MIL Email Publisher – Foreign Submissions

Source: The Many vs. The Money Coalition

Sept 2, 2026

CANADA INVESTMENT SUMMIT DOSSIER

Pitching Toronto as the headquarters for a NATO-linked “war bank” while protecting weapons exports behind regulatory loopholes isn't national defense, it's locking Canadians into an economy where peace is a bad investment.

TORONTO, ON — Today, as part of an ongoing campaign to unmask the real-world risks behind Prime Minister Mark Carney’s upcoming Canada Investment Summit, the Many vs. The Money Coalition releases its latest dossier exposing the government’s push to transform Canada into a global hub for war financing and weapons manufacturing.

In glossy investor decks, Carney is pitching Canada as a secure, fast-tracked harbor for defense investment, anchored by a yet-to-be-realized plan to house the headquarters of the new $116 billion Defence, Security, and Resilience Bank (DSRB) in Toronto. But while Ottawa promises global financiers smooth sailing, organized communities across the country are blocking factory gates, confronting corporate executives, and building a direct-action “People’s Arms Embargo” to disrupt the weapons supply chain on the ground.

Behind Carney’s pitch of “sovereignty and rearmament,” global capital faces escalating reputational liabilities, regulatory minefields, and nationwide resistance:

• Severe Public Backlash & Moral Hazard: Carney is courting international institutions to fund the DSRB, a NATO-linked bank designed to bypass parliamentary oversight and use public money to de-risk private weapons investments. As Canadians face soaring grocery prices, housing unaffordability, and crippling healthcare cuts, Ottawa’s plan to pledge billions to a war bank while asking everyday families to stomach austerity is triggering intense, widespread public outrage with over a hundred civil society organizations signing an open letter opposing the plan. Taxpayers refuse to shoulder the downside financial risks for private arms dealers making record profits.

• Carney’s War Bank Flops on the International Stage: Not only is domestic opposition growing, but Reuters just reported that no major economies, aside from Canada, have committed to participate in the institution – just weeks ahead of the deadline. Carney has stuck his neck out for a risky new financial body that none of his often cited “middle power” allies seem interested in joining.

• Direct Action & Supply Chain Vulnerabilities: As demonstrated by coast-to-coast mobilizations targeting over 40 facilities connected to weapons giants like Elbit Systems and Raytheon ELCAN, Canadian communities are actively enforcing a “People's Arms Embargo”. From factory blockades to corporate inbox shutdowns, the network sustaining weapons manufacturing in Canada is facing intensifying disruption.

• Corporate Deception & Export Liabilities: Despite federal claims of “pauses” on arms exports to Israel, investigative findings reveal a continuous pipeline of Canadian military goods, including F-35 components, explosives, and ammunition, shipped directly to active conflict zones, often surreptitiously routed on commercial passenger flights. Capital entering Canadian defense firms faces mounting legal exposure, UN Genocide Convention scrutiny, and intense public exposure.

• Trade-War Entrapment & U.S. Supply Chain Risk: Pitching defense expansion as an act of economic self-defense against the ongoing U.S. trade war is a dangerous fiction. Canada's military industry is overwhelmingly integrated into U.S. prime contractors. With escalating 50% tariffs and chaotic cross-border trade friction, investing in Canadian defense manufacturing doesn't build sovereignty, it traps global capital in a volatile, U.S.-dominated supply chain subject to sudden Washington trade retaliation.

“Mark Carney is trying to sell global investors on the fantasy of a war economy, but Canada is not a blank check for arms dealers,” said Rachel Small, Canadian Lead for World Beyond War. “While families across this country struggle to pay rent and put food on the table amid the economic turmoil fueled by Trump, Carney is talking about “elbows up” and then awarding billions of dollars in military contracts to American arms manufacturers. And with his investor summit he is spending lavishly to bring hundreds of the richest CEOs on the planet to Toronto to parade a $116 billion war bank designed to fund and accelerate a global arms race and funnel public money directly to arms manufacturers. Leveraging a trade war crisis to double down on a war economy isn’t defense, it's a recipe for stranded capital and fierce community resistance.”

As established throughout this campaign, Mark Carney can sell the opportunity, but he cannot sell the outcome. Capital invested in Canadian weapons expansion is not entering a safe haven; it is entering an active landscape of direct action, trade instability, and organized community opposition.

This is the third issue of The Canada Investment Summit Dossier, documenting the real-world resistance confronting the projects Mark Carney is inviting global capital to profit from.

About The Many vs. The Money Coalition

The Many vs. The Money is a pan-Canadian movement coalition convened by the Council of Canadians, 8th Fire Rising, and World BEYOND War. Bringing together labor unions, Indigenous nations, climate networks, and public interest advocates representing thousands of workers and community members nationwide, the coalition opposes the sell-off of Canada's public infrastructure and resources to global private capital. From September 12–14, the coalition is hosting The Many vs. The Money Counter-Summit in Toronto—featuring Naomi Klein, Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, and front-line organizers—culminating in a mass rally and demonstration to crash Mark Carney's Investment Summit on September 14th. Learn more at manyvsmoneysummit.ca.

Source: Fiji Women's Crisis Centre

2 September 2026

The Fiji Women's Crisis Centre (FWCC) notes with deep concern that the two Rewa and Nadi football players currently facing serious rape and sexual assault charges have since been named in their respective teams for the upcoming Battle of the Giants (BOG) tournament.

Following our public statement of 21 August 2026, FWCC had hoped that the clubs concerned, and the Fiji Football Association would demonstrate leadership by temporarily standing down these players until the completion of the court process. Instead, their continued selection sends a troubling message to survivors of rape and violence, women and girls involved in sport, and the wider community.

FWCC reiterates that our position is not based on any determination of guilt or innocence. The matters remain before the courts, and all accused persons are entitled to due process and a fair hearing under the law. However, sporting organisations have responsibilities that extend beyond the criminal justice process. They are entrusted with safeguarding participants, upholding public confidence, and promoting values that reflect respect, safety, and accountability.

“The decision to continue fielding players facing serious charges of rape raises important questions about the standards that football organisations in Fiji are prepared to uphold. At a time when Fiji continues to confront alarming levels of violence against women and girls, institutions that occupy influential positions in public life must demonstrate leadership and commitment to creating safe and inclusive environments,” said FWCC Coordinator Shamima Ali.

“Women and girls are increasingly being encouraged to participate in football and other sporting codes. This participation must be supported by visible actions that demonstrate that the safety, dignity, and wellbeing of women and girls are priorities. When organisations fail to act in situations involving serious allegations of rape and violence, it undermines confidence in those commitments and discourage participation.”

FWCC again calls on the Fiji Football Association and the clubs concerned to adopt and implement clear safeguarding policies, including provisions for the temporary stand down of players facing serious charges of sexual violence while legal proceedings are underway.

“We urge the Fiji Football Association to reach out to the Centre if they want further advise and direction,” added Ali.

This is not about prejudging court outcomes. It is about demonstrating institutional responsibility, protecting the integrity of sport, and ensuring that survivors of violence know that their experiences are taken seriously.

Sport has the power to shape attitudes and influence communities. With that influence comes a responsibility to lead by example.

Source: World Neighbors

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – September 1, 2026 – World Neighbors, an international development organization that helps communities lift themselves from poverty through sustainable economic and social development, announced the selection of Timothy Prewitt as President and CEO.

“Tim is the right person at the right time to further strengthen our programmatic success and financial strength,” said Beth McLaughlin, World Neighbors Board Chair. “Tim’s experience and creative leadership will ensure World Neighbors continues to thrive and innovate in this time of change and challenge.”

Prewitt has extensive experience in the international development sector. Prior to joining World Neighbors, he was CEO of The Hunger Project, a global organization that takes a holistic, community-centered approach to ending hunger in Africa, South Asia and Latin America. With Prewitt’s leadership, The Hunger Project experienced significant growth in the number of communities in which it works, as well as the philanthropic and other organizations with which it partners to fulfill its mission. Prior to The Hunger Project, he served as CEO of iDE (International Development Enterprises) and held senior roles at Chemonics International.

Prewitt is also the founder of Kairos, an advisory practice that works with families, wealth advisors, and philanthropic institutions to maximize the effectiveness of philanthropic giving. Prewitt is a Fulbright Fellow who has spoken at the World Economic Forum, the Clinton Global Initiative, and the World Food Prize, and has appeared on CNN.

Prewitt holds a BA from Lancaster University, MA from New School for Social Research and MBA from China Europe International Business School.

“World Neighbors has a unique model, experienced staff and effective relationships with the donors, governments and local groups with which it partners,” said Prewitt. “I look forward to working with all our stakeholders to build on the best of the past 75 years and advance World Neighbors to the next level of effective service to those who most need it.”

About World Neighbors

World Neighbors works with communities in 14 countries to move beyond subsistence into sustainable economic and social development. The organization creates change that lasts by partnering with communities to develop and implement holistic approaches to increase incomes, improve health, break down gender and other barriers and adapt to climate change. World Neighbors has transformed the lives of more than 29 million people in 45 countries. Visit https://www.wn.org for more information.

Source: ONEKEY GmbH

New AI capability of the ONEKEY platform makes complex security information accessible via natural language

Düsseldorf, September 1, 2026 – Artificial intelligence is fundamentally reshaping cybersecurity. ONEKEY, a product cybersecurity specialist, headquartered in Düsseldorf, is embracing state-of-the-art large language models (LLMs) by introducing the new ONEKEY AI Agent. However, the AI is uniquely enriched with analysis results generated by the ONEKEY Platform. Users can query security information and firmware analysis results in natural language and receive answers based on the platform's actual findings. Developed entirely by ONEKEY, this technology significantly improves the accuracy, transparency, and traceability of AI-generated responses.

“The goal in product cybersecurity isn't to generate answers that merely sound convincing. What matters is technical accuracy and reliability,” said Jan Wendenburg, CEO of ONEKEY. “The ONEKEY AI Agent combines the power of modern AI with the deep analysis capabilities of our platform. Every response is grounded in verifiable security data.” The AI operates directly on the platform's analysis results, including firmware extraction, binary inspection, Software Bills of Materials (SBOMs), component analysis, and vulnerability intelligence.

The new functionality is fully integrated into the ONEKEY platform. Following the current beta program, the initial release will be available in September and will continuously expand. The goal is to help security teams move more quickly to transform highly complex firmware data into actionable insights and informed decisions.

Deterministic AI Instead of Generic Responses

Generative AI has demonstrated the power of natural language interfaces. However, professional security environments require a higher standard: Responses must be transparent, verifiable, and based on concrete technical evidence.

“The market is currently focused on AI copilots, chatbots, and agentic AI. However, in cybersecurity, simply layering a language model on top of existing workflows is not enough,” Wendenburg explained. “With the ONEKEY AI Agent, we've deliberately adopted an 'evidence first' rather than an 'AI first' approach. What matters isn't whether AI can generate a plausible answer–it is whether every answer is backed by verifiable technical facts.” He continued: “Our AI Agent does not generate assumptions or generic responses from a general-purpose AI model. Every answer is based on the ONEKEY Platform's actual findings–from firmware extraction and binary inspection to SBOM detection, component analysis, vulnerability intelligence, and impact context. The result is responses that are transparent, contextual, and technically reliable.”

“The second key differentiator is contextual awareness,” Wendenburg added. “The ONEKEY AI Agent automatically recognizes whether a user is analyzing firmware, reviewing an SBOM, or assessing vulnerabilities. It understands the user's workflow and provides assistance exactly where security teams need it most.”

Firmware Security Through Natural Language

The ONEKEY AI Agent does not replace technical security analysis–it makes the results faster and easier to access. Complex data becomes easier to understand, relationships become clearer, and decision-making process becomes more efficient.

