NewzIntel.com

Category: Ukraine

  • MIL-OSI Security: Update 254 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

    Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) has restored its connection to a 150 kilovolt (kV) power line that could be used as a back-up option for the plant, although the supplies of electricity needed for reactor cooling and other essential functions remain fragile, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said today.

    The 150 kV line was reportedly damaged in shelling late last month, further limiting the potential availability of power supplies for the ZNPP as this line connects the site to the switchyard of the nearby Zaporizhzhya Thermal Power Plant. However, the IAEA team stationed at the ZNPP was informed this week that the repairs had been completed and the line was once again available, if needed.

    During the military conflict, the ZNPP has been relying on two power lines – one 750 kV and one 330 kV – for off-site electricity but both have suffered repeated disconnections as a result of the fighting, underlining the potential importance of any additional source of electricity. Before the conflict, the ZNPP had ten power lines available.

    During the past week, the IAEA team has continued to hear explosions, including some blasts close to the ZNPP, although no damage to the plant was reported.

    The IAEA team conducted regular walkdowns across the ZNPP, including by the sprinkler ponds and in the turbine halls of two units, and observed ongoing maintenance activities of one main transformer as well as testing of one emergency diesel generator pertaining to part of the safety system.

    The IAEA teams present at the Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine NPPs and the Chornobyl site reported that nuclear safety and security is being maintained despite the effects of the ongoing conflict, including air raid alarms for several days over the past week.

    At the Rivne NPP, reactor unit 2 has been reconnected to the grid following planned outage. Following an air raid alert, the IAEA team deployed at Khmelnytskyy NPP took shelter in the morning of 7 October.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Russian Nationals Charged for Their Participation in an Illicit Procurement Network That Exported to Russia Sensitive U.S.-Sourced Microelectronics with Military Applications in Violation of U.S. Export Controls

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)

    Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, James E. Dennehy, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and Jonathan Carson, the Special Agent in Charge of the Office of Export Enforcement of the New York Field Office of the Bureau of Industry and Security of the U.S. Department of Commerce, announced today that ZHANNA SOLDATENKOVA and RUSLAN ALMETOV, both Russian nationals, were indicted along with ARTHUR PETROV, a dual Russian and German national, for export control violations, smuggling, wire fraud, and money laundering in connection with their alleged participation in a scheme to procure U.S.-sourced microelectronics subject to U.S. export controls on behalf of a Russia-based supplier of critical electronics components for manufacturers supplying weaponry and other equipment to the Russian military.  PETROV, previously charged in a criminal Complaint, was arrested on August 26, 2023, in the Republic of Cyprus at the request of the U.S. and was extradited from the Republic of Cyprus earlier this year.  He arrived in the Southern District of New York on August 8, 2024, and was ordered detained.  SOLDATENKOVA and ALMETOV are at large.  The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein.

    The indictment can be read here.

    U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Zhanna Soldatenkova and Ruslan Almetov are now charged, alongside previously charged Arthur Petrov, for conspiring to smuggle microelectronics with military applications from U.S. distributors to a Russian company that supplies manufacturers for the Russian military.  This Office is committed to exposing the full breadth of such illicit procurement networks and protecting our national security.”

    Assistant Director in Charge James E. Dennehy said: “Zhanna Soldatenkova and Ruslan Almetova, along with Arthur Petrov, allegedly conspired to evade export laws as members of an illegal international procurement network to help aid the Russian defense industry.  As alleged, by deliberately concealing the true nature of their business, they not only violated the law but ultimately put the national security of our country at risk.  The FBI, in concert with our partners, is determined to protect the United States and will hold accountable anyone attempting to harm our nation.”

    Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Carson said: “As this action demonstrates, we will work with our domestic and international law enforcement partners to charge alleged violators wherever they may be worldwide. Illegal global procurement networks that prop up the Russian war machine will not be tolerated. That’s why we and our law enforcement partners are working nonstop to ensure that those operating such networks face American justice.”

    According to the allegations contained in the Indictment returned in Manhattan federal court:[1]

    PETROV is a dual Russian-German national who previously resided in Russia and Cyprus and worked for LLC Electrocom VPK (“Electrocom”), a Russia-based supplier of critical electronics components for manufacturers supplying weaponry and other equipment to the Russian military.  SOLDATENKOVA is a Russian national who has resided in Russia and worked for Electrocom.  ALMETOV is also a Russian national who has resided in Russia and was the co-founder and served as General Director of Electrocom.

    PETROV, SOLDATENKOVA, and ALMETOV operated an illicit procurement network in Russia and elsewhere overseas.  More specifically, they fraudulently procured from U.S. distributors large quantities of microelectronics subject to U.S. export controls on behalf of Electrocom.  To carry out the scheme, PETROV, SOLDATENKOVA, and ALMETOV used shell companies and other deceptive means to conceal that the electronics components were destined for Russia.  The technology that the defendants procured in contravention of export controls had significant military applications and included various types of electronics components of the sort that have been recovered in Russian military hardware on the battlefield in Ukraine, such as Russian guided missiles, drones, and electronic warfare and communications devices.

    To perpetrate the scheme, PETROV first acquired the controlled microelectronics from U.S.-based electronics exporters using a Cyprus-based shell company, Astrafteros Technokosmos LTD (“Astrafteros”), which he operated.  PETROV procured these sensitive electronics components by falsely representing to the U.S. exporters that Astrafteros was purchasing the items for fire security systems, among other commercial uses, and that the ultimate end-users and destinations of the electronics are companies in Cyprus or other third countries — when in fact the components were destined for Electrocom in Russia, which supplies manufacturers for the Russian military.  The microelectronics that PETROV procured as part of the conspiracy included, among other things, microcontrollers and integrated circuits on the Commerce Control List maintained by the Commerce Department and which could not lawfully be exported or reexported to Russia without a license from the Commerce Department.  Invoices provided to PETROV by the U.S. distributors expressly noted that these microcontrollers and integrated circuits were subject to U.S. export controls.

    To evade these controls, PETROV, SOLDATENKOVA, and ALMETOV worked together to transship the controlled items procured by PETROV using pass-through entities operated by SOLDATENKOVA and ALMETOV in third countries.  SOLDATENKOVA and ALMETOV then caused the items to be shipped, sometimes through yet another country, to the ultimate destination: Electrocom in Saint Petersburg, Russia.  At all times, PETROV, SOLDATENKOVA, and ALMETOV concealed from the U.S. distributors that they were procuring the controlled electronics components on behalf of Electrocom and that the items were destined for Russia.  During the course of the conspiracy, PETROV, SOLDATENKOVA, and ALMETOV procured from U.S. distributors and shipped to Russia more than $225,000 worth of controlled electronics components with military applications.

    *                *                *

    A table containing the charges and maximum penalties for PETROV, 35, of Russia and Cyprus, SOLDATENKOVA, 36, of Russia, and ALMETOV, 43, of Russia, is set forth below.  The maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge.

    Charge

    Defendants

    Maximum Penalties
    Count One:  Conspiracy to defraud the United States (18 U.S.C. § 371) PETROV, SOLDATENKOVA, and ALMETOV 5 years’ imprisonment
    Count Two:  Conspiracy to violate the Export Control Reform Act (“ECRA”) (50 U.S.C. §§ 4819(a)(1), 4819(a)(2)(A)-G), and 4819(b); 15 C.F.R. §§ 736.2(b)(1), 746.8(a)(1), and 764.2) PETROV, SOLDATENKOVA, and ALMETOV 20 years’ imprisonment
    Count Three:  Violation of ECRA (50 U.S.C. §§ 4819(a)(1), 4819(a)(2)(A)-G), and 4819(b); 15 C.F.R. §§ 736.2(b)(1), 746.8(a)(1), and 764.2) PETROV and SOLDATENKOVA 20 years’ imprisonment
    Count Four:  Violation of ECRA (50 U.S.C. §§ 4819(a)(1), 4819(a)(2)(A)-G), and 4819(b); 15 C.F.R. §§ 736.2(b)(1), 746.8(a)(1), and 764.2) PETROV and SOLDATENKOVA 20 years’ imprisonment
    Count Five:  Violation of ECRA (50 U.S.C. §§ 4819(a)(1), 4819(a)(2)(A)-G), and 4819(b); 15 C.F.R. §§ 736.2(b)(1), 746.8(a)(1), and 764.2) PETROV, SOLDATENKOVA, and ALMETOV 20 years’ imprisonment
    Count Six:  Conspiracy to smuggle goods from the United States (18 U.S.C. § 371) PETROV, SOLDATENKOVA, and ALMETOV 5 years’ imprisonment
    Count Seven:  Smuggling goods from the United States (18 U.S.C. §§ 554(a) and 2) PETROV and SOLDATENKOVA 10 years’ imprisonment
    Count Eight:  Smuggling goods from the United States (18 U.S.C. §§ 554(a) and 2) PETROV and SOLDATENKOVA 10 years’ imprisonment
    Count Nine:  Smuggling goods from the United States (18 U.S.C. §§ 554(a) and 2) PETROV, SOLDATENKOVA, and ALMETOV 10 years’ imprisonment
    Count Ten:  Conspiracy to commit wire fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1349) PETROV, SOLDATENKOVA, and ALMETOV 20 years’ imprisonment
    Count Eleven:  Conspiracy to commit money laundering (18 U.S.C. §§ 1956(h), 1956(f)) PETROV, SOLDATENKOVA, and ALMETOV 20 years’ imprisonment

    Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and its New York Field Office, Counterintelligence Division and the New York Field Office of the Bureau of Industry and Security of the Department of Commerce.  Mr. Williams also thanked the FBI’s Legal Attaché offices in Poland, Germany, and Athens, Greece; the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, Counterintelligence and Export Control Section; the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs; the Republic of Cyprus Ministry of Justice and Public Order; and the Law Office of the Republic for their assistance.  The Republic of Cyprus National Police also provided critical assistance in effecting the defendant’s arrest and detention at the request of the U.S.

    This prosecution is coordinated through the Justice Department’s Task Force KleptoCapture and the Justice and Commerce Departments’ Disruptive Technology Strike Force.  Task Force KleptoCapture is an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export restrictions, and economic countermeasures that the U.S. has imposed, along with its allies and partners, in response to Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine.  The Disruptive Technology Strike Force is an interagency law enforcement strike force co-led by the Departments of Justice and Commerce designed to target illicit actors, protect supply chains, and prevent critical technology from being acquired by authoritarian regimes and hostile nation states.

    This case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and International Narcotics Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Sullivan is in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Trial Attorney Maria Fedor of the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.

    The charges in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

    [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Transcript: World Mental Health Day Festival

    Source: US State of New York

    Earlier today, Governor Kathy Hochul participated in a fireside chat at The Project Healthy Minds World Mental Health Day Festival. World Mental Health Day was established on October 10, 1992 by the World Federation for Mental Health. Since then, it has been observed every year with the aim of raising awareness in the global community about critical mental health agendas through collaboration with various partners to take action and create lasting change.

    VIDEO of the event is available on YouTube here and available in TV quality (h.264, mp4) format here.

    AUDIO of the Governor’s remarks is available here.

    PHOTOS of the event are available on the Governor’s Flickr page.

    A rush transcript of the Governor’s remarks is available below:

    Linsey Davis, ABC News: Good morning, everyone. Good morning, and thank you so much for joining us on this World Mental Health Day. We are excited to have this conversation with regard to mental health — America’s fraying social fabric — which is such a necessary and worthwhile conversation to have. And we are so glad to have with us Kathy Hochul, the 57th Governor of New York — first female Governor of New York.

    Governor Hochul: Yes. Thank you, everybody.

    Linsey Davis, ABC News: And not only do we have in her an advocate when it comes to mental health reform, but also with abortion rights and gun safety and beyond. But in particular, today we’re going to really talk about the status of mental health when it comes to our youth both in the State of New York and beyond, because a number of the initiatives that you’ve actually started are really a model that the rest of the country is looking at and implementing. And so, we just thank you so much for taking the time to have this really critical and necessary conversation.

    You know, it’s been said that if you’re not afraid, you’re not paying attention. And I think that is certainly true of these times when we think about — whether it’s natural disasters or the global conflict in Ukraine or Israel, and the slightly contentious election for President that we’re in the midst of — but all of these have ramifications when it comes to our young people. And I want to get to that larger crisis that’s taking place, but first I want to talk about — further compounding all of this — is that there are still lingering effects from COVID-19.

    Governor Hochul: That’s exactly right. I would put that at the top of the list of what maybe precipitated this unusual time in our history where we’re finding that childhood is no longer a time of joy. It is enormously stressful. And to see kids in middle school and high school in particular that are really devolving into a dark place — and this is not from me reading books. This is from me spending two years on the road convening young people in libraries and classrooms and different community centers all over the State, and asking them what’s going on. Why are these statistics that we’re seeing about — particularly young women contemplating suicide and actually following through with it — happening? The depression, the anxiety — all these parallel factors are going on at a time when people are not recovered from the pandemic.

    And I say that to adults and they don’t even think about it anymore because their resiliency was baked into them. As adults, you’ve been through a lot. When you are a 12-year-old or a 16-year-old, you don’t have those natural coping skills. And those kids today are still talking about the pandemic that we have put in the rear view mirror.

    But parallel with that was the rise in social media algorithms that are addictive. So, this was the imperfect storm that — the collision of which — has affected the mental health of our kids, and we have to do something about it because we’re the adults in the room, we’re the adults in their lives and they’re asking us, as one young woman said to me, “You have to save us from ourselves. We cannot put down the phones, we cannot break the addiction.” And I have to do something. I’m the first woman governor, but also I’m the first mom governor whose kids have gone through this, and I see so many family members and so, I applaud you. And also Project Healthy Mind for putting a spotlight on something that four or five years ago I don’t think there would have been as much interest in, but now even the Surgeon General has declared this a crisis. And we, in leadership positions, have no option but to act, and I’ve been doing this for years.

    Linsey Davis, ABC News: And when you talk about the stress, anxiety, uncertainty in particular that kids are feeling — give us an idea of some of the initiatives, some of the specific steps that your administration is taking.

    Governor Hochul: Well, number one, when I first became governor three years ago, I knew that there’s still a stigma about seeking help. I mean, I’ve been working on this in the addictive space — opioid addiction — and so people don’t want to get help. Mental health, it seems like you’re admitting a weakness if you seek help. I’m glad to see there’s been an evolution where more people are open about it and talking about it on social media platforms and podcasts, and programs like this that allow people to feel more comfortable with the fact that we’re all imperfect. Sometimes we need help at different points in our lives. But when it came down to what I could do as governor — $1 billion I put on the table. I said, “This means we’re serious.” The whole array of services, whether it’s in schools — which I think is one of the most important places [for there to be] mental health services and clinics inside our schools — to help kids who are starting to show signs of fraying from the stress. If we help them now, we don’t have to commit them to a lifetime of needing services and help later. So, it’s right in the classroom, all the way to dealing with the challenge of homelessness and mental health challenges on our subways — we have embedded teams that are professionals, they’re caring, I’ve met with them so many times, I’ve been there with them — they meet individuals who others may walk by and be afraid of and say, “You know, that person could do harm to myself or my baby in the stroller. I’m a senior citizen going to a doctor’s appointment.” There’s a fear that’s embedded in all of us when you see something that is unknown to you.

    So, let’s get people help. They do not deserve to live on the subways and in our streets; we get them supportive housing so there’s money involved in that as well; opening up more mental health beds.

    During the pandemic — people don’t know this — thousands of beds dedicated for providing mental health services in our hospitals were converted to COVID beds. And then afterward I said, “Well, why aren’t they all back online? I’m tracking the numbers. Why do we have such a shortage in places like New York City? Why is there a shortage of hospital beds available to treat people who need these services?” Well, it turns out that the reimbursement rates were higher for a hospital, more profit could be made if you kept them as non-psychiatric beds because those costs are higher.

    So I said, “That’s not okay.” I closed the gap so they can make the money they need to make on Medicaid provided beds, so that was taken care of. And also making those — bringing them back online. So it’s everything from the classroom to reducing the stigma in countless ways, programs like this, money for programming and supportive services.

    Everything we can think of, we’re trying to do. But my job is to make sure we don’t start another whole generation of young people who are held captive to these algorithms. We have nation leading legislation, and I’ll tell you, taking on the tech companies is not the easiest thing in life to do, but we forced them to adhere to what we’re saying in New York.

    In New York State, as a result of laws that I enacted just a few months ago and with the support of Common Sense Media and other great organizations and our advocates, no longer can social media companies unsolicited — and bombard young people with addictive algorithms without them asking for it. Their parents have to be okay with that. I don’t think too many parents are going to say that’s okay.

    They also cannot send notifications all night long to our kids who need a good night’s sleep. They’re exhausted. You don’t function at a high level as an adult, but certainly not a young person supposed to sit for eight hours a day and be paying attention when you haven’t slept at night because you cannot put down that addictive feature, which is your phone.

    And so that’s where we are now, and again, talking about what’s happening in schools. Stood up to the social media companies. We are a tech society. We are a tech state. We’re a tech city. I welcome the tech companies. This is not an ‘us against them,’ it is saying, “You know better. You are all executives who probably have children. Do you really want your kids to be seeing these dark images and being drawn into places?”

    You put in the word ‘suicide,’ it’s not teaching you how to get help and supportive and uplifting messages to help you heal, it teaches you how to commit suicide. That’s what I’m talking about. There are messages that are not appropriate for young people.

    They can, on their own, go to social media sites, but don’t be taking personal information you have collected about a child that you have gathered, and now use that to hold them captive. That’s the cycle we’re going to break here in the State of New York, and I hope every other state follows suit.

    Linsey Davis, ABC News: And these are, as you’ve said — yes, there’s applause there — first in the nation social media laws that you are taking to protect our children. But beyond that, you just finished a listening tour with regard to — I guess, that has informed some of your decisions to try to have this initiative to ban cell phones in schools. I’m curious what made you decide, “You know what, we have to do this,” and what has been the reaction, the feedback that you’ve been getting?

    Governor Hochul: Great question. Again, I wanted to hear from parents, teachers, students themselves, administrators, school boards, principals, everybody. So, these are the people I’ve been gathering.

    And what I have universally heard is that school districts and school boards don’t want to be the heavies. They know this should happen, and those who are courageous enough to go forward already, and some school districts have, I know Lackawanna in Western New York, where I was born in the City of Lackawanna, they’ve done it; there’s a number in Westchester; Schoharie County was the first that I could think of that had a widespread unveiling of this. They said it was hard at first, and parents were resistant. Teachers didn’t know what would happen, they didn’t want to be the cell phone police, they wanted to just teach. But they are the happiest school district in our state — I’m going to go out on a limb here. Because the school superintendent said to me, “We heard something we haven’t heard in years, children’s voices – children’s voices at lunch, physical education, in the hallways.”

    Linsey Davis, ABC News: They’re actually interacting with each other.

    Governor Hochul: They’re talking, they’re sometimes yelling at each other. Sometimes there’s things — he says, “They’re not always friendly.” But he says, “And they’re making eye contact with each other.” I mean, think about what happens when you spend your day like this. You lose those human interaction skills that we expect young people to graduate from school having developed. And what happens to an 18-year-old, who does not have that because we’ve allowed this phenomenon and this distraction all day long. And they don’t develop that. When they go to a workplace, they want to get a job at Hudson Yards and be part of a team and, and the creative collisions that come up with the brilliant ideas that New York City is known for. It’s not going to happen because we’ve not allowed them to emerge as fully functioning adults by letting this distraction – And teachers, I’ll tell you, when I say distraction — 74 percent of teachers in the United States of America say this is such a distraction they want them gone because they’re in competition. One teacher said, “I don’t even want to teach anymore. I’m in competition with this cell phone, and they’re not looking at me, they’re not paying attention. I’m trying to create a bond and a relationship with them. And I, by the end of this school year, I’ve thrown in the towel, I can’t do this anymore.” So the teachers want it. School districts want me to be the heavy. I said, “I get blamed for everything anyhow, just add it to the list, right?” It’s like, “I can take it, don’t worry about me.” So I said, “I’ll be the heavy because this is right.”

    The parents are the ones you worry about, right? And I’m a mom. My kids were in middle school during Columbine. So that shapes how you feel, that insecurity when the most, you know, your most precious person in the world to you is your child going off to kindergarten. And again, I still sometimes think about how I cried for days when my kid’s going off to kindergarten. Then they go off to college, it’s like, bye, give us a call once in a while.

    So, but, it’s hard. And when you see this — the shootings, the mass shootings, we did an event with Gabby Giffords yesterday on gun violence, and thank you for raising that. We have the toughest gun laws in the country, by the way, and the lowest — third lowest homicide rate by the — third lowest in the nation. So that’s another focus, but it ties into anxiety that parents have and they feel now that because they have to be connected with their kids all day long and, and especially if there’s a crisis on the school grounds. There’s the worst nightmare of all: a school shooter on the loose near your child. I also was thinking, well, maybe this is going be too hard for parents because, you know, it’s a lot to ask and they’re going to be worried.

    When I talk to law enforcement, and they said to me, “Tell the parents and we’ll tell them — if there is an active shooter on the grounds, in the building — the last thing you want your child to be doing is looking for their cell phone, starting to record things, talking to their friends, calling their parents.” He said, “They need to be focused on the adult in the room who will lead them to safety.” And that was my aha moment. I said, “You’re right. Parents need to know that.” So, there’s that safety issue, but also, my kids are adults now. They didn’t have cellphones in school. They’re — it did not happen during their era. Our job is not to raise kids. Our job is to raise adults. Fully functioning adults who know how to interact with others, who are not so attached to their parents every hour of the day throughout school. At some point, you do have to cut the cord. The apron strings as they used to say. No one knows what an apron is anymore, so I don’t say that. I had to make one at Home Ec because they wouldn’t teach us real skills, okay? I wanted to work on cars, with the guys in the shop, but they didn’t let us, okay? So, you have to cut the ties at some point.

    And one first grade teacher said to me, and I love talking to teachers, she says, “I’m fed up with the fact that every child, every six-year-old in my first grade class, has a smartwatch on that the parents send so they can be in touch with their child throughout the day, and they’re like, ‘Oh, the teacher was mean to me, Mommy.’”

    They said they’re getting phone calls from parents: “‘I just got sent to the office.’ Why are you sending my little girl to the office?” So, it’s not functioning. And so, parents, I know it’s hard because you need to go back to a time when you grew up, your parents did not keep track of you all day long. You did not have them as a crutch. And my God, if you forgot your lunch, two options: Borrow one of your friends, see if you can share a sandwich, or the next day, don’t forget. And you won’t forget the next day, right? Oh, because I hear that. “What if they forget their lunch? What if they have to make their after school plans?” Well, we’ll give them the phone back after school and maybe they’ll learn the skill of pre-planning their day. So, I want them to learn coping skills, resiliency and emerge as part of our New York State workforce — fully functioning — and we are the barriers because we’re not being the heavies and saying no, and that’s the path I’m on. I have to work with our Legislature. I have to do a lot more education on this because it’s a change. But, none of us had it and we turned out okay, right?

    Linsey Davis, ABC News: I want to switch gears here for a minute because we are talking about — obviously, in the news — the devastation from Hurricane Milton, and when it comes to national disaster relief, quite often we’re talking about money to build homes and jobs back again, food and all of that. But, when it comes to mental health assistance, what do you think the role of the state and federal government is at that point?

    Governor Hochul: They’re absolutely right about the devastation — so many New Yorkers have a connection to Florida, right? My father’s home, my sister’s home, my brother’s home and my aunt’s home — all in St. Petersburg, heavily damaged. My aunt’s home was already demolished two weeks ago. So, we have connections that are tighter than most other states, so I immediately sent our resources. I said, “Tell the governor we’re on our way.” And, we sent helicopters, search and rescue — 65 people are down there now, we’ll send more.

    So, there’s that side of it, but the trauma inflicted on a community after an event like this is something we cannot overlook. This is like a community that has gone through a mass shooting. I refer back to Buffalo again. We had to provide mental health services to the survivors of the Tops shooting when ten people were gunned down and slaughtered in a grocery store in 2022 because of the color of their skin, and that’s what that white supremacist 18-year-old said he was going to do.

    That community is trying to heal, but you need to provide services so we went in, our mental health teams went in to help them heal. The same thing should happen in communities where you see these people sobbing, standing their whole — everything they’ve built their whole lives, the baby pictures are in a puddle on the street and their wedding album and their clothes.

    It is so hard to see your whole life wiped away, and if we don’t think that has an effect on your mental health and your sense of security forever, then we are wrong. So, we need to be more intentional and provide resources to local social service agencies and say, “Once the storm is cleaned up, don’t assume their lives are cleaned up — that they’re back to normal.” And so, being sensitive to that in government is the smart way to do it. These people need our help and that’s what government is there to do.

    Linsey Davis, ABC News: And we’re just about out of time, but I do want to ask one last question — which I think is a large overarching issue — which is, how do you destigmatize the idea of mental health? Because, a lot of people still — there is a fear or an embarrassment that I need a little help. I need to talk to somebody about this.

    Governor Hochul: That’s when you get the validators that people trust. It’s the hip hop artists, it’s the athletes, it’s the people that, people are watching their — I watch “Only Murders in the Building.” I mean, is that building actually here? I can’t find it. I keep walking around.

    Linsey Davis, ABC News: I think it’s on the Upper West Side.

    Governor Hochul: Okay, I keep walking around trying to find it. I walk around the City all the time. No one knows it’s me, because I can put on a baseball hat and jeans and no one knows who I am, so it’s great. So, I’m always walking around doing things.

    But, more people who do that — I think because we are a society that’s impacted by influencers— Taylor Swift talks about it. I think that’s an important part of it because it’s really hard to break out of that, especially for men, I believe. But I’m really proud of even family members who say, “I have my weekly check in telehealth services with my therapist.” like, thank you. That’s smart, and tell your other friends you’re doing that.

    And I do think that the telehealth services help destigmatize. You don’t have to get up and go into an office and sit in a waiting room, and you might know somebody and you’re all kind of like — I think that’s a brilliant innovation that creates accessibility, even on your cell phone. I’ve got my appointment, I can talk to somebody.

    So, it has gotten much easier and stigma is a powerful negative force on people who should be seeking help. Whether it’s from fentanyl addiction, or opioid addiction. I did commercials on this when I was Lieutenant Governor, trying to destigmatize getting help for those addictions and services that are provided.

    Same thing with mental health. So, there’s not one answer, but forums like this, sharing information — I just talked about mental health on a podcast not long ago, and it’s getting out there. So, I will do my role. Anything I can do in state government, you know. Whether it’s public awareness campaigns, we always are doing this, but I’m open to ideas. I really am.

    We don’t have all the answers, and I want to be helpful. I want to be not just investing, the government investing the most money ever, but having the best results. And it is my state where people dealt with the epicenter of the pandemic, we have to recognize that.

    And we’re the ones who are very anxious about crime. I can tell everybody in the whole City that the crime rates, the murder rate in New York City is almost as low as it was in the 1960s. We have plummeted. Shootings are way down — but I can’t tell you to feel good about that. And that’s what we wrestle with. I want to change the psychology around this and it’s hard, but we have to take it on and say, “I want people to feel good about the City.” Not just, “I’m supposed to feel better because the numbers are down.” I don’t expect that. What I want to do is make people feel that they’re safer, that their kids are going to be okay. And just try to remove some of the stress that is part of everyday life here, because this is an extraordinary place.

    And the benefits so outweigh the negative, and we have to keep focusing on the positive — because life is good. And people sometimes just need a little bit of help, and pulling them upwards and letting them grow. Letting them just really flourish, you know? And mental health is such an important part, it’s the foundation of everything. It’s everything.

    Linsey Davis, ABC News: Well, I think that forums like this, conversations like this, are so helpful. And step one, two three, right? Just to talk about it.

    And we appreciate so much you taking this time — your leadership and the initiatives that you have in order to try to make things better in particular, not just for us, but for our youth. And by extension of our youth, for all of us as the adults. So, we thank you so much. And we thank all of you for being such very intensive listeners today.

    And we do want to remind everybody here — I say it to you as I say it to myself as well, that we have to keep mental health top of mind, right? That is just as important as any other aspect of our wellness.

    And so, again, on this mental health day. We just thank you all so much for taking the time to be together.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III’s Call With NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte

    Source: United States Department of Defense

    Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh provided the following readout:

    Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke on October 8th with new NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to underscore the enduring U.S. commitment to the NATO Alliance.

    The Secretary welcomed Secretary General Rutte to his new position and both look forward to a positive and productive relationship.

    Secretary Austin discussed U.S. priorities for NATO and the upcoming NATO Defense Ministerial. These include implementing the agreements that leaders have made at recent NATO Summits, continuing to strengthen the Alliance’s deterrence and defense efforts, maintaining robust support for Ukraine, and boosting the transatlantic defense industrial base.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: TrustCo to Release Third Quarter 2024 Results on October 21, 2024; Conference Call on October 22, 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    GLENVILLE, N.Y., Oct. 10, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — TrustCo Bank Corp NY (TrustCo, Nasdaq: TRST) today announced that it will release third quarter 2024 results after the market close on October 21, 2024. Results are released on the 21st of the reporting months (January, April, July and October), or on the next day that equity markets are open if the 21st falls on a Friday, weekend or holiday. A conference call to discuss the results will be held at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on October 22, 2024. Those wishing to participate in the call may dial toll-free for the United States at 1-833-470-1428, and for Canada at 1-833-950-0062, Access code 034120.   A replay of the call will be available for thirty days by dialing toll-free for the United States at 1-866-813-9403, Access code 285814.

    The call will also be audio webcast at https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/854762065, and will be available for one year. The earnings press release will be posted on the Company’s Investor Relations website at: https://trustcobank.q4ir.com/corporate-overview/corporate-profile/default.aspx. Other information, including the Company’s most recent annual report, proxy statement and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission can also be found at this website.

    TrustCo Bank Corp NY is a $6.1 billion savings and loan holding company and through its subsidiary, Trustco Bank, operates 138 offices in New York, New Jersey, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Florida. For more information, visit http://www.trustcobank.com.

    In addition, the Bank’s Wealth Management Department offers a full range of investment services, retirement planning and trust and estate administration services.

    The common shares of TrustCo are traded on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol TRST.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    All statements in this news release that are not historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “goal,” “seek,” “believe,” “project,” “estimate,” “expect,” “strategy,” “future,” “likely,” “may,” “should,” “will” and similar references to future developments, results or periods. TrustCo wishes to caution readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made, and such forward-looking statements are subject to factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially for TrustCo from the views, beliefs and projections expressed in such statements. Examples of these include, but are not limited to: volatility in financial markets and the soundness of other financial institutions; U.S. government shutdowns, credit rating downgrades, or failure to increase the debt ceiling; changes in interest rates; the effects of inflation and inflationary pressures and changes in monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including changes in the Federal funds target rate by, and interest rate policies of, the Federal Reserve Board; ongoing armed conflicts (including the Russia/Ukraine conflict and the conflict in Israel and surrounding areas); the risks and uncertainties under the heading “Risk Factors” in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and, if any, in our subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q; the other financial, operational and legal risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in TrustCo’s cautionary statements contained in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission; and the effect of all of such items on our operations, liquidity and capital position, and on the financial condition of our borrowers and other customers. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release represent TrustCo management’s judgment as of the date of this news release. TrustCo disclaims, however, any intent or obligation to update forward-looking statements, either as a result of future developments, new information or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

    Subsidiary: Trustco Bank NASDAQ — TRST

    Contact:    Robert Leonard
    Executive Vice President
    (518) 381-3693
         

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: MSF urges for protection of civilians and medical staff amid Israeli bombardment in Lebanon

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

    Beirut, Lebanon, 11 October 2024 – As Israeli attacks intensify in Lebanon, healthcare facilities in areas most affected by airstrikes are being forced to close. This is leading to devastating consequences for civilians and their access to healthcare.

    Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) teams are working tirelessly to ensure the continuation of care in our existing facilities, while also scaling up our activities to address the needs emerging from the ongoing conflict. However, due to the intense Israeli airstrikes, we were forced to suspend some activities in highly affected areas. We continue to adapt our activities to provide people with much needed healthcare.

    MSF urges all warring parties to spare civilians, medical facilities, and medical personnel in Lebanon to ensure that vital healthcare services can adequately address people’s urgent medical needs.

    “Given the intensity of the violence, road damage, and the lack of guaranteed safety, we are currently unable to reach all affected areas in Lebanon despite the increasing medical and humanitarian needs,” says François Zamparini, emergency coordinator for MSF in Lebanon.

    Last week, MSF was forced to completely close its clinic in the Palestinian camp of Burj el Barajneh in the southern suburbs of Beirut. We also had to temporarily stop our activities in Baalbek-Hermel, northeast Lebanon. These are both areas heavily affected by the strikes.

    “We partially reopened our clinic in Hermel this week to ensure that patients receive their medications, providing them with a two-to-three-month stock of essential drugs, depending on the severity of their condition and medical risks,” adds Zamparini.

    Patients in these areas are already vulnerable, struggling to access the healthcare they desperately need. The closure of medical facilities has left them, specifically people living with chronic diseases, without the essential services they need.

    MSF medical teams also remain unable to operate properly in southern Lebanon due to a lack of safety guarantees for our medical personnel.

    “One of the hospitals we planned to support and had donated medications and trauma kits to, in Nabatiyeh, only a few kilometres away from the active frontlines, was hit on 5 October,” explains Zamparini.

    An MSF mobile medical team, which had been actively supporting general healthcare centres in Nabatiyeh and other areas closer to the Lebanese border since November 2023, has been forced to stop its activities. The team, which was once able to reach areas near the border, can no longer do so and is currently limited to operating only as far as Saida, which is about 50 kilometres north of the southern border, where needs are highest.

    In the last two weeks, Israeli strikes have claimed the lives of at least fifty paramedics. This brings the total number of healthcare workers killed since October last year to over a hundred, as reported by the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health[1]. The heavy Israeli bombardments have also severely disrupted access to medical care across Lebanon. As of 1 October 2024, six hospitals and 40 general healthcare centres have closed their doors as the intensity of the fighting made it impossible to work without safety guarantees, according to OCHA. [2]

    The armed conflict is worsening an ongoing humanitarian crisis, aggravating existing needs. Lebanon’s healthcare system was already overburdened by the country’s economic crisis, which has caused the emigration of many medical staff and strained the capacity and resources of medical facilities. Local health centres, already at capacity, are now facing increasing pressure as they try to meet the growing medical needs of displaced people.

    The scale of displacement in Lebanon significantly surpasses the country’s ability to provide adequate shelter, with over a million people displaced according to UNHCR[3]. The majority of shelters people are seeking safety in are in dire conditions. To respond, MSF deployed 12 mobile medical teams across various regions of the country, including Beirut, Mount Lebanon, Saida, Tripoli, Bekaa, and Akkar. These teams are providing psychological first aid, general medical consultations, and mental health support, in addition to donating mattresses, hygiene kits, hot meals, and clean water. Nevertheless, people’s needs are far greater than what we are able to cover.

    “We must ensure the continuation of care for those in need,” emphasises Zamparini. “We urge all parties to respect international humanitarian law. Civilians and civilian infrastructure, medical facilities and medical personnel must not be targeted. Their safety must be guaranteed.”

    MSF response to the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon: In response to the ongoing escalation of conflict and intense Israeli bombing in Lebanon, MSF has deployed 12 mobile medical teams across various regions of the country, including Beirut, Mount Lebanon, Saida, Tripoli, Bekaa, and Akkar. These teams are providing psychological first aid, general medical consultations, medication, and mental health support. MSF is also distributing essential items such as blankets, mattresses, and hygiene kits, as well as supplying water by trucks to schools and shelters where displaced people have gathered. Additionally, we are offering hot meals and drinking water to hundreds of displaced families. MSF has also donated fuel and trauma kits to several hospitals, prepositioned 10 tons of medical supplies and trained over 100 healthcare workers in trauma care and mass casualty management across the country.

    MSF first began to work in Lebanon in 1976, and its teams have worked in the country without interruption since 2008.  In 2023, MSF teams worked in six locations across Lebanon, providing 13,609 free medical consultations for vulnerable communities, including Lebanese citizens, refugees, and migrant workers. MSF’s services include mental healthcare, sexual and reproductive healthcare, paediatric care, vaccinations, and treatment for non-communicable diseases such as diabetes. In the past years and as a result of the country’s ongoing economic collapse, people’s humanitarian needs have drastically increased, and we have adapted our projects accordingly. Moreover, we have responded to various types of medical emergencies, and in 2023 we increased our support to respond to the needs resulting from the armed clashes.

    ________________________________

    [1] Health workers in Lebanon describe deadly Israeli attacks on colleagues and fear more | AP News

    [2] https://www.unocha.org/news/todays-top-news-lebanon-occupied-palestinian-territory-and-israel-syria-haiti-ukraine-eastern

    [3] UNHCR’s Grandi appeals for urgent humanitarian support and an end to the bloodshed in Lebanon | UNHCR

    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 Video: Lebanon, Palestine, Ukraine & other topics – Daily Press Briefing | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

    Highlights:

    – Lebanon
    – Senior Personnel Appointment
    – Occupied Palestinian Territory
    – Lao PDR
    – Deputy Secretary-General
    – Libya
    – Sudan
    – South Sudan
    – Zambia
    – Ukraine
    – Nepal
    – Haiti
    – Senior Personnel Appointment
    – Nansen Award
    – Post Day
    – Briefings today and tomorrow

    Lebanon
    We have an update from our peacekeeping colleagues in southern Lebanon. Over the past 24 hours, the exchanges of fire between the Israel Defense Forces and Hizbullah have continued to intensify. Peacekeepers observe large-scale air strikes by Israel, mainly across southern Lebanon, concurrent with its ground activities in the areas of Marun ar-Ras, Bint Jbeil, Aytarun, Kafr Kila and Labbouneh. They have also continued to observe fire by Hizbullah towards Israel.
    The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has confirmed that yesterday [8 October] IDF personnel vacated their position in the vicinity of UNIFIL post UNP 6-52, although movement of IDF personnel and vehicles continues on a nearby road.
    Some UN positions have been impacted, sustaining damage from numerous incidents, including to a security camera at UNP 1-31, damage to perimeter walls, gunshots on a vehicle, and shrapnel damage to prefab accommodation. Fortunately, there are no reports of peacekeepers wounded.
    As we have been saying repeatedly, the safety and security of our peacekeepers is a paramount priority and is a shared responsibility of all parties.
    All parties must abide by their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law.
    We also reiterate our call, both for immediate de-escalation and for the parties to return to a cessation of hostilities and the full implementation of Resolution 1701.

    Occupied Palestinian Territory
    Turning to Gaza, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has an update on the situation in the northern areas. In recent days, Israeli authorities once again ordered more than 400,000 people who remain north of Wadi Gaza to move south, while at the same time tightening access restrictions and expanding military operations in the north. Crossing points into northern Gaza have been largely closed for both humanitarian and commercial supplies. Checkpoints inside Gaza are only permitting civilians to move south — and allowing just a trickle of humanitarian movement into the north.
    OCHA warns that these developments are forcing services critical for people’s survival to shut down one by one. According to the UN Relief and Works Agency, seven schools sheltering displaced people are being evacuated, and only two of eight water wells in the Jabalya refugee camp remain functional.
    The north is also facing severe shortages of bread and food supplies. Explosive munitions burned down the only bakery supported by the World Food Programme in Jabalya refugee camp.
    Today, OCHA and the World Health Organization tried to reach northern Gaza to support the Kamal Adwan hospital, after Israeli authorities ordered its immediate evacuation. After receiving a green light from the Israeli authorities for the mission, the team was forced to wait at a holding point for many hours. Ultimately, the mission had to be aborted.
    Despite these challenges, aid workers are seizing any opportunity to support people in northern Gaza. UNRWA is utilizing limited stocks already in the north to distribute high-energy biscuits from WFP to children in designated shelters and delivering bread bundles to families in certain areas. Hot meals are being distributed by our partners to newly displaced families, some of whom are also receiving tents. And water is being delivered using trucks.

    Ukraine
    Turning to Ukraine, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says intense attacks in the south and east of the country this week have killed and injured dozens of civilians and damaged homes, a hospital and schools.
    Authorities and partners on the ground in the southern city of Kherson report that about 20 civilians – including children – were injured in attacks on Monday. At least 280 apartments in 10 buildings were also damaged.
    NGOs have mobilized emergency assistance – including first aid, food kits and shelter materials – to help families cover the damage to their homes as winter approaches.
    Aid workers continue to provide emergency support, including in Chornomorsk Town in the Odesa Region, where attacks yesterday and today injured five civilians and damaged multiple homes and a hospital. Those affected received emergency shelter kits and psychosocial support, as well as child protection and case management services.
    OCHA saus that inter-agency convoys also reached war-affected communities in the Kharkiv and Kherson regions this week, delivering essential hygiene supplies, winter clothes, blankets and charging stations.

    Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=09%20October%202024

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6og5F7aYTRc

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: SECNAV Del Toro As-Written Remarks at the San Francisco Fleet Week Senior Leaders Seminar

    Source: United States Navy

    Introduction/Thank you

    Good afternoon, everyone! It is an honor to be here onboard USS Tripoli (LHA 7) for the start of San Francisco Fleet Week and this Senior Leader Seminar.

    Mr. Loeven, thank you for inviting me for this wonderful occasion and for providing me with the opportunity to say a few words.

    Captain Harrington, thank you for hosting us here on your ship—this incredible instrument of American naval power and a phenomenal example of our Navy-Marine Corps team.

    Representative Garamendi, it’s wonderful to see you. Thank you for joining us, and for your steadfast partnership and advocacy for our Sailors and Marines in Congress.

    Ambassador Romualdez, it is wonderful to see you. Thank you for your ongoing efforts to strengthen the critical partnership between our nations.

    Lieutenant General Cederholm, thank you for your leadership and guidance of our Marines and Sailors at One MEF.

    Vice Admiral Downey, Ms. Forbes, Mr. Wunderman, Mr. Vaca, and Mr. Gonzales, thank you for being part of the panel in a few minutes to discuss how the Bay Area can work with us to restore our national maritime industry.

    To the rest of our distinguished guests and panelists in later sessions, thank you for coming.

    It truly is wonderful to be back here in San Francisco.

    San Francisco holds a special place in my heart—when I was a student at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, my wife Betty and I would often make the drive up to the city with our kids.

    History

    This city’s rich maritime and naval history and tradition is worth celebrating, not just annually during Fleet Week, but yearlong.

    San Francisco Bay once hosted an extensive Naval presence from Port Chicago to Treasure Island, and two major Naval shipyards—Hunters Point and Mare Island.

    Mare Island Naval Shipyard was the first U.S. Navy base established on the Pacific coast and, in the middle of last century, was the only shipyard on the West Coast that built nuclear submarines.

    In fact, the first commanding officer of Mare Island Naval Shipyard—indeed the man hand selected by the 22nd Secretary of the Navy, James Dobbin to establish the shipyard—was also our Navy’s first Admiral, and our first Hispanic-American Admiral, David Glasgow Farragut.

    I think he’s a little more famous for his service during the Civil War, but I would submit that his work creating a basing and repair station on the West Coast for the Navy had nearly as profound an impact on the future of our Navy and our Nation.

    And during World War I, the Union Iron Works Shipyard south of the Embarcadero built cruisers, submarines, and battleships and during World War II, nearly two thirds of Liberty and Victory ships were built in the Bay area.

    On a more somber note, I was most recently here in July for the 80th commemoration of the Port Chicago Disaster.

    If any of you are unfamiliar with the story, 258 African-American Sailors were wrongfully and shamefully labeled as criminals for refusing to work in unsafe conditions during World War II.

    Thanks to the work of my General Counsel, Mr. Sean Coffey, and his military assistant Captain Justin Pilling, I was able to make the decision in July to set aside the court martial results of all Sailors convicted as part of the Port Chicago incident.

    That action was about more than correcting the historical record.

    It was and is a resounding affirmation of the values we, as Americans, hold dear—justice, equality, and the right to a safe workplace.

    The legacy of the Port Chicago Sailors should inspire us all to be more vigilant, to speak truth to power, and to never give up on the pursuit of liberty and justice.

    San Francisco has long been a key part of our nation’s maritime industry—and our naval heritage.

    And while we don’t currently build naval ships here, our relationships with industry here and academic partnerships through the Naval Postgraduate School are integral to developing the fleet of the future.

    World Today

    The world our nation faces today is much different than when I was sworn in as Secretary of the Navy in August 2021, much less during my career on active duty or the end of World War II.

    In Europe, the unprovoked and illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine continues—and is now well into its third year.

    This conflict poses a direct threat to European security and the principles of democracy and sovereignty upon which our international order is built.

    In July, we, alongside our NATO allies, convened in Washington to reaffirm our unwavering support for Ukraine.

    We stand united in our commitment to helping Ukraine defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity, recognizing that their struggle is not just for their own freedom but for the preservation of democracy worldwide.

    Beyond the European theater, for the first time since World War II, we face a comprehensive maritime power—our pacing challenge—in the Indo-Pacific.

    The People’s Republic of China continues to assert its unlawful maritime claims through its naval, coast guard, and maritime militia forces.

    I can assure you that the PRC is watching the ongoing conflicts in Europe and the Red Sea closely and drawing valuable lessons for its own strategic ambitions.

    In the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, we have been working tirelessly alongside our NATO allies and Middle Eastern partners to protect innocent civilian mariners and commercial shipping from Iranian-aligned Houthi attacks.

    Following the October 7th attacks in Israel one year ago this week, our Navy and Marine Corps were swiftly deployed to the region, forming a formidable and integrated force capable of responding to any threat.

    Carrier Air Wing Three, our “Battle Axe,” played a pivotal role in protecting civilian mariners, deploying over sixty air-to-air missiles and over 420 air-to-surface weapons.

    The Bataan Amphibious Ready Group, with the embarked 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, made significant contributions by deterring hostile Houthi attacks and preventing the conflict from escalating throughout the region.

    Our warships, including the Carney, Mason, Gravely, Laboon, Thomas Hudner, and Eisenhower, have demonstrated exceptional performance under fire, successfully deterring and defeating missile and drone attacks targeting innocent maritime shipping.

    And last week, Cole and Bulkeley—the latter of which I had the honor and privilege to construct and commission as her first commanding officer—launched interceptors in defense of Israel from nearly 200 Iranian ballistic missiles.

    As President Biden said, “Our support for Israel’s security is ironclad. We unequivocally condemn this brazen attack by Iran.”

    The actions of our ships and their crews echo the valiant and heroic legacies of their namesakes.

    Vice Admiral John D. Bulkeley, the namesake of the ship I commissioned, was awarded the Medal of Honor for bringing Douglas MacArthur through Japanese controlled waters in a PT boat to safety in the dark early days of World War II.

    As a destroyer skipper in the Mediterranean later in the war, he spotted a pair of German ships that threatened to overwhelm the group of vulnerable coastal vessels he was assigned to protect.

    Despite being outnumbered and outgunned, and with just one of his destroyer’s main guns operable, Bulkeley charged into close action and sank both German ships without losing a single one of his sailors.

    As he later said of his actions on that day in 1944, and I quote, “What else could I do? You engage, you fight, you win. That was the reputation of our Navy then, and in the future.”

    Ladies and gentlemen, that is still the reputation of our Navy and Marine Corps—and it will remain our reputation because of the brave men and women who have chosen, in this era of accelerating change and uncertainty, to serve our country.

    They truly have earned our deepest respect and gratitude.

    Their exceptional service and courage in the face of danger represents the absolute best of our Navy, Marine Corps, and indeed our Nation.

    And if anyone is inspired to join the Navy or Marine Corps, I’m happy to administer the oath right here!

    Maritime Statecraft

    Last fall, at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, I set out a vision for a new Maritime Statecraft to guide our nation through an era of intense strategic competition.

    This comprehensive approach extends beyond traditional naval diplomacy and maritime competition, encompassing a whole-of-government effort to build robust U.S. and allied maritime power, both commercial and naval.

    Maritime Statecraft recognizes that great naval power requires the solid foundation of a thriving commercial maritime industry.

    Investing in economic development, trade, education, science, innovation, and climate diplomacy can enhance our global competitiveness and support our maritime industry.

    A cornerstone of Maritime Statecraft is the revitalization of U.S. commercial shipping and shipbuilding.

    By restoring the competitiveness of these sectors, we can not only improve the cost-effectiveness of naval shipbuilding but also strengthen our national economy and maritime capabilities.

    To achieve this goal, I have worked tirelessly with cabinet leaders across the administration to raise awareness and advocate for long-term solutions to the Navy’s challenges.

    The solutions to many of our Navy’s most pressing issues lie in renewing the health of our nation’s broader seapower ecosystem.

    A significant step in this direction was our creation of the Government Shipbuilder’s Council.

    This interagency body brings together representatives from the Maritime Administration (MARAD), Coast Guard, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and even the Army to address common ship construction and maintenance challenges.

    Furthermore, we have catalyzed multiple White House-led interagency processes on both naval and commercial shipbuilding, involving the National Security Council, National Economic Council, and various departments across the Executive Branch. These efforts aim to identify and implement effective strategies for strengthening our maritime capabilities.

    In addition, my team is working closely with Congress to revitalize existing authorities and create new incentives for building and flagging commercial ships in the United States.

    By investing in domestic shipbuilding, we can support our naval shipbuilding efforts, create jobs, and boost our domestic manufacturing base.

    And as part of Maritime Statecraft, it is essential to forge strong partnerships with local governments, suppliers, and leaders.

    These collaborations will be instrumental in revitalizing our nation’s maritime industry.

    By working closely with local officials, we can identify and address the specific challenges and opportunities, including potential infrastructure improvements, streamlining regulatory processes, and attracting investment to support shipbuilding, repair, and maritime-related industries.

    I have long advocated for the restoration and expansion of some of our nation’s smaller, dormant, and underutilized shipyards as part of the effort to rebuild our maritime industrial capacity, and nowhere is that more applicable than here in San Francisco.

    We are confident that these initiatives will yield significant returns for naval shipbuilding and sealift.

    By adopting a holistic approach to Maritime Statecraft, we can position the United States to maintain its global leadership and safeguard our national interests.

    Conclusion

    As we move to the panel, I want to leave you with one question.

    The theme for this session is “Reimagining the American Maritime Industry.”

    At the heart of the matter the question I would ask us to ponder today, this week, and moving into our shared future is:

    “How can the Bay Area and the Navy work together to restore the comprehensive maritime power of the United States?”

    Whether through workforce development, improving and increasing maritime infrastructure, partnerships in the technology sector and with academia, or revitalizing dormant or underutilized shipyards, the Navy is prepared to work alongside you, to partner with you, and to succeed together.

    Thank you for joining us today, and may God grant the Navy, the Marine Corps, San Francisco, and indeed our Nation fair winds and following seas.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: Secretary of the Navy Emphasizes Strategic Partnerships and Maritime Dominance at San Francisco Fleet Week

    Source: United States Navy

    San Francisco, CA – October 9, 2024 – Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro delivered keynote remarks at the Senior Leader Seminar aboard USS Tripoli during San Francisco Fleet Week today.

    In his opening remarks, Secretary Del Toro underscored the historical significance of San Francisco to the U.S. Navy and the nation’s maritime heritage. He emphasized the need to revitalize the American maritime industry to meet the challenges of a complex global security environment, marked by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, China’s assertive actions in the Indo-Pacific, and threats to maritime security in the Red Sea.

    “The world our nation faces today is much different than when I was sworn in as Secretary of the Navy,” said Secretary Del Toro. “We face a comprehensive maritime power – our pacing challenge – in the Indo-Pacific. The People’s Republic of China continues to assert its unlawful maritime claims, and we must be prepared to respond.”

    The Secretary commended the bravery and professionalism of U.S. Navy and Marine Corps personnel who have been deployed to deter aggression and protect freedom of navigation around the world. He cited recent examples of successful naval operations, including the defense of Israel from Iranian missile attacks and the ongoing efforts to safeguard commercial shipping in the Red Sea.

    “The actions of our ships and their crews echo the valiant and heroic legacies of their namesakes,” said the Secretary, drawing inspiration from the courage of naval heroes like Vice Admiral John D. Bulkeley. “Ladies and gentlemen, that is still the reputation of our Navy and Marine Corps – and it will remain our reputation because of the brave men and women who have chosen to serve our country.”

    Secretary Del Toro outlined his vision for Maritime Statecraft, a comprehensive approach that extends beyond traditional naval power to encompass a whole-of-government effort to strengthen the U.S. maritime industry. He stressed the importance of investing in domestic shipbuilding, fostering innovation, and building strong partnerships with local governments and industry leaders.

    “Maritime Statecraft recognizes that great naval power requires the solid foundation of a thriving commercial maritime industry,” emphasized the Secretary. “By restoring the competitiveness of these sectors, we can not only improve the cost-effectiveness of naval shipbuilding but also strengthen our national economy and maritime capabilities.”

    The Secretary’s remarks set the stage for a dynamic panel discussion moderated by Ms. Emily Desai, Senior Deputy Director for Strategic Program Planning and External Affairs at the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development. The panel featured Vice Adm. James Downey, Commander of Naval Sea Systems Command; Ms. Elaine Forbes, Director of the Port of San Francisco; Mr. Jim Wunderman, CEO of the Bay Area Council; Mr. Sal Vaca, Founder of Richmond Build; and Mr. Robert Gonzales of Mare Island Dry Dock. The panelists explored ways in which the Bay Area can contribute to the revitalization of the American maritime industry, including workforce development, infrastructure improvements, and technological innovation.

    Congressman John Garamendi, representing California’s 8th District, delivered closing remarks, reinforcing the importance of collaboration between government, industry, and local communities to ensure a strong and prosperous maritime sector. He commended the Secretary’s leadership in advancing Maritime Statecraft and pledged his continued support for initiatives to strengthen America’s sea power.

    The Senior Leader Seminar served as a powerful call to action, emphasizing the critical link between a robust maritime industry and national security. By fostering collaboration and innovation, the U.S. Navy and its partners are working to ensure that America remains a global maritime leader in the 21st century.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Case Condemns Misinformation On Federal Disaster Relief For Current And Pending Disasters

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ed Case (Hawai‘i – District 1)

    (Washington, DC) – U.S. Representative Ed Case (D-HI-01), a member of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Homeland Security with authority over the budget of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other federal disaster relief efforts, today condemned deliberate misinformation that FEMA and related disaster assistance is being diverted from current and pending disasters to other sources.

    “Not only is this misinformation fully inaccurate, but it is deliberately harming people and communities in most need of relief by leading them to believe incorrectly that they cannot access critical and available federal assistance,” said Case, whose own state of Hawai‘i continues to be critically impacted by the Maui wildfires of August 2023.

    “In fact, Congress just approved and the President just signed into law an additional $20 billion for FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund (DRF), the federal government’s main channel of disaster relief, and all of those funds have been delivered to FEMA. These funds will fully continue FEMA’s disaster assistance efforts for all of Maui, recent Hurricane Helene and pending Hurricane Milton and other federally declared disasters until they require further replenishment.”

    Case noted that in North Carolina alone, which was heavily impacted by Hurricane Helene on September 27th of this year, FEMA continues full efforts on the ground along with some two thousand other federal employees. He further noted that on Maui, FEMA and other federal partners have now provided approximately $3 billion in Maui wildfire efforts and continues its assistance with ongoing DRF funding.

    FEMA’s DRF is the principal fund for immediate and ongoing disaster relief to affected communities. In the recent Continuing Resolution, which continued federal government funding into current Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 commencing October 1st and was passed by Congress and signed into law by the President on September 26th, the DRF, which was running low, was re-funded at $20 billion. Additionally, although federal government funding was continued through December 20, 2024 to allow for completion of the FY 2025 appropriations process and funding for most federal departments was prorated only through that date, Congress specifically authorized a full FY 2025 funding of $20 billion for the DRF and the money is fully available to FEMA.

    “The misinformation that FEMA does not have available federal disaster relief, and that these monies have instead been diverted to ‘illegal immigrants’, Ukraine, and elsewhere, is completely false,” said Case. “Not only do the perpetrators and amplifiers know that it is false, not only are they making these statements for political purposes, but they are also deliberately harming the people and communities who most need this assistance as they are effectively being told it’s useless to seek assistance when they most need it.”

    The Administrator of FEMA, Deanne Criswell, has called the misinformation a “truly dangerous narrative,” adding that it’s not just inconvenient, it is actively hindering disaster relief efforts by “creating this fear of trying to reach out and help us or register to help.”

    To counter misinformation, FEMA has also launched a Hurricane Rumor Response webpage, which you can view here: https://www.fema.gov/disaster/current/hurricane-helene/rumor-response

    U.S. Representative Chuck Edwards, a Republican representing one of the districts most heavily impacted by Helene, also issued a press release dispelling misinformation from “untrustworthy sources trying to spark chaos,” assuring people that Hurricane Helene was not geoengineered by the government, FEMA is not turning away donations, FEMA has not diverted disaster response funding to the border or foreign aid, FEMA is not going to run out of money and FEMA cannot seize property or land, among other things.

    Case continued: “To be clear, there are areas where disaster assistance is running dangerously low, in particular Small Business Administration loan relief, and it is also very clear that even the $20 billion of new appropriations into the DRF will not be sufficient to indefinitely continue disaster assistance to Maui, the communities affected by Helene and Milton and other impacted communities across the country. 

    “This is why I have joined colleagues on my House Appropriations Committee and otherwise in strongly advocating for an emergency supplemental disaster relief package to be passed as soon as Congress reconvenes this November after the elections.  My full efforts are devoted to passage of that package and to continued relief for Maui and all other communities affected by disasters.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New unit to boost effectiveness of UK sanctions against Russia

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    New trade sanctions unit becomes operational

    • New unit to help businesses comply with the UK’s trade sanctions to launch today.
    • Unit has new and enhanced powers to crack down on businesses in breach and make sure UK sanctions are effective.
    • Sanctions are helping to defund Putin’s illegal war, depriving Russia of over $400 billion of funds since February 2022.

    UK sanctions against Russia are set to be strengthened as the Government launches a new unit to help companies comply with trade sanctions and penalise those who do not.

    Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the UK implemented its most comprehensive set of sanctions against a major economy, with over £20 billion worth of trade with Russia now sanctioned.

    The new Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation (OTSI), launching today, will work with industry to make complying with sanctions obligations as straightforward as possible by issuing guidance and user-friendly online tools.

    There has been overwhelming support from business in implementing sanctions against Russia, and the vast majority of businesses comply. For the minority that don’t, OTSI will have powers to publish information about sanctions breaches and impose civil monetary penalties.

    Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

    Sanctions are vital in defunding Putin’s illegal war and only by working hand in hand with business can we make them as effective as possible.

    This new unit will help ensure businesses comply with trade sanctions and take decisive enforcement action where needed so that, together with business, we can continue to exert maximum pressure on Putin’s regime.

    Sanctions Minister Stephen Doughty said:

    This new government is resolutely committed to strengthening our sanctions regime, with robust enforcement and penalties for those who fail to comply. From Moscow to Tehran – kleptocrats, aggressors and the enablers who support and facilitate their wealth and  malign actions  should be on notice.

    OTSI will be instrumental in providing vital additional tools not only to help businesses comply with our sanctions, but also to deter and impose costs upon those seeking to breach them.

    The new unit is part of the Department for Business and Trade.  OTSI will work with businesses to offer guidance, issue licences and investigate reports of trade sanctions breaches.

    Chloe Cina, international sanctions expert and Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) fellow said:

    Investing in a new specialist unit to issue guidance, grant licences, and enforce certain trade sanctions across 21 UK regimes is compelling evidence that the novel measures introduced as part of the UK’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine are here to stay.

    The industry will be reassured to see that the most complex restrictions relating to professional services will now be dealt with by OTSI directly from today.

    This launch also sees new reporting obligations introduced for financial services firms, money service businesses and legal service providers. They will now be expected to inform OTSI of suspected breaches of certain trade sanctions.

    OTSI’s new enforcement powers for trade sanctions complement those HMRC already has. While HMRC remains responsible for the enforcement of trade sanctions on goods that cross the UK border as part of its customs role, OTSI now has lead enforcement responsibility for sanctioned services leaving the UK, as well as trade in sanctioned goods and services anywhere else in the world where a UK business or person is involved.

    Notes to editors:

    • From today, OTSI takes on responsibility for issuing licences for certain sanctioned activity – specifically the provision of standalone services, including professional and business services. Sanctions licensing for the export of goods and the provision of ancillary services (services related to the export of tangible goods) remain the responsibility of the Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU). DBT’s Import Controls Team continue to be responsible for licensing the import of goods and other activities (including provision of ancillary services) which are prohibited under UK import sanctions. More information is available here
    • A full list of the UK’s sanctions can be found here
    • Businesses can visit GOV.UK to submit enquiries or contact OTSI@businessandtrade.gov.uk.

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: President Lai delivers 2024 National Day Address

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    President Lai delivers 2024 National Day Address
    2024-10-10

    President Lai Ching-te on the morning of October 10 attended the ROC’s 113th Double Tenth National Day Celebration in the plaza fronting the Presidential Office Building, and delivered an address titled “ Taiwan Together for Our Shared Dream.”
    A translation of the president’s address follows:
    National Day Celebration Chairperson Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜), Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰), Prime Minister of Tuvalu Feleti Teo and Madame Tausaga Teo, heads of delegations from diplomatic allies and friendly nations, distinguished guests from home and abroad, and my fellow citizens here in person and watching on TV or online: Good morning.
    Today, we gather together to celebrate the birthday of the Republic of China, praise the beautiful Taiwan of today, and usher in the better Taiwan for tomorrow.
    One hundred and thirteen years ago, a group of people full of ideals and aspirations rose in revolt and overthrew the imperial regime. Their dream was to establish a democratic republic of the people, to be governed by the people and for the people. Their ideal was to create a nation of freedom, equality, and benevolence. However, the dream of democracy was engulfed in the raging flames of war. The ideal of freedom had for long eroded under authoritarian rule.
    But we will never forget the Battle of Guningtou 75 years ago, or the August 23 Artillery Battle 66 years ago. Though we arrived on this land at different times and belonged to different communities, we defended Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu. We defended the Republic of China.
    We will never forget the Kaohsiung Incident 45 years ago, or wave after wave of democracy movements. Again and again, people who carried the dream of democracy and the ideal of freedom, through valiant sacrifice and devotion, gave their lives to open the door to democracy. Over more than a century, the people’s desire to master their own destiny has finally been fulfilled.
    My fellow citizens, though the Republic of China was driven out of the international community, the people of Taiwan have never exiled themselves. On this land, the people of Taiwan toil and labor, but when our friends face natural disasters or an unprecedented pandemic, we do not hesitate to extend a helping hand. “Taiwan Can Help” is not just a slogan. It is a movement by the people of Taiwan to cherish peace and do good for others.
    In the past, our people, going out into the world equipped with only a briefcase, sparked Taiwan’s economic achievements. Now, Taiwan’s chip technology drives the whole world, and has become a global force for prosperity and development.
    The people of Taiwan are diverse, and they are fearless. Our own Nymphia Wind is a queen on the world stage. The people of Taiwan are truly courageous. Lin Yu-ting (林郁婷), a daughter of Taiwan, is a queen of the boxing world. At 17 years old, Taiwan’s own Tsai Yun-rong (蔡昀融) put steady hands to work and won first place for woodwork in a global skills competition. Chen Sz-yuan (陳思源), at 20, took first for refrigeration and air conditioning, using the skills passed down by his father. A new generation of “Made in Taiwan” youth is putting a new shine on an old label.
    I want to thank generation after generation of fellow citizens for coming together and staying together through thick and thin. The Republic of China has already put down roots in Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu. And the Republic of China and the People’s Republic of China are not subordinate to each other. On this land, democracy and freedom are growing and thriving. The People’s Republic of China has no right to represent Taiwan. The 23 million people of Taiwan, now more than ever, must reach out our branches to embrace the future. My fellow citizens, we have overcome challenge after challenge. All along, the Republic of China has shown steadfast resolve; and all along, the people of Taiwan have shown unwavering tenacity.
    We fully understand that our views are not all the same, but we have always been willing to accept one another. We fully understand that we have differences in opinion, but we have always been willing to keep moving forward hand in hand. This is how the Republic of China Taiwan became what it is today.
    As president, my mission is to ensure that our nation endures and progresses, and to unite the 23 million people of Taiwan. I will also uphold the commitment to resist annexation or encroachment upon our sovereignty.
    It is also my mission to safeguard the lives and property of the public, firmly carry out our Four Pillars of Peace action plan, strengthen national defense, stand side by side with democratic countries, jointly demonstrate the strength of deterrence, and ensure peace through strength, so that all generations can lead good lives.
    All the more, my mission is to care for the lives and livelihoods of the 23 million people of Taiwan, actively develop our economy, and expand investment in social care. I must also ensure that the fruits of our economic growth can be enjoyed by all our people.
    However, Taiwan faces relentless challenges, and the world’s challenges are just as much our own. The world must achieve sustainable development as we grapple with global climate change. Sudden outbreaks of infectious diseases impact human lives and health around the globe. And expanding authoritarianism is posing a host of challenges to the rules-based international order, threatening our hard-won free and democratic way of life.
    For these reasons, I have established three committees at the Presidential Office: the National Climate Change Committee, the Healthy Taiwan Promotion Committee, and the Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience Committee. These committees are interrelated, and they are closely connected by the theme of national resilience. We intend to build up a more resilient Taiwan, proactively deal with challenges, and bring Taiwan into deeper cooperation with the international community.
    We must strengthen Taiwan’s ability to adapt to the risks associated with extreme weather, continue promoting our second energy transition, and ensure a stable power supply. We must steadily advance toward our goal of net-zero transition by 2050 through the development of more forms of green energy, deep energy saving, and advanced energy storage.
    In terms of health, we must effectively fight the spread of global infectious diseases, and raise the population’s average life expectancy while reducing time spent living with illness or disability. We must achieve health equality so that people are healthy, the nation is stronger, and so that the world embraces Taiwan.
    Finally, we must strengthen resilience throughout Taiwan in national defense, economic livelihoods, disaster prevention, and democracy. As the people of Taiwan become more united, our nation grows more stable. As our society becomes better prepared, our nation grows more secure, and there is also greater peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
    Taiwan is resolved in our commitment to upholding peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and achieving global security and prosperity. We are willing to work with China on addressing climate change, combatting infectious diseases, and maintaining regional security to pursue peace and mutual prosperity for the well-being of the people on the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.
    For a long time now, countries around the world have supported China, invested in China, and assisted China in joining the World Trade Organization, thereby promoting China’s economic development and enhancing its national strength. This was done out of the hope that China would join the rest of the world in making global contributions, that internally it would place importance on the livelihoods of the people, and that externally it would maintain peace.
    As we stand here today, international tensions are on the rise, and each day countless innocents are suffering injuries or losing their lives in conflict. We hope that China will live up to the expectations of the international community, that it will apply its influence and work with other countries toward ending Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East. And we hope that it will take up its international responsibilities and, along with Taiwan, contribute to the peace, security, and prosperity of the region and the globe.
    In an era when the international landscape is becoming increasingly chaotic, Taiwan will become more calm, more confident, and stronger; it will become a force for regional peace, stability, and prosperity. I believe that a stronger democratic Taiwan is not only the ideal of our 23 million people, but also the expectation of the international community.
    We will continue to make Taiwan stronger and promote cross-sector economic development.
    Taiwan’s economic strength is no “miracle”; it is the result of the joint efforts of all the people of Taiwan. We must strive for an innovative economy, a balanced Taiwan, and inclusive growth; we must stay on top of changes in global trends, and continue to remain a key player in supply chains for global democracies.
    Going forward, in addition to our 5+2 innovative industries plan and Six Core Strategic Industries policy, we will more vigorously develop Taiwan’s Five Trusted Industry Sectors, namely semiconductors, AI, military, security and surveillance, and next-generation communications, and help expand their global presence. We will also promote the transformation and development of medium, small, and micro enterprises and help them develop their international markets.
    My fellow citizens, we will continue working to achieve a Taiwan that is balanced across all its regions.
    In the central government’s proposed general budget plan for next year, general grants for local governments and general centrally funded tax revenues increased significantly, by NT$89.5 billion, reaching a total of NT$724.1 billion, a record high. And our budget for flood control will be raised by NT$15.9 billion from this year, bringing the total to NT$55.1 billion. This will help municipalities across the country in addressing the challenges of extreme weather. 
    We will also expedite improvements to the safety of our national road network and create a human-friendly transportation environment. Furthermore, we will improve our mass rapid transit network and connect the greater Taipei area comprising Taipei, New Taipei, Keelung, and Taoyuan. We will roll out the new Silicon Valley plan for Taoyuan, Hsinchu, and Miaoli to form a central technology cluster connecting the north with the south and launch the Smart Technology Southern Industrial Ecosystem Development Plan. We will accelerate promotion of safety in our eastern transportation network so that locals can go home on safer roads. We will also enhance basic infrastructure in the outlying island areas to raise the quality of life for locals and increase their capacity for tourism.
    My fellow citizens, we must all the more ensure the well-being of our people across the generations.
    To our young parents, we will continue to promote version 2.0 of our national childcare policy for ages 0–6. We are going even further by already increasing childcare subsidies, and we will also enhance the quality of preschool services. Children are the future of our country, and the government has the responsibility to help take care of them.
    To our young students, we will continue to provide free tuition for students of high schools and vocational high schools, and we will also continue to subsidize tuition for students of private junior colleges, colleges, and universities. And we are taking that a step further by establishing the Ten-Billion-Dollar Youth Overseas Dream Fund. Young people have dreams, and the government has the responsibility to help youth realize those dreams.
    To our young adults and those in the prime of life, next year, the minimum wage will once again be raised, and the number of rent-subsidized housing units will be increased. We will expand investment in society and provide more support across life, work, housing, and health, and support for the young and old. Raising a family is hard work, and the government has a responsibility to help lighten the load.
    To our senior citizens all around Taiwan, next year, Taiwan will become a “super-aged society.” In advance, we will launch our Long-term Care 3.0 Plan and gradually implement the 888 Program for the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases.
    We will also establish a NT$10 billion fund for new cancer drugs and advance the Healthy Taiwan Cultivation Plan. We will build a stronger social safety net and provide enhanced care for the disadvantaged. And we will bring mental health support to people of all ages, including the young and middle-aged, to truly achieve care for all people of all ages throughout the whole of our society.
    I am deeply aware that what everyone cares about the most is the pressure of high housing prices, and that what they most detest is rampant fraud. I give the people my promise that our administration will not shirk these issues; even if it offends certain groups, we will address them no matter the price.
    We will redouble our efforts to combat fraud and fight housing speculation. We will expand care for renters and strike a balance with the needs of people looking to change homes. We will walk together, continuing down the path toward achieving housing justice.
    We have with us today former President Chen Shui-bian, former President Tsai Ing-wen, and leaders from different political parties. I want to thank all of you for attending. Your presence represents the strength our nation has built up over generations, as well as the values and significance of Taiwan’s diverse democracy.
    Our nation must become more united, and our society must grow more stable. I also want to thank Legislative Yuan President Han and Premier Cho for recently initiating cooperation among the ruling and opposition parties to facilitate discussion among the ruling and opposition party caucuses.
    In democratic countries, political parties internally promote the nation’s progress through competition, and externally they unite to work toward achieving national interests. No matter our political party, no matter our political stances, national interests come before the interests of parties, and the interests of parties can never take precedence over the interests of the people.
    And this is precisely the spirit upheld by those who sacrificed, who gave everything they had, in order to establish the Republic of China. This is the lesson we take from our predecessors who, generation upon generation, overcame authoritarianism, and sacrificed and devoted themselves to the pursuit of democracy. That is precisely why, regardless of party affiliation or regardless of our differences, we are gathered here today.
    Regardless of what name we choose to call our nation – the Republic of China; Taiwan; or the Republic of China Taiwan – we must all share common convictions: Our determination to defend our national sovereignty remains unchanged. Our efforts to maintain the status quo of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait remain unchanged. Our commitment to hoping for parity and dignity, and healthy and orderly dialogue and exchanges between the two sides of the strait remains unchanged. Our determination, from one generation to the next, to protect our free and democratic way of life remains unchanged.
    I believe this is the dream that Taiwan’s 23 million people all share; it is also the shared ideal that Taiwanese society and the international community hold. The stronger the commitment of the Taiwanese people, the greater the tenacity of democracy around the world. The greater the tenacity of the Taiwanese people, the stronger the commitment of democracy around the world.
    Let’s keep going, Republic of China! Let’s keep going, Taiwan! Regardless of our differences, let’s keep going forward! Thank you.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Highlights – SEDE discusses priorities for the CSDP in its Annual Report 2024 – 17 October 2024 – Subcommittee on Security and Defence

    Source: European Parliament

    SEDE_meeting_military_EU_26102022.jpeg © Adobe Stock

    On 17 October, SEDE Members will discuss the Annual Report on the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) presented by the Rapporteur MEP Nicolás Pascual de la Parte (EPP, Spain). While the EU is facing multiple and unprecedented threats to its security and new crises in its neighbourhood, especially since Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, this first CSDP Annual Report of the 10th Parliamentary term will set out the European Parliament’s assessment of CSDP’s readiness to address the challenges in the current complex geopolitical and security context. It also provides recommendations on the main avenues for strengthening policies and actions for the future along several dimensions, including institutional decision-making progress, the joint development of military and armament capabilities and the urgently needed issue of how to finance European defence.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Press release – MEPs debate Hungary’s Presidency programme with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán

    Source: European Parliament 3

    On Wednesday, MEPs discussed Hungary’s priorities for its six-month Council Presidency, which started on 1 July, with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

    European Parliament President Roberta Metsola noted in her opening statement that the Hungarian Presidency comes at a time when the EU is taking “significant steps forward” including “supporting Ukraine, strengthening European competitiveness, and building a more stable, secure Europe”. She recalled that the Parliament is the house of democracy, “where the rule of law and freedom of expression are sacrosanct”, and where “we may not always agree, but we will always give space for the respectful sharing of views”.

    “The EU needs to change,” Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said, adding that the Hungarian Presidency aims to be the voice and catalyst for change. According to Mr Orbán, the situation of the EU is far more serious than in 2011, during the first Hungarian EU Presidency, citing the war in Ukraine, escalating conflicts in the Middle East and Africa, migration, risks to the Schengen area, and Europe losing its global competitiveness.

    Mr Orbán pledged that Hungary would be an honest and constructive broker holding the rotating presidency of the EU Council, including on the pending 52 legislative files that need to be finalised, and is ready to start inter-institutional negotiations with the Parliament.

    He highlighted competitiveness as a key issue for the Presidency, noting that the EU’s economic growth in the last two decades has been significantly lower than in China and US, with the EU’s share of global trade also decreasing. Pointing to energy prices as a key obstacle, Mr Orbán said that “as a result of moving away from Russian energy sources, the EU has lost significant GDP growth”. “We should not fall into the illusion that the green transition in itself offers a solution to the problem,” he argued, adding that decarbonisation has led to slowing down of productivity and the loss of jobs.

    On migration, Mr Orbán warned that “without external hotspots we cannot protect Europeans from illegal migration”. “The EU asylum system is simply not working. Illegal migration has led to increasing anti-semitism, violence against women and homophobia,” he claimed. He proposed holding regular “Schengen summits”, and insisted that Bulgaria and Romania should become full members of the free-movement area by the end of the year.

    On enlargement, Mr Orbán called for accelerating the accession of the Western Balkan countries and stressed that “without Serbia joining, we cannot stabilise the Balkans”.

    The Hungarian Prime Minister argued for an EU defence industry, a farmer-friendly, competitive agriculture sector, and for the importance of the EU cohesion policy. “Cohesion funds are not charity nor a donation, it is one of the biggest forms of investment policy in the EU, and it is a pre-requisite to balance out the single market,” he said.

    Response by the European Commission President

    Replying to Prime Minister Orbán, Ms von der Leyen affirmed the EU’s commitment to support Hungary after the recent floods and outlined three key priorities: Ukraine, competitiveness, and migration. She criticised Hungary’s stance on Russia, deploring that “one member state in particular” is still trying to buy fossil fuels from Russia despite the EU’s commitment to be energy independent. On migration, she condemned Hungary’s decision to release convicted smugglers and questioned its visa policies, such as inviting Russian nationals into the EU without additional checks, warning these “make Hungary a security risk, not only for Hungary but for all member states.” Emphasising the country’s potential within the EU, she urged it to “serve the cause of European unity” rather than diverging from shared values. (Her full speech is available here.)

    Speakers from political groups

    A majority of speakers in Parliament criticised the Hungarian Prime Minister for his record since the country assumed the presidency of the Council, as well as for turning Hungary into a hybrid regime, undermining Ukraine’s fight against Russian aggression, and collaborating with illiberal regimes in Moscow and Beijing. Most speakers expressed their concern about the complete lack of regard for EU values demonstrated by the Hungarian Prime Minister, as well as allegations of rampant corruption in Hungary. Many MEPs expressed their solidarity with the Hungarian people suffering from their government’s restrictions on judicial independence, media freedom, and civil society. Several argued that it was a mistake to give the rotating presidency to Hungary and called for a suspension of its voting rights in the Council under the Article 7 procedure.

    Other speakers disagreed, commending the Hungarian government for its stance on migration and for placing competitiveness at the top of its priorities. They lauded Hungary as a defender of traditional values and took the opportunity to argue that the green transition policies and cumbersome EU rules are destroying Europe’s economy.

    You can catch up with the debate here.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Telegram: why the app is allowed when other social media is censored in Russia

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Olga Logunova, Research Associate, King’s Russia Institute, King’s College London

    Telegram’s founder Pavel Durov has confirmed that the messaging app, which is widely used in Russia, has made several changes related to user privacy.

    Durov, who was arrested in France in August in connection with a range of crimes as well as refusal to communicate information or documents, has made some alterations that address user safety and user privacy.

    Telegram says the changes are expected to also reduce criminal activity on the app. But users are concerned that the changes make the app more compliant with legal requests from authorities.

    While Durov’s political and legal tussle continues in the EU, at home in Russia Telegram remains one of the most influential media platforms. It is one of the only places where both opposition and official voices coexist.

    It is particularly popular with Russians between the ages of 12 and 24, with around 85% of them using Telegram. Around 25 of its 30 most popular channels are news and politics related. Telegram is also popular for calls and messaging.

    The platform is a vital space for the independent journalism and activism that survives in Russia. Independent media outlets and commentators covering Russian affairs and using Telegram include Meduza (1.3 million subscribers), TV Rain (500,000 subscribers) and Mediazona. All are using Telegram to reach the public but are operating from outside Russia’s borders.

    Pro-government channels also attract big audiences on Telegram, often with even larger followings than the independent outlets mentioned above. The most popular Telegram channels are Ria Novosti with 3.3 million subscribers, Readovka with 2.6 million subscribers, and Solovyov Live (1.3 million subscribers), along with several others promoting pro-government lines and supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine.

    Additionally, alternative voices such as Mikhail Khodorkovsky, a former oligarch and prominent Kremlin critic, and Ekaterina Shulman, a respected political scientist and commentator, are steadily gaining audiences. Both have been labelled as foreign agents or extremists in Russia.

    Where do Russians get news?

    In the past decade, Russia’s media landscape has undergone significant censorship due to increasing state control. Radio stations have closed down and many journalists have left the country to be able to report.

    Russian media usage

    Traditional media sources, such as television, continue to have a massive audience. Television has a monthly reach of 98%, while radio has a monthly reach of 79%. (Reach is the total number of different people or households exposed, at least once, to a medium during a given period).

    Both remain significant in today’s Russia. While television remains a primary news source for many Russians, the internet is used by 84% of people daily.

    Since 2012, the state has progressively tightened control over political information. People and organisations will self-censor, and there is legislation penalising social media reposts and other forms of dissent. These laws claim to be addressing users who “discredit the armed forces” or “spread fake news”, but are actually aimed at cracking down on dissent.

    Most viewed Telegram channels in Russia during July 2024

    As of 2024, over 2,000 administrative cases and more than 273 criminal cases have been initiated under these laws. Individuals and organisations critical of the official Kremlin narrative have been fined, had their assets confiscated and been imprisoned.



    Read more:
    Ukraine recap: Putin’s nuclear sabre-rattling becomes more ominous

    Another government method used to control online discussion includes slowing down or blocking social media platforms. The state blocked major western platforms Facebook, Instagram and Twitter in March 2022, leading millions of Russian users to migrate to Telegram.

    Content creators followed en masse, transforming Telegram into a vital hub for news and political debate. Alternatives to Telegram in Russia include state-controlled domestic networks like VKontakte (VK) and Odnoklassniki, which have strong ties to figures close to the Kremlin.

    Why is Telegram allowed?

    The use of Telegram for propaganda, influencing public opinion, and promoting the positions of the state and Putin could be one of the reasons why Telegram has not faced the same restrictions as other platforms.

    Another reason for its popularity is the platform’s ease of use as a messaging app, including for state organisations. This makes it less of a direct threat to state control over public opinion, while still serving as a crucial tool for those seeking alternative sources of information.

    Its appeal to the Russian government is strengthened by the fact that Telegram is not owned by global (western) companies such as Meta, which owns WhatsApp (also popular in Russia). Additionally, issues surrounding legally questionable content, such as the near-official tolerance of digital piracy, have long been controversial in Russia.

    Telegram’s moderation policies have often been associated with a less regulated approach to content, which has contributed to its popularity in Russia. These new changes may make ordinary Russians worry more about whether what they say on the app is safe from the state’s prying eyes.

    The platform’s prominence in Russian public life is undeniable, but so too are the challenges it faces. How Telegram and its leadership navigate the coming years will have profound implications, not just for the platform, but for broader public debate in Russia.

    Durov’s arrest underscores the growing pressure on Telegram, from some quarters, and reflects a critical juncture for platform leaders navigating state intervention. But for Russian people looking for a space where they can exchange news and views, it remains one of most free platforms they can still access.

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

    – ref. Telegram: why the app is allowed when other social media is censored in Russia – https://theconversation.com/telegram-why-the-app-is-allowed-when-other-social-media-is-censored-in-russia-238261

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: VATICAN/GENERAL AUDIENCE – Pope Francis: the Holy Spirit is He who ensures the universality and unity of the Church

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Wednesday, 9 October 2024

    Vatican Media

    Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – In the Acts of the Apostles “we see the Spirit work for unity in two ways”: He teaches her to expand in universality, and consolidate in unity. Universal and one: this is the mystery of the Church.During the Wednesday general audience in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis continues the cycle of catechesis dedicated to the Holy Spirit and his role in the Church, reflecting on the role played by the Holy Spirit in the Acts of the Apostles.With the account of Pentecost, the Pontiff notes, the author “wished to highlight the universal mission of the Church, as a sign of a new unity between all peoples”. In the following (chapters 10 and 15) we see that the Spirit works for unity in two ways. On the one hand, He drives the Church outwards, so that she can welcome an ever-greater number of people and peoples; on the other hand, she gathers them within to consolidate the unity achieved.The first of the two movements – universality – can be seen in action in the episode of the conversion of Cornelius, “to induce the Apostles to expand their horizon and break down the last barrier, the one between Jews and pagans”. “To this ethnical expansion is added the geographical expansion”, said the Bishop of Rome, who recalls that Paul “wanted to proclaim the Gospel in a new region of Asia Minor; but it is written that they had been “forbidden by the Holy Spirit”; he attempted to enter Bithyn’ia, “but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them”. We immediately discover the reason for these surprising prohibitions of the Spirit: the following night the Apostle received in a dream the order to pass into Macedonia. The Gospel thus left its native Asia and entered into Europe”, said the Pope.The second movement of the Holy Spirit – that which creates unity – can be seen “in the proceedings of the so-called Council of Jerusalem. The problem is how to ensure that the universality achieved does not compromise the unity of the Church”. The Holy Spirit, Francis points out, ” does not always create unity suddenly, with miraculous and decisive actions, as at Pentecost. He also does so – and in the majority of cases – with discreet work, respecting human time and differences, passing through people and institutions, prayer and confrontation. In, we would say today, a synodal manner”. In this context, the Pope quotes Saint Augustine, who explains the unity brought about by the Holy Spirit with a classic image: ” How the soul is of the body of man is the holy Spirit of the body of Christ, which is the Church”. This “image helps us to understand something important. The Holy Spirit does not create the unity of the Church from the outside; He does not limit Himself to commanding us to be united. He Himself is the “bond of unity”. It is He who creates the unity of the Church”.”The unity of the Church is the unity between people – Pope Francis continued – and is not achieved on the drawing board, but in life. Even “Christian unity is built in this way too: not waiting for others to reach us where we are, but moving together towards Christ”.At the end of the Audience, the Pope again turned his thoughts to the peoples of the world affected by the ravages of war. And he invites everyone to pray for peace: “May the month of October, dedicated to the Holy Rosary, be a precious opportunity to cultivate this traditional Marian prayer. I urge you all to pray the Rosary every day, placing yourselves trustingly in the hands of Mary. To her, the caring Mother, we entrust the suffering and the desire for peace of the peoples who suffer the madness of war, especially the tormented Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Myanmar, Sudan”. (F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 9/10/2024)
    Share:

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Misspoke: The long and winding road to becoming a political weasel word

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Valerie M. Fridland, Professor of Linguistics, University of Nevada, Reno

    Democratic candidate Tim Walz, during the vice presidential debate in which he said he ‘misspoke’ about being in Hong Kong during Tiananmen Square protests. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

    During the Sept. 24, 2024, debate, Democratic vice presidential hopeful Tim Walz said he “misspoke” when asked to clarify his story of being in Hong Kong during the Tiananmen Square crackdown in June 1989.

    To many, Walz’s use of the word misspoke came across as an attempt to weasel out of what was at best an embellishment and at worst an outright lie.

    The word misspoke has certainly long been used to politically backpedal after verbal inaccuracies or blunders, as Ronald Reagan learned in 1981 after he said that Syrian surface-to-air missiles placed in Lebanon were “offensive weapons,” when they were in fact defensive weapons. Both Presidents Bill Clinton and the much “misunderestimated” George W. Bush likewise were deemed to have misspoken after making mistakes, big and small.

    For instance, a spokesperson for Clinton claimed he had misspoken when the then-president said that North Korea would not be allowed to develop a nuclear bomb – after there was reason to believe they had already developed them. During George W. Bush’s term in office, verbal errors were so common they earned a nickname of their own: “Bushisms.”

    But misspoke’s extension to factual fabrication is one step further down the semantic road. In using it in this way, Walz joined other “misspoken” politicians, such as Hillary Clinton, who used it after falsely recollecting having landed in Bosnia under sniper fire.

    As a sociolinguist who writes about how language changes over time, misspoke’s euphemistic recasting of lying as an inadvertent mistake calls for deeper linguistic scrutiny.

    Tim Walz, being pressed on a statement he made and whether it was true, during the vice presidential debate.

    From mumble to mea culpa

    To understand how and why words morph like this, linguists like to trace them to their very beginnings.

    According to the Oxford English Dictionary, “misspeaking” is quite old in the history of English, appearing as “missprecon” in a Northumbrian text dating before the 11th century. Its original sense was one of “to grumble” or “to mumble,” a meaning now obsolete.

    But after the 11th century, its meaning shifted from inarticulateness to that of speaking amiss or disparagingly, often mentioned in reference to saying something improper or upsetting. Chaucer makes use of this sense in the “Miller’s Tale”: “And therfore if that I mysspeke or seye, Wyte it the ale of Southwerk, I you preye,” where the Miller handily blames a bit too much ale for whatever impropriety might fall from his mouth.

    Around the time Chaucer was composing “The Canterbury Tales” in the late 14th century, the word “misspeak” branched off down yet another semantic path, taking on the meaning of “to speak incorrectly or misleadingly.” It is this sense that gave birth to the modern political mea culpa used when backtracking on a misleading prior statement, such as by Sen. John McCain after he claimed President Barack Obama was directly responsible for terrorist attacks on Americans.

    Expanding meaning

    These shifts in the meaning of a word over time fall under what linguists refer to as “semantic broadening.” Semantic broadening, which means expansion of a word’s meaning, is incredibly common, generally occurring when a word becomes used more frequently and across more situations. As a result, its core sense can expand to take on supplemental or tangential meanings.

    Semantic shift like this is constantly at work, pushing and pulling senses in related but new directions to stay relevant to the needs of speakers.

    The word “soon,” for instance, at first carried a meaning of “immediately,” but human nature being what it is, its meaning began to creep in the direction of “as immediately as possible” as people took their merry time.

    Some new meanings, such as the nonliteral use of “literally” and Walz’s use of “misspeak,” are sites of contest, with multiple meanings at play.

    The semantic broadening of misspeaking to cover not just misleading but knowingly false information didn’t start with Walz, nor did it begin with Clinton. In fact, this politically expedient expansion seems to go back at least to the Nixon administration.

    There’s been a lot of misspeaking by politicians over the years, as these stories show.
    The Guardian US; The Hill; Wall Street Journal; Politico; Washington Post.

    ‘I misspoke myself’

    In 1973, Nixon and his advisers were called to task in a Time article accusing them of a tendency to “make flat statements one day, and the next day reverse field with the simple phrase, ‘I misspoke myself.’” Given the Watergate scandal, it’s safe to say that misspoke as used by his administration had already shifted into deceptive speech territory.

    Perhaps misspeaking’s semantic slippery slope started even further back, when the prefix “mis,” with its sense of “badly,” combined with “speaking.”

    Consider other potentially weaselly words that are also formed by “mis” prefixation: misunderstood, misinterpret, mishear, mistake. These are all examples of words, like misspeak, that can and have been used by politicians to avoid taking responsibility for the false or “misleading” things they say.

    Even if led astray by its prefix, from a linguistic perspective, the broadening of misspeak to cover not just incorrect but fabricated statements turns out to be not such a surprising development given the tendency of words to take on new senses over time, particularly in the world of political doublespeak.

    The bigger surprise might be how this new meaning translates with voters, but that’s one surprise that will have to wait for the ballot box.

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

    – ref. Misspoke: The long and winding road to becoming a political weasel word – https://theconversation.com/misspoke-the-long-and-winding-road-to-becoming-a-political-weasel-word-240533

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Russia’s has violated the OSCE’s core principles: UK statement to the OSCE

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    UK military advisor, Nicholas Aucott, says Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine has violated core principles contained in the Helsinki Final Act and the OSCE’s Code of Conduct, as Ukrainian civilians are subjected to a daily onslaught of drone attacks and missile strikes.

    Location:
    Vienna
    Delivered on:
    (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

    Thank you, Mr Chair. This morning, and this afternoon, we discussed the Code of Conduct, a key document underpinning the very rationale for us convening here in this Forum. Amongst other things, signatories to the Code undertook to recognise the validity of the Helsinki Final Act which underpins our commitments to peace, sovereign equality amongst States, and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. Russia’s initial invasion of Ukraine in 2014 and its subsequent full-scale invasion in 2022 violated the core principles of the Code and the Act.

    And complicit in Russia’s illegal full-scale invasion, Belarus violated its commitments to the Code when it assisted Russia, supporting Russian armed forces and permitting them to use Belarusian territory for its attacks on Ukraine. By doing so, Belarus facilitated Russia’s violation of its obligation to refrain from using force against the territorial integrity of another State. Belarus continues to provide logistical and materiel support to Russia’s illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

    Russia protests in this Forum when the significant majority of participating States stand up to this act of aggression. Indeed, the Code compels us to do so, ‘to act in solidarity if… norms and commitments are violated and to facilitate concerted responses to security challenges’.

    Russia’s response to this act of solidarity is to distort the facts and to sow disinformation in this Forum and beyond. Russia wants to break this solidarity because Russia is suffering as a consequence; it is suffering from its choice to unleash war.

    The impact for Ukraine and its people is tragic; for Ukrainian soldiers who attempt to halt Russia’s full-scale invasion, and for Ukrainian civilians who are killed and wounded, subjected to a daily onslaught of Russia’s drone and missile strikes. Ukrainians are fighting for their homeland, for their sovereign territory, for their freedom from external coercion, for the principles outlined in the Code to which we all committed, including Russia.

    In September, the number of average daily Russian casualties reached a new high for the war at 1,271, meaning Russia has now likely suffered over 648,000 casualties since the war began. A terrible human cost, for an unjustified and unprovoked war in breach of international law and fundamental OSCE principles.

    Mr Chair, the UK recognises the severity of the threat posed by Russia to global security, through its violation of international law and the UN Charter. This is why we have come together in solidarity; this is why we will continue to resolutely uphold the Code of Conduct and support this Forum.

    We will not allow aggressors like President Putin to succeed, to trample on the fundamental tenets of this organisation. The UK’s commitment to providing Ukraine with military, financial, diplomatic, and political support remains iron clad. Thank you.

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 October 2024

    Invasion of Ukraine

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Irrefutable, independent evidence of Russia violating international law is a concern for us all: UK statement to the OSCE

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    UK Counsellor, Ankur Narayan, says that the OSCE’s Code of Conduct, which turns 30 this year, commits all States to act if OSCE norms and commitments are violated; the UN and OSCE have evidence of Russia violating international law.

    Location:
    Vienna
    Delivered on:
    (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

    Thank you Mr Chair for hosting this FSC Security Dialogue to mark 30 years of the Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security. Thank you to the speakers for their powerful interventions.

    At last month’s FSC Opening Session, the Russian Delegation described the Code and the Helsinki Final Act as our “lodestar”. We agree. In my statement today, I could have talked about:

    1. Belarus supporting a State using force against another State; breaching para 8.
    2. Or Russia rejecting the sovereign right other States to choose their treaties of alliance; breaching para 11.
    3. Or Russia imposing military domination over any other participating State; breaching para 13.
    4. Or Russia stationing armed forces in the territories of other States – namely Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova – without a freely negotiated agreement, in line with internation law. Thereby breaching para 14.

    Instead, Mr Chair, in the Code’s 30th year, I will focus on paragraphs 30, 31 and 34. These compel States to ensure that their armed and security forces abide by international law. I will highlight three elements: attacks against critical civilian infrastructure ahead of winter; conflict-related sexual violence; and prisoners of war. I will only cite independently-verified, internationally-respected sources.

    Firstly, according to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission: “Repeated large-scale attacks since March by Russian armed forces against the electricity infrastructure of Ukraine have inflicted extensive harm and hardship on the country’s civilian population, with potentially devastating consequences as winter approaches”. The UN concludes that “the complex and coordinated nature of the strikes, the number of attacks across the country, and Russia’s regular official acknowledgment are indicators that the attacks against the electricity network are of a widespread and systematic nature”. As the Russian Federation knows, international humanitarian law prohibits indiscriminate attacks, which disproportionately kill civilians, and which destroy objects indispensable to the survival of civilians.

    Secondly, in March this year the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine  “found that the war crime of rape, and in some cases the war crime of sexual violence, had been committed. Those acts also amounted to torture”. These heinous crimes must end.

    Thirdly, the UN’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine reported “horrific treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war in several detention facilities in the Russian Federation”. The UN also recently found that “Russian authorities have subjected Ukrainian POWs to widespread and systematic torture and ill-treatment”. This month, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine also found that 119 of 174 Ukrainian prisoners of war interviewed had suffered acts of sexual violence. Russia must abide by its Geneva Convention obligations and treat all civilian detainees and prisoners of war humanely and it must allow immediate unimpeded access to the ICRC.

    Mr Chair, the Code commits us to act in solidarity if OSCE norms and commitments are violated. As catalogued by the OSCE Moscow Mechanisms, ODIHR and UN, there is irrefutable independent evidence of Russia violating international law, including international humanitarian law. As per the Code, such breaches are a “direct and legitimate” concern for us all.  This is why we again demand that Russia withdraws fully and unconditionally from the whole territory of Ukraine, within its internationally recognised borders. We demand independent and impartial investigations into all allegations of violations of international humanitarian law and abuses of international human rights law.  The victims deserve justice. And we will keep working tirelessly with our international partners to this end.

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 October 2024

    Invasion of Ukraine

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Address by Minister Joly at the General Debate of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Check against delivery. This speech has been translated in accordance with the Government of Canada’s official languages policy and edited for posting and distribution in accordance with its communications policy.

    September 30, 2024 – New York City, New York

    Check against delivery. This speech has been translated in accordance with the Government of Canada’s official languages policy and edited for posting and distribution in accordance with its communications policy.

    Mr. President, dear colleagues,

    It is an honour for me to speak to you on behalf of Canada and on behalf of Canadians.

    I would like to underscore that I am joining you on the traditional territory of the Lenape people.

    This recognition is important because today in Canada we mark the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, when we acknowledge and commemorate the Indigenous Peoples who came before us and continue to live here.

    We acknowledge the pain caused by decades of abuse, neglect and racism.

    It is also an opportunity for us to commit to doing better and to righting the wrongs of the past so we can move forward together.

    Rights and freedoms

    Ours is a country based on the rights and freedoms that are enshrined in our constitutional charter.

    A core reason Canada is a prosperous society is that beyond offering the freedom to pursue a better life for you and your family, Canada also provides freedom from the barriers that prevent you from enjoying a better life: freedom from fear, violence, intimidation and discrimination; freedoms that foster a sense of inclusivity and belonging; freedom that protects the vulnerable and builds stronger communities.

    Far too often, though, some of the loudest voices claiming to speak for freedom are the ones trying to redefine that word for their own purposes.

    They claim freedom as an excuse to do as they wish without any regard for the freedom of others.

    That is certainly not how we should define freedom.

    They hide behind the word to tell us everything is broken and to spread disinformation, and they parrot the lines fed to them by those who wish to interfere in our elections and undermine our democracy.

    They weaponize the term “freedom” to further marginalize those in the most vulnerable situations, to justify spreading hate and even to deny people their right to make choices about their own bodies, including limits on reproductive rights.

    At the end of the day, through all the noise, what they really mean to say is: freedom for some—but not freedom for all.

    Often, the people who claim to speak for freedom are the same people who want the government to decide who people can love, who they are or even what they can wear.

    We see it in our country. We see it around the world. At the international level, we see it when groups or countries declare that international law doesn’t apply to them.

    Afghanistan

    In Afghanistan, we see it taken to its extreme as the Taliban continue to impose inhumane rules against women and girls, banning them from being in public so they are invisible, robbing young girls of the fundamental right to an education.

    How is that respecting human dignity? How is that protecting the best interests of their people?

    They must be held accountable.

    Last week, Canada joined Australia, Germany and the Netherlands, with the support of 22 other countries, to take steps to hold Afghanistan accountable under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.

    The Taliban cannot make international law disappear through simple decrees.

    Canada is a country that values freedom from oppression, not the freedom to oppress others.

    There should be nothing controversial about protecting human rights, including the dignity of all men and women.

    Haiti

    With regard to Haiti, the world cannot sit idly by as people suffer.

    Unchecked gang violence and corruption in Haiti have created a catastrophe for the population, which is plunged into a state of deep insecurity in which civilians fall victim to bullets and children die of hunger.

    Canada has always maintained that the solution to this crisis must come from Haitians for the benefit of Haitians.

    To this end, the Transitional Presidential Council and the transitional government are working to restore order, but they cannot do it alone.

    The Haitian people need a multinational security support mission to work with the Haitian National Police, not only to help them restore order but also to meet the basic needs of the population.

    That’s why Canada has invested more than $100 million to support it.

    Canada is doing its part.

    We must all show the Haitian people that we are not going to abandon them.

    The United Nations Security Council must be clear on this.

    I would like to thank CARICOM and Kenya for the essential role they are playing in the response to this crisis.

    Together, we can achieve lasting peace and stability in Haiti.

    Middle East

    Mr. President, what is happening in the Middle East is an unspeakable tragedy. Thousands have been killed in Israel, Gaza and Lebanon, including many Canadians.

    This is a senseless war that goes against the dignity of human beings. The suffering —on all sides—must end.

    What the world continues to witness is a repeated cycle of violence where civilians pay the heaviest price.

    Canada is joining those urging Israel and Hezbollah to accept an immediate ceasefire. We need to create space for peace talks and save lives.

    There cannot be war in Lebanon—full stop. UN Security Council resolutions must be respected.

    Families in Southern Lebanon and families in Northern Israel must be able to safely return to their homes. We have and always will insist that civilians be protected, wherever they’re from.

    Next week, we mark 1 year since the terrorist attacks by Hamas against Israel.

    Last March, I visited Kibbutz Kfar Aza, one of the communities attacked on October 7, 2023. I met Ayalet, a mother grieving for her son, who was brutally murdered in the attack; he died protecting his fiancée. Ayalet recounted the terror of that day, the search for loved ones in burned homes.

    As she spoke about the horrors of October 7, we heard the bombs, as they landed on Gaza nearby, and felt the ground shudder. In that moment, our sense of [MM1] the duality of the tragedy befalling the Israeli and Palestinian people was profound. It is a moment I will never forget.

    The situation in Gaza is inhumane. The level of suffering is unacceptable. It must stop. Innocent Palestinians, including [MM2] women and children, cannot pay the price of defeating Hamas. This must end.

    A ceasefire is needed immediately. The hostages [MM3] must be released. This requires both sides making real efforts.

    Mr. President: for lasting peace, Canada has long advocated for a 2-state solution. We believe both Israelis and Palestinians have the right to exist.

    We all know a negotiated agreement is the best chance for Israelis and Palestinians to live side by side in peace and security.

    Unfortunately, Hamas, a terrorist organization, continues to operate in Gaza, refuses to release hostages and refuses to lay down its weapons.

    Meanwhile, the Government of Israel is against the creation of a Palestinian state. Violence against Palestinians by extremist settlers and expansion of settlements by Israel in the West Bank continue unabated. This is unacceptable.

    Canada supports the creation of a Palestinian state.

    That is why we are providing security and development support to the Palestinian people. We will officially recognize the state of Palestine at the right time: when it is most conducive to building a lasting peace and not necessarily as the last step of a negotiated process.

    More than anything, this conflict has led to unspeakable pain. Communities are hurting.

    People have the right to protest peacefully. But nobody has the freedom [MM4] to intimidate others. Polarization is a problem. Division is real.

    We have a collective responsibility to bring people together.

    Ukraine

    Mr. President, it has now been 2 and a half years since Russia launched its illegal invasion of Ukraine. The human cost continues to grow.

    No country has the freedom [MM5] to invade its neighbour. There’s no freedom [MM6] to impose your will on others. This aggression is a blatant violation of the UN Charter.

    Russia needs to get out of Ukraine now.

    The Ukrainian people have the right to be free from fear, free from aggression. They have the right to decide what their own future should be.

    Mr. President, we all know that if Russia’s aggression goes unchecked here it will continue. Many countries in the region and the hemisphere are wondering if they will be next. The world must not back down in denouncing this unjustifiable aggression.

    Canada will not back down from its support for Ukraine.

    At the end of October, Canada will host a conference co-organized with Norway and Ukraine on the human dimension of Ukraine’s 10-point peace formula. We will focus on the return of children to their families and of deported civilians and prisoners of war.

    Every one of those affected by this war is entitled to freedom from violence and from being forced from their home.

    UN reform

    Mr. President,

    The issues I have just mentioned create immense challenges. This institution has a role to play in helping us to work together toward solutions.

    Critics of the United Nations accuse it of being incapable of solving the problems currently facing the world.

    Worse still, some more conspiratorial critics even believe that the UN is the cause of many of these problems.

    Both ignore the reality and the strength of this organization.

    The United Nations is a unique forum that allows us to come together and talk to each other on an equal footing to try to iron out our differences, which are sometimes profound, through discussion and consensus-building.

    That’s why Canada supported the adoption of the Pact for the Future at the Summit of the Future last week.

    The pact is a starting point as we work together to ensure the sustainability of the organization.

    The UN is not a perfect organization, it is true, but progress is possible. As the Secretary-General has said: “ We can’t build a future for our grandchildren with a system built for our grand[MM7] parents.” Let’s build that future together.

    Mr. President,

    For almost 80 years, no woman has held the post of secretary-general.

    This is unacceptable.

    Last week with my colleague from Jamaica, I had the great honour of welcoming to Toronto 15 women foreign ministers from the 4 corners of the earth.

    Our conclusion was clear. The next head of this illustrious institution must be a woman.

    It’s high time we were able to respectfully say, at this podium and around the world, “Madam Secretary-General.”

    I would say the same for the post of president of the General Assembly.

    Mr. President, with respect, I hope that next year the delegates will address “Madam President.”

    I know that many of us share this wish.

    Mr. President,

    Let me tell you about my mother. She will be so proud that I am talking about her at the United Nations.

    You know, my mother and grandmother are among the millions of women around the world who have fought hard for equal rights.

    They did so alongside the mothers and grandmothers of many of the people in this room.

    Mum recently told me that we were now part of the “consolidation generation.” She’s right.

    Being part of our generation means that we need to consolidate the gains that have been made over time and fight against those who are trying to roll back this progress. It also means that we need to continue to fight so that women and girls everywhere have the right to make choices about their own bodies and their own lives.

    We see the difference the gap in freedoms creates. When women are robbed of the right to decide when to have children, they lose out on education and job opportunities. When women don’t have access to safe abortions their lives are put at risk. When women are denied access to safe contraception and fertility treatments, they lose the power to make choices that have the most profound impacts on their lives.

    Attacks on sexual and reproductive health rights are an attack on equality rights. They’re an affront to basic dignity.

    We must always have the right to choose for ourselves which means of contraception to use, whether to have an abortion or even to choose assisted reproduction. We women have the right to be equal in everything: in education, in employment and in every other opportunity.

    We are women and proud of it.

    We can never turn back.

    Together, we must keep moving forward for our sisters, our daughters and our granddaughters.

    Mr. President, 2 years ago, I stood here and said countries around the world were faced with a choice. And we still have that choice today. We can choose a world where rules can be broken by the powerful, bringing us back to darker times of tension and conflict. Or we can choose a world that upholds human rights, opportunities for all, peace and prosperity; a world where people work together to solve problems.

    Canada will work with partners to move us beyond this moment of crisis.

    A new future is being shaped.

    We must not fail.

    Thank you.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: SECNAV Del Toro As-Written Remarks at the Polish Armed Forces Day

    Source: United States Navy

    Remarks

    Good evening, everyone. It’s wonderful to be here with you today to celebrate Polish Armed Forces Day.

    Mr. Krzywosądzki and Major General Nolbert, thank you for inviting me and for your role in strengthening the partnership and friendship between our nations.

    Poland and the United States share an enduring bond—a bond forged in a crucible of shared sacrifice and the common pursuit of freedom and liberty.

    And this day, marking the Polish victory over Soviet forces in the Battle of Warsaw—known as the “Miracle of the Vistula” —commemorates that victory, and all those who fought for Polish independence throughout history.

    Indeed, Poland’s long fight for freedom and the partnership between our nations stretches back all the way to the American Revolution and beyond.

    “The Father of American Cavalry,” Casimir Pulaski, one of only eight honorary American citizens, fought for our freedom and independence.

    Benjamin Franklin and the Marquis de Lafayette persuaded him to travel to the colonies, and he saw in the American people a struggle parallel to the fight for Polish independence after the partition by neighboring Russia, Prussia, and Austria.

    By the time he arrived in the United States, he was renowned throughout Europe for his bravery and for his passion for his people—the Polish people.

    He wrote to George Washington that “I came here, where freedom is being defended, to serve it, and to live or die for it.”

    His feats of arms in his first engagement of the Revolutionary War—at the Battle of Brandywine—secured the Continental Army’s retreat and he was credited with saving the life of George Washington.

    But most notably, he led a cavalry charge that turned the tide of the Battle of Savannah, where he was mortally wounded.

    His actions and steadfast devotion to the most noble of ideals earned him his other sobriquet: the “Soldier of Liberty.”

    But our partnership extends beyond the American Revolution.

    Polish servicemembers have served alongside their American counterparts in around the globe, from World War I and World War II to today as NATO allies.

    I am incredibly grateful to Poland for your support to our Sailors stationed at Aegis Ashore in Redzikowo.

    And as Secretary Blinken highlighted during his stop in Warsaw last week, more than 80 percent of all aid for Ukraine flows through Poland.

    Poland provides $4 billion in security assistance to Ukraine including tanks, aircraft, air defense, and helicopters.

    And Poland continues to host around a million Ukrainian refugees. 

    Poland’s unwavering support for Ukraine in their fight against Russia’s illegal and immoral invasion demonstrates commitment to the enduring spirit of freedom and democratic values.

    Your contributions have been invaluable, and your bravery has been an inspiration to all.

    Let us honor the memory of Casimir Pulaski—and indeed all those who have served in the Polish armed forces.

    Let us recommit ourselves to the ideals they fought and sacrificed for—and the ideals that unite our nations.

    I am immensely proud to stand here today beside Poland and recognize our strong partnership and shared values.

    May God bless the United States, Poland, our armed forces, and their families.

    Thank you.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Securing Cyberspace: Minister Doughty speech

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Minister Doughty outlined the UK’s commitment to responsible behaviour in cyberspace in a keynote speech at RUSI’s Securing Cyberspace Conference.

    Location:
    London
    Delivered on:
    (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

    Thank you very much for traveling from near and far. 

    It’s a real pleasure. We’ve got so many leading lights in government, industry, law enforcement, academia and civil society here in one room.  

    And I’m very grateful to RUSI for bringing this together as they so often do.  

    This is a very welcome opportunity to reflect on an important mission for the new government that I’m proud to serve in, and that is, of course, enhancing cyber security and promoting responsible behaviour in cyberspace. 

    You in this room are all of our vital and valid partners in this. 

    And everyone here today has a role to play in shaping the future agenda, bringing diverse perspectives, specialist knowledge and deep expertise. 

    So thank you once again. 

    And I really hope that this conference, which we’ve been proud to support, helps you forge fresh connections and find new ways to collaborate.  

    And we cannot meet at a more pivotal moment in world history – a moment of the most extraordinary change, of risk, and of opportunity. 

    Because from our banks to our electricity grid, from our defence to our hospitals, the online cyber world underpins every aspect of our society. 

    And with every day that passes, we of course, rely on it more for our prosperity and our security. 

    But you hardly need to be told that this brave new world has a dark side -and the years to come will see us walking dangerous and difficult complex paths. 

    And I just reflect in my own life, I got my first email address when I was only 15 or 16 years old.  

    I went to an international school in Canada. It was quite a big chance to connect with some of my classmates from across the world, but my parents were still not used to the system. They were printing out my emails when I sent them home, kept them all in a folder as a physical copy and presented them to me.  

    But today, of course, we’re in that world shaped by Al and quantum, by ever evolving threats and opportunities.  

    And of course, we know that state actors, criminals and others who want to harm us are fighting hard for their share of this space which knows no borders.  

    Those are the threats, but we also have huge opportunities and the question, of course, for all of us is how we embrace the opportunities that cyber brings in every aspect whilst addressing those key challenges. 

    And so I’m grateful for the chance to share some perspectives with you today.  

    I wanted to start by saying that since taking office in July, growth and security have been among the government’s very top priorities and they will remain that way.  

    In a world where we all live and work online, investing in cyber security and promoting responsible behaviour is an essential part of this mission, because fundamentally, and you will all know this, there is no national security, no economic security without cyber security. 

    We cannot fulfil our growth Mission as a government without cyber resilient businesses and supply chains, a Cyber aware workforce and society. 

    And of course, all of those underpinned by strong technical and skills expertise in the cyber sector. 

    This is true for all of us, investing in that security and promoting responsible behaviour has to be a collective endeavour. 

    I wanted to highlight today and reflect on three key themes that will guide our approach as a new government. 

    The first of those is that partnerships are vital for success. 

    When Alan Turing and the codebreakers in Bletchley Park – I have visited and I’m sure many of the you in this room have – they, of course, cracked that Enigma Cipher during the Second World War, sharing those insights with our allies saved countless lives and hastened the end of the war. 

    But of course, today, the world faces a whole new set of threats. 

    Spyware, ransomware, espionage, information manipulation and other forms of interference are causing untold losses and distress to our security and to our economic security.  

    The World Economic Forum estimates that the global cost of cybercrime will reach 24 trillion US dollars by 2027, that’s up from an almost eyewatering 8 trillion in 2022.  

    In the online world, the stakes are higher than ever, and the gloves are well and truly off.  

    So it’s only through solid, respectful, mutual, beneficial partnerships that we can fight back, overcome the challenges we face, and make the most of important opportunities for all our people. 

    It’s a pleasure to see friends from across the diplomatic audience today as well, ready to solve these problems working together with partners and allies across the world.  

    That’s why, from Day One, this new Government has focused on connecting Britain and strengthening relationships with countries around the world, from the Euro-Atlantic to the Global South. 

    That means enhancing our relationships with the EU and our European friends to forge closer cooperation spanning the whole range of issues, including military, economic and cyber, our unshakeable commitment to NATO, the bedrock of our defence. 

    And here I will point out that the UK is playing a leading role in work to deter and respond to cyber threats.  

    And later this year, we will of course host the NATO Cyber Defence conference to galvanize those efforts.  

    We’re also collaborating with many individual countries and partners, for example, in the Western Balkans, a region I’m privileged to know well from many visits.  

    Indeed, in Opposition, I met with young cyber experts in Pristina and discussed their careers, their prospects, and how we can work together as partners.  

    We’re, of course, working together with governments right across the world to bolster defence and counteract threats.  

    And just last month, I was in Moldova where I discussed these issues and partnerships at the Ministry of Defence in Chișinău. 

    And turning to the wider world, particularly our important partnerships in the Global South, our work with Interpol in Africa, across the Indo-Pacific and indeed, Latin America, tackling cybercrime, building closer cross-border partnerships.  

    In Africa, this partnership has helped to smash 20,000 criminal networks and seize illegal funds worth more than 40 million US dollars.  

    Last year, Interpol coordination with cybercrime units in Nigeria, Benin, Cote d’Ivoire saw 300 suspects arrested, 3 million US dollars’ worth of assets ceased and multiple criminal networks dismantled.  

    In the months and years ahead, the UK will continue to play our role at Interpol, an organisation which of course is at the sharp end of the increasingly borderless world of global crime.  

    Secondly, I want to talk about responsible cyber behaviour. 

    In all of our collaborations around the world, we remain committed to the United Nations Framework for Responsible State Behaviour in the use of Information Communication Technologies, but will be guided by our principles when it comes to ensuring safe and responsible use of cyber capabilities. 

    That’s the second important theme of our work overall, and the topic I know you’ll be discussing in detail at this conference, thanks again to RUSI for putting together such a strong and relevant agenda.  

    But for now, I will simply say that for the UK, this is about staying at the forefront of science and technology so we can understand threats and respond appropriately, and helping others do the same. 

    For example, supporting cyber security nonprofit organisations like Shadowserver to share threat data.  

    It’s also about transparency, which is so vital to facilitate cooperation, build trust and reduce the possibility of misinterpretation and escalation.  

    It’s also about inclusion, for example, by bringing stakeholders, including many of you in this room with all their expertise into that global cyber security discussion. A topic I will return to shortly. 

    But it’s also importantly about promoting accountability, because while we here in this room are united in our support for responsible behaviour, we know that not everybody plays by those rules. 

    Sometimes we will need to take firm action, and the UK will continue our important work with partners to hold criminals and others to account.  

    International cooperation is central, as demonstrated in August, when, after significant efforts by many of those in this room, here today, UN member states finalized a new draft Cybercrime Convention.  

    Many of us, of course, have the tools to take domestic action in this area too. 

    Just last week, on 1 October, alongside the United States and Australia, this country sanctioned 16 members of the Russian cybercrime gang, Evil Corp.  

    This group, which truly lives up to its name, has waged a campaign of destructive attacks worldwide for over a decade.  

    They include malware and ransomware attacks against UK health, government and public sector institutions as well as commercial technology companies.  

    Those sanctioned are now subject to asset freezes and travel bans.  

    Alongside our allies, we will continue to crack down on malicious activity and call out criminals like Evil Corp, who seek to underline our prosperity and security.  

    Thirdly, I wanted to stress the importance of a whole of society approach.  

    And as a Member of Parliament, I see how cybercrime, these challenges affect the lives of my constituents on a daily basis, whether it’s in fraud, whether it’s in terrorism, recruitment of individuals. I’ve seen these aspects in the lives of my constituents over the last five years. 

    As this conference demonstrates, we’re taking every opportunity to bring a wide range of expert stakeholders into our work. Because cyber is not, of course, as you all know, just about the technology, it’s about the people who interact with it, people who come from all spheres of society and all parts of the globe 

    That includes those outside the realm of Government, who have huge pools of talent, expertise, innovation and enthusiasm to bring to the table.  

    And we have to make that advantage count through a whole of society approach to cyber. So this government is absolutely committed to work hand in glove with our partners in industry, in the development sector, in academia, in the not-for-profit sector and beyond.  

    And we’ve got an impressive story already to tell here and want to do even more on. Let me just reflect on a few examples. 

    Firstly, as Putin continues to wage an illegal war in Ukraine, we are working with Mandiant, Palo Alto Networks, CloudFlare, BAE systems, along with the government in Kyiv to bolster Ukraine’s resilience to Russian cyber attacks.  

    We’re drawing on world leading expertise from across the public and private sectors to protect Ukraine’s critical infrastructure and vital public services 

    But our partnerships with industry leaders are not just about addressing threats.  

    As the third largest exporter of cyber security services globally, there’s no doubting how important this sector is to our own economy, indeed to all of our economies, we need to stay ahead of the game when it comes to innovation, and as I’ve said, we have huge talent to draw on.  

    We will work with industry to make the most of the opportunities for British businesses, boosting prosperity and sharing our expertise with the world.  

    We’re leading the efforts through our National Cyber Security Centre to test ideas, enhance understanding and to engage with talented individuals from the private sector to shape our approach.  

    Of course, companies also have a crucial role to play in setting out responsible values and principles for their work. We know this is not a straightforward process. 

    So we will work with partners to find solutions to problems like the unregulated market for spyware that’s being used to target journalists and other civil society communities across the globe, violating human rights and ultimately undermining our free and open societies.  

    We’re bringing people together through the Pall Mall process – from states, industry and civil society to tackle the misuse of commercial spyware and other tools.  

    And besides those efforts to turbocharge our economy and shape the rules of the game, we want to work hard to level the playing field for people. 

    We want to be seeing cyber as an inclusive space where everyone can fulfil their potential. 

    That’s why we’re supporting schemes like the Caribbean Experts Fellowship – part of our wide-ranging work with the Commonwealth.  

    That scheme is going to support the brightest minds from across the region to shape the safe and prosperous cyberspace through academic research, opportunities, networking and more.  

    We’re also committed to close the gender gap in cyber because fundamentally, no country can achieve its full potential if it underuses 50% of its resources and talents.  

    And indeed, yesterday, on Ada Lovelace Day, the world celebrated the achievements of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and I want us to celebrate those achievements every day and create fresh opportunities for women in every area of this work.  

    The UK already has some great projects around the world helping smooth the path for a new generation of female cyber experts to make their mark on this world – from our ‘Her Cyber’ project in Albania, which reaches out to girls at an early age through after school clubs and running right through to university level support, to our UN Women in Cyber Fellowship, which is sponsored with partners including Canada, US and Germany, to encourage greater female representation in negotiations in the UN First Committee.  

    So, I’ve gone through three key themes today. I hope they give you some insights to our thinking and direction of travel, as a new government.  

    But to conclude, we are living in a world, as I said at the beginning, that was unimaginable just a few decades ago.  

    It’s a world that’s ripe with opportunity when it comes to cyber, but of course, laden with challenge. 

    I’ve been glad of the opportunity today to be able to set out some of the ways in which the government will make the most of those opportunities, together with you, while meeting challenges head on through partnerships spanning the globe, demonstrating what a responsible approach looks like, and collaborating with those outside the government who have so much to bring to these efforts. 

    That’s how we can ultimately keep our citizens safe, help our economies to flourish, protect our security and stand up for our values.  

    So once again, I want to welcome you all here today to add my support to your efforts today to discuss these important issues, and to give our commitment as a new government to work with all of you as we develop our capabilities to respond to those threats and opportunities in the future.  

    Thank you very much.

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Despite progress on poverty, Mexico’s first female president inherits a shaky economy

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Nicolas Forsans, Professor of Management and Co-director of the Centre for Latin American & Caribbean Studies, University of Essex

    shutterstock Octavio Hoyos/Shutterstock

    Mexico’s first female president, leftwing academic and climate scientist Claudia Sheinbaum, has set out her agenda. She pledged to maintain the social policies of her mentor and predecessor, the widely popular former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador (commonly known by his initials, AMLO).

    She promised a transition to green energy, and set out the need for new infrastructure in railways, ports and airports. Sheinbaum inherits a US$1.79 trillion (£1.4 trillion) economy closely integrated to that of the US – in fact, Mexico has the second-largest economy in Latin America. It is also the most populous Spanish-speaking country in the world with 128 million people.

    But Sheinbaum also inherits Mexico’s largest budget deficit since the 1980s.

    Despite social policies that have seen 9.5 million Mexicans lifted from poverty during AMLO’s six-year term, 36% of Mexicans are still poor and 7% live in extreme poverty. Access to health services remains problematic, and has worsened for those living in deprivation.

    Gross domestic product per capita, a measure of wealth, actually fell during the previous administration, which means the “average” Mexican is worse off now than at the start of AMLO’s presidency. And next year, the central bank estimates GDP will grow by only 1.2%, which will inevitably constrain Sheinbaum in her early years in office.

    While campaigning, she promised to continue the social and political policies of her predecessor. Now in office, she will not only grapple with the country’s security situation but also navigate serious economic and fiscal challenges.



    Read more:
    As Mexico’s new president takes office, a renewed battle to contain cartel violence begins

    In 2018, AMLO took office in a relatively stable fiscal environment. His predecessor, Enrique Peña Nieto, had implemented significant reforms early in his term aimed at reducing reliance on oil revenues and energy subsidies.

    Nieto also sought to strengthen the country’s two stabilisation funds. The Oil Revenue Stabilisation Fund is aimed at protecting Mexico’s budget from fluctuations in oil revenues. Meanwhile, the Budget Income Stabilisation Fund seeks to stabilise budget revenues from non-oil sources, such as taxes.

    These funds have been crucial for maintaining economic stability given the volatility of commodity prices, especially since oil has historically been a key contributor to Mexico’s public finances. However, under AMLO’s administration, both funds were used to plug gaps, leaving them depleted and raising concerns about the country’s ability to weather economic downturns. The country has not balanced its books since 2007.

    High energy subsidies introduced in 2019 are putting a strain on public finances. Driven by a commitment by AMLO to shield consumers from rising international oil prices, subsidies increased as a result of the COVID pandemic in 2020, and again in 2022 amid the war in Ukraine.

    The recent rise in social spending to fund universal state pensions, social programmes and debt servicing has created considerable strain, pushing the deficit close to 6% of GDP. Mexico’s debt-to-GDP ratio is 50% this year, up from its 2018 level.

    The tax issue

    In most countries, tax revenues are used to fund social investment. But Mexico’s ability to raise taxes has been extremely limited – tax revenues amount to just 17% of the country’s GDP, below the Latin American average of 22%, and well below that of countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) at 34%.

    Mexico has a large informal economy, with many workers and businesses not registered with tax authorities. Corruption, inefficiencies in tax administration and lack of trust in government institutions have led to low tax compliance, while efforts to increase taxes on the wealthy have met political resistance.

    Mexico has high levels of income inequality, and the wealthiest segments of society contribute relatively little to the overall tax revenue. Instead, the country had historically relied on oil revenues – which have declined – to fund public services and investment.

    AMLO had launched popular social programmes aimed at reducing poverty and inequalities. Now Sheinbaum has promised increased social spending while maintaining “fiscal responsibility” and not reforming tax (at least in her early presidency). That promise seems unrealistic. Without a change of approach, a fiscal crisis looms.

    However, she is expected to be a more pragmatic president than her predecessor. In part because she is less ideology-driven, but also because she won’t have a choice. If she wants to boost the economy and keep reducing poverty, she will need to attract foreign investment and encourage the private sector to play a much bigger role.

    Infrastructure will be a key focus, not least to ensure Mexico can benefit from the process of “near-shoring” – the relocation by multinationals of key processes away from Asia closer to the US market in order to minimise supply chain disruptions.

    Mexico stands to gain from the current desire by many companies to operate closer to the USA. As a result of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), and its predecessor Nafta (North American Free Trade Agreement), Mexico enjoys tariff-free trade with its northern neighbours.

    But the country has not fully benefited from those opportunities. It lacks a consolidated investment promotion strategy and needs to produce more energy, ensuring it is from cleaner sources.

    It’s expected that Sheinbaum will continue government efforts to lift disadvantaged Mexicans out of poverty.

    Companies keen to invest in Mexico need access to low-emission hydrocarbons, as well as renewable energy. But AMLO viewed oil as a key part of Mexico’s sovereignty, eradicating previous reforms that had opened up the energy sector to private companies and preventing private investment in renewable energy. Instead, public finances were used to prop up ailing state-owned oil monopoly Pemex and national electricity company CFE.

    Given the fiscal challenges Sheinbaum inherits, Mexicans can expect the private sector to play a much greater role in infrastructure investment and in making the green energy transition a reality.

    As mayor of Mexico City, she championed public-private partnerships (PPP) while promoting solar energy. But to entice factories from Asia, she will also have to weaken the grip of the criminal organisations which are believed to control as much as a third of Mexico.

    During her tenure as mayor she halved the number of murders in the capital. But attempting to replicate this success throughout the country will be no small undertaking.

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

    – ref. Despite progress on poverty, Mexico’s first female president inherits a shaky economy – https://theconversation.com/despite-progress-on-poverty-mexicos-first-female-president-inherits-a-shaky-economy-240136

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Kamala Harris is suddenly embracing the media spotlight – but is it working?

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Colleen Murrell, Full Professor in Journalism, Dublin City University

    Kamala Harris appears to have drastically changed her media strategy for the final few weeks of the US election race. From largely avoiding media interviews, she has begun embracing them.

    The Democratic presidential candidate demonstrated she was a serious and consensus-building leader on 60 Minutes with Bill Whitaker. She told amusing anecdotes and drank a beer on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert; gave fast, snappy returns on The Howard Stern Show; and for 40 minutes talked women’s rights, domestic violence and reproductive health on the high-profile Call Her Daddy podcast.

    With less than a month to go until the presidential election, Harris is trying to hit all demographics with her media message campaign. She appeared to be most at home, or “real”, on Call her Daddy with Alex Cooper, where she talked about the lessons she’d learned from her mother, and how an abused school friend helped ignite her desire to fight for justice for the vulnerable.

    The podcast, which focuses on women’s issues, has 5 million listeners. Harris already leads the voting among women by a majority of 55% to former president Donald Trump’s 43%, according to a MaristPoll conducted last month in swing state Pennsylvania.

    More significant was the CBS 60 Minutes interview. This show, which averages 8.4 million viewers, has been a must for presidential candidates to appear on for the last half century.

    The first controversy came a week before the broadcast when Trump pulled out, with his team allegedly complaining the programme would fact-check the interview. Trump also claimed he needed an apology from CBS over disputed facts related to his 2020 interview, specifically about Hunter Biden’s laptop. No apology was forthcoming.

    The former president’s spokesperson, Steven Cheung, alleged Trump had never actually confirmed the interview, calling it “fake news”. CBS reporter Scott Pelley, who was due to do the Trump interview, was scathing about the “shifting explanations” that had been given for his no-show.

    In advance of Harris’s 60 Minutes interview, I asked Nick Bryant, author of The Forever War: America’s Unending Conflict with Itself, why he thought Trump had pulled out. “Scott Pelley is a seasoned pro,” Bryant replied. “On abortion, on January 6th, on accepting the 2020 result, he could skewer Trump. In a cost-benefit analysis, Trump has more to lose from a 60 Minutes interview than gain.”

    Harris, on the other hand, had all to gain because, despite a clear win in the debate against Trump, she has stayed at relatively low visibility. During what was a fairly tough interview, she was quizzed on America’s inability to rein in Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, how she would fund her economic policies, how her administration would handle Ukraine, and whether or not she had flip-flopped on policies about fracking, immigration and Medicare.

    The world is watching as the US election campaign unfolds. Sign up to join us at a special Conversation event on October 17. Expert panellists – Thomas Gift, Natasha Lindstaedt and Inderjeet Parmar – will discuss the upcoming election and its possible fallout.

    Her answer regarding changing policies was not to deny this, as she had previously, but to say that over the past four years of being vice-president, she had travelled the country “listening to folks and seeking what is possible in terms of common ground. I believe in building consensus.” This strong answer managed to differentiate her starkly from her opponent’s more divisive approach.

    Bryant believed that Harris’s lack of interviews before this latest round was worrying, because “she is not match fit” and her previous answers regarding the economy had been “tossed-salad like” and “strangely inarticulate”.

    This time around, it wasn’t the economy that tripped Harris up, but answers about Israel and Netanyahu. After the interview, Fox News and the Trump campaign were quick to allege that an answer on Israel broadcast in the 60 Minutes trailer was different to the answer broadcast during the programme.

    They argued that, once again, Harris had given a chaotic response in the trailer, while the answer in the programme was much more considered and neatly delivered. Trump’s national press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, asked: “Why did 60 Minutes choose not to air Kamala’s full word salad, and what else did they choose not to air?” So far, there has been no comment from 60 Minutes.

    Last-ditch swerves

    The other factor that has dogged the Harris-Walz ticket is the claim that Governor Tim Walz had inserted himself, Walter Mitty-like, into being in Beijing at the time of the Tiananmen Square crackdown in 1989.

    He was first asked about this during the vice-presidential debate, where he answered that he was a “knucklehead” at times who had misspoken. Pressed on this in his part of Monday’s 60 Minutes interview, Walz said that people would understand the difference between him, who “got the date wrong”, and “a pathological liar like Donald Trump”.

    Harris on 60 Minutes.

    After Trump’s disastrous performance in the September debate with Harris, he refused a second one. This can be attributed to his answers resulting in countless memes of him declaring erroneously that Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio, were eating people’s cats and dogs. Social media subsequently exploded in a similar way to Republican vice-presidential candidate J.D. Vance’s earlier claims that the country was being run by “a bunch of childless cat ladies”.

    And then Melania Trump threw a curve ball into the mix. Her autobiography, published this week, sets out her position on abortion, which conflicts with that of evangelic Republicans – a big Trump support base. “Restricting a woman’s right to choose whether to terminate an unwanted pregnancy is the same as denying her control over her own body,” she writes. “I have carried this belief with me my entire adult life”.

    In these final weeks of campaigning, with the two sides so close in the polls, the gloves seem to have come off and we can expect further spats in the media. Once again, the power of misinformation and disinformation to sow conflict will continue to unfold on social media – especially now that X’s owner Elon Musk is openly campaigning, and jumping, in support of a Trump win.

    Colleen Murrell received a grant from Ireland’s media regulator, Coimisiún na Meán, for researching and writing the Reuters Digital News Report Ireland (2020-24).

    – ref. Kamala Harris is suddenly embracing the media spotlight – but is it working? – https://theconversation.com/kamala-harris-is-suddenly-embracing-the-media-spotlight-but-is-it-working-240262

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Immobilised assets: Council agrees on up to €35 billion in macro-financial assistance to Ukraine and new loan mechanism implementing G7 commitment

    Source: Council of the European Union

    The Council today reached an agreement on a financial assistance package to Ukraine, including an exceptional macro-financial assistance (MFA) loan of up to €35 billion and a loan cooperation mechanism that will support Ukraine in repaying loans for up to €45 billion provided by the EU and G7 partners. Repayment will be ensured by funds coming from extraordinary revenues stemming from the immobilisation of Russian sovereign assets.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Highlights – 14 October: Assistance to Ukraine, Egypt and Jordan, TDI Report and Forced Labour – Committee on International Trade

    Source: European Parliament

    At its 14 October meeting, INTA Members will exchange and vote on the financial assistance package in support of Ukraine consisting of a Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism and an exceptional Macro-Financial Assistance (MFA) loan of up to €35 billion.

    Members will also consider two macro-financial assistance programmes: one for Egypt and one for Jordan. Council adopted a short-term MFA of up to €1 billion on 12 April 2024. The current MFA proposal for Egypt would complement the existing €1 billion MFA with a longer-term operation of up to €4 billion. The proposal for a new MFA operation to Jordan is worth up to €500 million dates back to 8 April 2024.

    Chief Trade Enforcement Officer Denis Redonnet will present the 42nd Annual Report on the EU’s Anti-Dumping, Anti-Subsidy and Safeguard activities and the Use of Trade Defence Instruments by Third Countries targeting the EU in 2023.

    INTA and IMCO will also jointly examine the draft corrigendum of the Forced Labour regulation adopted in the previous legislature.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Loan to Ukraine and the European Stability Pact – E-001947/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001947/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Thierry Mariani (PfE)

    The Commission has brought forward a new raft of measures in support of Ukraine’s civilian expenditure, which could translate into an overall outlay of up to EUR 45 billion at EU level.

    A portion of that sum will be funded by means of an exceptional financial contribution from the Member States, with a potential EUR 9 billion for France, given its weight within the Union.

    The Stability and Growth Pact, which provides a framework for monitoring Member States’ deficits and debt, was revised in the spring.

    It established net government expenditure as a new variable for tracking the trajectory of public finances, with such expenditure being understood as gross public expenditure less, inter alia, national expenditure on the co-financing of programmes funded by the Union.

    • 1.Will the Commission include expenditure on support measures for Ukraine decided at EU level in its calculation of net government expenditure?
    • 2.If not, how will it take into account this significant financial effort the EU is imposing on Member States, which is liable to distort the way in which their fiscal trajectories are perceived?

    Submitted: 3.10.2024

    Last updated: 9 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: 09/10/2024 Strengthening defence cooperation and security in the region as topics of Polish-Checo consultations

    MIL ASI Translation. Region: Polish/Europe –

    Fuente: Gobierno de Polonia en poleco.

    Strengthening defense cooperation and security in the region are the topics of Polish-Czech consultations09/10/2024Cooperation between defense industries, assistance for fighting Ukraine, cooperation within the EU and NATO to build deterrence and defense capabilities, and further strengthening cooperation within the Visegrad Group are the main topics of the talks between the defense ministers of Poland and the Czech Republic in Prague.

    W środę 9 października br. w Pradze, wicepremier Władysław Kosiniak Kamysz spotkał się z Janą Černochová, minister obrony Czech oraz wziął udział w międzyrządowych konsultacjach polsko-czeskich pod przewodnictwem Prezesów Rady Ministrów obu państw.Podczas rozmów poruszono kwestie działań i perspektyw realizacji postanowień szczytu NATO w Waszyngtonie – ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem wzmacniania potencjału do obrony flanki wschodniej NATO i UE oraz przeciwdziałania zagrożeniom o charakterze hybrydowym i cybernetycznym.Spotkanie było również okazją do podziękowania stronie czeskiej za pomoc, której udzieliły załogi śmigłowców SZ tego kraju podczas ewakuacji ludności w trakcie ostatniej powodzi, która nawiedziła Polskę. 2 czeskie śmigłowce Mi-17, stacjonujące w Polsce wsparły działania ewakuacyjne oraz brały udział w zabezpieczaniu terenów dotkniętych wspomnianą katastrofą naturalną.>>> GALLERY – Polish-Czech intergovernmental consultations***The defence and military cooperation between Poland and the Czech Republic is an example of good mutual political and economic relations between the two countries. The joint operation of the Polish and Czech Armed Forces, among others within the Canadian eFP group in Latvia, not only strengthens the regional potential for deterrence and defence, but also demonstrates the readiness of Warsaw and Prague to further strengthen partnership cooperation, among others in the field of exchange of experience covering technical modernisation of the Armed Forces and participation in joint military exercises.

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  • MIL-OSI Translation: 09/10/2024 Prague Consultations between the Polish and Czech governments

    MIL ASI Translation. Region: Polish/Europe –

    Fuente: Gobierno de Polonia en poleco.

    The 9th Polish-Czech intergovernmental consultations were held in Prague. The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Donald Tusk and the head of the Czech government, Petr Fiala. We have many common interests and we look at issues in a similar way, such as the role of Europe, assistance to Ukraine, security and actions related to crisis situations. Polska and Chequia also have a common position on illegal immigration in the European Union. Prime Minister Donald Tusk was accompanied by 14 members of the Council of Ministers. Joint action of Poland and Checo. Cooperation between Warsaw and Prague is very good. This was especially visible during the tragic flood that hit both of our countries in September. “With a rare partner we have relationships so intense, so good and so characterized by mutual understanding,” said Prime Minister Donald Tusk during the opening of Polish-Czech intergovernmental consultations. Special thanks go to to the pilots of Checo Mi-17 helicopters, who actively helped in rescue operations on the Polish side of the border. “This is just an illustration of our very good cooperation in the broadly understood field of security. What we are trying to do together – both bilaterally and in Europe – is the best example of how to build security policy in relations between nations and states,” noted the Prime Minister. At the same time, Donald Tusk recalled the Polish initiative to organize a meeting in Wrocław regarding the rapid and flexible aid from the European Union, which will concern flood-affected areas. “The idea is to use European funds as effectively as possible and in some situations also jointly […] so that we can jointly and effectively counteract this type of disasters in the future,” explained the head. Polish government. Prime Minister Petr Fiala, who was one of the participants of the meeting in Wrocław, thanked the Polish initiative in the EU. “I thanked the Prime Minister for his actions. It was a meeting with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the Prime Ministers of Central European countries in Wrocław,” emphasized the head of the Czech government. Countries struggling with the effects of the September flood will be able to benefit from aid in the amount of EUR 10 billion for reconstruction from the Cohesion Fund. For our country, it will be half of this amount – 5 million de euros, i.e. approximately PLN 20 billion. Together in the international arena, Poland and the Czech Republic cooperate very well in the European Union forum, as well as in the matter of helping the struggling Ukraine. “I would like to thank the Czech Republic very much for their initiatives regarding Ukraine. We will cooperate even closer. We do it in a responsible, rational and very solidary way – both when it comes to helping refugees from Ukraine and helping to defend Ukraine against Russian aggression,” explained the head of the Polish government. El primer ministro checo, Petr Fiala added that both our countries are perfectly they know that the defense of Ukraine is an issue directly related to our security. “We know from our own experiences that we cannot allow Russia to make any expansion […]. Poland and the Czech Republic also have in common the fact that we have accepted a huge number of Ukrainian refugees in both countries. This shows that for us, words about solidarity are not just platitudes,” noted Petr Fiala. Poland and the Czech Republic, as one of the first countries in the EU, have been helping fighting Ukraine from the very beginning of the war. Poland and Chequia together on the issue of illegal immigration in the EUWarsaw and Prague also has a common position on illegal immigration in the European Union. El primer ministro Donald Tusk explained that during the Polish presidency in 2025, our governments will cooperate on a profound correction of some traditional European policies on illegal migration. “We present a common, firm and rational position, without any obsessions. We are definitely in favor of defending Europe against the wave of illegal migration,” emphasized the Prime Minister. As he explained during the press conference after the consultations, Poland and the Czech Republic must convince other partners in the European Union that the EU’s task is to protect the external border, not to create internal borders and searching in, which only consist in moving groups of illegal immigrants within Europe. “We will cooperate here in all aspects. Poland can count on Chequia and Chequia can count on Poland. We will give examples of this at the next meeting of the European Council,” announced the head of the Polish government. Prime Minister Petr Fiala also drew attention to the need for decisive action in the fight against illegal migration. “A change of perspective is necessary on migration. We need to be more active and more assertive towards third countries. I am convinced that both our countries have similar positions and views here,” said the head of the Czech government. As he added, organized pseudo-terrorist groups are particularly active in the matter of illegal migration. Polish-Czech energy cooperation One of the topics of intergovernmental consultations in Prague was energy cooperation .“Cooperation in the field of energy is important to us. We are starting nuclear energy practically from scratch. You already have a very long experience […]. Therefore, I am very glad that we have decided to cooperate closely and exchange information so that our activities in this field are effective and as cheap and effective as possible,” emphasized Donald Tusk. Prime Minister Petr Fiala also drew attention to the aspect of developing energy cooperation. “In both Our countries are preparing to build new nuclear blocks […]. The nuclear alliance is a form of cooperation that makes sense,” said the head of the Czech government. As he added, both countries see the benefits of the development of nuclear energy. By train from Prague to the Polish seaThis year’s tourist season on the Baltic Sea was exceptional – over half a million Czechs visited Poland beaches. “I am an eyewitness to the most friendly and expected invasion of ours, which were tourists from the Czech Republic at our seaside. You broke all Historical Records. We are very proud of it […]. Czech women and men are the most welcomed tourists on Polish soil,” emphasized Donald Tusk. Soon, tourists will have a new opportunity to reach the Baltic Sea. A direct railway connection between Prague and Tricity will be opened. Trains will run 4 times a day. Prime Minister Donald Tusk was accompanied in Prague by 14 members of the Council of Ministers: Vice-President of the Council of Ministers, Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Minister of State Assets Jakub Jaworowski, Minister of EU Affairs Adam Szłapka, Minister de Infraestructura Dariusz Klimczak, Minister de Cultura y National Heritage Hanna WróblewskaMinister of Climate and Environment Paulina Henning-Kloska,Minister of Science Dariusz Wieczorek,Minister of Interior and Administration Tomasz Siemoniak,Minister of Foreign Affairs Radosław Sikorski,Minister of Development and Technology Krzysztof Paszyk,Minister of Industry Marzena Czarnecka,Minister of Health Izabela Leszczyna ,Minister of Funds and Regional Policy Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz,Minister – Member of the Council of Ministers, Head of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister Jan Grabiec.

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  • MIL-OSI Translation: 08.10.2024 The Council of Ministers adopted the Medium-Term Budgetary and Structural Plan for 2025-2028

    MIL ASI Translation. Region: Polish/Europe –

    Fuente: Gobierno de Polonia en poleco.

    The Council of Ministers adopted the Medium-Term Budgetary and Structural Plan for 2025-202808.10.2024

    On October 8, 2024, the Council of Ministers adopted the Medium-Term Budgetary and Structural Plan for 2025-2028. The scale and pace of fiscal consolidation are fully compliant with all requirements set out in EU regulations and European Commission guidelines. The Plan will be implemented by implementing appropriate measures in subsequent budget laws until 2028 and in annual reports on the implementation of the Plan, published by April 30. In connection with the Reform of Economic Governance in the European Union, which entered into force in April this year, the medium-term budgetary and structural plan. The Plan, which is a fiscal strategy for 2025-2028, presents a path for reducing the deficit and debt of the general government sector, while at the same time ensuring that economic growth and public investment are maintained. Contents of the Plan The Plan assumes reducing the nominal deficit below 3% of GDP in 2028 and, as a result, exiting the excessive deficit procedure and introducing the debt onto a path of its gradual reduction (ultimately below 60% of GDP). The most important element of the Plan is the sector expenditure path until 2028, which should ensure compliance of the sector deficit and debt with EU regulations in the medium term. The implementation of this scenario requires the government to take appropriate actions (the Plan presents only a framework consolidation structure). The Plan assumes using the possibility provided for in EU regulations to unevenly distribute the deficit reduction over the period covered by the Plan. As a result, next year it is planned – in line with the draft budget act for 2025 – to reduce the primary structural deficit by 0.25% of GDP. This then means a correspondingly greater effort in the next 3 years of the Plan (on average slightly above 1% of GDP in 2026-28). The sector deficit forecast for 2024-2025 presented in the Plan is consistent with the forecast for the draft budget act for 2025. After increasing to 5.7% of GDP in 2024, the sector deficit will be reduced in subsequent years and is to reach 2.9% of GDP in 2028. EU regulations do not require the presentation in the Plan of all measures leading to deficit reduction. These, depending on the development of the deficit, economic growth and the actual effects of already planned measures, will be implemented in subsequent years and presented in annual reports on the implementation of the Plan. However, the Plan presents the first measures supporting deficit reduction in the Plan period.

    Throughout the entire period of the Plan, a significant challenge will be the need to implement high defense expenditures while reducing excessive deficits and ensuring that economic growth and public investment are maintained. Defense expenditures in subsequent years within the Plan horizon will result from the limits specified in the Homeland Defense Act (no less than 3% of GDP) and will be significantly higher than those incurred before Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. Expanding defense capabilities is also one of the common priorities of the EU. Defense expenditures in the so-called cash approach, used in the Polish budget act, are the largest in OTAN. The projected sector debt-to-GDP ratio for 2025-2028 is consistent with the fiscal adjustment path and compliance with the net expenditure path presented in the Plan. The forecasted sector debt-to-GDP ratio will amount to 54.6% in 2024 and 58.4% in 2025. Then – mainly as a result of high defence expenditure – it will increase to 61.3% in 2027 and in 2028 it will decrease to 61.2%, which is consistent with the Public Finance Sector Debt Management Strategy for 2025-2028. The debt-to-GDP reference value of 60% will be exceeded in 2026. Forecasts and simulations of the development of the sector debt discussed in detail in the budget part of the Plan confirm that after eliminating the excessive deficit and in the absence of further changes in budgetary policy, the debt – even in the case of adverse shocks – will return to a level below 60% of GDP in 2030. The three alternative scenarios presented below assume: a permanent deterioration in the structural primary balance (SPB) by 0.5 percentage points of GDP, a one-year increase in the short and long interest rate by 1 percentage point, a permanent deterioration in the ratio of real economic growth to interest rates by 1 percentage point.

    Part of the Plan was prepared by the Ministry of Development and Technology and includes reforms and investments planned for implementation by 2028, which contribute to the implementation of the EU Council recommendations for Poland (so-called CSR) issued annually during the European Structural Funds and to the implementation of the common EU economic priorities: a fair ecological and digital transformation, including climate goals; social and economic resilience, including the European Pillar of Social Rights; energy security. This set does not constitute a comprehensive list of the portfolio of reforms and investments that Poland intends to undertake in the coming years. Assessment of the Plan by EU institutions After adoption by the Council of Ministers, the Plan will be forwarded to the Commission and the EU Council. The Commission will have about 6 weeks to assess the Plan and prepare a draft recommendation of the EU Council establishing the expenditure path. Then, in early 2025, the Ecofin Council will adopt, in parallel with the recommendation establishing the expenditure path, recommendations for Poland regarding the elimination of the excessive deficit. The reformed economic governance framework allows, unlike before 2024, to spread the reduction of the excessive deficit over a longer period, in principle 4 years, and to base the consolidation path on the country’s position presented in the Plan. The implementation of the Plan will be monitored through reports, prepared annually by the end of April. The report will present, among other things, progress in implementing the expenditure path established by the Council and up-to-date information on measures supporting compliance with the path, in particular those contained in the budget law. Informe will also include information on Poland’s implementation of the recommendations of the EU Council and the common priorities of the Union. The report may include new significant policy initiatives, in particular in the area of reforms and investments. The first report will be submitted for adoption by the Council of Ministers in April 2025 and will be published no later than 30 April.

    MaterialMedium-term budgetary and structural plan for 2025-2028[presentation]​_MTP​_MEDIA​_final​_with​_table2.pdf 4.65MB

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