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Category: Vehicles

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Canada National Action Plan results in 19 per cent decline in auto theft

    Source: Government of Canada News

    News release

    October 16, 2024 – Oakville, ON

    Today, the Honourable Anita Anand, President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Transport, released an update on the progress made under the National Action Plan on Combatting Auto Theft.

    The Action Plan, which was developed following the National Summit on Combatting Auto Theft, focuses on disrupting, dismantling and prosecuting the organized crime groups involved in auto theft. It is built on the following pillars: Intelligence and information sharing; Intervention; and Legislation, regulations and governance.

    The Government of Canada’s efforts, guided by the Action Plan and done in collaboration with its domestic and international partners, including provinces, territories, municipalities, industry, and law enforcement, are yielding results. According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, national auto theft trends for 2024 have shown a 19 per cent decline in auto theft in the first half of the year compared to the same period last year. As well, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has intercepted more than 1,900 stolen vehicles in railyards and ports this year, already exceeding last year’s total. In the Greater Toronto Area alone, 620 stolen vehicles have been intercepted by the CBSA in 2024.

    To date, the following key milestones have been achieved through the Action Plan.

    • Changes to the Criminal Code to provide additional tools for law enforcement and prosecutors to address auto theft, including the addition of new offences targeting the use of violence in the commission of a vehicle theft and links to organized crime, as well as offences for the possession or distribution of electronic tools used to commit auto theft and laundering proceeds of crime for the benefit of a criminal organization. These changes strengthen an already robust framework to address organized crime and auto theft.
    • Enhancements to intelligence and information sharing between municipal, provincial, federal and international police and customs officials.
    • Expansion of scanning technology, data analytics and targeting to increase the examination of shipping containers – including the deployment of additional scanning technology in the Greater Toronto Area.
    • Launch of up-to-date specialized anti-auto theft training for law enforcement, delivered by the Canadian Police College.
    • Radiocommunication Act amendments to regulate the sale, distribution, and importation of radio devices used for auto theft.
    • Establishment of a National Intergovernmental Working Group on Auto Theft to coordinate actions, monitor progress and explore new initiatives to combat auto theft and transnational organized crime.
    • New supports for the development of early-stage, pre-commercial, anti-theft technologies.

    While this downward trend is promising, maintaining it will require continued focus and collaboration. Canadians can rest assured that the Government of Canada, as well as our law enforcement agencies, will continue to be vigilant.

    Quotes

    “When we see that auto theft rates are declining, we know that we’re taking steps in the right direction. Our Government is fighting to keep Canadians safe and implementing our Action Plan, including exploring new anti-theft technologies, regulatory updates, and improving port security.”

    – The Honourable Anita Anand, President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Transport

    “Today’s Action Plan update highlights some significant steps forward in our fight to combat this complex crime. Our government will continue to build on this progress to ensure we remain responsive and adaptable in our approach to combat auto theft and the organized crime groups behind it.”

    – The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs

    “We have shown that by working together, we can tackle complex issues and ensure that all people in Canada can feel safe in their communities. We strengthened the Criminal Code to give law enforcement the full range of tools they need to address auto theft and ensure that offenders are held to account, while strengthening penalties to deter crime.”

    – The Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

    “No Canadian should wake up to discover their means of getting to work, school, or the grocery store has been stolen. We are working with Canadian companies, online retailers and the automotive industry to come up with new initiatives such as Innovative Solutions Canada’ Vehicle Theft Prevention challenge, launched last month. By fostering innovative ideas that will enhance vehicle security and working collaboratively, we can protect our communities and put a stop to auto theft.”

    – The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

    “We have a common goal to prevent and reduce auto theft crimes, enforce the law and keep Canadians safe. The RCMP has been actively sharing intelligence and information between all levels of law enforcement partners across Canada and internationally, and training investigators with the latest techniques to better detect and disrupt this criminal activity.”

    – Michael Duheme, Commissioner, Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    “Combatting auto theft and the organized crime groups that benefit from it is a priority for the CBSA. So far this year, the CBSA has intercepted more than 1,900 stolen vehicles, already exceeding last year’s total. We have also deployed additional scanning technology in the Greater Toronto Area. Moreover, we continue to act on 100% of referrals by enforcement partners and have expanded data analytics and targeting to increase the targeting of shipping containers. Finally, we have established a 24/7 central point of contact for police to coordinate requests to locate vehicles that may be tracked to a port. While we are pleased with what has already been achieved through the National Action Plan, we know more work needs to be done and we will continue collaborating with our partners to intercept stolen vehicles before they leave the country.”

    – Erin O’Gorman, President of the Canada Border Services Agency

    Quick facts

    • The Government of Canada has been engaging with industry and other stakeholders on auto theft, including port authorities, rail and shipping companies, as well as the automotive and insurance industries, as part of our collective effort to combat this crime.

    • While the investigation of these types of offences falls under the police of jurisdiction, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) are supporting important work being done to make progress on this issue. 

    • The RCMP and CBSA continue to be involved in integrated task forces led by the Ontario Provincial Police and Sûreté du Québec. 

    • The CBSA has established a 24/7 central point of contact for police to coordinate requests to locate vehicles that may be tracked to a marine port or intermodal facility and continues to act on 100% of referrals.

    • The RCMP continues to process international notifications and requests received through INTERPOL’s stolen motor vehicle database to better track stolen vehicles with international partners. From February to August 2024, the RCMP received 2,310 alerts about Canadian vehicles and 424 international collaboration requests.

    • The CBSA, in collaboration with police forces across Ontario and Quebec, announced the recovery of nearly 600 stolen vehicles from the Port of Montreal through Project Vector, in April 2024.

    • The Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) continues to produce financial intelligence disclosures to law enforcement in support or investigations into organized crime, including auto theft.

    • Police services have been encouraged to collect information from victims relating to tracking technology present in their vehicles (i.e., Apple AirTag, Tile Tracker, Samsung SmartTracker) and add this information to the Canadian Police Information Centre system.

    • Transnational organized criminal groups are believed to be involved in the export of stolen vehicles from Canada; however, most vehicle thefts involve lower-level threat groups, with violent street gangs being the most prevalent.

    • Most stolen vehicles exported are destined for Africa and the Middle East. Some stolen vehicles also remain in Canada, enabling other crimes to be committed with the vehicles and are destroyed afterwards.

    Related products

    Associated links

    Contacts

    Gabriel Brunet
    Press Secretary
    Office of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc
    Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs
    819-665-6527
    gabriel.brunet@iga-aig.gc.ca  

    Media Relations
    Public Safety Canada
    613-991-0657
    media@ps-sp.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: $220.98 Million in Federal Funding Now Set for Washington Bridge Replacement

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02)

    Building on previous Mega award, new $95.5 million INFRA grant is second significant pledge of federal aid totaling $220.98 million

    Providence, RI – The effort to replace the westbound Washington Bridge got a major boost today as U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Representatives Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo today joined with Governor Dan McKee in announcing a $95,589,533 INFRA (Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight & Highway Projects program) grant for the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT).

    Together, with a previous $125.39 million Mega grant(also known as the National Infrastructure Project Assistance program) that the state was awarded in September, Rhode Island has now received $220.98 million in federal funding to replace the Washington Bridge, fully funding the state’s request for the project.

    The new federal funds are being made available thanks to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law), which Reed and Whitehouse supported and was signed into law by President Joe Biden in 2021, delivering a 50 percent increase in the amount of available funding for INFRA grants, as well as resources for improving Rhode Island’s roads, bridges, public transportation, and water infrastructure.

    The Washington Bridge, which spans the Seekonk River connecting East Providence to Providence and has a daily traffic volume of 90,000 vehicles, was shut down on December 11, 2023 after RIDOT discovered broken anchor rods that put the bridge at risk of failure.

    “Securing this federal investment has been a top priority.  Now the state must utilize this $220.98 million in federal funding to accelerate progress toward a new bridge that meets capacity and safety needs now and in the future,” said Reed, a leading member of the Appropriations Committee.  “Passing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law paved the way for this funding.  I commend the Biden-Harris administration for its leadership, support, and commitment to a modern and resilient infrastructure system.  The state must put this money to work and keep the public updated with a clear timetable for progress.”

    “This INFRA Program infusion for the Washington Bridge fills in a major missing piece of the funding puzzle to ensure the state can get the job done right,” said Whitehouse, who helped author the INFRA program as a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.  “I am very proud that the INFRA Program is yet again delivering for Rhode Island’s infrastructure.  We will continue to work as a delegation to secure whatever the state needs from the federal government to fix this situation for drivers.”

    “My colleagues in the congressional delegation and I have done everything in our power to secure federal funding to rebuild the Washington Bridge, and with this latest tranche of funding, we have now brought over $220 million dollars for Rhode Island,” said Magaziner. “We are grateful for the Biden-Harris administration for their leadership and support in addressing this urgent matter. We will continue working together to ensure the Washington Bridge is rebuilt safely and properly.”

    “I am excited to build off last month’s announcement that we are bringing home more federal funding to help Rhode Island replace the Washington Bridge,” said Amo. “Led by our state’s appropriator-in-chief, Senator Jack Reed, our delegation has fought tooth and nail to secure the resources our state requested. I thank President Joe Biden and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg for listening to our repeated overtures about the need for resources to alleviate the burden on residents, small businesses, and first responders. I look forward to reviewing the plan from state officials so we can move towards the next chapter of getting our bridge built.”

    “Securing a second major federal grant marks another important milestone in our work to build a brand new Washington Bridge,” said McKee. “We know that ensuring this complex project is done right will take time, but it’s encouraging to see demolition resuming this week, the rebuild bidding process moving forward, and additional federal dollars coming in. We thank the Biden-Harris Administration for their commitment to Rhode Island and our top-notch congressional delegation for helping us secure this crucial funding.”

    Overall, the state requested $220.9 million in federal funds to help replace the Washington Bridge and was initially awarded $125.39 million out of the total pool of about $1 billion of federal funds available for Mega grants of this size and scope nationwide.

    Demolition of the bridge has already begun.  In May of 2024, RIDOT estimated the price tag for replacing the bridge would include $58.2 million for demolition as well as $368.3 million for the design-build process.

    Separate from the demolition and rebuild costs for the Washington Bridge, the state also estimated costs of approximately $46 million for emergency expenses, including work to stabilize the old bridge and estimated funding to account for both state and municipal safety and transportation-related expenses.

    Rhode Island previously received a $60.3 million INFRA grant in 2019 to rebuild the Northbound Providence Viaduct; a $65 million INFRA grant in 2020 to overhaul Route 146; an $82.5 million INFRA grant in 2022 to upgrade the Pell Bridge; and an $81 million INFRA grant earlier this year to create a ‘missing move’ between I-95 and Quonset Business Park.

    Rhode Island has now received two Mega awards to fund the Washington Bridge, totaling $125.39 million, as well as this new INFRA award.

    These grants come on top of a $251 million federal Bridge Investment Grant the delegation secured earlier this year to repair 15 bridges along the I-95 corridor in Providence and Cranston. 

    Additionally, Rhode Island will also receive a total of $255 million in bridge formula funds over the life of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

    With about 50,000 U.S. bridges with very significant issues awaiting attention, an estimated 40 percent of them can be rehabilitated, but at least 35 percent will require a complete replacement due to their condition, according to the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA). 

    This level of federal funding for Rhode Island infrastructure improvements stands in stark contrast to the previous administration.  While Donald Trump routinely declared “Infrastructure Week,” his administration had little to show for it, whereas President Joe Biden oversaw passage of the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which has delivered hundreds of millions of dollars for bridge improvements across the Ocean State and continues to invest billions annually in America’s transportation network, communities, and workers.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: B.C. election: Party proposals on climate action point in opposite directions

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Kathryn Harrison, Professor of Political Science, University of British Columbia

    With affordability, housing and health care at the top of voters’ minds in British Columbia, they haven’t heard much about climate change with less than a week to go until the provincial election.

    In fact, between B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad acknowledging that “man” is impacting the climate and the NDP’s reversal on the carbon tax, casual observers might conclude that the parties have converged on climate.

    But a closer look at the platforms and policy announcements of the province’s Conservatives, New Democrats and Greens reveals fundamental differences on almost every climate-related policy.

    While there is uncertainty about how much B.C.’s emissions would decline under another NDP government, they would almost certainly increase under a new Conservative one.

    Climate action measures

    The parties differ on the threat posed by climate change and urgency of action. The NDP and Green platforms both acknowledge the “climate crisis,” and each devotes a chapter on protecting communities from extreme weather, such as flooding, wildfires and heat domes like the one that occurred in 2021.



    Read more:
    How an ‘atmospheric river’ drenched British Columbia and led to floods and mudslides

    In contrast, the Conservatives claim climate change is not a crisis and that wildfires are a natural occurrence, without acknowledging how the blazes are amplified by climate change-driven heat and drought. The party favours adaptation technology over a “doom cult” perspective.

    The three parties also present very different visions of B.C.’s economic future. Both the NDP and Greens emphasize the province’s comparative advantage in clean energy, and commit to skills training for the renewable energy and clean tech sectors.

    In contrast, the Conservative proposal for a “free and prosperous” B.C. does not mention climate change or clean energy, while the party’s “clean energy” announcement embraces natural gas heating and oil-powered vehicles.

    The Conservatives propose to scrap “any and all carbon taxes,” which suggests both the consumer and industrial carbon taxes. Although the party indicates it would do so “regardless of what happens in Ottawa,” the current federal government would respond by imposing both federal carbon taxes, as it has in other provinces.

    The NDP would repeal only the consumer tax if the federal government does. The Greens would retain both taxes and remove sectoral benchmarks below which industrial polluters don’t pay the tax.

    On electricity, the NDP proposes to double renewable electricity capacity by 2050 to substitute for declining consumption of fossil fuels. The party highlights BC Hydro’s recent call for clean power, which yielded proposals for triple the capacity originally sought.

    The Greens similarly propose to expand rooftop solar and other renewables. The Conservatives welcome “all power sources,” including renewables, but also natural gas plants and nuclear.

    Flood waters cover highway 1 in Abbotsford, B.C., in November 2021.
    THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

    Managing emissions

    Transportation contributes the largest share of B.C.’s emissions at 35 per cent. The Conservatives would repeal the zero-emissions vehicle mandate and low-carbon fuel standard. The other two parties would retain those policies, and both commit to expanding electric vehicle charging networks.

    Oil and gas accounts for the next largest share of B.C.’s emissions at 20 per cent. The NDP election platform commits to implement a cap on oil and gas emissions. In addition, the NDP government announced in 2023 that future liquid natural gas (LNG) approvals will be conditional on net-zero operations within the province.

    The Conservative Party seeks to double LNG capacity, without mention of either an oil-and-gas cap or net-zero commitment. For their part, the Greens would reject all future LNG development, ban fracking and manage a decline of gas production.

    Buildings contribute another 15 per cent of provincial emissions. The NDP government has published documents that propose provincewide adoption of a zero-emission standard for new buildings and high-efficiency heating equipment standards that would significantly reduce gas consumption in existing buildings.

    The NDP and Greens both promise financial support for rooftop solar, home retrofits and heat pumps. In contrast, the Conservatives argue, without evidence, that the grid cannot support heat pumps and promise to repeal the voluntary zero-carbon building code and a “ban” on natural gas heating.

    B.C. has been a climate laggard

    B.C. has been slow to act on climate. That will make it very challenging to meet our 2030 emissions target.

    But progress will only be made by strengthening climate policies, something both the NDP and Greens commit to do.

    In contrast, the Conservatives promise to repeal current climate policies and halt development of others. But with a growing population and plans for LNG expansion, B.C.’s emissions would increase rather than decline under that strategy.

    As B.C. voters prepare to cast their ballots this week, they’ve got a lot to contemplate on climate.

    Kathryn Harrison receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. She is chair of the mitigation advisory panel of the Canadian Climate Institute, and a member of British Columbia’s Climate Solutions Council, but her comments do not represent either body nor the University of British Columbia.

    – ref. B.C. election: Party proposals on climate action point in opposite directions – https://theconversation.com/b-c-election-party-proposals-on-climate-action-point-in-opposite-directions-241334

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Marat Khusnullin gave the go-ahead for traffic on a number of sections of highways in the Moscow and Sverdlovsk regions, the DPR and LPR

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Marat Khusnullin gave the go-ahead for traffic on a number of sections of highways in the Moscow and Sverdlovsk regions, the DPR and LPR

    October 16, 2024

    Marat Khusnullin gave the go-ahead for traffic on a number of sections of highways in the Moscow and Sverdlovsk regions, the DPR and LPR

    October 16, 2024

    Marat Khusnullin gave the go-ahead for traffic on a number of sections of highways in the Moscow and Sverdlovsk regions, the DPR and LPR

    October 16, 2024

    Previous news Next news

    Marat Khusnullin gave the go-ahead for traffic on a number of sections of highways in the Moscow and Sverdlovsk regions, the DPR and LPR

    On the eve of Road Workers Day, a ceremonial opening of sections of highways took place in the Moscow and Sverdlovsk regions, as well as in the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics.

    “Thanks to the President’s systemic support, the joint work of the Government and the regions, and the advanced financing of infrastructure development, over the past six years, more than 100 thousand km of roads have been built, reconstructed, and repaired in the regions. Updating the country’s road framework and opening new sections is another important step towards improving the quality of life of our citizens, reducing travel time, connecting cities, and improving road safety. Today, we are launching traffic on new sections of the M-5 Ural highway and the R-242 Perm-Yekaterinburg highway, as well as sections on the R-280 Novorossiya highway in the DPR and two road sections in the LPR. I would also like to express my gratitude to the heads of the regions and builders for their professionalism, responsible attitude, and significant contribution to our common cause,” said Marat Khusnullin.

    Thus, in the Moscow Region, two new sections of the M-5 “Ural” highway, 11 km and 21 km long, were opened: the bypass of the village of Oktyabrsky and Ulyanino – Nepetsino. They complete a large-scale reconstruction of the highway, within the framework of which a new road direction from Moscow to Kolomna was built. More than 2 million people live in the area of attraction of these objects.

    Also in the Sverdlovsk region, sections of the R-242 Perm – Yekaterinburg highway were opened after major repairs, which will become part of the M-12 “East”. Their length is about 34 km. The modernized sections will be among the key ones for the full launch of the M-12 route to Yekaterinburg.

    In addition, road sections in new regions of the country have been opened after major repairs. In particular, 10 km of the R-280 “Novorossiya” highway from the border with the Rostov region to the city of Novoazovsk have been opened in the Donetsk People’s Republic. There, a lot of work is being done to expand the roadway to four lanes. The highway connects Rostov-on-Don with Mariupol, Melitopol and Simferopol and is part of the land route to Crimea. Two more major repairs have been opened in the Lugansk People’s Republic. The first is more than 26 km long on the 43R-21 highway, which reaches the border with the DPR. It has high social significance for the region and connects many settlements that have no other access roads. The second is between Lugansk and Alchevsk, 23.7 km long on the R-150 highway. The road connects Lugansk with Donetsk and is in high demand among local residents.

    “Today we are opening road facilities in several regions of Russia. Federal road workers have done a great deal of work to make the movement of residents of the regions even more comfortable and safe. The road industry is rapidly developing, new highways are being built, and existing ones are being modernized. We are monitoring the development of the regions and trying to provide them with the necessary transport accessibility,” said Transport Minister Roman Starovoit.

    Moscow Region Governor Andrei Vorobyov noted that the Moscow Region section was the narrowest section of the M-5 Ural highway and has now been significantly widened.

    “I would like to thank the builders, engineers, and specialists for the early delivery of the facility. And on behalf of the residents, I would like to convey words of gratitude to our President, to whom we once appealed and received support. Today, we are opening two very important sections of the road that will radically change the quality of life of 1.5 million residents of the urban districts of Ramenskoye, Lyubertsy, Zhukovsky, Bronnitsy, and Kolomna. Transport accessibility will improve for both those who travel by public transport and those who drive their own cars. I would like to thank Marat Shakirzyanovich Khusnullin and the Government of Russia for their assistance in financing – today we have the opportunity to deliver this very important facility before 2025. There are a large number of federal and regional highways in the Moscow Region, and we are grateful that much attention is being paid to their modernization. This is of fundamental importance for a huge number of people,” said Andrei Vorobyov.

    The head of the DPR Denis Pushilin emphasized the high social significance of the R-280 “Novorossiya” highway and its influence on the development of the economic, social and infrastructural components of the region.

    “Today we are opening a major overhaul of the R-280 “Novorossiya” highway, which is part of the land route to Crimea and connects the Donetsk People’s Republic with the Rostov and Zaporizhia regions, and also passes through the Kherson region. The first stage is 10 km, and by the end of the year all 37 km will be built and traffic will be launched. This is an unprecedented pace for us, and a significant result for the Russian Federation. Such a speed of construction was achieved due to convenient logistics – inert material is mined here, in the republic,” said Denis Pushilin.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    http://government.ru/nevs/53016/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Speech for the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, at the Canadian Climate Institute and Net-Zero Advisory Body’s Fourth Annual Climate Conference

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Speech for the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, at the Canadian Climate Institute and Net-Zero Advisory Body’s Fourth Annual Climate Conference

    October 10, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario

    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.

    Hello.

    Thank you Gaëtan for that great scene-setting intro.

    I would first like to recognize the fact that we are on the unceded traditional territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg People.

    I am grateful to the caretakers of this land and water, and I ask that you join me in honouring the connection that the Anishnaabeg People have had to this land for millennia.

    This conference comes at a pivotal time.

    Building a cleaner and stronger economy in Canada is the course we are on.

    It is why we are all gathered here – we share a collective understanding and appreciation for both the economic opportunities and the environmental necessity in front of us.

    Now, I see many familiar faces around the audience.

    I know many of you have likely come from out of town.

    There are lots of hard-working people constructively working to attract and steer investment.

    Building a clean economy, like anything that is transformational, requires a vision and clear, bold steps to advance toward it.

    In every sector, we can see examples of that leadership—those stepping up with real vision.

    I think we just heard some great examples of that vision from the previous keynote.

    Two and a half years ago, the Government of Canada launched its climate plan, the most comprehensive plan in our history.

    We did our homework, building on the work of our predecessors, to give Canada a truly credible path towards carbon neutrality.

    Sector-by-sector, we showed how we could do it – how we could really do it – together.

    And since then, with the help of everyone in this room, we’ve put that plan into motion.

    Combine industry leadership, with a careful but ambitious balance of investments and regulatory tools: we are bending the curve on Canada’s emissions.

    I can tell you this is something I hear all the time.

    But more importantly our plan is working. Evidence of progress is rolling in.

    Recently, the Canadian Climate Institute, showed our country’s net emissions are starting to drop, between 2022 to 2023.

    The Institute also found that Canada’s economy continued to grow while emissions declined—what we call “decoupling.”

    What does that mean?

    It means growing the economy in 2024 does not mean more pollution.

    In fact, it points to the larger transformation underway.

    Now, Canadians may best associate our climate plan with carbon pricing.

    Could you blame them?

    But there are in fact over 100 measures we have put in place as part of our climate plan that serve as the foundation of a cleaner economy for Canada.

    Those measures have taken us from a place where, in 2015, we were projected to blow past our emission targets for 2030, to where we are now.

    Our emissions are now at their lowest point in 25 years.

    Never have we seen a drop in emissions, while our economy is chugging at full steam.

    This progress should not be taken for granted.

    We need to keep our horse in the race of a global economy that is moving faster than ever.

    I’m very pleased to share some exciting news from yesterday on how we’re trying to move the dial further on developing a clean energy economy.

    First: yesterday, the Deputy Prime Minister Freeland announced the guidelines for a Made-in-Canada sustainable investment taxonomy and mandatory climate disclosures for the largest Canadian private businesses.

    The sustainable investment taxonomy gives investors certainty on whether their investments are consistent with meeting global climate targets.

    It provides needed clarity that will boost financing from the private sector for sustainable activities across the Canadian economy.

    That includes things like building EV batteries, generating clean energy and decarbonization projects in heavy industries.

    The taxonomy will help direct investment to much-needed job-creating activities.

    Many of you will have seen the headlines on this…

    Simply put: Projects need to be credibly aligned with limiting temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius to be considered a “green” or “transition” investment.

    Of course, developing these guidelines do not prevent investors from deciding where they wish to put their money.

    They are purely voluntary.

    But they do provide a common language on whether investments support climate goals or not.

    Similarly, requiring large businesses to provide climate-related financial disclosures to shareholders will help attract investment into sustainable activities across the economy.

    Disclosures help investors better understand how large businesses are thinking about and managing risks related to climate change.

    And we look forward to fleshing out that regulatory approach.

    We are building on the success of our Green Bond program.

    Like the taxonomy, Green Bonds direct financial flows towards those business opportunities that are key to reaching our net-zero targets.

    We have now launched Green Bonds twice in the market. First in 2022, and again earlier this year.

    Both times, the final book orders far exceeded the original offering.

    And because of that demand, we re-opened a third Green Bond this week.

    I am pleased to report that demand is still strong, and we are well over the offering amount.

    So, sustainable finance is the way to go.

    Let me give you another more tangible example.

    Last year, the Government of Canada delivered on the Clean Fuel Regulations, which encourages oil and gas refineries to lower the carbon intensity of their fuel production.

    Because of built-in incentives within this policy, we have already seen significant investments:

    Over $53 billion in investments have been announced across Canada in low-carbon intensity fuels such as green hydrogen, renewable diesel, and sustainable aviation fuel.

    For example, the oil refinery in Come-By-Chance, Newfoundland was converted into a major renewable diesel facility.

    The federal government supported Braya Renewable Fuels to commercialize its production of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel.

    It started operations in February 2024 and now produces up to 18,000 barrels per day of renewable diesel.

    Two hundred people work there full-time.

    These and similar companies now have the ability to create and sell valuable credits for supplying low carbon fuel to Canada.

    That’s progress.

    And it comes from creating the right support and incentive structures for the industry.

    I was delighted to listen to our previous speaker Adam Auer, the President and CEO of the Cement Association of Canada.

    It has taken determination to turn words into action, and guide the change we’ve witnessed in the cement industry over the past two years.

    It takes a lot of heat and energy to make cement using conventional processes.

    As you heard earlier this morning, the Cement Association of Canada decided they had to change.

    This industry released their roadmap to cleaner sources of fuel. And as you heard, they stuck to their plan.

    The results were apparent to me this summer, when I visited a green cement plant in St. Marys, Ontario.

    This is where carbon pricing—and in this case industrial carbon pricing—really gets a chance to shine.

    With money collected by the federal government from carbon pricing system on industry, we re-invested those revenues into an emissions reduction project at St. Marys Cement.

    There is so much misinformation coming at us through various channels that not everyone is sure carbon pricing works.

    It does, and here’s how:

    With money collected by the federal government from industrial pollution pricing, we re-invested in an emissions reduction project at St. Marys Cement.

    New kiln technology was installed that uses low-carbon fuels.

    This new process reduces the use of high-priced carbon-intensive fuels by up to 30%.

    This means less climate pollution and cleaner air for the town.

    It also increases the company’s long-term competitiveness and sustainability. And pride!

    Take a town like St. Marys with a population of under nine thousand people.

    A major employer in that town makes a significant low-carbon change in its production process.

    From that, we get direct positive results:

    • First, the sustainability of the jobs at the cement plant.
    • Second, the drop in greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to 9,400 gas-powered cars off the road for a year.
    • Third, they are saving energy costs for their business.

    Examples like this play out in countless communities across the country.

    Government has an important role in mobilizing the investments to get these projects underway.

    But how does Canada keep up the momentum? Well, let’s just look at the growing clean energy sector.

    Internationally, this sector has achieved lift-off.

    I mean, Europe is now at three quarters of renewable and clean energy sources. It’s incredible.

    Clean sources of power are reliable, they are increasingly cheaper to build and the energy generated is cheaper to store.

    Clean energy enterprises are in a state of super-evolution.

    In New Brunswick, the Burchill Wind Energy Project is one of the largest battery energy storage facilities in Atlantic Canada.

    It’s just outside of Saint John and is overseen by the Tobique First Nation.

    When I visited earlier this year, Tobique First Nation Chief Ross Perley, said it best:

    “One of our traditional values as a nation is to take care of the environment.

    Green energy projects are going to start taking over, and they’re going to dominate, and that’s the way to the future.”

    Chief Perley got it right.

    And it’s no coincidence that Indigenous Peoples in Canada are playing such a major role in the clean energy revolution. We see it from coast-to-coast-to-coast.

    Canada is already in a good position with the vast majority of our electricity from non-emitting sources.

    We know that demand will likely double over the coming decades.

    It is no longer a matter of doing the “right thing for the environment” but also the “right thing for business”

    Across the countries, companies are shifting investment towards cleaner industry to meet our future energy demands.

    That’s why we launched new investment tax credits for clean electricity production, which add to a range of programs supporting electricity.

    Labour groups have endorsed these credits because for employers to receive their full value they must commit to fair payment of good-paying union-level jobs.

    And we will launch the clean electricity regulations that back our strategy for a cleaner grid in Canada.

    There are so many opportunities awaiting, nationwide.

    You’re in this room because you have seen a business pivot or you have guided a business to respond to events, to adjust, to morph, to reinvent itself.

    Changing the way we power our daily lives and our Canadian society really starts with changing the way that we THINK.

    The federal government is here to guide growth, to support the science and to spark investment.

    Canada’s robust, clean economy will allow us to enjoy prosperous lives while respecting the natural environment, instead of destroying or exploiting it.

    The climate crisis requires us to be innovative together, to encourage each other, and to keep the conversations going.

    Thank you for your time, your thoughtfulness and for the perspective you’ll bring back home from this conference.

    Enjoy the day.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI: Enovix to Release Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results on October 29, 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FREMONT, Calif., Oct. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Enovix Corporation (“Enovix”) (Nasdaq: ENVX), a global high-performance battery company, today announced it will release financial results for the third quarter of 2024 on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, after the close of the market.

    Enovix will hold a live video call at 2:00 PM PT / 5:00 PM ET on October 29, 2024, to discuss the company’s business updates, key milestones, and financial results. To join the call, participants must use the following link to register: https://enovix-q3-2024.open-exchange.net/registration. This link will also be available via the Investor Relations section of Enovix’s website at https://ir.enovix.com. Investors may also submit questions on the registration page that they would like addressed on the call by Enovix management.

    An archived version of the call will be available on the Enovix investor website for one year at https://ir.enovix.com.

    About Enovix

    Enovix is on a mission to deliver high-performance batteries that unlock the full potential of technology products. Everything from IoT, mobile, and computing devices, to the vehicle you drive, needs a better battery. Enovix partners with OEMs worldwide to usher in a new era of user experiences. Our innovative, materials-agnostic approach to building a higher performing battery without compromising safety keeps us flexible and on the cutting-edge of battery technology innovation.

    Enovix is headquartered in Silicon Valley with facilities in India, Korea and Malaysia. For more information visit http://www.enovix.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

    For media and investor inquiries, please contact:

    Enovix Corporation

    Robert Lahey

    Email: ir@enovix.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Serious crash, Mount Albert

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Motorists are being advised to expect delays following a serious crash in Mount Albert this afternoon.

    At about 12.05pm, emergency services responded to reports of a crash involving a motorcyclist and vehicle at the intersection of Carrington Road and Fontenoy Street.

    One person has been transported to hospital in a serious condition.

    The road has been closed and diversions are in place.

    Motorists are being advised to avoid the area or expect delays.

    The Serious Crash Unit has been advised.

    ENDS.

    Holly McKay/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Six is custody following Counties vehicle crime

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    It was a busy night for officers in Counties Manukau, with six people taken into custody following a spate of vehicle crime across the district.

    At about 10.35pm, officers in Papatoetoe attempted to stop a vehicle travelling on Plunket Road.

    Counties Manukau West Area Response Manager, Senior Sergeant Steve Albrey, says the vehicle failed to stop for Police and continued to drive dangerously through the area.

    “Police elected not to pursue and the Eagle helicopter was able to provide commentary.

    “The vehicle has continued to drive in a dangerous manner before coming to a stop outside an address in Gray Avenue, where one person was quickly taken into custody.”

    A 34-year-old man will appear in Manukau District Court today facing charges including unlawfully taking a motor vehicle and failing to stop.

    A couple of hours later at 12.40pm, Police received a report from a member of the public who had allegedly interrupted two offenders stealing a vehicle parked on Fusion Road, Flat Bush.

    Counties Manukau East Area Commander, Inspector Rod Honan, says the informant also believed one of the offenders pointed an object that looked like a firearm in their direction before driving off in the stolen vehicle.

    “At about 1pm, the vehicle was observed travelling on the motorway near Newmarket.

    “Eagle was able to get overhead and units subsequently spiked the vehicle on State Highway 20, before it exited at Hillsborough Road.”

    Inspector Honan says the vehicle came to a stop and officers quickly took five people into custody.

    He says a search of the vehicle didn’t locate any firearms.

    “We hope the public can be reassured with have no tolerance for this brazen behaviour in our community.”

    Four people, aged 12-16, will appear in Manukau Youth Court today charged with dangerous driving and unlawfully taking a motor vehicle.

    ENDS.

    Holly McKay/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Djibouti

    Source: New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade – Safe Travel

    • Reviewed: 17 October 2024, 13:22 NZDT
    • Still current at: 17 October 2024

    Related news features

    If you are planning international travel at this time, please read our COVID-19 related travel advice here, alongside our destination specific travel advice below.

    Do not travel to the border area with Eritrea. A long-running border dispute has caused tensions between Djibouti and Eritrea. The security situation remains fragile and further conflict is a possibility (level 4 of 4).

    Do not travel within 10km of the border with Somalia (Somaliland) due to the threat of kidnapping (level 4 of 4).

    Exercise increased caution elsewhere in Djibouti due to the threat from terrorism (level 2 of 4).

    Djibouti

    Terrorism
     There is an ongoing threat from terrorism in Djibouti. The Somalia-based terrorist group Al-Shabaab has previously issued public threats against Djibouti. Past attacks have resulted in foreign fatalities and the possibility of future indiscriminate attacks, particularly in areas frequented by foreigners, cannot be discounted.

    New Zealanders in Djibouti are advised to keep themselves informed of potential risks to safety and security by monitoring the media and other local information sources. We recommend following any instructions issued by the local authorities and exercising vigilance in public places and in areas known to be frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.

    Civil unrest
     Demonstrations occur from time to time in Djibouti, mostly linked to domestic political developments.  New Zealanders in Djibouti are advised to avoid all demonstrations, protests and large public gatherings as even those intended as peaceful have the potential to turn violent with little warning.

    Crime
     Petty crime such as bag snatching, pickpocketing and theft from vehicles occurs in Djibouti and is common in tourist areas. We advise New Zealanders to be alert to their surroundings, be security conscious at all times and take steps to safeguard and secure their personal belongings. 

    New Zealanders in Djibouti are advised to avoid wearing or displaying items that appear valuable, such as electronic devices and jewellery.

    New Zealanders should avoid walking and travelling at night, particularly to isolated areas, such as Dorale and Khor Ambado beaches and to avoid all public transportation, including taxis as these are considered unsafe. Hotel, airport shuttle services, or privately hired transport are a safer alternative.

    Kidnapping
     There is a threat of kidnapping throughout Djibouti, especially within 10kms of Djibouti’s border with Somalia (Somaliland). Kidnappers may be motivated by financial gain or terrorism. See our page on hostage taking and kidnapping for more advice.

    Piracy
     Piracy remains a significant problem in the coastal areas of Djibouti. Attacks against all forms of shipping are common in and around Djibouti’s waters and the Gulf of Aden. Mariners are strongly advised to take appropriate precautionary measures in these waters. For more information view the International Maritime Bureau’s piracy report.

    General travel advice
     There is a danger from unexploded landmines in Djibouti along the border with Eritrea, Somalia and Ethiopia. Mined areas may be unmarked. New Zealanders are advised not to stray from well-used roads and paths in rural areas.

    Djibouti is a mostly Muslim country and the Islamic holy month of Ramadan is one of Djibouti’s most important religious dates.  

    New Zealanders are advised to respect religious, social and cultural traditions in Djibouti to avoid offending local sensitivities. Modesty and discretion should be exercised in both dress and behaviour.

    Same-sex relationships are legal in Djibouti, but not widely accepted. See our advice for LGBTQI+ travellers here.

    Photography of any official infrastructure is prohibited, and could result in detention. If in doubt, don’t take a picture.

    Modern medical services in Djibouti are very limited, so we advise New Zealanders travelling or living in Djibouti to have a comprehensive travel insurance policy in place that includes provision for medical evacuation by air.

    As there is no New Zealand diplomatic presence in Djibouti, the ability of the government to provide consular assistance to New Zealand citizens is severely limited.

    New Zealanders in Djibouti are encouraged to register their details with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

    The New Zealand Embassy Addis Ababa, Ethiopia is accredited to Djibouti

    Street Address Bole Sub City, Woreda 03, House No 111, Behind Atlas Hotel/close to Shala Park, (Namibia Street), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Postal Address New Zealand Embassy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Private Bag 18-901 Wellington Mail Centre 5045, Wellington Telephone +251-11-515-1269 Fax +251-11-552-6115 Email aue@mfat.govt.nz Web Site https://www.mfat.govt.nz/ethiopia Hours Open to the public: Monday – Friday, 9am-12pm by appointment Note In an emergency or if you require urgent assistance after hours, please call the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s 24/7 Consular Emergency line on +64 99 20 20 20.

    See our regional advice for Africa

    Top of page

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: Update: Search Continues for VAQ-130 Aviators

    Source: United States Navy

    The status of the two crew members is unknown while the search effort continues.  

    An Emergency Operations Center has been established on NAS Whidbey Island to coordinate response efforts, and the U.S. Navy is making preparations to deploy personnel to secure the remote area that is not accessible by motorized vehicles.  

    “I am thankful for the tremendous teamwork displayed by the NAS Whidbey Island squadrons — VAQ, VP, VQ, TOCRON 10 and SAR — as Team Whidbey continues to respond to our tragic mishap,” said Capt. David Ganci, commander, Electronic Attack Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet.  “I am also grateful to local law enforcement, responders, and tribal communities whose partnership has been essential in planning our critical next steps for access to the site.”   

    The cause of the crash is under investigation.  

    More information will be released as it becomes available.  

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI China: 5.3-magnitude quake hits China’s Xinjiang

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    A 5.3-magnitude earthquake jolted Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region at 6:23 a.m. Thursday (Beijing Time), according to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC).
    The epicenter was monitored at 41.11 degrees north latitude and 78.53 degrees east longitude. The quake struck at a depth of 10 km, said the CENC. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Six in custody following Counties vehicle crime

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    It was a busy night for officers in Counties Manukau, with six people taken into custody following a spate of vehicle crime across the district.

    At about 10.35pm, officers in Papatoetoe attempted to stop a vehicle travelling on Plunket Road.

    Counties Manukau West Area Response Manager, Senior Sergeant Steve Albrey, says the vehicle failed to stop for Police and continued to drive dangerously through the area.

    “Police elected not to pursue and the Eagle helicopter was able to provide commentary.

    “The vehicle has continued to drive in a dangerous manner before coming to a stop outside an address in Gray Avenue, where one person was quickly taken into custody.”

    A 34-year-old man will appear in Manukau District Court today facing charges including unlawfully taking a motor vehicle and failing to stop.

    A couple of hours later at 12.40pm, Police received a report from a member of the public who had allegedly interrupted two offenders stealing a vehicle parked on Fusion Road, Flat Bush.

    Counties Manukau East Area Commander, Inspector Rod Honan, says the informant also believed one of the offenders pointed an object that looked like a firearm in their direction before driving off in the stolen vehicle.

    “At about 1pm, the vehicle was observed travelling on the motorway near Newmarket.

    “Eagle was able to get overhead and units subsequently spiked the vehicle on State Highway 20, before it exited at Hillsborough Road.”

    Inspector Honan says the vehicle came to a stop and officers quickly took five people into custody.

    He says a search of the vehicle didn’t locate any firearms.

    “We hope the public can be reassured with have no tolerance for this brazen behaviour in our community.”

    Four people, aged 12-16, will appear in Manukau Youth Court today charged with dangerous driving and unlawfully taking a motor vehicle.

    ENDS.

    Holly McKay/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Work to begin at Bungleboori Picnic Area in Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area

    Source: New South Wales Environment and Heritage

    The Bungleboori picnic area will be the focus of major construction work from Monday 21 October 2024, with new facilities to include a car park, toilets, picnic shelters and seating.

    Located in the centre of the park at the junction of Maiyingu Marragu Trail and Glowworm Tunnel Rd, Bungleboori will become the main meeting point for the Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area, with visitor signage and wayfinding to inform and direct park users to key precincts and points of interest.

    The new picnic area will transform the site from a degraded area to a centralised visitor information hub, with connections to walking tracks and cycling trails to be established over the next 24 months.

    Bungleboori picnic area will also cater for visitors of all abilities, with accessible toilets, picnic facilities and accessible pathways with connectivity to visitor information.

    Work will begin in the coming weeks, commencing with road closures to facilitate the removal of weeds.

    Work is also continuing in other areas of the park, with walking track, road, lookout and car park works underway at Lost City.

    Access to Lost City South Road remains closed while work continues.

    Visitors are reminded to check NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) alerts before they travel to any NSW national park for the latest information and to help plan their trip in advance.

    Quotes attributed to NPWS Blue Mountains Branch Director David Crust

    It is exciting to see key visitor precincts come to life as our visitor infrastructure program for Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area continues.

    When completed in early 2025, Bungleboori will be the starting location for many future park activities, with maps and information available to guide visitors.

    The new visitor facilities at Bungleboori will include accessible parking as well as long vehicle parking, along with accessible toilets, shelters and seating.

    Closures will be in place while work is underway at Bungleboori and on Lost City South Road.

    Work on Lost City South Road is expected to continue until the end of the year, with visitor facilities to follow early in 2025.

    Visitors can access Lost City via Lost City North Road during the closure.

    Once Lost City South Road is open to visitors, Lost City North Road will be closed for improvement works.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese modernization fuels shared prosperity of developing nations

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

    BEIJING, Oct. 16 — China is forging its own path to modernization, offering not only inspiration to other developing countries but also tangible opportunities for growth amid a sluggish global economy.

    Amid rising trade protectionism, China, the world’s largest developing nation, remains committed to advancing high-level opening up and serving as a reliable partner for developing countries on the path to modernization.

    On the domestic front, China is prioritizing institutional openness, unlocking vast market potential and creating abundant opportunities for foreign businesses. Measures like lifting foreign investment restrictions in manufacturing and enhancing intellectual property protection are making China an increasingly attractive destination for global enterprises.

    On the global stage, the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which now encompasses over three quarters of the world’s countries, exemplifies China’s commitment to collaborative progress. Projects once deemed unattainable have become realities, significantly improving the lives of millions.

    As Belt and Road cooperation has entered its second decade, new opportunities are emerging, with plans to break new ground through enhanced collaboration with partner countries. In July, a resolution was adopted during the third plenum of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee. It calls for efforts to improve the integrated framework for land, sea, air and cyberspace connectivity and build a multidimensional network to connect countries along the Belt and Road.

    Cooperation within the BRI framework will be strengthened in key areas such as green development, the digital economy, artificial intelligence, finance, and disaster mitigation. As China rapidly advances in digital communications, it is well-positioned to assist partner countries in developing their digital economies and bridging the digital divide.

    In the realm of technological innovation, China has consistently embraced a spirit of collaboration. Its belief that science should benefit all humanity is not mere rhetoric; it is reflected in concrete actions.

    China has established scientific and technological cooperation ties with over 160 countries and regions, and signed 118 intergovernmental agreements on such cooperation. China also issued the International Science and Technology Cooperation Initiative, featuring open, fair, equitable and non-discriminatory international science and technology cooperation.

    A prime example of such cooperation is the establishment of 10 overseas science and education centers by the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Africa, Central Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, South America and beyond. More than 100 scientific and technological projects have been launched, training nearly 5,000 high-level professionals from these regions.

    China has provided the international community with abundant public goods, including the annual China International Import Expo and regional initiatives like the China-ASEAN Expo. These influential platforms are set to evolve into concrete cooperation projects that deliver tangible benefits to the people of participating countries. Committed to offering even more global public goods to support peace and prosperity, China aims to achieve more win-win outcomes through its reform and opening up while collaborating with other nations on modernization.

    The effectiveness of these efforts is evident. Following its pledge in July to further open its doors to the world’s least developed countries, China announced in early September that it would grant zero-tariff treatment on 100 percent of tariff lines to all the least developed countries that have established diplomatic relations with China. This makes China the first major developing nation and the first significant economy to take such a step.

    Cooperation between China and other developing nations is expected to accelerate in the future, especially in green transition efforts aimed at tackling climate change. China’s strengths in clean energy equipment and electric vehicles have already been translated into successful cooperation programs in relevant sectors across developing countries.

    Modernization is a shared aspiration for humanity. Chinese modernization dispels the misconception that modernization equates to Westernization. Rather than pursuing isolated success or creating a model that hinders others, China is dedicated to partnering with other nations to jointly advance modernization.

    As the world’s second-largest economy, China has contributed more than 30 percent of global economic growth over the past years. The widening door of opportunity being opened by Chinese modernization welcomes all, particularly Global South countries.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Following in father’s footsteps at EIT sets student up for career in mechanical engineering | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

    Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

    35 seconds ago

    Braydon Gregory is enrolled in the NZ Certificate in Mechanical Engineering (Level 3).

    Following in his father’s footsteps by studying at EIT, is setting a student up for a career in mechanical engineering.

    Braydon Gregory, 17, is currently doing his apprenticeship and is enrolled in the NZ Certificate in Mechanical Engineering (Level 3) at EIT – the same programme his father Aaron completed in the early 2000s.

    Braydon left Napier Boys’ High halfway through Year 13 this year with a very clear plan of enrolling in Mechanical Engineering (Level 3) and doing his apprenticeship at his father’s company, Gregory Innovations Limited.

    He says that he is a third generation product of Napier Boys’, but that mechanical engineering has also been a part of his life since he was young.

    “I’ve pretty much been doing it since I was ten, and then I got top of engineering two years in a row at school.”

    “It was then that I decided that I would get a head start by leaving school early and starting the EIT programme. Dad then offered me an apprenticeship opportunity.”

    As part of this apprenticeship, Braydon is working with his father on contract work for Dennis Glenn Logging.

    “The work we are doing is working on big diggers, big loaders and trucks. It is a wide variety of work.”

    It is a busy time for Braydon, whose family has a farm in Puketapu. Not only does he work as a part-time shepherd (he has his own dog) for a neighbour, but he also works at Pan Pac Forest Products outside Napier on a Sunday.

    Braydon says that his career path has been planned from the beginning, including studying at EIT.

    “My father said that it’s a really good place to learn all the basic skills that you’ll carry on for the rest of your life, like sharpening a drill bit.”

    “He said that if you went into industry straight away, they would just overlook it and not teach you. At EIT, you weld for as long as you want to get it right before going out into the industry.”

    The aim after he has studied is to eventually take over the family business. However, before then, he plans to go on an OE.

    “With my engineering qualifications I will probably travel with engineering, so either go to Australia for the big shutdowns or over to America where they do big pipelines. But the aim is definitely to take over the family business and carry that on.”

    Asked what he enjoyed about EIT, Braydon said that the tutors made all the difference.

    “It is more than a job for them, they really enjoy engineering and passing that knowledge on to us.”

    He has no hesitation in recommending EIT as a place to study.

    EIT’s Head of the School of Trades and Technology said: “The engineering industry are a big supporter of EIT’s Mechanical Engineering programme and provide excellent graduate pathways, it is fantastic to see one of our graduates pathway into the industry.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Thou Shalt Not Steal: new Stan series is a perversely funny road trip through Central Australia

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kelly McWilliam, Associate Professor of Communication and Media, University of Southern Queensland

    Stan/Ian Routledge

    Stan Original’s newest series is coming to smaller screens, having premiered its first three episodes in September at the Toronto International Film Festival.

    Thou Shalt Not Steal follows Aboriginal teen Robyn (played by the immensely talented Sherry-Lee Watson). She escapes juvenile detention and embarks on a defiant road trip from Alice Springs to Adelaide to uncover a long-held family secret.

    Fellow outsider Gidge (Will McDonald) comes along for the ride. He has run away from his dodgy preacher dad Robert (Noah Taylor, clearly enjoying his character’s exaggerated grossness, from a perpetually stained singlet to overflowing ashtrays).

    In hot pursuit are two incongruous duos. First come detectives Burke and Wills (Shari Sebbens and Darren Gilshenan). Then Robert teams up with the decidely crooked Maxine (played menacingly by Miranda Otto). Where Robert’s deceits are lazily self-serving, Maxine is an outback madam who poses very real dangers to the young people.

    ‘Some bastards have it coming …’

    Thou shalt never go to Coober Pedy

    Each episode begins with a tongue-in-cheek lesson from Robyn’s past. These range from the eponymous “thou shalt not steal” to “thou shalt never go to Coober Pedy”.

    This deadpan humour cleverly introduces significant issues. There are the inordinate rates of incarceration of Indigenous youth, alcoholism, assault, toxic masculinity, bullying and weaponised religion, among others.

    These themes are particularly pertinent in the Northern Territory, where Thou Shalt Not Steal was both set and shot. Earlier this year the NT city of Alice Springs initiated a youth curfew and the territory has now reportedly lifted its ban on using “spit hoods” on young people.

    This context means some of the laughs in the series are uncomfortable. But comedy is a well-established vehicle for social justice and the show remains focused on the heroes’ journey, albeit within an important socio-political context.

    Over the first six of its eight short episodes, Thou Shalt Not Steal maintains a balance between acerbic comedy and perilous road trip. Its final episodes revel in a series of over-the-top scenarios that nevertheless tie up narrative loose ends in an enjoyable way.

    Indeed the shift to outright absurdity reveals the show’s gentler message: about finding a chosen family.

    Miranda Otto and Noah Taylor’s characters are dangerous for different reasons.
    Stan

    Alice Springs (Mparntwe)

    If the tone and topic of the show – described elsewhere as “End of the F…ing World meets Fargo” – sound familiar, it’s because it draws from director, co-writer and co-creator Dylan Rivers’ earlier multi-award-winning Robbie Hood (2019).

    In that show, the Robin Hood mythology falls to 13-year-old Alice Springs’ local, Robbie (Pedrea Jackson). The same desert-dry humour articulates the charming teen’s well-intentioned misadventures through a variety of legal and familial landscapes.

    Alice Springs (Mparntwe) is not just a recurrent muse for Rivers; it is also where he grew up, as the son of award-winning filmmakers Penelope McDonald and Warwick Thornton. Rivers has noted that, while his family actively supports each other, they are also “competitive”, pushing each other to produce their best work.

    The series is set in Central and Southern Australia in the winter of 1980.
    Stan/Ian Routledge

    Slick and self-aware

    Having worked previously with his parents on multiple productions, Thou Shalt Not Steal is also something of a family affair. Co-created and co-written with cousin Tanith Glynn-Maloney, who also serves as executive producer, Thou Shalt Not Steal was developed during COVID lockdowns. The duo slowly developed the premise and the first two episodes over two years, before securing investment and support.

    The result is a slick, well-made series with terrific attention to detail. The gorgeous landscapes contrast with the dank, grimy spaces occupied by the antagonists. The soundtrack is its own treasure trove, ranging from Slim Dusty to the Yamma Family and the Warumpi Band, and always in perfect alignment to the scenes. The chorus of “almost the end, almost the end!” is a highlight in the last episode.

    Rivers says he tried not to

    […] shy away from being a bit cheesy, being a bit self-aware, and being over the top at times. Hopefully there’s twists and turns that people don’t expect. But it was very consciously, like, let’s have fun.

    Thou Shalt Not Steal is most definitely a fun ride.

    Thou Shalt Not Steal is streaming on Stan from today.

    Kelly McWilliam 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. Thou Shalt Not Steal: new Stan series is a perversely funny road trip through Central Australia – https://theconversation.com/thou-shalt-not-steal-new-stan-series-is-a-perversely-funny-road-trip-through-central-australia-241353

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Bienville Parish Man Sentenced for Illegal Possession of Crack Cocaine and a Firearm and Ammunition

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Martino Antwion Hill, 42, of Ringgold, Louisiana, was sentenced today for illegal possession of narcotics and a firearm and ammunition.  United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. sentenced Hill to 156 months (13 years) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. 

    On February 25, 2022, deputies with the Bienville Parish Sheriff’s Office observed Hill and another individual standing outside of a vehicle which they believed had been driven by Hill. Deputies were aware that Hill had several active felony warrants and approached the vehicle. As law enforcement officers approached, Hill began to walk away from the vehicle and refused to follow the commands of officers to stop as they approached. Hill resisted arrest and the officers took him into custody. They searched his person and discovered over $5,000 in cash and approximately 11.32 grams of crack cocaine. A search of his vehicle was conducted, and officers discovered a Ruger model 5.7, caliber 5.728 firearm and ammunition on the rear seat of the vehicle.

    Hill has previous felony convictions for possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance on two occasions and possession of a firearm by a felon. He admitted that he was a convicted felon at the time of this offense and knew he was prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition. 

    The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Bienville Parish Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert F. Moody.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Raumati rebuild coming for State Highway 1

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    The state highway summer maintenance season will be making its mark on the Kāpiti Coast next month.

    The Raumati Straights on State Highway 1, north of Mackays crossing, will undergo significant improvements from Sunday, 3 November, until early December.

    The work is funded from a $278 million investment in Wellington’s state highways in the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme. $162 million will be invested in maintaining state highway assets, and another $116 million is ringfenced for state highway pothole prevention.

    Roxanne Hilliard, Wellington Transport Alliance Manager, says the Raumati Straights rebuild is critical, given this section of the highway carries over 20,000 vehicles daily.

    “The road is in poor condition and needs attention. We will rebuild two kilometres of the left northbound lane. This will make people’s journeys smoother and safer.”

    Ms Hilliard says a rebuild of this size and duration means some traffic delays are likely.

    “However, the investment we are making now will mean less maintenance and fewer repairs in the future.”

    Ms Hilliard says road crews will do their best to minimise disruption as much as possible.

    “This is why we are doing the work at night when traffic volumes are lower and will keep a single northbound lane open. Southbound lanes will be open as normal.”

    “During the day, both northbound lanes will be open but under a temporary speed limit. This protects the road work site, keeps drivers safe, and prevents vehicle damage. So, drivers must obey the speed limits and traffic management in place,” Ms Hilliard says.

    Works schedule and location:

    • Sunday, 3 November to Thursday, 6 December. Sunday to Thursday nights, 9 pm to 4:30 am (these works are weather-dependent, and schedules may change)
    • SH1 Raumati Straights between the Paekākāriki interchange and Raumati South
    • Northbound will be down to one lane at night under a temporary speed limit
    • During the day, both northbound lanes will be open under a temporary speed limit.
    • The southbound lanes will be open at all times
    • Traffic management will be set up from 8pm, so drivers may experience delays from then. Two lanes will be open again by 5.30am

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Nearly 400 Palestinians killed, 1,500 injured in Gaza in one week

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Palestinians mourn over victims killed by the Israeli army in the refugee camp of Jabalia, at a hospital in Gaza City, on Oct. 11, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    In just one week, nearly 400 Palestinians have reportedly been killed and almost 1,500 injured in Gaza, said Joyce Msuya, the UN acting under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, on Wednesday.

    Briefing the UN Security Council on the humanitarian situation in Gaza, Msuya said the people of Gaza have suffered multiple mass casualty incidents due to Israeli airstrikes since her last briefing on Oct. 9.

    “The world has seen the images of patients and displaced persons, sheltering near Al Aqsa hospital, burning alive,” she said, adding that scores of others, including women and children, are suffering the excruciating pain of severe lifechanging burns.

    “If such horror does not awaken our sense of humanity and propel us to action, what will?” Msuya asked.

    She said Israel’s military offensive is intensifying in the north, and since the beginning of October, it’s estimated that over 55,000 people have been displaced from the Jabaliya area, while others remain stranded in their homes with water and food running out.

    “For the 155,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women in Gaza, it is an exhausting and traumatizing experience, not knowing where and how to give birth, or whether their child will survive,” said Msuya.

    She noted that from Oct. 2 to 15, no food aid entered northern Gaza with “a trickle” allowed in, and all essential supplies for survival are running out.

    “Given the abject conditions and intolerable suffering in north Gaza, the fact that humanitarian access is nearly non-existent is unconscionable,” she said.

    Msuya said that during the first two weeks of October, just one out of 54 coordinated movements to the north via the Al Rashid checkpoint was facilitated by Israeli authorities, while another four were impeded but eventually accomplished. Eighty-five percent of the movements were denied, and the rest were impeded or canceled, due to security or logistical issues.

    “Every time a mission is impeded, the lives of people in need and humanitarians on the ground are put at even greater risk,” she said.

    “The level of suffering in Gaza defies our ability to capture it in words, or even to comprehend its scale,” said the senior UN official, adding that “international humanitarian law must be respected and this council, and all member states, must exert all their influence to ensure it.”

    The representative of Algeria, who requested the meeting, expressed alarm about the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza.

    He noted that a few trucks of aid were distributed in northern Gaza on Tuesday, but failed to reach Jabalia, which remains under siege. “Let me be crystal clear: a military siege that deprives civilians of essential means of survival is not just unacceptable. It is a war crime,” he stated.

    Riyad Mansour, the permanent observer for the State of Palestine to the United Nations, said that in the face of the “monstrosity” unfolding in northern Gaza, “silence and inaction are not an option.”

    Noting that the Palestinian and Lebanese people are paying the price for Israel’s impunity, he said that in northern Gaza, 400,000 besieged, starved, and bombed Palestinians are being subjected to the so-called General Plan, according to which any Palestinian remaining in the north is considered a legitimate military target. “That is not war. These are crimes. They must be stopped. And they must be stopped now.”

    Mansour called on the Security Council to “fight back with the tools provided by the (UN) Charter and by the law to combat those who are obliterating the Charter and the law,” stressing, “It is time to act. Anything else is complicity and surrender.”

    In his remarks, Israel’s representative detailed recent attacks against his country. He said that although “101 human beings have been tormented by Hamas terrorists in their terror dungeons,” Security Council members barely mentioned the hostages or did so as an afterthought.

    He asserted that Israel and its humanitarian partners have “flooded” Gaza with humanitarian aid, and Hamas has “hijacked” aid and “weaponized” the humanitarian situation.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI: Shining at the Paris Motor Show丨SEVB’s Core products open a new chapter of globalization

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PARIS, Oct. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — From October 14 to October 21, Sunwoda Mobility Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “SEVB”), a leading Chinese power battery provider, made a significant appearance at the Paris Motor Show, showcasing its core products. Concurrently, the company held a groundbreaking ceremony at its manufacturing base in Nyíregyháza, Hungary, marking a significant milestone in its global expansion.

    SEVB Chairman Mingwang Wang stated, “Our participation in the Paris Motor Show showcases the company’s five core strengths: leading technology, superb intelligent manufacturing, ultra-high quality, reliable delivery, and extensive service experience for major customers. SEVB will leverage nearly 30 years of lithium battery expertise and the local service advantages of our Hungarian base to continue providing first-class solutions for our European customers.”

    SEVB presented a range of products at this year’s Paris Motor Show, including its HEV batteries, PHEV batteries, the globally launched 6C Super-fast Charging Battery 3.0, as well as cutting-edge solid-state and sodium-ion batteries.

    Among these, the Dacia Spring model, powered by SEVB’s HEV battery, was previously awarded the title of “Best-Selling Electric Vehicle in Italy” and ranked second in electric vehicle sales in France. The 6C Super-fast Charging Battery 3.0, making its global debut, can charge to 80% SoC in just 10 minutes, significantly easing charging anxiety. The PHEV batteries, known for its practicality and environmental benefits, holds strong value in Europe, where usage of electric vehicles has slowed, and environmental standards are high.

    To align our global strategy with “REGULATION (EU) 2023/1542”, SEVB is, firstly, strengthening its supply chain management system and enhancing carbon emission controls. Secondly, promoting the implementation of a “China Battery Passport,” aligning domestic battery systems with international standards. Thirdly, expanding into battery recycling.

    To date, SEVB has established 12 manufacturing bases worldwide. The company has reached Benchmark’s top tier EV battery cell manufacturer status and was recognized as a “Greater Bay Area New Energy Innovation Enterprise” by KPMG. According to SNE Research, from 2021 to 2023, SEVB ranked first in China for HEV battery installations, and in H1 2024, it entered the global top ten for power battery installations.

    In the future, SEVB will continue to base itself in China and look to the world, promoting the globalization of its power battery and energy storage battery solutions to empower customers with world-class products and services.

    Photo: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/bc4cb4bb-af82-4156-be23-22ccbd72bd46

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: Emerging market buyers embrace Canton Fair

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

    Buyers from emerging markets are steadily taking the lead at the 136th session of the China Import and Export Fair, or the Canton Fair, replacing those from Europe and North America as the primary participants, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

    The global trade event, held twice a year in Spring and Autumn, is being held from Tuesday through Nov 4, in Guangzhou, South China’s Guangdong province.

    A total of 125,000 overseas buyers had registered for the 136th session of the fair by Oct 9. Among them, about 76 percent are from countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, while 12.5 percent are from North America and Europe, said the Ministry of Commerce.

    The driving forces behind this trend include the diversification of China’s export markets, rising business and consumer demand in emerging markets and shifting global trade dynamics, as economies in Southeast Asia, North Africa and South America become increasingly integral to global supply chains.

    “These economies often show strong demand for the industrial products and consumer goods available at the Canton Fair,” said Chu Shijia, director of the Guangzhou-based China Foreign Trade Center under the Ministry of Commerce, one of the Canton Fair organizers.

    As China is in the midst of a green transformation, its traditional exports — like household appliances and industrial equipment — are also making room for a fresh wave of technologically advanced and eco-friendly products, further meeting the needs of buyers from both developed and developing markets, said Han Yonghui, a professor specializing in foreign trade at Guangzhoubased Guangdong University of Foreign Studies.

    Emerging markets represented by Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Latin America, with their vast market potential and promising development prospects, are attracting a growing number of Chinese enterprises seeking business opportunities, according to a report jointly released by Deloitte and WorldFirst, an international payment services provider.

    As the internationalization of Chinese manufacturers and traders reaches a more mature stage, an increasing number of enterprises are embarking on a deeper level of internationalization — transitioning from product exports to establishing operations overseas — according to the report released on Monday in Guangzhou.

    This involves contract fulfillment supported by the integration of “local entities, local operations and local supply chains”. For instance, according to data from WorldFirst, the number of Chinese merchants using the payment platform to expand their overseas operations in the first quarter surged 56 percent year-on-year.

    Between 2018 and 2023, China maintained high growth rates of exports to its major trading partners in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Middle East and Latin America, with compound annual growth rates generally exceeding 10 percent, according to the report.

    “Over years of development, we have seen an increased number of trade partners from emerging markets,” said Li Zhaoying, CEO of ChillSun Technology Co.

    The company, based in Huizhou, Guangdong, is attending the Canton Fair. “In addition to maintaining sustainable growth in developed markets, we are making efforts to reach more trade deals with buyers from emerging markets, especially those from member countries of ASEAN,” said Li.

    Xiao Lu, deputy director of the department of foreign trade at the Ministry of Commerce, said China’s new trade growth drivers are gaining momentum. Armed with accumulated capital and technology, Chinese companies are eager to demonstrate their innovation and technological strengths, leveraging digital and green concepts to shape the future direction of the market.

    “For instance, China-made new energy vehicles are now reaching over 170 countries and regions worldwide,” Xiao said.

    Over a million new products and items with proprietary intellectual property rights will be showcased at the Canton Fair this time, including a range of humanoid robots, smart devices and autonomous driving products making their debut, said the Ministry of Commerce.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Drug Charges – Operation Kint

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The Northern Territory Police Drug and Organised Crime Unit have arrested 6 offenders in relation to the largescale supply of drugs across the Territory.

    Operation Kint was launched in May 2024 to specifically target known commercial suppliers and distributors of illicit substances. Since its launch, investigators have been gathering evidence and identifying members from a known Outlaw Motorcycle Gang who have had significant influence on the Greater Darwin drug trade.

    Yesterday, Investigators arrested two men, aged 48 and 56, outside a hotel in Darwin. Police will alleged the 48-year-old was in possession of $201,000 in cash while the other had just transported 31kg of cannabis from Melbourne to be distributed.

    These arrests prompted investigators to immediately execute 8 separate search and seizure warrants across the Greater Darwin Area.

    As a result of these searches, including the hotel arrest operation, police have seized in total:

    • $447,430 cash
    • 35.5kg of cannabis
    • 3 vehicles
    • Traffickable and less than traffickable quantities of methamphetamine
    • A substance believed to be commercial MDMA
    • An unsecured firearm
    • Nun chucks, knuckle dusters and an extendable baton
    • 5 ice pipes
    • An encrypted communication device
    • Items indicative of drug supply

    A further 4 men, aged 33, 50, 51 and 54, were arrested during the searches.

    All 6 men have since been charged with:

    • Possess/Supply Commercial Quantity Sch2 dangerous drug
    • Possess/Use Tainted Property

    All have been remanded to appear in Darwin Local Court today.

    Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Tim Gardiner said “These arrests have significantly disrupted the illicit drug trade across Darwin and are the direct result of hundreds of hours of comprehensive police work.  

    “ Drug Syndicates, with influences from Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs, cause untold harm throughout our community. They fuel crime and financially cripple vulnerable members of the Territory, while having a complete disregard for the impacts of their actions.

    “Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs are not welcome here, and members should be aware that any attempt to operate an organised crime network will be disrupted by the Northern Territory Police.  

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: How can Australia make housing affordable for essential workers? Here are 4 key lessons from overseas

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicky Morrison, Professor of Planning and Director of Urban Transformations Research Centre, Western Sydney University

    GettyImages

    Essential workers such as teachers, health workers and community safety staff play a vital role in ensuring our society works well. Yet soaring housing costs in cities like Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are squeezing essential workers out of the communities they serve.

    The issue is reaching crisis point across Australia. Anglicare Australia yesterday released a special edition of its Rental Affordability Snapshot focused on essential workers in full-time work. Housing costs under 30% of household income are considered affordable. In a survey of 45,115 rental listings, it found:

    • 3.7% were affordable for a teacher
    • 2.2% were affordable for an ambulance worker
    • 1.5% were affordable for an aged care worker
    • 1.4% were affordable for a nurse
    • 0.9% were affordable for an early childhood educator
    • 0.8% were affordable for a hospitality worker.

    This trend is creating unsustainable patterns of urban sprawl and long commutes. It erodes workers’ quality of life. It also undermines public service delivery by making it harder to recruit and retain these workers in high-cost areas.

    International experience, particularly in the UK where I have advised on similar policies, shows there are solutions to this crisis. These global lessons fall into four categories.

    Essential workers face long commutes from home when they can’t afford to live in the communities they serve.
    Halfpoint/Shutterstock

    1. Define essential worker housing

    Essential worker housing typically targets front-line public sector workers on low to middle incomes. Yet eligibility should extend to support roles, such as ambulance drivers, porters and medical receptionists, who play a vital part in enabling front-line services. They too struggle to find affordable housing near their workplaces.

    Conditions of eligibility should also include a cap on household earnings.

    The UK experience highlights the importance of providing both rental and ownership options. To keep key worker housing affordable and accessible over time, both types need to be priced appropriately.

    Australian cities could adopt similar approaches, by requiring housing developers and community housing providers to allocate affordable housing for essential workers. Prices would be below market rates for both rentals and home ownership for the long term, and not revert to market rates. This ensures stability for public service workers.

    2. Financial innovations focused on long-term affordability

    Innovative financial models, such as shared equity schemes, have succeeded in the UK. These allow workers to gradually buy into their homes, creating long-term stability.

    Shared equity involves the government or another investor covering some of the cost of buying the home in exchange for an equivalent share in the property. Australia could explore similar schemes to provide immediate relief while ensuring sustained affordability for future essential workers.

    This approach could build on the Commonwealth’s proposed Help to Buy scheme, currently before the Senate, and existing state and territory shared equity programs. These may need refinement to better serve essential workers by, for example, adjusting income thresholds and eligibility criteria to ensure they qualify. These schemes also need to expand to cover all urban areas where housing affordability is most strained.

    3. Leverage planning systems

    Countries like the UK have leveraged their planning systems to deliver affordable housing for key workers. In England, planning authorities use mechanisms such as Section 106 agreements to ensure a portion of new developments is reserved for key worker housing as a condition of planning approval.

    Australian states could adapt this model, setting targets within existing planning frameworks. For example, they could use Voluntary Planning Agreements to prioritise essential worker housing.

    Yet essential worker housing should not displace housing for other people in urgent need. They include people who are homeless, low-income families, people with disabilities, the elderly, those at risk of domestic violence, veterans and youth leaving foster care.

    4. Use public land for housing development

    The use of surplus public land for essential worker housing has proven successful in several cities, including London, Amsterdam and San Francisco.

    Earmarking land owned by the public sector, such as hospital or education sites, is a strategic way to deliver affordable housing near key public sector employers. It also allows staff to travel to work nearby using sustainable transport instead of cars.

    Affordable housing has profound benefits

    Without action, essential workers are likely to be forced into lower-quality, high-cost housing, shared accommodation, or long commutes from more affordable areas. Over time, these patterns of job-housing imbalances and urban sprawl are unsustainable. These issues are the focus of my current research, particularly in Western Sydney.

    The New South Wales government has set up a parliamentary select committee to inquire into options for essential worker housing. It’s bringing much-needed attention to the housing crisis affecting key public sector roles.

    Tackling these issues through targeted housing solutions has many benefits. It can help create more sustainable communities, reduce recruitment and retention difficulties for employers and ease the strain on infrastructure and services.

    The key takeaway from the UK and other countries is the importance of long-term, sustainable solutions that do not shift the focus away from those most in need of housing. Australia has the opportunity to strike this balance. We need to ensure essential workers can afford to live near their workplaces while not sidelining everyone else in need of affordable housing.

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

    – ref. How can Australia make housing affordable for essential workers? Here are 4 key lessons from overseas – https://theconversation.com/how-can-australia-make-housing-affordable-for-essential-workers-here-are-4-key-lessons-from-overseas-239934

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Palace of Science: What Opportunities Does the Lomonosov Cluster Open for Innovators

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Cluster “Lomonosov” — one of the leading innovation platforms of the capital. It has become the flagship of the scientific valley of the Moscow State University (MSU) named after M.V. Lomonosov. 66 companies — residents of the cluster are engaged in developments in medicine, information and biotechnology, industry, service infrastructure and other areas. They have at their disposal production sites and laboratories, offices and coworking spaces, conference halls and lecture halls.

    A mos.ru correspondent went to the scientific valley and found out how the Lomonosov cluster is structured, what it offers to Moscow companies and what innovative production facilities are located there.

    Driver of Innovation

    The Lomonosov cluster opened in 2023. On behalf of Sergei Sobyanin, the building concept was developed by the chief architect of Moscow Sergey Kuznetsovand architect Ivan Grekov. Lomonosov became one of nine future clusters of the innovative scientific and technological center of Moscow State University “Vorobyovy Gory”. The ten-story building with mirrored facades was erected in less than two years.

    “The Lomonosov Cluster is a project of the Moscow Government, which is being implemented by the Moscow Innovation Cluster Foundation. This is a territory for the development of innovative and high-tech companies. Here, scientists and entrepreneurs create new products and services, improve existing ones, find partners and investors. At the same time, the cluster provides tax benefits to resident companies,” notes Alexander Ulanov, Deputy General Director of the Foundation.

    “Moscow Innovation Cluster”.

    Residents of Lomonosov can reduce their tax burden by up to 30 percent. They are exempt from paying income taxes, value-added tax, and property tax for 10 years. In addition, they are subject to reduced insurance premium rates, and they can also reimburse customs duties paid.

    Capital companies with useful and innovative projects were able to become residents of the cluster. Their developments were related to science, brought new ideas and helped the city. The declared projects passed the examination, and based on its results, the companies were granted the status of a resident.

    Today, Lomonosov’s production facilities employ more than two thousand people. They have original ideas, modern technologies and know-how in their arsenal that can compete with both Russian and foreign products. The inventions of the cluster residents not only help develop the city’s economy, but also make a major contribution to import substitution. For example, the capital’s factories are already using innovative air purification filters manufactured in Lomonosov, and the Arctic seas of Russia are using a hardware and software complex for seismic research.

    Vladimir Putin and Sergei Sobyanin opened the Lomonosov cluster, the flagship of the Moscow State University innovation centerSergei Sobyanin: The Lomonosov Cluster has united the best innovators of the capital

    Offices, laboratories and engineering workshop

    The Lomonosov cluster is located on Ramensky Boulevard (building 1), not far from the Ramenki and Universitet metro stations. Sharp angles, straight projections, and even ribbons of rectangular windows make the building look like a spaceship.

    In front of the main entrance there is an installation of two hemispheres with a truncated lower base, reminiscent of a core divided into two. On the first floor of the building you can examine a model of the future scientific valley, drink coffee and work, sitting in soft chairs with a noise-insulating effect. Here, the cluster employees meet guests and relax at lunchtime. Some go out for a walk in the courtyard.

    We walk to the escalator along the bright interactive signs and go up to the second floor. In front of us is the cluster’s scientific treasure trove with spacious lecture halls and halls. The largest of them is the Molecule hall, where up to 650 people can sit in front of a huge screen. Forums, conferences and congresses are held here.

    Then we take the elevator up. Resident companies rent premises from the cluster and equip them for their needs. Some organize a laboratory, others — an office, an engineering center or a design bureau. The companies also purchase equipment at their own expense.

    “Our main task is to provide residents with the opportunity to create and develop, to unite them in one place so that they can grow together, exchange specialists, developments, suppliers, create joint projects and use each other’s infrastructure. Such an effective synergy,” emphasizes Alexander Ulanov.

    The corridors are spacious and green, plants stretch along the walls, decorating the space. There are logos of residents on the doors. On the fourth floor, we are met by Svyatoslav Krivozubov, the CEO of Adaptto. He opens one of the office doors, and we find ourselves in a small production workshop. Here, electric drives for electric transport are manufactured.

    Engineers have everything they need. The laboratory has a complete cycle of electronic product manufacturing — from applying solder paste to soldering and testing the manufactured devices. Special equipment is used for this: a printer, a component arranger, and a furnace. Manufacturing processes are controlled through a control system.

    “Our flagship products – controllers – have a record high specific power. At peak, the equipment can pump up to 50 kilowatts. In this indicator, we are ahead of manufacturers not only in Russia, but also in the world. And our controllers are four times lighter than their analogues. Such equipment weighs about a kilogram, and can power a two-ton vehicle,” says Svyatoslav Krivozubov.

    The company’s electric drive powers excursion buses, ATVs and snowmobiles, as well as the Muscovites’ favorite wireless robot cleaner “Pixel”You can see such an assistant in the parks “Kuzminki”, “Sokolniki” and 50th Anniversary of October.

    Drug development and shampoo for astronauts

    The specialists of the company “Simurgpharm” work in the neighboring office. It became one of the first residents of the cluster.

    “We develop software for analyzing biomedical data. They are obtained during the testing of new drugs. The Simurg platform created by the company is the first software in Russia for clinical drug development and comprehensive data analysis,” says Kirill Zhudenkov, the company’s CEO.

    The experts work in a modern, high-tech office with panoramic windows and their own lounge. There you can take a break from complex tasks and play table football or guitar.

    “To achieve results, you need to not only work in science, you need to live it. And team spirit and the desire to invest in a common cause are also very important. That is why our work areas are united. There is a feeling of unity. This corresponds to our mission – to create and implement new technologies in the development of domestic drugs. By the way, the cluster itself is organized in a similar way. You can find partners literally in the neighborhood,” emphasizes Kirill Zhudenkov.

    Dmitry Kurshin, CEO of Intersen-Plus, also speaks about the power of common opportunities. Together with another resident of the cluster, they began to produce a line of skin care cosmetics with peptides.

    “Conferences, meetings and other events held in Lomonosov help to unite forces. For example, our company organized about five scientific events in the cluster this year. There you can tell about yourself and meet other residents,” says Dmitry Kurshin.

    The company is located in a small room on the eighth floor. At the entrance, there are long shelves with vessels of different sizes – from jars to canisters. Each has its own valuable product. Behind the glass doors is a laboratory with a picturesque view of Moscow. On the tables are test tubes, flasks, and vials. Experts painstakingly mix the compositions and create new formulas.

    It also produces biopreparations, disinfectants, cosmetics for palliative care and smart hand sanitizer dispensers with the ability to control the flow rate of liquid. In addition, the company’s experts have created a one-of-a-kind desiccant meter for mixing and dosing working solutions of disinfectants.

    “We have also developed a leave-in shampoo for astronauts. It will allow them not to waste a valuable resource in zero gravity — water. The products are currently being tested in the SIRIUS space flight experiment. It is important to note that the cluster provides everything necessary for testing. This is very valuable for companies. And in general, supporting production allows them to grow faster. Therefore, we can say that the Lomonosov cluster is a palace of science and a source of advanced opportunities,” the mos.ru source notes.

    Companies from the fields of IT, biomedicine and robotics have become residents of the Lomonosov clusterSobyanin: Moscow’s innovative infrastructure has grown by a quarter in five yearsPlace of Innovation: How New Developments Are Tested in the Lomonosov ClusterGeneration of Machines, or How Robots Help MoscowSergei Sobyanin presented Moscow awards in the field of architecture and construction

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    http://vvv.mos.ru/nevs/item/145307073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Media Release: Net zero goals a step closer with Moomba CCS project milestone – Australian Energy Producers

    Source: Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association

    Headline: Media Release: Net zero goals a step closer with Moomba CCS project milestone – Australian Energy Producers

    First injection and full ramp up at the Moomba carbon capture and storage (CCS) project marks a major milestone for Australia’s rollout of this crucial net zero technology.

    Australian Energy Producers Chief Executive Samantha McCulloch said the Santos and Beach Energy Moomba joint venture demonstrates the Australian oil and gas sector is driving progress to net zero, deploying proven technologies to cut emissions today.

    “At Moomba, Santos has proven what the industry has long known – that CCS is real and it works. It’s a first for onshore in Australia,” she said.

    “Australia is now host to two of the largest CO2 storage projects in the world, with Moomba and Chevron’s Gorgon project storing emissions equivalent to taking one million cars off the road each year.”

    Around the world, there are more than 50 large-scale CCS projects in operation, with a further 550 under development.

    “This global momentum for CCS is essential for achieving climate goals, with the International Energy Agency, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and CSIRO all clear that there is no pathway to net zero without CCS,” Ms McCulloch said.

    “CCS is particularly important for manufacturing, because without it industries like fertiliser and chemical production, iron and steel, and cement, will find it harder and more expensive to reach net zero.”

    In Australia, between two and 20 Moomba-scale CCS projects need to be built each year between now and 2050 to reach net zero, according to the Net Zero Australia study. 

    “Australia has a comparative advantage in CCS, with world class geology, industry experience, and strong links with regional trading partners looking to collaborate on CCS,” Ms McCulloch said.

    “Scaling up CCS is an opportunity not just to reduce emissions but to create new jobs and attract new investment.”

    However, CCS continues to be kept on the sidelines of energy and climate policies in Australia.

    “Australia is increasingly out of step with the rest of the world in failing to provide meaningful policy support for this critical technology,” Ms McCulloch said.

    “If Australia is going to reach net zero, while managing cost of living pressures for Australian households and businesses, we need to take a technology-neutral, least-cost approach to emissions reductions, and this includes CCS.”

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese automakers push forward with growth plans

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    People visit the pavilion of Chinese carmaker BYD at the 2024 Paris Motor Show during the media day in Paris, France, Oct. 14, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Chinese automakers are pushing forward with their development plans despite protectionist tariff threats from the European Union.

    Nine leading Chinese brands, including BYD, Xpeng, and Leapmotor, showcased new electric vehicle (EV) models at the 2024 Paris Motor Show, highlighting their technological advancements and determination to grow.

    Among the key unveilings was Leapmotor’s global debut of its B10 model, a compact electric SUV that will be manufactured in Poland for European consumers.

    Zhu Jiangming, founder of Leapmotor, outlined the B10’s advanced features, which include Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, a customizable digital cockpit, and intelligent driving capabilities. He also noted the company’s collaboration with the Stellantis team for chassis tuning, aiming to meet the preferences of younger consumers seeking innovation and quality.

    “The debut highlights Leapmotor’s rapid growth in Europe, with over 200 dealers already established across 13 markets, aiming to reach 500 sales points by 2025,” Leapmotor revealed.

    Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares commended Leapmotor’s rapid growth and its in-house R&D capabilities, highlighting that the Leapmotor joint venture will promote affordable EVs globally and reshape Europe’s EV market.

    China’s Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor Co., Ltd. showcased four new energy vehicles: the flagship luxury Forthing V9 MPV, the pure electric sedan Forthing S7, the pure-electric SUV Friday and the hybrid MPV U-Tour.

    General Manager Lin Changbo emphasized the company’s portfolio of over 21,000 active patents, highlighting the commitment to enhancing global competitiveness and fostering collaboration with industry partners.

    Xpeng Motors introduced its AI-powered P7+ sedan, which it described as the “world’s first AI car.”

    Currently, the automotive industry is benefiting from two major advantages: intelligence and electrification, He Xiaopeng, chairman and CEO of Xpeng, told Xinhua in an exclusive interview.

    He stressed that as a member of China’s emerging car manufacturing forces, the company will continue to invest in R&D and deliver innovative intelligent technology to the European market.

    BYD unveiled its mid-sized electric SUV, the Sealion 7, and introduced its luxury Yangwang U8 SUV to the French market. Executive Vice President Li Ke told Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung newspaper that the company plans to start vehicle production in Hungary by late 2025, further cementing its position as a major Chinese player in Europe’s EV market.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Severe thunderstorms are sweeping through southern Australia. But what makes a thunderstorm ‘severe’?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Brown, Research Fellow in Climate Science, The University of Melbourne

    Jamestorm/Shutterstock

    Clusters of severe thunderstorms are expected to strike Australia’s southern regions over Thursday and Friday.

    The Bureau of Meteorology has issued severe weather warnings and forecasts related to these unusually widespread stormy conditions as they move through South Australia today and into Victoria.

    As of October 17th, there’s a risk of severe thunderstorms for parts of central and southern Australia.

    Some areas have already experienced golf ball-sized hail and intense winds.

    While we might not always think of thunderstorms as a threat, severe storms can be surprisingly damaging. The enormous Sydney thunderstorm of 1999 dropped an estimated 500,000 tonnes of hail, causing widespread damage to cars and roofs. At the time, it was the most expensive natural disaster on record, overtaken only by the unprecedented 2022 floods across eastern Australia – which were themselves partly caused by severe thunderstorms in addition to other weather systems.

    When severe thunderstorms bring torrential rain, they can often trigger flash flooding. This is because extreme rain from thunderstorms usually falls over a relatively short time – less than an hour or two in many cases. Lightning can also pose a threat.

    In recent years, severe thunderstorms have also shown they can damage the power grid. In 2016, huge rotating supercell storms brought intense winds and at least seven tornadoes to South Australia, toppling transmission towers and causing a statewide blackout. Smaller thunderstorms caused major outages in Victoria in February this year after taking down six towers.

    But what makes a thunderstorm “severe”?

    The ingredients for a storm

    What triggers thunderstorms? Climate scientists and meteorologists often talk about the ingredients necessary for thunderstorms.

    To make a normal thunderstorm, you need to have a lot of moisture in the air. Then you need vertical instability in the atmosphere, meaning relatively warm moist air near the surface and very cold air above. You also need a mechanism to lift warmer surface air up to a level where the atmospheric instability can be released.

    For a severe thunderstorm, you need all those ingredients and usually one more: vertical wind shear. This means that wind speeds and direction differ with height. For example, you might have strong northerly winds down low, and strong southerly winds up higher.

    Vertical wind shear can make a run-of-the-mill thunderstorm much more intense, in a range of ways. For instance, wind shear can help warm updrafts stay separate from cold downdrafts and rainfall, which can help make the storm last longer.

    If a thunderstorm has large hail, damaging wind gusts or could trigger a tornado or flash flooding, this makes it a severe thunderstorm, according to Bureau of Meteorology classification.

    You might have also heard of supercell storms. These are convective thunderstorms, characterised by strong, rotating updrafts that last for a long time.

    Forecasters can predict the potential for severe thunderstorms several days out by looking for moisture-laden air and winds. But predicting exactly where and when they might pop up is extremely challenging.

    Severe storms can bring lightning, hail, intense winds and rain. Pictured: a previous thunderstorm over Perth’s northern suburbs.
    cephotoclub/Shutterstock

    What’s unusual about these storms?

    The storms this week are unusually widespread, with thunderstorms possible from Kalbarri in central Western Australia down through Esperance, across into South Australia, into Victoria and up through New South Wales and southern Queensland.

    These conditions are due to a large-scale low pressure system moving west to east.

    As this large low pressure system moves east, it brings thunderstorms. This map shows the low pressure system on October 16th.
    Bureau of Meteorology, CC BY-NC-ND

    Ahead of the arrival of this low pressure system, winds from the north are bringing down moisture and instability and priming the system for thunderstorms. When air near the low pressure system begins to rise, energy from the warm, moisture-laden and unstable air can be released. This includes energy release due to condensation of water vapour. These rising air currents can travel several kilometres up into the atmosphere, even reaching the top of the troposphere, 10–15km up.

    Severe thunderstorms in southern Australia are more likely in spring and summer. That’s because there’s plenty of moisture available from the tropics and the warm oceans around Australia, while low pressure systems and cold fronts can still emerge from the cold oceans to our south.

    Thunderstorms, tornadoes and fire

    Severe thunderstorms can also pack a hidden punch. They can trigger tornadoes in extreme cases.

    In August, severe thunderstorms hit northern Victoria and triggered a tornado, a destructive whirling column of air that damaged houses and farms in the high country.

    This surprised many people. It’s generally known that Australia has tropical cyclones in the north, intense tropical storms coming in off the sea, but not as well known to have tornadoes.

    In fact, Australia does get tornadoes – an estimated 30–80 each year. In 2013, a total of 69 known tornadoes caused almost 150 injuries. Many of these tornadoes spin out of supercells.

    In Australia’s hotter months, many fires burn around the country. Thunderstorms can make fires worse by bringing strong, warm northerly winds, often with rapid variations in speed and direction that can increase the rate of spread of a fire.

    Firefighters and first responders dread these conditions. Australia’s most deadly bushfire was Black Saturday in 2009, which killed 173 people. One reason it was so dangerous was its suddenness. Intense northerly winds brought down powerlines and started fires, which were quickly whipped into intense firestorms, including thunderstorms generated in the fire plumes.

    Will climate change bring more severe storms?

    As the world heats up, more water is evaporating off warm sea surfaces and hanging in the air as water vapour. This means there’s more of this ingredient necessary to fuel severe thunderstorms and more intense rain from thunderstorms.

    What we don’t know for certain yet is how prevailing air currents over Australia are changing. This could shift moisture to different regions, or affect other thunderstorm ingredients like vertical wind shear, instability, and lifting mechanisms. If circulation patterns do change, we could see severe storms develop in new areas, or different times of the year.



    Read more:
    We can’t say yet if grid-breaking thunderstorms are getting worse – but we shouldn’t wait to find out

    Andrew Brown receives funding from the ARC Centre of Excellence for 21st Century Weather.

    Andrew Dowdy receives funding from University of Melbourne, including through the Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes and the Melbourne Energy Institute.

    – ref. Severe thunderstorms are sweeping through southern Australia. But what makes a thunderstorm ‘severe’? – https://theconversation.com/severe-thunderstorms-are-sweeping-through-southern-australia-but-what-makes-a-thunderstorm-severe-241555

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Maritime News – Charter boat operator sentenced over fatal incident

    Source: Maritime New Zealand

    company’s failure to ensure health and safety policies and procedures were correctly followed played a key role in the tragic death of a passenger on a luxury charter vessel.
    Zefiro Charters Limited was today sentenced in the District Court at Auckland for a breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, in relation to the death of Danielle Tamarua on 1 April, 2021, after she fell overboard off the Zefiro . At the time Ms Tamarua was on the vessel with work colleagues on a trip around the Hauraki Gulf.
    Maritime NZ’s General Manager Investigations, Pete Dwen says the company had been operating the Zefiro for 17 years, and it had policies and procedures in place to keep passengers safe while it was underway.
    “Tragically these procedures were not followed on 1 April, 2021,” he says.
    In accordance with the Maritime Operator Safety System, Zefiro Charters’ was operating under a Maritime Transport Operator Plan (MTOP). This plan identified various health and safety risks, including the hazard of passengers being on the bow of the vessel while it is underway. Ultimatley, the company failed to ensure the systems and processes in the MTOP were properly implemented and enforced on board.
    “All crew members are meant to know, understand and enforce the health and safety procedures on the vessel.
    “The MTOP plan also covered a safety briefing which stated passengers were not allowed on the bow, side decks or the duckboard (the very rear of the boat) while it is underway.
    “Some crew were unaware it was a policy for the vessel,” Mr Dwen says.
    There was also a lack of a physical barrier for the passengers indicating the no-go areas.
    Prior to Ms Tamarua falling overboard, the vessel was returning to berth, and weather conditions had worsened. Ms Tamarua had gone up to the bow of the vessel with another passenger.
    “When returning to go back inside the vessel, Ms Tamarua slipped and fell overboard. She was struck by the vessel and died, despite the efforts to save her.
    “If the prescribed health and safety procedures were followed, this incident would have likely been avoided,” Pete Dwen says.
    “This should have been a fun day out on the water. This incident is a horrific example of what can go wrong when a company fails to ensure health and safety procedures are followed.
    “I want to offer our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Ms Tamarua, as well as those on-board the Zefiroon 1 April, 2021.
    “I also want to thank the emergency service personnel who responded quickly and professionally to a very difficult situation,” Pete Dwen says.
    Sentencing notes what happened in the District Court at Auckland
    – Following a plea by notice, Zefiro Charters Limited was convicted on one charge under s 36(2) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.
    – Judge Thomas described the culpability as amounting to a significant breach and indicated he would have had no hesitation in imposing a significant fine in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
    – However, due to the limited financial means of the company, Judge Thomas ordered emotional harm reparation of $140,000 (to be apportioned between the victims) only.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Natural colors and panoramic loggias: a house under the renovation program was put into operation on Kedrova Street

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    A 12-section residential building was put into operation in the Akademichesky District under the renovation program. It is located at the address: Kedrova Street, Building 16, Block 3. This was reported by the Chairman of the State Construction Supervision Committee Anton Slobodchikov.

    “The new building of variable number of storeys with a total area of 65.6 thousand square meters with underground parking for 223 cars was erected in a well-maintained area with well-developed infrastructure. The building houses 581 apartments, three of which are adapted for people with disabilities. Each room has been given an improved finish in accordance with the renovation standards approved by the Moscow Government Resolution,” the head of the department said.

    The facade of the house was finished with fiber cement panels of natural colors – from light beige to terracotta brown. The first floors were decorated in dark gray shades, the loggias were made panoramic and glazed. The building was equipped with 20 elevators with a lifting capacity of 400 and 1,000 kilograms.

    A barrier-free environment was created in the new building and around it. Paths with anti-slip surfaces were made in the courtyard. Residents also had recreation areas, four children’s playgrounds and two sports grounds.

    On the instructions of Sergei Sobyanin, special attention is being paid to residential buildings that are being built under the renovation program.

    “The house on Kedrova Street was built in three years. The committee’s inspectors conducted 14 on-site inspections at all stages of construction. Employees of the subordinate Expertise Center performed a set of laboratory and instrumental studies to assess the quality of work, structures and materials,” added Anton Slobodchikov.

    Based on the results of the final inspection, Mosgosstroynadzor issued a conclusion on the facility’s compliance with the requirements of the design documentation, and then issued a permit for the building to be put into operation.

    “In total, six residential complexes have been built in the Akademichesky District under the renovation program, five of which have already been handed over for occupancy. They have provided new modern apartments to residents of 14 old housing stock buildings,” noted the Minister of the Moscow Government, head of the capital’s Department of Urban Development Policy

    Vladislav Ovchinsky.

    More than 16 thousand city residents have begun resettling under the renovation program since the beginning of the yearThe first stage of the renovation program has been completed in 47 districts of Moscow

    Renovation program approved in August 2017. It concerns about a million Muscovites and provides for the resettlement of 5,176 houses. In 2023 alone, 59 new buildings in the capital were handed over for settlement and the relocation of over 47 thousand people was ensured. Earlier, Sergei Sobyanin ordered to increase the pace of implementation of the renovation program has doubled.

    Moscow is one of the leaders among regions in terms of construction rates and volumes. Over the past few years, within the framework of the federal project “Housing” of the national project “Housing and Urban Environment” the volume of residential construction and commissioning in the capital has doubled – from three to five to seven million square meters per year. More information about this and other national projects being implemented in Moscow can be found on the website.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    https://vvv.mos.ru/nevs/item/145368073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Moscow Mayor orders tightening control over construction waste removal

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    A decision has been made to tighten control over the removal of construction and demolition waste. This primarily concerns private investors and carriers. The corresponding resolution was signed by Sergei Sobyanin.

    Waste haulers will be required to equip dump trucks with GPS/GLONASS trackers, as well as sensors for monitoring the condition of the body with data transmission to the automated information system “Regulation of the movement of construction, demolition waste and soils”. The requirements for the equipment used will be established by the relevant executive authorities of the city of Moscow.

    In addition, it is envisaged that it will be possible to control the movement of construction waste using road cameras of the Moscow intelligent transport system.

    The new regulation will increase the transparency of construction and demolition waste removal processes and reduce the likelihood of violations in this area. In addition, it will help improve the environmental situation in the capital and neighboring regions of the Central Federal District.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    https://vvv.mos.ru/major/themes/11905050/

    MIL OSI Russia News –