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MIL-OSI New Zealand: Business – Ārohia Trailblazers set to forge path to global markets

Source: Callaghan Innovation

Callaghan Innovation will support seven trailblazing Kiwi businesses with bold ideas to succeed in global markets, while forging new pathways for like-minded Kiwi innovators.

Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology, Judith Collins announced the Ārohia Trailblazer grant recipients at the New Zealand Aerospace Summit today in Christchurch.

Callaghan Innovation has allocated $17.5 million in co-funding to Astrix Astronautics, Basis NZ, Emrod, Fabrum Solutions, Toku Eyes, Zincovery Process Technologies and Zenno Astronautics. The Ārohia Trailblazer

Innovation Grant supports businesses that are benefiting the Aotearoa New Zealand innovation ecosystem, and have global potential.

“Congratulations to these Kiwi innovators who have developed these impressive, and ambitious innovations with the potential for success here and in global markets.

“We look forward to following their success as they inspire and enable other, like-minded ambitious innovators,” says Callaghan Innovation Chief Product Officer, Brett Calton.

“These trailblazers represent diverse sectors, including HealthTech, CleanTech and aerospace, that are growing and have the potential to make a bigger impact globally.”

About the recipients:

Astrix Astronautics
Astronautics | Auckland | astrix.space

Astrix Astronautics design unique, reliable high performance power systems for small satellites using a state-of-the art inflatable deployment mechanism that delivers solar power to mega-constellations.

Basis NZ Limited
Cleantech | Auckland | wearebasis.com

Basis has developed the world’s first residential Smart Panel, enabling homeowners to reduce their electricity costs, make their homes dramatically safer and lower barriers to adopting electrification technologies (EV, battery & solar).

Emrod Limited
Hi-tech Engineering | Auckland | emrod.energy

Emrod is pioneering the transition to a wireless, global energy network. Its technology is hardware for wirelessly sending large amounts of power over long distances, safely and efficiently. Just as the internet transformed communication, wireless power will transform the world’s ability to generate and use energy.

Fabrum Solutions Limited
Hi-tech Engineering | Christchurch | fabrum.nz

The fundamental technologies that Fabrum has developed leverage over 20 years of composite and cryogenic discovery. The company has developed a very desirable library of patents and trade secrets, including cryocoolers, refuelling technologies, liquefiers and storage systems for hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen and LNG. Fabrum operates around the globe with 80% of its product made in New Zealand and exported globally.

Toku Eyes Limited
Healthtech | Auckland | tokueyes.com

Toku has developed a product that can identify individuals with elevated chronic kidney disease risk (CKD) using retinal fundus images only. Commercialisation of this AI medical device will remove the need for blood and urine test to identify high-risk CKD individuals, enabling preventative care to avoid costly debilitating kidney failure.

Zincovery Process Technologies Limited
Cleantech | Christchurch | zincovery.com

Zincovery is looking to bring the first 100% recycled, low carbon and high purity zinc product to the market. This is enabled by their innovative zinc recycling technology that avoids the use of fossil fuels, reducing emissions by up to 95% and processing costs by 45%.

Zenno Astronautics Limited
Astronautics | Auckland | zenno.space

Zenno is building the future of agile and sustainable operations in space. They have developed a patented technology based on superconducting magnets that enables spacecraft operators to reduce their costs while also increasing their mission value.

For more information visit: arohia.govt.nz

About Callaghan Innovation

Callaghan Innovation is New Zealand’s innovation agency. It activates innovation and helps businesses grow faster for a better New Zealand. The government agency partners with ambitious businesses of all sizes, delivering a range of innovation and research and development (R&D) services to suit each stage of their growth. Its staff – including more than 150 of New Zealand’s leading scientists and engineers – empower innovators by connecting people, opportunities and networks, and providing tailored technical solutions, skills and capability development programmes, and grants co-funding. Callaghan Innovation also enhances the operation of New Zealand’s innovation ecosystem, working closely with MBIE, NZTE, NZVIF, Crown Research Institutes, and other organisations that help increase business investment in R&D and innovation. The agency operates from five urban offices and a regional partner network in a further 12 locations across Aotearoa.

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Charge laid following threatening email, Andersons Bay, Dunedin

Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

A teenager is due to appear in court after a threatening email was sent to Bayfield High School this morning.

Police were alerted to the incident at 8.17am.

Around 550 students and staff from the college were escorted from the premises with assistance from Police.

At around 1.30pm this afternoon, Police executed a search warrant at a Dunedin property where the youth was arrested without incident.

“We understand incidents like this can be distressing, and we hope this arrest can provide reassurance to the community,” says Detective Senior Sergeant Nik Leigh.

Police is providing those involved with support and will continue to investigate what has taken place.

A 16-year-old is due to appear in Dunedin Youth Court on Thursday 26 September, facing a charge of threatening to kill.

“Police is working with the school and further charges may be likely.”

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: FS promotes HK-Spain ties

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Financial Secretary Paul Chan, on a visit to Spain, has called on the Plenary of the City Council of Madrid, a local innovation and technology centre, and a Spanish innovation accelerator and venture capital fund.

Mr Chan yesterday met President of Madrid’s City Council Plenary Francisco de Borja Fanjul Fernandez-Pita to discuss strengthening co-operation between Madrid and Hong Kong.

Briefing the president on developments in Hong Kong across various sectors, Mr Chan highlighted that, with staunch support from China’s central government, the “one country, two systems” arrangement will continue to be implemented in Hong Kong over the long run.

The finance chief emphasised that Hong Kong will maintain an international, open and friendly business environment and practise the common law.

He said he hoped the two places can continue to nurture mutually beneficial co-operation in areas such as finance, innovation and technology (I&T), culture, and education.

He also invited Spanish enterprises to invest in Hong Kong and leverage its advantages to explore the vast markets of the Greater Bay Area, Mainland China more broadly, and Asia.

Yesterday afternoon, Mr Chan called on Chinese Ambassador to Spain Yao Jing. Mr Chan briefed the ambassador on Hong Kong’s latest situation, as well as its development direction and strategies.

They also discussed economic and trade co-operation between China and Spain, and the promotion of business and I&T collaboration between Hong Kong and Spain.

Mr Chan then met Director General of the Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnologico y la Innovacion (CDTI) Jose Moises Martin Carretero.

The CDTI provides funding support for projects aligned with Spain’s I&T development strategy, and promotes technological co-operation between Spain and other countries and regions.

Mr Chan highlighted the progress Hong Kong has made in recent years through investing substantially in I&T, as well as the support provided by Hong Kong’s full-spectrum financial services to I&T enterprises and projects at various stages of their development.

The two men also exchanged ideas around strengthening co-operation in technology projects and matching funds with projects.

Mr Chan also led a delegation of Hong Kong technology startup on a visit to Wayra, one of Spain’s innovation accelerators and venture capital funds. Speaking to investment team leaders, he discussed ways to promote mutual co-operation.

During the visit, Mr Chan was given an introduction to Wayra’s operations and development strategies. Through its global network, Wayra helps startups connect with technology and capital worldwide, and provides guidance to help them expand their markets.

Mr Chan said he hoped his visit would facilitate better connections between the I&T ecosystems of both places and help startups leverage opportunities for collaboration.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Remarks by CE at media session before ExCo

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Following are the remarks by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at a media session before the Executive Council meeting today (September 24):

Reporter: My first question is, as the SNSO (Safeguarding National Security Ordinance) has stated that the CE has the power to issue a certificate to certify if a court case concerns national security, yesterday the court has heard that you have issued such a certificate for the HKU Students’ Union Council case. So how many of such certificates have been issued in the past, and what cases were involved? My second question is, a French photojournalist working for the Associated Press was denied entry to Hong Kong earlier this month. What are the reasons behind and will it impact Hong Kong’s image as an international city? Lastly, is there a time frame for Hong Kong to lift the ban on Japanese food imports after Beijing has agreed to lift the ban? Thank you.

Chief Executive: The Chief Executive certificate was issued in accordance with the law. It has been issued more than once, and it is issued whenever it is considered necessary, but all procedures for national security cases will be done in strict accordance with legal procedures and the relevant laws. I want to repeat again: we will deal with national security offences seriously, and we will enforce the law without hesitation, because national security offences are serious. I think we are doing this in the same way as what other jurisdictions are doing in connection with safeguarding national security.

Regarding the issue of discharge of radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea, I am aware that the relevant authorities of China and Japan have recently reached a consensus, and the consensus reads like this: the Japanese side will fulfil its obligation to avoid negative impacts on health and the environment and will continue to carry out impact assessments on the marine environment and ecosystems. Japan will establish a long-term international monitoring arrangement under the framework of the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) to ensure China’s participation, independent sampling, monitoring, and inter-laboratory comparisons. The two sides will commence science-based dialogue in the interest of life, health and the ecological environment. After the implementation of the independent sampling and monitoring activities, China will, based on the scientific evidence, consider to adjust the relevant measures. The Hong Kong SAR Government has all along accorded top priority to safeguard health and safety of the Hong Kong people. We emphasise scientific evidence. We have contacted the Commissioner’s Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Hong Kong SAR for more information and have also contacted the Consul-General of Japan for more details to ensure that the Hong Kong SAR Government will have access to sufficient scientific data and evidence to consider any adjustment possibility.

Regarding your question, all entries into Hong Kong must be considered in accordance with the prevailing immigration policies and relevant laws. The Immigration Department is doing the same as all other immigration authorities are doing in other jurisdictions; that is, they will look at the entries’ characteristics and examine the entries in accordance with the policies and the laws. I think individuals will be considered according to their own cases, and we are doing it in no way different from other jurisdictions. Thank you.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.)

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI USA: Rubio, Scott Support Florida Request for Pre-landfall Emergency Declaration

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Florida Marco Rubio

Rubio, Scott Support Florida Request for Pre-landfall Emergency Declaration
Sep 23, 2024 | Press Releases

Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine, soon to be Hurricane Helene, is expected to make landfall in Florida as a major hurricane later this week. The storm will bring strong winds, heavy rain, severe storm surge, flooding, and hazardous seas to Florida’s impacted areas. Additionally, this inclement weather has the potential to cause isolated tornadic activity across Florida.
U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Rick Scott (R-FL) sent a letter to President Joe Biden urging his immediate approval of the State of Florida’s request for a pre-landfall emergency declaration for 41 counties.
“Ensuring that the state has access to the federal resources it needs is imperative to protecting Floridians, property, and our communities. As such, we request that you promptly approve Governor DeSantis’s request for a pre-landfall emergency declaration.”
The full text of the letter is below.
Dear Mr. President:
We write in support of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s request for a pre-landfall emergency declaration for 41 of Florida’s counties due to Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine (Helene), which is expected to strengthen into a major hurricane and impact Florida in the coming days.
Currently, Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine (Helene) is expected to make landfall on Florida’s Gulf coast by Thursday afternoon. In addition to strong winds and heavy rain, this approaching storm is expected to bring severe storm surge, flooding, hazardous seas, and the potential for isolated tornadic activity across Florida. Although Florida is no stranger to hurricanes, this storm approaches as many areas of the Florida Big Bend coastline remain particularly vulnerable to tropical-related impacts due to damage caused by Hurricane Debby in August.
Ensuring that the state has access to the federal resources it needs is imperative to protecting Floridians, property, and our communities. As such, we request that you promptly approve Governor DeSantis’s request for a pre-landfall emergency declaration.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,

MIL OSI USA News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Translation: Next training 2024 “Minimum wage in Geneva”

MIL OSI Translation. Government of the Republic of France statements from French to English –

Source: Switzerland – Canton Government of Geneva in French

The cantonal office for inspection and labor relations (OCIRT) organizes face-to-face or webinar training courses throughout the year. They are primarily aimed at private sector companies, workers and specialists in the OCIRT’s fields of activity. Most of them are free of charge and aim to raise your awareness and facilitate your adaptation to legal standards. Some of them are eligible for training credits.

Date, time and place

Tuesday, October 29, 20242:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Free Webinar

Registration

Register by consulting our catalog:www.ge.ch/c/formations-ocirt-inscription.

Animation

Mr. Karim TheurillatLabor InspectorDepartment of Economy and Employment (DEE)Cantonal Office of Inspection and Labor Relations (OCIRT)5, rue David-Dufour1205 GenevaT 41 22 388 29 29karim.theurillat@etat.ge.ch

Program

Welcome and introduction

Mr. Marco Treglia (OCIRT)

General

Basic elements

Controls and sanctions

Mr. Karim Theurillat (OCIRT)

Questions/Discussion

All (chat and/or microphone)

Documentation

It will be available after the webinar.

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

MIL Translation OSI

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Translation: 500 Years of the Three Leagues Free State – Diet in Valchava, Val Müstair

MIL OSI Translation. Region: Italy –

Source: Switzerland – Canton Government of Grisons in Italian

The Diet of 6 October 2024 in Val Müstair will be the seventh and final Diet in the 500th anniversary celebrations. The whole day on Sunday will be dedicated to gratitude towards nature and history, but there will also be time for fun and celebration.

Even before the founding of the Free State of the Three Leagues, Val Müstair was an important transit and trade route. However, the valley has also been the scene of dramatic war events on several occasions. In its anniversary year, the municipality of Val Müstair is recalling its history and its significance for the present and the future. The Diet takes place on the same day as the traditional harvest festival. The combination of the two festivals allows us to delve into the history, nature and culture that characterise Val Müstair today. The play written especially by Eva and Magnus Schleich and performed for the anniversary by the theatre groups of Val Müstair offers insights into the conflicts that have characterised the valley in the past.

Varied programmeThe day will begin at 10:45 a.m. with a short ecumenical service in the open air at the eastern entrance to the village of Valchava. Immediately afterwards, at 11:10 a.m., the traditional large Thanksgiving procession will begin at the same location with the participation of folklore associations, music societies, pupils from the schools of Val Müstair as well as festively decorated floats and animals. The festivities with speeches by State Councillor Marcus Caduff, Mayor Gabriella Binkert and Grand Councillor Rico Lamprecht will begin at 2 p.m.

Theatre performance «Spranza chi vegnan meglders temps» (Hoping for better times), 3:00 p.m.The theatre performance about the Free State of the Three Leagues shows the dramatic nature of the time. The introduction to the play reads: «This alliance, signed 500 years ago, is unique, not least in light of the current threat to democratic rights. But all that glitters is not gold.» The performance alternates between historical scenes and discussions between the actors, with the director’s explanations leading from one scene to the next. Always hoping for better times. The theatre performance will also be performed on Wednesday, 2 October, and Friday, 4 October, at 5:00 p.m.

The celebrations will take place in Valchava. The village will be richly decorated. More than 70 stalls will offer regional specialties, a refreshment point invites you to take a break. Of course, there will be musical entertainment and a children’s program. The cheerful festival will offer the population and guests from near and far a chance to have fun. The Diet will mark the fitting end of the jubilee year celebrations. The detailed program is available in the attachment, as well as on https://500.gr.ch/bundstag-valmuestair.

We recommend travelling by public transport. Thanks to the offer “Return for the price of a single journey”, those going to the Diete only have to pay for the outward journey. The return journey to the starting point in the Canton of Graubünden is free.

Further anniversary activities until the end of 2024A number of other anniversary-related activities will take place in all language regions until the end of 2024. These can be found at https://500.gr.ch.

Photograph:

Landsgemeinde celebration at Plaun Schumpeder, Sta. Maria, Val Müstair, around 1920, photo by Gian Battista Gross. Grisons State Archives, N2.1420.

Attached:

Anniversary flyer Diet in Val Müstair (Romansh/German)

Contact persons:

Questions about the 500th anniversary celebrations:

Prime Minister Dr. Jon Domenic Parolini, Director of the Department of Education, Culture and Environmental Protection, e-mailJondomenic.Parolini@ekud.gr.ch
Daniel Camenisch, project manager «500 years of the Three Leagues Free State», tel. 41 78 659 63 60, e-mailcamenisch@vinavant.ch

Questions about the Diet in Val Müstair:

Competent body: Department of Education, Culture and Environmental Protection

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

MIL Translation OSI

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI: Terranet reaches strategic milestone – achieves autonomous braking
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

A key target for the third quarter was to achieve fully automated braking based on a brake request from BlincVision. Recent tests at the certified AstaZero track demonstrated that BlincVision successfully initiated braking with a large margin, marking a significant advancement for the company.

At AstaZero, the advanced driver assistance system has been tested at various driving speeds and in several Euro NCAP scenarios to evaluate its performance. To further increase the complexity of the traffic environment, Terranet has created modified versions of these scenarios. In one scenario (CPNCO-50), a child walks out from the right side behind a parked car. In the modified version, an additional car was placed behind the child. For existing ADAS solutions on the market, the child often blends into the background of the car, but the BlincVision system was able to identify the child and brake in time. At the same time, large amounts of data have been collected to improve the system’s AI-developed model. This data collection is a key component for the continued development and fine-tuning of the system to better handle a wide variety of traffic conditions. The results show the potential for further optimization and refinement of the system.

In previous tests, the system only sent a brake request, with the actual braking being theoretical and based on calculations of a potential collision. Now, for the first time, the entire process has been verified: from object detection and classification, to calculating collision risk, making a decision, and finally initiating emergency braking to bring the vehicle to a stop.

“The fact that BlincVision is now functioning as a stand-alone ADAS system is a crucial milestone in our development process. The system’s growing maturity makes it easier to integrate into other vehicles, further strengthening our ongoing collaboration within the MobilityXlab accelerator program. Our goal to secure agreements with partners in the fourth quarter remains intact,” says Pierre Ekwall, CTO at Terranet.

Link: Video clip from AstaZero

For more information, please contact:
Magnus Andersson, CEO
E-mail: magnus.andersson@terranet.se

About Terranet AB (publ)
Terranet’s goal is to save lives in urban traffic. The company develops innovative technical solutions for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and Autonomous Vehicles (AV). Terranet’s anti-collision system BlincVision laser scans and detects road objects up to ten times faster than any other ADAS technology available today.

The company is headquartered in Lund, with offices in Gothenburg and Stuttgart. Since 2017, Terranet has been listed on Nasdaq First North Premier Growth Market (Nasdaq: TERRNT-B). Follow our journey at: www.terranet.se

Attachment
- Terranet Braking at AstaZero 240924 ENG
The MIL Network –
September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI: Second Well Delineates Heisenberg, Confirms Size of Discovery

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Oslo, 24 September 2024 – DNO ASA, the Norwegian oil and gas operator, today announced completion of a second well delineating the play-opening 2023 Heisenberg oil and gas discovery in Norwegian North Sea license PL827SB. Encountering a six-meter oil-filled Eocene sandstone reservoir, the well confirmed the Heisenberg volume estimate of 24 to 56 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMboe) with mean of 37 MMboe.

The license partnership, which in addition to DNO Norge AS (49 percent) includes operator Equinor Energy AS, is studying a tieback of Heisenberg to nearby infrastructure, potentially jointly coordinated with the development of other recent discoveries in this highly prolific area surrounding the Troll and Gjøa production hubs. DNO has a strong area position.

Earlier this year, Cuvette (DNO 20 percent) marked DNO’s eighth discovery in the area since 2021, following Røver Nord, Kveikje, Ofelia, Røver Sør, Heisenberg, Carmen and Kyrre. Discoveries in the Troll-Gjøa area make up the largest share of DNO’s net contingent resources in the North Sea, which stood at 132 million barrels of oil equivalent at yearend 2023.

DNO continues to be one of the most active explorers in the North Sea. Last week, the Company commenced drilling operations at Falstaff (DNO 50 percent and operator) while Ringand (DNO 20 percent) is expected to be drilled later this fall. In early September, DNO submitted one of the largest applications in the Company’s history for the upcoming APA 2024 licensing round, with awards expected during the first quarter of 2025.

The Angel exploration prospect, which was the main target of the license PL827SB well, was found to be mainly water wet although the well encountered non-commercial volumes of gas.

–

For further information, please contact:
Media: media@dno.no
Investors: investor.relations@dno.no

–

DNO ASA is a Norwegian oil and gas operator active in the Middle East, the North Sea and West Africa. Founded in 1971 and listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange, the Company holds stakes in onshore and offshore licenses at various stages of exploration, development and production in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, Norway, the United Kingdom, Côte d’Ivoire, Netherlands and Yemen.

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

The MIL Network –

September 29, 2024

MIL-OSI: Share buybacks in Spar Nord Bank – transactions in week 38

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Company announcement no. 59

In company announcement no. 10 2024, Spar Nord announced a share buyback programme of up to DKK 500 million. The share buyback was initiated on 12 February 2024.

The purpose of the share buyback is to reduce the bank’s share capital by the shares acquired under the programme, and the programme is executed pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 of 16 April 2014 (“Market Abuse Regulation”).

In last week the following transactions were made under the share buyback programme.

	Number of shares	Average purchase price (DKK)	Transaction value (DKK)
Accumulated from last announcement	2,317,797		290,270,700
16 September 2024	14,800	128,54	1,902,392
17 September 2024	14,800	128,74	1,905,352
18 September 2024	14,800	128,86	1,907,128
19 September 2024	14,400	129,79	1,868,976
20 September 2024	14,700	129,11	1,897,917
Total week 38	73,500		9,481,765
Total accumulated	2,391,297		299,752, 465

Following the above transactions. Spar Nord holds a total of 2,448,816 treasury shares equal to 2.08 % of the Bank’s share capital.

Please direct any questions regarding this release to Rune Brandt Børglum, Head of Investor Relations on tel. + 45 96 34 42 36.

Rune Brandt Børglum
Head of Investor Relation

Attachment

No. 59 – Share buybacks – transactions in week 38 – UK

The MIL Network –

September 29, 2024

MIL-OSI USA: Scalise on Homeland Security Committee Report on the Biden-Harris Border Crisis

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Scalise (1st District of Louisiana)

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) issued the following statement on the House Committee on Homeland Security’s report on the Biden-Harris Administration’s border crisis:

“Today, the Committee on Homeland Security released a report exposing the many ways the Biden-Harris Administration knowingly and intentionally undermined U.S. border security to create the crisis we currently see at the border.

“The Committee’s report revealed even before taking office, the Biden-Harris Administration was warned by experienced border security professionals about the dangers of their plan to open our borders and dismantle our border security. President Biden and ‘Border Czar’ Vice President Harris ran on the platform that they would undo Trump-era border security measures and open our borders, incentivizing migrants to surge the border when they assumed office – which is exactly what happened.

“Thanks to the Biden-Harris open border policies, over 8.2 million illegal immigrants have crossed our southern border, including more than 384 people on the terrorist watchlist. With this massive influx has come deadly fentanyl – which has taken around 200,000 American lives since 2021 – and dangerous gangs like MS-13 and Tren de Aragua. Headlines about illegal aliens committing horrific crimes against innocent citizens like Laken Riley, Jocelyn Nungaray, Rachel Morin, and too many others, flash across our screens and papers daily, and more than 52,000 illegal immigrants with criminal backgrounds have been arrested. This crisis has touched every American.

“The Committee’s report underlines that the Biden-Harris border crisis was not some inevitable phenomenon – it was directly caused by the actions taken by President Biden, Vice President Harris, and Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas. House Republicans won’t stop fighting to secure our border and hold the Biden-Harris Administration accountable for the tragic consequences of their disastrous policies.”

Click here to view the Committee on Homeland Security’s report.

MIL OSI USA News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI USA: Scalise Legislation to Expand Atchafalaya National Heritage Area Passes House Committee

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Scalise (1st District of Louisiana)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) released the following statement regarding the House Natural Resources Committee passage of his legislation to include Lafourche Parish, La., as part of the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area (ANHA):

“Louisiana is world-famous for our unique culture. From our distinct bayou landscapes to the diverse array of wildlife, so much of our storied culture is connected to the uniqueness of the Atchafalaya River Basin and the communities and people connected to it.

“I’m pleased to see my bill, which expands the boundaries of the existing Heritage Area to include Lafourche Parish, pass out of the House Natural Resources Committee today, and I look forward to continuing to work through the legislative process to get this bill signed into law.”

MIL OSI USA News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-Evening Report: Surrogacy is booming. But new research suggests these pregnancies could be higher risk for women and babies

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hannah Dahlen, Professor of Midwifery, Associate Dean Research and HDR, Midwifery Discipline Leader, Western Sydney University

Helena Lopes/Pexels

A new study from Canada has found women who agree to carry and birth babies in surrogacy arrangements face a higher risk of complications than other pregnant women.

These women were at two to three times the risk of health problems such as postpartum haemorrhages and pre-eclampsia. They were also more likely to give birth prematurely.

With an increasing number of people in Australia and elsewhere having children via surrogacy arrangements, what can we make of these findings?

First, what is surrogacy?

Surrogacy is a situation where a woman becomes pregnant and gives birth to a baby (or babies) for another person or a couple in a planned arrangement.

There are two types of surrogacy.

The first is where the pregnant woman is the full biological mother, with the child conceived using her own egg (sometimes called “traditional” or “genetic” surrogacy).

The second is where the pregnant woman is not the genetic mother and the child is conceived using the egg of a different woman (called “gestational surrogacy”).

Gestational surrogacy involves the transfer of an embryo or embryos into the uterus of a woman who has agreed to carry and birth the child using in vitro fertilisation (IVF). Gestational surrogacy is now the most common form of surrogacy arrangement in Australia.

The new study looked at gestational surrogacy specifically.

What the researchers did

The study, published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, was retrospective. This means it used existing data that is gathered routinely on people using health services.

It included 863,017 women who had a single baby between April 2012 and March 2021 (multiple births were excluded).

The researchers compared outcomes for women and babies where the pregnancy was achieved naturally, those who got pregnant using IVF, and those who were pregnant in a gestational surrogacy arrangement where the woman had no genetic link to the baby.

Most babies were conceived naturally, 16,087 were IVF pregnancies, and 806 women were pregnant in gestational surrogacy arrangements.

The study looked at more than 860,000 women in Canada who had a baby over a nine-year period.
PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock

The researchers found pregnant women in gestational surrogacy arrangements had a rate of severe maternal complications of 7.8%, more than three times the rate of those who became pregnant naturally (2.3%) and almost twice the rate among those who got pregnant through IVF (4.3%).

These risks included postpartum haemorrhage (losing excessive amounts of blood following the birth), severe pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure associated with pregnancy) and serious postpartum infection (sepsis). There was also a higher risk of the baby being born preterm (before 37 weeks) in gestational surrogacy situations.

The researchers attempted to take into account differences between the three groups like age, weight, health problems and socioeconomic status, which can all influence the risk of complications for pregnant women and their babies. Despite this, they still saw these concerning results.

Why might the risk be higher?

Previous research looking at outcomes with gestational surrogacy has had mixed results. But it is thought the reason risks could be greater for the woman and baby in gestational surrogacy arrangements may be because the baby is genetically unrelated to the woman.

Pregnancy has a strong impact on the immune system. During pregnancy, women’s immune systems are altered so they do not reject the growing baby.

An imbalanced or overactive immune response can contribute to pregnancy complications including preterm birth and pre-eclampsia. Having a baby with different genetic material may affect a woman’s immune response during pregnancy, and increase the risk of complications in this way.

Some limitations

Only women having a single baby were included in the study, so we don’t know the outcomes where a multiple pregnancy was involved. However, multiple birth is common in surrogacy, and there are increased risks associated with multiple births for women and babies.

Multiple embryo transfer increases the risk of twins and triplets and is prohibited in the context of surrogacy in Australia (and discouraged in IVF treatments more broadly). But Australians engaging in overseas surrogacy commonly request it.

Also, the study includes a relatively small number of women pregnant in a gestational surrogacy arrangement (806), meaning there’s an increased risk for statistical error and limited ability to detect rare outcomes.

People may use a surrogate to have a baby for a range of reasons.
Lopolo/Shutterstock

Ethical questions

An increasing number of Australians are having children via surrogacy arrangements. This is due to a combination of factors including a decline in adoption, women delaying motherhood, and increased social acceptability of male same-sex parenting.

Australia only allows altruistic surrogacy, where the woman who agrees to have the baby for others is not paid.

However, some other countries allow women to be paid to become pregnant for others (commercial surrogacy). Concern regarding the exploitation of women via commercial surrogacy is such that Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory have made it illegal for residents to travel overseas to engage in commercial surrogacy.

Even so, most Australia children born as a result of surrogacy arrangements are born through overseas commercial surrogacy.

Despite some limitations, this research indicates increased risks for women becoming pregnant in gestational surrogacy arrangements, and the babies they carry. It seems important the potentially elevated risks should be made clear to women considering carrying and birthing a baby for someone else, and to the prospective parents.

Considering the rise in surrogacy globally it’s important more research is undertaken on the potential health and other impacts of this practice on women and babies. Health, ethical and human rights implications should inform legislative frameworks, policy and practice.

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

– ref. Surrogacy is booming. But new research suggests these pregnancies could be higher risk for women and babies – https://theconversation.com/surrogacy-is-booming-but-new-research-suggests-these-pregnancies-could-be-higher-risk-for-women-and-babies-239574

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

September 29, 2024

MIL-OSI Banking: Result of the 2-day Variable Rate Repo (VRR) auction held on September 24, 2024

Source: Reserve Bank of India

Tenor	2-day
Notified Amount (in ₹ crore)	50,000
Total amount of bids received (in ₹ crore)	91,035
Amount allotted (in ₹ crore)	50,003
Cut off Rate (%)	6.62
Weighted Average Rate (%)	6.64
Partial Allotment Percentage of bids received at cut off rate (%)	89.83

Ajit Prasad
Deputy General Manager
(Communications)

Press Release: 2024-2025/1154

MIL OSI Global Banks –

September 29, 2024

MIL-OSI United Kingdom: A reformed multilateral system for peace and prosperity: Foreign Secretary speech at UN Summit of the Future

Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

David Lammy calls for responsible global leadership in UK national statement.

Location:

United Nations, New York

Delivered on:

23 September 2024 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

Mr President, I stand here as a man of multiple identities.

A Londoner. A patriotic Brit. A lawyer.

Proud of my African, Guyanese, Caribbean and Indian heritage.

A committed multilateralist, who believes in the importance of the United Nations.

I agree with my great predecessor, Ernie Bevin, when he said in 1945:

“Our eyes should be fixed upon the United Nations… All nations of the world should be united to look that way.”

The purposes and principles of the UN remain as indispensable today as in Bevin’s time.

Our task is to recapture that founding spirit so that when we reach the UN’s centenary, their legacy endures.

But we cannot ignore the challenges we face. More conflicts than at any time since 1945, costing the global economy over 900 billion dollars, and creating the most refugees and displaced people on record.

Geopolitical tensions arising. Progress against the Sustainable Development Goals stalling. Trust in multilateralism faltering.

The Pact for the Future and this Summit offer a chance for Member States to show responsible global leadership, to engage with the rapid changes of our age, and go further in meeting the needs of everyone – especially the most vulnerable.

As I know all too well, countries of the Global South suffered great injustices in the past. And I have heard repeatedly how frustrated partners are by the unfairness of the global system.

We cannot ignore these frustrations. We must act.

First, as the Secretary-General has said, we need greater collective efforts to prevent and end conflict. For Britain, that means upholding Ukraine’s sovereignty, urging an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon, and supporting an end to the fighting in Sudan.

It means robustly challenging Member States who violate the Charter, rejecting a world in which might makes right.

It means a more representative Security Council.

It means supporting the international rule of law, and applying it equally and fairly which is why Britain has proposed the outstanding Professor Dapo Akande for election as a judge at the International Court of Justice.

Second, we need urgent action on the climate and nature crisis.

With this new Government, Britain is renewing our ambitions at home, aiming to deliver clean power by 2030.

And I am determined that we also reconnect abroad, building a Global Clean Power Alliance, championing creativity and reforms to unlock international climate and nature finance, particularly from the private sector, and bolstering efforts to protect at least thirty per cent of the planet’s land and ocean by 2030.

Third, countries like Britain must modernise our approach to development.

This Government believes partnership, not paternalism, is the way to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals.

Making best use of technology and innovation. Putting indigenous people and local communities, including women and girls, at the centre of decision-making on development programmes.

Driving faster reform of the global financial system to strengthen the voice of the most vulnerable and tackle unsustainable debt.

Friends, action on conflict, climate and poverty. Delivered by a reformed multilateral system. This is the path to peace and prosperity on a liveable planet.

All over the world, in every war zone, every refugee camp, the UN is there. A beacon of hope and humanity to which, as Bevin said, the gaze of all nations should turn.

This Summit must direct the world’s eyes towards that beacon once again. And Britain is proud to support it.

Thank you.

Updates to this page

Published 23 September 2024

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Australia: 210-2024: Scheduled Service Disruption: Thursday 26 September 2024 – DAFF messaging, SeaPest
Source: Australia Government Statements – Agriculture

24 September 2024

Who does this notice affect?

All users of the Seasonal Pests (SeaPest) system.

All clients submitting the below declarations:
- Full Import Declaration (FID)
- Long Form Self Assessed Clearance (LFSAC)
- Short Form Self Assessed Clearance (SFSAC)
- Cargo Report Self Assessed Clearance (CRSAC)
- Cargo Report Personal Effects (PE)
Information

Due to scheduled infrastructure maintenance, there will a…

MIL OSI News –
September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Australia: Interview with Adam Steer, ABC Radio Darwin

Source: Australian Treasurer

ADAM STEER:

Stephen Jones is the Assistant federal Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services. Minister, welcome to ABC Radio Darwin. These new laws, how are they going to work in terms of preventing scams? Because my understanding is you can’t force the banks to pay back anyone that’s been scammed, can you?

STEPHEN JONES:

Not quite true. Under the existing laws, we have a mandatory reimbursement scheme. If somebody has had money withdrawn from their account that wasn’t authorised and that’s done under the ePayments code. The problem we have is there’s so much grey area and the scams are becoming so incredibly sophisticated. They’ve been industrialised over the last decade; scam losses were doubling every year. They haven’t for the last year because of some corrective measures we’ve put in place. But it’s quite clear we just can’t leave the customers on their own –

STEER:

Yeah, well, that example –

JONES:

More needs to be done.

STEER:

That example I was using with Antonia there. So, the bank originally had said no because she had voluntarily handed her information over to the scammers who had provided – she’d looked up the banks themselves and they had provided her the information which she thought, as someone with English as a second language was okay enough that then she could give them the details, her banking details.

JONES:

In circumstances like that I mean, then it’s no answer to say banks never ask you to give over your passcodes. They never do that. In fact, they make it quite clear you shouldn’t give them over to anyone. But, you know, for all the reasons you’ve outlined, it’s quite clear that the existing arrangements and obligations aren’t strong enough. So, the laws that we’ll put in place look at the entire economy or the ecosystem in which these scams are operating in. So, they come to us via a phone or an SMS message, or they’re published on a social media platform, and the bank is the destination for the scammers at the end of the transaction. So, we’ve got to get all of those bodies lifting their protection again for their customers to keep their business and network safe, to prevent, to detect, disrupt, respond and report to scams. A failure to put in place the proper steps in this area will lead to fines of up to $50 million for the businesses who fail to do that. The reason we’re starting with banks, telcos and social media platforms is that’s where most of the damage is being done. But we’ll move beyond there once we get that locked down.

STEER:

Banks make, I think they made $32 billion worth of profit at the big 4 last year, but only repay between 4–7 per cent of scam victims. That doesn’t seem fair in itself. What exactly are you doing to ensure banks are helping their customers? So, you were saying, unless you do this, we will fine you $50 million for each individual scam? Am I correct that you’re –

JONES:

That’s correct, yeah, absolutely. And I want banks to be on the hook if they’ve done the wrong thing. But I don’t want telecommunications companies or social media platforms to be let off the hook as well. I’ve looked at some data up in Europe at the moment, about half the scam losses at the moment are coming from Meta platforms. That’s not a startup business. In Australia, it makes about $6 billion a year. So, that’s a large entity as well. It’s making more than most of our banks, actually. They need to be in the frame. Telcos need to be in the frame. Banks need to be in the frame if they’ve done the wrong thing. And stronger obligations, stronger obligations to protect customers must be in place. And like we’ve been discussing, fines if they, penalties in compensation if they don’t live up to those obligations.

STEER:

Six to 8 on 157, ABC Radio Darwin. Adam Steer is my name. Your guest is the federal Assistant Treasurer, Minister for Financial Services, Stephen Jones. A text coming in, Minister, why don’t we ever hear on news scammers getting caught or convicted? Is this because they’re not getting caught?

JONES:

Yeah, great question. When we put our policy together, we assumed that the vast majority of this stuff is operating outside of Australia, because it is, and largely in countries where traditional law enforcement can’t work because we don’t have the sorts of relations you need with the countries where they’re operating. In some we’ve got joint operations going in place, but often on the border of war torn countries or in areas where traditional law enforcement can’t get into. So, the traditional law enforcement approach of kicking down doors and dragging people before a court just won’t work. So, we’ve got to look at what will work with what we can do inside Australia.

STEER:

Well, let’s move to one of the other issues. I don’t know whether the 2 supermarkets, the 2 major supermarkets, are going to get painted as the villains of inflation, but the ACCC is alleging Woolies and Coles are now breaching consumer laws, rising prices by 15 per cent prior to some of their big promotional scale – sales. I mean, that’s a scam in itself. How the supermarkets going to get punished here?

JONES:

Well, strong action being taken by our regulator with the full support of the government. I have got to be careful because this matter is before the court. But if these matters are proved – and I have every reason to believe that the ACCC will have done due diligence before they took the matter before court – if these matters are proved, then it is an indictment on those businesses and they deserve the full force of the law. In instances where Australians are struggling and they’re ripping us off with bodgy sales and bodgy advertisements, jacking prices up before they drop them, that’s just not right.

STEER:

And inflationary as we wait to see whether the mortgage rates stay on hold or not for this year. I’ve got a text asking the ACCC themselves have said, good move from the federal government because they reinforced some laws which have allowed us to take this action. And as you say, it is above the courts – in front of the courts at the moment. If it’s successful and if it’s a very, very large fine which we consider it would have to be given the supermarkets are making $1000 million profit per year each. Where does that money go if they get a significant fine? What happens to that money?

JONES:

Yeah, good question. So, in this instance, the ACCC has sought unusual but not exceptional orders where a part of the fine would be diverted towards paying for meals and services to homelessness and low income people as a means of ensuring that some of that money goes towards the people who are hurt most by this sort of alleged pernicious behaviour.

STEER:

You know what? We’ll wait and see what happens. Federal Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones, thank you so much for your time this morning. Appreciate it.

JONES:

Great to talk.

MIL OSI News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI… Rep. Richard Hudson, Heritage Foundation Director of the Center for Health in the Washington Examiner: The Harris-Walz healthcare plan: Fewer options, higher prices

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In case you missed it, Representative Richard Hudson and Heritage Foundation Director of the Center for Health and Welfare Policy Nina Owcharenko Schaefer wrote an op-ed for the Washington Examinerslamming Vice President Kamala Harris, Governor Tim Walz, and the Democrats’ government-run healthcare policies that are leaving patients and families with fewer, lower quality choices and higher costs.

In theop-ed, Rep. Richard Hudson and Nina Owcharenko Schaefer wrote, “While issues such as the border crisis, global conflicts, and persistent inflation continue to dominate headlines, healthcare remains a key concern for voters.

That’s especially important because, last month, Vice President Kamala Harris picked Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) as her running mate, solidifying the duo as the first ticket ever to feature two candidates who have fully embraced government-run, single-payer healthcare.

…

It would cost tens of trillions of taxpayer dollars and reduce medical productivity, giving patients fewer healthcare choices, worse quality care, and longer wait times while hiking taxes for everyone.

Harris and Walz have also embraced the Biden administration’s disastrous prescription drug price controls. In North Carolina, these liberal policies are actually making prescription drug costs more expensive while limiting future access to life-saving drugs for seniors.

…

Democrats once promised people that the ACA would solve our healthcare woes. But a decade later, their efforts are more focused on masking its failures than fixing what is wrong. Premiums are still rising, families have fewer choices, and the choices that are available are more limited and lower quality.

…

Instead of addressing these shortcomings, the Biden-Harris administration’s solution has been to simply slap a Band-Aid over them with more taxpayer-funded subsidies.

…

A Harris-Walz administration would take away the coverage you have today and put the government in charge of your care, giving it the power to decide what kind of care you get, where you get it, when you get it, and if you can get it at all.

…

While Harris and Walz are focused on expanding government control and eroding your freedom, conservatives in the House of Representatives are focused on making coverage more affordable, prices fully transparent, care more accessible, and overall costs more reasonable.

…

It’s time to move away from the Democrats’ failed big-government policies and toward a healthcare agenda that is patient-centered, not government-centered.”

Read the full op-ed in the Washington Examiner HERE.

-###-

MIL OSI USA News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI USA: Newhouse ESA Reform Bill Advances Through Committee
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Dan Newhouse (4th District of Washington)

Headline: Newhouse ESA Reform Bill Advances Through Committee

Yesterday, the House Natural Resources Committee approved the Endangered Species Act (ESA) Amendments Act of 2024, a bill by Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) that makes reforms to the ESA to incentivize conservation, protect landowners’ rights, and implement transparency in the recovery of species.

“The ESA is in dire need of serious changes, and I am thankful that the committee understands that. Our species and landowners have suffered far too long from misuse of the ESA and my bill puts an end to that. If we are to truly prioritize species recovery and de-listing, then we must prioritize advancing this legislation,” said. Rep. Newhouse.

Newhouse continued, “I thank House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman for taking up this important bill, and I look forward to working to get it across the finish line.”

This legislation is the final product of the ESA Working Group co-founded by Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Dan Newhouse and Chairman Bruce Westerman in July 2023.

Original co-sponsors include Reps. Pete Stauber (MN-08), Tom Tiffany (WI-07), Cliff Bentz (OR-02), Jeff Duncan (SC-03), Paul Gosar (AZ-09), and Harriet Hageman (WY-AL).

Background:

This legislation:
- Incentivizes wildlife conservation on private lands.
- Prevents the Secretary of the Interior from designating privately owned or controlled land as critical habitat, protecting landowners’ rights.
- Empowers states to enact species recovery plans as state and local officials know best how to manage populations without harming communities.
- Requires that removal of a species is not subject to judicial review.
- Creates greater transparency and accountability in recovering listed species.
- Appropriations authorizing number- $431,755,000 – which is the total authorized in House FY25 bills for Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) ESA activities.
Full original bill text can be found here.

###

MIL OSI USA News –
September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI USA: Newhouse Introduces Resolution to Honor Gold Star Families

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Dan Newhouse (4th District of Washington)

Headline: Newhouse Introduces Resolution to Honor Gold Star Families

Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) led 44 members in introducing the Gold Star Families Remembrance Week Resolution to honor the sacrifices made by families of U.S. military servicemembers who lost their lives in service to the nation. It designates September 22 – 28, 2024 as Gold Star Families Remembrance Week.

“Our service members and their families have made great sacrifices in service to their country, and it is important that they are not forgotten,” said Rep. Newhouse.

Newhouse continues, “By designating September 22-28 as Gold Star Families Remembrance Week, we recognize the extraordinary courage and resilience of our Gold Star Families and reflect on those we have lost. These families bear an unimaginable burden—enduring the loss of their loved ones who gave their lives in service to our nation—and we have a responsibility to ensure their memory is preserved.”

The following are quotes of support from Gold Star Family members:

“I am very pleased that Congress is choosing to recognize Gold Star Families Remembrance Week. Every Memorial Day, we honor our warriors who gave their lives in defense of America. We should also honor the families of those fallen warriors, who stood behind them as they served, suffered the pain of their loss, then picked up the pieces and carried on. I’m a Gold Star son who lost my father in Vietnam. Life has taught me three truths. Grief fades. Love never dies. Courage shines on forever.” – Retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Hank Cramer, Washington, Gold Star Son of Captain Harry Griffith Cramer Jr. (U.S. Army Special Forces), who was Killed in Action in 1957 in Vietnam.

“I was just a year old when my father was declared Missing in Action in December 1945 in Germany. I have no memory of him but would like to honor his legacy by sharing his story with others who want to know the experiences of Gold Star families.” – Karen Oberg, California, Gold Star Daughter of Pvt. Worrell F. Oberg (Army) who was Killed in Action on December 22, 1945, and whose remains have yet to be recovered.

“My brother had just turned one and I was two and a half when our father was killed. As we got older, we often wondered what kind of man he was. In a letter to his sister just before he was killed, dad wrote that he had been wounded and had to build up his courage to go back in combat because he had seen so much death and destruction. From that letter, and in that moment, we knew our dad was a hero and we brought him off the shelf and back into life.” – Walt Linne, Indiana, Gold Star Son of Sgt. Walter John Linne (Army) who was Killed in Action in Germersheim, Germany on March 24, 1945.

“In 2022, when I visited South Korea and observed for myself the freedom, liberty, prosperity and gratitude of the South Korean people, I further realized that the supreme sacrifice by my father and its effect on our family was not in vain.” – Robert James Johnston, Tennessee, Gold Star Son of Sgt. James Fred Johnston (Army) KIA/MIA, December 2, 1950, at the Chosin Reservoir, North Korea.

“Since I was only two when my Dad went missing, I have no personal memories of him other than what my Mom told me often that to do my best as my Dad would expect or when I did something good, she would tell me how proud he would be of me. David, my brother, and I grew up loving the same things our Dad did, Boy Scouts, the outdoors, hunting, fishing and family.” – Mike Logan, Tennessee, Gold Star Son of Maj. Samuel P. Logan, Jr. (USAF). He was the pilot of a B-29 shot down and taken captive while on a mission over North Korea on September 9, 1950. In 1954 he was declared Killed in Action. Maj. Logan was survived by his Gold Star Wife and two Gold Star Sons.

“Being a Gold Star family member signifies profound sacrifice and loss as we bear the enduring grief of losing a loved one in service to the nation. Gold Star families’ identities are shaped with both pride and sorrow.” – Carol Brenneman Reed, California, Gold Star Daughter of Captain Austin E.E. Brenneman (USMC) who was Killed in Action on May 28, 1951, in Anak, North Korea.

“In July 1951, the 2nd Inf Div deployed to Korea, leaving a pregnant, newlywed wife on a lifetime path of uncertainty, grief, loss, and life challenges. Ellen Marie Blissenbach handled her loss by joining the Gold Star Wives of America, becoming very active in supporting other families and veterans, as well as seeking information on my missing father, ultimately achieving some closure before her passing.” – Maj. Paul K. Blissenbach US Army (Retired), Kentucky, Gold Star Son of SFC Joseph A. Blissenbach, who gave his life on November 30, 1950, in Kunu-ri, North Korea.

“Losing my father in the Battle of Ia Drang Valley during the Vietnam War was an indescribable blow, not only to my family but to the very fabric of my life. His absence left a profound void, a loss that reverberated through every milestone, forever shaping who I became. The sacrifice he made in such a fierce and historic battle deepens the sorrow, as his life was cut short defending a cause that took him far from home, never to return.” – Army veteran Thomas Barrett, Ph. D., Maryland, Gold Star Son of SSGT Thomas J. Barrett, Jr. (Army), Killed in Action November 15, 1965, Vietnam.

“During Gold Star Families Remembrance Week, we honor the parents, spouses, siblings and children of those service members who lost their lives defending the United States and her allies. For nearly a century, ‘The Long Gold Line’ of these Gold Star Families has personified the resilience of the American spirit. Here on the home front, they endured the worst possible news delivered from a faraway war front. Yet they moved forward supporting each other and carrying on the legacies of their fallen heroes who, in the name of freedom, gave their last full measure of devotion.” – Tony Cordero, California, Gold Star Son of Maj. William E. Cordero (USAF) who was killed on a bombing mission over North Vietnam on June 22, 1965. He is the founder of Sons and Daughters In Touch – America’s Gold Star Children from the Vietnam War.

“Our son held a strong sense of honor and service and would have no regrets. We honor his valor and sacrifice every day. We gratefully support this resolution to honor and remember the sacrifices of all of our fallen and of the 7068 men and women Killed In Action in the Global War on Terror and the ongoing sacrifices of the families they left behind. It is this nation’s responsibility to Never Forget, to honor their valor, and to always support the families left behind.” – Barbara and Col. Mark Roland (USAF, Retired), Kentucky, Gold Star Mother and Father of Captain Matthew Roland, USAF, Killed In Action in Afghanistan on August 26, 2015.

“My father flew 22 missions along the coastal waters of Vietnam to clear the area of enemy submarines before the US could bring in the 7th Fleet at the onset of the Vietnam War. His body was never recovered after his plane plunged into the South China Sea. My life and my family crumbled before my eyes and to this day I continue to live a life never knowing my father. Three months after the attack on the Twin Towers, my son joined the US Army, following his grandfather’s footsteps as he was also willing to die for his country. Unfortunately, it ended horrifically when he was killed by an enemy IED while on patrol near the Hor Rijeb Canal in Iraq. There is no greater love than this: that a person would lay down his life for the sake of his country.” – Elaine M. Roach, California, Gold Star Mother of PFC Joel Brattain, Killed in Action on March 13, 2004, and Gold Star Daughter of Lt. Harold S. Roach (Navy), lost in the South China Sea on October 2, 1964.

The following Members are co-sponsors of the legislation:

Reps. Andy Barr (R-KY), Mike Bost (R-IL), Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Larry Bucshon (R-IN), Troy Balderson (R-OH), Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ), Jake Ellzey (R-TX), Randy Feenstra (R-IA), Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN), Mike Flood (R-NE), Brett Guthrie (R-KY), Mark Green (R-TN), Michael Guest (R-MS), Young Kim (R-CA), Greg Lopez (R-CO), Julia Letlow (R-LA), Nick LaLota (R-NY), Mike Lawler (R-NY), Greg Murphy (R-NC), John Moolenaar (R-MI), Tracey Mann (R-KS), Zach Nunn (R-IA), Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Greg Steube (R-FL), Glenn Thompson (R-PA), Daniel Webster (R-FL), Roger Williams (R-TX), Brandon Williams (R-NY), David Valadao (R-CA), Salud Carbajal (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Chris Deluzio (D-PA), Don Davis (D-NC), Josh Harder (D-CA), Glenn Ivey (D-MD), Derek Kilmer (D-WA), William Keating (D-MA), Joe Morelle (D-NY), Kathy Manning (D-NC), Wiley Nickel (D-NC), Scott Peters (D-CA), Deborah Ross (D-NC), Linda Sanchez (D-CA), Paul Tonko (D-NY), and Juan Vargas (D-CA).

Click here to read the full text of the bill.

###

MIL OSI USA News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Public urged to get flu jab early

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government will launch its 2024-25 Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Programmes on Thursday, with Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau today urging the public to receive vaccination early.

The health chief said now is the best time to get vaccinated for effective protection in the coming year against the winter or summer influenza strains predicted by the World Health Organization.

The health chief today received vaccinations against seasonal influenza and COVID-19 at Sai Wan Ho General Out-patient Clinic, along with other health officials and frontline healthcare workers.

Prof Lo said Seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) is one of the most effective means to prevent seasonal influenza and its complications.

“To boost the SIV coverage rate among schoolchildren, special arrangements have been made under the Seasonal Influenza Vaccination School Outreach Programme this year to offer a more flexible choice of vaccine options for kindergartens and childcare centres.”

He explained that kindergartens and childcare centres can offer injectable inactivated influenza vaccines or nasal vaccines in their outreach vaccination activities.

The Department of Health will also roll out a pilot scheme in which nasal vaccines will be provided to primary and secondary schools that indicated a preference for them earlier this year.

At present, around 870 kindergartens and childcare centres, around 610 primary schools and around 390 secondary schools have arranged vaccination activities for their students, according to the Health Bureau.

Prof Lo called on schools that have yet to join the outreach vaccination programme to enrol as soon as possible.

Separately, he added that individuals in high-risk priority groups should receive an additional COVID-19 booster no less than six months after their last dose, or infection with COVID-19 infection – whichever occurred later – to enhance protection and reduce the risk of serious complications and death.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Housing Authority sets rents for two new estates

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Housing Authority sets rents for two new estates
Housing Authority sets rents for two new estates
************************************************

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Housing Authority: Rents for a total of 2 551 flats in four non-standard blocks of two new public rental housing (PRH) estates under the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) will be set at the best rent level for their respective districts. The best rent level of a respective district is expressed in terms of dollars per square metre of internal floor area and determined with reference to the location and comparable value of the estates concerned. The best rent at $104.40 per square metre per month for the flats in Urban district will apply to 1 088 flats in Kin Yan House and Moon Yan House of Hiu Yan Estate. The best rent at $74.00 per square metre per month for the flats in Sheung Shui district will apply to 1 463 flats in Fu Pak House and Kam Yuk House of Choi Shek Estate. “Under this rent-fixing exercise, over 69 per cent of the flats are set at a rent level below $2,500 per month,” a spokesman for the HA said today (September 24), adding that PRH rents, which are inclusive of rates, management fees and maintenance costs, are heavily subsidised. “PRH applicants who are allocated new flats but cannot afford the rents may request refurbished flats at lower rents. They may also apply for assistance under the Rent Assistance Scheme for flats in older block types where applicable,” the spokesman added.

Ends/Tuesday, September 24, 2024Issued at HKT 14:40

NNNN

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI: Craft Named Value Leader for Supply Chain Risk Management Platform and Achieves Overall Strong Performance in Spend Matters Fall 2024 SolutionMap

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

LONDON, Sept. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Procurement & Supply Chain Live — Craft, the supply chain resilience company, today announced it was named a Value Leader in the Spend Matters Fall 2024 SRM SolutionMap, which includes an evaluation of 93 procurement technology vendors. Craft scored the highest ratings for its overall functional depth, overall customer scores, UX and UI, supplier intelligence and N-tier capabilities.

To be considered for the list, Craft underwent a rigorous functionality and capability assessment that included an in-depth capability demonstration of their supply chain risk management platform, and anonymized customer reviews and ratings. Spend Matters helps buyers, consultants, investors, and sellers compare vendors across 500+ request-for-information (RFI) requirements for better and smarter procurement technology purchasing.

“Thousands of companies look to Spend Matters to help them find the right procurement and supply chain technology for their organizations,” said Ilya Levtov, CEO and founder, Craft. “This comprehensive evaluation in the latest SpendMatters Fall 2024 Solution Map is further validation of Craft’s strategy to expand the definition of supplier risk management and serves as a testament to our ability to deliver the right solutions to power resilience across the entire enterprise. We are thrilled to be recognized by SpendMatters, and above all to earn high marks from our customers as a value leader in this highly competitive market.”

Craft was evaluated under two vendor categories – Supplier Management (risk enhanced) and Risk Management (TPRM/SCRM) – and earned the following:

1. Named a “Risk Management Value Leader”: Craft was recognized for excelling in supplier intelligence and AI-driven monitoring and analytics for risk management as a result of high functional and customer scores.

2. Highest-rated vendor for functional depth: Craft was rewarded with high marks by its customers for its exceptionally quick deployment, user experience (UX) and ease-of-use, and its process expertise in helping clients identify and mitigate supply chain-related risk.

3. Top score for supplier profiles: Craft rated the top analyst scores within the entire category for SIM (supplier information management) and Supplier Profiling, designated by a gold ribbon in the SRM SolutionMap.

4. Surpassed other SRM vendors in multiple categories: Craft received high ratings for ability to assess and mitigate risks throughout the entirety of the supply chain, and providing detailed services on behalf of clients for supplier data / profile management.

“Vendors participating in SolutionMap undergo the most rigorous assessment from a tech capability and customer delivery perspective,” said Carina Kuhl, president, SpendMatters. “Spend Matters has the largest analyst team dedicated to in-depth comparison of solutions in the procurement technology space and pinpointing their differentiators.”

Craft is the intelligent supply chain resilience platform that enables organizations to know their suppliers, protect against disruptions, and build resilient supply chains. Craft’s flexible data fabric uses best of breed datasets from public and private sources across 500+ risk categories, such as ESG, geopolitical, foreign influence, cybersecurity, supplier financial health, weather, and much more. Its risk engine is enhanced by AI-generated insights that can be shared, tracked and taken action on internally and across organizations via a collaborative workspace. With Craft, organizations like the U.S. Department of Defense, Hapag-Lloyd, major financial services institutions, and other Fortune 500 companies confidently navigate third-party risks, regulatory environments, uphold ethics, and drive business continuity and growth.

For more information about Craft, visit www.craft.co or contact press@craft.co.

About Craft
Craft illuminates the path to global supply chain resilience. It empowers businesses to strengthen their supplier networks and supply chains with the industry’s most reliable and comprehensive data fabric and AI-driven risk mitigation engine. Craft’s user-friendly platform offers 360-degree visibility to explore and evaluate supplier networks, AI-generated insights to detect and mitigate disruptions, and collaborative tools to enhance supply chain strategies. Procurement and supply chain professionals can confidently navigate regulatory environments, adhere to ethical standards, and ensure business continuity. Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, Craft assists commercial and governmental organizations worldwide in creating more resilient supply chains.

For more information about Craft, visit www.craft.co.

PR Contact
Carol Hickins
carol.hickins@craft.co

The MIL Network –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI: Nokia selected by Spark as majority 5G RAN partner in New Zealand
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Press Release
Nokia selected by Spark as majority 5G RAN partner in New Zealand
- Nokia to partner with Spark to expand its 4G and 5G infrastructure in key cities across New Zealand.
- Partnership supports Spark’s goal to simplify and consolidate network operations.
24 September 2024
Espoo, Finland – Nokia today announced that it has been selected by Spark New Zealand (Spark), to expand its existing 4G and 5G program in cities across New Zealand. Spark has chosen Nokia as its preferred 5G Radio Access Network partner to streamline operations and consolidate its RAN. This strategic decision will simplify network operations while delivering the best-performing 5G network in New Zealand.

Under the deal, covering over 700 sites, Nokia will provide equipment from its comprehensive 5G AirScale portfolio. This includes baseband, remote radio heads, and massive MIMO radios, offering industry-leading 5G capacity, coverage, and connectivity. These solutions utilize Nokia’s energy-efficient ReefShark System-on-Chip technology, delivering superior capacity and connectivity to Spark customers while reducing complexity and improving cost efficiencies.

Renee Mateparae, Network and Operations Director for Spark said: “Nokia has been a trusted partner of ours for many years, and we are excited to work with them on bringing a world-class 5G network to more of Aotearoa, New Zealand. This next phase of our partnership will see us streamlining our 5G deployments to simplify operations and deliver great 5G experiences for our customers every day. Working with Nokia, we aim to deliver next-generation services that will empower the people and businesses creating Aotearoa, New Zealand’s tomorrow.”

Tommi Uitto, President of Mobile Networks at Nokia, said: “We are thrilled to have been selected by Spark as the majority supplier for this transformative 5G project and to support its vision of streamlining operations and consolidating its network. With our state-of-the-art technology solutions, we are confident that Spark will achieve its objectives of enhancing network efficiency, improving service quality, and delivering a seamless experience to its customers.”

Resources and additional information:
Webpage: Nokia 5G
Webpage: AirScale Radio Access

About Nokia
At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together.

As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs.

With truly open architectures that seamlessly integrate into any ecosystem, our high-performance networks create new opportunities for monetization and scale. Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable, and sustainable networks today – and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future.

Media inquiries
Nokia Press Office
Email: Press.Services@nokia.com

Follow us on social media
LinkedIn X Instagram Facebook YouTube

The MIL Network –
September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI: Nokia and ZCorum collaborate to develop DOCSIS Provisioning Adapter for cable-to-fiber transition
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Press Release
Nokia and ZCorum collaborate to develop DOCSIS Provisioning Adapter for cable-to-fiber transition
- Nokia entered into an agreement with ZCorum to develop a DOCSIS Provisioning Adapter (DPA) application to work with Nokia’s Altiplano platform.
- The DPA will enable cable operators to provision a PON ONT and subscriber services using their existing DOCSIS provisioning system, facilitating a transition to fiber-to-the-home.
- The DPA application will be offered through Nokia’s Altiplano Marketplace and provided to customers by Nokia.
24 September 2024
Espoo, Finland – Nokia today announced that it has partnered with ZCorum, a leading provider of diagnostics and managed services for broadband providers, to develop a DOCSIS Provisioning Adapter (DPA) application. The DPA solution will allow cable operators to use their existing DOCSIS-based provisioning system to provision an Optical Network Terminal (ONT) and subscriber services on an ITU-based Passive Optical Network (PON).

Cable operators are upgrading their networks to fiber because it offers the highest performance, scalability, and reliability. This transition often involves implementing a next-generation fiber management solution. For MSOs seeking a more gradual shift from their DOCSIS-based Operations Support Systems (OSS), a software-based DPA offers a seamless pathway. Beyond simplifying the evolution to Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH), the DPA application can also help distribute adoption costs and expedite time-to-market.

The Nokia DPA provides an interworking function, or translation layer, bridging the DOCSIS-based management system and Nokia’s Altiplano Access Controller. Altiplano is an open and programmable platform offering a complete suite of network management functions and software-defined networking (SDN) controls for Nokia’s Lightspan PON networks.

The Nokia DPA application is expected to be available for lab trials by the end of 2024. When broadly introduced, the Nokia DPA will be offered through the Nokia Altiplano Marketplace. The Nokia Altiplano Marketplace gives operators access to a catalog of ready-made automation tools and network analytics to get the most out of their broadband network. Additionally, Nokia’s Altiplano Access Controller platform gives operators and third-party developers, such as ZCorum, access to open APIs and a Software Development Kit (SDK) for developing value-added applications.

More information and a demonstration of the DPA will be available at Nokia’s booth (#1903) at SCTE TechExpo 24, September 24-26 in Atlanta, GA.

Jeff Heynen, Vice President at Dell’Oro Group, said: “While cable operators are upgrading their networks in various ways, virtually all are deploying PON-based FTTH networks in greenfield. Many are also overbuilding their whole network with PON or strategically adding it into their legacy HFC networks. MSOs will benefit from and welcome any tool that makes it easier, faster, and more cost-effective to deploy PON. Certainly, Nokia’s DPA will do just that.”

Julie Compann, President and CEO at ZCorum, said: “ZCorum has been serving DOCSIS and fiber operators since the time those technologies first launched, so developing DPA is a natural project for our company. Cable operators recognize the benefits of migrating to fiber, but also have a significant investment in their DOCSIS infrastructure. DPA will allow them to focus on fiber deployment where needed, without the need to immediately deploy a second provisioning system. We are pleased to be working with Nokia and their team to make that possible.”

Geert Heyninck, VP and GM Broadband Networks at Nokia, said: “As the industry leader in PON, Nokia is ideally positioned to assist cable operators in moving to next-generation networks, enabling them to deliver the best possible service to their subscribers. The DPA app we are developing with the OSS experts at ZCorum will offer our customers a simple means to ease their transition to FTTH and attain a more competitive position in their markets.”

Resources and additional information
Webpage: Fiber broadband for cable operators
Webpage: Altiplano Access Controller
Webpage: Altiplano Marketplace
Webpage: ZCorum Managed Services and Diagnostics

About Nokia
At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together.

As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs.

With truly open architectures that seamlessly integrate into any ecosystem, our high-performance networks create new opportunities for monetization and scale. Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today – and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future.

About ZCorum
ZCorum provides a suite of services to broadband operators with the goal of enhancing their operational efficiency, reducing costs, increasing revenue, and improving the subscriber experience. Services include Diagnostics Software for Fiber and DOCSIS networks, Device Activation, Cybersecurity as a Service, Bandwidth Management, Hosted Residential and Commercial VoIP, Fully Managed IPTV Services, and 24×7 End-User Technical Support.

Media inquiries
Nokia Press Office
Email: Press.Services@nokia.com

Follow us on social media
LinkedIn X Instagram TikTok Facebook YouTube

The MIL Network –
September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI: 21Shares Announces Fee Reduction for Flagship ETPs, HODLX and BOLD

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

ZURICH, 24 September 2024 – 21Shares AG (“21Shares”), one of the world’s largest issuers of cryptocurrency exchange traded products (ETPs) and a subsidiary of 21.co, is pleased to announce a significant fee reduction for two of its flagship products: the 21Shares Crypto Basket 10 ETP (HODLX) and the 21Shares Bytetree BOLD ETP (BOLD). Effective immediately, the management fees for these ETPs have been lowered to 0.49% for HODLX and 0.65% for BOLD, making these innovative investment vehicles more accessible to a broader range of investors.

The 21Shares Crypto Basket 10 ETP (HODLX) provides diversified exposure to the top ten digital assets by market capitalization, rebalanced quarterly to reflect the dynamic nature of the cryptocurrency market. With this fee reduction to 0.49%, investors can now benefit from a more cost-effective way to capture the growth potential of the digital asset space in a single, diversified ETP.

The 21Shares Bytetree BOLD ETP (BOLD) offers a unique blend of Bitcoin and Gold, designed as a balanced approach to digital and traditional assets. BOLD’s risk-adjusted weighting scheme, rebalanced monthly, combines the security of gold with the growth opportunities of Bitcoin, offering a diversified hedge against inflation and economic uncertainty. The new fee of 0.65% further enhances the appeal of this product for investors seeking strategic and cost-efficient exposure to these assets.

“At 21Shares, our mission has always been to make investing in cryptocurrency more accessible, and this fee reduction is a reflection of our commitment to delivering value to our investors,” said Mandy Chiu, Head of Financial Product Development at 21Shares. “By lowering the fees on HODLX and BOLD, we are enabling more investors to participate in the future of finance at a lower cost.”

These fee reductions underscore 21Shares’ dedication to providing innovative, low-cost investment solutions that meet the evolving needs of the global investor community. Both ETPs are 100% physically backed by their underlying assets, held securely in cold storage, ensuring the highest levels of trust for investors.

For more information about 21Shares and its full range of ETPs, visit https://www.21shares.com/en-eu/product .

Press Contacts:
Audrey Belloff, Head of Communications, press@21.co

About 21.co:
21.co is the world’s leader in providing access to crypto through simple and easy to use products. 21.co is the parent company of 21Shares, one of the world’s largest issuer of cryptocurrency exchange traded products (ETPs) – which is powered by Onyx, a proprietary technology platform used to issue and operate cryptocurrency ETPs for 21Shares and third parties. The company was founded in 2018 by Hany Rashwan and Ophelia Snyder. 21Shares is registered in Zurich, Switzerland with offices in Zurich, London and New York. For more information, please visit 21Shares.

Disclaimer:
This document is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe for securities of 21Shares AG in any jurisdiction. Neither this document nor anything contained herein shall form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, any offer or commitment whatsoever or for any other purpose in any jurisdiction. Nothing in this document should be considered investment advice.

This document and the information contained herein are not for distribution in or into (directly or indirectly) the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan or any other jurisdiction in which the distribution or release would be unlawful.

This document does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in or into the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan. The securities of 21Shares AG to which these materials relate have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. There will not be a public offering of securities in the United States. Neither the US Securities and Exchange Commission nor any securities regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States has approved or disapproved of an investment in the securities or passed on the accuracy or adequacy of the contents of this presentation. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in the United States.

Within the United Kingdom, this document is only being distributed to and is only directed at: (i) to investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the “Order”); or (ii) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”); or (iii) persons who fall within Article 43(2) of the Order, including existing members and creditors of the Company or (iv) any other persons to whom this document can be lawfully distributed in circumstances where section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply. The securities are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such securities will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents.

Exclusively for potential investors in any EEA Member State that has implemented the Prospectus Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 the Issuer’s Base Prospectus (EU) is made available on the Issuer’s website under www.21Shares.com.

The approval of the Issuer’s Base Prospectus (EU) should not be understood as an endorsement by the SFSA of the securities offered or admitted to trading on a regulated market. Eligible potential investors should read the Issuer’s Base Prospectus (EU) and the relevant Final Terms before making an investment decision in order to understand the potential risks associated with the decision to invest in the securities. You are about to purchase a product that is not simple and may be difficult to understand.

This document constitutes advertisement within the meaning of the Prospectus Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 and the Swiss Financial Services Act (the “FinSA”) and not a prospectus. The 2023 Base Prospectus of 21Shares AG has been deposited pursuant to article 54(2) FinSA with SIX Exchange Regulation AG in its function as Swiss prospectus review body within the meaning of article 52 FinSA. The 2023 Base Prospectus and the key information document for any products may be obtained at 21Shares AG’s website (https://21shares.com/ir/prospectus or https://21shares.com/ir/kids).

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The MIL Network –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Russia: “Eastern Breeze”: Polytech became a prize winner of the All-Russian competition in marine robotics

MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

The 7th All-Russian competition in marine robotics “Eastern Breeze” was held in Vladivostok. Over the course of eight days, 31 teams (more than 120 people) competed in the field of promising developments of robotic complexes created by enterprises and research institutes. SPbPU was represented by teams from the Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Transport, studying at the Higher School of Automation and Robotics. The Polytechnicians managed to take three prize places in two categories.

The students’ trip was supported by the SPbPU Center for Technological Projects, the Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Transport, and the SPbPU Youth Policy Department.

In the category “Unmanned boats” our team with the device “Bublik-Pi” (developed with the support of the Priority 2030 program) managed to take second place, and the team with the Barracuda apparatus took third place. The teams’ tasks included autonomous or remotely controlled navigation in the sea, namely movement along specified routes and trajectories. Bublik-Pi was the only one that successfully completed all tasks in autonomous mode, but had a low speed at sea (1 knot).

Also in the category “Remotely controlled unmanned underwater vehicles” among developers, the submarine “Atlant-S” took third place. During the tests, it was necessary to detect objects under water and move them.

The first team (the Bublik-Pi and Atlant-S devices) included second-year master’s students Artem Akzhigitov, Andrey Klinovitsky, and fourth-year student Artem Klochikhin. The second team (the Barracuda device) was represented by first-year master’s student Vladimir Marin and 2024 graduate Artem Kondratyev.

The event was quite large-scale, with teams from all over Russia participating, and they represented not only educational institutions, but also law enforcement agencies. The team had the task of performing various types of maneuvers on a water section: to go through a snaking course, to make a dash, etc. To solve the tasks, a remote control system for an unmanned boat was created, and we also laid the groundwork for the future to solve problems in autonomous mode using GNSS, a magnetometer, and a machine vision system, shared one of the developers of the Barracuda, Artem Kondratyev.

Our teams were lucky to be at these competitions and test new SPbPU developments in extreme (marine) conditions. We successfully coped with the tasks set, especially enjoyed developing the ROV, this is a difficult task that we took on for the first time and successfully implemented it, – Andrey Klinovitsky said about the event.

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.

https://vvv.spbstu.ru/media/nevs/achievements/eastern-breeze-polytechnic-became-a-winner-of-the-all-Russian-competition-in-marine-robotics/

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

MIL OSI Russia News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Russia: Polytechnic University Opens Postdoc School “Digital Methods in Social and Humanitarian Knowledge”

MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

The opening of the educational program of the Postdoc School “Digital Methods in Social and Humanitarian Knowledge” (a project of the Humanities Institute – the winner of the “Priority 2030” competition of SPbPU) took place at Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University.

The initiative to create the “Postdoc School” (postdoctoral studies) was a response to the growing competition and changing requirements for research practices under the influence of the new technological order. Digital analysis of large volumes of data, the use of neural networks and machine learning are becoming essential tools for scientists and teachers in the humanities who strive to remain at the forefront of science.

As part of the opening of the Postdoc School, a lecture by Eduard Ponarin was held. He is a well-known specialist in the field of digital data analysis methods, the founder and leading research fellow of the Ronald Franklin Inglehart Laboratory for Comparative Social Research and a full professor at the National Research University Higher School of Economics in St. Petersburg.

He devoted his lecture to current issues of creating and analyzing text corpora, building statistical models, working with big data, as well as popular methods of formalizing text parameters and mapping them.

The educational program of the Postdoc School is aimed at masters, postgraduate students, young candidates of science with a strong social and humanitarian education and is aimed at developing their potential in the modern world. The school is designed to become a bridge between traditional humanitarian knowledge and modern digital technologies, teaching in-depth research based on structuring and analyzing arrays of heterogeneous data. At the same time, the results of the project will be not only the development of digital competencies and the effectiveness of scientific research, but also the creation of scientific interdisciplinary and inter-institutional teams due to the cooperation of researchers from different higher schools and institutes of the social and humanitarian profile of SPbPU in research teams.

Thus, the program will have a significant impact on the development of the human resources potential of young people at SPbPU and will help in solving modern scientific problems.

Photo archive

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.

https://www.spbstu.ru/media/news/education/v-politekhe-otkryli-shkolu-postdokov-tsifrovye-metody-v-sotsialno-humanitarnom-znanii/

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

MIL OSI Russia News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI China: China’s central bank conducts reverse repos

Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

BEIJING, Sept. 24 — China’s central bank conducted 460 billion yuan (about 65.24 billion U.S. dollars) of 14-day reverse repos at an interest rate of 1.85 percent Tuesday.

The move aims to keep liquidity reasonable and ample in the banking system at the end of the quarter, the central bank said.

A reverse repo is a process in which the central bank purchases securities from commercial banks through bidding, with an agreement to sell them back in the future.

MIL OSI China News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI China: China plans to inject capital into six major commercial banks: official

Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

BEIJING, Sept. 24 — China plans to increase the tier-1 capital of six major commercial banks, an official said Tuesday.

Li Yunze, head of the National Financial Regulatory Administration, told a press conference that the capital will be injected in an orderly manner, with coordinated advancement, phased implementation and tailored policies.

Tier-1 capital refers to the core capital held in a bank’s reserves, including common stock and disclosed reserves.

The administration will continue to prompt the major commercial banks to enhance fine management and strengthen their ability to achieve high-quality development under capital constraints, Li said.

MIL OSI China News –

September 29, 2024

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