NewzIntel.com

Category: AM-NC

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Lamont Announces $30 Million Investment for Infrastructure Improvements at State Parks

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont, chairman of the State Bond Commission, today announced that the commission voted at its meeting this morning to approve an allocation of $30 million that will be used for infrastructure repairs and refurbishment needed across the Connecticut State Parks system, including $3 million that will be used to make critical repairs at state parks impacted by the extreme flash flooding event Connecticut experienced on August 18, 2024.

    This funding supports the Restore CT State Parks initiative, which is an historic effort by the Lamont administration and the state legislature to address the backlog of needed repairs across Connecticut’s 110 state parks and 32 state forests. Since 2022, the state has committed more than $70 million of American Rescue Plan Act and state bond funds to support investment in outdoor recreation across Connecticut.

    The August 18 flooding event caused serious damage at Larkin Trail State Park (Middlebury, Naugatuck, Oxford, Southbury), Kettletown State Park (Southbury), Southford Falls State Park (Southbury), and other outdoor recreational areas in the vicinity. This investment will support the most urgent repairs, including stabilizing affected areas to prevent future damage and addressing critical public safety concerns.

    “Our state parks and forests are a big part of our incredible quality of life in Connecticut,” Governor Lamont said. “These destinations are also well-loved, welcoming an estimated 17 million visitors annually – that’s more than four times the population of Connecticut. We’re restoring our parks to ensure that residents and visitors now and into the future can have a wonderful outdoor recreation experience in Connecticut.”

    The Connecticut State Parks system is administered and maintained by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).

    “Thanks to the governor’s and the legislature’s historic commitment, we’ve already made significant progress addressing our backlog of repairs and refurbishment, completing dozens of projects with many more projects in process,” DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes said. “From brand-new windows in the Heublein Tower, to terrace reconstruction at Gillette Castle, to a new boardwalk at Rocky Neck, and countless more projects, we’re delivering an improved parks experience for current and future visitors.”

    Under the Restore CT State Parks initiative, DEEP is working on projects across the state to improve ADA access, repair historic and cultural infrastructure, such as Gillette Castle, Fort Trumbull, and Heublein Tower; and address critical maintenance backlogs, such as paving and bathhouse and utility repairs.

    For more information on Restore CT State Parks, including a list of projects completed, in progress, or planned, click here.

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Maryland Man Charged with Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIS

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

    Baltimore, Maryland – Michael Sam Teekaye, Jr., age 21, of Hanover, Maryland has been charged by criminal complaint with attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2339B.  The defendant has been detained since his arrest on October 14, 2024, and had an initial appearance before Magistrate Judge Erin Aslan on October 15, 2024.

    The charges were announced by Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland and Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.

    According to the affidavit in support of the complaint, between March and April 2023, Teekaye had multiple conversations with an Undercover Officer (“UCO”) in which he told the UCO that he wanted to travel to Africa to join and fight for ISIS.  Teekaye also told the UCO that his “plan B” was to carry out an attack in the United States against people who support Israel.  On three occasions in May and June 2024, Teekaye purchased ammunition and range time at a shooting range in Severn, Maryland, which he later told the UCO was partly in order to “train.”  In July 2024, Teekaye attempted to purchase a Kalashnikov K-9 9mm rifle, but the purchase was denied because Teekaye was on probation in a state criminal case.

    In conversations with the UCO between August and October 2024, Teekaye told the UCO that he was in contact with a Somali ISIS fighter regarding his plans to travel to Somalia to join ISIS.  Teekaye explained that he would fly first to Turkey, then travel to Ethiopia and cross the border into Somalia.  Teekaye sent the UCO screenshots of an Ethiopian e-Visa he had obtained from the ISIS fighter. On October 4, 2024, Teekaye told the UCO that he received airline tickets from the ISIS fighter.  He also sent the UCO screenshots of his travel itinerary showing that he would depart from Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI) on October 14, 2024 and fly to Istanbul, Turkey with a layover in London.

    On October 10, 2024, Teekaye sent the UCO a photo of himself wearing a black mask and holding a large machete, along with the caption “Abdullah the islamophobe slayer.”  On October 11, 2024, the UCO asked whether Teekaye was “sure” he wanted to join ISIS.  Teekaye responded, “I am sure I did a lot of research and had to accept something’s [sic] that they are the only group that has the most true and sincere intentions.”

    On October 14, 2024, FBI agents arrested Teekaye at BWI after he had checked in for his flight and proceeded through security. Following his arrest, Teekaye made the following unprovoked statements, among others: “I’ll just get out in 20 years and do something here.  Okay? Okay?  It will never stop.  Jihad will never stop. . . . I’ll be like 40 when I get out, then I’ll just do it.  I don’t care.  It will never stop.  Jihad will never stop.  I’ll come and I’ll kill your soldiers.  I’ll kill you, and I’ll kill . . . .”  While making these statements, Teekaye began kicking one of the arresting agents.

    A complaint is not a finding of guilt.  All defendants charged by complaint are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceeding.  If convicted, Teekaye faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization.  A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. 

    U.S. Attorney Barron commended the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office for its outstanding work in the investigation and praised the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force along with the FBI’s Newark and Richmond Field Offices, and the New York City Police Department (NYPD), for their valuable assistance.  Mr. Barron would like to thank the NYPD’s Intelligence Division under the leadership of Deputy Commissioner Rebecca Weiner, Assistant Chief John Hart, and Deputy Chief Fernando Guimaraes.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christina Hoffman and P. Michael Cunningham, who are prosecuting this case. Mr. Barron also thanked the Department of Justice’s National Security Division for their assistance.  

    For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit http://www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach. To report a Maryland-based hate crime, contact the FBI Baltimore field office at (410) 265-8080 or http://www.tips.fbi.gov.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Oklahoma Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Child Exploitation Crime

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

    CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Jerrod Lee Sharp, 41, of Ponca City, Oklahoma, was sentenced on Monday, October 21, 2024, to 30 years in prison, to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for attempted enticement of a minor. Sharp must also register as a sex offender.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 17, 2022, Sharp began messaging a woman located in West Virginia whom he believed to be the mother of two minor girls. Sharp repeatedly stated in his messages to the woman that he wished to engage in sexual relations with both girls, and that he wished to travel to West Virginia to meet them.

    Sharp exchanged over 1,600 messages with the woman. On July 30, 2023, Sharp flew from Oklahoma to Charleston, West Virginia, where he planned to meet the woman and the two minor girls. Upon his arrival in Charleston, Sharp was arrested by law enforcement officers.

    United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) West Virginia Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Task Force and the West Virginia State Police.

    United States District Judge Joseph Robert Goodwin imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Jennifer Rada Herrald and Francesca C. Rollo prosecuted the case.

    This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative of the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-cr-126.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Hay River — Hay River RCMP seize thousands in cash believed to be proceeds of crime

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    On October 8th, 2024, officers of the Hay River detachment were on patrol when a vehicle was observed speeding. A traffic stop was conducted with the vehicle. Investigation led officers to believe the vehicle was being used to transport illicit cargo and the occupants were arrested.

    A subsequent search of the vehicle led to the seizure of over $9,000 in cash believed to be proceeds of crime relating to the illegal drug trade, as well as several cellphones and drug paraphernalia.

    As a result, 20-year-old Salim Abdullahi Abdi of Edmonton and 53-year-old Bruce Dowdeswell of Fort Simpson have been charged with Possession of property obtained by crime, contrary to section 354(1)(a) of the Criminal Code.

    Abdullahi Abdi appeared before a Justice of the Peace and was subsequently remanded into custody. Dowdeswell was released on strict conditions to appear in court at a later date.

    Investigation into the matter remains ongoing.

    Anyone who has information on this matter is asked to contact the Hay River RCMP at 874-1111 or Crime Stoppers at http://www.p3tips.com. In the event of an emergency call, 911.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Yellowknife — Hay River RCMP recover stolen Yellowknife vehicle

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    On the evening of October 7th, 2024, Yellowknife RCMP received a report that a vehicle had been stolen from a driveway in Yellowknife. Fortunately, the owner of the vehicle was able to use tracking technology to discover that the vehicle had subsequently left the city.

    With assistance from the owner, officers from the Hay River detachment were able to locate the vehicle in the hamlet of Enterprise, where it then fled from police. A short time later, the vehicle was located abandoned elsewhere in the community. Officers recovered a replica firearm from inside the vehicle. Two suspects were subsequently located and arrested in the area. They have since been released conditionally to appear in court at a later date.

    The investigation remains ongoing.

    Anyone with information on this matter is asked to contact the Yellowknife RCMP at 669-1111 or Crime Stoppers at http://www.p3tips.com. In the event of an emergency call, 911.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Yellowknife — Northwest Territories RCMP to participate in Operation Impact

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Each year, police services across the country participate in Operation Impact, a traffic safety initiative intended to target and reduce driving behaviors that put motorists and the public at risk.

    This year, Operation Impact will run from October 11th – October 14th, corresponding to the long weekend. During this period, motorists can expect to see increased police patrols as well as additional checkstops on roadways throughout the Territories.

    Be prepared to provide breath samples as part of Mandatory Alcohol Screening if you are stopped by police, along with all required driving documentation.

