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  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese vice premier to attend opening ceremony of 21st China-ASEAN Expo

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

    BEIJING, Sept. 23 — Ding Xuexiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese Vice Premier, will attend and address the opening ceremony of the 21st China-ASEAN Expo and the China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit in Nanning, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on Sept. 24, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian announced here on Monday.

    Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will deliver a video address, and foreign leaders and senior officials, including Deputy Prime Minister and Minister in charge of the Office of the Council of Ministers of Cambodia Vongsey Vissoth, Deputy Prime Minister of Laos Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Vietnam Ho Duc Phoc, as well as Secretary-General of ASEAN Kao Kim Hourn will attend the opening ceremony, Lin added.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China adds over 30,000 rural place names to protection lists under geographic naming project

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

    China adds over 30,000 rural place names to protection lists under geographic naming project

    BEIJING, Sept. 23 — More than 30,000 old rural place names have been added to China’s protection lists since a rural geographic naming project was launched last year, a senior official of the Ministry of Civil Affairs (MCA) said Monday.

    Tang Chengpei, vice minister of civil affairs, said at a press conference that the project, which collects rural place names and inputs them into maps, aimed to improve geographic naming and cultural protection in rural areas.

    As of August this year, the government had standardized the naming of 430,000 locations, installed 330,000 place name signs, and placed 14.42 million building and door plaques in rural areas under the project, Tang said.

    He added that as the project was promoted, more nameless rural places and places with multiple names had obtained their own standardized names.

    The government has also provided guides for online map services to present correct and consistent rural place names, which has facilitated backpacking and road trips in rural areas as well as the delivery of both parcels into villages and rural goods to urban areas, Tang said.

    Benefiting from the naming project, many places have created a range of geographic brands of agricultural products, and rural place naming has been integrated with the development of rural e-commerce and agricultural tourism, he added.

    The MCA announced the launch of the rural place naming project as a measure to advance rural revitalization in May 2023.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Beat Jans in Luxembourg for the meeting of justice ministers of German-speaking countries

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

    Source: Switzerland – Department of Foreign Affairs in French

    Federal Department of Justice and Police

    Bern, 23.09.2024 – Federal Councillor Beat Jans took part in the meeting of justice ministers of German-speaking countries in Luxembourg on 22 and 23 September 2024. The traditional meeting covered current issues such as the digitalisation of justice, the challenges of juvenile criminal law and experiences with the recognition of a third gender. On this occasion, Federal Councillor Beat Jans emphasised the importance of an efficient and accessible justice system that is in line with societal developments.

    The justice ministers noted that all participating countries are currently working on digitalising their judicial systems in order to improve access to courts, but also to reduce the administrative burden.

    Legislative work is also underway in Switzerland to modernise justice and make it even more efficient. This digital transition will also facilitate access to the courts, in particular through the electronic communication of judicial documents. The digitalisation of justice also represents a societal challenge: not all citizens have the necessary tools to benefit from the advantages of digital technology. Justice must therefore remain accessible through ordinary channels for these people.

    Juvenile criminal law and youth protection were also on the agenda for discussion. Swiss juvenile criminal law is an example of effectiveness: in Switzerland, the adult recidivism rate of previously convicted minors is 31%, a relatively low figure in international comparison. Discussions also focused on guardianship law, more specifically in connection with the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. One of the issues to be resolved in the context of the work currently underway in Switzerland concerns the repeal of general guardianship.

    The justice ministers also discussed the recognition of a third gender. Germany and Austria have already adopted regulations to this effect. In Switzerland, various measures are being considered to improve the situation of non-binary people. A reform in force since 2022 also allows transgender people to change their gender indication in the civil status register simply and free of charge.

    The traditional meeting of German-speaking justice ministers took place this year in Luxembourg at the invitation of Luxembourg’s Minister of Justice Elisabeth Margue. In addition to Federal Councillor Beat Jans, the working visit brought together Liechtenstein’s Minister of Justice Graziella Marok-Wachter, German State Secretary for Justice Angelika Schlunck and representatives of the Austrian Ministry of Justice.

    Address for sending questions

    DFJP communications department, info@gs-ejpd.admin.ch, T 41 58 462 18 18

    Author

    Federal Department of Justice and Policehttp://www.ejpd.admin.ch

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Clinical trial hub set for Q4

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The University of Hong Kong’s LKS Faculty of Medicine is designated to operate the Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Institute (GBAICTI) due to come into full operation in the fourth quarter, the Health Bureau announced today.

    The institute is expected to operate fully at the Central Government-Aided Emergency Hospital in the Hetao area upon completion of the construction of its temporary office and biobank therein.  

    The institute will be moved into one of the wet laboratory-enabled buildings, which is expected to complete construction later in the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation & Technology Park, with a view to enhancing Hong Kong’s innovation and technology ecosystem in a proactive manner.

    The Chief Executive put forward in the Policy Address last October the establishment of the GBAICTI in the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science & Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone, or the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation & Technology Park.

    The bureau established the GBAICTI Limited in the second quarter of this year and designated the University of Hong Kong’s LKS Faculty of Medicine through an open tender process in the third quarter to operate the institute.

    The GBAICTI Limited is wholly owned by the Government to oversee the work of the operator and effectively supervise the operations of the institute.

    The bureau said clinical trials are an important process in translating basic research on drug and medical device innovation into marketing authorisation and clinical application.

    The GBAICTI will serve as a one-stop clinical trial support platform to co-ordinate and integrate clinical trial resources in Hong Kong’s public and private sectors, including universities, the Hospital Authority and private healthcare facilities, to give impetus to the development of clinical trials on all fronts.

    Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau said the establishment of the GBAICTI in the strategic location of the Hetao area can combine the strengths of Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area (GBA) to provide more efficient services to multinational pharmaceutical enterprises, Mainland innovative biopharmaceutical enterprises, hospitals and research institutions.

    It can also encourage them to conduct clinical trials in Hong Kong and the GBA, thereby expediting the translation of research results.

    This is made possible as the GBAICTI can leverage the Hetao area’s development positioning for technology innovation and institutional innovation, as well as the related cross-boundary facilitation measures, Prof Lo explained.

    “We hope that this will attract more pharmaceutical and medical device enterprises within and outside Hong Kong to conduct clinical trials in Hong Kong to further enhance the city’s capacity, recognition and status in terms of clinical trials and support a progressive transition to a primary evaluation approach for drug registration in Hong Kong.”

    The GBAICTI in the Hong Kong Park and the Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Centre in the Shenzhen Park of the Hetao co-operation zone will join forces to synergise the development of clinical trials, and drive co-operation among the clinical trial networks of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Mainland, in particular the GBA.

    The two parks will also co-ordinate clinical trial work of both places to comply with national and international standards.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Minister Joly and Parliamentary Secretary Oliphant to Participate in United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French

    The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced that she will be part of the Canadian delegation, alongside Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, to the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Week in New York. Rob Oliphant, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, will also travel to New York as part of the Canadian delegation.

    September 23, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

    The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced that she will join Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as part of the Canadian delegation to the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Week in New York. Rob Oliphant, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, will also travel to New York as part of the Canadian delegation.

    During the 79th session of the General Assembly, Minister Joly will co-chair a high-level panel discussion on press freedom and present the 2024 Canada–United Kingdom Press Freedom Award, along with the United Kingdom’s Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Lord Collins of Highbury. This event demonstrates Canada’s enduring commitment to supporting free and independent journalism.

    Minister Joly will also participate in a meeting of the leaders of the United Nations Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti, co-chaired by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Prime Minister of Haiti, Garry Conille. The meeting will focus on the urgent need for solutions that are being put forward by the Haitian people in response to the current crisis in the country. This event will also provide a unique opportunity to mobilize international support for the Haitian government’s priorities for the transition.

    The Minister will also co-host another high-level event with representatives from Ukraine and Estonia, which will highlight the urgent need to restore children’s rights around the world and improve child protection, including by addressing the illegal deportation and forcible transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia. The Minister will highlight Canada’s ongoing efforts to support the repatriation of Ukrainian children and Canada’s steadfast support for Ukraine’s sovereignty in the face of Russian aggression.

    Minister Joly will deliver Canada’s national statement to the General Assembly, during which she will highlight Canada’s unwavering commitment to promoting multilateral cooperation, human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

    While in New York, Minister Joly will participate in a series of events aimed at advancing gender equality and promoting women’s equal and meaningful participation in decision-making, including an event on the sidelines of the UNGA High-Level Week, which will feature women leaders from around the world. The Minister will also participate in an event aimed at ensuring reproductive choice for women and girls.

    In addition, Minister Joly will meet with numerous partners and allies, including G7 foreign ministers and other senior officials from around the world. Their discussions will focus on pressing global issues, including the situation in Gaza and the broader Middle East, as well as Russia’s continued aggression against Ukraine. During these meetings, Minister Joly will also emphasize the importance of strengthening the rules-based international order and protecting human rights and gender equality.

    In New York, Parliamentary Secretary Oliphant will attend a discussion on advancing the rights of women and girls as part of the Future Summit Action Days and participate in a meeting of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group to discuss key issues related to democracy and human rights in the Commonwealth, including in Bangladesh and Gabon. Discussions at the meeting will help advance the agenda for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa in October 2024.

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI: ODYSIGHT.AI RECEIVES REPEAT PURCHASE ORDER FROM NASA FOR ITS COMPREHENSIVE VISUALIZATION SOLUTION, TO SUPPORT ITS HIGH-SPEED AERONAUTICAL FLIGHT TESTING

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    OMER, Israel, Sept. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Odysight.ai Inc. (OTCQB: ODYS), a pioneer in AI driven Predictive Maintenance (PdM) and Condition-Based Monitoring (CBM), is pleased to announce the receipt of a new purchase order for the Company’s vision-based system by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to support its high-speed aeronautical flight testing on aerospace vehicles. This repeat order from NASA demonstrates the unique value and quality of Odysight.ai’s innovative solutions.

    Colonel (Res.) Yehu Ofer, CEO of Odysight.ai stated: “This order showcases the trust NASA places in Odysight.ai, and is a strong endorsement of our technology’s effectiveness. We are proud that NASA chose to integrate our solutions to support high-speed aeronautical flight testing and believe this further demonstrates the substantial value we deliver to our customers. We look forward to expanding our partnership with NASA.”

    Inbal Kreiss, board member of Odysight.ai and currently Chief of Innovation at the Systems, Missiles and Space Division of the Israeli Aerospace Industries Ltd. (IAI) and Chairwoman of RAKIA, Israel’s Scientific and Technological Mission to the International Space Station, stated, “It is highly unusual for NASA to select a supplier as a single source for repeated space missions and thus the selection of Odysight.ai’s system by NASA is a clear validation of the exceptional quality of Odysight.ai’s capabilities.”

    Odysight.ai’s visual sensing-based systems provide state-of-the-art solutions, ranging from bespoke cameras to advanced AI algorithms for diagnostics and prognostic health management applications. Odysight.ai’s groundbreaking technology is designed to empower users to autonomously monitor and manage the health of their assets without the need for specialized technicians, providing crucial support for the aerospace sector by enabling Predictive Maintenance (PdM) and Condition Based Monitoring (CBM) of aerial vehicles. This technology enhances sustainment, operational availability and platform safety, offering superior capabilities, including an onboard Health and Usage Monitoring System (HUMS).

    About Odysight.ai

    Odysight.ai is pioneering the Predictive Maintenance (PdM) and Condition Based Monitoring (CBM) markets with its visualization and AI platform. Providing video sensor-based solutions for critical systems in the aviation, transportation, and energy industries, Odysight.ai leverages proven visual technologies and products from the medical industry. Odysight.ai’s unique video-based sensors, embedded software, and AI algorithms are being deployed in hard-to-reach locations and harsh environments across a variety of PdM and CBM use cases. Odysight.ai’s platform allows maintenance and operations teams visibility into areas which are inaccessible under normal operation, or where the operating ambience is not suitable for continuous real-time monitoring. For more information, please visit: https://www.odysight.ai or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 relating to future events or our future performance. All statements contained in this press release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements regarding future collaboration with NASA. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Those statements are based on information we have when those statements are made or our management’s current expectation and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward- looking statements. Factors that may affect our results, performance, circumstances or achievements include, but are not limited to the following: (i) market acceptance of our existing and new products, including those that utilize our micro Odysight.ai technology or offer Predictive Maintenance and Condition Based Monitoring applications, (ii) lengthy product delays in key markets, (iii) an inability to secure regulatory approvals for the sale of our products, (iv) intense competition in the medical device and related industries from much larger, multinational companies, (v) product liability claims, product malfunctions and the functionality of Odysight.ai’s solutions under all environmental conditions, (vi) our limited manufacturing capabilities and reliance on third-parties for assistance, (vii) an inability to establish sales, marketing and distribution capabilities to commercialize our products, (viii) an inability to attract and retain qualified personnel, (ix) our efforts obtain and maintain intellectual property protection covering our products, which may not be successful, (x) our reliance on a single customer that accounts for a substantial portion of our revenues, (xi) our reliance on single suppliers for certain product components, including for miniature video sensors which are suitable for our Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor technology products, (xii) the fact that we will need to raise additional capital to meet our business requirements in the future and that such capital raising may be costly, dilutive or difficult to obtain, (xiii) the impact of computer system failures, cyberattacks or deficiencies in our cybersecurity, (xiv) the fact that we conduct business in multiple foreign jurisdictions, exposing us to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, logistical, global supply chain and communications challenges, burdens and costs of compliance with foreign laws and political and economic instability in each jurisdiction and (xv) political, economic and military instability in Israel, including the impact on our operations of the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas and other terrorist organizations from the Gaza Strip and Israel’s war against them. These and other important factors discussed in Odysight.ai’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 26, 2024 and our other reports filed with the SEC could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Odysight.ai undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

    Company Contact:

    Einav Brenner, CFO
    info@odysight.ai

    Investor Relations Contact:

    Miri Segal
    MS-IR LLC
    msegal@ms-ir.com
    Tel: +1-917-607-8654

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: New Family of Voltage-Controlled Saw Oscillators with Ultra-Low Phase Noise Performance for Radar Applications

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHANDLER, Ariz., Sept. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Mission-critical applications like radar and test and measurement require specialized components with precise frequency control and ultra-low phase noise to enhance signal clarity, stability and overall system performance. To provide the aerospace and defense market with specialized technology for generating precise signals and frequencies, Microchip Technology (Nasdaq: MCHP) today announces its new 101765 family of Voltage-Controlled SAW Oscillators (VCSOs) designed to deliver ultra-low phase noise and operate at 320 MHz and 400 MHz.

    The 101765-320-A VCSO delivers ultra-low phase noise performance of 166 dBc at 10 kHz offset and a 182 dBc floor. Low phase noise is crucial for improving the lower limit of detection in radar and other sensing applications. These devices are optimal for radar and instrumentation systems such as Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) that demand high fidelity in critical phase-locked loop timing applications.

    Available in a small form factor, 1 inch × 1 inch hermetic Kovar package, the VCSOs are designed for applications where Size, Weight, Power and Cost (SWaP-C) are important factors. The VCSOs are offered with supply voltages from 4.75–15.75V and a supply current of 111 mA to provide a power-efficient timing solution.

    “Microchip continues to deliver ultra-low phase noise and high-performance timing products at a competitive price point to meet the needs of our customers,” said Leon Gross, corporate vice president of Microchip’s discrete products group. “Customers can choose Microchip for their timing needs and select other components for their application including FPGAs, MPUs, MCUs, RF, power management, security and connectivity.”

    For aerospace and defense customers who require a higher degree of reliability, the 101765 VCSOs are available with MIL-PRF-38534 screening. The screening process is designed to ensure only the highest reliability components are used in critical applications where failure is not an option, such as in military and aerospace systems.

    The 101765 VCSO family is a fresh addition to Microchip’s family of SAW products for aerospace and defense applications, which are designed to offer levels of high reliability for robust and mission-critical environments. They are available in a wide range of package options for ruggedized applications and support a center frequency range from 30 MHz to 2.7 GHz. Additionally, Microchip can address ITAR, EAR, and classified specifications for hardware to meet the customer’s security requirements.

    Development Tools

    The VCSO devices are supported by the 101765-320-A-N-S-TB and 101765-400-B-N-S-TB test boards to enable customers to test the parts during the design phase.

    Pricing and Availability

    The VCSO 101765-320-A and 101765-400-B are available now for purchase. For additional information and to purchase, contact a Microchip sales representative or authorized worldwide distributor.

    Resources

    High-res images available through Flickr or editorial contact (feel free to publish):

    About Microchip Technology:
    Microchip Technology Inc. is a leading provider of smart, connected and secure embedded control and processing solutions. Its easy-to-use development tools and comprehensive product portfolio enable customers to create optimal designs which reduce risk while lowering total system cost and time to market. The company’s solutions serve approximately 123,000 customers across the industrial, automotive, consumer, aerospace and defense, communications and computing markets. Headquartered in Chandler, Arizona, Microchip offers outstanding technical support along with dependable delivery and quality. For more information, visit the Microchip website at www.microchip.com.

    Note: The Microchip name and logo, the Microchip logo are registered trademarks of Microchip Technology Incorporated in the U.S.A. and other countries. All other trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective companies.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Colonialism and apartheid stripped black South Africans of land and labour rights – the effects are still felt today

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Marthinus van Staden, Associate Professor of Labour Law, University of the Witwatersrand

    Land dispossession among South Africa’s majority black population remains a thorny issue 30 years into democracy. Labour law scholar Marthinus van Staden’s new research examines the historical relationship between land dispossession and labour control in South Africa. It explores how the systematic seizure of indigenous people’s land during colonisation and apartheid reduced them from landowners to labourers, under exploitative conditions, and how the effects continue to linger. We asked him to explain.

    What is the history of land dispossession and labour control in South Africa?

    The history spans several centuries, beginning with Dutch colonisation in the mid-17th century. It intensified under British rule from the late 18th century. Early colonial policies were inconsistent, but gradually evolved into more systematic land grabs and labour regulations.

    The discovery of minerals – primarily gold and diamonds – in the 1880s heightened the demand for cheap black labour.

    The 19th century saw other significant developments, including the abolition of slavery and the introduction of pass laws. Pass laws required black people to carry identity documents that restricted their movement, employment and settlement.

    The 1913 Natives Land Act severely restricted black land ownership. It prevented black people from owning or renting land in 93% of South Africa, which was reserved for white ownership. Many black farmers who had previously owned or rented land in what had been designated “white areas” were forced to become labourers on white-owned farms. Or they had to move to “reserves” the state had set aside.

    This was followed by a series of laws implementing urban segregation and expanding “native reserves”.

    The apartheid era of formalised racial segregation, from 1948 to 1994, saw the most extreme measures of land dispossession and labour control. The creation of the homeland system relegated black South Africans to 10 economically unviable areas, along ethnic lines. Black people in homelands were mostly forced to work in “white” South Africa, where they lacked legal rights as workers.

    It wasn’t until 1979 that black trade unions were allowed to register. This allowed them to operate openly and bargain with employers and the government for improved wages and working conditions.

    Trade unions served as important political actors. They increased black workers’ political voice and influence. In fact, all labour legislation before 1981 had the distinguishing feature of excluding black workers from its ambit of protection.

    Only after apartheid ended in 1994 did efforts begin to address the legacy of land dispossession and unfair labour practices through restitution and reforms. Land reform processes have been criticised for being ineffectual.

    What effect did dispossession have?

    Dispossession created a large pool of cheap labour for white-owned farms and industries. Without access to land for subsistence or commercial farming, black South Africans had little choice but to work for low wages in the capitalist economy. The employment contract, transplanted from colonial law, became a tool for exerting control over these workers. It reinforced their subordinate status.

    The common law contract of employment, with its inherent element of employer control, was applied to the formerly independent indigenous people now forced into wage labour.

    The homelands ensured a continuous supply of cheap black migrant labour. This system of land deprivation and labour control not only served the economic interests of the white minority. It also reinforced racial hierarchies.

    The socio-economic consequences continue. Black workers are still more likely to be unemployed – or in precarious work – than whites.

    Why does this matter today?

    The legacy of land dispossession and labour control continues to shape South Africa’s social, economic and political landscape. It’s a critical consideration in efforts to build a more just and equitable society.

    This history has created deep-rooted economic disparities. The concentration of land ownership and wealth in the hands of the white minority remains largely intact, perpetuating socio-economic inequality.

    The ongoing struggle for land restitution and reform is directly linked to this history. Addressing the legacy of dispossession is crucial for economic justice and social stability.

    Understanding this history is essential for developing effective policies to address poverty, unemployment and uneven development.

    It is also vital for national reconciliation and building a more equitable society. It underpins current debates about social justice, reparations and the transformation of economic structures.

    Which practical, remedial policies must be carried out?

    The historical link between land loss and subjugation by means of the controls inherent to the contract of employment makes land reform a necessary first step to reversing this process.

    The government has put in place formal mechanisms to halt racialised land ownership. However, land restitution and reform programmes need to be enhanced and accelerated.

    They should include restoring land rights where possible, and providing support for sustainable land use. This would address both the economic and emotional aspects of historical dispossession.

    Legislation such as the Labour Relations Act and the Employment Equity Act have done much to strengthen protections for workers’ rights, particularly for those in precarious employment situations. However, the ways in which these laws continue to endorse a global north conception of the employment relationship, which emphasises control, must be rethought.

    They must be reformed to promote equality, dignity and fair labour practices. Reforms should involve more collaborative models and addressing the socio-economic impacts to redress historical injustices.

    Targeted economic development initiatives are needed in historically disadvantaged areas, including former homelands. These could include infrastructure development, skills training programmes, and support for small businesses to create economic opportunities.

    These remedial policies should be part of an all-encompassing strategy to address historical injustices, and create a more equitable South African society.

    – Colonialism and apartheid stripped black South Africans of land and labour rights – the effects are still felt today
    – https://theconversation.com/colonialism-and-apartheid-stripped-black-south-africans-of-land-and-labour-rights-the-effects-are-still-felt-today-238243

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI: Xunlei Announces Appointment of Two New Directors

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SHENZHEN, China, Sept. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Xunlei Limited (“Xunlei” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: XNET), a leading technology company providing distributed cloud services in China, today announced that the board of directors of the Company has appointed Mr. Hui Duan and Mr. Xiaosong Li as members of the board of directors of the Company, effective today.

    Mr. Hui Duan had served as a director of Xunlei from April 2020 to September 2023. He currently serves as the Chief Technology Officer of Beijing Itui Technology Co., Ltd. Prior to that, Mr. Duan founded his own company that provided SaaS tools and services from October 2015 to 2017. From April 2008 to April 2015, Mr. Duan served various management positions at Xunlei including vice president and the chief executive officer of a major subsidiary of Xunlei. Mr. Duan received his EMBA degree from China Europe International Business School in 2015, and bachelor’s degree in computer science from Peking University in 2001.

    Mr. Xiaosong Li has been serving as the Vice President of AGI Business at Xunlei since December 2023. From March 2018 to November 2023, he held the position of technology partner at Beijing Itui Technology Co., Ltd., where he was responsible for leading research and development in the field of artificial intelligence. From March 2008 to March 2018, he gained valuable experience working at Baidu Search Ads (Phoenix Nest), where he progressively advanced his career and ultimately served as the Chief Architect. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in software engineering from Northwestern Polytechnical University in 2005 and a master’s degree in computer system architecture from Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2008.

    Mr. Jinbo Li, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Xunlei, stated, “On behalf of the board of directors, I extend our warmest welcome to Hui Duan and Xiaosong Li for joining the Board. We look forward to working closely with them, leveraging their industry expertise and exceptional management experiences, to create value for our shareholders in the future.”

    About Xunlei

    Founded in 2003, Xunlei Limited (Nasdaq: XNET) is a leading technology company providing distributed cloud services in China. Xunlei provides a wide range of products and services across cloud acceleration, shared cloud computing and digital entertainment to deliver an efficient, smart and safe internet experience.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    This press release contains statements of a forward-looking nature. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these forward-looking statements by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates” and similar statements. Among other things, the management’s quotes in this press release, as well as the Company’s strategic, operational and acquisition plans, contain forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about the Company and the industry. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to: the Company’s ability to continue to innovate and provide attractive products and services to retain and grow its user base; the Company’s ability to keep up with technological developments and users’ changing demands in the internet industry; the Company’s ability to convert its users into subscribers of its premium services; the Company’s ability to deal with existing and potential copyright infringement claims and other related claims; the Company’s ability to react to the governmental actions for its scrutiny of internet content in China and the Company’s ability to compete effectively. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that its expectations will turn out to be correct, and investors are cautioned that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results. Further information regarding risks and uncertainties faced by the Company is included in the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of the press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law.

    Investor Relations
    Xunlei Limited
    Email: ir@xunlei.com 
    Tel: +86 755 6111 1571
    Website: http://ir.xunlei.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Major Envoy Medical Investor Glen Taylor Discusses How Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 Hearing Aid Announcement is a Potentially Positive Development for the Company

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    During “The Claman Countdown,” the billionaire investor and entrepreneur noted how hearing aid modes in next-gen wireless earbuds can work with Envoy Medical’s fully implanted hearing devices

    WHITE BEAR LAKE, Minnesota, Sept. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Envoy Medical®, Inc. (“Envoy Medical”) (Nasdaq: “COCH”), a hearing health company focused on fully implanted hearing systems, today highlights an interview with key investor Glen Taylor on Fox Business News “The Claman Countdown” in which he commented on the news that Apple’s new AirPods Pro 2 can be used as hearing aids.   

    In the interview, Mr. Taylor was asked whether he was worried about Apple entering the hearing technology market, and he discussed how he believed it could be additive to Envoy Medical’s product offering. Mr. Taylor noted that due to Envoy Medical’s fully implanted devices taking in sound through the ear, devices like the AirPods Pro 2 could potentially work in concert with Envoy Medical’s fully implanted devices. Envoy Medical’s hearing devices are not hearing aids, but rather fully implanted hearing devices for a particular subset of hearing loss.

    Envoy Medical CEO, Brent Lucas stated, “Our hearing implants are different from other hearing implants in that ours use the ear to pick up sound. We sometimes refer to it as ‘Nature’s Microphone.’ The device design of our hearing implants allows recipients to use the ears for other things, such as external electronics, earbuds, or even hearing aids. Once the market appreciates why we believe this is going to be a differentiator, we believe it will increase excitement around our fully implanted hearing implants and the flexibility they can provide to certain patients.”

    About the Esteem® Fully Implanted Active Middle Ear Implant (FI-AMEI)

    The Esteem fully implanted active middle ear implant (FI-AMEI) is the only FDA-approved, fully implanted* hearing device for adults diagnosed with moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss allowing for 24/7 hearing capability using the ear’s natural anatomy. The Esteem FI-AMEI hearing implant is invisible and requires no externally worn components and nothing is placed in the ear canal for it to function. Unlike hearing aids, you never put it on or take it off. You can’t lose it. You don’t clean it. The Esteem FI-AMEI hearing implant offers true 24/7 hearing.

    *Once activated, the external Esteem FI-AMEI Personal Programmer is not required for daily use.

    Important safety information for the Esteem FI-AMEI can be found at: https://www.envoymedical.com/safety-information.

    About the Fully Implanted Acclaim® Cochlear Implant

    We believe the fully implanted Acclaim Cochlear Implant (“Acclaim CI”) will be a first-of-its-kind fully implanted cochlear implant. Envoy Medical’s fully implanted technology includes a sensor designed to leverage the natural anatomy of the ear instead of a microphone to capture sound.

    The Acclaim CI is designed to address severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss that is not adequately addressed by hearing aids. The Acclaim CI is expected to be indicated for adults who have been deemed adequate candidates by a qualified physician.

    The Acclaim Cochlear Implant received the Breakthrough Device Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2019. We believe the Acclaim CI was the first hearing-focused device to receive Breakthrough Device Designation.

    CAUTION The fully implanted Acclaim Cochlear Implant is an investigational device. Limited by Federal (or United States) law to investigational use.

    Additional Information and Where to Find It

    Copies of the documents filed by Envoy Medical with the SEC may be obtained free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-Looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast,” “intend,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “seek,” “target” or other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Such statements may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the expectations of Envoy Medical concerning the outlook for its business, productivity, plans and goals for future operational improvements and capital investments; the effect of the ability to use electronic devices with the Acclaim CI; the potential for passage of legislation related to reimbursement for active middle ear hearing devices; the impact that such proposed legislation might have on the hearing health market, reimbursement for the Esteem FI-AMEI device, and the Envoy Medical business, and future market conditions or economic performance, as well as any information concerning possible or assumed future operations of Envoy Medical. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release reflect Envoy Medical’s current views about future events and are subject to numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and changes in circumstances that may cause its actual results to differ significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statement. Envoy Medical does not guarantee that the events described will happen as described (or that they will happen at all). These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to changes in the market price of shares of Envoy Medical’s Class A Common Stock; changes in or removal of Envoy Medical’s shares inclusion in any index; Envoy Medical’s success in retaining or recruiting, or changes required in, its officers, key employees or directors; unpredictability in the medical device industry, the regulatory process to approve medical devices, and the clinical development process of Envoy Medical products; competition in the medical device industry, and the failure to introduce new products and services in a timely manner or at competitive prices to compete successfully against competitors; disruptions in relationships with Envoy Medical’s suppliers, or disruptions in Envoy Medical’s own production capabilities for some of the key components and materials of its products; changes in the need for capital and the availability of financing and capital to fund these needs; changes in interest rates or rates of inflation; legal, regulatory and other proceedings could be costly and time-consuming to defend; changes in applicable laws or regulations, or the application thereof on Envoy Medical; a loss of any of Envoy Medical’s key intellectual property rights or failure to adequately protect intellectual property rights; the effects of catastrophic events, including war, terrorism and other international conflicts; and other risks and uncertainties set forth in the section entitled “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements” in the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by Envoy Medical on April 1, 2024, and in other reports Envoy Medical files, with the SEC. If any of these risks materialize or Envoy Medical’s assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. While forward-looking statements reflect Envoy Medical’s good faith beliefs, they are not guarantees of future performance. Envoy Medical disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect changes in underlying assumptions or factors, new information, data or methods, future events or other changes after the date of this press release, except as required by applicable law. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which are based only on information currently available to Envoy Medical. 

    ###

    Investor Contact:
    CORE IR
    516-222-2560
    investorrelations@envoymedical.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: QOIBest Debuts Hong Kong Office to Revolutionize Global App Experiences with PWA Solutions

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Hong Kong, Sept. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — QOIBest, a global leader in Progressive Web Apps (PWA) technology, has enhanced its global service network by opening a new office in Hong Kong. The new location adds to QOIBest’s other continental headquarters in London, providing the firm with new and valuable access to assist businesses, technical directors and product managers in significantly improving mobile user experiences.

    QOIBest’s PWA technology allows web applications to function just like native mobile apps. Its Android solution enables users to access and install apps directly through their internet browser, bypassing Google Play. This makes installing apps easier than ever while also eliminating the need to install through traditional app stores, providing a smooth, app-like experience to users.

    Maximize User Retention with Cutting-Edge PWAs

    At the core of QOIBest’s offering is its innovative PWA technology, designed to maximize user retention. QOIBest’s PWAs offer fast loading times, offline functionality and Chrome-based push notifications to ensure interruption-free user experiences. Built on the Chrome Web App Protocol, the PWAs bypass app store reviews — which in turn minimizes their risk of being delisted. Even after a user installs an app, the PWA-fueled push notifications help retain users by encouraging them to reactivate the app.

    Lower Business Costs Through Cross-Platform Compatibility

    QOIBest’s PWAs also offer cross-platform compatibility, which eliminates the need for separate native apps and reduces costs of both development and maintenance. In bypassing Google Play’s commission fees, QOIBest’s technology helps companies save money and be more flexible in receiving payment from users.

    A Trusted Partner Across Industries

    QOIBest‘s international presence allows it to leverage its PWA expertise and offer its wide variety of services, including platform development, customer engagement, IT support and user retention to a larger global base of users. The firm works primarily in the gaming, social media, in-app advertising (IAA) industries and short drama, but is also growing rapidly into the retail, e-commerce and travel spaces, among others.

    Empowering Clients with Optimized Features

    QOIBest continually enhances its platform to improve client outcomes. Recent updates include Adjust integration for better data tracking, interception tools to boost conversion, and page obfuscation for privacy protection. The dashboard now offers more intuitive data displays, while landing pages and backend management have been optimized for smoother user experiences. Additional features like watermarking and ongoing bug fixes ensure system stability and protection.

    Learn more about QOIBest’s PWA products and solutions by visiting https://qoibest.com/ or following QOIBest’s X page. To schedule a demo or discuss collaboration opportunities, contact the company via Telegram or WhatsApp (+44 7379 704740).

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Arkansas Governor, Local and Community Leaders Congratulate Standard Lithium, Equinor for U.S. Department of Energy Provisional Grant up to US$225 million

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LEWISVILLE, Ark., Sept. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Standard Lithium Ltd. (“Standard Lithium”) (TSXV:SLI) (NYSE American:SLI), a leading near-commercial lithium development company and Equinor, a global energy leader, is pleased to share that its jointly-owned U.S. subsidiary, SWA Lithium LLC has been selected for up to US$225 million award negotiation from the U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”). The conditional award, overseen by the DOE’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains, is one of the largest ever awarded to a U.S. critical minerals project and part of the second wave of funding under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This DOE funding is aimed at expanding domestic manufacturing of all segments of the battery supply chain and increasing production of critical minerals in the U.S. 

    “Arkansas is proud of its all-of-the-above energy strategy, with a rich production history of oil, natural gas, bromine, and now, lithium,” said Arkansas Governor Sarah Sanders. “Lithium has the potential to supercharge South Arkansas’ economy – and this announcement from Standard Lithium moves us closer to that goal.”

    “Congratulations to SLI and its partners, and what an exciting investment in Arkansas,” said Arkansas Secretary of Energy and Environment, Shane Khoury. “This award helps ensure that Arkansas stays on track to become a world leader in lithium production and promotes lithium extraction in a proven and cleaner manner.”

    “The announcement by Standard Lithium today is exciting news for south Arkansas,” said Arkansas State Senator Matt Stone. “The $225 million grant from the Department of Energy will firmly establish Arkansas as an energy leader and pave the way for hundreds of jobs for our State.”

    “Standard Lithium’s Department of Energy grant marks a pivotal investment in South Arkansas, empowering local communities while strengthening our nation’s future,” said Arkansas State Senator Ben Gilmore. “This initiative not only fosters economic growth but also plays a crucial role in breaking our dependence on China and securing a resilient supply chain for lithium and beyond.”

    “Congratulations to the SLI/Equinor team,” said Arkansas Secretary of Commerce Hugh McDonald. “Arkansas is excited to see the validation of the lithium industry growth opportunities that will benefit thousands of Arkansans. This award and others solidify Arkansas’ significant role in securing North America’s lithium supply chain.”

    “South Arkansas College is excited about this news for our long-term partner Standard Lithium, and we will continue to support them in any way possible in the future,” said President of SouthArk College, Dr. Stephanie Tully-Dartez.

    “This is great news for the people of South Arkansas and a significant investment in our future and in our nation’s future by helping to break dependence on foreign sources and supply chain for critical minerals,” said Former Arkansas House Speaker Matthew Shepherd. “Not only will this investment directly create hundreds of jobs, it will indirectly create numerous opportunities for improved healthcare, childcare, and workforce development and have a lasting positive impact on South Arkansas and beyond.”

    “UA -Pulaski Tech is proud to be an educational partner on the workforce training component of this enormous investment in domestic production, securing of supply chains and jobs in Arkansas,” said Dr. Summer Deprow, Chancellor of the University of Arkansas – Pulaski Technical College. 

    “Congratulations Standard Lithium on receiving this outstanding award,” said Lafayette County Judge, Valarie Clark. “Lafayette County is grateful for the opportunity to support this great company in their future endeavors.”

    “I am very proud of Standard Lithium and their persistence in receiving the funding that has been procured by their organization,” said Columbia County Judge, Doug Fields. “I know personally the challenge there is to obtain funding for a project! I’m proud to give my full support to Standard Lithium, and their endeavors to provide new jobs, new infrastructure, and to see them support the community in much-needed ways, not to mention the boost to our economy! Congratulations to Standard Lithium!”

    About the South West Arkansas Project

    The South West Arkansas Project (“SWA” or the “Project”) is located in Lafayette and Columbia Counties, Arkansas, and is being developed in partnership with Equinor, which holds a 45% non-operating interest in the Project. SWA’s Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resource of 1.4 Mt and 0.4 Mt lithium carbonate equivalent, with an average lithium concentration of 437 mg/L, has some of the highest reported lithium brine concentrations in North America. The design engineers working on behalf of the Company are developing Front-end Engineering Design (“FEED”) and a Definitive Feasibility Study (“DFS”) that contemplates total production of up to 45,000 tonnes per annum of lithium carbonate, to be developed in two phases of 22,500 tonnes per annum each.

    SWA’s direct lithium extraction and lithium carbonate facilities are planned to be located on a 118-acre property in rural Lafayette County, approximately 7 miles south of Lewisville, Arkansas. The Project is expected to create up to 300 construction jobs and 100 direct jobs and dedicate millions of dollars to community impact efforts that will benefit the local area through infrastructure improvements, community health initiatives, educational partnerships, and workforce development programs.

    The Company completed a Preliminary Feasibility Study for the project in 2023, and a DFS and FEED are currently underway.

    Qualified Person

    Steve Ross, P.Geol., a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, and Vice President Resource Development for the Company, has reviewed and approved the relevant scientific and technical information in this news release.

    About Standard Lithium

    Standard Lithium is a leading near-commercial lithium development company focused on the sustainable development of a portfolio of large, high-grade lithium-brine properties in the United States. The Company prioritizes projects characterized by the highest quality resources, robust infrastructure, skilled labor, and streamlined permitting. Standard Lithium aims to achieve sustainable, commercial-scale lithium production via the application of a scalable and fully integrated Direct Lithium Extraction (“DLE”) and purification process. The Company’s flagship projects are located in the Smackover Formation, a world-class lithium brine asset, focused in Arkansas and Texas. In partnership with global energy leader Equinor ASA, Standard Lithium is advancing the South West Arkansas project, a greenfield project located in southern Arkansas, and actively exploring promising lithium brine prospects in East Texas. Additionally, the Company is advancing the Phase 1A project in partnership with LANXESS Corporation, a brownfield development project located in southern Arkansas. Standard Lithium also holds an interest in certain mineral leases in the Mojave Desert in San Bernardino County, California.

    Standard Lithium is jointly listed on the TSX Venture Exchange and the NYSE American under the trading symbol “SLI”. Please visit the Company’s website at https://www.standardlithium.com.

    About Equinor

    Equinor is an international energy company committed to long-term value creation in a low-carbon future. Equinor’s portfolio of projects encompasses oil and gas, renewables and low-carbon solutions, with an ambition of becoming a net-zero energy company by 2050. Headquartered in Norway, Equinor is the leading operator on the Norwegian continental shelf and is present in around 30 countries worldwide. Our partnership with Standard Lithium to mature DLE projects builds on our broad US energy portfolio of oil and gas, offshore wind, low carbon solutions and battery storage projects.

    For more information on Equinor in the US, please visit: Equinor in the US – Equinor

    Media Contacts:

    Allysa Iverson 
    Standard Lithium Ltd.
    a.iverson@standardlithium.com

    Ola Morten Aanestad 
    Equinor
    oaan@equinor.com

    Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

    This news release may contain certain “Forward-Looking Statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “target”, “plan”, “forecast”, “may”, “schedule” and other similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to intended development timelines, future prices of commodities, accuracy of mineral or resource exploration activity, reserves or resources, regulatory or government requirements or approvals, the reliability of third party information, continued access to mineral properties or infrastructure, fluctuations in the market for lithium and its derivatives, changes in exploration costs and government regulation in Canada and the United States, and other factors or information. Such statements represent the Company’s current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN tours CAEXPO Pavilion

    Source: ASEAN

    Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today toured the China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) Pavilion, to observe the preparations for the opening of the 21st CAEXPO, on 24 September 2024. The tour covered the B2 area of the Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Center, where the ASEAN Member States, Observer, and the ASEAN Secretariat are located.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Denis Manturov took part in the forum “Microelectronics”

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

    First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov took part in the plenary session of the Microelectronics-2024 forum. The 10th anniversary Russian Microelectronics Forum is being held on the Sirius federal territory from September 23 to 28.

    Denis Manturov took part in the forum “Microelectronics”

    At the plenary session, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin addressed the forum participants with a greeting. The plenary session was opened by the President of the Russian Academy of Sciences Gennady Krasnikov. Government representatives, heads of federal executive authorities, scientists and the industry community discussed plans and prospects for the development of the Russian electronics industry, innovative approaches, scientific achievements, as well as upcoming changes in government regulation.

    In particular, Denis Manturov spoke about plans to extend tax breaks for electronics industry organizations, expand them to electronics engineering enterprises, and possibly return to advance payments of up to 80% for government contracts in the field of electronics engineering.

    “As for advance payments, it is no secret that up to 100% [is advanced – IF] even today when signing and implementing contracts within the framework of state defense procurement, including for electronic products. And for civil ones, the bar has indeed been lowered to 50%. Taking into account the key rate, we have already discussed this issue today. We will formalize this approach, and I will give the corresponding instruction to the Ministry of Finance and Anton Andreyevich Alikhanov so that colleagues can promptly prepare such a decision and submit it to the Government,” he said, answering a question about the prospects for moving to advance payments of 80% of the contract value when purchasing electronic equipment. “I am sure that this can be a good help, especially today, given the high interest rate on loans,” the First Deputy Prime Minister added.

    During the Microelectronics forum, Denis Manturov also presented state awards to outstanding workers in the electronics industry: the Order of Friendship, the Order of Military Merit, and the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 2nd class.

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

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

    http://government.ru/nevs/52773/

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: Climate Tech VC Cerulean Ventures Closes Fund I at Climate Week NYC 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Sept. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Cerulean Ventures, a climate tech venture capital firm operating in the trillion dollar annual climate finance sector, closed a $10M pre-seed fund focused on software for hard problems in climate tech. The fund invests in highly-scalable software and technology focused on biodiversity, natural capital and climate-positive profitable business practices.

    Cerulean Ventures was launched with the support of its anchor investor, One Small Planet, strategic investors, Regen Foundation and Regen Network, and several global family offices focused on scaling proven, profitable solutions to address climate change.

    “As tech founders themselves, Jahed and Matthew have the unique experience of bridging complex technology to massive markets,” said Jack Wielebinski, Chief Investment Officer of One Small Planet. “We are proud to support Cerulean’s thesis to invest in software businesses that connect the global economy for nature-positive outcomes.”

    As a team, the General Partners work directly with founders at the earliest stages to develop business operations, set go-to-market strategies and plan for financial success to reach critical funding and business milestones. Matthew Stotts was the founder of a top technology marketing consultancy in Silicon Valley and a co-founder of a financial technology business. Jahed Momand was the co-founder of a developer operations SaaS company and held product leadership roles at a number of top Silicon Valley enterprise software companies. Together they worked on sustainable finance, regenerative agriculture and indigenous land stewardship through the Regen Network. They began investing through Cerulean Ventures in 2022.

    Matthew and Jahed’s work with the Cerulean Ventures portfolio of climate tech entrepreneurs deepens the general partners’ years of work on nature-based solutions, biodiversity, decarbonization, circular materials, waste-to-value, decentralized energy and global networks for coordinating climate finance and accounting. Cerulean’s portfolio of investments include highly-scalable software and data for sustainable supply chains, financial technology for carbon and energy markets, and several innovations in climate finance.

    Four major focus areas for Cerulean Ventures Fund I include: Carbon, Energy, Sustainable Supply Chains and Climate FinTech

    Earthbanc leads the carbon markets
    Earthbanc has built the world’s first vertically integrated, full-stack, nature-based carbon removal company. Leading global multinationals, such as AstraZeneca, work with Earthbanc to scale carbon removal through native, biodiverse and regenerative agroforestry that delivers proven nature-based carbon removals through its proprietary, MRV software in the field, machine learning, and market linkages for agricultural and horticultural produce.

    Earthbanc CEO Tom Duncan: “Our vision at Earthbanc is nothing less than enabling regenerative agriculture, forestry and carbon removal to scale up across 2.5 billion hectares of degraded lands. We make this achievable by building mobile and web software for projects and clients to leverage deep learning and MRV, and we structure capital to enable it to flow into land restoration. Cerulean helped us form capital with the right investors early, and that freed us up to focus on building a truly transformative nature-tech company.”

    Jasmine Energy is opening a global renewable energy market
    Jasmine Energy has digitized and synchronized the United States market for renewable energy credits, which has historically been disaggregated and difficult to access. With an ambitious view of a global tradeable market of credits that incentivize renewable energy investment, Jasmine Energy is critical to the energy transition.

    “Cerulean was one of the first believers in our vision of a globally-coordinated renewable energy market,” said Nathalie Capati, co-founder and CEO of Jasmine Energy. “Few investors have the insight or commitment to support founders building a climate-positive software company that takes on massively complex markets. Cerulean has gone above and beyond in its support for Jasmine.”

    CommonShare is driving sustainable supply chains
    CommonShare is using AI to enable sustainable procurement across all supply chains, making them transparent and fair through a global network of brands, retailers, suppliers, verifiers, and standards owners that promotes clear communication and cross-company collaboration. In a landmark partnership with Bureau Veritas (BV), they will enable origin mapping and purchase order traceability across BV’s Fortune 500 clients, helping them comply with CSRD and EUDR compliance and radically reduce environmental impacts through sustainable procurement.

    “We enjoyed working with the Cerulean team. They were one of the few VCs who understood what we’re doing, which gave them the ability to move fast on diligence and help us focus on building in an entirely new market. Their founder-focused perspective was exactly what we were looking for in a pre-seed partner.” – Martin Smith, Founder & CEO CommonShare.

    Regen is building a global blockchain for good
    Regen Network and its foundation seek to bring the use, regeneration and protection of land and natural resources into balance with indigenous peoples and local communities through an equitable distribution of value, knowledge and stewardship. The blockchain network and technology tools Regen has built enable finance to flow to biodiversity protection, old-growth forests, critical watersheds and irreplaceable natural resources.

    “Jahed and Matthew were early contributors to the Regen Network, a community of hundreds that now spans every continent on Earth,” said Gregory Landua, CEO of Regen Network Development PBC. “We’re excited to see Ceruluean’s contributions to nature-positive technology for the benefit of people and the planet.”

    About Cerulean Ventures
    https://cerulean.vc/

    Cerulean Ventures invests in pre-seed and seed stage Climate FinTech, SaaS and blockchain businesses tapping into the network effects of nature, renewable energy and climate-positive economies. Cerulean finds earth-scale (global) technology opportunities in areas like renewable energy, blue carbon, reforestation, biodiversity and regenerative agriculture, as well as decarbonization, circularity and sustainability across industry, manufacturing, transportation, construction, and supply chains.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: BIO-key Expands Deployment with Province of British Columbia, Adds 10,000 Biometric Users for Sign-on and Physical Access Control

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia and HOLMDEL, N.J., Sept. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BIO-key® International, Inc. (NASDAQ: BKYI), an innovative provider of workforce and customer identity and access management (IAM) solutions featuring Identity-Bound Biometrics (IBB) for phoneless, tokenless, passwordless and phish-resistant authentication experiences, announced that its long-time customer, the province of British Columbia, has placed new orders with BIO-key. 10,000 users will be added to their existing deployment of WEB-key software, integrated with Broadcom’s SiteMinder infrastructure to streamline and strengthen access to a series of new applications via SAML 2.0 federation standards.

    BIO-key has worked closely with the province’s cybersecurity team to integrate BIO-key’s state-of-the-art, cloud-enabled biometric authentication platform with its existing authentication infrastructure to deliver advanced and secure biometric access to systems, applications and facilities across the organization.

    Since 2012, BIO-key’s secure biometric authentication platform has been integrated with the province’s authentication infrastructure to provide the strongest biometric ID without requiring phones or tokens. In 2017, the province expanded the platform to incorporate physical access control using the same fingerprint biometric for door access. This differentiated approach delivers secure sign in and streamlined access to facilities for users who roam among different workstations and locations without requiring added costs and risks of “what-you-have” token and card solutions that only verify that the card or token is present, not the user. BIO-key credentials derive from the individual themselves, so access cannot be shared, delegated, phished or forgotten.

    Jim Sullivan, BIO-key’s SVP Strategy and Chief Legal Officer, said, “The British Columbia government has been a leader in providing secure biometric authentication with BIO-key solutions for more than a decade. They recognize that unique ‘roving user’ scenarios call for uncompromising yet user-friendly security. We are pleased to be the trusted provider of the highest level of security, by ensuring only the right user accesses the most sensitive information. BIO-key has a long history providing highly secure, robust and cost-efficient solutions in government, defense, finance, retail and other highly-regulated industries. Today, we are finding that BIO-key’s superior user experience, through phoneless, tokenless and passwordless solutions, translates very well to many enterprise use cases, particularly where we bring multi-factor authentication to roving workforces.”

    About BIO-key International, Inc. (www.BIO-key.com)
    BIO-key is revolutionizing authentication and cybersecurity with biometric-centric, multi-factor identity and access management (IAM) software securing access for over forty million users. BIO-key allows customers to choose the right authentication factors for diverse use cases, including phoneless, tokenless and passwordless biometric options. Its hosted or on-premise PortalGuard IAM solution provides cost-effective, easy-to-deploy, convenient, and secure access to computers, information, applications, and high-value transactions.

    BIO-key Safe Harbor Statement
    All statements contained in this press release other than statements of historical facts are “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Act”). The words “estimate,” “project,” “intends,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are made based on management’s beliefs, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management pursuant to the “safe-harbor” provisions of the Act. These statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those included within or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, our history of losses and limited revenue; our ability to raise additional capital; our ability to protect our intellectual property; changes in business conditions; changes in our sales strategy and product development plans; changes in the marketplace; continued services of our executive management team; security breaches; competition in the biometric technology industry; market acceptance of biometric products generally and our products under development; our ability to execute and deliver on contracts in Africa; our ability to expand into Asia, Africa and other foreign markets; our ability to integrate the operations and personnel of Swivel Secure into our business; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; delays in the development of products and statements of assumption underlying any of the foregoing as well as other factors set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to disclose any revision to these forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.


    Investor Contacts
    William Jones, David Collins
    Catalyst IR
    BKYI@catalyst-ir.com
    212-924-9800

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: ASIA/ARAB EMIRATES – Bishop Martinelli closes the Jubilee of the Martyrs of Arabia: they are our roots

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Italy –

    Source: The Holy See in Italian

    AVOID

    Abu Dhabi (Agenzia Fides) – The Jubilee dedicated to Saint Aretas and Companion Martyrs of Arabia was also a precious opportunity to rediscover the long history of Christianity in Arabia, a history “rooted in the apostolic testimony and watered by the blood of the martyrs”. A source from which the composite and vital community of millions of Catholics spread across the various countries of the Arabian Peninsula can now draw. This was underlined, looking at the present and the future, by Bishop Paolo Martinelli ofm.Cap, Apostolic Vicar of southern Arabia, celebrating yesterday, Sunday 22 September, the closing liturgy of the Jubilee Year in the territories of the Vicariate. A solemn mass celebrated in Abu Dhabi, in St. Joseph’s Cathedral, with the closing of the Holy Door, which saw the participation of more than 3 thousand Catholics. The Jubilee, which began on 23 October 2023 (see Fides 20 and 24/10/2023 ), was experienced jointly by the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia (including the United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Oman) and the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia (led by Bishop Aldo Berardi O.SS.T. and including Barhain, Qatar , Kuwait and Saudi Arabia). The closing ceremony of the Jubilee in the Vicariate of South Arabia was brought forward because Bishop Martinelli will be busy in Rome in October for the Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. In the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia the similar closing ceremony is scheduled for October 23rd. The communion experienced between the Catholic communities of the Arabian Peninsula through the experience of the Jubilee journey – Bishop Martinelli remarked in his homily – «is one of the reasons why these saints are so important to us. We come from many different countries, we have different liturgical rites and different spiritual traditions. Everyone cherishes devotion to the saints of their own culture and we can long for them here. But Saint Aretas and his companions are saints of this land of Arabia where we live now. Therefore they are our saints, whom we can all celebrate together as one Church, the Church of Arabia”. “By coming to this country as migrants – insisted the Apostolic Vicar – we become an integral part of the history of this Church of Arabia , rooted in the apostolic testimony and watered by the blood of the martyrs”.Saint Aretas and his Companions, venerated in all the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, were Arab Christians from the ancient city of Najran (in present-day Saudi Arabia) martyred in the year 523 after Christ.Arethas, whose Arabic name was Al-Harith bin Ka’b, was born in 427 AD. and was governor of the predominantly Christian city until his martyrdom at the venerable age of ninety-five. In the 6th century, the king of Himyar (in present-day Yemen), Dhu Nuwas, began a systematic persecution of Christians in southern Arabia, burning churches, forcing people to convert and putting to death those who refused to renounce their faith in Christ. Priests, deacons, nuns and entire families – men, women and children – were burned alive. According to tradition, the relics of Saint Aretas and her fellow martyrs of Najran were deposited in a cube-shaped shrine which became a popular pilgrimage center for Arab Christians during late antiquity. The sanctuary was destroyed in the 7th century when Christians were expelled from southern Arabia. The relics of Saint Aretas eventually found their way to Mount Athos in Greece. Their return to the Arabian Peninsula after almost fourteen centuries was experienced as an extraordinary blessing for the current Christian communities in the Gulf. On 29 August 2023, Pope Francis issued the Decree announcing the Jubilee of Saint Aretas and Companions in the Arabian Peninsula. The Decree granted a Plenary Indulgence to the faithful who at any time undertake a pilgrimage to the Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia in Awali, Bahrain, to the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, or to the Parish of St. Areta.For the end of the Jubilee, Bishop Martinelli also wrote the Pastoral Letter “Gioia e Giubileo” (“Joy and Jubilee”) published yesterday, Sunday 22 September. In the Letter, the Apostolic Vicar of southern Arabia retraces the Jubilee Year of Saint Aretas, describing the spiritual fruits she brought to the Vicariate, and invites prayer following Pope Francis’ appeal in view of the Jubilee 2025. In the Letter , Bishop Paul announces that the feast of Saint Aretas will now be celebrated every year on October 24, to ask that the memory of the Arab martyrs continue to inspire and accompany the path of the Catholic communities vitally present in the Arabian Peninsula. «They are a deep root of the tree in which we find ourselves today. We are called to inhabit this land with faith.” After having celebrated the holy martyrs of Arabia for an entire year, now “It is easier to recognize that «being Christian in the Gulf means belonging to this Church of the Gulf. We are not just faithful from different churches: here we all form the Catholic Church of Arabia together”, writes the Bishop. Looking to the next Jubilee 2025, the Bishop invites everyone “to prepare well for the Holy Year 2025 by entering into the spirit of prayer” , and summarizes the gestures and practices that unite prayer, the Sacraments and the reading of the Word in the spiritual life of the people of God. A summary in which he refers to the Our Father prayer, the Liturgy of the Hours, personal prayer, the Rosary, Eucharistic Adoration. Prayer – underlines Bishop Martinelli – is the request to keep alive the desire for God in daily life: «Your desire is your prayer» says Saint Augustine, quoted in the Pastoral Letter of the Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia. While the Catholic community of the Gulf passes from one jubilee to another, Archbishop Paul’s letter gratefully recalls the gifts received and shared during the Jubilee of the Martyrs of Arabia, and at the same time suggests the way forward in the future. The Jubilee has reunited the entire Church of the Arabian Peninsula at its ancient sources. “Individuals, families, groups, young people, associations and movements, children and elderly: they all came to celebrate the victory of these holy martyrs of Arabia through their pilgrimage to the Holy Door” – During the Jubilee year, every parish in the Emirates United Arab Emirates and the Sultanate of Oman had the opportunity to host the relics of Saint Aretas. Many admitted that they only knew the Holy Martyrs of Arabia thanks to the Jubilee. «Every day – recalled a woman among the testimonies collected and disseminated by the Apostolic Vicariate – the priest shared the agonies endured by Saint Aretas and his companions, and told how their suffering was transformed into a beautiful crown for our Lord Jesus Christ. This touched me deeply, because I realized how easily we worry and get lost over small things.” (GV) (Agenzia Fides 23/9/2024).Share:

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

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  • MIL-OSI NGOs: World’s top 1% own more wealth than 95% of humanity, as “the shadow of global oligarchy hangs over UN General Assembly,” says Oxfam

    Source: Oxfam –

    • Over a third of world’s biggest 50 corporations —worth $13.3 trillion— now run by a billionaire or has a billionaire as a principal shareholder.
    • Global South countries own just 31 percent of global wealth, despite being home to 79 percent of global population.
    • Oxfam urges multilateral action to advance new global framework on tax, cancel debts and rewrite intellectual property rules for pandemics.

    The richest 1 percent have more wealth than the bottom 95 percent of the world’s population put together, new Oxfam analysis of UBS data reveals today ahead of the annual UN High-Level General Debate.

    Billionaires are exerting new levels of control over economies, with a billionaire either running or the principal shareholder of more than a third of the world’s top 50 corporations. The combined market capitalization of these corporations is $13.3 trillion.

    Oxfam’s briefing paper “Multilateralism in an Era of Global Oligarchy” warns that multilateral efforts to respond to critical global challenges, including the climate crisis and persistent poverty and inequality, are being undermined by the ultra-wealthy and mega-corporations fueling inequality within and between countries.

    Despite being home to 79 percent of the world’s population, Global South countries own just 31 percent of global wealth.

    “The shadow of global oligarchy hangs over this year’s UN General Assembly. The ultra-wealthy and the mega-corporations they control are shaping global rules to serve their interests at the expense of people everywhere. The iconic UN podium is increasingly feeling diminished in a world in which billionaires are calling the shots,” said Amitabh Behar, Oxfam International’s Executive Director.

    The paper describes a “movement toward a global oligarchy,” where the ultra-rich, often through their increasingly monopolistic corporations, shape global political decision-making and rules to enrich themselves while thwarting vital global progress.

    The top 1 percent own 43 percent of all global financial assets. Just two corporations control 40 percent of the global seed market. The “big three” US-based asset managers —BlackRock, State Street, and Vanguard— hold $20 trillion in assets, close to one-fifth of all investable assets in the world.

    “While we often hear about great power rivalries undermining multilateralism —it is clear that extreme inequality is playing a massive role. In recent years the ultra-wealthy and powerful corporations have used their vast influence to undermine efforts to solve major global problems such as tackling tax dodging, making Covid-19 vaccines available to the world and canceling the albatross of sovereign debt,” said Behar.

    Oxfam details three recent examples of extreme inequality eroding multilateral efforts —and where civil society and Global South leaders have offered inequality-busting solutions:

    • Powerful corporations undermining tax cooperation. The OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Sharing (BEPS) fell short of realizing its potential, with new rules for profit allocation that will deliver only tiny extra revenues for lower-income countries of as little as 0.026 percent of their GDP. The exclusion of financial services from OECD rules is a carve-out attributed to lobbying from countries with large banking and financial sectors. Global South countries, led by African countries, are instead advancing negotiations for a fairer tax convention at the UN that, along with Brazil’s leadership at the G20, offer a pathway for fairly taxing the super-rich and mega-corporations.
       
    • Big Pharma resisting efforts to break up their monopolies over Covid-19 vaccine technologies to unlock supply. Monopoly control over vaccine production was highly profitable during the pandemic. In 2021 alone, the seven largest manufacturers generated an estimated $50 billion in net profit from the sale of Covid-19 vaccines, resulting in huge payouts to rich shareholders and the emergence of new vaccine billionaires. The CEO of Pfizer Albert Bourla described the call to share Covid-19 vaccine technologies as “dangerous nonsense.” The failure to equitably share vaccines contributed to as many as 1.3 million excess deaths worldwide. A new pandemic treaty with strong provisions to suspend patents and allow for easier transfers of technology offers promise.
       
    • Private creditors exacerbating the global debt crisis. Low-income countries spend nearly 40 percent of their annual budgets on debt service, over 60 percent more than they spend on education, health, and social protection combined. Over half of low- and middle-income countries’ external debt is owed to private lenders like banks and hedge funds. Some of these creditors are “vulture funds,” which purchase distressed debt on the cheap and exploit legal mechanisms to be repaid in full, reaping outsized profits.

    “Only a solidarity-based multilateralism can reverse the movement toward global oligarchy. Some world leaders are showing they recognize this and are stepping up to fight inequality —but we need many more to demonstrate this courage,” said Behar.

    “Ultimately, a fairer world and international order —where corporations pay their fair share, global public health is prioritized, and where all countries can invest in their own people— benefits us all. This is not new, and it’s long what leaders especially from the Global South have called for.”  
     

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI: NANO Nuclear Energy Forms NANO Nuclear Space to Explore Use of Advanced Portable Microreactors in Space Applications

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Committed to exploring new markets, NANO Nuclear Energy is assessing the potential for deploying its advanced technologies in space applications

    New York, N.Y., Sept. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: NNE) (“NANO Nuclear” or “the Company”), a leading advanced nuclear energy and technology company focused on developing portable, clean energy solutions, today announced the launch of a new subsidiary, NANO Nuclear Space Inc. (NNS), to explore the potential commercial applications of the Company’s developing micronuclear reactor technology in space.

    NNS will utilize NANO Nuclear’s world class scientific and engineering teams to examine the adaptation of NANO Nuclear technologies to contribute towards humanity’s drive to expand beyond low earth orbit. NNS will focus on optimizing “ZEUS”, a solid core battery reactor, and “ODIN”, a low-pressure coolant reactor, for applications such as power systems for extraterrestrial projects and human sustaining environments, and potentially propulsion technology for long haul space missions. NNS’ initial focus will be on cis-lunar applications, referring to uses in the space region extending from Earth to the area surrounding the Moon’s surface.

    Innovative technologies, like the Annular Linear Induction Pump (ALIP) technology developed by Carlos O. Maidana, Ph.D., which was recently acquired by NANO Nuclear, will be leveraged to optimize cooling and heat transfer capabilities and address challenges in high-efficiency thermal fluid management in high temperature applications, including energy generation and even propulsion.

    Figure 1 – Rendition of Proprietary NANO Nuclear Space Inc. ‘ODIN’ Microreactor Optimized for Cis-Lunar Operations

    “NANO Nuclear was made to innovate. Our plans have always included space applications as a potential fit of our micronuclear reactor technologies. With the resources we have in hand, we are now able to launch NANO Nuclear Space to explore the many potential applications of our technology in the growing private commercial, as well as government sponsored, space industry,” said Jay Yu, Founder and Chairman of NANO Nuclear Energy. “Space exploration has long been integral to our nation’s history, driving the development of technologies that have profoundly impacted life both on Earth and beyond its atmosphere. The possibilities for future exploration are abundant, and our world-class technical team is committed to developing innovative solutions, all firmly grounded in safety. NNS also enables us to seek new partnerships and collaborations and potentially unlock novel funding opportunities for research and development that can revolutionize our core products.”

    Figure 2 – A NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. subsidiary, NANO Nuclear Space will adapt its advanced nuclear technologies for space applications.

    With a focus on the vast commercial potential of space, NNS will pioneer systems designed to address the particular operational challenges of cis-lunar space while supporting sustainable human presence and unlocking space resources for economic development. By concentrating on cis-lunar space, the hub of commercial space activity, NNS aims to capitalize on opportunities from satellite services to in-orbit manufacturing and lunar resource extraction.

    “Since the inception of NANO Nuclear, I have been determined to expand our vision to include cis-lunar space and explore beyond Earth’s bounds,” said James Walker, Chief Executive Officer and Head of Reactor Development of NANO Nuclear Energy. “Space exploration in the 20th century was a catalyst for widespread technological progress and I am confident further activities in cis-lunar space will bring even more opportunities to improve daily life for people around the world. The diverse applications of microreactors in space, whether for habitation, exploration, or propulsion, present unprecedented opportunities for our exceptional technical team to drive innovation.”

    About NANO Nuclear Energy, Inc.

    NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: NNE) is an advanced technology-driven nuclear energy company seeking to become a commercially focused, diversified, and vertically integrated company across four business lines: (i) cutting edge portable microreactor technology, (ii) nuclear fuel fabrication, (iii) nuclear fuel transportation and (iv) nuclear industry consulting services. NANO Nuclear believes it is the first portable nuclear microreactor company to be listed publicly in the U.S.

    Led by a world-class nuclear engineering team, NANO Nuclear’s products in technical development are “ZEUS”, a solid core battery reactor, and “ODIN”, a low-pressure coolant reactor, each representing advanced developments in clean energy solutions that are portable, on-demand capable, advanced nuclear microreactors.

    Advanced Fuel Transportation Inc. (AFT), a NANO Nuclear subsidiary, is led by former executives from the largest transportation company in the world aiming to build a North American transportation company that will provide commercial quantities of HALEU fuel to small modular reactors, microreactor companies, national laboratories, military, and DOE programs. Through NANO Nuclear, AFT is the exclusive licensee of a patented high-capacity HALEU fuel transportation basket developed by three major U.S. national nuclear laboratories and funded by the Department of Energy. Assuming development and commercialization, AFT is expected to form part of the only vertically integrated nuclear fuel business of its kind in North America.

    HALEU Energy Fuel Inc. (HEF), a NANO Nuclear subsidiary, is focusing on the future development of a domestic source for a High-Assay, Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) fuel fabrication pipeline for NANO Nuclear’s own microreactors as well as the broader advanced nuclear reactor industry.

    For more corporate information please visit: https://NanoNuclearEnergy.com/

    For further information, please contact:

    Email: IR@NANONuclearEnergy.com
    Business Tel: (212) 634-9206
    PLEASE FOLLOW OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES HERE:
    NANO Nuclear Energy LINKEDIN
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    NANO Nuclear Energy TWITTER

    Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

    This news release and statements of NANO Nuclear’s management in connection with this news release or related events contain or may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In this context, forward-looking statements (including statements regarding the future operations of NNS and the potential for applications of the Company’s technology in space exploration) mean statements related to future events, which may impact our expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “plans”, “believes”, “potential”, “will”, “should”, “could”, “would” or “may” and other words of similar meaning. These forward-looking statements are based on information available to us as of the date of this news release and represent management’s current views and assumptions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, events or results and involve significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may be beyond our control. For NANO Nuclear, particular risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements include but are not limited to the following: (i) risks related to our U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) nuclear fuel manufacturing submission and the development of new or advanced technology, including difficulties with design and testing, cost overruns, development of competitive technology, (ii) our ability to obtain contracts and funding to be able to continue operations, (iii) risks related to uncertainty regarding our ability to technologically develop and commercially deploy a competitive advanced nuclear reactor technology, (iv) risks related to the impact of government regulation and policies including by the DOE and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, including those associated with the recently enacted ADVANCE Act, and (v) similar risks and uncertainties associated with the business of a start-up business operating a highly regulated industry. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this news release. These factors may not constitute all factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in any forward-looking statement, and the NANO Nuclear therefore encourages investors to review other factors that may affect future results in its filings with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov and at https://ir.nanonuclearenergy.com/financial-information/sec-filings. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as a predictor of actual results. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this news release, except as required by law.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: AFRICA/DR CONGO – Appointment of the Bishop of Isiro-Niangara

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Italy –

    Source: The Holy See in Italian

    Monday, September 23, 2024

    Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The Holy Father Francis has appointed Bishop of Isiro-Niangara, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, HE Mgr. Dieudonné Madrapile Tanzi, until now Bishop of the Diocese of Isangi, transferring him from the same See. Dieudonné Madrapile Tanzi was born on 18 August 1958 in Niangara. He received priestly ordination on 25 August 1985 for the Diocese of Isiro-Niangara. He has held the following positions and carried out further studies: Formator in the Minor Seminary of Rungu (1985-1986); Professor and spiritual animator in the Interdiocesan Major Seminary of Philosophy Saint Augustin, Kisangani (1986-1996); Vicar General of the Diocese of Isiro-Niangara (1996-2001); Diocesan Administrator of Isiro-Niangara (2001-2003); Rector of the National Marian Shrine of Blessed Anuarite (2003-2006); Doctorate in Missiology at the Pontifical Urbaniana University, Rome (2006-2013); Chaplain of the Daughters of St. Mary of Providence, Work of Don Guanella, Rome; Professor of Pastoral Theology at the Pontifical Urbaniana University (2012-2016). Since 12 July 2024 he has been Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Isiro-Niangara. He was elected Bishop of Isangi on 2 April 2016 and consecrated on 10 July 2016. (EG) (Agenzia Fides 23/09/2024) Share:

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/DR CONGO – The commitment of religious denominations for peace in South Kivu

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    CDJP Bukavu

    Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) – An interreligious meeting for peace held on September 21 in Bukavu, capital of South Kivu, one of the three eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has been plagued for decades by the violence of dozens of armed groups, ended on a note of hope. The meeting, held in the Archdiocese of Bukavu, was attended by representatives of various denominations from the entire ecclesiastical province of Bukavu (Catholics, Kimbanguists, Muslims, Orthodox, Revivalists, Anglicans, Protestants, Salvation Army, Union of Independent Churches) as well as representatives of the diocese of Cyangugu in Rwanda.The participation of Rwandan representatives was of particular importance. The Rwandan government is accused by the Congolese government of supporting the guerrilla groups operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in particular the M2 movement, which is active mainly in North Kivu. Kigali, in turn, accuses Kinshasa of having tolerated for decades the presence of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) on its territory, considered an offshoot of the old Rwandan regime responsible for the 1994 genocide.The governor of South Kivu praised the efforts of all religious communities to engage in dialogue and stressed the importance of cooperation between the civil authorities and religious communities in creating a well-functioning government system. The governor echoed the words of the religious leaders, recalling that the creation of peace and good governance requires the participation of all, regardless of political or spiritual differences.The meeting also addressed another crisis in this region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, namely the monkeypox epidemic. Dr. Deogratias Cigwerhe, a specialist in the field, gave a detailed overview of the history of the disease, its origin, its transmission and the preventive measures to be taken to contain its spread. His presentation alerted the participants to the dangers of the disease and the importance of joint efforts to prevent it. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 23/9/2024)
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  • MIL-OSI Global: Colonialism and apartheid stripped black South Africans of land and labour rights – the effects are still felt today

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Marthinus van Staden, Associate Professor of Labour Law, University of the Witwatersrand

    Land dispossession among South Africa’s majority black population remains a thorny issue 30 years into democracy. Labour law scholar Marthinus van Staden’s new research examines the historical relationship between land dispossession and labour control in South Africa. It explores how the systematic seizure of indigenous people’s land during colonisation and apartheid reduced them from landowners to labourers, under exploitative conditions, and how the effects continue to linger. We asked him to explain.

    What is the history of land dispossession and labour control in South Africa?

    The history spans several centuries, beginning with Dutch colonisation in the mid-17th century. It intensified under British rule from the late 18th century. Early colonial policies were inconsistent, but gradually evolved into more systematic land grabs and labour regulations.

    The discovery of minerals – primarily gold and diamonds – in the 1880s heightened the demand for cheap black labour.

    The 19th century saw other significant developments, including the abolition of slavery and the introduction of pass laws. Pass laws required black people to carry identity documents that restricted their movement, employment and settlement.

    The 1913 Natives Land Act severely restricted black land ownership. It prevented black people from owning or renting land in 93% of South Africa, which was reserved for white ownership. Many black farmers who had previously owned or rented land in what had been designated “white areas” were forced to become labourers on white-owned farms. Or they had to move to “reserves” the state had set aside.

    This was followed by a series of laws implementing urban segregation and expanding “native reserves”.

    The apartheid era of formalised racial segregation, from 1948 to 1994, saw the most extreme measures of land dispossession and labour control. The creation of the homeland system relegated black South Africans to 10 economically unviable areas, along ethnic lines. Black people in homelands were mostly forced to work in “white” South Africa, where they lacked legal rights as workers.

    It wasn’t until 1979 that black trade unions were allowed to register. This allowed them to operate openly and bargain with employers and the government for improved wages and working conditions.

    Trade unions served as important political actors. They increased black workers’ political voice and influence. In fact, all labour legislation before 1981 had the distinguishing feature of excluding black workers from its ambit of protection.

    Only after apartheid ended in 1994 did efforts begin to address the legacy of land dispossession and unfair labour practices through restitution and reforms. Land reform processes have been criticised for being ineffectual.

    What effect did dispossession have?

    Dispossession created a large pool of cheap labour for white-owned farms and industries. Without access to land for subsistence or commercial farming, black South Africans had little choice but to work for low wages in the capitalist economy. The employment contract, transplanted from colonial law, became a tool for exerting control over these workers. It reinforced their subordinate status.

    The common law contract of employment, with its inherent element of employer control, was applied to the formerly independent indigenous people now forced into wage labour.

    The homelands ensured a continuous supply of cheap black migrant labour. This system of land deprivation and labour control not only served the economic interests of the white minority. It also reinforced racial hierarchies.

    The socio-economic consequences continue. Black workers are still more likely to be unemployed – or in precarious work – than whites.

    Why does this matter today?

    The legacy of land dispossession and labour control continues to shape South Africa’s social, economic and political landscape. It’s a critical consideration in efforts to build a more just and equitable society.

    This history has created deep-rooted economic disparities. The concentration of land ownership and wealth in the hands of the white minority remains largely intact, perpetuating socio-economic inequality.

    The ongoing struggle for land restitution and reform is directly linked to this history. Addressing the legacy of dispossession is crucial for economic justice and social stability.

    Understanding this history is essential for developing effective policies to address poverty, unemployment and uneven development.

    It is also vital for national reconciliation and building a more equitable society. It underpins current debates about social justice, reparations and the transformation of economic structures.

    Which practical, remedial policies must be carried out?

    The historical link between land loss and subjugation by means of the controls inherent to the contract of employment makes land reform a necessary first step to reversing this process.

    The government has put in place formal mechanisms to halt racialised land ownership. However, land restitution and reform programmes need to be enhanced and accelerated.

    They should include restoring land rights where possible, and providing support for sustainable land use. This would address both the economic and emotional aspects of historical dispossession.

    Legislation such as the Labour Relations Act and the Employment Equity Act have done much to strengthen protections for workers’ rights, particularly for those in precarious employment situations. However, the ways in which these laws continue to endorse a global north conception of the employment relationship, which emphasises control, must be rethought.

    They must be reformed to promote equality, dignity and fair labour practices.
    Reforms should involve more collaborative models and addressing the socio-economic impacts to redress historical injustices.

    Targeted economic development initiatives are needed in historically disadvantaged areas, including former homelands. These could include infrastructure development, skills training programmes, and support for small businesses to create economic opportunities.

    These remedial policies should be part of an all-encompassing strategy to address historical injustices, and create a more equitable South African society.

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

    – ref. Colonialism and apartheid stripped black South Africans of land and labour rights – the effects are still felt today – https://theconversation.com/colonialism-and-apartheid-stripped-black-south-africans-of-land-and-labour-rights-the-effects-are-still-felt-today-238243

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/SRI LANKA – President Dissanayake: the new face of the nation

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Colombo (Agenzia Fides) – Anura Kumara Dissanayake is the new president of Sri Lanka, the Electoral Commission announced yesterday after the election on Saturday, September 21. A member of parliament with a left-wing political orientation, Dissanayake obtained – as announced by the Electoral Commission – more than 5.7 million votes, followed by candidate Sajith Premadasa with 4.5 million.During his election campaign, Dissanayake sought to win the favor of the working class and attracted the support of young people and the lower middle classes, as Sri Lanka tries to recover from an economic and political crisis that has brought the country to its knees and exacerbated widespread poverty.Two years ago, tens of thousands of Sri Lankans revolted and forced President Rajapaksa to flee the country, “and since then there has been a great desire for change in society: this is the result, which I would not hesitate to call historic”, Father Basil Rohan Fernando, priest of the Archdiocese of Colombo and National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies on the island, told Fides.Father Fernando notes “a positive atmosphere in society: first of all, it should be noted that the electoral process was peaceful and transparent and then, after the vote, there were no clashes between opposing factions, as has often happened in the past”. Furthermore, he notes, “there is an atmosphere of great hope in society. The population wanted something new, they strongly desired change and so the will of the people was democratically expressed”.While the international press describes Dissanayake as a “Marxist” president, Father Fernando notes: “This label should not be alarming and relates to past ideological positions. The new president fits perfectly into the democratic framework and his stated aim is to work for the poor and vulnerable, which is what the nation needs. It is expected that in a month’s time, the president will call a general election to renew parliament, which will give the nation a completely new face, with educated and skilled young people entering active politics, which will be a clear break with the old establishment, which was involved in games of corruption.” As for the Catholic community – about 1.5 million faithful out of a population of 22 million – the priest notes that in the “coastal belt, which includes Colombo, Chilaw and other places where the bulk of Sri Lanka’s Catholic population lives, support for Dassyake was very high. This suggests that there was also a consensus within the Catholic population. I generally see the faithful satisfied and full of hope. The population expects a lot from the new president.” In particular, the Catholic Church does not forget the sensitive issue of the Easter attacks of 2019: “The hope is that even on this front, a serious episode five years ago now, a wound in national history, we can sincerely and truly promote the justice that is still lacking, with the recognition of those responsible and help for the victims.” (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 23/9/2024)
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  • MIL-OSI Global: Our digital 3D models of huge coral reefs could help revive these precious ecosystems

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Tim Lamont, Research Fellow, Marine Biology, Lancaster University

    As a team of marine biologists, assessing the health of thousands of square metres of coral reef can be a daunting prospect. Often, we have to monitor some of the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet, and there’s a strict time limit due to the safety regulations associated with Scuba diving.

    Accurately measuring and classifying even small areas of reefs can involve spending many hours underwater. And with millions of reefs around the world that need monitoring in the face of looming threats to their existence, speed is critical.

    But now, a digital revolution for coral reef monitoring could be underway, enabled by recent advances in low-cost camera and computing technology. Our new study shows how creating 3D computer models of entire reefs – sometimes known as digital twins – can help us monitor these precious ecosystems faster, more accurately and in greater detail than ever before.

    We worked at 17 study sites in central Indonesia – some reefs were degraded, others were healthy or restored. We followed the same protocol at rectangular areas measuring 1000m² in each location, using a technique called “photogrammetry” to create 3D models of each reef habitat.

    One of us Scuba dived and swam 2m above the coral back and forth in a “lawnmower” pattern across every square metre of this reef, while carrying two underwater cameras programmed to take photos of the seabed twice per second. Within just half an hour, we’d taken 10,000 high-resolution, overlapping pictures that covered the entire area.

    Later, we booted up a high-performance computer, and with the help of specialist experts from an underwater science tech company called Tritonia Scientific, we processed these images into accurate 3D representations for each of the 17 sites. The resulting models surpass traditional monitoring methods in speed, cost and the ability to consistently reproduce accurate measurements.

    Our research paper applies this technique to assess the success of the world’s largest coral restoration project. Mars Coral Reef Restoration Project is located at Bontosua Island on the Spermonde Archipelago in South Sulawesi, Indonesia.

    Our findings show that, when well-managed, coral restoration efforts can bring back many elements, including the complexity of reef structure across large areas. By comparing the 3D models, we can see how complex the surface structure of the coral reef looks and measure its details at different scales – these aspects would be far too tricky for divers to accurately measure underwater.

    3D model video visualisation of a 50m×20m reef restoration area.

    In an earlier 2024 study, our team applied photogrammetry to measure coral growth rates at the level of individual colonies. By capturing detailed 3D models before and after a year of growth, we revealed that restored reefs can achieve growth rates comparable to healthy natural ecosystems.

    This finding is particularly significant, as it highlights the potential for restored reefs to recover and function similarly to untouched reef environments.



    Read more:
    Restored coral reefs can grow as fast as healthy reefs after just four years – new study

    Beyond coral reefs

    Photogrammetry is becoming a widely adopted tool across various fields, both on land and in the ocean. Beyond coral reefs, it is used to monitor forests with drones, develop detailed architectural and urban planning models, and monitor soil erosion and landscape changes.

    In marine environments, photogrammetry is a powerful tool for monitoring and measuring environmental changes such as variations in coral cover, shifts in species diversity and alterations in reef structure. It has also been used to develop cost-effective methods for measuring coral reef rugosity (the bumpiness or texture of the reef’s surface).

    Greater rugosity generally indicates more complex habitats, which can support a wider variety of marine life and reflect healthier reef systems. Additionally, it measures the complexity of different shapes and structures within the reef. These methods provide crucial baselines that help scientists like us track changes over time and design effective conservation strategies.

    Although this method is cheaper and quicker than traditional fieldwork, there are still significant financial barriers. The necessary equipment and software can range from several thousand to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the specific equipment and software used, and mastering these techniques takes time. It may be some time before these methods become standard for most field biologists.

    Beyond coral reef monitoring, photogrammetry is increasingly being used in virtual reality and augmented reality development, enabling the creation of immersive, lifelike environments for education, entertainment and research. For example, The US agency National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s coral reef virtual reality offers an engaging way to explore coral reefs through virtual reality.

    In the future, photogrammetry could revolutionise environmental monitoring by offering faster, more accurate baselines and assessments of ecosystem changes such as coral bleaching and shifts in biodiversity. Advances in machine learning and cloud computing are expected to further automate and enhance photogrammetry, increasing its accessibility and scalability, and establishing its role as an essential tool in conservation science.


    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

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    Tim Lamont receives funding from the Royal Commission of the Exhibition of 1851, the Natural Environment Research Council and the Fisheries Society of the British Isles.

    Rindah Talitha Vida receives funding from Friends of Lancaster University in America through the Global Impact Small Grants and research studentship funding from Sheba Hope Advocate Program.

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

    – ref. Our digital 3D models of huge coral reefs could help revive these precious ecosystems – https://theconversation.com/our-digital-3d-models-of-huge-coral-reefs-could-help-revive-these-precious-ecosystems-237711

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Britain is finally abolishing hereditary peers from the House of Lords – a constitutional expert on the historical reforms that built up to this moment

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Meg Russell, Professor of British and Comparative Politics and Director of the Constitution Unit, UCL

    Flickr/House of Lords, CC BY-NC-ND

    Having made a pre-election pledge to do so, the government is moving forward with the House of Lords (hereditary peers) bill, a piece of legislation that will remove the remaining hereditary peers from the House of Lords.

    The bill is almost certain to pass through parliament, ending a centuries-old tradition of hereditary membership in the House of Lords. But who are these hereditary peers, and how did they come to sit in parliament in the first place? Some of the answers may be surprising.

    The House of Lords has ancient roots – though it has changed very fundamentally over the years. The original precursor of the English (and subsequently UK) parliament was a single-chamber body, bringing together the powerful in the land to advise the monarch. It is difficult to put a date on when this began but it included representatives of the nobility and the church.

    Initially, there was no presumption that those invited to participate in one session of parliament would be invited to the next, but gradually arrangements became more fixed. The “temporal” (as opposed to “spiritual”) members of parliament became the holders of hereditary titles, which would be passed down through their family line. Over time, the members of what became the House of Commons split off, with the two chambers regularly sitting separately from the 14th century.

    Pitt The Younger, a big fan of handing out peerages.
    Wikipedia/Bonhams

    Some modern preoccupations about the House of Lords can be traced back centuries. By the time of Charles I, there were already concerns that too many new peerages were being created and that the chamber was growing too large. There was even talk of money changing hands in some cases. As early as 1719, a bill was proposed to cap the size of the House of Lords, and allow new peerage creations only when existing lines died out. That bill was, however, unsuccessful.

    By the late 18th century, the monarch was following prime ministerial advice in creating peerages. William Pitt the Younger became a prolific distributor of titles, roughly doubling the number of Lords temporal from 212 to 314. In the mid-19th century, the House of Lords stood at around 450 members, and by the early 20th century, it exceeded 600 members. Immediately before it was reformed by Tony Blair’s government in 1999, its size was double that.

    The reforms begin

    In the late 19th century, under prime ministers William Gladstone and Lord Salisbury, there were deliberate moves to broaden the peerage and move it away from landed interests. Titles were awarded to industrialists, former diplomats, military personnel and civil servants. Notable appointees in this period included the artist Frederic Leighton, the surgeon Joseph Lister, and the former House of Commons clerk Thomas Erskine May. This helped to boost the “crossbenches” in the Lords, and build the chamber’s reputation for expertise.

    Nonetheless, in another pattern familiar today, around two-thirds of those appointed were former MPs. Prominent among them were those who had held high office – routinely including former prime ministers and speakers of the House of Commons.

    The hereditary nature of titles created an obvious difficulty with size – that a seat created for a person did not die with them, but was passed to their (exclusively male) successors. Every peerage awarded (with a small exception for those with legal expertise under the Appellate Jurisdictions Act 1876) was a hereditary peerage, and large numbers continued to be created.

    While some lines died out due to lack of male successors, pressure grew for the creation of life peerages rather than allowing members to pass their seat in the Lords on. The first bill to allow such appointments was introduced in 1849, but it was not until the Life Peerages Act 1958 that change finally occurred.

    By 1957, the year before the act, half of members (who by now exceeded 800) owed their hereditary peerages to 20th-century creations. Among them were the descendants of Asquith, Lloyd George, Stanley Baldwin and Field Marshal Montgomery. Even Labour’s Clement Attlee (who, upon assuming office in 1945, faced a House of Lords containing just 16 Labour members) was given a hereditary peerage in 1955. His grandson still serves in the House of Lords.

    Want more politics coverage from academic experts? Every week, we bring you informed analysis of developments in government and fact check the claims being made.

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    After 1958, the creation of new hereditary peerages became much rarer. It was, notably, only at this point that women entered the chamber for the first time – and only in 1963 that women inheriting the few hereditary titles not travelling purely down the male line were allowed to take seats in the chamber. An interesting anomaly was Margaret Thatcher’s bestowal of a hereditary peerage on her former home secretary and de facto deputy prime minister, Willie Whitelaw, in 1983 – the first such awarded for 18 years. Having only daughters, Whitelaw did not pass his peerage on.

    The reform implemented by the Blair government in 1999 was originally intended to sweep away all of the hereditary peers. But while over 650 departed, a deal between the parties allowed 92 to remain – with replacements when these peers died or retired largely filled by a bizarre system of byelections, where the only eligible candidates were hereditary peers.

    These byelections were recently halted in expectation of the bill, leaving 88 hereditary peers currently serving in the chamber. All of them are men, 45 are Conservative (and only four Labour), while 43 (49%) hold peerages created only in the 20th century.

    This group is anomalous, and long overdue reform. It is also less historic in certain respects than many might assume.

    Meg Russell has in the past received funding from the ESRC for her research on the House of Lords.

    – ref. Britain is finally abolishing hereditary peers from the House of Lords – a constitutional expert on the historical reforms that built up to this moment – https://theconversation.com/britain-is-finally-abolishing-hereditary-peers-from-the-house-of-lords-a-constitutional-expert-on-the-historical-reforms-that-built-up-to-this-moment-239073

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The Taliban suspends polio vaccine campaign in Afghanistan – here’s the likely impact

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Lee Sherry, Postdoctoral Research Associate, School of Infection and Immunity, University of Glasgow

    The Taliban recently announced that they are suspending its polio vaccination campaign in Afghanistan. The announcement was made shortly before the campaign was due to start.

    The suspension is temporary, according to the Taliban, and is due to security fears and the fact that women are involved in administering the vaccine.

    Poliovirus is a highly infectious virus that mainly affects children under the age of five, but anyone who is unvaccinated can be infected. The virus spreads from person to person mainly through traces of contaminated faeces on people’s hands getting into their mouths or, less commonly, through contaminated food or water.

    It initially infects the intestines, leading to symptoms such as fever, fatigue, headache and vomiting in the early stages of the disease. But, as the infection progresses, the virus can invade the nervous system, often leading to paralysis. In the worst cases, affected children will die as the paralysis spreads to the muscles that control breathing.

    Polio was a major global childhood health concern in the 19th and 20th centuries. However, the development of polio vaccines has given us the ability to prevent polio-induced paralysis. There are two main types of polio vaccine: live-attenuated oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV), made from weakened poliovirus, and inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV).

    Following the introduction of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in 1988, OPV and IPV have nearly eliminated the disease. Yet polio remains a global threat, as was seen recently with the emergence of polio in the Gaza Strip.

    Afghanistan is one of only two countries, alongside neighbouring Pakistan, where polio has continued to spread. So the news that the Taliban have suspended polio vaccination will probably have major consequences for the control of the disease in Afghanistan and the surrounding region.

    Earlier in 2024, Afghanistan had used a house-to-house vaccination strategy, recommended by the WHO, for the first time in five years. This tactic ensures that most children have access to the vaccine. However, in the southern Kandahar province, the Taliban used a mosque-to-mosque vaccination campaign, which has been proven to be less effective. So Kandahar is believed to have a large number of unvaccinated children who are now susceptible to infection.

    Locally, this setback in vaccination not only poses a risk to the children of Afghanistan, but also poses a risk to children in bordering Pakistan. This is due to the high levels of movement across the borders between the two countries.

    “Afghanistan is the only neighbour from where Afghan people in large numbers come to Pakistan and then go back,” Anwarul Haq, the coordinator at the National Emergency Operation Centre for Polio Eradication, told Associated Press.

    Much wider spread

    Afghanistan has already seen an increase in paralytic polio cases in 2024, rising from six in 2023 to 14 confirmed cases in 2024 so far. Paralysis occurs in about one in 200 infections, so this increase in paralytic polio suggests a much wider spread of infection in the region. This includes Pakistan, which has reported 13 cases so far this year.

    With the reduced number of vaccinations and an increasing number of children vulnerable to polio infection, we are likely to see an increased number of paralytic polio cases in the near future. This potential increase in viral spread coupled with the number of people travelling in and out of the region may lead to the spread of polio beyond Afghanistan and Pakistan and into areas such as India and Iran.

    Unfortunately, those who are not vaccinated will also be susceptible to vaccine-derived poliovirus. This is where the OPV vaccine, which contains a weakened version of the virus, has been able to spread in areas with low vaccination coverage, allowing the virus to return to virulence.

    This has seen new vaccine-derived outbreaks seeded across several countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, which now accounts for most paralytic polio cases worldwide.

    Lee Sherry has previously worked on a WHO-funded project to develop new vaccines for poliovirus.

    – ref. The Taliban suspends polio vaccine campaign in Afghanistan – here’s the likely impact – https://theconversation.com/the-taliban-suspends-polio-vaccine-campaign-in-afghanistan-heres-the-likely-impact-239316

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Grangemouth job losses are a stark reminder of the cost of a greener industrial future

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Phil Tomlinson, Professor of Industrial Strategy, Co-Director Centre for Governance, Regulation and Industrial Strategy (CGR&IS), University of Bath

    Grangemouth refinery has been in operation for more than 100 years. dvlcom – www.dvlcom.co.uk/Shuttershotck

    The recent announcement that Grangemouth oil refinery in central Scotland will close next year marks a notable moment in the energy transition towards net zero.

    As countries strive to meet climate targets and reduce their use of fossil fuels, the tensions between preserving jobs in “dirty” industries and creating new “green” jobs are becoming increasingly stark.

    Grangemouth, operated by Petroineos (a joint venture between PetroChina and INEOS), has been producing oil and chemical products for more than a century. It is Scotland’s only oil refinery and a major supplier of fuel to domestic and international markets.

    Its closure marks an abrupt end of an era for the local economy, which until now has been heavily dependent on the refinery. Around 400 jobs are thought to be at risk – although trade unions have warned that nearly 3,000 jobs could be affected in the wider local economy and supply chains.

    The closure reflects broader trends in the fossil fuel sector, with falling demand and governments prioritising climate action. The UK government is committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

    To achieve this, there must be dramatic reductions in fossil fuel consumption such as in transport and heating. Many energy-intensive industries (including steel and ceramics) are also shifting towards renewable energy sources, leading to the gradual phasing out of refineries such as Grangemouth.

    Green jobs: a path to the future?

    The growth of renewable sectors offers new job creation opportunities. Green jobs in renewable energy, energy efficiency and environmental conservation are seen as critical in developing a sustainable economy. But as yet, they are not always available in the regions where jobs in long-established industries are being lost.

    The new government hopes to create 650,000 jobs in the UK by 2030, working with business through a combination of its Green Prosperity Plan and proposed National Wealth Fund. These jobs will be critical in sectors such as offshore wind, hydrogen production and electric vehicle manufacturing.

    The closure of fossil fuel-dependent sites such as Grangemouth highlights the importance of a “just transition”. This is a framework pushed by trade unions where workers in polluting industries are offered clear pathways to secure jobs in a post-carbon economy.

    Governments, business and unions need to cooperate to ensure these new green jobs are not only available to workers facing redundancy, but also provide similar levels of pay and working conditions as the jobs being lost.

    Despite the promise of new green jobs, the immediate reality for workers in “dirty industries” is much more uncertain. For those employed in refining, oil drilling, or making internal combustion engine cars, the idea of transitioning to green jobs in some regions can seem remote.

    Production may disappear or require far fewer workers. Also, the skills of displaced workers do not always match those required for new green jobs. And retraining programmes are not always available or accessible.

    For communities such as Grangemouth, with a population of 17,000, the economic shock of losing a major employer can be catastrophic. Jobs in oil refineries are relatively well paid and once offered long-term stability. Replacing these with green jobs offering the same benefits is challenging.

    Renewable industries can take years to take root. Yet, in the here and now, displaced workers face the prospect of unemployment. There is a tension between the urgent need to address the climate emergency and the impetus to protect jobs and livelihoods.

    Policies for a just transition

    To address these tensions, governments need industrial policies to support a “just transition” to ensure that no one is left behind, as economies shift away from fossil fuels.

    This includes programmes to allow displaced oil workers to retrain and become equipped with the skills for new green jobs. Governments, businesses and unions will need to collaborate to deliver on this – with a focus on local needs. Several local authorities are already being proactive – using national and local funding and working with training providers to retrain workers in roles ranging from heat pump installers to electric vehicle technicians.

    For Grangemouth, new targeted investment will be needed to help diversify the local economy. Government funding for renewable energy projects, infrastructure development and support for small businesses and startups could and should help.

    Workers facing redundancy from polluting industries should be helped to retrain in greener sectors like heat pump installation.
    Virrage Images/Shutterstock

    On this, the UK and Scottish governments have provided £100 million of joint funding for Project Willow, a feasibility study looking at the Grangemouth plant’s next steps.

    Local supply chains will also need to diversify into new markets. For instance, elsewhere some auto sector firms are diversifying into making wind turbines and heat pumps as they adjust to the challenges of net zero.

    In the short term, displaced workers facing unemployment will need more generous social security. Better unemployment benefits, healthcare and housing support – perhaps repackaged as part of a lifetime learning allowance – will be essential. They could safeguard workers (and their families) as they retrain for the new green jobs.

    The closure of the Grangemouth refinery is an abrupt reminder of the complexities of transitioning to a green economy. While green jobs represent the future, they cannot simply replace traditional jobs overnight. There is an urgent need for a proactive industrial strategy to facilitate industry and regional diversification, alongside new investment in training and infrastructure.

    For Grangemouth (and communities facing similar challenges, such as at Port Talbot in south Wales), the road ahead may be uncertain. But with innovative approaches – like that of Gamesa in Spain, which has recruited staff from the car industry and used their expertise to streamline its wind turbine production – a “just transition” will be possible.

    Phil Tomlinson receives funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) for Made Smarter Innovation: Centre for People-Led Digitalisation.

    David Bailey receives funding from the ESRC’s UK in a Changing Europe programme.

    – ref. Grangemouth job losses are a stark reminder of the cost of a greener industrial future – https://theconversation.com/grangemouth-job-losses-are-a-stark-reminder-of-the-cost-of-a-greener-industrial-future-239132

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Graphene at 20: still no sign of the promised space elevator, but here’s how this wonder material is quietly changing the world

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Stephen Lyth, Strathclyde Chancellor’s Fellow, Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Strathclyde

    High Level Specialist

    Twenty years ago this October, two physicists at the University of Manchester, Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov, published a groundbreaking paper on the “electric field effect in atomically thin carbon films”. Their work described the extraordinary electronic properties of graphene, a crystalline form of carbon equivalent to a single layer of graphite, just one atom thick.

    Around that time, I started my doctorate at the University of Surrey. Our team specialised in the electronic properties of carbon. Carbon nanotubes were the latest craze, which I was happily following. One day, my professor encouraged a group of us to travel to London to attend a talk by a well-known science communicator from the University of Manchester. This was Andre Geim.

    We were not disappointed. He was inspiring for us fresh-faced PhD students, incorporating talk of wacky Friday afternoon experiments with levitating frogs, before getting on to atomically thin carbon. All the same, we were sceptical about this carbon concept. We couldn’t quite believe that a material effectively obtained from pencil lead with sticky tape was really what it claimed to be. But we were wrong.

    The work was quickly copied and reproduced by scientists across the globe. New methods for making this material were devised. Incredible claims about its properties made it sound like something out of a Stan Lee comic. Stronger than steel, highly flexible, super-slippery and impermeable to gases. A better electronic conductor than copper and a better thermal conductor than diamond, as well as practically invisible and displaying a host of exotic quantum properties.

    Graphene was hailed as a revolutionary material, promising ultra-fast electronics, supercomputers and super-strong materials. More fantastical claims have included space elevators, solar sails, artificial retinas, even invisibility cloaks.

    Just six years after their initial work, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics, further fuelling the enthusiasm around this wonder stuff. Since then, hundreds of thousands of academic papers have been published on graphene and related materials.

    But not everyone is on board. Skim through the comments section of any popular article on the material, and you’ll quickly find the sceptics. We have endured decades of empty promises about the real-world impact of graphene, they complain. Where are the game-changing products to enrich our lives or save the world from climate change, they ask.

    So has graphene been a resounding success or a damp squib? As is so often the case, the reality is somewhere in between.

    Graphene’s ups and downs

    In terms of public perception, it’s fair to say that graphene has been held to an impossible standard. The popular media can certainly exaggerate science stories for clicks, but academics – including myself – are not immune from over-egging or speculating about their pet projects either. I’d argue this can even be useful, helping to drive new technologies forward. Equally, though, there can be a backlash when progress looks disappointing.

    Having said that, disruptive technologies such as cars, television or plastic all required decades of development. Graphene is still a newcomer in the grand scheme of things, so it’s far too early to reach any conclusions about its impact.

    What has quietly occurred is a steady integration of graphene into numerous practical applications. Much of this is thanks to the Graphene Flagship, a major European research initiative coordinated by Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden. This aims to bring graphene and related materials from academic research to real-world commercial applications, and more than 90 products have been developed over the past decade as a result.

    These include blended plastics for high-performance sports equipment, more durable racing tyres for bicycles, motorcycle helmets that better distribute impact forces, thermally conductive coatings for motorcycle components, and lubricants for reducing friction and wear between mechanical parts.

    Safer motorbike helmets are just one of many ways in which graphene is coming to market.
    n_defender

    Graphene is finding its way into batteries and supercapacitors, enabling faster charging times and longer life spans. Conductive graphene inks are now used to manufacture sensors, wireless tracking tags, heating elements, and electromagnetic shielding for protecting sensitive electronics. Graphene is even used in headphones to improve the sound quality, and as a more efficient means of transmitting heat in air-conditioning units.

    Graphene oxide products are being used for desalination, wastewater treatment and purification of drinking water. Meanwhile, a range of graphene materials can be bought off the shelf for use in countless other products, and major corporations including SpaceX, Tesla, Panasonic, Samsung, Sony and Apple are all rumoured or known to be using them to develop new products.

    From promise to practicality

    The impact of graphene on materials science is undeniable. The impact on consumer products is tangible, but not as visible. Once a material is embedded in a working product, there is little need to keep mentioning it, and proprietary concerns can make companies reluctant to get into details in any case. Consumers can therefore be blissfully unaware that their car, mobile phone, or golf club contains graphene, and most probably don’t care, as long as it works.

    As production methods improve and costs decrease, we can expect graphene to become ever more widely adopted. Economies of scale will make it more accessible, and the range of applications is likely to continue to expand.

    Personally, after two decades, I still get excited when I try it out for something new in the lab. While I may be guilty of having contributed to the initial hype, I remain optimistic about graphene’s potential. I’m still waiting for my ride on a space elevator, but in the meantime, I’ll take comfort in the fact that graphene is already helping to shape a better future – quietly and steadily.

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

    – ref. Graphene at 20: still no sign of the promised space elevator, but here’s how this wonder material is quietly changing the world – https://theconversation.com/graphene-at-20-still-no-sign-of-the-promised-space-elevator-but-heres-how-this-wonder-material-is-quietly-changing-the-world-239223

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: We’re in a golden age for body horror films – as Demi Moore’s The Substance proves

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Xavier Aldana Reyes, Reader in English Literature and Film, Manchester Metropolitan University

    In the 1980s, film scholar Barbara Creed coined the term the “monstrous-feminine”. It refers to the way that female monsters are typically portrayed as threatening and disgusting for reasons connected to their bodies and their sexuality. New film The Substance takes a leaf out of Creed’s book by proposing a feminist critique of female experience through the visceral language of the body horror, a sub-genre preoccupied with the transformation, destruction or grotesque exaggeration of the human body.

    The Substance is a film about a fading Hollywood star who will go to any lengths to stay beautiful. After having her TV aerobics show cancelled, Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore) resorts to a mysterious serum that can create a “better” version of her – a younger double she can inhabit a few days at a time.

    As the pull of success and the return of public recognition lure Sparkle away from her older, now abandoned self, horrendous mutations ensue. It seems poignant that the protagonist of this dark parable should be played by Moore, an actor whose looks have long been scrutinised.

    In the October issue of Sight and Sound, the film’s director, Coralie Fargeat, explains that it’s not intended as a caricature, but “a mirror of society’s misogynistic mentality”. It really is “that gross … that violent in the real world,” she argues.

    Many agree with her. In a review for Film International, film critic Alexandra Heller-Nicholas goes as far as to call The Substance a “documentary”, due to its “emotional fidelity”. That is, its ability to make literal the disconnection between body and consciousness caused by ageing, which impacts women particularly negatively.

    The trailer for The Substance.

    A growing body of films

    The Substance is not the only major film in 2024 to be marketed, either fully or in part, as “body horror”. This is surprising because body horror originally emerged as a niche, often independently produced, sub-genre.

    Body horror’s gruesome aesthetic and themes of corporeal decay, transformation and mutilation can be off-putting for many viewers. Yet films like Love Lies Bleeding, Tiger Stripes and I Saw the TV Glow (which all had wide releases in 2024) have turned to the sub-genre. Their directors have been drawn to its ability to tell timely stories about the way corporeality, identity and social interactions cannot be separated.

    These films are largely about marginalised or maladjusted people. They show how our personal actions and sense of identity are always affected by the availability of role models and the limitations imposed on people by governmental, educational, religious and familial forces. For example, the teenage protagonist in Tiger Stripes rebels against the expectations that, because she is a girl, she should cover her hair, show modesty and be courteous.

    From Poor Things and Infinity Pool (both 2023) to Hatching (2022) and Titane (2021), the 2020s are shaping up into something of a new golden age for body horror.

    Novelist A.K. Blakemore has written of the rise of “femcore” – a literary trend of “ultraviolent body-horror”. Eliza Clark’s Boy Parts (2020), Alison Rumfitt’s Brainwyrms (2023), Monika Kim’s The Eyes Are the Best Part (2024) and the anthology Of the Flesh (2024) are included under this label.

    And there’s a similar trend emerging in streaming shows, from the episode The Outside from Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities (2022) to Alice Birch’s remake of David Cronenberg’s Dead Ringers (2023).

    A sub-genre with substance

    One of the key things that characterises this contemporary wave of body horror is the influx of directors who identify as women and as queer.

    There were far fewer women and queer directors in the late 1970s and 1980s, when body horror gained popularity thanks to films like The Evil Dead (1981), The Fly (1986) and Hellraiser (1987), than there are now. This decade has made big moves towards inclusion, and the film industry has been greatly impacted by social movements like Me Too, Trans Lives Matter and Black Lives Matter, even if much work is yet to be done.

    Body horror is particularly appealing to creators who would have previously found it difficult to make a living in the world of commercial filmmaking. Filmmakers (including Rose Glass, Amanda Nell Eu, Jane Schoenbrun, Hanna Bergholm, Julia Ducournau, Michelle Garza Cervera, Natalie Erika James, Alice Maio Mackay, Nia DaCosta and Coralie Fargeat) have found a valuable lexicon for feminist, trans-activist and anti-racist messages in the sub-genre. Many of them talk about their work as highly personal – if not based on their direct experience.

    The body horror sub-genre is attuned to the violence of social exclusion and discrimination. Its metamorphic, painful, insidious and carnal nightmares help articulate the concerns of a new generation of artists for whom corporeality, and sometimes simply being visible, has become a political statement.

    David Cronenberg closed his classic body horror film Videodrome (1983) with the emblematic line: “Long live the new flesh!” He needn’t have worried. It’s here to stay.


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

    – ref. We’re in a golden age for body horror films – as Demi Moore’s The Substance proves – https://theconversation.com/were-in-a-golden-age-for-body-horror-films-as-demi-moores-the-substance-proves-239229

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: IDT Corporation to Report Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2024 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEWARK, NJ, Sept. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — IDT Corporation (NYSE: IDT), a global provider of fintech, cloud communications, and traditional communications solutions, has scheduled its report of financial and operational results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2024 (the three and twelve months ended July 31, 2024) on Tuesday, October 8, 2024.

    IDT’s earnings release will be issued and posted on the IDT investor relations website (https://www.idt.net/investors-and–media) at approximately 4:30 PM Eastern.

    IDT will host an earnings conference call beginning at 5:30 PM Eastern with management’s discussion of results followed by Q&A with investors. To listen to the call and participate in the Q&A, dial 1-888-506-0062 (toll-free from the US) or 1-973-528-0011 (international) and provide the following access code: 126998).

    A replay of the conference call will be available approximately three hours after the call concludes through October 22, 2024. To access the call replay, dial 1-877-481-4010 (toll-free from the US) or 1-919-882-2331 (international) and provide this replay passcode: 51021. The replay will also be accessible via streaming audio at the IDT investor relations website.

    ABOUT IDT CORPORATION

    IDT Corporation (NYSE: IDT) is a global provider of fintech and communications solutions through a portfolio of synergistic businesses: National Retail Solutions (NRS), through its point-of-sale (POS) platform, enables independent retailers to operate more effectively while providing advertisers and marketers with unprecedented reach into underserved consumer markets; BOSS Money facilitates innovative international remittances and fintech payments solutions; net2phone provides enterprises and organizations with intelligently integrated cloud communications and contact center services across channels and devices; IDT Digital Payments and BOSS Revolution Calling make sharing prepaid products and services and speaking with friends and family around the world convenient and reliable; and, IDT Global and IDT Express enable communications services to provision and manage international voice and SMS messaging.

    Contact:
    Bill Ulrey
    IDT Investor Relations
    Phone: (973) 438-3838
    E-mail: invest@idt.net

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