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  • MIL-OSI USA: Hagerty, Biggs, Colleagues Call Out DOJ for Refusing to Provide Answers on Prosecutions of Illegal Aliens Registering to Vote

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Tennessee Bill Hagerty
    Garland’s DOJ did not respond to initial letter demanding answers on prosecutions, as evidence of thousands of cases of illegal aliens registering to vote have emerged
    NASHVILLE, TN—United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), a member of the Senate Rules Committee, and Representative Andy Biggs (R-AZ-05) today led their colleagues in calling out U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland on the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) failure to prevent illegal aliens from registering to vote in American elections or prosecute those who evidently have done so.
    “We are deeply concerned by reports of non-citizens registering to vote and voting in federal elections,” the Members of Congress wrote. “As of today, there has been no response from you or your Department regarding the inquiry on July 12, 2024, seeking information on efforts undertaken by your Department to enforce laws prohibiting non-citizen voting.  Given that the 2024 Presidential Election is in less than 34 days, your Department’s inaction and refusal to provide any information regarding its efforts to promote public trust and confidence in our elections is especially alarming.”
    State officials across the country have recently taken steps to prevent, deter, and investigate cases of illegal voter registration by non-citizens, including in South Carolina, Georgia, Ohio, and Tennessee. Since the Members of Congress sent their initial letter, cases have emerged in the states of Virginia and Texas.
    “Clearly, there is a non-negligible amount of voter participation by non-citizens in federal elections, which is not only a serious threat to the integrity of our elections and the democratic process they represent, but also has the potential to reduce Americans’ trust and confidence in election results,” the Members of Congress continued.
    The members of Congress, once again, requested the following information by October 16, 2024:
    1.     Please provide the number of aliens who have been charged, tried, or convicted under 18 U.S.C. § 611 since January 20, 2021, including the status of each case.
    2.     Please provide the number of aliens who been charged, tried, or convicted under 52 U.S.C. § 20511 since January 20, 2021, including the status of each case.
    3.     Please provide the number of aliens who have been prosecuted under 18 U.S.C. § 911 since 2021, including the status of each case.
    4.     Please provide the number of referrals received from other government officials or the public in reference to the statutes cited in questions 1 through 3.
    5.     How does the Department of Justice investigate allegations received of non-citizen voting or voter registration?
    6.     What affirmative steps have the Department of Justice taken to detect, prevent, and deter illegal aliens and other non-citizens from registering and voting in federal elections?
    7.     What affirmative steps have the Department taken to obtain relevant information from the Department of Homeland Security on aliens who have registered or voted in elections?
    8.     What steps have been taken by U.S. Attorneys and the Public Integrity Section of the Criminal Division, which is responsible forprosecuting election crimes and assisting U.S. Attorneys in prosecuting election crimes, to obtain jury-related information that indicates aliens have unlawfully registered to vote?
    9.     As the 2024 election nears, what steps will the Department take to detect, investigate, and prosecute non-citizens who violate 18 U.S.C.§ 911, 52 U.S.C. § 20511, or 18 U.S.C. § 611 by voting or registering to vote in the 2024 election?
    10.  What steps have the Department taken to contact Virginia and Texas election officials to obtain information and the voter registration and voter history files on each of the aliens removed from the voter rolls who were unlawfully registered and voting in those states?
    Co-signers of the letter include Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Rick Scott (R-FL), James Lankford (R-OK), Jim Risch (R-ID), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Steve Daines (R-MT), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Tim Scott (R-SC), Marco Rubio (R-FL), John Thune (R-SD), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), John Barrasso (R-WY), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Katie Britt (R-AL), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Mike Braun (R-IN), Ted Budd (R-NC), John Hoeven (R-ND), Joni Ernst (R-IA), John Kennedy (R-LA), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), along with Representatives Andy Harris (R-MD-01), Clay Higgins (R-LA-03), Gary Palmer (R-AL-06), Matt Rosendale (R-MT-02), Ralph Norman (R-SC-05), Eli Crane (R-AZ-02), Andy Ogles (R-TN-05), Aaron Bean (R-FL-04), Josh Brecheen (R-OK-02), Nancy Mace (R-SC-01), Bob Good (R-VA-05), Eric Burlison (R-MO-07), Mike Ezell (R-MS-04), Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN-03), Tom Tiffany (R-WI-07), Lauren Boebert (R-CO-03), Claudia Tenney (R-NY-24), Michael Guest (R-MS-03), Diana Harshbarger (R-TN-01), Ben Cline (R-VA-06), Chip Roy (R-TX-21), Barry Loudermilk (R-GA-11), Mary Miller (R-IL-15), Paul Gosar (R-AZ-09), Lance Gooden (R-TX-05), Jeff Duncan (R-SC-03), Harriet Hageman (R-WY-01), Barry Moore (R-AL-02), Mike Collins (R-GA-10), Tim Burchett (R-TN-02), Greg Lopez (R-CO-04), Keith Self (R-TX-03), Brian Babin (R-TX-36), August Pfluger (R-TX-11), Alex Mooney (R-WV-02), Dusty Johnson (R-SD-01), Randy Weber (R-TX-14), Rich McCormick (R-GA-06), and Matt Gaetz (R-FL-01).
    A copy of the letter can be found here and below.
    Dear Attorney General Garland:
    We are deeply concerned by reports of non-citizens registering to vote and voting in federal elections. As of today, there has been no response from you or your Department regarding the inquiry on July 12, 2024, seeking information on efforts undertaken by your Department to enforce laws prohibiting non-citizen voting.  Given that the 2024 Presidential Election is in less than 34 days, your Department’s inaction and refusal to provide any information regarding its efforts to promote public trust and confidence in our elections is especially alarming.
    Since the initial letter, several more concerning reports have been released by state officials indicating that a large number of non-citizens appear on their voter rolls. For example, the Virginia Attorney General recently announced that 6,303 non-citizens were identified on and removed from Virginia’s voter rolls in 2022 and 2023. In another troubling report released in August, over 6,500 non-citizens registered to vote in Texas were identified and removed from voter rolls. Of the 6,500 non-citizens identified, 1,930 had a voter history.
    Clearly, there is a non-negligible amount of voter participation by non-citizens in federal elections, which is not only a serious threat to the integrity of our elections and the democratic process they represent, but also has the potential to reduce Americans’ trust and confidence in election results.
    Accordingly, we respectfully reiterate the July 12 request for information on your Department’s enforcement efforts.  The initial deadline for providing this information was July 26, 2024, so the response is now 9 weeks overdue.
    Please provide responses to the following no later than October 16, 2024:
    1.     Please provide the number of aliens who have been charged, tried, or convicted under 18 U.S.C. § 611 since January 20, 2021, including the status of each case.
    2.     Please provide the number of aliens who been charged, tried, or convicted under 52 U.S.C. § 20511 since January 20, 2021, including the status of each case.
    3.     Please provide the number of aliens who have been prosecuted under 18 U.S.C. § 911 since 2021, including the status of each case.
    4.     Please provide the number of referrals received from other government officials or the public in reference to the statutes cited in questions 1 through 3.
    5.     How does the Department of Justice investigate allegations received of non-citizen voting or voter registration?
    6.     What affirmative steps have the Department of Justice taken to detect, prevent, and deter illegal aliens and other non-citizens from registering and voting in federal elections?
    7.     What affirmative steps have the Department taken to obtain relevant information from the Department of Homeland Security on aliens who have registered or voted in elections?
    8.     What steps have been taken by U.S. Attorneys and the Public Integrity Section of the Criminal Division, which is responsible forprosecuting election crimes and assisting U.S. Attorneys in prosecuting election crimes, to obtain jury-related information that indicates aliens have unlawfully registered to vote?
    9.     As the 2024 election nears, what steps will the Department take to detect, investigate, and prosecute non-citizens who violate 18 U.S.C.§ 911, 52 U.S.C. § 20511, or 18 U.S.C. § 611 by voting or registering to vote in the 2024 election?
    10.  What steps have the Department taken to contact Virginia and Texas election officials to obtain information and the voter registration and voter history files on each of the aliens removed from the voter rolls who were unlawfully registered and voting in those states?
    Thank you for your attention to this matter and we look forward to your prompt reply.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Heinrich, Luján, Vasquez Welcome Infrastructure Law Investment in Southline Transmission Project in Southern New Mexico

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)
    ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the co-founder and co-chair of the Electrification Caucus, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), and U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.)  welcomed the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) announcement that its Grid Deployment Office (GDO) is investing $1.5 billion for five electric transmission projects— including the Southline Transmission Project in southern New Mexico.  
    The funding will come from the Grid Deployment Office’s (GDO) Transmission Facilitation Program (TFP), a revolving fund program established by the Infrastructure Law that Heinrich, Luján, and Democrats in the New Mexico Congressional Delegation championed into law. The TFP helps overcome the financial hurdles facing transmission development through a number of innovative financing mechanisms. 
    “The investments that we unlocked through our Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act are solidifying New Mexico’s leadership in building a cleaner, healthier, and more affordable energy future,” said Heinrich. “High-voltage transmission projects like Southline will be the backbone of our clean energy transition, delivering carbon-free power generated in New Mexico to market. They will also create high-quality careers that New Mexicans can build their families around, in their home communities. To get more transmission projects like Southline and SunZia built faster so we can connect more large-scale clean energy and storage projects onto the grid, it’s critical that Congress pass transmission permitting reform. I will continue pressing leaders from both parties to pass legislation to get that done.” 
    “Investing in transmission projects is critical to deliver reliable, affordable, clean energy to communities across New Mexico,” said Luján. “This investment in the second phase of the transformative Southline project will help boost our power grid, bring good-paying clean energy jobs to our state, and lower energy costs for New Mexicans and residents in the Southwest. I’m proud to have helped secure this federal investment through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and I will continue to unlock federal resources to advance clean energy projects across our state.” 
    “From my first day in office, I have worked to support generational projects like Southline that realize New Mexico’s potential to help power our clean energy future. This investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will connect high voltage transmission from Las Cruces through Hidalgo County, opening up incredible potential for renewable energy development in our district,” said Vasquez. “I will always work to bring transformational investments to our district that help provide good, high paying jobs for our rural communities.” 
    With this funding, Southline will construct the second phase of its project: a new 108-mile, 345 kV high-voltage alternating current line that will deliver 1,000 MW of new, bidirectional capacity between Hidalgo County, New Mexico and Las Cruces, New Mexico.  
    Heinrich previously welcomed DOE funding for the first phase of the Southline Project, which included a 175-mile, 748 MW transmission line from Hidalgo County, New Mexico, to Pima County, Arizona, that will help unlock renewable energy development in southern New Mexico and deliver diverse sources of clean energy to growing markets in Arizona. Southline Phase 2 will add much-needed transmission capacity across the American Southwest, which is grappling with extensive power demands driven by residential, commercial, and industrial activity. 
    In August, Heinrich, Luján, and Vasquez also welcomed $1.8 million from DOE for the City of Lordsburg. As a community hosting the Southline Transmission Project, the City will launch the Lordsburg Revitalization Project, a comprehensive investment to renovate downtown Lordsburg and bolster economic development; create opportunities for small businesses; and catalyze job growth. This grant was made possible through the Inflation Reduction Act, which was passed by Democrats in the N.M. Delegation, and is funded through DOE’s Transmission Siting and Economic Development Grant Program, a new initiative designed to overcome state and local challenges to expanding transmission capacity while also supporting communities along major new and upgraded lines. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Heinrich, Luján Introduce Resolution Recognizing Latina Equal Pay Day

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)
    ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — To celebrate Latina Equal Pay Day today, U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) introduced a Senate resolution recognizing October 3, 2024, as Latina Equal Pay Day.  
    More than 50 years after the passage of the Equal Pay Act of 1963, Latinas make up the second largest group of women workers in the U.S—yet they are paid 57 cents for every dollar paid to white men, losing over $1,200,000 in potential earnings over a 40 year career. This resolution recognizes the disparity in wages paid to Latina women and reaffirms support to ensure equal pay for equal work and close the gender pay gap.
    “From driving small business growth to leading labor movements, Latinas have grown and transformed our economy and workplaces for the better. On Latina Equal Pay Day, we honor their remarkable accomplishments and contributions, while recognizing the ongoing work needed to achieve equal pay for equal work,” said Heinrich. “This day and every day, I remain committed to fighting for a fair economy for all New Mexicans, raising the minimum wage, and expanding opportunities for a brighter future.”
    “Throughout history, Latinas have helped propel our economy and have long contributed to the fabric of America,” said Luján. “Despite their contributions to building our country, their pay has not been reflective of their work. Today, on Latina Equal Pay Day, I’m proud to partner with Senator Heinrich to introduce this resolution to recognize the contributions of Latinas and highlight the ongoing fight for equal pay for equal work. I will continue to fight for workers across New Mexico and the country to secure equal pay for equal work and close the gender pay gap once and for all.”
    The resolution is led by U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.). Alongside Heinrich and Luján, the resolution is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)., Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Illi.), Amy Klobuchar (D-M.N.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), George Helmy (D-N.J.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.). The companion resolution is led in the House by U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lee Rejects Biden-Harris Bears Ears Plan

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Utah Mike Lee
    “Local Stakeholders Sidelined in Misguided Management“
    Washington, D.C. – Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) responded to the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) finalization of the proposed management plan for the Bears Ears National Monument (BENM), a 1.36 million-acre monument in Southern Utah. Senator Lee criticized the plan, highlighting a lack of local input and its harmful impact on Utahns who depend on the land for their livelihoods.
     
    “Once again, the Biden administration has imposed a one-size-fits-all management plan that disregards the voices of those who know the land best—Utahns,” Senator Lee stated. “While the administration has bent over backward to ensure input from special interests, it has failed to afford the same consideration to the people of Utah. These are public lands, yet the public most affected by these decisions—the ranchers, recreationists, and workers—has been sidelined.”

    Senator Lee noted that despite years of negotiation, the state of Utah and the federal government could not finalize the long-awaited land exchange with the State Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA), a failure that he attributes to the administration’s unwillingness to collaborate in good faith.

    “This plan is the latest in a long line of top-down, federal overreach that prioritizes political agendas over real solutions. Utahns deserve better than to be treated as second-class citizens when it comes to managing their own lands.”

    Lee called on the administration to revisit the plan and give Utahns a true seat at the table.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Leger Fernández, Cortez Masto, Barragán Introduce Resolution to Recognize Latina Equal Pay Day

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM)

    WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM), Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), and Congresswoman Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA)  announced the introduction of the Latina Equal Pay Day Resolution to recognize the disparity in wages paid to Latinas, the significance of equal pay, and its larger impact on women, families, and the economy. 

    “Mis hermanas y yo decidimos que ya basta! We introduced the bicameral Latina Equal Pay Day Resolution to recognize the unequal and unfair treatment of women in the workforce, especially Latinas, who are undervalued and underpaid—earning only 51 cents to an average male worker,” said Congresswoman Leger Fernández. “Latinas play a huge role in our economy, especially our care economy. But our contributions are not valued, and our value is not paid. Today, we recommit to closing the gender and racial wage gap. Latinas deserve equal pay NOW.” 

    “Overall, working Latinas are still being paid far less than their male counterparts—and it’s time we close the pay gap,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “I’m proud to introduce this bicameral resolution to recognize Latina Equal Pay Day and underscore the power Latinas bring to our economy. I’ll continue working to make sure that every woman in Nevada—regardless of her background—receives equal pay for equal work.”

    “Pay disparities experienced by women, and especially Latinas and women of color, show that the contributions we make to society are consistently undervalued,” said Congresswoman Barragán. “In many Latina families, the women of the family are the sole economic providers. It takes several additional months for a Latina woman to make the equivalent of a white man – which puts them behind in their pursuit of their American Dream. I am proud to lead on this resolution that reaffirms Congress’ commitment to closing the pay gap. Ha llegado el momento de que las latinas reciban igualdad de salarios!”

    More than 60 years after the passage of the Equal Pay Act of 1963, all Latinas with reported earnings in 2023 were paid just 51 cents for every dollar paid to white, non-Hispanic men. That is one cent less than last year. Latinas who work full-time, year-round are paid only 58 cents for every dollar paid to white, non-Hispanic men. On Latina Equal Pay Day, we recognize the pay gap between Latinas and White non-Hispanic men in the previous calendar year. 

    The resolution is led in the Senate by Senator Cortez Masto (D-NV) and co-led in the House by Nanette Diaz Barragán and co-sponsored by Andrea Salinas (D-OR-06), Joaquin Castro (D-TX-20), Sylvia R. Garcia (D-TX-29), Yadira Caraveo (D-CO-08), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX-37), Linda Sanchez (D-CA-38), Jesús “Chuy” García (D-IL-04), Juan Vargas (D-CA-52), Kathy Castor (D-FL-14), Jim Costa (D-CA-21), Veronica Escobar (D-TX-16), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Katie Porter (D-CA-47), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY-13), Judy Chu (D-CA-28), Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24), Emanuel Cleaver II (D-MO-05), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03), Raul Ruiz (D-CA-36), Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03), André Carson (D-IN-07), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA-34), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12), Alma Adams (D-NC-12), Tony Cárdenas (D-CA-29), J. Luis Correa (D-CA-46), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-05), Greg Casar (D-TX-35).

    The resolution is endorsed by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and supported by 26 organizations, including Equal Rights Advocates & Equal Pay Today, Michigan Pay Equity Network, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, Justice for Migrant Women, Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley, MomsRising/MamásConPoder, AnitaB.org, National Partnership for Women & Families, National Women’s Law Center, Women Employed, MANA, A National Latina Organization, UnidosUS, Women’s Law Project, National Hispanic Council on Aging, SER National Inc., National Council of Jewish Women, Family Values @ Work, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), Esperanza United, Hispanic National Bar Association, Hispanics in Philanthropy, Methodist Federation for Social Action, National Education Association, PowHer New York, Latinas in Healthcare, National Alliance to End Sexual Violence.

    “Thank you to Senator Cortez Masto and Representatives Leger Fernández and Barragán for their leadership in Congress working to close the pay gap. This Latina Equal Pay Day, we are honoring Latina leaders in the labor movement and across sectors to amplify the incredible ways that Latinas make change in our communities. We also continue to advocate for the passage of the Paycheck Fairness Act and BE HEARD in the Workplace Act to create more economically secure and safer workplaces,” said Mónica Ramírez, President and Founder, Justice for Migrant Women.

    “As a Latina, mother, grandmother, and lifelong advocate for workers, I’ve witnessed Latinas take on incredible sacrifices to progress in this country, but it is our role as advocates to ensure that Latina’s wages do not continue to be sacrificed. Today, in 2024, Latinas face a staggering wage gap that continues to undermine our contributions and hold our community back. While unions have been instrumental in securing higher wages and vital protections for unionized Latinas, a wage gap still persists even among unionized Latinas. Our work won’t end until every Latina—and every woman—is valued equally for her labor. We must demand action now. Support the Paycheck Fairness Act and the BE HEARD Act—two essential pieces of legislation to combat pay discrimination and workplace violence. Our fight is about more than wages; it’s about dignity, respect, and the fundamental principle of equality that our country is founded upon,” said Evelyn DeJesus, National President, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement and Executive Vice President, American Federation of Teachers.

    “Equal Pay Today, a nationwide pay equity coalition of over 45 state and national organizations, applauds Congresswomen Leger Fernández and Barragán and Senator Cortez Masto for introducing this Latina Equal Pay Day Resolution. While Latinas are the backbone of our economy, leaders, entrepreneurs, and the second-largest group of women workers in the United States, they suffer from egregious pay gaps, ongoing workplace harassment, and continued segregation into low paid work and workplaces that lack paid leave and benefits. This resolution recognizes that true pay equity requires an intersectional approach to address gender and race-based discrimination and galvanizes our collective support to address the injustices which impact Latinas, their families, and our economy,” said Deborah J. Vagins, Director of Equal Pay Today with Equal Rights Advocates.

    “We are grateful to Congresswomen Leger Fernández and Barragán and Senator Cortez Masto for calling attention to the ongoing and egregious wage gaps experienced by Latinas. The median annual pay for all Latinas is less than an appalling $27,000 a year, plunging a working mother of two in poverty. Over her lifetime, a Latina is robbed of over a million dollars in wages. This travesty must end. We are proud to join the Members of Congress and partner organizations who support this resolution and who are working together on common sense workplace protections and benefits to end this economic injustice for Latinas,”said Noreen Farrell, Executive Director of Equal Rights Advocates & Chair of Equal Pay Today.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Financial news: Basic standards for protecting the rights of consumers of financial services: decisions of the Bank of Russia

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Central Bank of Russia –

    The Bank of Russia has decided to approve Basic standard protection of the rights and interests of recipients of financial services provided by members of self-regulatory organizations uniting insurance organizations and foreign insurance organizations.

    The document was developed by the All-Russian Union of Insurers, a self-regulatory organization in the financial market, and on September 19, 2024, it was approved by the Committee on Standards for the Activities of Insurance Organizations and Foreign Insurance Organizations under the Bank of Russia.

    At the same time, the Bank of Russia decided to refuse to approve the Basic Standard, which was agreed upon on August 21, 2024 by the Committee on Standards for the Activities of Insurance Organizations and Foreign Insurance Organizations. The decision was made due to the non-compliance of certain provisions of the standard with the requirements established by Article 6.2 of the Law of the Russian Federation dated November 27, 1992 No. 4015-I “On the Organization of Insurance Business in the Russian Federation”.

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

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    http://vvv.kbr.ru/press/event/?id=21058

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: CRTC moves to deploy fibre optic internet in 16 rural Manitoba communities

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French 1

    Through the Broadband Fund, the CRTC has committed more than $8 million to Westman Communications Group to build approximately 310 kilometres of fibre transport infrastructure. The projects will improve access to reliable, high-quality Internet services.

    October 3, 2024 — Ottawa-Gatineau – Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)

    The CRTC is taking steps to provide 16 rural Manitoba communities with access to high-speed fibre optic Internet.

    In 2019, the CRTC implemented the Broadband Fund to help connect rural, remote and Indigenous communities across Canada. To date, the Fund has helped improve high-speed Internet and cell phone services in 270 communities, connecting essential facilities such as schools, health centres and community centres.

    Through the Broadband Fund, the CRTC has committed more than $8 million to Westman Communications Group to build approximately 310 kilometres of fibre transport infrastructure. The projects will improve access to reliable, high-quality Internet services.

    These projects received support from affected communities. Letters of support highlighted the positive impacts the projects had on daily life in these areas, such as improving public safety and promoting commercial and industrial development.

    The CRTC continues to assess applications received under the Broadband Fund and will make further funding announcements in the coming months.

    Quote

    “We are taking action to ensure that all Canadians have access to high-speed Internet services. The projects announced today will bring fibre optic Internet services to 16 rural communities in Manitoba. They will improve access to health care and other government services, support small businesses and create new economic opportunities.”

    – Vicky Eatrides, CRTC Chair and CEO

    Quick Facts

    The CRTC is an independent, quasi-judicial tribunal that regulates Canada’s communications sector in the public interest. It holds public consultations on telecommunications and broadcasting matters and makes decisions based on the public record. To date, the CRTC Broadband Fund has supported projects that will connect more than 47,000 households, improve cellphone service along more than 630 kilometres of major highways, and build more than 4,900 kilometres of fibre optics in communities. In March 2023, the CRTC launched a public consultation to enhance the Broadband Fund. It will initiate a process to create an Indigenous component of the Fund.

    Related links

    Media RelationsEmail Address: media@crtc.gc.caPhone: 819-997-9403

    General InquiriesTelephone: 819-997-0313Toll-free: 1-877-249-CRTC (2782)Teletypewriter: 819-994-0423

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-Evening Report: What are the greatest upsets in NRL grand final history?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wayne Peake, Adjunct research fellow, School of Humanities and Communication Arts, Western Sydney University

    The Penrith Panthers and Melbourne Storm will contest the National Rugby League (NRL) grand final on Sunday.

    Betting markets have them pretty much equal favourites. However, history shows grand finals don’t always go to plan.

    But what are the biggest upsets in NRL grand final history?

    Using a combination of formlines during the season and in finals, betting odds, media coverage and past performances, here are some of the most outlandish upsets in rugby league’s history.

    1944: Balmain 12, Newtown 8

    In 1944, Newtown was the minor premier while Balmain was second.

    Newtown entered the finals series as hot favourite and looked even hotter after destroying third-placed St George 55–7 in the first semi-final.

    However, in the final, Balmain won 19–6. That wasn’t the end of the story, though.

    Under the rules of the day, Newtown, as minor premier, could seek a rematch in a grand final “challenge”.

    Newton fielded a much stronger side and most expected it to reverse the final result. However, Balmain won again, 12–8.

    1952: Western Suburbs 22, South Sydney 12

    In 1952, Wests were minor premiers, while Souths finished third.

    Souths won the first semi-final 18–10 but Wests, as minor premiers, went straight to the grand final challenge three weeks later anyway. Meanwhile, Souths beat North Sydney to advance.

    According to the Sydney Truth, Wests were “regarded in some quarters as rank outsiders”.

    Then, rumours spread that Wests had “thrown” the first game and the referee assigned to the decider, George Bishop, had placed £400 on them, causing their price to shorten.

    Bishop sent off a player from each team ten minutes into the second half. Souths scored a try with 20 minutes to go to take the lead before Wests scored four tries in the last ten minutes to win.

    Bishop retired after the grand final.

    1963: St George 8, Western Suburbs 3

    In 1963, St George was minor premiers, while Wests were second. However, Wests, which had lost the previous two grand finals to St George, had beaten them twice in the regular rounds and again in the major semi-final, and went into the game favourite.

    On grand final day, the field deteriorated into a quagmire and led to the famous post-match “gladiators” photograph of captains Arthur Summons and Norm Provan shaking hands while coated in mud.

    The foul conditions contributed to a low-scoring game, which St George won 8–3.

    Once more it was suspected the referee, this time Darcy Lawler, had a financial interest in the outcome. He, too, retired immediately.

    Today we view St George’s victory in the context of a huge winning streak of premierships from 1955 to 1966.

    1989: Canberra 19, Balmain 14

    South Sydney had been minor premiers while Balmain finished third, one point clear of Canberra.

    Balmain were generally considered to have been more impressive than Canberra and were favourites for the grand final.

    One media expert, Harry Craven, was so confident Balmain would win he had his “weatherboard” (house) on the Tigers.

    In the grand final, Balmain led 14-8 with 15 minutes to play before Canberra levelled at 14–14 with 90 seconds remaining.

    After 20 minutes of extra time, Canberra won 19–14 and became the first team to win from further back than third in the regular season.

    1995: Canterbury 17, Manly 4

    Possibly the hottest grand final favourites of the past half-century, Manly lost just two games in the regular season and shared the minor premiership with Canberra.

    Canterbury (officially, the “Sydney Bulldogs” in 1995) were sixth and needed to win four straight games to be premier.

    The two sides met once in the regular season, with Manly winning 26-0.

    In the grand final, the Bulldogs led 6–4 at half-time and disaster loomed when Terry Lamb was sin-binned early in the second term.

    Somehow, the Dogs held Manly out until his return, then gained the ascendancy and won comfortably.

    1997: Newcastle 22, Manly 16

    In 1997 we had the first season of the News Limited-funded “Super League”.

    The glamourous Manly side was once more expected to be easy winners over Newcastle, which was contesting its first grand final.

    Only two teams in 70 years had won at their first attempt, while Manly had won its past 11 matches against the Knights.

    The grand final followed its anticipated plot until Newcastle’s Robbie O’Davis evened the score at 16–16. Newcastle missed with two field goal attempts, but after the second, Darren Albert regathered the ball and pierced the Manly defence to score under the posts with six seconds remaining.

    In 1997, the Newcastle Knights secured a maiden title against the Manly Sea Eagles.

    1999: Melbourne 20, St George Illawarra 18

    Odds for the 1999 grand final are unknown but the press anointed St George “hot favourites” while Canterbury champion Ricky Stuart rated them “unbeatable”.

    Melbourne was in just its second year of NRL competition and had never beaten St George.

    Melbourne had pulled off “escapes” against Canterbury and Parramatta to make the decider but the Saints were winning with ease and even crushed Melbourne 34–10 in the qualifying final.

    In the decider, St George led 14–0 and was looking good. Then, in the 51st minute, Anthony Mundine kicked the ball to a vacant try line but fumbled it touching down.

    The Melbourne Storm shocked the NRL world when they won the 1999 grand final.

    Nevertheless, St George maintained an 18–6 advantage midway through the second half, before a Storm fightback.

    With minutes remaining, Melbourne received a penalty try which it converted to win the game.

    The biggest upset: 1969, Balmain 11, South Sydney 2

    Most agree the biggest grand final upset is Balmain’s 11-2 defeat of South Sydney in 1969.

    Bookies had Souths as heavy favourites – they had won the previous two grand finals, while Balmain was a young team lacking grand final experience.

    However, the form lines of the two teams were not dissimilar.

    At the end of the regular season, South Sydney was the minor premier with Balmain just one win behind them.

    Souths defeated Balmain by one point in the semi-final, and a week later, Balmain beat Manly by a point to scrape into the grand final.

    Despite South’s heavy favouritism, Balmain were not friendless. Of six “experts” whose opinion was sought by one newspaper on the morning of the game, two picked Balmain outright and another conceded them an even-money chance.

    It was perhaps the circumstances of the game, as much as the result, that has lent the 1969 grand final its legend status.

    Souths, noted for their attacking potency, were unable to score a try. Balmain scored a single try early in the second half but then several Balmain players set about disrupting the Souths attack by, allegedly, feigning injuries to give their teammates a breather.

    The game has since become known as the “sit-down grand final”.

    Wayne Peake 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. What are the greatest upsets in NRL grand final history? – https://theconversation.com/what-are-the-greatest-upsets-in-nrl-grand-final-history-239380

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: XEC is now in Australia. Here’s what we know about this hybrid COVID variant

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lara Herrero, Research Leader in Virology and Infectious Disease, Griffith University

    Kateryna Kon/Shutterstock

    Over the nearly five years since COVID first emerged, you’d be forgiven if you’ve lost track of the number of new variants we’ve seen. Some have had a bigger impact than others, but virologists have documented thousands.

    The latest variant to make headlines is called XEC. This omicron subvariant has been reported predominantly in the northern hemisphere, but it has now been detected in Australia too.

    So what do we know about XEC?

    Is COVID still a thing?

    People are now testing for COVID less and reporting it less. Enthusiasm to track the virus is generally waning.

    Nonetheless, Australia is still collecting and reporting COVID data. Although the number of cases is likely to be much higher than the number documented (around 275,000 so far this year), we can still get some idea of when we’re seeing significant waves, compared to periods of lower activity.

    Australia saw its last COVID peak in June 2024. Since then cases have been on the decline.

    But SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID, is definitely still around.

    Which variants are circulating now?

    The main COVID variants circulating currently around the world include BA.2.86, JN.1, KP.2, KP.3 and XEC. These are all descendants of omicron.

    The XEC variant was first detected in Italy in May 2024. The World Health Organization (WHO) designated it as a variant “under monitoring” in September.

    Since its detection, XEC has spread to more than 27 countries across Europe, North America and Asia. As of mid-September, the highest numbers of cases have been identified in countries including the United States, Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Denmark.

    XEC is currently making up around 20% of cases in Germany, 12% in the UK and around 6% in the US.

    The virus behind COVID continues to evolve.
    Photo by Centre for Ageing Better/Pexels

    Although XEC remains a minority variant globally, it appears to have a growth advantage over other circulating variants. We don’t know why yet, but reports suggest it may be able to spread more easily than other variants.

    For this reason, it’s predicted XEC could become the dominant variant worldwide in the coming months.

    How about in Australia?

    The most recent Australian Respiratory Surveillance Report noted there has been an increasing proportion of XEC sequenced recently.

    In Australia, 329 SARS-CoV-2 sequences collected from August 26 to September 22 have been uploaded to AusTrakka, Australia’s national genomics surveillance platform for COVID.

    The majority of sequences (301 out of 329, or 91.5%) were sub-lineages of JN.1, including KP.2 (17 out of 301) and KP.3 (236 out of 301). The remaining 8.5% (28 out of 329) were recombinants consisting of one or more omicron sub-lineages, including XEC.

    Estimates based on data from GISAID, an international repository of viral sequences, suggests XEC is making up around 5% of cases in Australia, or 16 of 314 samples sequenced.

    Queensland reported the highest rates in the past 30 days (8%, or eight of 96 sequences), followed by South Australia (5%, or five out of 93), Victoria (5%, or one of 20) and New South Wales (3%, or two of 71). WA recorded zero sequences out of 34. No data were available for other states and territories.

    What do we know about XEC? What is a recombinant?

    The XEC variant is believed to be a recombinant descendant of two previously identified omicron subvariants, KS.1.1 and KP.3.3. Recombinant variants form when two different variants infect a host at the same time, which allows the viruses to switch genetic information. This leads to the emergence of a new variant with characteristics from both “parent” lineages.

    KS.1.1 is one of the group commonly known as “FLiRT” variants, while, KP.3.3 is one of the “FLuQE” variants. Both of these variant groups have contributed to recent surges in COVID infections around the world.

    The WHO’s naming conventions for new COVID variants often use a combination of letters to denote new variants, particularly those that arise from recombination events among existing lineages. The “X” typically indicates a recombinant variant (as with XBB, for example), while the letters following it identify specific lineages.

    We know very little so far about XEC’s characteristics specifically, and how it differs from other variants. But there’s no evidence to suggest symptoms will be more severe than with earlier versions of the virus.

    What we do know is what mutations this variant has. In the S gene that encodes for the spike protein we can find a T22N mutation (inherited from KS.1.1) as well as Q493E (from KP.3.3) and other mutations
    known to the omicron lineage.

    Will vaccines still work well against XEC?

    The most recent surveillance data doesn’t show any significant increase in COVID hospitalisations. This suggests the current vaccines still provide effective protection against severe outcomes from circulating variants.

    As the virus continues to mutate, vaccine companies will continue to update their vaccines. Both Pfizer and Moderna have updated vaccines to target the JN.1 variant, which is a parent strain of the FLiRT variants and therefore should protect against XEC.

    However, Australia is still waiting to hear which vaccines may become available to the public and when.

    In the meantime, omicron-based vaccines such as the the current XBB.1.5 spikevax (Moderna) or COMIRNATY (Pfizer) are still likely to provide good protection from XEC.

    It’s hard to predict how XEC will behave in Australia as we head into summer. We’ll need more research to understand more about this variant as it spreads. But given XEC was first detected in Europe during the northern hemisphere’s summer months, this suggests XEC might be well suited to spreading in warmer weather.

    Lara Herrero receives funding from NHMRC.

    – ref. XEC is now in Australia. Here’s what we know about this hybrid COVID variant – https://theconversation.com/xec-is-now-in-australia-heres-what-we-know-about-this-hybrid-covid-variant-239292

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: How we created a beautiful native wildflower meadow in the heart of the city using threatened grassland species

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katherine Horsfall, PhD Candidate, School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences, The University of Melbourne

    Matthew Stanton, CC BY-NC

    A city street may seem an unusual place to save species found in critically endangered grasslands. My new research, though, shows we can use plants from these ecosystems to create beautiful and biodiverse urban wildflower meadows. This means cities, too, can support nature repair.

    Species-rich grassy ecosystems are some of the most threatened plant communities on the planet. Occupying easily developed flat land, grassy ecosystems are routinely sacrificed as our cities expand.

    In south-east Australia, the volcanic plains that support Melbourne’s northern and western suburbs were once grasslands strewn with wildflowers, “resembling a nobleman’s park on a gigantic scale”, according to early explorer Thomas Mitchell. But these exceptionally diverse, critically endangered ecosystems have been reduced to less than 1% of their original area. The few remnants continue to be lost to urban development and weed invasion.

    A mix of the seeds used to create the meadow.
    Hui-Anne Tan, CC BY-NC

    Unfortunately, efforts to restore the grasslands around Melbourne have had mixed results. In 2020 the City of Melbourne took matters into its own hands. Recognising it is possible to enrich the diversity of birds, bats and insects by providing low-growing native plants, the council set a goal to increase understorey plants by 20% on the land it manages.

    Creating a large native grassland in inner-city Royal Park would help achieve this goal. Adopting a technique used by wildflower meadow designers, we sowed a million seeds of more than two dozen species from endangered grasslands around Melbourne. All but one of these species established in the resulting native wildflower meadow.

    The recreated native wildflower meadow is close to an inner-city road.
    Matthew Stanton, CC BY-NC

    What were the challenges at this site?

    Existing restoration techniques remove nutrient-enriched topsoils full of weed seeds before sowing native seeds. The target plant community can then establish with less competition from nutrient-hungry weeds.

    However, this approach could not be used at the Royal Park site. Topsoil removal cannot be used on many urban sites where soils are contaminated or there are underground services. Alternative approaches are needed to reduce weed competition while minimising soil disturbance.

    I saw a possible answer in the horticultural approaches used to create designed wildflower meadows.

    Preparing the selected site in Royal Park by raking away mulch.
    Hui-Anne Tan, CC BY-NC

    While still rare in Australia, designed wildflower meadows can increase the amenity and biodiversity of urban environments. They also reduce the costs of managing and mowing turf grass. These meadows are designed to be infrequently mown or burnt.

    Wildflower meadow designers typically use an international suite of species that can be established from seed and persist without fertiliser or regular irrigation. An abundance of flowers makes people more accepting of “messy” vegetation. Recognising this, designers select a mix of species that will flower for as much of the year as possible.

    Seed being spread by hand across the prepared area in April 2020.
    Hui-Anne Tan, CC BY-NC

    To reduce competition from weeds, these meadows are often created on a layer of sand that covers the original site soils. The low-nutrient sand buries weed seeds and creates a sowing surface that resists weed invasion from the surrounding landscape.

    However, the grasslands around Melbourne grow on clay soils, not sand. Would these techniques work for plants from these ecosystems?

    A deep sand layer controls weeds and slugs

    To find out we sowed more than a million seeds on sites with two depths of sand (10mm and 80mm) and one without a sand layer in Royal Park. Within one year, 26 of the 27 species sown had established to form a dense, flowering meadow across all sand depths. These plants included three threatened species.

    The hoary sunray, Leucochrysum albicans subsp. tricolor, is one of the endangered species in the native wildflower meadow.
    Marc Freestone/Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, CC BY-NC-SA

    Crucially, the deepest sand layer reduced weed numbers and therefore time spent weeding.

    Interestingly, slugs played a role in determining the diversity of the native meadow. South-east Australia’s grasslands have largely evolved without slugs. As a result, seedlings lack chemical or physical defences against grazing by slugs, which can greatly reduce species diversity in native meadows.

    Again, sand provided a real benefit. Fewer slugs occurred on the deepest sand layer compared to bare soil. The suggestion that sand can deter slugs is consistent with meadow research in Europe.

    By September 2020, seedlings are growing on the prepared plots. The roof tile in the foreground is for monitoring slug numbers.
    Hui-Anne Tan, CC BY-NC

    Now to repair nature in all our cities

    Our research gives us another technique to reinstate critically endangered plant communities. We can use it to bring nature back to city parks and streets.

    Working in urban contexts also unlocks other advantages. There’s ready access to irrigation while the meadow gets established and to communities keen to care for natural landscapes. Creating native wildflower meadows in cities also helps native animals survive, including threatened species that call our cities home.

    People will be able to engage with beautiful native plants that are now rare in cities. Enriching our experience of nature can enhance our health and wellbeing.

    The meadow’s plant community was established by November 2020, six months after sowing.
    David Hannah, CC BY-NC

    My colleagues and I trialled these approaches with the support of the City of Melbourne. We are continuing our research to improve the scale and sustainability of native wildflower meadows in other municipalities.

    Native wildflower meadows and grassland restoration projects could genuinely help Australia meet its commitment to restore 30% of degraded landscapes. But first we need to invest much more in seed production. Reinstating native species on degraded land requires a lot of seed.

    Once seed supply is more certain, we will be able to bring back native biodiversity and beauty to streets, parks and reserves across the country.

    I would like to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which the project took place, the Wurundjeri and Bunurong people of the Kulin Nations, and we pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging. I also acknowledge my colleagues listed as co-authors on the research paper that formed the basis of this article: urban ecologists Nicholas S.G. Williams and Stephen Livesley, and seed ecologists Megan Hirst and John Delpratt.

    Katherine Horsfall received funding from the City of Melbourne to undertake this research and receives funding from the Australian Research Training Program.

    – ref. How we created a beautiful native wildflower meadow in the heart of the city using threatened grassland species – https://theconversation.com/how-we-created-a-beautiful-native-wildflower-meadow-in-the-heart-of-the-city-using-threatened-grassland-species-240332

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: 71% of Australian uni staff are using AI. What are they using it for? What about those who aren’t?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Hay, Senior Lecturer, School of Education and Professional Studies, Griffith University

    Yanz Island/Shutterstock

    Since ChatGPT was released at the end of 2022, there has been a lot of speculation about the actual and potential impact of generative AI on universities.

    Some studies have focused on students’ use of AI. There has also been research on what it means for teaching and assessment.

    But there has been no large-scale research on how university staff in Australia are using AI in their work.

    Our new study surveyed more than 3,000 academic and professional staff at Australian universities about how they are using generative AI.

    Our study

    Our survey was made up of 3,421 university staff, mostly from 17 universities around Australia.

    It included academics, sessional academics (who are employed on a session-by-session basis) and professional staff. It also included adjunct staff (honorary academic positions) and senior staff in executive roles.

    Academic staff represented a wide range of disciplines including health, education, natural and physical sciences, and society and culture. Professional staff worked in roles such as research support, student services and marketing.

    The average age of respondents was 44.8 years and more than half the sample was female (60.5%).

    The survey was open online for around eight weeks in 2024.

    We surveyed academic and professional staff at universities around Australia.
    Panitan/Shutterstock

    Most university staff are using AI

    Overall, 71% of respondents said they had used generative AI for their university work.

    Academic staff were more likely to use AI (75%) than professional staff (69%) or sessional staff (62%). Senior staff were the most likely to use AI (81%).

    Among academic staff, those from information technology, engineering, and management and commerce were most likely to use AI. Those from agriculture and environmental studies, and natural and physical sciences, were least likely to use it.

    Professional staff in business development, and learning and teaching support, were the most likely to report using AI. Those working in finance and procurement, and legal and compliance areas, were least likely to use AI.

    Given how much publicity and debate there has been about AI in the past two years, the fact that nearly 30% of university staff had not used AI suggests adoption is still at an early stage.

    What tools are staff using?

    Survey respondents were asked which AI tools they had used in the previous year. They reported using 216 different AI tools, which was many more than we anticipated.

    Around one-third of those using AI had only used one tool, and a further quarter had used two. A small number of staff (around 4%) had used ten tools or more.

    General AI tools were by far the most frequently reported. For example, ChatGPT was used by 88% of AI users and Microsoft Copilot by 37%.

    University staff are also commonly using AI tools with specific purposes such as image creation, coding and software development, and literature searching.

    We also asked respondents how frequently they used AI for a range of university tasks. Literature searching, writing and summarising information were the most common, followed by course development, teaching methods and assessment.

    ChatGPT was the most common generative AI tool used by our respondents.
    Monkey Business Images/ Shutterstock

    Why aren’t some staff using AI?

    We asked staff who had not yet used AI for work to explain their thinking. The most common reason they gave was AI was not useful or relevant to their work. For example, one professional staff member stated:

    While I have explored a couple of chat tools (Chat GPT and CoPilot) with work-related questions, I’ve not needed to really apply these tools to my work yet […].

    Others said they weren’t familiar with the technology, were uncertain about its use or didn’t have time to engage. As one academic told us plainly, “I don’t feel confident enough yet”.

    Ethical objections to AI

    Others raised ethical objections or viewed the technology as untrustworthy and unreliable. As one academic told us:

    I consider generative AI to be a tool of plagiarism. The uses to date, especially in the creative industries […] have involved machine learning that uses the creative works of others without permission.

    They also also raised about AI undermining human activities such as writing, critical thinking and creativity – which they saw as central to their professional identities. As one sessional academic said:

    I want to think things through myself rather than trying to have a computer think for me […].

    Another academic echoed:

    I believe that writing and thinking is fundamental to the work we do. If we’re not doing that, then […] why do we need to exist as academics?

    How should universities respond?

    Universities are at a crucial juncture with generative AI. They face an uneven uptake of the technology by staff in different roles and divided opinions on how universities should respond.

    These different views suggest universities need to have a balanced response to AI that addresses both the benefits and concerns around this technology.

    Despite differing opinions in our survey, there was still agreement among respondents that universities need to develop clear, consistent policies and guidelines to help staff use AI. Staff also said it was crucial for universities to prioritise staff training and invest in secure AI tools.

    Alicia Feldman receives an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship and Fee Offset.

    Paula McDonald receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

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

    – ref. 71% of Australian uni staff are using AI. What are they using it for? What about those who aren’t? – https://theconversation.com/71-of-australian-uni-staff-are-using-ai-what-are-they-using-it-for-what-about-those-who-arent-240337

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: From cheeky thrill to grande dame – the Moulin Rouge celebrates 135 years of scandal and success

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Will Visconti, Teacher and researcher, Art History, University of Sydney

    Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec At the Moulin Rouge – The Dance, 1890 Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec/Wikimedia Commons

    When the Moulin Rouge first opened on October 6 1889, it drew audiences from across classes and countries.

    The Moulin offered an array of fin-de-siècle (end-of-the-century) entertainments to Paris locals and visitors. Located in Montmartre, its name, the “red windmill”, alluded to Montmartre’s history as a rural idyll. The neighbourhood was also associated with artistic bohemia, crime, and revolutionary spirit. This setting added a certain thrill for bourgeois audiences.

    From irreverent newcomer to a French institution, the Moulin Rouge has survived scandal, an inferno and found new ways to connect with audiences.



    Read more:
    How the Eiffel Tower became silent cinema’s icon

    Red and electric

    In 1889, the Moulin Rouge was not the only red landmark to open in Paris. The Eiffel Tower, built as part of the Universal Exhibition and originally painted red, had opened earlier that same year. What set them apart, however, was their popularity.

    The Moulin Rouge was an instant hit, capitalising on the global popularity of a dance called the cancan. Dancers like Moulin Rouge headliner La Goulue (“The Glutton”, real name Louise Weber) were seen as more appropriate emblems for the city than the Tower, which many considered an eyesore.

    In an illustration from Le Courrier Français newspaper, a dancer modelled on a photograph of La Goulue holds her leg aloft, flashing her underwear with the caption “Greetings to the provinces and abroad!”.

    Every aspect of the Moulin spoke to the zeitgeist, from its design to the performances, the use of electric lights that adorned its façade, and its advertising.

    Its managers, the impresario team of Joseph Oller and Charles Harold Zidler, had a string of successful venues and businesses to their names. They recognised the importance of modern marketing, using print media, publicity photographs, and posters to spark public interest.

    Among the most iconic images of the Moulin is Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec’s 1891 poster. At its centre is La Goulue, kicking her legs amid swirling petticoats.

    Henri Toulouse-Lautrec’s 1891 poster.
    Shutterstock

    She certainly can cancan

    Found primarily in working-class dance halls from as early as the 1820s, the cancan became a staple of popular entertainment the world over.

    Part of the dance’s thrill lay in the dancers’ freedom of movement and titillation of spectators, as well as its anti-establishment energy. Women used the cancan to thumb their nose at authority via steps like the coup de cul (“arse flash”) or coup du chapeau (removing men’s hats with a high kick).

    The cancan was not the only attraction at the Moulin. There were themed spaces, sideshows, and variety performances ranging from belly dancers and conjoined twins to Le Pétomane (“The Fartomaniac”) who was a flatulist and the highest-paid performer. People watching was equally popular.

    Famous farter, Le Pétomane (Joseph Pujol).
    Wikimedia Commons

    Scandals, riots, and royalty

    Over the years, the Moulin has been no stranger to controversy.

    In its early years, it cultivated an air of misbehaviour and featured in pleasure guides for visiting sex tourists.

    In 1893 it hosted the Bal des Quat’z’Arts (Four-Arts Ball) held by students from local studios. Accusations of public indecency were made against the models and dancers in attendance, and violent protests followed after the women were arrested.

    In 1907 the writer Colette appeared onstage at the Moulin in an Egyptian-inspired pantomime with her then-lover, Missy, the Marquise de Belbeuf. When the act culminated in a passionate kiss, a riot broke out.

    Historical footage shows the Moulin Rouge as it was.

    Kicking on and on

    Over time, the Moulin Rouge shows changed their format to keep pace with public taste, though the cancan remained. The venue hosted revues and operettas, and various stars including Edith Piaf, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra and Liza Minnelli.

    Famous guests have included British royalty: from Edward VII (while Prince of Wales) to his great-granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth II, and her son, Prince Edward.

    Since its opening, the Moulin’s fortunes have waxed and waned.

    In 1915 the Moulin Rouge burned down but was rebuilt in 1921. Its famous windmill sails fell off overnight earlier this year but were swiftly repaired.

    In the 1930s, it survived the Depression and rise of cinema (also capturing the attention of several filmakers). It also survived the Nazi occupation of Paris in the 1940s.

    By the early 1960s, Jacki Clerico was managing the Moulin’s show after his father had revamped the venue as a dinner theatre destination. The younger Clérico oversaw additions like a giant aquarium where dancers swam with snakes, and its now-famous “nude line” – a chorus of topless dancers – in its shows.

    In 1963, the Moulin Rouge struck upon a winning formula: revues, all named by Clérico with titles beginning with the letter “F” – from Frou Frou to Fantastique and Formidable. Since 1999, the revue Féerie (“Fairy”, also a French genre of stage extravaganza) has been performed almost without interruption.

    The Moulin Rouge or ‘red mill’ today, with its famous windmill.
    Rafa Barcelos/Shutterstock

    Ticket sales were boosted thanks to Baz Luhrmann’s 2001 film Moulin Rouge! and more recently Moulin Rouge! The Musical.

    Since COVID, the Moulin Rouge management have diversified. The windmill’s interior has been rented out via AirBnB and the Moulin’s dance troupe has performed on France’s televised New Year’s Eve celebrations. This year, the Moulin Rouge and its dancers were part of the Paris Olympics celebrations, dancing in heavy rain.

    Though people have come to appreciate the Eiffel Tower too, the Moulin Rouge can still argue its status as the pinnacle of live entertainment in the French capital: immediately recognisable, internationally visible, and quintessentially Parisian.

    Will Visconti is the author of Beyond the Moulin Rouge: The Life & Legacy of La Goulue (2022), published by the University of Virginia Press.

    – ref. From cheeky thrill to grande dame – the Moulin Rouge celebrates 135 years of scandal and success – https://theconversation.com/from-cheeky-thrill-to-grande-dame-the-moulin-rouge-celebrates-135-years-of-scandal-and-success-239849

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SCHUMER ANNOUNCES $7.4 MILLION FOR ROCKLAND COUNTY TO REMOVE LEAD PAINT HAZARDS FROM AGING HOMES, SAYS INVESTMENT WILL PROTECT THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF HUDSON VALLEY CHILDREN FROM TOXIC…

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer
    U.S. Department Of Housing And Urban Development’s Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Program Provides Federal Funding To Rid Homes And Communities Of Lead Hazards
    Schumer Has Long Fought To Get The Lead Out Of NYS – Securing Millions In Fed $$ To Remove Lead Hazards From Homes – And Latest Investment Will Boost Efforts Even Further To Rid Homes Of Toxic Lead Paint
    Schumer: Federal Funding To Remove Lead Hazards Is A Shot In The Arm To Protect Rockland’s Children And Public Health
    U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer today announced $7,400,000 in federal funding for Rockland County from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Program. Schumer explained that the funding will be used to address lead-based paint hazards, improving the health of children and families across New York State.
    “No amount of toxic lead exposure is safe for children in Rockland County. I am proud to secure $7.4 million to help Rockland County & the Village of Pomona remove lead paint from homes to protect our children and public health,” said Senator Schumer. “Lead poisoning is an irreversible, preventable tragedy that robs many families and children of their future. This major federal funding is the shot in the arm the Hudson Valley needs accelerate lead paint removal and prevention and protect the health and safety of families in Rockland County.”
    This funding builds on years of efforts by Schumer to help address toxic lead exposure across Upstate NY. Schumer has long been a driving force in securing federal funding to reduce lead exposure in New York. In addition to fighting lead exposure in paint, Schumer has also led the charge to increase federal funding to eliminate lead service pipes for drinking water in New York. The senator secured one of the largest federal investments ever into eliminating lead service pipes in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Law, which includes a $15 billion carve-out within the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) over 5 years ($3 billion every year) for lead service pipe replacement.
    According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), lead is much more harmful to children than adults because it can affect children’s developing nerves and brains. Lead-based paint, still encasing the walls of many homes, often erodes and settles on children’s toys on the floor, eventually falling into the hands and mouths of children. For children under the age of 6, lead exposure can result in developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral issues, which may lead to lifelong health and financial consequences. Schumer has long advocated for protecting New York’s children and families in the past by securing millions of dollars in federal funding to eradicate these toxic elements from homes in order to reduce lead poisoning cases. Lead poisoning can cause developmental difficulties, physical pain, and neurological damage.
    The purpose of the Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Program is to identify and control lead-based paint hazards in eligible privately-owned housing for rental or owner-occupants. These grants are used to assist municipalities in carrying out lead hazard control activities.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SCHUMER ANNOUNCES $22+ MILLION FOR FOUR UPSTATE NY COMMUNITIES TO REMOVE LEAD PAINT HAZARDS FROM AGING HOMES; SENATOR SAYS INVESTMENT WILL PROTECT THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF NY’S CHILDREN FROM TOXIC…

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer
    Fed Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Program Will Boost Albany, Schenectady, Onondaga, and Chautauqua County To Help Rid Homes And Communities Of Lead Hazards
    Schumer Has Long Fought To Get The Lead Out Of Upstate NY – Securing Millions In Fed $$ To Remove Lead Hazards From Homes – And Latest Investment Will Boost Efforts Even Further To Rid Homes Across Upstate NY Of Toxic Lead Paint
    Schumer: Fed $$$ Is A Shot In The Arm To Protect Upstate NY’s Children And Public Health
    U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced $22,467,061 in federal funding for four cities from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Program. Schumer explained that the funding will be used to address lead-based paint hazards, improving the health of children and families across Upstate NY in Onondaga, Albany, Schenectady, and Chautauqua Counties.
    “No amount of toxic lead exposure is safe for children in Upstate NY. Today I am proud to deliver $22+ million for communities from the Capital Region to Central NY to Western NY to remove lead paint from homes to protect our children and public health,” said Senator Schumer. “Lead poisoning is an irreversible, preventable tragedy that robs many families and children of their future. This major federal funding is the shot in the arm that these regions need to boost lead paint removal and prevention and protect the health and safety of families across Upstate NY.”
    A full list of awards can be found below:

    Organization Name

    Community

    County

    Federal Funding

    Albany Community Development Agency

    Albany

    Albany

    $5,000,000.00

    City of Schenectady

    Schenectady

    Schenectady

    $3,967,061.00

    Onondaga County Community Development

    Syracuse

    Onondaga

    $7,750,000.00

    Chautauqua County

    Mayville

    Chautauqua

    $5,750,000.00

    This funding builds on years of efforts by Schumer to help address toxic lead exposure across Upstate NY. Most recently in 2023, Schumer helped secure $6.3 million in federal funding for Broome County, nearly $4 million for Utica, and $3.3 million for Niagara County through the Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Program to bolster ongoing efforts.
    Schumer has long been a driving force in securing federal funding to reduce lead exposure in New York. In addition to fighting lead exposure in paint, Schumer has also led the charge to increase federal funding to eliminate lead service pipes for drinking water in New York. The senator secured one of the largest federal investments ever into eliminating lead service pipes in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Law, which includes a $15 billion carve-out within the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) over 5 years ($3 billion every year) for lead service pipe replacement.
    According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), lead is much more harmful to children than adults because it can affect children’s developing nerves and brains. Lead-based paint, still encasing the walls of many homes, often erodes and settles on children’s toys on the floor, eventually falling into the hands and mouths of children. For children under the age of 6, lead exposure can result in developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral issues, which may lead to lifelong health and financial consequences. Schumer has long advocated for protecting New York’s children and families in the past by securing millions of dollars in federal funding to eradicate these toxic elements from homes in order to reduce lead poisoning cases. Lead poisoning can cause developmental difficulties, physical pain, and neurological damage.
    The purpose of the Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Program is to identify and control lead-based paint hazards in eligible privately-owned housing for rental or owner-occupants. These grants are used to assist municipalities in carrying out lead hazard control activities.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cotton to Werfel: Partisan Voter Registration Drives Violate Federal Law

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Arkansas Tom Cotton
    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Caroline Tabler or Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353 October 3, 2024 
    Cotton to Werfel: Partisan Voter Registration Drives Violate Federal Law
    Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today wrote a letter to the Internal Revenue Service Commissioner, Danny Werfel urging an investigation into the Voter Participation Center’s alleged partisan activities. This charity is targeting likely Democrat voters while excluding likely Republican voters through its voter-registration ads on social media. The IRS prohibits 501(c)(3) organizations from conducting partisan voter-education or voter-registration activities.
    In part, Senator Cotton wrote:
    “According to the Washington Free Beacon, the Voter Participation Center is targeting likely Democrat voters and excluding likely Republican voters through its voter-registration ads on social media. The Voter Participation Center has instructed Facebook to exclude users from seeing ads if they expressed interest in ‘John Wayne,’ ‘Redneck Mud Club,’ ‘Daytona 500,’ ‘Duck Dynasty,’ and other topics associated with conservatives. On the other hand, the group instructed Facebook to target users interested in ‘hot yoga,’ ‘Charli XCX’ (who is closely associated with Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign), ‘Pitchfork Media,’ and other topics that tend to interest progressives.”
    Full text of the letter may be found here and below.
    October 3, 2024
    The Honorable Danny Werfel
    Commissioner
    Internal Revenue Service
    1111 Constitution Avenue, Northwest
    Washington, DC 20224
    Dear Commissioner Werfel,
    I write regarding a tax-exempt charity that may be violating federal law. The Voter Participation Center is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that reportedly engages in partisan voter-registration drives.
    The IRS prohibits 501(c)(3) organizations from conducting partisan voter-education or voter -registration activities. The IRS states that a 501(c)(3) organization may only conduct voter-registration drives “if they are conducted in a neutral, non-partisan manner.” It further warns that a private foundation is subject to a tax if it uses funds for partisan voter-registration drives.
    According to the Washington Free Beacon, the Voter Participation Center is targeting likely Democrat voters and excluding likely Republican voters through its voter-registration ads on social media. The Voter Participation Center has instructed Facebook to exclude users from seeing ads if they expressed interest in “John Wayne,” “Redneck Mud Club,” “Daytona 500,” “Duck Dynasty,” and other topics associated with conservatives. On the other hand, the group instructed Facebook to target users interested in “hot yoga,” “Charli XCX” (who is closely associated with Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign), “Pitchfork Media,” and other topics that tend to interest progressives.
    The Voter Participation Center has spent over a million dollars on this ad drive. It has also paid over $50 million to Democrat micro-targeting firms. According to 26 U.S. Code § 4945(d)(2), these partisan expenditures must be taxed.
    The IRS should immediately open an investigation into this organization.
    Sincerely,
    Tom Cotton
    U.S. Senator 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: PHOTOS: Capito Visits East Bank Middle School, Tours GreenPower

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito
    CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a leader on the Senate Appropriations and Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committees, visited East Bank Middle School and toured the GreenPower Manufacturing Facility, both in Kanawha County, W.Va.
    First, Senator Capito spoke to the 8th grade class at East Bank Middle School in East Bank, W.Va. about her career in public service and current work in the U.S. Senate.
    “I am always inspired by the young people of our state and their potential, and the students at East Bank Middle School are no exception,” Senator Capito said. “We had a productive conversation about civics and the different branches of government, and I enjoyed the opportunity to share my experience. The future is bright for these students, and I can’t wait to see all they go on to accomplish.”
    Second, Senator Capito toured the GreenPower Motor Company, a local manufacturer of electric school buses, in South Charleston, W.Va. During the visit, Senator Capito met with company leaders and presented keys for a new electric bus to Wyoming County School Superintendent Dr. John Henry.
    “Just over two years ago, GreenPower pledged to bring operations to West Virginia. And today, we’re getting another new school bus—made with West Virginia aluminum from Jackson County—on the road that will safely bring our children in Wyoming County to and from school. Through this visit, we are seeing the success that can result when we pursue pragmatic solutions based in reasonable policies that put our state’s needs first. I commend GreenPower and all those involved for investing in West Virginia and contributing to not only our economic development, but the education of our children – something so central to our state’s future,” Senator Capito said.
    “It was wonderful to welcome Senator Capito to the facility and show her the products we are making here in West Virginia. She has been a great champion for our industry in the Senate and we are grateful for her continued support,” Mark Nestlen, Vice President of Business Development and Strategy at GreenPower Motor Company, said.
    Photos from today’s visits are included below:

    U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) pictured with eighth grade students at East Bank Middle School in East Bank, W.Va. on Thursday, October 3, 2024.

    U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) visits the GreenPower electric bus manufacturing facility in South Charleston, W.Va. on Thursday, October 3, 2024.

    U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) presents a set of keys to a new electric bus to Wyoming County School Superintendent Dr. John Henry at the GreenPower electric bus manufacturing facility in South Charleston, W.Va. on Thursday, October 3, 2024.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: DOJ Charges Ten Pharmaceutical Distributors Affiliated with Unlawful Sales of Over 70M Opioid Pills

    Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

    Today, the Department is announcing charges against 10 individuals affiliated with pharmaceutical distributors alleged to have funneled nearly 70 million opioid pills and 30 million doses of other commonly abused prescription drugs to “pill-mill” pharmacies, mostly in the Houston, Texas area. These drugs had an estimated street value of over $1.3 billion.

    Related Press Release:

    Ten Pharmaceutical Distributor Executives, Sales Representatives, and Brokers Charged in Connection with Unlawful Sales of Nearly 70M Opioid Pills

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Auckland Zoo and DOC sign new strategic partnership

    Source: Department of Conservation

    Date:  04 October 2024

    This evolved strategic partnership framework builds on and celebrates the respective strengths of the two organisations at the forefront of efforts to save native species and advocate for conservation and will identify new areas for collaboration. 

    For more than three decades, Auckland Zoo and DOC have collaborated on recovery programmes and fieldwork for some of our country’s most threatened bird, lizard, amphibian, and invertebrate species – from kākāpō, takahē, and tara iti, to pepeketua/Archey’s frog, kapitia and cobble skinks, and our largest giant wētā, the wētāpunga.

    Wētāpunga were once holding on by a thread on a lone Hauraki Gulf island. But with DOC and iwi support, a phenomenally successful breeding programme led by the Zoo has seen the release of more than 7,000 of these unique taonga onto eight pest-free islands across the upper North Island – including islands managed by DOC and mana whenua. Now self-sustaining on four Hauraki Gulf islands, these efforts have led to a positive revision of the species’ threat status.

    Auckland Zoo director Kevin Buley says so many of our native species remain dependent on human care to prevent their extinction.

    “Ongoing interventions such as pest control, fenced reserves, breeding programmes, animal translocations and veterinary support are the reason for their survival.

    “These kinds of intensive management skills are skills that Auckland Zoo, as a modern zoo and wildlife conservation science organisation, has been perfecting for decades. So, we’re hugely proud to be able to deploy them to compliment DOC’s knowledge and experience in recovery programmes for some of our most threatened invertebrate, reptile and bird species.

    “With DOC we also share wider ambitious longer-term aspirations and goals for wildlife and people. Our focus together is on creating a more sustainable future – where we all feel more part of nature than apart from nature, and where species are no longer reliant on intensive care to prevent their extinction,” says Kevin.

    “In order for us all to achieve this together, we need to reexamine our relationship with te taiao – the natural environment and all the species that we share it with. An experience at the Zoo helps provide an opportunity for people to connect with nature, to take time to connect with each other, and is a small but significant first step that we can all take to help tune back in to the world around us.”

    DOC Director-General Penny Nelson sees this milestone strategic partnership as a huge opportunity for conservation.

    “Today’s a chance to streamline how we work together and take advantage of our respective strengths, as we look at exciting new conservation projects to take on.

    “When we combine the Zoo’s expertise in breeding, rearing and specialist animal care with DOC’s knowledge and active management of wild conservation sites, we can recover species from the brink of extinction.

    “We are currently working together to do that for the tara iti/New Zealand fairy tern: the most endangered bird in Aotearoa with fewer than 35 adult birds surviving today. Intensive management is needed for these birds to have a chance of long-term survival.

    “For four years, Auckland Zoo has worked alongside DOC to collect, hatch and hand-rear chicks to boost the wild population. Fifteen tara iti have been safely raised and released to the wild by the Zoo so far, and last summer four incubated and Zoo-raised juveniles contributed to a record-breaking summer breeding season.

    “What’s more, a large part of conservation work is advocacy – connecting people and nature. Auckland Zoo, based in the heart of our most populated city, plays a fundamental role in connecting hundreds of thousands of people annually to the unique wildlife and habitats of Aotearoa. That connection can open the door for kiwis and overseas visitors alike to valuing nature and taking action to support our taonga species,” adds Penny.

    Fast facts about the Auckland Zoo and DOC partnership

    • Auckland Zoo has worked with DOC on 14 national recovery programmes for threatened species – ranging from tara iti, kākāriki karaka, tuatara and wētāpunga to mokomoko (including grand skinks, Otago skinks, kapitia skinks and cobble skinks).
    • More than 5000 hours a year spent by Auckland Zoo staff to breed and release endangered New Zealand animals.
      • 427 kiwi hatched at the Zoo and released to the wild as part of ONE (Operation Nest Egg).
      • 80 kākāriki karaka/orange-fronted parakeets hatched at the Zoo and released to the wild.
      • 43 whio/blue duck and 170 pāteke/brown teal hatched at the Zoo and released to the wild.
      • 7,000+ wētāpunga bred at Zoo and released onto pest-free islands in Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf and Northland’s Ipipiri islands (Bay of Islands).
      • 148 cobble skinks (rescued and Zoo-bred animals) destined for release back to safe areas on South Island’s West Coast in early 2025.
    • Since Sept 2011 (the Zoo’s Aotearoa NZ Track Te Wao Nui opening); Zoo staff have worked on 55 DOC field conservation projects across Aotearoa, contributing 28,500 hours.
    • Around 100 native wildlife patients each year are admitted to the Zoo’s vet hospital for specialist veterinary treatment and care.
      • Up to 10 kākāpō are treated each year as part of DOC’s Kākāpō Recovery programme.
      • Around 9 sea turtles are treated each year, primarily green sea turtles, two-thirds of which are successfully treated, rehabilitated at SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s and released back to the wild.

    Contact

    For media enquiries contact:

    Email: media@doc.govt.nz

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ricketts, Hagerty Urge Biden-Harris Administration to Protect U.S. Economic Interests from EU Regulatory Overreach

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Pete Ricketts (Nebraska)
    October 3, 2024
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Recently, U.S. Senators Pete Ricketts (R-NE) and Bill Hagerty (R-TN) sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and other Biden-Harris administration officials urging them to defend U.S. economic interests against the European Union regulatory encroachment.
    The European Union (EU) recently adopted its Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), which forces U.S. businesses to comply with European policies, or face severe penalties. CSDDD’s implementation raises serious concerns, including extraterritorial regulatory overreach, adverse impacts on supply chains, litigation risks, and unfeasible climate transition requirements.
    “The CSDDD’s extraterritorial scope amounts to a serious breach of U.S. sovereignty and a direct threat to the global competitiveness of American companies,” the members of Congress wrote. “We are deeply concerned that the [Biden-Harris] Administration is surrendering its regulatory responsibilities to European officials, allowing them to dictate draconian social and climate policies to American companies.”
    “The EU is attempting to mitigate the relative damage of its onerous regulatory framework by forcing Americans to bear the burden as well,” the members of Congress continued. “Any policies impacting U.S. businesses should be debated and determined by the elected representatives of the American people, not overseas bureaucrats advancing their own agendas.”
    In addition to Ricketts and Hagerty, the letter was co-signed by 64 other members of Congress. 
    Full text of the letter can be found here and below:
    Secretary Yellen,
    The European Union (EU) has long been known for implementing vague, broadly scoped, and complex regulations that hinder business growth and raise consumer costs. The EU’s longstanding regulatory overreach has had deleterious effects on its member states’ economies and diminished the competitiveness of their firms on the global stage. According to the International Monetary Fund, the Eurozone economy grew only 6% in the 15-year period ending in 2023, compared to 82% growth for the United States. European companies have been quick to identify overregulation as an impediment to growth; in one study, more than 60% of EU companies deemed regulation to be a barrier to investment, while 55% of small and medium-sized enterprises cited regulatory obstacles and administrative burdens as their greatest challenge.
    Now, the EU is attempting to impose its debilitating regulatory agenda on American companies through its Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (also known as “CSDDD” or “CS3D”). Formally adopted by the Council of the EU on May 24, 2024, the CSDDD will impose significant legal obligations on U.S. businesses. The directive effectively converts the U.N. Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights—and the provisions of three international human rights conventions, eight conventions of the International Labour Organization, eleven environmental law conventions, and the climate mitigation targets of the Paris Agreement—into binding laws. CSDDD will include governmental enforcement mechanisms, including the possibility of substantial monetary penalties, and will also create private rights of action for those adversely affected by violations. EU member states must implement regulations and administrative procedures required by the directive within two years. Many U.S. companies will be harmed by this enormous compliance burden. After EU member states incorporate the European Parliament’s broad legislation into their own national laws, the CSDDD will ultimately apply to U.S. multinational businesses with annual EU market revenue of more than €450 million, regardless of their corporate “footprint” in the EU. While the full effect of CSDDD may not be clear until the member states begin to transpose the regulations into their own laws and the EU provides additional guidance, it is clear that “in-scope” U.S. businesses will be forced to ensure that their supply chains and other business partners are compliant. Companies will need to “identify, prevent, mitigate and account for how they address actual and potential impacts in their operations, supply chains and other business relationships.” That is neither practical nor realistic—nor does it genuinely constitute “due diligence,” which is generally defined as review and analysis prior to actions being taken (e.g., “prevent” and “mitigate”). Notably, American companies will be required to comply with CSDDD even though the U.S. has not ratified many of the international conventions underlying the directive.
    The CSDDD’s extraterritorial scope amounts to a serious breach of U.S. sovereignty and a direct threat to the global competitiveness of American companies. Given this, the Biden-Harris Administration must meaningfully respond. Although you acknowledged the issue in your testimony before the House Financial Services Committee, there has been little evidence that the Administration has an effective strategy for engaging with European officials on the issue. To date, no other senior officials in the Biden-Harris Administration have expressed opposition to CSDDD despite the threat it poses to U.S. interests.
    We are deeply concerned that the Administration is surrendering its regulatory responsibilities to European officials, allowing them to dictate draconian social and climate policies to American companies. The EU is attempting to mitigate the relative damage of its onerous regulatory framework by forcing Americans to bear the burden as well. If implemented in any manner substantially similar to its current form, the CSDDD could force companies to divest or reduce ties with European businesses, causing significant economic harm to both the U.S. and EU.
    Any policies impacting U.S. businesses should be debated and determined by the elected representatives of the American people, not overseas bureaucrats advancing their own agendas. Accordingly, we strongly encourage you and your colleagues at the relevant federal agencies to actively and publicly engage with your counterparts in Brussels and EU member-state capitals to delay implementation of CSDDD and work with the new European Parliament to repeal or substantially modify the directive. Such action is necessary to preserve U.S. sovereignty and sustain America’s economic competitiveness.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: BNZ offers support for Otago customers affected by severe rainfall  

    Source: BNZ statements

    BNZ is offering an assistance package to customers affected by severe rainfall in the Otago region.  

    Available immediately, the assistance package includes:  

    • Ability to review home lending facilities on a case-by-case basis. 
    • Access to temporary personal overdrafts to support customers who require access to funds urgently while they await insurance pay-outs. Standard interest rates and credit criteria applies. 
    • Access to temporary overdrafts of up to $10,000 with no application fee for Small Business customers. Standard interest rates and credit criteria applies. 
    • Access to temporary overdrafts for Agri, Business, and Commercial customers up to $100,000, with no application fee. Standard interest rates and credit criteria applies. 

    “We understand the challenges that can be posed to households, businesses and communities as a result of severe weather events,” says Anna Flower, BNZ Executive Personal and Business Banking. 

    “We’ve put together a range of practical support options to help ease some of the immediate financial pressure our customers might be facing. 

    “We also have a range of other options available, especially for customers who are facing hardship, so I encourage people to get in touch so we can see how we can help,” says Flower. 

    To discuss support options, business and agribusiness customers should reach out to their BNZ Partner. Small business owners can call 0800 BNZSME, while personal banking customers can access support through BNZ’s digital platforms or by calling 0800 ASKBNZ. 

    BNZ PremierCare Insurance customers who need assistance can call IAG NZ on 0800 248 888 or submit an online claim https://iagnz.custhelp.com/app/bnz  

    With local authorities in Otago, including Civil Defence, advising locals to avoid any unnecessary travel, BNZ is temporarily closing its Dunedin branches and Partner Centre. 

    “It’s important that our customers and our BNZers stay safe. Our teams in Dunedin can work from home and our people who would normally be working in our branches will instead be available to support customers via telephone banking and they continue to do their banking online or through our BNZ app,” says Flower.  

    BNZ’s ATM network in the affected areas remains operational, ensuring customers have continued access to cash and basic banking services. 

    Customers can check whether their local BNZ branch is open here: http://www.bnz.co.nz/locations 

    The post BNZ offers support for Otago customers affected by severe rainfall   appeared first on BNZ Debrief.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Coastal Otago highways under red weather warning – NZTA urges people to assess their travel plans

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) is urging drivers to plan ahead and check the latest road conditions, with rainfall in Otago expected to intensify overnight, making driving and road conditions challenging through until Friday evening.

    “The best thing people can do is plan-ahead and avoid unnecessary travel which is now the advice from the Emergency Management Otago (EMO),” says NZTA Journey Manager Tresca Forrester.

    “Would be travellers on coastal Otago highways should stay up to date with Met Service, Emergency Management Otago, their local councils, and regularly check the NZTA’s Journey Planner.

    NZTA Journey Planner(external link)

    “Our main priority is the safety of all road users on the road.  NZTA urges essential travel only on coastal Otago highways, as roads during this prolonged weather event could close at any time. Our crews are ready to respond, are monitoring the situation and know the highway risk points.

    “Those who have to drive need to be aware that the ground in all of Otago and Southland is saturated, following weeks of rain. This increases the risk of surface flooding in other parts of the network not covered by the red weather warning.”

    Please obey any signage and advice on the road – slow down in flood waters as this causes bow waves into properties and other vehicles.

    Highway conditions for Otago – NZTA Journey Planner(external link)

    MetService

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Strengthening resilience with critical road improvement projects

    Source: New Zealand Government

    The Government has approved a $226.2 million package of resilience improvement projects for state highways and local roads across the country that will reduce the impact of severe weather events and create a more resilient and efficient road network, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.

    “Our Government is committed to delivering infrastructure that boosts economic growth, reduces congestion, and enables Kiwis and freight to get where they want to go, quickly and safely.

    “In recent years we have seen the terrible consequences that severe weather events can have on important transport networks across the country. It’s critical that improvements are made to strengthen our transport infrastructure against future severe weather events.”

    Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have jointly approved a $132 million investment through the Crown Resilience Programme into 101 state highway projects across the country that will commence during 2024-27. An additional $74.6 million will also be invested in local road projects across 34 councils.

    “Funding of almost $16 million will address flooding risk across four critical Auckland state highway projects. Over $25 million will be invested across 30 state highway projects in the Waikato, including a retaining wall upgrade in the Karangahake Gorge and critical erosion work alongside the Waikato River and in the Hikuai Hills.

    “Our Government has approved over $30 million to be invested across the South Island through the Crown Resilience Programme, including drainage improvements and underslip repairs in the Whangamoa Hill and Rai Saddle, and rockfall work at the Bens Creek bridge on the West Coast.

    “While this critical programme of works is focused on small to medium level projects, we’re taking a proactive approach to increase the resilience of our network. Rather than just reacting to severe weather events, we are building resilience now to ensure that our infrastructure is strong in the face of future challenges.

    “Our roads are critical for freight and tourism, and serve as important lifelines for communities around New Zealand. We must maintain these assets to the standard Kiwis need and expect, particularly in rural and remote locations where alternative routes are not available.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch, Hoeven, Smith Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Help New and Young Farmers Access Farm Ownership Loans

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) introduced the Farm Ownership Improvement Act, bipartisan legislation to help new and young farmers access the funding needed to purchase new land by establishing a pre-approval or pre-qualification process for loans secured through the USDA’s Farm Service Agency. 
    “Access to land is one of the most important—and expensive—factors to success for new and young farmers. USDA loans can help farmers mitigate these costs, but rising land values and an increasingly fast-paced real estate market often leave farmers unable to compete. We need a solution that ensures agricultural lending options meet the needs of underserved farmers and ranchers who often lack the connections needed to secure these crucial funds,” said Senator Welch. “Our bill streamlines access to USDA financing so that more young farmers and ranchers can access crucial funds to start and sustain their businesses.” 
    “Currently, approval for an FSA farm ownership loan can take up to six months to process, putting producers that utilize this program at a huge disadvantage when trying to purchase farmland,” said Senator Hoeven. “Our legislation directs FSA to create a pilot program to establish a pre-approval process for FSA direct ownership loans. Having a pre-approved FSA loan will enable farmers, including young and beginning producers, to act quickly when farmland becomes available and make them more competitive in the real estate market.” 
    “Farmers and producers are the backbone of Minnesota’s economy,” said Senator Smith. “This legislation would reduce barriers for purchasing land, repairing current operations, and building capital. Meeting farmers where they are and tearing down barriers that impede their success will keep our agricultural economy thriving.”
    The Farm Ownership Improvement Act also requires USDA to provide Congress with an annual report on the pilot program’s performance outcomes and coordinate outreach with stakeholder organizations to spread awareness about the program. By offering a pre-qualification or pre-approval process to direct farm ownership applicants, FSA will help level the playing field for applicants seeking land, particularly among the next generation of farmers and ranchers. 
    The Farm Ownership Improvement Act is endorsed by the National Young Farmers Coalition, National Farmers Union, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, National Family Farm Coalition, and Rural Coalition. 
    “As first-generation ranchers, my husband and I were incredibly fortunate to have had a relationship with the sellers of our property. We were mentored in the early years of our business leasing the same property, which meant the seller was willing to be patient with the long and sometimes arduous process involved with getting FSA loan approval. However, not every beginning farmer has the luck we had buying from someone we had a great relationship with. With the current lack of an FSA pre-approval process, new farmers are at a huge disadvantage when buying land in competition with people who are able to access conventional mortgages or purchase in cash,” said Evanne Caviness, Associate Field Director for the National Young Farmers Coalition, and Colorado rancher. “This pilot initiative to allow the FSA to give farmers and ranchers a competitive edge in an increasingly challenging market will help save farmland from going out of production or being developed and will keep it where it belongs: in the hands of our country’s farmers.”
    “I’ve built a viable business from the ground up on rented land, but my partner and I don’t have access to generational wealth or high-income careers to pivot from and pursue farming full-time,” said Michelle Week of Xast Sqit (Good Rain) Farm, greater Portland Oregon. “Traditional lenders don’t recognize our lifestyle or business model, so we don’t qualify for standard loans. In the Portland, Oregon metro area and SW Washington counties, land prices are increasing, and while retiring farmers want to pass their land to people like us, they can’t afford to wait. Several farmers have approached me, but I can’t access the capital fast enough to meet their financial needs to address health and relocation costs. With FSA Pre-Approval we’d be better positioned to make offers and purchase our forever farmland, supporting retiring farmers, continuing to nourish our communities and to better stabilize and grow our farm operations. It’s a win all around.” 
    “This bill is a great opportunity to strengthen USDA relationships with organizations already working with beginning farmers and ranchers. Access to land and credit are the main priorities for agrarian entrepreneurs and relying on their serving trusted organizations will secure the success of the pilot program,” said Antonio Tovar, Senior Policy Associate for the National Family Farm Coalition. 
    “Access to affordable land is essential for the success of all farmers, and it’s an especially pressing challenge for young and beginning farmers,” said Rob Larew, President of National Farmers Union. “NFU appreciates Senators Welch and Hoeven for introducing the Farm Ownership Improvement Act. By piloting a new process for the USDA Farm Service Agency’s direct ownership loan program, this bill would help make the dream of owning farmland a reality for more of the next generation of family farmers and ranchers.” 
    Learn more about the Farm Ownership Improvement Act. 
    Read the full text of the bill. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Doubling road rehabilitation this summer to prevent potholes

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Kiwis will see fewer potholes on our roads with road rehabilitation set to more than double through the summer road maintenance programme to ensure that our roads are maintained to a safe and reliable standard, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. 

    “Increasing productivity to help rebuild our economy is a key priority for the Government, and boosting pothole repairs and prevention will deliver a safe and reliable network that will support this growth. 

    “The thousands of Kiwi motorists and freight operators driving on our state highways every day have become all too aware of the shocking number of potholes on our roads. 

    “Our Government has inherited a significant backlog of road maintenance across the country. We are now catching up on the maintenance deficit to ensure that Kiwis and freight can get to where they want to go, quickly and safely.” 

    The Government’s Pothole Prevention Fund will deliver a total of 285.6 lane kilometres of rehabilitation work over the coming summer months – a 124 per cent increase compared to last year.   

    “Rehabilitation involves full width repairs of our existing roads, and renews the life of the roading pavement, rather than simply filling in potholes. Long lasting rehabilitation work that strengthens the network and prevents potholes from forming in the first place is critical to lifting the quality of our roading network and has a much longer lasting impact than re-sealing the road. 

    “In recent years, investment has not kept pace with the amount of work required to maintain the network, resulting in cutbacks to rehabilitation work while quick fixes have been prioritised.  

    “This has resulted in increasingly rapid deterioration of the road network across the country. To reverse this decline, our Government is prioritising rehabilitation work alongside a significant resealing programme.  

    “Our Government is focused on getting back to basics and has boosted funding for pothole prevention on our state highways by 91 per cent compared to the previous three years. This funding is ringfenced for resealing, rehabilitation, and drainage maintenance works to ensure that maintenance funds are used to fix and prevent potholes.  

    “Our state highways are critically important to increasing productivity and unlocking economic growth. The Government is committed to increasing maintenance and renewals to tackle and prevent potholes so that Kiwis and freight can get to where they want to go, quickly and safely.”  

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: New appointment to the EPA board

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Environment Minister Penny Simmonds has confirmed the final appointee to the refreshed Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) board.

    “I am pleased to welcome Brett O’Riley to the EPA board,” Ms Simmonds says.

    “Brett is a seasoned business advisor with a long and distinguished career across the technology, tourism, and sustainable business sectors.

    “His extensive experience across multiple sectors, combined with his governance expertise, leadership and deep commitment to innovation, will be a tremendous asset to the board.”

    Brett O’Riley is currently the Executive Chairman of Manawaroa Education and a member of the APEC Business Advisory Council. He also serves as Managing Partner of GSD Corporation and is an advisor at Tata Consultancy Services, where he assists in delivering consulting and business solutions that leverage technology for business transformation.

    He has been appointed for a three-year term, which will conclude in August 2027. 

    Brett O’Riley joins other recently appointed first-term board members Barry O’Neil, Jennifer Scoular, Alison Stewart, and Nancy Tuaine, all of whom are also serving three-year terms.

    “I look forward to working closely with Brett and the rest of the refreshed board to achieve balanced outcomes that protect the environment while supporting key industries.”

    The EPA is New Zealand’s national environmental regulator and plays a vital role across the entire economy.

    “EPA decisions impact the daily lives of all New Zealanders,” Ms Simmonds says.

    “It’s critical to have timely, businesslike decision-making for the agriculture and horticulture sector, alongside ensuring positive environmental outcomes.” 

    Notes to editors: 

    Mr Brett O’Riley has a long career as a business advisor and entrepreneur across the technology, tourism and sustainable business sectors. He is currently the Executive Chairman of Manawaroa Education, a member of the APEC Business Advisory Council, Managing Partner of GSD Corporation, and is an advisor at Tata Consultancy Services that provides consulting and business solutions, leveraging technology for business transformation and change. He was previously a Board member of the New Zealand Film Commission and a member of Te Pūkenga Establishment Board. He has held several executive roles including as Chief Executive of the Employers and Manufacturers Association, Auckland Tourism, Events & Economic Development and founding Chief Executive of NZICT (now NZTech). Mr O’Riley will bring extensive governance experience and expertise in business transformation through technology and change to the Board.

    Further information: New appointments to the EPA board | Beehive.govt.nz

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murphy Statement On NLRB’s Complaint Calling Out Amazon For Illegally Refusing To Bargain With Workers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy

    October 03, 2024

    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, on Thursday released a statement on the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) complaint against Amazon accusing the company of illegally refusing to negotiate with Teamsters representing delivery drivers employed by one of its Delivery Service Partners (DSP). In its complaint, the NLRB claims Amazon violated its responsibility as a joint employer of its delivery drivers by taking retaliatory and threatening action against employees and terminating its contract with the DSP after the drivers unionized.
    “Amazon has made billions on the backs of the hard-working drivers who deliver their packages, but when those drivers tried to organize for better wages and working conditions, the company refused to negotiate and eventually fired them. For years, Amazon has hidden behind this absurd claim that drivers delivering Amazon packages in Amazon-branded vans—even wearing Amazon-branded vests— aren’t Amazon employees in order to avoid being held responsible for their safety and well-being. The NLRB has already determined that Amazon is a joint-employer of these drivers, and this complaint is a really important step in holding Amazon and other greedy corporations accountable and protecting workers’ right to negotiate for the fair pay, safe conditions, and dignified employment they deserve,” said Murphy.
    In August, Murphy released a statement applauding the NLRB’s finding that Amazon is a joint employer of its delivery drivers. In January, Murphy led a bipartisan letter to Amazon CEO Andy Jassy demanding information about the Delivery Service Partner (DSP) program, including Amazon’s justification for refusing to bargain with union representatives of DSP employees and requiring DSPs to sign non-poaching agreements. After receiving a response from Amazon that was unresponsive to the questions asked, at odds with publicly available data and reporting, and apparently self-contradictory, Murphy led 33 of his colleagues in calling on Amazon to provide the information requested by the members. In early August, Murphy and Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.-12) led 25 of their colleagues in Congress in sending a letter to the NLRB encouraging the Board to reach a decision in several key cases of unfair labor practices brought against Amazon by delivery drivers across the country.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: On October 4, Mikhail Mishustin will present Government awards in the field of education

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

    On October 4, Mikhail Mishustin will present Government awards in the field of education. The event will be attended by the Minister of Science and Higher Education Valery Falkov.

    * * *

    By the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of August 28, 2013 No. 744 10 annual prizes in the field of education have been established. They are awarded to individual laureates or a group of authors (up to five people) by decision of the Government based on proposals from the Interdepartmental Council for Awarding Government Prizes in the Field of Education.

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

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    http://government.ru/annuncements/52887/

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warren Demands John Deere Explain “Disgraceful” Attempts to Prevent Farmers from Repairing Their Own Equipment

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    October 03, 2024
    Raises Concern about Company Undermining Right-to-Repair Agreements, Violating Clean Air Act
    Repair restrictions like John Deere’s hurt farmers and consumers across the country; cost American farmers $4.2 billion per year
    “John Deere has repeatedly interfered with farmers’ ability to repair the equipment they own, including by blocking independent repairs to maximize profit, negotiating an MOU in bad faith, and failing to inform farmers of their rights in potential violation of the Clean Air Act.”
    Text of Letter (PDF)
    Boston, MA – U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) wrote to Deere & Company (John Deere) accusing the company of undermining its own “right-to-repair” agreements and evading its responsibilities under the Clean Air Act by failing to grant its customers the right to repair their own agricultural equipment. 
    John Deere restricts farmers from repairing broken equipment themselves, even when they have the knowledge and tools to do so, instead forcing them to wait for weeks until a John Deere technician is available, and risking missed crop windows on which farmers’ livelihoods rely. In Massachusetts, there are just three John Deere dealerships for 470,000 acres of farm operations, or 2,400 farms per dealership. Farmers nationwide lose an average of $3,348 per year “directly tied to downtime and repair restrictions imposed by equipment manufacturers.” Repair restrictions cost U.S. farmers $4.2 billion per year.
    “While John Deere’s profits spike thanks to this strategy, farmers suffer,” wrote Senator Warren.
    In fact, by overcharging for repair services, John Deere has seen its profits streaming in. Since 2020 the company has seen a 270% increase in profits, despite labor strikes, supply disruptions, a drop in sales, and a global pandemic. 
    After years of legal battles, in January 2023, John Deere signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) promising to provide farmers and independent repair shops with the diagnostic tools and information they need to make repairs to their machines. But the MOU appeared to be a veiled attempt to hold off the passage of “right-to-repair” legislation. In exchange for pledges to provide the information and tools needed for farmers to make repairs, John Deere secured a politically valuable promise from the American Farm Bureau Federation to encourage American farmers not to introduce, promote, or support federal or state right-to-repair legislation that imposed obligations beyond the MOU’s commitments. 
    John Deere is not upholding its side of the bargain, and appears to have negotiated the MOU in bad faith. Rather than allow farmers meaningful opportunity to repair their equipment, John Deere has provided inadequate tools and disclosures.
    The software tool offered to farmers redacts or obfuscates functions and information required to complete repairs. Further, earlier this year, John Deere admitted to omitting a legally required addendum about repair rights from its manuals. 
    The exclusion of this information may violate the Clean Air Act, which requires manufacturers to “provide in boldface type on the first page of the written maintenance instructions notice that maintenance, replacement, or repair … may be performed by any automotive repair establishment or individual.” The EPA warned John Deere that its manuals were not in compliance with EPA regulations.
    “John Deere has repeatedly interfered with farmers’ ability to repair the equipment they own, including by blocking independent repairs to maximize profit, negotiating an MOU in bad faith, and failing to inform farmers of their rights in potential violation of the Clean Air Act,” wrote Senator Warren. “Deere’s attempts to stave off right-to-repair reforms that would save American farmers $4.2 billion per year are disgraceful.”
    Senator Warren asked John Deere to respond to questions related to the company’s repair restrictions and apparent failure to comply with the law by October 17, 2024. 
    Senator Warren has repeatedly sought to bolster competition and fight back against costly restrictions on repairs for cars, military equipment, and other goods: 
    In September 2024, Senator Elizabeth Warren sent two letters regarding the costly restrictions imposed on the Department of Defense that bar the military from repairing its own military equipment and instead force it to pay billions of dollars extra to military contractors.
    In July 2024, Senator Elizabeth Warren included a provision in the Senate Fiscal Year 2025 NDAA that would require contractors to provide DoD with “fair and reasonable” access to repair materials.
    In August 2023, Senator Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey (D-Mass.), celebrated the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reversing course and allowing enforcement of Massachusetts’ pro-consumer Right to Repair law. 
    In June 2023, Senator Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) called on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to reverse its course after it sent a recent letter to auto manufacturers, advising them not to comply with Massachusetts’ Right to Repair law. 
    In February 2022, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Angus King (I-Maine), and Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) urged the Department of Health and Human Services to move forward with the march-in petition submitted for the prostate cancer drug Xtandi.
    In July 2021, Senator Warren and Representative Doggett (D-Texas) sent a letter to the Department of Defense requesting information about steps taken to reduce costs of DoD-funded prescription drugs and medical products.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warren, Blumenthal Push Department of Justice to Hold Boeing Executives Accountable for Deadly Safety Failures

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    October 03, 2024
    Lawmakers urge DOJ to investigate Boeing executives’ behavior, criminally prosecute those responsible for crashes
    “For too long, corporate executives have routinely escaped prosecution for criminal misconduct… This coddling comes at the expense of customer and worker safety.”
    Text of Letter (PDF)
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) wrote to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate Boeing executives following years of promoting short-term profit over passenger safety. In the letter, the lawmakers urge the DOJ to review the behavior and potential culpability of Boeing’s executives, and criminally prosecute those responsible.
    The letter comes as years of safety issues involving Boeing planes – including the fatal Boeing 737 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019 – have continued to raise alarm about Boeing’s corporate culture. As recently as last week, the National Transportation Safety Board was forced to issue “urgent safety recommendations” for Boeing’s 737 aircraft line due to mechanical issues. Even amidst these continued failures, the Department of Justice has not criminally prosecuted those individuals responsible for harms to deliver justice and hold Boeing accountable. In July 2024, Boeing agreed to plead guilty to a felony charge of conspiring to defraud the federal government, but DOJ did not take the company to trial or charge individual executives. The deal included an additional fine, commitments to update compliance and safety processes, and oversight by a safety monitor for three years.
    “For years, the federal government has accused Boeing of putting profits over passenger safety, without pursuing full accountability from the company or the company’s executives directly responsible for compromising passenger safety,” the lawmakers wrote. “[T]he combination of a relatively small fine coupled with a toothless commitment to improve aircraft safety has proven insufficient to effect real change at the company.”
    In October 2023, Senator Warren called on the DOJ to immediately reverse its newly unveiled “safe harbor” policy, which would offer a “get-out-of-jail-free” card for mergers involving corporate white-collar criminals. Deputy Attorney General Monaco justified the policy, later noting that “[t]he rule of law demands that those most culpable for a company’s misconduct are the ones being charged, prosecuted, and convicted.”
    “For too long, corporate executives have routinely escaped prosecution for criminal misconduct. This coddling comes at the expense of customer and worker safety, and it must end,” wrote the lawmakers.
    After 346 people died in two Boeing 737 MAX plane crashes due to apparent failures in the MCAS flight stabilization system, the DOJ deferred prosecution, instead negotiating a deal to resolve criminal charges. This year, after the DOJ found that Boeing violated the terms of the deal, Boeing entered a plea agreement. Again, the DOJ failed to hold any Boeing executives accountable for the serious failures — and since the fatal 737 MAX crashes, countless more safety concerns have surfaced.
    “The deadly crashes and reporting on safety issues since 2018 have shined a spotlight on Boeing’s corporate culture of prioritizing profits at the expense of safety…DOJ must do its part to bring the individuals responsible for Boeing’s safety failures to justice,” wrote the lawmakers.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Brown Slams U.S. Steel Executives for Corporate Greed in Nippon Steel Deal

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Ohio Sherrod Brown
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) backed the United Steelworkers (USW) and called out the executives of the United States Steel Corporation for selling out American steelworkers in exchange for a large payout if acquired by Nippon Steel.
    U.S. Steel executives will receive significant financial compensation if the merger of Nippon and U.S. Steel is completed. According to the March 12 proxy asking investors to approve U.S. Steel’s current and former top executives would receive payments totaling over $156 million – not including $40.8 million in payments to non-employee board members.
    “If these reports are accurate, they demonstrate a repulsive conflict of interest in which U.S. Steel executives can enrich themselves at the expense of U.S. Steel workers,” wrote the senators.
    “U.S. Steel was not in distress when it first received an unsolicited bid, and it is not in distress today,” wrote the senators. “But if a merger is desired, there is no need for you to sell the company to a foreign-owned entity, as U.S. Steel has also received an alternative offer from a domestic steelmaker.”
    However, just this month, U.S. Steel threatened to move the company’s headquarters out of Pittsburgh and take thousands of jobs with it if the deal with Nippon fails.
    “You claimed that these would be ‘unavoidable consequences’ if the deal is not completed,” the senators continued. “Far from being ‘unavoidable’, your threats are unjustified and unfair to U.S. Steel’s workers who have strengthened the company’s performance and helped mark U.S. Steel’s ‘second-best financial performance in the (c)ompany’s history’ only two years ago.”
    U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) joined Brown on the letter.
    Sen. Brown has warned against the sale since its announcement. He pushed the Administration to examine the relationship between Nippon Steel and the Chinese steel industry and the threat it posed to domestic steel production. He sounded the alarm that Nippon’s purchase of U.S. Steel would jeopardize the United States’ ability to enforce trade laws, seriously harming America’s capability to level the playing field. He joined Steelworkers in Cleveland to keep the pressure on the Administration to block the deal.
    Last month, Brown called out the Administration’s delay in blocking Nippon Steel’s purchase of U.S. Steel.
    The full letter is HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –