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  • MIL-OSI Banking: Nicolas Vincent: Monetary policy decision-making – behind the scenes

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    Introduction

    Good morning. It’s a pleasure to be here with you today.

    I’ve done a lot of hiking, camping and skiing in the Eastern Townships. But this is the first time I’ve had a chance to spend time in Sherbrooke. I’m very much looking forward to spending the next two days in your lovely city.

    As Bruno mentioned, I’m a professor at HEC Montréal and an external Deputy Governor of the Bank of Canada. As an external Deputy Governor, I am a full member of Governing Council. I participate in all discussions related to monetary policy and financial stability.

    The Bank’s aim in creating an external, part-time role was to get new perspectives from someone who isn’t from the world of central banks but still knows a thing or two about economics. Thankfully, my teaching experience and academic research have come in quite handy in my role at the Bank, as has my early-career work in the public service. Even with my experience, however, I’ve had to learn a lot since joining the Bank in March 2023, particularly about the process involved in making interest rate decisions.

    At the beginning of September this year, in light of recent progress in the fight against inflation, the Bank announced a third consecutive cut of 25 basis points, bringing the policy rate to 4¼%. It will likely come as no surprise to any of you that it’s more pleasant to announce cuts than it is to announce increases. In recent years, decisions by the Bank have been the subject of much attention, interest and debate. This is to be expected. The decisions have an impact on everyone, in many different ways, and we are well aware of that. We know that households are worried about the cost of living, their mortgage loan renewal, house prices, rent and the fact that it is getting harder to find a job. Given the importance of our decisions, they must not be taken lightly. And having been at the Bank for 18 months now, I can confirm that they are not. Interest rate decisions are based on an enormous amount of analysis and reflection.

    But how are decisions reached? What does the process look like exactly? Since becoming Deputy Governor, I have often been asked such questions. Generally speaking, there is considerable interest in and curiosity about our work and our responsibilities. That’s why the Bank puts so much effort into making monetary policy understandable for everyone by communicating it in clear and simple terms. You can find detailed information on the Bank’s website explaining our work and our decision-making process. We want people to understand what we do.

    Yet, for all our efforts, the truth is that most people know little about how we work and the steps we take in deciding whether to raise, maintain or lower the policy interest rate. That may even be the case for many of you here. And when I think about it, it’s not particularly surprising. Even as a macroeconomist, I knew little about the process before starting at the Bank.

    Today I’d like to take you behind the scenes and speak about what happens behind closed doors. What are the steps in the process? What sources of data do we use? How do we make our projections? I’ll also talk about the debates, the differences of opinion and the ways we reach a consensus. As you’ll see, making a decision on monetary policy is much more complicated than pushing a button, and getting a computer to spit out calculations and having everything fall into place. I’ll also talk about my own experiences, what’s surprised me and what I’ve learned along the way.

    Analysis and consultations

    First, I’d like to start with a quick review of what monetary policy is and does. At its core, the Bank’s mandate is to keep inflation low, stable and predictable, and centred on the 2% target. The Bank’s main tool for doing this is the policy rate. Changes to the policy rate affect several other interest rates in the economy, notably mortgage rates and rates for business loans. If the Bank raises the policy rate in response to high inflation, the cost of borrowing increases. This lowers demand because people have less money to spend on things like eating out or clothing, while businesses defer spending on projects. When economic activity slows, inflation goes down, which shows that monetary policy is working.

    While that seems simple in theory, in practice it is rather more complicated because the effects of our actions are not felt immediately. I have been a Deputy Governor for 18 months, which is the period needed to observe the full effects of monetary policy on inflation. And because we are always making decisions about the future, the Bank must rely heavily on economic forecasting.

    In addition, the impacts of Bank decisions are complex and uncertain. Much like a business that faces many unknowns when deciding to adopt a new technology, the Bank also must make choices in the face of considerable uncertainty. This is why it’s important to have good information and good advice.

    To get the best possible understanding of the economic situation, Governing Council members have access to an extremely large number of datasets, analyses and points of view. When I’m asked to summarize the work of a Deputy Governor, I often say that I am a big aggregator of information. I am part of a team whose job is to put together all the pieces of the puzzle to inform our decision-making. Today, I’d like to explain to you what that means in concrete terms.

    Every year, the Bank makes eight monetary policy decisions. That means eight times a year, the Bank must decide whether it will raise, maintain or lower the policy interest rate. Four of the eight decisions are accompanied by the Monetary Policy Report (MPR), published most recently in July. The MPR examines the global and Canadian economies in terms of production, spending, the labour market and, of course, inflation. It also includes the Bank’s projections for growth and inflation and the risks to the projection over a two-year period.

    The decision-making process begins about a month before the announcement date, when Bank staff present an economic projection to Governing Council. We call this Case A. It draws on the Bank’s macroeconomic models and surveys, its analysis of various sectors and components of the economy, and its assessment of financial stability and financial market activity. Since we don’t have a crystal ball, we draw on the latest data and use our projection models to look into the future.1 For several hours, Governing Council members debate the assumptions and risks to the projection as well as alternative case scenarios prepared by staff.

    About 10 days later, Bank advisors and economists present Case B, a revised projection incorporating the comments of Governing Council members and, if any, new developments that occurred since Case A. We draw on that projection to make our policy rate decision.

    When there is a rate announcement without an accompanying MPR-as was the case two weeks ago-many of the same steps are involved, although staff do not make new projections. They report on new data released since the last policy decision and on how the economy as a whole performed against expectations. Although the amount of information we have access to differs between announcements with and without an MPR, all decisions are equally important.

    Throughout the process, Statistics Canada’s data on inflation, gross domestic product and employment are an invaluable source of information to guide our decisions. But they also have limits. First, data tend to be aggregate, which can make it difficult to discern the full range of experiences Canadians are having. That is why we spend a lot of time diving deep into the data to analyze what concerns and affects people on a day-to-day basis: rent, house prices, mortgage renewal, the prices of gas and groceries, how long it takes to find a job, and so on. All these factors help us to predict the path of inflation in the months and years ahead.

    Second, hard data draw from the past. That is why the Bank conducts quarterly surveys on consumer expectations and the business outlook. The qualitative and forward-looking nature of these surveys allows us to discover different points of view and obtain a more nuanced portrait of the future path of economic activity. Some of you may even have participated in these surveys; if so, I’d like to thank you for the contribution you’ve made to making monetary policy.

    We also engage with the public through outreach activities. The Bank needs to hear from a variety of participants in the economy to understand what is happening on the ground. Meeting with businesses, community groups and other organizations gives us an opportunity to listen, learn and deepen our understanding of their situation. The knowledge we gain helps us interpret the statistical data and contributes to our projections. This outreach also gives us an opportunity to explain the role of the Bank to Canadians.

    This is exactly what I will be doing during my time in Sherbrooke. I’ll have the opportunity to participate in a round table with Entreprendre Sherbrooke, speak with university students and meet with local officials. Sometimes outreach activities even have unintended outcomes. Last spring, I took an outreach trip to  Rimouski, where I grew up. After I was interviewed by local media, some childhood friends I had not heard from in years reached out and messaged me!

    As an aside, I’d like to point out that while the Bank seeks out views from a broad range of stakeholders, it makes monetary policy decisions independently. This protects the Bank from short-term political objectives and pressures from special-interest groups. The independence of a central bank is even more important when difficult decisions must be made, as has been the case in recent years.

    The next step in the decision-making process is the risk and recommendations meeting, which takes place about a week before the announcement date. Advisors and staff from economics departments share their points of view and debate the implications of raising, maintaining or lowering the policy rate. This culminates in a round-table discussion where each person puts forward a recommendation and its rationale. As you can imagine, we are never short on opinions. While Governing Council is ultimately responsible for making the decision, the decision is really the product of an enormous team effort.

    Once the members of Governing Council have heard from the advisors and studied their analyses and recommendations, they meet in private to evaluate everything they’ve learned and come to a decision. Now, I’ll shed a bit of light on how that works.

    Deliberating the decision

    Before I talk about the deliberation process, I have to let you in on a little secret. At the Bank’s head office, behind a massive wooden door, there is a room I like to call the Chamber of Secrets. It’s formally known as the Rasminsky Room, after Louis Rasminsky, the Bank’s third governor. All discussions and decisions about the policy rate take place in this room.

    It’s a secure room where the blinds are always drawn, and access is controlled. From inside this room, no communication with the outside world is allowed, and the use of electronic devices is strictly regulated. When we say “private” deliberations, we really mean it! The Bank takes security very seriously-and with good reason. A leak could have serious consequences. Many stakeholders-financial market participants, in particular-are very eager to get news of the decision.

    Returning to the topic of our deliberations, once all the members of Governing Council are in the room, the Governor opens the meeting. The Governor acts as chair and shepherds the discussions. Each member is given the opportunity to present their views on economic developments in Canada and abroad, and on the outlook for growth and inflation. Another tidbit from behind the curtain: in Governing Council discussions, the Deputy Governors speak in reverse order of seniority, with newer members speaking first. This ensures their views are not influenced by those of more senior members. The Senior Deputy Governor speaks next, followed lastly by the Governor. They express their views, which leads to further discussions. We then go around the table again, with members presenting their opinions on monetary policy and debating the rate decision.

    The process is not set in stone. The content and format of our discussions are adapted to the situation and vary depending on our thinking about the economic environment and risk landscape. For example, when I started at the Bank in March 2023, a number of regional banks in the United States had just failed. Questions about financial stability were at the forefront of our discussions. In recent months, an important focus of our discussions has been the stickiness of inflation in prices for certain services, including shelter.

    But how is the decision actually reached after all of these deliberations? Unlike other central banks, such as the US Federal Reserve or the Bank of England, where members vote, the Bank of Canada makes decisions by consensus. Members must therefore all agree on the course of action, even if we had different points of view when we walked into the Rasminsky Room. And it might not come as a surprise that we do not always agree on everything.

    In fact, it’s completely normal that members have differences of opinion. After all, each member of Governing Council has distinct expertise stemming from their past experiences and educational background. But the diversity of our expertise is exactly what makes it possible to have detailed and constructive discussions that lead to informed decision-making.

    So, how do we arrive at a consensus despite our differences of opinion? Here, the organic nature of our deliberations plays a key role. At times, points raised by other members may lead us to fine-tune or rethink the way we’ve interpreted the data. Or a colleague may raise a point or highlight issues that others had not originally considered. In my opinion, the need to arrive at a consensus strengthens our decision-making process. We must carefully consider the diversity of opinions within Governing Council and discuss among ourselves to arrive at a common position.

    I should also mention that reaching a consensus does not mean that all members of Governing Council share the same point of view on the economic outlook or the path for interest rates in the coming months. It means that members come to an agreement about the best decision to make at a particular moment in time.2 And the truth is that as new data are published and new information comes to light, differences of opinion tend to become less pronounced.

    Whatever shape the deliberations take, I can assure you that everyone around the table is always very conscious of the weight of these decisions. I fully felt this weight myself in June 2023 when I participated in my second round of monetary policy deliberations.

    In the year before my arrival, the Bank had decisively and forcefully raised the interest rate from 0.25% to 4.5% to combat the spike in inflation. At the beginning of 2023, the Bank indicated it would pause to evaluate the effects of the increases on the economy and inflation. But data released between April and June 2023 showed that the economy had been more robust than expected in the first quarter of the year and that inflation had even increased slightly. Given the situation, we reached the conclusion that we had to again raise the interest rate. But at the end of our Friday afternoon meeting, the Governor said, “Let’s take the weekend and sleep on this decision and come back on Monday with clearer heads to discuss again.”

    Over the course of that weekend, I came to fully feel the weight of the responsibility that came with my new role. I’d had countless discussions about monetary policy with colleagues and students over the course of my career as an academic. But as Deputy Governor, I found the discussions were no longer abstract or theoretical. I came to understand that I was one of six people whose decision would directly impact borrowing costs for millions of people like you and for businesses like yours. Believe me when I say that the realization made my head spin a little; it was really quite humbling.

    Communicating the decision

    One thing that may surprise you-as it did me-is that Governing Council’s work does not end once the decision is made. Communicating the reasons that led to the decision is almost as important as the decision itself. The members of Governing Council work closely with the Bank’s communications team to develop key messages and draft the press release and opening statement for the press conference. If only you knew how much time we spend trying to find the best ways to convey our message and looking for just the right words-in both official languages.

    With time, I’ve come to understand that this is not always an easy task. For example, at the July decision, we said downside risks to inflation were becoming increasingly important in our deliberations. Some people interpreted this to mean that we believed downside risks had strengthened. What we intended to communicate, however, was that, with the 2% target in sight, we gave increased consideration to the risk that inflation could fall below the target.

    As you can see, differences in interpretation can be very subtle, which makes choosing the right words all the more important. I’d like to think that all the years of explaining complex concepts to my students has given me a lot of practice in this regard.

    Even though I’ve been in this role for only a short time, I’ve been able to appreciate how the Bank’s approach to communication is constantly evolving. In the past, press conferences were held only when the rate announcement was accompanied by a Monetary Policy Report. Starting this year, all eight rate announcements now feature a press conference. This gives the Bank the opportunity to share its assessment of the economic outlook with the public and explain the reasoning that led to the rate decision. Following the decision, Governing Council members host information sessions and regularly give interviews with the media.

    Since January 2023, a summary of deliberations is published online two weeks after every decision. This document is a record of Governing Council’s assessment of the economic environment and the upside and downside risks to inflation. It also highlights where opinions converged and the topics that generated the most debate among members. The summary of deliberations for the September decision was published yesterday, in fact.

    Lastly, the Bank is always looking for new ways to communicate and for new channels to reach the widest audience possible. In fact, the Bank has accounts on YouTube, X, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn. Be sure to follow us.

    Conclusion

    It’s time for me to wrap up. I’ve now participated in 12 rate decisions. Since arriving at the Bank, I’ve always felt my experiences and external point of view have been useful to my work and valued by the other members of Governing Council and the organization as a whole.

    I genuinely feel I’m contributing to the mission of a rigorous and conscientious institution that is mindful that its credibility is directly linked to the effectiveness of its actions.

    Credibility must be earned. The Bank’s is founded on the trust that Canadians place in us and our actions. Even when those actions are difficult and have direct impacts, Canadians understand that we are always guided by our resolve to keep inflation low, stable and predictable.

    We are fully conscious of the responsibilities the Bank has toward all Canadians. To maintain the public’s trust, we must be rigorous, professional, humble, honest and transparent.

    It is to contribute to this transparency that I’ve spoken to you today about the Bank’s decision-making process. This process has allowed the Bank to weather many past storms, from recessions to economic crises and even a pandemic. And this process will keep us true to our promise to all Canadians: to bring inflation back to target and keep it there. That will always be the best way for the Bank to support the Canadian economy.

    Thank you.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Joachim Nagel: Why do we need Europe?

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    Check against delivery 

    1 Global challenges need global answers

    We are living in a period of significant change. Many distinct forces are contributing to this change. Examples here include global warming and the switch towards carbon-free energy, progress in digitalisation and AI, as well as geo-economic factors and demographic developments.

    What do all the changes I’ve mentioned have in common? They affect humanity at the global level. It therefore does not seem useful to limit one’s attention to national solutions. That said, the European elections have shown us that many voters backed parties calling for greater national sovereignty or even nationalism – as well as less Europe. The Brexit referendum, eight years ago, can be seen as an example of this trend. As, too, can the recent German regional elections.

    Why is this? Global changes often lead to global challenges, and sometimes to global crises. This means a lot of complexity. Those who are in charge are responsible for properly explaining this complexity. If we don’t assume this responsibility, simple political messages may trump complex ones. And there is no doubt that politics at the European level are complex. Just think of the legislative process behind the new Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive – a directive that sets rules for firms to mitigate their negative impact on human rights and the environment. Or the slow progress that has been made regarding the capital markets union – a topic I will return to later.

    However, as the current major challenges are global in nature, national responses alone will not resolve them. Action is needed on a global scale. Take the pandemic, for example. Overcoming this required unprecedented vaccine research, large-scale production and global distribution. Or consider the climate crisis. While Germany can lead by example in terms of decarbonising its economy, it cannot solve the climate crisis alone. As for European countries, this means that we have to work on European responses to the current challenges. This holds true for Germany, too – despite it being one of the largest economies in the world. Germany should see itself as part of a wider European team – a team that can provide greater stability given the current geopolitical risks. Take the increasing global trade restrictions, for example. Between the two main global players, the United States and China, only a unified European approach stands a chance of defending European interests. This view is shared by almost three-quarters of Europeans surveyed at the beginning of this year.1

    2 Europe is not a weak spot – it is a source of strength

    It is true that open democratic societies tend to have complex and cumbersome decision-making processes. The more fragmented the political landscape, the more difficult it becomes. This already holds for the national level – as can currently be seen in the case of France and Germany. At the European level, complexity is even greater. There, agreeing on a compromise is like an art in itself. However, democratic decision-making processes have one great benefit. They integrate the diverse interests and preferences of the people.

    In fact, a significant majority of EU citizens are satisfied with the way democracy works in the EU.2 And the share of people who have a positive image of Europe is nearly twice as big as the share of people who have a negative one.3 This might well reflect an observation made by the Spanish philosopher José Ortega y Gasset at the beginning of the last century. He noted that four-fifths of our intellectual property stem from our common European heritage.4 People seem to have a good understanding of what “European” means: the common ground of our liberal, democratic societies and the intellectual achievements we have made.

    Once we realise these strengths of Europe, we can use them to move forward, to manage the changes I mentioned at the outset of my speech. Europe does not have an analytical deficit, but a deficit in taking action. For example: A deeper single market could help seize the opportunities of digitalisation more fully. And a unified European approach to decarbonisation could serve as an example and help the formation of larger climate clubs. These clubs derive mutual benefits from sharing the costs of producing less CO2-emissions. The members of such a voluntary club have incentives to adhere to its rules as long as the gains from the club are sufficiently large.5

    3 What it will take to move forward

    And what will it take to move forward? As President of the Bundesbank and as a member of the Governing Council of the European Central Bank, I am doing all I can within my remit. First and foremost, I am striving to restore price stability. This is because price stability is a crucial requirement for economic development and for the welfare of our societies. And I am also supporting measures that help Europe to act. It is in this context that I return to the topic of the capital markets union. The capital markets union can be an important means of providing companies with the necessary funding to manage change. This includes funding for new scientific knowledge and for innovations to help us thrive in our future environment. Europe is relatively good at research.6 And research is a crucial basis for innovation. However, a lack of available capital often prevents young innovative companies from growing. A key reason is that capital markets in Europe are still highly fragmented and rather underdeveloped compared to those in the United States, for example. Although market structures are not fully comparable, venture capital investment may serve as an example here. Relative to GDP, its size in European countries is less than one-tenth the size in the US.7 A European capital markets union would give firms better access to risk capital in Europe – notably young firms in their start-up and scale-up phase, and it would provide better exit options. By mobilising more private capital, the capital markets union could improve opportunities for economic growth. And it could foster much needed investments in Europe’s digital and sustainability transformation.

    It is a real challenge to make progress at the European level and in the 27 Member States on the legal initiatives necessary to realise the capital markets union. But if we agree that the changes we see are global in nature, then we should not try to deal with them at the national level. We should strive for multilateral solutions. Here in Europe, the European Union provides a wonderful opportunity to find common approaches that many around the world can subsequently gather behind.

    I am optimistic that the new European Commission will build momentum to move forward – not least with respect to the capital markets union, which was recently given fresh impetus by Member States’ political leaders. We have the potential to rejuvenate the European idea. A thriving research and innovation ecosystem will support that goal – with stable prices, sufficient financing opportunities and steady growth. Let us all do what we can to strengthen Europe at the current juncture. 

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: India: Death penalty never the solution to crime and violence against women – Amnesty International

    Source: Amnesty International

    Responding to the Aprajita Woman and Child (West Bengal Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill adopted today by the West Bengal state government that introduces the death penalty for the offence of rape when it results in the victim’s death or leaves them “in a vegetative state”, Aakar Patel, Chair of Board at Amnesty International said:

    “The authorities must deliver justice and accountability for the horrific rape and murder of the woman doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and hospital in Kolkata in August. However, the death penalty is never the solution, nor it would offer a ‘quick fix’ to prevent violence against women. There is no evidence that it has a unique deterrent effect. Even the Justice Verma Committee that was constituted in 2012 to reform the laws and criminal justice practices relating to crimes of sexual violence, including rape in India and Law Commission of India have opposed the death penalty in cases of violence against women.

    “What is actually needed is far-reaching procedural and institutional reform that deals with the root causes of crime and put emphasis on its prevention. Authorities in West Bengal and across India must fully implement recommendations made by the Justice Verma Committee, including police training and reform, preventive measures, and addressing how reports of sexual violence are registered and investigated. These are important first steps that will in the long run make India safer, including for women.

    “We urge the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct a swift and thorough investigation into this appalling case and bring those responsible to justice without recourse to death penalty. Undue delays will further the climate of fear, impunity and uncertainty.”

    Background

    On 9 August, a 31-year-old trainee doctor was raped and murdered at the RG Kar Medical college and hospital in Kolkata, capital city of the state of West Bengal in eastern India. The events sparked a wave of protests across the country.

    On 13 August, the Kolkata High Court reassigned the investigation of the case from the police to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), citing the lack of significant progress and possibility of destruction of evidence. The court also noted serious lapses on the part of the hospital administration.

    Today, the West Bengal government adopted the Aprajita Woman and Child (West Bengal Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill that amends the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, Bharatiya Nyaya Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 and the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. The amendments tighten the punishment for various rape offences in the state.

    Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases and under any circumstances, regardless of the nature of the crime, the characteristics of the offender, or the method used by the state to carry out the execution. The organization considers the death penalty a violation of the right to life as recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Ukraine: 30% increase in ambulance referrals shows ongoing devastation of war in Ukraine – MSF

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF)

    Kyiv, 3 September 2024. Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) ambulances in Ukraine have transported more than 8,000 patients from hospitals near the frontline between January and July 2024, more than half with burn, blast and other injuries directly caused by the fighting. This represents a thirty per cent increase from the previous six months and shows the alarming and ongoing human impact of the war, warns the medical, humanitarian organisation.

    MSF’s 17 ambulances transport patients at the request of health facilities across areas near the frontlines in the east, south and northeast of the country to hospitals that are less overwhelmed or better equipped to treat their injuries. More than 15 per cent of patients transported so far this year were so ill that they needed to be referred in specially equipped intensive care unit (ICU) ambulances. Of those requiring ICU transportation, 38 were children, the youngest just three years old.

    “We need ICU ambulances to transport patients with severe injuries and breathing problems, such as head traumas, burns, multiple fractures, and damage to internal organs. They need equipment like ventilators and oxygen,” said MSF deputy medical coordinator Maksym Zharikov. “Sixty per cent of the patients we transport have war-related injuries such as head injuries, trunk and limb injuries, soft tissue injuries, and massive haemorrhages.”

    On 6 August, an MSF team in the east transported a 45-year-old man who had suffered burns to 90 per cent of his body, including his internal organs, as a result of shelling. Patients like this require specialised medical care, which is often only available in hospitals far from the conflict areas. MSF has been running an ambulance referral system since April 2022 and currently has 17 ambulances, including five ICU ambulances and three vehicles capable of transporting multiple patients at a time. Multi-patient ambulances can transport up to seven patients at a time, making it possible to transport several patients with varying degrees of severity. Additionally, during intense shelling, making one trip instead of several reduces the risk for patients and staff.

    The need for medical transportation by ambulance becomes especially acute during heavy missile attacks when hospitals are overwhelmed by mass casualties. It is difficult to predict how many intensive care or surgical beds will be needed in any given hospital from day to day. Shelling can occur at any moment, and our teams operate in a state of constant emergency. MSF paramedic Dmytro Bilous reports that when he asks civilians why they continue to live near the frontline despite the danger, the most common reply is that they just didn’t have time to evacuate.

    “We’re gravely alarmed by the devastating impacts of repeated attacks, including on civilian areas. We see the consequences every day. A recent attack in Kostiantynivka, Donetsk region, on 9 August left 14 dead and over 40 injured. MSF doctors helped to respond, and two severely injured patients were transferred to Dnipro,” said Christopher Stokes, MSF emergency coordinator in Ukraine. “With a constant influx of trauma patients needing referrals, MSF ambulance teams ensure that patients are transferred to hospitals where they can receive the specialised care they require. But as more and more health facilities are destroyed, damaged or closed, and attacks like this continue, the pressure on the remaining hospitals is only going to grow, leaving more and more people without any access to the healthcare they need.”

    Notes:

    The war in Ukraine, ongoing since 2014, escalated significantly in 2022, with intense fighting in the east, southeast, and northeast.
    Civilian casualties and significant damage to medical infrastructure, particularly in Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Kherson regions.
    MSF operates 17 ambulances near the frontline, including five ICU vehicles and three multi-patient transport vehicles.
    Ambulances are strategically based in Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, and other regions, covering the whole of Ukraine as per Ministry of Health requests.
    In 2024, patient transport increased by 30% compared to late 2023, with over 8,000 patients transported in the last six months.
    Ambulances cover up to 120,000 km monthly, with 40% of cases being non-traumatic and 60% war-related injuries.
    Among those transported, 136 were children, 38 of whom required ICU care. The youngest patient was three days old, and the oldest was 98.
    MSF first worked in Ukraine in 1999.

    MSF Australia was established in 1995 and is one of 24 international MSF sections committed to delivering medical humanitarian assistance to people in crisis. In 2022, more than 120 project staff from Australia and New Zealand worked with MSF on assignment overseas. MSF delivers medical care based on need alone and operates independently of government, religion or economic influence and irrespective of race, religion or gender. For more information visit msf.org.au  

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Asia Pacific – Governments, tech experts gather to boost regional commitments towards digital inclusion and transformation – ESCAP

    Source: ESCAP, United Nations

    Policymakers and industry experts today underscored the critical need to bridge the vast digital divide in the region, further calling for breakthrough solutions, more harmonized policy frameworks and increased investments toward scalable innovations with sustainable development impacts.

    Organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), in partnership with the Government of Kazakhstan, the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Digital Inclusion and Transformation aims to promote more inclusive digital economies and societies in the region, as well as foster digital cooperation to bridge the digital divide, strengthen digital connectivity, ensure robust digital skills training, and enhance digital trust and security.  

    “Digital by default has become our norm. It is restructuring our economies, bringing new opportunities for value creation, and reweaving the fabric of society to help tackle some of our most persistent sustainable development challenges. At the same time, digital transformation intersects with economic, environmental and social risks of unseen complexity and uncertainty,” said United Nations Under-Secretary-General and ESCAP Executive Secretary Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana in her opening remarks.

    Underscoring the importance of digital transformation, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov shared, “These technologies open new horizons for business, education, and healthcare, ensure economic growth, and expand opportunities for millions of people. We are actively developing these areas. Digital inclusion is also a crucial element, without which it is impossible to achieve the set goals. Only through cooperation, the exchange of knowledge, and best practices can we ensure a sustainable and prosperous future for all. We are ready to share our experience and knowledge.”

    While 96 per cent of the population live in areas covered by mobile broadband networks, only one-third productively use Internet services. Up to 40 per cent of people lack access to the Internet, most of whom are from vulnerable and marginalized groups. This significant divide also runs along income, age, education, geographic and gender fault lines.

    Zhaslan Madiyev, Minister of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry of Kazakhstan was elected as the Chair of the Conference. “Kazakhstan is firmly committed to advancing a sustainable digital future. Today, digital technologies are key tools for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. We have made significant progress: in 2023, we provided 274 million online services, 93 per cent of which are accessible to our citizens directly from their homes. We are also implementing proactive services automatically provided by the government, with 44 such services already available and used more than three million times. Kazakhstan is proud to rank eighth in the UN’s online services index and is ready to continue introducing innovative solutions for the benefit of society.”

    On the opening day, ESCAP also launched its Asia-Pacific Digital Transformation Report 2024 which considers how digital transformations will structurally and irreversibly affect the trajectory of climate change. It presents 27 illustrative case studies demonstrating the power of digital applications for smarter climate actions – across infrastructure, governance, mobility, industry and trade, disaster risk reduction, agriculture and biodiversity ecosystems.

    The report reveals that as the use of more advanced digital technologies is scaled up, there is a turning point beyond which carbon emissions tend to decline. Furthermore, the increased use of AI-driven geospatial data analytics is improving the accuracy and timeliness of early warning systems, so that the right information reaches the right people at the right time, thus contributing towards climate adaptation and mitigation measures in many countries.

    Policymakers from over 30 countries as well as representatives from the tech industry, start-ups, academia, international organizations, youth, business and civil society are participating in the two-day Conference and its associated events.  The Conference is expected to culminate tomorrow with the adoption of the Astana Ministerial Declaration on Digital Inclusion and Transformation.

    On the sidelines of the Conference, the Government of Kazakhstan is also hosting the Kazakhstan Tech Solution Day on 5 September, which will highlight the country’s tech companies, start-ups and digital innovations, such as SmartBridge (service showcase), Smart Data Ukimet (smart data government), and eOtinish.

    For further information: https://www.unescap.org/events/2024/asia-pacific-ministerial-conference-digital-inclusion-and-transformation

    Read report: http://www.unescap.org/kp/2024/asia-pacific-digital-transformation-report-2024-digital-innovation-smarter-climate-action

    Watch the proceedings: 

    www.youtube.com/unescap

    The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is the most inclusive intergovernmental platform in the Asia-Pacific region. The Commission promotes cooperation among its 53 member States and 9 associate members in pursuit of solutions to sustainable development challenges. ESCAP is one of the five regional commissions of the United Nations.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Asia-Pacific governments commit to collaborate on innovative solutions to bridge the digital divide and drive sustainability

    Source: ESCAP – United Nations

    Ministers and heads of digital technology agencies today endorsed the Astana Ministerial Declaration on Digital Inclusion and Transformation in Asia and the Pacific at the close of a high-level conference organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the Government of Kazakhstan.

    (ref. https://www.unescap.org/sites/default/d8files/event-documents/2400314E.pdf )

    Among others, the groundbreaking Declaration underscores the critical need to bridge the digital divide, strengthen digital connectivity, address and enhance digital trust, and promote inclusive and sustainable digital economies and societies leaving no one behind.

    “The Declaration is an important milestone that reaffirms the necessity of strengthening regional policy-making so that we increase momentum in identifying digital solutions and scaling up to bridge the digital divide,” said Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP.

    While 96 per cent of the population in Asia and the Pacific live in areas covered by mobile broadband networks, it is estimated that only one-third productively use internet services. Up to 40 per cent lack basic digital skills.

    Endorsing the Declaration, Governments recognized the pressing need to overcome the major impediments that developing countries face in engaging with and accessing new technologies such as an appropriate enabling environment, sufficient resources, connectivity infrastructure and investments.

    They further emphasized the importance of enhancing secure and affordable access, and promoting digital literacy and education for all including youth, older persons, women, persons with disabilities, and remote and rural communities.

    “We are proud of this unique opportunity to showcase Kazakhstan’s achievements in digital government to the global community. The adoption of this Declaration reflects our shared commitment to creating an inclusive digital future for all,” said H.E. Zhaslan Madiyev, Minister of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry of Kazakhstan, who also served as Chair of the conference.

    Ministers at the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Digital Inclusion and Transformation held on 3 – 4 September in Astana, welcomed further consideration of the proposal by the Government of Kazakhstan for a Digital Solutions Center for Sustainable Development. The proposed Centre is expected to strengthen coordination and cooperation among multiple stakeholders in the digital transformation process, as well as share practical digital solutions to advance the region’s sustainable development agenda.

    Delegates also reviewed the progress of other regional initiatives on digital cooperation, notably the Action Plan for Implementing the Asia-Pacific Information Superhighway Initiative, 2022-2026.

    On the sidelines, conference participants had the opportunity to explore a startup alley organized by Astana Hub, the largest technology park in Central Asia, where Kazakhstan’s top startups and major tech companies were showcased.

    ESCAP and the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) also signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the conference to enhance institutional cooperation on regional economic integration and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Under the agreement, ESCAP and EDB will carry out joint research and publications, capacity building support to policymakers and analysts in North and Central Asia as well as develop databases and analytical tools for policymakers in Asia-Pacific developing countries.

    For further information: https://www.unescap.org/events/2024/asia-pacific-ministerial-conference-digital-inclusion-and-transformation

    Read report: http://www.unescap.org/kp/2024/asia-pacific-digital-transformation-report-2024-digital-innovation-smarter-climate-action

    Read opinion piece “A sustainable future within reach: The promise of digital transformation”: https://unescap.org/op-ed/sustainable-future-within-reach-promise-digital-transformation

    Watch the proceedings: 

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Australia – Mental health suffers as small businesses grapple with economic climate and unexpected expenses – CBA

    Source: Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA)

    CommBank launches additional features and support as small to medium business owners face continued economic challenges.

    New research commissioned by CommBank has shown more than half of Australian small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) are feeling the stress of navigating the cost-of-living crisis, with 52 per cent of business owners and senior managers reporting their mental health had been impacted in the last 12 months by the economic climate.

    The research revealed nearly two thirds (65 per cent) of surveyed businesses had to deal with unexpected expenses over the past year, totalling $7.3 billion in costs they didn’t see coming.

    The most common areas of unexpected expenses were equipment repairs and replacements (48 per cent), higher supplier costs (33 per cent) and increased utilities costs (32 per cent). On average, small to medium businesses have had to pay around $4,300 in unexpected expenses.

    CBA’s Executive General Manager Small Business Banking, Rebecca Warren, said Australian small businesses were showing incredible resilience in the face of tough economic conditions.

    “Running a small business is hard yakka and right now, it’s tough. Rising costs of doing business and unexpected expenses can have a big impact when money is already tight.

    “Our priority is to ensure those who need support understand what measures are available such as business overdrafts, invoice financing or flexible repayment plans.

    “We have been reaching out proactively to hundreds of thousands of our small business customers to check in on them, to make sure they are receiving the support they need, and that they are aware of some our tools that can help them to run their business.

    “We offer free comprehensive cash flow tracking capabilities via a Business Cash Flow tool in the CommBank app, which offers monthly summaries of incoming and outgoing cash flow, month-by-month breakdowns and real-time transaction history to help small businesses easily track their finances. We also have an app feature called Bill Sense that predicts future bills to help customers and a free business insights tool called Daily IQ.

    “From next week, we’re launching a partnership with Smiling Mind, a not-for-profit mental health organisation focused on building mental fitness skills, to provide small business owners with access to mental wellbeing programs, tools and preventative strategies in maintaining their mental health.”

    This Smiling Mind mental fitness program is specifically designed to promote mental wellbeing with a focus on businesses. It will be available in the Smiling Mind app from next month and will be accessible by anyone.

    Smiling Mind’s CEO, Sarah La Roche, said: “Amid the additional challenges of economic uncertainty and declining mental health, Smiling Mind is proud to partner with CommBank to provide Australian business owners, leaders and employees with practical support, freely accessible within the Smiling Mind app to promote mental fitness at work. These resources will be available anytime, anywhere, with no barriers to access.”

    With more than half of business owners and senior managers reporting their mental health had been impacted in the last 12 months by the economic climate, Ms Warren said CommBank recognised the scale of the impact.

    “Small business owners are extremely time-poor, they have multiple plates spinning at any given time, which makes prioritising their own mental health and well-being more challenging.”

    CBA has a range of products, services and assistance measures designed to back small businesses and help them through the challenging economic conditions. For more information, please visit: commbank.com.au/smallbusiness

    CBA also offers the Cyber Wardens program, in partnership with the Council of Small Business of Australia (COSBOA) and Telstra, to help small businesses build resilience and upskill in cyber safety.

    About YouGov research

    All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov. Total sample size was 510 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 1 – 7 August 2024. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all Australian small and medium business owners and decision makers (aged 18+).

    About Smiling Mind

    Smiling Mind has been at the forefront of mental wellbeing innovation for over 12 years, helping minds thrive with evidence-based tools and resources. Smiling Mind are proud to have impacted the lives of millions of people globally. Their mission is Lifelong Mental Fitness. They aim to create generational change in mental health, providing proactive tools and programs that help every mind thrive.

    About the Partnership

    Smiling Mind’s partnership with CommBank will deliver a campaign specifically targeted at Australian small business owners, leaders and employees. They will be able to freely access a new collection in the Smiling Mind App, designed specifically to build mental fitness and support people to thrive at work. This proactive resource, available 24/7, provides practical support and guided strategies to promote mental fitness and navigate challenges.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Universities – Crown-of-thorns starfish thrive in degraded coral habitats – UoS

    Source: University of Sydney (UoS)

    Better understanding of how reefs degrade will help marine conservation work – Research into one of the most persistent coral predators on the Great Barrier Reef has revealed a troubling paradox in reef ecosystems: the crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS) appears to thrive in the very conditions of coral degradation it helps create.

    This work, from Professor Maria Byrne at the University of Sydney and marine science researcher Dr Kennedy Wolfe, sheds light on the interactions between coral health and the population dynamics of COTS, offering critical insights for conservation efforts.

    Professor Byrne from the School of Life and Environmental Sciences at the University of Sydney said: “This research reinforces our understanding that resilient species have the upper hand when adjusting to altered habitats. Unfortunately, in the case of the Great Barrier Reef, one of these resilient species – the crown-of-thorns starfish – is one of its most persistent coral predators.”

    Negative feedback: how the degraded reef framework operates. Image: Wolfe and Byrne

    Coral reefs, often referred to as the “rainforests of the sea”, are vital ecosystems that support a diverse array of marine life. However, these ecosystems are under severe threat from various stressors, including climate change, pollution and overfishing. Among the most significant challenges are outbreaks of COTS, which can decimate coral populations and lead to widespread reef degradation.

    This study, published in the Marine Environmental Research journal, proposes a “degraded reef hypothesis”, to better understand how COTS remain so persistent, despite extensive efforts to manage their impact.

    The degraded reef framework explains how the loss of live coral, which crown-of-thorns starfish feed off, paradoxically benefits juvenile COTS. As live coral diminishes, these starfish accumulate in rubble habitats, which serve as juvenile nurseries.

    This accumulation of juveniles-in-waiting can promote a pulsed emergence of COTS as they transition into coral-eating adults when corals start to recover. This exacerbates the cycle of coral loss and reef degradation.

    “Our previous research has shown that juvenile COTS can wait for just the right moment to emerge in large numbers; sometimes up to six years,” Professor Byrne said.

    Professor Byrne and Dr Wolfe’s research emphasises that the very conditions that lead to coral degradation – such as heatwaves, cyclones and pollution – create favourable environments for COTS to thrive. This resilience poses a significant challenge for reef management and conservation strategies, as efforts to restore coral health may inadvertently support the proliferation of these destructive starfish.

    “Our findings reveal a critical feedback loop in reef ecosystems,” said Dr Wolfe, who started his research career as a PhD student at the University of Sydney.

    “COTS populations may thrive as coral reefs degrade, leading to further coral loss. This cycle not only threatens corals but also the range of species that depend on healthy reefs for survival,” he said.

    Professor Byrne said: “This feedback loop explains repeated outbreaks on the Great Barrier Reef, despite exhaustive management through manual culling.”

    These findings underscore the need for a multifaceted approach to coral reef conservation that addresses the root causes of degradation while also considering broad ecological dynamics at play.

    Professor Byrne said: “Effective management strategies must account for the resilience of crown-of-thorns starfish and their ability to exploit degraded habitats. These coral predators are a symptom of ongoing environmental impact.”

    By understanding the relationship between coral health and COTS populations, conservationists can develop targeted interventions that mitigate the impacts of these starfish. This may include habitat restoration efforts that focus on enhancing coral resilience, as well as strategies to manage nutrient runoff and sedimentation.

    This latest study adds to the impressive work that Professor Byrne and her team have undertaken, which has improved our understanding of how the crown-of-thorns starfish is able to persist as a pest species on the Great Barrier Reef.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: World Health – Parliamentarians call for strengthening health workforce in the Asia Pacific – WHO

    Source: World Health Organisation

    Port Vila, 6 September 2024: The eighth Asia-Pacific Parliamentarian Forum on Global Health concluded today, with parliamentarians from 13 countries in the Asia Pacific region emphasizing the need for a strengthened health workforce, which is essential for achieving health for all.

    The Forum was held from 4 to 6 September 2024 in Port Vila and hosted by the Parliament of Vanuatu, with support from the Vanuatu Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO). The participants were speakers, members of national parliaments and ministers from Cambodia, Cook Islands, Niue, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Thailand, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Viet Nam.

    Health workforce for a resilient health system

    The theme of the Forum was the health workforce. As the host, Honourable Simeon Davidson Seoule, Speaker of the National Parliament of Vanuatu, emphasized the crucial role of a strong health workforce in building a resilient health system: “A resilient health system depends on a well-functioning workforce that includes nurses, doctors, community health workers and specialists. To effectively support our communities and provide the care they need throughout their lives, we must ensure that our health workers are well-supported and equipped,” he said.

    He reminded his fellow leaders that, “As parliamentarians, we have a critical role in shaping health policies and ensuring that our health systems are both well funded and well managed. This includes creating and enacting stronger laws and creating support systems that address the needs of our health workers, enabling them to deliver the best possible care to our communities.”

    The meeting presented the latest evidence on health workforce in the region and enabled discussion on strengthening health workforce policy, in line with WHO’s Regional framework to shape a health workforce for the future of the Western Pacific. Participants exchanged country experiences on supporting health workforce policy through various system entry points, shared innovations addressing workforce issues, and forged connections with one another at global, regional, national and local levels.

    Common challenges across the region

    The parliamentarians also had the opportunity to conduct site visits to local health facilities, where they interacted with health workers and discussed the various challenges of providing care across different settings. These highlight the dedication and commitment of health workers and underscore the urgent need for better support and resources for them, especially for those working in rural and underserved areas – issues shared across the Asia Pacific region. A common challenge across all health systems is the need for a robust workforce, without which there can be no functioning health system.

    Addressing the challenges faced by Pacific island countries, Minister of Health of Vanuatu, Honourable John Still Tariqetu, said: “Ensuring that everyone in the Pacific has access to quality health services requires bold, new approaches to building and maintaining a well-trained health workforce. In Vanuatu, we are committed to implementing forward-thinking strategies to ensure we have the skilled workforce we need, so that our communities can receive the care they deserve.”

    Highlighting the importance of having a well-supported health workforce, Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific, reiterated: “The success of our health systems relies on having a workforce that is well prepared and supported. It is vital for parliaments to use their functions to advance health workforce development to ensure that our health systems can meet the needs of all people in the region.”

    Notes

    The Asia Pacific Parliamentarian Forum on Global Health is a platform for parliamentarians to exchange ideas, build political will, strengthen capacity and foster collaboration towards sustainable health action. This was the seventh meeting of the Forum, which was themed “Health Workforce”.

    Target 3c of the Sustainable Development Goals urges countries to substantially increase health financing and enhance efforts in recruiting, developing, training and retaining the health workforce, particularly in developing countries, least developed countries and small island developing states. Currently, eight countries from the Western Pacific Region (Kiribati, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, the Federated States of Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu) are listed in the WHO Health Workforce Support and Safeguards List 2023. These countries face a low service coverage index (below 55) and have fewer health workforce than the global median of 49 doctors, nurses and midwives per 10 000 people. As such, these countries require prioritized support for health workforce development and health system strengthening, including measures to manage international recruitment effectively.

    Parliamentarians participating in the eighth Asia-Pacific Parliamentarian Forum on Global Health in Vanuatu this week: Hon. Mrs LORK Kheng, Cambodia; H.E. Ms MOM Sandap, Cambodia; Hon. Ms Te-Hani Rose Alexandra BROWN, Cook Islands; Hon. Dr Jiho CHA, Republic of Korea; Hon. Mr Bounelome KEOBOUAHOME, Lao People’s Democratic Republic; Hon. Mr Vongphet OUDOMLITH, Lao People’s Democratic Republic; Hon. Mr Suhaizan bin KAIAT, Malaysia; Hon. Mr Logopati SEUMANU, Niue; Hon. Mrs Florence Maureen VILITAMA, Niue; Hon. Mr Ciriaco B. GATO, Jr., the Philippines; Hon. Mr Foisala Lilo Tuu IOANE, Samoa; Hon. Mr Aiono Tile GAFA, Samoa; Hon. Dr Paul Popora BOSAWAI, Solomon Islands; Hon. Mr Morris TOIRAENA, Solomon Islands; Hon. Mr Tosaporn SERERAK, Thailand; Hon. Mr Iakoba Taeia ITALELI, Tuvalu; Hon. Mr Tuafafa LATASI, Tuvalu; Hon. Mr Seoule Davidson SIMEON, Vanuatu; Hon. Mr Alick TERRY, Vanuatu; Hon. Mr Blaise SUMPTOH, Vanuatu; Hon. Ms Julia Gloria KING, Vanuatu; Hon. Mr Marc MWELSUL, Vanuatu; Hon. Mr Silas BULE, Vanuatu; Hon. Mr Ulrich SUMPTOH, Vanuatu; Hon. Ms NGUYEN Thi Thu Dung, Viet Nam; Hon. Mr LE Van Kham, Viet Nam.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Hong Kong: Government must show progress on same-sex partnership legislation after landmark ruling – Amnesty International

    Source: Amnesty International

    Government has one year left to deliver alternative legal framework for same-sex couples
    Same-sex couples in Hong Kong currently denied numerous rights enjoyed by heterosexual couples

    One year after a landmark ruling on LGBTI rights in Hong Kong, authorities should provide a progress update on their plans to recognize same-sex partnerships in the city, Amnesty International said today.

    On 5 September 2023, Hong Kong’s Court of Final Appeal ruled that the government had a constitutional duty to provide an alternative legal framework for same-sex partnerships to be recognized, setting a two-year deadline for its establishment.

    While the decision fell short of requiring marriage equality, it did establish a new benchmark for improving rights and recognition irrespective of sexual orientation.

    “One year since this memorable legal victory for LGBTI people in Hong Kong, we urge the government to provide an update on its plans to act on the Court’s judgment. The government has one year left to comply with the decision, but in the meantime equality is being denied on a daily basis,” Amnesty International’s China Director Sarah Brooks said.

    “The government must heed their own courts’ call to ensure same-sex relationships in Hong Kong are recognized equally – and on the same basis and with the same rights and protections – as those of opposite-sex couples.”

    Hong Kong law does not currently recognize same-sex relationships, with same-sex couples not allowed to marry or enter into any form of registered civil partnership.

    Same sex couples are therefore prevented from enjoying the rights held by opposite-sex couples (with some exceptions if they married overseas*). Examples can be found in almost every aspect of life.

    Currently, individuals in same-sex relationships:

    Cannot jointly adopt children
    Cannot access assisted reproductive technologies
    Cannot inherit their deceased partner’s estate without a will*
    Cannot apply for public housing as an “ordinary family”*
    Cannot enjoy the potential benefits of filing income taxes jointly*
    Cannot extend medical benefits to their same-sex partner if they are employed by the government*
    Cannot object to the removal of their deceased partner’s organs for medical research or education
    Cannot receive immediate notification if their partner dies in prison
    Are not protected against less favourable treatment by their employer as a result of caring for a terminally ill partner.

    “The absence of a legal framework for same-sex partnerships in Hong Kong means couples face structural discrimination. It is time for the Hong Kong government to provide a transparent update on progress on this framework, including how much of it has been drafted, how they are consulting LGBTI people, and when it will be submitted to the city’s Legislative Council for discussion,” Sarah Brooks said.

    “Time is ticking. This one-year anniversary should be the impetus for accelerating the government’s work to comply with the Court’s ruling; to review and overhaul laws, policies and practices that discriminate based on sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex status, and to uphold its rights obligations to all, however they identify and whomever they love.”

    Background

    On 5 September 2023, Hong Kong’s Court of Final Appeal handed a partial victory to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) activist Jimmy Sham. The Court set a two-year timeline for the government to provide an alternative framework for same-sex partnerships, meaning the process must be complete by 5 September 2025.

    Sham, who married his partner in the USA in 2013, began his campaign for Hong Kong to recognize same-sex marriages performed overseas in 2018, arguing that the current laws in place are unconstitutional.

    Currently, Hong Kong only legally recognizes “marriage” as being between a man and a woman and does not recognize same-sex marriage or civil partnership or any other form of legal union.

    The authorities have not taken sufficient steps to combat discrimination against LGBTI persons more broadly, despite a clear recommendation arising from the 2022 review of Hong Kong by the UN’s Human Rights Committee, tasked with monitoring the government’s implementation of obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

    However, in recent years, the Court of Final Appeal and lower courts in Hong Kong have held the blanket denial of partnership rights for same-sex couples to be discriminatory, opening the door to limited progress such as accepting the right of some same-sex couples to spousal dependant visas, employment benefits, joint tax assessment and public housing.

    Amnesty International opposes discrimination in civil marriage laws on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity and calls on states to recognise families of choice, across borders, where necessary.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Nigeria: One out of every four children in Shinkafi and Zurmi is malnourished – MSF

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF)

    MSF is urging immediate action after screening results reveal a catastrophic malnutrition crisis across Northwest Nigeria.

    Abuja,10 September 2024: One out of every four children under the age of five is malnourished in the Shinkafi and Zurmi areas of Nigeria’s Zamfara state, according to a mass screening conducted in June by Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and the Ministry of Health. 

    Of the 97,149 children screened in 21 different urban and rural locations, 27 percent were found to be suffering from acute malnutrition, with five percent having severe acute malnutrition.

    These concerning figures far exceed the ‘critical level’ threshold established by the World Health Organization (WHO) regarding malnutrition prevalence. MSF urges health authorities, international organisations, and donors to immediately intensify their efforts to tackle the escalating malnutrition crisis in Zamfara state, as well as whole of Northwest Nigeria – a region not yet included in the United Nations Humanitarian Response Plan.

    The mass screening held in June in the Shinkafi and Zurmi areas further revealed that about 22 per cent of children screened are moderately malnourished. Currently, the nutritional supplies essential to treat such children, also known as ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF), are unavailable, as UNICEF halted its supplies at the start of the year. This current lack of humanitarian response to treat those who are moderately malnourished in Northwest Nigeria risks the lives of these children who, without immediate care, will progress to severe acute malnutrition that threatens their survival and compromises their long-term health.

    “The screening results from Shinkafi and Zurmi are nothing short of alarming, revealing a catastrophic malnutrition crisis across Northwest Nigeria,” declares Abdullahi Mohammad, an MSF representative in Nigeria. “The response to this overwhelming disaster is grossly insufficient. With malnutrition rates soaring beyond critical levels and no immediate treatment available for moderate acute malnutrition apart from at MSF facilities, we’re effectively letting more children fall into life-threatening conditions. It is crucial we ensure every child receives the medical care they desperately need.”

    MSF currently runs four inpatient and 17 outpatient facilities in Shinkafi, Zurmi, Gummi and Talata Mafara in Zamfara – a state badly affected by malnutrition. Across all four inpatient facilities, MSF teams have treated over 7,000 children from January to July 2024. These figures for admissions are 34 per cent higher than for the same period in 2023. In Shinkafi and Zurmi, where MSF conducted the recent malnutrition screening, the increase in admissions is 50 per cent more than the same period last year. At the medical facility in Gummi, admissions in July 2024 were almost double compared to the same month last year.

     

    Alongside the significant increase in malnutrition admissions, MSF teams are seeing high numbers of children with vaccine preventable diseases such as measles. In Zamfara, they have treated at least 5,700 measles cases so far this year. Infectious diseases like measles, malaria, and acute watery diarrhoea, severely compromise the nutritional status of children. In turn, malnutrition makes them far more susceptible to these illnesses, with a higher risk of death.

     

    “When I first brought my son into the hospital, I didn’t know if he would survive,” says Hafsat Lawal, a mother whose child is being treated for malnutrition at an MSF facility in Zamfara. “Back at home because of the insecurity we don’t have food. The prices of food have more than doubled. If we had money, we would have bought some grains, but we cannot.”

     

    Communities are facing high levels of violence in Zamfara and have told MSF teams that they are scared to move around the state, taking huge risks to reach functioning healthcare facilities. It is estimated by the health authorities that as of 2023, only about 200 out of 700 healthcare centres in Zamfara are accessible, and the rest are non-functional. One of the reasons being that healthcare workers struggle to reach them.

     

    Despite the ongoing humanitarian crisis and facing high levels of insecurity, communities in the Northwest have long been excluded from coordinated humanitarian response. It is essential that health authorities in this area, alongside international organisations and donors, urgently scale up their response. Immediate expansion of health facilities is needed to treat malnourished children to ensure that more hospitals can offer the type of inpatient care desperately needed to save lives. Moreover, UNICEF, as the primary supplier of RUTF, must ensure the consistent and sufficient delivery of these essential therapeutic foods to prevent more children from falling victim to this crisis.

     

    MSF Australia was established in 1995 and is one of 24 international MSF sections committed to delivering medical humanitarian assistance to people in crisis. In 2022, more than 120 project staff from Australia and New Zealand worked with MSF on assignment overseas. MSF delivers medical care based on need alone and operates independently of government, religion or economic influence and irrespective of race, religion or gender. For more information visit msf.org.au  

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Universities – Diet change for farmed yellowtail kingfish aims to save wild stocks – Flinders

    Source: Flinders University

    As the cost of fish oil continues to rise, Australian aquaculture operators are looking for safe and more sustainable sources for healthy formulated feed in order to expand commercial production of popular yellowtail kingfish.
    A South Australian study led by Flinders University, connected to project funding awarded to the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI), assessed the use of substitutes canola oil and poultry oil in farmed kingfish production.  
    “Reducing the use of wild-caught sardines and other small fish to sustain farmed fish – to produce more farmed fish for human consumption – will help maintain our oceans and fishery food chains,” says Associate Professor James Harris, from the College of Science and Engineering at Flinders University.
    As well as demand for seafood in a healthy diet, fish oil is also used in terrestrial animal feeds, with an estimated 460% of current production levels required by 2030 also driving up the commodity costs for aquaculture industries.  
    “We can’t keep catching loads of small fish to feed to larger fish we are growing, so are increasingly looking to reduce fish oil in their diets.”
    Fish oils have large concentrations of long-chain omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids which are essential for cultured carnivorous finfish to sustain optimal growth and health.  
    The Flinders experts, with colleagues from Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA) research division SARDI and the University of Adelaide School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, undertook the study on locally grown kingfish.
    “We found that both oil from canola plants and oil from poultry could be effectively used, although there were some potentially adverse changes seen in the kingfish livers,” says Associate Professor Harris.  
    “These changes give us a chance to investigate further the major role in kingfish fat metabolism to continue looking to manipulate formulated feed to produce these popular fish, which also are farmed in Japan, Europe and the Americas.”
    Previous aquafeed studies have also used soybean oil and swine, bovine or ovine fats as fatty acid substitutes or supplements, with the goal of achieving optimum growth and lipid metabolism as well as palatability of alternative feeds.
    Liver structure and function in yellowtail kingfish, Seriola lalandi, in response to alternative oils in feed (2024) by Benjamin H Crowe, James O Harris, Todd J McWhorter, Matthew S Bansemer and David AJ Stone has been published in Aquaculture 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2024.741379. 
    Acknowledgements: 
    This project is supported by funding from the $6 million Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources as part of its Rural R&D for Profit Programme and the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) awarded to SARDI, the research arm of PIRSA, in partnership with other project participants, including Flinders University and University of Adelaide School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at Roseworthy. This study was led by researchers from Finders University.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Tech News – Huawei to Support TowerCos’ Energy Quest, Diversification in Africa

    Source: Huawei

     

    Nairobi, Kenya – [September 11, 2024] – Huawei, a global leader in telecommunications and digital solutions, has announced its commitment to support Tower Companies (TowerCos) across Africa in their efforts to diversify energy sources and adopt sustainable practices in powering telecommunications infrastructure.

     

    The initiative aims to help TowerCos reduce their carbon footprint, enhance operational efficiency, and explore new business frontiers.

     

    In his speech titled: “Lighting Up the Road to Multiple Business Future for TowerCos“ delivered at the TowerXchange Meetup Africa 2024 in Nairobi, Li Shaolong, President of Huawei Site Power Facility Domain, said African continent is accelerating the construction of ICT infrastructure, and towercos, which play an important role in this process, are facing new challenges and opportunities.

     

    “As the demand for mobile connectivity continues to rise, TowerCos face increasing pressure to ensure energy reliability and sustainability, particularly in regions with limited access to stable power grids. Tower sites, often located in remote areas, rely heavily on diesel generators, which are costly to operate, environmentally unfriendly, and vulnerable to fuel supply challenges. Huawei’s energy solutions are designed to address these challenges by integrating renewable energy technologies, such as solar power, and advanced energy storage systems,” Mr. Li said.

     

    Mr. Li emphasized Huawei’s long-term vision to help Africa’s TowerCos transition towards greener energy solutions, adding that by integrating digital and power electronics technologies, Huawei Site Power Facility remains committed to providing towercos with end-to-end energy infrastructure and intelligent O&M solutions.

     

    A Path to Diversification

    In addition to energy sustainability, Huawei aims to support TowerCos in their diversification strategies, enabling them to explore new business models and revenue streams.

     

    “This will drive towercos to become energy producers through innovative solutions and business models, thereby achieving diversified business development, revenue growth, and continuous success in energy operations.” Mr. Li said.

     

    Mr. Li noted that by deploying Huawei eMIMO smart power solution, towercos can centrally manage multiple energy inputs (such as grid, PV and energy storage) and multiple outputs (such as 12 V to 220 V electrical devices) through a single power platform.

     

    “In this way, revenue-generating services such as environmental protection and emergency response can be developed in addition to communications services,” he said.

     

    He further noted that the major aims of Huawei Site Power Facility Domain are to support network evolution and increase tenancy ratio, help TowerCos Reduce energy costs and achieve green development, and improve power availability (PAV) and reduce O&M costs for sites.

     

    “Huawei will continue to work with towercos to innovate and promote the iteration of energy infrastructure towards “green, simple, and intelligent”, accelerating the construction of African carrier networks and digital Africa,” Mr. Li said. 

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: MSF calls for quick response and unrestricted access as cholera poses latest peril in Sudan’s war – MSF

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF)

    Port Sudan, 11 September, 2024. A cholera outbreak is gripping central and eastern Sudan bringing more, death and misery to people already suffering under the country’s brutal war. Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF)’s emergency teams are supporting by treating patients and providing water and sanitation services.

    Ongoing war, floods and now cholera

    In August, Sudanese authorities declared a cholera outbreak, which is currently heavily affecting the states of Kassala, Gedaref and River Nile, Al Jazirah and Khartoum. According to the Ministry of Health, over 5,000 cases of cholera and 191 deaths have been reported. In the second half of August the weekly cases of the disease multiplied by four.

    Cholera cases are not uncommon in Sudan, but this is the second time since the start of the war in April 2023, that the country is faced with outbreaks of the disease. For the past two years, our teams have been actively engaged in emergency responses to mitigate the spread of cholera.

    “The mix of heavy flooding and torrential downpours, combined with the terrible living conditions and inadequate access to drinking water that people, particularly in crowded displaced camps are facing, have created the perfect storm for the spread of this often deadly disease,” says Esperanza Santos, MSF emergency coordinator for Sudan.

    In Kassala, heavy rains and river floods have destroyed water and sanitation infrastructure and left both internally displaced communities and Eritrean and Ethiopian refugees living in even more appalling living conditions.

    “People are dying from cholera right now; and we are pleading on the UN and international organizations to fund and scale up activities, particularly water and sanitation services, which are crucial to stop the lethal spread of cholera,” says Frank Ross Katambula, MSF medical coordinator.

    Cholera adds yet another challenge to the crisis in Sudan and to the decimated health system, already struggling with increasing child malnutrition, high numbers of war wounded and regular cases of preventable diseases. The humanitarian response, frequently obstructed by both warring parties, remains far below what is needed.

    Case management and water and sanitation

    MSF teams in Khartoum, River Nile, Kassala and Gedaref have mobilized to support the Ministry of Health to respond to the situation, by setting up and running cholera treatment centres and units (CTCs and CTUs) and providing support to existing treatment facilities, in some of the most affected areas and hard-to-reach places. Between the end of August and 9 September, MSF teams treated 2,165 patients in our supported facilities.

     Caused by a water-borne intestinal infection, cholera is transmitted through contaminated food , water, or through contact with faecal matter. Cholera can cause severe diarrhea and vomiting, and rapidly proves fatal, within hours, if untreated. But cholera is very simple to treat – rehydration is key.

    “One adult male was unconscious [upon arrival to the facility]. Dehydration causes the body to go into shock. Doctors were resuscitating him, squeezing liters of fluids in his veins for about five minutes,” recalls Angela Giacomazzi, a Human Resource coordinator in Tanedba, about a patient who fortunately survived.

    MSF teams are setting up oral rehydration points, trucking drinking water, constructing handwashing points and latrines, distributing hygiene kits and doing health promotion in the affected communities.In Darfur, where no cases have yet been registered, MSF teams are helping to improve cholera preparedness.

    Unrestricted rapid access for staff and supplies

    After nearly 17 months of challenges and obstructions around the provision of humanitarian assistance in Sudan, MSF calls on the warring parties to allow unhindered access for medical staff and supplies, to all the areas in need across Sudan, to enable a quick and coordinated response and prevent avoidable deaths.

    “There is a risk of running out of essential supplies such as cholera kits in a moment when scaling up the response is urgently needed. We call on the authorities to fast-track and facilitate the delivery of supplies and drugs, as bureaucratic obstacles remain a major challenge,” says Katambula, MSF’s Medical Coordinator.

    MSF Australia was established in 1995 and is one of 24 international MSF sections committed to delivering medical humanitarian assistance to people in crisis. In 2022, more than 120 project staff from Australia and New Zealand worked with MSF on assignment overseas. MSF delivers medical care based on need alone and operates independently of government, religion or economic influence and irrespective of race, religion or gender. For more information visit msf.org.au  

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Economy – GlobalData raises global economic growth projection for 2024 to 2.52%

    Source: GlobalData

    The global economy is navigating through a complex landscape marked by persistent geopolitical tensions. Nevertheless, easing inflationary pressure, central bank rate cuts (including by the ECB), and stronger consumer spending are mitigating these issues. 

    Against this backdrop, GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, has revised the global economic growth forecast for 2024 to 2.52% in its Q3 2024 update, marking a slight increase of 0.05 percentage points (pp) from earlier projections in Q2 2024.

    In the “Global Macroeconomic Outlook – Q3 2024 Update,” GlobalData has revised economic growth projections for the Americas and Europe upward. The Americas’ forecast increased by 0.11 pp to 2.16%, driven by strong consumer spending, easing inflation, and rising real incomes. Increased private domestic business investments are also expected to support the region’s economic resilience. 

    Europe’s growth projection rose by 0.21 pp to 1.38%, supported by higher real disposable incomes from stable wage growth and lower inflation, along with the recent ECB rate cuts, which are expected to stimulate the economic activity.

    Conversely, forecasts for the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region and the Middle East & Africa (MEA) were reduced by 0.08 and 0.25 pps, respectively, to 2.59% and 3.57%. In MEA, the ongoing conflicts, oil market volatility, and shipping disruptions hinder the growth. For APAC, China’s economic slowdown, domestic challenges, and geopolitical tensions contributed to the downward revision.

    Arnab Nath, Associate Project Manager, Economic Research Team at GlobalData, comments: “The slight upward revision in the global growth forecasts for 2024 reflects cautious optimism amid persistent geopolitical tensions. The resilience of key economies, including the US, which witnessed economic growth of 3% on an annual basis in Q2 2024 up from 1.4% in Q1, and the Eurozone, which achieved its strongest expansion in over a year at 0.6% in Q2 2024, contributes to this positive outlook.

    “Gradual recoveries in the emerging markets will further bolster the projections. The major central banks, including the ECB, have commenced rate cuts, with the US Federal Reserve anticipated to follow suit, which may stimulate investments. However, central banks must tread carefully to avoid reigniting inflation or creating financial imbalance to ensure a balanced economic recovery.”

    GlobalData forecasts the global inflation rate to decrease from 5.8% in 2023 to 4.5% in 2024, with a further decline to 3.7% anticipated by 2025. In 2024, the inflation rate is expected to decrease in all regions: the Americas, excluding Argentina and Venezuela (dropping to 5% in 2024 from 7.5% in 2023), Asia-Pacific (decreasing to 5% from 6.9%), Europe (declining to 4.3% from 7.8%), and the Middle East and Africa (falling to 22.1% from 27%).

    Easing price pressure boosted the economic sentiment in major economies. According to GlobalData analysis using data from OECD, between January and June 2024, consumer and business confidence have risen considerably compared to the average of the previous six months in major economic groups, including the G20 and G7 countries. The rise in consumer confidence indicates robust consumer spending potential, which could bolster domestic demand and economic resilience.

    Meanwhile, global political shifts indicated by the 2024 election cycle will have economic implications, including changes in trade policies, regulatory frameworks, and market stability. Far-right gains in Europe could result in protectionist measures, affecting international trade.

    In South Korea and the UK, liberal victories may bring reforms that encourage foreign investment and market liberalization. Declining support for ruling parties in India and South Africa suggests potential instability, while voter dissatisfaction in Russia and Bangladesh signals economic uncertainty in these regions. These changes are likely to test global economic resilience.

    Nath concludes: “While global growth is expected to remain stable, varying regional dynamics and persistent risks from geopolitical tensions may significantly shape the economic outlook for 2024 and 2025, necessitating careful observation of policy shifts and market trends.”

    Notes

    Quotes provided by Arnab Nath, Associate Project Manager, Economic Research Team at GlobalData
    The information is based on GlobalData’s latest report: Global Macroeconomic Outlook – Q3 2024 Update (ref. https://www.globaldata.com/store/report/global-pestle-macroeconomic-analysis/?utm_source=cision&utm_medium=press%20release&utm_campaign=gd_press%20release_cision_bf_global%20economy_report )

    About GlobalData

    4,000 of the world’s largest companies, including over 70% of FTSE 100 and 60% of Fortune 100 companies, make more timely and better business decisions thanks to GlobalData’s unique data, expert analysis, and innovative solutions, all in one platform. GlobalData’s mission is to help our clients decode the future to be more successful and innovative across a range of industries, including the healthcare, consumer, retail, financial, technology, and professional services sectors.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Energy Sector – Reducing emissions from the Troll field – Equinor

    Source: Equinor

    On Saturday, 7 September, Troll B and C became partly powered from shore. This reduces annual emissions from the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS) by 250,000 tonnes of CO2.

    This is in line with the plan for development and operation (PDO) for Troll West electrification (TWEL), which was approved by Norwegian authorities in 2021.

    “Troll B and C electrification marks an important milestone in the efforts to halve the emissions from our operations by 2030. The project reduces CO2 emissions by the equivalent of those from 125,000 fossil-fuelled cars,” says Geir Tungesvik, executive vice president for Projects, Drilling & Procurement.

    The power to Troll B and C comes from Kollsnes, northwest of Bergen. From here it runs through a new electro building shared by the Troll and Oseberg fields out to Troll B in a 132 kV power cable, and from there to Troll C.

    The project has installed new modules on Troll B and C that adjust the voltage to the systems on board. The processing systems and other energy-intensive systems on both platforms are now driven by electricity, except for the large export compressors, which are still gas-powered.

    “Troll West electrification has generated substantial business activity for Norwegian suppliers. Over 70 percent of the investments in the project have gone to companies in Norway. I am very pleased that we, along with our partners and suppliers, have succeeded in executing the project in a safe and effective manner,” Tungesvik says.

    The CO2 reduction is equivalent to about half a percent of Norway’s total annual emissions. NOx emissions from the field are also reduced by around 850 tonnes per year. Gas burned in turbines to provide energy on the platforms can now be exported and more efficiently used in Europe.

    “We have made several new discoveries in the Troll and Fram area in recent years. Thanks to Troll B and C electrification we can develop and produce these resources with very low emissions. The Troll area will continue to deliver large volumes of low-carbon, high-value energy for many years to come,” says Kjetil Hove, Equinor’s executive vice president for Exploration & Production Norway.

    The TWEL project is continuing to fully electrify the Troll C platform so that all power needs are met with electricity from land. The measure will cut annual emissions by another 200,000 tonnes of CO2. Overall, this will help cut almost four percent of the total emissions from oil and gas production, around one percent of total emissions in Norway.

    Infrastructure at Kollsnes and the cable to the platform are designed for a possible future full electrification also of Troll B.

    The Troll A platform (Troll East) was the first platform to be powered from shore on the NCS, and has been electrified since start-up in 1996.

    Facts

    The licensees in Troll Unit are Equinor 30.6% (operator), Petoro 56%, A/S Norske Shell 8.1%, TotalEnergies 3.7% and ConocoPhillips Skandinavia AS 1.6%.

    Aker Solutions AS has built three electro modules at its Stord yard and been responsible for the procurement and installation of all electrical equipment in the modules and in the new electro building at Kollsnes.

    In addition, Aker Solutions has been responsible for all modification work on Troll B and C and all hook-up to existing operating systems both offshore and at Kollsnes.

    Heavy lifts of modules were performed by Heerema.
    For the Kollsnes sub-project, the main supplier is Skanska Norge AS, responsible for constructing the transformer substation and landfall area.
    Total investments in the project are NOK 8.1 billion.
    Aker Solutions’ contract is worth about NOK 2.9 billion, generating about 1000 person-years (FTE) of employment.
    The module fabrication took place at the Stord yard. Aker Solutions estimates that 4000 people were involved in the work.
    NKT has been responsible for the production and installation of the power cable. NKT’s contract is worth NOK 1 billion. The cable production was carried out at NKT’s facility in Karlskrona, Sweden.
    Skanska Norge AS’s contract is worth around NOK 370 million and generated about 100 person-years of work (FTE) for Skanska and sub-contractors in the project period.
    The power demand for Troll B and C will be up to 116 MW after full electrification of Troll C.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Asia Pacific – Singapore contributes to regional health emergency readiness through achieving Emergency Medical Team classification

    Source: World Health Organization (WHO)

    SINGAPORE, 12 September 2024 – Singapore’s Emergency Medical Team (EMT), known as SGEMT, today joined the ranks of quality-assured EMT,  prepared for self-sufficient and high-quality response to a wide range of health emergencies. This builds on years of work by Singapore’s government to support emergency response regionally and globally. The classification followed two days of intense evaluation by a team of expert peer reviewers from EMTs in China and Thailand, along with EMT experts from the World Health Organization (WHO).

    Ensuring that Singapore is now able to deploy emergency responders to outbreaks or emergency events anywhere in the world, reflects the country’s commitment to advancing health security. SGEMT’s operational readiness reflects a whole-of-government effort that involves collaboration across multiple departments: health services, crisis strategy and operations, foreign affairs, military and civil defence forces.

    WHO’s EMT Global Classification is a quality assurance mechanism, using external peer review to assess compliance against international principles and standards. The process ensures that emergency medical teams are composed of trained team members, have appropriate equipment, are fully self-sufficient, and are well-integrated within national health systems when deployed for emergency response. This mechanism enables safe and high-quality medical care to be provided during public health emergencies are well-integrated within local health systems. This quality assurance mechanism enables the highest quality of medical care to be administered during any public health emergency.

    Enabling a network of emergency workforce across borders

    Members of classified emergency medical teams form an integral part of the global health emergency workforce, comprising a network of trained and equipped emergency responders that can surge when required and requested by affected countries. The EMT Initiative, hosted by WHO, aligns with global efforts to standardize quality and enhance interoperability between national, regional, and global emergency workforce capacities.

    EMT classification advances WHO’s Global Health Emergency Corps (GHEC) vision of a trained health emergency workforce centred in countries and coordinated regionally, as well as globally. GHEC provides a uniformly trained and globally connected emergency workforce corps that can effectively respond, as one cohesive unit, during a health emergency.

    Reiterating the value of global health emergency corps, Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific, noted: “In our interconnected world, efforts to build national emergency workforce capacities, simultaneously advance global health security. Initiatives like Emergency Medical Teams, ensure that countries are ready to respond with their own national emergency workforce during an emergency, and that they can access trusted networks of emergency responders across borders, when required.”

    The COVID-19 pandemic drove home the need for all countries to have emergency response capacities, a highly trained national workforce and access to essential technology and equipment. Through the Global Health Emergency Corps (GHEC) collaborations between surge capacities such as emergency medical teams and rapid response teams, and other emergency response networks such as the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) expand countries’ capacities to diagnose faster and treat quicker.

    With the classification of the Singapore EMT, the Western Pacific now hosts 13 of 41 internationally classified EMTs, and national teams have been developed in  nearly every Member State across the Region, from Mongolia in the far north to New Zealand in the south, and in both the largest and smallest countries. Rabindra Abeyasinghe, WHO Representative to Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, and Singapore, who attended the EMT verification process shared: “EMTs form a crucial resource for countries in the Western Pacific and the world at large that require deployable clinical capacity to reach remote and emergency-affected communities.” EMTs in the Region have supported multiple emergency response efforts, including for COVID-19, measles outbreaks, cyclones, earthquakes and even a volcanic eruption and tsunami.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: African Youth Urged to Embrace Engineering to drive development

    Source: Media Fast

    “Africa’s future depends on its youth embracing engineering, which lies at the core of solving the continent’s most pressing challenges” – Eng. Maureen Mwaniki, Director of Public Affairs and Policy at Huawei Kenya.

    September 13, 2024 – Africa’s youth have been called upon to embrace engineering as a key driver of development and innovation across the continent.

    Speaking at the 10th annual UNESCO Africa Engineering Week – High-Level Workshop held in Nairobi – Kenya on September 12, 2024, Eng. Maureen Mwaniki, Director of Public Affairs and Policy at Huawei Kenya, said the shortage of engineers in Africa, and the rest of the world was a cause for concern.

    “There has been declining interest in the profession from the youth, with the enrolment of young people, especially women in the profession dwindling. The continent is facing a situation where there are a lot of older more experienced engineers, but not enough young candidate engineers entering the profession. Our ability to sustain the profession lies in the number of young people choosing engineering as a career,” Eng. Mwaniki said.

    She noted that Africa’s future depends on its youth embracing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education, particularly engineering, which lies at the core of solving the continent’s most pressing challenges.

    “The growing need for infrastructure, clean energy, and climate resilience offers a unique opportunity for engineers to shape Africa’s path toward sustainable growth.  But more efforts need to be put in attracting younger people, especially women, to the profession,” Eng. Mwaniki said.

    “Women, in particular, need to step out of their comfort zones and grab the opportunities that are offered by companies such as Huawei. Programs like Seeds for the future, ICT Competition, Women Collaboration programs with our partners, etc will help expose the Women Engineers to advanced technologies that can enable them to create solutions for their country.”

    The Africa Engineering Week provides a platform for government representatives, industry leaders, and academia to discuss policy frameworks and partnerships that can accelerate engineering education and innovation on the continent.

    Celebrated across the region every year, UNESCO Africa Engineering Week promotes engineering solutions and awareness among students, society and policy-makers. It aims to inspire and educate youth and the public on the vital role of engineers in societies.  

    This year’s edition is hosted by the Ordem dos Engenheiros de Angola in Luanda, Angola, and organised jointly by UNESCO, the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO) and the Federation of African Engineering Organisations (FAEO).

    It will include the 8th Africa Engineering Conference, the 7th Africa Women Engineers Forum, the Young Engineers Forum and a Business-to-Business (B2B) session. These events will focus on sustainability and innovative infrastructures; engineering and acceleration of African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) implementation; and engineering education and capacity building.

    “This year’s theme, ‘Engineering and for Sustainable Development’, highlights the urgent need for technical solutions to address challenges such as climate change, infrastructure development, and digital transformation,” Eng. Mwaniki said.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Australia – Businesses increase asset investment despite economic uncertainty – CBA

    Source: Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA)

    CBA data shows small and medium-sized businesses are taking a long view on the economy, investing in their productive capacity.

    Businesses are continuing to invest in their operations despite the slower economy, with data from the Commonwealth Bank of Australia’s business bank showing a 15 per cent uplift in vehicle and equipment financing compared to the same period last year.1

    Motor vehicle purchases have been a key driver (up 55 per cent), as supply chains continue to improve post-Covid and new stock becomes available. Among this category, loans for hybrid vehicles increased fivefold (533 per cent) in the past financial year, and electric vehicles were up 254 per cent. Financing for light commercial vehicles such as utes, vans and light trucks – a category that is particularly popular with small business customers – rose 27 per cent.

    Businesses are also investing in shop and office fit-outs, with financing for shelving and furniture fittings up 25 per cent.

    Financing activity has been particularly strong in areas like Health & Community services (up 35 per cent), Education (up 24 per cent) and Manufacturing (18 percent).

    “Australia’s economic fundamentals are sound, and there are reasons for optimism about the future, but inflation and other global risks contribute to uncertainty that’s rightly prompting business owners to take steps to ensure their operations are future-fit and resilient,” said Grant Cairns, Executive General Manager Business Lending at Commonwealth Bank.

    “While companies are navigating ongoing pressure from rising cost of doing business, we are seeing many business owners taking the long view on the economy and investing in their operations.”

    As motor vehicles are one of the most common asset investments for small and medium-sized businesses, CommBank has collaborated with Carsales to launch a car buying service via the CommBank app or Netbank to help make finding and financing a car or electric vehicle easier for both business owners and individuals.

    A ute with equipment tray parked next to a construction site

    “We are very focused on ensuring access to capital to help drive productive capacity across the country,” Mr Cairns said.

    “For small and medium-sized businesses, this means making it simpler and easier to access funds and we’ve cut our funding time-to-decision by 20 per cent to provide that support faster.”

    Mr Cairns said the bank has also worked to automate and digitise its business lending products, including business overdrafts, which are now available to eligible small business customers via a fully automated online application process that can see funds credited to their account in as little as eight minutes.

    Still, Mr Cairns said, while many businesses were looking to invest, that wasn’t the case for all, and some businesses were doing it tough amid higher cost of living.

    “While there are these pockets of strength and optimism across the economy, we know that the economic climate is challenging some businesses more than others, and we have tailored support available for those who are doing it tough.

    “We have been proactively reaching out to hundreds of thousands of our business customers to check in on them and ensure that those who need support know how to access it and understand what measures are available and that we’re here to help,” he said.

    CBA has a range of measures are available for those who need support including deferred business loan repayments or debt restructuring. More information is available on our website.

    Businesses seeking support can speak to their Relationship Manager or call CBA’s dedicated Business Financial Assistance team, available 24/7, on 13 26 07.
     

    Footnote:

    [1] CBA asset finance data FY24 vs same period of FY23

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Sudan – Catastrophic situation in Zamzam camp, Sudan: every effort must be made to finally deliver food, medicines and essential supplies to blockaded and starved communities

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF)

     16 September – As the results of a nutrition screening carried out by the Sudanese health authorities and Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF) earlier this month in Zamzam camp, North Darfur, indicate a catastrophic nutritional situation that is only getting worse, MSF urges the UN and international stakeholders involved in negotiating broader humanitarian access to consider all options to quickly deliver food and essential supplies in the area, including by airdrops.

    “Not only do the results confirm the disaster that we and other stakeholders have been observing and alerting on for months, they also indicate that every day things are getting worse and we’re running out of time” adds Michel Olivier Lacharité, head of emergency operations for MSF. “We are talking about thousands of children who will die over the next few weeks without access to adequate treatment and urgent solutions to allow humanitarian aid and essential goods to reach Zamzam”.

    Despite announcement that gave hope for positive developments, for instance following the Geneva peace talks, no significant amount of humanitarian relief has reached the population in the Zamzam camp and the nearby, war-stricken city of El-Fasher since the IPC Famine Review Committee concluded that famine conditions were prevalent in the area on 1 August this year. Most supply roads are controlled by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) who have made it all but impossible to bring therapeutic food, medicines and essential supplies into the camp since the intensification of fighting around El Fasher last May.

    There’s no more time to waste if thousands of preventable deaths are to be avoided. Among the more than 29,000 children under five years old screened last week during a vaccination campaign in Zamzam camp, 10.1 percent suffer from severe acute malnutrition (SAM), a life-threatening condition, while 34.8 percent suffer from global acute malnutrition (GAM), which will evolve into more severe form of malnutrition if not treated effectively and in timely fashion.

    “The malnutrition rates found during the screening are massive and likely some of the worst ones in the world currently. It’s even more terrifying as we know from experience the results are often underestimated in the area when we use only the mid-upper arm circumference criteria like we did here instead of combining it with measuring weight and height” explains Claudine Mayer, MSF medical referent.

    An MSF mass screening carried out in March 2024 had revealed an 8.2 percent SAM rate and a 29.4 percent GAM rate, which was already twice as high as the 15 percent alert threshold of the World Health Organisation.

    The only food available is from pre-existing stocks, which is not sufficient for people living in the area, and food prices are at least three times as high as in the rest of Darfur. Fuel prices are soaring as well, making it very difficult to pump water and run clinics that rely on generators for electricity. Our staff on site report that for many, it’s impossible to rely on more than one meal per day.

    “In such a dire situation, we should be scaling up our response: instead, running critically low on supplies, we are reaching breaking point and were recently forced to reduce our activity to focus solely on children in the most severe conditions” says Claudine Mayer. “This means we had to suspend treatment for the less severe forms of malnutrition, who represented an active cohort of 2.700 children, and to put an end to consultations provided to adults and children over five years old, who represented thousands of consultations every month”.

    Zamzam camp is estimated to host between 300.000 and 500.00 people, many of them displaced many times over, who are trying to flee the war that has been tearing up their country since last year. In El Fasher, where many of the displaced used to live, only one hospital remains partially standing after the others were damaged or destroyed in the conflict.

    “Due to these unconscionable blockages on supplies, we feel like we are leaving behind an increasing number of patients who already have very few options for getting lifesaving medical care” adds Michel Olivier Lacharité. “If the roads are not an option for getting massive quantities of urgent supplies into the camp, the United Nations should look at every available option. Delaying these supplies meaning causing more deaths – thousands of them, among the most vulnerable.”

    MSF Australia was established in 1995 and is one of 24 international MSF sections committed to delivering medical humanitarian assistance to people in crisis. In 2022, more than 120 project staff from Australia and New Zealand worked with MSF on assignment overseas. MSF delivers medical care based on need alone and operates independently of government, religion or economic influence and irrespective of race, religion or gender. For more information visit msf.org.au  
     

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Russia – MSF-Netherlands is instructed to deregister in the Russian Federation and consequently has to close its programmes in the country

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières/ Doctors Without Borders (MSF)

    Moscow/ Amsterdam, 17 September 2024: Thirty-two years after starting work in the Russian Federation, Médecins Sans Frontières/ Doctors Without Borders (MSF) had to close its operations in the country.  

    “It is with a heavy heart that we have to close our activities in the Russian Federation,” says Yashovardhan, head of MSF programmes in the country. “Our organisation’s work is guided by the principles of independence, impartiality and neutrality and medical ethics, we provide assistance based on the needs.”

    In August this year, we received a letter from the Ministry of Justice of Russia, with the decision to withdraw the affiliate office of the non-profit association ‘Médecins Sans Frontières’ (Netherlands) in the Russian Federation from the Register of affiliate and representative offices of foreign NGOs.

    The international humanitarian medical organisation had been present in Russia since 1992. For more than 30 years, we successfully implemented dozens of programmes, ranging from assistance to the homeless to emergency response to the collaborative work with the Ministry of Health in the innovative tuberculosis treatment. We worked in various regions of the country: in Moscow, St. Petersburg, the Kemerovo region, Chechnya, Ingushetia, Dagestan and – more recently – in the Arkhangelsk and Ivanovo regions as well as in the south of Russia in Belgorod and Rostov-on-Don.

    A significant part of the history of MSF in Russia and the region was linked to the implementation of advanced approaches to the treatment of tuberculosis. MSF has collaborated with medical academic community of Russia and other countries in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia to extend effective, innovative treatment for drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR TB) to patients in penitentiary and civil sectors across the region.

    In 2004-2017, we worked in close partnership with the Chechen Ministry of Health (MoH), providing technical and advisory support to the local health authorities in the treatment of drug-sensitive and drug-resistant tuberculosis in the Chechen Republic. The programme covered different aspects of TB diagnostics, treatment, laboratory services and health education, as well as adherence counselling and psychosocial support for patients and their families. In 2014, MSF supported MoH in introducing new treatment regimens for patients with extensively drug-resistant TB which yielded impressive results giving hope to patients who previously had no treatment options left.

    In 2021, MSF and local health authorities of the Arkhangelsk region in the north of Russia started successful implementation of a nine-month all-oral course of treatment for DR TB. 173 patients were enrolled on this treatment regimen. And later, in 2023, we started enrolling patients on an even shorter – just six months-long – all-oral treatment course that was recommended by the World Health Organization in the updated treatment guidelines in late 2022.

    In Arkhangelsk and starting from 2024 in Ivanovo, MSF was providing expertise and technical assistance to health authorities with a special emphasis on implementing new treatment regimens and enhancing patients’ adherence and integrating person-centred care. To date, 41 patients in the Arkhangelsk and Ivanovo regions started treatment for DR TB within this joint programme. The aim of the collaboration was to contribute to the evidence base for more effective – less toxic, person-centred – treatment with a view to scale up these scientifically proven treatment protocols in Russia.

    In Moscow and St Petersburg since 2020, MSF partnered with two community-based NGOs to support access to general healthcare, as well as testing and treatment for infectious diseases, for people living with HIV and other vulnerable groups, such as migrants, who otherwise struggle to obtain medical assistance.  Over 14,000 medical consultations were supported for patients from these vulnerable groups.

    Since the escalation of the armed conflict in Ukraine in 2022, many people have sought safety in Russia, and MSF in partnership with local NGOs in the Belgorod and Rostov regions in the south of Russia started providing assistance to those who crossed into Russia from Ukraine and later – with the development of the situation – internally displaced people. Since the start of our response in 2022, more than 52,000 refugees and displaced people were provided with humanitarian aid and more than 15,400 received free medical, mental health and psychosocial support.

    As part of this partnership, we were also planning to respond to the humanitarian and medical needs of the internally displaced people in the Kursk region. MSF continues to stand in solidarity with people impacted by this conflict and remain steadfast in our commitment to provide humanitarian assistance to those in need, irrespective of what side of the front line they are on, should the necessary conditions for our work be provided by relevant authorities.

    “We would like to take the opportunity to thank all our colleagues in Russia for their hard work and commitment to humanitarian values we hold high as an organisation,” says Norman Sitali, MSF Operations Manager responsible for programmes in Russia. “We are very sad to conclude our programmes in the country as many people in Russia in need of medical and humanitarian assistance will now be left without the support we could have provided to them. MSF would like to still work in Russia again if and when possible”.

    MSF Australia was established in 1995 and is one of 24 international MSF sections committed to delivering medical humanitarian assistance to people in crisis. In 2022, more than 120 project staff from Australia and New Zealand worked with MSF on assignment overseas. MSF delivers medical care based on need alone and operates independently of government, religion or economic influence and irrespective of race, religion or gender. For more information visit msf.org.au  

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Universities – Charging ahead towards future low-cost polymer zinc-ion batteries – Flinders

    Source: Flinders University

    With global demand for lithium-ion batteries fast depleting reserves of raw materials, experts are seeking safe, affordable and reliable alternatives for rechargeable batteries.
    Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) could be the answer to producing low-cost alternatives from abundant feedstocks, and Flinders University scientists are paving the way for the production of simple and practical polymer AZIBs using organic cathodes for more sustainable energy storage technology.
    “Aqueous zinc-ion batteries could have real-world applications,” says Associate Professor in Chemistry Zhongfan Jia, a nanotech researcher at the College of Science and Engineering at Flinders University.
    From electric vehicles to portable electronic devices, the demand and consumption of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have led to resource shortages and supply-chain issues of strategic metals including lithium and cobalt.
    Meanwhile, millions of spent batteries, most of which are not properly recycled, have caused enormous waste and environmental risks – which future alternatives such as AIZBs promise to reduce.
    “Among these alternatives, AZIBs stand out because of the much higher abundance of zinc in the earth’s crust (ten times more than lithium), and their low toxicity and high safety.”
    AZIBs usually use zinc metal as an anode and inorganic or organic compounds as a cathode. While substantial work has been devoted to improving the stability of zinc anodes, high-performing cathodes are needed and remain a major challenge.
    “Our research is building conductivity using nitroxide radical polymer cathodes made from cheap commercial polymer and optimised the battery performance using low-cost additives,” says Associate Professor Jia, who leads a research group working on Sustainable Polymers for Energy and Environment.
    “Our work reevaluated the use of high redox potential nitroxide radical polymers cathodes in AZIBs, and produced the highest mass loading so far,” he says, about a new online journal article in the Journal of Power Resources.
    The study, led by Flinders master student Nanduni Gamage and postdoc fellow Dr Yanlin Shi, developed a lab-made pouch battery using scaled-up polymer (at approx. cost $20 / kg), a non-fluoro Zn(ClO4)2 electrolyte, and BP 2000 carbon black ($1 / kg) without binder to provide a capacity of nearly 70 mAh g-1 and a middle discharge voltage of 1.4 V.
    With a mass loading of 50 mg cm-2, the pouch battery had a capacity of 60 mAh, which can easily power a small electric fan and a model car (see videos in the article).  
    Collaborators in the study, including Dr Jesús Santos-Peña, from the Université Paris Est Creteil CNRS in France, and other experts from the Flinders University Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology.
    The article Converting a low-cost industrial polymer into organic cathodes for high mass-loading aqueous zinc-ion batteries (2024) by Nanduni SW Gamage, Yanlin Shi, Chanaka J Mudugamuwa, Jesús Santos-Peña, David A Lewis, Justin M Chalker and Zhongfan Jia has been published in Energy Storage Materials. 
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ensm.2024.103731.
    In collaboration with Griffith University, the team has also recently developed the organic radical/K dual-ion batteries, a technique that can also relieve dependence on lithium-ion batteries.
    This article Morphological engineering of PTAm@CNTs cathode for high-rate potassium dual-ion battery (2024) by Zhenzhen Wu, Yanlin Shi, Chanaka J. Mudugamuwa, Pan Yang, Hao Chen, Yuhui Tian, Milton Kiefel, Shanqing Zhang, Zhongfan Jia has been published in Journal of Power Resources. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2024.235134.
    Acknowledgements: This project is supported by funding from the Australian Research Council (DP230100587, DP230100642, LE230100168) and the French-Australian International Research Network on Conversion and Energy Storage (IRN-FACES). The authors also acknowledge the Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF) SA node for supporting the electroanalytical and electrochemical synthesis labs at Flinders University.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Pacific Resources – Cook Islanders don’t support deep seabed mining

    Source: Te Puna Vai Marama

    A recent opinion poll carried out in the Cook Islands showed that 66% of residents do not support deep seabed mining, and 49% do not support exploration.

    The poll which was carried out last week by Te Puna Vai Marama, the Cook Islands Centre for Research, had 771 valid responses. Slightly more women than men took part.  There was a wide age range of Cook Islands residents who took part – from teenagers to those in their eighties.

    • Of those who do not support seabed mining their major reason was that mining may disrupt the habitat of animals in the deep sea
    • Of those who support seabed mining, understandably, the economy was the main concern
    • 85% of  respondents agreed that the deep ocean held cultural and spiritual significance for Cook Islanders.

    The Cook Islands has extensive coverage of polymetallic nodules in its exclusive economic zone.  If harvested, these minerals could be used to make renewable energy infrastructure, such as turbines, cars and electronic devices.

    Currently, the Cook Islands is in a deep seabed exploration phase.  The Government has permitted three companies to research whether these minerals and metals could be mined economically. If so, they may be awarded a license allowing them to begin mining the seabed in the Cook Islands Exclusive Economic Zone.

    At the same time, the deep sea is an untouched ecosystem, about which scientists agree that little is still known. Some marine scientists warn that industrial scale deep-seabed mining could disrupt biodiversity at the bottom of our oceans and have far- reaching harmful effects.

    Professor Heather Worth, Director of Te Puna Vai Marama, the Cook Islands Centre for Research said, “we are quite surprised by the results. We didn’t realise how many Cook Islanders are worried about the effect of seabed mining on the environment and who care deeply about the deep ocean”.

    Further results will be made public as Te Puna Vai Marama analyses the data.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Business and Tech – 25 Disruptive Technology Startups Join Morgan Stanley Inclusive Ventures Lab’s 10th Cohort

    Source: Morgan Stanley

    • Tenth Lab cohort includes 25 disruptive technology and technology-enabled startups from the Americas and EMEA
    • Five-month accelerator program to provide founders with $250,000 (£250,000) investment, as well as mentorship and business-growth resources
    • 117 companies have participated in the Lab to date.

    Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) today announced the 2024 global cohort of the Inclusive Ventures Lab, with 25 companies selected from the Americas and Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Over the next five months, the companies will participate in an in-house accelerator program designed to further develop and scale technology and technology-enabled startups in the seed to Series A funding round stage.

    Chosen from thousands of applications, the 25 startups represent a range of disruptive technologies across industries such as Climate Tech, Retail, Healthcare, FinTech, SaaS, Enterprise Software, Consumer and Travel – with many incorporating AI and sustainability into their products and services. Cohort companies will receive a $250,000 investment (£250,000 in EMEA) from Morgan Stanley, as well as a variety of mentorship opportunities, a tailored entrepreneurship curriculum and business-growth resources from the firm’s ecosystem of internal and external partners.

    “In today’s challenging venture capital environment, we are proud to welcome our largest cohort of groundbreaking startups to the Inclusive Ventures Lab and are eager to support them as they scale their innovations and work to build a better world,” said Selma Bueno, Global Head of the Morgan Stanley Inclusive Ventures Group. “Each year since the Inclusive Ventures Lab’s launch in 2017, we have expanded our efforts to ensure that more entrepreneurs around the world can succeed – and this year is no different.”

    The companies selected to participate in the 2024 cohort include the following:

    • Agri-Trak digitizes small farm operations with a smart platform for real-time labor, crop yield and cost tracking to optimize productivity, sustainability and profitability (US)
    • Beta Financial provides a transparent and comprehensive small business credit scoring solution, fostering financial inclusion and access to capital through innovative AI-driven technology (US)
    • Blip Energy is building a drop-in distributed energy resource to mitigate surging peak demand, optimize energy costs for users and reduce operating costs for utilities (US)
    • Compare Ethics is an AI-powered sustainability compliance platform that reduces costs by helping retail brands simplify, streamline and scale the way they make accurate green claims (UK)
    • Darent is a vacation rental marketplace platform in Saudi Arabia for travelers to search for properties with a focus on local experiences, a secure payment system and property insurance for hosts (Saudi Arabia)
    • For The Creators is an omni-channel circular fashion marketplace where women can rent and buy high-quality clothing for each stage of motherhood (UK)
    • GroceryList is a marketplace connecting immigrants worldwide with local merchants across Latin America and the Caribbean, enabling them to purchase groceries and essentials for their loved ones back home (US)
    • HANX is a consumer platform bringing together medically designed women’s reproductive health products, prescription treatments and community-focused content (UK)
    • Hire Ground is a B2B software platform that enables enterprise buyers to source and manage third party vendors while optimizing their procurement process (US)
    • Infinite Giving is a fintech platform that enables nonprofits to raise money, manage their cash reserves, and conservatively invest and grow (US)
    • Juniver is a health company leveraging AI technology to provide personalized digital interventions for lasting eating disorder recovery (UK)
    • KSI Vision uses existing AI on store and shopping center security cameras to generate real-time customer data and increase sales conversion (Uruguay)
    • Mavity is an AI-powered operating system for design and marketing teams that connects companies with on-demand creatives to streamline asset creation (US)
    • MyARC is a platform that enables fitness content creators to train their fans at scale (UK)
    • NÜWIEL provides electric mobility solutions for the cities of today and tomorrow (Germany)
    • OVUM is a one-stop shop for fertility wellness, providing educational resources, products and services for improving fertility outcomes (UK)
    • Research Grid is an automation engine for admin-free clinical trials (UK)
    • Revere is reinventing how allocators manage their alternative asset portfolios through AI, workflow automation tools and custom reporting (US)
    • Route is a platform of business management tools for commercial cleaning companies to automate sales, streamline operations, build contractor relationships and connect the entire cleaning industry (US)
    • Sanarai connects the Latino community to mental health professionals in Latin America and the US to offer culturally sensitive, Spanish-language emotional support at accessible prices (US)
    • Soralink leverages AI and smart sensors to assist manufacturers in preventing critical machine failures (Canada)
    • Sortile provides the textile industry with a system that enables the identification, traceability and recycling of textiles (US)
    • SWYE360 Learning is a data analytics company that uses machine learning and AI in education to measure software efficacy and detect students at risk of dropping out (US)
    • Tendo Technologies addresses the challenges faced by aspiring online retail entrepreneurs in Africa by connecting independent resellers to suppliers (Ghana)
    • Zest Equity is digitizing private market transactions, building tools to streamline and ensure greater transparency in how entrepreneurs, funds and investors transact (UAE).

    Programming will culminate in February 2025 with a global Demo Day, when participating companies will present to potential investors, business partners and customers. The investment firms in attendance at the last showcase represented over $40 billion of dry powder and indicated a high level of interest following the event.

    About the Morgan Stanley Inclusive Ventures Lab
    The Morgan Stanley Inclusive Ventures Lab (MSIVL) is an intensive five-month in-house accelerator program designed to help further develop and scale startups, culminating in a showcase presentation and Demo Day to the investor community. Morgan Stanley launched MSIVL, formerly called the Multicultural Innovation Lab, in 2017 in order to address inequities in funding of startup founders, which our research shows equals over four trillion dollars in unrealized returns.

    About Morgan Stanley
    Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) is a leading global financial services firm providing a wide range of investment banking, securities, wealth management and investment management services. With offices in 42 countries, the Firm’s employees serve clients worldwide including corporations, governments, institutions and individuals. For further information about Morgan Stanley, please visit www.morganstanley.com.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: India: Authorities must end repression of dissent in Jammu and Kashmir – Amnesty International

    Source: Amnesty International

    The Indian authorities must stop using restrictive travel bans and arbitrary detentions under the country’s stringent anti-terror laws to intimidate critical dissenting voices from speaking out on Jammu and Kashmir, Amnesty International said today ahead of the first state elections in the last ten years.

    The authorities’ escalating repression of human rights after India revoked the special autonomous status of the region has resulted in arbitrary detentions, passports being revoked, the creation of opaque ‘no flying lists’, the denial of entry into India and arbitrary cancellations of Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) status and affected those with Indian and non-Indian citizenship speaking out against the repression.

    “The Indian authorities are using arbitrary restrictions and punitive actions to create a climate of fear in Jammu and Kashmir. Anyone daring to speak out – whether to criticize the government or to stand up for human rights – faces a clampdown on their rights to freedom of expression and association and are unable to move freely within and outside the country,” said Aakar Patel, chair of board at Amnesty International India.

    “The Indian authorities must end their campaign of harassment and intimidation against dissenting voices. The people of Jammu and Kashmir must be able to exercise their right to fully participate in the decision-making about their future in the run up to, during and after elections.”

    Since the abrogation of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution in 2019, which scrapped Jammu and Kashmir’s special semi-autonomous status, and since Amnesty International issued its last briefing on the human rights situation in the region, we have verified the cases of at least five individuals, including journalists,  political leaders and activists, who have been prevented from travelling abroad or travelling into India, despite having the requisite travel documents, in violation of their right to freedom of movement. The Indian authorities have imposed the bans without any written explanation, court order or proper notification within the legal time frame which indicate a form of retaliation against their legitimate human rights work around Jammu and Kashmir.  

    The government also continues to misuse the draconian Public Safety Act (PSA), which allows authorities to arbitrarily detain people for up to two years without charge or trial, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) to carry out arbitrary  detentions. This has led to self-censorship of independent voices, and the Indian authorities’ near total control over information from Jammu and Kashmir.

    Passports confiscations, revocations and delays in issuance

    While there is no official data on the cancellation, denial, impounding or revocation of passports in Jammu & Kashmir, media reports suggest that about “98-200” passports may have been revoked since the abrogation of Article 370. Amnesty International documented in detail two cases of critics facing arbitrary passport revocation and one case of inordinate delays in issuance of passports.

    Masrat Zahra, a Kashmiri photojournalist who has won several international awards, has found herself in a state of limbo after her Indian passport was revoked without warning while she was pursuing higher education in the United States. Her family in Kashmir received a notice on 24 September 2023, dated back to 3 July 2023, demanding a response by 20 July—a deadline that had already passed by the time she became aware of it.

    “They had already made their decision to revoke my passport, so responding seemed futile,” Zahra said. “I am essentially trapped. I cannot leave the United States, nor can I return to India. I’ve had to self-censor my thoughts, avoiding anything that might raise attention on social media. But the hardest part is being separated from my family and unable to continue my work in Kashmir. I feel a deep responsibility to be the voice of my people, who are currently voiceless. There are no stories coming out of Kashmir anymore.”

    Before leaving India in March 2021, Zahra had been targeted under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) in April 2020 for allegedly posting ‘anti-national’ content, though she was never formally detained. “Once I left, my name was added to a no-fly list. If I return to India, I know I will not be able to leave again. The police have harassed and surveilled my family, assaulted my father and mother. They questioned neighbors about my whereabouts and subjected my family to endless phone calls,” Zahra explained.

    In addition to these challenges, Zahra continues to face death threats, and the charges under which she was persecuted remain active. “Even though I was never given a copy of the FIR, the authorities retain the power to arrest me at any time if I return,” she added.

    Waheed Para, an activist and political leader associated with the opposition Jammu & Kashmir People’s Democratic Party (PDP), was accused by the National Investigation Agency, India’s primary anti-terror investigation body of being a “threat to the security of the state”, and had his passport impounded and revoked in May 2023 by the Regional Passport Office in Srinagar before he could travel to the US to start a fellowship at Yale University.

    “They [Regional Passport Office] did not give me any concrete reasons for revoking my passport. They just arbitrarily invoked national security as a ground without any explanation… I lost a great academic opportunity…[I] could not even travel within India to secure a proper treatment for my father who was suffering from cancer and recently passed away. It has been extremely traumatic,” Para told Amnesty International.

    Iltija Mufti, who is the daughter and media advisor to Mehbooba Mufti, ex-chief minister and political leader associated with PDP, has routinely spoken against the repression in the region since the abrogation of Article 370. She waited months to have her passport issued.

    “Finally, I had to approach the court and was able to get my passport after more than a year. The authorities had similarly troubled my mother and grandmother with their passports. My freedom of movement is a right enshrined in the Indian Constitution, but I had to really struggle to exercise this right,” Mufti told Amnesty International.

    Till date, she has not been made aware of the reasons why the issuance of the passport was delayed. “They invoked the Official Secrets Act which is used in the cases of espionage to maintain secrecy. I haven’t even as much as had a traffic violation in my life. Their response was extreme. I was punished for daring to speak up,” she added.

    Documents conferring special rights cancelled

    Issued by the Indian government, an OCI status allow foreign nationals with links to India through ancestry, marriage or prior citizenship, to enter India without a visa and stay, work and hold property among other benefits.  

    In 2022, Amrit Wilson, an 82-year-old India-born British journalist and activist, received a formal document from the High Commission of India, accusing her of involvement in ‘multiple anti-India activities’ and ‘detrimental propaganda’ against the Indian government. As a result, her OCI was cancelled.

    “I was quite shocked to know that my OCI was cancelled. It is also extremely unfair because I have done nothing against India… It is absurd to say I’m anti-Indian. I grew up there. My parents lived their whole lives there,” Wilson told Amnesty International.

    While no concrete reason was offered to Wilson for the cancellation, an affidavit filed by the Indian authorities in an Indian court pointed towards several tweets she posted that were critical of the abrogation of Article 370 as grounds for cancellation.

    Nitasha Kaul is a British-Indian professor of politics of Kashmiri origin, who has testified about the human rights situation in Kashmir before the United State House Committee on Foreign Affairs. She holds a UK passport and an OCI, but on 23 February 2024, she was denied entry to India and as a result, hasn’t been able to see her ailing mother, who still lives there.  She was not given any reason by the immigration authorities for such a denial except to tell her that they had received orders to not allow her entry by “authorities in Delhi”.

    Kaul also told Amnesty International that a few weeks after she was denied entry to India, she received a notice from the Indian government on cancelling her OCI. Without any evidence, the letter accused her of “regularly targeting India and its leadership, particularly on Kashmir issue through [her] inimical writings, speeches, and journalistic activities at various international forums and social media platforms.”

     Kaul told Amnesty International, “Not being able to meet my only family has been deeply distressing. It is egregious and entirely unwarranted to punish scholars this way. My health has been significantly affected. My mother cannot travel to me, and I cannot be there for her. This is repression across borders and vindictive targeting of a scholar who does not toe the government line.”

    Arbitrary detention of critics

    In June 2024, the Indian authorities arrested the former president of the Jammu & Kashmir Court Bar Association, Mian Abdul Qayoom who had been critical about human rights violations by Indian authorities and the abrogation of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution. In July 2024, they arrested three more lawyers under the PSA. All four lawyers are being detained in jails outside of Kashmir, often in Jammu and Uttar Pradesh state.

    Their detention come amidst a crackdown on the Bar Association, which has been accused by the Indian authorities of “providing free legal aid to anti-nationals” and holding “anti-national and pro-secessionist” ideology.

    Journalists Majid Hyderi and Sajad Gul are also being detained under PSA and held outside Kashmir in Kot Balwal jail in Jammu district. “Out-of-state detention acts as an additional punishment for the detainees who are mostly government critics. The distance away from their home state further suppresses their freedom of expression and makes their families suffer, as well as making it difficult for them to meet regularly. The detainees are also unable to meet with their lawyers regularly,” said Shafqat Shah*, a lawyer at J&K high court.

    As part of its research, Amnesty International reviewed the Habeas Corpus Petitions (HCPs) filed to challenge the detentions under PSA before the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court in the periods of 2014-2019 and 2019-2024. It found that there was a seven-fold increase in the number of cases filed under the PSA after 2019, with Muslim-dominated Srinagar recording consistently more PSA cases than Hindu-dominated Jammu.

    Amnesty International also found that the average time taken to dispose of these petitions in Srinagar High Court has inordinately been increased since 2019, further enabling arbitrary and prolonged detention.  From 269.9 days in the period of 2014 – 2019 to conclude a HCP which essentially allow the detainees to challenge the lawfulness and conditions of their detention in an independent and impartial court of law, the average time taken has gone up to 329.2 days in the period of 4 August 2019 – 31 July 2024.

    Even though the Election Commission of India has reportedly instructed the government officials in Jammu & Kashmir to not undertake “unnecessary preventive detention” ahead of the state elections, any kind of meaningful reprieve will only come from releasing those held under PSA for merely exercising their human rights and holding the authorities accountable.

    Data published by the National Crime Record Bureau in 2022 shows that nearly 37 per cent of the UAPA cases all over India were registered in Jammu & Kashmir, with a conviction rate of 3%. This illustrates the likelihood that the law is being misused to clamp down on human rights defenders by ensuring that the criminal proceedings characterized by stringent bail provisions, prolonged detention, and lengthy investigation under the UAPA as punishment. Khurram Parvez, a civil society activist and coordinator of Jammu & Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society, and journalist Irfan Mehraj continue to be detained under UAPA since 2021 and 2023 respectively.

    “The modus operandi of the Indian authorities is to avoid carrying out large scale arrests or extrajudicial killings of critics and intensify their intimidation and harassment. This leads to powerlessness of the journalists and civil society by trapping them in a revolving door of answering queries and fighting criminal cases,” said Akhtar Bano*, an editor from Kashmir.  

    Enhanced control of the union government

    In a further threat to human rights, the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir – appointed by the central government –  was on 12 July 2024  given absolute control over the jurisdiction of state governance including the local administrative officials, prisons, prosecutions and law offices. The increase of the powers of the LG enhances the control of the union government over the region, concentrating power in the hands of the LG and significantly limiting the autonomy traditionally exercised by the local government. This shift not only reduces the role of the Chief Minister and the elected legislature but also marginalizes their influence over critical administrative and legal decisions, thereby diminishing the power of local governance.

     Since 5 August 2019, the Indian authorities have also cracked down on government officials in Jammu & Kashmir for allegedly holding views “prejudicial to the interests of the security of the state” or being related in whichever capacity to people who were once militants. According to media reports, at least 40 government officials have been terminated  from their services without giving a reasonable opportunity to the officials to appeal or challenge such termination.

    All cases of passport revocation, travel bans, and cancellation of OCI status documented by Amnesty International were characterised by over-broad reasons and a shroud of secrecy, closed executive appeal process and restricted access to courts, making them convenient tools of repression for the Indian authorities.  The making of decisions by the executive without any consultation of the public and the crackdown on government officials is further symbolic of violation of rights of the people of Jammu & Kashmir to take part in the political process and to express their opinions without any fear.

    “The first step to ending the repression in Jammu and Kashmir is to immediately release all those detained under the Public Safety Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for merely exercising their right to freedom of expression,” said Aakar Patel.

    “The Indian authorities must go further and ensure all human rights are upheld and protected for everyone in Jammu and Kashmir. That is the ‘naya’ (new) Kashmir that the authorities must aspire to as they lay grounds for the return of the statehood of the region.”

    *Names changed to protect identities.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Australia – BAM Mutual Launches Bond Insurance for Australia’s Energy Transition and Social Infrastructure Projects

    Source: BAM Mutual

    AA-Rated Financial Guarantee Reduces Costs and Improves Certainty of Delivery for Essential Infrastructure – MELBOURNE, Australia – BAM Mutual, the only mutual bond insurer focused on reducing the cost of debt sold for essential infrastructure, is opening a Melbourne office and will begin insuring bonds and loans sold to finance projects in Australia and New Zealand. BAM’s focus will include electricity transmission and distribution networks that support the energy transition, social infrastructure, and transportation facilities.

    “BAM Mutual’s mission is to make infrastructure more affordable, and we are looking forward to doing that for project sponsors and the users of projects across Australia and New Zealand,” said CEO Seán W. McCarthy.

    “BAM’s guaranty improves the economics for infrastructure investment by lowering the cost of borrowing, expanding the investor base and creating greater market liquidity, and giving buyers more certainty that they will be repaid on a timely basis, without exception.”

    The initiative is BAM’s first expansion outside the United States and is backed by the most experienced team in the industry, with a track record of analyzing the credit and legal structures of transactions specifically in Australia and New Zealand.

    “Australia and New Zealand are markets where BAM insurance can have a meaningful impact for borrowers while we maintain the same credit appetite we’ve applied in building our U.S. portfolio,” said Chief Credit Officer Suzanne Finnegan.

    The insurer’s new Melbourne office will be led by Andrew Bevan, an Australian native and 25-year capital-markets veteran who has helped finance more than $10 billion of essential infrastructure in 25 transactions across Australia and New Zealand, including the Melbourne Convention Centre and Brisbane Airport.

    Mr. Bevan will identify opportunities for BAM to insure new and existing debt sold to finance projects including electric power facilities, airports, toll roads, and social infrastructure PPPs.

    “The region’s infrastructure needs more than $200 billion of investment over the next five years to support sustainable development and a strong economy,” Mr. Bevan said.

    “BAM Mutual’s guaranty has a strong track record of helping attract investors to finance essential projects, improving market access and lowering costs. I’m proud to be bringing these tools to Australia and New Zealand.”

    About BAM Mutual
    BAM is a mutual bond insurance company operated for the benefit of its members – the sponsors of essential infrastructure projects like roads, airports, and schools, as well as water, wastewater, and power utilities. Through June 30, 2024, BAM has insured more than USD$150 billion of long-term securities for more than 6,000 bond issuers. BAM is rated AA with a Stable outlook by S&P Global Ratings.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Retail activity falls by 1.2 percent – Stats NZ media and information release: Retail trade survey: June 2024 quarter

    Source: Statistics New Zealand

    Retail activity falls by 1.2 percent

    23 August 2024 – The total volume of retail sales in New Zealand fell 1.2 percent in the June 2024 quarter, after adjusting for price inflation and seasonal effects, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.

    This movement continues the downward trend observed in the last eight quarters.

    Eleven of the 15 retail industries had lower sales volumes in the June 2024 quarter, compared with the March 2024 quarter.

    The largest contributors to the fall in retail activity were:

    • electrical and electronic goods retailing – down 6.0 percent
    • motor vehicle and parts retailing – down 2.7 percent
    • food and beverage services – down 1.9 percent.
    • clothing, footwear, and personal accessories – down 4.1 percent.

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

     

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Universities – Early dingoes are related to dogs from New Guinea and East Asia – University of Sydney

    Source: University of Sydney

    Australian dingo has evolved over 3,000 years to become larger and leaner – New archaeological research by the University of Sydney has discovered for the first time clear links between fossils of the iconic Australian dingo, and dogs from East Asia and New Guinea.

    The remarkable findings suggest that the dingo came from East Asia via Melanesia, and challenges previous claims that it derived from pariah dogs of India or Thailand. 

    Previous studies used traditional morphometric analysis – which looks at the size and shape of the animal using callipers – to trace the dingo’s ancestry to South Asia.  

    However, the new study, published in Nature Scientific Reports, uses sophisticated 3D scanning and geometric morphometrics on ancient dingo specimens to show clearly that they are most similar to Japanese dogs, as well as the ‘singing dogs’ of New Guinea and the highland wild dog of Irian Jaya.
     
    Dr Loukas Koungoulos, a research associate in the Discipline of Archaeology at the University of Sydney, said: “The origins of this controversial Australian native animal have been heavily debated for more than a century. Our research has found the elusive first links between fossil material that suggest dingoes have evolved locally from an East Asian dog-like ancestor.”

    Dr Koungoulos added: “The archaeological sites at Lake Mungo and Lake Milkengay hold some of the oldest evidence of dingoes in the whole of Australia. It is incredible to see how these remarkable animals have evolved over thousands of years and gives us a greater understanding of this uniquely Australian species.”  

    The study team – which included Associate Professor Melanie Fillios from the University of New England and Dr Ardern Hulme-Beaman from the University of Liverpool – looked at the remains of ancient dingoes found at Lake Mungo and Lake Milkengay in western NSW.

    Associate Professor Melanie Fillios said: “Our research underscores the antiquity of dingoes, pointing to a common ancestor between dingoes and the more recent canines in Southeast Asia.”

    In collaboration with the Willandra Lakes Region World Heritage Area Traditional Owners, the team used radiocarbon dating to discover that some remains were over 3,000 years old.

    The team also found that modern-day dingoes have evolved to become larger and leaner, standing at an average of 54cm tall compared to between 40-47cm for their ancient ancestors – a size much closer to their contemporary relatives in Southeast Asia and Melanesia.  

    RESEARCH

    Koungoulos, Loukas G. et al ‘Phenotypic diversity in early Australian dingoes revealed by traditional and 3D geometric morphometric analysis’. (Natural Scientific Reports)  

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-65729-3

    DECLARATION

    Research funding was received from the Australian Government Research Training Partnership, the Carlyle-Greenwell Postgraduate Scholarship and the Ben Sandford Cullen Award.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Remarks by Vice President Harris at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s 47th Annual Leadership  Conference

    Source: The White House

    Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center
    Washington, D.C.

    12:48 P.M. EDT

    THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Good afternoon.  Good afternoon.  Good afternoon, everyone.  (Applause.)  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  Thank you.  (Applause.) Good afternoon.  Please have a seat.  Please have a seat.  Please have a seat.

    Oh, it’s good to see so many friends.

    AUDIENCE:  We love you!

    THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Oh, I love you back.  (Applause.)

     I want to recognize Chair Barragán — where are you? — my dear friend, fellow Californian.  I want to thank you for all that you do — (applause) — and all that you have done.

    CHCI Chair Espaillat, thank you for all that you are.  He — you know, I — he spent — both of them have spent time with me at my house, and we’ve — we’ve shared a lot of good stories together and — and many meals together.  And I just want to personally thank them both, because they really, as you know, are extraordinary people and extraordinary leaders and they do so much on behalf of so many.  So, thank you both for your leadership and for hosting me this afternoon.

    And to all the incredible leaders here, it is an honor to be with you again.

    And to everyone, happy Hispanic Heritage Month — (applause) — which, in my book, is every month of the year.  (Laughs.)  (Applause.) 

    So, this is a room of long-standing friends.  And many of you know my background.  My mother arrived in the United States when she was 19 years old by herself.  And I spoke about it recently, actually.  You know, my mother — I was the eldest child.  And as the eldest child, those of us who are, you know you see a lot of things in terms of what your parents go through. 

    And I would often see how my mother was treated.  She was a five-foot-tall brown woman with an accent.  And I would see how the world would sometimes treat her.

    I’m going to tell you something, and this where I come from.  My mother never lost her cool.  She never defined her sense of dignity based on how others treated her.  She was a proud woman.  She was a hardworking woman.  She had two goals in her life: to raise her two daughters — my sister Maya and me — and to end breast cancer.  She was a breast cancer researcher. 

    And growing up, our mother taught us certain fundamental values: the importance of hard work; the power of community; and the responsibility that we have to not complain about anything, much less injustice.  Right?  Because “why are you complaining about it,” she would say.  “Do something about it.”  And that’s how I was raised: Do something about it.

    And those values have guided me my entire career, from, as you heard, being a young courtroom prosecutor in Oakland, California — (applause). 

     AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Bay Area! 

    THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Wh- — Bay Area.  (Laughter.)  106.1 KMEL.  (Laughs.)  (Applause.)  That was our local radio station for hip-hop.  (Laughter.)

    But doing that work — you know, part of the background on why I became a prosecutor was actually when I was in high school, I learned that my best friend was being abused — being molested by her stepfather.  And when I learned about it, I told her she had to come and live with us.  And I called my mother, and my mother said, “Of course she does.”  And she did.

    And so, I decided I wanted to start a career and do the work of — in part, just doing the work of making sure that we protect the most vulnerable.

    And so, I started my career as a courtroom prosecutor and took on those who would be predators against the most vulnerable.

    As attorney general of California, I took on the big banks and delivered $20 billion for homeowners who were middle-class families who faced foreclosure because of predatory lending practices.  I stood up for veterans and students who were being scammed by the big for-profit colleges, knowing the — and many of whom were — had an immigrant background and were just simply

    trying to — to do the best they could to invest in themselves and their family for their future and — and the subject of — of awful scams.

     I have stood up, in my career, for workers who were being cheated out of the wages they were due and for seniors who have faced elder abuse. 

     And I say all that to say: When I stand here before you today, this is not just something that I decided to do but really is about a lifelong career that has been about fighting for the people — for the people.

    And for years, I have been proud to fight alongside the members and the leaders of this incredible caucus — (applause) — in almost all of that work.  And the work we have done together has been about so much I just talked about.  It has been about defending workers’ rights.  It has been about expanding health care for more Americans, including DREAMers.  (Applause.)  It has been about forgiving billions of dollars in student loan debt, including for many of the folks that we know — friends, relatives — who, again, have been burdened by that heavy debt and just needed to be seen — teachers, firefighters, nurses. 

     The work we have done together has been to create the National Museum of the American Latino and — (applause) — and, of course, last year, I was proud to be with a lot of the leaders here in Houston for the CHC On the Road tour.  (Applause.)

     So, I say that to say that, CHC, our work together has always been guided by shared values and by a shared vision.  However, at this moment, at this moment, we are confronting two different — very — very different — visions for our nation: one focused on the past; the other, ours, focused on the future.  

    We fight for a future for affordable health care, affordable childcare, and paid leave.  We fight for a future where we build what I call an “opportunity economy,” understanding that the people of our country, the people we know, have extraordinary ambition and aspirations and dreams of what they can be, what they can do, are prepared to do the hard work and put that hard work in, but don’t necessarily always have access to the opportunities to achieve and realize those goals.

     So, I see an America where everyone has an opportunity to own a home, to build wealth, to start a business. 

     I believe in a future — we, together, believe in a future where we lower the cost of living for America’s families so that people have an opportunity not just to get by but to get ahead. 

     And so, with the work we have done together and going forward, we will continue to lower the cost of groceries, for example, by taking on something that I think is very important to deal with, which is price gouging on behalf of big corporations.  (Applause.)

     You know, I’ve — I’ve seen that happen before.  Many of you who — who have — and are coming from states where y- — we’ve seen extreme weather conditions — in California, wildfires, and other parts of the country — or even in the pandemic, where people are desperate because of these kinds of emergencies, desperate for support.  And then some, you know, corporation — and it’s very few of them that do this — but then jack up prices to make it more difficult for desperate people to just get by.  We need to take that on.

    We need to lower the cost of housing.  We don’t have enough housing in our country.  The supply is too low, and it’s too expensive both for renters and for folks who want to buy a home.  So, we will build together millions of new homes and give first-time homebuyers $25,000 in down payment assistance.  (Applause.) 

    Because, look, people just want to get their foot in the door.  I — my mother worked hard.  She saved up.  It wasn’t until I was a teenager that she was able to buy our first home.

    And the American dream is elusive for far too many people increasingly.  And that’s why it is part of my perspective that’s let’s just do the work of giving first-time homebuyers a $25,000 down payment assistance.  (Applause.)  Let them get their foot in the door.

    We need to lower the cost of health care and continue to take on Big Pharma and cast the — cap the cost of prescription medications, yes, for our seniors, which we have done together, but for all Americans.  Because when we look at drugs like insulin, everyone here knows — first of all, Latinos are 70 percent more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes.  And with the support of the CHC, we were able to cap the cost of insulin at $35 a month for our seniors.  (Applause.)

    In fact, recently, I was in Nevada.  I’m — I’m in these streets.  Let me tell — I’m everywhere.  (Laughter.)  But I was recently in Nevada, and a woman came up to me with tears in her eyes, and she showed me the receipts for her mother’s insulin.  And it used — she show- — and I was — she showed me many papers, and I said, “Tell me what these are.”  And she said, “Well, these are the receipts, and I want you to see where it used to cost us hundreds if not a thousand dollars a month, but no more.” 

    The work we are doing together, the very purpose of CHC and all of the leaders here includes have a real impact on real people.  And I have the blessing of being able to travel our country and see it every day.  It’s extraordinary work that is happening because of the leaders here.

    We, because of our work together, have finally given Medicare the power to negotiate lower drug prices with Big Pharma. 

    And understand, if my opponent, Donald Trump, wins, his allies in Congress intend to end Medicare and end Medicare’s negotiating power.  As they remind us again this week, they are essentially saying — check this out, because if — because, you know, you have to ask why, right?  So, why would you want to end Medicare’s negotiating power against Big Pharma?  And essentially, they’re saying that it’s not fair to Big Pharma.  (Laughs.)  That’s essentially what they’re saying.

    But I’ll tell you what’s not fair.  What’s not fair is that our seniors for too long have had to cut pills in half because they cannot afford their full medication.  (Applause.)  That’s not fair.  It’s not fair that our seniors have had to choose between filling their prescriptions and putting food in their refrigerator or paying their rent.  That’s not fair. 

    And that’s why we will continue to do our work together, including fight Project 2025, an agenda that would cut Medicare and increase the cost of health care in our country.  (Applause.)  Because we stand with the people and on the side of the people. 

    We will cut taxes for working families, including restoring and expanding the Child Tax Credit.  (Applause.)  Because we know this is the kind of work that must happen if we are to be true to our values and be true to understanding that — that parents, in particular young parents, need that support.  We — when we — when we extended the Child Tax Credit, cut child poverty by 50 percent — by half.  Think about what that meant for so many families.

     The vast majority of parents have a desire to raise their children well.  They love their children but don’t necessarily have the resources to do everything their child needs.  I grew up understanding the children of the community are the children of the community, and we should all have a vested interest in ensuring that children can go — grow up with the resources that they need to achieve their God-given potential.

     So, I know where I come from.  And we have to always put — and I know CHC agrees with this, and this is part of our collective life’s work — we have to put the middle class first; we have to put working families first, understanding their dreams and their desires and their ambitions deserve to be invested in and it will benefit everyone.  (Applause.)

    And together, CHC, we must also reform our broken immigration system — (applause) — and protect our DREAMers and understand we can do both — create an earned pathway to citizenship and ensure our border is secure.  We can do both and we must do both.  (Applause.)

     And while we fight to move our nation forward to a brighter future, Donald Trump and his extremist allies will keep trying to pull us backward.  We all remember what they did to tear apart families.  And now they have pledged to carry out the largest deportation — a mass deportation — in American history.  

     Imagine what that would look like and what that would be.  How is that going to happen?  Massive raids?  Massive detention camps?  What are they talking about?

     They also will give billions of dollars of tax cuts to billionaires and corporations — massive tax cuts; pardon January 6th perpetrators who attacked our Capitol, not far from here.  They would cut Social Security and Medicare.  They intend to end the Affordable Care Act and threaten the health care of more than 5 million Latinos in our country.  All based on — I’m sure many of you saw the debate — (applause) — so, on that point about the Affordable Care Act — all based on “concepts of a plan.”  (Laughter and applause.)  “Concepts.”  “Concepts.”

     Their Project 2025 agenda would pull our nation backward.  But we are not going back.  We are not going back.  (Applause.)  We are not going back. 

    Instead, together, we will chart a new way forward because ours is a fight for the future.  And it is a fight for freedom — the freedom to vote, the freedom to be safe from gun violence, the freedom to live without fear of bigotry and hate, the freedom to love who you love openly and with pride, and the freedom of a woman to make decisions about her own body — (applause) — and not have her government telling her what to do.  (Applause.)  

    And understand, on that last point, how we got here.  Everyone here knows.  Donald Trump hand-selected three members of the United States Supreme Court with the intention that they would do just what they did, which is to overturn the protections of Roe v. Wade.  And now, in more than 20 states, we have a Trump abortion ban, which criminalized health care providers — in one state, providing prison for life.

    You guys may have heard the story — many here — about the stories about — the horrendous most recent story is about what happened in Georgia.

     Many of these Trump abortions bans that make no exception for rape or incest, it’s immoral.  It’s immoral.

     And today, 40 percent of Latinas in America live in a state with a Trump abortion ban. 

     So, imagine if she is a working woman — understand that the majority of women who seek abortion care are mothers — understand what that means for her.  So, she’s got to now travel to another state.  God help her that she has some extra money to pay for that plane ticket.  She’s got to figure out what to do with her kids.  God help her if she has affordable childcare.  Imagine what that means.

    She has to leave her home to go to a airport, stand in a TSA line — like, think about this.  You know, everybody here is — is — you’re policy leaders.  I always say to my team, especially the young people I mentor, on any public policy, you have to ask, “How is this going to affect a real person?”  Ask how it would affect a real people.  Go through the details.

     So, she’s got to stand in a TSA line to get on a plane, sitting next to a perfect stranger, going to a city where she’s never been, to go and receive a medical procedure.  She’s going to have to get right back to the airport, because she — got to get back to those kids.  And it’s not like her best friend can go with her, because the best friend is probably taking care of the kids.  All because these people have decided they’re in a better position to tell her what’s in her best interest than she is to know.
        
     It’s just simply wrong.

    And I think we all know one does not have to abandon their faith or deeply held beliefs to agree the government should not be telling a woman what to do.  If she chooses — (applause) — if she chooses, she will talk with her priest, her pastor, her rabbi, her imam, but not the government telling her what to do.

     And I pledge to you, when CHC helps pass a law to restore reproductive freedoms, as president of the United States, I will proudly sign it into law.  (Applause.)  Proudly.  Proudly. 

     So, friends, we have some work to do — in fact, a lot of hard work ahead of us.  But we like hard work.  Hard work is good work.  Hard work is joyful work, I say.  And I truly believe that America is ready to turn the page on the politics of division and hate. 

    And to do it, our nation is counting on the leaders here, your power, your activism.  And so, I thank you in advance for your work to register people to vote and get people to the polls.  Each of us has a job to do.

    As we celebrate this month, we know we stand on broad shoulders of people before us who have passed us now the baton — those heroes who fought for freedom who have now passed the baton onto us.

         And the bottom line is: We know what we stand for, so we know what to fight for.  And when we fight —

         AUDIENCE:  We win.

         THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — we win.

         God bless you.  And God bless the United States of America.  Thank you.  (Applause.)

                                 END                1:08 P.M. EDT

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Readout of White  House Roundtable with Youth Voting  Leaders

    Source: The White House

    Yesterday, on National Voter Registration Day, the White House hosted a roundtable discussion to hear directly from youth leaders about their nonpartisan efforts to promote youth civic engagement across the country. College and high school student leaders from Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Texas discussed their nonpartisan efforts to help eligible young Americans register to vote and cast their ballots. Leaders of organizations that support nonpartisan youth civic engagement highlighted their work to strengthen young peoples’ ability to make their voices heard and have an impact on issues that they care most about. Participants discussed barriers to voting that young Americans face, including unfamiliarity with the voting process, lack of access to and information about voter registration opportunities and convenient ballot polling locations or ballot drop boxes, voter suppression such as laws that limit the ability of students to use their school IDs to vote, and the chilling effect of state restrictions on voter registration activity. During the roundtable, the Biden-Harris Administration discussed its efforts to expand voting access for young Americans, including improving and promoting vote.gov, which offers guides for college students and those approaching voting age, and the Department of Education’s toolkit to provide schools with nonpartisan strategies to help their eligible students register to vote and cast their ballots.

    As extremists across the country continue to advance policies that make it harder for Americans to vote and spread baseless lies to sow doubt about the integrity of our elections, the Biden-Harris Administration reaffirmed its steadfast commitment to ensuring that all eligible Americans, regardless of their political affiliation, are able to vote in free, fair, and secure elections. That is why, for example, Vice President Harris announced National Voter Registration Day as one of three National Days of Action on Voting Rights. President Biden and Vice President Harris will continue to stand up to attacks on Americans’ fundamental right to vote, and call on Congress to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act to fully protect the right to vote for all eligible Americans in every state.

    Additionally, on National Voter Registration Day, the Biden-Harris Administration announced actions that agencies are taking to promote access to voting for all eligible Americans, building on the progress that agencies have made since President Biden issued an Executive Order on Promoting Access to Voting on March, 7, 2021:

    1. The General Services Administration (GSA) recently launched a revamped vote.gov website, where Americans can find nonpartisan information about registering to vote and how to vote. The new vote.gov is now available in 19 languages, accommodating 96% of the American public, and has new accessibility features like compatibility with screen readers. Vote.gov partnered with the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to now offer an accessible tool that helps voters more easily fill out the National Mail Voter Registration Form online, then print and mail it to their state or territory. While vote.gov itself does not register voters or store any personal data, it serves as a helpful one-stop tool that connects Americans to their state election websites to register to vote. 
    2. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is making it easier for interested consumers on HealthCare.gov to connect to voter registration services. Starting on September 20, 2024, the HealthCare.gov online application will include an optional question allowing consumers to express an interest in receiving information about registering to vote, and those who select to express an interest will receive a link to vote.gov for additional information.
    3. GSA partnered with the United States Postal Service to display vote.gov posters in approximately 17,000 Post Offices across the country.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –