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  • MIL-OSI Security: Middle Sackville — Woman wanted on province-wide arrest warrant

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment is seeking information on the whereabouts of a woman currently wanted on a province-wide arrest warrant in relation to an assault that occurred in Middle Sackville.

    Jessica Carolanne Leroy, 28, from Middle Sackville, is wanted and facing charges of Assault Causing Bodily Harm, Uttering Threats and Failure to Comply with a Release Order.

    Leroy is described as 5-foot-4, 125 lbs. She has dark brown hair and brown eyes.

    Police have made several attempts to locate Leroy, and are requesting assistance from the public.

    Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Jessica Carolanne Leroy is asked to refrain from approaching her and to call police at 902-490-5020. To remain anonymous, call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips app.

    File #: 24-125239

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Intesa Sanpaolo reports record Q3 2024 results alongside CEO Carlo Messina’s vision for sustained growth

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MILAN, Oct. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Intesa Sanpaolo posted record-breaking results for the first nine months of 2024, with net income reaching €7.2 billion, a 17% increase over the previous year. 

    Read excerpts from CEO Carlo Messina’s remarks highlighting Intesa Sanpaolo’s unique strengths, including its strategic investments in digital transformation, which position Intesa Sanpaolo for sustained growth. 

    “The results of the first nine months of 2024 reaffirmed Intesa Sanpaolo’s position as a European leader: our market value now places us alongside BNP Paribas and Santander, despite these banks having considerably larger balance sheets.

    “For 2024, we expect net income to exceed €8.5 billion, driven by significant actions aimed at further enhancing the sustainability of our performance. The net income target for 2025 has been raised to around €9 billion, reflecting the substantial organic growth potential of our bank.

    “While the interest rate landscape is evolving, we are well-positioned to navigate these changes successfully, thanks to our highly diversified business model and the savings entrusted to us by families and businesses, which reached around €1.4 trillion as of September 30, 2024, up by over €135 billion from a year earlier.

    “We lead the Eurozone in revenue growth and in the ratio of commissions and insurance activity to total revenue.

    “Our strength is further bolstered by approximately 17,000 wealth management advisors—set to grow to 20,000 by 2027. We have identified €100 billion of clients’ financial assets that can drive growth of our asset management activities. 

    “Our rigorous cost management—all while increasing tech investments—has delivered our best-ever nine-month cost/income ratio at 39.1%.

    “Technological innovation is a cornerstone of our success: we lead in Europe, with €3.5 billion invested in IT and approximately 2,250 IT specialists hired to date.”

    Read here for more information on Intesa Sanpaolo’s Q3 results:
    https://group.intesasanpaolo.com/en/newsroom/all-news/news/2024/highlights-3q24-results

    Contact: international.media@intesasanpaolo.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5b2c901a-7e06-4ac5-8137-6c17e4f0127e

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: The power of AI to increase access to good jobs for all

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: The power of AI to increase access to good jobs for all

    Adopting technology, policies, and practices with disabled talent

    Business Case for Accessible Transportation. For 30% of US employees, access to employment includes travel as a part of their work. Accessible airline travel is good business. It connects disabled employees to a global economic workforce, bolsters productivity, and increases efficiency. This month, we worked with The Society for Human Resources Management Foundation (SHRM Foundation) to publish a new report on accessible air travel, A World of Work that Works for All: Accessible Airline Travel for People with Disabilities. The report provides insights into the business case for air travel and recommendations for how organizations can create more inclusive travel policies.

    Accessible formats with AI. The Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB), United Kingdom, developed an AI-based solution to streamline and scale its accessible document service to convert complex documents into accessible formats such as braille, large print, and audio. Azure AI and Azure Neural Voice enhance these formats with natural-sounding, conversational audio for a more engaging and accessible experience. “It’s a fundamental right to get information in a format you can access,” says Aidan Forman, Director of Technology and Digital Transformation at RNIB. “Accessible information is genuinely life-changing for blind and partially sighted people to fully participate in society.”

    Skilling to accelerate accessibility. The Assistive Technology Experience Centre by Access Tech Innovation in Lagos, Nigeria provides information, demos, and consultations on assistive technologies. The center has welcomed over 1000 visitors and partnered with local and international organizations to expand its reach. An AI for Accessibility grantee, the center has extended e-learning to more than 130 blind or low vision individuals in multiple countries.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Advancing prosperity in the age of AI

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Advancing prosperity in the age of AI

    As we approach another national election in the United States, both the country and the world are rightly focused on what comes next. The next president of the United States, along with new leaders in countries like the United Kingdom and Japan, will need to navigate economic and climate challenges, societal divides, and international conflicts. Looking more broadly, the next four years—and indeed the next quarter-century—will be marked by rapid technological change. This means that success for nations and the world will depend on our collective ability to manage this change well. 

    Today, we are at the threshold of major advances in life sciences, energy, and climate technology. However, the most significant opportunities in the second quarter of the 21st century will almost certainly be driven by advances in artificial intelligence (AI). This underscores the imperative for countries to develop national strategies and policies that effectively harness AI’s potential. For these strategies to succeed, it’s essential that we recognize AI’s role as a general-purpose technology and promote investments that support its broad adoption across the economy, including skilling initiatives that will position citizens to thrive in the new age of AI. 

    The World’s Next Great General-Purpose Technology 

    Economists categorize technologies into two types: single-purpose tools and general-purpose technologies, or GPTs. A single-purpose tool, like a smoke detector or lawn mower, excels at one specific task. But general-purpose technologies, like electricity or personal computers, have multiple applications and can be utilized across every economic sector. As we look ahead, it’s almost certain that AI will be regarded by economists as the next great GPT. 

    GPTs are transformative. They have the power to reshape economies and societies. A new book by Jeffrey Ding, a professor at George Washington University, documents the extraordinary degree to which GPTs have reshaped economies and even the economic balance among nations.  

    In “Technology and the Rise of Great Powers”, Professor Ding reviews the impact of GPTs over the past 250 years. He documents how the First Industrial Revolution, beginning in the United Kingdom in the 18th century, was defined by mechanization of agriculture and manufacturing based on ironworking, the most impactful GPT of the time. The Second Industrial Revolution, in the late 19th century, catapulted economic growth in the United States through the widespread adoption of two new GPTs: electricity and machine tools. The Third Industrial Revolution, which began in the 20th century, was driven by a new generation of GPTs—computerization and digital technologies—with the United States again leading the world in technology adoption. 

    Perhaps most importantly, Professor Ding documents a phenomenon that may surprise some policymakers but is familiar to many in the tech sector. He explains that the most important long-term determinant of a country’s economic growth during an industrial revolution is not whether it is at the forefront of innovation in a “leading sector” of the time. Instead, it’s whether the country “diffuses”—or spreads—the adoption of a critical GPT broadly across its economy.   

    This conclusion is intuitive, given that historically critical GPTs significantly boost productivity. The more widely a GPT is adopted, the greater its contribution to the productivity gains that drive economic growth. While it’s possible for a nation to have an advantage in both leading sector innovation and broad GPT adoption, Microsoft’s first-hand experience suggests that the sustained economic growth of nations in the first quarter of the 21st century is most closely linked to the widespread and consistent adoption of digital technologies. 

    This insight has profound implications for the impact of AI over the next 25 years. Today, policymakers in some capitals—and especially Washington, D.C.—are focused almost single-mindedly on whether their country can control and dominate cutting-edge innovation in new leading sector technologies such as graphical processing units and frontier AI models. While these are important policy issues, it’s equally, if not more, important to address what it will take to ensure the widespread and effective adoption of AI across all the societal sectors that can benefit from it. 

    Another important insight from the impact of GPTs over time is the contrast between early innovation and the delay in widespread technology adoption. The early stages of innovation often feel like an intense and even short-lived race to the technology visionaries involved, whether they are the inventors of electricity, automobiles, computers, or AI. However, broad technology adoption takes more time. Even innovations that advanced the cutting edge of technology in years required broad societal adoption that took decades. There are many reasons to believe that this pattern will hold true for AI. 

    That’s why it’s crucial to look forward now, both at the remainder of this decade and at the upcoming second quarter of the century. Countries will need to combine short and long-term strategies to be successful. These strategies will require multiple components, two of which I discuss here. 

    Building AI Skills 

    One of the vital lessons from history is the role of skilling in spreading the adoption of a critical GPT. Organizations across an economy cannot adopt new technology unless they have the skilled workers needed to use it. 

    I witnessed this firsthand during the early expansion of the PC sector. Before joining Microsoft in 1993, I spent four years in London as a lawyer helping the American PC software sector expand across Europe. In each country, this initial growth required two key components: the protection of software under copyright law to ensure organizations paid for it and investment in skilling programs to equip people with the skills to use it. 

    It’s easy to forget today that the early years of personal computing required users to study manuals or attend a class to learn how to use a computer or a new software application. When I bought my first computer in 1985, I kept a small library of manuals next to my PC, including Microsoft Word 1.0. Employers worldwide invested in PC training for their employees, but no country embraced this more broadly and rapidly than the United States between 1980 and the year 2000. 

    I recalled this experience when two weeks ago we brought more than 2,000 Microsoft employees from around the world to Seattle for a week of meetings that kicked off with a day of professional development classes. These included six different courses for non-technical employees on how to get the most from our Copilots and other AI applications. These classes were designed to help us bridge the gap between our current abilities and the evolving needs of the AI-driven workplace. While we live in a world with broad digital fluency and a vital computer science profession, the age of AI will require new efforts to learn the latest AI skills.  

    Professor Ding’s book illustrates that the need for new skills has been critical to the spread of all major GPTs since the 1700s. This extends well beyond the needs of everyday users, highlighting that an advanced skilling infrastructure is indispensable in expanding the professions that create applications that make broad use of new technologies. 

    For example, ironworking in the 1700s spread more rapidly in the United Kingdom than elsewhere because technical associations and apprenticeships in the country enabled workers to master new skills. Machine tooling in the late 1800s spread more quickly in the United States because land-grant colleges expanded the number of mechanical engineers. And the adoption of digital technology in the U.S. over the past 50 years has also benefited enormously from the rapid growth of computer science departments across American college campuses. 

    The second quarter of the 21st century will require countries to develop national AI skilling strategies. These strategies must build upon existing disciplines like computer and data science, projecting how these fields will evolve into jobs and careers for AI engineers and AI systems designers, among others. They also will need to reflect the broader array of AI fluency across different parts of the economy. And national strategies will need to build on existing educational infrastructure and determine the best ways to provide skilling opportunities across various economic sectors. 

    The Role of Social Acceptance 

    Another historical lesson involves the critical role of social acceptance of technology. This too reflects common sense: new technology never becomes truly important unless people want to use it.  

    Academic research in the 20th century made significant strides in understanding why some technologies spread more rapidly than others. Public or social acceptance typically comes down to two factors: usefulness and trust. Technologies must solve real-world problems and improve people’s lives. At the same time, they must be trustworthy, with safeguards in place to protect a country’s societal and ethical values. 

    When put in this light, it’s easy to understand why the early years of electricity involved such intense competition between Thomas Edison, George Westinghouse, and Nikola Tesla over the safety implications of different types of electrical currents. Each inventor was trying to prove that its approach was the safest and most reliable. They knew people would only use technology they trusted.  

    This provides important context for the evolution of both industry practices and government regulation of AI. The widespread adoption of AI will in part turn on the continued development of corporate governance models to ensure that AI is used safely, securely, and in a manner that the public regards as trustworthy. Companies that develop and deploy AI must continue to invest in AI governance processes and practices that earn the public’s trust.  

    While government leaders will change over time, every nation must continue to pursue balanced efforts to develop laws and regulations that govern these aspects of AI. Sustained public trust depends on it. And the ability for countries around the world to adopt AI broadly and inexpensively will require regulatory interoperability and consistency to ensure that AI advances in one country can move to other like-minded nations. 

    Broad social acceptance for AI will likely depend on three more factors. First, we need to ensure that AI creates new opportunities for workers, not just productivity growth. While this starts with broad AI skilling, it cannot stop there. Technology adoption across an organization requires thoughtful change management, and the most effective approaches typically involve input from the workers who will put it to work. There is a lot of room for new and innovative partnerships to spread best practices in this area, both among employer associations and with organized labor. 

    Second, the tech sector needs to take a responsible approach to AI competition issues. Elected and appointed officials will change, but if we look forward with the time horizon of the quarter century ahead, it’s apparent that governmental questions and proceedings will remain a fact of life—as they have since the United States adopted the Sherman Act to govern antitrust law in 1890 in reaction to the Second Industrial Revolution. Ultimately, public confidence in new technology requires confidence in the market that creates it. 

    This perspective is part of what led Microsoft to draft and adopt 11 AI Access Principles in February. These voluntary principles are designed to ensure open access, fairness, and responsibility as we deploy AI infrastructure, platforms, and applications around the world. We’re obviously not alone in thinking about these issues, and as always, governments will play the determinative role. This past year alone, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) adopted cutting-edge AI Principles, and the European Commission continues to focus on the application of its Digital Markets Act to AI. Plainly, these will represent an important part of the developments ahead. 

