Category: Switzerland

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Issue of Confederation bonds on 9th October 2024

    Source: Switzerland – Department of Finance

    Bern, 25.09.2024 – Optional auction date will be maintained.

    The Federal Finance Administration will maintain the optional issue date on 9th October 2024. On 8th October it will announce as usual which Confederation bond will be issued.


    Address for enquiries

    Michael Girod, Communications, Federal Finance Administration, tél. +41 58 465 41 41, kommunikation@efv.admin.ch


    Publisher

    Federal Finance Administration
    http://www.efv.admin.ch

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Blockchain: new online training for businesses

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

    Source: Switzerland – Canton Government of Geneva in French

    The State of Geneva is launching a new online training course for companies to enable them to better understand and identify blockchain opportunities. This new training course complements existing courses on artificial intelligence, cyber risks and RNE. These online courses are freely accessible and free of charge.

    This new online course around the blockchain presents the functioning of this technology, its usefulness and its potential applications within a company, particularly in the context of cryptocurrencies but also beyond.

    It is part of the training catalogue offered by the Department of Economy and Employment (DEE). These online courses include videos and testimonials in an offbeat tone in order to stimulate reflection and make the material easily accessible to everyone. The content of these training courses was developed by the cantonal office of economy and innovation (OCEI) with the help of specialists from the academic world. It is essential for Geneva companies to seize the opportunities offered by the evolution of digital technology in order to better understand the risks and potential of these technologies.

    These new online courses, also called MOOCs – “Massive Open Online Course” – last 25 minutes each.

    To access training modules and other content:

    Online training: Other resources:

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI: Polaris Financial Investments partners with various placement agents

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LUXEMBOURG, Sept. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Switzerland-based securitisation firm, Polaris Financial Investment, has signed a groundbreaking distribution partnership with four of the world’s top placement agents. The partnership is a significant step toward introducing its products to the European market and diversifying its investor base. 

    The businesses hold a stellar track record, proving to be the prime partnership for Polaris to build a base of trust in its securitisation strategies and to expand it to the overall market. 

    “These partnerships are a valuable complement to Polaris’s existing placement capabilities,” says Director at Polaris, Marc Pepin, when asked about the significance of such partnerships. “They are the most pivotal partnerships Polaris has had so far.” 

    The businesses involved include:

    • Cohen Brothers: An established, international placement agent firm working for global, regional, and national fund managers. 
    • Daelman Consulting: Third-party marketing consultancy, known for creating great business partnerships. 
    • Active Fund Placement: Leading third-party marketer in Europe, offering significant market access and a transparent, professional sales approach. 
    • Equito: Specialist brokerage firm helping companies access new streams of funding and manage their business finances. 

    All have established their presence in the European financial market, placing billions of dollars in assets and funds, and are continuing to challenge the meaning of investment in the entire world.   

    About Company/Person: 

    Polaris locates and delivers outstanding private credit opportunities in companies with solid fundamentals that can benefit from their partnership approach and from managers with a proven, principled investment process.  

    Cohen Brothers https://www.cohenbrothers.eu/

    Daelman Consulting https://www.daelmanconsulting.com/

    Active Fund Placement https://fundplacement.de/

    Equito https://equito.co/

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Speech by President Viola Amherd at the UN General Debate

    Source: Switzerland – Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport

    Bern, 24.09.2024 – Speech by President Viola Amherd, head of the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS), at the UN General Debate, New, York, Tuesday, 24 September 2024.

    Check against delivery

    Mr President
    Secretary-General
    Excellencies
    Ladies and gentlemen

    On the morning of 3 March 2002, I put a card into the ballot box, on which I had written a determined ‘yes’.  Our TV screens had been filled with various forecasts and figures from the early hours.

    But it was only in the evening that the final result came through: after years of struggle and a fiercely contested campaign, Switzerland would join the United Nations.

    Ultimately, it was a few hundred votes from the canton of Valais – my home region – that tipped the balance.

    On that day, the Swiss people expressed their country’s desire to assume responsibility and take part in the world of international politics in a spirit of solidarity.

    More than two decades have now passed. I am addressing you today, just a few days before Switzerland assumes the presidency of the Security Council. The world may have changed, but our principles have not.

    Like many countries, we are following with concern the escalating tensions and emergence of new conflicts around the world.

    Unfortunately, we are witnessing increasing levels of grave human rights violations as well as a growing, blatant disregard for internationally recognised borders. Might risks taking precedence over right, and the threshold for resorting to military force has clearly fallen significantly.

    Only together can we counter the dynamic, captured so aptly by the great writer Ferdinand Ramuz a century ago: “Parce qu’un malheur ne vient jamais qu’un autre ne vienne ; les malheurs se marient entre eux, ils font des enfants.”

    There are major challenges ahead: wars, disasters, the damage we are inflicting on our shared environment, technological advancements and the opportunities and risks they bring.

    As the only truly global organisation, the UN has a crucial role to play in tackling these issues.

    We can make a start right here, if we choose to work together better – regardless of our governmental and economic structures or our cultural differences.

    We must not let our world fragment into blocs. We must show our willingness to negotiate principles with all major regions of the world, principles that are in our mutual interest and respected by all. And this must always be underpinned by international law.

    Excellencies
    Ladies and gentlemen

    The search for peace is paramount, and Switzerland is committed to playing its part.

    Based on its tradition of good offices and solidarity, and because resignation and inaction should never be an option, this summer Switzerland brought together around 100 states and international organisations for the Summit on Peace in Ukraine.

    Our goal was to provide an initial impetus for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, based on international law and the United Nations Charter. The conference at the Bürgenstock marked an important step in that direction.

    The 94 signatory states of the Bürgenstock Joint Communiqué reaffirmed their commitment to the principles of the United Nations Charter.

    We would like to renew our invitation to the international community to spare no effort in supporting concrete measures and this Joint Communiqué.

    International law is the basis for our common endeavours for global peace, security and prosperity.

    The Geneva Conventions, the 75th anniversary of which we are celebrating this year, govern the legal basis of war as well as the protection of the civilian population.

    But the latest UN figures paint the international community in a poor light. Civilians and civilian infrastructure are not only inadequately protected, but in fact come under repeated attack.

    We are witnessing violations of international humanitarian law, from Myanmar to Ukraine, from the Middle East to Sudan. My country has been strongly committed to ensuring that the Security Council adopts ceasefire resolutions, particularly for Gaza and Sudan.

    It is urgent that these resolutions are now implemented and respected. Likewise, we urgently call for an immediate return to a total cessation of hostilities on both sides of the Blue Line.

    The heavy toll paid by civilian populations in these current crises and conflicts strengthens Switzerland’s resolve to ensure that international humanitarian law remains an absolute priority. Pushing for greater compliance is at the heart of our work in the Security Council.

    Protecting the civilian population in conflicts is neither self-evident nor guaranteed. It must be afforded higher priority in conflict situations.

    Peace is and always will be the best way to protect civilian populations. To this end, Switzerland is also committed to civilian and military peacebuilding.

    Even if some peace missions have been unable to meet all of their intended objectives, they nevertheless contribute to security, stability and peace in people’s everyday lives. When deciding which missions to deploy, we must overcome our disagreements. Peace is too precious a commodity to become a pawn of self-serving interests.

    Together with our many international partners, Switzerland is continuing to contribute to peacebuilding as well as expanding its capacities where possible.

    War and peace are not the only challenges we face. There are many others that we also need to urgently address:

    Civilians not only require protection from armed conflict, but also from natural disasters, as has become increasingly clear in recent years. Climate change and loss of biodiversity are having an existential impact on ever more people.

    It is crucial that we also maintain and expand our efforts in these areas, while forging ahead with pioneering developments. Many of the international environmental agreements are either not implemented at all or only inadequately. This is resulting in large-scale environmental destruction.

    I am also concerned about the rise in disinformation, which undermines people’s ability to form their own opinions based on facts. Private and state actors spread disinformation at home and in other states to fuel polarisation, sow distrust and destabilise states.

    Switzerland has and will always be committed to freedom of expression and media freedom.

    Disinformation is toxic. We can counteract this by improving our understanding of what constitutes free speech and manipulation of the facts; by exposing illegitimate interference, by fostering open and fair debate, and, in our capacities as governments and international organisations, by providing transparent and factual information.

    Excellencies
    Ladies and gentlemen
     
    Switzerland has and always will be committed to strong and effective multilateralism.

    All states must come together to find lasting solutions.

    My country is shaped by regular democratic debate at all levels of government – local, regional and federal. We urgently need to see more of such constructive and peaceful debate if we are to address the existential challenges that face us.

    Two days ago, we adopted the Pact for the Future. The pact is a strong commitment to multilateralism. One of the core elements of the pact is the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – our roadmap, which we must implement together as quickly as possible.

    “The idea must be born from the vision, like the spark from a flint.” That too is a quote from Ramuz – one that has lost none of its relevance. We need courage and confidence.

    And we need a framework in which we can work together as partners to find solutions. That framework is the United Nations. Let us work together to make it stronger.

    Thank you.


    Address for enquiries

    DDPS Communication
    Federal Palace East
    CH-3003 Bern


    Publisher

    Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports
    http://www.vbs.admin.ch

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Economics: 3 imagery updates to Google Earth and Maps

    Source: Google

    Our world is in constant motion. Cities expand, landscapes evolve and the climate continues to reshape our globe. To help people visualize these changes and learn more about the world around them, we’re announcing new updates to Google Earth and Street View.

    Travel back in time with Earth — and plan projects more efficiently

    Maybe you want to travel back in time and see what your neighborhood looked like decades ago. Or you want to understand how forests have been affected by human activity and the changing climate. All of this will soon be possible thanks to our new historical imagery in Google Earth on web and mobile, which makes it easy to explore our library of satellite and aerial imagery — some of which goes as far back as 80 years.

    When exploring, you’ll see a sharp contrast in how geography has evolved in many places. Take this 2018 image of Lake Oroville, a reservoir in northern California that saw significant water reduction after multi-year droughts. Compare that with its 2023 image, which shows how a series of rains gradually filled the reservoir back to maximum capacity — providing water storage, electricity from power generation and a space for water activities, like swimming and kayaking. Historical imagery allows you to follow the lake’s evolution in striking detail.

    Lake Oroville experienced dire levels of water reduction (2018). By 2023, a series of rains gradually filled the reservoir back to maximum capacity.

    Historical imagery can also show dramatic changes over longer periods of time. In places like London, Berlin, Warsaw and Paris, you can even explore imagery from as far back as the 1930s. For example, below is a black-and-white photo of San Francisco in 1938, taken by Oakland Airport pilots. During this period, you can see that ports were mainly used for shipping and industry — compared to the 2022 image, where you see the piers dotted with restaurants and cruise ships docked in the harbor. Want to browse even more of the world’s changes? Check out Timelapse in Google Earth, an interactive experience built from millions of satellite images showing a stunning visualization of how our planet is changing over time.

    San Francisco in 1938, compared to San Francisco in 2022. Available in Google Earth historical imagery.

    In addition to helping you browse Earth’s changes, we’re also making it easier for researchers and organizations to use Google Earth for projects, like creating custom maps. Soon we’ll start showing projects right from a newly designed home screen in Google Earth, making it even easier to collaborate with your teams. You can learn more about these updates on our developer blog.

    Expanding Street View imagery in nearly 80 countries

    While Google Earth has a vast repository of satellite and aerial imagery, Street View displays over 280 billion images collected from our Street View cars and trekkers. With Street View, you can virtually explore every continent right from your living room — and even places like the Great Barrier Reef and the International Space Station. Now, we’re launching one of the biggest updates to Street View yet, with new imagery in almost 80 countries — some of which will have Street View imagery for the very first time.

    You’ll be able to explore the picturesque countryside of Bosnia and its medieval villages, the sandy mountains surrounding the capital of Namibia, the alps and castles of Liechtenstein and the beautiful rivers of Paraguay. You can even virtually wander the streets of foreign cities to see shops and buildings up close.

    Street View imagery taken from the bridge overlooking Diamond Beach in southeast Iceland, where icebergs float in the water.

    Keep an eye out for updated Street View images from around the world, in countries like Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Denmark, France, Iceland, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, Rwanda, Serbia, Spain, South Africa, Switzerland, Uruguay and many more. And our newest camera — just 15 pounds and mountable on any car — will make it easier for us to bring Street View to even more places in the future. As our planet changes, this updated imagery helps keep the map fresh for people everywhere.

    Here are just a few Street View images we captured this year:

    • Street View image of Disappointment Bay, Tasmania

    • Street View image of Fukue Island, Japan

    • Street View image of Logstor, Denmark

    • Street View image of Skane county, Denmark

    • Street View image of Quai d’Honneur, France

    • Street View image of Mokau, New Zealand

    • Street View image of Tasman, New Zealand

    • Street View image of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    • Street View image of Oaxaca, Mexico

    Sharpening imagery with new AI models

    In addition to making imagery available in more places, we’re sharpening satellite imagery across Google Earth and Maps. Starting this week, you’ll see a brighter, more vibrant globe made possible thanks to our cloud-removal technology. We’ve used our Cloud Score+ AI model, trained on millions of images, to recognize and remove things like clouds, cloud shadows, haze and mist. At the same time, this model keeps real-world weather patterns — like ice, snow and mountain shadows — visible on the map. The result is a refreshed global mosaic that gives you a clearer, more accurate look at Earth.

    Egypt’s Toshka Lakes, recently formed in the Sahara Desert from Lake Nasser overflow. Composite image enhanced with Cloud Score+ .

    These updates help us understand our planet’s past and present, while also offering an expanded, more beautiful view of our world.

