NewzIntel.com

Category: AM-NC

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wexton Announces $40 Million in Federal Infrastructure Law Funding for New Dulles Airport Terminal Project

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA)

    Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) announced a new $40 million grant from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Airport Terminals Program (ATP) to aid in the construction of Washington Dulles International Airport’s new 14-gate regional and commuter terminal. This is the fourth consecutive fiscal year that the new terminal project has received funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, after receiving $49.6 million in 2022, $20 million in 2023, and $35 million in 2024.

    “I’m proud that our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is once again delivering critical funding that will help grow and enhance travel and economic activity here in Virginia’s 10th District at Dulles Airport,” said Congresswoman Wexton. “Today’s announcement brings the total to more than $144 million in federal funds to make this new terminal project a reality. A top priority for the airport, it will save passengers’ time, reduce crowding, and make the passenger experience smoother and more convenient. The investments we’ve made through this historic infrastructure law continue to have an impact in our community and local economy that will have benefits for generations to come.”

    The new terminal will be conveniently located atop the underground Concourse C/D Aerotrain station, providing quick and easy access to passengers and reducing transit times for passengers with connections at Dulles who must currently use shuttle buses or long walkways. The new terminal will allow for jet bridge boarding that reduces boarding times and is more accessible for passengers with disabilities, rather than forcing passengers to board using outdoor covered walkways and aircraft stairs. It will be nearly four times larger than the current facility, which will reduce crowding, allow for expanded concessions and passenger amenities, and create additional space for operational areas, offices, aircraft servicing, and baggage handling.

    The new regional and commuter terminal project will also improve Dulles’s environmental footprint, as the proposed new facility will be built to LEED Silver Certifiable standards. Environmental improvements include support for electric aircraft servicing vehicles and the use of modern energy efficient construction methods and materials.

    The Airport Terminals Program, established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law which Wexton voted to pass in 2021, provides $1 billion in grants annually for five years to address aging infrastructure at our nation’s airports.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Sewell Announces $43.7 Million for Water Infrastructure in Alabama

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Terri Sewell (AL-07)

    Birmingham, AL – Today, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is investing $3.6 billion in new funding under the Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to upgrade our nation’s water infrastructure, including $43.7 million for the State of Alabama. This funding will help communities across Alabama upgrade water infrastructure that is essential to safely managing wastewater and drinking water in our homes, schools, and businesses.

    “I voted for the Biden-Harris Infrastructure Law because it promised to make the largest investment in wastewater and drinking water infrastructure in our nation’s history,” said Rep. Sewell. “Thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration, we are delivering on that promise. I am thrilled to announce that Alabama will receive over $43.7 million to help communities upgrade wastewater and drinking water infrastructure. Access to clean water is a basic human right, and this investment represents critical progress in our continued fight for equitable and safe wastewater systems. I thank President Biden and Vice President Harris for this historic investment, and I look forward to working with the State of Alabama to ensure these new resources reach the communities that need them most.” 

    “Water keeps us healthy, sustains vibrant communities and dynamic ecosystems, and supports economic opportunity. When our water infrastructure fails, it threatens people’s health, peace of mind, and the environment,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “With the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s historic investment in water, EPA is working with states and local partners to upgrade infrastructure and address local challenges—from lead in drinking water, to PFAS, to water main breaks, to sewer overflows and climate resilience. Together, we are creating good-paying jobs while ensuring that all people can rely on clean and safe water.”

    The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds will flow through the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (CWSRF and DWSRF), a long-standing federal-state water investment partnership. This multibillion-dollar investment will fund state-run, low-interest loan programs that address key challenges in financing water infrastructure. Today’s announcement includes allotments for Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Clean Water General Supplemental funds for Alabama ($27,824,000), Emerging Contaminant funds ($2,402,000), and ($13,490,000) under the Drinking Water Emerging Contaminant Fund.

    This funding is part of a five-year, $50 billion investment in water infrastructure through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – the largest investment in water infrastructure in American history. To ensure investments reach communities that need them the most, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law mandates that most of the funding announced today must be provided to disadvantaged communities in the form of grants or loans that do not have to be repaid. 

    To read stories about how unprecedented investments in water from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are transforming communities across the country, visit EPA’s Investing in America’s Water Infrastructure Storymap. To read more about additional projects, see EPA’s recently released Quarterly Report on Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funded Clean Water and Drinking Water SRF projects.

    For more information, including the state-by-state allocation of 2025 funding and a breakdown of EPA SRF funding available under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, please visit the Clean Water State Revolving Fund website and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund website. Additionally, the SRF Public Portal allows users to access data from both the Drinking Water and Clean Water SRF programs through interactive reports, dashboards, and maps.

    The State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs have been the foundation of water infrastructure investments for more than 30 years, providing low-cost financing for local projects across America. SRF programs are critically important programs for investing in the nation’s water infrastructure. They are designed to generate significant and sustainable water quality and public health benefits across the country. Their impact is amplified by the growth inherent in a revolving loan structure, in which payments of principal and interest on loans become available to address future needs.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Former Georgia Deputies Plead Guilty to Violating Civil Rights of Jail Detainee

    Source: United States Attorneys General 11

    Two former Richmond County, Georgia, Sheriff’s Office deputies pleaded guilty yesterday to federal civil rights charges involving an assault on a jail detainee.

    Daniel D’Aversa, 52, and Melissa Morello, 28, pleaded guilty to an information charging both officers with one felony count of deprivation of civil rights under color of law.

    According to court documents, Morello was assigned as a jailer at Richmond County’s Charles D. Webster Detention Center, and D’Aversa was a corporal with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office. On May 7, 2022, Morello and D’Aversa were working with other Richmond County Sheriff’s Office deputies to secure inmates who had caused flooding in a section of the jail. Fellow deputies deliberately removed the handcuffs of a compliant inmate and then proceeded to punch and kick him. Both Morello and D’Aversa pleaded guilty to failing to intervene or stop the assault on the inmate, who was not posing a threat to anyone at the time of the assault.

    U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall will schedule sentencing for D’Aversa and Morello upon completion of pre-sentence investigations by U.S. Probation Services.

    Sentencing hearings will be set at a later date. Both D’Aversa and Morello face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, along with substantial fines and restitution, followed by up to three years of supervised release upon completion of any prison term. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and any other statutory factors.

    Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Jill E. Steinberg for the Southern District of Georgia and Acting Special Agent in Charge Sean Burke of the FBI Atlanta Field Office made the announcement.

    The FBI Atlanta Field Office is investigating the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney George J.C. Jacobs III for the Southern District of Georgia and Trial Attorney Anita T. Channapati of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Addressing the Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

    Source: United States of America – Department of State (video statements)

    Today, we’re announcing an additional $135 million dollars in humanitarian assistance — water, sanitation, maternal health — for Palestinians in Gaza as well as in the region. – Secretary Blinken from Doha, Qatar on October 24, 2024.

    ———-
    Under the leadership of the President and Secretary of State, the U.S. Department of State leads America’s foreign policy through diplomacy, advocacy, and assistance by advancing the interests of the American people, their safety and economic prosperity. On behalf of the American people we promote and demonstrate democratic values and advance a free, peaceful, and prosperous world.

    The Secretary of State, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the President’s chief foreign affairs adviser. The Secretary carries out the President’s foreign policies through the State Department, which includes the Foreign Service, Civil Service and U.S. Agency for International Development.

    Get updates from the U.S. Department of State at www.state.gov and on social media!
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/statedept
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    Subscribe to the State Department Blog: https://www.state.gov/blogs
    Watch on-demand State Department videos: https://video.state.gov/
    Subscribe to The Week at State e-newsletter: http://ow.ly/diiN30ro7Cw

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    #StateDepartment #DepartmentofState #Diplomacy

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

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Address by President Viola Amherd at the open debate of the UN Security Council on women in peace processes

    Source: Switzerland – Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport

    Address by President Viola Amherd, head of the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS), at the open debate of the UN Security Council on women in peace processes (Women, Peace, Security), New York, Thursday, 24 October 2024.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The full and safe participation of women is crucial to successful peacebuilding efforts: UK statement at the UN Security Council

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Statement by Lord Richard Hermer, Attorney General for England and Wales and Advocate General for Northern Ireland, at the UN Security Council meeting on women building peace in a changing environment.

    Location:
    United Nations, New York
    Delivered on:
    (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

    On UN day, I want to start by recalling that last month my Prime Minister gave a clear recommitment to the United Nations, to the rule of law, and to the need to work together for peace, progress and equality. 

    And empowering women and girls is a vital part of this. Addressing structural gender inequality is a vital part of this, tackling misogyny is a vital part of this, and ending impunity for conflict related sexual violence is a vital part of this.

    We are approaching the 25-year anniversary of the Women, Peace and Security agenda and I’m proud of the role the UK has played.

    There is much to celebrate. Yet the overall implementation is lagging. Not one of the peace agreements reached in 2023 included a women’s representative or women’s representative group as signatory. The proportion of women killed in conflict has doubled compared to 2022.

    Building on her excellency Thomas-Greenfield’s essential three I’s. May I propose three areas for our collective action?

    First, conflict prevention.

    Conflict is at a post-WWII high. Women and children are disproportionately impacted. And we need to reinvigorate conflict prevention efforts, taking a gender-responsive approach.

    Through our ‘Resourcing Change’ project, the UK is supporting women’s participation in formal and informal mechanisms for the prevention and resolution of conflict, including in Nigeria and in South Sudan. 

    Second, we must stand together to prevent conflict-related sexual violence and end impunity.

    The UK remains committed to the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative and our work with the International Alliance to build a stronger international response. PSVI programmes have contributed to vital legislative changes around the world.

    We have sanctioned perpetrators for CRSV crimes in seven countries. And I call upon all states to redouble efforts to seek justice and accountability and support the survivors.

    Third, I call upon member states to support women’s right’s organisations as the driving force behind the WPS agenda.

    I am proud of the UK’s £33 million partnership with the Equality Fund who have supported over 1000 women’s right’s organisations, including in conflict settings, since 2019.

    In Sudan, the UK has supported the establishment of the anti-war, pro-democracy coalition, working with 200 women. 

    In Myanmar, the UK is contributing over $1.3 million over three years in long-term support to grassroots women and LGBTQ+ led organisations to build capacity and support inclusive and strategic cooperation amongst local-level women leaders and community representatives.  

    Women’s full, equal, meaningful and safe participation is crucial to achieving lasting peace, and we condemn the shocking levels of reprisals against women peacebuilders.

    But we must also recognise this, that the long-term solution to gender based violence in conflicts requires all societies to address its root causes. It requires addressing gender inequality systemically, not just in criminal courts or in peace negotiations halls, but in how girls and boys, men and women relate to each other in classrooms, in playgrounds, workplaces, public life and online.

    The link between gender inequality and gender-based violence in conflict must be systematically addressed.

    So as we approach the 25th anniversary, we must celebrate women’s rights organisations and peacebuilders who have championed this agenda. We welcome the Secretary General’s Common Pledge to prioritise women’s participation in peace processes to address this gap.

    But we must go further and faster to build a more inclusive, sustainable, and peaceful future for all.

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Local Government Association Conference

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    A speech from the Deputy Prime Minister

    Location:
    Harrogate
    Delivered on:
    (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

    Firstly, I want to say a massive thank you to you, some of our most dedicated, brilliant public servants in this room. 

    For everything that you do, every day, to keep our country going. 

    You’ve shown remarkable resilience through some tough – and very tough – years. 

    During the pandemic, you kept vital services running in our communities. 

    Through this period of economic instability, you’ve made tough choices to protect the most vulnerable. 

    And following a summer of violent far-right disorder, you stood up for the values of decency and community that define our country. 

    And time and again, you step forward to support your local communities. 

    Now, I understand that this conference was originally planned for just before the General Election. 

    I have to admit that I’m much happier to be stood here as your Deputy Prime Minister! 

    Last year in Bournemouth, I said that if we were elected, we would deliver a plan for change. 

    A new way of governing. A government of public service.  

    And just over 100 days into government and we are getting on with the job. 

    We’re fixing the foundations to build a country that works for working people. 

    And local government is at the heart of this vision.  

    Because as you all know, I am a creature of local government. 

    I loved my job as a home help for Stockport council.  

    And I learned the importance of a good local service, and what it meant to really know and trust your community.  

    Back then, local government wasn’t on its knees.  

    Don’t get me wrong, things weren’t easy. 

    But we had the time and resource to provide a good service.  

    I know that good, functioning local government looks like great working with a good central government working in genuine partnership to deliver better outcomes. 

    So I know we can’t deliver true change for Britain without the support of every one of you in this room.  

    We can’t deliver for our missions without you. 

    Take our plans to deliver 1.5 million homes, including a new generation of secure, social and affordable homes.  

    The delivery of safer streets, an NHS and social care system that’s back on its feet. 

    The sustained economic growth we need to raise living standards.  

    And the strong communities on which good lives are built. 

    That’s why, in my very first week in the job – as Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government – I put local government back where it belongs. 

    At the heart of my department’s name and mission.  

    And I’m lucky I have Jim by my side, the Minister of State for Local Government – who has run a council and knows local government from the inside out – and he’s here with me today and as part of the team.  

    Louise, your new Chair, also represents the best of local government – a fierce commitment to public service and leadership steeped in years of experience – not too many years, but a few. 

    And the fact that her predecessor, Shaun, has now joined us in the House of Commons just goes to show we are a government that believes in the power of local government.  

    We know what’s possible when you give people with skin in the game the power to change lives.  

    And, after an incredibly difficult few years, it’s time to unleash that power.  

    Which means resetting our relationship with local government and rebuilding its foundations.  

    It means ditching the slogans and gimmicks and going back to basics: delivering services that people can rely on. 

    You don’t need me to tell you how much harder that job has been after fourteen years of neglect.  

    [Redacted political content] 

    Councils stuck in a doom loop with money pouring out of a system with too many cracks. 

    And it isn’t just the scandal of wasted money. It’s the heartache of the wasted lives and potential.  

    [Redacted political content] 

    For all the promises about localism and levelling up, there was an assumption that if something needed doing, it should be done from Whitehall.  

    With central government hoarding power, micromanaging you, intervening in an uncoordinated and unhelpful way.  

    A begging-bowl system of wasteful competitive pots that led to councils bidding to pay for chess tables in public parks.  

    No more.  

    We’re going to turn the page on this failed approach – bringing local government into the heart of government.  

    As part of a partnership based on honesty and respect.  

    And it’s in that spirit that we need to face up to the financial crisis facing local government.  

    We all know that there’s no quick fix.  

    The dire public finances – the £22 billion black hole – we’ve inherited mean that it’s going to take hard graft on all sides to get us back on the road to recovery.  

    We knew things were bad, but on entering office, we uncovered a shocking crisis in local government which was far beyond what we had anticipated.  

    Councils of all political stripes have been left shelling out millions to plaster over the government’s mismanagement.  

    [Redacted political content] 

    To make matters worse, we discovered that over the last decade, the last [Redacted political content] government ripped away any financial oversight of council spending, scrapping the Audit Commission and pushing councils to borrow more and more.  

    This reckless approach has left the government with no transparent system in place to warn the public when a council is struggling. 

    And more and more authorities are struggling to stay afloat with communities in the most deprived parts of our country disproportionately affected, through cuts to services that they desperately depend on, as people’s [inaudible] go up. 

    And get it.  

    And I know we need change urgently. 

    You’ve all heard me say it – I’m going provide multi-year funding settlements, that will give you the stability and certainty to plan and invest for the long-term. 

    And that we will end the Dragon’s Den-style bidding wars between councils for competitive funding pots.  

    Instead, we’ll show you some respect with long-term funding, giving you flexibility to spend it where it is needed.  

    And through the next Local Government Finance Settlement and beyond, we will provide more detail on how this is going to work.  

    Let me be clear that we can’t fix the system overnight.  

    [Redacted political content] 

    And I have to say, looking at the numbers we inherited, I am shocked by the scale of neglect. 

    It is going to be a long, hard slog to get local government back on its feet.  

    And in the short term, we’re doing all that we can to protect severely struggling councils, which is why I can announce that we are scrapping the punitive ‘pay day loan’ premium on borrowing for councils in need of Exceptional Financial Support.  

    This government will take a collaborative and a constructive approach to councils in financial difficulty. 

    You know I can’t go into detail about the Spending Review. 

    So let me talk to you today about things that I can tell you. 

    Fundamentally, I want to work together, across central and local government to reform high-cost public services and focus on preventing people from needing them in the first place. 

    Tackling profiteering in broken markets serving vulnerable groups, like we’ve seen in some of the private children’s homes. 

    When it comes to prevention, there can be few bigger priorities for us than preventing homelessness – one of the biggest pressures that you face. 

    By getting Britain building again. Speeding up the planning system and reintroducing mandatory housing targets. 

    I know that this will mean asking more from local councils.  

    Which is why we’re boosting the number of planners. 

    As part of our plans, to strengthen local planning departments and reinforce planning obligations to deliver more affordable homes on new developments – we will support you to hold developers to account. 

    And it’s why we’re also reviewing Right to Buy, to stem the loss of precious council homes.  

    But we’ll also tackle homelessness directly, by learning lessons from the past and working with local leaders to take action on all forms of homelessness.  

    We will develop a cross-government strategy to get us back on track to end homelessness. 

    We will also reform the broken local audit system in England that we inherited. 

    This should be the bedrock of local accountability and transparency, of trust and confidence in local democracy.  

    Instead, last year, just one percent of local bodies were able to publish audited accounts by the deadline. 

    This cannot go on.  

    We have already taken decisive action to introduce backstop dates to clear the backlog in unaudited accounts.  

    Local audit will and must provide value for money for the taxpayers and be fit for the future.  

    And similarly, when the way councils are run has gone wrong, central government hasn’t always responded constructively. 

    Instead kicking councils when they’re down for political reasons.  

    This Labour government are going to do things differently. 

    We will work with every council that needs it to put in place clear, deliverable plans to address problems and protect local taxpayers, rather than treating them as political footballs.  

    That’s the approach we’re taking in Birmingham.  

    Significant challenges continue to face the city council, but we’re going to work with the councillors and the community to solve them in partnership. 

    Birmingham has huge potential – and we’re going to work closely with the partners across the West Midlands to unlock that potential, including with the Mayor Parker of the West Midlands Combined Authority. 

    And that’s the change that we represent.  

    Not punishment, but collaboration. 

    Getting places into a stable financial footing by, yes, making difficult decisions, but with the interests of residents at the heart. 

    Our aim is to support councils to perform at their very best.  

    Councillor conduct / standards framework 

    Standards in local government matter – both the delivery of services and personal conduct.  

    Every decision you make has an impact on the daily lives of those you serve. 

    And most councillors meet the highest standards of public office and I am so proud to be representing you in government.  

    But sadly we all know there are rare occasions where bad behaviour occurs.  

    I’ve been made aware of cases of persistent bullying and harassment by councillors, even, in some cases, leading to victims’ resignations. 

    We don’t have a system that protects victims or empowers councils to deal with unacceptable behaviour. 

    And this cannot go on and we will give councils the powers to address poor conduct.  

    We will consult on reforms to the local government standards framework, including a proposal to allow for the suspension of members who violate codes of conduct.  

    But we also recognise that too often, councillors become victims themselves. 

    Too often I speak to dedicated councillors who are facing death threats and intimidation.  

    And I take this very seriously and recognise the impact this has on the lives of dedicated public servants and their families. 

    That’s why we are taking decisive action to prevent councillors from being subjected to intimidation and harassment by removing the requirement for members’ home addresses to be published.   

    [And I want you to know] this is a government that respects and appreciates the huge contribution made by councillors who work tirelessly for residents – and we will always have your back.  

    We are also taking a more collaborative approach to pressing issues like the widespread workforce challenges you are experiencing.  

    Ninety-four per cent of councils say they’re having difficulties with recruitment and retention. 

    This isn’t just your problem – it’s all our problem because council staff are on the frontline serving local communities.  

    So, we’re ready to work hand in hand with you to find creative solutions to staffing issues.  

    We’ll launch a Workforce Development Group in partnership with the sector to gain a shared understanding of the most immediate priorities and focus our efforts on where we can add the most value to your work. 

    And when we say we’ll work in partnership with the sector, every step of the way, we mean it.  

    I have formally launched our new Leaders’ Council at this very conference – which will give local government a voice at the heart of government – this a mark of just how seriously we take this.  

    The Council will bring together local government leaders and ministers to tackle shared problems and deliver for the communities they all ultimately serve. 

    We will use it to learn from the exciting innovations that councils are pioneering.  

    And we hugely respect your knowledge and expertise. 

    But it’s more than that.  

    The Leaders’ Council will be critical for co-designing policy at the highest levels. 

    And I look forward to working closely with the Council over the coming years. 

    Gone are the day of diktats from above.  

    It is time for those with skin in the game to be put in the driving seat.  

    That is what our devolution agenda is all about.  

    We will make it easier for you to come together and form combined authorities and devolve more powers to existing ones – meaning access to new powers over skills, transport and employment support.  

    Our landmark English Devolution Bill will deliver our manifesto commitment to transfer power out of Whitehall, making devolution the default setting.  

    And look, I know the coming years won’t always be easy, but I’m confident that, working in partnership, we can fix the basics so that you can focus on the things that really matter to our and your communities. 

    My starting point is that we should be clear about what we ask of you and then give you the autonomy and the support you need to deliver.   

    So, where we don’t need to get involved, we won’t.  

    It’s not our place, for example, to decide whether councillors should attend your meetings remotely or use proxy votes when they need to.  

    So, I can announce today that we’re putting forward proposals to let councils make the decision for themselves.  

    Which means making it possible for people from all walks of life to have a stake in local democracy, whether they have caring responsibilities or aren’t able to make it to the town hall in person because of illness or disability. 

    It’s right that we make it easier for more people to get involved in making their community a great place to live.  

    It’s also right that we expect the highest standards of local government – with central government playing its part as a responsible steward.  

    And for me this is personal.  

    I’m passionate about backing you with the long-term funding and certainty that you need. 

    The powers you need. 

    And the new relationship that we all need. 

    So local government can once again be a strong, functioning arm of the state, providing public services that people can rely on.  

    And I want to thank you, once again, for everything that you do for our communities.  

    This is a government of service that is on your side. 

    And the road ahead won’t always be a smooth path, but we will walk it together and build a better Britain.  

    Thank you.

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Extensive support on claiming Pension Credit rolled out as city council ramps up help on ‘Cost of Living’ crisis

    Source: City of Stoke-on-Trent

    Stoke-on-Trent City Council is committing further help to support people through the ‘Cost of Living Crisis’ this winter.

    As the clocks go back later this week, the city council is renewing its pledge to help residents across Stoke-on-Trent meet their fuel and food bills.

    The measures include ensuring everyone who is entitled to Pension Credit is supported to claim it and providing six-figure funding to Citizens Advice, through the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund, to offer financial MOTs to residents.

    At today’s city council meeting (October 24), Council Leader, Councillor Jane Ashworth, outlined the proactive approach the authority is taking to help eligible residents claim for Pension Credit.

    Among the measures are a letter which has been sent to all residents who the council has identified as potentially being eligible for Pension Credit, to encourage them to claim for the support.

    Pension Credit take-up has also been encouraged and promoted through social media and other council media channels and newsletters. Meanwhile, city council housing and revenue, benefits and financial assessment officers are helping to signpost people they come into contact with towards support, where appropriate.

    Flyers are also being printed to be distributed around the city in a targeted approach.

    In addition, The Department of Work and Pensions is undertaking its own advertising campaigns by joining forces with charities, broadcasters and a range of partners to encourage people to claim.

    Official statistics from February 2024 show that 6,233 people are claiming Pension Credit in the city, and a total of 42,661 residents are in receipt of state pension.

    According to the latest figures from the National Audit Office, it is estimated that three quarters of those eligible for Pension Credit are claiming it. This means that an estimated 2,000 people need to be identified in Stoke-on-Trent who are eligible but have not claimed.

    Cllr. Ashworth said: “We have sent letters to all residents who are potentially eligible for Pension Credit, based on the current council tax support and housing benefit data we hold, and we will continue to work with internal and external agencies to ensure all our residents are receiving the support they are entitled to.

    “Our officers are also regularly signposting households to support services, where appropriate.

    “Additionally, through our Help is at Hand campaign, which was launched to help support families through the ‘Cost of Living Crisis’, we have supported over 5,500 households in the city with advice and assistance to help alleviate fuel poverty, this includes referrals for grant support, fuel vouchers, debt advice and water tariff assistance.

    “This is all part of our commitment to make Stoke-on-Trent a healthier, wealthier and safer place to live.”

    The council is also providing funding to Citizens Advice, through the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund, so they can offer financial MOTs to residents. The funding for 2024/25 is £105,000 and that is on top of £70,000 provided in 2023/24.

    The measures come on the back of a whole raft of support the council has introduced over the last few months to help people through the ‘Cost of Living’ crisis.

    This includes:

    The Household Support Fund  – a £2.7 million fund received from Government, which the city council is using to help families with eligible children during the Christmas holidays along with support to residents with fuel costs and buying white goods, beds and hygiene supplies.

    The #Help Is at Hand campaign – launched to help support families through the ‘Cost of Living’ crisis. So far, more than 5,500 households in the city have been supported with advice and assistance to help alleviate fuel, food and financial poverty. This includes referrals for grant support, fuel vouchers, debt advice and water tariff assistance.

    A Benefits Calculator – which is available online (entitledto.co.uk). Residents can complete the form with their household details to discover if they would be entitled to any support.

    Regular Money Matters events –  Benefits Assessors have attended Money Matters events to enable residents to seek advice and support directly from a Benefits Officer.

    Community Lounges – The council has 18 community lounges. These offer welcoming spaces to connect with experts and receive helpful information and guidance on a wide range of topics, including financial stability, maximising benefits and overcoming fuel poverty.

    Council tax support and Council tax hardship relief fund –  set up to help residents pay their bill if they are unemployed on low income or in severe financial difficulties (subject to eligibility criteria). 

    Sustainable Food Network – a cross-sector partnership led by YMCA North Staffordshire and VAST which supports the health, wellbeing and prosperity of communities by prioritising food availability, food affordability and food sustainability.

    Councillor Sarah Jane Colclough, cabinet member for education and anti-poverty, said: “There is a vast amount of co-ordinated advice around the city, from budgeting and energy efficiency advice to food support and sustainable healthy eating.

    “I would encourage anyone who is experiencing concerns to reach out and access support as early as possible to prepare for any financial or other difficulties over the winter months”

    For more details, visit the dedicated Cost of Living section on Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s website – stoke.gov.uk/help is at hand

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Respect for international law has never been more important: UK Statement in the UN General Assembly

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    Statement by Lord Richard Simon Hermer, Attorney General for England and Wales and Advocate General for Northern Ireland, in the UN General Assembly Plenary Debate on the International Court of Justice.

    Location:
    United Nations, New York
    Delivered on:
    (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

    May I start by thanking President Salam for his leadership during what has been an exceptionally busy period for the Court. As today’s report highlights, the past year has seen a significant increase in the number of States involved in both contentious and advisory proceedings.  

    And I would like on behalf of the United Kingdom to express my gratitude to all Members of the Court and the Registry for their continued commitment to the sound administration of justice and the peaceful resolution of international disputes. Our thanks goes for their independence, for the quality of their judgement and for the central and vital role they play in our international rules-based order.

    The United Nations Charter has served as a font of inspiration for generations. Its clarion call on behalf of the peoples of the United Nations for a  determination that we should establish conditions under which respect for international law should be maintained has never been more important. And through Chapter XIV of the Charter we sought to give real and practical effect to the aspiration of the creation of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). 

    We came from a myriad of distinct legal cultures and traditions to recognise that the security and prosperity of us all can be met by the compliance with law and peaceful resolution of disputes through international judicial means.

    We recognized that the world for future generations will be better when we settle disputes in courtrooms not on battlefields. 

    And as the globe currently faces critical challenges, there has never been a more important moment for us all to reaffirm our commitment to that ideal, to the international rule of law and thus to the important world of the ICJ.   

    The United Kingdom has demonstrated its support for the Court in part by accepting compulsory jurisdiction. And I reiterate the call made by the General Assembly for States that have not yet done so to consider accepting the jurisdiction of the ICJ in accordance with its Statute. 

     And our commitment to the future of the Court and our commitment to the very highest standards in international law is such that I am delighted that the UK National Group has decided to nominate Professor Dapo Akande for election to the Court for the 2027-2036 term. 

    The United Kingdom would once again wish to thank the President of the Court for the report and at this critical moment to reaffirm our unwavering support for its vital work.

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kelly statement on Greenville School Board rejecting Title IX changes

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) issued this statement after the Greenville Area School Board unanimously voted down changes to Title IX, which would have expanded “the prohibition of discrimination to criteria to include pregnancy, sexual orientation and gender identity,” according to The (Greenville) Record-Argus.

    “Well done parents and fellow citizens of Greenville Area School District. The federal Department of Education has no right dictating to parents what is best for their kids. They certainly should not be engaging in culture wars in our schools,” Rep. Kelly said.

    Parents and community members raised concerns that changes to the district’s Title IX policy would risk student safety, particularly for female students; and, “they also worry it opens the door for biologically male students to compete in girls’ sports,” according to the Record-Argus. 

    The Sharon Herald reports Greenville Area School Board President Rick Rossi said, “I have been in education for more than 50 years and I have never seen a policy come out of the government as bad as this.”

    In April 2024, a mandate issued by Biden Administration expanded Title IX’s term “sex discrimination” to recognize sexual orientation and gender identity.

    Title IX, passed in 1972, is a federal law that protects the rights of women and girls to educational equality.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Buildings Department follows up on incident of broken glass cladding at external wall of Citywalk

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Upon notification by the Police at about 7.30pm last night (October 24) regarding the incident of broken glass cladding at the external wall of Citywalk, Tsuen Wan, staff of the Buildings Department (BD) was immediately deployed to carry out site inspection and found that a piece of glass cladding of about 3m by 2m at the external wall of the fifth floor of the building facing Wo Tik Street was broken. No obvious danger to the overall building structure was noted.

         As instructed by the staff of the BD, the property management company (PMC) of the building has arranged a contractor to remove the remaining loosen pieces of glass last night and would arrange inspection to the other glass cladding and carry out necessary repair as soon as possible to ensure public safety. The BD will issue an investigation order to require the owner to appoint an authorised person to conduct investigation and submit an investigation report together with a remedial proposal. The BD would maintain contact with the PMC to monitor the progress of the investigation and repair works.

         The affected pavement is temporarily fenced off. The BD will continue to follow up the matter to ensure public safety.

         The BD has specific requirements on the quality and construction of glass cladding. For example, the testing of materials and procedures before installation should comply with the relevant statutory requirements.  

         The BD emphasised that it is the responsibility of owners to ensure the safety of their buildings. Timely repair and maintenance of private buildings is the basic responsibility of owners. They may also be liable to criminal prosecution and civil proceedings if the building dilapidation causes damage to property or injury to persons.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Upper Sackville — RCMP traffic stop results in seizure of handgun and drugs

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    A traffic stop by the Nova Scotia RCMP’s Southeast Traffic Services (SETS) on Highway 101 has resulted in numerous charges and the seizure of a restricted firearm, drugs, illegal tobacco, and cash.

    On October 23 at approximately 1:55 p.m., an officer with SETS was conducting traffic enforcement on Highway 101 in Upper Sackville and queried the license plate of a passing Dodge Ram, showing it to be unregistered. A traffic stop was conducted and the driver was determined to have a revoked driver’s license.

    During the course of the Motor Vehicle Act investigation, the officer observed a quantity of unstamped tobacco cigarettes in the vehicle, and the driver was arrested under the Excise Act. The officer subsequently searched the vehicle and located more unstamped tobacco, bags of suspected methamphetamine pills, a significant quantity of cash, a 9mm handgun with the serial number removed, and two high capacity magazines.

    The driver, 37-year-old Jacob Netherton of Mount Uniacke, has been charged with numerous offences including, but not limited to:

    • Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking
    • Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm
    • Firearm Possession Contrary to Prohibition Order
    • Tampering with Firearm Serial Number
    • Possession of a Prohibited Device (over-capacity magazines)

    Netherton was held in-custody pending an initial court appearance on October 24, 2024 at Halifax Provincial Court.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: IAEA and Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation Strengthen Long-Term Partnership on Ocean Acidification

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

    Ocean acidification impacts marine life, particularly organisms with calcium-based shells or skeletons, such as corals and molluscs.  (Photo: The Ocean Agency/Ocean Image Bank) 

    A new partnership has been signed which formalizes a long standing collaboration between the IAEA Marine Environment Laboratories, hosted by the Principality of Monaco, and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation on ocean acidification and ocean-based solutions to climate change. The new Partnership falls under the framework of the IAEA’s Ocean Acidification International Coordination Centre and the Foundation’s initiative Ocean Acidification and other Ocean Change – Impacts and Solutions and was signed by the Foundation’s Vice President and CEO, Olivier Wenden, and IAEA Deputy Director General Najat Mokhtar.

    Ocean acidification occurs when the ocean absorbs carbon dioxide (CO2) released into the atmosphere by human activities. The ocean absorbs about 25 per cent of human-caused CO2 emissions, leading to a series of changes in seawater chemistry, including an increase in acidity.  Ocean acidification impacts marine life, particularly organisms with calcium-based shells or skeletons, such as corals and molluscs. Along with ocean warming and oxygen depletion, these changes create complex and unpredictable challenges for marine ecosystems.

    Created in 2006, the Prince Albert II of Monaco, Foundation (PA2F) aims to protect the environment and promote sustainable development.  Ocean acidification and ocean change has been a key focus of the PA2F since 2013 when the Ocean Change – Impacts and Solutions (OACIS) Initiative was launched.

    “Ocean acidification is a global problem, but how the effects play out depend on local factors,” said Wenden. “Ocean acidification will hit harder in many regions of the world which do not necessarily have the resources or the capacity to monitor and to adapt. We are thrilled to be teaming up with the IAEA Marine Environment Laboratories to help bring knowledge and capacity to study ocean acidification to scientists across the globe”.

    OACIS brings together the main organizations working on ocean acidification based in the Principality of Monaco (PA2F, the Monaco Government, the Oceanographic Museum, the Centre Scientifique de Monaco and the IAEA Marine Environment Laboratories), as well as the Villefranche Oceanographic Laboratory (French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) /Sorbonne Universités), IDDRI and the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

    Mokhtar said: “The IAEA is delighted and proud to formalize its long-lasting collaboration with the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, a key player in marine conservation both in Monaco and internationally, with whom we share the same values and interests. We are excited to continue to work together to make sure that the scientific data and information needed to take action on ocean acidification is available, and to amplify our impact together, enabling lasting progress for IAEA Member States”.

    Olivier Wenden, DDG Najat Mokhtar and Director Florence Descroix Comanducci, Lina Hansson, Jean-Pierre Cayol, Noura El-Haj on the steps of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, 3 October 2024, Monaco (Photo:Ludovic Arneodo/FPA2)

    Ocean acidification is included under the Sustainable Development Goals under Goal 14, and its Target 3, which calls on countries to “minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels”. Addressing ocean acidification is also part of the new Global Biodiversity Framework of the Convention of Biological Diversity, under Target 8. Yet, the capacity to monitor and study the effects of ocean acidification on marine biodiversity is largely insufficient in many parts of the world.

    The IAEA’s Ocean Acidification International Coordination Centre (OA-ICC) promotes international collaboration on ocean acidification. The Centre organizes training courses for countries, provides access to data and resources and develops standardized methodologies and best practices. The OA-ICC also works to raise awareness among various stakeholders about the role that nuclear and isotopic techniques can play in assessing ocean acidification’s impacts. Scientists at the IAEA’s Marine Environment Laboratories in Monaco use these techniques to investigate the impacts of ocean acidification and its interaction with other environmental stressors.

    Under the new partnership, the IAEA and the Foundation will co-organize training courses and expert meetings to empower countries to study and act on ocean acidification and ensure that research in this field is inclusive and participatory. They also plan to organize joint events to raise awareness about the latest research on ocean acidification and ocean-based solutions among policymakers, resource managers and other stakeholders at key ocean gatherings, such as the annual Monaco Ocean Week and the United Nations Ocean Conference and related events to be held in Nice and Monaco in June 2025.

    Additionally, the partnership will also explore joint activities related to plastic pollution, another critical area where both the IAEA, through its flagship initiative on plastic pollution (NUTEC Plastics), and the PA2F are actively engaged.

    As part of their joint upcoming activities, the two partners are organizing an international Winter School on Ocean Acidification and Multiple Stressors for researchers new to the field, which will take place at the IAEA Marine Environment Laboratories in Monaco from 18-29 November 2024.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Phone -in- Programme with the South African Military Ombud General(Ret) Vusumuzi Masondo

    Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements-2)

    Phone -in- Programme with the South African Military Ombud General(Ret) Vusumuzi Masondo

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QH851dC8oWY

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Malliotakis and Local Officials Demand US DOE Hold City Accountable for Failing Children with Disabilities

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11)

    (STATEN ISLAND, NY) – Today, Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis was joined by a bipartisan group of local elected officials to call on the U.S. Department of Education to hold New York City accountable for violating federal law by failing to provide non-public school students with developmental disabilities the Individualized Education Services Program (IESP) accommodations they are entitled to under the 1975 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

    One of the most prominent cases involves a deaf fifth grade student whose listening device, which she had used all summer and which the city had already paid for, was taken away. Her mother, Marisa Jones, has been advocating for the city to immediately reinstate her daughter’s accommodation, as without this device she struggles to hear and cannot participate fully in her education.

    “It not only unconscionable that students across our city are being denied the accommodations they are legally entitled to, but it’s plain cruel to take away an already paid for listening device from a deaf 5th grade student. If another kid in the classroom were to walk up to her and snatch her device, you’d call it bullying, and that’s exactly what the City of New York, our own government, is doing,” said Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis. “The city needs to stop playing games with children’s education and immediately reinstate these essential accommodations that they are legally required to provide under both state and federal laws immediately to prevent further learning loss by disabled students.”

    “Without this [hearing device] my daughter can’t hear the teacher in the classroom she is effectively denied her right to an education.” said Marisa Jones, parent of a deaf student at St. Joseph Hill Academy. “It’s been two months since she hasn’t had these services, how do you make up for the regression? How do you make up for the lost time?”

    “This year’s implementation of the IESP law is having an unjust impact on students with disabilities. The requirement to submit a written request by June 1st has caught many families off guard, as they were not properly informed. As a parent and a member of the Disabilities Committee, my priority is ensuring that these students have their necessary services reinstated. The financial burden on families to cover these essential services out of pocket is overwhelming, and we must ensure that every student receives the support they are entitled to.” said New York State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton.

    “We continue to receive numerous calls from private school parents regarding the DOE’s lack of concern or action taken regarding their children’s IEP’s (Individualized Educational Plans) and the services that are not being provided. This is unacceptable. These are mandated services that private school children, like public school children, are entitled to from the DOE. These children have been without their required services for almost two months. DOE needs to find the solution and provide the services needed to these children immediately. We support any and all efforts to get these students the services they need, and we thank Congresswoman Malliotakis for doing what she can to get it done.” said Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella.

    “As we have been saying from the beginning of this entirely preventable situation, NYC Public Schools knows our students need and are entitled to these critical services, yet the City recklessly deprives them of these services. Now, they must reap what they have sown. I applaud Congresswoman Malliotakis’ leadership and join her and my colleagues in calling on the U.S. Department of Education to hold New York City accountable for failing to provide our students with their legally prescribed IESP accommodations. They must be restored immediately.” said Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo.

    “We once again demand that the City take action immediately to rectify this disastrous situation. The City has been in violation of federal law since the beginning of the school year, and they have not been held accountable for their actions. We are calling on the federal government to step in and ensure accountability for our students and families,” said Assemblyman Mike Tannousis.

    “I cannot believe that we are almost two months into the school year and some of our most vulnerable students are still being denied mandated services by the City of New York despite our ongoing efforts to rectify this at a local level,” said Assemblyman Michael Reilly. “This is embarrassing for our city and today we are joining with Congresswoman Malliotakis to make sure that the bureaucrats responsible for this are held accountable.” 

    “As we approach the third month of school and end of first marking period, children in need of valuable services are being denied because of an arbitrary date that has never been enforced before. I am once again calling on the DOE to rectify this situation immediately, so these students do not fall further behind in their development,” said Councilmember Joe Borelli.

    “The decision by our local government to deliberately refuse to notify parents of the necessary paperwork for their IESP children is abhorrent. Students with special needs are refused access to services which are essential for their education simply because they are enrolled in private schools. This kind of decision making only reinforces the feelings of many parents who have already disengaged from our public school model due to previous breaches of trust. I expected better from the DOE, and I hope they will correct course and come into compliance with federal law.” said Councilmember David Carr.

    Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis and Congressman Ritchie Torres (NY-15) wrote to the U.S Department of Education requesting that it hold the city accountable for violating federal law by withholding Individualized Education Services Program (IESP) accommodations that children with disabilities are entitled to under the 1975 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). You can view the letter HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz Introduces Legislation to Honor Local War Hero, Lance Corporal Dustin Sekula

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Monica De La Cruz (TX-15)

    Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz introduced the Lance Corporal Dustin Sekula Congressional Gold Medal Act on Friday (October 18th). The bill would posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal to Edinburg, Texas, native Lance Corporal Dustin Sekula. The legislation seeks to honor Sekula’s courageous service and ultimate sacrifice for his country.

    Lance Corporal Sekula was the first Edinburg native to be killed during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was just 18 years old when he died on April 1, 2004, after sustaining injuries from enemy fire in Iraq. A proud Marine, Sekula had turned down an agriculture college scholarship to join the military at the age of 17, driven by a desire to serve and protect the United States.

    The medal would be presented to Sekula’s family in recognition of his heroic life and the lasting impact he has had on his community and his country. His legacy continues in Edinburg, where the Dustin Sekula Memorial Library stands as a tribute to his memory.

    “Lance Corporal Dustin Sekula made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom, and this bill ensures that his bravery and service are honored at the highest level,” said Congresswoman De La Cruz. “His story is one of unwavering dedication to his family, his community, and his country. We must never forget his courage and sacrifice.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chavez-DeRemer Joins Oregon Delegation in Seeking Federal Help for State’s Record Fire Season

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05)

    Citing severe damages to Central and Eastern Oregon, lawmakers’ letter asks President Biden “to swiftly provide the federal resources for our communities to recover and rebuild.”

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s entire congressional delegation, including Reps. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Cliff Bentz, Earl Blumenauer, Suzanne Bonamici, Val Hoyle, Andrea Salinas, and Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, are urging President Biden to grant the governor’s request for Oregon to receive a major disaster declaration in response to record-setting wildfires that burned about three times the average acreage this year.

    “The 2024 wildfire season has been one of the most devastating and costly fire seasons on record,” the lawmakers wrote. “Central and Eastern Oregon experienced intense heat waves this summer, which dried out vegetation and created extreme fire risk on the landscape. Severe lightning storms ignited a large number of fires, and windy conditions allowed many of these fires to spread rapidly.”

    “Over 1.9 million acres burned, making it the largest wildfire season by acreage in Oregon’s history.  For context, the state’s 10-year average acres burned is 640,000 acres,” they continued. “The estimated damages and cost to public infrastructure exceeds $650 million, and this figure does not account for the long-term loss in revenue local businesses will experience as a result of these fires.“ 

    The delegation wrote that this year’s extreme infernos and severe storms hit Gilliam, Grant, Jefferson, Umatilla, Wasco, and Wheeler counties hardest.  

    “The fires destroyed 42 homes and 132 additional buildings and structures, damaged critical infrastructure and the natural environment, interrupted schools, care facilities, and social services, injured 26 civilians and fire responders, and led to the death of an air tanker pilot,” the lawmakers wrote. “These fires have also created profound hardship for our ranchers, as they destroyed private and public grazing lands and cut off access to essential resources for livestock.”   

    In their letter supporting the governor’s request for federal disaster assistance, the Oregon lawmakers asked the Biden-Harris administration to ensure state, local, and tribal governments have access to all available resources through the Federal Emergency Management Agency and that the state’s cost-share be waived due to a lack of available state funding. 

    “Oregonians now require federal support and assistance to navigate the aftermath of this unprecedented fire season.  The back-to-back incidents and lack of basic services had a devastating effect on the safety and stamina of our fire crews,” the delegation wrote. “We urge you and your administration to swiftly provide the federal resources for our communities to recover and rebuild.”

    Full text of the letter is available HERE.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Manchin Tours River Town Aviation and Aircraft, American Rescue Plan Funded Projects in Parkersburg

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Joe Manchin
    October 23, 2024
    Parkersburg, WV – Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (I-WV) toured River Town Aviation and Aircraft’s newly-renovated hangar at the Mid-Ohio Valley Airport as well as three projects funded by the American Rescue Plan in Parkersburg, West Virginia.
    “West Virginia has accomplished so much for the advancement of aviation, and I couldn’t be more optimistic about our future,” Senator Manchin said. “I am always so proud to see our West Virginia airports and flight programs, like River Town Aviation and Aircraft, expand and prosper.
    “I’m pleased to see the incredible improvements that have been made to the Southwood Pool, the City Park Baseball Field, and the Fort Boreman Water & Sewer Site,” Senator Manchin continued. “The investments made by the American Rescue Plan are reinvigorating the city of Parkersburg and making this town a better place for all who live and visit here. I remain dedicated to fighting for West Virginia’s priorities and will do everything in my power to ensure we receive the resources we need to continue strengthening the Mountain State’s communities.”
    Photos from the event are available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Manchin, Bipartisan Colleagues Push for Maximum H2-B Visas to Support Small Businesses in 2025

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Joe Manchin

    October 24, 2024

    H-2B visas help employers fill temporary, seasonal positions

    Charleston, WV – U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (I-WV) led a bipartisan group of colleagues in urging the Department of Labor (DOL) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to release the maximum allowable number of additional H-2B visas for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025.

    H-2B visas allow small businesses across the country, including in West Virginia, to fill vital staffing needs when there are not enough able and willing workers to fill these temporary, seasonal positions. As required by law, employers must first make a concerted effort to hire American workers to fill open positions; when the local workforce is insufficient, H-2Bs can be used as a necessary tool to support local economies. The H-2B visa program allows West Virginia businesses to grow and thrive.

    “Many employers turn to the H-2B program to meet their workforce needs to not only sustain their businesses, but also support their American workers. The H-2B program places requirements on employers to recruit U.S. workers, who are intentionally prioritized by the program and also receive demonstrated, positive impacts from their seasonal colleagues,” the Senators wrote in part. “The most current employment data illustrates the workforce struggles of seasonal businesses nationwide. The Department of Labor’s Job Openings and Labor Turnover Surveys (JOLTS) show the rate of job openings have increased year over year for the industries that represent the top five H-2B occupations.”

    The letter was also signed by Senators Angus King (I-ME), Mike Rounds (R-SD), John Barrasso (R-WY), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Tom Carper (D-DE), Susan Collins (R-ME), Chris Coons (D-DE), John Cornyn (R-TX), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Mike Crapo (R-ID), John Fetterman (D-PA), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), George Helmy (D-NJ), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Jim Risch (R-ID), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tina Smith (D-MN), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), John Thune (R-SD), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) and Tim Scott (R-SC).

    The full text of the letter is available below and here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: BNN Bloomberg: US Steel CEO Pressed by Two Senators to Defend Nippon Steel Deal Payout

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren

    October 03, 2024

    Two prominent Democratic senators are criticizing United States Steel Corp. Chief Executive Officer David Burritt over his potential $72 million “golden parachute” if the sale to a Japanese company goes through – while President Joe Biden’s decision on the takeover hangs in the air.

    Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio, whose race for reelection is one of the closest in the chamber this year, wrote to Burritt Wednesday regarding financial incentives offered to him and other US Steel executives if Nippon Steel Corp. acquires the company in a $14.1 billion deal.

    The executives would be eligible for the incentives if they’re terminated following a takeover, according to a March filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

    …

    Read the full story here.

    By:  Josh Wingrove
    Source: BNN Bloomberg

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Deputy Secretary-General’s remarks to the Security Council – on Women, Peace and Security [as delivered]

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    Madam President, Excellencies,

    First, let me begin by wishing everyone a happy UN Day.

    Every year, in this Chamber, the global community reaffirms its commitment to ensuring women’s full, equal, and meaningful participation in conflict prevention, resolution, and recovery, and to upholding their rights during times of war.

    Yet, progress remains dishearteningly slow. 
     
    Peace and security decision-making is overwhelmingly dominated by men.

    And ending impunity for atrocities against women and girls is still but a distant goal.

    And the past year has been especially difficult.

    In Gaza, tens of thousands of Palestinian women and girls have been killed and injured amidst continued war and a terrible humanitarian crisis.

    Meanwhile, the plight of Israeli women still held hostage demands urgent action to ensure their safety and immediate release.

    In Lebanon, an escalation of destruction and displacement threatens women and girls’ safety and livelihood.  

    In Sudan, women are enduring extreme suffering, facing not only the loss of loved ones but also the dire lack of access to essential services and medical care.

    I reiterate the Secretary-General’s calls:

    Civilians must be protected, civilian infrastructure must not be targeted, and international law must be upheld.

    The United Nations remains steadfast.

    We will not look away or lose hope.

    The women, peace and security agenda will always guide our work and show a path forward. 

    Despite attacks on our offices, and the detention and killings of our staff in unprecedented numbers, allow me to honor the work of my colleagues and share examples of what they do.

    In peacekeeping missions, the women, peace and security agenda is a key political and strategic imperative.

    Our teams work tirelessly to help protect and assist women – from relocating human rights defenders to aiding women after their release from abduction by armed groups, from ensuring women’s representation in local dialogues to helping bring justice to women in places where sexual violence has long been met with impunity.

    In the Democratic Republic of Congo, for example, 57 percent of cases supported by the mission’s Prosecution Support Cells in 2023 involved conflict-related sexual violence, contributing to the conviction of dozens of members of armed groups and state security forces.

    In Abyei, earlier this year, one-third of participants in a post-migration conference were women – this was a first.

    In the Central African Republic, the mission is helping mobilize women for local elections that have not been held in 38 years.

    Deploying more diverse teams to peacekeeping operations has helped us deliver better on our mandates.

    The representation of women in most categories of uniformed personnel has doubled in the last five years, and initiatives have been put in place to foster gender-responsive work environments for all peacekeepers.

    Yet, much more remains to be done to improve the gender balance of our deployments and reap the benefits of inclusion and diversity.

    Success in peacekeeping hinges on the political support from Member States, especially those with the great honor of sitting in this Chamber to protect international peace and security.

    I commend the efforts of the United Arab Emirates to empower Women in Peace and Security. This initiative has provided training and capacity building opportunities for over 600 women from the Middle East, Africa and Asia in military and peacekeeping. The UN is a proud partner in these efforts that advance the Women, Peace and Security Agenda.

    Throughout the world, the UN reaches millions of displaced women and girls and survivors of violence with food, medical support, legal aid, shelter, access to safe spaces, psychosocial support, education, and jobs and livelihood opportunities.

    Yesterday, survivors of conflict-related sexual violence from many war-torn corners of the globe gathered for a Survivor’s Hearing to mark the 15th anniversary of resolution 1888.

    Effective protection from sexual violence is fundamental to women’s effective participation in peacebuilding, conflict recovery, and sustainable development that leaves no one behind. 

    None of this would happen without women’s organizations in the frontlines of crises, and we are trying to find ways of channeling more resources to them.

    The Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund has supported over 1,300 local women’s civil society organizations since 2016, nearly half of them accessing UN funds for the first time, and 582 women human rights defenders and their families.

    Last year, the Secretary-General invited all partners to contribute to the goal of raising 300 million dollars for women’s organizations in conflict-affected countries.

    We still have a long way to go to get there.

    40 percent of all funding of the 25-million-dollar GBV-focused grant by the Central Emergency Response Fund to UN Women and UNFPA was sub-granted to local women’s organizations and delivered remarkable results, a powerful demonstration that localization is both feasible and effective.

    The Peacebuilding Fund has now exceeded its internal target allocation of 30 percent to gender equality for seven years in a row.

    We know that the inclusion of women and gender-related provisions in peace processes not only advances gender equality, but also results in more durable peace agreements. From Guatemala to Northern Ireland, from Colombia to Liberia, research has shown how women in formal processes worked with diverse women’s groups to not only reach an agreement but also to strengthen the substance of peace agreements and opportunities for implementation.

    Yet, women remain starkly under-represented from peace negotiations and conflict resolution efforts – including in some of the most intractable conflicts over the last year.

    Historical data underscores this challenge: between 1992 and 2019, women constituted only 13 per cent of negotiators and six per cent of mediators in major peace processes.

    More recent data from UN Women for 2023 shows that women on average made up less than ten per cent of peace negotiators and 13.5 per cent of mediators.

    The processes in Libya and Yemen, where conflict parties have not included women, highlight a continued resistance to progress.

    In Afghanistan, the regression of women’s rights highlights the severe impact of excluding women from governance – and society altogether.

    It is imperative that we reinforce our resolve to support women in Afghanistan and elsewhere, advocating for their rights, agency and inclusion at every opportunity.

    Collective action and solidarity are crucial.

    In today’s broader global mediation landscape, the United Nations is not always present.

    In fact, a diverse set of regional, state and other mediation actors initiates and leads mediation processes.

    Many contexts feature joint or overlapping peace initiatives.

    This means that no single mediator can affect global and meaningful change on women’s participation.

    It is why, today, on behalf of the Secretary-General, I am pleased to launch the “Common Pledge on Women’s Participation in Peace Processes”, an initiative that brings together a broad array of mediation actors. 

    By endorsing this Common Pledge, Member States, regional organizations and other mediation actors commit to join the United Nations in taking concrete steps on women’s participation in all peace processes they are involved in.   

    These commitments include: 

    Appointing women as lead mediators and ensuring women are an integral part of mediation teams;

    Ensuring mediators advocate with conflict parties for concrete targets and measures that promote women’s direct and meaningful participation in peace processes, including as members of their delegations;

    Consulting with a broad range of women leaders and women-led civil society organizations in all stages of peace processes; and

    Embedding gender expertise in their mediation teams to foster gender-responsive peace processes and agreements.

    This Pledge targets mediating entities and is intended as an operational initiative, and not another general statement of principle. 

    It focuses on measures and decisions that are under the control of mediators and their organizations.

    The Secretary-General invites Member States, regional organizations and other actors who are actively engaged in mediation to join this initiative and report on their progress at next year’s 25th Anniversary Security Council Open Debate on women, peace and security.

    Madam President,

    We have no illusions about the challenges posed by today’s geopolitical landscape and the complexity of achieving diplomatic outcomes.

     As long as gendered power inequalities, patriarchal social structures, systematic biases, violence and discrimination continues to hold back half our societies, peace will remain elusive.

    Yet, our collective experience has shown that progress is possible.

    Together, we can have an impact that is greater than the sum of our individual efforts.

    By leveraging our respective political capital and roles, let us dismantle the patriarchal power structures and advance gender equality, ensuring women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in political and public life.

    Thank you.
     

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman DeSaulnier to Present Funding to Seneca Family of Agencies to Help Protect Contra Costa Children from Exploitation in Martinez on Wednesday, October 30th

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mark DeSaulnier Representing the 11th District of California

    Walnut Creek, C.A. – Today, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10) announced he will present funding he secured to Seneca Family of Agencies to help local law enforcement, the probation system, behavioral health partners, and child welfare organizations to identify and respond to commercial and sexual exploitation of children in Contra Costa County on Wednesday, October 30th. This funding was part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (H.R. 4366), which included a total of $15.2 million in federal funding Congressman DeSaulnier secured for 15 projects across Contra Costa County and Alameda County.

    This event is open to press and photographers. Media interested in attending the event should RSVP to Mairead Glowacki at (202) 760-1365 or mairead.glowacki@mail.house.gov.
     

    TIME: Wednesday, October 30th from 12:15 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. PT
     

    WHERE:  50 Douglas Drive, Martinez, CA 94553
     

    WHAT: Congressman DeSaulnier will present funding he secured for Seneca Family of Agencies to coordinate between law enforcement and community partners to better protect children in Contra Costa County from commercial and sexual exploitation. 
     

    WHO:
    U.S. Congressman Mark DeSaulnier
    Chief Program Officer of Northern California Programs, Seneca Family of Agencies, Lauren Crutsinger
    Chief Probation Officer, Contra Costa County, Esa Ehmen-Krause
    Chief of Police, San Ramon Police Department, Denton Carlson   

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Smith Statement on Boeing Machinists Rejection of Contract

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adam Smith (9th District of Washington)

    I am disappointed that Boeing Machinists and the company could not come to an agreement after yesterday’s vote on the latest contract offer. Union members deserve fair wages, safe working conditions, and a voice within their company. I hope both parties return to the table promptly, especially after yesterday’s report of a $6 billion loss in the fiscal third quarter. This failure has a profound effect on our nation’s aerospace industry, and until negotiations can be successful, there will continue to be serious economic repercussions. Boeing’s success depends on its dedicated workforce, many of whom have been loyal to the company for decades. A resolution to the Machinists’ strike will restore a critical sector of our district’s livelihood, and I hope they can work together to reach an agreement.
     

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Sagkeeng First Nation — Powerview RCMP arrest two after firearms complaint

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    On October 22, 2024, just after 12:00 am, Powerview RCMP responded to a call of two males with a firearm walking in the community.

    Officers began patrols immediately and spotted a running vehicle parked in front of a residence with two occupants inside. As officers approached the vehicle, they noticed a rifle in the back seat.

    Melvin Courchene, 26, and a 32-year-old male were both arrested without incident, and the firearm was seized. At that time, officers became aware there was still another male inside the residence with a firearm.

    Officers on scene contained the residence, and requested assistance from the RCMP Emergency Response Team (ERT). A warrant to enter the residence was granted, ERT responded, and the suspect, Isaiah Morrisseau, 39, surrendered without incident.

    Isaiah Morrisseau is charged with:

    -Possession of Firearm when Knowing Possession Unauthorized

    -Weapons Possession Contrary to Order and Fail to Surrender Authorization

    -Possession of Weapon for Dangerous Purpose

    Melvin Courchene is charged with:

    -Possession of Firearm when Knowing Possession Unauthorized

    -Possession of a Firearm in Motor Vehicle

    -Weapons Possession Contrary to Order and Fail to Surrender Authorization x2

    The 32-year-old male was arrested for:

    -Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm

    -Possession of a Firearm Ammunition in Motor Vehicle

    Morrisseau and Courchene have been remanded, while the 32-year-old male was released on conditions and cannot be named.

    The investigation continues.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Dauphin County Man Indicted for Robbery

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

    HARRISBURG– The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that a federal grand jury indicted Nicholas Silva-Shaffer, age 29, of Dauphin County, for Hobbs Act robbery.

    According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, on or about September 16, 2024, Shaffer approached an employee of a Rite Aid store in Dauphin County.  Shaffer stated that he had a gun and demanded and obtained money from the store employee.

    The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney K. Wesley (Wes) Mishoe is prosecuting the case.

    The maximum penalties under federal law for the charge against Shaffer is 20 years imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, a fine, and special assessment. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

    Indictments are only allegations. All persons indicted are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Presses Domain Registrars Providing Support to Russian Influence Efforts

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, today wrote to American domain registrars NameCheap, GoDaddy, Cloudflare, NewFold Digital, NameSilo, and Versign – which were identified in a Department of Justice affidavit as providing domain services to the “Doppelganger” Russian covert influence network – pressing them to take immediate steps to address the continued abuse of their services for foreign covert influence, particularly in the period preceding and following Election Day.

    Through the maintenance of both inauthentic social media accounts and websites, the hallmark of the Russian government-directed foreign malign influence campaigns known as “Doppelganger” has been the impersonation of Western media institutions online, including outlets like the Washington Post, Fox News, and Forward. Russian influence operatives have been attributed impersonating dozens of legitimate organizations online as early as September 2022, when researchers at the nonprofit EU Disinfo Lab first identified the network’s campaigns, using misleading domains (such as www.washingtonpost.pm, www.washingtonpost.ltd, www.fox-news.in, www.fox-news.top and www.forward.pw) to covertly spread Russian government propaganda with the aim of reducing international support for Ukraine, bolstering pro-Russian policies and interests, and influencing voters in U.S. and foreign elections, including the 2024 presidential election. 

    Citing research conducted by Meta in 2023, Warner noted several ways in which the global domain name industry has enabled Russian malign influence activity, including withholding vital domain name registration information from good-faith researchers and digital forensic investigators, ignoring inaccurate registration information submitted by registrants, and failing to identify repeated instances of intentional and malicious domain name squatting used to impersonate legitimate organizations.

    Wrote Warner today, “Information included in the affidavit supporting recent seizure of a number of these domains provides further indication of your industry’s apparent inattention to abuses by foreign actors engaged in covert influence. Specifically, Russian influence actors utilized a number of tactics, techniques, and procedures that – against the backdrop of extensive open source literature on Doppelganger’s practices – should have alerted your company to abuse of its services, including the use of cryptocurrency to purchase domains, heavy reliance on anonymizing infrastructure to access your registration services (including the use of IPs widely associated with cybercriminal obfuscation network activity), the use of credit cards issued to a U.S. company “that has significant ties to, and employees based in, Russia,” use of fictitious and poorly-backstopped identities for registrants, and in at least one instance the use of a Russian address.”

    Noted Warner, “While foreign covert influence represents one of the most egregious abuses of the domain name system, the industry’s inattention to abuse has been well-documented for years, enabling malicious activity such as phishing campaigns, drive-by malware, and online scams – all possible because of malicious actors using your services… Given the continued lapses of your industry to address these abuses, I believe Congress may need to evaluate legislative remedies that promote greater diligence across the global domain name ecosystem.”

    “In the interim, your company must take immediate steps to address the continued abuse of your services for foreign covert influence – particularly in the days preceding, and weeks immediately following, Election Day. With the prospect of a close election – and declassified intelligence demonstrating the past practice of foreign adversaries in spreading narratives that undermine confidence in election processes– Americans will be particularly reliant on media organizations and state and local government websites to provide authoritative and accurate election information. It is imperative that your company work to diminish the risk that foreign adversaries use impersonated domains to promote false narratives in this context,” Warner concluded.

    As Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Warner has been consistently warning about the threat posed by foreign covert influence networks ahead of the 2024 elections. Last month, he convened a public hearing with representatives from Alphabet, Meta and Microsoft examining the roles and responsibilities of U.S. platforms to prevent the spread of foreign propaganda and misinformation on their networks.

    A copy of the letters are available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Philip R. Lane: Underlying inflation: an update

    Source: European Central Bank

    Speech by Philip R. Lane, Member of the Executive Board of the ECB, at the Inflation: Drivers and Dynamics Conference 2024 organised by the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland and the ECB

    Cleveland, 24 October 2024

    Introduction

    My aim today is to provide an update on underlying inflation in the euro area.[1] The concept of underlying inflation plays a central role in the conduct of the ECB’s monetary policy: our interest rate decisions are based on our assessment of the inflation outlook in light of the incoming economic and financial data, the dynamics of underlying inflation and the strength of monetary policy transmission. This three-pronged reaction function complements the traditional focus on the inflation forecast for inflation-targeting central banks with the signals embodied in underlying inflation measures, while also incorporating the evolving evidence on the strength of monetary policy transmission in the calibration of the monetary stance. This pragmatic approach reflects the value of data dependence under highly atypical macroeconomic conditions.

    Latest developments in euro area underlying inflation

    Underlying inflation is the persistent component of inflation, signalling where headline inflation will settle in the medium term after temporary factors have vanished. In practice, underlying inflation is unobservable and needs to be proxied or estimated. There are two broad categories of measures that aim to capture this concept. Exclusion-based measures omit certain items – such as energy and food – that are typically volatile and more sensitive to global factors than domestic fundamentals. Model-based measures, meanwhile, capture more complex channels and dynamics, subject to the limitations imposed by sensitivity to model estimation. An overview of such measures is shown in Chart 1.

    Model-based measures at the ECB include the Persistent and Common Component of Inflation (PCCI), which is constructed by estimating a dynamic factor model that extracts the persistent and common component of inflation from granular price data at the item-country level, thereby exploiting the relative advantages of both cross-sectional and time series approaches.[2] Another model-based measure is Supercore inflation, which picks out those items that are estimated to co-move with the business cycle. These model-based measures are reduced form in nature and, among other factors, reflect the empirical contribution of monetary policy tightening to delivering disinflation. That is to say, if current inflation is above target, one reason why underlying inflation might run below current inflation is that the projected mean reversion is partly driven by endogenous monetary policy tightening that has historically contributed to the return of inflation to the target over the medium term. In turn, monitoring the evolution of underlying inflation is an important element in diagnosing whether monetary policy is appropriately calibrated.

    Each of the underlying inflation indicators tracked by the ECB has declined significantly since the post-pandemic inflation surges, with the range narrowing towards its historical average. The majority of indicators are hovering around 1.9 per cent to 2.8 per cent, down from a much wider range between 3.4 per cent to 7.5 per cent at its peak (Chart 1). Core inflation is the most prominent exclusion-based measure, defined as HICP inflation excluding energy and food: this edged down to 2.7 per cent in September, continuing the marked decline from 4.5 per cent a year ago.[3]In terms of model-based measures, the PCCI today is at the bottom of the range, standing at 1.9 per cent in September and having hovered around 2.0 per cent since the end of last year. Most other measures that we regularly monitor have also come down over the past year and show signs of continued easing in September.

    One challenge in interpreting standard indicators of underlying inflation is that these were affected by the past extraordinary supply shocks, as well as by temporary mismatches between demand and supply. As I pointed out in my March 2023 speech, it is helpful to think of headline inflation as being driven by three factors: (i) underlying inflation; (ii) a reverting component; and (iii) pure noise.[4] In particular, the major dislocations of recent years induced a substantial reverting component of inflation that was sufficiently long-lasting not to constitute pure noise but that was also expected to fade out over time. These dislocations included the impact of energy inflation and supply bottlenecks. To capture their indirect impact on measures of underlying inflation, we have in parallel monitored adjusted measures of underlying inflation that “partial out” these indirect influences. These adjusted measures had a significantly lower peak rate of underlying inflation than the un-adjusted measures but, by construction, were also less affected by the sharp turnaround in energy prices and easing of supply bottlenecks during 2023 that flattered the speed of progress in the un-adjusted measures. Currently, these adjustments bring down the range to between 2 per cent and 2.5 per cent, as the impact of past supply-side shocks has greatly diminished. In particular, the forward-looking PCCI measures are by now free of such impacts.

    Chart 1

    Euro area underlying inflation measures and their adjusted counterpart

    (annual percentage changes)

    Exclusion-based measures

    Model-based measures

    Sources: Eurostat and ECB calculations.

    Notes: HICPX stands for HICP inflation excluding energy and food; HICPXX for HICP inflation excluding energy, food, travel-related items, clothing and footwear; PCCI is the persistent and common component of inflation, while Supercore aggregates HICPX items sensitive to domestic business cycle. See also Bańbura et al. (2023), “Underlying inflation measures: an analytical guide for the euro area”, Economic Bulletin, Issue 5, ECB. The ‘adjusted’ measures abstract from energy and supply-bottlenecks shocks using a large SVAR, see Bańbura, M., Bobeica, E. and Martínez-Hernández, C. 2023, “What drives core inflation? The role of supply shocks.”, ECB Working Paper No 2875.

    The latest observations are for September 2024.

    Each measure of underlying inflation provides useful information about future headline inflation, although their forecasting performance varies. Chart 2 shows the root mean squared forecast error (RMSFE) for each measure vis-à-vis inflation two years ahead and vis-à-vis a smoothed inflation rate. Forecasting performance is normalised to the predictive power of current headline inflation: that is, a ratio below unity means that the measure does a better job than current headline inflation in forecasting future inflation. Indeed, most measures beat current headline inflation in forecasting future inflation. The PCCI measures have the best predictive power, while most exclusion-based measures perform less well.

    However, in understanding the inflation process and calibrating monetary policy, it is essential to look beyond overall predictive power and also examine how the various underlying inflation measures can shed light on the speed and sequencing of the disinflation process. For instance, external shocks were a prominent feature of the post-pandemic economic landscape.[5] While the PCCI measures provided a powerful signal that these shocks would ultimately fade out, the delayed and lagged adjustment in indicators such as services inflation, domestic inflation and wage growth served to highlight that convergence to the medium-term target would not be immediate.[6] I will focus on these indicators in the next part of my talk.

    Chart 2

    Predictive properties of underlying inflation measures for HICP inflation

    (RMSFE of each measure relative to RMSFE of headline inflation)

    Sources: Eurostat and ECB calculations.

    Notes: RMSFE 24 months and RMSFE smoothed HICP are the root mean squared forecast errors of each measure with respect to headline inflation 24 months ahead and the two-year centred moving average of inflation covering two years of future data, respectively, divided by the RMSFE of headline inflation. A ratio lower than unity indicates that the measure performs better than headline inflation. The sample covers the period from April 2001 to September 2024.

    Services, domestic inflation and wages

    Domestic inflation captures price dynamics in consumption items that are less influenced by external factors, being more determined by domestic economic conditions, including monetary policy. While trends in the relative prices of globally-determined components (mostly in the energy, food and goods categories) mean that the two per cent target for overall inflation is not a target for domestic inflation, domestic inflation cannot remain at an excessive level if the target is to be sustainably achieved.[7] Moreover, assessing the strength of domestic inflation is essential to the calibration of monetary policy, since domestic inflation will be more responsive than global inflation components to the impact of monetary policy via the dampening of domestic demand.

    The domestic inflation indicator monitored at the ECB is an aggregation of HICP items with low import content.[8] As shown in Chart 3, domestic inflation and services inflation co-move closely. This reflects the dominance of services items in the domestic inflation measures, accounting for 97 per cent of the overall index. At the same time, it remains useful to maintain domestic inflation and services inflation as separate measures: while almost 80 per cent of the services items are included in the domestic inflation index, the overall services category also includes highly-traded services items (Chart 4). These internationally-traded services items currently have a lower contribution to services inflation than domestic services items.

    Chart 3

    Services inflation and domestic inflation

    (annual percentage changes)

    Sources: Eurostat and ECB staff calculations.

    Notes: Domestic inflation is an aggregate of HICP items with a relatively low import intensity, as explained in Fröhling, A., O’Brien, D. and Schaefer, S. (2022), “A new indicator of domestic inflation for the euro area”, Economic Bulletin, Issue 4, ECB. 
    The latest observations are for September 2024.

    Chart 4

    Services inflation and domestic inflation

    (percentage point contribution to services inflation)

    Sources: Eurostat and ECB staff calculations.

    Notes: The chart shows all services items and the x axis shows the contribution of each item to total services inflation in September 2024. In weighted terms, 80 per cent of services are in domestic inflation and 97 per cent of domestic inflation is composed of services items. Domestic inflation also includes three good items which are not shown on the chart.

    The large supply-side shocks of the post-pandemic period have been feeding through to domestic inflation with a lag compared with other measures of underlying inflation. Large supply-side shocks have travelled across sectors and consumption items at different speeds, so it is unsurprising that these had differential impacts on the various measures of underlying inflation, depending on their nature and construction.

    Domestic inflation and services inflation tend to lag headline inflation more than other measures, exhibiting a lower frequency of price adjustment compared with the energy, food and goods categories in the HICP.[9] For this reason, many items in services inflation and domestic inflation were late movers that responded with a much longer lag to the latest inflationary shock, such that annual services inflation remains elevated.[10] Chart 5 shows the impact of energy and supply-chain bottlenecks on the PCCIs, domestic inflation and other measures of underlying inflation. Among these measures, PCCIs are more forward-looking and have picked up certain shocks faster, but with the byproduct that the effects of the shocks also faded quicker. Other indicators, like domestic inflation, are more backward-looking, and the currently higher levels also reflect the still ongoing propagation of past shocks. In similar vein, the past shocks took longer to build up in domestic inflation and are also taking longer to dissipate.

    Chart 5

    Impact of energy and supply-side bottlenecks shocks across measures of underlying inflation

    (percentage points)

    Impact of energy-related shocks

    Impact of global supply chain-related shocks

    Sources: Eurostat and ECB calculations

    Notes: The range covers the estimated impact of shocks across all monitored underlying inflation measures. The impact of the energy and supply bottleneck shocks are estimated in a large SVAR, see Bańbura, M. et al. (2023), op. cit..

    The latest observations are for September 2024.

    The PCCI for services indicates that there is currently a sizeable gap between services inflation and its medium-term underlying trend, suggesting there is scope for downward adjustment in services inflation in the coming months. Services PCCI has been around 2.4 per cent since the end of last year, well below the current annual rate for services (Chart 6, left panel).[11] This difference suggests that idiosyncratic and non-persistent factors are currently driving services inflation. Examples of such idiosyncratic factors include the base effect related to the introduction of the cheap travel Deutschland-ticket in Germany in May 2023, rent inflation in the Netherlands, and items that reprice less frequently, such as insurance or other administered prices (like hospital services) in some countries.

    Over time, the fading out of these idiosyncratic and temporary factors should means that services inflation declines towards the underlying rate. Indeed, momentum indicators for services confirm the slight easing of inflation dynamics. While services momentum (i.e. the three-month-on-three-month growth rate of the seasonally-adjusted index) remains high, it has been continuously easing since May (Chart 6, right panel). The month-on-month seasonally-adjusted rate markedly dropped in September. [12]

    Chart 6

    Services inflation

    (annual percentage changes (left panel) and annualised three-month-on-three-month and month-on-month changes (right panel))

    Gap compared with PCCI

    Momentum of services inflation

    Sources: Eurostat and ECB staff calculations.

    Note: The latest observations are for September 2024.

    Services and domestic inflation are closely linked to wage growth: the expected easing of wage growth in 2025, together with the impact of past monetary policy tightening, should contribute to further disinflation. Wages constitute a higher direct share in costs of services than goods and Chart 7 highlights the strong link between domestic inflation, services and wages: their level is normally similar and they closely co-move with each other.[13] Chart 7 also shows how pressures in these three components can take time to moderate following a tightening in policy.

    Chart 7

    Services and domestic inflation and wage growth after episodes of monetary policy tightening

    (annual percentage changes)

    Sources: Eurostat, ECB and ECB calculations.

    Notes: Shaded areas show monetary policy tightening episodes. CPE stands for compensation per employee. The dotted line shows latest Eurostat data up to Q2 2024 for CPE carried forward with quarter-on-quarter rates from the September ECB staff projections. The latest observations are for the second quarter of 2024 for CPE and the third quarter of 2024 for the rest.

    Wage growth is expected to ease from its current high level, with the cumulative increase in nominal wages over 2023-2024 largely restoring the purchasing power that was lost during the inflation surges of 2021-2022. Wage pressures are currently still high: the growth rate of compensation per employee stood at 4.5 per cent in the second quarter of 2024, albeit down from its peak of 5.6 per cent in the second quarter of 2023.

    Recently, the incoming information for 2024 in the ECB wage tracker indicator of latest agreements shows that wage agreements signed in 2024 had substantially lower structural wage growth for the next 12 months if their previous agreement was signed in 2023 or 2022, as compared with 2021 (Chart 8, left panel). Moreover, in the months ahead, there are fewer wage agreements coming up for renegotiation that have not had an agreement since the surge in inflation (Chart 8, right panel). This suggests that the catching up motive in wage negotiations is losing ground as inflation normalises. Forward-looking indicators suggest further diminishing wage pressures into 2025 (Chart 9). The forward-looking wage tracker (dark blue line in Chart 9) shows the wage growth until the end of 2025 in the available contracts that have been agreed and signed.

    One caveat in interpreting developments in the forward- looking wage tracker is that, since it only considers agreements that are active in the future, the contract coverage on which it is based declines as contracts expire (solid grey area in Chart 9). For this reason, scenarios for the expiring contracts (in the grey striped area) can help to assess risks around the outlook for wages. The scenarios illustrated in Chart 9 assume different renegotiated annual wage growth for expired contracts: (i) full pass-through of HICP and real productivity growth top-up to wages; (ii) HICPX and real productivity growth top-up to wages; (iii) wages increase at the same very strong level as contracts signed in the second quarter of 2024 that were still recouping large real wage losses (this is an upper bound scenario). Even this upper-bound scenario points to a slowdown in wage pressures in 2025 compared with 2024. This reflects in part that base effects, for example those related to high one-off payments this year, will dampen future wage growth in year-on-year terms.

    Chart 8

    Euro area wage tracker

    (annual percentage changes (left panel) and millions of workers (right panel))

    12-months-ahead growth for contracts signed in 2024 by its preceding agreement signing year

    Expiring agreements by preceding contract signing

    Sources: Calculated based on micro data on wage agreements provided by the Deutsche Bundesbank, Banco de España, the Dutch employer association (AWVN), Oesterreichische Nationalbank, Bank of Greece, Banca d’Italia, Bank of Ireland and Banque de France.

    Note: The latest observations are for June 2025 for the workers under expiring agreements.

    Chart 9

    Euro area wage tracker – forward-looking scenarios

    (annual percentage changes)

    Sources: ECB staff calculations based on the ECB wage tracker database.

    Notes: The forecast scenarios take sectors with contracts expiring after the current date and assumes that new contracts are concluded with a structural wage increase per year based on a full pass-through of projected (September 2024 ECB staff projections) HICP or HICPX inflation and productivity growth (scenarios HICP+PROD and HICPX+PROD), or at the same rate of wage increase observed for contracts signed in the second quarter of 2024 (forecast scenario Q2 2024). The forward-looking tracker only considers active agreements. All scenarios include one-off payments smoothed over 12 months.

    The latest observations are for December 2025.

    The latest information from surveys reinforces the projection of easing wage growth that will underpin the moderation in services inflation and domestic inflation. Chart 10 presents consecutive rounds of various ECB surveys, which provide a wealth of valuable information that helps us gauge the pulse of the economy in real time. The incoming survey information on wage growth provided by both firms and professional forecasters confirm the narrative embedded in our September 2024 ECB staff projection that wage growth will ease in 2025 compared with 2024, primarily owing to the fading out of the catch-up dynamic that has dominated wage negotiations between 2022 and 2024.

    Chart 10

    Eurosystem and ECB staff macroeconomic projections on wages and survey-based wage expectations

    (annual percentage changes)

    Sources: Survey of Professional Forecasters (SPF), June 2024 Eurosystem Staff Macroeconomic Projections and September 2024 ECB Staff Macroeconomic Projections, September and October 2024 Consensus Economics Forecasts, July and October Corporate Telephone Survey (CTS) and the survey on the access to finance of enterprises (SAFE) for the first and second quarters of 2024. Notes: The SAFE survey asks 12-month-ahead wage growth, while all the other surveys are for calendar years.

    In summary, in analysing services inflation and domestic inflation, it is crucial to distinguish between the underlying persistent component that matters for the medium term and the backward-looking reverting component that takes time to fade out but that ultimately reflects the staggered nature of the adjustment process to the original and extraordinary inflation shocks. This backward-looking component has been substantial: the inflation shocks of 2021-2022 spread across sectors at varying speeds. The slowest-moving sectors were those in which prices adjust more slowly or are most closely tied to wage adjustment. For these indicators, we need patience as the normalisation process takes time.

    Conclusion

    In my remarks today, I have sought to provide an update on the dynamics of underlying inflation. I have emphasised that underlying inflation measures not only serve to extract the persistent component from the latest inflation readings but also provide insights into the nature of disinflation, especially in relation to the staggered nature of the adjustment process. In particular, the analysis of underlying inflation suggests that 2024 is a transition year, in which backward-looking components are still playing out. But the analysis of underlying inflation also indicates that the disinflation process is well on track, and inflation is set to return to target in the course of 2025.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gallego Announces Over $31 Million in Water Funding Coming to Arizona

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Ruben Gallego (AZ-07)

    October 23, 2024

    PHOENIX – Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-03) announced $31,623,000 in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is coming to Arizona for clean water and drinking water projects.

    “In Arizona, we know that securing our water future is vital to our continued success. That’s why I proudly voted for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” said Rep. Gallego. “I’m glad to have secured the funding announced today, which will help ensure Arizonans have access to safe, clean water.”

    Of the $31 million, $18,258,000 will go to the Clean Water State Revolving Fund for water quality and infrastructure projects and $13,365,000 will go to the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to maintain healthy drinking water.

    Today’s announcement builds on Rep. Gallego’s work to secure Arizona’s water future, including:

    You can learn more about Rep. Gallego’s work in his report: Securing Arizona’s Water Future.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Trade Policy Review: Maldives

    Source: World Trade Organization

    The following documents are available:

    Secretariat report

    A detailed report written independently by the WTO Secretariat.

    Government report

    A policy statement by the government of the member under review.

    From the meeting

    The Secretariat and Government reports are discussed by the WTO’s full membership in the Trade Policy Review Body (TPRB).

    Background

    Trade Policy Reviews are an exercise, mandated in the WTO agreements, in which member countries’ trade and related policies are examined and evaluated at regular intervals. Significant developments that may have an impact on the global trading system are also monitored. All WTO members are subject to review, with the frequency of review depending on the country’s size.

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  • MIL-OSI Economics: WTO hosts event on role of youth in promoting “Trade for Peace” in fragile states

    Source: WTO

    Headline: WTO hosts event on role of youth in promoting “Trade for Peace” in fragile states

    In his opening remarks, Deputy Director-General Xiangchen Zhang said: “The youth are not just the leaders of tomorrow; they are the change-makers of today.” He stressed the importance of including young voices in decision-making, noting that the WTO’s Trade for Peace (T4P) Programme’s Future Leaders Initiative aims to empower youth as active agents of stability and prosperity.
    An “Intergenerational Perspectives on Trade and Peace” panel brought together Ambassador Alan Wolff, Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, Ms. Afomia Andualem, CEO and Co-Founder of Agelgil Eco- Packaging in Ethiopia, Mr. Eric Andrew, a WTO Young Trade Leader and Founder of AgrofixiNG in Nigeria, and Ms. Maria Guterres, Vice-Coordinator of the Timorese Youth Initiative for Development.
    The panelists explored the historical connection between trade and peace, with each speaker sharing their perspectives on how youth can contribute to fostering peace through trade.
    The event saw the launch of videos showcasing findings from students of the University of St. Gallen University in Switzerland and from experts in the area of trade and peace. These videos stemmed from a project with the University of St. Gallen undertaken from September to December 2023 aimed at delving into the intersection of trade and peace.
    The videos sparked lively breakout discussions, where participants explored practical steps to enhance youth involvement in the link between trade and peace. The discussions also encompassed the research findings of students taking part in the autumn 2023 TradeLab International Economic Law Clinic at the Geneva Graduate Institute, who explored the interlinkages between trade and peace agreements and negotiations.
    The event culminated in a collective call to action, delivered by Kérshia Cavele, Project Coordinator of the Trade for Peace Programme, urging policymakers to support youth-driven initiatives and create pathways for sustainable peace through trade. She noted that the event underscored the growing recognition of youth as essential players in addressing the challenges facing fragile and conflict affected states. By fostering academic insights with real-world experiences, the “Trade for Peace: Future Leaders Initiative” continues to pave the way for innovative solutions that leverage the multilateral trading system as a tool for peacebuilding.
    The youth event was organized during the 2024 Geneva Peace Week, which brings together organizations in Geneva and their international partners to share knowledge and best practice. At the Opening Ceremony, Ms. Milzat Salime of the WTO’s Trade for Peace team emphasized the vital role of youth in peacebuilding. WTO Deputy Director General Xiangchen Zhang participated in a high-level panel titled Peace, Trade, Development and Innovations: Insights from International Leaders and Ms Maika Oshikawa, Director of the WTO’s Accessions Division, delivered opening remarks in the session titled Trade and SME-led Growth in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Settings: Key Principles for Inter-Agency Collaboration.
    Background
    The Trade for Peace (T4P) Programme emerged from the vision of the g7+ WTO Accessions Group, a group of fragile and conflict-affected states (FCS) associated with WTO accession. Launched at the 11th WTO Ministerial Conference in 2017, the Group’s aim is to integrate FCS into the multilateral trading system through WTO membership, strengthening economic and trade policy frameworks while promoting transparency and good governance. Initially organized under the “Trade for Peace through WTO Accession” initiative, it expanded into the T4P Programme in 2021.
    The T4P Programme highlights trade and economic integration as key components in fostering durable peace and stability in fragile regions. Building on this foundation, the Trade for Peace: Future Leaders Initiative extends these efforts by engaging youth, focusing on raising awareness of their role in peacebuilding through trade, providing platforms for their voices, and fostering innovative solutions.

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