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  • MIL-OSI Global: For many Latter-day Saints, America has a special relationship with God − but Christian nationalism is a step too far

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Nicholas Shrum, Doctoral Student in Religious Studies, University of Virginia

    Patriotism and faith can weave together in complicated ways − but when does that count as ‘Christian nationalism’? RiverNorthPhotography/iStock via Getty Images Plus

    On the verge of the 2024 elections, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are ramping up their campaigns in Arizona and Nevada. Beyond being considered swing states, the two have something else in common: Latter-day Saint voters.

    About 5% to 10% of Arizonans and Nevadans belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – among the highest percentages in the country, outside of Utah and Idaho. For decades, a steep majority of Latter-day Saints, often called Mormons, were regarded as reliable Republican voters. But the Trump era has tested that alliance, especially when it comes to many of his backers’ support for Christian nationalism.

    Christian nationalism is often described as the belief that American identity and Christianity are deeply intertwined and, therefore, the U.S. government should promote Christian-based values. Using questions such as whether “being Christian is an important part of being truly American,” a Public Religion Research Institute poll in 2024 found that about 4 in 10 Latter-day Saints nationwide are at least sympathetic to Christian nationalist ideas, if not clear “adherents.” This was the third-highest rate among religious groups, behind white evangelicals and Hispanic Protestants.

    Yet the report also found a seeming contradiction. Utah, home to the church’s headquarters, “is the only red state in which support for Christian nationalism falls below the national average.”

    As a scholar of Mormonism and nationalism, I believe the church’s history and beliefs help explain why so many members wrestle with Christian nationalist ideas – and that this complexity illustrates the difficulty of defining Christian nationalism in the first place. America is sacred in Latter-day Saint doctrine: both the land itself and its constitutional structures. But as a minority that has often faced discrimination from other Christians, the church displays profound skepticism about combining religion and state.

    Sacred space

    The Book of Mormon – one of the church’s key scriptures, alongside the Bible – describes the Americas as “choice above all other lands” and provides an account of Jesus Christ visiting ancient civilizations there after his resurrection.

    In addition, Latter-day Saint doctrine considers the United States’ government to be divinely inspired. In 1833 the church’s founder, Joseph Smith, dictated a revelation wherein God declared “I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up for this very purpose.”

    In the 1830s, Latter-day Saints migrated from New York and Ohio to western Missouri, where they believed themselves divinely commanded to build a sacred city called Zion. By the end of the decade, however, they had been forced out of Missouri by mob violence and an order from the governor, who called for the group to be “exterminated or driven from the State.”

    Church members fled to neighboring Illinois, then began a long trek west after Smith’s death in 1844. The first pioneers reached Utah Territory in 1847, where they set up a society shaped by their beliefs – including, most famously, the practice of plural marriage. But when Utah applied for statehood, tensions with the federal government mounted.

    Congress enacted anti-polygamy legislation that seized some church property, imprisoned more than 1,000 church members, disenfranchised anyone who supported the practice, and revoked Utah’s 1870 decision to give women the right to vote.

    A photo of Utah polygamists in prison, taken around 1889 by Charles Roscoe Savage.
    Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University, via Wikimedia Commons

    By 1896, church leaders had begun the process of ending plural marriage, and Utah was admitted to the union. Latter-day Saints also adopted the two-party system and embraced free-market capitalism, giving up their more insular and communal system – adapting to dominant ideas of what it meant to be properly American.

    Constitutional patriots

    These experiences tested Latter-day Saints’ faith in the U.S. government – particularly its failure to intervene as members were forced out of Missouri and Illinois. Nevertheless, church doctrine emphasizes duty to one’s country. One of the church’s 13 Articles of Faith explains that “we believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, and in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.”

    Latter-day Saints have “a unique responsibility to uphold and defend the United States Constitution and principles of constitutionalism,” as Dallin H. Oaks, a member of the church’s highest governing body, said in 2021.

    I would argue that beliefs in the country’s divine purpose and potential, and the close relationship between faith and patriotism, may illuminate Latter-day Saint sympathy for Christian nationalist ideas. Yet the church’s previously fraught relations with the federal government, and with wider American culture, help explain why a majority of Latter-day Saints remain skeptical of Christian nationalism.

    For much of the 19th and 20th centuries, hostility against the church was so high and widespread that if the U.S. had declared itself a Christian nation, Latter-day Saints would likely have been excluded – and around one-third of Americans still do not consider them “Christian.” According to a 2023 Pew survey, only 15% of Americans say they have a favorable impression of Latter-day Saints, while 25% report unfavorable views.

    Latter-day Saint leaders believe they have a right to exert moral influence on public policy. But the church’s awareness of its own precarious position in U.S. culture has made it wary of policies that put some people’s religious freedom above others.

    Church members wait for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ biannual general conference to begin on Oct. 5, 2024, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
    AP Photo/Hannah Schoenbaum

    A step too far

    This wariness has also shaped Latter-day Saint culture’s inclination to avoid extremes. After decades of being marginalized for practices considered radical, the modern church and its adherents have walked a delicate tightrope. And for many, Christian nationalism and the candidate many adherents put their hope in – Donald Trump – seem a step too far.

    Over the past half-century, Latter-day Saints tended to align politically and culturally with conservative Catholics and evangelicals. On balance, the church remains highly conservative on social issues, especially gender and sexuality, and 70% of its American members lean Republican. However, more younger Latter-day Saints have much more progressive views – and even the leadership has parted ways with the GOP on some issues, such as strict immigration proposals. While the church opposes “elective abortion,” it allows for several exceptions.

    During the 2016 election, only about half of the church’s members voted for Trump; 15% voted for Evan McMullin, a Latter-day Saint who positioned himself as a moderate choice between Trump and Hillary Clinton. In 2020, Trump garnered about 7 in 10 Latter-day Saint votes.

    During congressional hearings about the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, Arizona House Speaker Russell “Rusty” Bowers, who resisted pressure from the Trump administration to recall the state’s electors, cited his Latter-day Saint beliefs. “It is a tenet of my faith that the Constitution is divinely inspired,” Bowers said, explaining his refusal to go along with the scheme.

    Arizona House Speaker Rusty Bowers, left, is sworn in before testimony at the Capitol on June 21, 2022, alongside Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Georgia Deputy Secretary of State Gabriel Sterling.
    AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite

    In June 2023, church leaders issued a statement against straight-ticket voting, saying “voting based on ‘tradition’ without careful study of candidates and their positions on important issues is a threat to democracy.”

    Holy purpose

    Ever since the Puritans, many people in what became the United States have believed God has a special plan for their society – part of the same current that drives Christian nationalism today.

    Latter-day Saints, however, have a specific vision of that plan. According to the church’s teachings and scriptures, the country’s establishment was a necessary step toward restoring the “only true and living church” – their own. And that church is a global one, not just American. More than half of all Latter-day Saints today live outside the U.S.

    Ultimately, Latter-day Saint teachings consider America’s story part of a greater goal: ushering in the second coming of Jesus Christ. As the church’s name suggests, Latter-day Saints believe that they are living in the last days, just before the millennial reign of Jesus – a kingdom where national and political distinctions melt away.

    But as with all other churches, its members live in the current day, where political, cultural and social realities shape how they interact with the world around them – and how they vote.

    Nicholas Shrum does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. For many Latter-day Saints, America has a special relationship with God − but Christian nationalism is a step too far – https://theconversation.com/for-many-latter-day-saints-america-has-a-special-relationship-with-god-but-christian-nationalism-is-a-step-too-far-228594

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Proof that immigrants fuel the US economy is found in the billions they send back home

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Ernesto Castañeda, Professor, American University

    Migrant workers pick strawberries during harvest south of San Francisco, Calif. Visions of America/Joe Sohm/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

    Donald Trump has vowed to deport millions of immigrants if he is elected to a second term, claiming that, among other things, foreign-born workers take jobs from others. His running mate JD Vance has echoed those anti-immigrant views.

    Researchers, however, generally agree that massive deportations would hurt the U.S. economy, perhaps even triggering a recession.

    Social scientists and analysts tend to concur that immigration — both documented and undocumented — spurs economic growth. But it is almost impossible to calculate directly how much immigrants contribute to the economy. That’s because we don’t know the earnings of every immigrant worker in the United States.

    We do, however, have a good idea of how much they send back to their home countries – more than US$81 billion in 2022, according to the World Bank. And we can use this figure to indirectly calculate the total economic value of immigrant labor in the U.S.

    Economic contributions are likely underestimated

    I conducted a study with researchers at the Center for Latin American and Latino Studies and the Immigration Lab at American University to quantify how much immigrants contribute to the U.S. economy based on their remittances, or money sent back home.

    Several studies indicate that remittances constitute 17.5% of immigrants’ income.

    Given that, we estimate that the immigrants who remitted in 2022 had take-home wages of over $466 billion. Assuming their take-home wages are around 21% of the economic value of what they produce for the businesses they work for – like workers in similar entry-level jobs in restaurants and construction – then immigrants added a total of $2.2 trillion to the U.S. economy yearly.

    That is about 8% of the gross domestic product of the United States and close to the entire GDP of Canada in 2022 – the world’s ninth-largest economy.

    Immigration strengthens the US

    Beyond its sheer value, this figure tells us something important about immigrant labor: The main beneficiaries of immigrant labor are the U.S. economy and society.

    The $81 billion that immigrants sent home in 2022 is a tiny fraction of their total economic value of $2.2 trillion. The vast majority of immigrant wages and productivity – 96% – stayed in the United States.

    Remittances from the U.S. represent a substantial income source for the people who receive them. But they do not represent a siphoning of U.S. dollars, as Trump has implied when he called remittances “welfare” for people in other countries and suggested taxing them to pay for the construction of a border wall.

    The economic contributions of U.S. immigrants are likely to be even more substantial than what we calculate.

    For one thing, the World Bank’s estimate of immigrant remittances is probably an undercount, since many immigrants send money abroad with people traveling to their home countries.

    In prior research, my colleagues and I have also found that some groups of immigrants are less likely to remit than others.

    One is white-collar professionals – immigrants with careers in banking, science, technology and education, for example. Unlike many undocumented immigrants, white-collar professionals typically have visas that allow them to bring their families with them, so they do not need to send money abroad to cover their household expenses back home.

    Immigrants who have been working in the country for decades and have more family in the country also tend to send remittances less often.

    Both of these groups have higher earnings, and their specialized contributions are not included in our $2.2 trillion estimate.

    A Somali business owner stocks her store in Lewiston, Maine.
    Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call

    Additionally, our estimates do not account for the economic growth stimulated by immigrants when they spend money in the U.S., creating demand, generating jobs and starting businesses that hire immigrants and locals.

    For example, we calculate the contributions of Salvadoran immigrants and their children alone added roughly $223 billion to the U.S. economy in 2023. That’s about 1% of the country’s entire GDP.

    Considering that the U.S. economy grew by about 2% in 2022 and 2023, that’s a substantial sum.

    These figures are a reminder that the financial success of the U.S. relies on immigrants and their labor.

    Ernesto Castañeda does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Proof that immigrants fuel the US economy is found in the billions they send back home – https://theconversation.com/proof-that-immigrants-fuel-the-us-economy-is-found-in-the-billions-they-send-back-home-227542

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Is America ready for a woman president? Voters’ attitudes to women politicians are radically different from a decade ago

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Angela L. Bos, Dean and Professor, School of Public Service, Boise State University, Boise State University

    Voters hold clear and positive stereotypes of women politicians − while they don’t think as positively about men in politics. Artis777/iStock/Getty Images

    If U.S. voters elect Kamala Harris – a Black, Asian American woman – president, it would be historic on multiple levels. This is now a real possibility due to voters’ positively evolving stereotypes of women politicians.

    Stereotypes have long hindered female candidates, casting them as emotional, weak and sensitive. But now our political science research shows that voters in the U.S. increasingly see women leaders as synonymous with political leadership – and as more effective than men politicians.

    This transformation reflects a broader change in what voters expect in political leaders. They are now more likely to see a woman candidate as a better “fit” for public office. This might help pave the way for Harris to break through the highest glass ceiling in U.S. politics.

    The classic double bind

    Gender stereotypes are the assumptions and expectations people have about men and women. They traditionally present an obstacle for women leaders, including in politics.

    Among the many barriers to a woman becoming president in the U.S. are voters’ gender stereotypes. Men are generally assumed to have masculine traits such as being ambitious and competitive, while women are assumed to possess feminine traits such as being warm and compassionate. In applying gender stereotypes to politicians, voters end up with very different expectations for men and women candidates.

    Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, left, campaigns with former GOP congresswoman and supporter Liz Cheney in Malvern, Pa., on Oct. 21, 2024.
    Melina Mara/The Washington Post via Getty Images

    This presents a classic double bind for women leaders. If they behave like leaders and act dominantly and assertively, they violate expectations of femininity. But if they behave in a stereotypical way, they are not seen as strong leaders.

    The double bind extends to politics. It was long the case that stereotypes of men politicians, but not women politicians, aligned with the leadership qualities that voters desire in political leaders. These traits include competence, strong leadership, empathy and integrity. A 2011 study showed that stereotypes of women politicians lacked clarity, meaning people had no clear expectations. Voters also did not see women politicians in alignment with those same four leadership qualities that voters seek.

    But by 2021, prominent women political leaders such as Hillary Clinton, Nikki Haley and Nancy Pelosi had reshaped the landscape for women seeking office by shaping and solidifying public expectations.

    More women politicians in the spotlight

    More women have assumed political leadership roles in the U.S. over the past decade than in previous decades. The number of women in Congress increased from 90 to 145 between the 111th Congress, which met from 2009 to 2011, to the 117th Congress, which met from 2021 to 2023.

    In addition, high-profile women politicians such as Democrats Pelosi and Clinton, as well as Liz Cheney, a Republican, have received considerable attention from both the media and the electorate. Gender stereotypes about women politicians evolved from being ambiguous to becoming both well defined and positive as voters grew more familiar with them. This has created a political landscape for Harris today that is notably different from the early 2010s.

    We are political scientists whose research examines how gender stereotypes affect women’s political underrepresentation. In 2021, we conducted a study of how voters’ gender stereotypes of politicians had evolved over the previous decade. These are the three main lessons:

    1. Stereotypes of women politicians are increasingly positive

    A decade ago, people did not agree on the traits that defined women politicians. While some people described them as tough, others thought they were weak. Similarly, some reported them as rational, while others saw them as unable to separate feelings from ideas. There were no traits that large groups of people agreed upon to describe women politicians.

    But our study shows that voters now hold clear and positive stereotypes of them.

    When asked about the traits they associate with women politicians, respondents listed positive traits such as intelligent, rational, analytical, ambitious and moral. At the same time, women politicians are least associated with negative traits such as being weak and spineless.

    While stereotypes of women politicians have become more positive, stereotypes of male politicians are now much more negative.
    Image Source/Getty Images

    2. Stereotypes of men politicians have shifted to increased negativity and distrust

    Male politicians were previously seen as confident, well educated, charismatic and driven. But there’s bad news for men in politics: This perception has shifted. Our study revealed that stereotypes of male politicians became much more negative over the decade we studied.

    Today, male politicians are more commonly viewed as power-hungry, selfish, manipulative and self-interested. They are least associated with traits such as being sympathetic or caring about “people like me.” This indicates that voters have become more negative and distrustful toward male politicians.

    3. Women politicians have gained ground on leadership perceptions, surpassing men politicians

    In the past, stereotypes of women politicians were incompatible with leadership stereotypes. But our study shows that this mismatch has subsided. In fact, between 2011 and 2021, scores for women politicians increased on all four leadership traits valued by voters: competence, leadership, empathy and integrity.

    Men politicians, in contrast, have lost ground on all four leadership traits. Women politicians now surpass men politicians in three out of the four leadership traits: competence, empathy and integrity. Expectations of men politicians concerning the fourth trait, strong leadership, are now equal to those of female politicians.

    Kamala Harris may benefit

    Gender stereotypes have long hindered women seeking political office, but more women in prominent leadership positions have fostered positive stereotype change.

    Granted, highly visible women leaders such as Pelosi and Clinton excite both admiration and intense dislike. But seeing them and many other examples in their wake has familiarized voters with women holding power in politics. Voters are thus now more likely to view women candidates like Harris as fitting into leadership roles such as the presidency.

    With growing distrust in politics, and of male politicians specifically, women political leaders – who are viewed as agents of change – may have an opportunity to restore trust in politics.

    Daphne Joanna van der Pas receives funding from the Dutch Research Council.

    Loes Aaldering receives funding from the Dutch Research Council. She is a member of Groenlinks, the Green party in the Netherlands.

    Angela L. Bos does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Is America ready for a woman president? Voters’ attitudes to women politicians are radically different from a decade ago – https://theconversation.com/is-america-ready-for-a-woman-president-voters-attitudes-to-women-politicians-are-radically-different-from-a-decade-ago-240326

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Your next favorite story won’t be written by AI – but it could be someday

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Haoran Chu, Assistant Professor of Communications, University of Florida

    AI language models are getting pretty good at writing – but not so much at creative storytelling. Moor Studio/DigitalVision Vectors via Getty Images

    Stories define people – they shape our relationships, cultures and societies. Unlike other skills replaced by technology, storytelling has remained uniquely human, setting people apart from machines. But now, even storytelling is being challenged. Artificial intelligence, powered by vast datasets, can generate stories that sometimes rival, or even surpass, those written by humans.

    Creative professionals have been among the first to feel the threat of AI. Last year, Hollywood screenwriters protested, demanding – and winning – protections against AI replacing their jobs. As university professors, we’ve seen student work that seems suspiciously AI-generated, which can be frustrating.

    Beyond the threat to livelihoods, AI’s ability to craft compelling, humanlike stories also poses a societal risk: the spread of misinformation. Fake news, which once required significant effort, can now be produced with ease. This is especially concerning because decades of research have shown that people are often more influenced by stories than by explicit arguments and entreaties.

    We set out to study how well AI-written stories stack up against those by human storytellers. We found that AI storytelling is impressive, but professional writers needn’t worry – at least not yet.

    The power of stories

    How do stories influence people? Their power often lies in transportation – the feeling of being transported to and fully immersed in an imagined world. You’ve likely experienced this while losing yourself in the wizarding world of Harry Potter or 19th-century English society in “Pride and Prejudice.” This kind of immersion lets you experience new places and understand others’ perspectives, often influencing how you view your own life afterward.

    When you’re transported by a story, you not only learn by observing, but your skepticism is also suspended. You’re so engrossed in the storyline that you let your guard down, allowing the story to influence you without triggering skepticism in it or the feeling of being manipulated.

    Given the power of stories, can AI tell a good one? This question matters not only to those in creative industries but to everyone. A good story can change lives, as evidenced by mythical and nationalist narratives that have influenced wars and peace.

    Storytelling can be powerfully influential – especially if people sense the human behind the words.
    georgeclerk/E+ via Getty Images

    Studying whether AI can tell compelling stories also helps researchers like us understand what makes narratives effective. Unlike human writers, AI provides a controlled way to experiment with storytelling techniques.

    Head-to-head results

    In our experiments, we explored whether AI could tell compelling stories. We used descriptions from published studies to prompt ChatGPT to generate three narratives, then asked over 2,000 participants to read and rate their engagement with these stories. We labeled half as AI-written and half as human-written.

    Our results were mixed. In three experiments, participants found human-written stories to be generally more “transporting” than AI-generated ones, regardless of how the source was labeled. However, they were not more likely to raise questions about AI-generated stories. In multiple cases, they even challenged them less than human-written ones. The one clear finding was that labeling a story as AI-written made it less appealing to participants and led to more skepticism, no matter the actual author.

    Why is this the case? Linguistic analysis of the stories showed that AI-generated stories tended to have longer paragraphs and sentences, while human writers showed more stylistic diversity. AI writes coherently, with strong links between sentences and ideas, but human writers vary more, creating a richer experience. This also points to the possibility that prompting AI models to write in more diverse tones and styles may improve their storytelling.

    These findings provide an early look at AI’s potential for storytelling. We also looked at research in storytelling, psychology and philosophy to understand what makes a good story.

    We believe four things make stories engaging: good writing, believability, creativity and lived experience. AI is great at writing fluently and making stories believable. But creativity and real-life experiences are where AI falls short. Creativity means coming up with new ideas, while AI is designed to predict the most likely outcome. And although AI can sound human, it lacks the real-life experiences that often make stories truly compelling.

    Closing in?

    It’s too early to come to a definitive conclusion about whether AI can eventually be used for high-quality storytelling. AI is good at writing fluently and coherently, and its creativity may rival that of average writers. However, AI’s strength lies in predictability. Its algorithms are designed to generate the most likely outcome based on data, which can make its stories appealing in a familiar way. This is similar to the concept of beauty in averageness, the documented preference people have for composite images that represent the average face of a population. This predictability, though limiting true creativity, can still resonate with audiences.

    For now, screenwriters and novelists aren’t at risk of losing their jobs. AI can tell stories, but they aren’t quite on par with the best human storytellers. Still, as AI continues to evolve, we may see more compelling stories generated by machines, which could pose serious challenges, especially when they’re used to spread misinformation.

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

    – ref. Your next favorite story won’t be written by AI – but it could be someday – https://theconversation.com/your-next-favorite-story-wont-be-written-by-ai-but-it-could-be-someday-239284

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Video: European Commission President Ursula von der LEYEN Western Balkans tour (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

    Source: European Commission (video statements)

    Press Conference with HE Borjana Krišto, Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers Bosnia and Herzegovina

    Watch on the Audiovisual Portal of the European Commission:
    Follow us on:
    -X: https://twitter.com/EU_Commission
    -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/europeancommission/
    -Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EuropeanCommission
    -LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/european-commission/
    -Medium: https://medium.com/@EuropeanCommission

    Check our website: http://ec.europa.eu/

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pb67gxViAU

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: EU anti-fraud office coordinates seizure of around 40,000 litres of illicit alcohol

    Source: European Union 2

    The European Anti-Fraud Office coordinated an action that led the EU Member States’ and Norwegian customs authorities to seize around 40,000 litres of illicit alcoholic beverages. The targeted action is part of operation OPSON XIII, the global initiative coordinated alongside Europol to tackle food fraud and ensure the safety of food and beverages across Europe. 

    The operation, which ran from December 2023 to May 2024, focused on identifying and removing counterfeit and substandard food and drinks from markets while disturbing the criminal network behind these illicit products. 

    As in previous years, OLAF led a targeted action focused specifically on illicit alcoholic beverages. The operation revealed sophisticated schemes aimed at infiltrating the EU market with products of inferior quality – mostly beer, homemade alcohol and wine. Fraudsters used deceptive packaging, falsified documents and false labels to sell these products to consumers. 

    The OLAF coordinated action involved customs authorities from 15 Member States and one non-EU country: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Slovakia. 

    More information on Operation OPSON XIII is available in Europol’s press release.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Corruption risk assessment in focus of OSCE seminar in Turkmenistan

    Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE

    Headline: Corruption risk assessment in focus of OSCE seminar in Turkmenistan

    Participants during an OSCE-organized seminar on interagency co-operation and co-ordination in corruption risk assessment, Ashgabat, 23 October 2024, OSCE (OSCE) Photo details

    Interagency co-operation and co-ordination in corruption risk assessment and implementation of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption’s (UNCAC) were addressed at an OSCE-organized seminar that took place in Ashgabat on 23 and 24 October 2024.
    The seminar presented best practices of OSCE participating States in strengthening inter-agency co-operation in preventing and combating corruption.
    An international expert from Moldova provided the participants with a comprehensive overview of the principles and requirements of the United Nations Convention against Corruption and of the process of self-assessment of the implementation of the Convention.
    “Corruption, as a key threat to good governance, democratic processes and fair business practices, also poses a major impediment to progress in trade and connectivity,” said Olivera Zurovac-Kuzman, Economic and Environmental Officer of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat.
    “The OSCE Centrе in Ashgabat is actively collaborating with the Government of Turkmenistan on anti-corruption and related issues and stands ready to support efforts to improve public administration, promote transparency and accountability, and foster inter-agency co-operation and co-ordination in preventing and combating corruption,” stressed Zurovac-Kuzman.
    Participants shared their views on how to enhance inter-agency co-operation and co-ordination of actions on key areas of the UN Convention against Corruption and examined parallel financial investigations as a tool to counteract and fight corruption. Special attention was paid to identification, tracing and seizure of criminal assets, pre-seizure planning and management of seized and confiscated assets.
    The two-day event brought together representatives of Ministry of Finance and Economy Turkmenistan, Ministry of Adalat (Justice), State Customs Service, Central Bank, and Mejlis (Parliament), as well as the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs and other relevant institutions.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: CMA response to the Welsh Government consultation on inspection ratings for care home services and domiciliary support services

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The CMA has published its response to the Welsh Government consultation on inspection ratings for care home services and domiciliary support services.

    Applies to Wales

    Documents

    CMA response to the Welsh Government consultation on inspection ratings for care home services and domiciliary support services

    PDF, 117 KB, 4 pages

    Details

    The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has responded to the Inspection ratings for care homes and domiciliary support services consultation, led by the Welsh Government.

    The CMA’s response draws on some if its findings and recommendations in the care homes market study final report (2017), highlighting evidence from the study’s consumer research and its findings on inspection reports.  We also draw on the report’s recommendations on supported decision making, helping people consider their care needs earlier, and protecting residents and their consumer rights.

    For queries relating to the CMA’s response, please contact the CMA Wales team by email at wales@cma.gov.uk.

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 October 2024

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    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: We suggest you write the All-Russian sociological dictation

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    On November 14, 2024, the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center will hold the All-Russian educational campaign “Sociological Dictation” for the fifth time. We invite students and employees of the State University of Management to take part in this event.

    Every year, thousands of people of different ages from all regions of Russia write the sociological dictation. Last year, more than 120 thousand people took part in the event.

    The dictation consists of 25 questions of varying difficulty, it takes no more than 30 minutes to complete, and upon completion of the dictation, each participant is given a personalized certificate with the number of points scored. Participants who score 80 out of 100 possible points will receive a certificate with distinction.

    You can write the dictation online on its official website on November 14 from 00:00 to 23:59 Moscow time.

    Or in person at the State University of Management, in room PA-215. Starts at 14:00.

    Subscribe to the tg channel “Our State University” Announcement date: 10/24/2024

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Investing in the big impact of small business

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Federal support will help four Nova Scotia companies boost productivity and reach new markets

    October 24, 2024 · Dartmouth, Nova Scotia · Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)

    From October 20th to 26th during Small Business Week, Canadians across the country are celebrating the crucial role that local companies play in strengthening our communities and economies. Small- and medium-sized businesses are powerful engines for Canada’s economy, employing 64% of Canadian workers. The Government of Canada is investing to help position four Nova Scotia companies for growth and success.

    Accelerating Nova Scotia companies with diverse offerings, common goals

    Today, the Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for ACOA, announced repayable contributions totalling $1,486,305 for four companies looking to accelerate their growth and reach new markets.

    A $721,305 contribution to Outdoor Fit Exercise Systems will enable the company to install cutting-edge powder paint coating equipment at its Dartmouth production facility. The upgrade will streamline operations, more than double the production capacity of its outdoor fitness equipment parts, and pave the way for a new business venture called Versa Coatings, a powder coating division serving businesses across Atlantic Canada.

    A $315,000 contribution to Tony’s Meats Ltd. will help it add manufacturing and shipping equipment to produce more value-added products, more efficiently. The new lineup of tools at its Antigonish site includes a smokehouse that will reduce overall electrical consumption and new technologies that will grow its product lineup to appeal to new clients.

    A $300,000 contribution to Sydney’s Ethical Swag Inc., Cape Breton’s only Certified B Corporation, will help it launch sales and marketing activities for its sustainable promotional products. Digital marketing, customer support improvements, and a build-out of its technology platform will help it reach new markets, empowering companies across Canada and the United States to choose eco-friendly advertising solutions.

    A $150,000 contribution to Ravens Rest Retreat Limited in Moose Brook will add a new multipurpose cottage with accessible washrooms and a kitchen, as well as a health and wellness area with a gazebo, hot and cold tubs, and a sauna. The additions will support new activities like yoga retreats and Indigenous cuisine and storytelling, encouraging longer stays and attracting guests during the colder months.

    Today’s announcement demonstrates the Government of Canada’s commitment to helping small businesses diversify, compete, and grow, creating jobs and boosting the economy. 

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Lockdown at Grand Valley Institution

    Source: Government of Canada News

    On October 19, 2024, a lockdown was put in place at Grand Valley Institution, a multi-level security federal institution, to ensure the safety and security of the institution, its staff, and inmates.

    October 24, 2024 – Kitchener, Ontario – Correctional Service Canada

    On October 19, 2024, a lockdown was put in place at Grand Valley Institution, a multi-level security federal institution, to ensure the safety and security of the institution, its staff, and inmates.

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

    Mike Shrider
    Regional Communications Manager
    Regional Headquarters
    GEN-ONT-MEDIA@csc-scc.gc.ca   
    613-530-6941

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Statement by the Prime Minister on United Nations Day

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on United Nations Day:

    “For nearly 80 years, the United Nations (UN) has brought the international community together to make progress on global challenges. Protecting human rights. Fighting climate change. Strengthening democracy, peace, and security. Reinforcing international law.

    “As a founding member, Canada is doing its part to make this progress possible. Last month, at the UN General Assembly, we announced $200 million in measures to make the world better, fairer, and more secure. Our investments will protect the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls, strengthen action on gender equality, fight climate change, and support efforts to restore peace and security in Haiti.

    “We also adopted the Pact for the Future, so we can find shared solutions to shared challenges, alongside partners. As Co-Chair of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Advocates group and SDG Stimulus Leaders group, I continue to highlight Canada’s commitment to advancing the SDGs. With the Vancouver Principles, we are leading efforts to end the recruitment of child soldiers. And with the Elsie Initiative, we are increasing the participation of women in peace operations.

    “The UN’s mission would not be possible without its humanitarian workers, officers, and peacekeepers. It is critical we ensure their safety and protect their ability to deliver life-saving assistance. When we work together, we can make life better. This is what the UN is about. I invite Canadians to learn more about this important work.”

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: European Commission President Ursula von der LEYEN Western Balkans tour (Serbia)

    Source: European Commission (video statements)

    Press conference with HE Aleksandar Vučić, President of the Republic of Serbia

    Watch on the Audiovisual Portal of the European Commission:
    Follow us on:
    -X: https://twitter.com/EU_Commission
    -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/europeancommission/
    -Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EuropeanCommission
    -LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/european-commission/
    -Medium: https://medium.com/@EuropeanCommission

    Check our website: http://ec.europa.eu/

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tjj3a8mPfko

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Audience with the Community of the College of Vatican Penitentiaries

    Source: The Holy See

    This morning, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father Francis received in audience the Community of Vatican Penitentiaries on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the entrustment of the Ministry of Confessions in Saint Peter’s Basilica to the Friars Minor Conventual.
    The following is the address delivered by the Pope to those present at the audience:

    Address of the Holy Father
    Dear brothers and sisters, Your Eminence, good morning!
    I greet Fr. Vincenzo Cosatti and all of you. I am happy to meet you on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the entrustment to the Friars Minor Conventual of the ministry of Confessions in Saint Peter’s Basilica (cf. Clement XIV, Motu proprio Miserator Dominus, 10 August 1774). Clement XIV did this, perhaps one of the good things he did. But, poor man, the other things he did were inspired by that friar of yours, Bontempi, whom I believe is still in hell [laughter], but I am not sure. When Clement XVI died, Bontempi sought refuge in the Spanish Embassy, because he was afraid. After a few months had passed, when there was peace, he went to the General and said: “Father General, I am bringing three Bulls here. [In exchange I ask] first, that I may have money – a Franciscan! -; second, that I may live outside the community; and third, that I may travel where I please”. And the General, a wise Conventual, took the Bulls: “But, dear man, one is missing”. “Which one, Father?”.  “The one that will guarantee the salvation of your soul!”. This is historic, because he had deceived Pope Ganganelli with all these things. Bontempi was wily!
    Every day Saint Peter’s Basilica is visited by more than forty thousand people, every day! Many come from far away and face journeys, expenses and long queues to be able to arrive; others come for tourism, the majority. But among them, very many come to pray at the tomb of the First of the Apostles, to confirm their faith and their communion with the Church, to entrust dear intentions to the Lord, or to take vows. Others, even of different faiths, enter it as “tourists”, attracted by the beauty, the history, the charm of the art. But in everyone there is one great quest, conscious or unconscious: the quest for God, Beauty and eternal Goodness, whose desire lives and pulsates in every heart of man and woman living in this world. The desire for God.
    And your presence in this context is important. For the faithful and pilgrims, because it enables them to encounter the Lord of mercy in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Dear friends, forgive everything, everything, everything. Do it always: forgive everything! We are here to forgive, there will be someone else to quarrel! And for all the others, because it bears witness before them that the Church welcomes them first of all as a community of the saved, forgiven, who believe, hope and love in the light and with the strength of God’s tenderness. Let us therefore pause a moment to reflect on the ministry you carry out, emphasizing three particular aspects: humility, listening and mercy.
    First: humility. This is taught to us by the Apostle Peter, the forgiven disciples, who goes so far as to shed his blood in martyrdom only after having wept humbly for his own sins (Lk 22:56-62). He reminds us that every Apostle – and every Penitentiary – bears the treasure of grace that is dispensed in an earthen vessel, “to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us” (2 Cor 4:7). Therefore, dear brothers, to be good confessors, let us be the first to “allow ourselves to be penitents in search of his mercy” (Bull Misericordiae Vultus, 17), diffusing beneath the imposing vaults of the Vatican Basilica the perfume of a humble prayer, that implores and begs for mercy.
    Second, listening, for everyone and especially for the young and the small. It is the witness of Peter the shepherd, who walks among his flock and who grows in listening to the Spirit through the voice of his brethren (Acts, 10:34-48). Indeed, listening is not merely hearing what people say, but first of all welcoming their words as a gift of God for their conversion, docilely, like clay in the potter’s hands (cf. Is 64:7). It will be good for us, in this regard, never to forget that “By truly listening to a brother or sister in the sacramental dialogue, we listen to Jesus himself, poor and humble … we become hearers of the Word” (Address to participants in the Course on the Internal Forum organized by the Apostolic Penitentiary, 9 March 2018), and that only in this way can we hope to offer them the greatest service: that of putting them “in contact with Jesus” (ivi). Listen, without asking too many questions; do not be a psychiatrist, please: listen, always listen, meekly. And when you see that a penitent starts to get into difficulty, because he or she is ashamed, say “I understand”; I haven’t understood anything, but I understand; God understands and that is the important thing. This was taught to me by a great Cardinal penitentiary: “I understand”, the Lord has understood. But please do not be a psychiatrist: the less you speak, the better. Listen, console and forgive. You are there to forgive!
    Finally, the third: mercy. As dispensers of God’s forgiveness, it is important to be “men of mercy”, cheerful men, generous, ready to understand and to console, in words and in attitudes. Here too Peter is an example to us, with his discourses full of forgiveness (cf. Acts, 3:12-20). The confessor – an earthen vessel, as we have said – has a sole medicine to pour on the wounds of his brethren: God’s mercy. These three aspects of God: closeness, mercy and compassion. The confessor must be close, merciful and compassionate. When a confessor starts to ask… no, you are acting like a psychiatrist, stop, please. This was taught by Saint Leopold Mandić, who liked to repeat: “Why should we humiliate the most the souls who come to prostrate themselves at our feet? Are they not already humiliated enough? Did Jesus perhaps humiliate the publican, the adulteress, the Magdalene?” and he added, “And if the Lord were to reproach me for being too lenient, I would be able to say, ‘Blessed Father, you set a bad example to me, dying on the cross for our souls, moved by your divine charity” (cf. Lorenzo da Fara, Leopold Mandić. L’umanità la santità, Velar, 1989). May the Lord give us the grace to be able to repeat the same words!
    Several times I have told the story of that Capuchin who was a confessor in Buenos Aires – I don’t know if I have told you this – I made him Cardinal, not this time, the other. He is 96 years old and continues to confess; I went to him, he forgives everything! Once he came to tell me that he was afraid he had forgiven too much. “And what will you do?”, I asked him. “I will go before the Lord: Lord, will you forgive me? I am sorry, I have forgiven too much! But, mind, it was you who gave me the bad example!”. Always forgive, everything and without asking too much. And if I do not understand? God understands, keep going! Let them feel mercy.
    Dear brothers, thank you for your service, for your assiduity and patience, for your fidelity! My confessor died a few months ago, I go to confess to you, at Saint Peter’s. You do well! Thank you for being, in the heart of the Church, ministers of the sacramental presence of God-Love. Continue your ministry in this way: in humility – I am worse than you; in listening, and not so much in asking questions; and in mercy.
    Please, do not forget to pray for me. And every time I come to you, forgive me, you understand.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: NAVIFOR Officer Provides Critical Relief to Asheville Following Hurricane Helene’s Impact

    Source: United States Navy

    With a background shaped by multiple deployments in challenging environments, McQueen was well-prepared for the devastation he encountered. His experience taught him to remain focused under pressure, prioritize critical tasks, and, above all, keep pushing the mission forward. He quickly organized supplies and departed Norfolk for Asheville, making stops to pick up additional equipment and resources along the way.

    Brock felt a deep sense of urgency as he headed to North Carolina after receiving a call from his family about the devastation in his childhood town. Upon arriving in Asheville, he immediately recognized the severity of the situation and saw the path of devastation Helene had left firsthand. His brother, a member of the local firefighting team, had already been on the front lines of the relief effort. McQueen saw an opportunity to help not only his family but the wider community, where his leadership and problem-solving skills were quickly put to use. “When I saw the state of things, I knew I had to jump in,” McQueen said. “Helping my family was a priority, but this was about the whole community coming together.”

    Reporting to the Volunteer Fire Department in Fairview, a Buncombe County community just outside of Asheville, McQueen’s military training in logistics and coordination proved invaluable.

    For six days, McQueen was fully immersed in the recovery effort. His military training became an indispensable asset to the local response teams, who relied on his expertise to organize and conduct welfare checks across the region. Working alongside firefighters, law enforcement, and emergency medical personnel, McQueen assisted with the search and rescue of residents that were unaccounted for after floodwaters damaged multiple neighborhoods, ensuring no one was left behind.

    McQueen’s ability to communicate effectively with the local community played a key role in dispelling misinformation and ensuring the right resources went to those in need. His attention to detail, honed by years of military service, helped him identify discrepancies in reports and correct false information spreading through the area.

    One of his most significant contributions was turning a small UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) project into a highly effective data collection asset. He spearheaded the integration of UAV operators from different departments, ensuring their platforms worked together seamlessly.

    “Seeing how quickly the UAV team became a critical tool for recovery was rewarding,” McQueen reflected. “It was just an idea at first, but everyone came together to make it work.”

    The result was a vital resource for first responders—real-time aerial mapping of damaged homes, infrastructure, and roadways. His efforts also led to the discovery of missing persons and damaged areas that had gone unnoticed.

    A local fire chief noted that Lt. Cmdr. McQueen’s involvement was transformative for the team. He handled complex tasks that enabled the personnel to focus on other emergency responses, and his leadership provided the additional support needed to navigate those critical days.

    Yet, despite his success, McQueen understood that the road to recovery was far from over. “The community came together after the storm, which was amazing to see,” he said. “But I know that the hard work doesn’t end when the relief trucks leave. It’s going to take a long time to rebuild.”

    McQueen’s warfighter resiliency and the mental toughness developed through multiple deployments enabled him to remain focused on the daily challenges of the relief effort, keeping the mission on track. His training and experience, combined with a deep sense of duty to his family and community, made a lasting impact on the Fairview Community as it began the long process of recovery from Hurricane Helene.

    As Lt. Cmdr. McQueen packed up and prepared to leave Asheville on the seventh day, a mix of emotions weighed on him. Driving out of the storm-ravaged town, he glanced at the landscape one last time—the uprooted trees, battered homes, and streets still lined with debris. The devastation was still everywhere, and the work was far from finished. He had done everything he could in the short time he had, but as he started the long drive back to Virginia, he couldn’t help but feel a pull to stay longer, to continue helping the community that had welcomed him so warmly.

    “Disaster doesn’t discriminate,” McQueen said. “It hits everyone, and when it does, all we can do is come together to lift each other up. I’m just grateful I could play a part in that.”

    As he crossed the state line back into Virginia, McQueen’s thoughts turned to his own family. He knew they needed him, too, especially with his upcoming Permanent Change of Station (PCS) looming. His role as a father and husband couldn’t be put on hold, even for a crisis like this one. Still, he found solace in the fact that he had made a meaningful impact, and that others would carry on the work he had started.

    “It was tough to leave,” McQueen admitted. “But I felt like I’d done all I could for now. I just hope the efforts we started there will continue.”

    For more information on NAVIFOR, visit the command Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NavalInformationForces/ or the public web page at https://www.navifor.usff.navy.mil.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Leader responds to Accounts Commission Best Value report

    Source: Scotland – City of Edinburgh

    The Accounts Commission has today (Thursday 24 October) published the findings of the Controller of Audit’s Best Value Assurance Report on the City of Edinburgh Council.

    Responding to the report, Council Leader, Cammy Day, said:

    We’re encouraged by the Commission’s findings, which recognise the good progress the Council has made since 2020.

    We’ve delivered a lot of change at a time of huge pressure on our services and on our budget, but we’ve stayed true to our priorities of protecting day-to-day services and investing in a fairer, greener future. Our aims to eradicate poverty and become net-zero by 2030 are ambitious, but we need to be aspirational to make sure they stay at the top of our priority list.

    Our focus on getting the basics right for our residents, meanwhile, is also bearing fruit with Edinburgh now a top performing Council in Scotland for street cleanliness, and continued improvements in key areas such as road conditions. We acknowledge, however, that there is still much more to be done and we’ve targeted substantial additional resources into key services such as housing, where we know performance has to improve if we are to tackle Edinburgh’s housing emergency.

    We’re continuing to adopt new technologies to make it easier for residents to come to us for help and, as recognised in the report, we’re looking forward to realising the huge benefits our Visitor Levy proposals will bring from 2026 – which we forecast will raise over £100m for the city by 2030.

    It’s no secret, however, that ever more difficult financial decisions lie ahead. Despite the unique pressures that come with being Scotland’s capital city, Edinburgh remains the lowest funded council per head in Scotland, which is having a huge impact on our finances. The latest projections show that we will face a budget shortfall of at least £30m next year and we’ll need to work even harder to ensure we can keep on delivering best value for the people of Edinburgh.

    Published: October 24th 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Thousands of workers to benefit from boost to the Living Wage

    Source: Scotland – City of Edinburgh

    The Living Wage Foundation has revealed that the Real Living Wage will increase to £12.60 next year.

    Responding to the news, Councillor Jane Meagher, Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, said:

    Thousands of workers across Edinburgh are set for a boost in pay from May thanks to the new Living Wage rate. Helping our city’s workers as the cost of living soars, the rate set by the Living Wage Foundation will rise by 60p to £12.60 an hour across the UK.

    Over 80,000 people are living in poverty in Edinburgh and many have been pushed into deprivation because of insecure work. It really can happen to any of us and that is why the Living Wage is such a powerful tool, for making sure people get a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work.

    Considering the increasing pressures businesses are also under, we are so appreciative of the way Edinburgh employers continue to lead the way in Scotland, making Living Wage the norm.

    Published: October 24th 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Ingrid Yeung visits immigration HQ

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung today visited the Immigration Department’s (ImmD) new headquarters in Tseung Kwan O to gain a first-hand understanding of the department’s services, latest developments and frontline work.

    Mrs Yeung first met Director of Immigration Benson Kwok and other directorate staff for a briefing on the department’s latest developments. This was followed by a meeting with staff representatives from various grades to hear their concerns and views.

    At the Registration of Persons Office, staff briefed her on the self-service personal documentation services at the headquarters.

    The new kiosks will further facilitate the submission of applications and collection of personal documentation in a self-service manner, thereby providing higher quality public services.

    Mrs Yeung also toured the new Marriage Registry. Its marriage hall has been popular since opening in June this year, thanks to its novel design with various photo-taking spots set up in the outdoor area such as the heart-shaped garden for newlyweds and guests to pose for photos.

    The civil service chief also inspected the Enterprise System Management Centre, which is responsible for monitoring the operation of the computer systems of all control points and offices.

    The centre operates around the clock and monitors the status of various computer systems in real time. It provides prompt response and co-ordination where necessary to ensure the smooth operation of the computer systems.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

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

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency 2

    Disaster Recovery Center will open in Chester County to provide in-person assistance to South Carolinians affected by Hurricane Helene.  
    Chester CountyChester County Government Office1476 J A Cochran BypassChester, SC 29706
    Open Oct. 24-26, 8 a.m.- 7 p.m.  
    Additional 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. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Declaration of Helsinki turns 60 – how this foundational document of medical ethics has stood the test of time

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Dominic Wilkinson, Consultant Neonatologist and Professor of Ethics, University of Oxford

    The declaration of Helsinki recently turned 60, but don’t feel bad if you missed the celebrations. It probably passed unnoticed by most people not working in the medical field – and possibly even a good few in the field.

    If you’re not familiar with the declaration – adopted by the World Medical Association on October 19 1964 – here is an explainer on this highly influential document: how it emerged, how it evolved and where it may be heading.

    What is the declaration of Helsinki?

    The World Medical Association was set up in the late 1940s in response to atrocities committed in the name of medical research during the second world war. It was focused on promoting and safeguarding medical ethics and human rights.

    Agreed at a meeting in Finland in 1964, the first version of the declaration included principles that have become the cornerstone of global research ethics. These include the importance of carefully assessing the risks and benefits of research projects, and seeking informed consent from those taking part in research.

    The declaration has been hugely influential and has been incorporated into national guidelines relating to medical research around the world. (For example, in the UK it is cited in legislation and policy relating to research.)

    However, it is not legally binding. It has also, at times, been the focus of controversy. For example, following an intense debate in the early 2000s – about the use of placebos in drug trials and the ethics of conducting research in low-income countries – the US Food and Drug Administration removed reference to the declaration in its own guidance.

    The declaration updated

    It has been revised several times (the new version is the eighth edition), reflecting an evolving understanding of medical ethics, contemporary debates about when research would be ethical, as well changes in the nature and landscape of research.

    Some of these reflect important shifts in values and language. In 1964, the declaration stated that clinical research “should be conducted … under the supervision of a qualified medical man” – sexist language that has long since gone by the wayside.

    The 2024 version refers to “research participants” rather than “research subjects” – in response to a wider shift to greater inclusion of patients and research volunteers as partners in research. There are also new references to concern for the environment and sustainability, as well as attention to issues relating to stored data and biomaterial, such as tissue samples.

    Continuing uncertainty

    Some questions remain. One change in the recent document emphasises the importance of including participants from different backgrounds in research, including those who are potentially “vulnerable” in one or more ways.

    Older versions of the declaration emphasised avoiding research wherever possible involving children, older patients, pregnant women, those with mental illness and prisoners. This came from a need to learn from past scandals and avoid exploiting vulnerable groups.

    However, more recently, it has been recognised that excluding these groups can cause even greater harm, since it leads to a lack of evidence on how best to treat some patients. This then leads to disparities in health. For example, a large proportion of medicines commonly used for children lack high-quality evidence to support them.

    The 2024 declaration tries to balance the priority to include vulnerable groups in research with the need to protect and avoid research that could be feasibly performed in other groups.

    However, this highlights a deeper problem. Ethical problems arise when research is inhibited or discouraged.

    Regulation of research (as encouraged by the declaration) is hugely important, but it can also make it extremely difficult, time consuming and resource intensive to perform. Doctors may change practice based on experience, intuition or inspiration. If they do so outside of a trial, they are not required to seek the approval of any review body.

    As noted by a British paediatrician Richard Smithells in the 1970s: “I need permission to give a drug to half of my patients [to find out whether it does more good than harm], but not [if I want] to give it to them all.”

    One particular form of research that can be important to drive improvements in care are so-called comparative effectiveness trials. Within many areas of medicine, there are variations in practice, where some professionals will take one approach, while others will take another.

    Depending on which doctor you happen to see, (perhaps which clinic you attend, or which day of the week you become unwell), you might receive one treatment or the other.

    Since variations like this affect many patients, it would be important to determine which is the better option, potentially involving a randomised controlled trial, where one group of patients is randomly selected to receive the treatment and another group (the control group), a placebo. These trials take years to conduct and are very expensive to run.

    However, the declaration seems to encourage a one-size-fits-all approach and potentially implies that such trials should go through a formal and lengthy research ethics approval process, with participants providing explicit informed consent. However, many ethicists and researchers have argued in favour of a more slimmed-down regulatory approach focusing on what matters: do trials meaningfully add risk or burden to those that patients would have encountered outside the trial. And would taking part in research restrict patients’ ability to make meaningful decisions, and to make choices that would ordinarily have been offered?

    For example, imagine a trial of two different antiseptics that are commonly used for surgery. Being involved in the trial wouldn’t impose additional risk (since patients ordinarily receive those antiseptics), and it wouldn’t remove an ordinary choice, since it would be rare for medical professionals to ask patients which antiseptic they would like.

    The Declaration of Helsinki may be 60 years old, but it continues to both stimulate debate and inspire ethical practice in medical research. It has been newly revised but it is likely that innovations in research, such as the growing use of AI in medicine, will require further changes in the years ahead. It isn’t time to retire it yet.

    Dominic Wilkinson receives funding from The Wellcome Trust. He is a member of the British Medical Association Medical Ethics Committee (the views in this article are his own).

    – ref. Declaration of Helsinki turns 60 – how this foundational document of medical ethics has stood the test of time – https://theconversation.com/declaration-of-helsinki-turns-60-how-this-foundational-document-of-medical-ethics-has-stood-the-test-of-time-241769

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Light and sound art show Eclipse by Nonotak is an immersive and sensory experience

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Rob Flint, Senior Lecturer Nottingham in the School of Art and Design, Nottingham Trent University

    Audiovisual art is changing rapidly. Increasingly powerful projectors, screens and lighting rigs with integrated control systems, pervade the interwoven worlds of cinema, gallery and concert halls. These changes blur the borders of the art form with gaming, club and gig visuals, semi-permanent immersive experiences, and giant outdoor screens and projection-mapped buildings.