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI: HP Workforce Solutions Advances Strategy to Deliver Exceptional Employee Experiences

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    News Highlights

    • Supercharges HP Workforce Experience Platform with expanded access and capabilities
    • Introduces managed services that reduce downtime and keep employees productive
    • Announces the industry’s most advanced remote remediation technology
    • Launches HOPE Recycling Futures to give PCs a second life while accelerating digital equity

    PALO ALTO, Calif., Sept. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today at HP Imagine, HP Inc.’s (NYSE: HPQ) Workforce Solutions division (HPWS) today announced a series of significant advancements designed to enable companies to achieve growth by delivering more personalized, fulfilling experiences.

    As part of this, HP is expanding access to HP Workforce Experience Platform, giving CIOs access to enhanced tools, data and insights to ensure their employees are connected and productive. For customers wanting HP to manage their IT environment, HP is announcing advanced monitoring solutions and global availability of HP Managed Collaboration Services that proactively remediate incidents before employees are impacted. And when technology does fail, HP is launching a new service that helps get employees back up and running quickly. HP is also introducing a new service to help companies harness the power of AI to drive further productivity in the workforce and expanded refurbishment programs to drive a more circular economy.

    “We are at the intersection of two major trends – AI and Flexible Work – and both are having a profound impact on our lives,” said Dave Shull, President of HP Workforce Solutions. “At the same time, employees want greater fulfillment and companies want improved productivity. Our Future-Ready portfolio of software and solutions helps guide companies through this shift.”

    Keeping Employees Engaged and Productive

    HP Workforce Experience Platform Expands Beta Access and Introduces New Features
    HP Workforce Experience Platform – a platform that intelligently anticipates and resolves digital friction across every employee endpoint from a single dashboard – has been in private beta for three months with more than 270K devices enrolled.[1]

    HP is now expanding access by making the Workforce Experience Platform Beta available to new or renewing HP Proactive Insights customers in the United States at no extra cost.

    As part of the new release, HP is rolling out new features that enable customers to monitor, secure, and manage printer performance at scale, in addition to PCs. New capabilities in AI-powered fleet management and employee sentiment analysis will help reduce IT support tickets and employee downtime through proactive anomaly detection and smart recommendations.

    Additionally, HP Workforce Experience Platform supports integrations with Microsoft Power BI, Power Automate and Tableau (available now) and plans to support Microsoft Intune and ServiceNow in a future release, enabling IT to leverage Workforce Experience Platform data easily and securely within their existing workflows. This means IT has a more holistic view of their device fleet, better data accuracy, and more tailored IT operations that help drive down expenses and improve return on investment.[2]

    New Global Command Centers for Advanced Monitoring Capabilities
    As companies look to shift their IT support from a reactive to a proactive approach, HP is announcing advanced Monitoring and Management capabilities – enabled by new global command centers – to help customers monitor and manage both HP and non-HP devices across the world, including detecting and remediating incidents.

    Leveraging telemetry,[3] HP monitors thousands of data points in conference room equipment, printers, and PCs. This enables HP Service Experts to detect and identify issues and take remote actions to proactively remediate incidents before employees are impacted. These HP Managed Services are available globally for HP’s managed solutions customers and sold through direct channels.

    Industry’s First Out-of-band Diagnostics and Remediation Capability
    Data shows that 90% of employees prefer flexible or hybrid work.[4] Employees have also come to expect the same level of support remotely that they would receive in an office. But existing remote support tools can’t always address the problem, like when a PC crashes and won’t reboot.

    To help reduce the time and frustration involved in restoring productivity for both hybrid employees and IT, HP is introducing a new HP out-of-band remediation service,[5] the industry’s most advanced remote remediation technology,[6] that enables more PC issues to be fixed remotely than ever before – even if the PC won’t boot. HP is the first PC manufacturer to use out-of-band technology to securely connect to remote PCs below the OS, using an encrypted cloud connection. This allows HP support agents full keyboard, video and mouse (KVM) control to diagnose and fix more complex issues like boot failures, imaging and BIOS issues — with virtually no assistance from the end user.

    This industry-first remediation service is expected to be available later this year in North America and the EU as an add-on to an HP Essential, Premium or Premium+ Support package with the purchase of any new Intel vPro enabled PC direct from HP or an authorized reseller. HP plans to expand the service feature availability across other commercial PCs in the coming months.

    New AI Advisory Services Help Customers Tap into the Potential of Microsoft Copilot
    HP is also announcing a new AI advisory service to help customers tap into the full potential of Microsoft 365 Copilot. This new AI advisory service will evaluate a company’s current setup and readiness for AI, conduct interactive workshops to help companies maximize the benefits of AI, and help companies plan for rolling out new AI tools. This new AI Advisory Service is expected to be available in November 2024 in the US, UK, France, Spain, Ireland, and Germany.

    Creating Collaborative Team Experiences

    Managed Collaboration Services Now Available to Customers Worldwide
    In today’s flexible working world, video collaboration connects more employees than ever before. To help customers modernize and maintain their conference rooms, HP is announcing the global availability of HP Managed Collaboration Services. HP Managed Collaboration Services uses Poly and HP gear to deliver exceptional meeting experiences with flexible, reliable, managed room solutions that ensure every space is video-enabled, and ready to be used. Learn more here.

    Driving Societal Impact

    HP is committed to accelerating equitable access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunity for those who are systemically excluded so they can participate and thrive in a digital economy. HP’s new services and programs help give technology a second life while delivering hope around the world.

    Expanded Portfolio of HP Certified Refurbished Hardware
    With growing customer demand for high-quality, reliable second-life devices, HP is announcing expansion of its HP Certified Refurbished hardware portfolio to now include LaserJet Multi-Function Printers, available for Managed Print Solutions customers in the United States.

    Each HP Certified Refurbished device undergoes rigorous refurbishment and inspection processes, utilizes approved HP parts, and comes backed by HP Support for added peace of mind. The LaserJet offerings are the latest addition to the HP Certified Refurbished hardware portfolio, which also includes availability of HP EliteBook 800 G6 and G7 series notebooks in the United States and France.

    Delivering HOPE Around the World
    HP is expanding HOPE Recycling Futures – HP’s signature program that helps companies connect and uplift children. HOPE Recycling Futures receives devices from organizations who would otherwise dispose of them, works with its partners to erase existing data and refurbish the devices. HP then coordinates with vetted non-governmental organizations to deliver the devices to schools serving vulnerable and marginalized youth — all at no cost to the company or receiving organization.

    HOPE Recycling Futures is already partnering with companies across the EU, UK, Switzerland, India, Singapore, and Brazil, and will now extend this partnership to include Mexico. More than 16,000 children in 22 countries have benefited from the program through 72 donation projects to date.

    By giving their PCs a second life for kids in need through HOPE Recycling Futures, businesses can play a crucial role in reducing e-waste and empowering the next generation with the tools they need to thrive in a digital world.

    For more information on today’s news at HP Imagine, visit https://www.hp.com/us-en/newsroom/press-kits/2024/hp-imagine.html.

    About HP Workforce Solutions
    Workforce Solutions is a global business unit of HP Inc. Given HP’s innovative and comprehensive portfolio of PCs, printers, and collaboration gear, HP Workforce Solutions (HPWS) is used by millions worldwide to solve customer problems, often proactively, through AI-enabled software and services. HP can help partners and customers from start to finish of their technology journey.

    About HP
    HP Inc. (NYSE: HPQ) is a global technology leader and creator of solutions that enable people to bring their ideas to life and connect to the things that matter most. Operating in more than 170 countries, HP delivers a wide range of innovative and sustainable devices, services and subscriptions for personal computing, printing, 3D printing, hybrid work, gaming, and more. For more information, please visit: http://www.hp.com

    [1] The Workforce Experience platform is for commercial customers and requires registration. At launch, some features will require a subscription. To register for access, visit https://admin.hp.com/. Some features and capabilities may require additional purchase of HP services and/or commercial hardware capable of supporting the HP Insights agent for Windows, Mac, & Android. Activation and restrictions may apply.
    Select HP Workforce Solutions require an HP Insights agent for Windows, Mac, & Android, available for download at https://admin.hp.com/software. For full system requirements and services that require the agent, please visit https://admin.hp.com/requirements. The agent collects telemetry and analytics around devices and applications that integrate into the Workforce Experience platform and is not sold as a standalone service. Internet access with connection to the Workforce Experience platform is required. HP follows stringent GDPR privacy regulations, and the platform is ISO27001, ISO27701, ISO27017 and SOC2 Type2 certified for Information Security.
    [2] Third party licenses required.
    [3] HP Services Scan is preinstalled and/or provided thru Windows Update and checks for service entitlement on each hardware device and downloads the applicable software agent automatically. To disable this feature, please follow the instructions at http://www.hpdaas.com/requirements. The HP Insights agent is a telemetry and analytics platform that provides critical data around devices and applications and is not sold as a standalone service. HP follows stringent GDPR privacy regulations and is ISO27001, ISO27701, ISO27017 and SOC2 Type2 certified for Information Security. Internet access with connection to the HP Insights agent is required. For full system requirements, please visit http://www.hpdaas.com/requirements. Not available in China.
    [4]Remote Work Statistics & Trends In (2024) – Forbes Advisor, Pew Research
    [5] Out-of-band diagnostics and remediation is available in North America (which includes the US and Canada), and the EU as an HP Care Pack for select HP commercial platforms that are Intel® vPro® and Intel® AMT enabled and are entitled to HP Premium Support or HP Premium+ Support. Service levels and response times for HP Care Packs may vary depending on your geographic location. Service starts on date of hardware purchase. Restrictions and limitations apply. For details, visit www.hp.com/go/cpc. HP Services are governed by the applicable HP terms and conditions of service provided or indicated to Customer at the time of purchase. Customer may have additional statutory rights according to applicable local laws, and such rights are not in any way affected by the HP terms and conditions of service or the HP Limited Warranty provided with your HP Product. Check with your HP authorized sales rep for availability.
    [6] Based on HP’s internal analysis of PC manufacturers with power cycle control, non-OS control, BIOS control and reimaging control as of 9/24/2024.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Europe: President Amherd emphasises Switzerland’s commitment to peace and calls for strengthening of multilateralism in New York

    Source: Switzerland – Department of Foreign Affairs in English

    Bern, 24.09.2024 – In her speech to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, 24 September, President Viola Amherd focused on peacebuilding and international humanitarian law. She emphasised Switzerland’s commitment to strong and effective multilateralism.

    In various conflicts around the world civilian populations and infrastructure are not only afforded inadequate protection, but are being deliberately targeted, explained the President. International law, as the foundation of all joint efforts for peace, security and prosperity in the world, must serve as the basis for action. She cited Switzerland’s commitment to peacebuilding, including the Conference on Peace in Ukraine at the Bürgenstock, and called for focused and effective multilateralism. She warned against the fragmentation of the world into blocs and paid tribute to the central role of the UN as the only universal organisation to address common challenges.

    The UN General Assembly was preceded by the Summit of the Future, which was aimed at strengthening international cooperation. Switzerland welcomes the Pact for the Future adopted at the summit as an important commitment to multilateralism. The Pact draws on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as a reference framework, sets priorities in peacebuilding and places human rights at the heart of each chapter. The Pact for the Future is a call for action by all UN member states, said President Amherd at the weekend.

    UN Security Council debate and bilateral meetings

    The president’s programme during her visit to New York continues with her participation in a high-level debate of the UN Security Council on the topic of ‘Leadership for Peace’ on Wednesday. Ms Amherd will give a speech at an event on the equal participation of women in political decision-making processes, which will be attended by other female presidents and heads of government. An event on the inclusion of women in the peace process in Afghanistan has already taken place.

    President Amherd is taking advantage of her time at the UN to meet with heads of state and government. She met with Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah and the new Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday. The talks with the Kuwaiti Crown Prince covered bilateral relations while focusing on the Middle East conflict; this subject was also addressed at the meeting with President Pezeshkian alongside the human rights situation in Iran, Switzerland’s protecting power mandate and the 2015 nuclear agreement.

    A meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres is scheduled for Tuesday evening, which is set to address issues including multilateralism and Switzerland’s presidency of the UN Security Council in October.


    Address for enquiries

    DDPS Communications
    +41 58 464 50 58
    kommunikation@gs-vbs.admin.ch


    Publisher

    Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports
    http://www.vbs.admin.ch

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Compatibility of internal border controls with the Schengen Borders Code – E-001719/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001719/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Pascal Arimont (PPE)

    Temporary internal border controls have been allowed at all German borders since 16 September 2024. Following temporary border controls already in place at Germany’s borders with Austria, Switzerland, Czechia and Poland, the German Ministry of the Interior has ordered further temporary internal border controls to last six months at the country’s borders with Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, France and Denmark. It informed the Commission of the new border controls on 9 September 2024.

    • 1.Are these internal border controls in line with Article 25(2) of the Schengen Borders Code (Regulation (EU) 2016/399), according to which such controls may be introduced only as a last resort?
    • 2.Are these internal border controls consistent with the principles of necessity and proportionality set out in Article 26 of the Schengen Borders Code?
    • 3.How does the Commission intend to avoid a domino effect if other Member States decide to follow Germany, France, Austria, Sweden, Denmark, Italy and Slovenia and reintroduce their own border controls?

    Submitted: 16.9.2024

    Last updated: 24 September 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Video: 🇨🇭 Switzerland – President Addresses United Nations General Debate, 79th Session | #UNGA

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Viola Amherd, President of the Swiss Confederation, addresses the General Debate of the 79th Session of the General Assembly of the UN (New York, 24-30 September 2024).

    World leaders gather to engage in the annual high-level General Debate under the theme, “Unity and diversity for advancing peace, sustainable development, and human dignity, everywhere and for all.” Heads of State and Government and ministers will explore solutions to intertwined global challenges to advance peace, security, and sustainable development.