Users can retrieve security insights by simply asking questions in natural language. The AI will automatically recognize the user's current context within the platform–whether it be firmware analysis, SBOM management, or vulnerability management–and deliver answers tailored to that specific task.

Security teams, for example, can inquire about vulnerabilities, CVEs, severity levels, exploitability, and recommended mitigation measures. They can also investigate software components, versions, component-specific vulnerabilities, affected products, and software dependencies eliminating the need for manual searches through technical data. In addition, users can evaluate the relevance of specific vulnerabilities to their own firmware.

“Many organizations don't suffer from a lack of security information,” Wendenburg said. “Their challenge is making the right information available at the right time. AI can deliver a significant productivity boost in this area.”

From Expert Knowledge to Intelligent Assistance

Another key capability of the AI-powered assistant is its support of the ONEKEY Query Language (OQL). OQL enables highly detailed analysis within the platform. The ONEKEY AI Agent can generate OQL queries from natural language, explain existing queries, and help optimize them.

This makes advanced analysis capabilities accessible to a much broader group of users. Security professionals can now spend less time operating technical tools and more time evaluating risks and implementing security improvements.

The ONEKEY AI Agent also provides contextual assistance directly within users' workflows. Questions about using the platform can be answered immediately without searching documentation or opening support tickets.

AI That Fits Each Customer's Security Strategy

Because organizations have different data privacy, compliance, and infrastructure requirements, ONEKEY takes a flexible approach to AI deployment. Customers will be able to use the provided and approved ONEKEY AI models or integrate their own models and API keys based on their internal security requirements.

The platform supports the Bring Your Own Model (BYOM) and Bring Your Own Key (BYOK) approaches. These approaches allow organizations to tailor their AI deployments to their specific business, industry, and regulatory requirements.

“The real breakthrough comes when AI connects expert knowledge with trusted analysis results and real product data,” Wendenburg concluded.

First Step in a Four-Stage AI Roadmap

The new ONEKEY AI Agent represents the first milestone in ONEKEY's four-stage AI roadmap. The company's vision is to transform the ONEKEY security platform into a comprehensive product security assistant that complements, rather than replaces, human decision-making.

In the second phase, organizations will be able to securely connect their AI agents, applications, and automated workflows to the platform. The third phase will see the AI evolve from an information system into an intelligent security assistant. The fourth stage will support complete product security workflows. Over time, the platform will assist with a broad range of operational product security tasks while maintaining full transparency and traceability.

“Our AI roadmap demonstrates how Decision Intelligence becomes reality step by step–as a trusted assistant for those who make security-critical decisions every day,” said Wendenburg.

ONEKEY is the leading European specialist in Product Cybersecurity & Compliance Management and part of the investment portfolio of PricewaterhouseCoopers Germany (PwC). The unique combination of the automated ONEKEY Product Cybersecurity & Compliance Platform (OCP) with expert knowledge and consulting services provides fast and comprehensive analysis, support, and management to improve product cybersecurity and compliance from product purchasing, design, development, production to end-of-life.

Critical vulnerabilities and compliance violations in device firmware are automatically identified in binary code by AI-based technology in minutes – without source code, device, or network access. Proactively audit software supply chains with integrated Software Bills of Materials (SBOMs) generation. “Digital Cyber Twins” enable automated 24/7 post-release cybersecurity monitoring throughout the product lifecycle.

The integrated ONEKEY Compliance Wizard already supports compliance with requirements from IEC 62443-4-2, ETSI EN 303 645, UNECE R155, and many other standards and regulations.

As part of the EU-funded CRACoWi (Cyber Resilience Act Compliance Wizard) project, ONEKEY is collaborating with 13 European partners to develop an AI-powered assistant for the automated implementation of the EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA).

The solution will guide companies through the entire compliance process–from the initial CRA scope assessment to the generation of the required Declaration of Conformity.

The Product Security Incident Response Team (PSIRT) is effectively supported by the integrated automatic prioritization of vulnerabilities, significantly reducing the time to remediation.

Leading international companies in Asia, Europe and the Americas already benefit from the ONEKEY Product Cybersecurity & Compliance Platform (OCP) and ONEKEY Cybersecurity Experts.

Further information: ONEKEY

Source: The Many vs. The Money Coalition

August 31, 2026

Exploiting trade war anxiety to fast-track critical minerals in Northern Ontario isn't nation-building. It's selling global investors a multi-billion-dollar minefield of courtroom battles, peatland carbon liabilities, and Indigenous resistance.

TORONTO, ON — Today, as part of an ongoing effort to expose the fictions behind Prime Minister Mark Carney’s upcoming Canada Investment Summit, the Many vs. The Money Coalition releases its second reality check on the pitch being sold to global capital.

Carney is pitching Canada as a fast-tracked destination for critical minerals, promising international investors streamlined access to remote mega-deposits in Northern Ontario. Mining executives call it the “Ring of Fire.” But to the First Nations who have stewarded these Treaty 9 territories since time immemorial, this region is Mammamattawa: “the place where many rivers come together;” and Bakitanaamowin Aki: “the Breathing Lands”.

In glossy slide decks, Carney treats these ancestral homelands as a blank slate for extraction. On the ground, Ottawa’s promises of speed and certainty are colliding with active constitutional litigation, massive environmental carbon liabilities, and unwavering Indigenous resistance.

Across the territory, the reality facing global capital directly contradicts Carney’s promises of frictionless access:

• Constitutional Frictions & Landmark Injunctions: Carney is assuring global investors that federal and provincial fast-tracking mechanisms can bypass delays. But Treaty 9 First Nations have made clear that fast-tracking projects without Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) violates constitutionally protected rights. Active legal challenges to fast-track legislation like Bill 5 mean investors taking Carney's promises at face value are walking straight into court-ordered injunctions and regulatory freezes.
• Massive Peatland Carbon Liabilities: The mineral deposits sit beneath one of the world's most vital intact peatland ecosystems. Holding over 35 billion tonnes of carbon, disturbing Bakitanaamowin Aki threatens to release massive gigatons of carbon into the atmosphere. Projects pitched as “clean energy supply chains” face severe international ESG exposure and reputational liabilities for global institutional funds.
• Systemic Neglect vs. Corporate Subsidies: Ottawa is promising multi-billion-dollar public infrastructure subsidies to build industrial access roads for foreign mining firms, while systematically leaving the region’s remote First Nations to fend for themselves. Communities across Treaty 9 continue to face decades-long boil water advisories, contaminated water supplies, and severe climate vulnerabilities like seasonal wildfire evacuations without basic life-safety infrastructure. Pushing corporate mega-projects into communities denied basic clean water is a recipe for explosive local resistance.
• Unilateral Fast-Tracking vs. Community Moratoriums: While Ottawa pitches Canada Inc. as an alternative to external economic shocks, remote Treaty 9 First Nations have placed explicit moratoriums on unconsented industrial development. Carney can promise speed to CEOs in Toronto, but he cannot erase community-led blockades or municipal opposition on the ground.
• Astronomical Infrastructure Constraints: Pushing industrial access roads through thousands of square kilometres of wetland terrain carries multi-billion-dollar price tags, threatening global capital with massive cost overruns before a single tonne of ore reaches market.

“Mark Carney is attempting to use trade war anxiety to justify a massive corporate land-grab, but he does not own Treaty 9 territory, the courts, or the Breathing Lands,” said Eve Saint Financial Divestment Campaigner: Gidimt’en Checkpoint, Co-founder of 8th Fire Rising. “He can tell global CEOs that Mammamattawa is open for extraction, but he cannot put Indigenous sovereignty, treaty rights, and environmental reality on mute. Exploiting a trade crisis to override local consent isn't an investment strategy, it's a recipe for stranded capital.”

“Indigenous youth need to be at the table when it comes to decisions regarding the future of our people, communities, lands and water,” said Ramon Kataquapit, Attawapiskat First Nation, Founder of Okiniwak Youth Movement. “The Carney and Ford governments have demonstrated that they will take any opportunity to overlook our highest forms of First Nations Leadership, and work to erode our treaties, rights and inherent sovereignty. Youth have the power and potential to foster great change and bring back balance to the world. So, any legislation, policy or decisions made without us – that is against our way of life – will have to face the will of the 7th fire.”

As established in previous campaign releases, Mark Carney can sell the opportunity, but he cannot sell the outcome. Investors entering Mammamattawa are not buying smooth sailing; they are buying years of courtroom battles, community resistance, and compounding financial risks.

This is the second issue of The Canada Investment Summit Dossier, documenting the real-world resistance confronting the projects Mark Carney is inviting global capital to profit from.

About The Many vs. The Money Coalition

The Many vs. The Money is a pan-Canadian movement coalition convened by the Council of Canadians, 8th Fire Rising, and World BEYOND War. Bringing together labor unions, Indigenous nations, climate networks, and public interest advocates representing thousands of workers and community members nationwide, the coalition opposes the sell-off of Canada's public infrastructure and resources to global private capital. From September 12–14, the coalition is hosting The Many vs. The Money Counter-Summit in Toronto—featuring Naomi Klein, Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, and front-line organizers—culminating in a mass rally and demonstration to crash Mark Carney's Investment Summit on September 14th. Learn more at manyvsmoneysummit.ca.

Source: Flinders University

1 September 2026

Making inroads to sustainable industrial and tech solutions

A new way to imprint complex surfaces on low-cost, sustainable polymers could be used in a wide range of industries, including for water-repellent coatings, optical devices and data storage discs.

The complex nano- and micro-scale patterns on sulfur-derived polymers, unveiled this week in the American Chemical Society ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces journal, build on a wide range of green chemistry solutions led by Flinders University.

“This discovery provides a way to create these technically challenging and time-consuming patterns which can be useful to repel water, prevent biofilm formation and manipulate light in optics applications,” says senior author ARC Future Fellow Professor Justin Chalker, a global leader in sulfur chemistry.

“Our team invented a one-step method to make complex patterns on low-cost polymer surfaces using laser light energy without the need for expensive materials.

“Installing different patterns on the polymer surface can have multiple applications – for example, using water-repellent materials in self-cleaning, anti-fouling and anti-icing surfaces.”

Lead author Dr Abigail Mann, from the Chalker Lab at Flinders University, says using low-power lasers to create these innovative surfaces is an exciting development.

“It opens up the possibility of using these intricate polymer surfaces in a wide range of high-value applications,” says Dr Mann, whose PhD focused on the discovery of creating high-density data storage on polymers made in the inverse vulcanisation process.

Senior co-author Dr Christopher Gibson says the modification of polysulphide surfaces with low-power lasers could also support advances in electronics, information storage, biomedical devices, microfluidics and other applications – plus patterns to interact with light and reflect a range of iridescent colours for optics and anti-counterfeiting devices.

“Without this research group, the accidental discovery I made during routine analysis of the polymer surface at Flinders University would have remained an interesting footnote, rather than becoming the focus of a series of breakthrough studies,” says Dr Gibson, director of Adelaide Microscopy in South Australia.

The latest trials of microscale patterns on the otherwise black surface of a low-cost sulfur-derived polymer has enabled the creation of structural colour, similar to the iridescent colours observed in butterfly wings and peacock feathers. In anti-counterfeiting devices, this complex pattern could serve as a hidden bar code that can be read with collimated light projected at certain angles.

In the new study, Professor of Physical Chemistry Chiara Neto and other University of Sydney researchers provided expertise in adding nano-texturing, in an aim to create ‘superhydrophobic’ water-repellent surfaces which often require perfluorinated materials linked to the production of harmful PFAS in their manufacture and use.

ABOVE (Fig 1): The polymer, made from abundant and inexpensive sulfur from petroleum refining and dicyclopentadiene, is ultra-sensitive to low-power lasers of approximately 1 mW – weaker than a typical laser pointer.

Very short exposure times to this low-energy laser light caused swelling in the polymer – something not usually observed with other common polymers or plastics.

Researchers then found the swelling could be controlled, with the size and shape of the modification directly related to the laser exposure time – and the modification was highly stable, persisting for months to years.

This discovery prompted the team to develop a programmable laser system to trace complex patterns on the polymer, installing dots, lines, grids and even exotic patterns that mimic the structure of shark skin (see above).

The article, ‘Direct photopatterning on polysulfide polymers for engineered surfaces and anti-counterfeiting technology’ (2026) by Abigail K Mann, Leo James, Harshal D Patel, Iliana Delcheva, Melanie MacGregor, Sara J Fraser-Miller, Jason R Gascooke, Pankaj Sharma, Chiara Neto, Christopher T Gibson and Justin M Chalker has been published in ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces. DOI: 10.1021/acsami.6c08290.

Acknowledgements: Funding for this research was provided by the Australian Research Council (FT200100301, FT220100054, DP230100587, DP230100555, DP240102137 and DP260100466). The instrumentation available through Flinders Microscopy and Microanalysis facility, supported by NCRIS facilities such as the Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF) and Microscopy Australia, were crucial to characterise and apply this polymer modification.

Source: Conversation at the Crossroads

Bringing decades of human rights leadership to the conversation

Join guest speakers Kate Gilmore and Daniela Gavshon on 30 September

Kate Gilmore, former UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights and Daniela Gavshon, Australia director at Human Rights Watch, will join the distinguished panel of guests at the upcoming human rights forum.

Kate and Daniela will join human rights lawyer and Human Rights Law Centre CEO Caitlin Reiger and international human rights law scholar Emeritus Professor Spencer Zifcak.

With decades of experience working at the highest levels of international human rights advocacy, research and professional practice, the panel will bring unique perspectives and insights to the pressing challenges facing every facet of life today.

Whatever your particular concerns, be it war crimes or genocide, the unprecedented levels of human displacement or the sheer scale of humanitarian emergencies, the increasing recourse to deportations, the ill-treatent of refugees and asylum seekers, widespread violations of civil and political rights, or the deepening crisis of democracy, this is an event you and others in your networks will not want to miss.

Wednesday 30 September 2026, 6.30–8.30 pm

5.45 pm — Doors open
6.00 pm — Refreshments, informal conversation and networking

The Wheeler Centre
176 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne Victoria 3000

Book tickets to attend in person or online: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1637922

Moderated by Professor Emeritus Joseph Camilleri, the forum will explore how we can strengthen international cooperation, build a better informed and engaged citizenry, and reform the United Nations to deliver greater accountability and more effective action to prevent conflict and protect human dignity.

At a time when international law is under extraordinary pressure and millions of people are being displaced by conflict, violence and persecution, these are questions we cannot afford to ignore.

Join us on 30 September for an important and timely conversation about the future of human rights — and be part of the discussion.

117.8 million people worldwide were forcibly displaced at the end of December 2025, according to the UNHCR Global Trends Report. This means roughly 1 in every 70 people on Earth has been forced to leave their home due to conflict, violence, persecution and other human rights violations.

FEATURING

Kate Gilmore

Former UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Kate Gilmore is Co-Chair of WHO’s Human Rights Advisory Panel on Human Reproduction, Vice Chair of Interpeace and, until recently, chair of the Board of the International Planned Parenthood Federation. Having also held honorary appointments with the University of Pennsylvania, Harvard University, LSE and the University of Essex, she began her career in Melbourne, helping to set up the first Centre Against Sexual Assault (CASA House).

Daniela Gavshon

Daniela is Australia Director at Human Rights Watch. Previously, she founded the Truth and Accountability program at the Justice and Equity Centre, leading human rights and war crimes investigations. She was also Solomon Islands Head of Office for the International Center for Transitional Justice and is Co-Chair of the International Bar Association’s War Crimes Committee and an adjunct lecturer at UNSW.

Caitlin Reiger

Human rights lawyer and CEO of the Human Rights Law Centre, with 25 years’ experience working globally on justice and accountability for human rights violations. From transitional justice in Timor-Leste, Sierra Leone, Cambodia and Colombia to her work with the Yoorrook Justice Commission, Caitlin has championed truth, reparations and institutional reform.

Spencer Zifcak

Emeritus Professor of Law at Australian Catholic University and leading scholar of international human rights and constitutional law. With academic roles at Oxford, New York University and the University of Bristol, Spencer has also held prominent positions with Liberty Victoria, the International Commission of Jurists and the Accountability Round Table. He is a respected voice on human rights, law and public policy.

Joseph Camilleri – Moderator

Professor Emeritus in International Relations at La Trobe University and Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia. Author and editor of more than 35 books, Joe has spent decades exploring peace and security, geopolitics, governance and conflict resolution. Through Conversation at the Crossroads and SHAPE, he continues to bring people together around the challenges facing humanity and our planet.

What to expect

An engaging exploration of the some most critical challenges confronting each nation, the international community and the United Nations.

Plus:

Informal conversation and networking opportunity before the forum.
Light refreshments for participants attending in person.

Tickets to attend in person or online are available. Places are limited so get in early!

In person:
General Admission — $27, Concession — $18

Online:
General Admission — $15, Concession — $10

Source: U.S. Department of State

Travel advisory – Kingdom of Bahrain

Level 3 – Reconsider travel

Date issued: August 27, 2026

Reconsider travel to Bahrain due to terrorism and armed conflict.

Advisory summary

U.S. government employee travel restrictions

Due to safety risks, U.S. government employees need special authorization to travel to Bahrain. Only family members 18 years of age or older may join U.S. government employees who work in Bahrain.

Armed Conflict

Following the onset of hostilities between the United States and Iran on February 28, 2026, there has been an ongoing threat of drone and missile attacks from Iran and significant disruptions to commercial flights.

Terrorism

There is a risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Bahrain. Visit the U.S. Department of State’s country reports on terrorism to learn more.

Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Bahrain. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning. Targets may include tourist sites, transportation hubs, markets, shopping malls, and religious sites as well as government and military facilities.

Aviation Safety

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an ongoing Notice to Airmen (NOTAM). This is due to risks to civil aviation operating within or nearby the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman region, including Bahrain. For more information Americans should consult the Federal Aviation Administration’s Prohibitions, Restrictions and Notices.

If you decide to travel to Bahrain:

• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive important updates and alerts from the U.S. embassy or consulate.
• Review the Country Security Report for Bahrain.
• Stay alert at all times, especially in locations frequented by tourists.
• Develop a communication plan with family, your employer, or host organization. Plan together how and when you'll confirm you are safe (text or call).
• Be aware of your surroundings.
• Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for the latest Travel Health Information for Bahrain.
• Have a plan to leave in an emergency that does not depend on U.S. government help. Review information on Crisis and Evacuations.
• We highly recommend that you buy travel insurance before you travel. Check with your travel insurance provider about evacuation assistance, medical insurance, and trip cancelation coverage.
• Whether you’re a first time or frequent traveler, use the International Travel Checklist.

Help for U.S. citizens

U.S. Embassy Manama
Building No. 979
Road 3119, Block 331
Zinj District
Manama
Kingdom of Bahrain

Main telephone: +973-1724-2700
Emergency after-hours: +973-1724-2700
Email: ManamaConsular@state.gov
Fax: +973-1725-6242
Website: https://bh.usembassy.gov/

Source link

Source: U.S. Department of State

Readout
Office of the Spokesperson
August 27, 2026

The below is attributable to Spokesman Tommy Pigott:

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau met today with Japanese Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Funakoshi Takehiro. The Deputy Secretary and the Vice Minister reaffirmed the importance of the U.S.-Japan Alliance and their strong opposition to any actions that undermine regional peace and stability. They reiterated their shared commitment to bolstering deterrence to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific.

The senior officials also discussed the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, including the importance of freedom of navigation, and their shared commitment to enhancing global economic security by strengthening secure, reliable supply chains across key industries.

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