NewzIntel.com

Category: Statistics

  • MIL-OSI Security: FBI Releases 2023 Crime in the Nation Statistics

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

    The FBI released detailed data on over 14 million criminal offenses for 2023 reported to the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program by participating law enforcement agencies. More than 16,000 state, county, city, university and college, and tribal agencies, covering a combined population of 94.3% inhabitants, submitted data to the UCR Program through the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) and the Summary Reporting System.

    The FBI’s crime statistics estimates, based on reported data for 2023, show that national violent crime decreased an estimated 3.0% in 2023 compared to 2022 estimates:  

    • Murder and non-negligent manslaughter recorded a 2023 estimated nationwide decrease of 11.6% compared to the previous year.  
    • In 2023, the estimated number of offenses in the revised rape category saw an estimated 9.4% decrease.  
    • Aggravated assault figures decreased an estimated 2.8% in 2023. 
    • Robbery showed an estimated decrease of 0.3% nationally.  

    In 2023, 16,009 agencies participated in the hate crime collection, with a population coverage of 95.2%. Law enforcement agencies submitted incident reports involving 11,862 criminal incidents and 13,829 related offenses as being motivated by bias toward race, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender, and gender identity.  

    To publish a national trend, the FBI’s UCR Program used a dataset of reported hate crime incidents and zero reports submitted by agencies reporting six or more common months or two or more common quarters (six months) of hate crime data to the FBI’s UCR Program for both 2022 and 2023. According to this dataset, reported hate crime incidents decreased 0.6% from 10,687 in 2022 to 10,627 in 2023.  

    The complete analysis is located on the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer.   

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: In 2023, one in every four single-family houses was equipped with a heat pump.

    Source: Switzerland – Department of Home Affairs

    Neuchâtel, 23.09.2024 – Switzerland had 1.79 million residential buildings and 4.79 million dwellings in 2023. 37% of buildings were heated by oil and 17% by gas. 21% of buildings were equipped with heat pumps, a fivefold rise since 2000. One single-family house in four is equipped with a heat pump. These are some of the results from the Building and Dwelling Statistics compiled by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

    This press release and further information on this topic can be found on the FSO website (see link below)

    Address for enquiries

    Info StatBL, BFS, Population section, tel.: +41 58 467 25 25, e-mail: info.gws@bfs.admin.ch

    Publisher

    Federal Statistical Office
    http://www.statistics.admin.ch

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: By 2023, one in four single-family homes was equipped with a heat pump

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

    Source: Switzerland – Department of Foreign Affairs in French

    Federal Statistical Office

    Neuchâtel, 23.09.2024 – Switzerland had 1.79 million residential buildings and 4.79 million dwellings in 2023. 37% of the buildings were heated by oil and 17% by gas. 21% of the buildings were equipped with heat pumps. The share of the latter has increased fivefold since 2000. One in four single-family homes is equipped with a heat pump. These are some of the results of the building and housing statistics, compiled by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

    You will find this press release and further information on this topic on the OFS website (see link below)

    Address for sending questions

    Info StatBL, OFS, Population Section, tel.: 41 58 467 25 25, e-mail: info.gws@bfs.admin.ch

    Author

    Federal Statistical Officehttp://www.statistique.admin.ch

    Social sharing

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-Evening Report: More Australians are using their superannuation for medical procedures. But that might put their financial health at risk

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Neera Bhatia, Associate Professor in Law, Deakin University

    fizkes/Shutterstock

    A record number of Australians are accessing their superannuation early on compassionate grounds, mainly to fund their own medical procedures – or those of a family member.

    Some 150,000 Australians have used the scheme in the last five years. Nearly 40,000 people had applications approved in 2022-23, compared to just under 30,000 in 2018-19 – an increase of 47%.

    Some people think this flexible use of funds is a good way to ensure people can fund their own medical needs. But more transparency and better oversight is needed.

    What are compassionate grounds?

    Since July 2018, the Australian Tax Office has administered the early release of superannuation – meaning before retirement – under certain circumstances, including compassionate grounds.

    Compassionate grounds for you or your dependant (such as child or spouse) are:

    • medical treatment or transport
    • modifying your home or vehicle to accommodate special needs for a severe disability
    • palliative care for a terminal illness
    • death, funeral or burial expenses
    • preventing foreclosure or forced sale of your home.

    The medical treatment must be for a life-threatening illness or injury, or to alleviate acute or chronic pain, or acute or chronic mental illness.

    The treatment cannot be “readily available” through the public system. Cosmetic procedures are excluded.

    You also have to prove you cannot afford to pay part or all of the expenses without accessing your super, for example, by spending your savings, selling assets or getting a loan.

    People who can access other funding for the expense, such as via the National Disability Insurance Scheme, are ineligible.

    Why are people using this scheme more?

    The ATO has not explained what is driving the surge. General cost-of-living pressures may play a role. People may have fewer savings to draw on for medical procedures.

    But the treatments most commonly being accessed using superannuation – fertility treatments, weight loss surgeries and dental care – point to other systemic issues.

    There have long been issues with IVF and dental care not being readily available or funded in the public health system.

    Weight loss surgeries (including bariatric surgery) can help combat potentially life-threatening conditions such as heart disease. Recent research suggests there has been an overall drop in the number of Australians having bariatric surgeries since 2016. But of those, 95% are performed through the private system.

    Australians are increasingly turning to their super to fund dental care, which is not covered by Medicare.
    Pixabay/Pexels

    While early access to super can provide individuals access to critical treatment, there are issues with how compassionate grounds are defined and regulated.

    Lack of clarity

    As my co-author and I have shown, the vague wording of the Superannuation Industry regulations leaves them worryingly open to interpretation.

    For example, the meaning of “mental disturbance” is not defined.

    You may not meet the criteria of having an acute or life-threatening illness, or acute or chronic pain. But if you can show a certain condition causes you acute mental disturbance, you may qualify to release your superannuation early.

    People accessing their superannuation for IVF use this criterion, for example, by arguing they need to access funds to continue treatment and alleviate the acute mental distress caused by ongoing infertility issues.

    Two registered medical practitioners are each required to submit a report demonstrating the treatment is needed, and one must be a specialist in the field in which the treatment is required. However, the regulations do not specify clearly that the specialist should have relevant qualifications.

    In the IVF example, this means the specialist opinion can be provided by a fertility doctor rather than a mental health expert – and that person may stand to profit if they later also provide treatment.

    A closed-loop system

    Conflict of interest is another major issue.

    There is nothing in the regulations to stop a medical practitioner – such as a dentist – being involved in all steps and then financially benefiting. They could encourage a patient to access superannuation for a treatment, write the specialist report and then also receive payment for the treatment.

    Some clinics promote accessing superannuation as an option to pay for expensive treatments.

    This raises important questions about the independence of the process, as well as professional ethics.

    Medical practitioners making recommendations for early release of superannuation should be doing so on genuinely compassionate grounds. But the potential for exploitation remains an ethical concern, when a practitioner can financially benefit from recommending early access to nest egg funds.

    Transparency around potential conflicts of interest are impossible to ensure without proper oversight.

    What is needed?

    1. Mandatory financial counselling

    The ATO has warned accessing super early is not “free money”, with a spokesperson urging people to get financial advice. But the law should go a step further and make this compulsory. That way people making decisions during an emotionally charged moment can understand any future implications.

    2. Tightening of the criteria

    Greater clarity in the legislation – such as defining “mental disturbance” – would help prevent loopholes being exploited.

    3. Better oversight

    Less health-care industry involvement would promote greater transparency and independence. An independent body of medical practitioners could assess applications rather than practitioners who could financially benefit if applications are approved. This would help alleviate perceived and actual conflicts of interest.

    Accessing superannuation early may be the only option for some people to start a family or access other life-changing medical care. But they should be able to make this decision in a fully informed way, safeguarded from exploitation and aware of the implications for their future.

    Neera Bhatia receives funding from The UK Arts and Humanities Research Council for an unrelated project.

    – ref. More Australians are using their superannuation for medical procedures. But that might put their financial health at risk – https://theconversation.com/more-australians-are-using-their-superannuation-for-medical-procedures-but-that-might-put-their-financial-health-at-risk-239588

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: China sees rising urbanization rate over past 75 years

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    China’s urbanization rate, which measures the ratio of permanent urban residents relative to the total population, rose by 55.52 percentage points from the end of 1949 to 66.16 percent by the end of 2023, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed Monday.
    Over the past 75 years since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the country has undergone the largest and fastest urbanization process in world history, the NBS said in a report.
    There were just 129 cities in China at the end of 1949, with a combined population of 39.49 million. The number of cities reached 694 at the end of 2023, while prefecture-level and larger cities were home to 673.13 million people. Among them, there were 29 cities each with a population exceeding 5 million and 11 cities each with a population of over 10 million.
    Remarkably, China’s less-developed western region is rising, representing a more balanced urbanization process. Among the 11 prefecture-level cities that have been added since 2011, nine of them are located in the western region.
    As urbanization advances, China has lifted almost all limits on household registration in cities each with less than 3 million permanent residents, making it more convenient for those from rural areas to permanently settle down in cities.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI: Crypto Proprietary Trading Firm HyroTrader Experiences Rapid Growth

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Prague, Czech Republic, Sept. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Since the launch of its Minimum Viable Product (MVP), HyroTrader has consistently achieved a 51% month-on-month revenue increase. This accelerated growth underscores the firm’s innovative approach and commitment to supporting experienced crypto traders with the resources they need to thrive. Additionally, HyroTrader is actively developing its own technology trading aggregator with connections to multiple exchanges, allowing traders to link multiple exchange accounts, monitor trading statistics, and access advanced trading tools to enhance their strategies.

    Crypto Prop Firm Focused on Experienced Crypto Traders

    HyroTrader’s primary focus is on empowering experienced crypto traders, offering them the opportunity to trade directly on major platforms such as ByBit. Unlike many competitors who rely on white-label platforms with limited liquidity and manipulated trading conditions, HyroTrader uses third-party exchanges, ensuring transparency and fair trading conditions. Traders can even connect their personal accounts, reinforcing the firm’s commitment to openness and trustworthiness.

    In line with its expansion goals, HyroTrader is preparing to extend its services to Asia and the Middle East. This international growth strategy positions the company to tap into new markets while catering to the diverse needs of global traders.

    Looking forward, HyroTrader aims to support the top 10 crypto trading platforms, a development that will provide a significant competitive edge. This move will enhance liquidity and broaden trading options, distinguishing HyroTrader from competitors.

    Self-Funded and Community-Driven

    HyroTrader’s growth has been entirely self-funded, with no external investors or debt. Despite offers to sell a significant portion of the company, HyroTrader has chosen to remain independent, ensuring the firm is governed by its community of traders rather than outside interests. This trader-focused approach allows HyroTrader to operate with flexibility and autonomy, making decisions in the best interest of its users.

    To further strengthen its community, HyroTrader has launched a range of educational courses designed to help traders develop their skills. The firm is also hosting crypto trading competitions where traders can compete and win prizes, fostering an interactive and competitive learning environment. Moreover, HyroTrader offers an educational mentor program where traders can book consultations with experienced mentors, providing personalized guidance for those looking to refine their strategies.

    Shariah-Compliant Trading for Muslim Traders 

    In a bid to cater to a broader global audience, HyroTrader has introduced a unique trading product for Muslim traders, allowing them to trade on the spot market without leverage. This offering is designed specifically for those who adhere to Shariah law, which prohibits interest (riba), excessive uncertainty (gharar), and gambling (maysir). By removing leverage from trades, HyroTrader ensures compliance with these religious principles, making crypto trading accessible to a previously underserved market segment.

    HyroTrader’s compliance extends to ensuring traders use their own verified accounts from exchanges, adding an extra layer of trust and security for users. The platform operates under full business authorization, allowing it to conduct crypto-related activities legally and transparently.

    What Is HyroTrader?

    HyroTrader operates as an evaluation-based crypto proprietary trading firm. Traders undergo a two-step evaluation process: the first stage requires a 10% gain, followed by a 5% gain in the second stage. Successful traders are granted funded accounts with up to $200,000 in simulated capital.

    Once a trader passes the evaluation, they receive 70-90% of the profits generated from their funded account. HyroTrader’s business model is built on charging an evaluation fee for those seeking to enter the program. The firm also copies successful traders’ strategies via API directly onto crypto exchanges, creating a symbiotic relationship where traders and the company benefit from successful trading.

    A Strong, Experienced Team

    HyroTrader is backed by a highly skilled team of entrepreneurs, crypto traders, and developers, all with extensive experience in building scalable products. Originally launched as a different platform in 2022, the team pivoted to the current HyroTrader model after recognizing the potential for greater market impact in the crypto space. This strategic shift has been key to the firm’s rapid success.

    Inspired by the Success of Forex Prop Trading Firms

    Prop trading firms have gained immense popularity, especially in the forex space, with firms like FTMO achieving significant financial milestones. In 2023, FTMO reported $213 million in revenue, with $100 million in profit. Inspired by this success, HyroTrader has developed a similar platform for crypto traders, offering unique opportunities for those operating in the burgeoning digital asset markets.

    While forex prop trading firms like FTMO are focused on FX, equities, and commodities through CFD (Contract for Difference) brokers, HyroTrader’s model is specifically designed for crypto traders. Rather than trading CFDs, HyroTrader’s users trade futures and spot markets directly on crypto exchanges, providing a more direct and transparent experience.

    About HyroTrader: Positioned for Long-Term Success

    With an estimated 35-50 million active crypto traders globally and only a few competitors, HyroTrader is strategically positioned to become a major player in the crypto prop trading space. The firm’s transparent approach, focus on third-party exchanges, and innovative product offerings—such as Shariah-compliant trading—make it an appealing option for a diverse and growing global trading community.

    As part of its growth strategy, HyroTrader is not only expanding into new regions but is also continuously refining its product offerings to better serve its users. The platform’s comprehensive features, including trading aggregators and statistical tools, position it as a valuable resource for traders aiming for long-term success. As the crypto trading market continues to grow, HyroTrader’s unique value proposition and strong market positioning put it on a path toward long-term success.

    For more information, visit HyroTrader’s website.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Colonialism and apartheid stripped black South Africans of land and labour rights – the effects are still felt today

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Marthinus van Staden, Associate Professor of Labour Law, University of the Witwatersrand

    Land dispossession among South Africa’s majority black population remains a thorny issue 30 years into democracy. Labour law scholar Marthinus van Staden’s new research examines the historical relationship between land dispossession and labour control in South Africa. It explores how the systematic seizure of indigenous people’s land during colonisation and apartheid reduced them from landowners to labourers, under exploitative conditions, and how the effects continue to linger. We asked him to explain.

    What is the history of land dispossession and labour control in South Africa?

    The history spans several centuries, beginning with Dutch colonisation in the mid-17th century. It intensified under British rule from the late 18th century. Early colonial policies were inconsistent, but gradually evolved into more systematic land grabs and labour regulations.

    The discovery of minerals – primarily gold and diamonds – in the 1880s heightened the demand for cheap black labour.

    The 19th century saw other significant developments, including the abolition of slavery and the introduction of pass laws. Pass laws required black people to carry identity documents that restricted their movement, employment and settlement.

    The 1913 Natives Land Act severely restricted black land ownership. It prevented black people from owning or renting land in 93% of South Africa, which was reserved for white ownership. Many black farmers who had previously owned or rented land in what had been designated “white areas” were forced to become labourers on white-owned farms. Or they had to move to “reserves” the state had set aside.

    This was followed by a series of laws implementing urban segregation and expanding “native reserves”.

    The apartheid era of formalised racial segregation, from 1948 to 1994, saw the most extreme measures of land dispossession and labour control. The creation of the homeland system relegated black South Africans to 10 economically unviable areas, along ethnic lines. Black people in homelands were mostly forced to work in “white” South Africa, where they lacked legal rights as workers.

    It wasn’t until 1979 that black trade unions were allowed to register. This allowed them to operate openly and bargain with employers and the government for improved wages and working conditions.

    Trade unions served as important political actors. They increased black workers’ political voice and influence. In fact, all labour legislation before 1981 had the distinguishing feature of excluding black workers from its ambit of protection.

    Only after apartheid ended in 1994 did efforts begin to address the legacy of land dispossession and unfair labour practices through restitution and reforms. Land reform processes have been criticised for being ineffectual.

    What effect did dispossession have?

    Dispossession created a large pool of cheap labour for white-owned farms and industries. Without access to land for subsistence or commercial farming, black South Africans had little choice but to work for low wages in the capitalist economy. The employment contract, transplanted from colonial law, became a tool for exerting control over these workers. It reinforced their subordinate status.

    The common law contract of employment, with its inherent element of employer control, was applied to the formerly independent indigenous people now forced into wage labour.

    The homelands ensured a continuous supply of cheap black migrant labour. This system of land deprivation and labour control not only served the economic interests of the white minority. It also reinforced racial hierarchies.

    The socio-economic consequences continue. Black workers are still more likely to be unemployed – or in precarious work – than whites.

    Why does this matter today?

    The legacy of land dispossession and labour control continues to shape South Africa’s social, economic and political landscape. It’s a critical consideration in efforts to build a more just and equitable society.

    This history has created deep-rooted economic disparities. The concentration of land ownership and wealth in the hands of the white minority remains largely intact, perpetuating socio-economic inequality.

    The ongoing struggle for land restitution and reform is directly linked to this history. Addressing the legacy of dispossession is crucial for economic justice and social stability.

    Understanding this history is essential for developing effective policies to address poverty, unemployment and uneven development.

    It is also vital for national reconciliation and building a more equitable society. It underpins current debates about social justice, reparations and the transformation of economic structures.

    Which practical, remedial policies must be carried out?

    The historical link between land loss and subjugation by means of the controls inherent to the contract of employment makes land reform a necessary first step to reversing this process.

    The government has put in place formal mechanisms to halt racialised land ownership. However, land restitution and reform programmes need to be enhanced and accelerated.

    They should include restoring land rights where possible, and providing support for sustainable land use. This would address both the economic and emotional aspects of historical dispossession.

    Legislation such as the Labour Relations Act and the Employment Equity Act have done much to strengthen protections for workers’ rights, particularly for those in precarious employment situations. However, the ways in which these laws continue to endorse a global north conception of the employment relationship, which emphasises control, must be rethought.

    They must be reformed to promote equality, dignity and fair labour practices. Reforms should involve more collaborative models and addressing the socio-economic impacts to redress historical injustices.

    Targeted economic development initiatives are needed in historically disadvantaged areas, including former homelands. These could include infrastructure development, skills training programmes, and support for small businesses to create economic opportunities.

    These remedial policies should be part of an all-encompassing strategy to address historical injustices, and create a more equitable South African society.

    – Colonialism and apartheid stripped black South Africans of land and labour rights – the effects are still felt today
    – https://theconversation.com/colonialism-and-apartheid-stripped-black-south-africans-of-land-and-labour-rights-the-effects-are-still-felt-today-238243

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Colonialism and apartheid stripped black South Africans of land and labour rights – the effects are still felt today

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Marthinus van Staden, Associate Professor of Labour Law, University of the Witwatersrand

    Land dispossession among South Africa’s majority black population remains a thorny issue 30 years into democracy. Labour law scholar Marthinus van Staden’s new research examines the historical relationship between land dispossession and labour control in South Africa. It explores how the systematic seizure of indigenous people’s land during colonisation and apartheid reduced them from landowners to labourers, under exploitative conditions, and how the effects continue to linger. We asked him to explain.

    What is the history of land dispossession and labour control in South Africa?

    The history spans several centuries, beginning with Dutch colonisation in the mid-17th century. It intensified under British rule from the late 18th century. Early colonial policies were inconsistent, but gradually evolved into more systematic land grabs and labour regulations.

    The discovery of minerals – primarily gold and diamonds – in the 1880s heightened the demand for cheap black labour.

    The 19th century saw other significant developments, including the abolition of slavery and the introduction of pass laws. Pass laws required black people to carry identity documents that restricted their movement, employment and settlement.

    The 1913 Natives Land Act severely restricted black land ownership. It prevented black people from owning or renting land in 93% of South Africa, which was reserved for white ownership. Many black farmers who had previously owned or rented land in what had been designated “white areas” were forced to become labourers on white-owned farms. Or they had to move to “reserves” the state had set aside.

    This was followed by a series of laws implementing urban segregation and expanding “native reserves”.

    The apartheid era of formalised racial segregation, from 1948 to 1994, saw the most extreme measures of land dispossession and labour control. The creation of the homeland system relegated black South Africans to 10 economically unviable areas, along ethnic lines. Black people in homelands were mostly forced to work in “white” South Africa, where they lacked legal rights as workers.

    It wasn’t until 1979 that black trade unions were allowed to register. This allowed them to operate openly and bargain with employers and the government for improved wages and working conditions.

    Trade unions served as important political actors. They increased black workers’ political voice and influence. In fact, all labour legislation before 1981 had the distinguishing feature of excluding black workers from its ambit of protection.

    Only after apartheid ended in 1994 did efforts begin to address the legacy of land dispossession and unfair labour practices through restitution and reforms. Land reform processes have been criticised for being ineffectual.

    What effect did dispossession have?

    Dispossession created a large pool of cheap labour for white-owned farms and industries. Without access to land for subsistence or commercial farming, black South Africans had little choice but to work for low wages in the capitalist economy. The employment contract, transplanted from colonial law, became a tool for exerting control over these workers. It reinforced their subordinate status.

    The common law contract of employment, with its inherent element of employer control, was applied to the formerly independent indigenous people now forced into wage labour.

    The homelands ensured a continuous supply of cheap black migrant labour. This system of land deprivation and labour control not only served the economic interests of the white minority. It also reinforced racial hierarchies.

    The socio-economic consequences continue. Black workers are still more likely to be unemployed – or in precarious work – than whites.

    Why does this matter today?

    The legacy of land dispossession and labour control continues to shape South Africa’s social, economic and political landscape. It’s a critical consideration in efforts to build a more just and equitable society.

    This history has created deep-rooted economic disparities. The concentration of land ownership and wealth in the hands of the white minority remains largely intact, perpetuating socio-economic inequality.

    The ongoing struggle for land restitution and reform is directly linked to this history. Addressing the legacy of dispossession is crucial for economic justice and social stability.

    Understanding this history is essential for developing effective policies to address poverty, unemployment and uneven development.

    It is also vital for national reconciliation and building a more equitable society. It underpins current debates about social justice, reparations and the transformation of economic structures.

    Which practical, remedial policies must be carried out?

    The historical link between land loss and subjugation by means of the controls inherent to the contract of employment makes land reform a necessary first step to reversing this process.

    The government has put in place formal mechanisms to halt racialised land ownership. However, land restitution and reform programmes need to be enhanced and accelerated.

    They should include restoring land rights where possible, and providing support for sustainable land use. This would address both the economic and emotional aspects of historical dispossession.

    Legislation such as the Labour Relations Act and the Employment Equity Act have done much to strengthen protections for workers’ rights, particularly for those in precarious employment situations. However, the ways in which these laws continue to endorse a global north conception of the employment relationship, which emphasises control, must be rethought.

    They must be reformed to promote equality, dignity and fair labour practices.
    Reforms should involve more collaborative models and addressing the socio-economic impacts to redress historical injustices.

    Targeted economic development initiatives are needed in historically disadvantaged areas, including former homelands. These could include infrastructure development, skills training programmes, and support for small businesses to create economic opportunities.

    These remedial policies should be part of an all-encompassing strategy to address historical injustices, and create a more equitable South African society.

    Marthinus van Staden 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. Colonialism and apartheid stripped black South Africans of land and labour rights – the effects are still felt today – https://theconversation.com/colonialism-and-apartheid-stripped-black-south-africans-of-land-and-labour-rights-the-effects-are-still-felt-today-238243

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Gun violence in Philadelphia plummeted in 2024 − researchers aren’t sure why, but here are 3 factors at play

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Carla Lewandowski, Associate Professor of Criminal Justice, Rowan University

    Philadelphia had 563 homicides in 2021 — the deadliest year on record. Alex Potemkin/E+ Collection via Getty Images

    Philadelphia experienced a surge in shootings and homicides during the COVID-19 years that disproportionately affected young Black and Latino men in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods with drug markets.

    In 2020, Philadelphia had 499 homicides – nearly 150 more than the previous year. Gun violence worsened in 2021 – with 562 homicides that year – and then dropped slightly in 2022.

    Fortunately, recent data shows a notable decline in these crimes over the past two years. As of late September 2024, homicides are down 40% for the year to date compared with 2023. And the number of shooting victims has decreased similarly – from 1,236 in the first eight months of 2023 to 758 for the same period in 2024.

    As professors of criminal justice who live in Greater Philadelphia, we know that there is no single explanation for the drop in gun violence. Rather, many factors at both the local and national levels could be playing a role.

    Police and justice system return to (sort of) normalcy

    A shortage of police – driven by pandemic-era resignations, retirements and injuries – significantly affected cities like Philadelphia.

    Additionally, the Philadelphia Police Department’s number of traffic and pedestrian stops dropped drastically. This was due to both the need to adhere to social distancing guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic and a widespread reluctance among officers to engage with citizens after massive protests in response to the murder of George Floyd. In fact, the number of documented stops plummeted by 83% from 2019 to 2020 alone.

    Philadelphia police staffing remains nearly 20% lower than before the pandemic.
    Spencer Platt/Getty Images News via Getty Images

    As the year progressed, the department struggled with officers’ abuse of the Pennsylvania Heart and Lung Act. This statewide disability program allows police and firefighters injured on the job to collect their full salaries.

    By September 2021, 14% of Philadelphia patrol officers were out of work on “no duty” disability leave, according to investigations by both The Philadelphia Inquirer and the city controller.

    Though up-to-date data is unavailable, there was a 31% drop in injury claims by December 2022, 10 months after the Inquirer investigation was published.

    More recently, the Philadelphia Police Department has attempted to increase its ranks through intensified recruitment efforts. It also lowered physical requirements and eliminated certain residency restrictions.

    Despite these efforts, staffing remains nearly 20% lower than in 2019. This places considerable strain on the existing workforce.

    Of course, the COVID-19 years considerably affected the entire criminal justice system and beyond in Philadelphia. Courts operated in a limited capacity, cases backlogged, probation and parole officers were less able to supervise individuals in the community, and the jail population was reduced. The city’s array of community- and hospital-based violence intervention programs were also disrupted.

    The post-pandemic resumption of court operations, improved violence intervention programs, police recruitment efforts and reduced disability claims may help explain the recent drop in shootings.

    New leadership and crime-fighting strategies

    Reducing gun violence was a top campaign issue during Philadelphia’s 2023 mayoral race.

    Mayor Cherelle Parker, elected on a law-and-order platform, declared a public safety emergency on her first day in office.

    She also appointed Kevin Bethel as police commissioner in charge of the more than 6,000-member force. Bethel, second in command under former Commissioner Charles Ramsey, quickly released a 100-day plan that focused on crime reduction in high-crime districts, shutting down open-air drug markets in Kensington and reinforcing federal partnerships to tackle violent crime.

    Philadelphia has also adopted new policing strategies and technologies.

    In early 2022, before Parker and Bethel’s tenure, the Philadelphia Police Department under former Commissioner Danielle Outlaw designated a new unit to investigate nonfatal shootings. In 2021, only 17% of nonfatal shootings led to arrests, a failure that can fuel retaliatory violence, legal cynicism – which refers to a drop in trust of the legal system – and communities resorting to self-policing.

    While it’s not yet clear what effect the new unit has had in Philadelphia, research shows such units that prioritize resources to solving nonfatal shootings in places such as Boston and Denver have reduced gun violence.

    More recently, the city began deploying mobile surge teams on weekends to flood high-crime areas with officers to deter potential criminal activity.

    Meanwhile, Temple University attributes the reduction in crime within its patrol areas to the implementation of safety measures, including new equipment for officers such as firearms and radios, upgraded security cameras and advanced technology such as license plate readers, which help identify stolen vehicles or those linked to criminal behavior.

    Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel has prioritized reducing gun violence in high-crime neighborhoods.
    Ryan Collerd/AFP via Getty Images

    National crime trends

    While local initiatives have likely contributed to Philadelphia’s drop in violent crime, these improvements also fit into national crime trends as cities across the U.S. experienced similar declines.

    Economics and public safety expert John Roman, for example, attributes both the rise and fall of violence to pandemic-related losses in government staffing and functionality, which he argues returned to prepandemic levels in late 2023.

    Roman shows how 1.3 million government jobs were lost nationally at the outset of COVID-19, with 75% of the losses coming at the local level. These local government employees, such as social and outreach workers, often connect people in marginalized communities that bear the brunt of gun violence to crucial services such as trauma counseling, victim advocacy and legal assistance.

    In Philadelphia, approximately 3,000 local government jobs were lost between 2019 and 2022. The reopening of social services and increase in those jobs and community-based interventions post-pandemic may have helped stabilize Philadelphia’s neighborhoods.

    Crime trends tend to ebb and flow. This current drop appears to align with a national de-escalation in violent crime. These factors, alongside the statistical phenomenon of regression to the mean – where crime rates normalize after extreme spikes – apply to both national and local crime rates.

    Some researchers, including Roman, have also considered the possibility that the recent 2020-2022 homicide peak killed a portion of the most violent offenders who drive shootings in their neighborhood. It’s based on the concept of the victim-offender overlap that those at the highest risk of violence are often offenders themselves.

    But crediting Philadelphia’s decline in homicides and violent crime to any single cause oversimplifies a much more intricate picture. While the exact causes of these shifts are complex, understanding the interplay of local and national forces is essential to sustaining this positive trajectory.

    John A. Shjarback receives funding from: the South Jersey Institute for Population Health; the NJ Gun Violence Research Center; and a few local/county governments including Cumberland County, NJ, Atlantic City, NJ, and Suffolk County, NY.

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

    – ref. Gun violence in Philadelphia plummeted in 2024 − researchers aren’t sure why, but here are 3 factors at play – https://theconversation.com/gun-violence-in-philadelphia-plummeted-in-2024-researchers-arent-sure-why-but-here-are-3-factors-at-play-235485

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Rural Counties Emphasize the Dangers of Republican Scheme to Funnel Millions of Taxpayer Dollars to Private School Vouchers

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: ICYMI: Rural Counties Emphasize the Dangers of Republican Scheme to Funnel Millions of Taxpayer Dollars to Private School Vouchers

    ICYMI: Rural Counties Emphasize the Dangers of Republican Scheme to Funnel Millions of Taxpayer Dollars to Private School Vouchers
    mseets

    Legislative Republicans’ plan to spend $625 million this year on taxpayer funded private school vouchers instead of public schools will hurt rural communities the most. And school boards and leaders in rural North Carolina are speaking out. Voucher expansion would disproportionately impact rural North Carolina counties, where access to private education is limited and public schools serve as the backbone of communities. Recently, local papers have highlighted this attack on public education in North Carolina.

    Read how communities will be affected below:

    N&O: Private school voucher expansion is looming in NC. Why Wake schools say that’s bad

    T. Keung Hui, September 18, 2024

    Wake County school leaders charge that North Carolina’s historic expansion of private school voucher funding will leave public schools underfunded.

    State lawmakers have passed a bill that provides an additional $463 million for private school vouchers but less than half of the $200 million requested for public school enrollment growth. During Tuesday’s review of House Bill 10, most Wake school board members said the legislation should be rejected.

    Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper is expected to veto the bill. But Republicans have a large enough legislative majority to override Cooper to pass the bill into law.

    “Not only is it bad for us here in Wake County, It’s bad statewide,” said school board chair Chris Heagarty. “It’s bad because so many of our small school districts don’t even have private school options yet the public schools which are there to serve in those communities are underfunded.”

    Read the article here.

    Martin County Enterprise: Governor: Voucher program hurts MCS

    John Foley, September 18, 2024

    Martin County public schools, already suffering from tight budget restraints, could lose substantial funding if the N.C. General Assembly’s move to direct substantial tax dollars towards private school vouchers is successful.

    That’s the message from N.C. Governor Roy Cooper.

    The action would extend the program to 55,000 students.

    “If the General Assembly’s private school voucher plan moves forward, Martin County could lose more than $65,000 in public education funding in just the first year of the expanded program,” Gov. Cooper told The Enterprise last week. “Statewide, the General Assembly could spend nearly $625 million in new funding of taxpayer money for private school vouchers just this year.”

    Gov. Cooper was referring to the GOP-controlled Legislature’s vote to approve the increased voucher funding.

    “They’re coming back to take hundreds of millions of taxpayer money out of the public schools to give it to private school vouchers for the wealthiest North Carolinians,” the Governor said. “This is devastating for education across the board and we have evidence from other states to prove it.”

    Public schools are funded based on how many students are enrolled. For each enrolled student, public schools receive an average of $7,500 in state funding to cover various expenses, such as teacher salaries, instructional materials or transportation, explained Cooper.

    Under the voucher program, if a public-school student uses a voucher to attend a private school, the public schools lose that funding. If the General Assembly fully expands the taxpayer-funded private school voucher program, private schools could siphon nearly $100 million in state funding from public schools.

    The program will cost the state more than $270 million just in the first year, according to statistics provided by Gov. Cooper.

    “Despite the lack of funding, our public schools continue to shine. More than 84 percent of North Carolina’s school-aged children still attend public schools and parents are overwhelmingly satisfied with that choice,” noted Gov. Cooper. “And for good reason. Our public schools are doing amazing things.

    “Last year, public school students earned 325,000 workforce credentials, and our public schools have more nationally board certified teachers than any other state in the country,” he continued. “The success of our families and our workforce relies on strong public schools. Private school vouchers will destroy that goal.”

    Studies show private school vouchers do not improve student performance. North Carolina private schools also operate under a less regulated educational umbrella. Private schools are not required to hire licensed teachers, they are not required to report on how students are performing, nor are they required to teach a curriculum based on the state’s academic standards or provide services for students with disabilities.

    “Vouchers directly undermine strong public education. They take scarce funding from public schools, which serve 90 percent of students nationwide — and give it to private schools. These private schools have no accountability to tax payers for their service and are held to no standards for curriculum, student learning, nor ethical practice,” Martin County Schools Superintendent Dr. Michelle White said. “In addition, private schools choose what students they will accept to educate. Public tax dollars should not be used for chosen students, it should be used for all students.

    “Martin County Schools, like all public schools, proudly serve all children. In addition, public school teachers are severely underpaid and often work multiple jobs to make ends meet,” Dr. White continued. “If our legislators would have taken the $463 million dollars they put in vouchers, and invested it in teacher pay, North Carolina teachers would have seen a 2.6 percent pay increase.”

    Read the article here.

    The Yadkin Ripple: Expanded private school vouchers could hurt local school funding

    Kitsey Burns Harrison, September 18, 2024

    There are no private schools located in Yadkin County, yet an expanded private school voucher program recently passed in the state legislature could lead to lost funding for public education.

    Part of House Bill 10, passed by Republican legislators in the N.C. General Assembly last week, aimed at providing “school choice” for students includes an increase in funds for the next 15 years to the Opportunity Scholarship Grant Fund Reserve. A total of $625 million in new funding would be directed to taxpayer-funded private school vouchers in the first year of this expanded program.

    According to information from Governor Roy Cooper’s office, “Yadkin County could lose more than $106,000 in public education funding in just the first year of the expanded voucher program, despite having zero private schools participating in the Opportunity Scholarship Program.”

    Cooper spoke directly with The Yadkin Ripple to express his concern over how this program could particularly affect public education funding for rural counties such as Yadkin.

    “The Legislature wants to take money out of the public schools and give it to private school vouchers, even to the wealthiest of North Carolinians,” Cooper said. “We’re talking about a total amount of $625 million dollars this year. That will be devastating for education across the board. We have strong evidence from other states to prove it. Studies show that private school vouchers do not improve student performance, it’ll only rob public schools of badly needed funding.”

    Funding locally for public schools continues to be an issue and something that educators are concerned about. Yadkin County Schools Superintendent Anthony Davis said he was concerned about how this expanded voucher program could negatively affect Yadkin County Schools.

    “I understand that the General Assembly has a monumental responsibility to ensure that they are good stewards of taxpayer dollars and that the needs are met across several state-funded agencies and programs. However, I do not agree with utilizing public money to fund private schools,” Davis said. “There are so many needs we have in the public school system that go unrealized due to lack of funding. It has become increasingly difficult to hire quality staff with salary being a major mitigating factor. Chronic absenteeism, mental health support, and behavior concerns continue to be a post-pandemic issue that requires the attention of additional specialized staff like school social workers, school counselors, nurses, and behavior support staff.”

    “Our Exceptional Children’s program is only funded at 13% of our population when our actual service numbers well exceed that,” Davis continued. “If the General Assembly would use a fraction of the proposed $825 million they plan to use for vouchers by 2032-2033, all of these programs and staffing needs could be fully funded which would allow us to offer families and staff the support they deserve.”

    Read the article here.

    Rocky Mount Telegram: Cooper intends to veto voucher bill upon arrival

    Eugene L. Tinklepaugh, September 14, 2024

    Gov. Roy Cooper stands ready to veto legislation fully funding a Republican-backed voucher program that currently has a waitlist of about 55,000 students.

    The Opportunity Scholarships are state-funded vouchers available to families with children attending private schools.

    Cooper said Friday in a phone interview with the Telegram that the legislature’s recently approved spending plan will take about $625 million away from the state’s public schools to pay for the program.

    “I’m going to veto this legislation, and it’s important for that veto to be sustained, so that we don’t put these private school vouchers permanently in our system with the very wealthiest getting the money,” Cooper said.

    “This would be devastating to public schools.,” he said.

    The N.C. House voted 67-43 following debate Wednesday to accept the legislation worked out by Republican legislative leaders. The N.C. Senate approved the measure separately Monday during a scheduled session this week.

    In the House, three Democrats joined Republicans in approving the measure. N.C. Rep. Shelly Willingham, D-23rd District, was one of the three Democrats siding with the GOP majority on the bill. Attempts to reach Willingham on Friday were unsuccessful. Willingham represents Bertie, Martin and Edgecombe counties.

    Cooper noted that rural areas would be hurt the most by this bill, which Republicans have touted as clearing the way for a true universal school choice program.

    “Edgecombe County would lose more than $171,000 in public education funding,” Cooper said. He noted that there are no private schools in the county that accept these Opportunity Scholarships.

    Nash County stands to lose even more public education funding if the bill becomes law.

    “Nash County could lose $811,000,” Cooper said. The two-term governor is a Nash County native whose daughters attended Nash County public schools.

    Read the article here.

    The Daily Advance: School voucher expansion ‘devastating’ for public education in NC

    Chris Day, September 13, 2024

    Rural North Carolina’s public schools will suffer because of the state Legislature’s decision this week to spend more tax dollars extending private school vouchers to an additional 55,000 students, Gov. Roy Cooper said this week.

    “The Legislature wants to take hundreds of millions of dollars out of the public schools and give it to private school vouchers, even for the wealthiest North Carolinians,” Cooper said Wednesday during a phone interview with The Daily Advance. “That’s going to be devastating for education across the board.”

    Cooper was referring to the Republican-led General Assembly’s approval this week to add up to $625 million in new funding this year to support Opportunity Scholarships, otherwise known as school vouchers.

    Cooper, who is reaching out to media outlets in rural areas of the state, said he wants residents, particularly those in rural North Carolina, to understand the potential downsides of the state spending even more money for families to send their children to private schools that accept vouchers. That’s because 28 rural North Carolina counties have one or no private school participating in the voucher program.

    “We’ve got evidence from other states that have done this (expand private school vouchers) to prove that studies show that private school vouchers do not improve student performance,” Cooper said. “We also know and we’ve seen it in other states that rural counties will be hurt the most. Most of the private schools getting this taxpayer money are in the urban areas” of the state.

    Read the article here.

    The Taylorsville Times: An interview with Gov. Cooper about School Voucher Expansion legislation

    Angela Farr King, September 18, 2024

    North Carolina House Bill 10, also known as the Private School Voucher Expansion Bill, recently passed in the NC Senate on September 9 and the NC House of Representatives on September 11.

    According to The Opportunity Scholarship Impact Analysis sent to The Taylorsville Times by the Governor’s office and created by the Office of State Budget Management (OSBM), “the Opportunity Scholarship Program (also known as the Private School Voucher Program) was created by the NC General Assembly in 2013. Scholarships are awarded based on a family’s household income and can be used to pay the required tuition and fees to attend an eligible K-12 private school.”

    The OSBM also states that “The 2023 Appropriations Act SL 2023-134 expanded program eligibility and funding leading to nearly 70,000 new applications for the 2024-25 academic year, a more than 100% increase over 2023-24. 15,805 of new eligible applicants were funded, leaving 54,000 on the waitlist. Additional appropriations proposed in the Fiscal Year 2024-25 NC House and Senate budget bills would fund all remaining 2024-25 eligible applicants.”

    According to the Impact Analysis, if the proposed House 10 Bill passes, the current number of new students receiving scholarships to attend private schools of 15,805 will possibly increase by a number of 53,706 for a total of 69,511.

    Read the article here.

    Jacksonville Daily News: Gov. Cooper urging residents in ENC, to speak up against private school voucher funding

    Morgan Starling, September 18, 2024

    North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper is urging residents, specifically those in rural counties like Onslow, Craven, and Lenoir, to contact their legislators in opposition to a program that Cooper says could take around $625 million away from public schools in just the first year.

    The General Assembly returned to session last week, passing a supplemental spending bill that approves hundreds of millions more taxpayer dollars for private school vouchers through the Opportunity Scholarship Program.

    The House voted 67-43, according to reporting by the Associated Press, adopting the plan that Cooper says will see the legislature spend more than $4 billion in taxpayer funding over the next decade.

    “This is devastating for education across the board, and we have evidence from other states to prove it,” Cooper told The Daily News. “Studies show that private school vouchers do not improve student performance. Instead, they rob public schools of badly needed funding. Of course, in North Carolina, we wouldn’t know, because they have provided no accountability for these hundreds of millions of dollars that they’re sending to the private schools.”

    Expanding private school vouchers would especially impact rural North Carolina counties, where access to private education is limited, and public schools serve as the backbone of communities, according to Cooper’s office.

    In fact, 28 of North Carolina’s 100 counties have no, or just one, private school participating in the voucher program.

    Onslow County itself could lose around $1.7 million in public education funding in just the first year of the expanded voucher program, with 12 private schools eligible to participate.

    Craven County could lose around $1.5 million with only nine schools participating, Lenoir could lose more than $553,000 with just five schools participating, and Jones could lose more than $102,000 despite having zero schools participating.

    Read the article here.

    ###

    Sep 19, 2024

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Google at the 79th United Nations General Assembly

    Source: Google

    This week, global leaders are gathering in New York City for the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and the first “Summit of the Future.” Front and center is how to dramatically accelerate progress on the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    To help, the UN took a significant step forward yesterday in adopting the Global Digital Compact, a UN initiative to design a global framework to overcome digital, data and innovation divides. It outlines principles, objectives and actions for advancing an open, free, secure and human-centered digital future that enables the realization of the SDGs.

    We believe that linking the SDGs with digital progress is a great step, as we’ve seen first-hand how digital tools and access to technology can benefit education, healthcare, entrepreneurship and economic growth. We’ve long been inspired by the alignment between Google’s mission — to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful — and the SDGs. They’re similarly audacious goals that seek to benefit humanity.

    Most excitingly, AI may now bring them all into reach.

    As our CEO Sundar Pichai said in his keynote address at the UN’s Summit of the Future this weekend, “Just as the internet and mobile devices expanded opportunities for people around the world, now AI is poised to accelerate progress at unprecedented scale.”

    He also shared some of the ways Google develops technology in an effort to improve the lives of as many people as possible. From investments in infrastructure to digital skills training to innovating new products, we’re focused on making sure the digital divide does not become an AI divide.

    Our partnerships to address the SDGs

    We know from experience that expanding access to opportunity through technology requires strong public-private partnerships — with bold investments supported by the right policy frameworks. That’s why to address the SDGs and prevent an AI divide we are working across sectors, in concert with the UN and others. Today I’m excited to share a few updates on that work, including ongoing partnerships with UN agencies and a broad array of global stakeholders.

    Supporting AI skilling and education through a Global AI Opportunity Fund

    As Sundar shared in his keynote address, we’re proudly committing $120 million to make AI education and training available throughout the world. We’re partnering with nonprofit and civil society organizations to provide training in local languages based on foundational AI courses designed by Google and others. This is in addition to $275 million in Google.org funding already committed to support the responsible use of AI in society, funding both NGOs using AI to accelerate their social impact as well as organizations helping to build an ethical, safe and robust AI ecosystem. This also covers support for the development of AI solutions to achieve the SDGs such as flood forecasting in more than 80 countries, wildfire detection, and AlphaFold which is being used by over 2 million scientists in more than 190 countries doing protein-folding research.

    Enhancing the “Data Commons” to measure SDG progress

    After a successful year since the launch of UN Data Commons for the SDGs, Google has worked with the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) Statistics Division to expand Data Commons integration into major organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labor Organization (ILO). Data Commons acts as a central hub, providing an AI interface to access insights and visualizations on SDG progress, ultimately facilitating data-driven strategies and decisions in support of the SDGs. This helps with data equity — eliminating data as a primary barrier to implementing the SDGs — and ensures more communities have the resources they need to benefit from AI advances.

    Using AI to map the world’s buildings

    With the global population growing by more than 80 million a year, mapping the ever-changing built environment is difficult. But comprehensive urban data is critical to help global decision-makers and partners like UN Habitat support effective urban planning and address SDG 11. Just last week, we launched the Open Buildings 2.5D Temporal dataset, which uses AI to extract building footprints and heights from satellite imagery that is too blurry for the human eye, and provides critical information about how the world’s cities are changing over time with unprecedented detail.

    Using AI to enhance humanitarian disaster response

    In collaboration with Google.org, UN Global Pulse’s DISHA initiative, and the United Nations Satellite Center (UNOSAT), Google Research delivered an AI-powered solution to assist UNOSAT experts in assessing building damage, significantly enhancing the United Nations’ capacity to respond to global natural disasters. The tool allows UNOSAT analysts to expand their coverage by a factor of seven, allowing them to assess much larger regions in disaster zones, and it speeds up the production of initial damage reports by a factor of six, facilitating faster support to humanitarian agencies.

    Leveraging Google Cloud

    Google Cloud collaborated with the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the UN International Computing Centre (UNICC), and the Italian and Ethiopian governments to co-host an event to address the mounting challenges associated with the upcoming EU Deforestation Regulations. Google Cloud offers modern technology solutions to empower coffee farmers with what we call “first mile data ownership,” providing control of the data to the farmers on the ground and allowing for greater transparency and supply chain efficiency. We also signed a Joint Declaration with UNIDO to leverage innovation to advance inclusive and sustainable industrial development.

    Working to enhance education for all

    As part of our commitment to learning for all, we’re working with UNICEF to support SDG4 (Quality Education), including deploying Chromebooks and using Google Classroom and Read Along to support literacy development. We are also proud to be a member of UNESCO’s Global Education Coalition, which yesterday launched the Six Pillars for Digital Transformation of Education, a common framework to shape sustainable and human-centered digital transformation of education systems. We know that by safely connecting young people to high-quality learning experiences, we can support skilling, economic development and societal contribution. Our aim is to use the power of technology, including advances in AI, and apply it to help close the equity gap and solve for the global learning crisis.

    Looking ahead

    We’re proud of our ongoing work with the UN. This year, in particular, we were deeply inspired by the first-ever “Summit of the Future,” which reflected an understanding of the urgent issues facing our world, as well as the role technology can play if we work together.

    We already know that future generations are watching, and focused on the urgent need for progress. In fact, this year a group of YouTube Creators from around the world joined UNGA and the summit to amplify these vital conversations with their more than 52 million subscribers. This, in addition to livestreaming UNGA sessions on YouTube, is one more way that people are signaling support for progress on the SDGs.

    As Sundar put it, “The opportunities are too great…the challenges too urgent…. and this technology too transformational, to do anything less.”

    So let’s do this!

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: New updates to help you do more with Google TV

    Source: Google

    New updates are coming to all Google TV devices starting today — including the new Google TV Streamer, available on September 24. From new ways to find what to watch to new ways to control your smart home, here’s a look at everything we’re launching.

    Control your smart home with Google TV

    With the new home panel on Google TV, you can control all of your compatible smart home devices — including lights, thermostats and cameras — without leaving the couch. The new doorbell notifications also allow you to see who’s at the front door without pausing what you’re watching. And, if you can’t find the remote, you can control your devices using your voice and the Google Assistant.

    Turn your TV into a personal masterpiece

    When you’re not watching your TV, you can turn your idle screen into a personalized work of art. An improved Ambient screensaver lets you create AI-generated designs or relive your favorite moments with Google Photos. To create a screensaver, simply describe your vision or go through a series of suggested prompts, then generative AI will create a one-of-a-kind image for your display. Or if you’re looking for something more sentimental, you can ask Google Assistant to display your favorite memories in Google Photos on your TV.

    Watch more of what you love

    Looking for somewhere to catch tonight’s game? The new sports page in the For You tab brings all of your sports content into one place. Quickly find live and upcoming games, catch sports commentary, browse YouTube highlights and get personalized recommendations to stay in the loop.

    And with all of the channels and subscription services out there, who couldn’t use some help deciding what to watch? Starting today, we’re bringing enhanced overviews of top movies and shows using Gemini technology. These overviews include full summaries, audience reviews and season-by-season breakdowns so you can make the perfect choice about what to watch.

    Last year, we made it even easier for you to watch live TV without breaking the bank with free built-in channels from Google TV — no downloads or subscriptions needed. Now with 150 channels to choose from, Google TV Freeplay is getting an updated channel guide so you can browse by genre and topic and quickly access free channels, including new additions like Heartland, The FBI Files and ION Plus.

    Get Google TV today

    Selection for Google TV devices is better than ever. In addition to the new Google TV Streamer, you can choose from new art TVs from Hisense and TCL and smart projectors from Vankyo, Epson and XGIMI. Google TV is also expanding to more countries including Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines. And we’re proud to be bringing better TV to 270 million monthly active Google TV and other Android TV OS devices.

    POSTED IN:

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UNECE issues guidelines to sharpen data-driven policies on environmental challenges

    Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

    Indicators are vital tools in environmental and economic policymaking. They simplify complex issues into manageable metrics, guiding decision-making, assessing performance and ensuring accountability. By providing a structured approach, indicators help set objectives, monitor progress and evaluate policy effectiveness. Additionally, they generate data that supports further research, leading to refined policies. 

    UNECE, together with the Joint Task Force on Environmental Statistics and Indicators and with the support of the Working Group on Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, has released updated Guidelines for the Application of Environmental Indicators, a tool designed to enhance environmental monitoring and support sound policymaking across the pan-European region. 

    Establishing guidelines for indicator use fosters international collaboration by creating a common basis for comparison. This standardization enhances data quality, enables countries to learn from one another and facilitates coordinated responses to transnational challenges. Harmonized indicators thus improve our understanding of regional conditions and support the development of targeted,  

    These new guidelines provide a revised list of 230 environmental indicators, including 74 priority indicators with detailed metadata. The aim is to better inform monitoring and decision-making in line with recent global policy frameworks, to increase the user-friendliness of metadata, and to better link them with statistical frameworks. In particular, the guidelines seek to enhance alignment with the Framework for the Development of Environment Statistics. 

    The United Nations Framework for the Development of Environment Statistics (FDES) is a flexible, multi-purpose conceptual and statistical framework that provides an organizing structure to guide the collection and compilation of environment statistics at the national level. When applied it brings together data from various relevant subject areas and sources, covering environmental issues and aspects relevant for policy analysis and decision making. 

    To align the latest edition of the Guidelines with FDES to the maximum extent possible, the revised list of indicators is organized according to six main themes of the FDES: (1) Environmental Conditions and Quality, (2) Environmental Resources and their Use, (3) Residuals, (4) Extreme Events and Disasters, (5) Human Settlements and Environmental Health, and (6) Environmental Protection, Management and Engagement. This organization aligns with the hierarchical structure of FDES components, sub-components and statistical topics, providing a comprehensive framework for environmental statistics with an emphasis on the importance of data disaggregation.  

    The updated list of indicators will be promoted and applied across the pan-European region. This revised list includes indicators from various sources, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Convention on Biological Diversity, the European Environment Agency, the Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction and the Conference of European Statisticians. Each indicator serves a specific purpose, helping to explain the causes and effects of environmental conditions. They can be used for environmental assessments within the analytical framework of the DPSIR model (Driving forces, Pressure, State, Impact, Response). The guidelines will remain a “living” document, recognizing the ongoing need to align with emerging policy requirements and global developments. 

    Ultimately, the 2023 Edition of the Guidelines enhance the relevance of environmental indicators for global environmental reporting by aligning with the SDGs. They introduce new and updated indicators to ensure that the guidelines remain responsive to emerging environmental challenges. The improved methodological consistency with statistical frameworks such as FDES ensures high-quality, comparable data. The guidelines are also more user-friendly, with clearer descriptions and references, making them more accessible to various stakeholders involved in environmental monitoring.  

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Mass animal extinctions: our new tool can show why large mammals – like the topi – are in decline

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Joseph Ogutu, Senior Researcher and Statistician, University of Hohenheim

    We could be witnessing the sixth mass extinction at an alarming rate worldwide. It’s marked by the rapid loss of species due to human activities like habitat destruction, pollution and climate change. Unlike previous mass extinctions, which were caused by natural events, this one is driven by human impact – like growing populations, pollution, invasive plant species and human-wildlife conflict.

    Large mammals are especially at risk, in Africa as elsewhere. For instance, nearly 60% of wild herbivores – such as elephants and hippos – are already threatened with extinction.

    Effective conservation and recovery strategies are needed. To develop them, you need to know how the population of a certain animal is doing and, if it is in decline, what’s causing it.

    One tool that’s useful here is a model, using biology, maths, statistics and computer software.

    The problem is that there aren’t enough of these realistic, effective models for large mammals. There’s a shortage of appropriate data and the models are complex to build.

    I was part of a team that developed a model to help fill that void. It’s the first to account for how large mammal populations interact with each other and their environment while also incorporating their detailed biology. It draws on valuable existing data and can be adapted for various wildlife species.

    We tested the model on populations of east Africa’s topi (a large antelope). From the results we’re able to deduce that the drivers of the topi’s massive population decline were habitat loss, poaching and killing by predators.

    Knowing what’s driving population declines is extremely valuable. Large mammals play a critical role in ecosystems. Changes to their populations will also affect many other species and could cause the extinction of connected species.

    How the model works

    Our model combines different types of data, like total population size from aerial surveys and ground vehicle counts, with predicted data on population figures. This allows us to estimate and track population trends that can’t be captured by just one data type. It considers factors like animal age, sex, gestation length, weaning period, calves per birth per year, birth rates, survival, and environmental influences like rainfall and temperature.

    Essentially, the model starts with educated guesses, then updates these guesses as it processes more observed data.

    The model can tell what causes a decline in two ways.

    First, it finds out which factors (such as rainfall) have a strong negative impact on things like birth rates, survival or recruitment, and shows exactly how they affect each other.

    Second, it lets us use simulations to see how changing one of these factors, while keeping others unchanged, changes the population by influencing its key characteristics (such as birth rate).

    Testing the model on topi

    We tested our model on the topi population found in Kenya, Tanzania and other African countries. We chose the topi because it’s a large herbivore in decline.

    The topi is an elegant antelope weighing between 91kg and 147kg, with a long face and uniquely twisted horns. One of the largest remaining topi populations in east Africa occurs in the Greater Mara-Serengeti Ecosystem, which straddles the border between Kenya and Tanzania.

    Kenya’s Directorate of Resource Surveys and Remote Sensing has, since 1977, monitored numbers and distribution of topi, and other large wild herbivores and livestock, using aerial surveys in the country’s rangelands, covering 88% of Kenya.

    Based on this data, we can see that topi numbers have declined persistently and strikingly (by 84.5%) in Kenya’s Masai Mara ecosystem between 1977 and 2022, even those in protected conservation areas.

    This decline indicates a high risk of extinction if the trend persists. This is a serious concern, since other antelope species, such as the roan, have gone extinct in the Mara in recent decades.

    But the causes haven’t been fully established.

    We ran the aerial and ground survey data into the model in a computer on a monthly interval. This approach allows the model to capture patterns in trends and dynamics on a monthly scale. It allows us to see the distribution of births per month, the timing of births, the degree to which multiple females in a population give birth around the same time, the proportion of females in a population that give birth, the total number of individuals of each age and sex in each month, and the proportion of young that survive to adulthood.

    The model starts with initial guesses based on existing knowledge, and refines the guesses as it processes more actual data.

    It produces results that match the observed patterns of population decline, seasonality of births and how many animals survive to become juveniles or to adulthood.

    Based on these findings, we see that the decline in the topi population is driven by a combination of low adult female numbers, low newborn survival and low recruitment into the adult class because most young (over 95%) die before they become adults.

    Based on the model, we attribute these changes to impacts from environmental changes, human activities and predation. For instance, since adult animals are the least sensitive to climatic changes, this suggests other factors – such as habitat loss or deterioration, poaching or high predation rates – are likely contributing to the decline.

    The new model enhances our understanding of large herbivore population dynamics besides confirming existing knowledge.

    By combining different kinds of data from different sources, the model helps estimate and track important population details that one type of data alone can’t show. For example, for the first time data is captured that can track the total number of topi of each age and sex in each month, how many adult female topi are ready to conceive and the various stages of pregnancy. This method also estimates changes in the total topi population by age and sex in all four zones of the Mara, even in zones without direct ground age and sex data.

    Refining and enhancing the model

    The team is now extending the model to include more features (like the influence of livestock numbers), make it user friendly, apply it to more wildlife species and assess the effectiveness of ongoing and planned management actions.

    Improving our understanding of the drivers of large mammal losses will ensure that the right conservation actions are taken. It’ll also ensure resources aren’t wasted because solutions could include investing in major infrastructure, changing wildlife conservation and livestock production policies, changing law enforcement and rehabilitation of wildlife habitats – all of which are costly.

    – Mass animal extinctions: our new tool can show why large mammals – like the topi – are in decline
    – https://theconversation.com/mass-animal-extinctions-our-new-tool-can-show-why-large-mammals-like-the-topi-are-in-decline-233882

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UN Special Envoy for Road Safety to launch the UN global road safety campaign in Bosnia and Herzegovina

    Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

    The UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety, Jean Todt, is visiting Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, from 16 to 17 July 2024. During the visit, he will meet with key government officials, representatives of the international community, private, and public sectors in Bosnia and Herzegovina to promote road safety initiatives and advocate for enhanced measures. This aligns with the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030, aiming to halve road fatalities by 2030. This silent pandemic represents a significant social and economic burden, particularly in low and middle-income countries like Bosnia and Herzegovina.

    “In addition to the human tragedy, road crashes trap countries into a vicious circle of poverty. According to the World Bank (WB 2016), the cost of road crashes represents 10% of the GDP on Bosnia and Herzegovina. Another reason to rethink mobility and to invest in road safety. Given their social and economic cost, road crashes are jeopardizing the entire sustainable development agenda,” stressed the Special Envoy Todt.

    According to the World Health Organization (WHO)’s Global Status Report on Road Safety 2023, Bosnia and Herzegovina has seen a concerning rise in road fatalities, with a mortality rate of 14 per 100,000 people, which is double the EU average.

    “Improving enforcement of traffic laws, enhancement of road infrastructure, and fostering behavioral change are crucial for reducing these alarming statistics and ensuring safer roads for everyone in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Special Envoy Todt’s visit will be instrumental in raising awareness and mobilizing support for enhanced road safety measure, which will benefit the society as a whole, particularly the overburden healthcare system, families, and victims affected by these tragedies,” stated Ingrid Macdonald, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

    During the visit, the Special Envoy will launch the UN Global Road Safety Campaign, which aims to raise awareness of life-saving road safety measures. Launched globally in cooperation with JCDecaux Global under the motto #MakeASafetyStatement, it will run through 2025 in over 80 countries in the world, featuring safety statements from 14 global celebrities.                                            

    Support for the campaign has been given by 14 world-renowned personalities, including footballer Didier Drogba, Formula 1 driver Charles Leclerc, Oscar-winning actress and UNDP Goodwill Ambassador Michelle Yeoh, tennis player Novak Djokovic, musician Kylie Minogue, motorcycle racer Marc Marquez, supermodel Naomi Campbell, actor Patrick Dempsey, musician and inspirational leader Youssou N’Dour, actress Julie Gayet, actor Michael Fassbender, football icon Ousmane Dembélé, two-time Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon, and Formula 1 driver Mick Schumacher.                                                                                           

    Media representatives are cordially invited to cover the launch of the campaign at the press conference by Special Envoy Todt, Mayor of Sarajevo Benjamina Karić, and United Nations Resident Coordinator Ingrid Macdonald, on Wednesday, 17 July 2024 at 10:30 a.m. at the City Hall in Sarajevo. On the same day, starting at 8:30 p.m., a digital projection of the campaign will be displayed on the Eternal Flame building, in the presence of Special Envoy Todt, Mayor Karić, and United Nations Resident Coordinator Macdonald. With this event, Sarajevo will join Brussels, New York, and other capitals in the world in promoting this important campaign.

    Note to Editors

    The UN has invested heavily in road safety globally. Following the “Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020”, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution in August 2020 for “Improving Road Safety”, which reaffirmed its commitment to halve global road deaths and injuries and provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all by 2030. In July 2022, the road safety community met in New York for the first-ever high-level meeting on improving global road safety at the United Nations General Assembly, unanimously adopting a text entitled: “Political declaration of the high-level meeting level on improving global road safety”.

    About the Special Envoy

    The former United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, appointed in 2015 Jean Todt as his Special Envoy for Road Safety. He was reconfirmed in this role by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, in 2017 and in 2021. In 2018, together with 14 UN organizations, the Special Envoy launched the UN Road Safety Fund (UNRSF). The Special Envoy contributes, among other things, to mobilize sustained political commitment to make road safety a priority; to advocate and raise awareness of UN legal instruments on road safety; to share established good practices in this area; to striving to generate adequate funding through strategic partnerships between the public, private and non-governmental sectors. Special Envoy brochure and Twitter account.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: ASEAN Media Statement of the Twelfth EAS Economic Ministers’ Meeting

    Source: ASEAN

    THE TWELFTH EAS ECONOMIC MINISTERS’ MEETING 21 September 2024, Vientiane, Lao PDR ASEAN MEDIA STATEMENT The Twelfth EAS Economic Ministers’ Meeting was held on 21 September 2024 in Vientiane, Lao PDR. The Meeting was chaired by H.E. Malaithong Kommasith, Minister of Industry and Commerce of Lao PDR. The Meeting also welcomed the participation of H.E. Filipus Nino Pereira, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste as an observer.According to ASEAN preliminary statistics, the combined nominal GDP of EAS participating countries stood at 62.3 trillion in 2023. The Meeting also noted that ASEAN merchandise trade with non-ASEAN EAS participating countries amounted to USD 1.7 trillion in 2023. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flows from non-ASEAN EAS participating countries to ASEAN reached USD 124.6 billion in 2023.

    Download the full statement here.

    The post ASEAN Media Statement of the Twelfth EAS Economic Ministers’ Meeting appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Regional Training Workshop on State Income & Related Aggregates-Tripura

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Regional Training Workshop on State Income & Related Aggregates-Tripura

    23.09.2024-27.09.2024

    Posted On: 22 SEP 2024 1:06PM by PIB Delhi

    Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation is organizing Regional Training Workshop on State Income & Related Aggregates in collaboration with DES Tripura from 23.09.2024 to 27.09.2024. Thirteen  States/UTs namely Karnataka, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, A&N islands, Nagaland, Manipur, Delhi, Odisha, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh are participating in the workshop at Agartala hosted by the government of Tripura. The workshop will focus on measuring Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) and Related Aggregates and  will enhance the understanding on GSDP and its role in economic planning and policy-making through capacity building of Directorate of Economics and Statistics of various States.

    ********

    SB/

    (Release ID: 2057513) Visitor Counter : 12

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Do footy’s best and fairest awards achieve what they claim?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hunter Fujak, Senior Lecturer in Sport Management, Deakin University

    Football’s awards season kicks off this week, with the AFL’s Brownlow Medal awarded on Monday evening and the NRL’s Dally M awarded on October 2.

    Both medals aim to crown their league’s best regular season player.

    Historical voting patterns, however, question whether they achieve this objective, or rather award the most influential key position player from the season’s most successful teams.

    How to assess a fairest and best player?

    A curiosity of the Australian sport landscape is that all four major football codes use a different panel of judges in award voting.

    The AFL’s Brownlow Medal is voted on by umpires, while the NRL’s Dally M is determined by a pool of media pundits and ex-players.

    Rugby Australia’s John Eales Medal is voted on by players, and the A-League’s Johnny Warren Medal is judged by a four-body panel that consists of a technical football expert, football media representative, former player and match officials.

    Each one of these structures produces unique biases and criticisms.

    The Brownlow: the midfielder’s medal

    The Brownlow was devised as an award for the fairest and best player of the AFL competition, reflecting the often understated importance of fair play that umpires are uniquely positioned to judge.

    The Brownlow’s voting system has long been a topic of interest for fans, pundits and academics alike.

    While Lachie Neale’s surprise victory in 2023 generated renewed controversy, the Brownlow has long been criticised as a midfielders award.

    Melbourne’s Herald, in 1938, stated:

    Under the present method, men playing on the full-forward or full-back lines have little chance of winning the award usually being won by men most constantly in the play who are able to stand out in comparatively weak sides.

    This observation around weak sides reflected that from 1931 to 1938, the Brownlow went on an eight-season run of being won by a player not from a finals team.

    Indeed, among the first 49 Brownlow winners from 1924 to 1969, only 31% came from finalists.

    Since 1970, 72% of winners have come from a finals team (noting the finals system has changed over time).

    One consistent long-term trend has been the dominance of midfielders.

    Among the 27 Brownlows awarded this millennium, only Adam Goodes (a two-time winner) would not be considered primarily a midfielder.

    This positional dominance is not unique to AFL.

    Soccer’s most pre-eminent global award, the Ballon d’Or, has been awarded 66 times, of which a defender has been the recipient only four times and a goalkeeper once.

    The Dally M suffers from a similar concentration.

    The Dally M: the media medal

    The Dally M has been awarded since 1979, becoming rugby league’s premier individual honour in 1998 with the formation of the NRL.

    In 45 years of voting, the winner has come from a non-finalist team on only six occasions (13%).

    The award is also won near exclusively by the “spine” positions of fullback, five-eighth, halfback and hooker, which account for 91% of medallists.

    The Dally M uses a pool of media pundits and ex-players for voting on each match, creating the potential for obvious conflicts of interests.

    During seasons 2019 and 2020 for instance, 12 of the Brisbane Broncos’ 44 matches were judged by ex-Broncos players. On four of these instances, former player Darren Lockyer was the judge, despite being an active non-executive director of the Brisbane Broncos organisation.

    Voting in nearly 22% of matches in these two seasons was performed by judges who played or coached for one of the participating teams.

    NRL Chairman Peter V’Landys initiated a review of the Dally M following a surprise winner in 2020 (Jack Wighton), claiming the voting system disadvantaged players from winning teams.

    Whilst this supposition disregarded that 88% of all 2020 Dally M points were awarded to players from the winning team, voting was modified for the 2023 season.

    This revised system introduced an additional judge to produce two independent voters per match, and in a widely criticised move, veiled these judges with anonymity.

    This new system has revealed just how little experts agree when trying to assess subjective performance.

    In the opening five rounds of 2023, the two judges picked the same player of the match in less than half (48%) of fixtures.

    In a third of matches (31%), one judge’s best on ground did not poll any points with the other judge.

    In one instance, the two judges chose six completely different players in their respective 3-2-1 votes (round five, 2023, Bulldogs v Cowboys).

    Player and coach awards: The true best and fairest?

    Although the Brownlow and Dally M dominate the public limelight, team accolades are typically held in high standing within sport clubs, as internal recognition is often more highly valued than external status within high performance cultures.

    Such player and coach awards, typically forming part of season-end club events, can be argued as more accurate assessments of player performance.

    This is because the voters – teammates and/or coaches – best understand the roles and expectations of each player within the team’s overarching game plan.

    For this reason, in the AFL, there is often wide discrepancies between a team’s distribution of Brownlow votes and a club’s internal award votes.

    In 2023, for instance, six of 18 AFL clubs crowned a best and fairest who was different from their highest Brownlow vote-getter.

    The most notable of this was Brisbane, where key defender Harris Andrews won the club’s best and fairest, despite finishing 44th in Brownlow voting.

    Defender Harry Sheezel similarly won North Melbourne’s best and fairest despite finishing fifth from his team in the Brownlow count.

    Is there a perfect solution?

    Recent shock winners in both codes saw media organisations perform “forensic analysis” of voting patterns.

    In the AFL, former Collingwood president and media personality Eddie McGuire proposed a “panel of elders” while the NRL’s V’Landys proposed rating every player for every match, to determine their respective awards.

    Such scrutiny has undoubtedly been fuelled by the datafication of sport and its athletes, which has seen player performance statistics enter the sporting mainstream.

    Is it notable then that the AFL reaffirmed their existing policy in early 2024 to preclude umpires from accessing player statistics in casting their votes.

    Indeed statistics may not offer the perfect solution some believe.

    Any statistical assessment of player performance remains underpinned by human judgement as to the importance of each metric, whilst missing the qualitative nuance that surrounds key match plays and moments.

    Ultimately then, there may not be a perfect method to determine a league’s best and fairest player and, arguably, it is this human judgement dimension which makes these awards so engaging as a public spectacle.

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

    – ref. Do footy’s best and fairest awards achieve what they claim? – https://theconversation.com/do-footys-best-and-fairest-awards-achieve-what-they-claim-237978

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Why isn’t dental included in Medicare? It’s time to change this – here’s how

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Breadon, Program Director, Health and Aged Care, Grattan Institute

    Engin Akyurt/Unsplash

    When the forerunner of Medicare was established in the 1970s, dental care was left out. Australians are still suffering the consequences half a century later.

    Patients pay much more of the cost of dental care than they do for other kinds of care.

    More Australians delay or skip dental care because of cost than their peers in most wealthy countries.

    And as our dental health gets worse, fees keep on rising.

    For decades, a litany of reports and inquiries have called for universal dental coverage to solve these problems.

    Now, with the Greens proposing it and Labor backbenchers supporting it, could it finally be time to put the mouth into Medicare?

    What’s stopping us?

    The Australian Dental Association says the idea is too ambitious and too costly, pointing out it would need many more dental workers. They say the government should start small, focusing on the most vulnerable populations, initially seniors.

    Starting small is sensible, but finishing small would be a mistake.

    Dental costs aren’t just a problem for the most vulnerable, or the elderly. More than two million Australians avoid dental care because of the cost.

    More than four in ten adults usually wait more than a year before seeing a dental professional.

    Bringing dental into Medicare will require many thousands of new dental workers. But it will be possible if the scheme is phased in over ten years.

    The real reason dental hasn’t been added to Medicare is it would cost billions of dollars. The federal government doesn’t have that kind of money lying around.

    Australia has a structural budget problem. Government spending is growing faster than revenue, because we are a relatively low-tax country with high service expectations.

    The growing cost of health care is a major contributor, with hospitals and medical benefits among the top six fastest-growing major payments.

    The structural gap is only likely to grow without major policy changes.

    So, can we afford health care for all? We can. But we should do it with smart choices on dental care, and tough choices to raise revenue and reduce spending elsewhere.

    Smart choices about a new dental scheme

    The first step is to avoid repeating the mistakes of Medicare.

    Medicare payments to private businesses haven’t attracted them to a lot of the communities that need them the most. Many rural and disadvantaged areas are bulk-billing deserts with too few GPs.

    The poorest areas have more than twice the psychological distress of the wealthiest areas, but they get about half the Medicare-funded mental health services.

    As a result, government money isn’t going where it will make the biggest difference.

    There are about 80,000 hospital visits each year for dental problems that could have been avoided with dental care. If there is too little care in disadvantaged and rural communities, where oral health is worst, that number will remain high.

    That’s why a significant share of new investment should be quarantined for public dental services, with those services targeted to areas where people are missing out on care.

    Another problem with Medicare is its payments often have little relationship to the cost of care, or the impact that care has on the patient’s health.

    To tamp down costs, Medicare funding for dental care should exclude cosmetic treatments and orthodontics. It should be based on efficient workforce models where dental assistants and therapists use all their skills – you might not always need to see a dentist.

    Sometimes you might see a dental therapist instead.
    Gustavo Fring/Pexels

    The funding model should take account of a patient’s needs, reward giving them ongoing care, and have a cap on spending per patient.

    Oral health should be measured and recorded, to make sure patients and taxpayers are getting results.

    Tough choices to balance the budget

    Those steps would slash the cost of The Greens’ plan, which is hard to estimate but might reach more than $20 billion a year once it’s phased in. Instead, the cost would fall to roughly $7 billion a year.

    That would be a good investment. But if you’re worried about where the money will come from, there are good ways to pay for it.

    Many reforms could reduce government health budgets without harming patients.

    There is waste in government funding of pathology tests and less cost-effective medicines.

    In some hospitals, there are excessive costs and potentially harmful low-value care.

    Over the longer-term, investments in prevention can reduce demand for health care. A tax on sugary drinks, for example, would improve health while raising hundreds of millions of dollars a year.

    Measures like this would help the government pay for more dental care. But demand for health care will keep growing as the population ages, and as expensive new treatments arrive.

    This means a broader strategy is needed to meet the three goals of balancing the budget, keeping up with growing health-care demand, and bringing dental into Medicare.

    Adding dental to Medicare would mean some tradeoffs.
    Lafayett Zapata Montero/Unsplash

    There are no easy solutions, but there are many options to reduce spending and boost revenue without hurting economic growth.

    Choosing Australia’s infrastructure and defence megaprojects more wisely could save several billion dollars each year.

    Undoing Western Australia’s special GST funding deal – described by economist Saul Eslake as “the worst Australian public policy decision of the 21st Century thus far” – would save another $5 billion a year.

    Reducing income tax breaks and tax minimisation opportunities – including by reining in superannuation tax concessions, reducing the capital gains tax discount, limiting negative gearing, and setting a minimum tax on trust distributions – could raise more than $20 billion a year.

    Major tax reform like this offers economic benefits while creating space for better services such as universal dental coverage.

    No one likes spending cuts and tax hikes, but they will be needed sooner or later regardless. Dental coverage might be just the sweetener taxpayers need to accept it.

    Grattan Institute, has been supported in its work by government, corporates, and philanthropic gifts.

    A full list of supporting organisations is published at www.grattan.edu.au.

    – ref. Why isn’t dental included in Medicare? It’s time to change this – here’s how – https://theconversation.com/why-isnt-dental-included-in-medicare-its-time-to-change-this-heres-how-239086

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: How did they get my data? I uncovered the hidden web of networks behind telemarketers

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Priya Dev, Lecturer & Academic Data Science, Digital Assets & Distributed Ledgers, Australian National University

    Kokhan O/Shutterstock

    Last year, I started getting a lot of unsolicited phone calls, mainly from people trying to sell me things. This came as a surprise because, as a data scientist, I am very careful about what personal information I let out into the world. So I set out to discover what had happened.

    My investigation took several months. It eventually led me to the labyrinthine world of data brokers.

    In today’s digital age, where personal data is a new kind of gold, these companies wield significant power, creating networks where our personal information is shared between brokers and telemarketers as easily as TikTok videos. Their businesses profit from the data they collect, and many of the calls they enable come from scammers.

    This comes at an enormous cost: in 2023, Australians lost $2.7 billion to scams. This highlights the urgent need for stronger privacy protections to limit how our personal data is collected and shared.

    In an attempt to address this need, the Australian government this month introduced long-overdue privacy reforms. But these reforms are still inadequate for the many privacy issues affecting people today, including targeting by data brokers and telemarketers.

    Investigating the hidden web

    One of the mechanisms designed to protect us from unwanted calls is the Do Not Call Register.

    Managed by the Australian Communications and Media Authority, the registry holds more than 12 million phone numbers, including mine. The registry is supposed to block unsolicited calls. But last year, despite being on the list, I began to receive dozens of unwanted calls – on average, about three per day.

    Curious, I started tracing the origins of these calls. What I uncovered was a network of hidden connections between data brokers, telemarketers and large organisations – including a major political party. It became clear that simply being on the Do Not Call Register wasn’t enough to protect my privacy.

    I started by asking the callers what data they held, and how they had obtained mine. I requested details about the companies they represented, including their websites and Australian Business Numbers (ABNs) – the unique identifiers for Australian businesses.

    Most callers hung up the moment I started asking questions, until one day I spoke with a man named Paul, who worked in the real estate sector – an industry worth more than $10 trillion as of 2024. The high-value real-estate market makes our personal data especially valuable to businesses operating within the industry.

    Digging deeper

    The unique thing about Paul was that he knew my real name, whereas other telemarketers only had access to the pseudonyms I’d used to protect my identity online. Paul explained he had licensed my data from the real estate giant CoreLogic Australia.

    This discovery pushed me to dig deeper. After a lot of back and forth, I finally obtained my data from CoreLogic. The amount of information was small, but surprisingly accurate – especially considering the steps I’d taken to hide my identity. It made me wonder where they got it from, as only organisations such as utility companies, banks or the government would hold that type of information.

    CoreLogic told me in an email that:

    CoreLogic gets data from a variety of sources … most of the information we collect comes from public records, which we license from government departments and agencies. We may also collect personal information from third parties such as through real estate agents, tenancy and strata mangers, financial institutions and marketing database providers.

    This was a troubling discovery, because the institutions on which we depend for essentials such as public services, housing and finance – and from which we can’t hide our identities – may be selling our personal information to data brokers, who then pass it along to telemarketers.

    What’s even more alarming is that the data is shared unmasked, meaning personal details such as our names, genders and phone numbers are fully visible. Once this information is out in the open, it becomes almost impossible to control how it’s recorded or shared.

    It’s also nearly impossible to stop it being passed to overseas telemarketers, who aren’t bound by Australian privacy laws.

    Real estate giant CoreLogic says most of the personal data it collects comes from public records.
    IgorGolovniov/Shutterstock

    Solving the mystery

    My investigation didn’t end there.

    Eventually, CoreLogic revealed it had purchased my data from Australian data broker firm Smrtr in August 2023. This coincided with the surge in unsolicited calls.

    Through Smrtr I learned they had purchased my data in 2016 from another data broker, EightDragons Digital. Smrtr also admitted to selling my data to various companies – all without my consent.

    Determined to investigate the origin of my online data trail, I contacted EightDragons Digital, which calls itself “a leading global consumer data agency”. It collects personal data for big brands including Energy Australia, Vodafone, NRMA, Nissan, Johnnie Walker, American Express, The Good Guys, and even the Australian Labor Party.

    The company claimed it collected my data in a 2014 marketing campaign, and likely passed it to at least 50 other companies. However, it had no records to verify the marketing campaign or prove that I had given consent.

    A small step only

    CoreLogic defended its practices as legal, saying it’s too difficult to verify consent or anonymise personal data.

    However, with modern technology, it’s actually possible to track where data comes from, check consent, and share insights without exposing personal details such as names and phone numbers.

    The government’s recent privacy reforms are a small step in the right direction. But until data brokers are required to obtain explicit consent before trading personal information, they fall far short of being a giant leap forward.

    Priya Dev 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. How did they get my data? I uncovered the hidden web of networks behind telemarketers – https://theconversation.com/how-did-they-get-my-data-i-uncovered-the-hidden-web-of-networks-behind-telemarketers-238991

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Federal Newspoll still tied but Albanese’s ratings up; Queensland Newspoll has big LNP lead

    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

    A national Newspoll, conducted September 16–20 from a sample of 1,249, had a 50–50 tie for the third consecutive time. Since the last Newspoll three weeks ago, primary votes were 38% Coalition (steady), 31% Labor (down one), 13% Greens (up one), 6% One Nation (down one) and 12% for all Others (up one).

    Anthony Albanese’s net approval improved five points to -8, with 51% dissatisfied and 43% satisfied. Peter Dutton’s net approval was down two points to -15. Albanese led Dutton as better PM by 46–37 (45–37 previously).

    The graph below shows Albanese’s net approval in Newspoll this term. It has plus signs for the Newspoll results and a smoothed line has been fitted. After dropping to -13 net three weeks ago, Albanese’s ratings have rebounded to where they’ve been for most of this year, poor but not dreadful.

    Other recent federal polls have not been as good for Albanese and Labor as Newspoll. Albanese’s net approval was at -22 in YouGov and -15 in Freshwater, and Labor trailed by 52–48 in Freshwater, one of their worst results from any pollster this term. Freshwater leans a little to the Coalition relative to other polls.

    Asked what aspect of cost of living worried them most, 40% selected housing, 25% groceries, 18% energy and 11% insurance.

    Queensland Newspoll has thumping lead for LNP

    The Queensland state election will be held on October 26. A Newspoll, conducted September 12–18 from a sample of 1,047, gave the Liberal National Party (LNP) a 55–45 lead, a one-point gain for the LNP since the last Queensland Newspoll in March. Primary votes were 42% LNP (steady), 30% Labor (steady), 12% Greens (down one), 8% One Nation (steady) and 8% for all Others (up one).

    Labor Premier Steven Miles’ net approval was up one point to -10, with 51% dissatisfied and 41% satisfied. LNP leader David Crisafulli’s net approval dropped two points to +12. Crisafulli had a 46–39 lead as better premier (43–37 in March).

    Asked whether Labor deserved to be re-elected, 57% said it was time to give someone else a go (down one since March), while 29% said they deserved to be re-elected (up three). By 53–47, voters were confident that the Crisafulli LNP is ready to govern.

    Labor will be a little relieved that this poll was not worse. A YouGov poll in July and a Wolf + Smith poll in August had both given the LNP a 57–43 lead. Nearly ten years after they gained power in Queensland following the January 2015 election, Labor appears doomed.

    Further federal polls: YouGov poll tied

    A national YouGov poll, conducted September 13–19 from a sample of 1,619, had a 50–50 tie, unchanged from the previous YouGov poll in late August. Primary votes were 39% Coalition (up two), 30% Labor (down two), 14% Greens (up one), 7% One Nation (down one) and 10% for all Others (steady).

    In the previous YouGov poll, Labor was unlucky not to lead given the primary votes. In this poll, Labor is lucky not to trail.

    Albanese’s net approval slumped 11 points to -22, with 58% dissatisfied and 36% satisfied. Dutton’s net approval was down five points to -10. Albanese led as preferred PM by 42–39 (43–38 in August).

    Freshwater has one of Coalition’s best results this term

    A national Freshwater poll for The Financial Review, conducted September 13–14 from a sample of 1,057, gave the Coalition a 52–48 lead, a one-point gain for the Coalition since the August Freshwater poll. This is one of the best results for the Coalition from any pollster this term. Primary votes were 42% Coalition (up one), 30% Labor (down two), 13% Greens (up one) and 15% for all Others.

    Albanese’s net approval was down five points to -15, with 49% unfavourable and 34% favourable. Dutton’s net approval was down one point to -4. Albanese led Dutton as preferred PM by an unchanged 45–41.

    Asked to give their top three issues, 74% selected cost of living as a top issue, and the Coalition increased its lead over Labor on cost of living from seven points in August to 14. The Coalition also had a 16-point lead on economic management (13 in August).

    Morgan poll: Labor has narrow lead

    A national Morgan poll, conducted September 9–15 from a sample of 1,634, gave Labor a 50.5–49.5 lead, a 0.5-point gain for the Coalition since the September 2–8 Morgan poll.

    Primary votes were 37.5% Coalition (up one), 30.5% Labor (up 0.5), 12.5% Greens (down two), 5.5% One Nation (down 0.5), 10% independents (up 0.5) and 4% others (up 0.5).

    The headline figure uses respondent preferences. By 2022 election preferences, Labor led by an unchanged 52–48.

    Redbridge and Accent Research MRP poll tied at 50–50

    A national Redbridge and Accent Research multi-level regression with post-stratification (MRP) poll, conducted July 10 to August 27 from a sample of 5,976, had a 50–50 tie, a two-point gain for the Coalition since the last MRP poll between February and May. Primary votes were 38% Coalition (up two), 32% Labor (steady), 12% Greens (down one) and 19% for all Others (steady).

    MRP polls use modelling to estimate the number of seats that would be won by each party. The August MRP poll had a point estimate of 69 Labor seats out of 150, 68 Coalition, three Greens and ten others. In the May poll, Labor had 77 seats out of 151, the Coalition 60, the Greens three and others 11.

    The August poll had no chance either major party would win a majority (76 seats), but Labor had a 75% chance of winning the most seats. These probabilities reflect the poll’s data, and are not predictions for the election, due by May 2025.

    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. Federal Newspoll still tied but Albanese’s ratings up; Queensland Newspoll has big LNP lead – https://theconversation.com/federal-newspoll-still-tied-but-albaneses-ratings-up-queensland-newspoll-has-big-lnp-lead-238790

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Harris’ post-debate gains sustained in US polls, but Republicans likely to gain Senate control

    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 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 49.2–46.2. In my previous US politics article last Wednesday, Harris led Trump by 48.9–46.0.

    Joe Biden’s final position before his withdrawal as Democratic candidate on July 21 was a national poll deficit against Trump of 45.2–41.2.

    It’s been nearly two weeks since the September 10 debate between Harris and Trump. In my previous article I was sceptical that Harris’ post-debate gains would be sustained, but they have been.

    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).

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

    Harris’ Electoral College win probability fell to a low of 35% on September 9 in Silver’s model, but she has surged back to favouritism with a 54% win probability, up from 43.5% last Wednesday. Silver’s model is now in better agreement with the FiveThirtyEight model, which gives Harris a 62% win probability.

    Pennsylvania is the most important swing state with 19 electoral votes, and Harris now leads there by 1.5 points, gaining 1.4 points since last week. Harris also has narrow leads in Michigan, Wisconsin and Nevada. If Harris wins all states she currently leads in, she wins the Electoral College by 276–262.

    Since my previous US article on Wednesday, Harris has continued to get good national polls and better polls from Pennsylvania and Michigan (15 electoral votes). This explains why she is again the favourite in Silver’s model after Trump had been the favourite from late August until last Thursday.

    In North Carolina, Trump leads by just 0.1 point, but there’s been a scandal about Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson that broke Thursday, and there haven’t yet been North Carolina polls taken since this scandal. This scandal may hurt Trump in North Carolina, which has 16 electoral votes.

    Favourability ratings and economic news

    Harris now has a barely positive net favourability in the national FiveThirtyEight aggregate, at +0.3, with 46.9% favourable and 46.6% unfavourable. After large early gains, her ratings have improved slowly in the last month. Trump’s net favourability is -10.1, with 52.8% unfavourable and 42.7% favourable; his ratings are barely changed in the last month.

    Trump’s running mate JD Vance is unpopular with a -10.8 net favourable rating, while Harris’ running mate Tim Walz has a +3.8 net favourable, making him the most popular of the four. Biden remains unpopular with a -15.3 net approval. It’s best for Harris if Biden stays out of the headlines.

    In economic news, the US Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 0.5 points last Wednesday, the first time they have been reduced since 2020. Rates had risen from nearly zero to over 5% from 2022 to 2023.

    Silver’s economic index that averages six indicators is currently at +0.10. Many on the left despise the stock market, but its recent performance is offsetting worse data in other indicators.

    Republicans likely to gain Senate control

    Elections for the House of Representatives and Senate will be held concurrently with the presidential election on November 5. Single-member districts are used to elect the 435 House members, with states apportioned House seats on a population basis.

    House terms are only two years, so the last election of the House was at the November 2022 midterm elections, when Republicans won the House by 222 seats to 213 for Democrats on a national popular vote share of 50.0–47.3.

    The FiveThirtyEight aggregate of polls of the national House popular vote has Democrats ahead by 46.7–44.5. If Harris wins, Democrats have a good chance to regain control of the House.

    There are two senators for each of the 50 states. Senators have six-year terms, with one-third up for election every two years. Including independents who caucus with them, Democrats currently control the 100-member Senate by a 51–49 margin.

    This year Democrats and aligned independents will be defending 23 of the 33 regular Senate seats up for election (there will also be a byelection in the safely Republican Nebraska). Trump won West Virginia, Montana and Ohio easily in both 2016 and 2020, and Democrats are defending seats in all three states.

    With the retirement of former Democratic Senator (now independent) Joe Manchin, West Virginia is certain to be a Republican gain at this election, and the Republicans are also well ahead in Montana. If no other seats change hands, gaining West Virginia and Montana will give Republicans a 51–49 Senate majority.

    Democrats are just ahead in Ohio and have larger leads in Senate races in the presidential swing states of Arizona, Wisconsin, Nevada, Michigan and Pennsylvania (all Democratic held). They have outside chances of gaining seats in Florida and Texas.

    Even if Harris wins, Republicans are likely to gain at least a 51–49 Senate majority. The two senators per state rule advantages Republicans as they dominate low-population, rural states.

    If Democrats lose the Senate, even if Harris wins the presidency, Republicans would have a veto over Harris’ legislation, and her cabinet and judicial appointments. That means no left-wing judge would be appointed to the Supreme Court if a vacancy occurred.

    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. Harris’ post-debate gains sustained in US polls, but Republicans likely to gain Senate control – https://theconversation.com/harris-post-debate-gains-sustained-in-us-polls-but-republicans-likely-to-gain-senate-control-239385

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Offering end of life support as part of home care is important – but may face some challenges

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jennifer Tieman, Matthew Flinders Professor and Director of the Research Centre for Palliative Care, Death and Dying, Flinders University

    Andrew Angelov/Shutterstock

    Earlier this month, the government announced major changes to aged care in Australia, including a A$4.3 billion investment in home care.

    Alongside a shake up of home care packages, the Support at Home program will include an important addition – an end of life pathway for older Australians.

    This pathway will allow access to a higher level of in-home aged care services to help Australians stay at home as they come to the end of their life. Specifically, it will provide an extra A$25,000 for palliative support when a person has three months or less left to live.

    This is a positive change. But there may be some challenges to implementing it.

    Why is this important?

    Older people have made clear their preference to remain in their homes as they age. For most people, home is where they would like to be during their last months of life. The space is personal, familiar and comforting.

    However, data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows most people who die between the ages of 65 and 84 die in hospital, while most people aged 85 and older die in residential aged care.

    This apparent gap may reflect a lack of appropriate services. Both palliative care services and GPs have an important role in providing medical care to people living at home with a terminal illness. However, being able to die at home relies on the availability of ongoing support including hands-on care and assistance with daily living.

    Family members and friends often provide this support, but this is not always possible. Even when it is, carers may lack confidence and skills to provide the necessary care, and may not have enough support for and respite from their carer role.

    The palliative care funding offered within Support at Home should help an older person to remain at home and die at home, if that is their preference.

    Unless someone dies suddenly, care needs are likely to increase at the end of a person’s life. Supports at home may involve help with showering and toileting, assessing and addressing symptoms, developing care plans, managing medications, wound dressing, domestic tasks, preparing meals, and communicating with the person’s family.

    Occupational therapists and physiotherapists can assist with equipment requirements and suggest home modifications.

    End of life supports may also involve clarifying goals of care, contacting services such as pharmacists for medications or equipment, liaising with organisations about financial matters, respite care or funeral planning, as well as acknowledging grief and offering spiritual care.

    But we don’t know yet exactly what services the $25,000 will go towards.

    What do we know about the scheme so far?

    The Support at Home program, including the end of life pathway, is scheduled to start from July 1 2025.

    We know the funding is linked to a prognosis of three months or less to live, which will be determined by a doctor.

    Further information has indicated that an older person can be referred to a high-priority assessment to access the end of life pathway. We don’t know yet what this means, however they don’t need to be an existing Support at Home participant to be eligible.

    The pathway will allow 16 weeks to use the funds, possibly to provide some leeway around the three-month timeline.

    Although more details are coming to light, there are still some things which remain unclear.

    Home care providers will be looking for details on what can be covered by this funding and how they will work alongside primary care providers and health-care services.

    Older people and their families will want to know the processes to apply for this funding and how long applications will take to be reviewed.

    Everyone will want to know what happens if the person doesn’t die within three months.

    We’re awaiting certain details on what this new pathway will involve.
    Ground Picture/Shutterstock

    Some challenges

    Ready availability of appropriate supports and services will be crucial for older people accessing this pathway. Home care providers will therefore need to assess how an end of life pathway fits into their operational activities and how they can build the necessary skills and capacity.

    Demand for nurses with palliative care skills and allied health professionals is likely to increase. Providing end of life care can be especially taxing so strategies will be needed to prevent staff burnout and encourage self-care.

    How pathways are implemented in rural and remote areas and in different cultural and community groups will need to be monitored to ensure all older people benefit.

    Effective coordination and communication between home care, primary care and specialist palliative providers care will be key. Digital health systems that connect the sectors could be helpful. Family engagement will also be very important.

    Escalation pathways and referral pathways should be established to enable appropriate responses to emergencies, unexpected deterioration, and family distress.

    Finally, accurately determining when someone will die can be difficult. Knowing when the last three months of life starts may not be easy, particularly where frailty, cognitive issues and multiple health concerns may be present.

    This might mean some people are not seen as being ready for this pathway. Others may not be willing to accept this prognosis. An older person may also be expected to live with a terminal illness for many months or years. Their palliative care needs would not be met under this pathway.

    Despite these challenges, the announcement of an end of life pathway within the home care program is timely and welcome. As a population we are living longer and dying older. More details will help us be better prepared to implement this scheme.

    Jennifer Tieman receives grant funding from Department of Health and Aged Care and from SA Health. She is affiliated with Palliative Care SA, Palliative Care Australia and the Australian Institute for Digital Health.

    – ref. Offering end of life support as part of home care is important – but may face some challenges – https://theconversation.com/offering-end-of-life-support-as-part-of-home-care-is-important-but-may-face-some-challenges-239296

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Kiwifruit exports having golden season – Stats NZ media and information release: Overseas merchandise trade: August 2024

    Source: Statistics New Zealand

    Kiwifruit exports having golden season – 23 September 2024 – Kiwifruit exports were valued at $3.1 billion in the year ended August 2024, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.

    This is an increase of $524 million (20 percent) when compared with the year ended August 2023.

    “Kiwifruit export values for the season so far are the highest they have ever been,” international trade manager Viki Ward said.

    “The kiwifruit export season is typically from March to November.”

    Gold kiwifruit exports were $2.4 billion, up $457 million (24 percent) from year ended August 2023. This increase was driven by an increase in quantity (up 23 percent).

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

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Kiwifruit exports having golden season – Stats NZ media and information release: Overseas merchandise trade: August 2024

    Source: Statistics New Zealand

    Kiwifruit exports having golden season – 23 September 2024 – Kiwifruit exports were valued at $3.1 billion in the year ended August 2024, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.

    This is an increase of $524 million (20 percent) when compared with the year ended August 2023.

    “Kiwifruit export values for the season so far are the highest they have ever been,” international trade manager Viki Ward said.

    “The kiwifruit export season is typically from March to November.”

    Gold kiwifruit exports were $2.4 billion, up $457 million (24 percent) from year ended August 2023. This increase was driven by an increase in quantity (up 23 percent).

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

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Saskatchewan Leads The Nation In Retail Trade Growth

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on September 20, 2024

    Growth in province’s retail trade ranks first in both month-over-month and year-over-year categories

    According to data released today by Statistics Canada, Saskatchewan ranks first among the provinces for year-over-year growth in retail trade. Retail trade sales in the province increased by 6.3 per cent from July 2023 to July 2024 (seasonally adjusted), reaching $2.2 billion.

    “The growth we are seeing in our retail sector is a vitally important leading economic indicator, which shows the current strength of Saskatchewan’s economy and points to our continued leadership position in Canada,” Minister of Trade and Export Development Jeremy Harrison said. “This growth is creating new opportunities for the people and families of our province. With the strongest job growth in the country, lowest rate of inflation, and record investment, Saskatchewan’s strong and vibrant communities are well positioned now and into the future.

    “Our government will continue to work alongside our industry partners and job creators to protect and promote the interests of Saskatchewan residents.”

    The value of retail trade in Saskatchewan increased by 3 per cent in July 2024 compared to June 2024 (seasonally adjusted), also ranking first in terms of percentage change among the provinces.

    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 positive outcomes in several key economic areas, with Saskatchewan currently maintaining the lowest year-over-year rate of inflation according to the Consumer Price Index, at 1.1 per cent.

    Statistics Canada’s latest GDP numbers also indicate that Saskatchewan’s 2023 real GDP reached an all-time high of $77.9 billion, increasing by $1.2 billion, or 1.6 per cent. 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 province has revealed “Securing the Next Decade of Growth: Saskatchewan’s Investment Attraction Strategy,” in conjunction with the launch of the investSK.ca website. These initiatives are positioned to amplify growth in Saskatchewan, serving as pivotal instruments in driving further development.

    To learn more, visit: investSK.ca.

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: EU at UN General Assembly to boost international cooperation on key global challenges

    Source: EuroStat – European Statistics

    European Commission Press release Brussels, 20 Sep 2024 A high-level delegation of the European Commission will attend the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly next week in New York. The focus of EU engagement will be to tackle the unprecedented set of conflicts and crises across the world.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Climate finance by multilateral development banks hits record in 2023

    Source: European Investment Bank

    • Sum for low-and middle-income economies was $74.7 billion, including $24.7 billion for climate change adaptation  
    • MDBs committed record $125 billion last year for climate action worldwide
    • Mobilised global private finance nearly doubled to $101 billion compared to 2022

    Multilateral development banks (MDBs) announced today that their global climate finance reached a record high of $125 billion in 2023. The combined total last year from institutions, including the European Investment Bank, is more than double the amount provided in 2019, when MDBs announced their ambition to increase climate volumes over time at the United Nations Secretary General’s Climate Action Summit.

    Low and middle-income economies

    Last year, $74.7 billion of MDB climate finance were for low- and middle-income economies. Of this sum, 67% – or $50 billion – went to climate change mitigation and $24.7 billion, or 33%, for climate change adaptation. The amount of mobilised private finance for this group of countries stood at $28.5 billion.

    High-income economies

    In 2023, $50.3 billion were allocated for high-income economies. Of this amount, $47.3 billion, or 94%, were for climate change mitigation and the remaining $3 billion or 6% were for climate change adaptation. The amount of mobilised private finance for high-income countries stood at $72.7 billion.

    Climate finance in focus at COP29

    Today’s announcement comes in the run-up to the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 29) to the United Nations Climate Change Conference that will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan in November 2024. One of the key deliverables of COP29 is to increase global climate finance and reach agreement on the new collective quantified goal on climate finance.

    EIB Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle said: “Nearly halfway into the critical decade, we must continue to work hard if we are to keep the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to 1.5ºC within reach. Since 2019, multilateral development banks have increased their collective climate financing year on year, exceeding our joint targets. In addition, we are strengthening our cooperation to maximise impact for people and the planet through coordinated country-level support for a just transition away from fossil fuels and more work on adaptation and disaster risk management. Ahead of COP29, today’s announcement of $125 billion in climate finance sends the strong message that the MDB system is delivering and that the global community can count on MDBs, including the EIB, to accelerate global climate action.”

    The EIB delivered record volumes of $42.1 billion of climate finance in high-income economies and $4 billion for low- and middle-income economies through its specialised development arm EIB Global. The EIB mobilised global private finance of $53 billion.

    Transparent joint reporting on climate finance

    The Joint Report on Multilateral Development Banks’ Climate Finance is an annual collaboration to publish MDBs’ climate finance figures, together with a clear explanation of the methodologies for tracking this finance. The joint report, along with the banks’ independent publication of their own climate finance statistics, is intended to monitor progress in relation to their joint climate finance objectives such as those announced at COP21 and the greater ambition pledged for the post-2020 period.

    The 2023 multilateral development bank report, coordinated and prepared for publishing by the European Investment Bank (EIB), combines data from the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the EIB, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), the New Development Bank (NDB) and the World Bank Group (WBG).

    For an overview of the key figures click here

    Read the report here

    Background information

    The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union owned by its Member States. It is active in more than 160 countries and makes long-term finance available for sound investment in order to contribute towards EU policy goals.

    • In 2019, the EIB’s updated Energy Lending Policy was adopted to end financing to any unabated fossil fuels energy projects, including natural gas, the first MDB to do so.
    • In 2021, the EIB became the first MDB to align its financial activities with the Paris Agreement.
    • Through its Climate Bank Roadmap the EIB Group aims to support €1 trillion of investment in climate action and environmental sustainability through the critical decade, 2021-2030.
    • With a commitment to increase investment in climate action and environmental sustainability to more than 50% of the EIB’s annual lending by 2025 – last year that was exceeded with 60%.

    EIB Global is the EIB Group’s specialised arm dedicated to increasing the impact of international partnerships and development finance.  EIB Global is designed to foster strong, focused partnership within Team Europe, alongside fellow development finance institutions, and civil society. EIB Global brings the Group closer to local people, companies and institutions through our offices across the world. 

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Brainstorming Session on issue of improving response to Surveys by High-Income Groups and Gated Societies held on 20th September 2024 at New Delhi

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 20 SEP 2024 6:49PM by PIB Delhi

    The Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI), National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), Government of India, is pleased to announce that the Brainstorming Session aimed at understanding and improving response to surveys particularly in high income groups/gated societies held today at the Le Meridien Hotel, New Delhi. The session could bring together the key stakeholders, including policymakers, urban economists, survey agencies, institutions,multilateral organisations like World Bank and ILO, officers from state statistical agencies, regulatory bodies and service agencies of the real estate sector, facility management companies, representatives from Residents Welfare Associations (RWAs) and gated Societies.

    Around 150 participants from more than 25 organisations/Housing Societies attended the session. In addition to this, representatives from more than 50 housing societies from different part of the country particularly from the metropolitan cities joined virtually through respective Regional Offices of NSSO.  The event marked a significant step in engaging distinguished experts from various domainsalong with the representatives from RWAs/Housing Societies for exploring innovative solutions to improve participation from this specific segment of population and ensure collection of more representative data.

    In the opening remarks, Dr. Saurabh Garg, Secretary, MoSPI,highlighted the need for building trust among the respondents of gated societies to enhance the cooperation and its impact on accuracy and reliability of the data. Thereafter, Sh. Anand Kumar, Chairman, RERA, Delhi & Sh. Shiv Das Meena, Chairman, RERA, Tamil Nadu in their addressemphasized the importance of the accurate data for planning and policy purposes. Further, they appealed to all the Housing Societies to cooperate with the NSSO in data collection and urged that RERA will extend all possible support to create awareness on NSSO surveys.

    The brainstorming session included presentations on recent trends in response, their effects on data quality, and discussions on leveraging technology and customized strategies to enhance survey participation among high-income groups. The event highlighted international best practices and examined the role of Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) in facilitating data collection.

    The Experts from distinguished institutes, survey agencies from the State Government and private sector, international organizations & Builder’s Association etc, shared their insights on the possible strategies to mitigate non-response. Asession for sharing the views and open discussions by RWAs was also held.

    Based on the discussions, the following major suggestions emerged:

    • Extensive publicity of the surveys to reach out the general public regarding thepurpose and utility of the surveys through various channels including social media.
    • Explore feasibility of useof data available at the National Urban Digital Mission (NUDM),
    • Using the appropriateadministrative machinery for approaching RWAs
    • Use of alternative mode of data capture such as email/web links/CATI etc.
    • Similar kind of sessions may be planned atlocal level at different parts of the country for sensitisation.
    • Using Flexi-timing approach in data collection
    • Shortening of questionnaire to minimise respondent fatigue
    • In view of the improved economic and social status of women in high income group, special focus may be given to create awareness among them.

    Through this initiative, MoSPI aims to enhance collaboration, build trust, and improve data accuracy and comprehensiveness. The session promotes awareness of NSSO’s data privacy practices and the importance of survey participation for evidence-based policymaking. By engaging directly with high-income groups and gated communities, MoSPI seeks to boost response rates and strengthen survey reliability.

    *****

    SB/DP

    (Release ID: 2057136) Visitor Counter : 31

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Q&A: Healthy Moms and Babies

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
    Q: How are you supporting families who are struggling with infertility?
    A: According to recent federal statistics, more than 13 percent of women under age 49 are affected by infertility. Coping with infertility, miscarriages and stillbirths takes a painful, emotional toll on families. I’m co-sponsoring legislation that affirms support for those facing infertility and fosters solutions to make meaningful medical advances in reproductive care. The Reproductive Empowerment and Support through Optimal Restoration (RESTORE) Act would expand access to restorative reproductive medicine within existing federal programs. Americans struggling with the anguish and uncertainty of infertility deserve better testing, diagnoses and treatment that a whole-of-government approach can bring. As a co-sponsor of the RESTORE Act, I support marshalling federal resources to promote research on the leading causes of infertility and provide training for medical professionals to learn how to diagnose and treat infertility. Let’s do what’s possible to ensure aspiring parents have information about evidence-based treatments to address underlying medical issues related to their fertility challenges.
    Unfortunately, the issue of reproductive health has been turned into a political football during this presidential election year. Specifically, the Democrat Majority Leader has scheduled votes twice in four months to manufacture a crisis about access to in vitro fertilization (IVF), which is not in question. Democrats intentionally loaded up their bill with poison pills like expensive programs and mandates that go well beyond simply protecting access to IVF while rejecting Republican alternatives to further support families utilizing IVF. The Democrat Majority is needlessly creating anxiety for people who already shoulder burdens of loss and despair. The RESTORE Act seeks to beef up the medical community’s focus on underlying reproductive health issues, such as endometriosis, ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids and more. Treating underlying conditions causing infertility is a common sense solution. Learning more about the causes of infertility will help find cures and answer the prayers of so many Americans who want to be called “Mom” and “Dad.” Although IVF is one example of the miracles of modern medicine, we also must pursue robust holistic approaches to reproductive care and infertility, including education, testing, diagnosis and treatment. Let’s also be clear on one important fact: Access to IVF is not in jeopardy. It’s legal in all 50 states. I know many families, including pro-life families, who have benefitted from IVF. I support IVF and am proud to advocate for pro-life, pro-family and pro-mother policies in the United States Senate.
    Q: What other priorities are you pushing to improve maternal health?
    A: This summer Rep. Ashley Hinson and I scored a victory for expectant moms across America when our bill to help reduce stillbirths was signed into law. Tragically, approximately 21,000 babies are stillborn every year in the United States. The Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act paves the way for Title V funds of the Social Security Act to be used for stillbirth prevention activities and programs. It will help curb infant mortality by enabling evidence-based stillbirth initiatives to qualify for federal funding. The tragedy of losing a baby to stillbirth after 20 weeks of pregnancy delivers immeasurable pain and heartache to families. What’s more, women who experience a stillbirth are more likely to die and have increased morbidity. Our bill will help improve maternal health and save babies by expanding resources for health care providers to proactively talk to their patients about stillbirth prevention strategies. I give a lot of credit to Iowa grassroots advocates for their leadership and commitment to help get this bill across the finish line. It’s an example of government of, by and for the people. For the third consecutive year, I co-sponsored the bipartisan National Stillbirth Prevention Day resolution to recognize those who have endured loss through stillbirth. Raising public awareness will lend urgency to public health efforts to help save lives.
    As an outspoken advocate for rural health care, I’m aware of the challenges faced by expectant moms living in rural areas to access prenatal and OB care. A lack of obstetric services and shortages in the health care workforce put patients and quality of care in rural areas at risk. I’ve introduced the Healthy Moms and Babies Act to address the maternal health crisis that particularly affects women of color and mothers living in rural America. In Iowa, more than 20 labor and delivery units have closed in the last decade. I’ll continue working with stakeholders to push for community-driven solutions and supports, including expanding telehealth services. My Healthy Moms and Babies Act would expand telehealth access for expectant and postpartum mothers to help lower mortality rates and improve patient outcomes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 80 percent of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable. I’ll continue pushing at the federal level to improve access to high-quality care for moms and babies, including my long-time support for the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program.
    National Stillbirth Prevention Day is September 19, 2024. Sen. Grassley delivered remarks at a reception hosted by Iowa-based Healthy Birth Day, Inc. to celebrate congressional progress on stillbirth awareness and prevention measures.
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –