Company for future operations, are forward-looking statements. When used in this press release, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect” and “intend” and words or phrases of similar meaning, as they relate to the Company or the Company’s Management, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations (“cautionary statements”) are loan losses, rapid and unanticipated deposit withdrawals, unavailability of sources of liquidity, additional regulatory requirements that may be imposed on community banks or banks generally, changes in interest rates, loss of key personnel, lower lending limits and capital than competitors, regulatory restrictions and oversight of the Company, the secure and effective implementation of technology, risks related to the local and national economy, changes in real estate values, the Company’s implementation of its business plans and management of growth, loan performance, interest rates, and regulatory matters, the effects of trade, monetary and fiscal policies, inflation, and changes in accounting policies and practices. Based upon changing conditions, if any one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if any underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described as anticipated, believed, estimated, expected, or intended. The Company does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.

    SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA                
    (In thousands of dollars, except for ratios and per share amounts)              
    Unaudited                  
            Three Months Ended          
      September 30, 2024     June 30, 2024     September 30, 2023  
      (Consolidated)     (Consolidated)     (Consolidated)  
    SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS                
    Interest income $ 10,186     $ 9,203     $ 8,200  
    Interest expense 4,266     3,840     3,032  
    Net interest income 5,920     5,363     5,168  
    Provision for credit losses 609     451     301  
    Net interest income after loss provision 5,311     4,912     4,867  
    Non-interest income 217     390     181  
    Non-interest expense 4,205     4,205     3,312  
    Income before tax 1,323     1,097     1,736  
    Federal income tax expense 255     215     328  
    State income tax expense 143     121     190  
    Net income $ 924     $ 760     $ 1,218  
                     
    Core pretax earnings* $ 1,932     $ 1,548     $ 2,037  
    *excludes taxes and provision for loan losses                  
                     
    PER COMMON SHARE DATA                
    Number of shares outstanding (000s) 3,494     3,493     3,394  
    Earnings per share, basic $ 0.26     $ 0.22     $ 0.36  
    Earnings per share, diluted $ 0.22     $ 0.18     $ 0.29  
    Book Value per share $ 12.97     $ 12.61     12.24  
                     
    BALANCE SHEET DATA                
    Assets $ 655,305     $ 593,803     $ 553,889  
    Investments securities 20,107     18,204     7,770  
    Total loans, net of unearned income 538,439     483,411     416,746  
    Total deposits 577,781     518,230     492,726  
    Borrowings 26,672     26,648     16,118  
    Shareholders’ equity 45,308     44,051     41,535  
    Loan to Deposit ratio 93.19 %   93.28 %   84.58 %
    Wholesale Deposits to Total Deposits 7.04 %   1.09 %   0.86 %
                     
    AVERAGE BALANCE SHEET DATA                
    Average assets $ 619,122     $ 590,625     $ 550,500  
    Average total loans, net of unearned income 506,469     461,476     417,451  
    Average total deposits 541,858     515,457     488,822  
    Average shareholders’ equity 44,990     43,825     41,266  
                     
    ASSET QUALITY RATIOS                
    Net (charge-offs) recoveries $ –     $ –     $ –  
    Net (charge-offs) recoveries to average loans 0.00 %   0.00 %   0.00 %
    Non-performing loans as a % of loans 1.22 %   0.06 %   0.11 %
    Non-performing assets as a % of assets 1.00 %   0.05 %   0.08 %
    Allowance for loan losses as a % of total loans 1.39 %   1.42 %   1.59 %
    Allowance for loan losses as a % of non-performing loans 113.61 %   22.94 %   6.94 %
                     
    FINANCIAL RATIOSSTATISTICS                
    Annualized return on average equity 8.17 %   6.96 %   11.71 %
    Annualized return on average assets 0.59 %   0.52 %   0.88 %
    Net interest margin 3.85 %   3.70 %   3.77 %
    Efficiency ratio 69.26 %   75.75 %   61.91 %
                     
    CAPITAL RATIOS                
    Tier 1 leverage ratio — Bank 11.38 %   11.70 %   10.20 %
    Common equity tier 1 ratio — Bank 10.95 %   11.87 %   11.26 %
    Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio — Bank 10.95 %   11.87 %   11.26 %
    Total risk-based capital ratio –Bank 12.13 %   13.07 %   12.51 %
                     
    TCE/TA * 6.91 %   7.42 %   7.50 %
    Tangible Book Value per Share $ 12.97     $ 12.55     12.16 %
                     
    *Non-GAAP financial measure.                
    Unaudited financials 2024                
                     

    Endeavor Bancorp Contact Information:
    (858) 230.5185
    Dan Yates, CEO
    dyates@bankendeavor.com

    (858) 230.4243
    Steve Sefton, President
    ssefton@bankendeavor.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: New autonomous agents scale your team like never before

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: New autonomous agents scale your team like never before

    Already, 60 percent of the Fortune 500 are using Microsoft 365 Copilot to accelerate business results and empower their teams. With Copilot supporting sales associates, Lumen Technologies projects $50 million dollars in savings annually. Honeywell(1) equates productivity gains to adding 187 full-time employees and Finastra is reducing creative production time from seven months to seven weeks.  

    Today, we’re announcing new agentic capabilities that will accelerate these gains and bring AI-first business process to every organization. 

    • First, the ability to create autonomous agents with Copilot Studio will be in public preview next month.  
    • Second, we’re introducing ten new autonomous agents in Dynamics 365 to build capacity for every sales, service, finance and supply chain team. 

    Copilot is your AI assistant — it works for you — and Copilot Studio enables you to easily create, manage and connect agents to Copilot. Think of agents as the new apps for an AI-powered world. Every organization will have a constellation of agents — ranging from simple prompt-and-response to fully autonomous. They will work on behalf of an individual, team or function to execute and orchestrate businesses process. Copilot is how you’ll interact with these agents, and they’ll do everything from accelerating lead generation and processing sales orders to automating your supply chain.  

    Empowering more customers to build autonomous agents in Copilot Studio 

    Earlier this year, we announced a host of powerful new capabilities in Copilot Studio, including the ability to create autonomous agents. Next month, these capabilities are shifting from private to public preview, allowing more customers to reimagine critical business processes with AI. Agents draw on the context of your work data in Microsoft 365 Graph, systems of record, Dataverse and Fabric, and can support everything from your IT help desk to employee onboarding and act as a personal concierge for sales and service.  

    Organizations like Clifford Chance, McKinsey & Company, Pets at Home and Thomson Reuters are already creating autonomous agents to increase revenue, reduce costs and scale impact. Pets at Home, the U.K.’s leading pet care business, created an agent for its profit protection team to more efficiently compile cases for skilled human review, which could have the potential to drive a seven-figure annual savings. McKinsey & Company is creating an agent that will speed up the client onboarding process. The pilot showed lead time could be reduced by 90% and administrative work reduced by 30%. Thomson Reuters built a professional-grade agent to speed up the legal due diligence workflow, with initial testing showing some tasks could be done in half the time. This agent can help Thomson Reuters increase the efficiency of work for clients and boost its new business pipeline.  

    Scaling your teams with 10 new autonomous agents in Dynamics 365  

    New autonomous agents enable customers to move from legacy lines of business applications to AI-first business process. AI is today’s ROI and tomorrow’s competitive edge. These new agents are designed to help every sales, service, finance and supply chain team drive business value — and are just the start. We will create many more agents in the coming year that will give customers the competitive advantage they need to future-proof their organization. Today, we’re introducing ten of these autonomous agents. Here are a few examples: 

    • Sales Qualification Agent: In a profession where time literally equals money, this agent enables sellers to focus their time on the highest priority sales opportunities while the agent researches leads, helps prioritize opportunities and guides customer outreach with personalized emails and responses. 
    • Supplier Communications Agent: This agent enables customers to optimize their supply chain and minimize costly disruptions by autonomously tracking supplier performance, detecting delays and responding accordingly — freeing procurement teams from time consuming manual monitoring and firefighting. 
    • Customer Intent and Customer Knowledge Management Agents: A business gets one chance to make a first impression, and these two agents are game changers for customer care teams facing high call volumes, talent shortages and heightened customer expectations. These agents work hand in hand with a customer service representative by learning how to resolve customer issues and autonomously adding knowledge-based articles to scale best practices across the care team. 

    As agents become more prevalent in the enterprise, customers want to be confident that they have robust data governance and security. The agents coming to Dynamics 365 follow our core security, privacy and responsible AI commitments. Agents built in Copilot Studio include guardrails and controls established by maker-defined instructions, knowledge and actions. The data sources linked to the agent adhere to stringent security measures and controls — all managed in Copilot Studio. These include data loss prevention, robust authentication protocols and more. Once these agents are created, IT administrators can apply a comprehensive set of features to govern their use. 

