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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Euan Hutton permanently appointed as Sellafield CEO

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Euan Hutton has been permanently appointed the Sellafield CEO, effective from  1 November 2024, having fulfilled the role on an interim basis since July 2023.

    In confirming Euan’s appointment, Sellafield Ltd’s Chairman, Chris Train, said:

    I am pleased to announce that, with support from the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), UK Government and Sellafield Ltd Board, I have today appointed Euan Hutton permanently to the role of Sellafield Ltd CEO.

    Euan has been interim CEO since July last year, and has demonstrated his integrity and expertise, meeting challenges head on.  Anyone who knows Euan will know that he has the deepest respect for the people of Sellafield Ltd and the communities around us.

    I am confident that Euan is the right leader for Sellafield Ltd and that he will continue to deliver what the organisation needs.

    Euan, who lives near Cockermouth, began his career on the Sellafield Ltd graduate programme. He has held positions at Sellafield and across the UK and international nuclear industry during his 31-year career.

    He has extensive experience of Sellafield’s operations and challenges, having served in a number of senior leadership roles, including Chief Nuclear Officer.

    Welcoming Euan’s permanent appointment, NDA Chief Executive David Peattie, said:

    I want to personally thank Euan for his dedication since taking on the role of interim CEO in July last year, and to acknowledge the progress we’ve seen under his leadership.    

    Euan’s passion and commitment for the business, its nationally important mission and the people working to deliver it, is clear.

    I am pleased he will now be instrumental in leading Sellafield’s next chapter, and enabling us to deliver our collective goal, to create a clean and safe environment for future generations.

    Euan said:

    It is an honour to continue to lead Sellafield Ltd as we enter what I believe will be the company’s most exciting chapter yet.

    At Sellafield we must continue to make progress in tackling one of the biggest environmental remediation challenges in the UK. We must also continue to bring our skills to bear on supporting other national priorities – from security of energy supply through spent fuel management, or national security through world-class guardianship of special nuclear materials.

    At the heart of our complex work are the people of Sellafield Ltd and I want to thank them for their support, dedication, and flexibility over the last year. It is their skills and expertise that gives me confidence as I look to the challenges and opportunities ahead.

    Updates to this page

    Published 31 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: FCDO Indo-Pacific Minister statement on North Korea ICBM launch

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The UK has condemned the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile by North Korea on 30 October.

    FCDO Minister for the Indo-Pacific Catherine West said:

    The UK condemns the latest launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile on 30 October by North Korea; these actions clearly breach multiple UN Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs).

    Unlawful ballistic missile launches are deeply damaging for regional stability and continue to destabilise the peace and security of the Korean Peninsula.

    The UK will continue to call out violations of UNSCRs. We urge North Korea to refrain from illegal launches, return to dialogue, and abandon its illegal nuclear and ballistic weapons programme.

    Media enquiries

    Email newsdesk@fcdo.gov.uk

    Telephone 020 7008 3100

    Contact the FCDO Communication Team via email (monitored 24 hours a day) in the first instance, and we will respond as soon as possible.

    Updates to this page

    Published 31 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Denis Manturov held another meeting on providing assistance to the Kursk region

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

    The meeting was attended by the head of the region, Alexey Smirnov, representatives of the Government Office, and federal executive authorities.

    The issues discussed included providing all types of assistance to the population and enterprises of the region, organizing medical services, the operation of housing and communal services systems and resource supply organizations, and the execution of the regional budget.

    Alexey Smirnov informed First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov that the Kursk Region government is constantly interacting with the federal center on issues of supporting border residents. As the governor noted, to date, almost all victims have received one-time payments. Work on the remaining applicants will be completed in the near future. At the moment, payments to residents of the Kursk Region for full or partial loss of property, payments due for damage to health, and housing certificates are being issued.

    Denis Manturov noted the need to maintain constant interaction between federal executive authorities and the region and promptly consider requests received from the Kursk region.

    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.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General – on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    The Secretary-General strongly condemns the launch today of a long-range ballistic missile by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

    The DPRK’s continued launches of missiles using ballistic missile technology are clear violations of relevant Security Council resolutions.

    The Secretary-General remains concerned about the situation on the Korean Peninsula. He has consistently called for de-escalation, the full implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions, an environment that is conducive to dialogue, and the resumption of talks. 

    Diplomatic engagement remains the only pathway to sustainable peace and the complete and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: October Oil and Gas Public Offering Generates $7.3 Million in Revenue

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on October 31, 2024

    The Government of Saskatchewan’s Crown oil and natural gas public offering, held on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, raised $7,304,936.95 for the province, with the Estevan area generating the majority of the revenue.

    Of the 112 parcels posted for this offering, 93 received acceptable bids, covering a total 15,347.639 hectares.

    The Estevan area generated the most financial interest, bringing in $5,417,916.25 for 56 leases and one exploration licence for a total of 8,330.517 hectares.

    The Kindersley area generated $1,325,636.53 for 21 leases for a total of 5,063.604 hectares.

    Surge Energy Inc. made the highest bonus bid and the highest dollars-per-hectare bid in its offering of $1,369,276.03, or $5,284.76 per hectare. This was for a 259.099 hectare lease in the Estevan area, northeast of Macoun. 

    Millennium Land (444) Ltd. won the single exploration licence posted in this offering, bidding $407,670.71 for a 2,318.023 hectare licence in the Estevan area, south of Minton.

    After four public offerings this fiscal year, the provincial government has raised $37,382,523.18 in revenue. The next offering is scheduled for December 3, 2024. 

    There are six scheduled public offerings of oil and natural gas dispositions held each fiscal year in Saskatchewan. This process uses an open and competitive bidding system to issue oil and natural gas dispositions.

    Several factors affect public offering activity, including changes in oil and gas prices, land availability, geological and technological constraints and various market conditions.

    For more information about oil and gas public offerings in Saskatchewan, please visit the Schedule of Public Offerings webpage on saskatchewan.ca. 

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Combined Joint Operations from the Sea Centre of Excellence Hosts Maritime Security Regimes Roundtable

    Source: United States Navy (Fleet Command)

    by Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet Public Affairs

    31 October 2024

    NORFOLK, Va. —

    The Combined Joint Operations from the Sea Centre of Excellence (CJOS COE) hosted the Maritime Security Regimes Roundtable on Oct. 29-30, 2024, gathering key stakeholders to address global maritime security challenges and foster collaboration across sectors.

    CJOS regularly collaborates with industry and academic institutions, bridging military and civilian expertise to stay at the forefront of technological advancements and conceptual thinking. This year’s theme was “Maritime 360: Securing Our Seas in an Increasingly Complex and Connected World,” which highlighted the critical importance of cooperation in facing global maritime threats. Military officials, government authorities, industry leaders, and academic representatives gathered for discussions that emphasized the wide-ranging concerns of today’s maritime security environment.

    During his opening remarks, Vice Adm. Doug Perry, commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet, commander, Joint Force Command Norfolk, and director, CJOS COE, acknowledged the diverse group of participants.

    “It is imperative that we focus on maritime security at every level of our future planning,” said Perry. “Our robust maritime network is an advantage that our adversaries cannot match, and we grow stronger with every opportunity we have to work together.”

    The event featured a two-day agenda. The first day focused on both ongoing and emerging maritime threats, including discussions on the Red Sea, Arctic and Baltic security, and challenges in the South China Sea and Gulf of Guinea. The discussions incorporated both military and commercial perspectives, ensuring a comprehensive approach to maritime security.

    The second day shifted to industry and technological innovations, with presentations on advanced maritime technologies and their applications for current and future security needs. By incorporating these forward-looking solutions, the roundtable aimed to enhance the readiness and resilience of maritime forces.

    “The Alliance must maintain that collective advantage – our governments and our people demand it,” said Perry. “Maintaining an international rules-based order as a guiding global principle, requires us to tackle our challenges together. Not just with the force of our militaries, but with diplomacy, advice from our scholars, the ingenuity of our industry, and the will of our free people as represented by our governments.”

    Leaders from Maritime Security Working Groups closed the event with updates on their accomplishments throughout the year, reinforcing the importance of collective action in maintaining a secure maritime domain.

    CJOS COE, established in May 2006, plays a pivotal role in advancing maritime-based joint operations within NATO. Based in the United States, it is the only Centre of Excellence headquartered in the country and one of 30 NATO-accredited centers worldwide. Representing 13 nations, the organization focuses on driving innovation, concept development, and the formulation of doctrine and standards in support of NATO’s goals.

    “We have a long-standing, close, and hugely successful partnership that is central to CJOS’ efforts to help foster a prosperous and safe maritime environment,” said Commodore Philip Nash, Royal Navy, deputy director, CJOS COE. “Combining our strengths creates new perspectives and solutions to meet the global maritime security challenges facing our NATO Alliance today.”

    As an independent entity, CJOS COE is not part of NATO’s Command structure but serves as a critical resource, leveraging the expertise of its 13 sponsoring nations and its close relationship with U.S. Fleet Forces and U.S. 2nd Fleet. This collaboration ensures that NATO’s maritime forces remain agile and capable of adapting to evolving threats.