    The UN General Assembly (UNGA) is the main policy-making organ of the Organization. Comprising all Member States, it provides a unique forum for multilateral discussion of the full spectrum of international issues covered by the Charter of the United Nations. Each of the 193 Member States of the United Nations has an equal vote.

    General debate website: https://gadebate.un.org/

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    Screenshot credit: UN Photo/Loey Felipe

    #UNGA #UnitedNations

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3xfA38Srfg

    MIL OSI Video

  • MIL-OSI: Freename Announces Plans to Apply for ICANN Top-Level Domains

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Zürich, Switzerland, Sept. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Freename, a leading player in the Web3 domain registration sector, has officially announced its plans to participate in the upcoming ICANN gTLD (generic Top Level Domains) registration round. The company intends to apply for .chain, .token, .metaverse and a variety of other gTLDs. Freename will also submit applications on behalf of third-party customers in this new gTLDs round. While the names of these partners remain undisclosed at this stage, Freename confirms that these strategic collaborations have been carefully selected to maximize the impact and relevance of each top-level domain. These Web3 domain registrations will also have their replica in the Web2/DNS space to further expand their reach and utilities.

    Freename’s Strategic Partnerships and Leadership

    This important milestone is made possible by Freename’s solid position within the domain industry, where the company enjoys strong relationships with institutional players in the traditional domain market. Among its notable collaborations, Freename has partnered with the ICANN-licensed Registry ShortDot launching the JV called WebUnited, with the mission to enhance Web2 domains with blockchain utilities. These partnerships further strengthen Freename’s ability to apply for ICANN’s gTLD programs, reaffirming its leadership in the market.

    Freename is also the first Web3 Registrar with ICANN accreditation which sells and tokenizes traditional DNS domain names as well as Web3 domains. By combining its well-established expertise in Web3 with the new technology of domain tokenization, Freename continues to dominate the Web3 domain market, as evidenced by the 2024 statistics placing it as the top Registrar in the sector.

    Looking Ahead: New Opportunities

    As the next ICANN gTLD registration round approaches, Freename invites companies looking to secure their own personalized TLD to join this journey of growth and innovation. Interested businesses can apply through this dedicated form.

    About Freename: Freename is the leading multichain Web3 Namespace where users can register and mint their own Web3 domains on their preferred chain.

    Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Navigating Through Financial Turbulences with Preparedness, Competence, and Confidence

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    OeNB | SUERF | Joint Vienna Institute | Yale Program on Financial Stability Conference on Building Resilience and Managing Financial Crises
    Vienna, Austria
    Tobias Adrian, IMF Financial Counsellor and Director of the Monetary and Capital Markets Department

    September 18, 2024

    It is a great pleasure to speak to you today on a policy area at the forefront of our work at the IMF in helping our members prepare for, and deal with, financial instability. I will provide a snapshot of the progress that has been made and what remains to be done to deal effectively with bank runs and bank failures. I will also explain what we are doing at the IMF to help our membership make further progress in this critical area.

    The bank failures in 2023 in the US and Switzerland presented the most significant test since the global financial crisis of the reforms taken collectively to end “too-big-to-fail.” It’s not often that policymakers get to field test plans for dealing with failing systemic banks, let alone one for a global systemically important bank (G-SIB).

    In our view, the failures of Credit Suisse in Switzerland and SVB, Signature, and First Republic in the US, showed that while significant progress has been made, further progress is still required to deliver on the too-big-to-fail reform agenda and reduce the risk that taxpayers bail out shareholders and creditors when banks fail.

    On the one hand, the actions the authorities took last year successfully avoided deeper financial turmoil. In addition, unlike many of the failures during the global financial crisis, significant losses were shared with the shareholders and some creditors of the failed banks. However, taxpayers were once again on the hook as extensive public support was used to protect more than just the insured depositors of failed banks.

    In Switzerland, amid a massive creditor run, the Credit Suisse acquisition was backed by a government guarantee and liquidity facilities nearly equal to a quarter of Swiss economic output. While the public support was ultimately recovered, it entailed very significant contingent fiscal risk, and created a larger, more systemic bank. Indeed, UBS now has the largest ratio of assets to home country GDP of any individual G-SIB.

    The use of standing resolution powers to transfer ownership of Credit Suisse, after bailing in shareholders and creditors, rather than relying on emergency legislation to effect a merger, would have fully wiped out the equity of Credit Suisse shareholders and limited the need for public support.

    What lessons have we learnt?

    Domestic and international authorities have published extensively on the lessons learnt and we share many of the conclusions. The key points I would highlight include:

    The importance of intrusive supervision and early intervention. Credit Suisse depositors lost confidence after prolonged governance and risk management failures. The banks which failed in the US pursued risky business strategies and very rapid growth with inadequate risk management. Supervisors in both jurisdictions should have acted faster and been more assertive and conclusive. Policymakers need to empower supervisors with both the ability and the will to act.

    Even relatively small banks can prove systemic. A lesson from many past crises, including the US bank failures in 2023, is that you can’t always judge in advance which banking problems will become systemic. In many countries, including the US and Switzerland, we think authorities should do more to be ready for crises affecting their medium-sized banks. Banking supervisory and resolution authorities should ensure that sufficient recovery and resolution planning takes place across the banking sector as a whole. This should include, on a proportional basis, banks that may not be systemic in all circumstances, but that could certainly be systemic in some.

    Central banks should be prepared to provide extensive liquidity support during a crisis. Banks should be familiar with the central bank’s operations and facilities and be ready to use them at short notice. Who can access central bank lending is also an important question as liquidity risks have partially moved away from the usual central bank counterparties. While widening the counterparty list could help central banks intervene more broadly in a crisis, it runs the risk of rewarding regulatory arbitrage, giving raise to difficult trade-offs and requiring careful assessment. Central banks may well have to lend against illiquid collateral in a crisis. In that context, prepositioning would help to ensure operational preparedness especially to ascertain the legal claim on the collateral and to calibrate appropriate haircuts. An open question is whether the prepositioning should be voluntary or required, and how much counterparties should preposition if required. The benefits of enhanced lending “fire power” would have to be compared with the cost that prepositioning entails for the banks and the costs to the central bank, including risks to its balance sheet. If propositioning is directly linked with risk (e.g., a percentage of uninsured deposit), the impact on intermediation and the interaction with other prudential regulation would need to be carefully assessed.

    Resolution plans and regimes need sufficient flexibility. We very much support the conclusion of the Financial Stability Board’s lessons learned report that resolution authorities need to “better operationalize a range of resolution options for different circumstances.” Every bank failure presents different challenges and resolution authorities need to be flexible enough to deal with the actual crisis that presents itself, balancing risks to financial stability with those to taxpayers. Authorities should make sure that they carefully balance rules versus discretion and detailed planning versus optionality in designing their resolution regimes. The rapid sale of Credit Suisse should prompt us to think about what would be needed for the successful sale in resolution of even the largest banking groups, at least in some circumstances.

    Strikingly, every one of the cases I mentioned from Spring 2023, involved the transfer of the failing bank’s business lines to an acquiring bank, even where this had not been the focus of prior resolution planning. Two of the US cases also involved the intermediate step of transfer to bridge banks. So, we have timely and high-profile reminders that transfer powers should be a core part of the resolution toolkit and should be duly planned for and readily implementable, including at short notice.

    Cooperation and effective implementation of resolution powers across borders is imperative. One notable feature of last year’s bank failures was the degree of international cooperation between regulators and resolution authorities in their handling of these cases. The Swiss authorities worked intensively with international counterparts to prepare for a resolution of Credit Suisse, which would have needed supportive actions from the supervisors and resolution authorities responsible for Credit Suisse’s main foreign operations, including in the US, UK, and EU. SVB’s UK subsidiary was resolved by the Bank of England, ultimately being sold to HSBC, and the FSB report highlights that the UK relied on the deep relationships built over the years with their US counterparts to help implement this. This cooperation seems to have begun earlier and worked a lot better than in similar cases during the global financial crisis, such as the failure of Lehman Brothers.

    That experience highlights how global financial stability depends on authorities being able to work together across borders and to build in peacetime the routine contacts and good understanding ex ante of what each authority would be likely to do to make that possible. However, there was a wrinkle in this otherwise positive experience, as highlighted in the Financial Stability Board’s report on the bank failures, which relates to the importance of the US securities markets to most major foreign banks. Credit Suisse and most other major banks have debt securities issued in US dollars and/or under New York law, the holders of which may incur losses in a resolution. As a recent report of the Financial Stability Board highlighted, there remain significant open questions about how disclosure and other US securities legal requirements would be applied in the circumstances where securities issued in the US are envisaged to be converted in a short period, for example, over a resolution weekend. This is an important issue where further work is needed and this is being taken forward by the Financial Stability Board, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and others.

    Finally, effective deposit insurance regimes are crucial. Banks typically fail when creditors lose confidence, even before their balance sheet reflects potential losses. Authorities in many countries need to strengthen deposit insurance regimes. New technology like 24/7 payments, mobile banking, and social media have accelerated deposit runs. Last year’s failures followed rapid deposit withdrawals, and deposit insurers and other authorities should be ready and able to act more quickly than many currently can.

    IMF staff are working actively to support efforts in member countries to strengthen their supervision, resolution, liquidity assistance, and deposit insurance frameworks including through FSAPs and technical assistance. In the US, we have seen lessons learned reports and policy proposals from many of the US banking authorities, several of which pick up on issues and recommendations that were discussed in the IMF’s assessment of the US financial sector (“FSAP”) in 2020. Our next FSAPs for Switzerland and the Euro Area will be published next year, and as we start work on that we will be taking a close look at the authorities’ and the FSB’s findings and will likely reiterate many of our previous findings, including on strengthening deposit insurance regimes. We are also contributing to policy formulation at the international level, including a recently announced review of the international deposit insurance standard, and by earlier this year hosting with the Financial Stability Board a workshop for policymakers on the use of transfer powers in resolution.

    The bottom line is that progress has been made, but there is still further to go in putting an end to too-big-to-fail. Most of the areas where further progress is needed are already well known; last year’s bank failures should provide the impetus for policymakers to cover the remaining ground.

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER:

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    @IMFSpokesperson

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2024/09/16/sp091824-navigating-through-financial-turbulences-with-preparedness-competence-and-confidence

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: G7 foreign ministers’ statement in New York, September 2024

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Following the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting at the High-Level Week of the UN General Assembly, the following statement was made by Chair Antonio Tajani.

    1. Introduction

    In today’s meeting in New York, in the wake of the Summit of the Future, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and the High Representative of the European Union reiterated their commitment to upholding the rule of law, humanitarian principles and international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, and to protecting human rights and dignity for all individuals.

    They re-emphasized their determination to foster collective action in order to preserve peace and stability to address global challenges, such as the climate crisis and to advance the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    In doing so, the G7 members renewed their commitment to the promotion of free societies and democratic principles, where all persons can freely exercise their rights and freedoms.

    2. Summit for the Future

    In the spirit of the renewed determination to strengthen the multilateral system based on the UN Charter’s principles, as reflected  in the Pact for the Future adopted  at the Summit of the Future by world Leaders, the G7 members committed to continue working with countries and all relevant stakeholders  within the UN system through dialogue, mutual understanding and respect in the pursuit of common solutions, with the aim of upholding and reforming the multilateral system  so that it better reflects today’s world and is fit to respond to the complex global challenges of the future. They reaffirmed their commitment to work with all UN member states to strengthen the roles of the UNSG as well as the UNGA. They also recommitted to the reform of the UNSC.

    3. Steadfast Support to Ukraine

    The G7 members reaffirmed their unwavering support to Ukraine as it defends its freedom, sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, against Russia’s brutal and unjustifiable war of aggression. The G7 members strongly condemned Russia’s blatant breach of international law, including the UN Charter, and of the basic principles that underpin the international order. They strongly condemned the serious violations of international humanitarian law perpetrated by Russia’s forces in Ukraine, which have caused a devastating impact on the civilian population. Violence against civilians, including women, children, and prisoners of war is unacceptable.

    They expressed their outrage at Russia’s repeated attacks against critical infrastructure and they condemned in the strongest possible terms any targeting of civilian buildings and even hospitals. Ensuring the protection and resilience of Ukraine’s energy grid and its power generation capacity remains a fundamental and urgent priority as winter approaches. They welcomed the international conference on energy security held on August 22. .as well as the ongoing coordination of the G7 energy group. They reiterated their commitment to help Ukraine meet its urgent short-term financing needs, as well as support its long-term recovery and reconstruction priorities. 

    Russia must end its war of aggression and pay for the damage it has caused to Ukraine. The G7 members reiterated their commitment to explore and use all possible lawful avenues by which Russia is made to meet those obligations.

     The launch of the Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) Loans for Ukraine, as mandated by G7 leaders, will make available approximately USD 50 billion in additional funding to Ukraine that will be serviced and repaid by future flows of extraordinary revenues stemming from the immobilization of Russian sovereign assets held in the European Union and other relevant jurisdictions.

    The G7 Foreign Ministers and the High Representative are working, together with Finance Ministers, to operationalize the G7 Leaders’ commitment by the end of the year. They will maintain solidarity in this commitment to providing this support to Ukraine. The G7 members confirmed that, consistent with all applicable laws and their respective legal systems, Russia’s sovereign assets in their jurisdictions will remain immobilized until Russia ends its aggression and pays for the damage it has caused to Ukraine.

    They also committed to strengthening the Ukraine Donor Platform to help coordinate the disbursal of funds and ensure they align with Ukraine’s highest priority needs at a pace it can effectively absorb. This will play a key role in advancing Ukraine’s reforms in line with its European path and in contributing to a successful Ukraine Recovery Conference to be held in Italy in 2025.

    Any use of nuclear weapons by Russia in the context of its war of aggression against Ukraine would be inadmissible. They therefore condemned in the strongest possible terms Russia’s irresponsible and threatening nuclear rhetoric, as well as its posture of strategic intimidation. They also expressed their deepest concern about the reported use of chemical weapons as well as riot control agents as a method of warfare by Russia in Ukraine. 

    The G7 members remained committed to holding those responsible accountable for atrocities in Ukraine, in line with international law. They also condemned the seizures of foreign companies and called on Russia to reverse these measures and seek acceptable solutions with the companies targeted by them.

    They condemned Russia’s seizure and continued control and militarization of Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which poses severe risks for nuclear safety and security, potentially affecting the entire international community. They reiterated their support to the International Atomic Energy Agency’s efforts directed at mitigating such risks.

    They underlined once again their support for Ukraine’s right of self-defense and reiterated their commitment to Ukraine’s long-term security, recalling the launch of the Ukraine Compact in Washington on 11 July 2024. They re-affirmed the intention to increasing industrial production and delivery capabilities to assist Ukraine’s self-defense. They highlighted their support to Ukraine in its efforts to modernize its armed forces and strengthen its own defense industry. They expressed their resolve to bolster Ukraine’s air defense capabilities to save lives and protect critical infrastructure.

    They remained committed to raising the costs of Russia’s war of aggression by building on the comprehensive package of sanctions and economic measures already in place. Though existing measures have had a significant impact on Russia’s war machine and ability to fund its invasion, its military is still posing a threat not just to Ukraine but also to international security.

    The G7 members expressed the intention to continue taking appropriate measures, consistent with their legal systems, against actors in China and in third countries that materially support Russia’s war machine, including financial institutions, and other entities that facilitate Russia’s acquisition of items for its defense industrial base.

    They expressed their intention to continue to apply significant pressure on Russian revenues from energy and other commodities. This will include improving the efficacy of the oil price cap policy by taking further steps to tighten compliance and enforcement, including against Russia’s shadow fleet, while working to maintain market stability.

    They especially emphasized the urgency to support Ukraine’s energy security, including by coordinating international assistance through the G7+Ukraine Energy Coordination Group. They underscored the importance to continue working with the Ukrainian authorities and International Financial Institutions through the Ukraine Donor Platform, and by mobilizing private investments and fostering participation of civil society.

    They highlighted the reality of millions of internally displaced Ukrainians and the importance of an inclusive rights-based, gender-responsive recovery, including the reintegration of veterans and civilians with disabilities, and to address the needs of women, children as well as other population groups who have been disproportionately affected by Russia’s war of aggression. They reiterated their condemnation of Russia’s unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children and welcomed coordinated efforts to secure their safe return.  They called on Russia to release all persons it has unjustly detained and safely return all civilians it has illegally transferred or deported, starting with children. They welcomed the Ministerial Conference on the Human Dimension of Ukraine’s 10 point peace formula that will be hosted by Canada on October 30-31.

    They reiterated the need to support Ukraine’s agriculture sector, which is critical for global food supply, particularly for the most vulnerable nations, and called for unimpeded exports of grain, foodstuffs, fertilizers and inputs from Ukraine.

    They acknowledged the importance to involve the private sector in the sustainable economic recovery of Ukraine. They welcomed and underscored the significance of Ukraine itself continuing to implement domestic reform efforts, especially in the fields of anti-corruption, justice system reform, decentralization, and promotion of the rule of law. These endeavors are in line with the Euro-Atlantic path Ukraine has embraced. The G7 members were unanimous on the need to continue to support efforts of the Ukrainian government and people in these endeavors.

    They resolutely condemned Russia’s holding of illegitimate ‘elections’ in the occupied Ukrainian Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol. Russia’s actions once again demonstrate its blatant disregard for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence, and the UN Charter. They called on all members of the international community to refrain from recognizing Russia’s illegitimate actions.

    They welcomed the Summit on Peace in Ukraine that took place in Switzerland on June 15-16 and its focus on the key priorities needed to achieve a framework for peace based on international law, including the UN Charter and its principles, and respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. They remained committed to follow up on the Conference through constructive engagement with all international partners to reach a comprehensive, just and lasting peace.

    The G7 members acknowledged that Russia continues to expand its campaigns of foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI). They condemned Russia’s use of FIMI to support its war of aggression against Ukraine. They reiterated their determination to bolster the G7 Rapid Response Mechanism by developing a collective response framework to counter foreign threats to democracies.

    4. Situation in the Middle East

    The G7 members reiterated their condemnation of Hamas’ horrendous attacks on October 7, 2023. 101 hostages are still in the hands of Hamas. They noted with deep concern the trend of escalatory violence in the Middle East and its repercussions on regional stability and on the lives of civilians shattered by this conflict, from the Gaza Strip to the Israeli-Lebanese Blue Line. Actions and counter-reactions risk magnifying this dangerous spiral of violence and dragging the entire Middle East into a broader regional conflict with unimaginable consequences. They called for a stop to the current destructive cycle, while emphasizing that no country stands to gain from a further escalation in the Middle East.

    They expressed their deep concern about the situation along the Blue Line. They recognized the essential stabilizing role played by the Lebanese Armed Forces and the UN Interim Force in Lebanon in mitigating that risk. They demanded the full implementation of UNSCR 1701 (2006) and urged that all relevant actors implement immediate measures towards de-escalation.

    The G7 members reaffirmed their strong support for the ongoing mediation efforts undertaken by the United States, Egypt and Qatar to reach a resolution between the parties to the conflict in Gaza. They reiterated their full commitment for the implementation of the UNSC Resolution 2735 (2024) and the comprehensive deal outlined by President Biden in May that would lead to an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, a significant and sustained increase in the flow of humanitarian assistance throughout Gaza, and an enduring end to the crisis, to secure a pathway to a two-state solution with a safe Israel alongside a sovereign Palestinian state. They urged the parties to the conflict to unequivocally accept the ceasefire proposal, stressing the need for countries in a position to directly influence the parties to cooperate in strengthening mediation efforts. They called for the full implementation of the terms of the ceasefire proposal without delay and without conditions.

    They called on all parties to fully comply with international law, including international humanitarian law. They expressed their deep alarm for the heavy toll this conflict has taken on civilians, deploring all losses of civilian lives equally and noting with great concern that, after nearly a year of hostilities and regional instability, it is mostly civilians, including women and children, who are paying the highest price. Protection of civilians must be an absolute priority for all parties at all times.

    The G7 members expressed concern at the unprecedented level of food insecurity affecting most of the population in the Gaza Strip. Securing full, rapid, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access in all its forms and through all relevant crossing points remains an absolute priority. They urged all parties to allow the unimpeded delivery of aid and ensure protection of humanitarian workers by properly implementing de-confliction measures. They recognized the crucial role played by UN agencies and other humanitarian actors in delivering assistance especially health care for the most vulnerable persons, including the polio vaccination campaign. They expressed their support for UNRWA to effectively uphold its mandate, emphasizing the vital role that the UN Agency plays.

    The G7 members reaffirmed their unwavering commitment, through reinvigorated efforts in the Middle East Peace Process, to the vision of a two-state solution where two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, live side by side in peace within secure and recognized borders, consistent with international law and relevant UN resolutions, and in this regard stress the importance of unifying the Gaza strip with the West Bank under Palestinian Authority. We note that mutual recognition, to include the recognition of a Palestinian state, at the appropriate time, would be a crucial component of that political process.  They expressed their concern about the risk of weakening the Palestinian Authority and underlined the importance of maintaining economic stability in the West Bank. They welcomed the EU’s 400 million Euro emergency package for the Palestinian Authority. All parties must refrain from unilateral actions and from divisive statements that may undermine the prospect of a two-state solution, including the Israeli expansion of settlements and the “legalization” of settlement outposts. They condemned the rise in extremist settler violence committed against Palestinians, which undermines security and stability in the West Bank and threatens prospects for a lasting peace. They expressed their deep concern regarding the deteriorating security situation in the West Bank.

    They reiterated their commitment to working together – and with other international partners – to closely coordinate and institutionalize their support for civil society peacebuilding efforts, ensuring that they are part of a larger strategy to build the foundation necessary for a negotiated and lasting Israeli-Palestinian peace. The G7 members called on Iran to contribute to de-escalation of tensions in the region. They demanded that Iran cease its destabilizing actions in the Middle East. They underlined that they stand ready to adopt further sanctions or take other measures in response to further destabilizing initiatives.

    They reiterated their determination that Iran must never develop or acquire a nuclear weapon and that the G7 will continue working together, and with other international partners, to address Iran’s nuclear escalation. A diplomatic solution remains the best way to resolve this issue.  As the IAEA remains unable to verify that Iran’s nuclear program is exclusively peaceful, they urged Iran’s leadership to cease and reverse nuclear activities that have no credible civilian justification and to cooperate with the IAEA without further delay to fully implement their legally binding safeguards agreement and their commitments under UNSCR 2231(2015).

    They condemned in the strongest possible terms Iran’s export and Russia’s procurement of Iranian ballistic missiles. Evidence that Iran has continued to transfer weaponry to Russia despite repeated international calls to stop represents a further escalation of Iran’s military support to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Russia has used Iranian weaponry such as UAVs to kill Ukrainian civilians and strike their critical infrastructure.

    They reiterated that Iran must immediately cease all support to Russia’s illegal and unjustifiable war against Ukraine and halt such transfers of ballistic missiles, UAVs and related technology, which constitute a direct threat to the Ukrainian people as well as European and international security more broadly.

    They reaffirmed their steadfast commitment to hold Iran to account for its unacceptable support for Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine that further undermines global security. In line with their previous statements on the matter, they underscored that they are already responding with new and significant measures.

    They also reiterated their deep concern about Iran’s human rights violations, especially against women and minority groups. They reiterated their call on Iran to allow access to the country to relevant UN Human Rights Council Special Procedures mandate holders.

    De-escalation efforts in the region must also include the immediate and unconditional termination of any attack by the Houthis against international and commercial vessels transiting the Gulf of Aden, the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea. The G7 members reiterated their strong condemnation of these attacks and the right of countries to defend their vessels from attacks. They called for the immediate release by the Houthis of the Galaxy Leader and its crew. They expressed their strong concern about the August 21 attack on the merchant vessel Sounion and the ongoing risk of an environmental catastrophe as salvage operations continue. They welcomed the efforts by the EU maritime operation Aspides and by the US-led Operation Prosperity Guardian to protect vital sea lanes. They appreciated the efforts of those countries that are committed to protect freedom of navigation and trade, as well as maritime security, in line with UNSCR 2722 (2024) and in accordance with international law.

    5. Fostering partnerships with African Countries

    The G7 members reaffirmed their commitment to support African nations in the pursuit of sustainable development as well as the creation of jobs and growth. The focus remains on fostering fair partnerships, built on shared principles, democratic values, local leadership, and practical initiatives.

    They reiterated their intention to align actions with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the specific needs of African countries, including plans to improve local and regional food security, infrastructure, trade, and agricultural productivity. They expressed their support for the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area, a crucial factor for Africa’s growth in the next decade.

    The G7 members emphasized the need to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation with African countries and regional organizations. In addition to maintaining financial support for African nations, they expressed their determination to improve the coordination and effectiveness of G7 resources, mobilizing domestic resources and encouraging increased private investments.

    They welcomed the African Union’s permanent membership in the G20, and the creation of an additional Chair for Sub-Saharan Africa on the IMF Executive Board in November.

    They reaffirmed their commitment to the G20 Compact with Africa, a tool aimed at enhancing private investment, driving structural reforms, supporting local entrepreneurship, and fostering cooperation, particularly in the energy sector. The G7 Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII), and initiatives like the EU’s Global Gateway can contribute to promote sustainable, resilient, and economically viable infrastructure in Africa, ensuring transparency in project selection, procurement, and financing. In this framework, they welcomed Italy’s Mattei Plan for Africa.

    They recognized that sustainable development, peace and security and democracy go hand in hand, reaffirming their commitment to help African governments in strengthening democratic governance and respect for human rights, while addressing conditions conducive to terrorism, violent extremism, and instability.

    They expressed their deep concern about the destabilizing activities of the Kremlin-backed Wagner Group and other Russia-supported entities. They called for accountability for all those responsible for human rights violations and abuses.

    6. Indo-Pacific

    The G7 members reiterated their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, based on the rule of law, which is inclusive, prosperous and secure, grounded on sovereignty, territorial integrity, peaceful resolution of disputes, fundamental freedoms and human rights. They reaffirmed the importance of working together with regional partners and organizations, notably the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). They reaffirmed their thorough support for ASEAN centrality and unity. They reaffirmed their intention to work to support Pacific Island Countries’ priorities, as articulated through the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.

    As they seek constructive and stable relations with China, they recognized the importance of direct and candid engagement to express concerns and manage differences. They reaffirmed their readiness to cooperate with China to address global challenges. They expressed their deep concern at the China’s support to Russia. They called on China to step up efforts to promote international peace and security, and to press Russia to stop its military aggression and immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw its troops from Ukraine. They encouraged China to support a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on territorial integrity and the principles and purposes of the UN Charter, including through its direct dialogue with Ukraine. They also expressed their deep concern at China’s ongoing support for Russia’s defense industrial base, which is enabling Russia to maintain its illegal war in Ukraine and has significant and broad-based security implications. They called on China to cease the transfer of dual-use materials, including weapons components and equipment, that are inputs for Russia’s defense sector.

    They recognized the importance of China in global trade. However, they expressed their concerns about China’s persistent industrial targeting and comprehensive non-market policies and practices that are leading to global spillovers, market distortions and harmful overcapacity in a growing range of sectors, undermining our workers, industries and economic resilience and security, as well as impacting on currencies.  The G7 members are not decoupling or turning inwards. They are de-risking and diversifying supply chains where necessary and appropriate and fostering resilience to economic coercion. They called on China to refrain from adopting export control measures, particularly on critical minerals, that could lead to significant supply chain disruptions. Together with partners, the G7 members will invest in building their respective industrial capacities, promote diversified and resilient supply chains, and reduce critical dependencies and vulnerabilities.

    They remained seriously concerned about the situation in the East and South China Seas and reiterated their strong opposition to any unilateral attempt to change the status quo by force or coercion. They reaffirmed that there is no legal basis for China’s expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea, and they reiterated their opposition to China’s militarization and coercive and intimidation activities in the South China Sea. They re-emphasized the universal and unified character of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and reaffirmed UNCLOS’s important role in setting out the legal framework that governs all activities in the oceans and the seas. They reiterated that the award rendered by the Arbitral Tribunal on 12 July 2016 is a significant milestone, which is legally binding upon the parties to those proceedings and a useful basis for peacefully resolving disputes between the parties. They reiterated their strong opposition to China’s dangerous use of coast guard and maritime militia in the South China Sea and its repeated obstruction of countries’ high seas freedom of navigation. They expressed deep concern about the dangerous and obstructive maneuvers, including water cannons and ramming, by the China Coast Guard and maritime militia against Philippines vessels. 

    The G7 members reaffirmed that maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is indispensable to international security and prosperity, and called for the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues. There is no change in the basic position of the G7 members on Taiwan, including stated One-China policies. They supported Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations as a member where statehood is not a prerequisite and as an observer or guest where it is.

    They remained concerned by the human rights situation in China, including in Xinjiang and Tibet. They are also worried about the crackdown on Hong Kong’s autonomy and independent institutions, and ongoing erosion of rights and freedoms. They urged China and the Hong Kong authorities to act in accordance with their international commitments and applicable legal obligations.

    The G7 members strongly condemned North Korea’s continuing expansion of its unlawful nuclear and ballistic missile programs in violation of multiple UNSC resolutions and its continuous destabilizing activities. They reiterated their call for the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and demanded that North Korea abandons all its nuclear weapons, existing nuclear programs, and any other WMD and ballistic missile programs in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner, in accordance with all relevant UNSC resolutions. They called on North Korea to return to dialogue to promote peace and stability in the Korean peninsula. They urged all UN Member States to fully implement all relevant UN Security Council resolutions. They reiterated their deep disappointment with Russia’s veto last March on the mandate renewal of the UNSC 1718 Committee Panel of Experts.

    They condemned in the strongest possible terms the increasing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, including North Korea’s export and Russia’s procurement of North Korean ballistic missiles and munitions in direct violation of relevant UNSCRs, as well as Russia’s use of these missiles and munitions against Ukraine. They are also deeply concerned about the potential for any transfer of nuclear or ballistic missiles-related technology to North Korea, in violation of the relevant UNSCRs. They urged Russia and North Korea to immediately cease all such activities and abide by relevant UNSCRs. They urged North Korea to respect human rights, facilitate access for international humanitarian organizations, and resolve the abductions issue immediately.

    They called on China not to conduct or condone activities aimed at undermining the security and safety of our communities and the integrity of our democratic institutions, and to act in strict accordance with its obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.

    7. Regional Issues

    Venezuela

    The G7 members reiterated their deep concern about the situation in Venezuela, following the vote on July 28.

    They emphasized that the announced victory of Maduro lacks credibility and democratic legitimacy, as indicated by reports of the UN Panel of Experts and independent international observers as well as data published by the opposition. They underscored that it is essential for electoral results to be complete and independently verified to ensure respect for the will of the Venezuelan people. 

    They expressed their outrage for the arrest warrant and constant threats to the security of Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who decided to seek refuge in Spain. According to the above-mentioned independent reports, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia appears to have won the most votes.

    They urged Venezuelan representatives to cease all human rights violations and abuses, arbitrary detentions and widespread restrictions on fundamental freedoms, particularly affecting the political opposition, human rights defenders, and representatives of independent media and civil society. They called for the release of all political prisoners and for a path to freedom and democracy for the people of Venezuela.

    They urged the international community to keep Venezuela high on the diplomatic agenda and they expressed their support for efforts by regional partners to facilitate the Venezuelan-led democratic and peaceful transition that the people of Venezuela have clearly chosen in the polls.

    Haiti

    The G7 members expressed their determination to continue supporting Haitian institutions – including the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT) and the Government of Prime Minister Conille – in their commitment to create the necessary conditions of general security and stability for the convening, by February 2026, of free and fair elections. The expression of popular will would set the foundation for the full restoration of democracy and the rule of law in Haiti.

    They also expressed full support to the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, which is providing critical support to the Haitian National Police as they counter criminal gangs engaged in illicit trafficking and inflicting brutal violence upon the population.

    The G7 members emphasized the importance of continued support to the MSS mission through financial contributions to the UN Trust Fund as well as contributions in kind. They expressed their strong appreciation for the commitment of the Government of Kenya – which has already deployed 380 personnel on the ground – to support the Haitian National Police in restoring peace and security.

    They called on all countries that have committed to deploy their contingents to the MSS mission to do so as soon as possible, to consolidate the mission and its fundamental role in the Country. They called on Haiti’s partners to continue their humanitarian assistance to the Haitian people and to expedite their financial and in-kind contributions to the MSS mission to help ensure that the mission is resourced for success.

    They called also on the United Nations Security Council to consider a UN Peace Operation to maintain the security gains of the Haiti National Police and the MSS mission for holding free and fair elections and called on the Secretary-General accordingly to provide support.

    The G7 members welcomed the work of the G7 Working Group on Haiti in monitoring institutional, political, social and security developments in Haiti, with a view to supporting the stabilization of the country and the restoration of full democratic governance.

    Libya

    The G7 members reiterated their unwavering commitment to Libyan stability, sovereignty, independence and unity. They expressed deep concern about recent developments in the country, in particular those involving the leadership of the Central Bank of Libya and the High Council of State, which show the fragility and unsustainability of the present status quo. They urged relevant Libyan parties to rapidly reach the necessary compromises to begin to restore the institutional integrity of the Central Bank of Libya and its standing with the international financial community. They called on Libyan political actors to refrain from taking harmful unilateral actions that create further political tension and fragmentation and make the country vulnerable to harmful foreign interference.

    They noted advances made in the organization of local elections and they called for a free, fair and inclusive participation of all Libyans. It is now imperative to relaunch a Libyan-led and Libyan-owned political process facilitated by the UN towards free and fair presidential and parliamentary elections.

    They expressed their support and commended the efforts made by UNSMIL officer in charge Stephanie Koury in support of the stabilization of Libya. They called on the Secretary General to appoint a new Special Representative without delay.

    Sudan

    The G7 members reiterated their grave concern over the ongoing fighting, mass-displacement and famine in Sudan.

    They condemned the serious human rights violations and abuses against the civilian population, including widespread sexual and gender-based violence, as well as international humanitarian law violations by both sides to the conflict. They called for an immediate end to the escalating violence, which is creating further displacement, and urged the warring parties to ensure the protection of civilians. They reiterated their commitment to holding accountable all those responsible for violations of international law in Sudan.

    They condemned the emergence of famine in Sudan as a direct consequence of efforts to restrict access of humanitarian actors. They noted recent progress in relation to the re-opening of the Chad-Sudan Adre border crossing, in the wake of the Paris Conference and of the Geneva talks.  They called for full, rapid, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access both into Sudan and across lines of conflict so aid can reach all those in need.

    They urged all parties to cease hostilities immediately and to engage in serious negotiations aimed at achieving a lasting ceasefire, humanitarian access and protection of civilians without pre-conditions.

    They called on external actors to refrain from fueling the conflict, to respect the UN arms embargo on Darfur, and to play a responsible role in resolving the crisis.

    They welcomed mediation efforts by regional and international actors and organizations to facilitate a durable peace for the country.

    Inclusive, national dialogue, aimed at restoring democracy, re-establishing and strengthening the civilian and representative institutions after the end of the conflict, is a prerequisite for lasting peace. The G7 Members emphasized that it is necessary for representatives of Sudanese civil society, including women, to be fully engaged in the reflection on the political future of the country.

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 September 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Translation: «L’initiative sur l’alimentation» at abouti

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Italy –

    Source: Switzerland – Federal Chancellery

    Federal Chancellery

    Bern, 24.09.2024 – –

    The federal popular initiative «Pour une nutrition sûre – thanks to the reinforcement of sustainable indigenous production, in front of denrées vegétales foodstuffs et à une eau potablere potablere (initiative sur l’alimentation)», launched on 16 August 2024, in information abouti . The Federal Chancellery found, after verification, that 112’736 of the 113’060 deposited signatures are valid.

    Address for envoi de questions

    Beat FurrerChargé d’information058 465 02 45beat.furrer@bk.admin.ch

    Author

    Federal Chancelleryhttps://www.bk.admin.ch/bk/fr/home.html

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Translation: «The Nutrition Initiative» has succeeded

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Italy –

    Source: Switzerland – Federal Chancellery

    Federal ChancelleryBern, 24.09.2024 – –The federal popular initiative “For a secure diet – by strengthening sustainable domestic production, more plant-based foods and clean drinking water (Nutrition Initiative)”, submitted on 16 August 2024, has been formally successful. Of the 113,060 signatures submitted, 112,736 are valid.Address for enquiriesBeat FurrerInformation Officer058 465 02 45beat.furrer@bk.admin.chPublished byFederal Chancelleryhttps://www.bk.admin.ch/bk/en/home.html

    Social shares

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI China: Xinjiang’s Khunjerab Pass offers full-year service

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

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI: STMicroelectronics unveils new generation of silicon carbide power technology tailored for next-generation EV traction inverters

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    STMicroelectronics unveils new generation of silicon carbide power technology tailored for next-generation EV traction inverters

    • Smaller, more efficient products to ramp-up in volumes through 2025 across 750V and 1200V classes, will bring the advantages of silicon carbide beyond premium models to mid-size and compact electric vehicles.
    • ST plans to introduce multiple silicon carbide technology innovations through 2027, including a radical innovation.

    Geneva, Switzerland, September 24, 2024 – STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM), a global semiconductor leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications, is introducing its fourth generation STPOWER silicon carbide (SiC) MOSFET technology. The Generation 4 technology brings new benchmarks in power efficiency, power density and robustness. While serving the needs of both the automotive and industrial markets, the new technology is particularly optimized for traction inverters, the key component of electric vehicle (EV) powertrains. The company plans to introduce further advanced SiC technology innovations through 2027 as a commitment to innovation.

    STMicroelectronics is committed to driving the future of electric mobility and industrial efficiency through our cutting-edge silicon carbide technology. We continue to advance SiC MOSFET technology with innovations in the device, advanced packages, and power modules,” said Marco Cassis, President, Analog, Power & Discrete, MEMS and Sensors Group. “Together with our vertically integrated manufacturing strategy, we are delivering industry leading SiC technology performance and a resilient supply chain to meet the growing needs of our customers and contribute to a more sustainable future.

    As the market leader in SiC power MOSFETs, ST is driving further innovation to exploit SiC’s higher efficiency and greater power density compared to silicon devices. This latest generation of SiC devices is conceived to benefit future EV traction inverter platforms, with further advances in size and energy-saving potential. While the EV market continues to grow, challenges remain to achieve widespread adoption and car makers are looking to deliver more affordable electric cars. 800V EV bus drive systems based on SiC have enabled faster charging and reduced EV weight, allowing car makers to produce vehicles with longer driving ranges for premium models. ST’s new SiC MOSFET devices, which will be made available in 750V and 1200V classes, will improve energy efficiency and performance of both 400V and 800V EV bus traction inverters, bringing the advantages of SiC to mid-size and compact EVs — key segments to help achieve mass market adoption. The new generation SiC technology is also suitable for a variety of high-power industrial applications, including solar inverters, energy storage solutions and datacenters, significantly improving energy efficiency for these growing applications.

    Availability
    ST has completed qualification of the 750V class of the fourth generation SiC technology platform and expects to complete qualification of the 1200V class in the first quarter of 2025. Commercial availability of devices with nominal voltage ratings of 750V and 1200V will follow, allowing designers to address applications operating from standard AC-line voltages up to high-voltage EV batteries and chargers. 

    Use cases
    ST’s Generation 4 SiC MOSFETs provide higher efficiency, smaller components, reduced weight, and extended driving range compared to silicon-based solutions. These benefits are critical for achieving widespread adoption of EVs and leading EV manufacturers are engaged with ST to introduce the Generation 4 SiC technology into their vehicles, enhancing performance and energy efficiency. While the primary application is EV traction inverters, ST’s Generation 4 SiC MOSFETs are also suitable for use in high-power industrial motor drives, benefiting from the devices’ improved switching performance and robustness. This results in more efficient and reliable motor control, reducing energy consumption and operational costs in industrial settings. In renewable energy applications, the Generation 4 SiC MOSFETs enhance the efficiency of solar inverters and energy storage systems, contributing to more sustainable and cost-effective energy solutions. Additionally, these SiC MOSFETs can be utilized in power supply units for server datacenters for AI, where their high efficiency and compact size are crucial for the significant power demands and thermal management challenges.

    Roadmap
    To accelerate the development of SiC power devices through its vertically integrated manufacturing strategy, ST is developing multiple SiC technology innovations in parallel to advance power device technologies over the next three years. The fifth generation of ST SiC power devices will feature an innovative high-power density technology based on planar structure. ST is at the same time developing a radical innovation that promises outstanding on-resistance RDS(on) value at high temperatures and further RDS(on) reduction, compared to existing SiC technologies.

    ST will attend ICSCRM 2024, the annual scientific and industry conference exploring the newest achievements in SiC and other wide bandgap semiconductors. The event, from September 29 to October 04, 2024, in Raleigh, North Carolina will include ST technical presentations and an industrial keynote on ‘High volume industrial environment for leading edge technologies in SiC’. Find out more here: ICSCRM 2024 – STMicroelectronics.

    Technical Note to Editors
    The fourth generation SiC MOSFETs from STMicroelectronics represent a significant leap forward in power conversion technology compared to previous generations. These devices are engineered to deliver superior performance and robustness, addressing the stringent demands of future EV traction inverters. The Generation 4 SiC MOSFETs feature a significantly lower on-resistance (RDS(on)) measured against prior generations, minimizing conduction losses, and enhancing overall system efficiency. They offer faster switching speeds, which translate to lower switching losses, crucial for high-frequency applications and enabling more compact and efficient power converters. The Generation 4 technology provides extra robustness in Dynamic Reverse Bias (DRB) conditions, exceeding the AQG324 automotive standard, ensuring reliable operation under harsh conditions.

    With Generation 4 ST continues to deliver outstanding RDS(on) x die-area figure of merit to ensure high current-handling capability with minimal losses. The average die size of Generation 4 devices is 12-15% smaller than that of Generation 3, considering an RDS(on) at 25 degrees Celsius, allowing for more compact power converter designs, saving valuable space, and reducing system costs. The improved power density of these devices supports the development of more compact and efficient power converters and inverters, essential for both automotive and industrial applications. In addition, this is particularly beneficial for power supply units in server datacenters for AI, where space and efficiency are critical factors. 

    As an industry leader in this technology, ST has already supplied STPOWER SiC devices for more than five million passenger cars worldwide in a range of EV applications including traction inverter, OBC (onboard charger), DC-DC converter, EV charging station, and e-compressor application, significantly enhancing the performance, efficiency, and range of NEVs. ST’s SiC strategy, as an integrated device manufacturer (IDM), ensures quality and security of supply to serve carmakers’ strategies for electrification. With the recently announced fully vertically integrated SiC substrate manufacturing facility in Catania, expected to start production in 2026, ST is moving quickly to support the rapid market transition towards e-mobility and higher efficiency in industrial applications.

    For further information about ST’s SiC portfolio, please visit www.st.com/sic-mosfets

    About STMicroelectronics
    At ST, we are over 50,000 creators and makers of semiconductor technologies mastering the semiconductor supply chain with state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities. An integrated device manufacturer, we work with more than 200,000 customers and thousands of partners to design and build products, solutions, and ecosystems that address their challenges and opportunities, and the need to support a more sustainable world. Our technologies enable smarter mobility, more efficient power and energy management, and the wide-scale deployment of cloud-connected autonomous things. We are committed to achieving our goal to become carbon neutral on scope 1 and 2 and partially scope 3 by 2027. Further information can be found at www.st.com.

    For further information, please contact:

    INVESTOR RELATIONS:
    Céline Berthier
    Group VP, Investor Relations
    Tel: +41.22.929.58.12
    celine.berthier@st.com

    MEDIA RELATIONS:
    Alexis Breton        
    Corporate External Communications
    Tel: +33.6.59.16.79.08
    alexis.breton@st.com

    Attachment

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Tax strategy: an ambitious plan for purchasing power

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

    Source: Swiss Canton of Vaud – news in French

    This plan is part of the major balances built into the legislative programme and constitutes one of the most ambitious cantonal tax reforms for individuals, including progressive and financially absorbable measures.

    It also serves as an indirect counter-project to the popular initiative “Tax cuts for all: restoring purchasing power to the middle class” – considered excessive – and which the Council of State opposes.

    Press release of September 24, 2024

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why home insurance rates are rising so fast across the US – climate change plays a big role

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Andrew J. Hoffman, Professor of Management & Organizations, Environment & Sustainability, and Sustainable Enterprise, University of Michigan

    The U.S. has seen a large number of billion-dollar disasters in recent years. AP Photo/Mark Zaleski

    Millions of Americans have been watching with growing alarm as their homeowners insurance premiums rise and their coverage shrinks. Nationwide, premiums rose 34% between 2017 and 2023, and they continued to rise in 2024 across much of the country.

    To add insult to injury, those rates go even higher if you make a claim – as much as 25% if you claim a total loss of your home.

    Why is this happening?

    There are a few reasons, but a common thread: Climate change is fueling more severe weather, and insurers are responding to rising damage claims. The losses are exacerbated by more frequent extreme weather disasters striking densely populated areas, rising construction costs and homeowners experiencing damage that was once more rare.

    Hurricane Ian, supercharged by warm water in the Gulf of Mexico, hit Florida as a Category 4 hurricane in October 2022 and caused an estimated $112.9 billion in damage.
    Ricardo Arduengo/AFP via Getty Images

    Parts of the U.S. have been seeing larger and more damaging hail, higher storm surges, massive and widespread wildfires, and heat waves that kink metal and buckle asphalt. In Houston, what used to be a 100-year disaster, such as Hurricane Harvey in 2017, is now a 1-in-23-years event, estimates by risk assessors at First Street Foundation suggest. In addition, more people are moving into coastal and wildland areas at risk from storms and wildfires.

    Just a decade ago, few insurance companies had a comprehensive strategy for addressing climate risk as a core business issue. Today, insurance companies have no choice but to factor climate change into their policy models.

    Rising damage costs, higher premiums

    There’s a saying that to get someone to pay attention to climate change, put a price on it. Rising insurance costs are doing just that.

    Increasing global temperatures lead to more extreme weather, and that means insurance companies have had to make higher payouts. In turn, they have been raising their prices and changing their coverage in order to remain solvent. That raises the costs for homeowners and for everyone else.

    The importance of insurance to the economy cannot be understated. You generally cannot get a mortgage or even drive a car, build an office building or enter into contracts without insurance to protect against the inherent risks. Because insurance is so tightly woven into economies, state agencies review insurance companies’ proposals to increase premiums or reduce coverage.

    The insurance companies are not making political statements with the increases. They are looking at the numbers, calculating risk and pricing it accordingly. And the numbers are concerning.

    The arithmetic of climate risk

    Insurance companies use data from past disasters and complex models to calculate expected future payouts. Then they price their policies to cover those expected costs. In doing so, they have to balance three concerns: keeping rates low enough to remain competitive, setting rates high enough to cover payouts and not running afoul of insurance regulators.

    But climate change is disrupting those risk models. As global temperatures rise, driven by greenhouse gases from fossil fuel use and other human activities, past is no longer prologue: What happened over the past 10 to 20 years is less predictive of what will happen in the next 10 to 20 years.

    The number of billion-dollar disasters in the U.S. each year offers a clear example. The average rose from 3.3 per year in the 1980s to 18.3 per year in the 10-year period ending in 2024, with all years adjusted for inflation.

    With that more than fivefold increase in billion-dollar disasters came rising insurance costs in the Southeast because of hurricanes and extreme rainfall, in the West because of wildfires, and in the Midwest because of wind, hail and flood damage.

    Hurricanes tend to be the most damaging single events. They caused more than US$692 billion in property damage in the U.S. between 2014 and 2023. But severe hail and windstorms, including tornadoes, are also costly; together, those on the billion-dollar disaster list did more than $246 billion in property damage over the same period.

    As insurance companies adjust to the uncertainty, they may run a loss in one segment, such as homeowners insurance, but recoup their losses in other segments, such as auto or commercial insurance. But that cannot be sustained over the long term, and companies can be caught by unexpected events. California’s unprecedented wildfires in 2017 and 2018 wiped out nearly 25 years’ worth of profits for insurance companies in that state.

    To balance their risk, insurance companies often turn to reinsurance companies; in effect, insurance companies that insure insurance companies. But reinsurers have also been raising their prices to cover their costs. Property reinsurance alone increased by 35% in 2023. Insurers are passing those costs to their policyholders.

    What this means for your homeowners policy

    Not only are homeowners insurance premiums going up, coverage is shrinking. In some cases, insurers are reducing or dropping coverage for items such as metal trim, doors and roof repair, increasing deductibles for risks such as hail and fire damage, or refusing to pay full replacement costs for things such as older roofs.

    Some insurances companies are simply withdrawing from markets altogether, canceling existing policies or refusing to write new ones when risks become too uncertain or regulators do not approve their rate increases to cover costs. In recent years, State Farm and Allstate pulled back from California’s homeowner market, and Farmers, Progressive and AAA pulled back from the Florida market, which is seeing some of the highest insurance rates in the country.

    In some cases, insurers are restricting coverage. Roof repairs, like these in Fort Myers Beach, Fla., after Hurricane Ian, can be expensive and widespread after windstorms.
    Joe Raedle/Getty Images

    State-run “insurers of last resort,” which can provide coverage for people who can’t get coverage from private companies, are struggling too. Taxpayers in states such as California and Florida have been forced to bail out their state insurers. And the National Flood Insurance Program has raised its premiums, leading 10 states to sue to stop them.

    About 7.4% of U.S. homeowners have given up on insurance altogether, leaving an estimated $1.6 trillion in property value at risk, including in high-risk states such as Florida.

    No, insurance costs aren’t done rising

    According to NOAA data, 2023 was the hottest year on record “by far.” And 2024 could be even hotter. This general warming trend and the rise in extreme weather is expected to continue until greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere are abated.

    In the face of such worrying analyses, U.S. homeowners insurance will continue to get more expensive and cover less. And yet, Jacques de Vaucleroy, chairman of the board of reinsurance giant Swiss Re, believes U.S. insurance is still priced too low to fully cover the risk from climate change.

    Andrew J. Hoffman 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. Why home insurance rates are rising so fast across the US – climate change plays a big role – https://theconversation.com/why-home-insurance-rates-are-rising-so-fast-across-the-us-climate-change-plays-a-big-role-238939

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI USA: Romney, Hassan, Warner, Ernst Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Fight Pandemic Relief Fraud

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT)

    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs (HSGAC) Emerging Threats and Spending Oversight Subcommittee, Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Subcommittee Chair, Senator Mark Warner (D-VA), and Joni Ernst (R-IA) today introduced the COVID Spending Transparency Act of 2024, bipartisan legislation that would extend the term of the Treasury Department’s Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery (SIGPR)—currently scheduled to sunset at the end of March 2025—for another five years.

    SIGPR was created by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020 to oversee spending of government funds in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Several federal inspectors general, including SIGPR, have collectively uncovered waste, fraud, and abuse in the pandemic assistance loan programs amounting to hundreds of billions of dollars. SIGPR currently has 42 open cases, with 28 of those cases amounting to more than $499 million in CARES Act funding

    “The CARES Act was critically important for the country at a critical time, but it’s become clear that the oversight of funds tied to the CARES Act and other COVID relief legislation is still needed,” Senator Romney said. “It would be unwise to let the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery expire when there is still work to be done to recover federal funds. Our legislation would extend this important office for five years in order to continue to give the inspector general the tools needed to continue rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse in our federal programs from the COVID pandemic.”

    “The CARES Act provided critical funds to help save lives, support families, and keep small businesses afloat during the pandemic — but we know that some bad actors took advantage of it. We need to keep working to recover fraudulently obtained or used CARES Act federal funding,” said Senator Hassan. “The Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery plays a crucial role in overseeing these funds, and we must extend the position so that it can continue to combat waste, fraud, and abuse.”

    “The CARES Act provided crucial support to businesses during the COVID pandemic, but it also opened the door for potential misuse. This legislation would ensure that those receiving COVID relief funds are using them appropriately,” Senator Warner said. “It’s crucial the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery continues their important work, and has the resources to do so.”

    “With hundreds of billions of dollars of waste and fraud, it is evident that the screening process for pandemic swindlers had more holes than Swiss cheese. We need to give the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery the time, resources, and jurisdiction to track down every last cent of COVID fraud,” said Senator Ernst.

    Background:

    In November 2023, Senators Romney and Hassan led a HSGAC Emerging Threats and Spending Oversight Subcommittee hearing examining federal COVID-era spending. During the hearing, Romney advocated for extending SIGPR past its expiration date of March 28, 2025.

    The CARES Act created the Main Street Lending Program, which offered loans to small and medium-sized businesses. The Main Street Lending Program issued loans for small and medium-sized businesses and set up a payment plan of 15% in the third and fourth years, with a majority of payment of 70% due in the fifth year. The expiration of SIGPR coincides with the maturing of loans under the Treasury Department’s Main Street Lending Program.

    To date, SIGPR has recovered over $60 million in taxpayer funds, which surpasses its budget appropriated by Congress. SIGPR’s investigations have resulted in 53 federal indictments, 44 arrests, 16 guilty pleas, with 3 additional guilty pleas filed with the court, and 4 sentencings which have generated $11.2 million in seizure or forfeiture orders, $11.9 million in court ordered restitution, and a $350,000 civil settlement.

    Text of the bill can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI China: China, Switzerland open talks on free trade agreement upgrade

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

    BEIJING, Sept. 23 — China and Switzerland on Monday began negotiations on an upgrade of the Sino-Swiss free trade agreement (FTA), with both sides agreeing to intensify consultations and reach a high-level upgrade agreement as soon as possible on the basis of mutual benefits.

    The Chinese Ministry of Commerce said in a statement that Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao and Guy Parmelin, Swiss federal councilor and head of the Swiss Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research, announced the launch of talks through a livestream.

    Wang said that since it came into effect 10 years ago, the Sino-Swiss FTA has played a positive role in promoting the growth of bilateral trade, and enterprises in both countries have truly benefited.

    Upgrading the FTA will help expand bilateral trade and boost two-way investment, and promote the upgrading of economic and trade cooperation between the two countries, Wang said, adding that it will also showcase the two countries’ support for free trade and openness to the outside world at a time when economic globalization is encountering headwinds.

    Parmelin said that with trade protectionism on the rise globally, it is of great significance that China and Switzerland have launched their FTA upgrade negotiations. It shows that the two countries are always committed to building an open, standardized environment for international economic and trade cooperation, and it has sent a positive signal to the outside world that the two countries will deepen cooperation, he added.

    The Sino-Swiss FTA was signed in July 2013 and came into effect in July 2014.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Statement of G7+ Ministerial Meeting on Ukraine Energy Sector Support held on margins of 79th Session of UN General Assembly

    Source: Government of Canada News

    The G7+ Group on Ukraine Energy Sector Support today issued the following statement on the occasion of their fifth Ministerial Meeting on the margins of the 79th United Nations General Assembly

    September 23, 2024 – New York City, New York – Global Affairs Canada

    The G7+ Group on Ukraine Energy Sector Support today issued the following statement on the occasion of their fifth Ministerial Meeting on the margins of the 79th United Nations General Assembly:

    “We, the G7+ Ministerial Group, met on the margins of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly [UNGA] to reaffirm our unwavering support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s brutal and unjust attacks on Ukraine and its energy infrastructure.

    “We reaffirm our strong commitment to the territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders and to focus on the key priorities needed to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on international law, including the UN Charter and its principles.

    “We strongly condemn Russia’s continuous missile and drone strikes against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and cities across Ukraine, which have escalated since March 2024 and severely threaten Ukraine’s energy security and the Ukrainian people’s access to critical services, including electricity, heat and water, during the cold winter months, which could be the harshest for Ukraine since at least its independence. We highlight the regional implications of such attacks, notably on the Republic of Moldova’s energy security. Russia must end its war of aggression and pay for the damage it has caused.

    “We recommit to supporting Ukraine’s immediate and medium- and long-term recovery and reconstruction in line with its path toward the EU and to working to involve our private sectors and local governments in the sustainable economic and social recovery of Ukraine. We welcome, and underscore the significance of, Ukraine’s commitment to business-enabling reforms that will establish a level playing field for investment in the energy sector. We stress the importance of the implementation of the National Energy and Climate Plan and the monitoring of this process. We will continue to support efforts of the Ukrainian government and people in these endeavours.

    “We stress the importance of the implementation of energy sector reforms in line with the EU accession path and fulfilling obligations under the Energy Community Treaty, including OECD-compliant corporate governance standards. This is especially crucial ahead of the winter, given the scale of repairs and new energy infrastructure needs.

    “We acknowledge the need for international assistance to protect energy infrastructure from attacks, including through the strengthening of Ukraine’s air defence capabilities by the committed countries, and reaffirm our readiness to continue providing such assistance.

    “We condemn Russia’s seizure and continued control and militarization of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which threatens energy security.  We emphasize that any use of nuclear energy and nuclear installations must be safe, secured, safeguarded and environmentally sound. With reference to the UNGA resolution of July 11 entitled Safety and Security of Nuclear Facilities of Ukraine, Including the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, we stress that the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant must return to the full sovereign control of Ukraine in line with IAEA principles and under its independent supervision.

    “We are convinced that rebuilding Ukraine’s energy system in the short- and long-term is in the interest of enhancing global energy security and sustainability.

    “We welcome further commitments to providing funding and in-kind support to address the Ukrainian energy sector’s most urgent needs, including repairs of damaged power plants and district heating systems; deployment of new, distributed power generation; emergency backup power for critical services; and passive protection for energy infrastructure. We call on the global community to urgently strengthen efforts in that regard and provide Ukraine with all the assistance needed.

    “We underline the important work of international partners, banks and the Energy Community’s Ukraine Energy Support Fund in this regard. We call on international partners to elevate their financial contributions, in particular to this latter fund, to improve Ukraine’s resilience next winter.

    “Based on the work of the Working Group on Energy Security and the outcomes of the first Global Peace Summit, held on June 15 and 16, 2024, in Bürgenstock, Switzerland, as well as the results of a productive and constructive dialogue at the Energy Security Conference, held on August 22, 2024, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine.

    “Based on the Japan-Ukraine Conference for the Promotion of Economic Growth and Reconstruction, held in Tokyo, Japan, in February 2024; the 2024 Ukraine Recovery Conference [URC], held in Berlin, Germany, in June 2024; and looking ahead to the November 2024 UN Climate Change Conference and the 2025 URC, in Italy, we are committed to continuing to support immediate needs and Ukraine’s vision of a more decentralized, diversified, resilient and renewable and sustainable energy system that is fully integrated with Europe.”

    MIL OSI Canada News

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Statement on the occasion of the G7 Ministerial Meeting on Support for the Energy Sector of Ukraine on the Sidelines of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French 1

    The G7 Group on Support for Ukraine’s Energy Sector today issued the following statement at its fifth ministerial meeting on the margins of the 79th United Nations General Assembly:

    September 23, 2024 – New York, New York – Global Affairs Canada

    The G7 Group on Support for Ukraine’s Energy Sector today issued the following statement on the occasion of its fifth ministerial meeting on the margins of the 79th United Nations General Assembly:

    “We, the members of the G7 Group of Ministers, have gathered on the margins of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly to reaffirm our unwavering support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s brutal and unjust attacks on Ukraine and its energy infrastructure.

    “We reaffirm our strong commitment to the territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders. We also reiterate our determination to focus on the essential priorities necessary for the establishment of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on international law, including the Charter of the United Nations and its principles.

    “We strongly condemn the continued Russian missile and drone strikes against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and cities. These strikes have intensified since March 2024 and pose a serious threat to Ukraine’s energy security and the Ukrainian people’s access to essential services, including electricity, heat, and water, during the cold winter months, which could be the most difficult for Ukraine since at least its independence. We underscore the regional implications of such attacks, including on the energy security of the Republic of Moldova. Russia must end its war of aggression and pay for the damage it has caused.

    “We reaffirm our commitment to support Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction in the immediate, medium and long term, in line with the country’s path towards EU membership, and to work to engage the private sector and our local governments in Ukraine’s sustainable economic and social recovery. We welcome Ukraine’s commitment to implementing business-friendly reforms that will level the playing field for investments in the energy sector, and underline the importance of this initiative. We also highlight the importance of implementing the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan and monitoring this process. We will continue to support the efforts of the Government and people of Ukraine in these initiatives.

    “We stress the importance of implementing energy sector reforms in line with the EU accession path, and of respecting obligations under the Energy Community Treaty, including corporate governance standards in line with those of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. This is particularly important as winter approaches, given the scale of repairs and new energy infrastructure needs.

    “We recognize the need for international assistance to protect energy infrastructure from attack, including through the strengthening of Ukraine’s air defense capabilities by participating countries, and we reaffirm our readiness to continue providing such assistance.

    “We condemn the seizure and continued control and militarization of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant of Ukraine, which threatens energy security. We stress that any use of nuclear energy and nuclear facilities must be safe, secure, protected and environmentally friendly. With regard to the UN General Assembly resolution of 11 July entitled Safety and security of Ukraine’s nuclear facilities, including the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, we stress that the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant must return to the full sovereign control of Ukraine, in accordance with the principles of the International Atomic Energy Agency and under its independent supervision.

    “We are convinced that the reconstruction of the Ukrainian energy system in the short and long term is in the interests of improving global energy security and sustainability.

    “We welcome the new commitments to provide financial and non-financial support to address the most urgent needs of Ukraine’s energy sector, including the repair of damaged power plants and district heating facilities, the deployment of new distributed power generation networks, emergency backup power for essential services, and passive protection of energy infrastructure. We call on the international community to urgently step up its efforts in this regard and provide Ukraine with all the assistance it needs.

    “We highlight the important work of international partners, banks and the Energy Community’s Energy Support Fund of Ukraine in this regard. We call on international partners to increase their financial contributions, including to this fund, in order to improve Ukraine’s resilience next winter.

    “Taking into account the work of the Energy Security Working Group, the outcomes of the first World Peace Summit, held on June 15-16, 2024 in Bürgenstock, Switzerland, as well as the results of a productive and constructive dialogue at the Energy Security Conference, held on August 22, 2024, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine.

    “Considering the Japan-Ukraine Conference for Promoting Economic Growth and Reconstruction, held in Tokyo, Japan, in February 2024, the 2024 Conference on the Reconstruction of Ukraine [CRU] held in Berlin, Germany, in June 2024, and looking ahead to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in November 2024 and the 2025 CRU in Italy, we are determined to continue supporting Ukraine’s immediate needs and vision of a more decentralized, diversified, resilient, renewable and sustainable energy system, fully integrated with Europe.”

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI China: China, Switzerland begin free trade upgrade talks

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    This aerial photo shows a cargo ship at a smart container terminal of Tianjin Port in north China’s Tianjin, July 7, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

    China and Switzerland on Monday began negotiations on an upgrade of the Sino-Swiss free trade agreement (FTA), with both sides agreeing to intensify consultations and reach a high-level upgrade agreement as soon as possible on the basis of mutual benefits.

    The Chinese Ministry of Commerce said in a statement that Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao and Guy Parmelin, Swiss federal councilor and head of the Swiss Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research, announced the launch of talks through a livestream.

    Wang said that since it came into effect 10 years ago, the Sino-Swiss FTA has played a positive role in promoting the growth of bilateral trade, and enterprises in both countries have truly benefited.

    Upgrading the FTA will help expand bilateral trade and boost two-way investment, and promote the upgrading of economic and trade cooperation between the two countries, Wang said, adding that it will also showcase the two countries’ support for free trade and openness to the outside world at a time when economic globalization is encountering headwinds.

    Parmelin said that with trade protectionism on the rise globally, it is of great significance that China and Switzerland have launched their FTA upgrade negotiations. It shows that the two countries are always committed to building an open, standardized environment for international economic and trade cooperation, and it has sent a positive signal to the outside world that the two countries will deepen cooperation, he added.

    The Sino-Swiss FTA was signed in July 2013 and came into effect in July 2014.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Next training 2024 “Minimum wage in Geneva”

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

    Source: Switzerland – Canton Government of Geneva in French

    The cantonal office for inspection and labor relations (OCIRT) organizes face-to-face or webinar training courses throughout the year. They are primarily aimed at private sector companies, workers and specialists in the OCIRT’s fields of activity. Most of them are free of charge and aim to raise your awareness and facilitate your adaptation to legal standards. Some of them are eligible for training credits.

    Date, time and place

    Tuesday, October 29, 20242:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Free Webinar

    Registration

    Register by consulting our catalog:www.ge.ch/c/formations-ocirt-inscription.

    Animation

    Mr. Karim TheurillatLabor InspectorDepartment of Economy and Employment (DEE)Cantonal Office of Inspection and Labor Relations (OCIRT)5, rue David-Dufour1205 GenevaT 41 22 388 29 29karim.theurillat@etat.ge.ch

    Program

    Welcome and introduction

    Mr. Marco Treglia (OCIRT)

    General

    Basic elements

    Controls and sanctions

    Mr. Karim Theurillat (OCIRT)

    Questions/Discussion

    All (chat and/or microphone)

    Documentation

    It will be available after the webinar.

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Translation: 500 Years of the Three Leagues Free State – Diet in Valchava, Val Müstair

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Italy –

    Source: Switzerland – Canton Government of Grisons in Italian

    The Diet of 6 October 2024 in Val Müstair will be the seventh and final Diet in the 500th anniversary celebrations. The whole day on Sunday will be dedicated to gratitude towards nature and history, but there will also be time for fun and celebration.

    Even before the founding of the Free State of the Three Leagues, Val Müstair was an important transit and trade route. However, the valley has also been the scene of dramatic war events on several occasions. In its anniversary year, the municipality of Val Müstair is recalling its history and its significance for the present and the future. The Diet takes place on the same day as the traditional harvest festival. The combination of the two festivals allows us to delve into the history, nature and culture that characterise Val Müstair today. The play written especially by Eva and Magnus Schleich and performed for the anniversary by the theatre groups of Val Müstair offers insights into the conflicts that have characterised the valley in the past.

    Varied programmeThe day will begin at 10:45 a.m. with a short ecumenical service in the open air at the eastern entrance to the village of Valchava. Immediately afterwards, at 11:10 a.m., the traditional large Thanksgiving procession will begin at the same location with the participation of folklore associations, music societies, pupils from the schools of Val Müstair as well as festively decorated floats and animals. The festivities with speeches by State Councillor Marcus Caduff, Mayor Gabriella Binkert and Grand Councillor Rico Lamprecht will begin at 2 p.m.

    Theatre performance «Spranza chi vegnan meglders temps» (Hoping for better times), 3:00 p.m.The theatre performance about the Free State of the Three Leagues shows the dramatic nature of the time. The introduction to the play reads: «This alliance, signed 500 years ago, is unique, not least in light of the current threat to democratic rights. But all that glitters is not gold.» The performance alternates between historical scenes and discussions between the actors, with the director’s explanations leading from one scene to the next. Always hoping for better times. The theatre performance will also be performed on Wednesday, 2 October, and Friday, 4 October, at 5:00 p.m.

    The celebrations will take place in Valchava. The village will be richly decorated. More than 70 stalls will offer regional specialties, a refreshment point invites you to take a break. Of course, there will be musical entertainment and a children’s program. The cheerful festival will offer the population and guests from near and far a chance to have fun. The Diet will mark the fitting end of the jubilee year celebrations. The detailed program is available in the attachment, as well as on https://500.gr.ch/bundstag-valmuestair.

    We recommend travelling by public transport. Thanks to the offer “Return for the price of a single journey”, those going to the Diete only have to pay for the outward journey. The return journey to the starting point in the Canton of Graubünden is free.

    Further anniversary activities until the end of 2024A number of other anniversary-related activities will take place in all language regions until the end of 2024. These can be found at https://500.gr.ch.

    Photograph:

    Landsgemeinde celebration at Plaun Schumpeder, Sta. Maria, Val Müstair, around 1920, photo by Gian Battista Gross. Grisons State Archives, N2.1420.

    Attached:

    Anniversary flyer Diet in Val Müstair (Romansh/German)

    Contact persons:

    Questions about the 500th anniversary celebrations:

    Prime Minister Dr. Jon Domenic Parolini, Director of the Department of Education, Culture and Environmental Protection, e-mailJondomenic.Parolini@ekud.gr.ch
    Daniel Camenisch, project manager «500 years of the Three Leagues Free State», tel. 41 78 659 63 60, e-mailcamenisch@vinavant.ch

    Questions about the Diet in Val Müstair:

    Competent body: Department of Education, Culture and Environmental Protection

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI: 21Shares Announces Fee Reduction for Flagship ETPs, HODLX and BOLD

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ZURICH, 24 September 2024 – 21Shares AG (“21Shares”), one of the world’s largest issuers of cryptocurrency exchange traded products (ETPs) and a subsidiary of 21.co, is pleased to announce a significant fee reduction for two of its flagship products: the 21Shares Crypto Basket 10 ETP (HODLX) and the 21Shares Bytetree BOLD ETP (BOLD). Effective immediately, the management fees for these ETPs have been lowered to 0.49% for HODLX and 0.65% for BOLD, making these innovative investment vehicles more accessible to a broader range of investors.

    The 21Shares Crypto Basket 10 ETP (HODLX) provides diversified exposure to the top ten digital assets by market capitalization, rebalanced quarterly to reflect the dynamic nature of the cryptocurrency market. With this fee reduction to 0.49%, investors can now benefit from a more cost-effective way to capture the growth potential of the digital asset space in a single, diversified ETP.

    The 21Shares Bytetree BOLD ETP (BOLD) offers a unique blend of Bitcoin and Gold, designed as a balanced approach to digital and traditional assets. BOLD’s risk-adjusted weighting scheme, rebalanced monthly, combines the security of gold with the growth opportunities of Bitcoin, offering a diversified hedge against inflation and economic uncertainty. The new fee of 0.65% further enhances the appeal of this product for investors seeking strategic and cost-efficient exposure to these assets.

    “At 21Shares, our mission has always been to make investing in cryptocurrency more accessible, and this fee reduction is a reflection of our commitment to delivering value to our investors,” said Mandy Chiu, Head of Financial Product Development at 21Shares. “By lowering the fees on HODLX and BOLD, we are enabling more investors to participate in the future of finance at a lower cost.”

    These fee reductions underscore 21Shares’ dedication to providing innovative, low-cost investment solutions that meet the evolving needs of the global investor community. Both ETPs are 100% physically backed by their underlying assets, held securely in cold storage, ensuring the highest levels of trust for investors.

    For more information about 21Shares and its full range of ETPs, visit https://www.21shares.com/en-eu/product .

    Press Contacts:
    Audrey Belloff, Head of Communications, press@21.co

    About 21.co:
    21.co is the world’s leader in providing access to crypto through simple and easy to use products. 21.co is the parent company of 21Shares, one of the world’s largest issuer of cryptocurrency exchange traded products (ETPs) – which is powered by Onyx, a proprietary technology platform used to issue and operate cryptocurrency ETPs for 21Shares and third parties. The company was founded in 2018 by Hany Rashwan and Ophelia Snyder. 21Shares is registered in Zurich, Switzerland with offices in Zurich, London and New York. For more information, please visit 21Shares.

    Disclaimer:
    This document is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe for securities of 21Shares AG in any jurisdiction. Neither this document nor anything contained herein shall form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, any offer or commitment whatsoever or for any other purpose in any jurisdiction. Nothing in this document should be considered investment advice.

    This document and the information contained herein are not for distribution in or into (directly or indirectly) the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan or any other jurisdiction in which the distribution or release would be unlawful.

    This document does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in or into the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan. The securities of 21Shares AG to which these materials relate have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. There will not be a public offering of securities in the United States. Neither the US Securities and Exchange Commission nor any securities regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States has approved or disapproved of an investment in the securities or passed on the accuracy or adequacy of the contents of this presentation. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in the United States.

    Within the United Kingdom, this document is only being distributed to and is only directed at: (i) to investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the “Order”); or (ii) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”); or (iii) persons who fall within Article 43(2) of the Order, including existing members and creditors of the Company or (iv) any other persons to whom this document can be lawfully distributed in circumstances where section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply. The securities are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such securities will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents.

    Exclusively for potential investors in any EEA Member State that has implemented the Prospectus Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 the Issuer’s Base Prospectus (EU) is made available on the Issuer’s website under www.21Shares.com.

    The approval of the Issuer’s Base Prospectus (EU) should not be understood as an endorsement by the SFSA of the securities offered or admitted to trading on a regulated market. Eligible potential investors should read the Issuer’s Base Prospectus (EU) and the relevant Final Terms before making an investment decision in order to understand the potential risks associated with the decision to invest in the securities. You are about to purchase a product that is not simple and may be difficult to understand.

    This document constitutes advertisement within the meaning of the Prospectus Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 and the Swiss Financial Services Act (the “FinSA”) and not a prospectus. The 2023 Base Prospectus of 21Shares AG has been deposited pursuant to article 54(2) FinSA with SIX Exchange Regulation AG in its function as Swiss prospectus review body within the meaning of article 52 FinSA. The 2023 Base Prospectus and the key information document for any products may be obtained at 21Shares AG’s website (https://21shares.com/ir/prospectus or https://21shares.com/ir/kids).

    ###

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Customers and seed money for Empa spin-off: Solar cells for the Internet of Things

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

    Source: Switzerland – Department of Foreign Affairs in French

    Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research

    Dübendorf, St. Gallen and Thun, 24.09.2024 – “Perovskia Solar” has won over ten leading companies from the “Internet of Things” (IoT) sector as customers and received over two million francs in seed capital. The multi-award-winning Empa spin-off prints tailor-made solar cells for almost any electronic device. These can be produced inexpensively – and even work indoors.

    Every person owns an average of seven electronic devices. Several billion devices are in use worldwide – and with the “Internet of Things” (IoT), their number is constantly increasing. These must be regularly recharged or their batteries regularly changed. This is why the Empa spin-off “Perovskia Solar” has specialized in tailor-made solar cells for every conceivable electronic device – and with success: it has won over ten leading companies in the “Internet of Things” (IoT) sector as customers and has just received more than two million francs from an international coalition of business angels and early-stage funds. “Energy harvesting for IoT devices is a fast-growing market with multi-billion dollar potential,” said Anand Verma, founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Empa spin-off. “Our easy-to-integrate, designer solar cells either eliminate the need for batteries or extend their lifespan, opening up the possibility of powering any device with solar energy.”

    Solar cells from the printer

    The multi-award-winning Empa spin-off has brought the first perovskite solar cells to market that can be used for smartwatches, keyboards, and more. The custom manufacturing of traditional silicon solar cells is complex, expensive, and inefficient in low-light conditions. “We can print new perovskite solar cells in any size at low cost. Thanks to their high efficiency, they can power almost any indoor electronic device, whether at home or in the office, in a well-lit environment,” says Anand Verma.

    “Our energy harvesting technology was developed over several years at Empa, which enabled us to launch with a market-ready product that powers next-generation devices for industrial and private applications,” adds Tobias Meyer, founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Perovskia. Perovskites certainly have excellent properties: they absorb light particularly efficiently and conduct the resulting current well. But until now, perovskite solar cells were not stable enough and did not have a long enough lifetime to be used on a large scale. That is why Anand Verma spent five years researching printing processes for perovskite solar cells at Empa before setting up his own business in 2020.

    A new factory and international support

    “Perovskia Solar” now supplies several international companies with custom-made solar cells for IoT and consumer electronics. The Empa spin-off is now supported by the venture capital fund “Kickfund” of “Venture Kick” and the venture capital company “D

    The Empa spin-off recently built a factory in Aubonne, in the canton of Vaud. One million perovskite elements are expected to be printed there each year.

    Address for sending questions

    Prof. Dr. Frank NüeschFunctional-PolymersTel. 41 58 765 4740frank.nueesch@empa.ch

    Anand VermaCEO Perovskia Solaranand.verma@perovskia.solar

    Author

    Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Researchhttp://www.empa.ch

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Towards a new Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    Foreign Ministers of Australia, Jordan, Switzerland, Indonesia, Sierra Leone, the United Kingdom, Japan, Brazil and Colombia gave a joint statement on the protection of humanitarian personnel.

    Statement by Foreign Ministers of Australia, Jordan, Switzerland, Indonesia, Sierra Leone, the United Kingdom, Japan, Brazil and Colombia:

    Australia, Jordan, Switzerland, Indonesia, Sierra Leone, the United Kingdom, Japan, Brazil and Colombia, today announced the formation of a Ministerial Group for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel, dedicated to upholding and championing international humanitarian law and driving action to protect humanitarian personnel in conflict zones.

    International humanitarian law is the foundation for alleviating human suffering in wars. It limits the effects of armed conflict and regulates the conduct of hostilities. It provides for the protection of civilians, including the protection and respect of humanitarian personnel who assist and protect the victims of armed conflict, and notably provide the food, water and medical care that civilians in conflict zones need to survive.

    But respect for international humanitarian law is severely undermined, with consequences for current and future conflicts. Calls for compliance are not being heard.

    2023 was the deadliest year on record for humanitarian personnel, with 280 killed and hundreds more wounded and kidnapped. 2024 is on track to be even worse.

    This year alone, we have seen humanitarian personnel killed in Sudan, South Sudan, Ukraine, Yemen and many other contexts. Gaza is the most dangerous place on earth to be an aid worker, with over 300 humanitarian personnel killed since the start of the war.

    In forming this Ministerial Group, and in partnership with humanitarian organisations, we rededicate ourselves to the protection of humanitarian personnel. We stand together, seizing the momentum created by the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2730 in May 2024, to strengthen international commitment and translate it into action, to reverse current trends.

    The Ministerial Group has decided to pursue a Declaration on the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel.

    The Declaration will be developed over the coming months, and will demonstrate the unity of the international community’s commitment to protect humanitarian personnel and to channel that commitment into action in all current and future conflicts. All countries will be invited to join the Declaration.

    The Declaration will support the United Nations Secretary-General in his endeavours to improve the safety and security of humanitarian personnel, including in accordance with UNSCR 2730.

    Updates to this page

    Published 23 September 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Forecast for public finances: surpluses for cantons, uncertainty for Confederation and social security funds

    Source: Switzerland – Department of Finance

    Berne, 24.09.2024 – The general government’s financial development is likely to vary greatly depending on the level of government. This is the picture painted by the Federal Finance Administration’s new forecast, which goes up to 2028. While the social security funds will probably generate surpluses over the entire forecast period and the cantons from 2025 onward, the Confederation and the municipalities are expected to run structural deficits over the entire period. There is some uncertainty surrounding this development. The federal relief measures have not yet been factored into the forecasts.

    This whole press release is available as a document in pdf format.


    Address for enquiries

    Michael Girod, Communications
    Federal Finance Administration
    Tel. +41 58 465 41 41, kommunikation@efv.admin.ch


    Publisher

    Federal Finance Administration
    http://www.efv.admin.ch

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Translation: A few months before the Women’s Euro, more than 2,500 students at the Stadium to support Servette FC Chênois against AS Roma

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

    Source: Switzerland – Canton Government of Geneva in French

    More than 2,500 primary and secondary school students will have the opportunity to attend the Servette FC Chênois femmes-AS Roma match on Thursday, September 26, counting towards the UEFA Women’s Champions League qualifiers. With 9 months to go until the start of the Women’s Euro football championship in Switzerland, this event highlights women’s football and celebrates the practice of sport by all.

    On September 26, the Stade de Genève will welcome more than 2,500 students from Geneva schools, invited with their teachers to attend the Women’s Champions League match between Servette FC Chênois femmes and AS Roma.

    This meeting between the Servette FC Chênois women’s team, winners of the championship and the Swiss Cup last season, and the players of AS Roma, double Italian champions, is an opportunity for many students to discover an important sports infrastructure, while familiarizing themselves with the codes of the supporter, combining encouragement, fair play and sharing emotions. This is one of the many initiatives related to the promotion of women’s sport that will be offered to students in the canton during the 2024-2025 school year. The State Councilor responsible for the DIP Anne Hiltpold said on this subject: “Practicing a sport is good not only for the body, but also for the mind. The DIP is committed every day to the students of our schools to celebrate the benefits of sport, as evidenced by this invitation to which so many teachers responded. I am delighted and happy to be able to promote the values of football in this very special year for women’s sport.”

    This international Women’s Champions League match also takes on a special dimension given that the Stade de Genève will host five Women’s Euro matches next July. “Geneva will experience a unique celebration with Euro 2025, and allowing hundreds of children to attend a high-level women’s football match thanks to Servette Chênois femmes aims to ensure that as many people as possible are excited next summer and take full advantage of this major sporting event,” rejoices Thierry Apothéloz, State Councillor responsible for social cohesion.

    “We are delighted to welcome 2,500 children from the public education department for this exceptional match against AS Roma. It is a unique opportunity for them to live an inspiring sporting experience and to discover high-level women’s football. We hope that this day will remain etched in their memory and that it will contribute to strengthening their interest in sport and the values it conveys,” concludes Yoann Brigante, president of Servette FC Chênois femmes.

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

    MIL Translation OSI