    Microsoft’s own transformation  

    At Microsoft, we’re using Copilot and agents to reimagine business process across every function while empowering employees to scale their impact. Using Copilot, one sales team has achieved 9.4% higher revenue per seller and closed 20% more deals(2). And thanks to Copilot, one team is resolving customer cases nearly 12% faster(3). Our Marketing team is seeing a 21.5% increase in conversion rate on Azure.com with a custom agent designed to assist buyers(4). And in Human Resources, our employee self-service agent is helping answer questions with 42% greater accuracy(5).  

    With Copilot and agents, the possibilities are endless — we can’t wait to see what you create. Start building agents in Copilot Studio today. Read more about autonomous agent capabilities on the Copilot Studio and Dynamics 365 blogs. Head to WorkLab for more insights on Microsoft’s own AI transformation.

    YouTube Video

    NOTES

    1. Statistics are from an internal Honeywell survey of 5,000 employees where 611 employees responded.
    2. Internal Microsoft Sales Team data based on 687 sellers of Microsoft 365 Copilot, Jan. – June 2024, as compared with sellers with low usage of Copilot. Regular usage of Copilot means sellers who use Copilot daily at least 50% of the time during the testing period.
    3. Internal Finance analysis of costs, comparing actuals for FY ’24 and projections for FY ’25.
    4. Internal CSS experiment conducted by Microsoft, 600 participants using Copilot Q&A function, Azure Core team, Nov. – Dec. 2023. These results are statistically significant at the 95th% confidence interval.
    5. Internal Microsoft Marketing Team data, June – Sept. 2024. Conversion means initiating the free account sign-up process on Azure.com.

    Tags: AI, Copilot, Copilot Studio, Dynamics 365, Microsoft 365 Copilot, Microsoft 365 Graph, Microsoft Dataverse, Microsoft Fabric

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: New autonomous agents scale your team like never before

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: New autonomous agents scale your team like never before

    Already, 60 percent of the Fortune 500 are using Microsoft 365 Copilot to accelerate business results and empower their teams. With Copilot supporting sales associates, Lumen Technologies projects $50 million dollars in savings annually. Honeywell(1) equates productivity gains to adding 187 full-time employees and Finastra is reducing creative production time from seven months to seven weeks.  

    Today, we’re announcing new agentic capabilities that will accelerate these gains and bring AI-first business process to every organization. 

    • First, the ability to create autonomous agents with Copilot Studio will be in public preview next month.  
    • Second, we’re introducing ten new autonomous agents in Dynamics 365 to build capacity for every sales, service, finance and supply chain team. 

    Copilot is your AI assistant — it works for you — and Copilot Studio enables you to easily create, manage and connect agents to Copilot. Think of agents as the new apps for an AI-powered world. Every organization will have a constellation of agents — ranging from simple prompt-and-response to fully autonomous. They will work on behalf of an individual, team or function to execute and orchestrate businesses process. Copilot is how you’ll interact with these agents, and they’ll do everything from accelerating lead generation and processing sales orders to automating your supply chain.  

    Empowering more customers to build autonomous agents in Copilot Studio 

    Earlier this year, we announced a host of powerful new capabilities in Copilot Studio, including the ability to create autonomous agents. Next month, these capabilities are shifting from private to public preview, allowing more customers to reimagine critical business processes with AI. Agents draw on the context of your work data in Microsoft 365 Graph, systems of record, Dataverse and Fabric, and can support everything from your IT help desk to employee onboarding and act as a personal concierge for sales and service.  

    Organizations like Clifford Chance, McKinsey & Company, Pets at Home and Thomson Reuters are already creating autonomous agents to increase revenue, reduce costs and scale impact. Pets at Home, the U.K.’s leading pet care business, created an agent for its profit protection team to more efficiently compile cases for skilled human review, which could have the potential to drive a seven-figure annual savings. McKinsey & Company is creating an agent that will speed up the client onboarding process. The pilot showed lead time could be reduced by 90% and administrative work reduced by 30%. Thomson Reuters built a professional-grade agent to speed up the legal due diligence workflow, with initial testing showing some tasks could be done in half the time. This agent can help Thomson Reuters increase the efficiency of work for clients and boost its new business pipeline.  

    Scaling your teams with 10 new autonomous agents in Dynamics 365  

    New autonomous agents enable customers to move from legacy lines of business applications to AI-first business process. AI is today’s ROI and tomorrow’s competitive edge. These new agents are designed to help every sales, service, finance and supply chain team drive business value — and are just the start. We will create many more agents in the coming year that will give customers the competitive advantage they need to future-proof their organization. Today, we’re introducing ten of these autonomous agents. Here are a few examples: 

    • Sales Qualification Agent: In a profession where time literally equals money, this agent enables sellers to focus their time on the highest priority sales opportunities while the agent researches leads, helps prioritize opportunities and guides customer outreach with personalized emails and responses. 
    • Supplier Communications Agent: This agent enables customers to optimize their supply chain and minimize costly disruptions by autonomously tracking supplier performance, detecting delays and responding accordingly — freeing procurement teams from time consuming manual monitoring and firefighting. 
    • Customer Intent and Customer Knowledge Management Agents: A business gets one chance to make a first impression, and these two agents are game changers for customer care teams facing high call volumes, talent shortages and heightened customer expectations. These agents work hand in hand with a customer service representative by learning how to resolve customer issues and autonomously adding knowledge-based articles to scale best practices across the care team. 

    As agents become more prevalent in the enterprise, customers want to be confident that they have robust data governance and security. The agents coming to Dynamics 365 follow our core security, privacy and responsible AI commitments. Agents built in Copilot Studio include guardrails and controls established by maker-defined instructions, knowledge and actions. The data sources linked to the agent adhere to stringent security measures and controls — all managed in Copilot Studio. These include data loss prevention, robust authentication protocols and more. Once these agents are created, IT administrators can apply a comprehensive set of features to govern their use. 

    Microsoft’s own transformation  

    At Microsoft, we’re using Copilot and agents to reimagine business process across every function while empowering employees to scale their impact. Using Copilot, one sales team has achieved 9.4% higher revenue per seller and closed 20% more deals(2). And thanks to Copilot, one team is resolving customer cases nearly 12% faster(3). Our Marketing team is seeing a 21.5% increase in conversion rate on Azure.com with a custom agent designed to assist buyers(4). And in Human Resources, our employee self-service agent is helping answer questions with 42% greater accuracy(5).  

    With Copilot and agents, the possibilities are endless — we can’t wait to see what you create. Start building agents in Copilot Studio today. Read more about autonomous agent capabilities on the Copilot Studio and Dynamics 365 blogs. Head to WorkLab for more insights on Microsoft’s own AI transformation.

    YouTube Video

    NOTES

    1. Statistics are from an internal Honeywell survey of 5,000 employees where 611 employees responded.
    2. Internal Microsoft Sales Team data based on 687 sellers of Microsoft 365 Copilot, Jan. – June 2024, as compared with sellers with low usage of Copilot. Regular usage of Copilot means sellers who use Copilot daily at least 50% of the time during the testing period.
    3. Internal Finance analysis of costs, comparing actuals for FY ’24 and projections for FY ’25.
    4. Internal CSS experiment conducted by Microsoft, 600 participants using Copilot Q&A function, Azure Core team, Nov. – Dec. 2023. These results are statistically significant at the 95th% confidence interval.
    5. Internal Microsoft Marketing Team data, June – Sept. 2024. Conversion means initiating the free account sign-up process on Azure.com.

    Tags: AI, Copilot, Copilot Studio, Dynamics 365, Microsoft 365 Copilot, Microsoft 365 Graph, Microsoft Dataverse, Microsoft Fabric

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Government appeals to all sectors of community to support seasonal influenza vaccination programmes

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Government today (October 21) appeals to all members of the public, especially priority groups, to timely receive seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV). The Government has made special arrangements to facilitate priority groups (including school children) to receive SIV through various SIV programmes.

    Latest statistics on schools joining SIV programmes

         The 2024/25 SIV Programmes started on September 26. At present, around 870 kindergartens and child care centres (80 per cent), 620 primary schools (93 per cent) and 400 secondary schools (79 per cent) have joined the SIV School Outreach Programme (SIVSOP). As of October 20, 2024, 380 schools have completed the first dose vaccination and more than 77 800 students have received SIV under School Outreach Programmes.

    Flexible arrangements on SIV school outreach vaccination services in season 2024/25

         The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) has been promoting SIV in schoolchildren, particularly young children in child-care centres and kindergartens, and optimising the vaccination programmes in response to the feedback from schools and parents.

         To boost the SIV coverage rate among schoolchildren, special arrangements have been made under the SIVSOP this year to offer a more flexible choice of vaccine options for kindergartens and child-care centres. Kindergartens and child-care centres can choose to provide both injectable inactivated influenza vaccines (IIV) and live attenuated influenza vaccines (i.e. nasal vaccines) (LAIV) at the same or different outreach vaccination activities. Among the kindergartens and child-care centres participating in SIVSOP, 246 schools will offer LAIV, ten schools will offer both IIV and LAIV, and the rest will offer IIV. As a pilot scheme, LAIV is also provided to selected primary and secondary schools which indicated their preference for LAIV earlier this year. So far, two primary schools and four secondary schools have joined the pilot scheme. The Department of Health (DH) will continue to monitor and review the arrangement as appropriate.

         Alternatively, schools can also invite doctors to arrange outreach service for injectable IIV and/or nasal LAIV at their campus under the Vaccination Subsidy Scheme School Outreach.

    Ongoing promotion of SIV uptake amongst school children

         The DH has invited all schools in Hong Kong through the Education Bureau (EDB) to participate in the SIVSOP. Upon commencement of the 2024/25 SIV Programmes, the DH has reached out to non-participating schools one by one to understand their difficulties, offer necessary assistance and facilitate them to participate in the programmes. The DH has also liaised with the EDB to issue appeal letters again to the School Heads Association of Kindergartens/Child-Care Centres to promote SIV uptake amongst young children. The CHP spokesman calls on those schools that have yet to join the outreach vaccination programmes to enrol as soon as possible to seize the optimum timing for vaccination and do their part to provide the best protection for schoolchildren.

         Early childhood educators are also important points of contact with young school children and their parents. The DH has met a number of early childhood education and parent-teacher associations, as well as relevant medical associations to promote SIV among young children. The DH urges early childhood educators to join hands in appealing the parents to arrange for their children to participate in SIV, and at the same time to play their part in educating parents on the importance of vaccination to encourage more young school children to get vaccinated. With increased vaccination coverage, the protection of children could be strengthened and their risk of severe illness and death after contracting influenza could also be reduced.

         “Surveillance data up to October 20 showed a total of 34 severe paediatric influenza-associated complication and death cases as recorded by the CHP this year, which is comparable with 41 cases in the pre-COVID-19 era in 2019. Among these 34 cases, 25 (74 per cent) did not receive influenza vaccine, illustrating the importance of SIV,” a CHP spokesperson said.

         A range of health education materials on influenza prevention (including webpage, press releases, pamphlets, and FAQs) has been produced by the DH and disseminated through various channels, especially those parenting media. The DH will continue to maintain close communication with stakeholders (including doctors, schools and other relevant Government Departments). For the latest information, please refer to the CHP’s influenza page and Vaccination Schemes page.     

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: What is it like to be a prison officer in the UK?

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Kaigan Carrie, PhD Candidate in Criminology, University of Westminster

    When prison officers are in the news, it’s rarely for a positive reason. Recent headlines have included officers smuggling contraband into prisons, or having inappropriate relationships with prisoners. It’s little wonder that the many prison officers who only want to do a good job feel undervalued. We don’t often hear about the ones saving lives on the wings.

    Prison officers get a bad reputation. Research suggests that the public think they are power-hungry disciplinarians with questionable morals. It doesn’t help that a record high 165 staff in England and Wales were dismissed for misconduct in the past year.

    But what is it like to be a prison officer in the UK today? I talk to prison officers in Scotland and Finland for my own PhD research and I regularly interview prison officers around the world for my podcast, Evolving Prisons.

    Prison officers wear many hats. They’re mentors, firefighters and first-aiders. Officers themselves have likened their job to that of a parent. Sometimes they’re teaching a prisoner how to read, helping with job applications and sometimes they’re just having a conversation which might help someone change their thinking. Prison officers are the cornerstone of the prison system.

    This is why it is so concerning that prisons in England and Wales are chronically understaffed. More than 13% of prison officers left His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service in the 12 months prior to June 30 2024. And 32% of the remaining officers have less than two years’ service, which puts them at risk due to their inexperience.

    Want more politics coverage from academic experts? Every week, we bring you informed analysis of developments in government and fact check the claims being made.

    Sign up for our weekly politics newsletter, delivered every Friday.

    This understaffing means that prisoners spend longer in their cells, as there are fewer opportunities for them during the day. This, coupled with unprecedented overcrowding, creates a “pressure cooker” environment which results in higher rates of violence and an increase in staff assaults.

    One officer, who has worked in UK prisons for three decades, said it’s like going through a meat grinder and living each day in fear.

    A 2023 study by the House of Commons justice committee surveyed 5,113 prison officers (about 25% of the total officer workforce). The results found a staggering 50% of them do not feel safe in the prison they work in.

    The Ministry of Justice revealed that, in the 12 months to March 2024, the rate of assaults on staff in prisons in England and Wales increased by 24% from the year before, totalling 9,847 assaults. Working in a job where you are exposed to violence regularly has a negative impact on your physical and mental health.

    Physical and mental health toll

    Prison officers are in constant contact with people deemed too dangerous to be in society. As a result of this and the lack of resources available to them to do their job, they’re found to experience elevated rates of stress and burnout. They are also at heightened risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke.

    In addition to the stress-related risks, working in a prison carries other environmental hazards that have both physical and mental effects.

    For example, the use of the synthetic drug “spice”, a psychoactive substance, is prevalent in prisons around the UK and prison officers are at risk from inhaling the fumes. The symptoms are wide-ranging from one officer telling me it made her believe she had six fingers, to another being hospitalised and left with long-term health problems. Earlier this year, five prison officers were taken to hospital after a curry made for them by prisoners was suspected to have been spiked with spice.

    Hypervigilance is common in prison officers and manifests as a way to keep themselves safe. However, research found it can negatively affect their sleep and their relationships, and it can psychologically fatigue officers. Some research suggests that some officers may help prisoners commit crime as a result of burnout, due to feeling a lack of motivation and dedication to the job.

    Prison officers can also experience “moral injury”, a form of psychological trauma that can occur when someone acts against deeply held beliefs, as they find themselves going against their internal beliefs in their work. One officer told me, when working with female prisoners who had previously been victims of domestic abuse, that she felt she had replaced their perpetrator and was further traumatising them by telling them when they could shower, eat and leave their cell.

    Prison officers witness a lot of trauma such as self-harm, suicide attempts and violence. Little research exists into rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among serving prison officers in the UK. However, a 2018 study in the US found prison officers have PTSD rates six times higher than the general population.

    It’s clear that UK prison officers have been struggling with their mental health. One in eight took sick days for mental health reasons in 2022.

    A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said recently that the department will “get a grip on the situation … and make our prisons safer for hard-working staff.”

    But until that happens, the country’s prisons remain in a state of disarray. And prison officers are the people being asked to hold them together, while putting their own health and wellbeing on the line.

    Kaigan Carrie 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. What is it like to be a prison officer in the UK? – https://theconversation.com/what-is-it-like-to-be-a-prison-officer-in-the-uk-241596

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: McGovern, 64 House Democrats Write to Biden Administration Urging Unimpeded Media Access to Gaza

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA)

    WASHINGTON, D.C.—Representative James P. McGovern (D-MA), Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee and Co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Committee, has led 64 of his colleagues in a letter to President Joseph Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken calling for the United States to push for Israel to allow unimpeded access for U.S. and international journalists. The constantly shifting dynamics on the ground inside Gaza make unimpeded press access more urgent than ever. 

    “The restrictions on media reporting have created significant challenges in obtaining accurate, verifiable information from Gaza, leading to increased skepticism about the limited reports that do emerge. At a time when reliable information is more critical than ever, the restrictions on foreign reporting undermine the very foundation of press freedom and democratic accountability,” wrote the members.

    In July, over 70 media and civil society organizations signed an open letter calling on Israel to grant journalists access to Gaza. Yet foreign media remains largely prohibited from entering the region, except for a few controlled trips arranged by the Israeli military. This effective ban on foreign reporting has placed an overwhelming burden on local journalists who are documenting the war they are living through. Tragically, at least 130 journalists have lost their lives since the start of the war, and those who remain face conditions of extreme hardship and danger.

    The International Federation of Journalists has reported that the mortality rate for media workers in Gaza is over 10%. Seventy-five percent of all reporters killed worldwide in 2023 lost their lives between October 7 and the end of the year.4 In December 2023, just two months into the conflict, the Committee to Protect Journalists declared Gaza the “most dangerous ever” war zone for reporters. These staggering statistics underscore the critical importance of allowing independent journalists to document and report from the ground.

    “We urge the administration to take immediate action to advocate for unrestricted, independent media access to Gaza. A free press is essential to ensuring that the world can bear witness to the realities on the ground and hold all parties accountable,” conclude the members.

    In addition to McGovern, the letter was signed by Representatives Lloyd Doggett (TX-35), André Carson (IN-07), Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07), Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-03), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Barbara Lee (CA-12), Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-00), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Maxine Waters (CA-43), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Stephen F. Lynch (MA-08), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Seth Magaziner (RI-02), Jamaal Bowman, Ed.D. (NY-16), Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12), Greg Casar (TX-35), John Garamendi (CA-08), Gerald E. Connolly (VA-11), J. Luis Correa (CA-46), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Sean Casten (IL-06), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (IL-04), Cori Bush (MO-01), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Linda T. Sánchez (CA-38), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Emanuel Cleaver, II (MO-05), Daniel T. Kildee (MI-08), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Jonathan L. Jackson (IL-01), Donald S. Beyer Jr. (VA-08), Maxwell Alejandro Frost (FL-10), Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-03), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Paul D. Tonko (NY-20), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Al Green (TX-09), Summer L. Lee (PA-12), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Becca Balint (VT-AL), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Eric Swalwell (CA-15), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Andy Kim (NJ-03), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Mark Takano (CA-39), Jason Crow (CO-06), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Lauren Underwood (IL-14), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Gabe Amo (RI-01), John B. Larson (CT-01), Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29), Nikema Williams (GA-05), and Dwight Evans (PA-03).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: August crime statistics

    Source: South Australia Police

    Police involved in the Operation Mandrake anti-gang crime initiative have arrested six individuals involved in four separate crime sprees in August.

    The alleged offenders, who are either known persons of interest to investigators or associates, are facing dozens of charges including serious criminal trespass involving 16 residential and business break-ins, the illegal use of five vehicles, using stolen credit cards and petrol theft.

    Despite the crime series contributing 33 individual property related offences to the August rolling crime statistics, an overall decrease in offences against property of two per cent was recorded in the period.

    Assistant Commissioner (Metropolitan Operations Service) Scott Duval said the criminal activities of those allegedly involved in the crime series presented a significant risk to community safety and well-being.

    “They are breaking into houses, they are breaking into business premises, they are stealing cars,’’ he said.

    “And they do drive at high speeds in stolen vehicles, often filming their exploits and posting to social media.

    “This activity is clearly a risk to other road users, their behaviour is dangerous and extreme.’’

    Mr Duval said police were often frustrated by the fact some of the young offenders continued to offend after being released on bail by the Youth Court.

    “We have numerous examples of multiple offences being committed by individuals who have been released on bail on numerous occasions. They are serious recidivist offenders,’’ he said.

    The August rolling year figures reveal the number of shop thefts continued to increase with 17,956 offences reported during the period, compared with 16,802 in the previous period. While the overall figure increased, the increase has slowed considerably over the past six reporting periods as police continue to successfully target recidivist offenders.

    The latest statistics also reveal house break-ins recorded a three per cent decrease in the period with 5,691 offences reported, compared with 5,840 in the corresponding period.

    Car theft and illegal use of a motor vehicle also decreased during the period with 325 fewer incidents – 3,582 compared with 3,907 in the corresponding period. Theft from a motor vehicle also fell considerably, from 10,604 offences to 8,834 offences.

    Fraud and deception related offences also showed a significant decline with a 26 per cent decrease to 4,192 offences compared with 5,686 offences in the previous period.

    The number of family and domestic abuse related offences reported to police has continued to be high with the rolling year figures revealing 13,028 offences were reported to police.

    The number of sexual offences reported to police decreased by eight per cent from 2,566 offences to 2,357 offences in the latest period. An identical decrease was recorded in the July 2023 to July 2024 period.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: LNP lead reduced as Queensland election approaches; US election remains very close

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne

    The Queensland state election is this Saturday, with polls closing at 7pm AEDT. There are 93 single-member seats, with Queensland having no upper house. At the 2020 election, Labor won 52 of the 93 seats, the Liberal National Party (LNP) 34 and all others seven. Labor won the two-party statewide vote by an estimated 53.2–46.8.

    There have been two recently released Queensland polls, with both showing a reduction in the LNP lead from landslide margins the last time the same polls were released. However, the LNP is still very likely to win on Saturday.

    A YouGov poll for The Courier Mail, conducted October 10–16 from a sample of 1,503, gave the LNP a 54.5–45.5 lead, a 2.5-point gain for Labor since the previous YouGov poll in July. Primary votes were 41% LNP (down two), 31% Labor (up five), 11% Greens (down three), 11% One Nation (down two) and 6% for all Others (up two).

    Labor premier Steven Miles had a net approval of -10, up three points, with 44% dissatisfied and 34% satisfied. LNP leader David Crisafulli’s net approval slumped 11 points to +6. Crisafulli led Miles by 37–36 as better premier, down from a 40–29 lead in July.

    A Resolve poll for The Brisbane Times, conducted October 14–19 from a sample of 1,003, gave the LNP a 53–47 lead by respondent preferences and a 52–48 lead by 2020 election preference flows. This is the first time Resolve has given a two-party result for its Queensland polls.

    Primary votes were 40% LNP (down four since the previous Resolve poll that was conducted over four months from June to September), 32% Labor (up nine), 11% Greens (down one), 9% One Nation (up one), 2% independents (down seven) and 5% others (up one).

    In its previous polls, Resolve asked all respondents if they would vote for independents. In this poll that was taken after nominations closed, they only asked for independents where independents were standing, so the independent vote crashed.

    Crisafulli led Miles by 39–37 as preferred premier (40–27 in September). Miles had a +8 net approval (47% good, 38% poor), while Crisafulli was at net +7 approval. On issues, the LNP led Labor by 22 points on crime, with the two parties were within two points on cost of living, housing and health.

    The key reasons why Labor is likely to be defeated are an “it’s time” factor as Labor has governed since winning the January 2015 election, the federal Labor government tending to hurt state Labor parties and Queensland easily being the most pro-Coalition state at the 2022 federal election.

    At that election, Queensland was the only state where the Coalition won the two-party vote (by 54.1–45.9). The second best state for the Coalition was New South Wales, where Labor won the two-party vote by 51.4–48.6.

    US election still very close, but Harris’ national lead drops

    The United States presidential election will be held on November 5. In analyst Nate Silver’s aggregate of national polls, Democrat Kamala Harris leads Republican Donald Trump by 48.8–47.2, a gain for Trump since Sunday, when Harris led by 49.1–46.8. Harris’ national lead peaked on October 2, when she led by 49.4–45.9.

    The US president isn’t elected by the national popular vote, but by the Electoral College, in which each state receives electoral votes equal to its federal House seats (population based) and senators (always two). Almost all states award their electoral votes as winner-takes-all, and it takes 270 electoral votes to win (out of 538 total).

    Relative to the national popular vote, the Electoral College is biased to Trump, with Harris needing at least a two-point popular vote win to be the narrow Electoral College favourite in Silver’s model.

    In Pennsylvania (19 electoral votes), there’s now a 48.0–48.0 tie in Silver’s poll averages. Harris remains barely ahead in Michigan (15 electoral votes) by 0.5 points, Wisconsin (ten) by 0.7 and Nevada (six) by 0.4. But without Pennsylvania, Harris leads in states
    worth 257 electoral votes and Trump in states worth 262, down from a 276–262 Harris lead on Sunday.

    On the current numbers, whoever wins Pennsylvania would win the presidency. Trump leads in North Carolina (16 electoral votes) by one point, Georgia (16) by 1.5 and Arizona (11) by two.

    Silver’s model now gives Trump a 53% chance to win the Electoral College, up from 51% on Sunday, but the race remains very close to a 50–50 chance for either candidate. There’s a 27% chance Harris wins the popular vote but loses the Electoral College. The FiveThirtyEight forecast gives Trump a 51% win probability.

    While the polls have trended to Trump recently, that doesn’t mean he will continue to gain. There are still two weeks before the election, and either candidate could win decisively if there’s late movement or poll error in their favour.

    With the seven swing states currently all within two points, the two most likely outcomes are for either Trump or Harris to sweep all seven swing states. A Trump sweep occurs 24% of the time and a Harris sweep 15% of the time.

    Silver has a list of 24 reasons why Trump could win. I think the most important reasons are the economy and the Electoral College bias. These reasons may explain Trump’s recent poll gains.

    Adrian Beaumont 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. LNP lead reduced as Queensland election approaches; US election remains very close – https://theconversation.com/lnp-lead-reduced-as-queensland-election-approaches-us-election-remains-very-close-241683

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ16: Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         â€‹Following is a question by the Hon Chau Siu-chung and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (October 23):

    Question:
     
         On September 4 last year, the Government launched the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme (ESLS) to suspend the general exclusion of the 26 job categories as well as unskilled or low-skilled posts from labour importation under the Supplementary Labour Scheme. However, many local frontline workers engaged in the relevant sectors have indicated that they are worried that the ESLS may affect their remuneration packages and even employment opportunities. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

    (1) since the launch of the ESLS, of the respective numbers of (a) the applications received (and the imported workers involved) and (b) ‍the applications approved (and the imported workers involved) by the Government, as well as (c) the imported workers who have arrived to work in Hong Kong, together with a breakdown by (i) the aforesaid 26 job categories, (ii) unskilled or low-skilled posts (including cleaners, security guards and room attendants), and (iii) ‍other posts (set out in Tables 1 to 3 respectively);

    Table 1
     

    (i)
    (a)
    (b)
    (c)

    1.
     
     
     

    ……
     
     
     

    26.
     
     
     

    Total
     
     
     

    Table 2
     

    (ii)
    (a)
    (b)
    (c)

    Cleaners
     
     
     

    Security guards
     
     
     

    Room attendants
     
     
     

    ……
     
     
     

    Total
     
     
     

    Table 3
     

    (iii)
    (a)
    (b)
    (c)

    1.
     
     
     

    ……
     
     
     

    Total
     
     
     

    (2) since the launch of the ESLS, of the number of labour importation applications rejected by the authorities, and the main reasons for rejecting such applications;

    (3) as it has been reported that some employers have used “bogus recruitment” (e.g. placing job advertisements to attract applicants and then rejecting their job applications on the ground that they have failed to meet the requirements) to create the illusion of having recruitment difficulties, so as to apply to the Government for importation of labour, since the launch of the ESLS, of the respective numbers of (i) suspected “bogus recruitment” cases discovered by the Government after taking the initiative to investigate employers applying for labour importation, and (ii) complaints about suspected “bogus recruitment” received by the Government;
     
    (4) whether the authorities have conducted monthly surveys and analyses on the salaries and benefits as well as the employment situation of local workers engaged in the job categories approved for labour importation since the launch of the ESLS; if so, of the details, including whether any reduction in the salaries, benefits as well as employment opportunities of local workers in the relevant sectors had been found; if not, the reasons for that;
     
    (5) whether the Government has received views or complaints from imported workers who have already been working in Hong Kong about their labour rights being undermined since the launch of the ESLS; if so, of the details; and
     
    (6) whether it will consider reviewing the ESLS expeditiously and suspending the arrangement for the importation of labour for the aforesaid 26 job categories as well as unskilled or low-skilled posts, so as to adequately safeguard the remuneration packages and employment opportunities of local workers in the relevant sectors?
     
    Reply:

    President,
          
         To cope with the challenges brought about by manpower shortage, the Government has enhanced the mechanism for importation of workers. Apart from launching sector-specific labour importation schemes for the construction sector, transport sector, and residential care homes for the elderly and residential care homes for persons with disabilities, the Labour Department (LD) has also implemented the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme (ESLS) since September 4, 2023, to enhance the coverage and operation of the previous Supplementary Labour Scheme (SLS), including suspending the general exclusion of the 26 job categories as well as unskilled or low-skilled posts from labour importation for two years.
          
         The reply to the Hon Chau’s questions is as follows:
         
    (1) From September 4, 2023, to September 30, 2024, 7 448 applications seeking to import 66 230 workers were received under the ESLS. During the same period, 3 886 applications involving 28 818 quotas for importation of workers were approved. A breakdown of the numbers of imported workers applied for and approved by the 26 job categories, unskilled/ low-skilled posts and other posts is at Annex.
     
         Employers approved to import workers under the ESLS are required to arrange for their prospective imported workers to submit visa/entry permit applications to the Immigration Department within the periods specified in the approval-in-principle letters (generally within six months from the issue dates of the said letters). The arrival time of imported workers depends on the progress of employers’ handling of relevant procedures. The LD does not maintain the number of imported workers arriving and working in Hong Kong under the ESLS.

    (2) Since the launch of the ESLS, as at September 30 this year, the LD refused 34 applications mainly because the concerned applications had failed to meet all the requirements of the ESLS, such as the manning ratio of the number of imported workers to the number of local employees.

    (3) To safeguard employment priority for local workers, applicant employers of the ESLS must undertake a four-week local recruitment exercise and accord priority to employing suitable local workers to fill the vacancies. The LD conducts job matching for the vacancies and refers local job seekers to employers for interviews, and widely disseminates vacancy information to members of the Labour Advisory Board, relevant trade unions and training institutions to facilitate their referrals of suitable local job seekers for application. As required under the ESLS, the employment terms of local workers recruited through all channels during the local recruitment period for the posts applied (including the entry requirements, monthly salary and hours of work, etc.) must be no less favourable than the recruitment terms agreed by the LD.

         Upon completion of the above recruitment procedures, employers shall report the results to the LD. The LD will contact each of the local job seekers who is not employed by the employers, and assess whether the employers have sincerity in recruiting local workers. If there is evidence showing that an employer has violated the requirements of local recruitment (such as employing local workers with a monthly salary lower than that agreed by the LD) or refused to employ qualified local job seekers without reasonable reasons during the local recruitment period, the LD will terminate the processing of the application submitted by that employer for importation of labour. Administrative sanction will also be imposed on the concerned employer whereby any ESLS application submitted by the employer in the following year will not be processed. Since the implementation of the ESLS, the LD has not found any employer suspected of conducting “bogus recruitment” or received any relevant complaint from job seekers.

    (4) The Census and Statistics Department regularly conducts different surveys, such as the General Household Survey, the Labour Earnings Survey, and the Annual Earnings and Hours Survey, to gather and analyse statistics about the employment situation and earnings overview of local employees. The LD closely monitors the employment market situation and the relevant statistics.

    (5) Since the launch of the ESLS, as at September 30 this year, the LD received 62 complaints involving workers imported under the SLS/ESLS. The complaint items mainly involved wages, arrangements for working hours, etc.

    (6) The LD has been closely monitoring the implementation of the ESLS, and will review the ESLS prior to the lapse of its two-year implementation period.

         â€‹The LD will continue to keep in view the applications for importation of labour in different industries. On the premise of upholding employment priority for local workers, employers are allowed to import workers to alleviate the manpower shortage and foster the economic development of Hong Kong. The Government will also strengthen the training and recruitment services to underpin employment priority for local workers.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Micro dramas boom as many turn to short videos

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Chinese creatives foresee huge potential in micro dramas, the new trend in the country’s entertainment industry, experts said at an event in Linfen, Shanxi province, on Monday.

    “Through the event held in partnership with CCTV.com, the online media outlet affiliated to China Media Group, we want to build Linfen into a national platform for the micro drama industry,” Yan Jianguo, director of the Linfen publicity department, said in his speech at the Light and Shadows of Linfen: China’s Premium Micro Short Drama Night.

    Micro dramas are low-budget productions mostly shot in vertical format, with each episode a few minutes long, that are shown on short-video streaming platforms such as Douyin and Kuaishou. In this genre, viewers can enjoy dramatic plot twists and fast-paced narratives that revolve around revenge or betrayal.

    According to statistics from the China Internet Network Information Center, the total number of internet users in the country had reached 1.1 billion by June, with 52.4 percent of them viewing micro dramas.

    A recent industrial report by market consultancy iiMedia Research, the market value of the country’s micro dramas last year was nearly 37.4 billion yuan ($5.25 billion), a year-on-year increase of about 268 percent. It is expected to exceed 50 billion yuan this year and surpass 100 billion yuan in 2027.

    “Since 2022, micro dramas, with their fast pace and short duration, have been increasingly enjoyed by more users on Douyin, with more than 400 such dramas garnering over 1 billion views as of early this year,” said Lang Fengwei, deputy editor-in-chief of Douyin, adding that the platform has launched a program in micro-drama creation and promotion to explore a new market model.

    Wang Xingyi, vice-president of short-video app Kuaishou, said micro dramas have not only enriched people’s cultural lives, but have also injected vitality into the entertainment sector. Under the app’s micro-drama program, there have been nearly 1,000 such series produced as of early this year.

    Micro dramas are not only popular in China, but are also spreading to the overseas market. According to data provider Sensor Tower, Reel-Short, a micro-drama app created by Chinese publishing company COL Group, landed on the eighth spot on the “Top Free” chart and ninth on the free entertainment chart in the Google Play Store.

    To meet the market demand, scriptwriters, authors and actors have expressed their anticipation in the new genre.

    “When the TV adaptation of my novel A Lifelong Journey aired on China Central Television, I watched it every night alongside viewers across the country,” said author Liang Xiaosheng.

    “Now I wonder whether it can be adapted into a micro drama. I look forward to possibly experiencing that with audiences again,” he added.

    In August, Tencent and the Linfen government built a premium microdrama base to attract key players to shoot their dramas.

    Meanwhile, the local government has issued a policy to support the industry development with a 50-million-yuan fund established to boost production and foster talent.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ12: Handling of complaints about food consumed at food premises

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Following is a question by the Hon Chan Kin-por and a written reply by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, in the Legislative Council today (October 23):

    Question:

         Members of the public may lodge a complaint to the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) by calling its 24-hour hotline if they find the food consumed at a food premises is unsanitary or contains foreign substances. The complaint will be handled by duty FEHD health inspectors. It is learnt that as health inspectors take time to arrive at the food premises concerned, some health inspectors will advise those complainants who are unable to wait at the food premises to properly keep the food samples for collection by the FEHD officers at a later time. There are views that such practice may affect the laboratory test results. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

    (1) of the number of complaint cases about unsanitary food consumed at food premises received through the aforesaid hotline in the past three years, with a breakdown by type of complaints;

    (2) among the complaint cases mentioned in (1), of the respective percentages of cases in which food samples were collected by duty health inspectors on-site and kept by the complainants themselves;

    (3) among the complaint cases mentioned in (1), of the number of cases in which the offenders were prosecuted;

    (4) of the existing staffing establishment of health inspectors and the average time they need to arrive at the scene to collect samples of problem food; and

    (5) whether it will conduct a comprehensive review of the workflow of handling complaints about unsanitary food consumed at food premises to ensure fairness of investigation and to protect the rights and interests of both the food premises and the customers; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

    Reply:

    President,

         The reply to the question raised by the Hon Chan Kin-por is as follows:

         The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) attaches great importance to food safety and the hygienic conditions of food premises. The FEHD conducts regular inspections of food premises to check their hygienic conditions (food storage and handling, condition of premises, etc.) to ensure that licensees operate in accordance with regulations, and provides relevant health education for the trade. Members of the public who wish to lodge complaints regarding suspected unhygienic food or presence of foreign substances in food from restaurants may contact FEHD 24-hour hotline or FEHD offices. Upon receiving the complaint, the health inspector on duty will contact the complainant as soon as possible and follow up with investigation at the scene.

         If the complainant is unable or unwilling to wait for the health inspector to arrive at the restaurant, the health inspector will, after gaining an initial understanding of the actual situation, provide guidance to the complainant on how to keep the exhibit properly, including how to keep the exhibit so as to maintain its condition. The FEHD officers will conduct a thorough investigation on the complaint, including meeting with the person in charge of the restaurant under complaint and inspecting the hygienic conditions of the premises concerned, and sending the exhibit for examination or testing depending on the circumstances. The Centre for Food Safety will also offer advice on the examination or testing parameters according to the circumstances and needs of the case.

         To ensure that every complaint cases is handled in a fair manner, FEHD officers will conduct a detailed review of each case taking into account various factors comprehensively. In addition to the examination or analysis results, the prosecution decision will also consider whether the exhibit was handled and kept properly, the conclusion from inspection of the premises’ environment and statements and information provided by staff of the restaurant under complaint etc.

    (1) A breakdown on the number of complaints about unhygienic food etc. handled by the FEHD by category in the past three years is set out below:
     

    Type of complaints
    Number

    2021
    2022
    2023

    Unwholesome food
    2 055
    1 679
    2 937

    Foreign substances in food (e.g. body parts of insects or excreta of animals)
    1 642
    1 635
    1 976

    Deteriorated or mouldy food
    649
    577
    804

    Others (e.g. chemicals in food or food improperly handled)
    914
    943
    1 186

    Total
    5 260
    4 834
    6 903

    (2) The FEHD does not keep the relevant statistics.

    (3) The FEHD investigates complaints regarding unhygienic food from restaurants etc. If there is sufficient evidence, the Department will initiate prosecution against the sellers of such food in accordance to the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132) and its subsidiary legislation. However, in most cases, it is often challenging to obtain sufficient evidence to initiate prosecution, as the complainants had expressed unwillingness to testify in court. Over the past three years (i.e. 2021-2023), the number of convictions for violations of the relevant legislation was 82, 70 and 81 respectively.

         Even in cases where there is insufficient evidence for prosecution (e.g. the complainant is unwilling to testify in court or complete a statement of food complaint), the FEHD will still conduct inspections of the premises concerned. If any irregularities are found during inspections, the FEHD will take appropriate follow-up actions.

    (4) The FEHD maintains Health Inspectors on duty at various times to respond to public inquiries or requests for assistance. During office hours, one to two Health Inspectors are on duty at each of the FEHD’s 19 District Environmental Hygiene Offices across Hong Kong to manage routine work and food complaints in their respective districts. Outside office hours, one to two Health Inspectors are on duty at each of the three regional duty rooms in Hong Kong, Kowloon and the New Territories to handle enquiries or requests for assistance in the region. Upon receipt of any complaint regarding unhygienic food or related issues, the duty officer will process it as soon as possible. The FEHD does not keep the statistics on the time taken by officers to collect exhibit at the scene.

    (5) The FEHD reviews its workflow from time to time. The Environmental Hygiene Offices in various districts will continue to investigate complaint cases expeditiously according to the resources available and the actual situation, and handle each complaint case in a fair and impartial manner to safeguard the interests of both restaurants and diners.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ21: Crackdown on pedestrians crossing roads without complying with traffic rules

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Following is a question by the Hon Chan Pui-leung and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Lam Sai-hung, in the Legislative Council today (October 23):Question:      Regarding the crackdown on pedestrians crossing roads without complying with traffic rules, will the Government inform this Council:(1) whether it has compiled statistics on the number of pedestrian casualties in traffic accidents in the past five years, with a breakdown by cause of accident;(2) whether it has compiled statistics on the number of traffic contraventions involving pedestrians in the past five years and, among such cases, the respective numbers of verbal warnings given and prosecutions instituted (including summonses) by the Police (set out by relevant contravention);(3) whether it has analysed the reasons for pedestrians not complying with the traffic rules for crossing roads, for example, whether such acts were caused by objective factors such as road design, traffic system, etc; if it has, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;(4) of (i) the 10 traffic black spots in Hong Kong with the highest number of traffic accidents involving pedestrian casualties and the number of accidents involved, and (ii) the 10 traffic black spots in Hong Kong with the highest number of traffic contraventions involving pedestrians and the respective numbers of jaywalking cases in the past five years; in respect of such traffic black spots, of the improvement measures put in place by the authorities, including whether they will consider extending the duration of green signal of pedestrian traffic lights or adding footbridges; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;(5) given that the Police conducted a number of large-scale territory-wide law enforcement operations against jaywalking in the past, whether the authorities have assessed the effectiveness of such operations; whether they will consider increasing the amount of penalties for pedestrians who do not comply with traffic rules for crossing roads; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and(6) how the authorities will further step up efforts in publicity and education on road safety, so as to enhance pedestrians’ awareness on road safety?Reply:President,     Having consulted the Transport Department (TD) and the Hong Kong Police Force (Police) in respect of crackdown on pedestrians crossing roads without complying with traffic rules, my reply to the various parts of the question raised by the Hon Chan Pui-leung is as follows:(1) and (2) The numbers of pedestrian casualties by casualty contributory factors and degree of injury in traffic accidents as well as the enforcement figures on pedestrian offences by the Police in the past five years are provided in Annex 1 and Annex 2 respectively. On the whole, from 2020 to 2023, the yearly casualty number ranged between about 2 300 and 2 800. The pedestrian casualty number involved in traffic accidents happened in the first half of 2024 has decreased by about 10 per cent compared to the same period in 2023. This reflects that the recent enhanced safety improvement measures are effective. The Government will continue to implement relevant road safety enhancement measures. The ratio of pedestrian contributory factors to accidents has decreased from about 30 per cent in 2020 to 22 per cent in the first nine months in 2024.(3) and (4) The Government has been striving to provide a safe, reliable and efficient traffic and transport system, including the provision of appropriate pedestrian crossing facilities during the planning and design of pedestrian network, for pedestrian to cross the road conveniently at suitable locations. The Government also proceeds with various walkability enhancement and pedestrian safety improvement measures at suitable locations, which include footpath widening, provision or improvement of pedestrian crossings, provision of raised crossings, provision of additional traffic signs and road markings, setting up of low speed limit zones, replacement of Belisha beacons at zebra crossings as well as installation of auxiliary devices that project a red light at signalised junctions. These measures improve pedestrians’ walking experience on one hand and enhance road safety on the other.     According to the quarterly blacksite locations published by the TD, the top 10 pedestrian blacksites and the numbers of accidents happened thereat in the past five years are provided in Annex 3. Relevant departments do not have statistics of the reason(s) of pedestrian offences. Having said that, the Police make reference to the information on accident blackspots when prioritising enforcement actions and publicity/education activities at district levels.(5) Road safety is one of the Commissioner’s Operational Priorities of the Police. Apart from conducting territory-wide enforcement actions against pedestrian offences periodically, the Police will closely monitor the issue of pedestrian safety and continue to adopt multi-pronged approach through publicity, education and enforcement to strengthen public awareness on pedestrian safety, thereby reducing traffic accidents.      From the second half of 2023 to September 2024, the Police have co-ordinated a total of three territory-wide thematic operations on pedestrian safety. With the concerted efforts of the Police and stakeholders, the number of accidents involving pedestrians as a whole in the first three quarters of 2024 has dropped, which is detailed as follows:      The Government will keep in view the penalties for traffic offences and will propose amendments timely so that the relevant penalties can maintain their deterrence to safeguard pedestrian safety.(6) The Government attaches great importance to road safety and has been closely collaborating with the Road Safety Council to promote road safety amongst different road users (including pedestrians) through various publicity and education channels. Examples include production and broadcasting of television and online publicity video clips, publication and distribution of Road Safety Bulletins and leaflets, affixing publicity covers on traffic signal controllers, conducting road safety talks in primary and secondary schools and elderly centres, disseminating information on social media platforms, to educate different road users about road safety matters that require their attention, such as obeying traffic rules and traffic signals, proper use of crossing facilities, following the Road Crossing Code and staying alert at all times. We will continue to carry out publicity and education activities to enhance road users’ awareness on safety.

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ2: Developing cruise tourism

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ2: Developing cruise tourism
    LCQ2: Developing cruise tourism
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         Following is a question by the Hon Chan Yuet-ming and a reply by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, in the Legislative Council today (October 23): Question:      It has been reported that the number of cruise ships arriving in Hong Kong this year is far lower than that in Singapore, and a related association has also withdrawn from Hong Kong. On the other hand, the Government mentioned in the Policy Address delivered last year that it would review the development of cruise tourism economy and announce an action plan in the first half of 2024. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council: (1) of the number of ship calls in Hong Kong in each of the past five years, as well as the numbers of inbound and outbound cruise passenger trips, and the age distribution and per capita spending of passengers; (2) whether further plans in the short, medium and long terms are in place to attract cruise ships to visit Hong Kong and consider Hong Kong as homeport; and (3) of the positioning of and division of functions between the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal (KTCT) and the Ocean Terminal, and how the occupancy rates of the commercial floor space of the two terminals compare with each other; as there are views that when compared with the Ocean Terminal, there is much room for improvement in respect of transport connectivity between the KTCT and the shopping malls nearby as well as the luxury goods and commercial contents of such shopping malls, how the Government will enhance the transport connectivity between the KTCT and the surrounding scenic spots and key shopping malls in the short term? Reply: President,      After the pandemic, the Government has been making all-out efforts in promoting the recovery of the tourism industry, amongst which Hong Kong’s cruise tourism is actually one of the work priorities. With the concerted efforts of the industry and the Government, a total of 30 cruise lines are scheduled to visit Hong Kong in 2024, representing an increase of 12 over 2023 and comparable to pre-pandemic levels. It is estimated that the non-local cruise passenger throughput this year will increase to about 330 000, representing an increase of 50 per cent compared with 220 000 the year before. Moreover, attributable to the efforts we have made, several new cruise lines will have their first ship calls in Hong Kong in the coming year, and new itineraries will also be launched by cruise lines to attract a more diverse sources of customers.           We sought views extensively from relevant local and international stakeholders of the cruise industry earlier on the development of cruise tourism in Hong Kong, and formulated an action plan for further promoting cruise visits to Hong Kong. It will be published together with the Development Blueprint for Hong Kong’s Tourism Industry 2.0 by the end of this year.           Having consulted the Development Bureau and the Transport and Logistics Bureau, below is the reply to the question raised by the Hon Chan Yuet-ming: (1) The total numbers of ship calls and cruise passenger throughputs in Hong Kong in the past five years are at Annex. Separately, according to a survey conducted by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) in 2023, the onshore per capita spending of inbound cruise passengers embarking or disembarking in Hong Kong was about $3,000. Nevertheless, the contribution of cruise tourism to Hong Kong’s economy is not restricted to the spending by passengers, but also includes the expenses incurred in Hong Kong by the cruises (such as the expenses of arranging shore excursions or transport for passengers, reprovisioning for the cruises, berthing at terminals and hiring of ground crew members), as well as the onshore spending of crew members on leave.  We do not maintain statistics on the age distribution of cruise passengers. (2) The Tourism Commission (TC) and HKTB will continue to promote the development of Hong Kong’s cruise tourism through various measures, attracting cruises to visit Hong Kong, and leveraging Hong Kong as the homeport for passengers to start or complete their cruise voyages. Those measures include: (a) developing new cruise itineraries and visitor source markets. For instance, introducing cruise itineraries departing from the Mainland, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Thailand to Hong Kong in the coming months; and stepping up the promotion and publicity of fly-cruise and rail-cruise packages; (b) facilitating cruise lines in making proper planning for cruises visiting Hong Kong, and providing them with various support and concessions, with a view to encouraging cruise lines to increase the number of ship calls, make overnight calls and leverage Hong Kong as the homeport; (c) supporting the tourism trade in fully leveraging Hong Kong’s unique tourism elements to design different featured shore excursions. Cruise passengers visiting Hong Kong this week will be arranged to join the Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival, thereby creating synergy between cruise tourism and mega events. In addition, a night time itinerary of Hong Kong classic tram tour has recently been selected by a cruise line as one of its top 10 shore excursions in the world; (d) providing facilitation for inbound passengers who start their cruise voyage in Hong Kong, such as baggage delivery services for debarking cruise passengers to enable them to explore the city hassle-free. TC also co-ordinates ship calls with a large number of Mainland visitors, streamlining the boundary crossing arrangements, and arranging coaches for them to travel direct to the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal (KTCT) in just 40 minutes; (e) seizing the new opportunities brought about by cruise-related policies in the Mainland, such as the policy of allowing visa-free entry of foreign tourist groups aboard cruise ships at provinces along the country’s coastline, and the measures allowing Mainland visitors to travel to Hong Kong in transit to join international cruise itineraries involving port-of-call in Mainland cruise ports, thereby attracting international cruise lines to develop more cruise itineraries covering Hong Kong and Mainland ports; and (f) proactively participating in major industry events in the Mainland and overseas, and collaborating with ports in the Mainland and the Asian region to jointly promote Asia’s cruise tourism in these events. (3) Though complementing each other, the development and functions of the KTCT and the Ocean Terminal (OT) in Tsim Sha Tsui are not entirely the same and a direct comparison cannot be made between them. The OT was completed in 1966. Due to limitations in respect of water depth and clearance facilities etc, it can only accommodate small to medium-sized cruise ships with a gross tonnage of fewer than 90 000 tons and a smaller passenger capacity. Its floor area is primarily used for commercial purposes. As Tsim Sha Tsui has developed into one of Hong Kong’s premier shopping and sightseeing hot spots, passengers joining cruise voyages there can also be benefited. As for the KTCT, it is an infrastructure specifically built for the berthing of mega-size cruise ships and is able to accommodate simultaneously two mega-size cruise ships with a gross tonnage of up to 220 000. The terminal provides sufficient space and facilities for handling a large number of inbound and outbound passengers as well as their embarkation and disembarkation within a short period of time, but only has a small ancillary commercial area. The KTCT commenced operation in phases from mid-2013, and since 2015 and 2017 respectively, it has already surpassed the OT in terms of annual passenger throughput and the number of ship calls.      Upon getting onshore, cruise passengers may either join shore excursions with connecting transport arrangements provided by cruise lines or local travel agents, or travel to destinations by public transport. The KTCT is being part of the Kai Tak Development (KTD). With the gradual completion of the traffic network and commercial facilities within the KTD, cruise passengers will be provided with greater convenience and more options for shopping and sightseeing. Those options include the major retail facility adjacent to Kai Tak MTR Station opened in September last year and another commercial project comprising a large department store scheduled for opening in November this year. In addition, the Kai Tak Sports Park, to be opened in the first quarter of next year, will not only provide over 700 thousand square feet of retail and catering facilities, but also venues for hosting various types of mega sports, cultural and recreational events, thereby creating synergy effects with the KTCT.           There are currently four regular franchised bus routes serving the KTCT, with three of them connecting Kai Tak Station. Subject to demand, an additional special bus route directly connecting the station will also be provided by public transport operator during the berthing of cruise ships. The Transport Department has also planned to provide two additional franchised bus routes, one of them providing connecting services to Kai Tak Station via Sung Wong Toi Station, while another providing express services to Hung Hom and Tsim Sha Tsui direct.      Thank you, President.

     
    Ends/Wednesday, October 23, 2024Issued at HKT 12:55

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Import of poultry meat and products from areas in Hungary and Japan suspended

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Import of poultry meat and products from areas in Hungary and Japan suspended
    Import of poultry meat and products from areas in Hungary and Japan suspended
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         The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (October 23) that in view of notifications from the Ministry of Agriculture of Hungary and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan about outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 and H5 avian influenza in Bács-Kiskun County in Hungary and Chiba Prefecture in Japan respectively, the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the above-mentioned areas with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.     A CFS spokesman said that Hong Kong has currently established a protocol with Hungary for the import of poultry meat but not for poultry eggs. According to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 40 tonnes of frozen poultry meat from Hungary, and about 1 170 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and about 150.45 million poultry eggs from Japan in the first six months of this year.     “The CFS has contacted the Hungarian and Japanese authorities over the issues and will closely monitor information issued by the World Organisation for Animal Health and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreaks. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation,” the spokesman said.

     
    Ends/Wednesday, October 23, 2024Issued at HKT 15:02

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ15: Making good use of counselling professionals to support mental health services

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ15: Making good use of counselling professionals to support mental health services
    LCQ15: Making good use of counselling professionals to support mental health services
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         Following is a question by the Hon Chan Hoi-yan and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, in the Legislative Council today (October 23):Question:     It has been reported that according to the information of the Department of Health, both the proportions of students in Hong Kong who planned to commit suicide and who attempted suicide in the 2022-2023 school year hit a record high for the past five years, reflecting the severe challenges faced by Hong Kong’s mental health services and support system. There are views that as there are now only some 460 psychiatric specialists in Hong Kong, and people in need may not be able to receive timely support given such limited manpower, Hong Kong can make good use of counselling professionals to share and support its work on mental health services. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:(1) whether it has compiled statistics on the number of subsidised programmes related to the counselling profession offered by tertiary institutions in Hong Kong;(2) whether it knows the number of graduates with qualifications related to counselling in each of the past five years and, among them, the number of those who joined the counselling profession after graduation;(3) whether it has compiled statistics on public and subsidised mental health service items currently provided by counselling professionals in Hong Kong (set out by public and subsidised services);(4) whether it has compiled statistics on the respective numbers of counselling professionals that need to be employed and have been employed by public organisations in Hong Kong at present;(5) of the community support services provided to new patients on the waiting list for psychiatric specialist services in public hospitals, and whether the authorities will consider providing additional support to patients with longer waiting time, such as arranging counselling professionals to provide services (including emotional counselling and service referrals) for patients with mild symptoms; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;(6) whether the authorities will consider setting up a registration system and the relevant qualifications framework for counselling professionals in Hong Kong, as well as drawing up related professional standards and formulating codes of professional conduct, so as to regulate the relevant profession; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and(7) of the authorities’ future planning to make good use of counselling professionals to support mental health services in Hong Kong, as well as the details of the relevant work?Reply:President,     Student suicide is a complex social problem involving multiple risk and protective factors which should not be addressed solely through mental health factors or from a medical perspective, and issues on relevant supporting manpower should be tackled through co-ordination between different professionals and supporting personnel.     In consultation with the Education Bureau (EDB), the Hospital Authority (HA), the Labour and Welfare Bureau and the Social Welfare Department (SWD), the consolidated reply in response to the question raised by the Hon Chan Hoi-yan is as follows:(1) and (2) The eight University Grants Committee-funded universities do not offer publicly-funded counselling degree programmes at present. As regards the self-financing post-secondary education sector, various post-secondary institutions offer a total of 14 locally-accredited self-financing post-secondary programmes that are relevant to the counselling profession in the 2024/25 academic year, including two sub-degree, one undergraduate and 11 taught postgraduate programmes. The number of graduates of relevant programmes in the past five academic years are set out in the table below. 

    Level of Study
    Academic Year

    2018/19
    2019/20
    2020/21
    2021/22
    2022/23

    Sub-degree
    104
    84
    59
    37
    110

    Undergraduate
    92
    103
    90
    97
    90

    Taught Postgraduate
    313
    378
    426
    407
    466

    Note 1: The table above includes programmes with English titles involving the keywords “Counsel” / “Guidance”.Note 2: Sub-degree programmes cover full-time Associate Degree and Higher Diploma programmes.Note 3: Undergraduate programmes cover full-time first-year-first-degree and top-up degree programmes.Note 4: Taught postgraduate programmes cover both full-time and part-time Postgraduate Certificate with a minimum duration of one year, Postgraduate Diploma, Master’s, and Doctoral degree programmes.Note 5: Information on the number of graduates for the 2023/24 academic year is not yet available from relevant institutions.     Apart from providing mental health support, counselling staff also provide appropriate counselling services in other service units, such as family services, schools and the workplace, according to the needs of the service targets.     The EDB does not collect information on the graduates of the abovementioned programmes who have joined the counselling profession.  (3) and (4) Mental health service providers within the structure of the Government and the HA such as doctors, nurses, clinical and educational psychologists and social workers, will consider whether to incorporate the element of counselling in the course of service delivery according to the needs of the service targets. Relevant organisations and the HA will also arrange training for relevant personnel to enhance their counselling skills.      Apart from the aforementioned professional grade staff members, schools and social welfare organisations may employ counselling personnel on a need basis. For welfare service units, subject to their compliance with the requirements of the Funding and Service Agreement as well as the relevant statutory staffing requirements, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) subvented by the SWD may flexibly deploy resources to arrange appropriate personnel, including employing counselling personnel or purchasing counselling services to meet the operational and service targets’ needs. For example, Integrated Community Centres for Mental Wellness (ICCMWs) may employ counselling personnel according to their needs to provide services to persons with mental health needs. For schools, the EDB provides comprehensive student guidance services through multi-disciplinary collaboration and the “Whole School Approach”. Apart from teachers, school social workers and school-based educational psychologists, schools can also employ additional student guidance personnel or procure related services from organisations according to students’ needs, flexibly deploying grants provided by the Government or pooling together other school resources to strengthen the support for students.(5) The HA has specifically set an additional target for psychiatric specialist out-patient clinics (SOPCs) last year, that is, the overall median waiting time for urgent and semi-urgent new cases should be no more than one week and four weeks respectively. The relevant target has already been achieved, ensuring that patients with urgent needs can receive treatment within a reasonable time. The HA will continue to strengthen its psychiatric SOPC services and improve the waiting time for urgent and semi-urgent new cases, including increasing consultation quotas. The HA will also take care of more psychiatric patients in need by strengthening its manpower and through the Public-Private Partnership Programme, as well as enhancing the services of psychiatric nurse clinics to allow patients to receive follow-up while waiting for SOPC services or follow-up appointments. If there is any change in the mental conditions of patients, they may return to their respective psychiatric SOPCs for re-assessment to determine whether they need to advance their consultation or seek treatment from the accident and emergency services.     The Health Bureau launched the Pilot Scheme on New Service Protocol for Child and Adolescent with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Comorbidity to provide multi-disciplinary assessment, treatment and support services to children and adolescents with or suspected to have Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder and Comorbidities while they are waiting for HA services. In addition, the SWD provides subvention to NGOs to operate ICCMWs across the city. Following the Chief Executive’s announcement in the 2024 Policy Address that an additional ICCMW will be set up in the first quarter of 2026, the total number of ICCMWs across the city will increase to 25, providing community support services to persons with mental health needs.(6) and (7) Mental health encompasses various levels and aspects such as social service, school education, community support and medical care. Not all individuals with mental health problems need to seek treatment from psychiatrists. In recent years, mental health services introduced by the Government have, in varying degrees, implemented the concept of stepped care model, under which members of the public are referred to different levels of mental health services according to their mental health needs and severity. For example, the Student Mental Health Support Scheme launched in the 2016/17 academic year has applied the stepped care model to provide multi-disciplinary support services to students with mental health needs in schools through tripartite collaboration among the medical, education and social sectors.      The 2024 Policy Address announced that the Government will extend integrated services based on a medical-educational-social collaboration model to promote mental health. The Advisory Committee on Mental Health (ACMH) will formulate a stepped care model for mental health, through developing a multi-disciplinary framework with tiers from dealing with general emotional problems in the frontline to handling cases requiring follow-up and more serious mental illnesses cases. The framework sets out the roles of different professionals (such as teaching staff, social workers and healthcare workers, along with other supporting personnel and services providers) and their division of work in the provision of mental health services for cases in each tier, enabling them to work together and perform their respective roles smoothly, with a view to making good use of multi-disciplinary staff to assist in handling various types of cases with mental health needs in a systematic manner.     To ensure the quality and standard of services, the Government will review the appropriate training qualifications and quality assurance requirements for different professionals and support staff according to risk-based needs during the formulation of the stepped care model for mental health. In the process, the Government will also review the relevant personnel providing counselling services. A working group on the stepped care model for mental health has been established under the ACMH to take forward the work and is expected to submit a report by end???2025.

     
    Ends/Wednesday, October 23, 2024Issued at HKT 15:45

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