    Motor vehicle collisions kill or injure thousands of Canadians every year. The main causes of these collisions are impairment, distracted driving, aggressive driving behaviors and failure to utilize seatbelts, all of which are preventable.

    Residents of the Northwest Territories continue to feel the tragic effects of drivers who make the conscious decision to engage in these behaviors year after year. Make the right choice and plan ahead for safe travel this weekend. Safety is in every driver’s hands.

    If you suspect an impaired driver or see a vehicle posing an immediate safety hazard, pull over and call 911.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Montgomery County Restaurant Owner Sentenced to 21 Months’ Imprisonment for PPP and RRF Loan Fraud

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Giuseppina “Josephine” Leone, 62, of North Wales, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge Gerald A. McHugh to 21 months in prison, one year of supervised release, a $50,000 fine and $300 special assessment for pandemic program fraud. The Court denied the defendant’s request for a non-custodial sentence. The defendant has also paid full restitution in the amount of $972,861.75.

    Leone was charged by indictment on May 16, 2024, with three counts of wire fraud for making false representations in documents relating to the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) and Restaurant Revitalization Fund (“RRF”) program, which provided emergency financial assistance to business owners suffering the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. She pleaded guilty to those charges on May 23.

    Leone and her husband were owners of Ristorante San Marco (“RSM”), an Italian restaurant located in Ambler, Pa. Leone and her husband executed an Agreement for Sale of Real Property dated October 20, 2019, listing themselves as the “Sellers” of the RSM property and a third party as the “Buyer” for a purchase price of $1,575,000. Subsequently, on or about March 18, 2020, Leone posted on the restaurant’s Facebook page informing the public that RSM would be temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. RSM remained closed and never reopened.

    Despite the restaurant not being in operation in April 2020, Leone submitted a fraudulent application for a PPP loan in the amount of $138,000. This application misrepresented that RSM, which had been closed for approximately a month, had 17 employees, and would use the loan for payroll and other operating expenses. The fraudulent application was approved, and the loan funds were deposited into RSM’s bank account later that month. The loan was subsequently forgiven based on further misrepresentations by Leone.

    In January 2021, while the restaurant was still not in operation, Leone submitted another fraudulent application for a PPP loan, this time seeking $120,000. The application made similar misrepresentations and was approved, resulting in the requested funds being deposited into RSM’s bank account in February 2021. Again, the PPP loan was forgiven due to misrepresentations by Leone.

    Finally, Leone defrauded another COVID-19 relief program. While RSM was still not in operation in May 2021, Leone submitted a fraudulent application for a grant under the RRF program, requesting $699,196 for restaurant operations. This RRF application mispresented that RSM, which had not been operating since March 2020, was in operation and that the money would be used to pay employee wages. As a result of this deception, the request was approved, and the funds were deposited into RSM’s bank account later in May 2021. One month later, in June 2021, Leone closed on the sale of RSM. Nonetheless, over a year later, Leone misrepresented to the federal government that the RRF funds had been used for eligible purposes, even though RSM was never reopened by Leone.

    “PPP and the other covid relief programs were meant to provide emergency aid to businesses and employees financially flattened by the pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “My office and our partners won’t stand for opportunists like Mrs. Leone thinking they can defraud the federal government, pocket taxpayers’ money, and get away with it. We’ll continue to aggressively pursue and prosecute anyone foolish enough to do so.”

    The case was investigated by the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General, the FBI, and Homeland Security Investigations, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Angella Middleton.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Rochester Felon Pleads Guilty to Possession of Firearm and Ammunition

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

    PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A former resident of Rochester, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a firearms charge, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.

    James Gilmore, 35, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon to one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.

    In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on June 9, 2021, law enforcement identified Gilmore operating a vehicle in New Brighton, Pennsylvania, and attempted to conduct a traffic stop of Gilmore due to an active arrest warrant related to a parole violation. Gilmore fled from the traffic stop, throwing a loaded firearm from the vehicle he was driving. Gilmore subsequently abandoned the vehicle, and officers observed him flee on foot. Officers recovered a gray sweatshirt from a yard where Gilmore ran, with forensic testing of both the sweatshirt and firearm revealing Gilmore’s DNA.

    At the time Gilmore possessed the firearm and ammunition, he had been previously convicted of multiple felony offenses, including a firearm and drug trafficking crime in the Court of Common Pleas in Beaver County. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.

    Judge Bissoon scheduled sentencing for February 11, 2025. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.

    Pending sentencing, the court remanded Gilmore to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

    Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

    The New Brighton Area Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Gilmore.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Cape Girardeau Felon Admits Stealing Gun, Possessing Machine Guns

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

    CAPE GIRARDEAU – A convicted felon on Tuesday admitted stealing a pistol from a Cape Girardeau County gun store and being caught days later with two machine guns.

    Dayvion Jyraud Parker, 21, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau to five felonies: stealing a firearm from a licensed dealer, two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and two counts of possession of a machine gun.

    Parker admitted that on June 17, 2024, he and another man stole a Sig Sauer 9mm pistol from a federally licensed firearm dealer in Cape Girardeau County. Parker first hid the pistol under his jacket before placing it between his back and the back of his wheelchair. On June 25, law enforcement officers performing a court-approved search of a home in Cape Girardeau found Parker lying on a bed with two pistols between the bed frame and the wall. Both pistols were equipped with auto sears, or “switches,” that rendered them fully automatic.

    Parker is a felon and is barred from possession firearms. He was also wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant and was on probation in Illinois for aggravated discharge of a firearm.

    Parker is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 28, 2025. The theft charge carries a potential penalty of up to 5 years in prison. The felon in possession charges each carry a penalty of up to 15 years in prison and the machine gun charge carries a potential 10-year prison term.

    Parker’s co-defendant, Danaje Raymond Webster, 23, has not yet been arrested. Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt.  Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.

    The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service and the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Willis is prosecuting the case.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Is conservatism really on the rise in Canada? Blaine Higgs’ big loss in New Brunswick suggests not

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Noah Fry, PhD Candidate, Political Science, McMaster University

    Make no mistake, New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs lost big on Monday night. The province’s voters delivered a forceful rebuke of Higgs’ Progressive Conservatives similar to the 1995 election, when the party won only six seats against Frank McKenna’s Liberals.

    This time, the PCs were reduced to 16 seats while the Liberals won 31. The Greens dropped to two seats.

    This seat count downplays the Liberals’ 13-point popular vote lead in a tough political environment.

    Historically, the Liberals have had inefficient support that’s been concentrated in safe francophone ridings. This time, they made inroads with anglophones beyond Moncton.

    Higgs, among Canada’s most socially conservative premiers, lost his own safe seat of Quispamsis, which was among the province’s most Conservative ridings in the 2020 election.

    The result was a referendum on Higgs’ brand of conservatism. Along with the failure of the resurgent Conservatives in British Columbia to win a clear victory on Oct. 19, Higgs’ loss challenges the narrative that conservatism is on the rise across Canada.



    Read more:
    Move over, Danielle Smith: What Canadians should know about New Brunswick’s Blaine Higgs

    Governing to the (far) right

    Since gaining power in 2018, Higgs embraced a neoconservative social agenda.

    Most notably, he triggered a national conversation on trans children’s recognition in schools. Using the language of “parental rights,” Higgs introduced parent consent restrictions for name and pronoun changes for children under 16.



    Read more:
    New Brunswick’s LGBTQ+ safe schools debate makes false opponents of parents and teachers

    Research shows trans children have high rates of suicidal ideation, especially when they’re not supported in how they identify.

    Over time, Higgs supported anti-trans and anti-sex education protesters, even as many advocates, parents and educators raised concerns about the safety and mental well-being of LGBTQ+ youth. He also refused to deny what’s known as the so-called kitty litter myth that falsely alleges students are allowed to identify as animals and use litter boxes.

    When confronted by parents about a safe-sex presentation slide for a high-school audience, Higgs banned the group that conducted the presentation.

    It didn’t end there. Higgs erroneously suggested an Indigenous nation sought to claim most of the province from property owners. In 2021, his government discouraged land acknowledgements by provincial employees. Higgs also argued that Indigenous people had already ceded their land.

    Taking aim at francophones, social issues

    Higgs’ relationship with francophones was just as bad. He refused to learn French in Canada’s only bilingual province after promising he would. He alleged he was unfairly targeted as an anglophone.

    When coming to power in 2018 with a minority government, Higgs weakened bilingual requirements for paramedic positions. Later, he controversially proposed ending French immersion programs, arguing it was unfair to “English Prime” students in the province.

    When he won a majority in 2020, Higgs lowered taxes on the highest income earners while constraining increases to health care and education.

    Higgs was successful in uniting the right. As a former leadership contender of the linguistic segregationist Confederation of Regions party, Higgs welcomed far-right People’s Alliance representatives to his party.

    But his tenure faced internal opposition. Atlantic conservatism tends to be closer to the political centre. Higgs’ Maritime counterparts, Premiers Dennis King of Prince Edward Island and Tim Houston of Nova Scotia, have largely avoided social issues.

    On the province’s Policy 713, also called the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity policy, six PCs voted with an opposition motion against the proposed changes. Four were cabinet ministers.

    Several ministers resigned from cabinet with letters blasting Higgs’ leadership.

    Almost half of PC riding associations sought a leadership review. They fell just short of the minimum needed to trigger a review.

    Most leaders recognize when their time was up. Not Higgs.

    An embattled campaign

    The PCs’ tumultuous time in government made for an uninspired campaign. Twelve of the 26 winning PC representatives from 2020 did not run again. In their place came more social conservatives who would not oppose Higgs.

    The PCs received bad news early. They were projected to fall short of their 2024-25 balanced budget aims.

    Still, Higgs campaigned on his fiscal management. He offered a two per cent HST cut as a reward. For some, this proposal rang as vote-buying from a government that could have pursued a sales tax cut at any point in its six-year tenure.

    The PCs campaigned on few other commitments. Their two-page platform made generic promises like “respect parents.” They also sought to “compel individuals into drug treatment” and “axe the carbon tax.”

    Meanwhile, the Liberals hammered the PCs on housing, health care and education. All three areas had been stressed by population growth and tight funding. Housing policy was a particular weakness given the PCs’ long-term resistance to rent caps and its record as a housing-starts laggard.

    Higgs’ confidence in his record was misplaced. While his social conservativism has an audience in New Brunswick, few saw it as a priority relative to the cost of living.

    His other campaign efforts made little difference. Higgs sought to make his opponent Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. He also stirred anti-immigration sentiment over federal asylum-seeker plans. Both efforts seemed desperate.

    Rejection of grievance politics?

    The Liberals’ return to power could be attributed to a referendum on Higgs. There is no doubt Higgs had personal defects that cost him his own riding.

    But his loss is more than a personal rejection. It also seems a rejection of a grievance politics that favours anger over substance.

    After repeatedly focusing on social issues over matters like housing, the grievances lost their allure. Even for the most steadfast Conservative voters, Higgs’ targeting of minorities came across as bullying.

    While Higgs may be the worst offender, he is not the only practitioner of grievance conservatism. Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith play the same tune. Will their political fates be any different?

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

    – ref. Is conservatism really on the rise in Canada? Blaine Higgs’ big loss in New Brunswick suggests not – https://theconversation.com/is-conservatism-really-on-the-rise-in-canada-blaine-higgs-big-loss-in-new-brunswick-suggests-not-241971

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Video: AMGFC24 – Betazone: Keeping AI on Track

    Source: World Economic Forum (video statements)

    From bespoke gene editing to AI-powered healthcare, we are living in an age of breakthroughs propelled by advances in AI. What are the trade-offs societies and industries need to manage as AI adoption progresses?
    Speaker:

    Erik Brynjolfsson, Jerry Yang and Akiko Yamazaki Professor; Director, Digital Economy Lab, Stanford University
    Host:

    Zeina Soufan, Senior Anchor, Asharq News

    This is the full audio from a session at the Annual Meeting of the Global Future Councils 2024 in Dubai on 16, Oct, 2024. Watch it here: https://www.weforum.org/events/annual-meeting-of-the-global-future-councils-2024/sessions/keeping-ai-on-track/
    Links:

    Article based on this session: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2024/10/ai-augment-rather-than-dictate-human-action/
    Related podcasts:

    Check out all our podcasts on wef.ch/podcasts (http://wef.ch/podcasts) :

    YouTube: (https://www.youtube.com/@wef/podcasts) – https://www.youtube.com/@wef/podcasts

    Radio Davos (https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos) – subscribe (https://pod.link/1504682164) : https://pod.link/1504682164

    Meet the Leader (https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/meet-the-leader) – subscribe (https://pod.link/1534915560) : https://pod.link/1534915560

    Agenda Dialogues (https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/agenda-dialogues) – subscribe (https://pod.link/1574956552) : https://pod.link/1574956552

    Join the World Economic Forum Podcast Club (https://www.facebook.com/groups/wefpodcastclub) : https://www.facebook.com/groups/wefpodcastclub

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p77BEVba_i4

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Landmark UK-Germany defence agreement to strengthen our security and prosperity

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    A landmark defence agreement will be signed by Defence Secretary John Healey MP and German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius in London today in a major moment for NATO, and European security and prosperity. It is the first-of-its-kind agreement between the UK and Germany on defence.

    • Defence Secretary John Healey MP and German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius will sign the landmark Trinity House Agreement today (Wednesday 23 October), bringing the two nations closer together than ever before.

    • Agreement will boost the economy, investment, and jobs, paving the way for a new artillery gun barrel factory to open in the UK.

    • German aircraft will operate from Scotland as part of the agreement, bolstering European security.

    The signing of the Trinity House Agreement marks a fundamental shift in the UK’s relations with Germany and for European security. This agreement between Europe’s two biggest defence spenders will strengthen national security and economic growth in the face of growing Russian aggression and increasing threats.

    The new partnership will help drive investment into the UK – with the agreement paving the way for a new artillery gun barrel factory to be opened in the UK, supporting more than 400 jobs and nearly half a billion-pounds boost to the British economy. The opening of the Rheinmetall factory will see the UK manufacture artillery gun barrels for the first time in 10 years, using British steel produced by Sheffield Forgemasters.

    The deal will see the UK and Germany work together systemically for years to come on a range of ground-breaking defence projects and across all domains (air, land, sea, space and cyber). This includes working jointly to rapidly develop brand-new extended deep strike weapons that can travel further with more precision than current systems, including Storm Shadow.

    It will bring the two nation’s defence industries closer than ever, including a long-term commitment to manufacturing Boxer armoured vehicles, supporting skilled jobs across the UK. The deal also aims to support and expanded complex weapons development in the UK, laying a path for Sting Ray Torpedoes procurement.

    The Trinity House Agreement includes:

    • New long-range strike weapons – working jointly to rapidly develop a new system that can fire even further and be more precise in its targeting than any current system.

    • New boost for British industry – a new large calibre gun manufacturing facility in the UK, supporting more than 400 jobs, and planned to use British steel, bringing nearly half a billion-pound economic boost to the UK over 10 years.

    • New cooperation to strengthen the Eastern Flank – the armies training and exercising more together, using the front as a catalyst for developing new ways of fighting.

    • Land Industrial Cooperation – cooperation on Boxer armed vehicles and kickstarting collaboration of land-based drones.

    • Protecting critical underwater infrastructure – working together to protect the vital cables in the seabed on the North Sea. This includes exploring new offboard undersea surveillance capabilities to improve detection of adversary activity.

    • German planes in Scotland – German P8 aircraft will periodically operate out of Lossiemouth to help protect the North Atlantic.

    • New drones – working towards drones that could operate alongside our fighter jets, as well as drones that can be used by other military force.

    • Exploration and development of new Maritime Uncrewed Air System capabilities.

    • New Ukraine support – new joint work to enable German Sea King helicopters to be armed with modern missile systems as well as work on capability coalitions.

    • Joint work with partners to integrate air defence systems to better protect European air space against the threat of long-range missiles, building on work agreed at the NATO Defence Ministers meeting just last week.

    The agreement is a key example of the Government delivering on its commitment to reset relations with European allies and bolster national security. It will be signed less than 100 days after the Defence Secretary visited Berlin to kick off negotiations in July and is the first pillar in a wider UK-Germany treaty pledged by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Chancellor Olaf Scholz in August.

    Defence Secretary John Healey MP said:

    The Trinity House Agreement is a milestone moment in our relationship with Germany and a major strengthening of Europe’s security.

    It secures unprecedented levels of new cooperation with the German Armed Forces and industry, bringing benefits to our shared security and prosperity, protecting our shared values and boosting our defence industrial bases.

    This landmark agreement delivers on the Government’s manifesto commitment to strike a new defence relationship with Germany – less than four months since winning the election in July – and we will build on this new cooperation in the months and years ahead.

    I pay tribute to our negotiating teams who have worked hard at pace to deliver this.

    German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said:

    The UK and Germany are moving closer together. With projects across the air, land, sea, and cyber domains, we will jointly increase our defence capabilities, thereby strengthening the European pillar within NATO. We can only strengthen our ability to act together. This is why our cooperation projects are open to other partners.

    We must not take security in Europe for granted. Russia is waging war against Ukraine, it is increasing its weapons production immensely and has repeatedly launched hybrid attacks on our partners in Eastern Europe.

    With the Trinity House Agreement, we are showing that the NATO Allies have recognised what these times require and are determined to improve their deterrence and defence capabilities. As it lays the foundation for future projects, the Trinity House Agreement is an important contribution to this. It is particularly important to me that we cooperate even more closely to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank and to close critical capability gaps, for instance in the field of long-range strike weapons.

    Armin Papperger, CEO and Chairman of Rheinmetall AG commented that:

    Rheinmetall’s investment in the gun hall reflects a forward-looking approach to innovation, collaboration, and national defence. It ensures the UK remains a leader in developing and manufacturing defence technologies that safeguard both national and global security.

    Gary Nutter, Chief Executive Officer at Sheffield Forgemasters, said:

    I am delighted to confirm that Sheffield Forgemasters will reinstate gun barrels manufacture after a 20-year hiatus, to supply large-calibre gun-barrels to Germany’s Rheinmetall AG, servicing UK defence contracts and exports.

    Updates to this page

    Published 22 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Wicker Statement on Gulf Coast Passenger Service Grant Approval

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Mississippi Roger Wicker

    WASHINGTON – Today, an agreement was reached among stakeholders on the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Grant which will provide crucial funding to restore passenger rail service along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The $178,435,333 grant was previously awarded by the Federal Railroad Administration.

    U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., has used his position as Chairman and Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee to restore the return of passenger rail to the Gulf Coast for the first time since Hurricane Katrina. While serving as chairman, he helped negotiate the infrastructure bill which is the origin of the CRISI Grant.

    Senator Wicker released the following statement:

    “I appreciate the partnership shared by local and state government officials and the freight rail companies, CSX, and Norfolk Southern. This service will provide economic opportunities to the Gulf Coast Region and provide an alternative way to move people safely. Years of hard work and cooperation have brought us to this important moment,” Senator Wicker said.

    Scheduled to resume in 2025, the services are expected to provide economic growth opportunities, boost tourism, and reduce traffic on our roadways. Two trains will run roundtrip from New Orleans to Mobile with stops in Bay St. Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi, and Pascagoula.

    A groundbreaking ceremony was held today in Mobile for the layover track, where a train is stored when not in use. That piece of the project had been one of the remaining hurdles to restoring the route.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Brown, UAW Workers, Cleveland-Cliffs, and Zanesville Mayor Don Mason Tout Successful Fight to Save Local Jobs by Fixing Misguided Biden Administration Rule

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Ohio Sherrod Brown

    ZANESVILLE, OH – Today, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) joined Zanesville Mayor Don Mason and UAW workers to highlight his successful fight pushing the Biden Administration to fix a flawed electrical distribution transformer regulation that would have cost Ohioans’ jobs and devastated U.S. electrical steel manufacturers—including Ohio-based Cleveland-Cliffs. Cleveland-Cliffs makes grain-oriented electrical steel used to form the cores of electric distribution and power transformers and non-grained-oriented steel used in other end uses at its Zanesville plant.

    The Administration’s rule would have required all new transformers to be produced with a different kind of steel metal that’s almost entirely manufactured overseas – rather than what’s known as grain-oriented electric steel, which Cleveland-Cliffs produces in Ohio, at its Zanesville plant, and in Pennsylvania.

    “This was a bipartisan effort with the mayor, UAW, Cleveland-Cliffs, and other Ohioans,” said Brown. “Together we got the Biden Administration to back down, saving union jobs in Zanesville. I will always go to bat for Ohio workers and Ohio businesses, and stand up to anyone who threatens our jobs.”

    “Senator Brown understands that the United States cannot become reliant on countries like Japan, China and Mexico for our energy security. That’s why he fought back against the Department of Energy’s flawed transformer rule and helped achieved changes to the regulation that will preserve utilization of GOES in transformers.  Because of Senator Brown’s successful advocacy, Cleveland-Cliffs is now making investments in the production of electrical steel and preserving good-paying, UAW jobs at Zanesville Works,” said Lourenco Goncalves, Chairman, President & CEO, Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. 

    “The hard-working people of the Zanesville community appreciate the efforts and support of Senator Sherrod Brown and other federal legislators. Those successful efforts persuaded the Department of Energy to back off their proposal and will keep well-paying American  jobs in Zanesville,” said Zanesville Mayor Don Mason. “Without those efforts, materials and supplies for the transmission grid and industry would have shifted from reliable domestic sources to unreliable offshore sources. Those efforts also support reliability in the delivery of electricity to businesses and homes at a time when reliability is most needed. Furthermore, those successful efforts support the continued investment by American companies in American cities and American workers.”

    “I would like to thank Cleveland-Cliffs, our UAW leaders, and our elected officials, especially Senator Sherrod Brown, and Mayor Don Mason, who represent us and have fought against regulations that would have closed our plant, by forcing transformers manufacturers away from the Grain Oriented Electrical steel that we finish here at Zanesville,” said Eric Spiker, President, UAW Local 4104. “We are not the only ones that benefit from the work that the Senator has done. The communities that surround us, the State, and the country as well benefit.”

    Brown joined Ohio manufacturers, Ohio workers, and rural electric co-ops to fight the regulation. His push—which included proposing the bipartisan Distribution Transformer Efficiency & Supply Chain Reliability Act of 2024 with U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX)—led the Biden administration to correct major deficiencies in the proposed rule. This bill was built upon another bipartisan Senate effort from last June when Brown, Cruz, and Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) sent a bipartisan letter to Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, signed by an additional 13 Democrats and 32 Republicans, calling on the Department to fix the proposed regulations.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Cuellar Announces $562,500 in Federal Funding to Expand Pleasanton Police Department

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28)

    Pleasanton, TX – Congressman Henry Cuellar, Ph.D. (TX-28) announced $562,500 in federal funding to expand Pleasanton Police Department.  

    “The COPS Hiring Program is the reason many of our communities can hire the officers we rely on to keep our communities safe,” said Dr. Cuellar, a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee. “I will continue to work in Congress to ensure that our communities are safe and that our brave police officers get the support they need.” 

    This federal funding was awarded to the City of Pleasanton from the Department of Justice’s Office of the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office). This award is administered through the COPS Hiring Program (CHP) and will be used to hire five new police officers in Pleasanton.  

    Pleasanton will utilize the new officers to promote safety and police effectiveness in the city. The five new officers added through the COPS program will increase the department’s total to 30 officers. 

    The COPS program provides grants, training, and technical assistance to law enforcement agencies across the country as they work to reduce violent crime.   

    The COPS Hiring Program pays up to 75% of entry-level officer salary and up to $125,000 per position, with three years of funding over a five-year period. Local agencies must match at least 25% of the funding awarded.   

    ### 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia Statement on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Rule to Boost Consumer Rights and Privacy

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (TX-29)

    Houston, TX – Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia (D-TX-29) issued the following statement in response to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s final rule implementing Section 1033 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010:

    “I’m pleased the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is taking this critical step to strengthen consumer rights, privacy, and competition in the financial services industry. By giving Americans greater control over their personal data, this new rule empowers consumers to switch to better providers without facing unnecessary barriers and fees. This will allow families to make better financial choices. 

    “But we must do more to include those who have been historically shut out of the banking system. Our most vulnerable communities, including those who rely on Electronic Benefits Transfer cards to access nutritional assistance, deserve the same protections. Expanding this rule to include Electronic Benefits Transfer card users would ensure that everyone, regardless of their financial situation, benefits from these safeguards. I urge the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to work with all appropriate agencies to expand these protections.”

    The rule requires financial institutions, credit card issuers, and other financial providers to unlock an individual’s personal financial data and transfer it to another provider at the consumer’s request for free. Consumers will be able to more easily switch to providers with superior rates and services. By fueling competition and consumer choice, the rule will help lower prices on loans and improve customer service across payments, credit, and banking markets.

    Today’s rule ensures consumers will be able to access and share data associated with bank accounts, credit cards, mobile wallets, payment apps, and other financial products. It aims to address market concentration that limits consumer choice over financial products and services. Consumers will be able to access, or authorize a third party to access, data such as transaction information, account balance information, information needed to initiate payments, upcoming bill information, and basic account verification information. Financial providers must make this information available without charging fees.

    The rule also establishes strong privacy protections, requiring that personal financial data can only be used for the purposes requested by the consumer. It ensures that third parties cannot use consumer data for other purposes that benefit the third party, but that consumers do not want. It also helps move the industry away from “screen scraping,” a still common but risky practice that typically involves consumers providing their account passwords to third parties who use them to access data indiscriminately through online banking portals.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Government to overhaul anti-money laundering regime

    Source: New Zealand Government

    The Government will introduce a single supervisor and a new funding model in a major overhaul of New Zealand’s Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) system, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee says.

    “Cabinet has approved an AML/CFT reform work programme which will change the supervisor structure that monitors AML/CFT compliance and introduce a new funding model for the system. These reforms will allow the system to be more responsive to industry and community needs, more agile, and more focused on the real risks posed by anti-money laundering to New Zealand businesses.

    “The changes will deliver a critical Government priority to reform key sectors where the cost of regulation is overly burdensome for businesses and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the AML/CFT system to meet international standards.”

    The Government is introducing the changes following a Financial Action Task Force evaluation of New Zealand’s regulatory regime and a subsequent review of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Financing of Terrorism Act 2009.

    A single-supervisor model will replace the current three-supervisor model and will establish the Department of Internal Affairs as the sole supervisor of the AML/CFT system.  Currently, supervision of different parts of the AML/CFT system are overseen by the Reserve Bank, Financial Markets Authority, and Internal Affairs.

    “The Government is very aware of the risks money-laundering and financing of terrorism poses to New Zealand businesses and moving to a single supervisor will improve the efficiency of the system, establish a more risk-based approach, and enable more timely provision of guidance and support. I have heard from businesses that this will provide substantive regulatory relief,” Mrs McKee says. 

    “In considering how to improve the supervisory model, I will be focusing on how the positive effects can be felt as soon as possible, such as ensuring work on industry guidance and codes of practice starts promptly.”

    “The Government will also introduce a new sustainable funding model for the AML/CFT system as part of the reforms. The funding model will establish an industry-levy to support a flexible and coordinated system that will deliver sector benefits. The levy will be designed to ensure that costs are equitable and reasonable for the sector and will not place undue burden on small businesses.” 

    An AML/CFT National Strategy and work programme will be introduced as part of the funding model. Legislation will require any amendments to the levy to be informed by the National Strategy and work programme. 

    “This work programme will be developed in partnership with industry and agreed by Cabinet to ensure that the AML/CFT system is focussed on industry priorities. The new funding model will mean better and more efficient regulation, supervision, and support for industry.

    “The changes will ensure New Zealand maintains its international reputation and will align our AML/CFT system with the financial sectors of our key trading partners to support trade, investment and economic growth.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Resetting the Emissions Trading Scheme annual charge for post-1989 forestry participants

    Source: Ministry for Primary Industries

    Your views sought

    We want your feedback on 2 proposals relating to cost recovery settings for forestry Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) participants. We anticipate that changes would be made by early 2025.

    • Proposal 1: A reduced annual charge for post-1989 forestry ETS participants.
    • Proposal 2: Amending the Climate Change (Forestry) Regulations 2022 for the field measurement approach during the 2023–25 reporting period.

    As part of this consultation, we are holding 2 webinars and an online hui.

    Summaries of the proposals are on this page and full details are in the discussion paper.

    Submissions are open from 23 October until 5pm on 13 November 2024.

    About Proposal 1

    If you have post-1989 forest land in the ETS, the per hectare annual charge is calculated for the financial year. It’s based on the amount of land you have in the ETS on 1 July.

    We are proposing to reduce the per hectare annual charge from $30.25 to $14.90, starting in the 2024–25 financial year.

    About Proposal 2

    Forestry participants with at least 100 hectares of post-1989 forest land in the ETS have to use the field measurement approach to calculate carbon stored in their forests for their emissions returns.

    When the previous (2023) cost recovery regulations were enacted, they imposed a service fee. The fee resulted in additional costs for those who could use their existing field measurement approach data or use default carbon tables to calculate carbon stock, during the shorter 2023–25 reporting period.

    To address this issue, we are proposing to update the regulations. This means, that for any emissions return that covers all or part of the shorter 2023–25 reporting period, people using the field measurement approach can calculate carbon stock using:

    • the default carbon tables (in regulations) if they do not have field measurement approach participant specific tables, or
    • existing participant specific tables if they have them.

    Discussion paper

    Resetting the Emissions Trading Scheme annual charge for post-1989 forestry participants [doc: 65715]

    Webinars on the proposals

    To support this consultation, we are running 2 webinars and an online hui. These sessions will provide an opportunity for you to ask questions and discuss the proposals. The online hui is a dedicated session for whenua Māori to give feedback on the proposals. You must register to attend the webinars or hui. 

    Times and dates of the webinars and the hui

    Webinar 1: 4pm on Thursday 31 October 2024.

    Register to attend Webinar 1 – Connect

    Webinar 2: 12pm on Thursday 7 November 2024.

    Register to attend Webinar 2 – Connect

    Online hui: 12pm on Monday 4 November 2024.

    Register to attend the online hui – Connect

    Making your submission

    Send us your feedback on the proposals in the consultation document by 5pm on 13 November 2024.

    We would prefer if you made a submission electronically – either by using the online form or by email. However, we will also accept written submissions sent by post.

    You are welcome to make your submission on the whole discussion document, or you can choose the areas relevant to you. Provide supporting evidence with your submission where possible.

    Online

    Online submission form – Alchemer

    Email

    If you are sending us a submission by email, we encourage you to use the submission template which has the same questions as the online form. 

    Submission template [doc: 65718]

    The email address is etsforestrychanges@mpi.govt.nz

    Post

    If you prefer to make your submission in writing, send it to:

    NZ ETS Cost Recovery
    Forestry System Directorate
    Ministry for Primary Industries
    PO Box 2526
    Wellington 6140.

    Submissions are public information

    Note that all, part, or a summary of your submission may be published on this website. Most often this happens when we issue a document that reviews the submissions received.

    People can also ask for copies of submissions under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). The OIA says we must make the content of submissions available unless we have good reason for withholding it. Those reasons are detailed in sections 6 and 9 of the OIA.

    If you think there are grounds to withhold specific information from publication, make this clear in your submission or contact us. Reasons may include that it discloses commercially sensitive or personal information. However, any decision MPI makes to withhold details can be reviewed by the Ombudsman, who may direct us to release it.

    Official Information Act 1982 – NZ Legislation

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cortez Masto, Rosen Announce $10 Million to Improve Marlette Lake Dam’s Infrastructure and Resiliency

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto

    Las Vegas, Nev. – Today, U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) announced the State of Nevada will receive a $10 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to enhance the safety and functionality of the Marlette Lake Dam, reducing the risk of a dam breach during an earthquake.

    “I am proud to see these federal funds come into our state to make essential improvements to the Marlette Lake Dam and better resist an earthquake,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “These funds will help protect our water supply in Storey County and Carson City while keeping Nevadans safe and healthy. I’ll keep working with Senator Rosen to continue modernizing Nevada’s infrastructure and ensuring Nevadans have the resources they need to recover from natural disasters.”

    “When we invest in Nevada’s infrastructure, we are investing in the safety of our local communities and helping create good-paying jobs,” said Senator Rosen. “I’m proud to announce that $10 million in federal funding is coming to Northern Nevada to upgrade the Marlette Lake Dam and help make it more resilient against future earthquakes. I’ll continue fighting to ensure Nevada gets its fair share of resources to keep our communities safe.”

    Senators Cortez Masto and Rosen worked to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to create good-paying jobs and upgrade Nevada’s infrastructure. They are committed to ensuring Nevadans have access to resources in the face of natural disasters. Both Senators successfully pushed President Biden to issue a Major Disaster Declaration for numerous counties in Nevada in the wake of unprecedented winter storms. Senator Cortez Masto and Rosen also joined their colleagues in asking the White House for federal funds to help Nevada fight wildfires and extreme drought. Cortez Masto is leading legislation protect electric grids at military bases from the effects of extreme weather. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: NZ joins UK initiative for AI safety

    Source: New Zealand Government

    The Government is joining the UK’s Bletchley Declaration on Artificial Intelligence (AI) Safety, Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology, and for Digitising Government Judith Collins says.

    “AI used responsibly can be a game changer for New Zealand, supporting productivity, innovation, and economic development,” Ms Collins says

    “The UK’s Bletchley Declaration is an important international agreement which affirms the potential that AI offers for society and for economies. To achieve this, AI must be designed, developed, deployed and used responsibly and safely, and in a manner that is people-focused and can be trusted. 

    “In May we signed the Seoul Ministerial Statement for Advancing AI Safety which, coupled with the Bletchley Declaration and Cabinet’s confirmed approach to AI being in accordance with the OECD’s AI Principles, solidifies our focus on the responsible use of AI.   

    “Important safety standards and pressure will be applied on the international stage, and New Zealand is proud to be part of global efforts towards responsible AI.” 

    The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has developed an initial cross-portfolio which focuses on policy changes, while the Department of Internal Affairs’ Government Chief Digital Officer is leading work to support public sector agencies to explore safe use of AI for efficiency and service delivery improvements.  

    “The Government will next year consult publicly on a national AI strategy to encourage greater use of AI to deliver better results for New Zealanders,” Ms Collins says.

    “I am confident that all the work under way will form a coherent approach to AI in New Zealand – delivering greater productivity, innovation and growing New Zealand’s economy to benefit all New Zealanders,” Ms Collins says.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: G20 meetings in the United States

    Source: Australian Treasurer

    I will join key economic ministers and central bank governors from the world’s most significant economies at the G20, International Monetary Fund and World Bank annual meetings over the coming days in Washington DC.

    Australia is not immune from the volatility and vulnerability which characterises the global economy.

    The risk of further escalation in the Middle East threatens a resurgence in oil prices and casts a dark shadow over the global outlook.

    Conflict in the Middle East compounds the pressures already coming at us from the war in Ukraine, the slowdown in China, persistent global inflation, tepid global growth and sharp movements on stock markets.

    There is always a premium on responsible economic management and engagement but especially now, with all this uncertainty around the world.

    This is a really critical time to confer with colleagues and counterparts.

    There will be in‑depth discussions on the global economy, the energy transformation, economic security and reform of our multilateral institutions.

    This will include meetings with:

    • New Japanese Finance Minister Katsonobu Kato, who I will meet for the first time;
    • US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, for our sixth bilateral;
    • Chair of the US Federal Reserve Jerome Powell;
    • Director of President Biden’s National Economic Council Lael Brainard;
    • South Korean Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Choi Sang‑Mok; and
    • Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland.

    I will participate in discussions as part of the G20 Taskforce on a Global Mobilisation Against Climate Change. Our focus will be on attracting the capital we need to create new jobs and opportunities in the transformation to cleaner and cheaper energy.

    I’ll also have an opportunity to be briefed on Australia’s interests in the United States by Ambassador Kevin Rudd.

    Responsible economic management is a defining feature of the Albanese Labor Government in these uncertain times.

    Our Budget surpluses aren’t an end in themselves, they help in the fight against inflation, provide room for our priorities and they help build buffers against some of this global volatility.

    Getting inflation down, helping with the cost of living, repairing the Budget and reforming our economy are the essential components of our strategy and we are making welcome progress.

    In a little over two years we have halved inflation, created a million new jobs, got real wages growing again, provided tax relief to every taxpayer, delivered the first back‑to‑back surpluses in two decades, avoided $150 billion of inherited debt and saved tens of billions of dollars in interest costs.

    These meetings will provide important perspectives on the global outlook and allow us to make further progress at home and with our key international partners.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Child protection caseworkers and government sign historic deal

    Source: New South Wales Premiere

    Published: 23 October 2024

    Released by: Minister for Families and Communities

    The NSW Government and the Public Service Association (PSA) have signed a reform agreement to deliver an immediate $8,283 pay increase for new caseworkers and improve rates of pay, roles and conditions for the state’s child protection workforce.

    The agreement covers more than 2,000 public sector caseworkers who do one of the most important jobs in the state, keeping vulnerable children safe.

    Under the reform agreement:

    • Child protection caseworkers will receive a 4 per cent pay increase this year, backdated to 1 July 2024, plus 0.5 per cent in superannuation. This totals 8 per cent in the first two years of the Labor Government;
    • The commencing rate for new child protection caseworkers in 2024-25 has been lifted by $8,283, including the 4 per cent;
    • A standalone child protection worker classification will be established for the first time in NSW history (currently child protection workers are under the general classification structure which covers nearly 80,000 workers);
    • The NSW Government and the PSA will enter into a reform process to update role descriptions and examine specific conditions such assafe working allocation guidelines;
    • At the conclusion of the reform process a three-year pay agreement will be made from 2025-26 onwards under a new Child Protection Award.

    This agreement delivers on a promise by the NSW Government to better support the vital work caseworkers do and consigns the former Coalition government’s punitive public sector wages cap to history.

    The NSW Government is also undertaking significant structural reform of the child protection system following years of neglect under the former government.

    The government will ban the use of unaccredited emergency accommodation for vulnerable children in the foster care system from March next year, with the government already achieving a 72 per cent reduction in the number of these arrangements since November 2023.

    The 2024-25 NSW Budget has invested $224 million in funding that will allow the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) to: 

    • re-enter the market as a foster care provider and expand the recruitment of DCJ emergency foster carers to include longer-term carers,
    • introduce government-run intensive and professional foster care models,
    • deliver government-run residential care for children where non-government providers are unable to offer stable placements,
    • ensure children living in residential care are supported by high quality, accredited providers, and
    • commence recruiting family time workers and additional caseworkers to undertake carer authorisation assessments. 

    These initial measures will help rebuild the broken out-of-home care system and ensure that more children grow up in safe and loving homes in NSW. 

    Minister for Families and Communities, Kate Washington said:

    “Child protection caseworkers have one of the most challenging and important jobs in the world, keeping vulnerable children safe.

    “When we came into government, we inherited a broken child protection system with a workforce walking out the door because they hadn’t felt valued in years.

    “I have seen firsthand the incredible difference these workers make to children and families, and I hope that this agreement will encourage more caseworkers to take up positions with DCJ.

    “I thank the PSA and their hardworking members for their advocacy and commitment to keeping children in NSW safe.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Improving flood resilience around singleton

    Source: New South Wales Premiere

    Published: 23 October 2024

    Released by: Minister for Regional Transport and Roads

    The Singleton Local Government Area has received $7 million in funding from the Albanese and Minns Governments to help improve the resilience of Kilfoyles Bridge and Stanhope Road ahead of future flood events.

    The funds, provided through the Regional Roads Transport Recovery Package, will go towards:

    • Raising Stanhope Road at Elderslie; and
    • The betterment of Kilfoyles Bridge and approaches on Luskintyre Road with a two-lane concrete structure.

    Work to raise the road level along a one kilometer section of Stanhope Road is already underway and will involve major culvert upgrades to better manage drainage and improve access to the route during future rainfalls.

    The funding also covers raising Kilfoyles Bridge and approaches on Luskintyre Road by at least 2.2 metres, and upgrading the bridge to a two-lane concrete structure with a higher bridge deck and scour protection. This work is expected to start in November 2024.

    The improvements will help reduce the likelihood of road and bridge closures during severe weather and reduce costs for ongoing repairs and maintenance.

    These upgrades are jointly funded through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

    Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Emergency Management Jenny McAllister:

    “We are working with the Minns Government and regional councils to ensure communities have resilient infrastructure they can rely on every day, but particularly in times of crisis.”

    “Upgraded roads and bridges will help residents stay connected during flooding and improve access to emergency services.

    “By raising the road and increasing the capacity of culverts, these projects will also reduce turbulence and help flood water escape quickly.”

    Quotes attributable to Member for Hunter Dan Repacholi:

    “We’ve seen over the last few years the devastation that constant rain and flooding has had on our communities and on our vital infrastructure.

    “Keeping our roads and bridges open during flood events is vital to stop communities being isolated.

    “It’s all about building back better and it’s about the Albanese Labor Government working with the states and the local government so that we can build back better and give people the future they need.”

    Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison:

    “This key investment by the Minns and Albanese Labor Governments will improve Singleton’s resilience to floods.

    “Workers, students, tourists, freight operators and other residents will be able to continue to go about their business, get to education and medical appointments with less inconvenience and disruption during disasters.

    “This will reduce their reliance on Surf Life Saving and the State Emergency Service (SES), particularly for residents of smaller communities like Lambs Valley and Stanhope.

    Quotes attributable to NSW Labor’s spokesperson for Upper Hunter Emily Suvaal:

    “These flood resilience projects will keep communities better connected during disasters while importantly protecting lives and livelihoods across the Upper Hunter.

    “It’s great to see all three levels of government working together to deliver projects that make such a big difference to our regional communities.”

    Quotes attributable to Singleton Council Mayor Sue Moore:

    “I’m very pleased to have State and Federal Governments working together to improve access in times of flooding for Singleton rural communities.”

    Quotes attributable to Singleton Council General Manager Justin Fitzpatrick-Barr:

    “Stanhope Road and Kilfoyles Bridge form an important transport route for the community and agricultural businesses but in times of flooding, they become inundated and unpassable for days at a time.

    “By upgrading and raising the level of this road and bridge, we’ll keep our community connected during future flooding disasters.

    “We’re extremely grateful to the Australian and NSW governments for their support to deliver these integral infrastructure projects for Singleton.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Time’s Running Out! Louisiana Non-Profits: SBA Deadline for Hurricane Francine Property Damage Aid Nears

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    “As communities across the Southeast continue to recover and rebuild after Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the SBA remains focused on its mission to provide support to small businesses to help stabilize local economies, even in the face of diminished disaster funding,” said Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman. “If your business has sustained physical damage, or you’ve lost inventory, equipment or revenues, the SBA will help you navigate the resources available and work with you at our recovery centers or with our customer service specialists, in person and online, so you can fully submit your disaster loan application and be ready to receive financial relief as soon as funds are replenished.” 

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Francisco Sánchez Jr., associate administrator for the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the Small Business Administration, today reminded Louisiana private nonprofit organizations of the Nov. 22, deadline to apply for an SBA federal disaster loan for property damage caused by Hurricane Francine that occurred Sept. 9-12. Private nonprofits that provide essential services of a governmental nature are eligible for assistance.

    According to Sánchez, eligible private nonprofits of any size may apply for SBA federal disaster loans of up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets.

    In addition, SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help eligible private nonprofits meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic Injury Disaster Loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that cannot be paid because of the disaster’s impact. Economic injury assistance is available regardless of whether the private nonprofit suffered any property damage. Private nonprofits have until June 23, 2025, to apply for an SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan.

    “SBA’s disaster loan program offers an important advantage–the chance to incorporate measures that can reduce the risk of future damage,” Sánchez continued. “Work with contractors and mitigation professionals to strengthen your property and take advantage of the opportunity to request additional SBA disaster loan funds for these proactive improvements.”

    These low-interest federal disaster loans are available in Ascension, Assumption, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Washington and West Feliciana parishes.

    The interest rate is 3.25 percent with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    Interest does not begin to accrue until 12 months from the date of the first disaster loan disbursement. SBA disaster loan repayment begins 12 months from the date of the first disbursement.

    On October 15, 2024, it was announced that funds for the Disaster Loan Program have been fully expended. While no new loans can be issued until Congress appropriates additional funding, we remain committed to supporting disaster survivors. Applications will continue to be accepted and processed to ensure individuals and businesses are prepared to receive assistance once funding becomes available.

    Applicants are encouraged to submit their loan applications promptly for review in anticipation of future funding.

    Applicants may apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at SBA.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration
    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit http://www.sba.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: NSW invites technology and AI solutions to improve planning assessments

    Source: New South Wales Premiere

    Published: 23 October 2024

    Released by: Minister for Planning and Public Spaces

    The Minns Labor Government is calling on the best and brightest in developing Artificial Intelligence (AI) and technology tools to improve the NSW Planning Portal and speed up assessment timeframes to deliver more homes, jobs and infrastructure.

    The NSW Planning Portal processes all the state’s Development Applications (DA) as well as Complying Development Certificates (CDC) and Concurrence and Referrals (C&R) for DAs that require state agency advice.

    The NSW Government has launched two Requests for Proposals (RFP) seeking innovative technology and AI solutions to integrate into the Planning Portal as a feature of the Next Generation NSW Planning Portal Ecosystem. The first RFP asks for:

    • Products to improve DA quality and assessment times that can be integrated into the existing Portal
    • Products or services that use AI to provide data analytics and spatial insights
    • Products to strengthen cybersecurity and improve user privacy including document security and certificate forgery

    A second tender seeking a range of technology enhancements to upgrade the core platform functionality of the NSW Planning Portal which include:

    • Making this legacy platform more efficient through upgrades to assessment and implementation planning
    • Seeking products that improve security through data processing and document migration and validation
    • Enhancements to the core platform, making it more reliable and improving the user experience

    These two RFPs follow the NSW Government’s $5.6 million investment to introduce AI into the planning system with 16 councils currently trialling AI solutions through the AI Early Adopter Grant.

    To provide a Request for Proposal for the NSW Planning Portal, applicants should respond by 3pm on Friday 1 November: NSW Planning Portal – Pega Upgrade – SR00252 | buy.nsw

    To provide a Request for Proposal for the Next Generation NSW Planning Portal ecosystem applicants should respond by 3pm on Monday 4 November: Next Generation NSW Planning Portal Ecosystem – SR00132 | buy.nsw

    Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

    “The NSW Planning Portal services millions of people, it should be utilising the best technological platforms available to us.

    “AI can assist planners to determine DAs much faster and that means faster assessments for housing across NSW.

    “We are also looking for solutions to improve the core technology of the Planning Portal to improve user experience.

    “The Minns Labor Government is bringing the planning system into the 21st century.

    “Our Early Adopter AI grant Program has already seen 16 councils commence technology trials to help their planners free up valuable time and energy to improve assessment times. This next round of technology enhancements will bring us even closer to the future of digital assessment in the planning system.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ERIE COUNTY – Governor Shapiro, Agriculture Secretary Redding to Announce Significant Investment in Local Potato Farm and Fry Company

    Source: US State of Pennsylvania

    October 23, 2024 – Waterford, PA

    ADVISORY – ERIE COUNTY – Governor Shapiro, Agriculture Secretary Redding to Announce Significant Investment in Local Potato Farm and Fry Company

    Governor Josh Shapiro and Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding will join Troyer, Inc. to announce the Commonwealth’s significant new investment in its organic farm fry company, Folkland Foods, to build out a state-of-the-art organic potato fry manufacturing plant, creating 50 new local jobs in the first three years.

    Folkland Foods is a start-up organic food company based in Erie County and will continue the Troyer family’s rich legacy and impact in the northwestern Pennsylvania snack foods industry.

    The Shapiro Administration’s Economic Development Strategy puts agriculture front and center – with the Governor’s 2024-25 budget making critical investment to support and attract new agricultural businesses and build the future of American agriculture right here in Pennsylvania.

    WHO:
    Governor Josh Shapiro
    Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding
    Zachary Troyer, Co-Founder of Folkland Foods
    Brian Garlick, Chief Operating Officer of Folkland Foods

    WHEN:
    Wednesday, October 23, 2024 at 1:15 PM

    WHERE:
    Folkland Foods
    817 Rt. 97
    Waterford, PA 16441

    LIVE STREAM:
    pacast.com/live/gov
    governor.pa.gov/live/

    RSVP:
    Press who are interested in attending must RSVP with the names and phone numbers for each member of their team to ra-gvgovpress@pa.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney’s Office Announces Guilty Plea of Fruitland Woman in Knife-Assault Case

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Crime News (b)

    ALBUQUERQUE – A Fruitland woman pleaded guilty in federal court to two counts of felony assault for assaulting and seriously injuring another woman with a pocketknife.

    According to court documents, on February 21, 2024, Richelle R. Upshaw, 24, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, assaulted Jane Doe with a knife (considered a “dangerous weapon” under federal law), and that assault resulted in serious bodily injury to Doe’s head and face.

    At sentencing, Upshaw faces up to 20 years in prison. Upon her release from prison, Upshaw will be subject to up to three years of supervised release. She must also make criminal restitution to the victim of her stabbing.

    U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

    The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from Navajo Nation Department of Investigation and Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Zachary C. Jones is prosecuting the case.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sinema, Kelly Announce Nearly $107 Million Investment to Strengthen Gila River Indian Community’s Water Supply

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Kyrsten Sinema (Arizona)
    Law shaped by Sinema and Kelly provides the necessary funding for the agreement which has the potential to create system conservation of over 73,000 acre-feet within the next 10 years for the Gila River Indian Community
    WASHINGTON – Arizona Senators Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly announced approximately $107,000,000 coming to the Gila River Indian Community to fulfill long-term water conservation agreements critical to Arizona’s water future and the long-term health of the Colorado River System. 
    The $107 million – allocated through the Sinema and Kelly shaped Inflation Reduction Act – will fund three projects for the Gila River Indian Community: $64 million to replace and upgrade irrigation systems on Gila River Farms, $26 million to concrete line more than 7.5 miles of earthen canals in the Blackwater area, and $17 million to construct a regulating reservoir to capture flows that are currently being spilled from the Santan Canal when too much water is accidentally ordered or delivered into the system.
    “Arizona continues to lead the way in water conservation. I’m proud to help secure nearly $107 million for the Gila River Indian Community – a critical step towards securing Arizona, and the entire West’s, water future for generations to come,” said Sinema. 
    “Upgrading irrigation systems and improving water management will help the Gila River Indian Community conserve more water and strengthen Arizona’s resilience to drought,” said Kelly. “These projects and the leadership of the Gila River Indian Community are essential to building a sustainable water future for Arizona, that protects the Colorado River and the communities that rely on it.” 
    “Our congressional champions, especially Senator Sinema, worked hard to include drought relief funding for the Colorado River in the IRA. Their foresight and determination provided us with the resources necessary to launch these projects.  By investing time and energy into careful planning, and in close partnership with our trustee, the Bureau of Reclamation, we were able to not only sign the first Bucket 2 infrastructure investment agreements, but also to break ground on all three of them this month,” said Governor Lewis. He continued, “Arizona is leading the way in combatting drought, and we are proud that we have been able to be the first to put the resources our congressional champions and this Administration made available to us.”
    In June, the U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management announced an initial $700 million investment from the Inflation Reduction Act to support long-term water conservation and protect the health of the Colorado River System. 
    The agreements with the Gila River Indian Community represent the first long-term agreements to be signed and have the potential to create system conservation of over 73,000 acre-feet within the next 10 years. 
    Last year, Sinema secured a nearly $64 million investment to fulfill new water conservation agreements across Arizona – including from tribal communities, local municipalities, and a farm – which will conserve up to 162,710-acre feet of water in Lake Mead through 2026.
    Between Sinema’s bipartisan Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, the Senator has secured more than $12 billion in drought relief and Western water funding that made this investment possible.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Prime Minister warns Russian threat to global stability is accelerating as Putin ramps up attacks on Black Sea

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Russia has stepped up attacks on Ukrainian port infrastructure in the Black Sea, delaying vital aid from reaching Palestinians, and stopping crucial grain supplies from being delivered to the global south.

    • Grain ships collateral damage in the Black Sea as Russian risk appetite increases, UK intelligence shows.
    • Prime Minister calls out Russia’s actions, saying the Black Sea strikes underscore that Putin is willing to risk anything in attempts to force Ukraine into submission.
    • UK and Norway at the forefront of protecting the corridor, funding cutting edge maritime capabilities for Ukraine to ensure grain can reach the global south.

    Russia has stepped up attacks on Ukrainian port infrastructure in the Black Sea, delaying vital aid from reaching Palestinians, and stopping crucial grain supplies from being delivered to the global south.

    The acceleration in attacks coincides with harvest season in Ukraine, a country which remains a major supplier of agricultural produce, crucial for global food security.

    Putin’s almost 1000-day conflict in Ukraine has reduced supplies for some of the world’s most in need and helped drive up food and fuel prices across the globe.

    Now, UK intelligence shows that there has been a noticeable increase in Russian risk appetite when conducting strikes on port infrastructure, with grain ships becoming collateral damage in Russia’s campaign. 

    Those strikes are believed to have delayed the MV SHUI SPIRIT from departing Ukraine while carrying vegetable oil destined for the World Food Programme in Palestine.

    It has also hit ships loaded with grain destined for Egypt, two vessels carrying corn – which Ukraine is the second biggest supplier to China of – and World Food Programme shipments bound for southern Africa. 

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

    “Russia’s indiscriminate strikes on ports in the Black Sea underscore that Putin is willing to gamble on global food security in his attempts to force Ukraine into submission. 

    ‘’In doing so, he is harming millions of vulnerable people across Africa, Asia and the Middle East, to try and gain the upper hand in his barbaric war. 

    “In recent weeks, we have seen reporting that the Kremlin has been forced to turn to North Korea to provide troops to fuel its self-destructing war machine, an embarrassing and desperate act, and now they are intensifying attacks on areas of Ukraine that support the global south with much-needed food. 

    “Russia has no respect for the norms and laws that govern our international system. Not only was their illegal invasion a blatant attack on the principles of the UN Charter, but the way they have executed their war in Ukraine shows no respect for human life, or the consequences of their invasion across the world.” 

    According to Defence Intelligence, between 05 – 14 October 2024, at least four merchant vessels have been struck by Russian munitions. 

    These include: 

    1.       05 October 2024 – Yuzhny port – MV PARESA (St Kitts and Nevis flagged) was almost certainly the target of the strike that damaged it. Following the attack, the Russian MoD released a video of what they say shows the vessel unloading containerised cargo which they likely perceive to be weapons. 

    2.       07 October 2024 – Odesa port – MV  OPTIMA (Palau flagged). There is a realistic possibility that the vessel was collateral damage as a result of a strike on port infrastructure and was not the direct target of the attack. MV OPTIMA was also likely further damaged in a strike on port infrastructure on 15 October 2024. 

    3.       08 October 2024 – Chronomorsk port MV SHUI SPIRIT (Panama flagged).Ukraine’s Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Vitalii Koval stated the MV SHUI SPIRIT was carrying sunflower oil as part of a UN shipment. However, the vessel was a containerised cargo carrier and noting the earlier strike on MV OPTIMA, there is a realistic possibility that this vessel was also the target of the strike as opposed to collateral damage. 

    4.       14 October 2024 – Odesa port – NS MOON (Belize flagged) was likely damaged in strikes on port infrastructure. The vessel was likely collateral damage in strikes on port infrastructure. 

    The announcement comes as this government announces a further £2.26 billion for Ukraine as part of the UK’s contribution to the G7 Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) Loans to Ukraine scheme.  

    Through the scheme, $50 billion from G7 countries will be delivered to Ukraine for its military, budget and reconstruction needs. The loan will be repaid using the extraordinary profits on immobilised Russian sovereign assets. 

    The UK has been at the forefront of work to protect the maritime corridor in the Black Sea. The Maritime Capability Coalition – led by the UK and Norway – is focused on delivering a future naval fighting force for Ukraine and has been instrumental in helping to equip Ukraine’s navy with items such as uncrewed surface vessels, better known as maritime drones, which will protect the corridor. 

    The UK is donating an additional £120 million toward the Maritime Capability Coalition and is seeking partners to co-fund delivery of hundreds more maritime drones (aerial and uncrewed boats), as well as surveillance radars to protect the Grain Corridor. 

    And together, the UK and Norway are seeking a further £100 million to co-fund hundreds more. 

    Recent gifting packages have provided dozens of amphibious all-terrain vehicles and raiding craft, hundreds of anti-ship missiles for coastal defence and river operations, and hundreds of thousands of rounds of ammunition to accompany the machine guns we have provided. 

    Russia’s brutal and indiscriminate attacks have not been limited to the Black Sea, Putin’s forces have also been targeting civilian infrastructure in Ukraine throughout this year, aiming to make life intolerable for the Ukrainian people, especially as the country heads into winter. 

    They have attacked thousands of civilian targets, including hospitals and energy infrastructure. 

    Open-source intelligence shows there has been 1,522 attacks on Ukraine’s health care system since February 2022, 774 attacks damaged or destroyed hospitals and clinics, and 234 health workers have been killed.

    Updates to this page

    Published 22 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Press release: Prime Minister warns Russian threat to global stability is accelerating as Putin ramps up attacks on Black Sea

    Source: United Kingdom – Prime Minister’s Office 10 Downing Street

    Russia has stepped up attacks on Ukrainian port infrastructure in the Black Sea, delaying vital aid from reaching Palestinians, and stopping crucial grain supplies from being delivered to the global south.

    • Grain ships collateral damage in the Black Sea as Russian risk appetite increases, UK intelligence shows.
    • Prime Minister calls out Russia’s actions, saying the Black Sea strikes underscore that Putin is willing to risk anything in attempts to force Ukraine into submission.
    • UK and Norway at the forefront of protecting the corridor, funding cutting edge maritime capabilities for Ukraine to ensure grain can reach the global south.

    Russia has stepped up attacks on Ukrainian port infrastructure in the Black Sea, delaying vital aid from reaching Palestinians, and stopping crucial grain supplies from being delivered to the global south.

    The acceleration in attacks coincides with harvest season in Ukraine, a country which remains a major supplier of agricultural produce, crucial for global food security.

    Putin’s almost 1000-day conflict in Ukraine has reduced supplies for some of the world’s most in need and helped drive up food and fuel prices across the globe.

    Now, UK intelligence shows that there has been a noticeable increase in Russian risk appetite when conducting strikes on port infrastructure, with grain ships becoming collateral damage in Russia’s campaign. 

    Those strikes are believed to have delayed the MV SHUI SPIRIT from departing Ukraine while carrying vegetable oil destined for the World Food Programme in Palestine.

    It has also hit ships loaded with grain destined for Egypt, two vessels carrying corn – which Ukraine is the second biggest supplier to China of – and World Food Programme shipments bound for southern Africa. 

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

    “Russia’s indiscriminate strikes on ports in the Black Sea underscore that Putin is willing to gamble on global food security in his attempts to force Ukraine into submission. 

    ‘’In doing so, he is harming millions of vulnerable people across Africa, Asia and the Middle East, to try and gain the upper hand in his barbaric war. 

    “In recent weeks, we have seen reporting that the Kremlin has been forced to turn to North Korea to provide troops to fuel its self-destructing war machine, an embarrassing and desperate act, and now they are intensifying attacks on areas of Ukraine that support the global south with much-needed food. 

    “Russia has no respect for the norms and laws that govern our international system. Not only was their illegal invasion a blatant attack on the principles of the UN Charter, but the way they have executed their war in Ukraine shows no respect for human life, or the consequences of their invasion across the world.” 

    According to Defence Intelligence, between 05 – 14 October 2024, at least four merchant vessels have been struck by Russian munitions. 

    These include: 

    1.       05 October 2024 – Yuzhny port – MV PARESA (St Kitts and Nevis flagged) was almost certainly the target of the strike that damaged it. Following the attack, the Russian MoD released a video of what they say shows the vessel unloading containerised cargo which they likely perceive to be weapons. 

    2.       07 October 2024 – Odesa port – MV  OPTIMA (Palau flagged). There is a realistic possibility that the vessel was collateral damage as a result of a strike on port infrastructure and was not the direct target of the attack. MV OPTIMA was also likely further damaged in a strike on port infrastructure on 15 October 2024. 

    3.       08 October 2024 – Chronomorsk port MV SHUI SPIRIT (Panama flagged).Ukraine’s Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Vitalii Koval stated the MV SHUI SPIRIT was carrying sunflower oil as part of a UN shipment. However, the vessel was a containerised cargo carrier and noting the earlier strike on MV OPTIMA, there is a realistic possibility that this vessel was also the target of the strike as opposed to collateral damage. 

    4.       14 October 2024 – Odesa port – NS MOON (Belize flagged) was likely damaged in strikes on port infrastructure. The vessel was likely collateral damage in strikes on port infrastructure. 

    The announcement comes as this government announces a further £2.26 billion for Ukraine as part of the UK’s contribution to the G7 Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) Loans to Ukraine scheme.  

    Through the scheme, $50 billion from G7 countries will be delivered to Ukraine for its military, budget and reconstruction needs. The loan will be repaid using the extraordinary profits on immobilised Russian sovereign assets. 

    The UK has been at the forefront of work to protect the maritime corridor in the Black Sea. The Maritime Capability Coalition – led by the UK and Norway – is focused on delivering a future naval fighting force for Ukraine and has been instrumental in helping to equip Ukraine’s navy with items such as uncrewed surface vessels, better known as maritime drones, which will protect the corridor. 

    The UK is donating an additional £120 million toward the Maritime Capability Coalition and is seeking partners to co-fund delivery of hundreds more maritime drones (aerial and uncrewed boats), as well as surveillance radars to protect the Grain Corridor. 

    And together, the UK and Norway are seeking a further £100 million to co-fund hundreds more. 

    Recent gifting packages have provided dozens of amphibious all-terrain vehicles and raiding craft, hundreds of anti-ship missiles for coastal defence and river operations, and hundreds of thousands of rounds of ammunition to accompany the machine guns we have provided. 

    Russia’s brutal and indiscriminate attacks have not been limited to the Black Sea, Putin’s forces have also been targeting civilian infrastructure in Ukraine throughout this year, aiming to make life intolerable for the Ukrainian people, especially as the country heads into winter. 

    They have attacked thousands of civilian targets, including hospitals and energy infrastructure. 

    Open-source intelligence shows there has been 1,522 attacks on Ukraine’s health care system since February 2022, 774 attacks damaged or destroyed hospitals and clinics, and 234 health workers have been killed.

    Updates to this page

    Published 22 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –