MIL OSI – Source: Federal Republic of Nigeria – Report: Headline: Health Minister urges EU support for Ebola affected countries BRUSSELS (Federal Ministry of Health Report) – The Supervising Minister of Health, Khaliru Alhassan (Dr) has called on the European Union (EU) to support the concept of medical diplomacy with concrete long term solutions in the health sector to help strengthen health infrastructure and systems of developing nations. He particularly mentioned those nations whose economy and healthcare systems had been affected adversely by the outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). The Minister made this call in Brussels, Belgium in his address at the European Union (EU) High-level International Conference on Ebola lately. Khaliru Alhassan observed that the concept of medical diplomacy has emerged strongly in recent times due to frequent outbreaks of diseases with great pandemic potential. He added that as long as the Ebola Virus Disease remains prevalent in any country, the entire world stands at risk. While sharing Nigeria’s experience and  ability to speedily contain the Ebola Virus Disease, he attributed Nigeria’s success to strong government leadership, effective control measures put in place to interrupt transmission of the virus, collaboration among the various tiers of government as well as robust multi-sectoral cooperation, early community engagement and aggressive public enlightenment. Khaliru Alhassan stressed that close collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), the US Centre for Disease Control, (CDC), the European Union CDC, China CDC, Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) and other development partners as well as civil society groups is paramount in containing the disease. He further disclosed that Nigeria is doing everything possible to prevent a resurgence of the virus. He noted that a $41 million dollar plan is being evolved for the nation’s post-containment preparedness, prevention and control of the Ebola Virus Disease. He revealed that the EU High-Level International Conference on Ebola was organized to take stock of the fight against the outbreak, coordinate further action for total eradication of the disease and to discuss the recovery process in countries which have been  most affected by the disease. – –  ]]>

MIL OSI – Source: Amnesty International NZ – Press Release/Statement: Headline: Saudi Arabia: 10 brutal facts beyond the Raif Badawi case This marks eight weeks since the Saudi Arabian authorities publicly flogged the blogger and activist Raif Badawi, sentenced to 1,000 lashes and 10 years in prison for “insulting Islam” and founding an online forum for political debate. After his first session of 50 lashes in front of a mosque in Jeddah on 9 January, a doctor advised prison authorities that his wounds had not healed sufficiently for him to undergo the second round of this brutal punishment. The following Friday, while a medical committee had advised that Raif Badawi should not be flogged because of high blood pressure, another prison doctor insisted that there was nothing wrong with him and that he should be flogged. Then, for five consecutive weeks the Friday floggings were not carried out for reasons that remain unknown. It is anybody’s guess whether the next part of his sentence will be carried out tomorrow. Raif Badawi has made headlines around the world. But his case is just the tip of the iceberg for the Gulf Kingdom’s appalling human rights record. Here are 10 sobering facts from Amnesty International’s research: 1. Cruel, inhuman and degrading punishments Saudi Arabia’s courts continue to impose sentences of flogging as punishment for many offences, often following unfair trials. Besides Raif Badawi, in the past two years the human rights defenders Mikhlif bin Daham al-Shammari and Omar al-Sa’id were sentenced to 200 and 300 lashes, respectively, and Filipino domestic worker Ruth Cosrojas was sentenced to 300. Amputations and cross-amputations are also carried out as punishment for some crimes. 2. Spike in executions Saudi Arabia is among the world’s top executioners, with dozens of people being put to death annually, many in public beheadings. So far this year 40 people have been executed – almost four times the equivalent number for this time last year. 3. Crackdown on activists Besides Raif Badawi, dozens more outspoken activists remain behind bars, simply for exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly. The authorities have targeted the small but vocal community of human rights defenders, including by using anti-terrorism laws to suppress their peaceful actions to expose and address human rights violations. 4. No space for dissent All public gatherings, including demonstrations, remain prohibited under an order issued by the Interior Ministry in 2011. Those who defy the ban face arrest, prosecution and imprisonment on charges such as “inciting people against the authorities”. 5. Systematic discrimination against women Women and girls remain subject to discrimination in law and practice, with laws that subordinate their status to men, particularly in relation to family matters such as marriage, divorce, child custody and inheritance. Women who supported a campaign against a de facto ban on women drivers face the threat of arrest and other harassment and intimidation. 6. Routine torture in custody Former detainees, trial defendants and others have told Amnesty International that the security forces’ use of torture and other ill-treatment remains common and widespread, and that those responsible are never brought to justice. 7. Arbitrary arrests and detentions Scores of people have been arrested and detained in pre-trial detention for six months or more, which breaches the Kingdom’s own criminal codes. Detainees are frequently held incommunicado during their interrogation and denied access to their lawyers. Some human rights activists have been detained without charge or trial for more than two years. 8. Entrenched religious discrimination Members of the Kingdom’s Shi’a minority, most of whom live in the oil-rich Eastern Province, continue to face entrenched discrimination that limits their access to government services and employment. Shi’a activists have received death sentences or long prison terms for their alleged participation in protests in 2011 and 2012. 9. Mass deportation of migrant workers According to the Interior Ministry, a crackdown on irregular foreign migrant workers in November 2013 led to the deportation of more than 370,000 people. Some 18,000 were still being detained last March. Thousands of people were summarily returned to Somalia, Yemen or other states where they were at risk of human rights abuses. 10. What happens in the Kingdom, stays in the Kingdom The Saudi Arabian authorities continue to deny access to independent human rights organizations like Amnesty International, and they have been known to take punitive action, including through the courts, against activists and family members of victims who contact us. Take Action: Five ways you can help Raif Badawi

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MIL OSI – Source: United Nations – Press Release/Statement: Headline: Security Council condemns use of chemical weapons in Syria 6 March 2015 – The Security Council today adopted a resolution strongly condemning the use of any toxic chemical, such as chlorine, as a weapon in Syria and stressing that those who use such weapons must be held accountable. According to the adopted resolution –put forth by the United States– the Council expressed deep concern that toxic chemicals have been used as a weapon in Syria which was the conclusion with a “high degree of confidence” by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapon (OPCW) Fact-Finding Mission. To that end, the Council reiterated that the use of toxic chemicals as a weapon would constitute a violation of Council resolution 2118 (2013). Under the text, the Council recalled its decision that Syria “shall not use, develop, produce, otherwise acquire, stockpile or retain chemical weapons, or, transfer, directly or indirectly, chemical weapons to other States or non-State actors.” Member also reiterated that no party in Syria should use, develop, produce, acquire, stockpile, retain, or transfer chemical weapons. Additionally, the Security Council expressed support for the OPCW Executive Council decision of 4 February 2015 to continue the work of the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission, in particular to study all available information relating to allegations of use of chemical weapons in Syria. Members welcomed the intention of the OPCW Director-General to include further reports of the Mission as part of his monthly reports to the Security Council. Stressing that those individuals responsible for any use of chemicals as weapons, including chlorine or any other toxic chemical, must be held accountable, the Council called on all parties in Syria to extend their full cooperation to the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission. Lastly, the Council also recalled its decisions in resolution 2118, and in this context decides in the event of future non-compliance with resolution 2118 to impose measures under Chapter VII of the UN Charter. –]]>

MIL OSI – Source: United Nations – Press Release/Statement: Headline: Funding shortfall forces UN to scale back food aid to Syrian refugees in Turkey 6 March 2015 -– The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today said “a critical shortage of funding” has forced it to reduce the number of Syrian refugees it can assist through an innovative electronic voucher system in Turkey, which hosts the largest number of asylum-seekers fleeing fighting in neighbouring Syria.

WFP spokeswoman Elisabeth Byrs told reporters in Geneva today that in January, her agency had been able to assist 220,000 refugees in 20 camps throughout Turkey, but that last month, it had been forced to reduce that number to 154,000, after having to withdraw from 9 camps.

Ms. Byrs said predicting donation amounts is a “real challenge” as it is necessary to know those amounts before informing refugees outside of camps that WFP would launch assistance, but knowing that WFP would require $9 million each month for its assistance to Syrian refugees, a funding shortfall of $71 million in donations is being projected for all of 2015.

Since 2011, WFP has been providing food assistance to the most vulnerable Syrian refugees in Turkey through an innovative electronic voucher (e-food card) system, Ms. Byrs said, adding that the system has made it possible for refugees to buy their food in shops like anybody else.

“Unfortunately,” she explained, “due to a critical shortage of funding, WFP is unable to provide assistance at the same levels as before.”

Ms. Byrs emphasized how important that system is for refugees, saying that Turkey has welcomed the highest number of Syrian refugees, estimated at 1.7 million in 20 camps across the country.

Turkey had already spent $4.5 billion to protect and assist the refugees since the beginning of the Syrian crisis, and that since 2011, she said, WFP had injected almost $700 million into the Turkish economy through its e-food card program and large-scale food purchases.

WFP’s Syria Crisis emergency response, which provides life-saving food assistance to more than four million Syrians who have been displaced across all 14 governorates of Syria in addition to at least two million Syrian refugees in the Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Egypt, in addition to Turkey. Inside Syria, WFP provides food rations, while refugees in the neighbouring countries primarily receive assistance through WFP’s electronic food vouchers programme that allows them to buy the food they need from local shops.

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MIL OSI – Source: Africa Press Organization – Press Release/Statement

Headline: Liberia releases last Ebola patient – flash quote from MSF

Liberia releases last Ebola patient – flash quote from MSF

MONROVIA, Liberia, March 5, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Commenting on the news that Liberia has released its last Ebola patient, Vickie Hawkins, Director of MSF UK, said:

“This is an encouraging sign for Liberia. However, there is no room for complacency as the number of new Ebola cases in the region has risen this week.

“From the outset, this outbreak has been characterised by its unpredictability and geographic spread. People move easily over the porous borders that separate Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, so until 42 days pass without a new case in any of the three worst affected countries we need to remain vigilant.

“There are serious gaps that persist in the response. Significant improvements need to be made in contact tracing and surveillance, and we still need to improve regional coordination. Practical collaboration between surveillance teams based in each country need to be implemented as soon as possible to avoid importing new cases into areas considered Ebola-free.”

MIL OSI – Source: European Union – Press Release/Statement

Headline: An informal meeting of EU Foreign Ministers takes place in Riga On 6-7 March the Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs will host a two-day informal meeting of European Union Foreign Ministers.

The ministers will discuss the political tension in Libya, as well as the current developments in Ukraine and the EU’s relations with Russia. Likewise, preparations for the Eastern Partnership Summit will be considered. The ministers will also exchange opinions on the review of the European Security Strategy.

One of the sessions will review the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). A discussion with participation of foreign ministers from EU candidate countries will address developments in the EU’s neighbourhood.

The informal or the so-called Gymnich meeting is a traditional gathering of the foreign ministers of the European Union, organised by the Presidency. The meetings are chaired by the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and feature strategic discussions on the EU’s foreign and security policy goals and instruments.

No binding decisions are adopted during the Gymnich meetings. They provide an opportunity for ministers to discuss issues of current importance in an informal atmosphere.

MIL OSI – Source: Moody’s Headline: Announcement: Moody’s – New Zealand’s economic growth supports Aaa rating Global Credit Research – 05 Mar 2015 New York, March 05, 2015 — Moody’s Investors Service says that New Zealand’s economy is growing strongly, despite a steep fall in dairy prices during 2014. Construction, partly in relation to the rebuilding of Christchurch after the 2011 earthquakes, and also in the Auckland housing market, has been an important contributor to growth. As a result, Moody’s expects New Zealand’s real GDP to rise to close to 3% during 2015 and to remain robust through 2016. Moody’s says New Zealand’s strong economic profile is reinforcing government finances, with a return to budget surpluses expected in the 2015-16 fiscal year and thereafter. As for the stable outlook for New Zealand’s Aaa rating, Moody’s says the outlook reflects the fact that the country’s ratio of government debt to GDP has peaked at a level well below the median for Aaa sovereigns and is likely to fall over the next several years. Moody’s conclusions were contained in its just-released credit analysis, titled “New Zealand” and which examines the sovereign in four categories: economic strength, which is assessed as “very high (-)”; institutional strength “very high (+)”; fiscal strength “very high (+)”; and susceptibility to event risk “low (-)”. The report constitutes an annual update to investors and is not a rating action. Moody’s report says that when compared to other similarly rated sovereign issuers, New Zealand’s economy has demonstrated a track record of faster and more stable growth, which counterbalances its economic weaknesses, namely the small size, high concentration and relatively low income levels in comparison to other Aaa-rated sovereigns. New Zealand’s economy also benefits from stable growth in aggregate labor input and strong private investment. As a result, the country has seen consistently high GDP growth rates over the past two decades, ranking third in terms of average GDP growth in its rating category. On the other hand, Moody’s report also points out that New Zealand’s most important vulnerability is its structural current account deficit, which has been large for several decades. This deficit makes the country highly dependent on international capital markets. The government’s projections indicate that the current account deficit will rise from its recent relatively low level to a high level once again during the coming few years. Part of the increase will be mitigated by reinsurance payments resulting from payouts related to earthquake reconstruction. The net international investment position will therefore not deteriorate to the extent indicated by the current account deficit. On private consumption growth rates, Moody’s report says that after gaining momentum in recent years, growth in consumer demand will likely come under pressure in the short run, as the country’s external position and currency weaken. Household consumption has on average contributed 170 basis points to quarterly year-over-year growth since 2010, slightly exceeding the contribution of gross capital formation and making it the primary growth driver during the period. Moody’s new report notes that New Zealand’s banking sector is among the most resilient in the world. The sector is characterized by high concentration, with the four largest banks accounting for 84% of total loans and 91% of deposits. Despite moderate competitive pressures, the banks have not drifted toward riskier business models and were able to maintain sound loan portfolios even in the wake of the global financial crisis in 2008-09 and the Christchurch earthquakes. While less capitalized than the banking systems of several other Aaa-rated sovereigns, New Zealand banks’ capitalization ratios are broadly commensurate with the low riskiness of their loan portfolios. In addition, the banking system demonstrates some of the highest profitability levels in its peer group, minimizing the likelihood of capital erosion in the near-term. Subscribers can access the report at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_179413 This publication does not announce a credit rating action. For any credit ratings referenced in this publication, please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com for the most updated credit rating action information and rating history. –]]>

MIL OSI – Source: United States Department of State – Press Release/Statement: Headline: U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, Mark Lippert Assaulted We can confirm that U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Mark Lippert was assaulted Thursday morning in Seoul while giving a speech. We strongly condemn this act of violence. The Ambassador is being treated at a local hospital. His injuries are not life threatening. Embassy Seoul is coordinating with local law enforcement authorities. We do not have any additional details to share at this time. –]]>

MIL OSI – Source: British Parliament News – Press Release/Statement: Headline: Drone industry could create 150,000 jobs in EU, say Lords The Committee, which has been scrutinising the European Commission’s proposals for drones, supports its plans to harmonise safety rules across the EU but argues for flexibility in national safety rules for small drones or Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS). The Committee’s report also recognises growing public concern over the use of drones by private individuals, with little knowledge of aviation rules. The report urges the Government and the Commission to adopt a raft of measures to improve safety and the enforceability of existing laws. These include: Developing a shared manufacturing standard for drones, such as the CE marking (kite mark); Creating an online database of drone operations to track and manage drone traffic. The Committee expects that commercial operators could register their drones on an online database or app in the near future, and that in the longer term it would encompass leisure users as well; Widening the application of geo-fencing technology, which limits flights over high risk sites; Creating guidance for the police to enforce existing safety rules. Other findings The Committee heard that there is huge potential for growth and jobs in this emerging sector: businesses across Europe are using small drones for photography, filming and surveying, and they can also be used to carry out dull, dirty or dangerous jobs, such as cargo shipping and search and rescue. Evidence given to the inquiry agreed with the Commission’s estimate that around 150,000 new jobs could be created across Europe from drone activity by the year 2050. But the report noted that for this potential to be realised, the safety of drone operations will have to be demonstrated and gain public approval. The report finds that stifling the industry through over-regulation can be avoided if safety rules are proportionate to risk. The Committee also welcomes the Commission’s support for research into key technologies, such as ‘detect and avoid’, but urges that research projects should include the small drone sector. The Committee found that current EU and UK legislation adequately covers data protection issues. However it recommends increased guidance on data protection and insurance requirements for commercial operators. In light of evidence that the media and police use of drones will increase, the report also recommends urgent public debate regarding acceptable civilian applications for drones. Chairman’s comment Commenting on the report, entitled Civilian Use of Drones in the EU, Committee Chairman Baroness O’Cathain said: “The growth in civilian drone use has been astonishing and they are taking to the skies faster than anyone could have predicted. We have a huge opportunity to make Europe a world leader in drone technology. But there’s also a risk—public understanding of how to use drones safely may not keep pace with people’s appetite to fly them. It would just take one disastrous accident to destroy public confidence and set the whole industry back. “So we need to find ways to manage and keep track of drone traffic. That is why a key recommendation is that drone flights must be traceable, effectively through an online database, which the general public could access via an app. We need to use technology creatively, not just to manage the skies, but to help police them as well.” – ]]>

MIL OSI – Source: Federal Republic of Nigeria – Report: Headline: NPF to establish counter-terrorism units in Nasarawa State LAFIA (FIC Lafia Report) – The Nigeria Police Force has announced the plan by its agency to establish a counter-terrorism unit as part of effort to fight crime in the state. The Assistant Inspector-General of Police in-charge of the Anti-Terrorism Unit of the Force Headquarters in Abuja, Yahaya Ardo Garba disclosed this when he paid a visit to Umaru Tanko Al-makura, the Governor of Nassarawa State in Lafia lately. He added that the plan to establish the unit in the state became necessary to support the security in the area and to bring peace and stability to the state. Ardo Garba noted that the aim of his visit was to discuss with the State Governor the possibilities for collaboration with the state government on the procedures for engaging counter-terrorism activities in the state. He further appealed to the State Government to support the initiative of the Inspector – General of Police towards having a crime – free society. Al-Makura applauded the AIG and described the decision to introduce a special police unit in the state as timely. He noted that it will go a long way to reduce crime and criminality as well as ensure peace and stability in the state. Adding, the state is willing to support and collaborate with the Nigeria Police to establish the terrorism unit in the state, especially now that there is yearning for more security personnel to enable the IDPs in the state go back to their homes. He maintained that the State Government has already donated 500 residential units to the Nigeria Police to make them comfortable. – –  ]]>