    CJOS COE’s partnerships with Allied Command Transformation, Allied Maritime Command, and other NATO Centres of Excellence to further enhance its ability to foster cooperation across borders. These efforts ensure that NATO’s maritime forces remain at the cutting edge of modern military doctrine and technology.

    With a team of 25 permanent staff members, CJOS COE maintains the flexibility to respond quickly to the evolving needs of its stakeholders. This diverse group brings a wide range of perspectives, enhancing the Centre’s ability to shape future maritime strategies effectively.

    Through its commitment to collaboration, innovation, and the sharing of best practices, CJOS COE continues to strengthen NATO’s maritime capabilities, ensuring the Alliance remains ready to meet the challenges of modern maritime operations.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: McKeesport Felon Charged for Possession of Firearm and Ammunition

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

    PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of McKeesport, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.

    The one-count Indictment named Richard L. Edwards Jr., 49, as the sole defendant. Edwards was arrested on August 9, 2024, by the City of McKeesport Police Department related to this charge.

    According to the Indictment, on or about August 9, 2024, Edwards, who was previously convicted of a felony, was found to be in possession of a Ruger Security-9 semi-automatic pistol, a Smith and Wesson SD40 VE semi-automatic pistol, a Smith and Wesson .357 Magnum revolver, and one Winchester 1300 20-gauge shotgun, as well as 20-gauge ammunition, .357 Magnum ammunition, 38 Special ammunition, and 40 caliber ammunition. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.

    The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.

    Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca L. Silinski is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

    Westmoreland County Adult Probation, the City of McKeesport Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

    An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: PubMatic Named a Leader in Q4 2024 Analyst Report on Sell-Side Platforms

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NO-HEADQUARTERS/REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Oct. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PubMatic (Nasdaq: PUBM), an independent technology company delivering digital advertising’s supply chain of the future, proudly announces its recognition as a Leader in The Forrester Wave™: Sell-Side Platforms, Q4 2024. According to the report from Forrester Research, a leading global research and advisory firm, “PubMatic is known for its scale, cross-channel support, and extensive experience dating back to programmatic advertising’s inception.”

    In the report, Forrester evaluated 10 top sell-side platforms (SSPs) based on 33 criteria spanning three categories: current offering, strategy, and market presence. PubMatic received the highest possible scores across 14 criteria, including Programmatic Auctions, Commerce Media, Publisher Protections, and Innovation. PubMatic also received the highest possible score in the Market Presence category.

    Criteria in which PubMatic received the highest possible scores:

    • Programmatic Auctions: PubMatic’s OpenWrap unified auctions are a “resounding success for publishers…” We provide publishers with advanced tools to maximize revenue.
    • Commerce Media: Our unique Convert solution’ is notable for its effectiveness in driving commerce media outcomes.
    • Publisher Protections: We attribute Forrester’s characterization of our “publisher-first orientation” to PubMatic’s commitment to publisher protections, including anti-fraud measures and robust reporting insights.
    • Innovation: We attribute this criterion score to PubMatic’s continuous innovation and strong partner ecosystem as key differentiators in the SSP market.

    “We are honored to be recognized as a Leader in The Forrester Wave™: Sell-Side Platforms,” said Rajeev Goel, Co-Founder and CEO of PubMatic. “To us, the designation as a Leader validates our commitment to providing publishers with the most advanced and effective tools as part of an integrated platform. Our strategic focus on customer control and partnership continues to strengthen our market position, and as we navigate the dynamic landscape of programmatic advertising, our commitment to innovation and monetization remains at the core of everything we do. We believe this is vision validated by Forrester’s assessment.”

    To find out more about PubMatic’s SSP product, click here: SSP for Publishers

    About PubMatic:
    PubMatic (Nasdaq: PUBM) is an independent technology company maximizing customer value by delivering digital advertising’s supply chain of the future. PubMatic’s sell-side platform empowers the world’s leading digital content creators across the open internet to control access to their inventory and increase monetization by enabling marketers to drive return on investment and reach addressable audiences across ad formats and devices. Since 2006, our infrastructure-driven approach has allowed for the efficient processing and utilization of data in real time. By delivering scalable and flexible programmatic innovation, we improve outcomes for our customers while championing a vibrant and transparent digital advertising supply chain.

    Press Contact:
    Ashley Jacobson, Director of Corporate Marketing
    press@pubmatic.com

    Broadsheet Communications for PubMatic
    pubmaticteam@broadsheetcomms.com
    (917) 826-1103

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: UK-Based HealthTech Startup Definition Health Raises £5.75 million in Pre-Seed Funding to Streamline Surgical Care with Advanced Predictive AI Technology

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LONDON, Oct. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Definition Health, a UK-based, clinician-led HealthTech innovator, has secured £5.75 million ($7.5 million USD) in pre-seed funding for surgical care with cutting-edge predictive AI. This funding will further fuel the enhancement of its platform, designed to seamlessly integrate into healthcare systems, transforming surgical workflows. By delivering personalized, data-driven care, Definition Health’s platform improves surgical efficiency, reduces complications, and optimizes outcomes for patients, hospitals, and insurers—positioning the company as the leader in value-based care.

    “Medicine does not stand still, nor should it. In my opinion, Definition Health is quite literally a glimpse into the future,” says Dr. David Redfern, CEO of David Redfern Surgery, Orthopedic Surgeon, and Definition Health Angel Investor. “Not only do Definition Health systems already improve patient safety in the hospital environment but they offer perhaps one of the Holy Grails of medicine – The opportunity to tailor treatments to specific patient attributes. To link a whole host of parameters to outcomes and understand how to improve those outcomes.”

    Co-founded by Dr. Sandeep Chauhan, an internationally renowned practicing orthopedic surgeon with over two decades of clinical experience, and Dr. Rosie Scott, an NHS Clinical Entrepreneur and celebrated radiologist, Definition Health was born from a vision to modernize surgical care by addressing the inefficiencies that burden both clinicians and patients. “We saw firsthand how fragmented the surgical care process was, leading to delays, cancellations, and complications,” said Dr. Chauhan. “Our platform streamlines the entire surgical journey, surfacing actionable patient data to clinicians, enabling them to intervene earlier and make more informed decisions, resulting in better outcomes for patients.”

    U.S. hospitals face increasing pressure to maximize revenue from elective surgeries, a critical income stream that accounts for 48% of hospital gross revenue. With 40% of U.S. hospitals operating at a loss, current solutions are failing to address both financial and clinical inefficiencies. Definition Health combats this by drawing on proprietary data from over 400,000 surgeries to build predictive models that optimize care and mitigate surgical risk. With U.S. healthcare under pressure from staffing shortages, rising costs, and growing surgical demands, Definition Health’s platform integrates predictive analytics and machine learning into clinical workflows to optimize pre-op planning, reduce complications, and accelerate recovery.

    Their platform has already saved the NHS the equivalent of $2.6 million per 40,000 patients by reducing surgical cancellations, and Definition Health is eager to replicate this success in the U.S., where outpatient surgeries are growing exponentially. As a participant in the UK-Florida Life Sciences Trade Corridor, the company is well-positioned to connect with key players in Florida’s healthcare market, including leading hospitals and healthcare systems, making it an ideal partner for U.S. institutions looking to improve efficiency and patient outcomes.

    “As a former NHS Hospital CEO with over two decades of experience, I immediately recognised the transformative potential of Definition Health. Sandeep and Rosie’s vision for revolutionizing end-to-end surgical pathways is not just innovative – it’s essential for the future of healthcare. Their solution is a game-changer, offering tangible benefits for both patients and front-line staff. The evaluation results are not just impressive; they’re indicative of a significant leap forward in healthcare delivery. I am truly excited to see the contribution Definition Health will make to healthcare, not only in the UK and US but on a global scale. This is the kind of innovation that investors and healthcare systems should be paying close attention to.” – Dame Jackie Daniel, former CEO of NHS Newcastle Hospitals, Healthcare Advisor to Definition Health, and Global Luminary for Accenture

    As Definition Health scales, the company is focused on expanding into key U.S. markets, starting with Florida, where the demand for surgical innovation is growing rapidly. With the success of their pre-seed round, Definition Health has opened a Series A funding round to support this growth and foster strategic partnerships in the U.S. By combining AI-powered predictive analytics with seamless clinical integration, Definition Health is transforming surgical care and providing a comprehensive solution to the challenges facing hospitals globally. The company’s success in the NHS, the largest single-payer system in the world, demonstrates its capacity to deliver value-based care at scale.

    About Definition Health
    Definition Health is a clinician-led HealthTech company transforming surgical care through advanced predictive AI technology. By streamlining the entire surgical journey, from pre-op to recovery, its AI-powered platform improves patient outcomes, enhances clinical workflows, and reduces costs for hospitals and insurers. With proven success in the NHS, Definition Health is poised to expand globally, delivering value-based care solutions that address the critical challenges facing modern healthcare systems.

