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Category: AM-NC

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Cohen Announces $26.2 Million in Federal Railroad Administration Grants

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09)

    MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, today announced two Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program grants from the Federal Railroad Administration totaling $26,269,987. The first, for $19,843,062, is for the conversion of eight Watco Company diesel locomotives to battery-electric, zero-emission locomotives. Watco operates the Memphis Dock Street Marine Terminal on Presidents Island. Congressman Cohen submitted a letter of support for the project. The second grant, for $6,426,925, is for Montana State University’s initiative to create multidisciplinary rail workforce capacity. The 20 percent non-federal match will come from Caltrans, the University of Memphis, Montana State University, and the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority, among others. The federal funding for both grants comes from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that Congressman Cohen alone among current members of the Tennessee Congressional delegation supported.

    Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

    “Lowering air-polluting emissions while modernizing rail operations is a forward-thinking approach to moving freight. Those operations will require a workforce of the future, trained in modern rail technologies. These grants will propel our region and the nation into a smarter and cleaner rail industry. I’m pleased to see more IIJA funding coming to the district.”

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Dynarex Corporation Expands Recall to Include Additional Products Due to Possible Health Risk

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

    Summary

    Company Announcement Date:
    FDA Publish Date:
    Product Type:
    Food & Beverages
    Reason for Announcement:

    Recall Reason Description

    Potential Metal or Chemical Contaminant

    Company Name:
    Dynarex Corporation
    Brand Name:

    Brand Name(s)

    dynacare

    Product Description:

    Product Description

    Baby Powder

    Company Announcement

    Montvale, NJ, October 28, 2024 — Dynarex Corporation is expanding the recall initiated on September 19, 2024, to include an additional 373 cases of item number 4875, Dynacare Baby Powder, 14 oz., as well as 647 cases of item number 4874, Dynacare Baby Powder, 4 oz., because they have the potential to be contaminated with asbestos. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is often found near talc, an ingredient in many cosmetic products. Asbestos, however, is a known carcinogen and its health risks are well-documented. If talc mining sites are not carefully chosen or if proper steps are not taken to adequately purify the talc ore, it may contain asbestos.

    The product was sent to distributors on or after January 18, 2024, by direct delivery in the following states: AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, NE, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI and sold online on Amazon (Amazon.com).

    Both the 4875 and 4874 Baby Powder products are packaged in plastic bottles, 24 bottles to a case for the 14 oz. and 48 to a case for the 4 oz., with lot/batch numbers located on the bottom of the bottle and on each case (see images below).

    There have been no illnesses or adverse events reported to date.

    The recall was the result of a routine sampling program by the FDA, which revealed that the finished products contained asbestos. Upon further investigation, we have identified additional lots of products that may contain asbestos due to using the same bulk talc material. The company has ceased the distribution of the product as an investigation is proceeding to determine what caused the contamination of the talc.

    Consumers who have purchased Dynacare Baby Powder (see products/lots below) should discontinue use immediately and return it for a full refund.

    Batch No.

    Mfg. Dt.

    Exp. Dt.

    Pack Size
    B 048 31.10.2023 30.10.2026 Baby Powder 14 oz. (397 g)
    B 049 01.11.2023 31.10.2026 Baby Powder 14 oz. (397 g)
    B 050 02.11.2023 01.11.2026 Baby Powder 14 oz. (397 g)
    B 051 29.12.2023 28.12.2026 Baby Powder 14 oz. (397 g)
    B 052 30.12.2023 29.12.2026 Baby Powder 14 oz. (397 g)
    B 053 01.01.2024 31.12.2026 Baby Powder 4 oz. (113 g)
    B 054 03.01.2024 02.01.2027 Baby Powder 4 oz. (113 g)
    B 055 04.01.2024 03.01.2027 Baby Powder 4 oz. (113 g)
    B 056 05.01.2024 04.01.2027 Baby Powder 4 oz. (113 g)
    B 057 06.01.2024 05.01.2027 Baby Powder 4 oz. (113 g)
    B 058 08.01.2024 07.01.2027 Baby Powder 4 oz. (113 g)
    B 059 31.01.2024 30.01.2027 Baby Powder 4 oz. (113 g)
    B 060 01.02.2024 31.01.2027 Baby Powder 4 oz. (113 g)

    Please contact Dynarex Corporation at 888-396-2739 or 845-365-8200 during business hours of 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time, or via email at recall@dynarex.com if you have any questions or need information on how to return the product or receive a full refund.

    Health care professionals and consumers are encouraged to report any adverse events to FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program by:

    Link to Original Press Release

    Company Contact Information

    Product Photos

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Alan Wilson announces Nicholas Gracely convicted after jury trial in the South Carolina State Grand Jury “Las Señoritas” investigationRead More

    Source: US State of South Carolina

    (COLUMBIA, S.C.) – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced today that a Greenville County jury convicted Nicholas Gracely in the “Las Señoritas” investigation on Tuesday, October 22, 2024. 

    Gracely was convicted of Trafficking Methamphetamine, 400 Grams or More; Trafficking Methamphetamine, 200 Grams or More, But Less Than 400 Grams; Manufacturing Methamphetamine; Possession of a Weapon During a Violent Crime (x2); and Unlawful Conduct Towards a Child.  

    Gracely was a co-conspirator who was receiving methamphetamine directly from Nicole Burns, a “Señorita” who had fled to Mexico and was still coordinating methamphetamine being delivered and distributed in Greenville County. Burns pleaded guilty on June 24, 2024, before the start of her jury trial in the connected investigation “Prison Empire.”  She was sentenced to a 55-year sentence.

    The facts of the case showed that law enforcement executed a search warrant on May 3, 2022, at Gracely’s apartment where his wife and three-month-old daughter were also living. Approximately 2,603 grams of methamphetamine was located with a disassembled meth lab in the garage. Approximately 291 grams of methamphetamine was located in a box in the kitchen of the apartment. Gracely confessed to being involved in the conspiracy.

    Judge R.S. Sprouse sentenced Gracely to a total sentence of 28 years in prison.  

    The case was investigated by the South Carolina State Grand Jury and prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Savanna Goude. The State Grand Jury was assisted in this case by a partnership of the Attorney General’s State Grand Jury Division, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the Thirteenth Circuit Solicitor’s office, the South Carolina Department of Corrections’ Office of the Inspector General, the Greenville County Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit, Abbeville County Sheriff’s Office, Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, Laurens County Sheriff’s Department, Oconee County Sheriff’s Office, Pickens County Sheriff’s  Office, Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, Clemson Police Department, Easley Police Department, and Traveler’s Rest Police Department. State Grand Jury Division Chief Attorney S. Creighton Waters thanked all the agencies for their hard work in the case.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Joins Multistate Coalition in Support of LGBTQ+ Americans’ Rights in the Workplace

    Source: US State of California

    OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today joined 20 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief pushing back on an effort to undermine civil rights protections for LGBTQ+ Americans in the workplace. The case, McMahon v. World Vision, Inc., arose when World Vision, Inc. rescinded a job offer to Aubry McMahon upon discovering that she was in a same-sex marriage. In today’s amicus brief, the coalition urges the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to uphold the lower court’s decision in favor of McMahon, and stresses the states’ strong interest in employment discrimination laws and protections against sex-based discrimination.

    “No one should be denied employment simply because of who they are or who they love,” said Attorney General Bonta. “We urge the Ninth Circuit to uphold the lower court’s decision and reaffirm the critical protections that safeguard all workers against discrimination in the workplace. At the California Department of Justice, we will continue to oppose efforts to undermine the rights of every individual to live and work free from discrimination.”

    After World Vision rescinded her job offer to be a customer service representative because she was in a same-sex marriage, McMahon sued under Title VII and Washington State law based on sex, sexual-orientation, and marital status discrimination. While World Vision argues that it is exempt from Title VII and state law protections under the First Amendment right to expressive association and the ministerial exception, a district court disagreed, ruling in favor of McMahon and denying the defendant’s motion for summary judgment on the employment discrimination claim, while granting McMahon’s motion for summary judgment. Nevertheless, World Vision appealed the decision to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

    California shares interests in upholding the rights protected by the First Amendment, and respects and does not seek to abridge the right to hold and express views regarding the nature of marriage, including views founded in religious faith. But Defendant’s expansive theory of the First Amendment right of expressive association, and its extremely broad views of church autonomy and the ministerial exception, go well beyond existing precedent and threaten states’ ability to combat employment discrimination around the country.

    In their amicus brief today, the coalition asserts: 

    • The government has a compelling interest in eliminating sex discrimination in employment, and Title VII and similar statutes are narrowly tailored to that goal.
    • The First Amendment right of expressive association does not apply to the employer-employee relationship at issue.
    • The defendants’ theory of expressive association would badly undermine employment discrimination laws.
    • The Ninth Circuit should affirm the district court’s judgment in favor of the plaintiff. 

    In filing the amicus brief, Attorney General Bonta joins the attorneys general of Massachusetts, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawai’i, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.

    A copy of the amicus brief is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: You’ve heard of Asterix and Obelix, but who really were the Gauls? And why were they such a problem for Rome?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Frederik Juliaan Vervaet, Associate Professor of Ancient History, The University of Melbourne

    JayC75/Shutterstock

    The year is 50 BC. Gaul is entirely occupied by the Romans. Well, not entirely. One small village of indomitable Gauls still holds out against the invaders.