    I’m fascinated by electronic light and sound in art, music and cinema, and so was curious to experience Eclipse, “a spatial light and sound experience” by Japanese art studio Nonotak (Noemi Schipfer and Takami Nakamoto).

    You enter the exhibition into a darkened lounge bar that features the first of three separate experiences: a flat, wall-based light work titled Highway that gives a powerful sense of horizontal motion from the stepped sequence of flashing white bands of light.

    The next, Dual, is a large sound and light space that uses the kind of directional lighting seen onstage at concerts to make deep spatial patterns with beams of light against a soft haze.

    The third, Hidden Shadow, returns us to an image-based experience with directional seating and a large flat LED wall, on which shifting and dissolving points continually redefine a circle, linked to powerful overhead strobe-type lights in a way that seems to reference the installation title.

    These are all monochrome, programmed in sequences, with continuous repetition. Although the timed-entry system seems to encourage the viewer’s movement through the spaces, roughly corresponding to their duration, ending again in the lounge and bar area.

    Immersed in pulsing light and sound, I look for coordinates to ground my experience. There’s a long history of artists making light and sound do things simultaneously. Psychedelia seems an obvious ancestor.

    Even before Hoppy Hopkins made liquid light swirl to the sound of Pink Floyd at London’s UFO club in the 1960s, pioneers in the US and Europe had constructed “colour organs” to play coloured lights in a musical way and painted glass slides for theatre projection, to access the synaesthesia (a neurodivergent condition that links the senses in unexpected ways) which was believed by some to be buried deep in all of us.

    Animated film is part of this story, with Disney’s Fantasia the best-known union of music and visual movement in early popular film history, though modernists like Oskar Fischinger (who contributed to Fantasia) and Viking Eggeling made more austere abstract combinations of rhythm and graphic object for avant-garde audiences.

    Nearby the Eclipse venue, the Tate Modern shows Anthony McCall’s 1970’s Solid Light installation works. Originally developed on clattering 16mm celluloid film for dusty and cigarette-smoke-filled social spaces, they play quietly and continually now on digital projectors with programmed haze machines in a clean, purpose-built gallery.

    Closer in appearance (and in time) to the work of Nonotak are audiovisual artists like Carsten Nicolai and Ryoji Ikeda. They reconfigured the “visual music” tradition with a stripped-down and often monochromatic union of sound and light, bringing the precision of post-digital graphics to minimal techno and dub or the spookiness of glitch electronica to what is often now referred to as “a/v performance”.

    Ikeda’s 2017 installation test pattern explored a similar aesthetic across the river at London’s 180 Strand Studios, home of another organisation dedicated to expanded audiovisual art.

    Lumen Studios, who curated and presented the show, are aiming Eclipse at programmers, graphic designers and “edgy people”, literate in gaming, coding, NFTs, cryptocurrencies and other screen-based worlds and objects.

    These are not necessarily the same people who would connect McCall’s lines of “solid light” to 1970s Materialist Cinema’s highly political demand to reject the “illusionistic” conventions of mainstream realist film. Nor should they have to.

    The human eye is trained differently than it was when television ended before midnight and cinemas were not rivalled by streamed media on demand. This space could have entirely different reference points to those I am evoking. Set design, for example. On their website, Nonotak cites scenography, theatre, film, dance, architecture, and drawing among their areas of practice.

    So maybe now it’s me that is the performer, on, or inside, a virtual stage or film set. Standing in the largest of the three installations, Dual, I feel as though I might be running from an alien on a giant transport ship heading for Mars.

    I could also be in a more earth-bound comparison, standing at the back of a giant warehouse party, or a rave, away from the crush of dancing bodies while still in the synchronised cocoon of sensory electronics. It is visual, but also physical, and it creates a powerful kinetic dislocation from the space in which it is situated.

    This last comparison highlights the “in-between” nature of the Eclipse installations in its temporary accommodation in Bermondsey. The cocktail bar points gently (and legally) towards the hedonism of gigs and raves, but the regulated entry system suggests a more institutional mode of attention, closer to the time-stamped immersive museum experience or even a live-action gaming environment, like an upmarket Laserquest.

    Similarly, the audio, filled with effectively light-synchronised rhythmic pulsing, doesn’t have the gut-level bass of a contemporary club or music venue sound system. And while the slightly disembodied vitality of Dual made me think about dancing and moving in a slightly different way, it isn’t a dance floor.

    Nor did it make promises of that kind. So this is less a criticism of the work than a recognition that my coordinates will always need updating, as the spaces we move through adapt to different forms of attention. If our species is fortunate enough to continue devoting time, technology, materials and labour to human sensory curiosity in the decades that follow, there will be more hybrid collisions of light, sound, image, rhythm, music, in real and imaginary, actual and virtual, space. I very much hope so.

    Eclipse by Nonotak is on until December 8 2024 at 47 Tanner St, London


    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.

    Rob Flint does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Light and sound art show Eclipse by Nonotak is an immersive and sensory experience – https://theconversation.com/light-and-sound-art-show-eclipse-by-nonotak-is-an-immersive-and-sensory-experience-241529

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Harris nudges ahead of Trump in the polls – but could the economy prove her downfall?

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Paul Whiteley, Professor, Department of Government, University of Essex

    Thrive Studios / Shutterstock

    The current US vice-president and Democratic presidential candidate, Kamala Harris, appears to have nudged ahead of her Republican rival, Donald Trump, in the race to the White House.

    A poll of polls, which combines polls from different agencies, published on the website FiveThirtyEight on October 22 shows that Harris leads Trump by 48.1% to 46.3% in national voting intentions. So the race remains very tight.

    There is naturally a lot of attention being paid to what is happening in swing states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, Georgia and North Carolina. However, the polling in these states is not very helpful since it currently predicts a dead heat in practically all of them.

    In the key swing state of Pennsylvania, for example, 47.8% of people intend to vote for Trump compared to 47.6% for Harris. This gap is well within the margin of error, so FiveThirtyEight calls it an even contest.

    One of the surveys in the poll of polls was conducted by YouGov for the Economist newspaper. It shows that 19% of respondents have already voted in the election and a further 72% say they will definitely vote. When registered voters were asked which candidate they think is likely to win, the replies were a dead heat – 38% of them chose Harris and 38% Trump (24% are not sure).

    Another way of judging the contest is to look at who has the advantage in the key drivers of the vote in the election. In an earlier article, I argued that Harris leads Trump in the presidential race in three of the four key measures that explain voting behaviour.

    She is ahead in likeability, and is favoured by more moderates than Trump. Harris also has more support from Republican identifiers than Trump has among voters who identify as Democrats. However, in relation to the fourth driver, which is the issues voters care about, she is at a clear disadvantage.



    Read more:
    Harris leads Trump in the polls – here’s what they really tell us about her chances

    The Economist/YouGov poll shows that 96% of respondents think that jobs, inflation and the economy are important issues in the election. In the same poll 84% think immigration is important and 75% think this about abortion.

    Harris’s problem is that polling indicates she is well behind Trump on the issue of the economy. When asked if Harris or Trump would do the best job dealing with inflation, for example, 39% preferred Harris and 46% Trump. This is despite the fact that the most recent inflation rate is relatively low at 2.4%, and has been falling for some time.

    On the issue of abortion she does much better. Some 50% of Americans approve her pledge to restore the right to abortion enshrined in the Roe v Wade case from 1973, which was reversed by a Supreme Court ruling in 2022. In comparison, only 33% of Americans approve of Trump’s position to uphold the court ruling.

    The economy and voting

    Does it really matter if Harris is behind on the economy? There is historical evidence to suggest that, if we look at the actual performance of the economy as opposed to polls, Harris may have an advantage.

    The graph below shows the relationship between voting for an incumbent Democratic or Republican president (or his party’s nominee) and the state of the economy over a century of presidential elections from 1920 to 2020.

    In the chart, the performance of the economy is captured by two measures. The first is economic growth in real terms and the second is the misery index (the sum of inflation and unemployment). Both are measured in the year of the elections.

    There is a strong positive correlation between growth and voting for the incumbent president or his party’s nominee (+0.55). When growth is buoyant, the incumbent or his successor does well. And when it is weak, they do badly.

    There is also a negative relationship between the misery index and presidential voting. But, in this case, the correlation is very weak (-0.05). This means that, while voters may complain about inflation and unemployment and blame the incumbent president’s administration, economic growth is the real driver of voting in these elections.

    Economic growth is the real driver of voting in US elections


    Paul Whiteley, CC BY-NC-ND

    The Biden administration’s record on growth since 2020 has been very strong. Policies such as the Inflation Reduction Act and the Chips Act have boosted investment, particularly in high-tech industries. This fact may give Harris the edge in the election.

    That said, Harris can still lose, and the odds that bookmakers are giving currently favour Trump to win. However, it is the American people who will decide the outcome, not betting markets, many of whom who live outside the US, who are trying to disrupt the process.

    Paul Whiteley has received funding from the British Academy and the ESRC

    – ref. Harris nudges ahead of Trump in the polls – but could the economy prove her downfall? – https://theconversation.com/harris-nudges-ahead-of-trump-in-the-polls-but-could-the-economy-prove-her-downfall-242056

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: What US election interference law actually says about Labour volunteers

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Ilaria Di Gioia, Senior Lecturer in American Law and Associate Director of the Centre for American Legal Studies, Birmingham City University

    Shutterstock/rblfmr, Nicole Glass, Alexandros Michailidis

    With just two weeks to go until election day, Donald Trump’s presidential campaign filed a complaint with the US Federal Election Commission (FEC), requesting “an immediate investigation” into what it termed “blatant foreign interference” in the election by none other than the UK’s Labour party.

    In the letter to the FEC’s acting general counsel, the Trump campaign accused the Labour party of “apparent illegal foreign national contributions” to Harris for President. This is the principal campaign committee of Vice-President Kamala Harris.

    The contributions listed in the complaint are: meetings with Harris’ campaign team “to brief Ms Harris’ presidential campaign on Labour’s election-winning approach”, and Labour members’ trips to battleground states to help with the Harris campaign.

    Put simply: members of the UK’s Labour party have been travelling to the US to help Harris, the Democratic party candidate, campaign for the presidency.

    FEC rules state that foreign nationals “may participate in campaign activities as an uncompensated volunteer”. To that end, the prime minister, Keir Starmer, has said that Labour volunteers are helping the Harris campaign in their spare time, and are funding their own trips.

    Indeed, there is a long history of volunteers from both the Labour and Conservative parties supporting their respective “sister” parties in the US, and vice versa.

    What does US law say?

    To understand the US legal landscape, we must refer both to statutes (laws on the books) and the judicial cases that have put these statutes to the test.

    From a statutory point of view, foreign interference into elections is regulated by three main federal laws. These laws, enacted by Congress since 1938, came in response to various scandals involving foreign financing.

    They are: the Foreign Agents Registration Act, the Federal Election Campaign Act and the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, all consolidated in the United States Code.

    The law explicitly prohibits foreign nationals (excluding permanent residents) from making contributions or donations to elections. It reads:

    It shall be unlawful for:

    A foreign national, directly or indirectly, to make –

    (A) a contribution or donation of money or other thing of value, or to make an express or implied promise to make a contribution or donation, in connection with a Federal, State, or local election;

    (B) a contribution or donation to a committee of a political party; or

    (C) an expenditure, independent expenditure, or disbursement for an electioneering communication.

    The question is, therefore, whether the Labour engagement with the US election falls under the definition of “contribution or donation of money or other thing of value”.

    A key legal case

    It would seem, looking at judicial precedent, that “contribution or donation” amounts to financial contributions only.

    The law was interpreted in 2011 by the US District Court for the District of Columbia (a federal court) in Bluman v FEC.

    In this case, the plaintiffs Benjamin Bluman and Asenath Steiman were foreign citizens who lived and worked in the US on temporary visas. They wanted to donate money to candidates in elections and challenged the constitutionality of the law barring them from doing so.

    A campaign sign for Kamala Harris.
    Bluestork/Shutterstock

    The decision was authored by then Judge Brett Kavanaugh (who, seven years later, was appointed by Trump as Supreme Court justice). Kavanaugh argued that political contributions in the form of expenditure – so, financial contributions – were an integral part of the elections process. As such, it was right that foreign nationals be prohibited from making financial contributions.

    He emphasised, however, that this decision was limited to expenditure, and that it should not be read as support for bans on other types of engagement with elections. These would be protected by First Amendment free speech protections, which apply to foreign nationals within the US.

    We do not decide whether Congress could prohibit foreign nationals from engaging in speech other than contributions to candidates and parties, express-advocacy expenditures, and donations to outside groups … Plaintiffs … express concern that Congress might bar them from issue advocacy and speaking out on issues of public policy. Our holding does not address such questions, and our holding should not be read to support such bans.

    This decision was affirmed by the Supreme Court and so constitutes a convincing precedent.

    In a nutshell, US law prohibits foreign nationals from financing domestic election activity, but this is limited to financial contributions. The Labour campaign “contribution” so far does not appear to amount to financial contributions, so as long as this remains the case, it is not illegal.

    Ilaria Di Gioia received research funding from the Eccles Centre at the British Library.

    – ref. What US election interference law actually says about Labour volunteers – https://theconversation.com/what-us-election-interference-law-actually-says-about-labour-volunteers-242055

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Swiss National Armaments Director takes part in the Conference of National Armaments Directors of NATO

    Source: Switzerland – Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport

    The Swiss National Armaments Director Urs Loher takes part in the annual NATO Conference of National Armaments Directors (CNAD) on 24 October 2024, which is held with NATO partner states in Brussels. This year, talks will focus on a potential stronger commitment of the partner states with NATO. The National Armaments Director takes the opportunity to meet with his counterparts for bilateral talks at the event. In addition, the National Armaments Director will attend meetings with the European Defence Agency as well as with the European Union-Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space (DG DEFIS).

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Prof. Howard Wilson to lead science and technology for STEP

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd announces the appointment of Professor Howard Wilson as Director of Science and Technology for STEP.

    Professor Howard Wilson – Image Credit: ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy

    UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd (UKIFS) is delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Howard Wilson as Director of Science and Technology, helping to lead STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production), a pioneering programme to deliver the UK’s first prototype fusion energy plant.

    An internationally renowned expert in fusion science, Howard brings extensive experience and expertise to the role and will become the first UKIFS Executive Committee member based at West Burton in Nottinghamshire, a former coal-fired power station site where the prototype plant will be built.

    Over the past 18 months, Howard has been the Fusion Pilot Plant Research & Development Lead at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the United States; prior to this he was based at the University of York where he founded the York Plasma Institute and the Fusion Centre for Doctoral Training.

    As Director of Science and Technology, Howard will oversee development of the plasma solution for STEP and will lead on the requirements for technology demonstration, both physical and digital, ensuring that modelling, simulation and testing tackles the specific challenges refined through the evolving whole plant design. He will work together with Chris Waldon (Chief Engineer) and Debbie Kempton (Director of Engineering Programme) in a triumvirate that will plan and ensure viable technologies, in an integrated plant design, that is developed and delivered in a robust way.

    Paul Methven, CEO of UK Industrial Fusion Solutions and Senior Responsible Owner for STEP, said: “As we embark on the second phase of the programme, Howard will be key in leading the development critical technologies for STEP, supporting the development of the fully integrated plant design. His impressive track record of fusion research and delivery will help to deliver the UK’s prototype fusion energy plant alongside the development of a fusion industry.”

    The appointment marks a return to the STEP programme for Howard – he became the first Programme Director for STEP from 2019 to 2020 following a secondment to the UK Atomic Energy Authority as Research Director in 2017.

    Howard has served on numerous international programme reviews and committees, including the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP), and chaired the International Tokamak Physics Activity (ITPA) in Pedestal and Edge Physics in support of ITER from 2008 to 2011. He has been a member of EUROfusion’s Science and Technology Advisory Committee (STAC) (2022-2023) and currently serves on the U.S. Department of Energy Fusion Energy Sciences Advisory Committee.

    STEP is the UK’s flagship fusion programme that will demonstrate both a technical and industrial pathway towards commercial realisation, supporting the clean, safe, and sustainable energy over the long term.

    UKIFS is a wholly owned subsidiary of UK Atomic Energy Authority Group and will be responsible for the delivery of STEP from later this year. The programme aims to create future opportunities for suppliers ranging from whole plant integrators to critical system manufacturers that can design and deliver future plants worldwide in addition to benefitting the communities that surround West Burton.

    Fusion can be thought of as the opposite of fission – combining lighter atoms rather than splitting heavier ones. It is based on the same processes that power the sun and stars and has potential to provide safe, sustainable and low-carbon energy for generations to come.

    For further information about STEP, visit: https://step.ukaea.uk/

    Below shows a computer generated concept of STEP’s Tokamak.

    Image credit: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority

    For further information, contact: communications@step.ukaea.uk

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Supporting Tourism in New Brunswick

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Salisbury, New Brunswick · October 24, 2024 · Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)

    The Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for ACOA, will make an announcement regarding support for tourism in New Brunswick.

    Date: October 25, 2024

    Time:  10:00 a.m.                   

    Location:
    Salisbury Amphitheatre
    29 Highland Drive
    Salisbury, New Brunswick
    E4J 2G7

    Connor Burton
    Press Secretary
    Office of the Minister of Rural Economic Development and of the
    Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
    Connor.Burton@acoa-apeca.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gov. Kemp: TMC Transformers to Bring 110 Jobs, New Manufacturing Facility To Burke County

    Source: US State of Georgia

    Atlanta, GA – Governor Brian P. Kemp today announced that TMC Transformers USA Inc. (TMC), an international dry-type transformers manufacturer for a wide range of industrial applications, will expand its footprint in Georgia by investing more than $15.3 million over the next five years in a new manufacturing facility in Waynesboro, creating at least 110 new jobs in Burke County.

    “When we lead economic missions overseas and meet with companies like TMC, we do so to bring more opportunities back to hardworking Georgians, and so job creators like them can build a strong foundation alongside communities like Waynesboro,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “TMC’s decision to create over 100 well-paying jobs in Burke County comes at a critical time, and we look forward to their impact as that region of our state continues to recover and rebuild following the recent hurricanes.”

    TMC is a multinational company focused on design and production of medium and low voltage dry-type cast resin and VPI transformers. The company, which counts more than 500 employees and commercial offices in Europe, America, and East Asia, established its first U.S. production plant at the beginning of 2023 in Burke County.

    “Combining our expertise in the dry-type transformer industry with the needs of the U.S. market for accessible, reliable, and sustainable energy, the launch of the new plant highlights TMC’s strategic plans for substantial growth in North America,” said Cristiano Palladini, President of TMC USA. “We’re excited that Waynesboro will become a welcoming base for us. Georgia provides strong foundations for our business with its strategic position, the full support from Burke County and the Georgia delegation who share a business-oriented vision, and its community of hardworking and skilled Georgians in line with our needs.”

    TMC’s new facility at the Burke County Industrial Park in Waynesboro highlights its commitment to strengthening the company’s presence and investment in the United States. Operations in Burke County have already started at the company’s first facility, and the new plant is expected to be operational at the beginning of 2026. TMC is now hiring for roles in management, administrative staff, production technicians, operators, testers, sales, and quality control. Hiring will continue over the next few years as the project continues to ramp up. Interested individuals can learn more about careers with TMC at tmctransformers.us.  

    “The Development Authority of Burke County is pleased to have TMC Transformers make Waynesboro their permanent home,” said Austin Stacy, Executive Director of the Development Authority of Burke County. “Their decision to locate here is a true testament to the readiness and strong workforce that Burke County possesses. TMC’s core principles replicate our community’s values, and we look forward to continuing our work together to make Burke County a better place.”

    Senior Regional Project Manager Adela Kelley represented the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) Global Commerce team on this competitive project in partnership with the Development Authority of Burke County.

    “After meeting with TMC’s leadership in Italy, we were truly impressed by their warmth, hospitality, and enthusiasm for their decision to invest in Georgia,” said GDEcD Commissioner Pat Wilson. “The transformers TMC will manufacture in Burke County are critical in addressing energy infrastructure needs for the state and the nation. TMC is just the type of company we aim to attract to Georgia: a long-term partner committed to strengthening our communities, economy, and industry ecosystems.”

    For over a century, Georgia has fostered healthy industry practices, encouraged collaboration and innovation, and positioned itself as a leader in developing and harnessing emerging technologies for evolving industries.

    The State of Georgia has had continuous representation in Europe since 1973. Italy is a top 15 trade partner for Georgia, with $3.4 billion in total trade moving between the state’s ports and Italy in 2023. Italy was also in the list of top 10 sources for international investment in Fiscal Year 2023, and Italian companies have invested more than $411 million in Georgia since 2010 through projects with state involvement.

    About TMC Transformers

    TMC Transformers USA Inc. is a leading provider of innovative and high-quality transformer solutions, dedicated to serving the energy needs of industries across North America. With a commitment to excellence and sustainability, TMC specializes in the design, manufacturing, and distribution of dry-type cast resin and VPI transformers. Its products are engineered to meet the highest standards of performance, reliability, and efficiency, ensuring optimal energy management for a wide range of applications, including utilities, data centers, semiconductors manufacturing, railways, marine and offshore, mining, and oil and gas. For more information, please visit tmctransformers.us or contact [email protected].

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Eagle Pass Police Officer Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Operating Human Smuggling Stash Houses

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

    DEL RIO, Texas – An Eagle Pass woman, who had served as a police detective, was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 120 months in prison for her role in a conspiracy to harbor undocumented noncitizens for a human smuggling organization (HSO).

    According to court documents, Hazel Eileen Diaz, 54, rented out multiple properties she owned in Eagle Pass to assist in harboring undocumented noncitizens between September 2020 and August 2021. Diaz would often travel to the properties where the migrants were being held to collect rent payments. An investigation revealed that, in total, nearly 200 migrants were smuggled by the HSO Diaz worked for, and that she had received approximately $36,916 in cash and money service business transfers, much of which were proceeds from human smuggling. At the time of her arrest, she was in possession of $23,522 in cash from the smuggling operation.

    Co-defendant Tomas Alejandro Mendez pleaded guilty on July 11, 2022 to one count of conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens. He is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 13, 2025. Co-defendant Paola Nikole Cazares was sentenced Oct. 11, 2023 to 63 months in prison for the same offense with credit for time served since Aug. 26, 2021. Mendez and Cazares worked with Diaz to operate her properties as stash houses.

    In addition to imprisonment, Diaz will serve three years of supervised release, pay a $10,000 fine and money judgement of $237,600, and she will forfeit three properties, a truck, and $23,522.

    U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.

    The FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Border Patrol, and the Texas Department of Public Safety investigated the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Holly Pavlinski prosecuted the case.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: LPL Financial Welcomes Dougherty, Tedesco & Associates

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN DIEGO, Oct. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — LPL Financial LLC, announced today that the financial advisors at Dougherty, Tedesco & Associates have joined LPL Financial’s broker-dealer, RIA and custodial platforms. They reported serving approximately $800 million in advisory, brokerage and retirement plan assets,* and join LPL from Osaic.

    Founded in the early 1980s by Charlotte Dougherty, CFP®, the business has evolved over the years to into a holistic wealth management firm and cornerstone of the greater Cincinnati area. Now under the leadership of advisors Andrew Tedesco, CFP®, and John Dougherty, III, MBA, CFP®, CRPC®, the firm offers a comprehensive range of wealth advisory services, including financial planning, investment management, retirement planning and estate planning. The team also includes Registered Sales Assistant John Dougherty, Jr., Director of Client Services Caitlin Ackerman and support staff members Rita Anno and Ben Verchick.

    “Our mission is to lead clients to a more secure financial future, supporting them step by step through life’s various stages,” said John Dougherty, III, noting they primarily serve corporate executives, engineers and medical practitioners. “We take a team approach to providing customized strategies as we explore every avenue to help optimize the client’s success. Throughout the financial planning process, we never lose sight of one essential element: personal service.”

    The transition to LPL Financial represents a calculated move for Dougherty, Tedesco & Associates, positioning the firm to deliver more customized solutions and elevated client services.

    “We are excited to join LPL Financial and leverage its robust platform to provide clients with more holistic, tailored experiences,” Tedesco said. “LPL’s comprehensive platform, advanced technology and substantial resources will give us more flexibility to respond to the diverse needs of our client base. Additionally, LPL’s size, strength and commitment to innovation align with our own values and aspirations for growth. We’re confident in our ability to expand our business and fulfill our commitment to providing exceptional care to help clients navigate their financial journeys with confidence.”

    Scott Posner, LPL Executive Vice President, Business Development, said, “We welcome Dougherty, Tedesco & Associates to the LPL community and look forward to supporting the growth of their firm. LPL is committed to delivering robust resources, strategic business solutions and innovative capabilities that can help this team and all of our advisors differentiate their practice and be successful at every stage of their business’ lifecycle.”

    Related

    Advisors, learn how LPL Financial can help take your business to the next level.

    About LPL Financial

    LPL Financial Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: LPLA) was founded on the principle that LPL should work for advisors and institutions, and not the other way around. Today, LPL is a leader in the markets we serve, serving more than 23,000 financial advisors, including advisors at approximately 1,000 institutions and at approximately 580 registered investment advisor firms nationwide. We are steadfast in our commitment to the advisor-mediated model and the belief that Americans deserve access to personalized guidance from a financial professional. At LPL, independence means that advisors and institution leaders have the freedom they deserve to choose the business model, services and technology resources that allow them to run a thriving business. They have the flexibility to do business their way. And they have the freedom to manage their client relationships, because they know their clients best. Simply put, we take care of our advisors and institutions, so they can take care of their clients.

    Securities and Advisory services offered through LPL Financial LLC (“LPL Financial”), a registered investment advisor. Member FINRA/SIPC. LPL Financial and its affiliated companies provide financial services only from the United States. Dougherty, Tedesco & Associates and LPL are separate entities.

    Throughout this communication, the terms “financial advisors” and “advisors” are used to refer to registered representatives and/or investment advisor representatives affiliated with LPL Financial.

    We routinely disclose information that may be important to shareholders in the “Investor Relations” or “Press Releases” section of our website.

    *Value approximated based on asset and holding details provided to LPL from end of year, 2023.

    Media Contact: 
    Media.relations@LPLFinancial.com 
    (704) 996-1840

    Tracking #646723

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Phunware Announces Retirement of CEO Mike Snavely and Appoints Stephen Chen as Interim CEO

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Phunware, Inc. (NASDAQ: PHUN), a leader in cloud enterprise solutions for mobile applications and related technologies, announced today that Michael Snavely, CEO of Phunware, has retired and resigned from Phunware. Stephen Chen, former Chairperson of the Phunware Board of Directors, has assumed the role of interim CEO of Phunware, effective October 22, 2024.

    “We appreciate Mike’s dedication and service to Phunware and wish him much success in the future,” said Mr. Chen. “I am proud and excited to assume the role of interim CEO as we prepare to embark on new opportunities in generative AI, predictive analytics, and cloud-based services. We are confident that this transition will enable Phunware and its shareholders to accelerate our journey.”

    Phunware remains committed to providing cutting-edge software, advertising, and other tools that empower enterprises to connect with people on a deeper, more human level. This new direction, powered by generative AI, reinforces Phunware’s commitment to helping businesses thrive through meaningful engagement and technological transformation. The Phunware management team is excited to advance Phunware’s leadership in mobile and cloud-based solutions, setting the stage for its next phase of growth and expansion into AI-driven technologies and broader digital engagement. In conjunction with this announcement, Phunware has launched a new microsite dedicated to helping businesses and developers better understand and leverage generative AI and Phunware’s mobile app technologies. This resource will guide users through the potential of AI in transforming engagement and business operations. For more details, visit https://ai.phunware.com/.

    Mr. Snavely said, “Leading Phunware as CEO has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. I am very proud of what we accomplished as a team over the last 12 months. As I stated in our Letter to Shareholders, Phunware and its platforms, products, and services are well-positioned for the future. I am looking forward to my retirement and to pursuing my passion for rural enterprises.”

    About Phunware 

    Phunware, Inc. (NASDAQ: PHUN) is an enterprise software company specializing in mobile app solutions. We provide businesses with the tools to create, implement and manage custom mobile applications and analytics, digital advertising and location-based services. Phunware is transforming mobile engagement by delivering scalable and personalized mobile app experiences. 

    Phunware’s mission is to achieve unparalleled connectivity and monetization through widespread adoption of Phunware mobile technologies, by leveraging brands, consumers, partners and digital asset holders and market participants. Phunware is poised to expand its software products and services audience and industry verticals through its new platform, utilize and monetize its patents and other intellectual property rights and interests, and update and reintroduce its digital asset ecosystem for existing holders and new market participants. 

    Phunware Investor Relations: 
    CORE IR
    516-222-2560
    investorrelations@phunware.com

    MZ Group, North America
    Joe McGurk,  Managing Director
    917-259-6895
    PHUN@mzgroup.us

    Safe Harbor / Forward-Looking Statements 

    This press release includes forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release, including statements regarding our future results of operations and financial position, business strategy and plans, and our objectives for future operations, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “expose,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “opportunity,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes are intended to identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. For example, Phunware is using forward-looking statements when it discusses the proposed offering and the timing and terms of such offering and its intended use of proceeds from such offering should it occur. 

    The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on our current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on us. Future developments affecting us may not be those that we have anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) and other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those factors described under the heading “Risk Factors” in our filings with the SEC, including our reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K and other filings that we make with the SEC from time to time. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. These risks and others described under “Risk Factors” in our SEC filings may not be exhaustive. 

    By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future. We caution you that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that our actual results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and developments in the industry in which we operate may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. In addition, even if our results or operations, financial condition and liquidity, and developments in the industry in which we operate are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this press release, those results or developments may not be indicative of results or developments in subsequent periods. 

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