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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Minister Sh Jyotiraditya M. Scindia unveils BSNL’s new logo and seven customer centric services

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 22 OCT 2024 7:58PM by PIB Delhi

    • With the launch of 7 indigenous services, BSNL from now on will always be at the forefront of technological innovations in India: Minister Scindia.
    • BSNL to soon deploy indigenous 5G services, have successfully conducted trials of 5G RAN and core in both the 3.6 GHz and 700 MHz bands.
    • Under PM Sh Narendra Modi Ji’s leadership, BSNL has transformed itself from being a follower to now becoming a leader: Sh Scindia.

     

    Union Minister of Communications and Development of North Eastern Region, Sh Jyotiraditya M. Scindia today unveiled Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL)’s new logo and its seven citizen centric services. These services represents BSNL’s renewed focus on delivering secure, affordable, and reliable connectivity to every corner of Bharat. The logo was launched in presence of Hon. MoS for Communications & Rural Development, Dr Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar. The launch ceremony was held at Bharat Sanchar Bhavan and was attended by Secretary Telecom, CMD BSNL& senior Officers from DoT, BSNL, CDoT, ITI & TCIL.

    Alongside the new logo, seven pioneering initiatives were also launched, aimed at revolutionizing how India connects, communicates, and enhances its digital security.

    BSNL from now on will always be at the forefront of technological innovations in India: Minister Scindia

    Union Minister of Communication Sh Jyotiraditya M. Scindia while unveiling the new logo shared that BSNL’s new logo is a symbol of our commitment towards customer service. He added that the bouquet of these 7 citizen centric services, are Made in India, Made for India and Made by India.

    He mentioned that BSNL is the only Telecom Service Provider (TSP) in India to launch these seven indigenous services, which from now on will always keep BSNL at the forefront of technological innovations in India.

    BSNL to soon deploy 5G services, have successfully conducted trials of 5G RAN and core in both the 3.6 GHz and 700 MHz bands.

    Talking about India’s indigenous 5G vision, the Minister shared that BSNL has embarked upon several initiatives to strengthen India’s ambitious 5G roll-out. We have conducted successful trials of Indigenous 5G RAN and Core in both 3.6 GHz and 700 MHz bands and India will soon deploy indigenous 5G services. He added that out of the 1,00,000 BSNL 4G sites planned to be set-up by mid-2025, many will also be graduated to 5G connectivity.

    Under PM Sh Narendra Modi Ji’s leadership, BSNL has transformed itself from being a follower to now becoming a leader: Sh Scindia

    Minister Scindia mentioned that under the leadership of Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi, BSNL has transformed itself from being a follower to now becoming a Leader. He highlighted that the launch of the new logo and seven citizen centric services is a testament to the same.

    The Minister of State for Communication and Rural Development Dr Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar gracing the occasion, highlighted that time and again, BSNL has stood as the nation’s backbone, providing telecom services in remote, challenging terrains. The Minister emphasized that BSNL has unwavering Govt support and has received two revival packages . BSNL is deploying fully indigenous 4G equipment showing the capability of technological advancement . The Minister mentioned that BSNL has skilled manpower and has nationwide reach. Minister stressed that unveiling of new logo  will bring refreshed identity for BSNL and shows the intent of BSNL for readiness to transform and innovate.

    New Logo – Vibrancy, Trust, and Nationwide Reach

    BSNL’s new logo symbolizes strength, trust, and accessibility. The green and white arrows surrounding India emphasize the company’s expansive nationwide reach, while the vibrant orange backdrop signifies warmth and inclusivity. The bold tagline ‘Connecting Bharat‘ highlights BSNL’s unwavering mission to bridge the digital divide by offering a modern, reliable telecom network that connects both urban and rural India.

    Seven New Initiatives Built on Three Key Pillars

    Security:

    1. Spam! Free Network

    BSNL’s spam-blocking solution automatically filtering out phishing attempts and malicious SMS and creates a safer communication environment for user without the need to issue alerts to customers, ensuring seamless and secure communication for all users.

    Affordability:

     

    1. BSNL National Wi-Fi Roaming

    BSNL is launching a first-of-its-kind seamless Wi-Fi roaming service for its FTTH customers, enabling high-speed internet access at BSNL hotspots at no extra charge, thus minimizing data costs for users.

     

    1. BSNL IFTV

    A first for India, BSNL’s fiber-based intranet TV service offers 500+ live channels and Pay TV through its FTTH network. This service will be accessible for all BSNL FTTH subscribers without additional charges. The data used for the TV viewing will not be consuming the FTTH Data pack.

     

    1. Any Time SIM (ATS) Kiosks

    A first of it kind- Automated SIM kiosks allow users to purchase, upgrade, port or replace SIMs on 24/7basis , leveraging UPI/QR-enabled payments with seamless KYC integration and multi-lingual access.

     

    Reliability:

     

    1. Direct-to-Device Service

    India’s first Direct-to-Device (D2D) connectivity solution converges satellite and terrestrial mobile networks to deliver seamless, reliable connectivity. This groundbreaking technology is particularly useful in emergency situations and isolated regions, and can enable UPIpayments in such areas.

    1. ‘Public Protection & Disaster Relief’ – as a solution

    BSNL’s scalable, secure network for disaster response is India’s first guaranteed encrypted communication for government and relief agencies during crises, enhancing national disaster management capabilities. The robust network design guarantees uninterrupted connectivity and also uses innovative drone-based and balloon-based systems to extend coverage during disasters.

     

    1. First Private 5G in Mines

    BSNL introduces reliable, low-latency, 5G connectivity for mining operations in partnership with C-DAC, leveraging Made-in-India equipment and BSNL’s technological expertise. This service enables advanced AI and IoT applications, in underground mines and large opencast mine which require high speed low latency connectivity, such as safety analytics, real-time remote control of AGVs, AR enabled remote maintenance, fleet tracking & optimization, etc.

    These launches signal BSNL’s continuing commitment in transforming India’s telecom landscape, ensuring that secure, affordable and reliable connectivity remains accessible to all.

    Tweet link of the Minister:

    https://x.com/JM_Scindia/status/1848678264157442304

    Speech of the Minister: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qthCVOcNyQk

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CCI approves the proposed acquisition of Aavas Financiers Limited by Aquilo House Pte. Ltd.

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 22 OCT 2024 8:38PM by PIB Delhi

    Competition Commission of India has approved the proposed acquisition of Aavas Financiers Limited by Aquilo House Pte. Ltd.

    Aavas Financiers Limited (Acquirer) is a newly incorporated entity, wholly and indirectly held by the Relevant CVC Funds which are certain investment funds or vehicles managed and/or advised by members of the CVC Network. The “CVC Network” or “CVC Group” is a global alternative investment manager focused on private equity, credit, secondaries and infrastructure, consisting of CVC Capital Partners plc. (CVC PLC) and each of its subsidiaries from time to time. CVC PLC is a public limited company whose shares are listed and admitted to trading on the Euronext Amsterdam Stock Exchange.

    Aavas Financiers Limited (Target) is registered with the National Housing Bank as a non-deposit taking housing finance company. In India, the Target’s business activities include: (A) provision of (a) Home loans; (b) MSME business loans; (c) Loan against property; and (B) Distribution of life, health, and general insurance products to Target’s customers only.

    The proposed transaction relates to acquisition of shares and control by the Acquirer in the Target pursuant to: (i) the share sale agreements executed amongst the Acquirer, the Target and certain existing promoters/promoter group of the Target; and (ii) the mandatory open offer in accordance with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) Regulations, 2011.

    Detailed order of the Commission will follow.

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Minister of Coal & Mines Shri G. Kishan Reddy chairs Day-long Half-Yearly Review Meeting on Coal Sector

    Source: Government of India

    Union Minister of Coal & Mines Shri G. Kishan Reddy chairs Day-long Half-Yearly Review Meeting on Coal Sector

    Safety and Welfare of Mineworkers Must be Top Priority: Shri G Kishan Reddy

    Coal Minister Advocates for Enhanced Efficiency and Environmental Responsibility in the Coal Sector

    Posted On: 22 OCT 2024 8:39PM by PIB Delhi

    The Half-Yearly Review Meeting on the coal sector was convened at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan in New Delhi, today. The meeting was chaired by Union Minister of Coal and Mines, Shri G. Kishan Reddy, with Union Minister of State for Coal and Mines, Shri Satish Chandra Dubey, serving as co-chair. Shri Vikram Dev Dutt, Secretary of the Ministry of Coal; Smt. Rupinder Brar; Smt. Vismita Tej; Additional Secretaries, Ministry of Coal; and all senior officers from the Ministry of Coal, along with CMDs of Coal/Lignite PSUs, were also present. The meeting was to assess the progress of ongoing projects, discuss future strategies, and enhance the coal sector’s growth trajectory.

    In a significant step towards sustainability and resource efficiency, Shri G. Kishan Reddy launched the Report of the High-Powered Expert Committee (HPEC) on the Gainful Utilization of Overburden (OB) in the Coal Sector.

    The report outlines a comprehensive framework for using OB as a valuable resource. Historically seen as waste, OB is now being positioned as an asset with the potential to contribute significantly to environmental sustainability, economic development and create employment opportunities for local communities.

     

    During the Half-Yearly review, Final Mine Closure certificates were awarded to three WCL mines: Pathakhera-I UG Mine, Pathakhera-II UG Mine, and Satapura-II UG Mine. It is for the first time since independence that Coal Mines are officially closed and certificates have been issued. Union Minister Shri G. Kishan Reddy presented these certificates to Shri J.P. Dwivedi, CMD, WCL; Shri Deepak Rewatkar, GM (Safety), WCL; and Shri L.K. Mohapatra, Area General Manager, Pathakhera Area.

    In his keynote address, Union Minister Shri G. Kishan Reddy emphasized the importance of production efficiency and environmental stewardship in the coal sector. He highlighted the need to embrace innovative technologies that enhance coal production while minimizing environmental impact. He expressed deep concern for the environment, urging all stakeholders to prioritize responsible mining practices, including the implementation of accredited compensatory afforestation initiatives and effective reclamation of de-coaled lands. Furthermore, the Minister stressed that mine closures must be managed responsibly, ensuring that affected communities are supported and that rehabilitated areas are returned to productive use.

    The Minister also underscored the critical importance of safety for mineworkers, stating that their health and well-being must be prioritized through rigorous enforcement of safety protocols and ongoing training programs. He expressed concern for the families of mine workers, emphasizing that a safe working environment is essential not only for the workers themselves but also for their communities. Shri Reddy urged stakeholders to foster a culture of safety and social responsibility, reinforcing the need for proactive Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives that engage and uplift local communities. By aligning industry practices with community needs, promoting social welfare, and addressing environmental concerns, the coal sector can transform into a model of modernity and responsibility, ultimately ensuring a sustainable future for both the industry and the environment.

    While Reviewing, Union Minister of State for Coal and Mines, Shri Satish Chandra Dubey highlighted the remarkable progress made by the coal sector over the past six months. He commended the efforts of all stakeholders in enhancing production capacity while emphasizing the need for continued focus on safety and environmental sustainability. Minister Shri Dubey stressed the importance of innovative practices and technologies in driving efficiency and moving towards net zero. He called for collaborative efforts to address challenges and ensure the long-term viability of coal as a critical energy resource, reaffirming the government’s commitment to supporting the industry while prioritizing the welfare of workers and local communities.

    Addressing the gathering, Shri Vikram Dev Dutt, Secretary, Ministry of Coal, outlined the agenda of the event and highlighted the key focus areas of the discussion. Secretary Shri Dutt reiterated the Government’s commitment to ensuring that the coal sector can sustainably meet the energy demands of the nation while protecting the environment and the lives of those who work in it.

    Further presentations were made on the Operational Overview of the coal sector, along with the Vision 2030 and Vision 2047 frameworks. Detailed discussions were held on the operationalization of newly allocated coal blocks, the status of exploration activities, and accelerating coal production to secure India’s energy needs and foster self-reliance in the energy sector. The session also highlighted critical areas that need to be addressed to ensure sustained energy security and support the nation’s long-term economic growth.

    Subsequent sessions delved into the financial, technical, and business development of the coal sector. The Minister held in-depth discussions with CMDs and HODs regarding capital expenditures (CAPEX), asset monetization, and market capitalization, offering a comprehensive overview of the current landscape and future prospects. Presentations showcased technological advancements, particularly in underground mining, and strategies to enhance coking coal capacity, with the goal of reducing reliance on imports and boosting domestic production. A significant emphasis was placed on adopting environmentally sustainable practices in the mining sector, including the transition to gas-based technologies and the integration of electric vehicles (EVs). These efforts align with the overarching aim of lowering the carbon footprint in coal mining operations. The progress of First Mile Connectivity (FMC) projects was reviewed, focusing on eco-friendly coal transportation systems designed to minimize environmental impact. Furthermore, discussions highlighted the promotion of Heavy Earth Moving Machinery (HEMM) to improve operational performance and productivity, supporting the Make in India initiative championed by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

    Shri G. Kishan Reddy led a discussion on Inter-Ministerial Coordination and Sustainable Development, emphasizing the importance of collaboration among ministries. Presentations were made by the Ministries of Power, Railways, and Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC), addressing critical challenges and aligning goals to enhance cooperation. Shri G. Kishan Reddy reiterated the necessity of sustainable development, particularly through accredited compensatory afforestation, environmental initiatives, and the reclamation and proper utilization of de-coaled land. He highlighted that responsible mine closure is not merely an operational requirement but a commitment to environmental stewardship, ensuring long-term sustainability.

    The discussions also extensively covered safety protocols in mining operations and welfare programs for mine workers and their families. Special attention was given to CSR and HR initiatives, recruitment promotion and transfer policies, and labor relations, along with the Employees’ Provident Fund, all aimed at fostering a safe and supportive environment for all stakeholders. An interaction session on CSR, HR, and Labour Relations covered strategies for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) planning and execution, ensuring the effective alignment of social initiatives with the needs of communities around coalfields. Discussion also focused on transfer policies, aiming to create a more transparent, merit-based system for employee transfers and promotions, as well as the status of labor relations, emphasizing welfare measures such as the Employees Provident Fund (CMPFO) to ensure the financial security of coal sector employees.

    A significant aspect of the discussions was the observance of Vigilance Awareness Week. The Ministry of Coal reiterated its dedication to upholding transparency and accountability across its operations. Presentations were made on the various vigilance initiatives being undertaken by Coal PSUs, which include strict compliance with ethical standards, ensuring fair practices in tenders and contracts. The Minister interacted with Chief Vigilance Officers (CVOs), reinforcing the Ministry’s anti-corruption stance and its drive toward a corruption-free governance structure.

    The Half-Yearly Review Meeting concluded with a vote of thanks, setting the stage for an action-packed second half of the year, driving the coal sector forward toward the ambitious targets of Vision 2030 and beyond.

     

     

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CCI approves an increase in the percentage shareholding of Bharti Airtel in Indus Towers pursuant to buy back of shares by Indus Towers

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 22 OCT 2024 8:41PM by PIB Delhi

    Competition Commission of India has approved an increase in the percentage shareholding of Bharti Airtel Limited (Bharti Airtel) in Indus Towers Limited (Indus Towers) to 50.005% pursuant to buy back of shares by Indus Towers.

    Bharti Airtel is a communications solutions provider, operating under the brand name “Airtel”.

    Indus Towers is a passive telecom infrastructure provider. It deploys, owns, and manages passive telecom infrastructure for various mobile operators.

    Detailed order of the Commission will follow.

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Hon’ble President of India confers 5th National Water Awards, 2023

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 22 OCT 2024 8:42PM by PIB Delhi

    Hon’ble President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu, conferred the 5th National Water Awards, 2023 at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. 38 winners, including joint winners across 09 categories were awarded for their exemplary work in the field of water conservation and management.  Each award winner was conferred with a citation and a trophy as well as cash prizes in certain categories. The event started with the traditional ‘Jal Kalash’ ceremony.

    Addressing the gathering, Hon’ble President, Smt Droupadi Murmu appreciated the award winners asserting that their contribution towards water conservation and management is extraordinary and will set an example for the coming generations towards the development of the nation. Hon’ble President appreciated the schemes being undertaken by Ministry of Jal Shakti , especially mentioning about the highly effective execution of the Jal Jeevan Mission which exemplifies the objectives of quantity, quality and continuity and asserted that access to safe drinking water is right of every citizen. The president stated that the collective efforts of general public and Government could help achieve the goal of “water secure India” and vouched for every house of country to have a Rain Water Harvesting Structure (RWHS). She lauded the efforts of the water awardees and stated that the recognition of these efforts through National water awards will encourage the masses to take up water conservation activities.

    The Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Shri C.R. Paatil expressed gratitude toward the award winners for their efforts in the field of water management and conservation and said that these Awards have made a deep impact and fostered a healthy competitive environment among those working in the water sector. Shri Paatil congratulated the states of Odisha for winning the first prize in best State category as well as for the second position by Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat and Puducherry for winning the third position jointly. He said that the way these states has worked from the point of view of water management, it will certainly serve as an inspiration for many states and institutions. Hon’ble Minister also focused on the National water awards as  recognition of the good work and efforts made by various stake holders across the country in attaining the government’s vision of a ‘Jal Samridh Bharat’. 

    The Secretary, Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Smt Vini Mahajan in her speech mentioned that water is foundation of our life and Ministry of Jal Shakti is focused on water conservation and management in collaboration with the public to turn it into a Jan Andolan. She highlighted the schemes being undertaken by Ministry of Jal Shakti mentioning the achievements of Jal Jeevan Mission, Namame Gange, Swatch Bharat Abhiyan, and Atal Bhujal Yojana. 

    The Secretary, Department of Water Resources, RD & GR, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Smt Debashree Mukherjee in her concluding remarks gave with a vote of thanks to the Hon’ble  President of India for inaugurating the event and encouraging the national water awardees and mentioned that the 6th National water awards, 2024 are to be launched shortly and urged the media as well as other participants to encourage participation in the water awards on a large scale. 

    The book titled “Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Best Practices” was launched by the Hon’ble Minister of Jal Shakti and dignitaries at the dais.  The book highlights the Best practices of water conservation undertaken by various stakeholders under the Jal Shakti Abhiyan. 

    During the  award distribution ceremony, the  works undertaken by the awardees were highlighted. Odisha state, the first winner in the state category, has made exemplary strides in water conservation by creating about 53,000 water conservation & rain water harvesting structures, 10,800 reuse & recharge structures, 68,700 watershed development and 21,000 waste water treatment plants as well as renovating 11,000 traditional water bodies. Uttar Pradesh, the second winner in the state category, under Jal Jeevan Mission over 1.91 crore households constituting 72.78% of the total rural houses in UP have been provided with tap water. Besides, 133 Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs), &  06 Ganga Biodiversity Parks for cleaning Ganga river & 14,679 Amrit Sarovars have been completed. 

    Winners in best District category, BANDA (UTTAR PRADESH) from North Zone (joint winner)- around 400 ponds rejuvenated, 3,300 farm bunds & 530 farm ponds, 250 rooftop rainwater harvesting structure, 4,690 soak pits, and 460 check dams constructed. GANDERBAL (J&K) from north zone (joint winner) – maintenance works of about 400 km of canals, and lining of 1.35 km of canals to prevent water wastage completed. INDORE (MADHYA PRADESH) from west zone constructed – 420 farm ponds, 180 percolation tanks, 100 Nistari tanks, and 190 Check dams have been constructed. 20 lakh saplings during Hariyali Mahotsav have been planted. Under Mission Amrit Sarovar, 103 water bodies have been renovated.  VISAKHAPATNAM (ANDHRA PRADESH) from south zone – 33 water bodies under Amrit Sarovar scheme & about 2,400 various artificial recharge structures as well as riverbanks on Sarada river have been renovated/restored. BALANGIR (ODISHA) from EAST ZONE – around 260 farm ponds, 170 check dams, 160 diversion weirs, 1,320 water harvesting structures, 460 percolation tanks & 670 groundwater recharge structures have been constructed. DHALAI (TRIPURA) from North East zone- about 740 community recharge structures, 60 ponds, 170 check dams and 137 water tanks for rainwater harvesting have been constructed.  

    Other prominent winners in various categories include Surat, Gujarat in best urban local body, Pullampara, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala in best village panchayat,  BAIF Development Research Foundation, Pune in best civil society, Pentakli Project Union of Water User Association, Buldhana, Maharashtra in best water user association, and Govt. Upper Primary School, Jethwan Ka Bas, Sikar, Rajasthan in best school/college, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University,  Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu in Best Institution and Aravali Power Company Private Limited, Jhajjar, Haryana in best industry.

    Details of winners 5th National Water Awards.

    5TH NATIONAL WATER AWARDS, 2023

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah addresses the ‘Legislative Drafting Training’ program in the Gujarat Assembly

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah addresses the ‘Legislative Drafting Training’ program in the Gujarat Assembly

    Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India has become the centre of global aspirations, with its roots in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly

    Legislative drafting is a very important and necessary art for a country governed by a constitution

    Legislative drafting is the essence of law; the decline of this art would not only harm democracy but also adversely affect the public

    If there is any ideal for legislative drafting in the whole world, it is the framing of the Constitution of India

    If the process of writing laws is not fully developed in a scientific manner, the chances of democracy succeeding are unlikely

    Laws should be made clear because judicial intervention occurs where there is a gray area lacking clear legal interpretations

    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was instrumental in starting a training school for “legislative drafting” in the Parliament House

    Those doing legislative drafting should possess abilities of a philosopher, knowledge of historical facts, and deep understanding of linguistics

    Posted On: 22 OCT 2024 9:16PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah addressed the ‘Legislative Drafting Training’ programme in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly today. Several dignitaries, including the Speaker of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly, Shri Shankar Chaudhary, and the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Bhupendra Patel, were present on the occasion.

    Union Home Minister said that “legislative drafting” is a very important and necessary art for a country like India which is governed by a constitution. He said that the art is gradually fading away. He mentioned that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the government has completed 10 years, during which India has become the center of global aspirations, with its roots in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly. Prime Minister Modi has achieved many milestones in public welfare over the past 10 years.

    Shri Amit Shah noted that “legislative drafting” is the essence of law, and the decline of this art would not only be detrimental to democracy but also harm millions of people in the state and the country. He said that if drafting is done without understanding the legislative process while making laws, then the laws will never fulfill their intended purpose. The responsibility of converting a cabinet note into a bill lies with the legislative department, which eventually leads to the formation of law. Shri Shah stated that unless the process of “legislative drafting” is fully developed in a scientific manner, the chances of democracy succeeding remain unlikely.

    Union Home Minister stated that if there is any ideal for “legislative drafting” in the world, it is the framing of the Constitution of India. He stated that there is no process bigger than the framing of the Indian Constitution. He emphasized that clarity is the most important aspect of the art of “legislative drafting.” The clearer the legislators are in translating their objectives into law, the smaller the gray area will be; and the less the gray area, the lesser the judicial interventions will be. Shri Shah mentioned that judicial interventions occurs where there are gray areas lacking clear legal interpretations; therefore, laws should be made clear.

    Union Home Minister said Article 370, for example, was very clearly drafted by the drafting Committee of the Constitution. He said, the term “Temporary Provisions of the Constitution” was very important, meaning that it is not a “Permanent Provision,” and its removal does not require an amendment to the Constitution. It was mentioned that the President can issue a constitutional order to revoke Article 370 at any time, with a validation by a simple majority in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. He stated that if Article 370 was kept as a provisional constitute at that time, a two-thirds majority would have been required to remove it. However, the legislators were very clear that the temporary provision was a makeshift arrangement, and as a result, the reference for its removal was placed in Article 370(3).

    Shri Amit Shah appealed to all legislators and MPs to maintain continuous contact with the legislative drafting wing and keep engaging in discussions with them. He mentioned that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi established a training school for “legislative drafting” within the Parliament House in 2019. He noted that an aware politician can bring about significant change through their legal understanding. Citing the example of G.V. Mavalankar, Shri Shah mentioned that despite being in the opposition, he proposed 16 reforms, all of which had to be accepted by the ruling party because they were well-considered proposals for reform. He emphasized that those involved in legislative drafting should have the abilities of a philosopher, knowledge of historical facts, and have a deep understanding of linguistics.

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah addresses 14th All India Home Guards and Civil Defence Conference in Gandhinagar, Gujarat today

    Source: Government of India

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah addresses 14th All India Home Guards and Civil Defence Conference in Gandhinagar, Gujarat today

    Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, all dimensions of service and security for building a developed India can be achieved with the support of Home Guards and Civil Defence

    Civil Defence and Home Guards play a crucial role in empowering and securing the nation through service and protection

    Modi government will make the Home Guards and Civil Defence charter more relevant and useful by incorporating several new aspects and timely changes

    Modi government will also engage youth from all segments in Home Guards and Civil Defence, similar to the NCC and NSS

    Home Guards and Civil Defence volunteers made invaluable contributions during the 1965 and 1971 wars as well

    Home Guards and Civil Defence must be integrated with awareness programs such as a drug-free India, clean India, tree planting, water conservation campaigns, women’s safety, TB-free India, the fight against malnutrition, and nutrition campaigns

    A roadmap should be developed to assist in law and order, facilitating coordination between local law enforcement and Home Guards and Civil Defence

    There is a need for institutional arrangements for training and traffic management to enhance the contribution of these organizations to emergency services

    Posted On: 22 OCT 2024 9:25PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah addressed the 14th All India Home Guards and Civil Defence Conference in Gandhinagar, Gujarat today. On this occasion, several dignitaries were present, including Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel and Union Home Secretary Shri Govind Mohan.

    In his address, Shri Amit Shah mentioned that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has set a resolved to make India a fully developed nation by 2047. He said that in this vision, we must become a fully developed nation while preserving our values, traditions, culture, and languages alongside development in every sector. Shri Shah emphasized that service and security are two very important points in realizing this commitment. He mentioned that security encompasses every individual, property, future, rights, along with our core values of service. He noted that civil defence and home guards are institutions linked with security and service, working to connect a segment of society with the protection and service of the community. He added that the commitment to building a developed India, as envisioned by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, can be achieved through the dimensions of service and security provided by Home Guards and Civil Defence.

    Union Home Minister noted that during this two-day conference, there will be extensive discussions on various points regarding the strengthening of Home Guards and Civil Defence, capacity building, and their roles in disaster management across five sessions. He mentioned that this conference will also serve as a medium for dialogue between states, facilitating the exchange of good practices and boosting their capabilities in resolve emerging challenges.

    Shri Amit Shah said that former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri played a significant role in giving importance to Home Guards and Civil Defence since 1962. He noted that the Civil Defence Directorate was established in 1962, and the Civil Defence Act was passed in 1968. Shri Shah mentioned the invaluable contribution of Home Guards and Civil Defence volunteers during the wars of 1965 and 1971. He highlighted that during the 1965 India-Pakistan war, Home Guards and Civil Defence organizations played a crucial role in protecting essential infrastructure, providing general training to citizens, and assisting in relocating them to safer places, in collaboration with the armed forces and local administration.

    Union Home Minister stated that the efforts will be made by Modi government to make the Home Guards and Civil Defence charter relevant and useful by adding several new aspects and timely changes over the next four months. He mentioned that this step aims to bring a new awareness and vitality to both organizations. Shri Shah explained that the current charter includes preparing people for war emergencies, protecting citizens, training them to avoid the effects of war, fostering a mindset of non-violent civil resistance, organizing communities, assisting in the repair of infrastructure damaged in war, and boosting morale. He noted that if an organization’s charter does not undergo changes for 50 years, both the organization and the charter become obsolete. He emphasized that there have been radical changes in the country over the past 50 years, and technological advancements have altered needs, leading the country to progress significantly.

    Shri Amit Shah stated that the role played by Home Guards and Civil Defence volunteers during the COVID-19 pandemic, along with their dedication to serving people, is commendable. He mentioned that during the pandemic, 27 personnel from Home Guards and Civil Defence lost their lives while serving the public.

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that training for contribution in emergency services for Home Guards and Civil Defence should be systematic and should have a place in their charter. He said that there is a need to make institutional arrangements for Home Guards and Civil Defence in traffic management as well. He said that similarly they should join other awareness programmes, such as Drug Free India, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Tree Plantation Campaigns, Water Conservation, Awareness against social evils, Women Safety, Community Health Care, TB Free India, War against Malnutrition, Poshan Abhiyaan etc. Shri Shah said that there should be a constructive role in spreading awareness for cyber security and against digital fraud, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Plastic Free India and Tree Plantation Campaign for environmental protection. He said that a roadmap should be made for assistance in law and order so that there is coordination between the local law and order handling officials and Home Guards and Civil Defence. He added that their roles in education, such as reducing drop out ratio, 100 percent enrollment and improvement in the quality of education, should also be given a place in the new charter. He said that there is a need to include Home Guards and Civil Defence in the charter to link them with many government programmes for employment and Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

    Shri Amit Shah said that keeping in mind the needs of the country today, there is a need to think afresh about the role of these two organisations to make them more relevant. He said that in the next 4 months, there is a need to infuse new life into both these organisations. Shri Shah said that there is also a need to focus on training and bringing forward new and young faces. The Home Minister said that till now only those people are associated with Home Guards and Civil Defence who want to come forward for the society. He said that the government will try that just like all sections of the society are represented in NCC, NSS, in the same way, youth from every section of the society should also be associated with these organisations. He said that towards achieving the goal of building a developed India in 2047, we need to strengthen every aspect related to it.

    ***

    RK/VV/PR/PS

    (Release ID: 2067195) Visitor Counter : 66

    Read this release in: Hindi

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Prime Minister meets with the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 22 OCT 2024 10:25PM by PIB Delhi

    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi met H.E. Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in Kazan today on the sidelines of the 16th BRICS Summit.

    Prime Minister congratulated H.E. Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian on his election as the 9th President of the Islamic Republic of Iran. He also welcomed Iran in the BRICS family. The two leaders reviewed bilateral relations and discussed ways to further strengthen cooperation in various fields. Noting that the signing of the long-term contract of Chabahar Port is an important milestone in bilateral relations, the two leaders reaffirmed its significance for reconstruction and redevelopment of Afghanistan and enhancing trade and economic linkages with Central Asia.

    The leaders also exchanged views on regional developments, including the situation in West Asia. Prime Minister expressed deep concern over the widening of the conflict and reiterated India’s call to de-escalate the situation. Prime Minister also emphasized on protection of civilians and the role of diplomacy in resolving the conflict.

    The leaders agreed to continue their cooperation in various multilateral forums, including BRICS and SCO. Prime Minister invited President Pezeshkian to visit India at an early date. President Pezeshkian accepted the invitation.

     

    ***

    MJPS/SR

    (Release ID: 2067207) Visitor Counter : 78

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Prime Minister meets with the President of the Russian Federation

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 22 OCT 2024 10:32PM by PIB Delhi

    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi met with the President of the Russian Federation, H.E. Vladimir Putin, in Kazan today, on the margins of the 16th BRICS Summit. This was their second meeting this year. The two leaders had earlier met in Moscow for the 22nd Annual Summit in July 2024.

    Prime Minister thanked President Putin for his invitation to attend the 16th BRICS Summit. He appreciated the Russian Chairship of BRICS and its efforts to strengthen multilateralism, advance sustainable development, and push for global governance reform. The two leaders also reviewed bilateral cooperation in a range of fields, including political, economic, defence, energy, and people-to-people ties. They welcomed the forthcoming meeting of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic and Cultural matters, which is scheduled to be held in November 2024 in New Delhi.

    The leaders exchanged views on India-Russia engagement in multilateral fora, in particular in BRICS. They also shared views on key regional and global issues of mutual interest, including the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Prime Minister reiterated that dialogue and diplomacy was the way forward in resolving conflicts.

    The two leaders agreed to remain engaged to further strengthen the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between the two countries, which continues to register significant growth and has shown resilience in the backdrop of geopolitical uncertainties.

    Prime Minister invited President Putin to visit India next year for the 23rd Annual Summit.

     

    ***

    MJPS/SR

    (Release ID: 2067209) Visitor Counter : 33

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Gaza: tightening siege, increased bombing & intensified fighting raises risks for civilians

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Amid a tightening siege, increased bombing and intensified fighting in North Gaza, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) continues to sound the alarm about the increasingly dire and dangerous situation facing civilians there. People are out of water, food and basic necessities. Humantiarians need access to those in need, OCHA says.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OS-G7xBm3Zs

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Enforced Disappearances: Crime with many victims – Press Conference | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Press Conference: Chair of the working group on enforced disappearances, Gabriella Citroni

    ————————–

    Enforced disappearances have a ripple effect on the communities and societies where they take place due to the continuous nature of the crime, the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances warned today (21 Oct).

    “Enforced disappearance is a crime with many victims,” the Working Group said. “It is not the victim of enforced disappearance alone who is victimized, but also the often-forgotten family members and loved ones, and, in certain circumstances, entire communities who suffer direct harm.”

    Briefing reporters in New York City after addressing the UN General Assembly, Gabriella Citroni, Chair-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, reported that since its inception in 1980, the Working Group has transmitted a total of 61,626 cases to 115 States. The number of cases under active consideration that have not yet been clarified, closed or discontinued stands at 48,619 in a total of 100 States. In its annual activities report, the Working Group voiced serious concerns at the escalating number of cases it is recording in the context of armed conflicts.

    “We found that there is a need for awareness raising, but also the capacity to answer both at the regional level and at the universal level,” the expert said.

    The Working Group continued to study new modalities of enforced disappearance in the context of elections. The report notes that, in the context of elections, enforced disappearance is difficult to pinpoint and address, as it is often only one out of many forms of violence. Moreover, the disappeared often reappear after brief periods and therefore cases go unreported. Lastly, as with the case of enforced disappearance more broadly, which is committed with the direct or indirect involvement of the State, it creates a significant barrier to reporting and documentation, notably due to fear of reprisals.

    Citroni emphasized that 2024 “across the world, is the year with the highest number of elections. One general point I would emphasize is that we have recommendations directed not only at states, but also at online platforms operators, because of the role they would play in this context.”

    She urged States to take immediate steps towards ensuring comprehensive implementation and enforcement of the absolute prohibition of enforced disappearance, in line with their obligations to prevent, investigate, prosecute and punish those responsible for such crimes, search for the disappeared, and provide adequate reparations for the harm suffered.

    The Special Rapporteurs, Independent Experts and Working Groups are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1WZ6I__4AQ

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Thriving Together: Stories of Sickle Cell Strength | Oct 2024 | Episode 3

    Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)

    In this episode, Dr. Debra Houry, Chief Medical Officer and Deputy Director for Program and Science at the CDC, joins CDC Public Health Analyst, former professor, and Sickle Cell warrior Harry Williams to discuss his journey through his diagnosis and the critical importance of quality of life.

    —

    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) | http://www.hhs.gov | HHS Privacy Policy | http://www.hhs.gov/Privacy.html

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ns5HBxW1EdQ

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: World Economic Outlook – October 2024

    Source: International Monetary Fund – IMF (video statements)

    The World Economic Outlook forecasts 3.2% growth for 2024-2025, with inflation dropping to 4.3% by 2025. With a smooth landing within reach, it is time for governments to rebuild buffers and boost long-term growth. Learn more. https://www.imf.org/WEO

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IG5qk7_zhIQ

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Welcome Liechtenstein

    Source: International Monetary Fund – IMF (video statements)

    The IMF welcomes Principality of Liechtenstein as its 191st member. Here are five things you may not know about Liechtenstein. https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2024/10/21/cf-five-things-you-may-not-know-about-liechtenstein

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LnvY4-75_0

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Gaza: tightening siege, increased bombing & intensified fighting raises risks for civilians

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Amid a tightening siege, increased bombing and intensified fighting in North Gaza, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) continues to sound the alarm about the increasingly dire and dangerous situation facing civilians there. People are out of water, food and basic necessities. Humantiarians need access to those in need, OCHA says.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OS-G7xBm3Zs

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: UN SDG Action Awards Ceremony 2024 | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Watch the 2024 UN SDG Action Awards Ceremony live from Rome and join the UN SDG Action Campaign to celebrate changemakers who are wielding the power of creativity and innovation to bring us closer to a more sustainable, equitable and peaceful world.

    —

    The UN SDG Action Awards Ceremony will unveil the winners of the 2024 edition with the presence of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy Antonio Tajani (TBC), and UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the UNDP Bureau for External Relations and Advocacy Susan Brown, as well as Canon Ambassador Muhammed Muheisen, two-time winner of the Sanremo Music Festival singer-songwriter Mahmood, award-winning writer, film director and producer Farhoud Meybodi, Paralympian and Author Jessica Smith, among many others.

    The UN SDG Action Awards programme is made by the generous financial support of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) and the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

    Watch the UN SDG Action Awards Ceremony live at sdgactionawards.org/live

    Follow the UN SDG Action Awards Ceremony’s live coverage on social media with the hashtag #SDGAwards.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atPKdld_4qc

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Reporters Without Borders Voices heard but repressed: #MeToo: What impact on journalism?

    Source: Reporters Without Borders (RSF) (Video Release)

    #MeToo, #EuTambém, #EnaZeda, #Cuéntalo.. “Voices heard but repressed: #MeToo: What impact on journalism?” An exclusive report and documentary with Lénaïg Bredoux (@Mediapart), Laurène Daycard (freelance journalist and author of this report) and Jovanna García (freelance journalist).

    It cannot be denied: this worldwide movement to liberate women’s voices has significantly impacted the media landscape. Even if the #MeToo wave only had a weak echo in some countries, it has led to the emergence of new stories and new media outlets worldwide. While some pioneers had already paved the way — including Awa in Senegal in the 1970s, Sharika Wa Laken in Lebanon since 2012, and Axelle magazine, created in Belgium in 1998 — they have, in turn, benefited from this new exposure. Yet investigating women’s rights remains dangerous.

    To accompany the report, RSF has published recommendations to support journalists working on women’s rights and gender violence.
    We have issued recommendations for governments, police, judicial authorities, social media platforms and newsrooms, to ensure the right to information on women’s rights and gender violence is truly guaranteed.

    Read the report on rsf.org

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-6EjSBchy8

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-Evening Report: What’s the difference between fusion and fission? A nuclear physicist explains

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matthew Hole, Professor, Mathematical Sciences Institute and School of Computing, Australian National University

    Quality Stock Arts/Shutterstock

    Globally, nuclear power accounts for roughly 10% of electricity generation. In some countries, such as France, this figure is nearly 70%.

    Big tech companies such as Google are also turning to nuclear power to meet the huge power demands of their data centres.

    The source of all nuclear power is the binding energy of an atom. The energy stored in an atom can be released in two main ways: fission or fusion. Fission involves splitting big heavy atoms into smaller, lighter ones. Fusion involves combining little atoms together into bigger ones.

    Both processes release a lot of energy. For example, one nuclear fission decay of U235, an isotope of uranium typically used as the fuel in most power plants, produces more than 6 million times the energy per single chemical reaction of the purest coal. This means they are great processes for generating power.

    What is fission?

    Fission is the process behind every nuclear power plant in operation today. It occurs when a tiny subatomic particle called a neutron is slammed into an uranium atom, splitting it. This releases more neutrons, which continue colliding with other atoms, setting off a nuclear chain reaction. This in turn releases a tremendous amount of energy.

    To convert this energy to electricity a heat exchanger is installed, which turns water to steam, driving a turbine to produce power.

    The fission reaction can be controlled by suppressing the supply of neutrons. This is achieved by inserting “control rods” which soak up neutrons. Historically, nuclear accidents such as Chernobyl have occurred when the control rods fail to engage and quench the neutron supply, and/or coolant circulation fails.

    So called “third generation” designs improve on early designs by incorporating passive or inherent safety features which require no active controls or human intervention to avoid accidents in the event of malfunction. These features may rely on pressure differentials, gravity, natural convection, or the natural response of materials to high temperatures.

    The first third generation reactors were the Kashiwazaki 6 and 7 advanced boiling water reactors in Japan.

    The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Station in Japan.
    Tokyo Electric Power Co, CC BY-SA

    An unresolved challenge for fission is that the byproducts of the reaction are radioactive for a long time, in the order of thousands of years. If reprocessed, the fuel source and waste can also be used to make a nuclear weapon.

    Fission power is a demonstrated technology. It is also scalable from large scale (the largest is the 7.97 gigawatt Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant in Japan) through to small-to-medium reactors that produce around 150 megawatts of electricity, as used on a ship or nuclear submarine. These are the reactors that will power Australia’s eight nuclear submarines promised as part of a trilateral security partnership with the United Kingdom and the United States.

    What is fusion?

    Fusion is the process that powers the Sun and stars. It is the opposite process to fission. It occurs when atoms are fused together.

    The easiest reaction to initiate in the laboratory is the fusion of isotopes of hydrogen, deuterium and tritium. Per unit mass, the reaction produces 4 times more energy than the fission of U235.

    The fuel ion deuterium is incredibly abundant on Earth and in the universe. Tritium is radioactive with a half-life of 12 years, so is very rare on Earth. The universe is 13.8 billion years old; the only isotopes of light nuclei (hydrogen, helium and lithium) found in nature are those that are stable on those time scales.

    In a fusion power plant, tritium would be manufactured using a “lithium blanket”. This is a solid lithium wall in which fusion neutrons slow and ultimately react to form tritium.

    However, at present it’s very difficult for scientists to create a fusion reaction outside of the laboratory. That’s because it requires incredibly hot conditions to fuse: the optimal conditions are 150 million degrees Celsius.

    Fusion is the process that powers the Sun.
    SOHO (ESA & NASA)

    At these temperatures the fuel ions exist in the plasma state, where electrons and (nuclear) ions are dissociated. The byproduct of this process isn’t radioactive; rather, it’s helium, an inert gas.

    The leading technology path to demonstrate sustained fusion is called “toroidal magnetic confinement”. This is when the plasma is confined at extreme temperatures in a very large doughnut-shaped magnetic bottle.

    Unlike fission, this technology path requires continuous external heating to reach fusion conditions and a strong confining field. Terminate either and the reaction stops. The challenge is not uncontrolled meltdown, but getting the reaction to occur at all.

    A major unresolved challenge for toroidal magnetic confinement fusion, which attracts the majority of research interest, is the demonstration of a burning self-heated plasma. This is when the heating power produced by the reaction itself is primary. This is the objective of the publicly funded multi-national ITER project, the world’s largest fusion experiment, and the privately funded SPARC experiment at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

    However, the consensus of much of the scientific community is that fusion will not be commercially viable until at least 2050.

    A climate solution?

    I am often asked if nuclear power could save Earth from climate change. I have many colleagues in climate science, and indeed my late wife was a high-profile climate scientist.

    The science is clear: it is too late to stop climate change. The world needs to do everything it can to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and minimise catastrophic damage, and it needs to have done it decades ago.

    For the planet, fission is part of that global solution, together with widespread rollout and adoption of renewable sources of power such as wind and solar.

    On a longer time scale, one hopes that fusion might replace fission. The fuel supply is much larger and ubiquitously distributed, the waste problem is orders of magnitude smaller in volume and timescale, and the technology cannot be weaponised.

    Matthew Hole receives funding from the Australian government through the Australian Research Council and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), and the Simons Foundation. He is also affiliated with ANSTO, the ITER Organisation as an ITER Science Fellow, and is Chair of the Australian ITER Forum.

    – ref. What’s the difference between fusion and fission? A nuclear physicist explains – https://theconversation.com/whats-the-difference-between-fusion-and-fission-a-nuclear-physicist-explains-240438

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Labor looks set for a resounding defeat in Queensland. But the state’s elections have long thrown up surprises

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Pandanus Petter, Research Fellow School of Politics and International Relations, Australian National University

    On Saturday October 26, Queensland Premier Steven Miles’ Labor is vying for a fourth consecutive term in government, up against David Crisafulli’s Liberal National Party (LNP).

    Although Labor won the previous election in 2020 comfortably, opinion polls in the lead up to this election have consistently pointed to an LNP win.

    Recent Queensland history shows voters can produce dramatic election results, such as the 2012 wipeout of Labor, and its equally dramatic return to government in 2015. With no upper house to provide a check on government power, whoever wins will likely have a relatively free hand to enact their policy agenda.

    A continuing trend of increased early voting means many Queenslanders have already made their judgement. But what have been the big issues dominating the campaign, and what priorities will the next government be working toward?

    The usual suspects

    The big issues of concern to voters in Queensland are likely familiar to people in other states:

    • cost of living

    • housing

    • crime

    • health

    • to a lesser extent, economic management.

    However, the two main parties have different emphases and approaches.

    A campaign on crime and crises

    The LNP is focused on attacking Labor’s record. Crisafulli has largely tried to keep the party firmly on-message, highlighting what they describe as “crises” in housing, youth crime, cost of living, health and government integrity for at least the last year.

    The extent of youth crime, what causes it and what solves it are a matter of debate.

    But the LNP has been keen to present themselves as proposing tougher solutions than their opponents. They’ve made promises to change youth sentencing laws to deter offenders under the slogan “adult crime, adult time”.

    They’ve also promised to provide “tough love” to at-risk youth with mandatory re-training camps.

    On other issues, they’ve been promising more efficient health services, incentives to home ownership and greater government transparency.

    However, they’ve been careful to try to avoid more controversial issues and present a “small target” on economic management. Interestingly, the LNP has largely confirmed they’ll adopt many of Labor’s budgetary priorities on cost of living relief.

    Despite this, a last minute emphasis on the possible reversal of legislation decriminalising abortion and voluntary assisted dying has threatened to derail their careful messaging.

    Reverting to old ways, the LNP is backing an “indefinite” commitment to coal fired power plants and dumping a controversial proposed hydroelectric dam.

    Crisafulli has walked back earlier support for Treaty with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

    If they win government, the LNP would also likely shut down the freshly minted Truth Telling and Healing Inquiry, claiming they will focus on “practical” help for Indigenous communities instead.

    They’re also promising electoral reform with a longstanding commitment to remove “corrupt” compulsory preferential voting and the reversal of laws that banned property developer donations.

    Progressive balancing act

    Steven Miles took over from Annastacia Palaszczuk as Labor leader and premier less than a year ago.

    Labor has also been focused on using incumbency to address key issues, while trying to stake out a position as a force for progressive change.

    They have warned of the potential “hidden” dangers of the LNP, pointing to unpopular cuts to the civil service last time the LNP governed.

    On cost of living, they’ve given direct relief to households, with 50 cent fares for public transport, $1000 household energy rebates and promised free lunches for public school students.

    They have been keen to say this is a dividend from increased royalties charged to coal mining companies.

    On housing, they have continued their focus on addressing the undersupply of social and affordable housing alongside modest reforms to renters’ rights (although ruling out any caps on prices).

    They’re promising a new era of state intervention to improve competition in petrol and energy retail.

    On crime, Labor has followed the LNP’s lead in some matters, such as investing in extra police resources. They’ve also controversially ignored the Human Rights Act to keep youth imprisoned while emphasising diversion over punishment.

    Of more comfort to progressive voters, they have positioned themselves as firmly committed to keeping their abortion and voluntary assisted dying legislation intact. Labor will also continue the transition to renewable energy.

    Disenchantment with the major parties

    Despite their efforts, or perhaps because of Crisafulli’s disciplined messaging, it doesn’t look as if voters have been swayed to keep the government. There’s a clear mood for change.

    However, it should be noted this isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement of Crisafulli or the LNP’s whole agenda, as opinion polls show neither is particularly popular.

    After trailing for most of the campaign, Miles is still behind, but has made up a lot of ground in the past week.

    Whoever wins, they will have to govern in an era when more people are disenchanted with the mainstream parties.

    Among those vying to hold or increase their crossbench seats in regional Queensland are the socially conservative Katter’s Australian Party, as well as some popular local mayors running as independents.

    Meanwhile, the Greens are pushing to claim more Brisbane seats.

    The minor parties are campaigning hard on persistent problems in housing, cost of living, health and crime. These are all hard to solve quickly and not necessarily helped by rushed responses.

    The next parliament will have to find a way to represent a state divided in public opinion between those in the city and those in regional areas across all of the key issues.

    Pandanus Petter receives funding from the Australian Research Council to study public opinion polling, democratic responsiveness and the idea of ‘the Fair Go’ in public policy.

    – ref. Labor looks set for a resounding defeat in Queensland. But the state’s elections have long thrown up surprises – https://theconversation.com/labor-looks-set-for-a-resounding-defeat-in-queensland-but-the-states-elections-have-long-thrown-up-surprises-241774

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Are cats good for our health?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Susan Hazel, Associate Professor, School of Animal and Veterinary Science, University of Adelaide

    Yerlin Matu/Unsplash

    Cats have lived with humans for thousands of years. And long before cat memes and viral TikToks took over the internet, they’ve been comforting us with their purrs and making us laugh with their weird antics.

    But what does the research say – are cats good for us?

    Living with a cat can have a profound – and sometimes surprising – effect on our physical and mental health. Still, living with cats is not without risks.

    Part of the family

    You may have heard cats don’t have owners, they have “staff”. In fact, multiple studies show the humans who live with them feel more like beloved relatives.

    In a study of 1,800 Dutch cat owners, half said their cat was family. One in three viewed their cat as a child or best friend and found them loyal, supportive and empathetic.

    Another US study developed a “family bondedness” scale and found cats were just as important a part of families as dogs.



    Read more:
    Is owning a dog good for your health?

    Many cats would choose human interaction over food or toys. And they can distinguish when we are talking to them (rather than another human).

    In fact we’ve adapted to each other. Cats are more likely to approach human strangers who first give a “kitty kiss” – narrowing your eyes and blinking slowly. And research suggests cats have developed specific meows that tune into our nurturing instincts.

    What does this close relationship mean for health outcomes?

    Cats slow blink when they’re feeling relaxed.
    beton studio/Shutterstock

    A sense of purpose

    Owning a pet is associated with less social isolation. And some cat owners say “providing for the cat” increases their feelings of enjoyment and sense of purpose.

    But the benefits of the relationship may depend on how you relate to your cat.

    One study looked at different relationship styles between humans and cats, including “remote”, “casual” and “co-dependent”. It found people whose relationship with their cat was co-dependent or like a friend had a higher emotional connection to their pet.

    Links to heart health

    People who own – or have owned – a cat have a lower risk of dying from cardiovascular diseases such as stroke or heart disease. This result has been repeated in several studies.

    However a problem interpreting population studies is they only tell us about an association. This means while people with cats have lower risk of dying from cardiovascular diseases, we can’t say for sure cats are the cause.

    People who own a cat – or have in the past – are at lower risk of stroke and heart disease.
    Ruth McHugh-Dillon, CC BY-NC

    Cat ownership has also been associated with some positive changes in the gut microbiota, especially in women, such as improved blood glucose control and reduced inflammation.

    Helping mental health

    Having cat or dog is also associated with higher psychological well-being. For people with depression, patting or playing with their cat has been shown to reduce symptoms (although this was over a short, two-hour period and can’t be extrapolated longer-term).

    Another way to find out about the health impact of cats is qualitative research: asking people what their cats mean to them, beyond the numbers.

    When colleagues and I surveyed veterans, we found people more attached to their pets actually had poorer mental health scores. But their survey responses told a different story. One respondent said, “my cats are the reason I get up in the morning”.

    Another wrote:

    I consider my pet to be a service animal. My cat helps me to relax when I’m dealing with my anxiety, depression or when I wake during the night from the frequent nightmares I have. My cat isn’t just a pet to me, my cat is a part of me, my cat is part of my family.

    It may be that veterans were more attached to their cats because they had worse mental health – and relied on their cats more for comfort – rather than the other way around.

    Mental health downsides

    It is possible being attached to your cat has downsides. If your cat becomes sick, the burden of caring for them may have a negative impact on your mental health.

    In our study of owners whose cats had epilepsy, around one third experienced a clinical level of burden as caregivers that was likely to interfere with their day-to-day functioning.

    People with depression report reduced symptoms after playing with their cat.
    Artacke Pictures/Shutterstock

    Toxoplasmosis

    Cats can also carry zoonotic diseases, which are infections which spread from animals to humans.

    They are the main host for toxoplasmosis, a parasite excreted in cat faeces which can affect other mammals, including humans. The parasite is more likely to be carried by feral cats that hunt for their food than domestic cats.

    Most people have mild symptoms that may be similar to flu. But infection during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage or stillbirth, or cause problems for the baby including blindness and seizures.

    Pregnant women and people with lowered immunity are most at risk. It is recommended these groups don’t empty cat litter trays, or use gloves if they have to. Changing the litter tray daily prevents the parasite reaching a stage that could infect people.

    Allergies

    Up to one in five people have an allergy to cats and this is increasing.

    When cats lick their fur, their saliva deposits an allergen. When their fur and dander (flakes of skin) come loose, it can set off an allergic reaction.

    People without severe allergies can still live with cats if they regularly wash their hands, clean surfaces and vacuum to eliminate dander. They can also exclude cats from areas they want to be allergen-free, such as bedrooms.

    People with allergies can live with cats if their symptoms aren’t severe.
    Ruth McHugh-Dillon, CC BY-NC

    While cats can provoke allergic reactions, there is also evidence contact with cats can have a protective role in preventing asthma and allergic reactions developing. This is because exposure may modify the immune system, making it less likely allergic reactions will occur.

    Susan Hazel is affiliated with the Dog & Cat Management Board of South Australia, Animal Therapies Ltd and the RSPCA South Australia.

    – ref. Are cats good for our health? – https://theconversation.com/are-cats-good-for-our-health-238993

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: No home left behind: a postcode approach to electrification

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gill Armstrong, Researcher in architecture and urban planning, Climateworks Centre

    EndeavourEnergy

    In Australia and overseas, it’s clear that homes without gas – running on clean energy – are healthier, have cheaper power bills, and produce lower greenhouse emissions.

    The emissions part is crucial. Collectively, homes are responsible for 10% of Australia’s greenhouse emissions. But how do we get Australia’s 11 million homes to ditch gas and switch to electricity for cooking, hot water and home heating?

    The current approach is slow and piecemeal. State and local governments offer incentives to individual households, but few adopt them. For those that do, little coordinated support and guidance is available. The households must deal with suppliers and tradies on their own, which can be a frustrating and lonely process.

    A pilot project to electrify 500 homes in a single postcode south of Sydney could show a better way. After a two-year campaign by residents, “Electrify 2515” has won A$5.4 million in federal funding, along with industry support. Challenges remain, but this pilot promises to demonstrate how household electrification can be accelerated and coordinated at scale.

    As independent climate transitions specialists within Monash University, Climateworks Centre has no direct involvement in this project. But our ongoing Renovation Pathways Program focuses on ways to decarbonise Australia’s existing houses and bring about a national renovation wave. So we are watching with keen interest.

    Testing extra incentives

    The 2515 postcode sits between Wollongong and Sydney in New South Wales. It covers the suburbs of Austinmer, Clifton, Coledale, Scarborough, Thirroul and Wombarra.

    The pilot encourages households to retire three types of gas appliance: water heaters, space heaters and cookers. Financial subsidies of up to $1,000 off electric hot water systems, reverse-cycle air conditioners and induction cooktops, and up to $1,500 off home batteries, are available. Higher subsidies are available to low-income households.

    Successful applicants receive the subsidies as a discount on the purchase price of these new electrical appliances, rather than a rebate. Money for this is coming from the federal government’s Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).

    Such incentives prompt households within a single community to make the switch together, retiring their electric appliances before their gas appliances fail or break, speeding up the transition.

    A fully subsidised smart energy device, valued at around $1,500, is also installed in every home to track and optimise energy use. Subsidies are also available for upgrades to switchboards where required to meet modern safety standards.

    Rooftop solar and electric vehicle chargers can also be purchased through the pilot, but will not be subsidised.

    How it works.
    Electrify 2515

    The 2515 difference

    2515 is not the first community to rally behind clean energy. Grassroots initiatives are scattered around the country, such as in Yackandandah in northeast Victoria, Parkes in central west NSW, and Broken Hill in far west NSW.

    Home energy pilot projects are also already underway through the Cooperative Research Centre Race2030, which partners with industry and research institutions. But these initiatives, along with those at a state and local government level, tend to recruit individual households across a wider geographic area.

    In contrast, Electrify 2515 offers holistic support for households within a community. It is not driven by a single government program, or by a gas supply problem – which was the case for the people of Esperance in Western Australia.

    By electrifying 500 homes in a single community, Electrify 2515 will provide a tangible measure of what’s required to drive rapid household electrification. The main challenge isn’t technological – it’s social. The technology is here. Getting the social drivers and settings right, at scale, is the key.

    The holistic approach will demonstrate what consumers need to make the shift from gas to electricity. This includes what conversations are needed and which incentives enable all households to act in a coordinated way.

    Local 2515 residents explain why everyone should join them in applying for the Electrify 2515 Community Pilot.

    The bright side of a community approach

    The whole-of-community focus brings technical and financial advantages.

    After completing an application form and receiving an offer, households receive guidance and support from the installation partner Brighte, a commercial company that provides consumer loans for clean energy appliances such as solar panels and batteries. The service streamlines the decision-making process, which is often the biggest barrier stopping households from progressing with electrification.

    Being able to work with a larger number of homes at once is likely to streamline and scale up installation with dedicated teams of installers and tradespeople.

    It also helps build households’ trust in literature about payback times and financial benefits through friendly neighbourhood conversations and, importantly, through access to local real-world evidence, not just theory.

    Thermal efficiency is also key

    The electrification pilot is a solid starting point, especially for a community in a relatively mild coastal climate such as postcode 2515.

    For homes in more extreme climates, or for inefficient older homes – which a lot of Australia’s homes sadly are – the fundamental thermal efficiency of the building must be improved alongside electrification of appliances.

    The thermal efficiency of homes can be improved by insulating ceilings, walls and floors, double-glazing windows and sealing gaps. These measures make a home more comfortable for occupants. They can also reduce peak demand on the energy network and save on household energy bills.

    Electrify 2515 currently focuses on appliance upgrades but adding thermal efficiency upgrades could take it to the next level. Without these upgrades, there is a risk of households in harsher climates using more electricity in a heatwave if homes are draughty and inefficient.

    There are various ways to upgrade a home’s capacity to stay cool in summer and warm in winter.
    Climateworks Centre, 2023, Climate-ready homes: Building the case for a renovation wave in Australia.

    When paired with electrification, thermal upgrades could save Australian households around $2,200 annually on their energy bills (based on 2023 gas and electricity prices), according to Climateworks Centre analysis.

    Projects like Electrify 2515 should include both home thermal efficiency improvements and electrification efforts, particularly for communities in harsher climates in order to maximise benefits to households.

    Electrification challenges

    Electrify 2515 caters for low-income households, by offering higher subsidies to households in the lowest 25% income percentile to ensure these groups comprise 25% of community buy-in.

    Renters are encouraged to put their hand up too. But it may still be challenging to encourage their landlords to invest in upgrades.

    Further challenges include decarbonising homes that cannot generate electricity from rooftop solar panels due to being shaded by taller buildings or trees. This can sometimes be an issue for homes in colder winter climates with higher annual energy demands, such as Victoria, Tasmania and the ACT.

    Building momentum for widescale rollout

    The technology for all-electric homes exists. Now we must identify the key social drivers and settings required to spur Australia’s electrification wave.

    Electrify 2515 is a promising approach. It’s a way to build momentum, showcase technology at scale, and prompt meaningful discussions around the benefits and challenges of getting off gas.

    This program, and others like it, can provide a tangible real-world foundation to bring about bills savings, emissions reductions and healthier homes across Australia. And it will help ensure no one is left behind.

    Climateworks Centre is a part of Monash University. It receives funding from a range of external sources including philanthropy, governments and businesses.

    – ref. No home left behind: a postcode approach to electrification – https://theconversation.com/no-home-left-behind-a-postcode-approach-to-electrification-241471

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Rebuilding homes after a disaster is an opportunity to build back better – why isn’t the insurance industry on board?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Antonia Settle, Lecturer, Monash University

    For many Australians, 2022 was a dark and devastating year. Major floods wreaked havoc on hundreds of communities in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. But for some, the floods themselves were only half the disaster.

    As a recent report by Financial Counselling Victoria showed, many affected households had their insurance claims rejected or diminished, whether due to complicated exclusion clauses or because their “sum insured” had been whittled away by unexpected costs.

    A long parliamentary inquiry sought to examine the insurance industry’s response to this disaster. Its final report – released to little fanfare last Friday – revealed a sector in crisis.

    The report put forward 86 recommendations, which taken together could deliver real progress in pushing the insurance sector to deliver on its promises.

    Some standout areas of focus included abolishing a principle called “like-for-like reinstatement” and increasing accountability and oversight. Making sure households can rely on their own coverage is a vital step.

    But the report also highlighted just how vulnerable Australia’s housing stock is to climate change, which is no easy problem to solve.



    Read more:
    How extreme weather and costs of housing and insurance trap some households in a vicious cycle

    Forced to repeat the same mistakes

    To address the challenge of rising climate risk, we need to increase the resilience of Australian homes. Insurance will only be affordable if risk exposure can be brought down.

    Recommendation 26 of the inquiry’s final report deals with the principle of “like-for-like reinstatement”. Written into many policies, this protects insurers from having to pay for home improvements in an insurance claim – known as “betterment” in insurance jargon.

    ‘Like-for-like’ rules can prevent households from improving their disaster resilience when rebuilding.
    Anna Mente/Shutterstock

    The underlying idea is to stop households sneaking an extra en-suite bathroom into their insurer-funded rebuild. The same dimensions and building materials have to be used.

    But this can mean a home that has been flooded ends up being rebuilt with exactly the same flood risk.

    This was the experience of Madeleine Serle, whose home was flooded in Melbourne in 2022. She told me she had asked her insurer to rebuild using polished concrete floors in the downstairs rooms of her home, instead of the plasterboard and wood that had soaked up the floodwaters. Serle reasoned that if it flooded again, it wouldn’t cause so much damage.

    Her insurer refused. Even when Serle offered to pay any extra costs herself that might arise from concrete flooring, her insurer insisted on a “like-for-like reinstatement”. This meant using the same low-resilience materials that will likely be destroyed if inundated again by floodwater.

    Bringing ‘betterment’ to the fore

    Serle was actively trying to reduce her future flood risk, but this was precluded by the terms of her insurance contract.

    By seeking an end to like-for-like reinstatement, recommendation 26 is pushing for “betterment” to be brought to the forefront of how we think about insurer rebuilds.

    It proposes allowing households to swap out size for quality in an insurer rebuild. That could allow them to use the money saved from reducing the footprint of their home on resilience measures, which are often much more expensive.

    This wouldn’t just reduce their exposure to climate risks – fire, flooding and so on. It could also improve the energy efficiency of our houses, which is another key part of the climate challenge in Australia.

    Standardised products

    Many of the report’s other recommendations centred on the better handling of claims and better outcomes for households.

    This includes by strengthening accountability through stronger regulatory oversight (recommendations 2, 4, 9, 41, 47, 49), tightening up some key loopholes (recommendations 3, 10, 13), and penalising insurers for delays in the resolution of claims (recommendations 19 and 57).

    It also laid out ways to improve communications between insurers and households (recommendations 6, 10, 24, 25, 28, 33), so people can better understand what they should expect from their insurer – and when their insurer might be falling short.

    These proposed reforms aim to create more standardised insurance products across the industry. But they could have gone further. The report didn’t go as far as recommending a fully standardised insurance product that all insurers would have to offer.

    Making insurance products more standardised could make them easier to compare.
    DC Studio/Shutterstock

    As the Financial Rights Legal Centre has argued, standardisation is vital to untangling the “confusopoly” that leaves households unable to make informed decisions about the merits of different policies on the market without reading reams of product disclosure statements.

    Reform alone isn’t enough

    The inquiry’s final report recommends the government buy back some of the riskiest homes (recommendation 81), alongside much stronger government support for households looking to mitigate their own risks.

    But insurance reform alone isn’t enough to solve the problem that Australian households face in securing their housing amid worsening climate risk.

    The bigger overarching problem faced by Australia is one of climate change mitigation and adaption. While our country is exposed to relatively high levels of climate risk, much of this risk is borne by individuals through home ownership.

    With nearly half of all renter retirees living in poverty, Australians know owning their own home is a powerful way to secure their economic future. That’s why home ownership is referred to as part of the “third pillar” of the retirement income system (voluntary private savings), along with superannuation and the public pension.

    Reforming our insurance system can make important strides in providing households with better tools to manage climate risk.

    Only with stronger safety nets, and by grappling with risks at the societal level, can we counteract the extreme individualisation of climate risk that we experience here in Australia.



    Read more:
    Some New Zealand homes are becoming uninsurable because of natural disasters – but all may not be lost

    Antonia Settle 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. Rebuilding homes after a disaster is an opportunity to build back better – why isn’t the insurance industry on board? – https://theconversation.com/rebuilding-homes-after-a-disaster-is-an-opportunity-to-build-back-better-why-isnt-the-insurance-industry-on-board-241576

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: CRTC adds Uvagut TV to basic TV package in Canada

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Today, the CRTC approved the addition of Uvagut TV, a channel offered by the Nunavut Independent Television Network, to the basic TV package in Canada.

    October 22, 2024—Ottawa–Gatineau—Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)

    Today, the CRTC approved the addition of Uvagut TV, a channel offered by the Nunavut Independent Television Network, to the basic TV package in Canada.

    Uvagut TV primarily offers programming in Inuktut, which will provide Inuit communities, who previously lacked access, with culturally relevant content. This addition also enriches the diversity of programming available to all Canadians.

    The CRTC received more than 5,000 comments from the public in support of the addition of an Inuit television service to the basic TV package.

    Importantly, Uvagut TV will be included in the basic TV package without increasing its maximum monthly cost of $25.

    Associated links

    General Inquiries
    Telephone: 819-997-0313
    Toll free: 1-877-249-CRTC (2782)
    TTY: 819-994-0423

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI: AvePoint to Announce Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results on November 7

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    JERSEY CITY, N.J., Oct. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AvePoint (NASDAQ: AVPT), the global leader in robust data management and data governance, will report its third quarter 2024 financial results after the US financial markets close on Thursday, November 7, 2024.

    The company will host a conference call at 4:30pm ET on Thursday, November 7, 2024. CEO and Co-Founder Dr. Tianyi Jiang (TJ) and CFO Jim Caci will provide an overview of these results, discuss current business trends, and conduct a question-and-answer session. You may access the call and register with a live operator by dialing 1-833-816-1428 for US participants and 1-412-317-0520 for those outside the US. The passcode for the call is 7094823.

    A live webcast will be available in the Investor Relations section of AvePoint’s website at: https://ir.avepoint.com/events. A replay of the webcast will be available for approximately 90 calendar days.

    About AvePoint

    Securing the Future. AvePoint is a global leader in data management and data governance, and over 21,000 customers worldwide rely on our solutions to modernize the digital workplace across Microsoft, Google, Salesforce and other collaboration environments. AvePoint’s global channel partner program includes over 3,500 managed service providers, value added resellers and systems integrators, with our solutions available in more than 100 cloud marketplaces. To learn more, visit http://www.avepoint.com.

    Disclosure Information

    AvePoint uses the https://ir.avepoint.com/ website as a means of disclosing material non-public information and for complying with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws including statements regarding the future performance of and market opportunities for AvePoint. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “strategy,” “future,” “opportunity,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release, including but not limited to: changes in the competitive and regulated industries in which AvePoint operates, variations in operating performance across competitors, changes in laws and regulations affecting AvePoint’s business and changes in AvePoint’s ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and ability to identify and realize additional opportunities, and the risk of downturns in the market and the technology industry. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the “Risk Factors” section of AvePoint’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and its registration statement on Form S-3 and related prospectus and prospectus supplements filed with the SEC. Copies of these and other documents filed by AvePoint from time to time are available on the SEC’s website, http://www.sec.gov. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and AvePoint does not assume any obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements after the date of this release, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law. AvePoint does not give any assurance that it will achieve its expectations.

    Investor Contact
    AvePoint
    Jamie Arestia
    ir@avepoint.com
    (551) 220-5654

    Media Contact
    AvePoint
    Nicole Caci
    pr@avepoint.com
    (201) 201-8143

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Vicor Corporation Reports Results for the Third Quarter Ended September 30, 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ANDOVER, Mass., Oct. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Vicor Corporation (NASDAQ: VICR) today reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024. These results will be discussed later today at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, during management’s quarterly investor conference call. The details for the call are below.

    Revenues for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024 totaled $93.2 million, a 13.6% decrease from $107.8 million for the corresponding period a year ago, and an 8.5% sequential increase from $85.9 million in the second quarter of 2024.

    Gross margin decreased to $45.7 million for the third quarter of 2024, compared to $55.9 million for the corresponding period a year ago but increased from $42.8 million for the second quarter of 2024. Gross margin, as a percentage of revenue, decreased to 49.1% for the third quarter of 2024, compared to 51.8% for the corresponding period a year ago and 49.8% for the second quarter of 2024. Operating expenses increased to $40.4 million for the third quarter of 2024, compared to $40.2 million for the corresponding period a year ago, and decreased sequentially from $42.6 million for the second quarter of 2024.

    Net income for the third quarter was $11.6 million, or $0.26 per diluted share, compared to net income of $16.6 million or $0.37 per diluted share, for the corresponding period a year ago and net loss of $(1.2) million, or $(0.03) per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2024.

    Cash flow from operations totaled $22.6 million for the third quarter, compared to cash flow from operations of $23.8 million for the corresponding period a year ago, and cash flow from operations of $15.6 million in the second quarter of 2024. Capital expenditures for the third quarter totaled $8.4 million, compared to $7.7 million for the corresponding period a year ago and $6.1 million for the second quarter of 2024. Cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2024 increased 6.2% sequentially to approximately $267.6 million compared to approximately $251.9 million as of June 30, 2024.

    Backlog for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024 totaled $150.6 million, a 13.8% decrease from $174.7 million for the corresponding period a year ago, and 2.1% sequential decrease from $153.8 million at the end of the second quarter of 2024.

    Commenting on third quarter performance, Chief Executive Officer Dr. Patrizio Vinciarelli stated: “Revenues and cash flow improved in Q3 while gross margins were impacted primarily by product mix. We are close to initial deliveries of 2nd generation, high density VPD systems for leading AI applications with current multipliers achieving superior density, bandwidth and signal integrity. Vicor’s VPD will enable AI processors setting new standards for compute performance and power system efficiency.”

    “We are off to a good start asserting our Intellectual Property against unscrupulous actors playing a game of “catch me if you can”. As indicated in a recent Initial Determination from the International Trade Commission (“ITC”), contract manufacturers may be precluded from importing computing systems using infringing modules. Redesigned modules, or discrete alternatives, may still infringe and OEMs condoning infringement are taking chances with their supply chain. Leaders in Artificial Intelligence licensing Vicor IP are wisely securing a resilient supply chain of enabling power system solutions.”

    For more information on Vicor and its products, please visit the Company’s website at http://www.vicorpower.com.

    Earnings Conference Call

    Vicor will be holding its investor conference call today, Tuesday, October 22, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Vicor encourages investors and analysts who intend to ask questions via the conference call to register with Notified, the service provider hosting the conference call. Those registering on Notified’s website will receive dial-in info and a unique PIN to join the call as well as an email confirmation with the details. Registration may be completed at any time prior to 5:00 p.m. on October 22, 2024. For those parties interested in listen-only mode, the conference call will be webcast via a link that will be posted on the Investor Relations page of Vicor’s website prior to the conference call. Please access the website at least 15 minutes prior to the conference call to register and, if necessary, download and install any required software. For those who cannot participate in the live conference call, a webcast replay of the conference call will also be available on the Investor Relations page of Vicor’s website.

    This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Any statement in this press release that is not a statement of historical fact is a forward-looking statement, and, the words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “estimates,” “plans,” “assumes,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “continue,” “prospective,” “project,” and other similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements also include statements regarding bookings, shipments, revenue, profitability, targeted markets, increase in manufacturing capacity and utilization thereof, future products and capital resources. These statements are based upon management’s current expectations and estimates as to the prospective events and circumstances that may or may not be within the company’s control and as to which there can be no assurance. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those economic, business, operational and financial considerations set forth in Vicor’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, under Part I, Item I — “Business,” under Part I, Item 1A — “Risk Factors,” under Part I, Item 3 — “Legal Proceedings,” and under Part II, Item 7 — “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” The risk factors set forth in the Annual Report on Form 10-K may not be exhaustive. Therefore, the information contained in the Annual Report on Form 10-K should be read together with other reports and documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, including Forms 10-Q, 8-K and 10-K, which may supplement, modify, supersede or update those risk factors. Vicor does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of future events or developments.

    Vicor Corporation designs, develops, manufactures, and markets modular power components and complete power systems based upon a portfolio of patented technologies. Headquartered in Andover, Massachusetts, Vicor sells its products to the power systems market, including enterprise and high performance computing, industrial equipment and automation, telecommunications and network infrastructure, vehicles and transportation, and aerospace and defense electronics.

    For further information contact:

    James F. Schmidt, Chief Financial Officer
    Office: (978) 470-2900
    Email: invrel@vicorpower.com

                   
    VICOR CORPORATION
                   
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS      
    (Thousands except for per share amounts)
                   
      QUARTER ENDED   YEAR ENDED
      (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)
                   
      SEPT 30,   SEPT 30,   SEPT 30,   SEPT 30,
      2024   2023
    		   2024   2023
                   
                   
    Net revenues $93,166     $107,844     $262,892     $312,407  
    Cost of revenues   47,422       51,966       129,254       154,822  
    Gross margin   45,744       55,878       133,638       157,585  
                   
    Operating expenses:              
    Selling, general and administrative   23,398       22,422       72,715       63,020  
    Research and development   16,960       17,752       51,938       50,556  
    Litigation-contingency expense   –       –       19,500       –  
    Total operating expenses   40,358       40,174       144,153       113,576  
                   
    Income (loss) from operations   5,386       15,704       (10,515 )     44,009  
                   
    Other income (expense), net   3,713       1,917       9,244       5,643  
                   
    Income (loss) before income taxes   9,099       17,621       (1,271 )     49,652  
                   
    Less: (Benefit) provision for income taxes   (2,455 )     1,038       2,832       4,716  
                   
    Consolidated net income (loss)   11,554       16,583       (4,103 )     44,936  
                   
    Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest   2       1       14       9  
                   
    Net income (loss) attributable to Vicor Corporation $11,552     $16,582     ($4,117 )   $44,927  
                   
                   
    Net income (loss) per share attributable to Vicor Corporation:              
    Basic $0.26     $0.37     ($0.09 )   $1.01  
    Diluted $0.26     $0.37     ($0.09 )   $1.00  
                   
    Shares outstanding:              
    Basic   45,117       44,433       44,829       44,275  
    Diluted   45,174       45,187       44,829       45,000  
                   
    VICOR CORPORATION
           
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
    (Thousands)
           
      SEPT 30,   DEC 31,
      2024   2023
      (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)
    Assets      
           
    Current assets:      
    Cash and cash equivalents $ 267,605     $ 242,219  
    Accounts receivable, net   58,525       52,631  
    Inventories   105,761       106,579  
    Other current assets   18,933       18,937  
    Total current assets   450,824       420,366  
           
    Long-term deferred tax assets   288       296  
    Long-term investment, net   2,640       2,530  
    Property, plant and equipment, net   158,779       157,689  
    Other assets   20,231       14,006  
           
    Total assets $ 632,762     $ 594,887  
           
    Liabilities and Equity      
           
    Current liabilities:      
    Accounts payable $ 15,724     $ 12,100  
    Accrued compensation and benefits   12,449       11,227  
    Accrued expenses   6,429       5,093  
    Accrued litigation   26,550       6,500  
    Sales allowances   2,640       3,482  
    Short-term lease liabilities   1,739       1,864  
    Income taxes payable   642       746  
    Short-term deferred revenue and customer prepayments   4,198       3,157  
           
    Total current liabilities   70,371       44,169  
           
    Long-term deferred revenue   –       1,020  
    Long-term income taxes payable   1,916       2,228  
    Long-term lease liabilities   5,605       6,364  
    Total liabilities   77,892       53,781  
           
    Equity:      
    Vicor Corporation stockholders’ equity:      
    Capital stock   402,687       384,395  
    Retained earnings   292,557       296,674  
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (1,198 )     (1,273 ) 
    Treasury stock   (139,424 )      (138,927 ) 
    Total Vicor Corporation stockholders’ equity   554,622       540,869  
    Noncontrolling interest   248       237  
    Total equity   554,870       541,106  
           
    Total liabilities and equity $ 632,762     $ 594,887  
           

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Baker Hughes Declares Quarterly Dividend

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HOUSTON and LONDON, Oct. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Baker Hughes (NASDAQ: BKR) announced today that the Baker Hughes Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.21 per share of Class A common stock payable on Nov. 14, 2024, to holders of record on Nov. 4, 2024.

    In line with our stated goal to responsibly grow the dividend over time, the dividend reflects a 5% increase, or $0.01, compared to the same quarter last year.

    Baker Hughes expects to fund its quarterly cash dividend from cash generated from operations.

    About Baker Hughes:
    Baker Hughes (NASDAQ: BKR) is an energy technology company that provides solutions to energy and industrial customers worldwide. Built on a century of experience and conducting business in over 120 countries, our innovative technologies and services are taking energy forward – making it safer, cleaner and more efficient for people and the planet. Visit us at bakerhughes.com.

    For more information, please contact:

    Investor Relations

    Chase Mulvehill
    +1 346-297-2561
    investor.relations@bakerhughes.com

    Media Relations

    Adrienne M. Lynch
    +1 713-906-8407
    adrienne.lynch@bakerhughes.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Eos Energy Enterprises Announces Date for Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    EDISON, N.J., Oct. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Eos Energy Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ: EOSE) (“Eos” or the “Company”), a leading provider of safe, scalable, efficient, and sustainable zinc-based long duration energy storage systems, today announced it will release its third quarter 2024 financial results after the U.S. market closes on November 5, 2024. A conference call to discuss its results will take place the following morning on November 6 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time.

    Registration Information

    A live webcast of the earnings call will be available on the “Investor Relations” page of the Company’s website at https://investors.eose.com or may be accessed using this link (registration link). To avoid delays, we encourage participants to join the conference call fifteen minutes ahead of the scheduled start time.

    The conference call replay will be available via webcast through Eos’ investor relations website for twelve months following the live presentation. The webcast replay will be available from 11:30 a.m. ET on November 6, 2024, and can be accessed by visiting https://investors.eose.com/events-and-presentations.

    About Eos Energy Enterprises

    Eos Energy Enterprises, Inc. is accelerating the shift to clean energy with positively ingenious solutions that transform how the world stores power. Our breakthrough Znyth™ aqueous zinc battery was designed to overcome the limitations of conventional lithium-ion technology. It is safe, scalable, efficient, sustainable, manufactured in the U.S., and the core of our innovative systems that today provides utility, industrial, and commercial customers with a proven, reliable energy storage alternative for 3 to 12-hour applications. Eos was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in Edison, New Jersey. For more information about Eos (NASDAQ: EOSE), visit eose.com.

    Contacts        
    Investors:            ir@eose.com
    Media:                 media@eose.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Winston-Salem Man Sentenced to 17.5 Years for Trafficking Methamphetamine and Cocaine

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

    ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. – Maximino Sandoval Penaloza, a 44-year-old resident of Winston-Salem, has been sentenced to 210 months in prison for the distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine in the Wilmington area.  Penaloza pled guilty on March 7, 2023.

    According to the court documents and other information presented in court, in 2020 law enforcement investigated drug trafficking activities occurring in the Winston-Salem and Wilmington areas of North Carolina.  Ultimately, law enforcement learned that a drug trafficking organization was distributing large quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine in various communities in the Eastern District of North Carolina.  Penaloza was identified as a member of this organization.

    From approximately December 7, 2020, through December 16, 2020, Penaloza communicated with an undercover law enforcement agent regarding the purchase of methamphetamine.  On December 16, 2020, Penaloza directed a courier to meet with the undercover law enforcement agent to deliver 191.66 grams of methamphetamine.  During additional conversations with the undercover agent, in March of 2021 Penaloza admitted having one kilogram of cocaine for sale.  Later, in September of 2021 the undercover agent purchased 519.1 grams of methamphetamine arranged by Penaloza and delivered by a courier.

    The investigation further uncovered that Penaloza, is illegally present in the United States, has three prior felony convictions for trafficking cocaine and possessing with the intent to distribute cocaine, resisting a law enforcement officer, and has been previously deported from the United States and returned to Mexico on at least two occasions.

    The prosecution of Penaloza was a part of an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force Operation (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launders, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.   

    Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by Judge Terrence W. Boyle. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer C. Nucci and Julie Childress prosecuted the case.

    A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for case number 5:22-CR-00104-BO.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Three ordered to prison for trafficking $29M in meth

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

    McALLEN, Texas – Three Houston-area residents have been sent to prison following their convictions of possessing with intent to distribute 777 kilograms of meth, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

    Eduardo Figueroa Jr., 29, Cleveland, and Cynara Lucia Sarmiento, 26, Conroe, pleaded guilty March 22, 2023. Marlon Deon Martin, 31, Conroe, pleaded guilty March 21, 2023.

    U.S. District Chief Judge Randy Crane has now ordered Figueroa, Sarmiento and Martin to serve 144, 60 and 37 months in federal prison, respectively. All three must also serve three years of supervised release following their sentences. In handing down the prison terms, Chief Judge Crane informed Figueroa that he would end up with the biggest sentence as he was the organizer of this offense. During his statement at sentencing, Figueroa took responsibility for getting his co-conspirators involved and stated that he was in charge. Chief Judge Crane noted that he handed down lighter sentences as the co-conspirators were young and foolish with little to no criminal history who he wanted to help get back on the right path.  

    At the time of his plea, Figueroa admitted he hired Sarmiento as his personal assistant and tasked her with leasing warehouse space and forming Hive Logistics, a business warehouse located in Houston. Figueroa recruited Martin to help unload the narcotics.

    On May 12, 2021, authorities executed a search at the location and discovered 777 kilograms of meth, 10 kilograms of cocaine, ledgers, two pistols and five magazines. The meth was located inside metal barrels marked as mango puree.

    In furtherance of his plea, Figueroa admitted the meth was part of a larger shipment he had received, of which approximately 800 kilograms had already been delivered to several individuals. Sarmiento also admitted to creating a ledger for the drugs and delivering them on at least one occasion with Figueroa.

    The estimated street value of the meth is $29 million.

    This case is part of an exportation and straw purchasing of firearms investigation from March 2021 where Figueroa was identified as a recruiter. He also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to straw purchase five shotguns on Nov. 22, 2021, and was sentenced to 60 months in prison to run concurrently.

    Sarmiento and Martin were permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons (BOP) facility to be determined in the near future. Figueroa will remain in custody pending transfer to a BOP facility to be determined in the near future.

    Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney M. Alexis Garcia prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Media Advisory – U.S. Attorney to Announce Charges Related to 2023 Quintuple Murder in Sampson County

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

    RALEIGH, N.C. – United States Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr., Sampson County Sheriff Jimmy Thornton, and other state and federal law enforcement partners, will hold a press conference tomorrow to announce indictments and arrests related to the October 2023 murder of five people in Clinton.

    WHERE: U.S. Attorney’s Office – 150 Fayetteville Street, Suite 2100, Raleigh, NC 27601

    WHEN: Wednesday, October 23rd at 10:30 a.m.

    Media: please arrive by 10:00 a.m. for set up.

    For logistical information in advance of the media availability, please contact Katie Holcomb at USANCE.PublicInfoOfficer@usdoj.gov. No case specific information is available until the press conference.

    MIL Security OSI –