    Contact:
    Sandeep Chauhan, CEO
    hello@definitionhealth.co.uk
    sandeep@lifeboxhealth.com

    Disclaimer: This content is provided by Definition Health. This press release includes forward-looking statements about Definition Health’s future plans and growth, subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual outcomes to differ. These statements reflect current expectations and are not guarantees of future performance. Definition Health assumes no obligation to update these statements. This release is for informational purposes only, not investment advice.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/14572bea-f33e-4cbe-b409-d58b9e129005

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Israel’s relations with the UN hit a new low with Unrwa ban

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Lisa Strömbom, Ph D, Associate Professor, Lund University

    Israel’s relationship with the United Nations has historically been strained, but over the past year, tensions have reached new levels. On October 28, the Israeli parliament (the Knesset) passed a law to prohibit operations of the UN’s relief and works agency (Unrwa) – the UN body responsible for Palestinian refugees – within the territory it controls. It’s a legal and political development which many fear will have grave humanitarian consequences for Palestinians in Gaza and beyond.

    The decision also prompts questions about what lies ahead for the increasingly divisive relationship between the government of Benjamin Netanyahu and the UN. There is even speculation that the Unrwa ban could lead to Israel being expelled from the UN general assembly.

    Israel’s relations with the UN have long been fractious. But Unrwa has come in for particular criticism from successive Israeli governments over the years.

    The agency was set up in 1949 to support Palestinian refugees displaced during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. What was originally intended to be a temporary agency has now operated for more than seven decades, thanks to the unending hostilities between Israel and the Palestinian people. In addition to humanitarian assistance, Unrwa provides education, healthcare and a range of social services to Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.

    Unrwa’s schools have been a particular bugbear for Israeli critics. It has been pointed out that textbooks provided by the Palestinian Authority and used in some Unrwa schools were “pivotal in radicalising generations of Gazans”. There have also been allegations that money intended to support Unrwa relief works has been finding its way to Hamas.

    But it was the alleged involvement of Unrwa employees in the October 7 attack on Israel, spearheaded by Hamas, that brought the issue to a head earlier this year. In January, Israel presented Joe Biden’s US administration with a dossier that purported to present evidence that 12 Unrwa staff had taken an active part in the attack. The UN announced it had dismissed the surviving staff named in the dossier – but the accusations led several countries to suspend their Unrwa funding.



    Read more:
    Gaza conflict: what is UNRWA and why is Israel calling for its abolition?

    Unrwa’s commissioner-general, Philippe Lazzarini, described the suspension of funding as a “collective punishment”. He said it would have grave consequences for Gaza’s civilians who were – and remain – at high risk of famine.

    An independent review set up by Lazzarini reported in April and found no evidence that the agency had been infiltrated by Hamas. Instead, it stressed how Unrwa’s work was an “indispensable lifeline” for civilians in Gaza and the West Bank. As a result, international funding of Unrwa was resumed by all countries but the US.

    At loggerheads

    Now Israel has gone a step further and banned Unrwa operations. This appears to be the latest blow in a campaign of hostility against the UN that has been years in the making.

    In recent years, Netanyahu’s anti-UN rhetoric has escalated considerably. In 2022, the UN general assembly (UNGA) voted in favour of a resolution calling for the International Court of Justice to give its opinion on Israel’s “prolonged occupation, settlement and annexation of Palestinian territory”. Netanyahu called the decision “despicable”. He refused to recognise the vote, saying:

    Like hundreds of the twisted decisions against Israel taken by the UNGA over the years, today’s despicable decision will not bind the Israeli government. The Jewish nation is not an occupier in its own land and its own eternal capital, Jerusalem.

    Netanyahu condemns ‘despicable’ UN vote.

    During the past year, as it has continued its assault on Gaza, Israel’s efforts to delegitimise the UN have also intensified. At the beginning of October, after Iran had launched a barrage of rockets at Israeli military installations, Israel barred the UN secretary general, António Guterres, from entering the country. Foreign minister Israel Katz commented: “Anyone who cannot unequivocally condemn Iran’s heinous attack on Israel … does not deserve to set foot on Israeli soil.”

    Meanwhile, units of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have been involved in a number of incidents which have threatened the safety of UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon (Unifil). The peacekeepers are there under a mandate to safeguard Lebanese civilians in the area, where Israel has been conducting what it calls its “military operation” since the beginning of October. Many scholars of international law believe the IDF’s actions could be interpreted as war crimes.



    Read more:
    Is targeting UN peacekeepers in Lebanon a war crime? Here’s what international law says

    This in turn led to a public spat with the French president, Emmanuel Macron. Calling on Israel to respect the neutrality of Unifil peacekeepers, Macron said Netanyahu should “not forget that his country was created by a decision of the UN” – to which Netanyahu replied:

    It was not the UN resolution that established the state of Israel, but rather the victory achieved in the war of independence with the blood of heroic fighters, many of whom were Holocaust survivors, including from the Vichy regime in France.

    The last clause was a pointed reminder that a section of the French government collaborated with the Nazi regime in the extermination of French Jews.

    International condemnation

    But it’s the decision to bar Unrwa from Israel that has drawn the harshest international criticism, and which threatens to further isolate the country diplomatically. The UN secretary general has been joined by the EU and US in urging Israel to reconsider.

    Washington has already been highly critical of what it describes as “Israeli efforts to starve Palestinians” in parts of Gaza, and the US and UK are both reported to be considering suspending arms sales to Israel.

    Amnesty International, meanwhile, said the law “amounts to the criminalisation of humanitarian aid and will worsen an already catastrophic humanitarian crisis”. But Israel has signalled it intends to hold firm, while insisting it will “continue to do everything in its power” to ensure that aid continues to reach “ordinary Gazans”.

    But the vast majority of Gaza’s population is now displaced. Most of the built infrastructure – including hospitals – has been destroyed. And Israel’s military operations are forcing most civilians out of the north of the Gaza Strip. So, the question now is whether the effective crippling of the largest international aid agency working in Gaza will simply make matters worse for the people living there.

    Lisa Strömbom 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. Israel’s relations with the UN hit a new low with Unrwa ban – https://theconversation.com/israels-relations-with-the-un-hit-a-new-low-with-unrwa-ban-242512

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Crapo, Smith Statement on Biden Administration’s Taiwan Double-Tax Relief Announcement

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo
    Published: October 30, 2024

    Washington, D.C.–U.S. Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and U.S. House Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith (R-Missouri) issued the following statement on the Biden Administration’s Taiwan double-tax relief announcement:
    “Last year, our committees worked closely together and consulted with the Administration to carefully craft a legislative package providing both expedited double-tax relief through the tax code and paving the way for future agreements on additional double-tax relief.  This legislation—which passed unanimously through the Ways and Means Committee, and the expedited double tax relief provisions of which passed unanimously through the Senate Finance Committee—remains the best path forward to address double taxation between the U.S. and Taiwan.  Unfortunately, the timing of the Biden-Harris Administration’s announcement appears to be driven more by politics than an effort to provide expedited tax relief.  Pursuing an approach that does not harmonize with the Congressionally-endorsed framework could jeopardize delivering that relief, impeding the shared goal of facilitating broader investment between the U.S. and Taiwan to promote our collective prosperity, national security, and economic resilience.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper, Bennet Bipartisan Colleagues Push for More Temporary Work Visas to Help Small Businesses in Colorado

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Colorado John Hickenlooper

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet joined U.S. Senators Angus King and Mike Rounds, alongside 37 of their bipartisan colleagues, to urge the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to release the maximum number of additional temporary, non-agricultural (H-2B) visas for fiscal year 2025 to support local economies and fill needed roles for American small businesses.

    “Many employers turn to the H-2B program to meet their workforce needs to not only sustain their businesses, but also support their American workers,” wrote the senators. “The H-2B program places requirements on employers to recruit U.S. workers, who are intentionally prioritized by the program and also receive demonstrated, positive impacts from their seasonal colleagues.”

    In Colorado, more than 8,400 temporary H-2B visas were requested by over 250 employers in fiscal year 2021 – reflecting a strong demand for H-2B workers in the state. The H-2B program permits employers to temporarily hire noncitizens to perform nonagricultural labor or services for a limited period of time, such as a one-time occurrence, seasonal, or intermittent need.

    In the letter, the senators highlight recent data from DOL’s Job Openings and Labor Turnover Surveys that shows that the rate of job openings have increased annually for top five H-2B occupations. Landscaping, hospitality, and the ski industry – all key to Colorado’s economy – are among the industries with the highest share of certified H-2B workers

    “As you know, the FY 2025 H-2B first half fiscal year cap was met on September 18, 2024—roughly three weeks earlier than the cap was met in FY 2024. The result is that seasonal employers whose peak seasons are in late fall and winter are capped out before their period of seasonal need begins. Absent cap relief, these employers will be unable to receive temporary, U.S. government-vetted guest workers,” continued the senators.

    Hickenlooper previously introduced the SEASONAL Act which would permit governors to petition the federal government for supplemental H-2B visas beyond the national cap of 66,000. Hickenlooper and Bennet have also pushed DHS and DOL to increase the availability of H-2B visas and worked to ensure that the visa program is efficient and effective.

    The text of the letter is available HERE and below.

    Dear Secretaries Mayorkas and Su:

    We write on behalf of seasonal businesses in our states—including employers of housekeepers in tourist destinations, landscapers with defined seasons, seafood processors with short harvesting windows, and fairs and carnivals—who are struggling to hire a sufficient number of temporary, seasonal laborers to support their operations.

    In light of these labor shortages, we strongly urge the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in consultation with the Department of Labor (DOL), to utilize the authority provided by Congress in the FY2025 Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act to release the maximum allowable number of additional H-2B visas for Fiscal Year 2025, as you did for Fiscal Year 2024. These visas will help employers handle their labor challenges, and provide additional certainty regarding their workforce planning decisions in the coming months. We urge you to promptly publish a temporary rule implementing the release of these supplemental visas.

    Many employers turn to the H-2B program to meet their workforce needs to not only sustain their businesses, but also support their American workers. The H-2B program places requirements on employers to recruit U.S. workers, who are intentionally prioritized by the program and also receive demonstrated, positive impacts from their seasonal colleagues. In fact, a 2020 Government Accountability Office report concluded that “counties with H-2B employers generally had lower unemployment rates and higher average weekly wages than counties that do not have any H-2B employers.”

    The most current employment data illustrates the workforce struggles of seasonal businesses nationwide. The Department of Labor’s Job Openings and Labor Turnover Surveys (JOLTS) show the rate of job openings have increased year over year for the industries that represent the top five H-2B occupations. As you know, the FY 2025 H-2B first half fiscal year cap was met on September 18, 2024—roughly three weeks earlier than the cap was met in FY 2024. The result is that seasonal employers whose peak seasons are in late fall and winter are capped out before their period of seasonal need begins. Absent cap relief, these employers will be unable to receive temporary, U.S. government-vetted guest workers. Congress has acknowledged this seasonal labor shortage by providing DHS with the authority to lift the H-2B visa cap for each of the past eight fiscal years. Given the growing demand for H-2B workers as employers continue to struggle with staffing shortages, we encourage you to promptly promulgate a temporary final rule for FY 2025 along the same lines as the FY 2024 rule.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Housing (Scotland) Bill rent cap proposed

    Source: Scottish Government

    Increases capped at CPI+1% up to a maximum of 6%.

    An amendment to the Housing Bill will set out how rent increases will be capped in areas where rent controls apply, subject to the approval of Parliament.

    In response to stakeholder feedback, rent increases would be limited to the Consumer Price Index (a measure of inflation) plus 1%, up to a maximum increase of 6%. If approved, the rent cap will apply to rent increases both during the term of a tenancy and in between tenancies, and will only apply in areas where rent control is applied.

    Where it applies, the rent cap will stabilise rents – supporting tenants and helping to tackle poverty, whilst providing appropriate protection for the property rights of landlords and supporting investment.

    A consultation in Spring 2025 will seek views on how powers that allow exemption from rent controls or rent increases above the cap could be used by Scottish Ministers.

    Housing Minister Paul McLennan said:

    “The Housing (Scotland) Bill includes a package of reforms which will help ensure people have a safe, secure, and affordable place to live.

    “Eradicating child poverty remains this government’s priority and having a home can make a direct contribution to achieving this. This is why ensuring families can have secure and affordable homes that meet their needs is part of our approach to tackling the housing emergency.

    “There is a consistent view that Scotland needs a thriving private rented sector – one that offers good quality, affordable housing options and values the benefit that investment in rented property delivers. This announcement provides certainty for tenants and continues to encourage investment.

    “Setting out the form of the rent cap in this way – with CPI as the basis – allows for a reflection of the costs to landlords of offering a property for rent whilst offering protection for tenants in terms of limiting more significant rent increases.

    “We are bringing forward a system of rent control that works for Scotland – a system that supports stabilisation of rents for tenants, whilst ensuring there can be a balanced approach that provides appropriate protection for the property rights of landlords and supports investment in the development of rented homes.”

    Background

    Minister for Housing: Statement on Housing (Scotland) Bill

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Preston City Council commended in a recent report for its dedication to Community Wealth Building

    Source: City of Preston

    The Centre for Local Economic Strategies, (CLES) recently released ‘Powering Up Planning’, a report investigating different councils’ approach to using the planning system to deliver better outcomes for their towns and cities and how the planning system builds community wealth.

    The findings in the report, were compiled through roundtables and conversations with local authority representatives, planners and planning authorities from across the UK, interested in sharing insights on how their work is demonstrating the social value impact that can be achieved by applicants within the existing planning system.

    In the report’s case studies, CLES took a deep dive into Preston, Salford, Islington and Scotland’s approach to creating Community Wealth Building through the planning system and how it benefited the community.

    Preston was commended for becoming a champion for Community Wealth Building in 2012, when the Council and anchor partners adopted a more active approach to using their procurement spend, land and other assets, and role as major employers to support the development of a more inclusive local economy.

    In 2017, Preston City Council adopted the Central Lancashire Employment and Skills Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) to deliver its ambitions for Community Wealth Building, particularly with regards to local employment and skills. As a requirement, the SPD insists that planning applications for major commercial, employment and residential developments must include an Employment and Skills Statement (ESS).

    Aligning with the SPD, Preston City Council developed Building Foundations, a bespoke and innovative partnership with Calico Enterprise Ltd, a social enterprise based in East Lancashire. Planning applicants can choose to pay Calico to act for the Council and review an ESS which they (the applicant) have prepared; or engage Calico directly to prepare an ESS on their behalf. The cost of monitoring the delivery of all approved ESSs is met through the Section 106 agreement1.

    Building Foundations connects developers with local partners and the Council’s Community Engagement team to encourage the promotion of employment, training and skills to local residents, helping to meet targets approved in ESSs.

    Since Building Foundations was established in November 2021, three developments in Preston East, have been completed under the new partnership, all of which have met or exceeded the targets set out in the ESS.

    There are now 17 signed Section 106 agreements, which require a developer contribution to monitor the delivery of the approved ESS.

    Highlighting the success of this initiative, in June 2024, Preston City Council and Calico were commended for their Building Foundations partnership at the Royal Town Planning Institute North West Awards in the “Excellence in Planning for a Successful Economy” category.

    The Cabinet Member for Community Wealth Building, Councillor Valerie Wise said:

    “The inclusion of Building Foundations in the CLES report and the project’s commendation at the Royal Town Planning Institute’s North West Awards provides more evidence of how Community Wealth Building is benefiting local people by improving access to good jobs and training. We look forward to seeing more jobs and apprentices on sites across the city as more developers start delivering their employment and skills commitments.”

    This new report highlights good practice in applying the principles of Community Wealth Building in innovative ways at Preston and other local authorities to deliver benefits to residents.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Council Leader calls for tougher measures against nuisance fireworks and disorder

    Source: Scotland – City of Edinburgh

    Council Leader Cammy Day has today repeated his calls for a complete ban on the public sale of fireworks and tougher sentences for those misusing them and causing public disorder.

    Councillor Day said:

    We all remember vividly the shocking scenes we saw last year with emergency services being attacked while trying to do their jobs. And more recently the appalling reports of violence and antisocial behaviour with buses and cars coming under attack. Whilst this isn’t an issue unique to Edinburgh, or indeed Scotland, I’m clear that this sort of behaviour has no place in our city.

    It’s long been my view that we need to ban the public sale of fireworks, given the potential risk to health, if misused, but also the unnecessary fear and alarm they cause in our communities.  I will be writing to my colleagues in the UK Government to request a review of the legislation, as well as the Crown Office to ask for tougher sentences for those found guilty of committing these crimes.

    I’m determined to do everything within our power to prevent a repeat of last year. Earlier this week I chaired the latest multi-agency meeting with colleagues, the police and fire service as part of our ongoing preparations, and the implementation of our firework control zones, which come into effect tomorrow (1 November). In addition to FCZs, we’re also increasing patrols from our waste services to collect items that could potentially be set alight.

    Bonfire Night should be an opportunity for communities to come together to celebrate and spend time together. I would urge everyone in the city to only attend organised displays and look out for one another. Please work with us and our fantastic emergency services to help make it a safe and enjoyable occasion this year. If you witness any criminality, please call the police on 101.

    I want to thank our emergency services once again for the professional and measured way they carry out their duties under the most difficult of circumstances. Police officers, firefighters and paramedics have a tough enough job already without being subjected to violence and abuse. Please show them the respect they deserve this Bonfire Night.

    Chief Inspector Mairi Creanor added:

    We know that certain areas of Edinburgh experienced unprecedented levels of disorder during Bonfire Night last year, and because of this a significant number of officers responding to the incidents that arose sustained a range of injuries.

    The unacceptable actions of a minority of individuals left communities in a state of alarm and put the safety of emergency service workers at serious risk of harm.

    Such offences cannot and will not be tolerated and detailed planning has been undertaken since last year to ensure we have appropriate resources in key areas and can provide additional support should they be required.

     It is an offence to use fireworks in any manner within a Fireworks Control Zone and we will take appropriate action against anyone in breach of an FCZ over the Bonfire Night period.

    This is just one of the tools at our disposal and we’ll continue to work with key partners to keep our communities safe and bring those intent on causing harm to justice.

    Further Information

    Firework Control Zones will come into effect in four areas of the city – Niddrie, Calton Hill, Seafield and Balerno – from 1 to 10 November, making it a criminal offence to use fireworks (excluding sparklers and indoor fireworks) unless part of a licensed display.

    There are a number of organised events taking place across the city. Full details are available on the council website.

    Published: October 31st 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Leader’s statement ahead of Islamophobia Awareness Month

    Source: City of Manchester

    Leader of the Council celebrates the contribution of Manchester’s Muslim communities ahead of Islamophobia Awareness Month.

    Cllr Bev Craig said:

    “Manchester is a city which is proud of its diversity and celebrates the role which all of our communities play in making our city the phenomenal place it is. This very much includes Muslim communities which make up a significant proportion of our population and contribute enormously to city life. 

    “This Islamophobia Awareness Month it feels more important than ever to celebrate the contribution our Muslim communities make to the city. We will not tolerate hatred directed towards them, or any communities, from those seeking to sow division. This is a city where we stand together against prejudice and discrimination.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Man sentenced for sexual assault and immigration and citizenship fraud following joint CBSA and Ottawa Police Service investigations

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    News release

    October 31, 2024
    Ottawa, Ontario

    The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) today announced the sentencing of Kwene Tombwe following joint investigations into immigration and citizenship fraud as well as sexual assault.

    On October 15, 2024, in Ottawa, Ontario, Mr. Tombwe pleaded guilty to:

    • three counts of sexual assault
    • one count of sexual interference involving a minor
    • one count of making a false statement in relation to a passport
    • two counts of misrepresentation under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
    • one count of misrepresentation under the Citizenship Act

    As a result, Mr. Tombwe was sentenced to six years incarceration for the sexual assaults, and one year for each of the four other charges, to be served concurrently. He was also ordered to pay $26,500 restitution to his victims, and to have his DNA collected for inclusion on the sex offender registry.

    The sentencing decision is the result of investigations which began in 2016 and spanned several international borders.

    In 2017, Mr. Tombwe absconded from Canada when he became aware that the CBSA was investigating the authenticity of refugee claims made by the people he had been exploiting and abusing. When he returned to Canada to seek medical attention in 2023, he was met and arrested by the CBSA and returned to Ottawa to face criminal proceedings. 

    Quotes

    “Everyone in Canada deserves to be safe and be treated with dignity. I want to thank the Canada Border Services Agency for their years of hard work in protecting vulnerable persons and bringing those who knowingly infringe Canada’s laws and immigration system to justice. The sentencing outcome reflects the thoroughness of the investigations and is a testament to the partnerships that have been fostered within the law enforcement community.” 

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

    “Officers at the CBSA worked diligently with the Ottawa Police Service to investigate and prosecute immigration and citizenship fraud and sexual assaults against vulnerable persons. Together, we ensure that those who break the law are held accountable for their actions.” 

    – Jag Johnston, Regional Director General, CBSA Northern Ontario Region

    “The Ottawa Police Service is committed to working closely with our law enforcement partners to ensure justice is served and the safety of our community is upheld. This sentencing is a direct result of the tireless efforts and collaboration between the OPS and the CBSA, demonstrating our shared commitment to protecting vulnerable individuals and ensuring that those who commit serious crimes are held accountable. We are proud of the joint efforts that have brought justice to the victims of these heinous acts.”

    – Superintendent Heather Lachine, OPS Criminal Investigations Directorate

    Quick facts

    • The Ottawa Police Service Human Trafficking Unit prioritizes the safety, security, and well-being of victims and survivors of Human Trafficking, regardless of whether they choose to participate in the criminal justice system or seek support to exit. We strive to treat everyone with compassion, dignity, and respect, and we aim to minimize re-traumatization by actively connecting victims and survivors with internal and community supports that best meet their needs and wishes.

    • If you or someone you know is trapped in the cycle of Human Trafficking and needs help, please contact the OPS Human Trafficking Unit at 1-800-292-1168. We are here to help.

    • Anyone with information on suspicious cross border activities, including individuals who have entered Canada based on misrepresentation, is encouraged to call the CBSA’s Border Watch Line at 1-888-502-9060

    Contacts

    Canada Border Services Agency

    Media Relations: media@cbsa-asfc.gc.ca / 1-877-761-5945 or 613-957-6500

    Website: www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca
    X: @CBSANOR
    Facebook: CanBorder
    Instagram: canborder
    YouTube: CanBorder

    Ottawa Police Service

    Media Relations: media.relations@ottawapolice.ca / 613-236-1222 ext. 5366

    Website: www.ottawapolice.ca
    X: @OttawaPolice
    Facebook: OttawaPoliceService
    Instagram: ottawapolice
    YouTube: OttawaPoliceService

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Release of the Bank of Canada’s summary of deliberations

    Source: Bank of Canada


















  • MIL-OSI USA: COVID Select Refers Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo for Criminal Prosecution

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brad Wenstrup (OH-02)

    Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic Chairman Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio) sent a criminal referral to the Department of Justice (DOJ) recommending former New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo be charged with making false statements to Congress. In an apparent effort to shield himself from accountability, evidence suggests Mr. Cuomo knowingly and willfully made false statements to the Select Subcommittee on numerous occasions about material aspects of New York’s COVID-19 nursing home disaster and the ensuing cover-up.

    Overwhelming evidence uncovered by the Select Subcommittee proves that Mr. Cuomo reviewed, edited, and even drafted portions of a purportedly independent and peer-reviewed New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) Report that was used to combat criticism of his Administration’s pandemic-era nursing home policies. This Report low-balled nursing home fatalities and blamed nursing home staff for causing excess COVID-19 deaths. During Mr. Cuomo’s transcribed interview in June, he testified (1) he was not involved in the review or drafting of this Report, (2) he did not have any discussions about a peer-review of the Report, and (3) he did not have any knowledge of individuals outside the NYSDOH reviewing the Report. Each of these statements are demonstrably false. The Select Subcommittee recommends the DOJ review the evidence laid out in the criminal referral and immediately evaluate criminal charges against Mr. Cuomo.

    “Andrew Cuomo repeatedly lied to Congress, and he must be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. Both witness testimony and new documents serve as evidence that the former Governor made false statements to the Select Subcommittee during our COVID-19 nursing home investigation. This deliberate and self-serving attempt to avoid accountability for the thousands of lives lost in New York nursing homes during the pandemic will not stand. If his prior criminal activity is any reflection, Andrew Cuomo is not a man of principle, and his willingness to lie to the Select Subcommittee is unfortunately a continuance of this behavior. Plain and simple, making false statements to Congress is a federal crime. We look forward to cooperating fully with the Justice Department’s investigation into Andrew Cuomo’s wrongdoings,” said Chairman Wenstrup.

    Read the full criminal referral here and an additional supporting transcript here.

    Review former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s transcribed interview transcript here.

    Relevant Nursing Home Investigation Timeline:

    • March 25, 2020: The Cuomo Administration recklessly directed New York nursing homes and long-term care facilities to admit COVID-positive and potentially COVID-positive patients. As a result, New York’s most vulnerable population was recklessly exposed to COVID-19.
    • July 6, 2020: The NYSDOH released a Report alleging nursing home staff — not the March 25 Directive — caused excess COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes. According to witness testimony and new documents revealed in the Select Subcommittee’s referral, Mr. Cuomo personally drafted and edited portions of this purportedly independent and peer-reviewed report.
    • January 28, 2021: New York State Attorney General Letitia James released an investigative report claiming, in part, that Mr. Cuomo and his team undercounted the total number of nursing home deaths by as much as 50 percent.
    • May 19, 2023: The Select Subcommittee began its investigation into New York’s pandemic response and the disastrous March 25 Directive.
    • As a part of this investigation, the Select Subcommittee conducted transcribed interviews with notable former New York State officials, such as Dr. Howard Zucker, Dr. Eleanor Adams, Dr. James Malatras, Mr. Gareth Rhodes, Ms. Linda Lacewell, Ms. Elizabeth Garvey, and Ms. Melissa DeRosa.
    • December 1, 2023: The Select Subcommittee requested Mr. Cuomo appear for a transcribed interview.
    • December 22, 2023 – March 5, 2024: The Select Subcommittee engaged in the negotiation and accommodation process with Mr. Cuomo and his legal team in an effort to secure his testimony.
    • March 5, 2024: After months of unjustified and unreasonable delays, the Select Subcommittee was forced to announce a subpoena for Mr. Cuomo’s testimony.
    • June 11, 2024: Mr. Cuomo appeared for a transcribed interview. During this interview, he testified that he was not involved in drafting the NYSDOH’s July 6 Report and that he did not review the Report prior to its public release. New evidence demonstrates these statements to be false.
    • September 9, 2024: The Select Subcommittee released a nearly 50-page memo presenting evidence that Mr. Cuomo and his team were involved in the decision to issue New York’s disastrous March 25 Directive, and then, acted repeatedly to downplay the tragic aftermath of their decision.
    • September 9, 2024: Mr. Cuomo’s attorney expressed her objections regarding the above-mentioned memo. In an effort to address those objections, the Select Subcommittee sent a series of additional questions to a former witness concerning his recent communication with Mr. Cuomo. (See September 25, 2024 for further information)
    • September 10, 2024: Mr. Cuomo appeared for a hearing, at which he was held publicly accountable for his role in New York’s pandemic-era failures.
    • September 10, 2024: The Select Subcommittee announced a subpoena for current New York Governor Kathy Hochul. Her administration has continued to withhold documents related to the Cuomo Administration’s nursing home disaster.
    • September 25, 2024: The Select Subcommittee released evidence suggesting Mr. Cuomo attempted to inappropriately influence a witness.
    • October 30, 2024: Mr. Cuomo was referred to the Justice Department for making false statements to Congress.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Why NASA’s SPHEREx Mission Will Make ‘Most Colorful’ Cosmic Map Ever