    So begins the Asterix comic series, which positions Julius Caesar as the power-lusting dictator of the mighty Roman Empire who conquered all of Gaul. All except, of course, for one heroic village, where Asterix, Obelix and Dogmatix are among the Gauls (or Gaul dogs) frustrating Rome’s hapless legions.

    Well, that’s the comic book version.

    But who really were the Gauls? And why were they such a problem for Rome?

    The Gauls are the most famous group of Celtic peoples who occupied most of the lands west of the Rhine, thus causing this area to be known in antiquity as Gaul.

    They sported long blonde or reddish dreadlocks (often washing their hair in lime-water and pulling it back to the nape of the neck), handlebar moustaches on the men, colourful shirts and striped coats. The ethnonym Galli is believed to derive from a Celtic root gal- meaning “power” or “ability”, and has been linked to the Irish word gal, meaning “bravery” or “courage”.

    Fearsome warriors

    From the fifth to third centuries BCE, the Celtic tribes of central Europe were among the continent’s most fearsome warriors.

    This 1842 illustration depicts Gaul warriors with their customary large shields, swords, long hair and distinctive helmets.
    Wattier/Marzolino/Shutterstock

    From their heartlands around what is now the Czech Republic (Bohemia derives its name from the powerful Boii Gallic tribe), they conquered the British Isles, all of France and Belgium (Gaul proper) and parts of Spain. They also conquered the fertile alluvial plains of what became known to Romans as Cisalpine Gaul, meaning “Gaul this side of the Alps”.

    The Gauls even conquered lands as far afield as in present-day Turkey. The descendants from these once mighty peoples still live in Ireland (Gaelic comes from the word Gaul), Wales and Brittany.

    The Gauls had a very warlike reputation. They produced tall and muscular warriors who often wore helmets that, according to the Greek historian Diodorus Siculus, sometimes had horns attached or “images of the fore-parts of birds or four-footed animals”. He also wrote that:

    The women of the Gauls are not only like the men in their great stature but they are a match for them in courage as well.

    Gauls fought with long broad-swords, barbed spears, and chariots drawn by two horses. They fastened the severed heads of their enemies about the necks of their horses.

    Possessing huge quantities of alluvial gold, Gallic nobles wore heavy necklaces (known as “torcs”) of solid gold and consumed untold amounts of imported wine, fabulously enriching Italian merchants.

    Their acts of bravery were immortalised by lyric poets called bards, and they put great stock in their shamans, called druids, who also presided over regular human sacrifices.

    In 387 BCE, Gallic raiders from Cisalpine Gaul sacked Rome. They only failed to take the Capitol because of a hostile incursion into their own homelands, forcing them to break camp and return – not before, however, exacting a crippling price in gold from the profoundly humiliated Romans.

    The Romans were so impressed with Gallic military kit they resorted to wholesale plagiarism. The iconic armour of Roman republican legionaries was largely of Celtic origin.

    The Gauls had a very warlike reputation.
    J. Photos/Shutterstock

    Rome rallies against the Gauls

    In 295 BCE, the Senones (a Gallic tribe) inhabiting the Adriatic coastline south of Cisalpine Gaul were part of an alliance soundly defeated by the Roman Republic in the battle of Sentinum.

    This represented a watershed moment on the road to Roman hegemony in the Italian peninsula.

    In 232, against the backdrop of renewed hostilities with the Cisalpine Gauls, leading Roman politician Gaius Flaminius passed legislation redistributing land won from the Senones (following their final defeat in 283) among Romans from the lower property classes.

    To ease Roman colonisation, the same Flaminius in 220 commissioned the construction of the Via Flaminia, a paved speedway from Rome all the way to Rimini, at the doorstep of Cisalpine Gaul.

    Fearing the same fate as the Senones, the Cisalpine Gauls united against Rome, aided by some Transalpine Gauls.

    By 225, this alliance became strong enough to invade peninsular Italy, ravage Tuscany, and threaten Rome itself.

    This famously triggered the Romans to muster all Roman and Italian manpower at their disposal (about 800,000 draftable men, according to ancient the historian Pliny).

    Being now superior in every respect, the Romans and their Italian allies decisively defeated the Cisalpine Gauls in 223 and 222. The Roman general Marcus Claudius Marcellus even managed to kill a Gallic king in single combat.

    The vanquished Cisalpine Gauls then joined the feared Carthaginian general Hannibal, who at the time posed a great risk to Rome and defeated its forces in many battles. They joined Hannibal en masse after he crossed the Alps to invade Italy in 218.

    But Hannibal failed to vanquish Rome and was later defeated. The Roman conquest of Cisalpine Gaul continued after Roman forces defeated Hannibal’s brother Hasdrubal at the Metaurus River in 207.

    To secure their rich holdings in Cisalpine Gaul and the land corridor to their Spanish provinces, the Romans subsequently conquered first Liguria and next southern Gaul, incorporated as the Province of Transalpine Gaul. The area was so thoroughly colonised it is still known today as La Provence (“the province”).

    Caesar’s self-interested war on the Gauls

    Julius Caesar, eager to amass glory and wealth, subjugated all of Gaul in less than a decade (from 58 to 50 BCE).

    He sold this outright aggression to the Senate and people in Rome as a war waged in defence of tribes allied with Rome, a necessary pre-emptive strike of sorts.

    In addition to enslaving perhaps up to one million Gauls, Caesar proudly claimed to have killed well over another million, a staggering casualty rate considered by Pliny the Elder “a prodigious even if unavoidable wrong inflicted on the human race”.

    Julius Caesar subjugated all of Gaul in less than a decade.
    Paolo Gallo/Shutterstock

    Caesar got away with mass murder because he shamelessly played into lingering feelings of metus Gallicus, or “Gallic fear”.

    The Roman fear of Gauls was heightened by the so-called Cimbric War that took place in earlier years, when a formidable confederacy of Germanic and Gallic tribes inflicted a series of costly defeats upon Rome, threatening Italy itself.

    But Rome would triumph in the end. Under the leadership of Gaius Marius, the Romans destroyed these tribes in 102/101 BCE in Transalpine and Cisalpine Gaul.

    Turned into a Roman province in final stages of this war, Cisalpine Gaul eventually became so heavily Romanised it was incorporated into Roman Italy proper in 42 BCE.

    Frederik Juliaan Vervaet receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    – ref. You’ve heard of Asterix and Obelix, but who really were the Gauls? And why were they such a problem for Rome? – https://theconversation.com/youve-heard-of-asterix-and-obelix-but-who-really-were-the-gauls-and-why-were-they-such-a-problem-for-rome-233447

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Why building more big dams is a costly gamble for our future water security and the environment

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Kandulu, Research Fellow, College of Business, Government and Law, Flinders University

    Climate change and biodiversity loss are mounting threats to Australia’s water security. So ee often hear calls for more dams. But is that the answer?

    Our recent research reveals large dam projects are costly gambles with public money. They often fail to deliver promised economic benefits. They also have major environmental, financial and social impacts.

    In New South Wales, some members of the Lower Lachlan River community were concerned about plans to expand Wyangala Dam. They first asked us in 2020 to investigate its full costs and benefits, with findings presented at a local workshop in 2022.

    The first WaterNSW estimate of capital and operating costs was A$620 million in 2018. Within a few years, it had soared to as much as $2.1 billion. In 2023, the project was scrapped because it wasn’t economically viable.

    Similar concerns surround other projects overseas and in Australia, including Hells Gate Dam in Queensland, and Dungowan Dam and Snowy Hydro 2.0 in NSW.

    To avoid repeating costly mistakes and mismanaging taxpayers’ money, we need a smarter approach to major water projects. This includes independent assessments and greater transparency, with business cases made public and decision-making open to scrutiny. And planning for climate change must become a priority.

    Lessons from past mistakes

    Inadequate economic assessments of big dam projects are a global problem. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and India’s Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project promised big, but had rising price tags and devastating impacts on ecosystems.

    In Australia and worldwide, big dam cost overruns can be up to 825%. The average overrun is 120%. This casts serious doubt on such projects’ financial and social viability. Public costs for private gains are a major concern.

    Our study reviewed the original business case for the Wyangala Dam expansion. The original study had concluded there would be net social benefits and gave the project the green light.

    Our review found the business case was seriously flawed. It overestimated benefits and grossly underestimated physical capital and environmental costs.

    Estimated building costs blew out by 239%. If the project had gone ahead, the costs would undoubtedly have increased.

    On top of this, assessments of impacts on rivers and wetlands were poor and superficial. They greatly undervalued the environmental effects of expanding the dam, particularly on downstream wetlands.

    On the other side of the equation, its benefits were overblown, particularly for water security and agriculture.

    Local voices believed many of their concerns had been ignored. There were deep concerns that flood-dependent farmers downstream might lose some of their livelihoods. Indigenous communities were worried about their cultural sites being destroyed.

    Our analysis provided a more rigorous assessment of benefits and costs of the Wyangala Dam expansion.

    We found total project costs were underestimated by at least 116%. The benefits were inflated by 56%. This meant the true impacts on the environment, agriculture and local communities were misrepresented.

    Rethinking Australia’s water future

    Our analysis provides a salutary lesson on why we need to rethink water security. Instead of sinking billions into dams, we should find smart and sustainable ways to manage our water.

    The fixation on building and expanding dams means innovative alternatives are often ignored. These other options include recycling water, managing demand and carefully recharging aquifers (using aquifers as underground dams).

    The National Water Grid Fund exemplifies the misguided “build more dams” mindset. Its portfolio of 61 large water projects has a total capital cost estimate of up to $10 billion.

    Despite this massive investment, only 23 of these projects have publicly available business cases. It leaves more than $1.7 billion in committed funding shrouded in secrecy.

    This lack of transparency is alarming, given the history of cost overruns and inadequate assessment of environmental damage. It points to the urgent need to reassess our approach to water security. The public has a right to know that their governments are spending wisely.

    To avoid repeating costly mistakes and mismanaging taxpayers’ money, we need a smarter approach. Independent business cases should be mandated for all major water projects.

    We also need a strong public sector capable of transparent evaluation. Promised new National Environmental Standards as part of reforms to environmental protection laws are likely to require rigorous scrutiny too. We must embrace transparency by opening decision-making to public scrutiny and diverse perspectives, including local voices and Indigenous stakeholders, from the start.

    Finally, infrastructure planning must account for long-term climate impacts on water availability. Planning for climate change is vital.

    As projects such as the proposed Wyangala Dam expansion demonstrate, Australia can no longer afford to gamble its water future on outdated, costly and environmentally destructive solutions. It’s time to end the wasteful spending.

    Instead, we need to channel our efforts into truly effective, sustainable and transparent water management. Strategies must give priority to community needs, First Nations’ water rights, environmental protection and long-term climate resilience.

    John Kandulu is a recipient of funding from various sources, such as state and Commonwealth governments, as well as non-profit organisations. His affiliations include the Centre for Social Impact at Flinders University and the Environment Institute at the University of Adelaide.

    Richard Kingsford receives funding from a range of organisations, including the Australian Research Council, state and Commonwealth governments, non-government organisations, including World Wide Fund for Nature and Australian Conservation Foundation. He is a member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists and a councillor on the Biodiversity Council.

    Sarah Ann Wheeler receives funding from a range of organisations, including the Australian Research Council, state and Commonwealth governments and non-government organisations.

    – ref. Why building more big dams is a costly gamble for our future water security and the environment – https://theconversation.com/why-building-more-big-dams-is-a-costly-gamble-for-our-future-water-security-and-the-environment-239106

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: 6 reasons why people enjoy horror movies

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shane Rogers, Lecturer in Psychology, Edith Cowan University

    Tero Vesalainen/Shutterstock

    The creeping shadows and haunting decorations transform the everyday into something eerie at Halloween. And you might be thinking about scaring yourself with a good horror movie.

    Grotesque imagery, extreme violence, startling jump scares and menacing characters are common elements, making viewers feel fear, dread and disgust.

    We generally aim to avoid these negative emotions in our everyday lives.

    So why would some people seek them out, and enjoy them, in horror movies?

    1. Fear can be thrilling

    There is lots of overlap between the emotions of fear and excitement. In both, stress hormones are released that can produce physical symptoms such as increased heart and breathing rates, sweating and muscle tension. People also feel more alert and “on edge”.

    Research has consistently shown people with personalities that crave intense emotional experiences, including fear and excitement, tend to enjoy horror movies.

    But for more fearful people, the jump scares and violent scenes can be too intense. This can result in coping behaviours such as looking away or putting their hands over the ears, especially if they are highly immersed in the movie.

    Although, if they also happen to enjoy intense emotion, they may still enjoy the thrill of the ride.

    Movie makers work hard to get these ‘jump scares’ just right. And viewers enjoy the thrill.

    2. There’s a sense of relief

    People may enjoy horror movies because of a sense of relief after a scary moment has passed.

    Watching a horror movie can be a bit of an emotional rollercoaster, with distinct peaks and troughs of fear and relief over the course of the film.

    For example, in the 2017 movie It the main protagonists survive a series of scary encounters with a demonic clown. The scary moments are separated by calmer scenes, prompting a rollercoaster of emotions.

    In the classic 1975 movie Jaws, viewers experience relief from the scary moments, only to be scared again and again.

    Jaws is a rollercoaster of emotions.

    3. They satisfy our morbid curiosity

    Many horror movies feature supernatural themes and characters such as zombies, werewolves and vampires. So horror movies can help satiate a morbid curiosity.

    The violence, death, destruction and grotesque elements can provide curious people a safe space to explore things that are not safe (or socially appropriate) in the real world.

    Horror movies can help people satisfy their curiosity about death. But why are they curious in the first place?

    4. We can work out our limits

    Horror movies can reflect our deepest fears and prompt introspection about our personal thresholds of fear and disgust.

    So some people may enjoy watching them to get a better understanding of their own limits.

    Watching horror might also be a way to push personal boundaries to potentially become less fearful or grossed out by things in real life.

    In a study one of us (Coltan) conducted, horror movie fans reported less psychological distress during the early months of the COVID pandemic compared with people not identifying as a horror movie fan.

    5. They can be social

    Some people say the social aspect of watching horror movies with others is a big part of their appeal.

    Watching with others might help some people feel safer. Alternatively, this might help amplify the emotional experience by feeding off the emotions of people around them.

    Horror movies are also a common pick as a date night movie. Being scared together gives a good excuse to snuggle and take comfort in each other.

    6. They give us pleasure in other people’s misery

    Horror movies can provide the pleasurable emotion we feel when witnessing the misfortune of others, known as schadenfreude. This occurs most when we feel the person experiencing misfortune deserves it.

    In many horror movies the characters that suffer a gruesome fate are only side characters. Much of the time these unfortunate souls are made out to be unlikeable and often make foolish choices before their grisly end.

    For example, in the 1996 teen witch movie The Craft, the character Chris Hooker is portrayed as being cruel to women. Then he dies by being blasted out of a window.

    Despite the grisly nature of horror movies, a study by one of us (Coltan) found horror fans seem to have the same levels of empathy as anyone else.

    In The Craft, viewers enjoy witnessing the misfortune of others, particularly if the character is a ‘baddy’.

    What do I make of all this?

    Horror movies allow us to confront our deepest fears through the safety of make-believe.

    People enjoy them for lots of different reasons. And the precise combination of reasons differs depending on the specific movie, and the person or people watching it.

    What is certain though, is the increasing popularity of horror movies, with many to choose from.

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

    – ref. 6 reasons why people enjoy horror movies – https://theconversation.com/6-reasons-why-people-enjoy-horror-movies-241480

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: What is AI superintelligence? Could it destroy humanity? And is it really almost here?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Flora Salim, Professor, School of Computer Science and Engineering, inaugural Cisco Chair of Digital Transport & AI, UNSW Sydney

    Maxim Berg / Unsplash

    In 2014, the British philosopher Nick Bostrom published a book about the future of artificial intelligence (AI) with the ominous title Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies. It proved highly influential in promoting the idea that advanced AI systems – “superintelligences” more capable than humans – might one day take over the world and destroy humanity.

    A decade later, OpenAI boss Sam Altman says superintelligence may only be “a few thousand days” away. A year ago, Altman’s OpenAI cofounder Ilya Sutskever set up a team within the company to focus on “safe superintelligence”, but he and his team have now raised a billion dollars to create a startup of their own to pursue this goal.

    What exactly are they talking about? Broadly speaking, superintelligence is anything more intelligent than humans. But unpacking what that might mean in practice can get a bit tricky.

    Different kinds of AI

    In my view the most useful way to think about different levels and kinds of intelligence in AI was developed by US computer scientist Meredith Ringel Morris and her colleagues at Google.

    Their framework lists six levels of AI performance: no AI, emerging, competent, expert, virtuoso and superhuman. It also makes an important distinction between narrow systems, which can carry out a small range of tasks, and more general systems.

    A narrow, no-AI system is something like a calculator. It carries out various mathematical tasks according to a set of explicitly programmed rules.

    There are already plenty of very successful narrow AI systems. Morris gives the Deep Blue chess program that famously defeated world champion Garry Kasparov way back in 1997 as an example of a virtuoso-level narrow AI system.

    Some narrow systems even have superhuman capabilities. One example is Alphafold, which uses machine learning to predict the structure of protein molecules, and whose creators won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry this year.

    What about general systems? This is software that can tackle a much wider range of tasks, including things like learning new skills.

    A general no-AI system might be something like Amazon’s Mechanical Turk: it can do a wide range of things, but it does them by asking real people.

    Overall, general AI systems are far less advanced than their narrow cousins. According to Morris, the state-of-the-art language models behind chatbots such as ChatGPT are general AI – but they are so far at the “emerging” level (meaning they are “equal to or somewhat better than an unskilled human”), and yet to reach “competent” (as good as 50% of skilled adults).

    So by this reckoning, we are still some distance from general superintelligence.

    How intelligent is AI right now?

    As Morris points out, precisely determining where any given system sits would depend on having reliable tests or benchmarks.

    Depending on our benchmarks, an image-generating system such as DALL-E might be at virtuoso level (because it can produce images 99% of humans could not draw or paint), or it might be emerging (because it produces errors no human would, such as mutant hands and impossible objects).

    There is significant debate even about the capabilities of current systems. One notable 2023 paper argued GPT-4 showed “sparks of artificial general intelligence”.

    OpenAI says its latest language model, o1, can “perform complex reasoning” and “rivals the performance of human experts” on many benchmarks.

    However, a recent paper from Apple researchers found o1 and many other language models have significant trouble solving genuine mathematical reasoning problems. Their experiments show the outputs of these models seem to resemble sophisticated pattern-matching rather than true advanced reasoning. This indicates superintelligence is not as imminent as many have suggested.

    Will AI keep getting smarter?

    Some people think the rapid pace of AI progress over the past few years will continue or even accelerate. Tech companies are investing hundreds of billions of dollars in AI hardware and capabilities, so this doesn’t seem impossible.

    If this happens, we may indeed see general superintelligence within the “few thousand days” proposed by Sam Altman (that’s a decade or so in less scifi terms). Sutskever and his team mentioned a similar timeframe in their superalignment article.

    Many recent successes in AI have come from the application of a technique called “deep learning”, which, in simplistic terms, finds associative patterns in gigantic collections of data. Indeed, this year’s Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded to John Hopfield and also the “Godfather of AI” Geoffrey Hinton, for their invention of Hopfield Networks and Boltzmann machine, which are the foundation for many powerful deep learning models used today.

    General systems such as ChatGPT have relied on data generated by humans, much of it in the form of text from books and websites. Improvements in their capabilities have largely come from increasing the scale of the systems and the amount of data on which they are trained.

    However, there may not be enough human-generated data to take this process much further (although efforts to use data more efficiently, generate synthetic data, and improve transfer of skills between different domains may bring improvements). Even if there were enough data, some researchers say language models such as ChatGPT are fundamentally incapable of reaching what Morris would call general competence.

    One recent paper has suggested an essential feature of superintelligence would be open-endedness, at least from a human perspective. It would need to be able to continuously generate outputs that a human observer would regard as novel and be able to learn from.

    Existing foundation models are not trained in an open-ended way, and existing open-ended systems are quite narrow. This paper also highlights how either novelty or learnability alone is not enough. A new type of open-ended foundation model is needed to achieve superintelligence.

    What are the risks?

    So what does all this mean for the risks of AI? In the short term, at least, we don’t need to worry about superintelligent AI taking over the world.

    But that’s not to say AI doesn’t present risks. Again, Morris and co have thought this through: as AI systems gain great capability, they may also gain greater autonomy. Different levels of capability and autonomy present different risks.

    For example, when AI systems have little autonomy and people use them as a kind of consultant – when we ask ChatGPT to summarise documents, say, or let the YouTube algorithm shape our viewing habits – we might face a risk of over-trusting or over-relying on them.

    In the meantime, Morris points out other risks to watch out for as AI systems become more capable, ranging from people forming parasocial relationships with AI systems to mass job displacement and society-wide ennui.

    What’s next?

    Let’s suppose we do one day have superintelligent, fully autonomous AI agents. Will we then face the risk they could concentrate power or act against human interests?

    Not necessarily. Autonomy and control can go hand in hand. A system can be highly automated, yet provide a high level of human control.

    Like many in the AI research community, I believe safe superintelligence is feasible. However, building it will be a complex and multidisciplinary task, and researchers will have to tread unbeaten paths to get there.

    Flora Salim receives funding from Australian Research Council and Cisco. She acknowledges the support from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society (ADM+S) (CE200100005).

    – ref. What is AI superintelligence? Could it destroy humanity? And is it really almost here? – https://theconversation.com/what-is-ai-superintelligence-could-it-destroy-humanity-and-is-it-really-almost-here-240682

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Pesticides: farming chemicals make insects sick at non-deadly doses – especially in hot weather

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Dave Goulson, Professor of Biology (Evolution, Behaviour and Environment), University of Sussex

    Farm workers are also at risk of serious harm from pesticide exposure. Bell Ka Pang/Shutterstock

    The various regulatory systems for approving pesticides in operation around the world are crude and flawed. This has long been clear to scientists and it is deeply worrying, as this regulation is supposed to protect people and the environment from harm.

    The EU regulatory system for pesticides is arguably the most rigorous in the world, yet it has repeatedly approved the use of pesticides that have subsequently been found to cause harm to humans or wildlife, leading to eventual bans. It often takes decades for the harm to accumulate before it is recognised.

    The history of pesticide use is littered with such examples: DDT, parathion, paraquat, chlorpyrifos, neonicotinoids, chlorothalonil and many more. Most pesticides that were once deemed safe for humans and wildlife that aren’t the target, like bees, have since been banned. This ought to tell us that the regulatory system is not working.

    A new study offers yet more evidence. Research by the European Molecular Biology Laboratory shows how pesticide tests focus on the death of an animal and ignore any important “sublethal” effects.

    If a creature, such as a honeybee, is alive 48 hours after exposure, then it is deemed that all is well, and the chemical may be approved for use. The bee may be unable to fly or navigate, or its immune system may no longer function, but that is not recorded.

    Multiple regulatory failings

    There are many other failings in UK and EU pesticide regulation.

    Regulatory tests assess the “active substance” in a pesticide, but farmers use products with lots of extra ingredients that can amplify its toxicity. Strangely, the product used by farmers is not evaluated.

    Insecticide use on a vineyard in Missouri, US.
    Damann/Shutterstock

    Tests to ascertain how deadly new pesticides are for wildlife are often done in-house by the companies seeking approval. This research is rarely made public as it is considered commercially sensitive.

    Tests focus on the short-term (often 48-hour) effects of exposure in healthy test animals, such as honeybees, predatory beetles or zebra fish. In reality, exposure may last for weeks, months or years, and its effects may be cumulative.

    Tests also focus on exposing subjects to a single pesticide, when wild organisms – and humans – are exposed to complex mixtures of pesticides, some of which act synergistically (meaning the harm they do is more than the sum of the effects of each chemical in isolation).

    In the new study, the researchers used the larvae of fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) as a model species. This provided the scientists with huge numbers of test insects with which to study the lethal and sublethal effects of 1,024 different pesticides (almost all of the chemicals available to farmers worldwide, predominantly comprising insecticides, fungicides and herbicides).

    The researchers exposed these larvae to a range of concentrations of pesticides, spanning what insects are likely to encounter in cropland, and subsequently measured aspects of their behaviour, physiology, fitness and survival over time.

    Herbicides and fungicides harm insects too

    Several of this study’s findings highlight inadequacies in pesticide regulation.

    First, many non-insecticides kill insects. Farmers often avoid spraying insecticides when beneficial insects such as bees are active and instead spray late in the evening. They don’t usually worry about when they spray chemicals designed to target weeds and fungi. The new study suggests that it would be safer to assume that all pesticides can harm insects.

    Second, many non-insecticides killed few if any insects during the 16 hours for which they were exposed to them in this study, but many died in the following ten days. Clearly, only assessing short-term effects misses the total impact.

    Third, 57% of the pesticides tested affected the behaviour of insect larvae, including 382 non-insecticides, demonstrating that sublethal effects are widespread.

    Fourth, the researchers found that the effects of pesticides on insect survival were often much higher at elevated temperatures, something not examined by any regulatory system in the world.

    Exposure to a concentration of less than one part per million of the insecticide lindane, for example, killed no insects at 25°C but killed 79% of them at 29°C. This is obviously relevant to climate change, and particularly to the increasing frequency of heatwaves. We should perhaps not be surprised that organisms struggle to cope when faced with multiple sources of stress at the same time.

    Pesticide exposure heightens the threat of climate change to insects.
    Kzww/Shutterstock

    There have been attempts to introduce more rigorous regulations that include assessing the sublethal and chronic effects of pesticides. In 2013, the European Food Standards Agency published a revised protocol for safety testing of the effects of new pesticides on bees with a group of independent scientists. Eleven years on and the protocol has not been adopted due to stiff opposition from the pesticide industry, which argues that it would be more expensive to implement.

    We are in the midst of a biodiversity crisis. A recent study estimated that wild populations of vertebrates have declined by 73% since 1970. Insects are less thoroughly monitored, but recent reviews estimate that their populations have fallen dramatically and continue to decline at an average rate of 1-2% a year.

    There is lots of evidence that pesticides are contributing to these declines, and that the regulatory system has failed us. Ian Boyd, the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs chief scientist, wrote in 2017 that pesticides passing a battery of tests in a lab or field trial are assumed to be benign even when used at industrial scales. “The effects of dosing whole landscapes with chemicals have been largely ignored by regulatory systems,” he said.

    Despite this admission by a senior government scientist, the system remains unchanged in both the UK and EU. While this remains the case, insect populations will continue to decline, with consequences for all of us.


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

    Get our award-winning weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 40,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    Dave Goulson is a member of the Green Party

    – ref. Pesticides: farming chemicals make insects sick at non-deadly doses – especially in hot weather – https://theconversation.com/pesticides-farming-chemicals-make-insects-sick-at-non-deadly-doses-especially-in-hot-weather-241856

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Heinrich, Luján, Leger Fernández Welcome Over $1 Million to Break Down Barriers to Home Ownership for New Mexicans Living With HIV/AIDS

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Senator for New Mexico Ben Ray Luján

    SANTA FE, N.M. — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), and U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) welcomed $1,345,637 for the Santa Fe Housing Trust to provide more pathways to first-time home ownership to 2,050 New Mexicans living with HIV/AIDS.  

    This grant is funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) Program. The HOPWA program is the only federal program dedicated to the housing needs of people living with HIV/AIDS and their families. 

    During the domestic HIV/AIDS crisis, individuals surviving with HIV/AIDS faced barriers to employment and incurred expensive medical costs. This trend continues and disproportionately impact low-income individuals who are struggling to afford stable housing even before diagnosis and treatment. The financial and health vulnerabilities associated with HIV/AIDS often result in housing instability and homelessness. Research shows individuals living with HIV/AIDS who have a stable place to live have more positive health outcomes and spend less time in hospitals or emergency rooms. 

    “We should be making it easier for all New Mexicans to become homeowners. Full stop,” said Heinrich. “This funding will break down barriers for individuals living with HIV/AIDS to become first-time home buyers, ensuring more folks have a safe and secure place to call home. I’ll keep fighting to increase our housing stock, bring down the cost of housing, and ensure all people in our state have a shot at achieving the dream of home ownership.” 

    “No New Mexican should ever worry about whether they will have a safe place to sleep at night,” said Luján. “I’m proud to welcome more than $1.3 million in federal funding that will help allow New Mexicans living with HIV/AIDS to secure permanent, stable housing so they can focus on their health. I will continue to fight to expand housing options for all New Mexicans.” 

    “Home is more than a roof you live under, it provides safety and stability,” said Leger Fernández. “As we work to tackle the home affordability crisis across the country, we must use all tools available to help. We know one of the biggest hurdles homebuyers face is saving up for a downpayment. This $1.3 million for the Santa Fe Housing Trust will provide funding for important services like down payment reduction assistance for first-time home buyers living with HIV/AIDS. I’ll continue to fight for funding that helps our communities through legislation like my Home of Your Own Act which would also help first time homebuyers with down payment assistance.” 

    Background 

    Heinrich, Luján, and Leger Fernández are tireless advocates for lowering housing costs, increasing housing supply, and expanding housing affordability and access for families in New Mexico. 

    Through Heinrich’s role as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, particularly through his seat as Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, Heinrich has worked to deliver millions of dollars to New Mexico for renters and home buyers. 

    Most recently, Heinrich secured Committee support for the following investments in Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) Appropriations: 

    In Heinrich’s Fiscal Year 2024 Agriculture Appropriations Bill, he secured $1.6 billion for rental assistance, an increase of $120 million over Fiscal Year 2023. Heinrich’s 2024 Appropriations Bill also provided for a pilot program that decoupled rental assistance from Multifamily Direct Loans, preventing thousands of low-income families from losing rental assistance. 

    Additionally, Heinrich secured $1,100,000 through the Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations process for Santa Fe Habitat for Humanity to develop land into a mixed-income development focused on building 25 to 30 housing units for working families. In total, Heinrich has secured $14,500,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) for northern New Mexico to address the housing shortage. 

    In May, Heinrich, Luján, Leger Fernández, and the N.M. Congressional Delegation welcomed $11.8 million from the U.S. Department of Housing to support public housing authorities build, renovate, and modernize public housing across New Mexico. 

    In February, Heinrich, Luján, Leger Fernández, and the N.M. Congressional Delegation welcomed more than $16 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Continuum of Care program to support New Mexico projects that provide housing assistance and supportive services to people experiencing homelessness. 

    Luján has also been a champion of expanding access to affordable housing for all New Mexicans. Earlier this year, Luján partnered with Heinrich to push for more funding for Tribal housing programs. 

    Through Luján’s work on the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, Luján has also fought to secure critical support for individuals living with HIV/AIDS. 

    Luján introduced the bipartisan Ryan White PrEP Availability Act, bipartisan legislation to increase flexibility for Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program clinics, which provide care and treatment for individuals living with HIV/AIDS. 

    In the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) Appropriations package, Luján secured $300,000 to advance the goals of his Oral Health Literacy Act and support the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program. 

    Heinrich and Luján have also introduced a number of bills to tackle New Mexico’s housing crisis. 

    Last month, Heinrich introduced the New Homes Tax Credit Act, legislation that would provide tax credits to incentivize new investments and additional resources for single-family home construction and renovations for working families. The bill would address the lack of housing inventory for individuals and families whose incomes are up to 120 percent of the area median income (AMI), particularly including in areas where middle-income families have historically been priced out. In Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Las Cruces, New Mexico, for example, this added housing inventory would benefit families with annual incomes of up to $103,680, $109,800, and $78,960, respectively. 

    At a recent roundtable conversation with local educators in Albuquerque, Heinrich announced his Educator Down Payment Assistance Act, legislation designed to help more educators and school staff in New Mexico purchase a home and keep teachers in the communities where they teach.   

    In March, Heinrich co-led the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Act, legislation to support homeownership among lower- and middle-income Americans by establishing a refundable tax credit worth up to 10 percent of a home’s purchase price – up to a maximum of $15,000 – for first-time homebuyers.  

    Heinrich also cosponsored the Housing for All Act, comprehensive legislation to expand access to affordable housing in New Mexico and supporting those experiencing homelessness. The bill would invest in proven solutions and provide a historic level of federal funding for strategic, existing programs to keep people housed and reduce homelessness, as well as for innovative, locally developed solutions to help vulnerable populations experiencing homelessness. 

    Last year, Heinrich introduced the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act, which would help build over 14,000 new affordable homes in New Mexico over the next decade, generating over $2.5 billion in wages and business income. The legislation would support the financing of more affordable housing by expanding and strengthening the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, our country’s most successful affordable housing program.     

    Heinrich also introduced the Delivering Essential Protection, Opportunity, and Security for Tenants (DEPOSIT) Act, which would help an estimated 12,000 New Mexican families access rental housing through the Housing Choice Voucher Program to pay security deposits and get into a rental home. Luján is also a cosponsor of this bill. 

    In January, as Chairman of the U.S. Joint Economic Committee (JEC), Heinrich released a report highlighting policy approaches to increasing housing supply in America. Heinrich also chaired a JEC hearing on the report. His full opening statement can be found here. 

    Luján introduced the bipartisan Homes for Every Local Protector, Educator, and Responder Act of 2023 or the HELPER Act of 2023, legislation that would establish a new home loan program under the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) to make homeownership more accessible to teachers and first responders. 

    Luján also introduced the bipartisan Reforming Disaster Recovery Act, legislation that would establish a community disaster assistance fund for housing. 

    Additionally, Luján introduced bipartisan legislation to expand Native American housing programs that builds on successful Native American housing programs at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) authorized by the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA). 

    Luján and Heinrich introduced the bipartisan Native American Rural Homeownership Improvement Act of 2021, legislation that would expand an existing U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) pilot program and deploy loans to eligible Native borrowers.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Statement from Minister of Health and the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General of Canada on advance requests for medical assistance in dying

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Statement

    October 28, 2024 | Ottawa, Ontario | Health Canada

    Medical assistance in dying (MAID) is a deeply personal and complex topic.

    Canada’s federal framework governing MAID has been carefully designed with stringent safeguards to affirm and protect the inherent and equal value and dignity of every person’s life. Given the significant life-or-death implications, the Government of Canada has always chosen a cautious approach to expanding MAID eligibility. This approach emphasizes the importance of open dialogue with provinces and territories, medical professionals, expert stakeholders and Canadians.

    MAID is a matter of shared jurisdiction with provinces and territories. As a health service, MAID is administered by provincial and territorial health systems as part of end-of-life or complex care. However, since MAID involves ending a person’s life, it includes important legal considerations under the Criminal Code that is the jurisdiction of the Government of Canada.

    The Government of Canada acknowledges the work the Government of Quebec has conducted on the implementation of advance requests and their interest in having the Criminal Code amended so that advance requests can be permitted for residents of Quebec. As the Criminal Code applies uniformly across Canada and does not permit the provision of MAID based on an advance request, providing MAID pursuant to an advance request remains an offence under the Criminal Code.

    On the complex and serious topic of advance requests, it is important to hear the full range of perspectives. That is why the Government of Canada will launch a national conversation in November 2024 on the topic of advance requests. The consultations will consist of discussions with all provinces and territories, roundtables and online surveys, and will be completed by the end of January 2025. A report on the key themes and findings will be published in Spring 2025. As a first step in conducting this national conversation, the Minister of Health has written to his provincial and territorial counterparts on this important issue.

    We are launching a national conversation and will not be initiating a challenge of Quebec’s Bill 11. We recognize the importance of collaboration between levels of government to ensure that the needs of patients and healthcare professionals are met.

    This national conversation is another step to ensure that the framework for MAID in Canada reflects the evolving needs of Canadians, protects those who may be vulnerable, and supports the autonomy and freedom of choice of Canadians.

    Related Links

    Medical assistance in dying: National conversation on advance requests

    Contact

    Matthew Kronberg
    Press Secretary
    Office of the Honourable Mark Holland
    Minister of Health
    343-552-5654

    Chantalle Aubertin
    Deputy Director, Communications
    Office of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General
    613-992-6568
    Chantalle.Aubertin@justice.gc.ca

    Media Relations
    Health Canada
    613-957-2983
    media@hc-sc.gc.ca

    Department of Justice Canada
    613-957-4207
    media@justice.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Roy fights back against judicial power grab aimed at congressional authority

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Chip Roy (R-TX)

    WASHINGTON, DC — On Monday, Representative Chip Roy (TX-21) took a stand against an attempted judicial power grab that would put states at a disadvantage against unconstitutional federal actions in court.

    The Judicial Conference, the supervisory body of the federal court system, is attempting to engage in a thinly veiled, ideological power grab intended to hamstring states’ ability to fight back against the federal government in court by prohibiting single-judge divisions from hearing certain cases.

    “It appears that your committee is upset that certain litigants that do not check the correct ideological box are filing lawsuits in single-judge divisions and finding success,” Representative Roy warned Judge Robin Rosenberg, Chair of the Judicial Conference’s Advisory Committee on Civil Rules.

    Currently, states can file injunctions in certain federal courts against federal overreach in single judge districts where they have a likelihood of success instead of taking their chances with a randomly assigned judge.

    “As a member of the House Judiciary Committee, I will do everything in my power to block any Administrative Office of the Courts priority until it stops this misguided attack,”CongressmanRoy concluded.

    At the same time as this attempt to end run Congress, Roy pointed outs, the courts are asking legislators to approve and fund more judgeships.

    “If your committee does not appreciate the legal and separation-of-powers issues at play, I hope it will at least recognize the political issues,” Representative Roy explained. “The courts cannot reasonably expect Congress to approve a significant number of additional judges while undermining congressional authority. The administration of the lower courts and funding of the judiciary are both issues within Congress’s control. If you don’t hold up your end of the bargain, don’t ask us to hold up ours.”

    Read the full letter here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Media advisory: Arthur Easton homicide investigation

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Police are issuing an appeal in relation to the murder of Arthur Easton in Papakura 39 years ago.

    Media are advised an announcement will be held today at 11am at Counties Manukau Police Station.

    Detective Inspector Warrick Adkin will speak with media.

    Media are required to RSVP to this advisory by emailing media@police.govt.nz  

    WHO: Detective Inspector Warrick Adkin

    WHEN: Please assemble outside the station at 10.45am to be escorted inside for an 11am start.

    WHERE: Counties Manukau Police Station, 42 Manukau Station Road, Manukau City Centre

    ENDS.

    Holly McKay/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: CFTC Charges two Louisiana-Based Companies and Cofounder with Multi-Million Dollar Forex Fraud, Failing to Register

    Source: US Commodity Futures Trading Commission

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Commodity Futures Trading Commission today announced a civil enforcement action in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against NOLA FX Capital Management, LLC, Meteor, LLC, Louisiana limited liability companies, and the founder of both, Michael B. DePetrillo.

    The complaint alleges the defendants operated a commodity pool scheme in which they fraudulently solicited and accepted at least $7.6 million from at least 40 individuals, and misappropriated and commingled pool participant funds. Allegedly, NOLA FX Capital and Meteor acted as unregistered commodity pool operators, and DePetrillo acted as an unregistered associated person of a commodity pool operator.

    The CFTC seeks restitution, disgorgement, civil monetary penalties, restitution, trading and registration bans, and a permanent injunction against further violations of the Commodity Exchange Act and CFTC regulations, as charged.

    Case Background

    As alleged in the complaint, from approximately July 2017 to the present, the defendants fraudulently solicited pool participants by claiming their funds would be pooled and invested in NOLA FX Fund, LLC, and used to trade foreign currency pairs on a leveraged, margined, or financed basis (“retail forex”). In furtherance of this scheme, the defendants allegedly sent false account statements to pool participants showing purported profits and trading activity, when in fact none existed. Instead of trading as promised, the defendants misappropriated pool funds. The defendants used these misappropriated funds to make payments to existing pool participants in a manner akin to a Ponzi scheme, pay DePetrillo’s personal expenses and to conduct personal trading in DePetrillo’s personal trading accounts.

    Meteor and/or NOLA FX Capital allegedly acted as a commodity pool operator by soliciting, accepting, and receiving funds to trade forex, but failed to register with the CFTC as such, and commingled pool participant funds with the property of others. 

    Related Criminal Action

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Louisiana, filed a separate criminal action against Michael B. DePetrillo [United States v. Depetrillo, No. 2:24-mj-00131-DM-1]. 

    The Division of Enforcement staff members responsible for this case are Mike Loconte, Brendan Forbes, Eugenia Vroustouris, Erica Bodin, Stephanie Cooper, Aimée Latimer-Zayets and Rick Glaser.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: International humanitarian law: FDFA head opens the 34th International Conference of Red Cross and Red Crescent

    Source: Switzerland – Federal Administration in English

    Bolstering humanitarian action and respect for international humanitarian law are the objectives of the conference in Geneva. Every four years, the International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent brings together representatives of the states party to the Geneva Conventions and the movement’s organisations: the National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Support for SMEs – E-002050/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    14.10.2024

    Question for written answer  E-002050/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Georgios Aftias (PPE)

    Based on the data held by the Greek chambers of commerce, EU funding is urgently needed for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). However, access to green financing is not guaranteed because, according to the Piraeus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, reporting criteria are complex since funding is only offered for projects worth over EUR 2 000 000. Thus, this practice automatically excludes SMEs from green financing given that the average loan guarantee offered by the European Investment Bank is EUR 100 000.

    Guaranteed access to funding is essential for SMEs to be able to engage in the green transition. SMEs, which are the backbone of the Greek economy, are driven by sustainability, competitiveness, liquidity, innovation and the skills of their employees.

    In view of this:

    • 1.What will the Commission do for SMEs to obtain flexible financing?
    • 2.Will the reporting process be simplified?
    • 3.When will this process be complete?

    Submitted: 14.10.2024

    Last updated: 28 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Is the European Court of Human Rights being manipulated by deported criminals challenging national removal orders? – E-002121/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    16.10.2024

    Question for written answer  E-002121/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Jean-Paul Garraud (PfE)

    Ardit Binaj, an Albanian citizen who entered the UK illegally in 2014, was sentenced to 36 months in jail for burglary and 18 weeks in jail for a separate theft in 2016. After serving 6 months of his sentence, he was deported to Albania under a prisoner transfer agreement.

    Five months later, in January 2017, he re-entered the UK illegally to reunite with his Lithuanian partner.

    He deliberately waited until his son was born in 2020 before applying for the right to stay in the UK, and he married his partner, Diana Bolgova, in October 2020. Mr Binaj’s application was rejected in February 2023, but he successfully contested his second deportation, invoking Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) on the grounds of violation of his right to a family life.

    This case highlights legal loopholes that allow foreign criminals who have already been convicted and deported to use ECHR provisions to stay in a country, despite having repeatedly broken national laws.

    • 1.Although the Convention does not fall within the remit of the EU institutions, is the Commission aware of this worrying situation, which could lead to some countries leaving the Convention?
    • 2.Does it believe that the European Court of Human Rights prevents countries from controlling their own immigration policies and hinders their sovereign right to deport illegal foreign criminals within the EU?

    Submitted: 16.10.2024

    Last updated: 28 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Vandalism of Orthodox sacred religious sites in Greece – E-002046/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    14.10.2024

    Question for written answer  E-002046/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Nikolaos Anadiotis (NI)

    In 2014, the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports issued its first report on the 3 390 cases of vandalism against religious sites in Greece[1], a trend that is rapidly rising. Indeed, cases of vandalism in 2022 quadrupled compared to 2015. What is even more striking is the spike in recorded acts of violence against the Orthodox Church and the desecration of Greek Orthodox churches. As many as 95.72 % of these attacks were targeted against the Orthodox Church, 1.74 % against Judaism, 1.18 % against Islam and less than 0.5 % against other religions.

    The acts of violence in question include vandalism, break-ins, theft, burglaries, sacrilege, grave robbing, arson and other forms of desecration.

    Given that the spike in religious intolerance was discussed during the Plenary debate on 10 October 2024, can the Commission answer the following:

    How does it plan to help Member States tackle hate crimes and acts of vandalism against places of religious worship, ensuring that the EU’s values of religious freedom and safety are respected?

    Submitted: 14.10.2024

    • [1] https://www.minedu.gov.gr/publications/docs2023/gen_gram_thrisk/%CE%88%CE%BA%CE%B8%CE%B5%CF%83%CE%B7%202022.pdf
    Last updated: 28 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Spain’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan: Latest state of play – 25-10-2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Spain’s national recovery and resilience plan (NRRP) is the second largest (in absolute figures) financed by the Next Generation EU (NGEU) recovery instrument and its main spending tool, the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). Following the October 2023 amendment of the Spanish NRRP, adding a REPowerEU chapter, the plan’s value reached €163 billion (or 13.1 % of national gross domestic product (GDP) in 2019), an increase of roughly 135 % compared with the original plan of 2021 (€69.5 billion in grants only). The amended plan comes with an increased grant allocation of €79.8 billion and a freshly requested loan allocation of €83.2 billion. The grant part includes the June 2022 upward revision of Spain’s grant allocation of €7.7 billion and the country’s REPowerEU grant allocation of €2.6 billion. In addition, Spain has requested a transfer of its share from the Brexit Adjustment Reserve of €58 million to its NRRP. So far, €48.3 billion of RRF resources (29.6 % of the amended NRRP) have been received. These have been disbursed by the Commission in form of pre-financing and four grant instalments. he amended plan focuses on the green transition, devoting almost 40 % of the resources to it, and fosters the digital transformation by committing 25.9 % of the funds (excluding REPowerEU) to digital projects. In the context of the European Semester, the Commission assessed the plan’s implementation as ‘under way’, yet warned about emerging delays hindering effective and swift implementation. The European Parliament participates in interinstitutional forums for cooperation and discussion on its implementation and scrutinises the European Commission’s work. This briefing is one in a series covering all EU Member States. Fifth edition. The first edition was written by Miroslava Kostova Karaboytcheva. The ‘NGEU delivery’ briefings are updated at key stages throughout the lifecycle of the plans.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Recovery of funds granted to the association Yavuz Sultan Selim – E-002120/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    16.10.2024

    Question for written answer  E-002120/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Jean-Paul Garraud (PfE)

    On 24 November 2023, Commissioner Iliana Ivanova replied to a written question I tabled about a Turkish Islamist association, Yavuz Sultan Selim, which had received EU funding[1].

    In the light of our revelations, the Commission said that it had asked the association to terminate the agreement with it and to pay back the funds that had already been disbursed. The Commission also informed the beneficiary of its intention to have it placed under an early detection procedure, a rapid exclusion system intended to sanction EU grant beneficiaries that pose a risk to the EU’s financial interests.

    • 1.Has the Commission recovered the funds paid to the association?
    • 2.Has the Commission placed the association under an early detection procedure?
    • 3.Does the Commission recognise the role we have played in detecting this association?

    Submitted: 16.10.2024

    • [1] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/P-9-2023-002384-ASW_EN.html
    Last updated: 28 October 2024

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Protecting consumers from imports of illegal and dangerous toys into the European market – E-002108/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    16.10.2024

    Question for written answer  E-002108/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Dimitris Tsiodras (PPE)

    Many illegal toys are imported into the European market through online platforms from companies established in third countries, without complying with EU toy safety rules and without duties being paid[1].

    This not only puts children’s health at risk, it also creates conditions of unfair competition because the companies in question do not conform to the legislative framework in place.

    In view of this:

    • 1.How does the Commission plan to deal with these imports, ensuring that these companies comply with the rules, just like their European counterparts do, by effectively implementing the traceability provision[2], in particular as regards online platforms and traders established in third countries?
    • 2.What steps will it take to ensure better handling of the large volume of imports which the relevant authorities have to deal with?

    Submitted: 16.10.2024

    • [1] The toys are imported in small parcels worth under EUR 150 to avoid customs duties.
    • [2] Traceability of traders, Article 30 of Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 October 2022 on a Single Market for Digital Services and amending Directive 2000/31/EC (Digital Services Act).
    Last updated: 28 October 2024

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Greece finds itself bottom of the pile in the EU in terms of purchasing power – E-001910/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001910/2024/rev.1
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Afroditi Latinopoulou (PfE)

    According to recent statistics published by the European statistical office (Eurostat), Greece’s gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, measured in purchasing power standards (PPS), stood at 67 % of the EU average in 2023. This means that, of the 27 Member States, Greece ranked 26th in terms of GDP per capita expressed in PPS in 2023. These unnerving figures illustrate the extent of the economic disadvantage experienced by Greek citizens compared to other Europeans and highlight the urgent need for substantial reforms and targeted policies to strengthen the Greek economy.

    In view of this:

    • 1.What specific measures could it take to help bridge the substantial gap between Greece and wealthier Member States?
    • 2.Does it ensure that the money provided from the Recovery and Resilience Fund to support investment in sectors that can boost the economy and create jobs has the desired impact? If so, how?

    Submitted: 1.10.2024

    Last updated: 28 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – EU points-based driving licence system – E-002182/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    19.10.2024

    Question for written answer  E-002182/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Thomas Bajada (S&D)

    Several Member States have created points-based driving licence systems to enhance road safety and driving standards. Yet, at EU level, the system remains fractured and heterogeneous, whereby points lost in one Member State would not be reflected in another Member State. Most of the recent Commission proposals on driving permits in the EU have missed the opportunity to tackle this issue.

    In this regard:

    • 1.Is the Commission planning to propose an EU points-based driving licence system?
    • 2.On which considerations, political and otherwise, will it base its decision?
    • 3.In the absence of such a system, are there plans to enhance cooperation between Member States on this matter, and if so, how?

    Submitted: 19.10.2024

    Last updated: 28 October 2024

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Pro-Hamas NGO funded by the EU – P-001656/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    In June 2024, the European Council reiterated its strongest condemnation of the brutal terrorist attacks conducted by Hamas and other terrorist groups on 7 October 2023[1].

    Hamas is listed under the EU terrorist list[2]. The EU established restrictive measures against those who support, facilitate or enable violent actions by Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in January 2024[3].

    The organisation ‘Şark Forum Derneği[4]’ is currently not receiving any funding. In the past, it received funding (to be shared with partners) as coordinator of four projects from Erasmus+ programme for already finalised projects: EUR 85 173 in 2021 and EUR 18 755 in 2020[5].

    The Commission is politically committed and legally bound to ensure that organisations and projects involved in criminal, unethical practices or those incompatible with EU values do not receive EU financial support.

    The Commission will immediately take action should it become aware of any proven evidence in this respect by excluding from EU funding entities guilty of terrorism financing or terrorism offences under the Early Detection and Exclusion System[6].

    The safeguarding of the proper use of EU funds is further ensured by various mechanisms (e.g. suspension of contract or payments and contract termination) framed by the Financial Regulation[7] and relevant agreements concluded with recipients of EU funds. Entities implementing EU funds are also subject to EU restrictive measures[8].

    Furthermore, t he recently adopted Financial Regulation (recast) introduced specific provisions reinforcing the protection of EU values including a specific exclusion ground under the Early Detection and Exclusion System for entities that engage in activities that are contrary to the EU values.

    • [1] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/qa3lblga/euco-conclusions-27062024-en.pdf
    • [2] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02001E0931-20240221
    • [3] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02024D0385-20240119
    • [4] https://www.sharqforum.org/
    • [5] These figures are those granted by the national agency to the entire consortium managing each project after finalisation.
    • [6] https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/eu-budget/how-it-works/annual-lifecycle/implementation/anti-fraud-measures/edes_en
    • [7] Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 September 2024 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union (recast).
    • [8] Article 215 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
    Last updated: 28 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Ensuring reliable and fast connections in rural areas and regions bordering Russia – E-001723/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Commission is committed to ensuring that everyone, everywhere in the EU has access to high-speed connectivity. The targets set in the Digital Decade Policy Programme to connect all EU households to gigabit networks and ensure 5G coverage across all populated areas by 2030[1] apply also to the rural areas.

    According to the second annual report on the State of the Digital Decade[2], at the end of 2023 very high-capacity networks coverage in the EU’s rural areas reached 56% of households, while 5G coverage amounted to 74%. Reaching the targets may require at least a total investment of EUR 200 billion[3], including both private and public funding.

    The Commission supports the deployment of digital infrastructures through numerous funds. The Connecting Europe Facility Digital[4] with a budget of EUR 2 billion supports, inter alia, the deployment of standalone 5G infrastructures for rural communities in sectors like smart farming and border control.

    This is in particular important in regions bordering Russia in the specific context of its full-scale invasion on Ukraine. The budget allocated to connectivity under the recovery and resilience facility reaches almost EUR 14 billion[5].

    With a budget of EUR 2.4 billion the Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite programme[6] will also contribute to the coverage of rural areas.

    Connectivity is also supported under the cohesion funds, e.g. by the European Regional Development Fund (about EUR 2.3 billion[7]) and through InvestEU[8].

    Finally, the White Paper[9] adopted in February 2024 presents the challenges and opportunities Europe faces in the rollout of future secure and resilient connectivity networks and proposes several scenarios to improve the EU regulatory and investment frameworks to facilitate the achievement of EU digital objectives.

    • [1] The Digital Decade Decision (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=LEGISSUM:4646000) sets out digital targets grouped into four cardinal points, which were first identified in the Digital Compass Communication as key areas for the digital transformation of the EU: digital skills, digital infrastructures, the digitalisation of businesses and the digitalisation of public services, COM(2021) 118 final, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/en/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52021DC0118
    • [2] https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/second-report-state-digital-decade-calls-strengthened-collective-action-propel-eus-digital
    • [3] https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/investment-and-funding-needs-digital-decade-connectivity-targets
    • [4] https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/activities/cef-digital
    • [5] https://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/recovery-and-resilience-scoreboard/assets/thematic_analysis/scoreboard_thematic_analysis_connectivity.pdf
    • [6] https://defence-industry-space.ec.europa.eu/eu-space/iris2-secure-connectivity_en
    • [7] https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/funding/available-budget_en
    • [8] https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/broadband-public-and-private-funds-financing-broadband-deployments
    • [9] https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/white-paper-how-master-europes-digital-infrastructure-needs
    Last updated: 28 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Port Arthur felon sentenced to federal prison for gun and drug violations

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

    BEAUMONT, Texas – A Port Arthur convicted felon has been sentenced to federal prison for firearms and drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.

    Jacob Jermaine Alpough, 42, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Michael Truncale on October 28, 2024.

    According to information presented in court, on October 10, 202, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Alpough’s residence located on West 5th Street in Port Arthur.  At the time of the search, Alpough was the only individual at the residence. During the search, officers found two tightly wrapped packages containing approximately one kilogram of cocaine under the dining room table.  They also located a food storage container in the kitchen with approximately one kilogram of cocaine.  Additionally, there was a semi-automatic pistol laying on the floor of the living room in plain view near where Alpough had been sleeping.  The firearm had an extended magazine with 17 rounds of ammunition in it.  Alpough is a convicted felon, having three prior felony convictions in Jefferson County for possession of a controlled substance and another conviction for intoxicated assault. As a convicted felon, Alpough is prohibited by federal law from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition.

    This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

    This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Port Arthur Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Quinn.

    ###

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Italy: ACEA: €500 million from EIB and CDP covered by SACE guarantee for electricity distribution network investments

    Source: European Investment Bank

    • The agreement aims to strengthen Areti’s electricity infrastructure and supports REPowerEU objectives.
    • The first tranche of €320 million was signed today, with a second tranche of €180 million to be signed in 2025.

    The modernisation, upgrade and expansion of Areti’s electricity infrastructure – a company fully owned by ACEA Grup and responsible for the mains network in Rome and Formello – aims to provide increasingly efficient services to citizens.

    This is the main objective of the €500 million financing granted directly to ACEA by the European Investment Bank (EIB), covered by SACE’s Archimede guarantee, and by Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) with funding made available by the EIB.

    Today in Rome, agreements were signed for the first tranche of financing, totalling €320 million, of which €200 million provided directly by the EIB, with 70% covered by SACE’s Archimede guarantee, and €120 million from CDP using EIB funding. The second tranche of €180 million is scheduled to be signed in 2025.

    Through this transaction, the EIB, CDP and SACE are co-financing Areti’s investment plan in line with the objectives of REPowerEU, the European Union’s plan to reduce dependence on fossil-fuel and accelerating the transition to green energy. The resources available will serve to implement an intervention plan for digitalisation of the infrastructure. More specifically, the interventions will be focused on the following areas:

    • Upgrading Rome’s low and medium voltage network to increase resilience and capacity, including the installation of new lines;
    • Modernising the medium and low voltage network to enhance safety through advanced diagnostics, remote control, and automation;
    • Expanding and upgrading primary stations;
    • Enhancing grid intelligence to enable dynamic management, control of PODs via 2G smart meters and large-scale demand response through artificial intelligence and IoT platforms.

    This transaction reaffirms the EIB and CDP as primary institutional funders of ACEA’s investment plan, and SACE as a strategic financial insurance partner also for the Group’s future operations. SACE’s Archimede guarantee provides coverage of financing and bonds at market conditions for a maximum term of 25 years as leverage for country system competitiveness.

    Fabrizio Palermo, ACEA’s Chief Executive Officer, commented: “The agreements signed today with EIB, CDP and SACE represent for ACEA a system operation of particular strategic importance and certify the value and quality of the investments that the Group has planned for the coming years in the electricity distribution networks. The investments will contribute to the achievement of increasing infrastructure resilience and flexibility thanks to the use of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence.”

    EIB Vice President Gelsomina Vigliotti stated: “This financing reaffirms the EIB’s commitment to supporting the energy transition and achieving the REPowerEU objectives, which we are backing by making available €45 billion of additional financing by 2027. Modernising electricity infrastructure is essential, not only to make the grid more efficient and resilient, but also to enable greater integration of renewable energy into the system.”

    “Thanks to the synergy effectively promoted in recent years with the European institutions” – Dario Scannapieco, Chief Executive Officer of Cassa Depositi e Prestiti commented – “CDP is today in a position to back high impact financial operations of value for the territory. From this perspective, the financing in favour of ACEA further confirms CDP’s commitment to supporting the development and modernisation of Italian infrastructure. The consolidated partnership with the EIB, on many occasions also accompanied by SACE’s contribution, over the years has allowed us to support investments totalling around €13 billion destined for the economic growth of the territories”.

    Alessandra Ricci, Chief Executive Officer of SACE, stated: “We confirm our commitment to supporting investments for competitiveness in Italy through the Archimede Guarantee, such as the upgrading of ACEA’s electrical infrastructure. This new operation reinforces the strong synergy with institutional investors EIB and CDP in projects capable of generating a tangible impact on Italy’s economic fabric”.

    Background information

    The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the European Union’s long-term lending institution and its shareholders are member states. It finances sound investments capable of contributing to strategic EU objectives. The EIB’s projects enhance competitiveness, foster innovation, promote sustainable development and improve social and territorial cohesion while supporting a fair and rapid transition towards climate neutrality. In the past five years, the EIB Group has provided more than €58 billion in financing for projects in Italy.

    ACEA is one of the most important Italian industrial groups, listed on the Stock Exchange since 1999. The company is concerned with integrated water service management, electricity distribution, public and artistic lighting, the sale of electricity and gas, power generation mainly from renewable sources and waste treatment and valorisation. It is the leading national water sector operator, with around 10 million residents served, one of the most important Italian players in energy distribution and among the top operators in the environment sector in Italy, managing approximately 1.8 million tons of waste annually.

    Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP), the National Promotional Institution, has been supporting the Italian economy since 1850. Through its operations, it is committed to accelerating the country’s industrial and infrastructure development, with the aim of contributing towards its economic and social growth. CDP centres its operations around the territories’ sustainable development, alongside the growth and innovation of Italian companies, also at international level. It partners the Local Authorities, by way of financing and advisory activities for the implementation of infrastructure and the improvement of public utility services. Moreover, it is actively involved in International Cooperation for the realisation of projects in developing countries and emerging economies. Cassa Depositi e Prestiti’s funding comes entirely from private sources, through postal savings bonds and books and issues on the domestic and international financial markets.

    SACE is the Italian insurance and finance group, directly controlled by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, specialised in supporting businesses and the national economic system through a wide range of tools and solutions to support competitiveness in Italy and worldwide. For over forty-five years, the SACE Group has been the reference partner for Italian companies that export and grow on overseas markets. It also supports the banking system, through its financial guarantees, to facilitate companies’ access to credit, with a view to supporting their liquidity and investments for competitiveness and sustainability as part of the Italian Green New Deal, starting from the domestic market. SACE is present all over the world with 14 offices in target countries for Made in Italy, which have the role of building relationships with primary local counterparts and, through dedicated financial instruments, facilitating business with Italian companies. With a portfolio of insured operations and guaranteed investments of €260 billion, the group serves approximately 50 thousand companies, especially SMEs, supporting their growth in Italy and in about 200 countries around the world.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Newsletters – LIBE Newsletter – October 2024 – Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

    Source: European Parliament

    October 2024 | Newsletters | Home | LIBE | Committees | European Parliament

    Among the topics of this edition:

    • EU Commissioners-designate confirmation hearings in LIBE
    • The Rise of Anti-Semitism – exchange of views with FRA Director and EU Coordinator
    • The European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL) in LIBE

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Jackson Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of a Machinegun after High Speed Chase and Collision with a Train Car

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

    Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man pled guilty to illegal possession of a machinegun.

    Johnny Ragsdale, 20, pled guilty on October 24, 2024 in U.S. District Court in Jackson.

    According to court documents, Ragsdale was found in possession of an illegal machinegun after an attempted traffic stop on a vehicle in Jackson. Ragsdale, the driver, failed to yield to law enforcement and led Capitol Police on a high-speed chase. The chase ended after Ragsdale collided with a train car on Mill Street. A Glock pistol was recovered from the vehicle, and a machinegun conversion device, also known as a switch, was attached to the pistol.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office has seen an increase in cases involving illegal firearm conversion devices, commonly known as “switches” or “auto sears,” which convert semi-automatic handguns into fully automatic weapons (i.e., machineguns) in a matter of seconds. The rapid fire of firearms converted to machineguns presents a significant danger in our community to both the public and law enforcement.  According to a 2023 report by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), there was a 570% increase in the number of machinegun conversion devices taken into ATF custody between 2017 and 2021.

    Ragsdale is scheduled to be sentenced on February 25, 2025, and a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement.

    The ATF and the Capitol Police Department are investigating the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Amber S. Jones is prosecuting the case.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Looking back at 10 years of parliamentary scrutiny in the Banking Union – 28-10-2024

    Source: European Parliament

    This briefing presents a summary of 3 studies prepared by academic expert panel for the Banking Union on the occasion of 10 years of parliamentary scrutiny over key authorities within the Banking Union, the Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM) and the Single Resolution Board (SRB). It also presents proposals for enhancing the accountability framework governing these authorities. These studies were requested by the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) of the European Parliament.

    MIL OSI Europe News –