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  • MIL-OSI Economics: African Development Bank Approves a $75 Million Participation in Export Trading Group’s Sustainability Linked Loan for Core Value Chain Financing…

    Source: African Development Bank Group

    The African Development Bank Group has approved a $75 million financing package to support Export Trading Group (ETG), a Mauritius-based conglomerate with extensive operations across Africa. ETG boasts a diverse portfolio spanning agricultural inputs, logistics, merchandising and processing, supply chain optimization, digital transformation, and energy.

    This package includes a $65 million participation from the Bank’s own resources, along with $10 million in concessional co-financing from the Agri-Food Catalytic Financing Mechanism (ACFM) into ETGs Sustainable Linked Loan facility for financing its core value chain assets. The Agri-Food Catalytic Financing Mechanism is an internally managed Special Fund, capitalized by Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development, to build markets and mobilize finance for gender-oriented and underserved agri-SMEs in Africa.

    Through participation in the Sustainable Linked Loan facility, the financing will be deployed to ETG’s core value chains in 14 countries, namely Benin, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Zambia. This will support ETG’s processing and packaging facilities and warehouses and provide farmers with fertilizers and other agri-inputs. The Bank’s financing may be deployed to up to 28 African countries based on ETG’s emerging needs.

    The Sustainable Linked Loan facility establishes annual sustainability key performance indicators and targets focused on decarbonization, reforestation, zero deforestation, farmer extension services, and gender empowerment with inherent direct financial consequences for non-compliance.

    “The African Development Bank Group is thrilled to expand our work with Export Trade Group and support its commitment to strengthen women’s economic development in Africa. Access to finance and training in agriculture will contribute to food security and economic growth,” said Dr. Beth Dunford, Bank Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development.

    ETG plans to engage 600,000 smallholder farmers by 2027, with a 25 percent target for women farmers. This includes training on sustainable farming and improved access to resources. The project is expected to boost exports from Bank regional member countries and enhance intra-regional trade, particularly within the Economic Community of West African States, Southern African Development Community, and East African Community regional economic blocks.

    The Bank’s investment in ETG capitalizes on the Group’s proven track record and resilience in agriculture, aiming to mobilize private sector financing into a critical yet underserved sector of the economy. ETG will manage the project, with oversight from the company’s Board of Directors and support from specialized departments within the Group.

    The project aligns with the Bank’s ‘High 5’ priorities, specifically “Feed Africa,” “Integrate Africa,” and “Improve the quality of life for the people of Africa,” as well as the Bank’s Ten-Year Strategy 2024-2033. It is expected to contribute to Africa’s agricultural transformation into a business-oriented and commercially viable sector, driving the continent’s food self-sufficiency.

    “By partnering with ETG, the African Development Bank continues to champion strategic enterprises that operate across multiple countries, furthering its mission to support agricultural development and improve the livelihoods of millions across the continent. The decision to continue funding ETG is just not a financial transaction. It is a strategic collaboration with a purpose – a mission to transform African agriculture and a commitment to optimize the influence of their investments, “said Richard Ofori-Mante, Director of the Agricultural Finance and Rural Development Department at the Bank.

    “By tying loan conditions to performance indicators related to sustainability, ETG is more likely to engage in activities that advance the Sustainable Development Goals. This alignment will drive better environmental, social, and governance outcomes. The transaction not only promotes sustainable practices within ETG’s operations but also influences its supply chain and partners, amplifying the impact on sustainable development,” Ofori-Mante added.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Africa Investment Forum welcomes BADEA as new partner ahead of the December Market Days in Rabat

    Source: African Development Bank Group

    The Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) has joined the Africa Investment Forum as a founding partner, marking a new phase in the Forum’s expansion and influence as a catalyst for mega investments into the continent.

    The official announcement came during a breakfast meeting of heads of the Africa Investment Forum Founding Partner institutions, convened by the African Development Bank in Washington, DC on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank’s annual meetings. During the meeting, the partners examined and adopted a new strategic framework to govern the forum. The meeting took place on Friday 25 October.

    In welcoming BADEA as a new partner, African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina said: “Since 2018, BADEA has been a steadfast supporter of the Africa Investment Forum, consistently contributing to the growth and success of this platform.”

    The Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa is a multilateral development financial institution owned by 18 Arab countries. Its operations cover the entire Sub-Saharan African region.

    BADEA group president Dr. Sidi Ould Tah said the main shareholders of his bank had been working on a new mechanism to support investment flows to Africa. The group has sovereign funds under management with assets in the trillions of dollars, of which they had pledged to channel a part for Africa’s infrastructure needs.

    “The role of BADEA is to catalyse resources for Africa. BADEA will work with all the member countries of AIF to make this pledge a reality,” Tah said.                                 

    The addition of BADEA brings the AIF’s founding partners to nine:  the African Development Bank, Afreximbank, Africa Finance Corporation, Africa50, Development Bank of Southern Africa, European Investment Bank, Islamic Development Bank, and Trade and Development Bank.

    Meeting of AIF founding partners in Washington, DC October 2024

    Heads and representatives of each of the partners who attended the meeting included included Trade and Development Bank President and CEO Admassu Tadesse, Africa Finance Corporation’s CEO  Samaila Zubairu, Africa50  President Alain Ebobissé, European Investment Bank Vice President Ambroise Fayolle,  Hani Salem Sonbol  Chief Executive Officer of the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation representing Islamic Development Bank President Dr. Muhammad Sulaiman Al Jasser, and Afreximbank’s Director for Export Development Oluranti Doherty, who represented its president.

    Adesina also commended the founding partners for their energy, drive and momentum which he described as a testament to their confidence in the Forum.

    The AIF’s Market Days events, held annually, have drawn sovereign and non-sovereign investors from around the world, enabling a shift in risk perception and fostering confidence in Africa’s investment landscape.

    The platform has actively supported women-led businesses under its Women as Investment Champions pillar with examples such as Mobihealth International Ltd (Healthcare, Nigeria) which was supported to access grant and loan funding for feasibility studies and pan-African expansion.

    From the African Development Bank, Senior Vice President Marie Laure Akin-Olugbade, Hassatou N’Sele Vice President for Finance and CFO, Beth Dunford, Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development,  Nnenna Nwabufo, Vice President for Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery and Kevin Urama, Chief Economist and Vice President, Economic Governance and Knowledge Management, also attended the meeting. The Senior Director of Syndications, the Africa Investment Forum and Client Solutions, Max Magor Ndiaye, and the Special Representative of President Adesina, Yacine Fall were also present.

    The 2024 Market Days will take place from 4-6 December 2024 in Rabat, Morocco, under the theme: “Leveraging Innovative Partnerships for Scale.”

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Mozambique: African Development Bank approves $54 million loan for Mozambique’s first wind energy project

    Source: African Development Bank Group

    The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank has approved a loan of $54 million for a 120 MW onshore wind farm that will help position Mozambique as a regional energy hub.

    The Bank’s loan, which includes $12 million from the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA), is in addition to financing expected from International Finance Corporation (IFC), U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), the Emerging Africa and Asia Infrastructure Fund (EAAIF) and the Private Infrastructure Development Group’s Technical Assistance. The total project cost is estimated at $224.5 million.

    Mozambique’s national electricity utility, EDM, will be the sole off-taker from the wind farm, located 50 km west of Maputo, under a 25-year power purchase agreement.

    The wind farm will be Mozambique’s first utility-scale wind power project. It is expected to generate 331.6 GWh annually, supplying affordable, reliable, and clean energy to both local consumers and regional markets, diversifying Mozambique’s energy mix, and improving access to electricity. It will also position the country as a regional energy hub, capitalizing on increased energy trade through the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP).

    With Mozambique’s energy sources currently dominated by hydropower and gas, the Namaacha wind farm project will help reduce annual CO₂ emissions by approximately 71,816 tons, contributing to the country’s commitments under the Paris climate agreement.

    The project will support economic growth, job creation, and improved living standards. During construction it will create 600 jobs, of which its targeting about 120 will be for women, and 300 for youth. Once operational, 20 permanent jobs will be created, with a focus on gender and youth inclusion.

    Commenting on the project, Kevin Kariuki, Vice President for Power, Energy, Climate, and Green Growth at the African Development Bank, said, “This wind project represents a milestone for Mozambique and underscores the Bank’s strong commitment to advancing clean, renewable energy solutions in the region. It will not only enhance energy security but also facilitate regional electricity trade, benefiting Mozambique’s socio-economic development.”

    Wale Shonibare, Director of the Energy Financial Solutions, Policy, and Regulations Department at the African Development Bank stressed the technological impact of this milestone project. “As the first large-scale wind energy initiative in Mozambique, this project showcases the transformative potential of renewable technologies to drive sustainable growth. By leveraging Mozambique’s natural resources, we are creating pathways toward a diversified and resilient energy sector that not only meets current demands but is future-proofed to support an evolving economy,” he said.

    Globeleq is one of the project developers. Its CEO Jonathan Hoffman said: “The Namaacha Wind Farm is a significant milestone in Mozambique’s journey toward a diversified and sustainable energy landscape. We are proud to partner with EDM and Source Energia in contributing to the government’s ambitious ‘Energy for All by 2030’ program, which is rapidly transforming into a reality for countless Mozambicans. This project reflects our commitment to supporting Mozambique’s clean energy goals and bringing reliable power to the communities we serve.”

    Aligned with the Bank’s Ten-Year Strategy, the New Deal on Energy for Africa, and its High 5 objective of “Light Up and Power Africa,” the project underscores Mozambique’s dedication to renewable energy development and supports its goal of achieving universal access to electricity by 2030.

    The project complements the Bank’s earlier energy sector initiatives in Mozambique, including the Songo Matambo transmission line and the Mozambique Energy for All program.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Not the time to share: NZ needs to rethink multi-bed hospital rooms

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cindy Towns, Senior Lecturer, University of Otago Wellington, University of Otago

    As New Zealand agonises over its hospitals – where they are, how they should be staffed and how they should be funded – a key element in the debate is being missed: the need for single rooms in all public hospitals.

    It’s currently normal for patients to stay in shared rooms with up to five other people. In some hospitals this includes accommodating men and women in the same room, despite serious safety and ethical concerns.

    But it shouldn’t be this way. For a number of reasons, including infection control, privacy and cost, new hospitals and renovations need to be based on single occupancy rooms.

    Our new research brings together both the clinical and ethical arguments for single rooms for all patients as the most basic standard of care.

    Infection control

    Many may view shared rooms as a cost saving. But one of the key arguments for individual rooms in hospitals is the cost and harm of infections and bacterial resistance.

    Single rooms reduce risks by eliminating exposure to shared infection sources such as touched surfaces, unfiltered air, toilets and water systems.

    They also reduce the need for room transfers within the hospital which increase the risk for infection transmission between patients.

    There is strong evidence single occupancy rooms result in reduced infections in intensive care units. And further research has also found single occupancy reduces hospital transmission of COVID-19.

    In New Zealand, single rooms are prioritised for patients known to be infectious. But the key word here is known. This policy fails to recognise that a large proportion of transmissible infections are unknown at the time of ward placement.

    However, even when infection is known, our hospitals cannot meet basic guidelines due to the lack of single rooms. Only 30% of Wellington and Hutt hospital rooms are single occupancy, for example.

    Without single occupancy as the standard in hospitals, infection control will remain compromised.

    Delirium and dementia

    Individual rooms are also required for older adults. New Zealand’s population is ageing; as a result, patients with delirium and dementia needing hospitalisation will increase.

    Delirium affects about 25% of patients in hospital and is associated with a longer stay, more complications and an increased risk for death.

    Delirium prevention and management requires a low-stimulus environment, undisrupted sleep, and control of light and noise which cannot be achieved in shared hospital rooms.

    Research has shown a reduction in delirium with single rooms.

    The behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia also pose significant challenges in hospital. Symptoms include hallucinations, delusions, sleep disturbance, depression, inappropriate sexual behaviour and aggression.

    These can be highly distressing for the patient and those around them and – like delirium – cannot be managed to a basic standard of care within a shared room.

    Dementia prevalence will more than double by 2050. And yet New Zealand hospitals are ill-prepared to accommodate this rise in demand.

    The right to security, privacy and dignity

    Shared rooms in hospitals clearly undermine clinical care, but they also violate human and patient rights.

    One of the most fundamental human rights is “security of person”. Nobody should have to share rooms with patients who are agitated, aggressive or sexually inappropriate due to delirium or dementia.

    Unfortunately, patients frequently share with those who are unable to manage their own behaviour. While the risks to women have been highlighted, no patient should be endangered or frightened by another patient’s behaviour.

    Dignity and privacy are also a fundamental patient rights, with privacy covered by by both the Health Information Privacy Code and the Health and Disability patient Code of Rights.

    Hospital patients often need assistance with dressing, showering and toileting. Many admissions involve vomiting, diarrhoea or incontinence. And design that relies on curtains to maintain privacy renders this right farcical.

    Research and complaints clearly show patients do not believe their privacy is adequately protected in shared spaces.

    Some may argue for multi-bed rooms on the basis that some patients prefer company. However patient surveys on privacy and confidentiality are overwhelmingly in favour of single occupancy.

    Factoring in cost

    While there is an increase in up-front costs when building single rooms due to the larger hospital footprint, research has found there is no convincing economic evidence in favour of multi-bed rooms.

    The potential savings for future pandemics – in mortality, patient transfers and disease transmission – should not be underestimated. Improved management of delirium and dementia, will also decrease length of stay and cost.

    The argument for single occupancy hospital rooms on clinical, ethical and legal grounds is collectively unequivocal.

    New Zealand needs to follow international best practice and introduce single occupancy rooms as a basic standard for new hospital builds and upgrades.

    Not doing so would ignore the lessons learnt in the COVID-19 pandemic, fail to account for the needs of an ageing population and continue to render New Zealand’s code of patient rights a fairy tale.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Not the time to share: NZ needs to rethink multi-bed hospital rooms – https://theconversation.com/not-the-time-to-share-nz-needs-to-rethink-multi-bed-hospital-rooms-241573

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Secretary Blinken delivers remarks on American Diplomacy for a New Era

    Source: United States of America – Department of State (video statements)

    Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken delivers remarks on American Diplomacy for a New Era at the Foreign Service Institute, on October 30, 2024.

    Transcript: https://www.state.gov/american-diplomacy-for-a-new-era/
    ———-
    Under the leadership of the President and Secretary of State, the U.S. Department of State leads America’s foreign policy through diplomacy, advocacy, and assistance by advancing the interests of the American people, their safety and economic prosperity. On behalf of the American people we promote and demonstrate democratic values and advance a free, peaceful, and prosperous world.

    The Secretary of State, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the President’s chief foreign affairs adviser. The Secretary carries out the President’s foreign policies through the State Department, which includes the Foreign Service, Civil Service and U.S. Agency for International Development.

    Get updates from the U.S. Department of State at www.state.gov and on social media!
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/statedept
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/StateDept
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/statedept
    Flickr: https://flickr.com/photos/statephotos/

    Subscribe to the State Department Blog: https://www.state.gov/blogs
    Watch on-demand State Department videos: https://video.state.gov/
    Subscribe to The Week at State e-newsletter: http://ow.ly/diiN30ro7Cw

    State Department website: https://www.state.gov/
    Careers website: https://careers.state.gov/
    White House website: https://www.whitehouse.gov/
    Terms of Use: https://state.gov/tou

    #StateDepartment #DepartmentofState #Diplomacy

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=534WqH_-fxA

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: As Clocks Are Set to Fall Back, Senators Markey and Rubio Call for Permanent Daylight Saving Time

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

    Boston (October 30, 2024) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fl.), cosponsors of the bipartisan Sunshine Protection Act, which would make Daylight Saving Time (DST) permanent, again called for passage of their legislation to stop the twice-yearly process of changing clocks in the Spring and Fall. In March 2022, the Sunshine Protection Act unanimously passed the Senate.

    “This head-spinning ritual of falling back and springing forward has gone on long enough,” said Senator Markey. “It isn’t just a nuisance — changing our clocks also has a very real impact on our economy, our health, and our happiness. More sun means more fun, so let’s pass the Sunshine Protection Act, which would make for brighter days year-round.”

    “It’s time to lock the clock and stop enduring the ridiculous and antiquated practice of switching our clocks back and forth. Let’s finally pass my Sunshine Protection Act and end the need to ‘fall back’ and ‘spring forward’ for good,” said Senator Rubio.

    As part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, then-Representative Markey and Congressman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) amended the Uniform Time Act of 1966, extending the duration of DST in the Spring by changing its start date from the first Sunday in April to the second Sunday in March, and in the Fall by changing its end date from the last Sunday in October to the first Sunday in November. In 1985, then-Representative Markey partnered with Congressman Carlos Moorhead (R-Calif.) to extend DST by three weeks by changing the beginning of Daylight Saving Time from the last Sunday in April to the first Sunday in April.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Whispers in the Texas Wind

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas John Cornyn

    As the leaves shift from green to shades of red and brown, Fall brings more than just hayrides, pumpkin patches, and trick-or-treating. You may not realize it while carving your jack-o’-lantern, but Texas is home to more than just famous haunted houses—you don’t have to look far to stumble upon a graveyard with a story to tell.

    Texas boasts around 14,000 cemeteries, many of which are steeped in legends that will send a chill up your spine. Some gravestones hold dramatic tales of early settlement, disease, natural disasters, and war. From the Panhandle to the Gulf Coast, these cemeteries are living pieces of history wrapped in a touch of the supernatural.

    Take Oakwood Cemetery in Austin, the state’s oldest graveyard. It spans 40 acres of centuries-old tombstones and is the resting place of Texas Revolution and Civil War veterans, as well as former governors like General Sam Houston. Some of the most haunting stories come from these graves. One such grave belongs to Eula Phillips a teenager murdered on Christmas Eve in 1885. Legend has it her spirit floats through the cemetery at night, searching for answers to her untimely death. 

    Farther southeast, in Galveston, lies the Old City Cemetery, where spirits are rumored to be more restless. This graveyard serves as a somber reminder of the catastrophic Hurricane of 1900 that devastated the island. Thousands lost their lives, including many who were swept into the Gulf of Mexico. On stormy nights, the howling wind is said to carry the cries of men calling for help and wails of women searching for their lost children.

    Among those buried there is Elize Romer Alberti, Galveston’s “Demented Mother,” who poisoned her five children in 1894, four of whom succumbed to it. After the murders, she was sent to the San Antonio Asylum, but returned to Galveston, where she eventually died. Buried with her children, she is said to haunt the cemetery grounds to this day.

    In El Paso, Concordia Cemetery is one of Texas’ largest cemeteries, covering 52 acres and holding the graves of more than 60,000 souls, including buffalo soldiers and Texas Rangers. Its most famous occupant is John Wesley Hardin, the notorious gunslinger of the Old West. Under the moonlight, the spirits of Hardin and other outlaws are rumored to roam the grounds, earning Concordia the nickname “El Paso’s Boot Hill” due to its rowdy history.

    Texas cemeteries hold more than tombstones, they are places where the living just might happen upon spirits of the past. So whether you believe in ghosts or not, this is the season to gather around a campfire and share a scary story or two, because you never know what—or who—may be dying to hear it.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Why the Cornish Pasty Struggles to Make Its Mark in New Zealand

    Source: Press Release Service – Press Release/Statement:

    Headline: Why the Cornish Pasty Struggles to Make Its Mark in New Zealand

    Chef Adam Rickett, known for his work at Euro and Culpeper in Auckland, shares his mission to popularize the Cornish pasty in New Zealand.

    The post Why the Cornish Pasty Struggles to Make Its Mark in New Zealand first appeared on PR.co.nz.

    – –

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: FS continues to explore business opportunities for Hong Kong in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, together with a delegation, had their second day of visit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, yesterday (October 30, Riyadh time).     In the morning, Mr Chan attended the listing ceremony for the first exchange-traded fund (ETF) in Saudi Arabia that invests in Hong Kong stocks at the Saudi Exchange. This product is the result of collaboration between Albilad Bank of Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong’s CSOP Asset Management Limited.     Mr Chan highlighted that as the largest ETF in the Middle East, it will attract more regional investors and broaden funding sources for the Hong Kong market, while diversifying the investment product offerings in the Saudi market, fostering the development of its ETF market, creating a win-win situation.     He also noted that after the first ETF investing in the Saudi market was listed in Hong Kong last November, this marks the Saudi Arabia’s first ETF investing in Hong Kong stocks. He believes that more diversified products will emerge in the future, providing investors from the Middle East with convenient channels to invest in Hong Kong and Mainland China, and enhancing the two-way flow of capital between Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia, and fostering greater connectivity and more vibrant development of the capital markets in both regions.     Mr Chan and some delegation members also attended a breakfast meeting hosted by Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) to discuss capital market connectivity between Asia and the Middle East.     During his keynote speech at the breakfast meeting, Mr Chan elaborated on Hong Kong’s significant role and function in the global capital market. He pointed out that Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 has brought major reforms and opportunities, promoting capital investment from Asian markets. With its unique advantage of “one country, two systems”, Hong Kong has become the premier international financial centre connecting the Middle East with the Chinese market, particularly in three key areas: a deep and broad fund-raising market, asset and wealth management, and green and sustainable finance.  They provide diverse investment offerings for investors and enterprises in the Middle East, and providing financial support to regional economic development and green transformation.     The breakfast meeting included a discussion session moderated by HKEX’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ms Bonnie Chan, featuring remarks from CEO of the Saudi Exchange, Mr Mohammed Al-Rumaih; Deputy Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, Mr Darryl Chan, and CEO of Standard Chartered Group, Mr Bill Winters.     At noon, Mr Chan called on the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mr Chang Hua, to brief him on Hong Kong’s latest economic developments and exchange views on China-Saudi co-operation and economic relations.     In the afternoon, Mr Chan co-hosted a capital markets roundtable with Chairman of the Saudi Capital Market Authority, Mr Mohammed bin Abdullah Elkuwaiz. Representatives from regulatory bodies and a number of asset management institutions attended to discuss the latest developments in the financial markets of both regions and to explore further co-operation opportunities.     Later, Mr Chan met with Governor of the Saudi Central Bank, Mr Ayman Alsayari, to discuss advancing connectivity in investment and financial markets between Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, as well as co-operation in digital finance.     In the evening, the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation held the “Hong Kong Tech Disrupt” event, featuring over 20 startups in green technology, biotechnology, artificial intelligence and robotics, etc. They showcased their research products and sought to connect with investors and business partners.     Yesterday, a number of delegation members also attended the “Future Investment Initiative” event and delivered speeches, continuing to tell the good story of China and Hong Kong.     ???     Mr Chan and the delegation will continue their final day of visit in Riyadh today (October 31, Riyadh time).

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: DOD Chief Digital and AI Office Hosts Responsible AI in Defense Forum

    Source: United States Department of Defense

    Today, the Department of Defense (DoD) Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO) concluded its “Responsible AI in Defense Forum,” a 3-day event that brought together defense leaders, AI experts, policymakers, and global innovators to focus on advancements in Responsible AI (RAI), held at the Hyatt Regency in Reston, VA, Oct. 28-30.

    The Responsible AI in Defense Forum provided an opportunity to discuss technical capabilities and challenges with diverse stakeholders and to examine RAI in the context of international military cooperation.

    “Over the last dozen years, as advances in machine learning yielded new breakthroughs, we’ve worked hard at the Pentagon to be a global leader in establishing responsible policies for military use of autonomous systems and AI,” said Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks during a keynote address delivered via video. “From the beginning, DoD’s approach to responsible AI has been guided by our understanding that AI will only be used and effective where it is trusted and trustworthy. Today we’re at the forefront of accelerating the adoption of trusted AI, and we can’t afford to fall behind.”

    The multiple-day Forum was designed to explore a different topic each day, with participation aligned to the topic. On day one, CDAO led a meeting among the Partnership for Defense’s (PfD) 16 members to examine strategies and tools for enabling RAI across defense enterprises. On day two, CDAO convened government, industry, and academic experts for a series of discussions on operationalizing RAI in defense. Finally, day three featured a closed-door meeting focused on aligning NATO allies and partners with RAI implementation strategies. Each day of the Forum helped advance the CDAO’s critically important work around the responsible implementation of AI in defense.

    CDAO Dr. Radha Plumb kicked off the Forum with the AI Partnership for Defense.

    “The RAI in Defense Forum — and first-ever in-person PfD on Responsible AI — provided an unprecedented opportunity for the Department to connect its practical Responsible AI tools and guidance with critical partners to build leadership on global Responsible AI standards and practices,” stated Plumb.

    The CDAO is pleased to have hosted this pivotal gathering, having achieved its key objectives of strengthening CDAO’s relationships with PfD partners, sharing RAI implementation lessons learned, and promoting RAI globally. As a result of this effort, the CDAO looks forward to accelerated progress in RAI, both at home and abroad.

    About the CDAO

    The CDAO became operational in June 2022 and is dedicated to integrating and optimizing AI capabilities across the DoD. The office is responsible for accelerating the DoD’s adoption of data, analytics, and AI, enabling the Department’s digital infrastructure and policy adoption to deliver scalable AI-driven solutions for enterprise and joint use cases, safeguarding the nation against current and emerging threats.

    For more information about the CDAO, please visit our website at ai.mil. You can also connect with the CDAO on LinkedIn (@ DoD Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office) and X, formally known as Twitter (@dodcdao). Additional updates and news can be found on the CDAO Unit Page on DVIDS.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III and South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun Hold Joint Media Availability

    Source: United States Department of Defense

    PENTAGON PRESS SECRETARY MAJOR GENERAL PAT RYDER: Well, good afternoon and thank you for being here today. Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to introduce Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin and Republic of Korea Minister of National Defense Kim Yong Hyun. The secretary and the minister will deliver opening remarks and then we’ll have time to take a few questions.

    Please note that I will moderate and call on journalists. And with that, Secretary Austin, over to you sir. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE LLOYD AUSTIN: Thanks, Pat. Good afternoon, everybody and thanks for being here. Minister Kim, let me again welcome you and your team to the Pentagon. It’s our honor to host our allies in the Republic of Korea for our 56th Security Consultative Meeting. The SCM is the annual capstone event for the US-ROK Alliance. It brings our defense leaders together to tackle shared challenges and to deepen our friendship.

    For more than 70 years, our alliance has been the foundation of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. Our two proud democracies share a vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific and we stand shoulder to shoulder against those who would upend the status quo. Now we’re closely tracking the unprecedented level of direct military cooperation between Russia and the DPRK. In our meetings today, we shared our deep concerns about the deployment of DPRK troops to Russia.

    We also discussed how we’re going to work together with our allies and partners to respond to this dangerous and destabilizing escalation. The evidence now suggests that North Korea has sent around 10,000 soldiers to train in eastern Russia and some of these DPRK troops have already moved closer to Ukraine.

    And we’re seeing them outfitted with Russian uniforms and provided with Russian equipment. And I am increasingly concerned that the Kremlin plans to use these North Korean soldiers to support Russia’s combat operations in Russia’s Kursk region near the border with Ukraine. And let me remind you that Russia signed on to the UN Security Council resolutions agreeing not to provide military assistance to North Korea.

    Of course, we know that Putin has gone tin cupping to get weapons from the DPRK and Iran. Turning to a pariah state like North Korea for troops just underscores how much trouble he is in. And we take this very seriously. We urge the Kremlin to change course and we fully understand the security implications for both Europe and the Indo-Pacific.

    Putin will not prevail in Ukraine even with more help from North Korea, but these deeply concerning developments only underscore the importance of our alliance with the ROK and other allies and partners committed to shared security and prosperity. Now, Minister Kim and I had an outstanding meeting today.

    Our discussions move the ball forward to modernize and deepen our alliance that will help protect the security of the Korean Peninsula and shape the future of the Indo-Pacific. It was with a sense of urgency we’ve delivered on a shared security objectives that we set forth just a year ago in a defense vision of the US-ROK Alliance.

    The US Department of Defense and the ROK Ministry of National Defense signed the Nuclear Consultative Group guidelines in July and later that month I traveled to Japan to join an historic trilateral ministerial meeting with the ROK and Japan. It was held in Tokyo for the first time as envisioned by the 2023 Camp David Summit.

    Now I assured Minister Kim today that the United States remains fully committed to the defense of the ROK and our extended deterrence commitment remains ironclad. That commitment is backed by the full range of America’s conventional missile defense, nuclear and advanced non-nuclear capabilities. We’ve also returned to large scale exercises with our ROK allies and that strengthening our combined readiness and our interoperability.

    We’re also working together to tackle shared security challenges across the Indo-Pacific. So today Minister Kim and I endorsed a framework to expand our cooperation throughout the region based on our shared values and common interests. We also discussed the important role of the United Nations Command, which reflects the international community’s long-standing commitment to peace on the peninsula.

    And earlier this year with support from the ROK, we accepted Germany as the 18th member state of the UNC. Moving forward, we’ll build on our momentum and will expand the scope and scale of our cooperation. We’ll use our strategic advantages and innovation in our defense industrial bases to bring cutting edge tech to our warfighters.

    Now our alliance has always been rooted in our shared commitment to act together in the interests that brought us together seven decades ago have continued to grow stronger. Today’s discussion again underscored our shared vision for this alliance’s future. So, Minister Kim, thanks for your leadership and your commitment to this proud alliance.

    We got a lot done today and I look forward to doing even more tomorrow in the US-ROK 2+2 with Secretary Blinken and Minister Cho and thanks very much and now let me turn it over to Minister Kim. SOUTH KOREAN DEFENSE MINISTER KIM YONG-HYUN: (Via interpreter) Good afternoon. This is the Minister of National Defense of the Republic of Korea, Kim Yong-hyun. I find it highly meaningful to conduct my first overseas defense diplomatic engagements after my inauguration here at the Pentagon, the heart of safeguarding liberal democracy. Today at the SCM, Secretary Austin and I reviewed the work of implementing the defense vision of the ROK-US alliance over the last year.

    In addition, we reaffirmed that the ROK-US alliance remains more robust than ever, even amid complex international security crisis. While asserting its theory of hostile two nations. North Korea continues to escalate tensions on the Korean Peninsula through detonation of sections of inter-Korean roads. In order to deter and respond to DPRK, provocations and

    threats, Secretary Austin and I agreed to maintain an overwhelming combined defense posture and engage in close coordination and responses.

    In particular, we made it clear that DPRK’s ongoing practice of sending filth and trash balloons constitutes a violation of the armistice agreement and called for an immediate cessation of this activity with one voice. Furthermore, we condemned in the strongest terms with a unified voice, the unlawful military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, which directly violates the rules-based order through the deployment of North Korean forces to Russia and arms trade and pledged to closely work with the international community.

    This July, the defense authorities of Korea and the United States completed the NCG Joint Guidelines through the Nuclear Consultative Group, thereby elevating the ROK-US alliance to an unequivocal nuclear based alliance. Building on these guidelines, Secretary Austin and I will diligently pursue the NCG tasks in a substantive manner to enhance the execution capabilities of extended deterrence of ROK and US equal partners.

    Throughout this process, the ROK Strategic Command will be a key unit in the execution of the ROK-US conventional nuclear integration, CNI, operations. Secretary Austin reaffirmed the United States’ unwavering commitment to providing extended deterrence to the Republic of Korea by utilizing the full range of its military capabilities.

    In addition, as tangible evidence of the US commitment to the defense of the ROK, Secretary Austin reiterated that the frequency and intensity of US strategic asset deployment would be increased and made regularized in accordance with President Biden’s commitment in the Washington Declaration. The ROK and the United States will further enhance their — continue to further enhance the Alliance’s capabilities and posture in response to nuclear and missile threats through implementing combined exercises that reflect the North Korean nuclear threats.

    Secretary Austin and I agreed to strengthen security cooperation in the region based on the respective Indo-Pacific strategies of our two countries. The nuclear and missile threat from North Korea is now an existential threat, not only to the ROK, but also to the Indo-Pacific region. We had a shared understanding that the ROK-US-Japan Trilateral Security Cooperation Framework signed this July represents a historic milestone in trilateral security cooperation.

    We will continue to further enhance it. In particular, we highly appreciated the achievements of freedom to exercise the first multi-domain training and have decided to conduct a second training in the near future. In today’s meeting, Secretary Austin and I approved the regional cooperation framework for ROK-US Alliance contributions to security in the Indo-Pacific, demonstrating our commitment to cooperation both domestically and internationally.

    Based on the framework, we will expand substantive cooperation with ASEAN and Pacific Island nations, enhancing the level and broadening the scope of the ROK-US Alliance.

    Secretary Austin and I pledge to strengthen cooperation in science and technology and defense industry based on the defense vision of the alliance.

    We plan to establish a vice minister level defense Science and Technology executive committee within this year to explore the application of cutting-edge science and technology in the defense sector as well as cooperation on all cause Pillar 2. Furthermore, we acknowledge the significance of securing supply chain resilience and modernizing alliance capabilities and pledge to engage in active cooperation in the defense industry sector.

    In this regard, Secretary Austin welcomed ROK’s participation in the US MRO pilot project and underscored the efforts to expand cooperation between our two countries. For more than 70 years, the ROK-US Alliance has overcome countless challenges establishing itself as one of the world’s most premier and exemplary alliances.

    Through the 56th Security Consultative Meeting, Secretary Austin and I reaffirmed our resolve to leap forward as a stronger alliance in response to uncertain future challenges. As the minister of National Defense, I will work closely with Secretary Austin so that the ROK-US Alliance serves as a linchpin of peace and stability in the world extending beyond the Korean Peninsula.

    I deeply appreciate Secretary Austin’s active support for the successful meeting we had today. We go together, [untranslated]. Thank you. MAJ. GEN. RYDER: Thank you very much, gentlemen. Our first question will go to Phil Stewart, Reuters. Q: To Secretary Austin, how soon do you believe that North Korean soldiers may enter the fight against Ukrainian forces in Kursk? Are we talking days or weeks? And do you believe there’s anything the international community can still do to stop that deployment? And to Mr. Kim, does this deployment increase the risk of war on the Korean Peninsula?

    And does this change South Korea’s willingness to provide lethal direct aid to Ukraine? If not, why not? SEC. AUSTIN: Well, Phil, as you heard me say in my opener (pause for translation)— Phil, as you heard me say in my opener, we believe that the DPRK has sent some 10,000 troops into eastern Ukraine and there they’ve been drawing equipment and conducting some training. And some of those troops have begun to make their way towards the border of Ukraine in the Kursk region.

    Whether or not they’ll be employed in the fight, is left to be seen yet. But certainly, if they are employed, then that’s very disturbing. And so, we remain concerned that they’re going to use these troops in combat. I won’t speculate on the timing of employment. Again, this is something we’re going to continue to watch and we’re going to continue to work with allies and partners to discourage Russia from employing these troops in combat.

    Again, this is a violation of the UN security agreement. So, this is pretty serious. Again, we’re going to continue to watch it and continue to work with our allies and partners to discourage it, so (pause for translation) Phil, to be clear, violation of UN sanctions. Q: Do you mean eastern Ukraine? SEC. AUSTIN: I’m sorry? Q: I thought you said deployed to eastern Ukraine. Yeah? Q: Did you mean eastern Ukraine or Eastern Russia that they had deployed to? SEC. AUSTIN: They had deployed to Eastern Russia and then they’re making their way west towards the Ukrainian border, sorry about that. DEFENSE MINISTER KIM YONG-HYUN: (Via interpreter) I’d like to answer the question regarding the increase in the possibility of war breaking out on the Korean Peninsula following the North Korean’s troops deployment to Russia. I do not necessarily believe that the North Korean troops deployment to Russia results in the changes in the possibility of war breaking out on the Korean Peninsula.

    However, I believe this can result in the escalation of the security threats on the Korean Peninsula. This is because there is a high possibility that North Korea, in exchange for their troops deployment, would ask for cutting edge technology transfer. There is a high chance that they would, in exchange for their deployment, North Korea is very likely to ask for technology transfers in diverse areas, including the technologies relating to tactical nuclear weapons technologies related to their advancement of ICBM, also those regarding reconnaissance satellite and those regarding SSBNs as well.

    There is also a high chance that they will try to replace their equipment that have been taken a lot of time, so therefore old technologies or equipment. I believe such changes in the technological situation of North Korea can pose an increase in the escalation of security threats on the Korean Peninsula.

    However, one thing to consider is that as we have witnessed in the Russia-Ukraine war, the conventional weapon capabilities of Russia is not as formidable as we expected it to be. Therefore, even with the possibility of Russia’s cutting-edge technology flowing into North Korea and thereby resulting in the advancement of North Korea’s military technology, I believe it is possible for us to overcome such challenges based on our robust ROK-US alliance and ROK-US-Japan trilateral security cooperation.

    And through these cooperation, I believe we can secure enough and sufficient capability in order to overcome such security challenges. In short, I would rather see the results or impacts of the deployment as an increase that can result. I believe the deployment can result in the security threats on the Korean Peninsula and it could also have a destabilizing impact on the security of the Korean Peninsula, but I don’t believe it is going to be any changes in the possibility of war breaking out on the Korean Peninsula.

    MR. RYDER: Thank you both. Our next question will go to Ji Hun Kim, Yonhap News Agency. Q: (Via interpreter) This is Reporter Kim from Yonhap Agency, and first I have a question to direct it to Minister Kim. Last year’s munition deal between Korea’s corporation and the United States is an exemplary case where Korea was able to provide support toward United States in accordance with the mutual defense treaty. And do you have any additional plans to give indirect support to Ukraine by supplying munitions to the United States in an indirect way?

    And also, there’s another question about the trash and filth balloons. Korea has been showing consistently the kind of response — Korea has been showing response such as collecting the trash balloons after they were dropped on the territory of Korean Peninsula, or they have consistently asked North Korea to cease the release of trash balloons.

    Do you have any additional measures in order to respond to such release of trash or filth balloons from North Korea? And this question, the last question is directed to both Minister Kim and Secretary Austin. North Korea has consistently shown their anti-humanitarian provocations. Do you have any messages in mind that you can deliver to Kim Jong Un and North Korea? DEFENSE MINISTER KIM YONG-HYUN: (Via interpreter) So the first question about munitions supply to United States, I have to give you an answer that at the current moment, nothing is determined. And for your second question about Korea’s response to North Korea’s release of trash and filth balloons, in today’s meeting, Secretary Austin and I have confirmed that the deployment of trash and filth balloons are a violation of armistice agreement. And as the release of trash and filth balloons is a provocation that poses a safety threat to our people, we have been using the response of first identifying and then tracking and then after we found out the location of the dropping. And then we checked if there is any biological or chemical weapons in it after we have gone through all the tests, then we collected those balloons.

    These measures were taken under our assessment that this is the best and most optimal way of guaranteeing and confirming the safety of our people and that this is the way to protect our people in our best way. However, North Korea is crossing the line with various methods of provocations and we are open to all alternatives when it comes to the risk — when it comes to our response to North Korea’s provocation.

    On your third question, I recall it was if I have any message toward — that I have to Kim Jong Un. I believe the essence of North Korean troop deployment is the possibility of expansion of the war. And this results from the intervention of the third party, which is North Korea. And such possibility is resulting in grave concerns of European countries, including Ukraine.

    And the deployment is — North Korea is joining the collusion of Russia’s illegal aggression and invasion, and therefore I see that the deployment is Kim Jong Un’s attempt to maintain

    its dictatorship and Kim Jong Un didn’t hesitate to sell out its young people and troops as cannon fodder mercenaries. I believe such activities is a war crime that is not only anti-humanitarian but also anti-peaceful.

    Therefore, I would like to strongly condemn the activity of Kim Jong Un and I believe all responsibility from the results of the deployment belong to Kim Jong Un. We call for Kim Jong Un’s immediate withdrawal of his troops in our strongest terms. Thank you.

    SEC. AUSTIN: Thank you for the question. I don’t have any messages for the leadership of DPRK. I call upon them to cease their potentially destabilizing behavior in both the Indo-Pacific region and now in the European theater as well. And like my colleague here, Minister Kim, I call upon them to withdraw their troops out of Russia.

    It does have the potential of lengthening the conflict or broadening the conflict if that continues. MR. RYDER: Our next question will go to Courtney Kube, NBC. Q: Thank you. Mr. Secretary, you told Phil that you — the US will continue to watch this deployment and work with allies to discourage it. But how specifically can the US or the international community actually stop? Is there anything the US can do? And you just said that that this does have the potential for broadening the conflict.

    Does that mean that you see the possibility that if in fact Russian troops are fighting alongside North Korean troops that that means other countries could send troops perhaps even to fight alongside the Ukrainians in an advisory level or fighting or anything? And then just one more, this is my real question. Those were follow ups.

    My real question is just what happens when North Korean troops are killed by US provided weapons? And then Minister Kim, do you see any signs that North Korea plans to interfere in the US elections? We — your DIA said today that DPRK may be ready to launch an ICBM, perhaps a nuclear weapon.

    Is there any indication that that could be or other actions that they may be taking could be specifically to interfere with the US election? Thank you. You only get one. SEC. AUSTIN: So Courtney, the first of your 20 questions here was whether or not we can stop the DPRK from sending troops. We certainly can work with others to discourage this — this kind of behavior. But I didn’t mean to imply that we can stop that. But certainly, their actions have consequences as all actions have consequences.

    And we need to be mindful of that. In terms of what could happen, you mentioned my reference to potentially broadening this conflict. Yes, it could encourage others to take action, different kinds of action, but I won’t speculate on what could exactly happen. But we — there are a number of things that could happen.

    And what happens when DPRK soldiers are killed with US provided weapons? Well, if the DPRK soldiers are fighting alongside Russian soldiers in this conflict and attacking Ukrainian soldiers, Ukrainian soldiers have the right to defend themselves and they will do that with the weapons that we provided and others have provided.

    That’s to be expected. But if they are fighting alongside of — of Russian soldiers, they are co-belligerents and you have every reason to believe that those kinds of things will happen, that they will be killed and wounded as a result of battle. DEFENSE MINISTER KIM YONG-HYUN: (Via interpreter) Thank you for giving 20 questions to Secretary Austin, but only one for me. I’m so happy. So on your question about the possibility that North Korea attempts to interfere with US presidential election, my short answer is that the possibility is not high. I believe there isn’t a high chance of them attempting to interfere with the election.

    However, I believe there is a high chance that they would want to exaggerate their existence around the season of US presidential election before and after the election. The expected courses of action that North Korea could take in their attempt to provoke could be either their launch of ICBM or their seventh nuclear tests. MR. RYDER: Thank you. Our final question will go to Ji-ho Yang, Chosun. Q: (Via interpreter) This is Reporter Yang from Chosun Daily. First, I have a question to Minister Kim. The main opposition party of Republic of Korea has expressed their opposition to North Korea’s dispatch of analysis team and Korean delegation to Ukraine. So from your perspective, Minister Kim, what do you think is the role that Korean military can play in Ukraine?

    And I have another — I have a question to Secretary Austin. So it is my understanding that the current assessment of the United States DOD is that North Korea did deploy troops to Ukraine — to Russia, however, they were not involved in any combats at the moment. So however, some are claiming that North Korean troops that are — are already being deployed are being — are already being in engagement.

    So like, what would be your standard to determine whether the participation of these North Korean troops will be deployment or actual participation in combat operations? And also you have — US DOD has also made a statement that the North Korean troops who are in Russia will also be classified as enemies that can be attacked by — by US weapons that are supplied to Ukraine.

    So could you give a little more elaboration on this statement? This concludes my question. DEFENSE MINISTER KIM YONG-HYUN: So I recall the question was about our observers and monitoring teams of Korea that are — that are and could be sent to Ukraine. So throughout the history in many different wars, including the Iraq war, there have been many

    cases where we have sent monitoring teams or lesson learned analysis team to the countries that are currently — that were in war.

    The role of such observers or analysis team play in the war is mainly analysis of the trends of the modern warfare or different aspects of modern welfare. And especially as we have confirmed North Korean troops were deployed to Russia, I believe it could serve as a great opportunity for our analysis team or observer to learn the movements or trends of the North Korean troops.

    In many wars there — we have witnessed many new and diverse weapon systems continuously popping up and also we were able to witness many different modern tactics in the war. I believe if we can collect such information diligently and then utilize it for our future safety of — and stability of our country, I believe it can serve as an opportunity for us to provide better protection to our — the people of Republic of Korea.

    I believe it is an obvious task that our military should play to send observers and analysis team to the Russia-Ukraine war. And I — I would even say that if we don’t send our observers or analysis team, it would mean that we are not faithfully doing our jobs. SEC. AUSTIN: So thank you for your question. As I understand it, the first question was what was our — what is our standard for determining whether or not the DPRK troops are actually fighting or in the fight. And the second question was whether or not they can be engaged with US weapons. So I think standards are pretty easy.

    If they’re fighting, if they’re attacking Ukrainian soldiers and they are co-belligerents, they’re a part of this fight, that’s fairly easy to determine. And it’s not certain that they will be introduced into this fight. But clearly 10,000 soldiers, and some of them are moving west towards the Ukrainian border, then there’s a good likelihood that they will be employed, but we’ll see.

    We won’t speculate. We’ll collect evidence. They’re doing this because Putin has lost a lot of troops, a lot of troops. And you know, he has a choice of either getting other people to help him or he can mobilize. And he doesn’t want to mobilize because then the people in Russia will begin to understand the extent of his losses of their losses.

    So there’s a good likelihood that these troops will be introduced into combat, not certain, but I think the likelihood is pretty high. But this is not a sign of strength. It’s a sign of weakness. Putin has not achieved one strategic objective in two and a half years against a force that was far inferior to his force. That’s a sign of weakness. Again, he’s gone to other countries for weapons and munitions and now he’s going to other countries for people. And as I said earlier, if they are fighting and they’re co-belligerents, they’re attacking Ukrainian troops and the Ukrainian troops have the right to defend themselves, and we have every expectation that they will.

    They’ll use their own weapons. They’ll use the weapons that they’ve been provided, and that won’t be a surprise to anyone. But this doesn’t have to happen. Putin can end this war

    today. It was his choice to launch this war. He’s not achieved his objectives. He can end this war and he should end this war.

    Otherwise, we’ll see a lot more losses on both sides and that’s really highly unnecessary. But I think in terms of our standards for determining whether or not they’re fighting, they’re in the fight, I think it’ll be pretty easy to determine that. OK. MAJ. GEN. RYDER: Secretary Austin, Minister Kim, thank you both, gentlemen. Ladies and gentlemen, that’s all the time we have available today. This concludes our press briefing. Thank you.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FEMA Continues Work with the Disability Community on Helene and Milton Response, FEMA’s Disability Director Visits Affected Areas to Meet with Survivors, Community Groups and Governmental Officials

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: FEMA Continues Work with the Disability Community on Helene and Milton Response, FEMA’s Disability Director Visits Affected Areas to Meet with Survivors, Community Groups and Governmental Officials

    FEMA Continues Work with the Disability Community on Helene and Milton Response, FEMA’s Disability Director Visits Affected Areas to Meet with Survivors, Community Groups and Governmental Officials

    WASHINGTON — Since Hurricane Helene made landfall, FEMA has been working with governmental and voluntary disability support organizations to ensure survivors with disabilities have the tools they need to recover from the storm. Building relationships with these organizations pre-disaster has been crucial to getting support to survivors as quickly as possible. FEMA’s Disability Integration Advisors continue their work advocating for people with disabilities and connecting them with available resources to help speed their recovery.Sherman Gillums, Jr., FEMA’s Director of the Office of Disability Integration and Coordination personally traveled to hurricane-impacted areas to support these advisors, survey recovery efforts and meet with state officials and local disability organizations. “It was important to me to talk to organizations and officials in person to show our unwavering commitment to people with disabilities,” said Director Gillums. “The relationships we’ve built with these organizations prior to the disaster allowed us to pinpoint the areas where people with disabilities needed help. My visit with Able South Carolina and independent living centers in Ashville highlighted ways we could assist with their recovery efforts. I deeply appreciated their insight and openness about their experiences which allowed us to work together on solutions to challenges.”   The percentage of people applying for FEMA disaster assistance and identifying as having a disability is consistent with the demographic information we have for the hurricane affected areas. “This is really important,” said Director Gillums. “It is a good indication that we are reaching people with disabilities and getting them the tools they need to apply for assistance more quickly year after year. That doesn’t mean that there isn’t more work needed to get people with disabilities on the road to recovery, but it is an encouraging first step.As disability advisors, Director Gillums and his staff work to integrate accessibility into all stages of recovery. This includes everything from helping survivors access medical necessities to getting them access to assistive devices like screen readers so they can apply for assistance. Most importantly though, the advisors support emergency management specialists throughout the recovery process, by helping them integrate accessibility and disability inclusiveness into their work. “This storm caused massive disruption to infrastructure that many of us take for granted,” Director Gillums commented after his travel in North Carolina, Virginia and South Carolina. “As a disability advisor, and a member of the disability community myself, I see how these challenges are compounded for people with disabilities. Getting access to electricity can be a matter of independence and even survival. During my deployment, I witnessed firsthand how communities were eager to be a part of the effort to ensure people with disabilities get what they need to sustain some semblance of independence. FEMA is working with these partners to make sure all survivors, including those with disabilities, are able to access the essential resources they need to be safe, informed and in charge of their lives.”FEMA encourages Helene and Milton survivors to apply online as this remains the best way to apply for disaster assistance. Here are the ways to apply for federal assistance: Applying online at disasterassistance.govUsing the FEMA AppCalling 800-621-3362, Staffed daily from 7 a.m.-10 p.m. local timeVisiting a Disaster Recovery Center to talk with FEMA and state agency officials and apply for assistance

    Richmond, VA — Federal Coordinating Officer Timothy S. Pheil discussing the disability integration strategy for the Hurricane Helene response with FEMA Disability Coordinator Sherman Gillums Jr. along with state access and functional needs staff in the situation room at the Virginia Emergency Operations Center.

    View Original’ data-align=”center” data-asset-link=”1″ data-entity-type=”emerald” data-image-style=”large” data-asset-type=”imageasset” data-asset-id=”56473″ src=”https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/externals/cf9d4bec75102ebbb97b6fc199bfe0d0.jpg?itok=9VB86i5n” alt=”Caption: Columbia, S.C. (Oct. 14, 2024) – FEMA’s Director of Disability Integration and Coordination, Sherman Gillums, Jr., visits the Association for Better Living and Education to show support for their ongoing efforts in supporting the disabled community. Director Gillums met with Dori Tempio, Sr., Director of Community Education, and Mandy Halloran, Director of Public Health.” class=”image-style-large”>

    Columbia, S.C. (Oct. 14, 2024) – FEMA’s Director of Disability Integration and Coordination, Sherman Gillums, Jr., visits the Association for Better Living and Education to show support for their ongoing efforts in supporting the disabled community. Director Gillums met with Dori Tempio, Sr., Director of Community Education, and Mandy Halloran, Director of Public Health.

    amy.ashbridge
    Wed, 10/30/2024 – 21:38

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Updated Hours of Operations for the Montgomery & Pulaski County DRCs Oct. 31 through Nov. 6

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Updated Hours of Operations for the Montgomery & Pulaski County DRCs Oct. 31 through Nov. 6

    Updated Hours of Operations for the Montgomery & Pulaski County DRCs Oct. 31 through Nov. 6

    BRISTOL, Va.– Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) in Montgomery and Pulaski counties have updated hours of operations this upcoming week. The Montgomery County Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) will be temporarily closed Saturday, Nov. 2 – Tuesday Nov. 5 and the reopening is to be announced. The Pulaski County DRC will be temporarily closed from 4 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, through Tuesday Nov. 5, 2024. The center will reopen at 12 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024.Disaster survivors can visit any DRC to receive assistance. To find the DRC closest to you, including addresses and hours, visit FEMA.gov/drc or text DRC and a ZIP code to 43362.  The centers are located at:Montgomery County   Montgomery County Government Center755 Roanoke StreetChristiansburg, Va. 24073Updated Hours of Operation 11/01 – 11/05:Nov. 1-5, 2024 – Closed  Hours of Operation after 11/5Reopening to be announced Pulaski County New River Valley Fairgrounds 5581 Fair Grounds CircleDublin, Va. 24084Updated Hours of Operation 10/31 – 11/06:Thursday Oct. 31, 2024 – 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Nov. 1 – 5, 2024 – ClosedNov. 6, 2024 – 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. Hours of Operation after 11/6Monday – Saturday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.Closed SundaysSurvivors do not have to visit a DRC to register with FEMA. You can call 800-621-FEMA (3362). The toll-free telephone line operates seven days a week. If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service. You can also register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or through the FEMA App on your phone.The deadline to apply for FEMA disaster assistance is Dec. 2, 2024.If you have received a letter from FEMA about your application status, visit a DRC to learn more about next steps. DRC staff can help you submit additional information or supporting documentation for FEMA to continue to process your application and answer any questions you may have.FEMA has set up a rumor response webpage to clarify our role in the Helene response. Visit Hurricane Helene: Rumor Response.For more information on Virginia’s disaster recovery, visit vaemergency.gov, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management Facebook page , fema.gov/disaster/4831 and facebook.com/FEMA.  ###FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during and after disasters. FEMA Region 3’s jurisdiction includes Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. Follow us on X at x.com/FEMAregion3 and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/femaregion3.To apply for FEMA assistance, please call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362, visit https://www.disasterassistance.gov/, or download and apply on the FEMA App. If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service. Multilingual operators are available (press 2 for Spanish and 3 for other languages). Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency, or economic status. Any disaster survivor or member of the public may contact the FEMA Civil Rights Office if they feel that they have a complaint of discrimination.  FEMA’s Civil Rights Office can be contacted at FEMA-OCR-ECRD@fema.dhs.gov or toll-free at 833-285-7448.  
    erika.osullivan
    Wed, 10/30/2024 – 21:15

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Disaster Recovery Center Opening in York County

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Disaster Recovery Center Opening in York County

    Disaster Recovery Center Opening in York County

    A Disaster Recovery Center will open in York County to provide in-person assistance to South Carolinians affected by Hurricane Helene.  York CountyYork County Library 138 E. Black St.Rock Hill, SC 29730Open Oct. 31, 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m.; Nov 1-2, 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; Nov. 4-6, 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m.; closed on Nov. 3Additional Disaster Recovery Centers are scheduled to open in other South Carolina counties. Click here to find centers that are already open in South Carolina. You can visit any open center to meet with representatives of FEMA, the state of South Carolina and the U.S. Small Business Administration. No appointment is needed. To find all other center locations, including those in other states, go to fema.gov/drc or text “DRC” and a Zip Code to 43362. Homeowners and renters in Abbeville, Aiken, Allendale, Anderson, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Cherokee, Chester, Edgefield, Fairfield, Greenville, Greenwood, Hampton, Jasper, Kershaw, Laurens, Lexington, McCormick, Newberry, Oconee, Orangeburg, Pickens, Richland, Saluda, Spartanburg, Union and York counties and the Catawba Indian Nation can apply for federal assistance.The quickest way to apply is to go online to DisasterAssistance.gov. You can also apply using the FEMA App for mobile devices or calling toll-free 800-621-3362. The telephone line is open every day and help is available in many languages. If you use a relay service, such as Video Relay Service (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service. For a video with American Sign Language, voiceover and open captions about how to apply for FEMA assistance, select this link.FEMA programs are accessible to survivors with disabilities and others with access and functional needs. 
    dalton.kramer
    Wed, 10/30/2024 – 22:02

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Proposed amendment on public exhibition for industrial land

    Source: State of Victoria Local Government 2

    Public exhibition has opened for Planning Scheme Amendment C282gben, which aims to provide a clearer policy for future industrial land use and concentration across Greater Bendigo.

    The preparation of Planning Scheme Amendment C282gben proposes to partially implement the Greater Bendigo Industrial Land Development Strategy by making changes to the Municipal Planning Strategy and Planning Policy Framework of the Greater Bendigo Planning Scheme.

    The amendment will also include the proposed draft Greater Bendigo Industrial Development Guidelines 2024 to replace the Good Design Guide for Industry 1997.

    The new guidelines provide clear directions to permit applicants on best practice industrial development and subdivision outlining how future industrial areas should look, function and perform in relation to the surrounding context and environment.

    Acting Manager Strategic Planning Bridget Maplestone said the proposed amendment responded to strong continued demand for larger scale industrial land.

    “The region needs to ensure an adequate pipeline of suitably located and adequately sized industrial land to meet long term needs of industry,” Ms Maplestone said.

    “This is not only about trying to attract new industry to Greater Bendigo but to retain the many businesses already here that provide local jobs and are looking to expand into the future.”

    Several changes are included in the proposed Greater Bendigo Planning Scheme Amendment to give effect to the strategy and the guidelines.

    The land affected by the amendment is all industrial-zoned land, land identified for the proposed Bendigo Regional Employment Precinct and land identified for the proposed Marong Business Park. At this stage, however, there is no change proposed to the zoning of the land north-west of the Marong township for the Marong Business Park, which has been identified as a potential future business park to meet longer term industry needs.

    The amendment also proposes the rezoning of 1029 Calder Highway, Maiden Gully from Industrial 1 Zone to Public Conservation and Resource Zone given it is no longer considered suitable for industrial use and development.

    The public can make a submission to the planning authority about the amendment during the exhibition period. The public exhibition closes on Thursday December 5.

    You may inspect the Amendment, any documents that support the Amendment and the explanatory report about the Amendment, free of charge in the following ways:

    • The Department of Transport and Planning website
    • The City website
    • Customer Service Reception at Galkangu – Bendigo GovHub

    To make a request to inspect the documents, please contact the City of Greater Bendigo via email or phone:

    [email protected]

    1300 002 642

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Felon Who Arranged Gun Sales from Jail Sentenced to 63 Months in Prison

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

    ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Wednesday sentenced a St. Louis County man who was caught arranging for his illegally-possessed guns to be sold to 63 months in prison.

    The sentence for James C. Street, 47, will run consecutive to pending probation violation cases in St. Louis and Jefferson counties.

    Street pleaded guilty in July to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He admitted that while a convicted felon and barred from possessing firearms, he possessed three pistols and an AR-style rifle.

    The investigation began after the St. Louis County Police Department learned that Street, who was in jail at the time, was discussing the sale of his firearms. Police then contacted the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Street sold a .357 magnum revolver through an intermediary, which was later recovered by law enforcement. Investigators learned Street was planning more sales. A court-approved search of the intermediary’s home recovered the remaining guns, as well as ammunition and large capacity magazines.

    At the time, Street was on probation for multiple felony domestic offenses.

    The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the St. Louis County Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Goeke prosecuted the case.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: West Lafayette Man Sentenced to 27 Months in Prison

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

    HAMMOND- Markith Williams, age 39, of West Lafayette, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after a jury found him guilty of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm following a two-day jury trial, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.

    Williams was sentenced to 27 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.

     According to documents in the case, on January 13, 2022, a traffic stop of Williams’ vehicle in Jasper County, Indiana, led to the recovery of a loaded semi-automatic pistol. Williams’ criminal history revealed that he had 3 prior Illinois felony convictions which included being a felon in possession of a firearm, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, and delivery of cocaine, any one of which prohibited him from possessing the firearm in this case. 

    This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Hammond Police Department, and the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department.  The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Patrick D. Grindlay and Assistant United States Attorney Kristian R. Mukoski.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Gartner ReimagineHR Conference, Orlando: Day 3 Highlights

    Source: Gartner – IT Research

    Headline: Gartner ReimagineHR Conference, Orlando: Day 3 Highlights

    We are bringing you news and highlights from the Gartner ReimagineHR Conference, concluding today, in Orlando, Florida. Below is a collection of the key announcements and insights coming out of the conference. Here’s a summary of happenings from Day 1 and Day 2.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Eleven Minneapolis Gang Members Charged with RICO Conspiracy, Murder in Aid of Racketeering, and Drug Trafficking Offenses

    Source: US State Government of Utah

    A federal grand jury in Minneapolis returned an 18-count indictment yesterday against 11 alleged members of the Lows — a violent Minneapolis street gang — for crimes including Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) conspiracy involving murder, attempted murder, gun trafficking, and drug trafficking.

    “According to the indictment, these defendants are leaders, organizers, and members of the Lows street gang, a violent gang that allegedly committed multiple murders and attempted murders and trafficked in guns and drugs, including fentanyl,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Violent gangs that engage in bloody street wars and peddle deadly drugs endanger our communities. The Criminal Division, along with our local, state, and federal partners, is committed to holding violent criminals accountable, including by bringing racketeering charges.”

    “The Lows are an exceptionally violent criminal street gang that has terrorized north Minneapolis for nearly 20 years. Through threats and violence — shootings and murders — the Lows have long sought to establish dominion over large swaths of our city,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger for the District of Minnesota. “My office will continue to respond to gang violence by treating it as the organized criminal activity it is. This indictment is an important step in dismantling a violent street gang that has devastated families and communities in north Minneapolis.”

    “More than 100 people lose their lives to gun violence every day in the United States,” said Special Agent in Charge Travis Riddle of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) St. Paul Field Division. “There will never be a time where this will be considered acceptable. Our ATF agents put forth solid investigative work in this case utilizing crime gun intelligence that without a doubt aided the case announced today. ATF is happy to work alongside each of our partners in this investigation, and we are grateful to the Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Luger, and the entire team for taking up this challenging RICO case.”

    “The charges in this indictment reflect our unwavering commitment to bringing violent criminals to justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of the FBI Minneapolis Field Office. “For too long, the Lows have inflicted pain and spread fear in north Minneapolis. Together with our law enforcement partners, we are determined to remove this threat from our communities and help restore a sense of security to all who call this city home.”

    “Today’s indictment provides a stark reminder that violence and drug trafficking go hand-in-hand,” said Special Agent in Charge Steven T. Bell of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Omaha Division. “These were not victimless crimes. Communities were hurt. The DEA will continue its unwavering focus to remove threats of violence and hold accountable the individuals responsible for inflicting fear on the streets of Minneapolis.”

    “The individuals named in this indictment allegedly engaged in homicide, and illegal drug and firearms trafficking, which created an atmosphere of terror and disrupted countless lives in this community,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Ramsey E. Covington of the IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) Chicago Field Office. “These charges represent a pivotal milestone in our commitment to restore safety and uphold justice in the communities we serve. Working with their federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, IRS-CI special agents will continue to follow every financial trail to dismantle the networks fueling these criminal enterprises. We stand united against the violence and fear that street gangs have inflicted upon our communities in Minneapolis and elsewhere.”

    “The Lows, and criminal organizations like them, wreak havoc on our communities, threatening the safety of our communities on a daily basis through their many acts of violence, murder, and narcotics and firearms trafficking,” said Special Agent in Charge Jamie Holt of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) St. Paul. “HSI St. Paul will continue to foster a strong collaboration with our law enforcement partners to bring an end to the chaos these criminal organizations inflict on our local communities.”

    “This multi-count indictment against ranking members of the Lows gang is an excellent example of multiple law enforcement agencies combining their expertise and resources to conduct investigations with the common goal of taking down violent leaders perpetuating street violence involving guns and narcotics,” said Inspector in Charge Bryan Musgrove of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Denver Division. “These RICO charges aim to remove these allegedly violent offenders from our community. U.S. Postal Inspectors are committed to continuing our work to dismantle drug trafficking operations to keep USPS customers and employees safe from greedy drug traffickers who favor profit over human lives.”

    As alleged in this indictment, the defendants were members of the Lows criminal street gang, which has been in existence in Minneapolis since approximately 2004. The Lows are primarily active in the northside of Minneapolis. They allegedly traffic in firearms and narcotics, including fentanyl, and use threats, intimidation, and violence to protect their territory, reputation, illicit proceeds, and power.

    The indictment charges that the defendants engaged in a pattern of racketeering — that is, unlawful acts of violence, gun trafficking, and narcotics trafficking — for the benefit of the Lows enterprise. These acts include seven alleged murders or attempted murders involving a total of ten victims.

    The 11 defendants, all from Minneapolis, have been indicted for the following crimes:

    Ashimiyu Alowonle II, 38, also known as Cash, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.

    Timothy Callender III, 26, also known as Lil’ Tim, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.

    Glenn Carter III, 23, also known as G5 and Bossman Carter, is charged with RICO conspiracy; using, carrying, or possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence resulting in death; and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Carter is charged with committing a murder on May 14, 2022, as a racketeering act in furtherance of the RICO conspiracy.

    Victor Collins, 22, also known as Vic, is charged with RICO conspiracy; using, carrying, or possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence resulting in death; conspiracy to distribute controlled substances; possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance; and possessing a firearm a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Collins is charged with committing a murder and an attempted murder on Feb. 27 as a racketeering act in furtherance of the RICO conspiracy.

    Damari Douglas, 20, also known as Mari, is charged with RICO conspiracy, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a machine gun. Douglas is charged with committing a murder on Dec. 3, 2023, as a racketeering act in furtherance of the RICO conspiracy.

    Deontae Jackson, 35, also known as Leef, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.

    Shannon Jackson, 32, also known as Shakedown, is charged with RICO conspiracy; using, carrying, or possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence resulting in death; conspiracy to distribute controlled substances; possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance; possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking; and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Jackson is charged with committing a murder on April 27, 2023, as a racketeering act in furtherance of the RICO conspiracy.

    Robert Knights Jr., 19, also known as CMB Rob and Lil’ Rob, is charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

    Albert Lucas V, 20, also known as Abk Sav, is charged with RICO conspiracy; using, carrying, or possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence resulting in death; and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Lucas is charged with committing multiple murders and an attempted murder on Feb. 27 and May 6, 2021, as a racketeering act in furtherance of the RICO conspiracy.

    Kaprice Richards, 23, also known as Kap, is charged with RICO conspiracy and using, carrying, or possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence resulting in death. Richards is charged with committing an attempted murder on May 29, 2022, and a murder on April 27, 2023, as racketeering acts in furtherance of the RICO conspiracy.

    Cartrelle Smith, 27, also known as Poo Moe, is charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

    If convicted, the defendants face a range of penalties, including up to life in prison for racketeering conspiracy involving acts of murder, using a firearm to commit murder, and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after the consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    ATF, FBI, DEA, IRS-CI, HSI, USPIS, Minneapolis Police Department, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and Minnesota Department of Corrections are investigating the case, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service.

    Trial Attorney Jared Engelking of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Garrett S. Fields and David M. Classen for the District of Minnesota are prosecuting the case.

    An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Interview with Warwick Lang, Victorian Country Hour, ABC Radio

    Source: Australian Treasurer

    WARWICK LONG:

    Let’s talk competition in farming in Australia. A member of the federal government has identified farming as an area in dire need of competition reform in Australia. Andrew Leigh is the Assistant Minister for Competition in the Labor government. He says this country’s small‑scale farmers are getting hammered at both ends by concentrated markets and at numerous points along the agricultural supply chain. I had a chat to him about improving the improving the competition playing field for farmers after he made a speech on such a topic to ABARES in Canberra.

    ANDREW LEIGH:

    Well, farmers are the meat in the sandwich when it comes to problems of competition in the Australian economy. We see too many farmers buying seed and fertiliser from concentrated markets and then getting squeezed by having to sell into concentrated markets for processors or in freight. And the effect is that farmers aren’t getting a fair deal. I’m talking about a lot of what we’re doing in the competition space through the lens of farming. Farming is a critical industry to the Australian economy, but it also illustrates some of the big competition problems that the Australian economy faces right now.

    LONG:

    Why is farming such an easy example to grasp about the lack of competition and what it does to markets?

    LEIGH:

    Compared to many industries, small‑scale farming is pretty easy to enter. It is not as easy to set up a tractor manufacturing business or to set up a freight distribution network. The result is that you get a lot of competition in farming across many commodities but not so much upstream and downstream. So if you’re looking at fertiliser, the big 4 fertiliser manufacturers in Australia have 62 per cent of the market between them. And then if you’re looking downstream, fruit and vegie processing, the big 4 have 34 per cent of the market. Meat processing, the big 4 have 44 per cent of the market. So there’s these really concentrated markets, and that’s before we’ve even gotten to the supermarkets where the supermarket duopoly does have the effect of squeezing farmers. Which, of course, is why, Warwick, we’re moving to make the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct a mandatory code.

    LONG:

    What has failed in the past? So the meat industry is one of those that you’re using, particularly you cite its effect on small‑scale beef producers, for example, because there’s such market concentration. Now, I’ve been around for quite a long time, Assistant Minister, and I remember when the ACCC didn’t oppose JBS’s taking over of Primo, for example, because even though it meant a highly concentrated market in areas like New South Wales and Queensland. So what’s gone wrong in the past to lead us down this road of concentration now?

    LEIGH:

    Our merger law system just hasn’t been up to what it needs for a modern economy. Australia’s competition watchdog doesn’t get to see about 3 out of every 4 mergers because there’s no requirement on big firms to notify them. You can’t block what you can’t see. So the merger reforms we’ve got in parliament right now are the biggest merger shake‑up in half a century. We’d hope they’d get support right across the parliament. And they’ll have 2 results, Warwick, one will be that low‑risk mergers get approved quicker, and the other is that high‑risk mergers can have the scrutiny that they deserve applied to them by the competition watchdog.

    LONG:

    What other rules and changes are you proposing?

    LEIGH:

    We’ve got the banning of unfair contract terms. We did that as soon as we came into office. And that’s mattered for areas such as fertiliser contracts and potato processing where those unfair contract terms have been used. For consumers we’ve got the CHOICE quarterly price monitoring to make sure that consumers are seeing where they can get their best deal across the grocery sector. And we’re giving the competition watchdog more resources in order to check up on unit pricing, make sure that the prices on the supermarket shelf really are a fair reflection of what Australians will pay.

    LONG:

    You’ve also cited in your speech today about the right to repair laws affecting the motor vehicle industry. You and I spoke a lot in the past about trying to extend that to tractor and machinery sales. Why hasn’t that happened yet?

    LEIGH:

    Well, we’re encouraging parties to first look at a voluntary agreement here which can often have a more tailored approach. But we recognise that there’s a squeeze on and it can particularly affect farmers where you’re working off short timeframes. You’ve got to get a crop harvested. Your machine breaks down and you just can’t afford to take a week for the authorised dealer to fix it. So we understand the squeeze. We understand that the farm machinery industry is heavily concentrated. This one is not as straightforward as what we did for the motor vehicle scheme –

    LONG:

    Why not?

    LEIGH:

    Well, because in motor vehicles you’ve got a greater diversity of independent repairers. There’s some 20,000 independent repairers across the country. You just don’t have that network of independent repairers in the area of farm machinery. Most of the repair is being done at the moment by the big firms. And what we’re looking at is a discussion where people say we could have a vibrant independent repair industry if only there was a right to repair laws for farm machinery.

    LONG:

    Yeah, so as opposed to what you had to do in the motor vehicle sector where there was already an existing network there effectively you need to look if your law changes for the farm machinery sector would effectively almost create a new category of business?

    LEIGH:

    Yes, that’s right. Whereas independent mechanics, we were seeing them being crushed by a lack of access to data. But data is a big thing. John Deere has got more software development engineers than mechanical design engineers. Farm machines are becoming increasingly computerised, and that means that access to the data is fundamental to allowing a third‑party repairer to fix a fault.

    LONG:

    This is your passion, isn’t it? Competition and how markets work.

    LEIGH:

    I’m glad you detected that passion, Warwick. Absolutely. For economists this goes back to Adam Smith in 1776. There’s really good work about the benefits of competition for consumers, for workers and just for innovation. More competitive markets see higher productivity growth. And so this is one of the key things we need to do if we’re going to kickstart more growth in the Australian economy.

    LONG:

    And obviously more competition, more buyers for products is important. Your government is restricting that in the world of agriculture, particularly for the WA sheep industry right now with the phase out of live sheep exports. Have you looked at what that will do to the market there?

    LEIGH:

    Look, we’re providing support to the industry – over $100 million there – and also encouraging the boxed meat industry. And as you well know, Warwick, the volume of live sheep exports has been steadily declining. We’re very keen to see that local processing industry increasing, the value‑adding, and also working hard to open up new markets. So if you look at the resumption of the rock lobster trade with China, with the trade deal with the United Arab Emirates, all of that opening up of the international markets gives more options to our farmers. It means that they’re not as constrained at just selling to a couple of local processors.

    LONG:

    A sheep farmer can hardly jump into the world of rock lobster farming, though, can they?

    LEIGH:

    No, that’s right. I’m just giving you an illustration of what we’re doing across the markets, recognising the importance of international trade to Australian farmers.

    LONG:

    I suppose you and I are talking about the same thing here, right, aren’t we, Andrew Leigh? We’re talking about how government decisions or actions, whether it be the closure of key international markets or whether it be phase‑outs of industry, that does affect markets and it’s on government to pull the levers to decide the future of these industries, isn’t it?

    LEIGH:

    The government plays a significant role. And what you’re talking about with live sheep really is an issue of animal welfare, which I think is broadly supported across the Australian community. But what we’ve been doing in opening up international markets really is very much in the traditions of the Whitlam, Hawke and Keating governments – that international engagement often led by farmers because we export the vast majority of our agricultural produce in Australia to the benefit of farmers and the broader economy.

    LONG:

    So, this is part of your discussion with ABARES. Do you have a plan to sort of update on whether your levers and work in competition areas will be working in, say, 12 months’ time?

    LEIGH:

    Yeah, it’s a great question, and one of the things we haven’t done very well in government is evaluating what we do. And so we’re now just thinking through the best ways of evaluating the impact of the competition reforms, making sure that as we move to a mandatory code of conduct for food and grocery that we are seeing those better deals coming through for farmers, ensuring that as we go into the new merger regime that we see better competition across Australian industries. So, tracking performance is absolutely the best practice in government. That’s what I want to do more of.

    LONG:

    That’s the Assistant Minister for Competition, Andrew Leigh, speaking there about improving competition rules, the playing field essentially for farmers.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kamlager-Dove Secures $500K for Permanent Supportive Housing Site in West LA

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager California (37th District)

    LOS ANGELES, CA — Today, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) presented a $500,000 check to IKAR to assist in the development of the new IKAR Center and Supportive Housing Project. This project is one of fifteen that Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove secured a total of $12.4 million for through Fiscal Year 2024 government funding legislation.

    This project will build at least 60 units of permanent supportive housing for unhoused people, including seniors, atop a new Jewish community campus. The project will also include space for supportive services and indoor and outdoor common areas for residents. Located on S. La Cienega Blvd., the development will be situated in a high-opportunity, transit-rich corridor that is lacking in affordable housing and permanent supportive housing.

    “Ensuring that all Angelenos have a place to call home isn’t just good policy—it is a moral obligation, often informed by faith. By incorporating permanent supportive housing into their new community space, IKAR is upholding its values and following in the long tradition of Los Angeles faith communities working to combat social and economic injustices,” said Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove. “I am proud to have secured funding for this project that will provide real, lasting housing security for formerly unhoused people in our community. IKAR’s first-of-a-kind community center will serve as a shining example for how other faith institutions can help address the housing crisis in Los Angeles and beyond.”

    “We are honored to accept this federal funding award that will help us realize IKAR’s mission to build affordable housing as part of our new IKAR Center. Our community is tremendously grateful to Representative Kamlager-Dove for embracing our vision that faith communities can meet the need of the broader community for more low-income affordable housing by building those new homes on faith organization-owned land. We hope that this project will be a model for other faith communities across the district and the state to say ‘yes’ to housing not only in our backyards, but right alongside our communal institutions. We look forward to welcoming our new neighbors home,” said IKAR Executive Director/CEO Melissa Balaban.

    Last month, Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove hosted a roundtable centered on the development of affordable housing on land owned by faith organizations, during which IKAR Executive Director/CEO Melissa Balaban discussed this project’s potential and how IKAR can serve as a model for other faith institutions.

    ABOUT IKAR:
    IKAR is a dynamic, multi-generational community rooted in Los Angeles and reaching globally with the mission to reanimate Jewish life and develop a spiritual and moral foundation for a just and equitable society. IKAR, as a faith community, stands with multifaith partners as voices of moral courage, sources of spiritual strength, and first responders to injustice and indifference. IKAR understands that its role extends beyond Jewish religious and spiritual practice, and indeed beyond the Jewish community. IKAR is working to develop a spiritual roadmap for soulful, multi-faith justice work in Los Angeles and around the country.

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kamlager-Dove, Meeks, Castro Affirm Importance of Accountability for the Assassination of Brazilian Activist Marielle Franco

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager California (37th District)

    Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Brazil Caucus Co-Chair, Representatives Gregory W. Meeks (NY-05), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, released the following statement affirming the importance of accountability in the assassination of Marielle Franco, a Brazilian anti-racism and LGBTQ+ advocate and Rio de Janeiro City Council member:

    “More than 6 years after the assassination of Marielle Franco, we are encouraged by the news that a trial for her murder began today. Franco advocated tirelessly to address the marginalization and persecution of afro-descendants and LGBTQ+ communities across the Western Hemisphere. Bringing the perpetrators of her murder to justice represents a critical opportunity for Brazil to demonstrate its longstanding commitment to the rule of law and addressing political violence rooted in racial and gender-based discrimination, pursuant to the U.S.-Brazil Joint Action Plan to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Discrimination and Promote Equality.  

    “We express solidarity with the Brazilian people in their calls for justice for Franco and an end to the systemic discrimination of Afro-descendants and indigenous communities in Brazil and across the hemisphere.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Preparation, swift response define wildfire season

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Aerial view of wildfires near Fox Lake and Garden River in July.

    Through effective investments, including a historic $155-million wildfire base budget, Alberta’s government ensured the province was prepared to respond throughout the 2024 wildfire season. In anticipation of the wildfire season, Alberta’s government recruited 100 additional wildland firefighters and an additional 40 contract wildland firefighters – in addition to securing more airtankers, heavy equipment, and helicopters equipped with night vision technology. As a result of this preparation, front-line crews were able to respond quickly and fight fires around the clock, containing 85 per cent of wildfires within 24 hours of detection.

    “While the 2024 wildfire season was challenging, our coordinated efforts and the resilience of Albertans have been crucial in mitigating the impact. We will continue to adapt and strengthen our wildfire management strategies to protect our communities and natural resources.”

    Todd Loewen, Minister of Forestry and Parks

    “This wildfire season has tested our resolve, especially in areas like Fox Lake and Jasper. The coordinated efforts of our firefighters and support teams were instrumental in protecting our communities. We will build on this experience to continue to improve response strategies and initiate new strategies to ensure the safety of all Albertans.”

    Martin Long, MLA for West Yellowhead

    The 2024 wildfire season began earlier than usual, with 64 carryover wildfires stemming from a mild winter and extremely dry conditions. In response to this elevated danger, Alberta’s government activated an early start to the wildfire season on February 20, 2024, implementing a fire ban and fire permit system to prevent additional human-caused wildfires.

    Despite significant challenges, including large wildfires near Jasper that led to evacuations and the tragic loss of an Alberta wildland firefighter, as well as the loss of homes and businesses in the community, Alberta Wildfire demonstrated remarkable coordination, offering immediate aid and resources to Parks Canada, including support personnel, firefighters, aircraft and equipment.

    While supporting the Jasper response led by Parks Canada, Alberta Wildfire crews continued to tackle substantial wildfires throughout the province, deploying personnel, aircraft and equipment to combat wildfires and assist impacted communities. Throughout the season, residents of Garden River, John D’Or Prairie, Fox Lake in the Little Red River Cree Nation, and the Chipewyan Cree Nation were also evacuated. Additionally, an area near Peace River and four neighborhoods in Fort McMurray faced short-term evacuations due to wildfires.

    “In the wake of the heartbreaking loss from the Jasper wildfire, we are reminded of the strength found in collaboration – with each other and among all orders of government. We are reminded also of the compelling need to invest together in training, preparation, mitigation and adaptation, ensuring that we not only respond effectively, but that we also build a more resilient future.”

    Richard Ireland, mayor, Town of Jasper

    “The 2024 wildfire season underscored the importance of early planning and preparation. Investments in people, resources and new technology proved invaluable in our response efforts.”

    Trevor Lamabe, executive director Wildfire Management Branch

    During the 2024 wildfire season, Alberta Wildfire responded to more than 1,210 wildfires in the Forest Protection Area, exceeding last year’s record-breaking total. While the number of fires in 2024 exceeded the total number of fires in 2023, wildfires this season burned less than a third of the area compared with 2023, underscoring the effectiveness of Alberta’s preparation and investments.

    Although Oct. 31 marks the end of Alberta’s wildfire season, Alberta Wildfire remains vigilant and ready to respond to any potential wildfires across the province.

    Quick Facts

    • Alberta Wildfire responded to more than 1,210 wildfires this year with more than 705,000 hectares burned.
    • In 2023, there were 1,080 wildfires and more than 2.2 million hectares burned.
    • Alberta Wildfire had almost 1,900 firefighters, contractors and support staff working on Alberta’s provincial response.
    • Alberta Wildfire also received assistance from other agencies with more than 1,300 firefighters and support staff arriving from around the world to assist.
    • While most wildfires were caused by people, we had 410 lightning-caused wildfires in July, the highest number in 20-years.

    Related information

    • Alberta Wildfire
    • Alberta Wildfire app
    • Alberta Wildfire Status Dashboard

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Moolenaar Statement on Chinese National Illegally Voting in Michigan

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Moolenaar (4th District of Michigan)

    Headline: Moolenaar Statement on Chinese National Illegally Voting in Michigan

    Today, the Michigan Secretary of State, Jocelyn Benson, and the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s office announced charges against a Chinese national for election fraud in Michigan. The Chinese national is a student at the University of Michigan, and illegally registered to vote and cast a ballot on Sunday, October 27 in Ann Arbor. 

    “Secretary Jocelyn Benson has hurt the public’s trust in Michigan elections as her department failed to prevent this illegal vote from being cast and will count it in the results next week. The University of Michigan should expel this student for violating our laws and our state’s leaders need to take serious action against the Chinese Communist Party’s attempts to influence our state. Secretary Benson must tell us how she will prevent similar election fraud in the next week, and how she will secure our elections against CCP interference. Governor Whitmer must cancel the state’s $715 million giveaway of taxpayer money to CCP-affiliated Gotion and end its plans to build near Camp Grayling. Finally, U-M President Santa Ono needs to shut down his university’s institute with Shanghai Jiao Tong University, which collaborates with China’s military. Until these actions happen, our state’s security, elections, universities, and auto supply chains will remain vulnerable to CCP influence,” said Congressman John Moolenaar.

    According to reporting from the Detroit News, the illegally cast ballot is expected to be counted in the 2024 election results, “because there is no way for election officials to retrieve it once it’s been put through a tabulator.”

    Moolenaar has previously called on the University of Michigan to end its joint research institute with Shanghai Jiao Tong University after five Chinese nationals studying through the  program were charged by the FBI with spying on Camp Grayling. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC Tornado Watch 696

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    Note:  The expiration time in the watch graphic is amended if the watch is replaced, cancelled or extended.Note: Click for Watch Status Reports.
    SEL6

    URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
    Tornado Watch Number 696
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    555 PM CDT Wed Oct 30 2024

    The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

    * Tornado Watch for portions of
    Northeast Oklahoma

    * Effective this Wednesday afternoon from 555 PM until Midnight
    CDT.

    * Primary threats include…
    A few tornadoes likely with a couple intense tornadoes possible
    Scattered damaging winds likely with isolated significant gusts
    to 80 mph possible
    Scattered large hail events to 1.5 inches in diameter possible

    SUMMARY…A line of storms over north-central Oklahoma will continue
    to intensify and spread eastward through the evening, posing a risk
    for damaging winds gusts and a few tornadoes.

    The tornado watch area is approximately along and 55 statute miles
    east and west of a line from 15 miles northeast of Bartlesville OK
    to 60 miles south of Chandler OK. For a complete depiction of the
    watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU6).

    PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

    REMEMBER…A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for
    tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch
    area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for
    threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements
    and possible warnings.

    &&

    OTHER WATCH INFORMATION…CONTINUE…WW 693…WW 694…WW 695…

    AVIATION…Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail
    surface and aloft to 1.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind
    gusts to 70 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean
    storm motion vector 24035.

    …Hart

    SEL6

    URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
    Tornado Watch Number 696
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    555 PM CDT Wed Oct 30 2024

    The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

    * Tornado Watch for portions of
    Northeast Oklahoma

    * Effective this Wednesday afternoon from 555 PM until Midnight
    CDT.

    * Primary threats include…
    A few tornadoes likely with a couple intense tornadoes possible
    Scattered damaging winds likely with isolated significant gusts
    to 80 mph possible
    Scattered large hail events to 1.5 inches in diameter possible

    SUMMARY…A line of storms over north-central Oklahoma will continue
    to intensify and spread eastward through the evening, posing a risk
    for damaging winds gusts and a few tornadoes.

    The tornado watch area is approximately along and 55 statute miles
    east and west of a line from 15 miles northeast of Bartlesville OK
    to 60 miles south of Chandler OK. For a complete depiction of the
    watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU6).

    PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

    REMEMBER…A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for
    tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch
    area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for
    threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements
    and possible warnings.

    &&

    OTHER WATCH INFORMATION…CONTINUE…WW 693…WW 694…WW 695…

    AVIATION…Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail
    surface and aloft to 1.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind
    gusts to 70 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean
    storm motion vector 24035.

    …Hart

    Note: The Aviation Watch (SAW) product is an approximation to the watch area. The actual watch is depicted by the shaded areas.
    SAW6
    WW 696 TORNADO OK 302255Z – 310500Z
    AXIS..55 STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST OF LINE..
    15NE BVO/BARTLESVILLE OK/ – 60S CQB/CHANDLER OK/
    ..AVIATION COORDS.. 50NM E/W /33WSW OSW – 42NNE ADM/
    HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT..1.5 INCHES. WIND GUSTS..70 KNOTS.
    MAX TOPS TO 500. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 24035.

    LAT…LON 36919483 34849585 34849779 36919682

    THIS IS AN APPROXIMATION TO THE WATCH AREA. FOR A
    COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE WOUS64 KWNS
    FOR WOU6.

    Watch 696 Status Report Message has not been issued yet.

    Note:  Click for Complete Product Text.Tornadoes

    Probability of 2 or more tornadoes

    High (70%)

    Probability of 1 or more strong (EF2-EF5) tornadoes

    Mod (40%)

    Wind

    Probability of 10 or more severe wind events

    High (70%)

    Probability of 1 or more wind events > 65 knots

    Mod (30%)

    Hail

    Probability of 10 or more severe hail events

    Mod (40%)

    Probability of 1 or more hailstones > 2 inches

    Low (20%)

    Combined Severe Hail/Wind

    Probability of 6 or more combined severe hail/wind events

    High (90%)

    For each watch, probabilities for particular events inside the watch (listed above in each table) are determined by the issuing forecaster. The “Low” category contains probability values ranging from less than 2% to 20% (EF2-EF5 tornadoes), less than 5% to 20% (all other probabilities), “Moderate” from 30% to 60%, and “High” from 70% to greater than 95%. High values are bolded and lighter in color to provide awareness of an increased threat for a particular event.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Latest harassment allegations at workplaces, private colleges concerning

    Source: Australian Human Rights Commission

    The Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Dr Anna Cody, has spoken out on the crucial role employers and institutions hold to end the normalisation of harmful behaviour and improve women’s safety, amid an influx of allegations of workplace sexual harassment and of dangerous hazing at private colleges.

    Following a 2018 investigation into Sydney University’s St Paul’s College, led by former Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick, disturbing allegations have emerged this week claiming ‘humiliation-type behaviours’ among a group of male students. Separately, hospitality giant Merivale has faced claims of sexual harassment, exploitation and drug use at its high-profile Sydney venues. 

    Dr Cody credited last year’s introduction of a positive duty on Australian workplaces as a critical step forward towards eliminating harmful behaviours, but she believes far more work needs to be done to ensure widespread compliance.  

    “The recent allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination in Australia’s hospitality industry are deeply troubling and highlight how important it is that Australian workplaces implement the positive duty in a way that works for them,” Dr Cody said. 

    “Senior leaders play a vital role in creating a culture of respect, accountability, and inclusion. When leaders visibly uphold these values, they set an example that resonates throughout their organisations.

    “These recent reports serve as a powerful reminder to employers across industries that workplace safety and respect must be actively championed from the top down.”

    “It is also essential we have men and women in leadership and people from a range of race and cultural backgrounds so that new, respectful work and study cultures can be created.

    “We all have a role in this effort to create a safer, more respectful Australia where everyone can live free from violence and discrimination, with respect and dignity.”

    ENDS | Media contact: media@humanrights.gov.au or 0457 281 897

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Working together to enhance community safety in Hobart

    Source: Tasmania Police

    Working together to enhance community safety in Hobart

    Thursday, 31 October 2024 – 9:57 am.

    Tasmania Police and City of Hobart council staff have again collaborated to conduct a public safety operation in Hobart’s CBD.
    Inspector John Toohey said the effort conducted last night demonstrated an ongoing united approach to community safety and security, after a successful operation in July.
    “Last night our combined resources, including Hobart Police, Taskforce Saturate, and the Dog Handler Unit, worked alongside City of Hobart staff to monitor CCTV in real-time and provide an enhanced response capability,” he said.
    “As a result of the operation, five arrests were made, two summonses issued, one person was referred to the drug diversion process, two will be dealt with under the Youth Justice Act and three people were issued infringement notices.”
    “Offences included breaching a police family violence order, breach of a restraint order, stealing, breaching bail, possess a controlled drug or plant, possess thing used to administer a controlled drug, possess an open container of liquor, possess a dangerous article and possess ammunition when not the holder of a firearm licence.”
    “These collaborative efforts are crucial in ensuring Hobart continues to be a safe and enjoyable place for everyone.”
    “We encourage all community members to support this initiative by staying vigilant and reporting any incidents to police.”
    Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds highlighted the importance of the City’s collaboration with Tasmania Police in promoting community safety, following similar successful operations in Wellington Court and at Salamanca.
    “Our aim is to make Hobart’s CBD and surrounding areas safe, welcoming, and vibrant, supporting businesses and ensuring everyone enjoys the city,” Cr Reynolds said.
    “With our partnership with Tasmania Police, we’re building a strong community and instilling confidence.
    “This safety blitz is a proactive way to enhance Hobart’s atmosphere, and we’re committed to creating a harmonious public space.”
    “We encourage everyone to support this effort by staying aware, reporting incidents, and looking out for one another.
    “Together, we can keep Hobart safe and enjoyable for all.”
    Results:
    A 32-year-old man was arrested and charged with breaching a Police Family Violence Order and breach of bail, he was detained for court.
    A 15-year-old girl was arrested for breaching a restraint order and stealing, she has been released and summonsed.
    A 14-year-old girl was arrested and charged with stealing; she was bailed to appear.
    A 16-year-old girl was arrested and charged with stealing; she was bailed to appear.
    A 56-year-old man was taken into custody for public intoxication, he will be released when sober.
    A 24-year-old man will be summonsed for possess thing used for the administration of a controlled drug.
    A 20-year-old man will be summonsed for possess ammunition when not the holder of a firearm licence and possess a controlled weapon, namely pepper spray.
    A 37-year-old man has been referred to the drug diversion process after being found in possession of a controlled drug, namely LSD.
    A 35-year-old man was issued a liquor infringement notice for possessing an open container of liquor in a public place.
    A 23-year-old man was issued a liquor infringement notice for possessing an open container of liquor in a public place.
    A 17-year-old girl will be dealt with under the Youth Justices Act for possess thing used for the administration of a controlled drug.
    A 14-year-old girl will be dealt with under the Youth Justices Act after being found in possession of a controlled drug, namely cannabis.
    17 formal directions to leave the CBD were also issued.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Optus in court for alleged unconscionable sales and debt collection

    Source: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission

    The ACCC has commenced proceedings in the Federal Court alleging that Optus Mobile Pty Ltd (Optus) engaged in unconscionable conduct in contravention of the Australian Consumer Law when selling telecommunications goods and services to hundreds of consumers, that they often did not want or need, and in some cases then pursuing consumers for debts resulting from these sales.

    Many of these consumers were experiencing vulnerability and/or disadvantage, such as living with a mental disability, diminished cognitive capacity or learning difficulties, being financially dependent or unemployed, or having limited financial and legal literacy.

    Many of the impacted consumers were First Nations Australians from regional and remote areas or people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

    “We allege Optus’ conduct disproportionately impacted consumers experiencing vulnerability and/or disadvantage, and that these practices were incentivised by the commission-based remuneration for sales staff. In some cases, we allege Optus took steps to protect its own financial interests by clawing back commissions to sales staff but failed to remediate affected consumers,” ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said.

    “This case concerns allegations of very serious conduct, as our case is that Optus sold goods to consumers experiencing vulnerability which they did not need, did not want and could not afford.”

    “We also allege that Optus’ unconscionable conduct continued after management became aware of deficiencies in its systems that were being exploited by sales staff, and despite this, failed to implement fixes,” Ms Cass Gottlieb said.

    Alleged conduct

    The ACCC’s case against Optus involves allegations that Optus acted unconscionably in its dealings with about 429 consumers by engaging in inappropriate sales conduct and/or pursuing consumers for debts, including when it knew contracts were created fraudulently.

    The conduct included Optus allegedly putting undue pressure on some of these consumers to purchase a large number of products, including expensive phones and accessories, and not undertaking coverage checks to inform the consumer whether they would have Optus coverage where they lived.

    It is alleged that Optus engaged debt collectors to pursue many of these consumers, despite knowing that they were subject to inappropriate or fraudulent sales conduct.

    The alleged conduct involves 363 consumers from two Optus Darwin stores, 42 consumers from the Optus Mount Isa store and 24 individual consumers from store locations across Australia.

    “We are taking this action against Optus and seeking consumer redress in relation to the hundreds of consumers affected by this alleged unconscionable conduct,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.

    The ACCC began its investigation after receiving a referral from the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman about concerns regarding Optus’ sales practices to consumers experiencing vulnerability and/or disadvantage.

    The ACCC is seeking declarations and orders for penalties, non-party consumer redress, publication orders, a compliance program, and costs.

    Optus’ Darwin stores conduct

    The ACCC alleges unconscionable conduct at Optus’ two licensee-operated stores in Darwin, where nearly all staff allegedly engaged in inappropriate sales conduct, encouraged by senior store management, during a two-year period to June 2023. The conduct included not carrying out coverage checks, despite some of the 363 impacted consumers being First Nations Australians from regional, remote and very remote parts of the Northern Territory where there was no Optus coverage available.

    The ACCC’s allegations include that Optus staff manipulated credit checks, oversold and overpriced accessories, and sold consumers phones and plans they could not afford at the Darwin stores.

    Optus’ Mount Isa store conduct

    The ACCC also alleges Optus acted unconscionably by pursuing debts for at least 42 consumers from Mount Isa and remote areas of the Northern Territory, despite some senior executives knowing that those debts related to contracts for goods and services which were fraudulently created by a staff member at a licensee-operated Optus store in Mount Isa, without the knowledge of the affected consumers.

    Optus’ conduct to individual consumers

    The ACCC alleges Optus acted unconscionably in its dealings with 24 individual consumers by engaging in inappropriate sales conduct. This included by applying undue pressure and inducing the consumers to purchase a large number of goods and services.

    The alleged conduct includes claims that sales staff manipulated credit check results without the consumers’ knowledge to sell goods and services that they could not afford, while failing to explain the terms and conditions of contracts in an understandable manner. Despite knowing about this alleged conduct, Optus pursued debt collection activities in many cases, and referred and sold the consumers’ debts to third party debt collection agencies.

    In relation to four of these consumers, the ACCC also claims that Optus made false, misleading or deceptive representations that particular goods were ‘free’ when that was not in fact the case.

    “Many consumers suffered financial harm, incurring thousands of dollars of debt and non-financial harm, such as shame, fear, and emotional distress about the debts or being pursued by debt collectors,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.

    “Thankfully many consumers were supported by financial counsellors, carers and other advocates who gave their time and effort to support consumers to eventually seek resolution of Optus’ conduct.”

    “We will take appropriate enforcement action against breaches of the Australian Consumer Law, and we pay particular attention to conduct that disproportionately impacts consumers who are experiencing vulnerability or disadvantage.”

    An example of the alleged conduct includes a person living with an intellectual disability which impacts their ability to speak and understand financial matters went into an Optus store and was sold an expensive phone, a business phone contract under a false ABN, a new NBN internet plan and accessories, though their disability was evident to Optus staff. The person did not want or need the majority of these items, and was upset and embarrassed about the unwanted and expensive items they were sold. When the person’s representative went to the store to return the items, the Optus staff refused to cancel the contracts and it was only through the intervention of a financial counsellor that Optus cancelled the contracts.

    Background

    Optus is Australia’s second largest telecommunications provider. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Singtel Optus Pty Ltd, a foreign owned private company.

    In Australia, Optus’ stores are either:

    • owned and operated directly by Optus RetailCo Pty Ltd; or
    • owned and operated through third party licensees, through Retail License Agreements. For example, all Optus stores in the Adelaide region are owned and operated by Mavaya Pty Ltd, and all Optus stores in the Northern Territory, as well as several in regional Queensland, are owned and operated by Suntel Communications Pty Ltd.

     Statement of claim

    ACCC v Optus Mobile Pty Ltd – Introduction to Statement of Claim ( PDF 67.78 KB )

    The ACCC has commenced this proceeding with a Statement of Claim. The document available via the link contains the introduction section of the ACCC’s Statement of Claim in relation to this matter, which contains a summary of the ACCC’s case. We will not be uploading further documents.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc. Reports 2024 Third-Quarter and Year-to-Date Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ARCHBOLD, Ohio, Oct. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: FMAO) today reported financial results for the 2024 third quarter and year-to-date ended September 30, 2024.

    2024 Third Quarter Financial and Operating Highlights (on a year-over-year basis unless noted):

    • 86 consecutive quarters of profitability
    • Net income increased 36.4% to $6.5 million, or $0.48 per basic and diluted share, from $4.8 million, or $0.35 per basic and diluted share, and net income expanded 14.7% from the 2024 second quarter
    • Net interest margin increased 12 basis points to 2.71%
    • Efficiency ratio improved to 67.98%, compared to 73.07% for the same period a year ago, and 69.03% for the 2024 second quarter
    • Total net loans remain stable at $2.54 billion at September 30, 2024
    • Total assets increased 4.8% to a record $3.39 billion
    • Deposits increased 4.3% to a record $2.68 billion
    • Stockholders’ equity increased 10.6% to a record $335.4 million
    • Asset quality remains at historically strong levels with nonperforming loans of only $2.9 million at September 30, 2024, compared to $22.4 million at September 30, 2023
    • Allowance for credit losses was 879.37% of nonperforming loans
    • F&M ended the quarter with excellent liquidity levels, and over $635 million in contingent funding sources, and a cash-to-assets ratio of 7.2%
    • According to the FDIC, F&M continued to have the third largest share of deposits out of the 58 financial institutions that are also operating within its local markets

    Lars B. Eller, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “F&M produced excellent earnings growth on a year-over-year and sequential basis, driven by higher net interest income, historically strong asset quality, and prudent expense management. Most importantly, our third quarter results reflect the talent of our associates, as we continue to work hard to drive operating improvements at F&M, serve our local Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan communities, and position F&M for long-term success. In addition, I am pleased to report that F&M was the third largest bank out of 58 financial institutions within the markets we compete, according to the FDIC, reflecting the leading value we provide to our local communities. In fact, F&M is the number one bank, based on deposits, in almost half of the communities in which we operate.”  

    Income Statement
    Net income for the 2024 third quarter ended September 30, 2024, was $6.5 million, compared to $4.8 million for the same period last year. Net income per basic and diluted share for the 2024 third quarter was $0.48, compared to $0.35 for the same period last year. Net income for the 2024 nine months ended September 30, 2024, was $17.6 million, compared to $17.2 million for the same period last year. Net income per basic and diluted share for the 2024 nine months was $1.28, compared to $1.26 for the same period last year.

    Mr. Eller continued, “Our 2024 third quarter and year-to-date performance demonstrate the success of the near-term strategies we are pursuing to navigate a complex operating environment and improve earnings. Most importantly, while the demand for loans is high across our markets, our approach to risk and pricing remains conservative. This near-term strategy has contributed to excellent asset quality. In addition, we continue to focus on strategies aimed at optimizing our deposit base and growing low-cost checking (DDA) deposits. Since the beginning of 2024, we have added over 5,600 new checking accounts, and benefited from new and expanded relationships at offices that were opened in 2023. As a result, we ended the quarter with a loan-to-deposit ratio of 93.6%, compared to 97.2% at September 30, 2023, and 96.0% at June 30, 2024. Our third quarter of 2024 loan-to-deposit ratio was the lowest quarterly value in two years. The final near-term strategy we are pursuing is focused on controlling expenses, and I am encouraged by the continued year-over-year and sequential improvement in our efficiency ratio. This reflects the opportunities we are pursuing to manage operating costs and expand productivity.”

    Deposits
    At September 30, 2024, total deposits were $2.68 billion, an increase of 4.3% from September 30, 2023. The Company’s cost of interest-bearing liabilities was 3.2% for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, compared to 2.82% for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, and 3.02% for the 2023 fourth quarter ended December 31, 2023.

    Loan Portfolio and Asset Quality
    “F&M’s teams continue to do an excellent job managing our cost of funds, loan pricing, deposit growth and overall net interest margin. Since the quarter ended December 31, 2023, our yield on earning assets has increased by 34 basis points, compared to a 19 basis point increase in our cost of interest bearing liabilities – representing the third consecutive quarter our yield on earning assets has outpaced our cost of interest bearing liabilities. We expect this trend will continue as more of our loan portfolio reprices in 2024,” continued Mr. Eller.

    Total loans, net at September 30, 2024, increased 0.3%, or by $8.7 million to $2.54 billion, compared to $2.53 billion at September 30, 2023. The year-over-year growth was driven by higher consumer real estate, commercial and industrial, and agricultural loans, partially offset by lower commercial real estate, agricultural real estate, and consumer loans.

    F&M continues to closely monitor its loan portfolio with a particular emphasis on higher risk sectors. Nonperforming loans were $2.9 million, or 0.11% of total loans at September 30, 2024, compared to $22.4 million, or 0.89% of total loans at September 30, 2023, and $22.4 million, or 0.87% at December 31, 2023.

    F&M maintains a well-balanced, diverse and high performing CRE portfolio. CRE loans represented 51.3% of the Company’s total loan portfolio at September 30, 2024. In addition, F&M’s commercial real estate office credit exposure represented 5.3% of the Company’s total loan portfolio at September 30, 2024, with a weighted average loan-to-value of approximately 64% and an average loan of approximately $880,000.

    F&M’s CRE portfolio included the following categories at September 30, 2024:

    CRE Category   Dollar
    Balance    		   Percent of CRE Portfolio(*)   Percent of Total Loan Portfolio(*)
                 
    Industrial   $ 274,953   21.1 %   10.8 %
    Retail   $ 237,622   18.2 %   9.4 %
    Multi-family   $ 223,926   17.2 %   8.8 %
    Hotels   $ 141,642   10.9 %   5.6 %
    Office   $ 134,973   10.4 %   5.3 %
    Gas Stations   $ 62,028   4.8 %   2.5 %
    Food Service   $ 46,526   3.6 %   1.8 %
    Development   $ 30,999   2.4 %   1.2 %
    Senior Living   $ 29,866   2.3 %   1.2 %
    Auto Dealers   $ 25,068   1.9 %   1.0 %
    Other   $ 93,557   7.2 %   3.7 %
    Total CRE   $ 1,301,160   100.0 %   51.3 %

             * Numbers have been rounded

    At September 30, 2024, the Company’s allowance for credit losses to nonperforming loans was 879.37%, compared to 112.61% at September 30, 2023, and 111.95% at December 31, 2023. The allowance to total loans was 1.01% at September 30, 2024, compared to 1.00% at September 30, 2023. Including accretable yield adjustments, associated with the Company’s recent acquisitions, F&M’s allowance for credit losses to total loans was 1.10% at September 30, 2024, compared to 1.18% at September 30, 2023.

    Mr. Eller concluded, “With two months remaining in 2024, I am encouraged by F&M’s strong financial and operating performance to date. F&M ended the quarter with record stockholders’ equity, historically strong asset quality, record deposits, and excellent liquidity levels with over $635 million in contingent funding sources, and a cash-to-assets ratio of 7.2%. We remain focused on continual improvements, managing the items under our control, and providing our customers and communities with outstanding, and local financial services. As a result, F&M’s financial and operating performance continues to strengthen and I believe the Company is well positioned to create lasting value for our communities, customers, team members, and shareholders.”

    Stockholders’ Equity and Dividends
    Total stockholders’ equity increased 10.6% to $335.4 million, or $24.48 per share at September 30, 2024, from $303.2 million, or $22.19 per share at September 30, 2023. The Company’s Tier 1 leverage ratio of 8.04%, remained stable compared to September 30, 2023.

    Tangible stockholders’ equity increased to $242.8 million at September 30, 2024, compared to $208.8 million at September 30, 2023. On a per share basis, tangible stockholders’ equity at September 30, 2024, was $17.72 per share, compared to $15.28 per share at September 30, 2023.

    For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company has declared cash dividends of $0.66125 per share, which is a 5.0% increase over the same period last year. F&M is committed to returning capital to shareholders and has increased the annual cash dividend for 30 consecutive years. For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the dividend payout ratio was 50.99% compared to 49.50% for the same period last year.

    About Farmers & Merchants State Bank:
    Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: FMAO) is the holding company of F&M Bank, a local independent community bank that has been serving its communities since 1897. F&M Bank provides commercial banking, retail banking and other financial services. Our locations are in Butler, Champaign, Fulton, Defiance, Hancock, Henry, Lucas, Shelby, Williams, and Wood counties in Ohio. In Northeast Indiana, we have offices located in Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Jay, Steuben and Wells counties. The Michigan footprint includes Oakland County, and we have Loan Production Offices in West Bloomfield, Michigan; Muncie, Indiana; and Perrysburg and Bryan, Ohio.

    Safe Harbor Statement
    Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc. (“F&M”) wishes to take advantage of the Safe Harbor provisions included in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements by F&M, including management’s expectations and comments, may not be based on historical facts and are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21B of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Actual results could vary materially depending on risks and uncertainties inherent in general and local banking conditions, competitive factors specific to markets in which F&M and its subsidiaries operate, future interest rate levels, legislative and regulatory decisions, capital market conditions, or the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and its impacts on our credit quality and business operations, as well as its impact on general economic and financial market conditions. F&M assumes no responsibility to update this information. For more details, please refer to F&M’s SEC filing, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Such filings can be viewed at the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov or through F&M’s website www.fm.bank.

    Non-GAAP Financial Measures
    This press release includes disclosure of financial measures not prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP). A non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of historical or future financial performance, financial position or cash flows that excludes or includes amounts that are required to be disclosed by GAAP. Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc. believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide both management and investors a more complete understanding of the underlying operational results and trends and Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc.’s marketplace performance. The presentation of this additional information is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the numbers prepared in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures is included within this press release.

     
    FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME & COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
    (Unaudited) (in thousands of dollars, except per share data)
             
          Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
          September 30, 2024   June 30, 2024   March 31, 2024   December 31, 2023   September 30, 2023   September 30, 2024   September 30, 2023
    Interest Income                              
    Loans, including fees     $ 36,873     $ 36,593     $ 35,200     $ 34,493   $ 33,783     $ 108,666     $ 94,851  
    Debt securities:                              
    U.S. Treasury and government agencies       1,467       1,148       1,045       987     1,005       3,660       3,103  
    Municipalities       387       389       394       397     392       1,170       1,201  
    Dividends       334       327       333       365     246       994       517  
    Federal funds sold       7       7       7       8     6       21       36  
    Other       2,833       2,702       1,675       2,020     927       7,210       1,830  
    Total interest income       41,901       41,166       38,654       38,270     36,359       121,721       101,538  
    Interest Expense                              
    Deposits       16,947       16,488       15,279       15,015     13,323       48,714       31,908  
    Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase       277       276       284       293     349       837       1,181  
    Borrowed funds       2,804       2,742       2,689       2,742     2,741       8,235       6,134  
    Subordinated notes       284       285       284       285     284       853       853  
    Total interest expense       20,312       19,791       18,536       18,335     16,697       58,639       40,076  
    Net Interest Income – Before Provision for Credit Losses     21,589       21,375       20,118       19,935     19,662       63,082       61,462  
    Provision for Credit Losses – Loans       282       605       (289 )     278     460       598       1,420  
    Provision for Credit Losses – Off Balance Sheet Credit Exposures   (267 )     (18 )     (266 )     189     (76 )     (551 )     (143 )
    Net Interest Income After Provision for Credit Losses       21,574       20,788       20,673       19,468     19,278       63,035       60,185  
    Noninterest Income                              
    Customer service fees       300       189       598       415     248       1,087       917  
    Other service charges and fees       1,155       1,085       1,057       1,090     1,133       3,297       3,253  
    Interchange income       1,315       1,330       1,429       1,310     1,266       4,074       4,008  
    Loan servicing income       710       513       539       666     502       1,762       3,739  
    Net gain on sale of loans       215       314       107       230     294       636       469  
    Increase in cash surrender value of bank owned life insurance       265       236       216       216     221       717       618  
    Net loss on sale of available-for-sale securities       –       –       –       –     –       –       (891 )
    Total noninterest income       3,960       3,667       3,946       3,927     3,664       11,573       12,113  
    Noninterest Expense                              
    Salaries and wages       7,713       7,589       7,846       6,981     6,777       23,148       19,934  
    Employee benefits       2,112       2,112       2,171       1,218     2,066       6,395       6,302  
    Net occupancy expense       1,054       999       1,027       1,187     950       3,080       2,646  
    Furniture and equipment       1,472       1,407       1,353       1,370     1,189       4,232       3,652  
    Data processing       339       448       500       785     840       1,287       2,362  
    Franchise taxes       410       265       555       308     434       1,230       1,179  
    ATM expense       472       397       473       665     640       1,342       1,946  
    Advertising       597       519       530       397     865       1,646       2,209  
    Net (gain) loss on sale of other assets owned       –       (49 )     –       86     49       (49 )     49  
    FDIC assessment       516       507       580       594     586       1,603       1,388  
    Servicing rights amortization – net       219       187       168       182     106       574       429  
    Loan expense       244       251       229       246     241       724       809  
    Consulting fees       251       198       186       192     179       635       640  
    Professional fees       453       527       445       331     358       1,425       1,099  
    Intangible asset amortization       445       444       445       446     445       1,334       1,334  
    Other general and administrative       1,128       1,495       1,333       1,532     1,319       3,956       4,841  
    Total noninterest expense       17,425       17,296       17,841       16,520     17,044       52,562       50,819  
    Income Before Income Taxes       8,109       7,159       6,778       6,875     5,898       22,046       21,479  
    Income Taxes       1,593       1,477       1,419       1,332     1,121       4,489       4,235  
    Net Income       6,516       5,682       5,359       5,543     4,777       17,557       17,244  
    Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Net of Tax):                              
    Net unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities     11,664       2,531       (1,995 )     13,261     (4,514 )     12,200       (2,480 )
    Reclassification adjustment for realized loss on sale of available-for-sale securities       –       –       –       –     –       –       891  
    Net unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities     11,664       2,531       (1,995 )     13,261     (4,514 )     12,200       (1,589 )
    Tax expense (benefit)       2,449       531       (418 )     2,784     (947 )     2,562       (333 )
    Other comprehensive income (loss)       9,215       2,000       (1,577 )     10,477     (3,567 )     9,638       (1,256 )
    Comprehensive Income     $ 15,731     $ 7,682     $ 3,782     $ 16,020   $ 1,210     $ 27,195     $ 15,988  
    Basic Earnings Per Share     $ 0.48     $ 0.42     $ 0.39     $ 0.41   $ 0.35     $ 1.28     $ 1.26  
    Diluted Earnings Per Share     $ 0.48     $ 0.42     $ 0.39     $ 0.41   $ 0.35     $ 1.28     $ 1.26  
    Dividends Declared     $ 0.22125     $ 0.22     $ 0.22     $ 0.22   $ 0.21     $ 0.66125     $ 0.63  
                                   
    FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
    (Unaudited) (in thousands of dollars, except per share data)
     
          September 30, 2024   June 30, 2024   March 31, 2024   December 31, 2023   September 30, 2023
          (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)       (Unaudited)
    Assets                    
    Cash and due from banks   $ 244,572     $ 191,785     $ 186,541     $ 140,917     $ 151,711  
    Federal funds sold     932       1,283       1,241       1,284       1,471  
      Total cash and cash equivalents     245,504       193,068       187,782       142,201       153,182  
                           
    Interest-bearing time deposits     2,727       3,221       2,735       2,740       2,989  
    Securities – available-for-sale     404,881       365,209       347,516       358,478       348,255  
    Other securities, at cost     15,028       14,721       14,744       17,138       16,995  
    Loans held for sale     1,706       1,628       2,410       1,576       1,039  
    Loans, net of allowance for credit losses of $25,484 9/30/24 and $25,024 12/31/23     2,512,852       2,534,468       2,516,687       2,556,167       2,504,329  
    Premises and equipment     33,779       34,507       35,007       35,790       31,723  
    Construction in progress     35       38       9       8       3,044  
    Goodwill     86,358       86,358       86,358       86,358       86,358  
    Loan servicing rights     5,644       5,504       5,555       5,648       5,687  
    Bank owned life insurance     34,624       34,359       34,123       33,907       33,691  
    Other assets     46,047       49,552       54,628       43,218       47,388  
                           
    Total Assets   $ 3,389,185     $ 3,322,633     $ 3,287,554     $ 3,283,229     $ 3,234,680  
                           
      Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity                    
    Liabilities                    
    Deposits                    
      Noninterest-bearing   $ 481,444     $ 479,069     $ 510,731     $ 528,465     $ 505,358  
      Interest-bearing                    
      NOW accounts     865,617       821,145       829,236       816,790       778,133  
      Savings     661,565       673,284       635,430       599,191       591,344  
      Time     676,187       667,592       645,985       663,017       700,445  
      Total deposits     2,684,813       2,641,090       2,621,382       2,607,463       2,575,280  
                           
    Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase     27,292       27,218       28,218       28,218       30,527  
    Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) advances     263,081       266,102       256,628       265,750       266,286  
    Subordinated notes, net of unamortized issuance costs     34,789       34,759       34,731       34,702       34,673  
    Dividend payable     2,998       2,975       2,975       2,974       2,838  
    Accrued expenses and other liabilities     40,832       27,825       25,930       27,579       21,892  
      Total liabilities     3,053,805       2,999,969       2,969,864       2,966,686       2,931,496  
                           
    Commitments and Contingencies                    
                           
    Stockholders’ Equity                    
    Common stock – No par value 20,000,000 shares authorized; issued                    
    14,564,425 shares 9/30/24 and 12/31/23; outstanding 13,702,593     135,193       135,829       135,482       135,515       135,171  
    shares 9/30/24 and 13,664,641 shares 12/31/23                    
    Treasury stock – 861,832 shares 9/30/24 and 899,784 shares 12/31/23     (10,904 )     (11,006 )     (10,851 )     (11,040 )     (11,008 )
    Retained earnings     230,465       226,430       223,648       221,080       218,510  
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss     (19,374 )     (28,589 )     (30,589 )     (29,012 )     (39,489 )
      Total stockholders’ equity     335,380       322,664       317,690       316,543       303,184  
                           
    Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity   $ 3,389,185     $ 3,322,633     $ 3,287,554     $ 3,283,229     $ 3,234,680  
                           
    FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
    SELECT FINANCIAL DATA
                                               
        For the Three Months Ended   For the Nine Months Ended
    Selected financial data   September 30, 2024   June 30, 2024   March 31, 2024   December 31, 2023   September 30, 2023   September 30, 2024   September 30, 2023
    Return on average assets     0.78 %     0.69 %     0.66 %     0.67 %     0.59 %     0.71 %     0.73 %
    Return on average equity     7.93 %     7.13 %     6.76 %     7.27 %     6.26 %     7.28 %     7.52 %
    Yield on earning assets     5.27 %     5.22 %     5.00 %     4.93 %     4.79 %     5.17 %     4.57 %
    Cost of interest bearing liabilities     3.21 %     3.18 %     3.06 %     3.02 %     2.82 %     3.16 %     2.35 %
    Net interest spread     2.06 %     2.04 %     1.94 %     1.91 %     1.97 %     2.01 %     2.22 %
    Net interest margin     2.71 %     2.71 %     2.60 %     2.57 %     2.59 %     2.68 %     2.77 %
    Efficiency     67.98 %     69.03 %     74.08 %     69.23 %     73.07 %     70.36 %     68.24 %
    Dividend payout ratio     45.99 %     52.35 %     55.52 %     54.23 %     60.07 %     50.99 %     49.50 %
    Tangible book value per share   $ 17.72     $ 16.79     $ 16.39     $ 16.29     $ 15.28              
    Tier 1 leverage ratio     8.04 %     8.02 %     8.40 %     8.20 %     8.02 %            
    Average shares outstanding     13,687,119       13,681,501       13,671,166       13,665,773       13,650,823       13,679,955       13,633,101  
                                               
    Loans   September 30, 2024   June 30, 2024   March 31, 2024   December 31, 2023   September 30, 2023            
    (Dollar amounts in thousands)                                          
    Commercial real estate   $ 1,301,160     $ 1,303,598     $ 1,304,400     $ 1,337,766     $ 1,304,118              
    Agricultural real estate     220,328       222,558       227,455       223,791       225,672              
    Consumer real estate     524,055       525,902       525,178       521,895       512,973              
    Commercial and industrial     260,732       268,426       256,051       254,935       250,891              
    Agricultural     137,252       142,909       127,670       132,560       123,735              
    Consumer     67,394       70,918       74,819       79,591       83,024              
    Other     25,916       26,449       26,776       30,136       31,083              
    Less: Net deferred loan fees, costs and other (1)     1,499       (1,022 )     (982 )     517       (1,890 )            
    Total loans, net   $ 2,538,336     $ 2,559,738     $ 2,541,367     $ 2,581,191     $ 2,529,606              
                                               
                                               
    Asset quality data   September 30, 2024   June 30, 2024   March 31, 2024   December 31, 2023   September 30, 2023            
    (Dollar amounts in thousands)                                          
    Nonaccrual loans   $ 2,898     $ 2,487     $ 19,391     $ 22,353     $ 22,447              
    90 day past due and accruing   $ –     $ –     $ –     $ –     $ –              
    Nonperforming loans   $ 2,898     $ 2,487     $ 19,391     $ 22,353     $ 22,447              
    Other real estate owned   $ –     $ –     $ –     $ –     $ –              
    Nonperforming assets   $ 2,898     $ 2,487     $ 19,391     $ 22,353     $ 22,447              
                                               
                                               
    Allowance for credit losses   $ 25,484     $ 25,270     $ 24,680     $ 25,024     $ 25,277              
    Allowance for unfunded     1,661       1,928       1,946       2,212       2,023              
    Total Allowance for Credit Losses   $ 27,145     $ 27,198     $ 26,626     $ 27,236     $ 27,300              
    Allowance for credit losses/total loans     1.01 %     0.99 %     0.97 %     0.97 %     1.00 %            
    Adjusted credit losses with accretable yield/total loans     1.10 %     1.10 %     1.11 %     1.13 %     1.18 %            
    Net charge-offs:                                          
    Quarter-to-date   $ 68     $ 15     $ 55     $ 531     $ 93              
    Year-to-date   $ 138     $ 70     $ 55     $ 551     $ 20              
    Net charge-offs to average loans                                          
    Quarter-to-date     0.00 %     0.00 %     0.00 %     0.02 %     0.00 %            
    Year-to-date     0.01 %     0.00 %     0.00 %     0.02 %     0.00 %            
    Nonperforming loans/total loans     0.11 %     0.10 %     0.76 %     0.87 %     0.89 %            
    Allowance for credit losses/nonperforming loans     879.37 %     1016.08 %     127.28 %     111.95 %     112.61 %            
    NPA coverage ratio     879.37 %     1016.08 %     127.28 %     111.95 %     112.61 %            
                                               
    (1) Includes carrying value adjustments of $3.0 million as of September 30, 2024, $612 thousand as of June 30, 2024, $969 thousand as of March 31, 2024 and $2.7 million as of December 31, 2023 related to interest rate swaps associated with fixed rate loans            
     
    FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
    AVERAGE BALANCE SHEETS AND RELATED YIELDS AND RATES
    (in thousands of dollars, except percentages)
                             
        For the Three Months Ended   For the Three Months Ended
        September 30, 2024   September 30, 2023
    Interest Earning Assets:   Average Balance   Interest/Dividends   Annualized Yield/Rate   Average Balance   Interest/Dividends   Annualized Yield/Rate
    Loans   $ 2,551,899   $ 36,873   5.78 %   $ 2,536,885   $ 33,783   5.33 %
    Taxable investment securities     415,943     2,107   2.03 %     393,910     1,559   1.58 %
    Tax-exempt investment securities     19,661     81   2.09 %     23,986     84   1.77 %
    Fed funds sold & other     197,258     2,840   5.76 %     85,515     933   4.36 %
    Total Interest Earning Assets     3,184,761   $ 41,901   5.27 %     3,040,296   $ 36,359   4.79 %
                             
    Nonearning Assets     168,055             180,193        
                             
    Total Assets   $ 3,352,816           $ 3,220,489        
                             
    Interest Bearing Liabilities:                        
    Savings deposits   $ 1,538,387   $ 10,691   2.78 %   $ 1,367,168   $ 7,673   2.24 %
    Other time deposits     667,224     6,256   3.75 %     667,880     5,650   3.38 %
    Other borrowed money     264,539     2,804   4.24 %     266,467     2,741   4.11 %
    Fed funds purchased & securities sold under agreement to repurchase     27,481     277   4.03 %     34,128     349   4.09 %
    Subordinated notes     34,769     284   3.27 %     34,654     284   3.28 %
    Total Interest Bearing Liabilities   $ 2,532,400   $ 20,312   3.21 %   $ 2,370,297   $ 16,697   2.82 %
                             
    Noninterest Bearing Liabilities     491,851             544,801        
                             
    Stockholders’ Equity   $ 328,565           $ 305,391        
                             
    Net Interest Income and Interest Rate Spread       $ 21,589   2.06 %       $ 19,662   1.97 %
                             
    Net Interest Margin           2.71 %           2.59 %
                             
    Yields on Tax exempt securities and the portion of the tax-exempt IDB loans included in loans have been tax adjusted based on a 21% tax rate in the charts    
                             
                             
        For the Nine Months Ended   For the Nine Months Ended
        September 30, 2024   September 30, 2023
    Interest Earning Assets:   Average Balance   Interest/Dividends   Annualized Yield/Rate   Average Balance   Interest/Dividends   Annualized Yield/Rate
    Loans   $ 2,561,774   $ 108,666   5.66 %   $ 2,470,770   $ 94,851   5.12 %
    Taxable investment securities     397,466     5,575   1.87 %     396,917     4,544   1.53 %
    Tax-exempt investment securities     20,684     249   2.03 %     24,865     277   1.88 %
    Fed funds sold & other     165,227     7,231   5.84 %     67,869     1,866   3.67 %
    Total Interest Earning Assets     3,145,151   $ 121,721   5.17 %     2,960,421   $ 101,538   4.57 %
                             
    Nonearning Assets     161,113             176,568        
                             
    Total Assets   $ 3,306,264           $ 3,136,989        
                             
    Interest Bearing Liabilities:                        
    Savings deposits   $ 1,487,809   $ 30,291   2.71 %   $ 1,373,110   $ 18,854   1.83 %
    Other time deposits     662,129     18,423   3.71 %     620,071     13,054   2.81 %
    Other borrowed money     264,310     8,235   4.15 %     204,927     6,134   3.99 %
    Fed funds purchased & securities sold under agreement to repurchase     27,887     837   4.00 %     37,649     1,181   4.18 %
    Subordinated notes     34,741     853   3.27 %     34,625     853   3.28 %
    Total Interest Bearing Liabilities   $ 2,476,876   $ 58,639   3.16 %   $ 2,270,382   $ 40,076   2.35 %
                             
    Noninterest Bearing Liabilities     507,843             561,001        
                             
    Stockholders’ Equity   $ 321,545           $ 305,606        
                             
    Net Interest Income and Interest Rate Spread       $ 63,082   2.01 %       $ 61,462   2.22 %
                             
    Net Interest Margin           2.68 %           2.77 %
                             
    Yields on Tax exempt securities and the portion of the tax-exempt IDB loans included in loans have been tax adjusted based on a 21% tax rate in the charts    
                             
    FARMERS & MERCHANTS BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
    AVERAGE BALANCE SHEETS AND RELATED YIELDS AND RATES
    (in thousands of dollars, except percentages)    		  
                                         
      For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2024   For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2023  
      As Reported   Excluding Acc/Amort Difference   As Reported   Excluding Acc/Amort Difference  
      $ Yield   $ Yield   $ Yield   $ Yield   $ Yield   $ Yield  
    Interest Earning Assets:                                    
    Loans $ 36,873 5.78 %   $ 36,149 5.67 %   $ 724   0.11 %   $ 33,783 5.33 %   $ 32,631 5.15 %   $ 1,152   0.18 %  
    Taxable investment securities   2,107 2.03 %     2,107 2.03 %     –   0.00 %     1,559 1.58 %     1,559 1.58 %     –   0.00 %  
    Tax-exempt investment securities   81 2.09 %     81 2.09 %     –   0.00 %     84 1.77 %     84 1.77 %     –   0.00 %  
    Fed funds sold & other   2,840 5.76 %     2,840 5.76 %     –   0.00 %     933 4.36 %     933 4.36 %     –   0.00 %  
    Total Interest Earning Assets   41,901 5.27 %     41,177 5.17 %     724   0.10 %     36,359 4.79 %     35,207 4.64 %     1,152   0.15 %  
                                         
    Interest Bearing Liabilities:                                    
    Savings deposits $ 10,691 2.78 %   $ 10,691 2.78 %   $ –   0.00 %   $ 7,673 2.24 %   $ 7,673 2.24 %   $ –   0.00 %  
    Other time deposits   6,256 3.75 %     6,256 3.75 %     –   0.00 %     5,650 3.38 %     5,500 3.29 %     150   0.09 %  
    Other borrowed money   2,804 4.24 %     2,800 4.23 %     4   0.01 %     2,741 4.11 %     2,759 4.14 %     (18 ) -0.03 %  
    Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreement to repurchase   277 4.03 %     277 4.03 %     –   0.00 %     349 4.09 %     349 4.09 %     –   0.00 %  
    Subordinated notes   284 3.27 %     284 3.27 %     –   0.00 %     284 3.28 %     284 3.28 %     –   0.00 %  
    Total Interest Bearing Liabilities   20,312 3.21 %     20,308 3.21 %     4   0.00 %     16,697 2.82 %     16,565 2.80 %     132   0.02 %  
                                         
    Interest/Dividend income/yield   41,901 5.27 %     41,177 5.17 %     724   0.10 %     36,359 4.79 %     35,207 4.64 %     1,152   0.15 %  
    Interest Expense / yield   20,312 3.21 %     20,308 3.21 %     4   0.00 %     16,697 2.82 %     16,565 2.80 %     132   0.02 %  
    Net Interest Spread   21,589 2.06 %     20,869 1.96 %     720   0.10 %     19,662 1.97 %     18,642 1.84 %     1,020   0.13 %  
    Net Interest Margin   2.71 %     2.62 %     0.09 %     2.59 %     2.46 %     0.13 %  
                                         
                                         
      For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024   For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023  
      As Reported   Excluding Acc/Amort Difference   As Reported   Excluding Acc/Amort Difference  
      $ Yield   $ Yield   $ Yield   $ Yield   $ Yield   $ Yield  
    Interest Earning Assets:                                    
    Loans $ 108,666 5.66 %   $ 106,588 5.55 %   $ 2,078   0.11 %   $ 94,851 5.12 %   $ 92,364 4.99 %   $ 2,487   0.13 %  
    Taxable investment securities   5,575 1.87 %     5,575 1.87 %     –   0.00 %     4,544 1.53 %     4,544 1.53 %     –   0.00 %  
    Tax-exempt investment securities   249 2.03 %     249 2.03 %     –   0.00 %     277 1.88 %     277 1.88 %     –   0.00 %  
    Fed funds sold & other   7,231 5.84 %     7,231 5.84 %     –   0.00 %     1,866 3.67 %     1,866 3.67 %     –   0.00 %  
     Total Interest Earning Assets   121,721 5.17 %     119,643 5.08 %     2,078   0.09 %     101,538 4.57 %     99,051 4.47 %     2,487   0.10 %  
                                         
    Interest Bearing Liabilities:                                    
    Savings deposits $ 30,291 2.71 %   $ 30,291 2.71 %   $ –   0.00 %   $ 18,854 1.83 %   $ 18,854 1.83 %   $ –   0.00 %  
    Other time deposits   18,423 3.71 %     18,423 3.71 %     –   0.00 %     13,054 2.81 %     13,458 2.89 %     (404 ) -0.08 %  
    Other borrowed money   8,235 4.15 %     8,254 4.16 %     (19 ) -0.01 %     6,134 3.99 %     6,187 4.03 %     (53 ) -0.04 %  
    Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreement to repurchase   837 4.00 %     837 4.00 %     –   0.00 %     1,181 4.18 %     1,181 4.18 %     –   0.00 %  
    Subordinated notes   853 3.27 %     853 3.27 %     –   0.00 %     853 3.28 %     853 3.28 %     –   0.00 %  
    Total Interest Bearing Liabilities   58,639 3.16 %     58,658 3.16 %     (19 ) 0.00 %     40,076 2.35 %     40,533 2.38 %     (457 ) -0.03 %  
                                         
    Interest/Dividend income/yield   121,721 5.17 %     119,643 5.08 %     2,078   0.09 %     101,538 4.57 %     99,051 4.47 %     2,487   0.10 %  
    Interest Expense / yield   58,639 3.16 %     58,658 3.16 %     (19 ) 0.00 %     40,076 2.35 %     40,533 2.38 %     (457 ) -0.03 %  
    Net Interest Spread   63,082 2.01 %     60,985 1.92 %     2,097   0.09 %     61,462 2.22 %     58,518 2.09 %     2,944   0.13 %  
    Net Interest Margin   2.68 %     2.59 %     0.09 %     2.77 %     2.64 %     0.13 %  
                                         
    Company Contact: Investor and Media Contact:
    Lars B. Eller
    President and Chief Executive Officer Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc.
    (419) 446-2501
    leller@fm.bank    		 Andrew M. Berger
    Managing Director
    SM Berger & Company, Inc.
    (216) 464-6400
    andrew@smberger.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: U.S. Navy, Royal Navy, and U.S. Marine Corps Meet to Discuss Strategic Charter, Celebrate 10th Anniversary of Delivering Combined Seapower

    Source: United States Navy

    Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Lisa Franchetti, Royal Navy First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff (1SL/CNS) Adm. Sir Ben Key, and U.S. Marine Corps Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies and Operations Lt. Gen. James Bierman Jr. met at the Pentagon to discuss the ongoing strategic charter between the three services, Oct. 30.

    The charter, known as “Delivering Combined Seapower” or DCS, is a bilateral, tri-service strategic plan that supports cooperation, collaboration, and integration among U.S. and U.K. maritime services. First signed in 2014, DCS was introduced to build and sustain interoperability between the U.S. and U.K. fleets.

    “I am honoured to return to Washington to refresh the DCS Charter and reinforce our commitment to collaborative working with the U.S.,” said Key. “This strong and vital relationship between us continues, as we work side by side to protect the freedom of the seas. We support CNO’s Navigation Plan and together, our navies will remain a force for stability, security and innovation in an unpredictable world.”

    Integrating with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps for more than 100 years, Key’s visit reinforced the Royal Navy’s commitment to remaining closely aligned with the U.S. and the services’ ability to cooperate seamlessly. The three leaders took the opportunity to reaffirm their strategic vision for interchangeability and their determination to maximize opportunities to drive towards this goal – in both current and future force constructs.

    This year’s “Azimuth Check” focused on the four lines of effort of the DCS Charter: carrier strike, underwater superiority, littoral ops, and future integrated warfighting, to include improvements in Live, Virtual, and Constructive training opportunities and increased integration of robotic and autonomous systems.

    Franchetti and Bierman also discussed strategic guidance detailed in CNO’s Navigation Plan for America’s Warfighting Navy, and the Commandant’s Planning Guidance, noting how both documents increase synergy with U.K.-U.S. bilateral relations. A key manifestation of this cooperation is the Royal Navy’s Carrier Strike Group deployment to the Indo-Pacific in 2025, alongside U.S. forces in the region, to help contribute to regional security.

    “In this decisive decade, our relationship is critical because we know that will never fight alone, but as part of a Joint warfighting ecosystem and with Allies and partners,” said Franchetti “Our relationship also sends a strong deterrent message to any potential adversaries. These “Azimuth Checks” are an important way to stay synchronized on and ensure that we are making measurable progress in driving DCS outcomes.”

    Last year CNO, the Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Eric Smith and 1SL/CNS met for the first “Azimuth Check” and to sign the inaugural tri-service agreement, adding in the USMC for the first time, highlighting their shared vision of enabling the next level of interchangeability for the three services.

    “As one of the sea services, alongside the Navy, it is critical that the Marine Corps assists in delivering combined seapower with our staunch British ally as we both navigate the changing character of war and the multitude of threats our Nations face,” said Bierman. “It is paramount that we continue to plan, train, and deploy together to enhance our interoperability as a combined Naval and Marine force.”

    The U.S. and U.K. naval forces regularly operate together around the globe with a collective dedication to safeguarding global maritime interests and promoting the rules-based international order.

    MIL Security OSI –