    Source: NASA

    The space telescope will detect over 100 colors from hundreds of millions of stars and galaxies. Here’s what astronomers will do with all that color.
    NASA’s SPHEREx mission won’t be the first space telescope to observe hundreds of millions of stars and galaxies when it launches no later than April 2025, but it will be the first to observe them in 102 colors. Although these colors aren’t visible to the human eye because they’re in the infrared range, scientists will use them to learn about topics that range from the physics that governed the universe less than a second after its birth to the origins of water on planets like Earth.
    “We are the first mission to look at the whole sky in so many colors,” said SPHEREx Principal Investigator Jamie Bock, who is based jointly at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Caltech, both in Southern California. “Whenever astronomers look at the sky in a new way, we can expect discoveries.”
    Short for Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer, SPHEREx will collect infrared light, which has wavelengths slightly longer than what the human eye can detect. The telescope will use a technique called spectroscopy to take the light from hundreds of millions of stars and galaxies and separate it into individual colors, the way a prism transforms sunlight into a rainbow. This color breakdown can reveal various properties of an object, including its composition and its distance from Earth.

    [embedded content]
    NASA’s SPHEREx mission will use spectroscopy — the splitting of light into its component wavelengths — to study the universe. Watch this video to learn more about spectroscopy. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

    Here are the three key science investigations SPHEREx will conduct with its colorful all-sky map.
    Cosmic Origins
    What human eyes perceive as colors are distinct wavelengths of light. The only difference between colors is the distance between the crests of the light wave. If a star or galaxy is moving, its light waves get stretched or compressed, changing the colors they appear to emit. (It’s the same with sound waves, which is why the pitch of an ambulance siren seems to go up as its approaches and lowers after it passes.) Astronomers can measure the degree to which light is stretched or compressed and use that to infer the distance to the object.
    SPHEREx will apply this principle to map the position of hundreds of millions of galaxies in 3D. By doing so, scientists can study the physics of inflation, the event that caused the universe to expand by a trillion-trillion fold in less than a second after the big bang. This rapid expansion amplified small differences in the distribution of matter. Because these differences remain imprinted on the distribution of galaxies today, measuring how galaxies are distributed can tell scientists more about how inflation worked.
    Galactic Origins
    SPHEREx will also measure the collective glow created by all galaxies near and far — in other words, the total amount of light emitted by galaxies over cosmic history. Scientists have tried to estimate this total light output by observing individual galaxies and extrapolating to the trillions of galaxies in the universe. But these counts may leave out some faint or hidden light sources, such as galaxies too small or too distant for telescopes to easily detect.
    With spectroscopy, SPHEREx can also show astronomers how the total light output has changed over time. For example, it may reveal that the universe’s earliest generations of galaxies produced more light than previously thought, either because they were more plentiful or bigger and brighter than current estimates suggest. Because light takes time to travel through space, we see distant objects as they were in the past. And, as light travels, the universe’s expansion stretches it, changing its wavelength and its color. Scientists can therefore use SPHEREx data to determine how far light has traveled and where in the universe’s history it was released.
    Water’s Origins
    SPHEREx will measure the abundance of frozen water, carbon dioxide, and other essential ingredients for life as we know it along more than 9 million unique directions across the Milky Way galaxy. This information will help scientists better understand how available these key molecules are to forming planets. Research indicates that most of the water in our galaxy is in the form of ice rather than gas, frozen to the surface of small dust grains. In dense clouds where stars form, these icy dust grains can become part of newly forming planets, with the potential to create oceans like the ones on Earth.
    The mission’s colorful view will enable scientists to identify these materials, because chemical elements and molecules leave a unique signature in the colors they absorb and emit.
    Big Picture
    Many space telescopes, including NASA’s Hubble and James Webb, can provide high-resolution, in-depth spectroscopy of individual objects or small sections of space. Other space telescopes, like NASA’s retired Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), were designed to take images of the whole sky. SPHEREx combines these abilities to apply spectroscopy to the entire sky.
    By combining observations from telescopes that target specific parts of the sky with SPHEREx’s big-picture view, scientists will get a more complete — and more colorful — perspective of the universe.
    More About SPHEREx
    SPHEREx is managed by JPL for NASA’s Astrophysics Division within the Science Mission Directorate in Washington. BAE Systems (formerly Ball Aerospace) built the telescope and the spacecraft bus. The science analysis of the SPHEREx data will be conducted by a team of scientists located at 10 institutions across the U.S. and in South Korea. Data will be processed and archived at IPAC at Caltech, which manages JPL for NASA. The mission principal investigator is based at Caltech with a joint JPL appointment. The SPHEREx dataset will be publicly available.
    For more information about the SPHEREx mission visit:
    https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/spherex/
    News Media Contact
    Calla CofieldJet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.626-808-2469calla.e.cofield@jpl.nasa.gov
    2024-152

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Department of Natural Resources awards $38,000 grant to Scotland County Consolidated Public Water Supply District No. 1

    Source: US State of Missouri

    The district will evaluate drinking water system improvements

    JEFFERSON CITY, MO, OCT. 31, 2024 – The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has awarded a $38,000 Drinking Water Emerging Contaminant Grant to the Scotland County Consolidated Public Water Supply District No. 1. The district will use the funding to evaluate its drinking water system.

    The department’s Drinking Water Emerging Contaminant Grant program offers funding for qualified communities to assess their system and identify improvements to address emerging contaminants in the drinking water. Emerging contaminants are substances that are known or suspected to pose risks to human health but are not yet regulated under environmental laws. The district will evaluate potential improvements including remediation, destruction technologies, treatment options, regionalization or alternate water sources. Improvements will enable the district to continue operating a drinking water system that meets drinking water standards and provides reliable water service to customers.

    Water and wastewater systems are essential infrastructure that support a community’s health and economic vitality. Through this grant, qualified communities have an opportunity to assess their drinking water treatment system and identify improvements for greater efficiency, effectiveness and capacity, as well as satisfy public health and safe drinking water regulations. This helps them determine what actions are needed to address current drinking water needs and plan for future growth and development.

    The department is committed to assisting Missouri communities with water and wastewater infrastructure improvement projects. Through its Financial Assistance Center, the department provides funding opportunities for qualified communities with water quality, wastewater and drinking water infrastructure needs. This project will be funded wholly or in part with monies received from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: A murder investigation has been launched following the death of a woman in Enfield

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Police were called at 16:53hrs on Wednesday, 30 October to reports of an unresponsive woman at a residential address on Westerham Avenue, N9.

    Officers and London Ambulance Service [LAS] attended. At the scene a 62-year-old woman was found with stab injuries. Sadly, despite the efforts of medics, she was pronounced dead at the scene.

    A murder investigation was launched led by Detective Chief Inspector Sarah Lee of the Met’s Specialist Crime Command who said: “Although we are in the very early stages of our investigation I can confirm that we have arrested a 55-year-old woman on suspicion of murder. She is currently in custody.

    “I would like to reassure local people that we are not seeking anyone else in connection with this incident. We believe that the victim and suspect were known to each other and there is no indication of any ongoing risk to public safety.”

    The victim’s family has been notified. They will be supported by specialist officers.

    A post-mortem examination will be scheduled in due course.

    Detective Superintendent Marco Bardetti leading local policing in Enfield and Haringey said: “I know that local people will be concerned by this shocking loss of life and there will be a heightened police presence in the area in the coming days to provide reassurance.

    “A crime scene remains in place, and I would like to thank local people for their patience while our Specialist Crime colleagues, supported by local officers, conduct their enquiries.

    “If you are concerned or worried please do feel free to approach officers as they patrol or contact your local Neighbourhood policing team.

    “Our thoughts are with the victim’s family at this sad time.”

    Anyone with information that may assist the investigation team is asked to call 101 or post on X @MetCC quoting 5420/30OCT24.

    To remain 100 per cent anonymous call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Tomarket Launches First FarmingPool in Telegram Ecosystem to Unlock Early Rewards For Users

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, Oct. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Tomarket, a prominent mini-app in the TON ecosystem, has launched a new feature, FarmingPool, designed to enhance user engagement and facilitate community rewards. As the first FarmingPool on Telegram, this initiative aims to connect Tomarket’s users with carefully vetted projects, providing an efficient platform for earning crypto rewards.

    Through FarmingPool, users can stake Tomarket’s official token, $TOMA, or complete referral tasks to earn points and participate in airdrops from selected projects. FarmingPool creates additional earning opportunities, allowing all users to capitalize on new ventures from the outset. Additionally, Tomarket leverages its substantial traffic to support project growth by connecting users with high-quality initiatives. This approach not only enhances individual earning potential but also fosters a vibrant and thriving community.

    With a mission to build a community-focused ecosystem, Tomarket has announced that 80% of TOMA tokens will be allocated directly to the community. The Token Generation Event (TGE) for $TOMA will take place on October 31 at 23:59 (GMT+8). The TGE will use a tiered system to evaluate user activity for distribution, with users achieving L4 Bronze status or higher eligible for the airdrop—making active participation even more rewarding.

    Since its launch four months ago, Tomarket has grown exponentially, reaching over 40 million users and establishing itself as one of the top three Telegram Mini-Apps. Tomarket’s success is attributed to its tailored strategy within the Telegram and TON ecosystems, offering a unique blend of gaming and earning elements that make Web3 opportunities more accessible to Web2 users. The investments from Bitget Wallet and Foresight X have also enabled Tomarket to continually expand its offerings, leveraging its market influence to connect users with valuable digital assets.

    Looking ahead, Tomarket is soon to unveil a roadmap focused on empowering its community with richer rewards and deeper engagement.

    “Web3’s true strength lies in community-driven ecosystems,” says Miles, Tomarket’s Core Contributor. “Our roadmap will expand opportunities for users to connect, earn, and grow within the Telegram ecosystem, enhancing their experience while solidifying Tomarket as a leading force in the Telegram & TON space.”

    For more details about Tomarket’s news, users can refer to Tomarket’s Telegram announcements.

    About Tomarket

    Tomarket is your all-in-one platform for gaming, earning, and trading on Telegram & TON. No more jumping between different platforms—play games, earn tokens, and trade them all in one place. Tomarket is backed by Foresight X and Bitget Wallet. 

    For more information, users can visit：Website |  Twitter |  Telegram

    Contact

    PR team
    media@tomarket.ai

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Video: The EU is offering support to Spain’s affected areas

    Source: European Commission (video statements)

    President Ursula von der Leyen:

    ”What we’re seeing in Spain is devastating.

    My thoughts are with the victims, their families and the rescue teams.

    The EU has already offered support.

    Copernicus has been activated.

    The #EUCivilProtection can be mobilised.

    Europa está lista para ayudar”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYqi3hN-Y3s

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Government backs UK R&D with record £20.4 billion investment at Autumn Budget

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Yesterday’s Autumn Budget backs UK’s R&D sector with record highest ever level of government investment.

    DSIT in the Autumn Budget 2024 £20.4 billion to boost UK Science and Tech

    • The Chancellor announced £20.4 billion in investment for UK R&D to drive economic growth, including fully funding association to Horizon Europe research programme
    • Up to £520 million Life Sciences Fund to unlock £1.8 billion in private investment, advance health resilience and create high-quality jobs across the country
    • New R&D investments to power the UK’s national missions, with regional innovation accelerators supporting growth across the country

    At yesterday’s Budget (Wednesday 30 October) the Chancellor has announced the highest ever level of government investment of £20.4 billion in research and development for next year, reinforcing the government’s commitment to back the UK’s R&D ecosystem to drive economic growth and achieve its five national missions.

    The Budget will fully fund the UK’s association with Horizon Europe, providing scientists and innovators access to the world’s largest collaborative funding scheme, with over £80 billion available for cutting-edge projects under the EU scheme. DSIT’s own R&D budget has increased to £13.9 billion, and core research funding has also been increased to a record £6.1 billion, bolstering the UK’s leading research base.  

    A significant part of this Budget is dedicated to the UK’s life sciences sector, a cornerstone for positioning the UK as a leader in science and innovation, through a £520 million commitment to the Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund.

    Additionally, the Chancellor announced funding for several other programmes to be led by DSIT. Together, these investments underscore the importance of science and technology in driving economic growth essential to raising living standards and funding public services, positioning the UK at the forefront of global innovation and progress.

    Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said:

    The Autumn Budget is clear recognition of this government’s view that driving economic growth and improving people’s lives cannot be done without investing in science and technology.

    That’s why we are taking R&D investment to record levels and matching our words with action by empowering researchers and businesses to solve real-world problems, grow emerging new industries and create high-quality jobs.

    DSIT’s Autumn Budget announcements include:

    Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund

    The Chancellor unveiled the Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund (LSIMF), starting with £70 million in grants, as part of a long-term commitment of up to £520 million to secure major life sciences manufacturing investments across the UK.

    This fund strengthens the country’s ability to develop and produce life-saving treatments, ensuring quicker access to vital medicines and bolstering NHS stability.

    The LSIMF is expected to unlock up to £1.8 billion in private investment, supporting thousands of high-skilled jobs and driving economic growth nationwide, while preparing the UK for future health emergencies and enhancing NHS resilience.

    R&D Missions Programme

    The new R&D Missions Programme (RDMP), which we are initially investing £25 million for, will address specific challenges our National Missions face, such as advancing healthcare and transitioning to cleaner energy. Partnering with private and third-sector organisations, this initiative aims to turn scientific advancements into real-world benefits, improving public services and quality of life across the UK.

    Spin-Out Review Proof of Concept Fund

    To support the UK’s Growth Mission, the government is investing £40 million over five years in a Proof of Concept Fund, to turn pioneering university research into successful companies. This initiative aids researchers in bringing their innovative ideas to the market, creating high-potential start-ups that drive job creation and economic growth.

    Successful spinouts like Pragmatic Semiconductor, which raised £182 million to help open its first manufacturing facility and create 500 high-skilled jobs, or Oxford Nanopore with over 1,000 employees, highlight the potential impact of research-led innovation.

    Innovation Accelerators and Made Smarter Innovation programmes

    The government has extended for a further year, two key programmes that promote innovation across UK regions and manufacturing. The Innovation Accelerator programme will continue for another year, focusing on high-potential clusters in the Glasgow City Region, Greater Manchester, and the West Midlands.

    Successes include Chemify, a Glasgow-based spin-out developing new methods for chemical manufacturing, which has since attracted £28 million in private funding, and the Biochar Cleantech Accelerator in the West Midlands, which is creating new products to support green growth. These projects demonstrate the benefits of R&D across the country and its support for regional economic growth.

    Meanwhile, the Made Smarter Innovation programme will continue to be funded with up to £37 million, and empowers manufacturers to adopt digital technologies, enhancing productivity and sustainability by connecting digital solution providers with industry. 

    Project Gigabit

    The government will invest at least £500 million over the next year in Project Gigabit and the Shared Rural Network, accelerating the rollout of digital infrastructure to underserved regions in the UK. The funding aims to deliver full gigabit coverage by 2030, ensuring fast, reliable internet access for communities and businesses, enabling equal access to digital opportunities nationwide.

    Shared Services Strategy

    DSIT will invest up to £80 million to enhance corporate functions across nine government departments. It aims to transform shared services and streamline systems, making them more efficient, modern, and cost-effective, delivering better value for taxpayers.

    Review of barriers to the adoption transformative technologies

    The government has commissioned a review led by the government Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor Dame Angela McLean, and National Technology Adviser, Dr Dave Smith, to identify barriers to adopting transformative technologies. This review will focus on the high-growth sectors in the government’s Industrial Strategy, aiming to enhance and productivity and drive growth to boost the UK economy.

    In response to today’s Budget, Sir Adrian Smith, President of the Royal Society, said:  

    It is very good news for the science sector and for the UK that the Chancellor has recognised research and innovation as a ‘crucial national asset’ for delivering long-term economic growth. 

    Protecting the science budget, despite the challenges facing public finances, and investing £20.4 billion in 2025/2026, will create conditions that generate new knowledge, boost productivity and unlock opportunities for every corner of the UK. 

    There is clear recognition that delivery of net zero and support for innovation in growth sectors, like AI, will be key to capturing these economic opportunities. 

    The Chancellor rightly recognises that investing in education and skills today lays the foundation for the UK’s future prosperity and international competitiveness. Recruitment of specialist science teachers and reform of mathematical education as part of the upcoming curriculum review will be key to delivering this pledge.

    Professor Andrew Morris PMedSci, President of the Academy of Medical Sciences, said:

    With this Budget, we are pleased that the government has recognised the pivotal role of research and innovation in powering economic growth and prosperity. The Academy will continue to support this by working with our partners to deliver the best possible outcomes for research and for the health of people everywhere. 

    It is encouraging that the Chancellor is providing much-needed stability for our research community by protecting core R&D budgets and we particularly welcome the real-terms increase in National Institute for Health Research investments, which are an important step towards delivering health research and innovations for patients across the UK.  

    The government’s commitment to fully cover the cost of the Horizon Europe programme is essential for advancing medical science and addressing global health challenges across borders and we encourage the UK research community to actively pursue these funding opportunities.

    By recognising innovation as one of the seven pillars of its Growth Mission, alongside the commitment to establish 10-year budgets in the Spring Statement and a roadmap to rebuild the NHS, the government is signalling an important shift to longer-term thinking. Stable, sustained funding is crucial for fostering productive partnerships between academia, industry and the NHS, and enabling the kind of transformative research that improves the lives of people across the UK.

    Dr Tim Bradshaw, Chief Executive of the Russell Group said:

    In a challenging fiscal landscape, we are pleased to see the government has protected the R&D budget, including core research funding, and recognised the value of research and innovation as a key pillar of the growth mission. This will allow universities to continue to deliver on growth and productivity, contributing to job creation, regional investment and advances that improve public services.

    We particularly welcome the introduction of a multi-year R&D missions programme which highlights the role of R&D in achieving the government’s top priorities, including the Industrial Strategy. We are also very encouraged to hear that full funding has been made available for our association to Horizon Europe. In both of these areas we will be working with our partners across industry and academia to maximise the benefits for the UK.

    Continuing to grow R&D investment for the UK, including in fundamental research, will be crucial to creating new industries, leveraging private investment and delivering high-value jobs across the country.

    DSIT media enquiries

    Email press@dsit.gov.uk

    Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 6pm 020 7215 300

    Updates to this page

    Published 31 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New time capsule buried at Derby Market Hall

    Source: City of Derby

    A new time capsule has been sealed within the walls of Derby Market Hall, containing a snapshot of life in Derby in 2024 for future generations to uncover.

    Construction partner Wates and Derby City Council joined together to inter the capsule at a special event on Thursday 31 October. The new capsule now sits alongside two others, dating from 1864 and 1938, that were uncovered during the £35m refurbishment of the historic venue.

    These two previous capsules went on display at the Local Studies Library, where they captured the imagination of visitors who provided their own suggestions of items to include in this latest capsule.

    All key partners involved in the project have provided items including letters from Councillor Nadine Peatfield, Leader of the Council, and Tim Wates, Chairman at Wates.

    Architects Lathams have provided architectural drawings, while Hemingway Design, branding partner for the project, have included a copy of the new visual identity document.

    The capsule itself is a length of pipe provided by Cadent Gas, and Sealed within are a diverse range of items, contributed by businesses across the city, that reflect life in Derby in 2024.

    This includes a 3D printed submarine from Rolls Royce, the latest Food and Drinks guide from Marketing Derby, and a model Toyota Corolla.  A selection of photos showcase Derby’s diverse communities and vibrant events, including 2024’s Derby Pride, the 2023 Lantern Parade and Caribbean Carnival.

    The £35m transformation of the historic Market Hall – which is partly funded with £9.43m from the Government’s Future High Streets Fund – is well underway, providing a new hub for creatives, makers and traders, building on the city’s heritage of innovation and industry.

    Businesses throughout the region are registering their interest in operating from the refurbished Market Hall, which will bring together the best of the region’s independent shopping, eating, drinking and entertainment when it reopens in Spring 2025.

    Councillor Nadine Peatfield, Leader of Derby City Council, said:

    This is an exciting moment in the Market Hall project as we seal a snapshot of 21st Century life for generations to come.

    I’m overwhelmed by the response to this project. We have so many businesses and groups represented in this capsule, giving future generations a real insight into what life was like here in Derby in 2024.

    It’s a strange concept, not knowing when these items will be uncovered. I hope that whenever this capsule is opened, people will get a sense of what life was like in Derby in 2024 and see it as a vibrant, diverse and thriving city.

    All that is for the future, but for now we’ll continue to press on with the refurbishment and I look forward to seeing the Market Hall open again in 2025.

    Tim Wates, Chairman for Wates, said:

    It was an honour to include a piece of Wates in the time capsule. Wates is proud to have managed the regeneration of this Grade II Listed Victorian Market Hall, originally designed by Derbyshire engineer Rowland Mason Ordish, into a vibrant cultural and retail destination. Guided by our commitment to reimagining spaces where people can thrive, we’ve focused on preserving heritage while enhancing accessibility, safety, and wellbeing. We’ve worked diligently to create a space that supports diverse uses, with the goal of revitalising the city’s day and night-time economies. Time will tell if the capsule is recovered, but it is a legacy we are proud to be involved in.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Dominican Republic

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    Dr Carol van der Walt has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Dominican Republic in succession to Mr Mockbul Ali OBE.

    Dr Carol van der Walt

    Dr Carol van der Walt has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Dominican Republic in succession to Mr Mockbul Ali OBE. Dr van der Walt will take up her appointment during November 2024.

    Curriculum vitae

    Full name: Carol Ann van der Walt

    2020 to 2024 FCDO, Deputy Head Latin America Department
    2018 to 2020 DExEU, Head of Crown Dependencies and Overseas    Territories Team
    2017 to 2018 FCO, Head of Diversity and Inclusion Team, Human Resources Department
    2013 to 2017 Oslo, Deputy Head of Mission
    2011 to 2013 FCO, Head of EU Strategic Policy Team, European Union Department (Future of Europe)
    2011 FCO, Head of EU Strategy Team, European Union Department (Internal)
    2009 to 2011 FCO, Senior Political Analyst, Overseas Security Information for Business, Global Issues Department
    2008 to 2009 FCO, Head of Training Strategy, Business Engagement Group, Information & Technology Department
    2003 to 2008 Maternity Leave, Special Unpaid Leave
    1998 to 2003 Brussels, Second Secretary, UK Permanent Representation to the EU
    1998 to 1999 FCO, Fisheries Officer, Aviation and Maritime Department
    1998 Joined FCO

    Media enquiries

    Email newsdesk@fcdo.gov.uk

    Telephone 020 7008 3100

    Contact the FCDO Communication Team via email (monitored 24 hours a day) in the first instance, and we will respond as soon as possible.

    Updates to this page

    Published 31 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Diwali: Minister Yaseen

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    “Today, thousands of Albertans are coming together to celebrate Diwali, a time of reflection, unity, and joy. This festival, observed in various ways across Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism and Buddhism, symbolizes the victory of dharma (righteousness) over adharma (injustice) and the eternal triumph of light over darkness.

    “Throughout this vibrant celebration, many Albertans will adorn their homes, temples and workplaces with diyas (oil lamps), candles and lanterns, while also decorating their spaces with traditional rangoli patterns and jhalars (coloured fabrics). Fireworks will light up the night skies, and festive gatherings will be filled with the sharing of mithai (sweets) and delicious meals.

    “For Sikhs, Diwali also marks Bandi Chhor Divas, the Day of Liberation, commemorating the release of Guru Hargobind Ji.

    “I wish everyone a Diwali filled with light, happiness, and hope! Shubh Deepavali!”

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Former registered contractor convicted for carrying out building works in a dangerous manner

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts today (October 31) ruled that a former registered general building contractor and its sub-contractor had contravened the Buildings Ordinance (Cap. 123) (BO) and imposed each with a fine of $8,000. The Buildings Department (BD) will seek legal advice on whether to appeal against the amount of the fines imposed.

         The case involved a fatal incident at a construction site at Tung Yuen Street, Yau Tong in December 2022. A worker was hit by a collapsed steel section when carrying out removal works of a temporary lateral support at the construction site, and died subsequently. An investigation by the BD found that precautionary measures had not been adequately provided by the contractor and its sub-contractor during the dismantling of the temporary lateral support. The BD initiated prosecutions against the contractor and its sub-contractor under section 40(2B)(a) of the BO in December last year.

         The subject contractor (i.e. Aggressive Construction Engineering Limited) was removed from the Register of General Building Contractors on November 16 last year.

         Pursuant to section 40(2B)(a) of the BO, any person directly concerned with the relevant building works, who carries out or authorises or permits such works to be carried out, in such manner that it causes injury to any person or damage to any property, shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine of $1,000,000 and to imprisonment for three years.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Elevation Foods Issues Recall Due to Undeclared Soy in Hannaford Seafood Salad

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

    Summary

    Company Announcement Date:
    FDA Publish Date:
    Product Type:
    Food & Beverages
    Allergens
    Reason for Announcement:

    Recall Reason Description

    Contains an undeclared soy allergen.

    Company Name:
    R. Walters LLC dba Elevation Foods
    Brand Name:

    Brand Name(s)

    Hannaford

    Product Description:

    Product Description

    Seafood Salad

    Company Announcement

    Danvers, Massachusetts. R. Walters LLC dba Elevation Foods is recalling 1,668 units of mislabeled Hannaford Seafood Salad 12oz because it contains an undeclared Soy allergen. Consumers with an allergy or severe sensitivity to soy run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.

    The recall extends to the following labels and package sizes.

    Brand Name

    Product

    UPC

    Use by

    Units
    Hannaford Seafood Salad 12oz 0 41268 25161 2 BB 11/13/2024
    BB 11/14/2024    		 1,668

    The Use by can be found printed on the lid of the container.

    The product is only sold in Hannaford stores. The product is sold in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and New York. The products were distributed between 10/25/24 to 10/29/24 with Use by of 11/13/24 and 11/14/24. Hannaford has been notified and has removed the product from store shelves.

    The recall was initiated after it was discovered that the printer of the labels for Hannaford Seafood Salad had provided Elevation Foods with labels that did not match the current product formulation. These labels were created for an upcoming formulation change and were shipped to Elevation Foods in error.

    To date, Elevation Foods is not aware of any reports of consumer illness related to this product.

    Consumers who purchased the impacted product specified above should not consume the products and can return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact Elevation Foods during regular business hours, Monday-Friday 9am-4pm +1 (978) 646-8950 x 104.

    Company Contact Information

    Consumers:
    Elevation Foods
    +1 (978) 646-8950 x 104

    Product Photos

    MIL OSI USA News –