    Finally, social acceptance of AI will likely require a consistent focus on the impact of AI on another paramount challenge of our era: climate sustainability. We are optimistic about the ways that AI can help pursue new advances in climate technology and practices. However, we are also keenly aware that AI requires the construction of more datacenters and the use of more electricity. Both as companies and in partnership with governments, we need to conserve water and reduce carbon emissions. That’s why we’re investing as a company in greener technologies such as carbon-free sources of electricity and eco-friendly steel, concrete, and fuels. 

    The Path Forward 

    Ultimately, the world needs AI that is not only more powerful but also broadly accessible and trustworthy. Between now and the midpoint of the 21st century, countries can harness AI to enhance both productivity and prosperity.  

    We shouldn’t be pollyannish. Challenges are inevitable, as history shows. New leaders, both now and in the decades ahead, will need to navigate these challenges with thoughtfulness and agility. 

    But the opportunities ahead are far greater than the challenges. We can learn from history to ensure that AI creates benefits that are shared widely. Countries can invest in the skilling infrastructure needed for success. And across the public and private sectors, we can work together to earn and sustain public acceptance for the next great GPT that will not just shape but define a critical aspect of the quarter century ahead. 

    Tags: Accessibility, AI, AI for Accessibility, AI for Good, Governance, Responsible AI

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: UK: ‘Apartheid, Occupation, Genocide’ panel event with leading international law experts on Israel/Palestine

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Amnesty International UK and the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians are hosting a panel event in central London on Tuesday 12 November with four leading international law experts to discuss the worsening human rights crisis in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

    The expert panel – comprising Zaha Hassan, Gerhard Kemp, Itay Epshtain and Victor Kattan – will discuss how enforcing international law can help secure justice for Palestinians.

    The panellists will be available for media interviews both before and after the event.

    The event is being held at 1 Birdcage Walk in central London. Further information and tickets are available here. 

    Event details

    What: Amnesty International UK and the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians panel discussion with the following speakers:

    Zaha Hassan, Palestinian human rights lawyer, and former coordinator and senior legal advisor to the Palestinian negotiating team during Palestine’s bid for UN membership

    Gerhard Kemp, Professor of law at UWE Bristol Law School, and extraordinary professor of public law at Stellenbosch University, South Africa

    Itay Epshtain, Special Advisor on International Law and Humanitarian Principles to the Norwegian Refugee Council, and former director of Amnesty International Israel

    Victor Kattan, Assistant Professor of Public International Law at the University of Nottingham School of Law

    Where: 1 Birdcage Walk, Westminster, London SW1H 9JJ

    When: Tuesday 12 November 2024, 19:00-21:30

    View latest press releases

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why the chancellor’s plan to unlock billions of pounds of government investment is such a gamble

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Steve Schifferes, Honorary Research Fellow, City Political Economy Research Centre, City St George’s, University of London

    Perhaps the most important long-term change announced in the first Labour budget are the new rules the government has set itself to fund the expansion of public services and increase public investment. These fiscal rules, which set out how much the government can borrow and spend, are seen as critical to reassuring the markets and the public that the government is sensibly managing the economy.

    Labour has long claimed that former prime minister Liz Truss casting aside the rules to introduce unfunded tax cuts in 2022 wrecked the British economy and left families worse off with higher mortgage and borrowing costs. Chancellor Rachel Reeves came into office determined to show that Labour would be fiscally responsible.

    The government says this budget will make working families better
    off. In its own analysis, it shows that only the top 10% of the income distribution are made worse
    off (by 1%) by the plans. The poorest households gain the most (by 5%). However, this analysis counts benefits from the big increase in public spending on areas like health and education, which tend to be used more (relative to their income) by poorer households.

    Actual cash income offers a different picture. Spending watchdog the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) argues that 75% of the change to employers’ national insurance will be passed on to workers in lower wages (although the minimum wage will be boosted by 6.7% to £12.21 an hour). And there is very little for the working poor or those outside the labour market on universal credit (although pensioners have been protected).

    This budget was delivered against the background of two big challenges that need urgent action: the parlous state of the public sector after years of austerity, and the very slow growth of the UK economy, which has meant little increase in real incomes.

    To deal with these two issues, Reeves made some big changes to the previous government’s fiscal rules. This will give her space to borrow more money to finance public investment – spending on things like roads, hospitals and emerging industries that should feed into economic growth.

    Finding the money

    She has done this firstly by changing the so-called “fiscal mandate”, which relates to how much the government can borrow in any individual year. Under the new rule, within three years the government must get as much back in taxes as it spends (excluding investment).

    It is the need to meet this rule that means the government has to raise taxes by £40 billion (more than half from the increase in employers’ national insurance contributions) to fund the spending needed to run the NHS, education and other public services.

    But the government has another rule to prevent the total amount of government debt becoming too large compared to the size of the economy as a whole (GDP). Here the chancellor has chosen to change how government debt is defined, adding some more government financial assets, such as money put aside for local government pensions and student loans, to set against the outstanding amount being borrowed.

    This has given her the room to borrow an extra £50 billion a year for investment, although she plans to use only half of that. The hope is that more public investment will both boost the economy (for example, by providing more roads and green energy) and improve public sector productivity (by providing things like more schools, health centres and scanners).

    Investment in equipment would lead to increased productivity within the NHS.
    l i g h t p o e t/Shutterstock

    The OBR has judged that Reeves will meet her self-imposed rules within three years, despite the huge £70 billion increase in government spending. But it warns that the margin for error is quite small for both measures. The OBR also suggests that the economic benefits of increased public investment could take a long time to materialise, well beyond the five-year forecast period.

    There are other risks to Reeves’ strategy. The cost of borrowing could go up if those financial institutions that lend the government money demand a higher interest rate.

    The OBR projects that the government will be spending £100 billion a year on debt interest payments for each of the next five years. While the large increase in government spending and borrowing will initially boost the economy, it also means inflation is likely to stay slightly higher as more money is pumped into the economy. This, of course, could slow the rate at which the Bank of England cuts interest rates.

    Gains for the population as a whole over the five-year parliament appear to be modest, with the second smallest rise in household income of any recent parliament of just 0.5%. This is driven by OBR projections that the budget will not initially boost growth very much despite greater borrowing.

    And if the economy does not grow as much as hoped, the government may need more money to meet its day-to-day costs – especially as much of the new money has been front-loaded to be spent in the next two years. This would necessarily increase taxes even further.

    The fiscal rules mirror Labour’s political dilemma, the need for short-term pain in order to get long-term gains in improved public services, a more productive economy and higher incomes and living standards. What is not clear is how long the public will wait to see results.

    If, by the end of the parliament, people don’t feel like they have more in their pockets despite all the additional spending then Labour’s credibility could be in jeopardy.

    Steve Schifferes 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. Why the chancellor’s plan to unlock billions of pounds of government investment is such a gamble – https://theconversation.com/why-the-chancellors-plan-to-unlock-billions-of-pounds-of-government-investment-is-such-a-gamble-242556

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Four ways Mohamed Al Fayed silenced whistleblowers in his organisation

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Kate Kenny, Professor of Business and Society, University of Galway

    Mohamed Al Fayed owned the luxury goods department store Harrods from 1985 to 2010. Fred Duval/Shutterstock

    On the first anniversary of former Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed’s death, more than 20 women accused the billionaire of rape, sexual assault or harassment while they worked at his luxury department store. Many had been in their late teens and early twenties at the time.

    Since then, a further 65 women have come forward to the BBC with allegations dating back as far as 1977, and 40 people are reported to have contacted the police.

    How did Al Fayed silence potential whistleblowers for such a long time? I’ve researched whistleblowing in organisations for almost 15 years. Looking at the allegations made against him, four apparent strategies stand out as textbook examples of how leaders can suppress dissent to continue their terrible behaviour – even today.

    1. The organisation as a fortress

    As the chairman-owner of Harrods, Al Fayed could wander around its swanky shopping halls and oak-panelled offices as he pleased. And it appears he looked for women to target as he did so.

    Security guards had their role, in some cases reportedly turning a blind eye to distraught and dishevelled women leaving Al Fayed’s apartments and houses after attacks. HR people might likewise focus on recruiting certain women – like the security staff, they were just getting on with their work.

    That is the thing about bureaucracies, as philosophers from Hannah Arendt to Max Weber have highlighted. Staff are not responsible for the outcome. They just need to do their job.

    My research on whistleblowing in financial services shows clearly that the kind of blind rule-following many organisational roles require stops workers questioning the big picture and acting ethically by stepping in.

    2. Hi-tech surveillance

    The IRA bomb that exploded in Harrods’ car park in 1983 led to a top-notch system of surveillance being installed by its then owners.

    So, when Al Fayed bought the store two years later, his need for control was satisfied with cameras and recording systems. Eventually, everyone working at Harrods apparently knew about the system, which appears to have stopped them talking to each other about Al Fayed’s behaviour.

    Shockingly, the former Harrods owner appears to have extended this surveillance to the very bodies of the women he targeted. Doctors associated with the company were said to administer mandatory gynaecological examinations to female staff. Fayed was reportedly sent their test results. This meant he had eyes on his workers, bodies and all.

    Today, with things like social media and the ability to share large amounts of data rapidly, it is more difficult for organisations to keep information in-house. And so, we have seen a rapid growth in insider threat detection – using technology like keystroke monitoring, where every keystroke on a computer is tracked without the user’s knowledge, to identify potential leaks.

    A byproduct has been a “chill effect” on workers speaking out about wrongdoing they see in their organisations – something that has been highlighted by the UN as a problem for society.

    My research alongside other academics into whistleblowing in healthcare, engineering and government shows one thing clearly: if trust in the organisation is lacking and workers do not feel protected against potential reprisals, they stay silent. Overt surveillance deters disclosures of organisational abuses.

    Al Fayed was said to prowl Harrods on the hunt for women to target.
    DaLiu/Shutterstock

    3. Legal pressure

    The “non-disclosure agreement plus settlement payoff” tactic that Al Fayed employed with a number of Harrods staff was straight out of the Harvey Weinstein playbook. The disgraced film producer used non-disclosure agreements systematically to silence survivors.

    While non-disclosure agreements are not allowed to be used to stop workers reporting possible crimes or serious wrongdoings, a frightened 20-year-old is not likely to know this.

    In the case of Al Fayed, when Vanity Fair magazine published victims’ testimonies and allegations of serious criminality, his lawyers knew the solution. Keep the legal pressure on until the magazine settled.

    The use of legal tools to silence whistleblowers is one of the biggest concerns for researchers today. From “Slapp” suits – strategic lawsuits against public participation, filed against people who speak out – to inappropriate use of non-disclosure agreements, defensive organisations increasingly turn to the law in public whistleblowing cases. As analysis of the case of whistleblowers at the disgraced blood testing firm Theranos made clear, often the threat of legal action is enough to keep a worker silent.

    4. Dehumanise targets

    Al Fayed, we are told, would chuckle as he openly groped women. One woman reported his laughter after an attempted rape at his Villa Windsor in Paris, when he fell on the floor after she pushed him off.

    Most people would not find humour in such situations, unless they don’t see their victims as “real people”.

    But the likelihood of targets speaking out is, again, slim. A very young person told they are worthless, treated as such, and reminded of it regularly by colleagues and bosses, is not best placed to speak up. Our research with other survivors in work organisations shows how the experience of sexual violence and harassment can leave them vulnerable. They find disclosure of the abuse intolerable without empathetic and supportive colleagues.

    In an organisation designed to prevent workers discussing their concerns together – as Harrods appears to have been – the solidarity required to speak out and be protected through the collective is utterly absent.

    Harrods’ current owners have said they are “appalled” at the allegations, and the business has reached settlements with many of the people who have complained.

    When executing a campaign of “attack, isolate and silence”, money and influence can buy predators a lot of leeway, as other high-profile abusers like Weinstein and Jimmy Savile figured out. But the key thing is the organisation. With the right PR, surveillance, HR and lawyers to take legal action should stories get published, predators will be safe. The secret stays kept – until, one day, people have finally had enough.

    Kate Kenny 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. Four ways Mohamed Al Fayed silenced whistleblowers in his organisation – https://theconversation.com/four-ways-mohamed-al-fayed-silenced-whistleblowers-in-his-organisation-240936

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Recruiting the world’s first disabled astronaut doesn’t mean space travel is inclusive – here’s how to change that

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Sean Cullen, Lecturer in Engineering Manufacturing, College of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences, Brunel University of London

    In the past, spaceflight was the preserve of government-funded astronauts who had to meet stringent physical, cognitive, psychological and social requirements for selection. But in recent years, that has all been changing.

    In September 2024, two non-professional astronauts completed the first privately funded spacewalk, using the Crew Dragon spacecraft built by Elon Musk’s company SpaceX. Meanwhile, Houston-based private company Axiom Space is conducting regular flights to the International Space Station (ISS), carrying a mixture of government-funded astronauts and paying customers.

    In the last few years, nearly 100 people have become private astronauts through the space tourism companies Blue Origin, operated by Jeff Bezos and Virgin Galactic, by Sir Richard Branson. While the price of a seat on these vehicles remains out of reach for most of us, prices are expected to drop as more players enter the market.

    Despite the rapid growth in the number of space travellers, underrepresented population groups are still left behind, particularly those with disabilities. So how can space agencies and “space tourism” companies make spaceflight more inclusive for disabled astronauts?

    The European Space Agency (Esa) recently recruited John McFall, who lost his right leg aged 19, as the world’s first disabled astronaut. McFall, who is a surgeon and former paralympic sprinter, will participate in a feasibility study to improve understanding of, and overcome, the barriers that spaceflight presents for astronauts with physical disabilities.

    Esa’s most recent selection of astronauts was entirely of white European background, showing how far things still have to go. But its move to recruit McFall marked a significant milestone towards a more inclusive approach to spaceflight.

    Designing effective systems for the inclusion of disabled people is a longstanding challenge on Earth – and space presents a whole new paradigm. The very specific demands of spaceflight mean we can’t assume that traditional adjustments and assistive technology will work beyond Earth’s atmosphere. So, making spaceflight more inclusive requires looking at each step of going into space.

    Astronaut training is a complex process, designed to simulate the space environment and enable candidates to perform well under a variety of conditions they may encounter in orbit. But in many cases, the training facilities are not well designed for individuals with physical or sensory impairments.

    For example, in order to get on the plane that flies in an arc to simulate microgravity (colloquially referred to as the “vomit comet”), astronauts must climb a set of stairs, which presents a hurdle to anyone with a mobility impairment. Ironically, impairments that restrict the use of stairs on Earth might be much less of a restriction once in space.

    Spacecraft and space suit design will be another key focus. The space suits onboard the ISS were originally designed with male astronauts in mind, meaning that female astronauts have to “make do” with what is there. This has caused challenges as the number of female astronauts has risen.

    Older spacesuits were designed with male astronauts in mind.
    Nasa / Mike Hopkins

    In 2019, Nasa had to postpone the first all-female spacewalk because the torso of a space suit was too large for one of the spacewalkers. The Moon suit developed by Axiom Space in collaboration with Italian fashion house Prada is a step towards inclusivity, with anthropomorphic sizing to accommodate a wide range of crew members. Yet, future disabled astronauts might still encounter challenges if they have differences in their limbs or impairments to their dexterity.

    Interestingly, the new SpaceX Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA) suits have something called “embedded modularity” – each section of the suit is customised to the intended astronaut, and all sections fit together. While intended to help with joint positioning, these suits present a unique opportunity to support disabled astronauts with limb differences.

    Inclusive suits could include a single fixed leg portion for individuals with paralysis, and removable parts for those with limb differences. Haptic gloves could provide tactile feedback through the space suit for astronauts with limb differences.

    For individuals with visual impairments, incorporating augmented reality (AR) heads-up displays (transparent displays that show the user data overlaid over their environment) and AI-powered image-to-voice software that can translate purely visual information into audio explanations could make a huge difference.

    Technological support similar to the app “Be My Eyes”, pairing sighted assistants with visually impaired people to help explain their environment, could also find uses in spacesuits.

    Exercise equipment need adjustments to allow them to be used by disabled astronauts.
    NASA

    Thriving in space

    An often overlooked part of astronaut life is maintaining physical fitness through intensive exercise regimes. Exercise is required because both muscle and bone waste away quickly in microgravity – but the fitness equipment aboard the ISS, such as the treadmill and bike, is difficult to adapt for disabled people. Both require use of both feet to operate.

    Re-engineering the systems for exercise, eating, working, going to the toilet and other essential activities is critical for enabling disabled astronauts to thrive in space.

    Assistive technologies that could be used inside a spacecraft, as opposed to within a spacesuit, are continually evolving and taking many forms. As such, there are always opportunities to improve the environment on a space mission to make it more inclusive for disabled astronauts.

    Examples could include virtual reality (VR) for use in ground training, smart prosthetics that enable the completion of complex tasks, and computer vision with AI guiding visually impaired astronauts.

    Policies implemented by space agencies have traditionally been exclusionary, focusing on able-bodied individuals and ignoring the potential of those who are different. And while some space agencies are establishing advisory committees and promoting diversity, this work is often limited to narrow purposes within these agencies.

    Despite the UK and many other countries having specific laws to reduce discrimination in the workplace, the international nature of the space sector can cause difficulty. For this reason, policies mandating inclusion and equity across the space sector are crucial. Most importantly, space agencies should ensure adequate funding and resources to support any inclusion initiatives and work with disability advocacy groups.

    Often, the root causes of inclusion barriers are a lack of understanding or awareness of disabilities. In many cases, consulting and involving disabled people in decision-making processes reduces these barriers. It is essential the space sector recruits individuals from diverse backgrounds to begin with.

    Although the concept of “diversity quotas” has historically been divisive, the first place to start is to understand the diversity both of current and potential space travellers. Publicising diversity statistics can help hold agencies accountable, and encourage initiatives aimed at greater inclusion.

    There remains a lot to do, but with a collaborative approach, the new commercial space race could act as a shining example to the rest of the world in its approach to disability.

    Sean Cullen receives funding from the Engineering Design and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). This project specifically was funded through the Brunel Research Interdisciplinary Lab (BRIL). He is affiliated with the Space 4 All community.

    Ezgi Merdin Uygur receives funding from the Marketing Trust and the British Academy / Leverhulme.

    Vanja Garaj currently receives funding from Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) and Research England.

    – ref. Recruiting the world’s first disabled astronaut doesn’t mean space travel is inclusive – here’s how to change that – https://theconversation.com/recruiting-the-worlds-first-disabled-astronaut-doesnt-mean-space-travel-is-inclusive-heres-how-to-change-that-242397

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Japan election: voters took aim at an untrustworthy government beset by scandal

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Julie Gilson, Reader in Asian Studies, University of Birmingham

    Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic party (LDP) suffered a severe blow on October 27 when, alongside its smaller coalition partner, Komeito, it lost its majority in a snap general election. The ruling coalition took 215 seats, fewer than the 233 required, with the centre-left opposition Constitutional Democratic party making big gains.

    Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba called the election after winning his bid for party leadership in September. He had hoped to cement his position and draw a line under the tenure of his predecessor, Fumio Kishida, who had stepped down earlier that month amid a string of corruption scandals and public discontent over the rising cost of living.

    Ishiba has admitted that voters, who turned out in their third-lowest numbers in Japan’s post-war era, have dealt the LDP a “severe judgment”. But he has vowed to continue ruling the country.

    For its part, the opposition is not unified and therefore not in a position to offer a viable alternative. However, the ability of Ishiba’s government to push through the changes it needs to win back voter support will be severely restricted if the LDP fails to enter into coalition or garner key allies on particular issues.

    The LDP sits at the heart of the so-called “1955 system”, which has seen the party retain almost uninterrupted government control since the end of the second world war. But recent events have rocked Japanese politics.

    At the end of 2023, the public became aware of funding scandals involving dozens of LDP politicians. They were found to have diverted over ¥600 million (£3 million) of campaign donations into slush funds without recording the transactions as they were legally required to do.

    These scandals involved cabinet ministers and close allies of Kishida, who had already faced criticism over their links with the controversial Unification church. The church, whose members are commonly known as the Moonies, has been called a “dangerous cult” by its critics and is accused of exploiting its members financially.

    Japan’s former prime minister, Shinzo Abe, was shot dead in July 2022 by a man who said he held the church responsible for bankrupting his family. Abe was not a member of the church, but his grandfather was a key figure in its establishment in Japan in the 1950s. Kishida ordered party members to end their ties with the church in the aftermath of Abe’s assassination.

    These scandals have taken place against the backdrop of rising prices, stagnant wages and a generally sluggish economy. Consumer price inflation accelerated to 3% in August, a ten-month high. The dreary outlook contributed to voter disillusionment.

    According to a survey by Tokyo-based news agency Kyodo News, the approval rating of Ishiba’s cabinet fell to 32.1% after the vote, from its pre-election rating of 50.7%.

    The electorate has expressed its doubt that a new government could end the distrust caused by the scandals. Rebuilding this trust will only become harder as the yen continues to fall, and Japan’s economic uncertainty, ageing population, and disaffection among young voters persist.

    Regional insecurity

    The electoral body blow could also weaken Japanese foreign policy, with China emerging as the main beneficiary. To its democratic allies, a stable Japan is crucial for securing geopolitical stability in a region that also includes a dominant China, a belligerent Russia and a nuclear-armed North Korea.

    The LDP has traditionally always had a hawkish foreign policy stance. And in recent decades it has moved towards a desire to revise Japan’s “pacifist” constitution in favour of enabling the military to take a more flexible approach to security threats.

    Kishida was lauded abroad for his foreign policy, having proposed increases in the defence budget and more cooperation with the US in the Indo-Pacific region. And Ishiba has previously advocated for an “Asian Nato” to counter China. He has even visited Taiwan’s capital city, Taipei – much to Beijing’s disapproval.

    At the same time, Komeito’s more conservative position on foreign policy has supported an approach towards building diplomatic bridges with China. But should the LDP enter into coalition with the right-wing Japan Innovation party, which is a possibility given it won 38 seats in the recent election, a more assertive stance towards China may arise.

    Led by politician Nobuyuki Baba, the party supports the revision of Japan’s constitution and an increase in defence spending as a means of countering China’s regional influence.

    That said, a prolonged period of incapacitated politics within Japan presents a good opportunity for China to escalate its incursions into Japanese airspace and military manoeuvres around Taiwan. Japan’s leadership now needs to get its house in order quickly if the balance of security in the Indo-Pacific is to be maintained.

    Julie Gilson 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. Japan election: voters took aim at an untrustworthy government beset by scandal – https://theconversation.com/japan-election-voters-took-aim-at-an-untrustworthy-government-beset-by-scandal-242406

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How the state of our oceans is intrinsically linked to human health – new report

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Edward H. Allison, Director of Science and Research, WorldFish, CGIAR System Organization

    eedafizie/Shutterstock, CC BY-NC-ND

    A new study published in the journal OneEarth explores how marine biodiversity conservation, human health and wellbeing are connected. The results suggest that marine protected areas can be good for both planet and people. These areas of the ocean are legally recognised by governments as being important for marine conservation. They are protected by putting limits on human activity within and around them.

    Once a government declares a marine protected area, you usually can’t live in it, fish, build a beach resort, start a fish farm or drill for oil in it. The rules vary from place to place, but the idea is to allow nature to flourish by limiting human activity as much as possible.

    With plans to expand ocean protection under the UN-endorsed biodiversity plan’s “30×30” target (which aims to protect 30% of the world’s land and oceans by 2030), it’s important to know how this will affect people as well as nature.

    The study was conducted by the conservation charity World Wide Fund for Nature, Harvard Institute of Public Health and Duke University’s marine laboratory. The team, led by marine conservation scientist Daniel Viana, reviewed all the scientific articles written since 1973 on marine protected areas and their impacts on people.

    They found that, for 234 marine protected areas across the world that have been closely monitored, more than 60% showed improvement in both nature conservation and human wellbeing.

    Swimming, sailing, even just building a sandcastle – the ocean benefits our physical and mental wellbeing. Curious about how a strong coastal connection helps drive marine conservation, scientists are diving in to investigate the power of blue health.

    This article is part of a series, Vitamin Sea, exploring how the ocean can be enhanced by our interaction with it.

    The study included marine protected areas that do allow “sustainable use” through managed and selective fishing activities. These are fishing methods, such as using a hook and line or a fish trap, that don’t cause physical damage to delicate habitats like coral reefs.

    The paper suggests that in most cases, investing in marine protected areas directly benefits the health and livelihoods of people who live near them. Increased harvests of fish and other aquatic foods, such as shellfish and seaweeds, are usually the source of the benefits. Fisherfolk’s incomes increase and community access to nutrient-rich aquatic food improves.

    Sustainably caught fish is a vital source of protein for so many people around the globe.
    M_Kaempfer/Shutterstock, CC BY-NC-ND



    Read more:
    Targets to save 30% of the ocean by 2030 aren’t being met, new report reveals

    The benefits of marine protection for fishing-based livelihoods are largest in small island states that have big marine protected areas, such as Bonnaire, Palau and the Cook Islands, where more than 95% of fish catches are associated with area-based conservation measures.

    Despite ample evidence that marine protection improved access to aquatic food, the authors found surprisingly few studies that directly measured the impact to human nutrition. Only three out of the 237 studies reviewed had studied how creating marine protected areas affected the diets of people living around them. Only one study, in the Philippines, made the link between diets and health outcomes, because, when access to fish in diets improved due to marine conservation, there were fewer stunted children from surrounding communities.

    Plenty more nutrients in the sea?

    Our continents and islands are surrounded by seas, lakes, rivers and floodplains that are populated by edible plants and animals rich in vitamins, minerals and fatty acids. These micronutrients from aquatic foods are highly bioavailable (easily absorbed by the body). If sustainably harvested and made available to nutritionally vulnerable people, they could prevent malnutrition among millions of coastal people.

    The new report has quantified the micronutrient contributions to human diets from the aquatic foods that flourish when marine protected areas are set up. It combines data on the nutrient composition of all the aquatic foods harvested in and around marine protected areas, with fish catch data from the surrounding areas.

    The existing marine protected area network supports 14% of the global supply of six key micronutrients from marine fishing. This is achieved by protecting only 8% of the world’s oceans. By allowing marine life to grow abundantly inside protected areas, nearby fish populations are replenished. So, by conserving marine wildlife, protected areas help to sustain fish and shellfish stocks.

    That means bigger catches, more income from fishing or tourism, and more food. More nutrients means better health. This applies both to marine protected areas with a strict no-take zone, where any form of fishing is banned, and those that allow regulated fishing.

    As populations increase, demand for aquatic food rises. Wild harvests are being supplemented by aquaculture and mariculture – these are freshwater and marine equivalents to growing crops and livestock on land. Over half of the aquatic foods consumed directly by humans are now produced from aquaculture, much of it in inland waters rather than the sea.

    But in many countries, particularly island and coastal nations in the developing world, harvesting wild food from marine ecosystems remains crucial to nourishing the over 3 billion people who get more than 15% of their animal source proteins from aquatic foods.

    Seafood is a rich source of vitamins, minerals and fatty acids.
    WhiteYura/Shutterstock, CC BY-NC-ND

    Despite their potential to address global micronutrient nutrition, aquatic foods have, until recently, been underrepresented in policies and programmes to end hunger and malnutrition. But with data on the nutritional composition of the world’s fish species now available, studies like this can advance an approach called “nutrition-sensitive fisheries and aquaculture”: Instead of fishing to maximise catch or profit, fisheries could be managed to optimise their contribution to human nutrition.

    Linking ocean conservation with human health is an exciting idea but there are gaps in the research. It’s not clear who benefits when income from tourism and fishing increases, or whether increased catches get to those that need it most. In the Maldives for example, more than 80% of reef fish are consumed by tourists, not locals.

    Trying to solve malnutrition with marine protected areas is going to be challenging. Many marine protected areas are not effectively managed. By contrast, 77% of catches from the world’s fisheries come from stocks that are managed sustainably, though they have little room for expansion to meet rising demand. Aquaculture can do that, but the sector is still moving towards sustainability.

    Many key threats to marine ecosystems and wild fisheries, such as climate change and pollution, are not effectively dealt with by local marine habitat protection alone. Despite these challenges, this study highlights that nature-human relationships can be regenerative, rather than exploitative.


    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 40,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    Edward H. Allison currently receives funding from Canada’s International Development Research Center AQUADAPT programme for work on climate adaptive nature-based aquaculture in South East Asia, from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization for work on Implementing ecosystem-based management in S and SE Asia arnd from the multi-donor Trust Fund to the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research for work on aquatic food systems.

    – ref. How the state of our oceans is intrinsically linked to human health – new report – https://theconversation.com/how-the-state-of-our-oceans-is-intrinsically-linked-to-human-health-new-report-242245

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Did a Canadian developer really invent bitcoin? A new HBO show explores an intriguing theory

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Jeremy Clark, Associate Professor, Information Systems Engineering, Concordia University

    The true identity of the founder of bitcoin has always been a mystery. (Shutterstock)

    In 2008, someone using the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto published the design of the cryptocurrency bitcoin, proposed the initial code and was active online for just under two years. In this time, they helped develop the code, answer questions and promote the project. Then, claiming to busy with new things, Nakamoto left working on bitcoin and was probably never heard from again.

    HBO’s 2024 documentary Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery finds director Cullen Hoback looking for the real Nakamoto, motivated by bitcoin being “embraced by nation states” and “incorporated into 401(k)s.”



    Read more:
    Bitcoin turns ten – here’s how it all started and what the future might hold

    The real Nakamoto?

    Several attempts to unmask Nakamoto have been made before. Previous theories suggest that the elusive developer is Irish graduate student Michael Clear, Japanese-American systems engineer Dorian Nakamoto or one of several cypherpunks who worked on predecessors to bitcoin: Hal Finney, Nick Szabo or Adam Back.

    Hoback confronts the man he suspects of being Nakamoto on camera in the film’s climax: Peter Todd, a software developer from Toronto. On film, Todd alternates between joking about being Nakamoto and calling the theory ludicrous, perhaps necessitating him to make an unequivocal denial in the press after it aired.

    The trailer for HBO’s ‘Money Electric.’

    The documentary is entertaining, but does it play it fast and loose? I would draw attention to three things that deserve further thought.

    Online breadcrumb trail

    While stopping short of claiming to have conclusively identified bitcoin’s creator, Hoback suggests something Todd once said to Nakamoto online was a slip up.

    The background is this: with bitcoin, users leave tips to have their transactions processed. If the tip is too low, the computers running bitcoin will refuse to process it and the transaction will sit in bitcoin purgatory. Worse, bitcoin users who make this mistake cannot increase the fee without it looking like an attack on the system.

    In an online post, Nakamoto posts that transactions could be declared safe if they only changed the amount of the fee.

    Not long after, Todd chimes in that this is impossible with how bitcoin transactions work. The increased fee has to come from somewhere, namely a decrease in the amount paid out, which changes the transaction. Todd’s message is short: “Of course, to be specific, the inputs and outputs can’t match *exactly* if the second transaction has a transaction fee.”

    Hoback ponders if maybe Nakamoto meant to correct himself, but somehow accidentally used his real account.

    As the documentary recounts, Todd is smart, has developer experience and had been discussing digital cash online since he was a teenager. Todd would eventually be the one to implement the feature Nakamoto described, albeit with a fix to the issue he pointed out.

    The theory plays out well on film but leaves out a few considerations.

    Early bitcoin enthusiasts were a self-selecting group, and most were as technically minded as Nakamoto or Todd. This technical background is niche but not rare: more than 100,000 computer science students graduate annually in the United States, while there are over 500,000 certified security experts. And there are many equally capable people who are neither of these things.

    Given Hoback’s evidence for Todd is circumstantial, the weight shifts to Todd’s reaction on camera when Hoback outlines his theory: a mix of bemusement, mockery and indignation. The film frames the reaction as incriminating, while others caution against reading anything into it.

    Enter Ethereum

    Bitcoin is maintained by an open group of volunteered computers (whose operators are paid in new bitcoin for the work of validating transactions and storing them on a ledger called the blockchain) where no one is in charge, and yet maintains high security.

    Early bitcoin enthusiasts saw the potential for bitcoin’s blockchain technology to handle more than financial transactions, but the developers helming bitcoin (including Todd) thought it would be best if bitcoin stayed in its lane.

    Some bitcoin enthusiasts in Toronto then banded together and launched Ethereum. Led by 21-year-old Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum provides a platform where anyone can run their code on a blockchain simply by paying a fee and pushing a button. The code could be anything from a new digital currency to sophisticated financial technology.

    In Hoback’s documentary, many of the interviewees view bitcoin and its developers as competitors and antagonists of Ethereum.

    Ethereum gets only about two minutes of screentime, dominated by Buterin rapping about Ethereum on the mainstage of a conference and being ribbed for his hat’s safari flaps.

    Hoback’s documentary emphasizes Ethereum’s scam tokens but overlooks the innovative financial services that captured US$64 billion of assets in 2021, as well as its advancements in areas like efficiency and cryptography.

    Ironically, it is Ethereum technology that runs crypto-betting platform Polymarket, which hosted a US$44 million betting pool on who would be named as Nakamoto in Hoback’s film before it aired.

    “Polymarket turned Money Electric into a sporting event,” Hoback enthused. “Even I’m refreshing the betting pool to see how high the total volume gets.”

    The end of privacy?

    In his 2014 documentary, Terms and Conditions May Apply, Hoback did show he is willing to tackle social concerns that might seem a little dry or academic, such as privacy rights in a digital age.

    He picks up this thread again in Money Electric, embedding an earnest message about the potential privacy and surveillance implications of governments — including Canada, the United States and 130 other countries — launching central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), something my research also draws attention to.

    In theory, the technology underlying bitcoin can be expanded to provide a CBDC system as private as paper cash. However it will take a strong political will to get there.

    Jeremy Clark receives funding from the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton and Autorité des Marchés Financiers.

    – ref. Did a Canadian developer really invent bitcoin? A new HBO show explores an intriguing theory – https://theconversation.com/did-a-canadian-developer-really-invent-bitcoin-a-new-hbo-show-explores-an-intriguing-theory-241750

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: “HUGE DEAL”: Casey Delivers Federal Funds to “Revive” Scranton to New York Rail Service

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Pennsylvania Bob Casey
    The Keystone: Bob Casey and Matt Cartwright revive Scranton’s rail service to New York City
    FOX 43: Sen. Bob Casey secures nearly $9 million in funding to help restore Amtrak passenger rail service between Scranton and New York
    Scranton Times-Tribune: Casey, Cartwright announce $9M toward restoring passenger trains between Scranton and New York City
    Pocono Record: ‘Not study money’: Scranton-NYC Amtrak project gets $9 million for construction work
    WBRE: “The start of construction being announced is a huge deal”
    Washington, D.C. – This week, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) secured almost $9 million in federal funds to begin construction to bring back Amtrak passenger service between Scranton, PA and New York, NY. The funding was made possible by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which Casey fought to pass. Casey has pushed to bring back the Scranton to New York rail line for his entire career in the Senate.
    Read excerpts of the coverage of the funding announcement below:
    The Keystone: Residents living in Northeastern Pennsylvania are one step closer to having a passenger rail connection to New York City. Sen Bob Casey (D-Pennsylvania), along with Congressman Matt Cartwright (D-Lackawanna), announced $8.9 million in funding to restore rail service between Scranton and New York City…Casey began fighting for the restoration of the Lackawanna Cut-Off, a 28-mile stretch of track that fell into disrepair after rail service between Scranton and New York City halted in 1970, in 2008 when he sent a letter to Amtrak. After the passage of the Biden-Harris’ Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2021, Casey and Cartwright began pushing for the restoration of the rail line and they were able to deliver.
    WBRE: At the Scranton Trolley Museum, on Monday Congressman Matt Cartwright and Senator Bob Casey announced they secured nearly nine million dollars in federal funding to kick off long-needed railway rehabilitation and track improvements to the Lackawanna Cut-Off…The start of construction being announced is a huge deal. It’s taken decades of work to get to this point and now federal funding has secured the train is back on track.
    Scranton Times-Tribune:  The long-sought restoration of passenger rail service between Scranton and New York City through the Poconos and New Jersey advanced with a $9 million federal grant for bridge and rail line construction in Pennsylvania, officials announced Tuesday…the funding represents a milestone in the Amtrak project because it will finally result in construction…“The people of our region deserve this,” Casey said. “We’re going to finish this project no matter how long it takes us to do that.”
    ABC 16/WNEP: It’s been decades since passenger rail service ran through the city of Scranton…On Monday, another step was taken towards achieving that goal. Inside the Electric City Trolley Museum—U.S. Senator Bob Casey and U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright announced nearly 9 million dollars in federal funding to begin construction on the rail line that once connected the Big Apple and Scranton.
    Times Leader: The officials said that direct rail service between Scranton and New York could generate as much as $84 million in economic activity every year, according to an Amtrak study. “I have fought to restore rail service between Scranton and New York for my entire career in the Senate, and this investment from the infrastructure law means we are now closer than ever to making it a reality,” said Sen. Casey. “Passenger rail service to and from New York will be a game-changer for our region, meaning more family time, more economic investment, and more job opportunities.”
    FOX 43: Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey and U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright on Tuesday announced nearly $9 million in federal funding to begin construction that will bring back Amtrak passenger rail service between Scranton and New York City…Casey and Cartwright have spent their careers in Congress advocating to restore rail service between Scranton and New York. In 2008, Casey began leading the charge in the Senate to implement a passenger service between Scranton and New York.
    Pocono Record: The effort to restore passenger rail between Scranton and New York City has received $9 million toward construction, officials announced Tuesday…“This is a nice day to celebrate, but we’re going to get more money. We’re going to finish this project, no matter how long it takes us to do that,” U.S. Sen. Bob Casey said. Multiple speakers noted the importance of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed in 2021 in providing funds for this project.
    WVIA: Scranton’s decades-long dream of renewed rail service to New York City will soon take a key step forward thanks to nearly $9 million in federal infrastructure funding. Tuesday was a day to talk about trains, and how $8,958,919 in Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant money will be used to upgrade railroad infrastructure along the Pennsylvania segment of the right-of-way, including a bridge and thousands of railroad ties…Both Cartwright and Casey have long been active supporters of renewed rail service, which officials say could be up and running as early as 2028 or 2029.
    FOX 56/WOLF TV: U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) and U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (D-PA-8) announced millions in federal funding to begin construction to bring back Amtrak passenger rail service between Scranton and New York. The award, totaling $8,958,919,will kick off long-needed railway rehabilitation and track improvements to begin the process of restoring service between the communities via the Lackawanna Cut-Off, officials said.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed Announces $24 Million in LIHEAP Aid to Help RIers Lower Home Energy Bills

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
    WASHINGTON, DC – In an effort to help some of the nation’s most vulnerable households pay their home energy bills, the Biden-Harris Administration today released $3.71 billion for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), including $24,063,792 for Rhode Island.  Even as the U.S. has become the largest oil producer in the world, colder winters in the Northeast mean the demand for LIHEAP is high.  The federally funded program is a crucial lifeline that helps low-income households and seniors on fixed incomes afford their energy bills, including those who use natural gas, propane, electricity, and home heating oil. 
    U.S. Senator Jack Reed, a leading member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and a Congressional champion for LIHEAP, cheered the release of funds and says it will allow states to provide funds to support income eligible households with utility costs.
    Earlier this month, Reed joined Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) in leading a bipartisan call for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to release LIHEAP funds as swiftly and at the highest level possible.
    “This federal funding will help keep vulnerable Rhode Islanders safe and healthy through targeted initiatives that lower utility bills.  It will ease the energy cost burden for low-income residents, who pay a higher proportion of household income to heat their homes when cold winter weather hits.  Nobody should have to choose between affording needed medication or having their heat turned off.  LIHEAP is a real lifeline that has proven to make a real positive difference for so many Rhode Islanders,” said Senator Reed, who helped provide a total of $4.1 billion for LIHEAP in fiscal year 2024, with $4 billion through appropriations and $100 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds. 
    Under the short-term “continuing resolution” funding package that President Biden signed into law in September, HHS is able to advance states’ funding equal to 90 percent of their FY24 allocation.
    Rhode Islanders wishing to apply for LIHEAP may go to the Rhode Island Department of Human Services website to get more information and links to an online application.  Or, Rhode Islanders may contact their local Community Action Agency.  Eligibility for LIHEAP is based on several factors, including income, household size, and the availability of resources.
    Nationwide, an estimated 5.1 million households received assistance with heating and cooling costs through LIHEAP in the last fiscal year.
    Older Americans on fixed incomes and those receiving Social Security Disability or SSI benefits are encouraged to apply as early as possible, but applications will be open to everyone through spring of 2025 — or until the funding is exhausted.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed, Whitehouse, Amo, Smiley Highlight Federal Funding for City of Providence to Combat Opioid Crisis

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
    PROVIDENCE, RI – U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressman Gabe Amo joined with Mayor Brett Smiley and SAMHSA Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use Miriam Delphin-Rittmon to highlight a new $2.3 million federal First Responders – Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (FR-CARA) grant to support the City’s comprehensive strategy to improve first responders’ ability to save lives.  Whitehouse authored CARA, which is the primary law guiding the federal response to the opioid epidemic.
    “To effectively combat the opioid crisis we must invest in coordinated strategies that ensure people can easily access help and support services.  Senator Whitehouse has been a tremendous leader on this issue in Congress and I’m proud to work alongside him and our colleagues in the delegation to deliver this federal funding for Providence.  This $2.3 million investment will help Providence’s first responders save lives and assist residents who are struggling with addiction,” said Reed. 
    “Rhode Islanders had a big hand in helping draft my CARA law, so it’s great to see this federal funding from CARA providing a big boost for Providence’s first responders, who are on the front lines every day responding to Rhode Island’s opioid epidemic,” said Whitehouse.  “I applaud Mayor Smiley’s efforts to combat the epidemic in our Capital City and help connect Rhode Islanders with the support they need to get on the noble road to recovery.  There is hopeful news that our efforts to save lives are working.”
    “The opioid epidemic has touched the lives of families in Rhode Island and across the country, and we need to ensure first responders are equipped with the resources they need to save lives and support those in recovery,” said Magaziner. “This federal funding will help reduce overdoses, expand access to lifesaving services and treatments, and build a safer, healthier Rhode Island.”
    “Thanks to champions like Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, overdose deaths in Rhode Island have been decreasing by twice the national average in recent years,” said Amo. “This federal grant for the Providence Overdose Prevention Project will support these efforts by uplifting the first responders and community members who play a vital role in the prevention, treatment, and recovery of opioid use disorder.”
    The City of Providence will use the federal funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to advance the Providence Overdose Prevention Project, a comprehensive strategy to improve first responders’ ability to save lives.  The program increases the capacity of Emergency Medical Services staff and community members to use evidence-based practices to reduce overdoses and connect individuals with necessary supports.  The City will also work to reduce fatal overdoses through education and prevention programs and increase naloxone distribution within the community to help lower nonfatal overdose rates.
    “We’re thankful for the leadership and advocacy of our federal delegation in securing this vital funding through the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act,” said Smiley. “This grant will strengthen Providence’s efforts to combat the opioid crisis by expanding life-saving resources for our first responders and connecting those in crisis to the support they need. By working together, we’re building a healthier, safer city for all.”
    “We commend the first responders who are committed to saving lives day and day out,” said Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, Ph.D., HHS Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use and the leader of SAMHSA. “This funding will help Providence EMS connect those at highest risk of overdose to lifesaving services, including treatment, harm reduction services, and recovery supports.”
    Deaths from accidental overdoses decreased by 7.3 percent last year in Rhode Island, the first time in four years that the number had gone down, according to the Governor’s Overdose Task Force.  Rhode Island’s decrease in overdose deaths, from 436 in 2022 to 404 in 2023, was over twice the national average, with America experiencing a 3 percent decrease in 2023.  According to preliminary data from the Rhode Island Department of Health, 178 individuals died from accidental overdoses in the first nine months of this year, a significant decrease from the same point in 2023.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper, Bennet, Neguse, Pettersen, Polis Announce $129 Million for Colorado Rail Projects 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Hickenlooper – Colorado
    Four Colorado projects awarded funding under the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure & Safety Improvements (CRISI) Grant Program
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet, U.S. Representatives Joe Neguse and Brittany Pettersen and Governor Jared Polis announced four Colorado rail projects will receive a total of $129.5 million in federal funds. The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), Colorado State University Pueblo, San Luis Central Railroad Co., and OmniTRAX will all receive funding as part of the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure & Safety Improvements (CRISI) Grant Program. Earlier this year Hickenlooper, Bennet, Neguse and Pettersen urged the U.S. Department of Transportation to fund CDOT’s project along the Front Range. Hickenlooper also urged the department to fund the CSU Pueblo and OmniTRAX projects.
    “From freight in the San Luis Valley to passengers on the Front Range and beyond with CSU Pueblo’s research, rail isn’t just a part of our past, it’s a big part of our future, too,” said Hickenlooper. “That’s the case we made to Secretary Buttigieg for this funding and this is just the start.”
    “Colorado’s railways are vital to connect our communities and get resources to markets across the country. That’s why I ensured the U.S. Department of Transportation understood how critical this funding is for our state’s transportation infrastructure,” said Senator Michael Bennet. “I’m glad to have helped secure these investments in our railways’ safety, efficiency, and reliability across the state. ”
    “After years of working to secure federal support for the Front Range Passenger Rail Project, I am excited to see the Department of Transportation heed our calls and commit to modernizing Colorado’s passenger rail system—not just for communities along the Front Range but for residents throughout the entire state. This is a once-in-a-generation investment in our passenger rail infrastructure, creating countless new opportunities for communities to connect, grow, and thrive—and we will continue to work together to ensure this momentum leads to lasting benefits for all Coloradans,” said U.S. House Assistant Minority Leader Joe Neguse.
    “Today, I am incredibly grateful to see this federal funding coming to Colorado to strengthen our railway systems, enhance safety, and modernize our infrastructure,” said Representative Brittany Pettersen. “After a train derailment in Boulder injured workers and put our communities at risk, I supported funding to reinforce public safety and restore trust in Colorado’s rail infrastructure. I’m pleased to see these federal dollars coming to our state to help ensure we have safe, reliable infrastructure for generations to come.”
    “Today’s grant will make freight rail traffic in some of our busiest growing communities safer quickly while providing critical building blocks for Passenger Rail.  This major funding will help achieve important priorities like complying with longstanding federal standards and improving the safety of rail crossings, which can be the sites of dangerous incidents. With more than $66 million in federal support from the Biden-Harris administration, the future of Colorado’s rail network is a clear priority for the federal government, as it should be. We thank Senators Hickenlooper and Bennet, Congressman Neguse and Congresswoman Pettersen, and our communities for their support of this important project,” said Governor Jared Polis.
    “Thanks to a unified effort with Governor Polis’ leadership, Colorado can speed ahead with important safety and operational upgrades that will make passenger rail possible along the Front Range. Our partners in the Congressional delegation and in communities across the state have been constantly supportive of this work, and I want to especially thank the technical team at CDOT that has made so much progress behind the scenes to get Colorado ready for this opportunity. The Biden Administration has recognized Colorado’s seriousness and the quality of our work to develop passenger rail, and I want to add my appreciation to their support with this grant and the resources it brings to our work,” said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew.
    CRISI invests in railroad infrastructure projects that improve safety, support economic vitality, including through small businesses, create good-paying jobs with the free and fair choice to join a union, increase capacity and supply chain resilience, apply innovative technology, and explicitly address climate change, gender equity, and racial equity. For more information on CRISI, click HERE.
    Full details on the projects receiving funding are below:
    Recipient
    Project Title
    Project Description
    Amount Awarded
    Colorado Department of Transportation
    Modernizing Rail on the Front Range: PTC Installation, Siding, & Grade Crossing Safety and Operational Improvements
    This project will design, install, and test positive train control with a complementary siding on a portion of the Front Range Subdivision, along with several railroad crossings that could benefit from operational and safety improvements.
    $66,400,000
    OmniTRAX Holdings Combined, Inc.
    Transportation Investments for Employment and Safety, Phase 2
    The proposed project involves final design and construction activities to replace railroad ties on four OmniTRAX-owned short lines across four states – Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, and Washington.
    $50,570,400
    Colorado State University Pueblo
    Safety Assessment, Testing and Workforce Development for Hydrogen/Natural Gas Motive Power
    The proposed project involves research and development for studying green hydrogen and renewable natural gas-powered rail vehicles. The project aims to conduct safety experiments on the use of CH2/CNG-powered rail cars at the TTC facility.
    $11,671,781
    The San Luis Central Railroad Co.
    The San Luis Central Railroad Reconstruction Project: Ansel North
    The SLC corridor was built in 1913 with untreated wooden ties. The project will replace 6,000 deteriorated cross and 126 switch ties between mile posts 10.1 and 15.2.
    $1,077,000
    “Southern Colorado often represents a hard-working spirit leveraging the opportunity of innovation. This Department of Transportation CRISI grant emboldens that spirit, enabling CSU Pueblo, in partnership with the Southern Colorado Transportation Technology Center (SCITT), to contribute to the future of rail transportation through critical safety research in hydrogen and natural gas technologies. I am particularly proud of how this project will partner with our Engineering program at CSU Pueblo, utilizing the expertise here to create new pathways for our students and local workforce. This grant is more than research – it’s a valuable investment into Southern Colorado,” said CSU Pueblo President Armando Valdez.
    “TIES2 will be transformative for the communities served by Great Western Railway of Colorado and the regions served by OmniTRAX railroads in Georgia, Alabama, and Washington state,” said David Arganbright, OmniTRAX Senior Vice President. “OmniTRAX is proud to call Colorado home, and we are tremendously appreciative of all the work that Sen. Hickenlooper has done in Congress to champion Colorado’s railways and deliver the critical infrastructure investments that make strengthen our nation’s supply chains.”
    “The team at CXSL is very excited for this great news and look forward to getting to work on the improvements as soon as possible. The grant will assist in providing the much needed improvements to improve rail service to our customers and greatly reduce our risk for incidents due to track conditions,” said Timothy Bivens, General Manager of Colorado Pacific San Luis Railroad.
     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Witch Nebula Casts Starry Spell

    Source: NASA

    This 2013 image taken by NASA’s Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, captures a nebula that looks like a witch screaming. Perhaps that imagined scream is a creation spell, for the Witch Hat nebula’s billowy clouds are a star nursery. We can see these clouds thanks to massive stars lighting them up; dust in the cloud is being hit with starlight, causing it to glow with infrared light, which was picked up by WISE’s detectors.
    WISE launched to near-Earth orbit on Dec. 14, 2009, and surveyed the full sky in four infrared wavelength bands until the frozen hydrogen cooling the telescope was depleted in September 2010. The spacecraft was placed into hibernation in February 2011, having completed its primary astrophysics mission.
    In late 2013, the spacecraft was resurrected – no incantation needed – when NASA’s Planetary Science Division gave it a new mission and a new name: NEOWISE. The spacecraft began helping NASA identify and describe near-Earth objects (NEOs). NEOs are comets and asteroids that have been nudged into orbits that allow them to enter Earth’s neighborhood. NEOWISE was decommissioned Aug. 8, 2024, and placed into hibernation for the last time, ending its career as an active asteroid hunter.
    Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: USDA Builds on Actions to Protect Livestock and Public Health from H5N1 Avian Influenza

    Source: US National Invasive Species Information Center

    Press Release

    WASHINGTON, October 30, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today announced the agency is planning to enhance testing and monitoring for H5N1, building on measures taken by USDA since the beginning of the avian influenza outbreak. In partnership with state veterinarians, USDA will implement a tiered strategy to collect milk samples to better assess where H5N1 is present, with the goal to better inform biosecurity and containment measures, as well as to inform state-led efforts to reduce risk to farm workers who may be in contact with animals infected with H5N1. 

    Since this disease was first detected in dairy cattle in March 2024, the USDA and state and federal partners have taken several steps to better understand the virus and work to eliminate it from dairy herds. In May 2024, USDA implemented a Federal Order to require the testing of cattle before interstate movement, which has helped to limit H5N1’s spread to new states; in the past 30 days, the number of states with known avian influenza detections in dairy herds has dropped from 14 to two. However, USDA believes that additional steps are needed to proactively support effective biosecurity measures, which are key for states and farmers to contain and eliminate H5N1 infections from their livestock. 

    USDA has precedent with successful bulk milk testing approaches, including the use of bulk milk testing to eradicate brucellosis from dairy herds. In addition, Colorado implemented statewide bulk milk testing after H5N1 was detected in dairy herds in two counties, and the most recent statewide testing has not detected any evidence of H5N1 in any herds in the state. In the coming weeks, USDA will work with regions and states that are ready to assist in expanding bulk milk testing.  

    USDA is working closely with state and private veterinary groups, which include practitioners who will play a vital role in carrying out this effort. USDA plans to first sample milk in bulk at the regional level, with additional testing at the farm level if necessary, until herds in an area are determined to be free of the virus.  USDA will continue to work with state and private veterinarians on the final details of implementation, and will share guidance documents soon. 

    USDA continues to emphasize to farmers nationwide that biosecurity is the best weapon against the spread of H5N1, and farms should practice good biosecurity even if the virus has not been detected in their state or vicinity. Data collected over the past seven months has shown that H5N1 can be transmitted on equipment, people, or other items that move from farm to farm, including between dairies and poultry facilities. USDA’s Federal Order, announced in April 2024, to require testing before cattle movement between states has helped limit the spread of H5N1 to only 14 states, but local and state efforts to enhance biosecurity measures are also important. USDA strongly encourages herd owners to participate in available producer support programs, which help to cover the cost such as biosecurity programming, PPE for employees, and veterinary care.  

    In addition, USDA continues to support the rapid development and timely approval of an H5N1 vaccine for dairy cows, in addition to other species. Two vaccine candidates for use in dairy cows are currently undergoing field trials.  

    USDA has consistently operated on a science-based, step-by-step approach informed by what it learns about this virus through its everyday work, research, and monitoring efforts, and this marks the next step in the escalation of the agency’s response. 

    Today, USDA and the Oregon Department of Agriculture also announced the first detection of H5N1 in swine in the United States, which was detected in a non-commercial farm operation in Oregon. More information that announcement can be found here.

    USDA scientists have worked closely with colleagues at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and across the country and have not found any recent changes to the virus that increase the risk of transmission from animals to humans or between people. While cases among humans in direct contact with infected animals do continue to occur, partners at the CDC believe that the current risk to the public remains low. 

    As USDA takes additional steps to protect the health of livestock, the Department will continue to work closely with its federal partners at CDC to protect the health of people and FDA to protect the safety of the food supply. These collective, collaborative efforts have helped protect farmworkers and farmers, the health and welfare of livestock animals, and reaffirmed the safety of the nation’s food supply. The U.S. government remains committed to addressing this situation with urgency.  

    To learn more about USDA’s response to HPAI in dairy cattle, visit www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/livestock. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Department of Defense Releases Fiscal Year 2024 Military Intelligence Program Budget

    Source: United States Department of Defense

    Today, the Department of Defense released the Military Intelligence Program (MIP) appropriated top line budget for FY2024. The total was $29.8 billion and is aligned to support the National Defense Strategy.

    The Department determined that releasing this top line figure does not jeopardize any classified activities within the MIP.  No other MIP budget figures or program details will be released, as they remain classified for national security reasons.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Philly TCU/IAM Members are Voting their Jobs & Voting Harris-Walz

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    Chief of Staff to the International President Vinny Addeo, IAM National Legislative and Political Director Hasan Solomon, TCU/IAM National Legislative Director Dave Arouca, and IAM Assistant Communications Director DeLane Adams recently visited members of TCU/IAM Locals 1351 and Local 878 who work for Amtrak in Philadelphia. Members were able to receive IAM Union for Kamala Harris/Tim Walz T-shirts and yard signs. These efforts help encourage members to go out and vote in the upcoming election.

    “It’s important to talk about what this election really means for our members working at Amtrak and SEPTA,” said TCU/IAM National President Maratea. “We’ll always fight to beat back proposed cuts to Amtrak and transit funding, but those fights get much harder when we send anti-passenger rail people to Washington. Fact: Trump tried to defund us every single budget year. Fact: The Biden-Harris Administration provided record funding for Amtrak. Sometimes elections are tough choices – this one is not.” 

    TCU/IAM will always engage in the political process and educate members on the importance of civic engagement. 

    The outreach effort also included distributing informational materials and encouraging members to inform others about the upcoming election. IAM Local 1351 and Local 878 members expressed excitement about their choices for the 2024 election.  

    “This election is extremely important,” said TCU/IAM Local President Shari Paige. “Our jobs and livelihood depend on it. Cuts to Amtrak funding mean pink slips for TCU. We need people to go out and vote their job.” 

    The IAM GOTV program is designed to help IAM members across the country understand the importance of electing pro-labor candidates with a strong track record of advocating for working families.  

    “Our members play a crucial role in shaping policies that affect their lives and the lives of their families,” said Addeo. “We must all participate in the upcoming election to ensure our voices are heard.”

    Our union has already knocked on thousands of doors and made thousands of calls across key battleground states. From worksite visits to door-to-door efforts, to phone calls and texts, IAM members are working hard communicate directly to voters about what’s at stake this Election Day.

    Share and Follow:

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Power Factors Named Energy Management System Leader by Guidehouse Insights

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    San Francisco, Oct. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Power Factors, the leading renewable energy management suite (REMS) provider, has been recognized as one of the top three energy management system (EMS) vendors in the utility-scale energy storage industry by Guidehouse Insights in its latest Guidehouse Insights Leaderboard: Energy Storage Software report. The report identifies Power Factors as the only vendor-agnostic EMS provider among the market leaders, standing out for its extensive global reach and expansive product portfolio of hardware and open software solutions.

    Guidehouse Insights’ recognition highlights Power Factors’ ability to deliver sophisticated, vendor-agnostic EMS software solutions that go beyond what vertical system integrators typically offer. Power Factors is “succeeding within a highly competitive and constantly evolving market,” said Michael Kelly, associate director with Guidehouse Insights. Kelly also noted that “the combination of enhanced control platforms and complementary analytics enables asset owners to achieve greater bankability, reliability, and performance from their front-of-the-meter storage assets.”  

    The report emphasized how Power Factors’ acquisition-led approach has contributed to its success, noting that Inaccess, which it acquired in 2022, “has historically been an industry leader and contributes to Power Factor’s broadening portfolio and value proposition.” Power Factors also was acknowledged for its expansive geographic reach, which includes more than 300 GW of wind, solar, and battery storage assets across 70 countries, with 15 GW of contracted and installed energy storage capacity across multiple sites.

    “We’re proud to be recognized as the only vendor-agnostic leader in energy management systems,” said Julieann Esper Rainville, CEO at Power Factors. “Our interoperable EMS applications help renewable asset owners and system integrators reduce costs, streamline operations, and future-proof their investments, while our commitment to flexibility ensures seamless integration with existing systems and hardware.”

    “Vendor-agnostic, interoperable EMSs featuring standardized interfaces and low-cost integrations are key features of future-proofed solutions,” according to the report. Power Factors’ ability to integrate with diverse hardware systems makes it a top choice for organizations looking to reduce the complexities and costs associated with third-party integrations.

    While vertical system integrators represent rising competition, currently “third-party EMS providers can offer more sophisticated software solutions than system integrators.” Power Factors exemplifies this approach with its integrated, vendor-agnostic Unity renewable energy management suite (REMS), which brings together trusted hardware and software solutions for monitoring  and control, asset performance, operations and maintenance (O&M), and commercial asset management into a unified platform.

    As investment in utility-scale solar and storage continues to grow, Power Factors remains dedicated to delivering robust, future-proofed energy management software that streamlines renewable energy deployment and operations globally. Guidehouse Insights’ recognition of Power Factors as a top EMS provider further cements Power Factors’ leadership in driving the energy transition forward. With its Unity suite, Power Factors empowers renewable energy stakeholders to maximize performance, reduce costs, and simplify integration across a diverse range of systems.

    Learn more about how Power Factors supports BESS and hybrid plants: https://www.powerfactors.com/energy-storage-software-contact-us.

    About Power Factors  
    Power Factors is a software and solutions provider leading the next generation of clean energy with Unity, one of the most extensive and widely deployed renewable energy management suites (REMS) in the market. With over 300 GW of wind, solar, and energy storage assets managed worldwide across more than 600 customers and 18,000 sites, Power Factors manages 25% of the world’s renewable energy data.*

    Power Factors’ Unity REMS supports the entire energy value chain, from monitoring and controls to analytics. The company’s suite of open, data-driven applications empowers renewable energy stakeholders to collaborate, automate critical workflows, and make more informed decisions to maximize asset returns. Energy stakeholders receive end-to-end support, including solutions for SCADA & PPC, centralized monitoring, performance management, commercial asset management, and field service management.

    With deep domain expertise, AI-powered insights are delivered at scale so businesses can optimize assets, unlock growth, and make smarter decisions as the world rapidly transitions to clean energy. Power Factors fights climate change with code.

    Learn more at powerfactors.com.

    * Outside China and India 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: BOUSSARD & GAVAUDAN HOLDING LIMITED (GBP) : Transaction in Own Shares

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BOUSSARD & GAVAUDAN HOLDING LIMITED
    October 2024 TRANSACTION IN OWN SECURITIES ACTIVITY REPORT1

    The Company announces that pursuant to the general authority granted by shareholders of the Company on 28 May 2019 to make market purchases of its own Ordinary shares, it repurchased 0 Euro shares in October 2024.

    Figure of the share buy back programme for October 2024

      Share Buy Back Programme Liquidity Enhancement Agreement
    Aggregate number of transactions conducted in October 2024 0 0
    Average size of the transactions 0 0

    Following this transaction, the Company has:

    Euro share outstanding excluding share held in treasury 12,299,516
    Euro share held in treasury 0
    GBP share outstanding excluding share held in treasury 123,090
    GBP share held in treasury 0
    Total number of shares 12,422,606

    31stOctober 2024

    For further information please contact:
    Boussard & Gavaudan Investment Management, LLP

    Emmanuel Gavaudan (London) +44 203 751 5389

    The Company is established as a closed-ended investment company domiciled in Guernsey. The Company has received the necessary approval of the Guernsey Financial Services Commission and the States of Guernsey Policy Council. The Company is registered with the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets as a collective investment scheme pursuant to article 2:73 in conjunction with 2:66 of the Dutch Financial Supervision Act (Wet op het financieel toezicht). The shares of the Company (the “Shares”) are listed on Euronext Amsterdam. The Shares are also listed on the Official List of the UK Listing Authority and admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange plc’s main market for listed securities.

    This is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy any securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction. This announcement is not intended to and does not constitute, or form part of, any offer or invitation to purchase any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of the securities referred to in this announcement in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law.

    Neither the Company nor Boussard & Gavaudan Fund Plc has been, and neither will be, registered under the US Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”). In addition the securities referenced in this announcement have not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Consequently any such securities June not be offered, sold or otherwise transferred within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, US persons except in accordance with the Securities Act or an exemption therefrom and under circumstances which will not require the issuer of such securities to register under the Investment Company Act. No public offering of any securities will be made in the United States.

    You should always bear in mind that: all investment is subject to risk;

    1. results in the past are no guarantee of future results;
    2. the investment performance of BGHL may go down as well as up. You may not get back all of your original investment; and
    3. if you are in any doubt about the contents of this communication or if you consider making an investment decision, you are advised to seek expert financial advice.

    This communication is for information purposes only and the information contained in this communication should not be relied upon as a substitute for financial or other professional advice.

    1 This report includes the transactions conducted by both BGHL, for the share buy back programme and Exane, for the Liquidity Enhancement Agreement.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: BOUSSARD & GAVAUDAN HOLDING LIMITED (EUR) : Transaction in Own Shares

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BOUSSARD & GAVAUDAN HOLDING LIMITED
    October 2024 TRANSACTION IN OWN SECURITIES ACTIVITY REPORT1

    The Company announces that pursuant to the general authority granted by shareholders of the Company on 28 May 2019 to make market purchases of its own Ordinary shares, it repurchased 0 Euro shares in October 2024.

    Figure of the share buy back programme for October 2024

      Share Buy Back Programme Liquidity Enhancement Agreement
    Aggregate number of transactions conducted in October 2024 0 0
    Average size of the transactions 0 0

    Following this transaction, the Company has:

    Euro share outstanding excluding share held in treasury 12,299,516
    Euro share held in treasury 0
    GBP share outstanding excluding share held in treasury 123,090
    GBP share held in treasury 0
    Total number of shares 12,422,606

    31stOctober 2024

    For further information please contact:
    Boussard & Gavaudan Investment Management, LLP

    Emmanuel Gavaudan (London) +44 203 751 5389

    The Company is established as a closed-ended investment company domiciled in Guernsey. The Company has received the necessary approval of the Guernsey Financial Services Commission and the States of Guernsey Policy Council. The Company is registered with the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets as a collective investment scheme pursuant to article 2:73 in conjunction with 2:66 of the Dutch Financial Supervision Act (Wet op het financieel toezicht). The shares of the Company (the “Shares”) are listed on Euronext Amsterdam. The Shares are also listed on the Official List of the UK Listing Authority and admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange plc’s main market for listed securities.

    This is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy any securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction. This announcement is not intended to and does not constitute, or form part of, any offer or invitation to purchase any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of the securities referred to in this announcement in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law.

    Neither the Company nor Boussard & Gavaudan Fund Plc has been, and neither will be, registered under the US Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”). In addition the securities referenced in this announcement have not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Consequently any such securities June not be offered, sold or otherwise transferred within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, US persons except in accordance with the Securities Act or an exemption therefrom and under circumstances which will not require the issuer of such securities to register under the Investment Company Act. No public offering of any securities will be made in the United States.

    You should always bear in mind that: all investment is subject to risk;

    1. results in the past are no guarantee of future results;
    2. the investment performance of BGHL may go down as well as up. You may not get back all of your original investment; and
    3. if you are in any doubt about the contents of this communication or if you consider making an investment decision, you are advised to seek expert financial advice.

    This communication is for information purposes only and the information contained in this communication should not be relied upon as a substitute for financial or other professional advice.

    1 This report includes the transactions conducted by both BGHL, for the share buy back programme and Exane, for the Liquidity Enhancement Agreement.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. Shareholders Approve All 2024 Annual General Meeting Proposals

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Oct. 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: CHKP) today announced that shareholders approved all seven proposals presented at the 2024 Annual General Meeting. Approximately 87.6 million shares, representing approximately 79.6% of the shares outstanding as of the record date, were voted at the meeting. Check Point would like to thank shareholders for the support and confidence they have in the company and its employees.

    For more information on the agenda items, please see the company’s proxy statement for the annual general meeting of shareholders: http://www.checkpoint.com/about-us/investor-relations/annual-general-meeting/

    About Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. 
    Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (www.checkpoint.com) is a leading AI-powered, cloud-delivered cyber security platform provider protecting over 100,000 organizations worldwide. Check Point leverages the power of AI everywhere to enhance cyber security efficiency and accuracy through its Infinity Platform, with industry-leading catch rates enabling proactive threat anticipation and smarter, faster response times. The comprehensive platform includes cloud-delivered technologies consisting of Check Point Harmony to secure the workspace, Check Point CloudGuard to secure the cloud, Check Point Quantum to secure the network, and Check Point Infinity Platform Services for collaborative security operations and services.

    Legal Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements 
    This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or our future financial or operating performance. Our expectations and beliefs regarding these matters may not materialize, and actual results or events in the future are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those projected. These risks include our ability to continue to develop platform capabilities and solutions; customer acceptance and purchase of our existing solutions and new solutions; the market for IT security continuing to develop; competition from other products and services; and general market, political, economic, and business conditions, including acts of terrorism or war. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to other risks and uncertainties, including those more fully described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 2, 2024. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Check Point as of the date hereof, and Check Point disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

    MEDIA CONTACT:
    Gil Messing
    Check Point Software Technologies
    press@checkpoint.com

    INVESTOR CONTACT:
    Kip E. Meintzer
    Check Point Software Technologies
    ir@checkpoint.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Labour’s first budget: redistribution away from the rich after over a decade of Conservative rule

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Martin Smith, Anniversary Professor of Politics, University of York

    Treasury/Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND

    Labour’s first budget in 14 years appears to have avoided the Halloween nightmares that many predicted. Yes, the overall tax burden is at its highest level since 1948, but this budget’s tax and spend distribution is such that it spreads both the pain and the benefit. Most of the pain has been focused on the well off, sparing others from increased taxation.

    This was, as is so often the case, a budget that was more about politics than economics.

    The political emphasis is naturally very different from the previous Conservative administration. Like the 1990s governments of Tony Blair, Labour is now focusing on improving the public sector rather than cutting taxes.

    The government claims there will be no return to austerity. Instead, Reeves’s budget is based not only on investment and growth, but education – which gets a 19% real-terms funding uplift. An extra £22 billion is also available for the NHS. Perhaps more importantly, there is an attempt to shift away from hospital-based provision to preventative approaches and community care.

    This is a budget centred on redistribution. Taxes are increasing for employers (through increased national insurance) and on inheritance tax and capital gains. Second home owners, non-doms and parents sending their children to private school will also be taxed more. Beneficiaries include those on a minimum wage, pensions and carers.

    Want more politics coverage from academic experts? Every week, we bring you informed analysis of developments in government and fact check the claims being made.

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    It is, then, very much a Labour budget. It focuses on taking money from what may be called the upper middle class and the very well off, and spending it on the public sector, the lower paid and the worse off in society. Even the hinted-at increases on taxes around pensions and pension pots were not fulfilled for fear of alienating Labour supporting, public sector workers.

    Delivering a vision

    From this perspective, the budget can be regarded as a political success. It has done what Keir Starmer’s government has hitherto failed to do: set out a new, distinct agenda. Revising the existing fiscal rules to include both new stability and investment rules highlights Labour’s commitment to longer-term growth, which it hopes will secure the investment for renewed public services.

    This strategy harks back to the traditional social democracy that runs from Tony Crosland – one of the foremost Labour thinkers on a reformed social democracy – and the Labour governments of the 1960s to New Labour. Economic growth, rather than the radical redistribution of wealth associated with Labour leaders such as Michael Foot and Jeremy Corbyn, is Labour’s mechanism for enhancing public services and improving the position of the worst off in society.

    Budget 2024: a political document first, an economic plan second.
    Treasury/Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND

    But therein lies the rub. The initial market reaction was good. Much of Reeves and Starmer’s pre-budget spin was about making sure the markets remained calm. There was no repeat of the Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng mini-budget debacle, where unfunded tax cuts led to the unstable economic conditions and ultimately Truss’s downfall.

    The whole of the Labour government strategy is based on modest but consistent economic growth between a high of 2% and a low of 1.5% between now and 2030. But, of course, economic growth is very difficult to predict and dependent on conditions that the government does not control.

    Just this week, Israel’s decision not to target Iranian oilfields led to a 20% drop in oil prices. But any intensification of war in the Middle East could see that situation rapidly reversed.

    So while Labour’s promise to increase capital spending and greater investment in science, research and development is important for growing the economy, it is only one factor and others may thwart Labour’s growth plan.

    There is though one important lesson from history. All – and that really is all – Labour governments have ended their time in office amidst a financial crisis. Often, it is not directly of their own making, but the plight of the economy has subsequently undermined their original spending plans.

    Reeves’s first budget has seen clear benefits for particular sectors. The adaptation of the fiscal rules creates new opportunities for growth through borrowing, capital spending and investment. Yet whether it can trigger the scale of economic takeoff needed to overcome the backlog of investment in public services is to be seen. This may well prove to be the key factor in determining both the longevity and legacy of this Labour government.

    Martin Smith receives funding from Leverhulme Major Research Fellowship and Nuffield Foundation.

    Dave Richards receives funding from two projects related to this article: 1. ‘Public Expenditure, Planning and Control in Complex Times’ – Nuffield Foundation, https://sites.manchester.ac.uk/public-expenditure-planning-and-control/ 2. ‘The UK Productivity-Governance Puzzle: Are UK’s Governing Institutions Fit for Purpose in the 21st Century?’ – The ESRC Productivity Institute https://www.productivity.ac.uk/people/professor-david-richards/

    Sam Warner receives funding from the Nuffield Foundation.

    – ref. Labour’s first budget: redistribution away from the rich after over a decade of Conservative rule – https://theconversation.com/labours-first-budget-redistribution-away-from-the-rich-after-over-a-decade-of-conservative-rule-242548

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Risch, Colleagues Press Biden-Harris Admin on Destruction of U.S. Immigration Policies

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho James E Risch
    BOISE, Idaho – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) led his colleagues in sending a letter calling out President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for fueling a national security crisis at the southern border through a series of destructive executive orders.
    “Instead of addressing the flow of illegal immigration and illicit drugs across our borders, your administration has turned its back on those who wish to immigrate here legally and welcomed illegal aliens with open arms. Instead of directing resources to securing our borders and processing legal immigrant applications, your administration has crippled our immigration enforcement capabilities and prioritized amnesty applications,” wrote the senators. “The administration has one job—to enforce the law of the land. Instead of detaining and deporting illegal aliens, your administration has shown a blatant disregard for the rule of law and national security.”
    Risch is joined by U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), and Tim Scott (R-S.C.) in demanding the Biden-Harris administration answer for their direct role in eroding the U.S. immigration system and compromising the safety of American families.   
    Risch has long fought for securing our southern border by completing the border wall, reimplementing the Remain in Mexico policy, and enforcing existing U.S. immigration laws.
    The full letter can be read here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: A Proclamation on National Lung Cancer Awareness Month,  2024

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
         Too many Americans know the pain of losing a loved one to lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer death in the United States.  During National Lung Cancer Awareness Month, we honor all those living with lung cancer and their loved ones.  We thank the researchers searching for answers and the medical professionals who are working tirelessly to care for those with lung cancer, and we recommit to ending cancer as we know it.
         Although scientists have made incredible breakthroughs that have improved prevention, detection, and treatment for cancer and saved lives, a lung cancer diagnosis can be terrifying.  This year, nearly 250,000 Americans will be diagnosed with the disease.  Treatment can be grueling.  Medical bills can cause concerns for the whole family.  And the flood of medical information directed toward patients and their caretakers can be overwhelming.  Too often, people feel lost and left behind, especially those who are disproportionately impacted by lung cancer — such as Black men, rural residents, and women under 50 years old.
         Cancer is personal to many families, including mine, so I made fighting cancer a top priority in my Administration.  The First Lady and I began by reigniting the Biden Cancer Moonshot, aiming to cut the cancer death rate by at least 50 percent over the next 25 years.  I also secured $4 billion in bipartisan funding and established the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health to support scientists, innovators, and public health professionals in driving innovation to prevent, detect, and treat cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
         My Administration is also working around the clock to make cancer treatments more affordable and the treatment process more manageable for families.  We have saved millions of families $800 per year on their health insurance premiums by strengthening Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act.  Through my Inflation Reduction Act, we are capping total out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries at $2,000 per year, including for cancer drugs, which can cost many times that.  And for the first time ever, families fighting cancer can access patient navigation services that are fully paid for through Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance — helping guide families through the diagnosis and treatment process and offering them much-needed support.
         My Administration is also committed to preventing cancer by tackling another driver of cancer deaths in this country:  smoking.  To ensure that Americans who want to quit have the support they need, the Department of Health and Human Services created a Framework to Support and Accelerate Smoking Cessation, setting goals and strategies to help our communities reduce smoking.  And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention launched a $15 million program that will help increase awareness about smoking and options for services to help people quit.  For anyone looking to quit smoking, you can find resources at BeTobaccoFree.gov or smokefree.gov or by calling 877-44U-QUIT.
         My Administration is expanding early detection and screening services because an early diagnosis of lung cancer can save lives.  Together, Federal agencies, community health centers, and other partners are providing early detection knowledge and support services to underserved communities.  I encourage all Americans to talk to their doctors about lung cancer symptoms.
         During National Lung Cancer Awareness Month, we strengthen our commitment to standing by all those facing lung cancer and their families, and we ensure they have access to the care they need.  We also rededicate ourselves to spreading awareness about lung cancer and working to end cancer as we know it, in order to save more lives. 
         NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 2024 as National Lung Cancer Awareness Month.  I call upon the people of the United States to speak with their doctors and health care providers to learn more about lung cancer.  I encourage citizens, government agencies, private businesses, nonprofit organizations, the media, and other interested groups to increase awareness about what Americans can do to prevent, detect, and treat lung cancer.
         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.
                                   JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: A Proclamation on National Adoption  Month

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
         Every child deserves to know the unconditional love of a permanent home.  During National Adoption Month, we honor all the wonderful families that grow through adoption, we remind our foster youth and adoptees that we are right by their side, and we rededicate ourselves to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential.
         More than 100,000 children are in our Nation’s foster care system awaiting the adoption that could offer them familial love, a lasting home, and a stable foundation for them to grow.  That is why I have called on the Congress to make the adoption tax credit fully refundable, lowering the cost of adoption and giving families and legal guardians some breathing room.  I have also called on the Congress to provide housing vouchers to all 20,000 youth exiting foster care annually — a key step in helping them secure stable housing during this difficult transition.  To further support kinship caregivers, the Department of Health and Human Services issued a final rule last year that requires States to provide them with the same level of financial support that other foster parents receive.  My Administration is also working to eliminate barriers LGBTQI+ families face in the adoption process and ensure LGBTQI+ foster youth grow up in safe and loving environments.  And through the expanded Military Parental Leave Program, we are giving service members more time to spend with their families after a child is born, adopted, or placed in their homes for long-term foster care.
         My Administration also remains committed to supporting youth who are aging out of foster care.  Since the beginning of my Administration, the Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded over $60 million to provide over 4,000 vouchers to foster youth, helping them secure housing as they leave the foster care system.  And my Administration is working to ensure these youth can keep their SNAP benefits without work reporting requirements, easing a difficult transition period.  We have also been working to help foster youth stay in school and graduate, make the successful transition to postsecondary education, train for jobs, pay their bills, and get their lives off to a solid start.
         During National Adoption Month, we celebrate the love shared by adoptive families and professionals across our country.  And we honor the millions of adoptive and kinship families who have welcomed new family members into their loving homes.
         NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 2024 as National Adoption Month.  I encourage all Americans to honor this month by helping the children and youth in their communities secure their forever homes and find the love and connection that they need to thrive.
         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.
                                 JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to study on sugar rationing in utero and early life reducing the risk of chronic disease in adulthood using post-WWII data

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    A study published in Science looks at sugar rationing in the first 1000 days of life and the risk of chronic disease in adulthood. 

    Dr Hilda Mulrooney, Reader in Nutrition and Health, London Metropolitan University, said:

    “This is a really interesting and timely paper, given the currently high intakes of sugar in the UK population, and prevalence of chronic disease including Type 2 diabetes and hypertension. 

    “The potential for diet in utero to impact on long-term health risks has long been recognised, and there are a number of plausible mechanisms to explain how these may occur. In this study, the authors used data from what could be considered a natural experiment – rationing in response to World War 2. By comparing individuals exposed and not exposed to sugar rationing in utero and in early childhood, a significant effect was seen. Those exposed to rationing had significantly lower risks of Type 2 diabetes (35% lower) and hypertension (20% lower), compared to those who did not. Early childhood was especially important; only a third of the increase in risk for both type 2 diabetes and hypertension was explained by in utero exposure. This highlights the potential for early childhood diet as a risk factor for chronic disease. Given the high levels of sugar in foods and drinks aimed at toddlers and young children, this is of concern.

    “The study cannot demonstrate causality; it is not possible from this sort of study design. Nonetheless it is a strong study, with several potential confounding factors taken into account and large numbers of participants (38,155 exposed to rationing and 22,028 not exposed to rationing). The groups were similar in relation to gender, race, family history of diabetes and cardiovascular disease (for which hypertension is a strong risk factor), and genetic scores calculated for obesity (which could confound for both type 2 diabetes and hypertension). In addition to sugar intakes immediately and markedly rising after rationing of sugar ended, risk of obesity was also significantly higher in those not exposed to rationing in utero and the first year of life, compared with those who were. 

    “This study inevitably has weaknesses, due to its type and reliance on historical data. Changes to sugar intakes were unlikely to be the only changes that occurred to participants at that time. The authors  took as many factors as they could into account and the message is clear – exposure to high intakes of added sugar in utero and early childhood is a significant risk factor for chronic disease. This suggests that action to reduce the sugar content of foods and drinks aimed at or attractive to children is needed. This  will not entirely reduce the risk, since diet in pregnancy is what enables in utero exposure – so action on all foods and drinks high in added sugar is needed. However this will have to be approached with care – simply replacing sugar with sweeteners will not enable the population to reduce their preference for sweet tastes.”

     

    Jerusa Brignardello, Lecturer in Dietetics & Nutrition, Oxford Brookes University, said:

    Does the press release accurately reflect the science?

    “Yes, the press release is aligned with the conclusions and findings to the study. This press release emphasises in the importance of the sugar restriction during the first 1000 days of life as an early dietary intervention for the reduction of hypertension and diabetes risk.”

    Is this good quality research?  Are the conclusions backed up by solid data?

    “This is an interesting retrospective piece of research that explores the consequences of early of sugar restriction during early life and comparing the effects of sugar consumption in the same age group after the rationing of food was lifted in the post-war UK. However, results should be interpreted with caution, as nutritional environments from the 1950s differ significantly from those of today.

    “The information was obtained from the UK- Biobank with 60183 participants. However, the Biobank cohort is not nationally representative of the population and tend to represent a part of the population that was healthier and wealthy. Nonetheless, the quasi-experimental design of the exposure conditions makes this study very rigorous to study the sugar exposure in humans.”

    How does this work fit with the existing evidence?

    “Current evidence suggests that early exposure to sugar during pregnancy and early life may impact neonatal metabolism, obesity risk, and taste perception, which may later influence food choices and the risk of other chronic diseases. This study supports the findings related to chronic diseases and contributes to the “fetal origins hypothesis” described by British physician and epidemiologist David Baker in the 90s.”

    Have the authors accounted for confounders?  Are there important limitations to be aware of?

    “Yes, the authors have worked on the limitations inherent in studying a cohort like this. It is important to be aware that food environments and dietary patterns in the 50s were very different compared to the current food environment. In addition, lifestyle during those years was not the same as today, and obesity was not considered for statistical purposes as a potential variable to study public health.

    “Therefore, the risk found in the UK-Biobank cohort that was exposed to sugar rationing may be different if that is compared to other populations given the differences in lifestyle, dietary habits, food environment, and obesity prevalence. Consequently, the extrapolation of the results presented in the work of Gracner et al. should be interpreted with caution, for example, if these results will be used to build machine learning models for risk predictions for the current population. However, these results contribute to the “Baker hypothesis” or “Fetal origins hypothesis” showing how a simple nutritional intervention as cutting sugar during this crucial period of pregnancy and early life affect in the reduction of risk of diabetes and hypertension in later life.”

    What are the implications in the real world?  Is there any overspeculation?

    “As mentioned previously, the food environment, lifestyle, and physical activity are very different from those in their 50s. Therefore, the results found in this research should be a call for attention for women in the stages of preconception, pregnancy, and parents of children in early life. In addition, this should reinforce the actions of policymakers for the promotion of low sugar intake during these critical life stages in parents and children. Finally, the food industry should consider reformulating products targeted at these groups in light of the evidence, prioritising the well-being of future generations.

    “I do not believe there is overspeculation in this article, as it has undergone peer review, meaning that multiple academics have evaluated the research, including its methodology, results, discussion, and conclusions.”

     

    Dr Katie Dalrymple Lecturer in Nutritional Sciences, Kings College London said:

    “This study provides further epidemiological evidence which supports the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) hypothesis. DoHaD suggests that certain environmental influences during critical periods of growth and development during early life may have significant consequences on a child’s long-term health. Given the complexity of this research question, the study relies on observational data and an event study design to draw meaningful conclusions of the relationship between nutrition in early life and the development of chronic diseases. Whilst it is important to consider confounding factors which may have occurred between the exposure and the outcome and potential bias of the Biobank cohort, the results are consistent with existing DoHaD literature, and they support the notion of public health initiatives which focus on sugar reduction.”   

    Amanda Adler, Professor of Diabetic Medicine and Health Policy from the University of Oxford’s Radcliffe Department of Medicine said:

    “The investigators take advantage of the ‘natural experiment’ of post-war food rationing to test the theory that exposure to sugar rationing in utero and in early childhood prevents or delays the onset of type 2 diabetes and hypertension years later.

    “The investigators observed that people conceived during rationing indeed had lower rates of disease when compared to people conceived after rationing ended.

    “But, we still don’t really know if the children less likely to get diabetes later in life were indeed the ones not exposed to sugar in utero or after birth – even in a setting of rationing.

    “It may be that at the same time rationing ended and people consumed more sugar, they also changed other habits becoming, for example, less physically active.  So, this may have influenced in part their risk for diabetes later in life. 

    “It’s intriguing and entirely possible that a lower exposure to sugar in utero via the mother would lead to life-long benefits. 

    “This study is an open invitation to clinical trialist to clarify the ‘right’ levels of sugar to add to the diet for pregnant or lactating women, and for their infants.”

    ‘Exposure to sugar rationing in the first 1000 days of life protected against chronic disease’ by Gracner et al. was published by AAAS in the journal Science at 18:00 UK time on Thursday 31st October.

    DOI: 10.1126/science.adn5421

    Declared interests

    Dr Hilda Mulrooney “In terms of conflicts, I am a committee member of the Obesity Group of the British Dietetic Association, a committee member of the European Specialist Dietitians Network for Obesity and a Council member for Public Health to the Nutrition Society. I am not paid by any of these organisations and not representing them in these comments.”

    Jerusa Brignardello “In 2013 I was awarded scholarships from Kraft Foods to attend to the Young Global Nutrition Leader in the International Unions of Nutrition Societies and International Nutrition Foundation. I worked as International Nutrition Consultant for the World Food Programme at United Nations in the Latin American and Caribbean Bureau between 2013 and 2014 . I have worked in Nutrigenomix which is a company for nutritional genetic testing based in Canada between 2012 and 2017. Also, as a clinical trial coordinator for Nestle Switzerland in 2010 and as consultant for Nestle Chile doing activities related to science communication in gut health topics in 2024. In 2018 I received a funding from the American Egg Board from USA to do research in food biomarkers, while I studied at Imperia College London- UK. I am not aware about significant industry funding in my department at Oxford Brookes University. I do not have any conflicts of interest related to this research for my own research.”

    Dr Katie Dalrymple “I worked for Danone for 4 years (2012-2016) before I did my PhD.”

    Amanda Adler “No conflicts of interest to declare.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Lockdown and search at Mission Institution – medium-security unit

    Source: Government of Canada News

    On October 28, 2024, a lockdown was put in place in the medium-security unit at Mission Institution, to enable staff members to conduct an exceptional search.

    October 31, 2024 – Mission, British Columbia – Correctional Service Canada

    On October 28, 2024, a lockdown was put in place in the medium-security unit at Mission Institution, to enable staff members to conduct an exceptional search.

    The search was ordered to ensure the safety and security of the institution, its staff, and inmates.

    Visits have been suspended until the search is completed. Normal operations will resume as soon as it is considered safe to do so. 

    The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) is committed to preventing the entry of contraband and unauthorized items into its institutions. CSC works in partnership with the police to take action against those who attempt to introduce contraband into correctional institutions.

    Reina Linares
    Assistant Warden Management Services
    Mission Institution
    604-820-5856

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Funding to support 14 First Nations, Inuit and Métis documentary heritage projects

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Library and Archives Canada is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2024–2025 funding cycle of its Listen, Hear Our Voices initiative.

    Gatineau, Quebec, October 31, 2024

    Library and Archives Canada (LAC) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2024–2025 funding cycle of its Listen, Hear Our Voices initiative. In total, 14 First Nations, Inuit and Métis organizations will share $912,963 to support their efforts to digitize and preserve language and culture materials and to increase their digitization and preservation capacity.

    The recipients were selected based on the recommendations of a review committee, external to LAC and consisting of First Nations, Inuit and Métis heritage professionals from across Canada.

    Indigenous organizations receiving funding through the Listen, Hear Our Voices initiative (2024–2025):

    • Cold Lake First Nations
    • Native Counselling Services of Alberta
    • Ktunaxa Nation Council Society
    • Cheslatta Carrier Nation
    • Gwich’in Tribal Council
    • Inuvialuit Cultural Centre Pitquhiit-Pitqusiit
    • Inuit Broadcasting Corporation
    • Woodland Cultural Centre
    • Munsee Delaware Language and History Group, c/o Munsee-Delaware Nation
    • Chippewas of Rama First Nation
    • La Boîte Rouge VIF
    • First Nations University of Canada
    • Kinistino Metis Local 43
    • Council of Yukon First Nations—Yukon Native Language Centre

    Project titles and funding amounts for 2024–2025 contribution funding recipients can be found on the Listen, Hear Our Voices web page.

    Heritage organizations play a vital role in preserving Canada’s local memory. LAC is proud to contribute to documenting, preserving and making accessible to the public a memory that reflects the diversity of experiences and cultures in Canadian society.

    About Library and Archives Canada

    The mandate of Library and Archives Canada is to preserve the documentary heritage of Canada for the benefit of present and future generations and to be a source of enduring knowledge accessible to all, thereby contributing to the cultural, social and economic advancement of Canada. Library and Archives Canada also facilitates cooperation among communities involved in the acquisition, preservation and dissemination of knowledge and serves as the continuing memory of the Government of Canada and its institutions.

    MIL OSI Canada News –