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  • MIL-OSI Global: Nobel peace prize was another win for anti-nuclear activists, but much work remains

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Elizabeth Chappell, Researcher Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, The Open University

    The 2024 Nobel peace prize has been awarded to Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese grassroots organisation created by survivors of the US atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. Nihon Hidankyo has provided thousands of witness accounts and public appeals by survivors, who are known as hibakusha, and has sent annual delegations to the UN.

    Their work was commended by the Nobel committee, who decided to award the prize to Nihon Hidankyo “for its efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons and for demonstrating that nuclear weapons must never be used again”.

    Nihon Hidankyo’s co-chair, Toshiyuki Mimaki, said: “I never expected we would win the Nobel peace prize. Now we want to go further and appeal to the world to achieve lasting peace. We are old, but we never give up.”

    There are an estimated 106,000 hibakusha still living in Japan, with many more alive around the world. There are also survivors – and their descendants – of the more than 2,000 nuclear tests that have taken place worldwide since 1945. Some of these people use the term hibakusha to describe themselves.

    This was not the first time the prize had been awarded to a nominee for their efforts towards nuclear disarmament. And it probably won’t be the last.

    In 1985, the prize was awarded to an organisation called the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War. And then, in 1995, the prize was won by Joseph Rotblat, the only scientist to have left the Manhattan Project – the US government’s research project to produce the first atomic bomb – on moral grounds.

    Barack Obama was next in 2009, for his “vision of and work for a world without nuclear weapons”. His administration made efforts to renew the strategic arms reduction treaty with Russia, and Obama became the first US president to visit one of the atomic bombed cities when he made a special trip to Hiroshima in 2016.

    The following year, the prize was won by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) for its “groundbreaking efforts to achieve a treaty-based prohibition of nuclear weapons”. This was a reference to the UN treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons, which from 2017 has outlawed states from participating in any nuclear weapon activities.

    Nihon Hidankyo may not be a household name, but two of its former co-chairs are quite well known internationally. Hiroshima-born Sunao Tsuboi was photographed in one of the few known images to be taken on the day of the bombing.

    Tsuboi and fellow survivor Shigeaki Mori also spoke with Obama on his visit to the city. It is said that Obama’s visit was, in part, triggered by Mori’s research. He had spent 40 years searching for the identities of 12 US prisoners of war who had been killed in the bombing of Hiroshima.

    Another of Nihon Hidankyo’s former co-chairs, Nagasaki-born Sumiteru Taniguchi, spent three-and-a-half years in hospital after the bombing of his city and never fully recovered from his wounds.

    Taniguchi’s story became famous after the publication of his 1984 memoir, The Postman of Nagasaki. The book’s author, Peter Townsend, was a Royal Air Force pilot in the second world war and is known in the UK for his affair with Princess Margaret, sister of the late Queen. The memoir was made into a film in 2022.

    The logic of nuclear deterrence

    We are currently at a time where the threat of nuclear weapons is growing. This was reflected by the committee who, when awarding Nihon Hidankyo with the prize, noted that the “taboo” against their use was “under pressure”.

    Nuclear deterrence relies on the logic of the threat to inflict “unacceptable damage” on the enemy. But nuclear deterrence is not foolproof. What is unacceptable to one adversary may be acceptable to another, depending on the circumstances.

    It’s worth remembering that the 1945 atomic bombings were not, as is commonly believed, the only reason the Japanese surrendered the following week and brought the war to an end. Various factions in the war council had been attempting to find ways to surrender for over a year, and the bombs offered Japan’s Emperor Hirohito a way to save face.

    As M.G. Sheftall, the author of the 2024 book, Hiroshima: The Last Witnesses, has noted:

    The bombs didn’t force the Japanese to surrender, they gave Hirohito the opportunity to surrender … News of the Nagasaki bomb came as they were having a meeting of the imperial war council about what to do about the Soviets coming into the war. It should be known that there was never any special imperial war council meeting after the Hiroshima bomb. That wasn’t considered weighty enough to make everyone drop what they were doing and head to the Imperial Palace.

    The ruins of Nagasaki, Japan, after the atomic bombing of August 9 1945.
    Everett Collection / Shutterstock

    The effects of radiation on the human body were little known in 1945, due to censorship both by the Japanese military and the US occupation that followed. As I was told in an interview with a hibakusha called Keiko Ogura, who was eight when the first bomb was dropped: “No one understood why people were still dying days, weeks, months and years after the attacks – they thought the atomic bomb was poison gas.”

    We now know much more about the devastating consequences of radiation for humans, animals and the environment across generations. However, research is still not widely publicised, with ICAN taking the lead as an international forum for important new findings to be shared and known.

    Let’s hope this year’s award will help inform the world once and for all of the nature of these weapons. As former US president, John F. Kennedy, said in a speech to the UN in 1961: “A nuclear disaster, spread by wind and water and fear, could well engulf the great and the small, the rich and the poor, the committed and the uncommitted alike.”

    Next year will mark the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings. This prize should help ban what Kennedy described as the “sword of Damocles” that still threatens life on earth.

    Elizabeth Chappell does not work for or receive funding from any external organisation.

    – ref. Nobel peace prize was another win for anti-nuclear activists, but much work remains – https://theconversation.com/nobel-peace-prize-was-another-win-for-anti-nuclear-activists-but-much-work-remains-241160

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Dietary restriction or good genes: new study tries to unpick which has a greater impact on lifespan

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Bradley Elliott, Senior Lecturer in Physiology, University of Westminster

    As people who research ageing like to quip: the best thing you can do to increase how long you live is to pick good parents. After all, it has long been recognised that longer-lived people tend to have longer-lived parents and grandparents, suggesting that genetics influence longevity.

    Complicating the picture, however, is that we know that the sum of your lifestyle, specifically diet and exercise, also significantly influences your health into older age and how long you live. What contribution lifestyle versus genetics makes is an open question that a recent study in Nature has shed new light on.

    Scientists have long known that reducing calorie intake can make animals live longer. In the 1930s, it was noted that rats fed reduced calories lived longer than rats who could eat as much as they wanted. Similarly, people who are more physically active tend to live longer. But specifically linking single genes to longevity was until recently a controversial one.

    While studying the lifespan of the tiny worm C elegans at the University of California, San Francisco, Cynthia Kenyon found that small changes to the gene that controls the way that cells detect and respond to nutrients around them led to the worms doubling their lifespan. This raises new questions: if we know that genetics and lifestyle affect how long you live, which one is more important? And how do they interact?

    To try to tease out the effects of genetics versus lifestyle, the new study in Nature examined different models of caloric restriction in 960 mice. The researchers specifically looked at classical experimental models of caloric restriction (either 20% or 40% fewer calories than control mice), or intermittent fasting of one or two days without food (as intermittent fasting is popular in people looking to see the positive benefits of caloric restriction).

    Because we now know that small genetic variations affect ageing, the researchers specifically used genetically diverse mice. This is important for two reasons. First, as laboratory studies on mice are normally performed on genetically very (very!) similar mice, this allowed the researchers to tease out the effects of both diet and genetic variables would have on longevity.

    Second, humans are highly diverse, meaning that studies on genetically near-identical mice don’t often translate into humanity’s high genetic diversity.

    The headline finding was that genetics appeared to play a larger role in lifespan than any of the dietary restriction interventions. Long-lived types of mice were still longer lived despite dietary changes.

    Diet counts, but genes count more

    And while shorter-lived mice did show improvements as a result of dietary restrictions, they didn’t catch up to their longer-lived peers. This suggests that there’s truth to the “pick good parents” joke.

    Caloric restriction models still increased lifespans across all the types of mice, with the 40% restriction group having improved average and maximum lifespans compared with the 20% group.

    And the 20% group showed improvements in both group average and maximum length of lives compared with the control group. It’s just the effects of genetics were larger than the effect of the dietary interventions.

    While all the caloric restriction models resulted in increased lifespan in the mice on average, in the most extreme caloric restriction model tested (40% less group) changes that could be seen as physical harms were observed. These included reduced immune function and losses in muscle mass, which outside of a predator- and germ-free laboratory environment could affect health and longevity.

    There are some important caveats in studies like this. First, it’s not known if these results apply to humans.

    As with most caloric restriction research in mice, the restricted feeding groups were fed 20% or 40% less than a control group who ate as much as they wanted. In humans, that’d be like assuming people eating every meal every day at a bottomless buffet is “normal”. And people who do not eat from limitless trays of food are “restricted feeding”. That’s not an exact parallel to how humans live and eat.

    Second, although exercise wasn’t controlled in any way in this study, most groups did similar amounts of running in their in-cage running wheels except the 40% caloric restriction group who ran significantly more.

    The researchers suggested that this extra exercise in the 40% group was the mice constantly hunting for more food. But as this group did so much more exercise than the others, it could also mean that positive effects of increased exercise were also seen in this group alongside their caloric restriction.

    So, while we can’t pick our parents or change the genes we inherit from them, it is interesting to know that specific genetic variations play a significant role in the maximum age we can aspire to.

    The genetic cards we’re dealt dictate how long we can expect to live. Just as important in this study, however, lifestyle interventions such as diet and exercise that aim to improve lifespan should be effective regardless of the genes we have.

    Bradley Elliott receives funding from the Physiological Society, the British Society for Research on Ageing, the Altitude Centre, and private philanthropic individuals, and has consulted for industry and government on longevity research. He is on the Board of Trustees of the British Society for Research on Ageing.

    – ref. Dietary restriction or good genes: new study tries to unpick which has a greater impact on lifespan – https://theconversation.com/dietary-restriction-or-good-genes-new-study-tries-to-unpick-which-has-a-greater-impact-on-lifespan-241050

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: A new generation of telescopes will probe the ‘unknown unknowns’ that could transform our knowledge of the universe

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Richard Massey, Professor of extragalactic astrophysics (dark matter and cosmology), Durham University

    Illustration of the Extremely Large Telescope, currently under construction in Chile’s Atacama desert. ESO, CC BY

    In recent decades, we’ve learnt huge amounts about the universe and its history. The rapidly developing technology of telescopes – both on Earth and in space – has been a key part of this process, and those that are due to start operating over the next two decades should push the boundaries of our understanding of cosmology much further.

    All observatories have a list of science objectives before they switch on, but it is their unexpected discoveries that can have the biggest impact. Many surprise advances in cosmology were driven by new technology, and the next telescopes have powerful capabilities.

    Still, there are gaps, such as a lack of upcoming space telescopes for ultraviolet and visible light astronomy. Politics and national interests have slowed scientific progress. Financial belts are tightening at even the most famous observatories.

    This is article is part of our series Cosmology in crisis? which uncovers the greatest problems facing cosmologists today – and discusses the implications of solving them.

    The biggest new telescopes are being built in the mountains of Chile. The Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) will house a mirror the size of four tennis courts, under a huge dome in the Atacama desert.

    Reflecting telescopes like ELT work by using a primary mirror to collect light from the night sky, then reflecting it off other mirrors to a camera. Larger mirrors collect more light and see fainter objects.

    The Extremely Large Telescope under construction atop the Cerro Amazones peak in northern Chile.

    Another ground-based telescope under construction in Chile is the Vera C. Rubin telescope. Rubin’s camera is the largest ever built: the size of a small car and weighing about three tonnes. Its 3,200 megapixels will photograph the whole sky every three days to spot moving objects. Over the course of 10 years, these photographs will be combined to form a massive time-lapse video of the universe.

    Astronomy used to be a physically demanding job, requiring travel to remote telescopes in dark sites –- but many astronomers began working from home long before COVID. In the late 20th century, major ground observatories started to put in place technology to allow astronomers to control telescopes for observations at night, even when they were not there in person. Remote observing is now commonplace, carried out via the internet.

    Expect the unexpected

    The view of any telescope on the ground is limited, though, even if it’s on top of a mountain. Launching telescopes into space can get around these limitations.

    The Hubble Space Telescope’s operational history began when the space shuttle lifted it above the atmosphere on April 25 1990. Hubble got the full 1960s sci-fi treatment: a rocket to launch it, gyroscopes to point it, and electronic cameras instead of photographic film. But one plan fell through: for Hubble to host a commuting astronaut-astronomer, working decidedly away from home.

    Hubble was designed to take a census of the Milky Way and its neighbouring galaxies. Its successor, the James Webb Space Telescope, would study even more distant galaxies.

    Both telescopes have revolutionised our understanding of the universe, but in ways nobody foresaw. Hubble’s original plans mention none of the discoveries now seen as its greatest hits: plumes of water erupting from Jupiter’s moon Europa, the vortex around black holes, invisible dark matter that holds the universe together, and the dark energy that is pulling it apart.

    The Hubble Space Telescope being deployed from the space shuttle in April 1990.
    Nasa/Smithsonian Institution/Lockheed Corporation

    Webb, launched on December 25 2021, now spends a third of its time looking at planets around other stars that weren’t even known about when it was designed.

    The stated goal of an expensive telescope is usually just a sales pitch to space agencies, governments and (shhh…) taxpayers. The Webb telescope should achieve its original science goals, but astronomers have always known that seeing further, finer or in more colours can achieve so much more. The unexpected discoveries by telescopes are often more significant than the science objectives stated at the outset.

    Taking the long view

    For scientists, it’s a relief that telescopes go beyond their brief, because Hubble and Webb both took more than 25 years from napkin to launch. In that time, new scientific questions arise.

    Building a large space telescope typically takes about two decades. The Chandra and XMM-Newton space telescopes took 23 years and 15 years to build, respectively. They were designed to observe X-rays coming from hot gas around black holes and galaxy clusters, and were launched very close together in 1999.

    They were followed by Japan’s Hitomi X-ray satellite, which took 18 years to build, and the German eRosita instrument on Russia’s Spektr-RG space observatory, which took 20 years.

    Similar timescales apply to the European Space Agency’s Hipparcos and Gaia space telescopes, which have mapped all the stars in the Milky Way. The Cobe and Planck missions to study the microwave-light afterglow of the Big Bang also took two decades. Precise dates depend how you count, and a few exceptions have been “faster, better, cheaper”, but national space agencies are generally risk averse and slow when developing these projects.

    Chandra and XMM-Newton were launched to study X-rays from hot gas around black holes.
    ESO, Esa/Hubble, M. Kornmesser, CC BY

    The latest space telescopes are therefore millennials. They were designed at a time when astronomers had measured the universe’s newborn expansion following the Big Bang, and also its old-age, accelerating expansion. Their main goal now is to fill the gap –- because, surprisingly, interpolations from early times to late times don’t meet in the middle.

    The measured rates for the expansion of the universe are inconsistent, as are results for the clumpiness of matter in the cosmos. Both measurements create challenges for our theories of how the universe evolved.

    Observing the middle age of the universe requires telescopes operating at long wavelengths, because light from distant galaxies is stretched by the time it reaches us. So, Webb has infrared zoom cameras, while the European Space Agency’s Euclid space telescope, launched in 2023, and Nasa’s Nancy Grace Roman telescope, which is set to launch in 2026, both have infrared wide-angle views.

    Three buses come along at once

    Most stars shine in ultraviolet and infrared colours that are blocked by the Earth’s atmosphere, as well as the colours our eyes evolved to see.

    Extra colours are useful. For example, we can weigh stars on the other side of our galaxy because massive stars are bright in infrared, while smaller ones are faint – and they stay that way throughout their lifetimes. However, we know where stars are being born because only young stars emit ultraviolet light.

    In addition, independent measurements of the same thing are vital for rigorous science. Infrared telescopes, for example, can work together and have already made surprising discoveries. But it’s not great for diversity that the Webb, Euclid and Roman space telescopes all see infrared colours.

    Hubble’s visible light camera has just been switched off due to budget cuts. Nasa will not swing back to ultraviolet wavelengths until the 2030s, with the Ultraviolet Explorer and Habitable Worlds Observatory.

    Earthly politics gets in the way, too. Data from China’s Hubble-class space telescope, Xuntian, is unlikely to be shared internationally. And in protest at Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, in February 2022 Germany switched off its eRosita X-ray instrument that had been operating perfectly, in collaboration with Russia, a million miles from Earth.

    Cheap commercial launches may save the day. Euclid was to have lifted off on a Russian Soyuz rocket from a European Space Agency spaceport in French Guiana. When Russia ended operations there in tit-for-tat reprisals, Euclid’s launch was successfully switched at the last minute to a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

    If large telescopes can also be folded inside shoebox-size “cubesat” satellites, the lower cost would make it viable for them to fail. Tolerating risk creates a virtuous circle that makes missions even cheaper.

    Telescopes are also being tried in innovative locations such as giant helium balloons and aeroplanes. One day, they might also be deployed on the Moon, where the environment is advantageous for certain types of astronomy.

    But perhaps the most unusual telescope technology, which may bring the most unexpected discoveries, is gravitational wave detectors. Gravitational waves are not part of the electromagnetic spectrum, so we can’t see them. They are distortions, or “ripples”, in spacetime caused by some of the most violent and energetic processes in the universe. These might include a collision between two neutron stars (dense objects formed when massive stars run out of fuel), or a neutron star merging with a black hole.

    If telescopes are our eyes, gravitational wave detectors are our ears. But again, current gravitational wave detectors on Earth are mere dry runs for the ones astronomers will ultimately deploy in space.

    Asked what the next generation of observatories will discover, I have no idea. And that’s a good thing. The best science experiments shouldn’t just tell us about the things we expect to find, but also about the unknown unknowns.

    Richard Massey receives funding from the UK Space Agency to support Euclid, and leads UK involvement in the SuperBIT balloon-born telescope.

    – ref. A new generation of telescopes will probe the ‘unknown unknowns’ that could transform our knowledge of the universe – https://theconversation.com/a-new-generation-of-telescopes-will-probe-the-unknown-unknowns-that-could-transform-our-knowledge-of-the-universe-240078

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The Apprentice: released so close to the polls, this Trump biopic is inevitably political

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Michelle Bentley, Professor of International Relations, Royal Holloway University of London

    The Apprentice – a new film dramatising Donald Trump’s business career during the 1970s and 80s – is the latest in a presidential election full of controversy.

    The movie charts Trump’s (Sebastian Stan) professional rise from an awkward nobody to hotshot real-estate tycoon. Trump’s Pygmalion-like transformation is credited to his friendship with Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong). Cohn was an infamous prosecutor who worked with Senator Joseph McCarthy during the Communist and Lavender (homosexual) scares, and as a political fixer for Richard Nixon.

    The key storyline is that Trump becomes Cohn’s apprentice, learning underhanded ways of business and Machiavellian deal-making. Other figures said to have influenced Trump’s career, such as political adviser Roger Stone, get only cameos at best.

    Trump does not look good. He is portrayed as vain, using amphetamines as diet pills and getting plastic surgery including liposuction and a scalp reduction. Trump rejects his alcoholic brother and later Cohn, who dies from AIDS in social disgrace.

    Trump is also shown to rape his then-wife, Ivana (Maria Bakalova) – a scene which made headlines after the movie’s Cannes Film Festival premiere earlier this year. The rape claim was made during the couple’s divorce proceedings, although Ivana said afterwards that she did not consider the incident “rape” in a criminal sense.

    Director Ali Abbasi says this depiction isn’t a take-down of the former president but a more nuanced exploration of Trump’s character. Indeed, there is sympathy for Trump – for example, by detailing the emotional pressure from his father.

    The film explores how this experience fuelled Trump’s obsession with winning, which is cultivated by Cohn and his three rules of success: “attack, attack, attack”, “deny everything” and “never admit defeat”. The film seeks to get inside Trump’s mindset, not only as a businessperson, but unpicking what drove him in the White House, as well as the election he’s now fighting.

    Some have criticised this approach for being too soft on Trump. A review in The Guardian called the film “obtuse and irrelevant”. A further concern is that presenting Trump as a “winner” could actually be seen to legitimise amoral business practices as successful, especially given that Trump’s later six bankruptcies are not clearly mentioned.

    The Apprentice is also a deeper commentary on America. Another character comments that Cohn’s three rules also describe US foreign policy. The film raises big questions about the US, not least where Cohn repeatedly highlights what he identifies as the country’s virtues, and justifies his (sometimes illegal) actions as upholding these. The audience is left to consider what shapes America and its foreign policy – and what may be toxic about this.

    Will the film influence the upcoming election?

    The Apprentice’s screenwriter, Gabriel Sherman, insists the movie is not designed “to influence people’s minds”. Yet the film’s release so close to the polls means it is inevitably political.

    The Apprentice is unlikely to radically shift the electoral needle. Trump’s negative portrayal may make some voters on the fence question his suitability for high office. But beyond this, the film will reinforce what people already thought.

    Pro-Trumpers won’t like the movie, but this upset will likely just give oxygen to their support. Those against Trump will also be able to feel their opinion has been affirmed, even by those who would have wanted the film to take a harder line. Although it’s perhaps uncertain whether anyone who dislikes Trump will want to spend two hours watching even more of him than they already have in this election.

    While the film likely won’t influence the final outcome, it is still a major marker in this election thanks to the huge controversy around it. Concern over its divisive portrait of Trump meant the movie took five years to reach production. Clint Eastwood turned down the option to direct due to the perceived business risk involved. Distribution also took time to secure – a situation Abbasi describes as a “boycott or censorship”.

    Distribution problems were also exacerbated by legal threats. After Cannes (where the film received an eight-minute ovation), Trump’s legal team issued a cease-and-desist letter. Communications Director for the Trump election campaign, Steven Cheung, said the film was “garbage” and “pure fiction”, constituting election interference.

    Strong resistance also came from billionaire and close Trump associate, Dan Snyder, who was involved in the film’s financing, thinking it would paint a positive picture of the presidential hopeful. Snyder later sought to block the film’s release after seeing a preview.

    Controversy has only raised the movie’s profile. And while people will watch it for very different political reasons, some will buy a ticket purely because this film is now a standout event in one of the most contentious US elections in history.


    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.

    Michelle Bentley 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. The Apprentice: released so close to the polls, this Trump biopic is inevitably political – https://theconversation.com/the-apprentice-released-so-close-to-the-polls-this-trump-biopic-is-inevitably-political-241077

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why America is buying up the Premier League – and what it means for the future of football

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Kieran Maguire, Senior Teacher in Accountancy and member of Football Industries Group, University of Liverpool

    When the Premier League broke away from the rest of English football in 1992, its 22 clubs generated £205 million in its debut season, and the average player earned £2,050 a week. Thirty years later, despite having two fewer clubs, the league’s revenue had increased by 2,850% to £6.1 billion and the average player earned £93,000 a week.

    At the heart of this extraordinary growth is an American revolution. In the Premier League’s inaugural season, football was still in recovery from the horrors of the stadium disasters at Hillsborough and Heysel. Owners tended to be from the local area and with a business background. The only foreign owner was Sam Hamman at Wimbledon, a Lebanese millionaire who bought the club on a whim having reportedly been much more interested in tennis. The season ended with Manchester United (under Alex Ferguson) winning the English game’s top league for the first time in 26 years.

    Now, if the bid for Everton by the Friedkin Group (TFG) is ratified, 11 of the 20 Premier League clubs will be controlled or part-owned by American investors. The US – long seen as football’s final frontier when it comes to the men’s game – suddenly can’t get enough of English “soccer”.

    Four of the Premier League’s “big six” are American-owned – Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea – while a fifth, Manchester City, has a significant US minority shareholding. Aston Villa, Fulham, Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, West Ham and Ipswich Town also have varying degrees of American ownership.

    And it’s not even just the glamour clubs at the top of the tree. American investment has also been significant lower down the football pyramid, led by the high-profile acquisition of then non-league Wrexham by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenny, and Birmingham City’s purchase by US investors including seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady. American investment in football has reached places as geographically diverse as Carlisle and Crawley in England, and Aberdeen and Edinburgh in Scotland.

    So why the American obsession with English football? And how real are concerns that these US owners could collude to “Americanise” the traditions of the Premier League – whether by reducing the risk of relegation, introducing some form of “draft pick” system, or moving matches and even clubs to other cities?

    The Premier League’s first US owner

    Manchester United was the first Premier League club to come under American ownership – after a row about a horse.

    In 2005, United was owned by a variety of investors including Irish businessmen and racehorse owners John Magnier and J.P. McManus. Their erstwhile friend Ferguson, the United manager, thought he co-owned the champion racehorse Rock of Gibraltar with them – a stallion worth millions in stud rights. They disagreed – and their bitter dispute was such that Magnier and McManus decided to sell their shares in the football club.

    The Miami-based Glazer family – already involved in sport as owners of NFL franchise the Tampa Bay Buccaneers – had already been buying up small tranches of shares in United, but the sudden availability of the Irish shares allowed Malcolm Glazer to acquire a controlling stake for £790 million (around £1.5 billion at today’s prices).

    The fact Glazer did not actually have sufficient funds to pay for these shares was a solvable problem. In the some-might-say commercially naive world of top-flight English football before the Premier League, Manchester United was a club without debt, paying its way without leveraging its position as one of the world’s most famous football clubs. Glazer saw the opportunity this presented and arranged a leveraged buy-out (LBO), whereby the football club borrowed more than £600 million secured on its own assets to, in effect, “buy itself” in 2005.

    Despite the need to meet the high interest costs to fund the LBO, United continued winning trophies under Ferguson – including three Premier League titles in a row in 2007, 2008 and 2009, as well as a Champions League victory in 2008. Amid this success, the club felt that ticket prices were too low and set about increasing them, with matchday revenue increasing from £66 million in 2004/05 to over £101 million by 2007/08.

    Commercial income was another area the Glazers were keen to increase. United set up offices in London and adopted a global approach to finding new official branding deals ranging from snacks to tractor and tyre suppliers – doubling revenues from this income source too.

    But in this new, more aggressive world of “sweating the asset”, the debts lingered – and most United fans remained deeply suspicious of their American owners. (Following their father’s death in 2014, the club was co-owned by his six children, with brothers Avram and Joel Glazer becoming co-chairmen.)

    Today, despite its partial listing on the New York Stock Exchange and the February 2024 sale of 27.7% of the club to British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe for a reputed £1.25 billion, United still has borrowings of more than £546 million, having paid cumulative interest costs of £969 million since the takeover in 2005. But with the club now valued at US$6.55 billion (around £5bn), it represents a very smart investment for the Glazer family.

    Indeed, while the prices being paid for football clubs across Europe have reached record levels, they are still seen as cheap investments compared with US sports’ leading franchises. Forbes’s annual list of the world’s most valuable sports teams has American football (NFL), baseball (MLB) and basketball (NBA) teams occupying the top ten positions, with only three Premier League clubs – Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City – in the top 50.

    With NFL teams having an average franchise value of US$5.1 billion and NBA $3.9 billion, many English football clubs still look like a bargain from the other side of the pond.

    The risk of relegation

    The latest to join this US bandwagon, TFG – a Texas-based portfolio of companies run by American businessman and film producer Dan Friedkin – is reported to have offered £400m to buy Everton, despite the club’s poor financial state.

    “The Toffees” have been hit by loss of sponsorships as well as two sets of points deductions for breaching the Premier League’s financial rules, leading to revenue losses from lower league positions. While the new stadium being built at Liverpool’s Bramley-Moore dock has been yet another financial constraint, it will at least increase matchday income from the start of next season.

    Everton’s new stadium at Bramley-Moore dock will open in time for the start of the 2025-26 season.
    Phil Silverman / Shutterstock

    A wider reason for the relative bargain in valuations of European football clubs is the risk of relegation – something that is not part of the closed leagues of most US sports. While the threat of relegation (and promise of promotion) has always been an integral part of English and European football, the jeopardy this brings for supporters – and a club’s finances – does not exist in the NFL, NBA, Major League Soccer and similar competitions.

    The Premier League, with its three relegation spots at the end of each season, has featured 51 different clubs since it launched in 1992. Only six clubs – Arsenal, Spurs, Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and Everton – have been ever present, with Arsenal now approaching 100 years of consecutive top-flight football.

    Other Premier League clubs have experienced the dramatic cost-benefit of relegation and promotion. Oldham Athletic, who were in the Premier League for its first two seasons, now languish in the fifth tier of the game, outside the English Football League (EFL). In contrast, Luton Town, who were in the fifth tier as recently as 2014, were promoted to the Premier League in 2023 – only to be relegated at the end of last season.

    While it is difficult to compare football clubs with basketball and American football teams, the financial difference between having an open league, with relegation, and a closed league becomes apparent when you look at women’s football on both sides of the Atlantic.

    Angel City, a women’s soccer team based in Los Angeles, only entered the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) in 2022 and is yet to win an NWSL trophy. But last month, the club was sold for US$250 million (£188m) to Disney’s CEO Bob Iger and TV journalist Willow Bay – the most expensive takeover in the history of women’s professional sport.

    In comparison, Chelsea – seven-time winners of the English Women’s Super League and one of the most successful sides in Europe – valued its women’s team at £150 million ($US196m) earlier this summer. While there are a number of factors to this price differential, the confidence that Angel City will always be a member of the big league of US soccer clubs – and share very equally in its revenue – will have made its new owners very confident in the long-term soundness of their deal.

    The story of Angel City FC, the most expensive team in women’s sport.

    A further attraction for American investors is the potential to enter two markets – one mature (men’s football) and one effectively a start-up (the women’s game) – in a single purchase. In the US, the top men’s and women’s clubs are completely separate. But in Europe, most top-flight women’s teams are affiliated to men’s clubs – with the exception of eight-time Women’s Champions League winners Olympique Lyonnais Feminin, which split from the French men’s club when Korean-American businesswoman Michele Kang bought a majority stake in the women’s team in February 2024).

    While interest in, and hence value of, the WSL is now growing fast, the women’s game in England is dwarfed by viewer ratings for the Premier League – the most watched sporting league in the world, viewed by an estimated 1.87 billion people every week across 189 countries.

    These figures dwarf even the NFL which, while currently still the most valuable of all sporting leagues in terms of its broadcasting deals, must be looking at the growth of the Premier League with some jealousy. This may explain why some US franchise owners, such as Stan Kroenke, the Glazer family, Fenway Sports Group and Billy Foley, have subsequently purchased Premier League football clubs.

    Ironically, for many spectators around the world, it is the intensity and competitiveness of most Premier League matches – brought on in part by the threat of relegation and prize of European qualification – that makes it so captivating. However, billionaire investors like guaranteed numbers and dislike risk – especially the degree of financial risk that exists in the Premier League and English Football League.

    European not-so-Super League

    In April 2021, 12 leading European clubs (six from England plus three each from Spain and Italy) announced the creation of the European Super League (ESL). This new mid-week competition was to be a high-revenue generating, closed competition with (eventually) 15 permanent teams and five annual additions qualifying from Europe. According to one of the driving forces behind the plan, Manchester United co-chairman Joel Glazer:

    By bringing together the world’s greatest clubs and players to play each other throughout the season, the Super League will open a new chapter for European football, ensuring world-class competition and facilities, and increased financial support for the wider football pyramid.

    The problem facing the Premier League’s “big six” clubs – and their ambitious owners – is there are currently only four slots available to play in the Champions League. So, their thinking went, why not take away the risk of not qualifying? However, the proposal was swiftly condemned by fans around Europe, together with football’s governing bodies and leagues – all of whom saw the ESL proposal as a threat to the quality and integrity of their domestic leagues. Following some large fan protests, including at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge, Manchester City was the first club to withdraw – followed, within a couple of days, by the rest of the English clubs.

    Under the terms of the ESL proposals, founding member clubs would have been guaranteed participation in the competition forever. Guaranteed participation means guaranteed revenues. The current financial gap between the “big six” and the other members of the Premier League, which in 2022/23 averaged £396 million, would have widened rapidly.

    For example, these clubs would have been able to sell the broadcast rights for some of their ESL home fixtures direct to fans, instead of via a broadcaster. All of a sudden, that database of fans who have downloaded the official club app, or are on a mailing list, becomes far more valuable. These are the people most willing to watch their favourite team on a pay-per-view basis, further increasing revenues.

    At the same time, a planned ESL wage cap would have stopped players taking all these increased revenues in the form of higher wages, allowing these clubs to become more profitable and their ownership even more lucrative.

    American-owned Manchester United and Liverpool had previously tried to enhance the value of their investments during the COVID lockdowns era via ProjectBig Picture – proposals to reduce the size of the Premier League and scrap one of the two domestic cup competitions, thus freeing up time for the bigger clubs to arrange more lucrative tours and European matches against high-profile opposition.

    Most importantly, Project Big Picture would have resulted in changing the governance of the domestic game. Under its proposals, the “big six” clubs would have enjoyed enhanced voting rights, and therefore been able to significantly influence how the domestic game was governed.

    Any attempt to increase the concentration of power raises concerns of lower competitive balance, whereby fewer teams are in the running to win the title and fewer games are meaningful. This is a problem facing some other major European football leagues including France’s Ligue 1, where interest among broadcasters has dwindled amid the perceived dominance of Paris St-Germain.

    So while to date, American-led attempts to change the structure of the Premier League have been foiled, it’s unlikely such ideas have gone away for good. The near-universal fear of fans – even those who welcome an injection of extra cash from a new billionaire owner – is that the spectacle of the league will only be diminished if such plans ever succeed.

    And there is evidence from the women’s game that the US closed league format is coming under more pressure from football’s global forces. The NWSL recently announced it is removing the draft system that is designed (as with the NFL and NBA) to build in jeopardy and competitive balance when there is no risk of relegation.

    Top US women’s football clubs are losing some of their leading players to other leagues, in part because European clubs are not bound by the same artificial rules of employment. In a truly global professional sport such as football, international competition will always tend to destabilise closed leagues.

    Why do they keep buying these clubs?

    Does this mean that American and other wealthy owners of Premier League clubs seeking to reduce their risks are ultimately fighting a losing battle? And if so, given the potential risks involved in owning a football club – both financial and even personal – why do they keep buying them?

    The motivations are part-financial, part technological and, as has always been the case with sports ownership, part-vanity.

    The American economy has grown far faster than that of the EU or UK in recent years. Consequently, there are many beneficiaries of this growth who have surplus cash, and here football becomes an attractive proposition. In fact, football clubs are more resilient to recessions than other industries, holding their value better as they are effectively monopoly suppliers for their fans who have brand loyalty that exists in few other industries.

    From 1993 to 2018, a period during which the UK economy more than doubled, the total value of Premier League clubs grew 30 times larger. And many fans are tied to supporting one club, helping to make the biggest clubs more resilient to economic changes than other industries. While football, like many parts of the entertainment industry, was hit by lockdown during Covid, no clubs went out of business, despite the challenges of matches being played in empty stadiums.

    Added to this, the exchange rates for US dollars have been very favourable until recently, making US investments in the UK and Europe cheaper for American investors.


    This article is part of Conversation Insights.

    Our co-editors commission long-form journalism, working with academics from many different backgrounds who are engaged in projects aimed at tackling societal and scientific challenges.

    So, while Manchester United fans would argue that the Glazer family have not been good for the club, United has been good for the Glazers. And Fenway Sports Group (FSG), who bought Liverpool for £300 million in 2010, have recouped almost all of that money in smaller share sales while remaining majority owners of Liverpool.

    Despite this, the £2.5 billion price paid for Chelsea by the US Clearlake-Todd Boehly consortium in May 2022 took markets by surprise.

    The sale – which came after the UK government froze the assets of the club’s Russian oligarch owner, Roman Abramovich, following the invasion of Ukraine – went through less than a year after Newcastle United had been sold by Sports Direct founder Mike Ashley to the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund for £305 million – approximately twice that club’s annual revenues. Yet Clearlake-Boehly were willing to pay over five times Chelsea’s annual revenues to acquire the club, even though it was in a precarious financial position.

    Clearlake is a private equity group whose main aim is to make profits for their investors. But unlike most such investors, who tend to focus on cost-cutting, the Chelsea ownership came in with a high-spending strategy using new financial structuring ideas, such as offering longer player contracts to avoid falling foul of football’s profitability and sustainability rules (although this loophole has since been closed with Uefa, European football’s governing body, limiting contract lengths for financial regulation purposes to five years).

    Chelsea’s location in the one of the most expensive areas of London, combined with its on-field success under Abramovich, all added to the attraction, of course. But there are other reasons why Clearlake, along with billionaire businessman Boehly, were willing to stump up so much for the club.

    From Hollywood to the metaverse

    While some British football fans may have viewed the Ted Lasso TV show as an enjoyable if slightly twee fictional account of American involvement in English soccer, it has enhanced the attraction of the sport in the US. So too Welcome To Wrexham – the fly-on-the-wall series covering the (to date) two promotions of Wales’s oldest football club under the unlikely Hollywood stewardship of Reynolds and McElhenney.

    Welcome To Wrexham, season one trailer.

    The growth in US interest in English football is reflected in the record-breaking Premier League media rights deal in 2022, with NBC Sports reportedly paying $2.7 billion (£2.06bn) for its latest six-year deal.

    But as well as football offering one of increasingly few “live shared TV experiences” that carry lucrative advertising slots, there may also be more opportunity for more behind-the-scenes coverage of the Premier League – as has long been seen in US coverage of NBA games, for example, where players are interviewed in the locker room straight after games.

    According to Manchester United’s latest annual report, the club now has a “global community of 1.1 billion fans and followers”. Such numbers mean its owners, and many others, are bullish about the potential of the metaverse in terms of offering a matchday experience that could be similar to attending a match, without physically travelling to Manchester.

    Their neighbours Manchester City, part-owned by American private equity company Silverlake, broke new (virtual) ground by signing a metaverse deal with Sony in 2022. Virtual reality could give fans around the world the feeling of attending a live match, sitting next to their friends and singing along with the rest of the crowd (for a pay-per-view fee).

    Some investors are even confident that advancements in Abba-style avatar technology could one day allow fans to watch live 3D simulations of Premier League matches in stadiums all over the world. Having first-mover advantage by being in the elite club of owners who can make use of such technology could prove ever more rewarding.

    More immediately, there are some indications that competitive matches involving England’s top men’s football teams could soon take place in US or other venues. Boehly, Chelsea’s co-owner, has already suggested adopting some US sports staples such as an All-Star match to further boost revenues. Indeed, back in 2008, the Premier League tentatively discussed a “39th game” taking place overseas, but that idea was quickly shelved.

    The American owners of Birmingham City were keen to play this season’s EFL League One match against Wrexham in the US, but again this proposal did not get far. Liverpool’s chairman Tom Werner says he is determined to see matches take place overseas, and recent changes to world governing body Fifa’s rulebook could make it easier for this proposal to succeed.

    The potential benefits of hosting games overseas include higher matchday revenues, increased brand awareness, and enhanced broadcast rights. While there is likely to be significant opposition from local fans, at least American owners know they would not face the same hostility about rising matchday prices in the US as they have encountered in England.

    When the Argentinian legend Lionel Messi signed for new MLS franchise Inter Miami in 2023, season ticket prices nearly doubled on his account. And while there is vocal opposition to higher ticket prices in England, this is not borne out in terms of lower attendances for matches against high-calibre opposition – as evidenced by Aston Villa charging up to £97 for last week’s Champions League meeting with Bayern Munich.

    Villa’s director of operations, Chris Heck, defended the prices by saying that difficult decisions had to be made if the club was to be competitive.

    Manchester United’s matchday revenue per EPL season (£m)


    Kieran Maguire/Christina Philippou, CC BY

    For much of the 2010s, with broadcast revenues increasing rapidly, many Premier League owners made little effort to stoke hostilities with their loyal fan bases by putting up ticket prices. Indeed, Manchester United generated little more from matchday income in the 2021-22 season, as football emerged from the pandemic, than the club had in 2010-11 (see chart above).

    However, this uneasy truce between fans and owners has ceased. The relative flatlining of broadcast revenues since 2017, along with cost control rules that are starting to affect clubs’ ability to spend money on player signings and wages, has changed club appetites for dampened ticket prices. This has resulted in noticeable rises in individual ticket and season ticket prices by some clubs.

    However, season ticket and other local “legacy” fans generate little money compared with the more lucrative overseas and tourist fans. They may only watch their favourite team live once a season, but when they visit, they are far more likely not only to pay higher matchday prices, but to spend more on merchandise, catering and other offerings from the club.

    Today’s breed of commercially aware, profit-seeking US Premier League owners – pioneered by the Glazer family, who saw that “sweating the asset” meant more than watching football players sprinting hard – understand there is a lot more value to come from English football teams. The clubs’ loyal local supporters may not like it, but English football’s American-led revolution is not done yet.


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    Kieran Maguire has taught courses and presented on football finance for the Professional Footballers Association, League Managers Association, FIFA and national football associations in Europe.

    Christina Philippou is affiliated with the RAF FA, and Premier League education programs.

    – ref. Why America is buying up the Premier League – and what it means for the future of football – https://theconversation.com/why-america-is-buying-up-the-premier-league-and-what-it-means-for-the-future-of-football-240695

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gov. Kemp Announces 107 Appointments to Boards, Authorities, and Commissions

    Source: US State of Georgia

    For Immediate Release

    Friday, October 11, 2024

    Gov. Kemp Announces 107 Appointments to Boards, Authorities, and Commissions

    Atlanta, GA – Today, Governor Brian P. Kemp announced 107 appointments and reappointments to various state boards, authorities, and commissions.

     

    Georgia Maternal and Infant Health Advisory Commission 

    Keisha Callins is an accomplished obstetrician-gynecologist and public health expert with extensive experience in clinical practice, academic leadership, research, and community service. She holds a Doctor of Medicine from Morehouse School of Medicine and a Master of Public Health from the University of Alabama. Currently, she serves as an OB-GYN at Community Health Care Systems in Georgia and holds multiple faculty appointments, including a professorship at Mercer University School of Medicine. Callins has held various leadership roles, including serving as the Chair of the National Advisory Council on the National Health Service Corps. Callins has received numerous awards and recognitions for her contributions, including the 2024 Ruth Hartley Mosely “Pioneer of Community Advancement” Award and the 2024 Macon Volunteer Clinic Healthcare Hero award. She is actively involved in various professional organizations and community initiatives, advocating for maternal and women’s health, rural healthcare, and medical education. Additionally, she has published various research articles and contributed to discussions on healthcare policies, particularly in underserved communities.

    Amanda “Shea” Evans is a board-certified neonatologist. She is a partner in Marietta Neonatology and currently serves as the Wellstar Health System Medical Director of Neonatal Intensive Care Services and the medical director of the Level 3 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Wellstar Kennestone Regional Hospital. Evans completed her medical degree at Mercer University School of Medicine and went on to complete her residency in Pediatrics and Fellowship in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine at Emory University School of Medicine. Throughout her career, Evans has been dedicated to advancing the care of high-risk infants in community-based hospitals. In addition to her clinical work, Evans is actively involved in hospital committees and initiatives. Evans has received several accolades, including the March of Dimes Heroes in Action Award. She is a proud member of the American Academy of Pediatrics and is committed to the advancement of neonatal care.

    Shannon Mayfield is a nurse midwife at Advanced Women’s Care Center, where she provides comprehensive care to women across various socioeconomic backgrounds. She specializes in cost-effective, patient-centered care; emphasizes education on maternal health; and collaborates with perinatology for high-risk cases. Mayfield received her education from Gordon State College, Clayton State College and University, and Frontier Nursing Academy. Previously, she worked as a Registered Nurse at Piedmont Henry. Her earlier roles include serving as a Certified Nurse Midwife at New Beginnings Comprehensive Women’s Healthcare and Life Cycle OB/GYN.

    Monica Newton began her education at Auburn University studying pre-med psychology followed by medical school at Midwestern University in Chicago. While in Family Medicine residency at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, she obtained a Master of Public Health in International Health. After residency, she began teaching at UAB-Selma Family Medicine Residency Program while completing a fellowship in obstetrics. Recognizing the overwhelming needs in her community, she completed a faculty fellowship in underserved medicine through the University of California-San Diego. Moved to action, she started a free clinic called “Family Doc in a Bus” with grant funding from the Alabama Department of Public Health and FEMA. She was elected by the community to serve on the Selma City Council and the Alabama Academy of Family Physicians as a regional vice president. After serving 11 years as an associate professor of family medicine, Newton moved with her family to Gainesville, Georgia, and joined the Northeast Georgia Physicians Group. To meet the current challenges in health care, Newton completed a master’s in population health from Thomas Jefferson University in 2016.

    Marlo Vernon is an associate professor at the Georgia Prevention Institute, with an appointment in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, and memberships with the Georgia Cancer Center, the Institute for Public and Preventive Health, and the Georgia Prevention Institute. She is the Principal Investigator and developer of VidaRPM – a remote self-monitoring application for blood pressure and mental health. Additionally, Vernon is the Project Director of Mothers Informed Lactation Knowledge and Support (MILKS) and the Co-Project Director for Access to Services for Pregnant and Postpartum Persons in Northeast Georgia (ASPiriNG).

    Padmashree “Champa” Woodham is a professor in the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, MFM Fellowship Program Director at the Medical College of Georgia, and Director of the Regional Perinatal Center at Wellstar MCG Health. She received her bachelor’s degree from Emory University in 2001. She attended Emory University School of Medicine to complete her MD and remained at Emory to finish her Internship and Residency in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2009. Woodham went on to complete a fellowship in Maternal-Fetal Medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is board-certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and Maternal-Fetal Medicine. Woodham joined the faculty of Mercer School of Medicine at the Medical Center Atrium Health Navicent in Macon as the Director of Maternal-Fetal Medicine in August 2012, where she spent the first 10 years of her career. During that time, Woodham served numerous leadership roles, including Director of the Regional Perinatal Center, Chair of the Finance Council, and Vice Chair of the Atrium Health Navicent Leadership Council. Among her various honors and achievements, she received the ACOG/CREOG National Faculty Award. Woodham was the 2022-2023 President of the Georgia OBGYN Society. She provides high-risk obstetric care to patients with a range of complex maternal and fetal conditions. Her research involves predictive markers for preeclampsia and techniques to better predict growth restriction on fetal ultrasound.

     

     

    Georgia Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Advisory Board 

    Woodrow W. Blue, Jr is the Chief of Police for the City of Forsyth. He has over 44 years of law enforcement experience and over 40 years as a Chief of Police. Blue began his career in law enforcement with the Hahira Police Department, where he was appointed Chief of Police at the age of 26. In September of 2000, he accepted the position of Deputy Police Chief of the City of Milledgeville and, in 2002, he was appointed Police Chief. He has also served as Chief of Police for the City of Eastpoint and for the City of Donaldsonville. Blue graduated from Valdosta State University with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and earned a master’s degree in public administration from Columbus State University. He is a 2003 graduate of the Georgia Command College, Class 8, and a 2004 graduate of the Georgia International Law Enforcement Exchange Program. Blue has served as president of the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police, is a former member of the Board of Private Detectives and Security Agencies, and has served on the Peace Officer Standard and Training Board as the Georgia Association Chief of Police representative. Blue and his wife, Elese, have two kids and three grandchildren.  

    Derick Corbett is the senior vice president of external affairs at Pull-A-Part, where he oversees all government and regulatory affairs, compliance, and community relations work for Pull-A-Part’s 37 facilities in the 16 states it serves. Upon graduating from the University of Georgia with degrees in political science and economics, Corbett began what would become a 20 year career in public service. Corbett served with Congressman John Linder from October 2000 to December 2010, holding various positions on his Congressional staff and campaign staff, including communications director, deputy chief of staff, and chief of staff. In 2010, he served as campaign manager for Rob Woodall and went on to become Congressman Woodall’s chief of staff and campaign manager until 2020. He currently serves as a board member for the Georgia Recycling Association, the State Recycling Association of Alabama, and the Recycling Association of North Carolina. Corbett also serves as Chairman of the Automotive Recycling Committee for the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, the largest international recycling trade association in the world. Corbett is a member of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and serves on the Energy and Natural Resources and Government Affairs Committees.

    John “Herb” Cranford, Jr. is the District Attorney for the Coweta Judicial Circuit, comprised of Carroll, Coweta, Heard, Meriwether, and Troup Counties. Cranford was born and raised in Coweta County and is a third generation prosecutor. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Religion from the University of Georgia and a Juris Doctor from Mercer University’s Walter F. George School of Law. During law school, Cranford worked as a judicial clerk for the Honorable W. Homer Drake, Jr. of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Georgia and then as an intern for the Coweta Circuit District Attorney’s Office. Upon graduating law school, he was hired as an Assistant District Attorney in the same office, working in Carroll County and Coweta County. In February 2018, Governor Nathan Deal appointed him as District Attorney to fill the remainder of his predecessor’s term and he has since been re-elected twice. Cranford has received recognition for his focus on prosecuting criminal street gangs, including obtaining the first guilty verdict in a gang trial in the Coweta Judicial Circuit. In 2021, he was appointed by the Supreme Court of Georgia to serve on the State Bar’s Disciplinary Board and he was elected by his fellow Georgia District Attorneys to serve as Treasurer for the District Attorneys’ Association of Georgia and the Georgia representative to the National District Attorneys Association.

    Harshida Davis is the group risk manager-Atlanta for Enterprise Holdings Inc., which does business as Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Alamo Rent-A-Car, National Car Rental, Enterprise Car Sales, Enterprise Truck Rental, and Commute with Enterprise. In her role, she oversees the Risk Management Department. After earning her bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Geneseo with a major in sociology and psychology, she started with Enterprise in 2001 as a rental management trainee and was promoted to the risk management department in 2002. Before joining the Atlanta group in 2019, Davis managed risk programs for Enterprise Truck Rental in North Carolina; Enterprise on the southside of Chicago and northwest Indiana; Enterprise, Alamo, and National at O’Hare and Midway; and all divisions in southwest Florida. In addition to her day-to-day responsibilities, Davis is also a member of the Georgia Auto Theft Intelligence Council and most recently spearheaded the addition of the Top Investigator of the Year-Crimes against property and Top Investigator of the Year-Crimes against persons awards at the annual ASIS Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. Dedicated to her community, Davis has sat on the board of the Literacy Council of the Gulf Coast and was a leader on the Go Red for Women Committee for the American Heart Association – Gulf Coast. Davis and her husband, Jon, have two children and reside in Atlanta.  

    Scott Goss is a senior manager of Geico’s Special Investigation Unit. He attended Georgia State University and studied criminal justice. Later, he attended Reinhardt College and studied business administration. He lives in Carnesville with his wife and family.

    Stacey Ellis Hodges takes an active role in Jim Ellis Automotive. Hodges has been working in the dealership in a full-time capacity since graduating with a bachelor’s in marketing from Georgia Southern University in 1999. Initially, her summer jobs involved administrative positions from accounting to cashiering. Once she returned from college in Statesboro, her full-time career began as a service advisor for the Audi and Porsche brands. Hodges soon moved into Audi sales, then transitioned into management. She has been a general manager for Saab, Mazda, and Maserati brands at Jim Ellis, becoming a vice president of Audi Atlanta in 2015. Today, Ellis oversees the automotive group’s directors, keeping her close to the operations as a whole and up to date on technologies and processes for the dealership group. She also serves as a corporate officer over the Company’s associated business entities. Hodges and her husband, Greg, reside in Cumming. She is actively involved in her children’s schools, recreational activities, their local church, and various charities.

    Chip Koplin has over 35 years of experience in the scrap recycling and used auto parts industries. He is the government and public affairs manager for the southeast region of Radius Recycling (formerly Schnitzer Steel Industries), focusing on metals recycling, steel manufacturing, and auto parts recovery. Previously, he served as Vice President of External Affairs at Pull-A-Part, LLC and worked for 23 years at Macon Iron & Paper Stock, a multi-generation family business before its sale to Schnitzer Steel Industries. Koplin has also co-owned General Steel Company and Commercial Doors and Associates. He is deeply involved in trade associations, including the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, where he serves as chair of the Material Theft Subcommittee and has held various leadership roles. Koplin is also a past president and founding board member of the Georgia Recyclers Association. His extensive board involvement includes the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Stonecrest Industrial Council, and various other organizations. He is a 2009 Graduate of Leadership Georgia, a 2012 program chair, and a member of the Georgia Professional Lobbyists Association. Koplin attended Georgia State University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in real estate.  He and his two children reside in Atlanta.  

    Josh Lamb serves as the director of administrative services of the Department of Public Safety. In his role, he oversees the Office of Professional Standards, the Human Resources Division, the Public Information Office, and Legislative Affairs. Previously, he served as the chief of staff. Lamb began his law enforcement career as a Special Agent with the Tri-Circuit Drug Task Force in 1996. In 1999, he joined the Georgia State Patrol after he graduated from the 74th Georgia State Patrol Trooper School. Throughout his career, he has served as Corporal at Post 11 – Hinesville; Sergeant in Post 45 – Statesboro; and Sergeant First Class at Post 45, Post 16 – Helena and Post 18 – Reidsville. Lamb also spent eight years as a member of the State of Georgia SWAT team.  He served as lieutenant in the Planning and Research Unit where he created departmental policy, assisted in planning special events such as the 2018 National College Championship Game and Super Bowl LIII, and worked on legislative affairs such as the distracted driving law. Lamb has been the Director of Training, SWAT Team Commander, Executive Officer to the Deputy Commissioner, and Chief of Staff. Lamb holds a bachelor’s degree in justice studies from Georgia Southern University and a master’s degree in public administration from Columbus State University. He also attended the 259th Session of the FBI National Academy. Lt. Colonel Lamb and his wife, Alison, have two daughters.

    Scott Poole earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Berry College in 1994 before attending Georgia State University College of Law. While in law school, he completed internships with Superior Court Judge Stanley Gault and Fulton Senior Superior Court Judge William Daniel. After graduating, Scott served as an Assistant District Attorney in Cherokee County from 1997 to 2008, handling a range of cases from theft to murder and successfully prosecuting the county’s first racketeering case under the Georgia RICO statute. In 2008, he joined the Appalachian Judicial Circuit as Senior Assistant District Attorney in Pickens County, managing the office and focusing on severe cases like violent offenses and drug trafficking. Scott built a reputation as an effective litigator and teacher, instructing drug prosecutors through the Prosecuting Attorney’s Council of Georgia and being certified by the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council. In January 2013, he transitioned to private practice, co-founding Grisham & Poole, P.C. Recognized as a Super Lawyer since 2021, he was appointed Municipal Court Judge for the City of Ball Ground in 2022. He and his wife, Jennifer, have one daughter and reside in Ball Ground.

    Rick Redd has been employed with the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NCIB) as a special agent since 2018, where he covers the State of Georgia. Prior to working for the NICB, Redd retired as Detective Sergeant of the Marietta Police Department after 30 years of service, mostly spent in the Investigative Services Division. He is currently the president of the Georgia Auto Theft Intelligence Council, past president of the International Association of Auto Theft Investigators (southeast chapter), and a board member of the International Association of Special Investigation Units. Redd resides with his wife of 40 years in Canton.

    Matthew Rollins serves on the Superior Court of the Paulding Judicial Circuit, appointed by Governor Kemp in March 2024. He previously served as the District Attorney of the Paulding Judicial Circuit and as an Assistant District Attorney in the same office. Rollins served four years on active duty in the United States Marine Corps. After receiving an Honorable Discharge, he attended Kennesaw State University, where he received his bachelor’s in political science, and Mercer Law School, where he received his J.D. An active member of his community, Rollins is a member of the Dallas Lodge, the Paulding Rotary Club, and the Paulding Bar Association. Rollins and his wife, Minna, have one child and live in Acworth

    Lori Silverman attended Tulane University in New Orleans LA where she majored in Spanish. Upon graduating from Tulane, Silverman received her J.D.  from Emory University. After graduating from Emory, she began working for the Fulton County Public Defender. She then worked in private practice for many years. Silverman volunteered with the Consumer Action Center for five years before becoming the director in 2013.

    Lenn Wood is the Sheriff of Coweta County. He has dedicated over 40 years to law enforcement, starting with the Newnan Police Department before joining the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office. His extensive career includes roles in Patrol, Investigations, School Resource, Training, Jail, and Court Services. His transparency initiatives include working with international broadcast projects like Investigative ID and “On Patrol Live” to build trust with the community. He has also led efforts against human trafficking, improving victim recognition and collaborating with state and federal agencies. His emphasis on comprehensive training—requiring officers to complete at least forty hours of continuing education annually—demonstrates his dedication to maintaining high-performance standards.

     

    State Board of Occupational Therapy 

    Betsy McDaniel is the Chair of the Department of Rehabilitation Science and Fitness at Middle Georgia State University. McDaniel holds a master’s degree in health & human performance from Georgia College and State University, along with dual associate degrees and a bachelor’s degree from Middle Georgia State University. At Middle Georgia State University, she has served as Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Program Director and Academic Fieldwork Coordinator, where she has been instrumental in overseeing curriculum development, faculty management, and maintaining program accreditation. McDaniel has developed and enhanced various OTA courses. She is actively involved in university committees and professional associations, including the American Occupational Therapy Association and the Georgia Occupational Therapy Association. Additionally, McDaniel maintains her clinical skills as a PRN Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant at Southwest Georgia Rehab.

     

    State Workforce Development Board 

    Lindsay Hill serves as the senior vice president of human resources at Georgia Power, where she spearheads initiatives in talent management; diversity, equity and inclusion; labor relations; safety; facilities; and HR delivery. Hill is a member of Georgia Power’s Management Council. Since joining Georgia Power in 2001, she has served as vice president of human resources at Southern Company Gas and HR director at Georgia Power. In addition to her professional responsibilities, Hill is active in the community. She is the president and CEO of the board for Bright Generations Childcare Centers and serves on the boards of the Atlanta Women’s Foundation and the Atlanta Ballet. Hill earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a focus on marketing from Valdosta State University and a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Troy University. She was named a 2023 Valdosta State University Distinguished Alumni recipient, and she is a 2024 participant in Leadership Georgia.

    Amy Jordon is the chief nursing officer currently overseeing Advent Health Redmond and the southeast region. In this role, Jordon manages care integration, performance improvement, and nursing education while collaborating on regional and system-wide initiatives. She is focused on clinical workforce planning and academic partnerships to enhance the clinician pipeline and improve care delivery across the network. Since 2005, she has held CNO roles at Advent Health Gordon and Advent Health Murray, showcasing a deep expertise in nursing leadership and patient care. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s in nursing from the University of West Georgia.

     

    State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors 

    Omar Ali was reappointed.

     

    State Commission on Family Violence 

    Michael Moore is the Madison County Sheriff. Moore began his law enforcement career at the Clarke County Jail. In 2003, he graduated from the Northeast Georgia Police Academy as a certified peace officer and began as a deputy sheriff with the Madison County Sheriff’s Office until he was elected sheriff in 2016. Moore has earned more than 1400 total law enforcement training hours throughout his career. He became a member of the Neese Sanford Volunteer Fire Department at age 18 and then transferred to the Colbert Volunteer Fire Department where he worked to the rank of Captain. Moore is a member of the Madison County Rotary Club and the Madison County Board of Education Governance Committee for Madison County Middle School. A Madison County business owner, Moore owned and operated Moore’s Trucking and Moore Tire in Colbert.  He and his wife, Toni, reside in Colbert and have four children.

     

    Board of Directors of the Georgia Emergency Communications Authority 

    Sam Couvillon is the Mayor of Gainesville, Georgia and a partner with Norton Insurance. At Norton, he is the area president of the Benefits Department. Couvillon began his insurance career in 2002 with New England Financial as both a financial planner and employee benefits agent.  Holding true to the values of Norton, he is very involved in the community. In addition to serving as mayor, Couvillon serves on numerous boards in the community. He previously served on the city council serving Ward 1 from 2014-2021. Couvillon received his bachelor’s degree in communication from the University of Georgia. He and his wife, Margie, have two children.  

    Michael Persley is the Chief of Police for the City of Albany. He was promoted to Chief on May 23, 2015. Persley has been employed with the Albany Police Department for 30 years and has held numerous positions within the department. He was previously the gang unit commander, east district police commander, and assistant commander of the Albany-Dougherty Metro SWAT Team where he has served as an entry team member, assistant team leader, team leader, and negotiations commander. His other assignments have included working in narcotics, general, and gang investigations. Persley has a master’s degree in administration/justice and security from the University of Phoenix, and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Troy University. Persley has over 2800 hours of basic and advanced police training. He is a graduate of the IACP Leadership in Police Organization and the Northwestern School of Police Staff and Command. Persely is a member of the Georgia Association Chiefs of Police, where he serves as a district representative, and the International Association of Chiefs of Police, where he serves on the board of directors. He serves on several community boards and committees, including Stop the Violence and the Dougherty County Rotary Club. Persley is retired from the Georgia Army National Guard after serving for over 22 years. He served on deployments to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

    Mikki Quinones serves as the division commander for Houston County E-911, with a distinguished career spanning over three decades in public safety communications. She began her career in 1991 as one of the first civilian personnel at Houston County E-911 and, by 1994, she had advanced to shift supervisor. In 2000, Quinones became the 911 operations coordinator, where she spearheaded the implementation of a countywide CAD system and an 800MHz radio system. Quinones is a certified peace officer and has led multi-million-dollar projects, including the redesign of the 911 center and the upgrade of the 800MHz system. She was instrumental in achieving CALEA accreditation for Houston County E-911, which has since earned four reaccreditations. In 2021, she was promoted to captain and completed NENA’s Center Manager Certification Program and the Georgia 911 Director’s Academy. She is a certified instructor with Peace Officer Standards and Training and also serves as an emergency medical dispatch instructor. Beyond her professional work, she is a member of the Houston County Department of Family and Children Services Board. She and her husband, Manny, have three children and two grandchildren.

     

    State Rehabilitation Council 

    Juliet Hardeman, Jerry Haywood, Kathryn Hearn, and Joy Norman were reappointed.

     

    Georgia Driver’s Education Commission 

    Andrea Daniel currently serves as the president of Athens Technical College. She has served the College for over 27 years. Daniel began her career working in the office of Senator Sam Nunn and supported the work of the Armed Services Committee. She went on to work as a senior planning analyst for the Atlanta Regional Commission on projects such as the Outer Loop Study, Vision 2020 Education Stakeholder Committee, planning and zoning studies, and Olympic Transportation Planning. Daniel has completed the Executive Leadership Academy of the Technical College System of Georgia and she is a graduate of L.E.A.D. Athens Class of 2008. She has also completed the Georgia Tech Annual Basic Economic Development Course, and the Georgia Regional Academy for Economic Development Essentials of Economic Development course. In January 2020, Daniel was elected and nominated by a group of her peers to serve on the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) Board of Trustees. For her efforts in demonstrating excellence, creativity and success in business and furthering the goals or other professional women, Daniel was presented the Athena Award in February 2020. In November 2020, she received the Elbert County Native Citizen Award during the annual meeting of the Elbert County Chamber of Commerce. Daniel has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Lander University, a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Georgia, and a PhD in business administration specializing in organizational leadership from Northcentral University. She and her husband, Sterling, have one daughter.

     

    Sexual Offender Risk Review Board 

    Mindy Ackerman, Jerry Bruce, J. Robert Frederick, Katie Gropper, James Morton and Bert Reeves were reappointed. 

    Elizabeth Bigham has been a special agent with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation for 17 years. Currently, she works in GBI’s Office of Special Investigations in the Cold Case Unit. For most of her career with the GBI, she was assigned to the Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit (CEACC), conducting over 600 criminal investigations involving child exploitation. Bigham received a bachelor’s in criminology from Florida State University and has used her degree to instruct others at conferences in Georgia and around the world. Bingham has also provided expert testimony to General Assembly study committees and Georgia state courts.

    Meghan Thurmond serves as a victim advocate at the Paulding County District Attorney’s Office. In this role, she has supported victims and witnesses, managed crime victim compensation referrals, and worked towards becoming a nationally certified advocate. She is passionate about advocating on behalf of victims, especially those unable to voice their needs. She began her career in 2007 at the Cobb County Solicitor General’s Office as a traffic secretary, where she supported staff in a 100 person office to ensure traffic compliance. In 2017, she became a judicial administrative assistant at the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office, providing her with extensive experience in case management and fostering professional relationships.

     

    Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities 

    Wesley Ford, Lisa Newbern, and Sharia Stripling were reappointed.

    Jessica Cowell is from Columbus, Georgia. She earned her G.E.D. after attending Central High School. She went to Columbus State University to study theatre.

    Dayna Holbel is an educational consultant and member of the Education Transition Team at the Emory Autism Center. In her role, she works closely with students, parents, and school personnel to support successful post-secondary outcomes for autistic students through the Individual Transition to Adulthood (ITAP) project. Holbel received her bachelor’s in English and history from the University of Michigan, and her master’s degree in education in transition specialist and special education from Wayne State University. She also has experience working in Fulton County Schools as a transition services teacher and currently operates a tutoring company called Wonder Tree Tutoring.

    Tais Keyser is a stay-at-home mom and advocate for disability rights and awareness. Two of her children are differently abled. She has worked with Unlock GA, a broad-based coalition whose mission is to expand and enhance home and community-based services to support Georgians with developmental disabilities.

    Brook Kubik is a part-time instructor at the University of North Georgia, teaching primarily chemistry, biology, and environmental science to undergraduate students through the online eCore platform.  Previously, she was an analytical research chemist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of West Georgia, a master’s in chemistry and a C.P.H. in Epidemiology from Georgia State University, and an Ed.S. in Curriculum and Instruction from Lincoln Memorial University. Kubik is a mother of five children ages 18 and under, three of whom are differently abled. After having children with various intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities, and experiencing first-hand the lack of services and needs that we have in our communities, her passion has turned to providing support and education to disability families within her community and state.  Currently, Kubik is a parent advisory board member at the Marcus Autism Center and works with Georgia Swimming LSC/USA Swimming to bring inclusive competitive and learning opportunities to athletes of all abilities across the State of Georgia.

    Crystal St. Pierre-Stackpole is a dedicated special education teacher and community volunteer in Lafayette, Georgia. St. Pierre-Stackpole is committed to serving her local community, particularly those with special needs. Her career spans a variety of roles in education, including teaching nature-based pre-K, middle school resource classes, and high school vocational instruction. Currently, she works with elementary students with autism. Before she began teaching, St. Pierre-Stackpole worked in Chattanooga, Tennessee with local nonprofits as a volunteer coordinator, event planner, and outdoor educator. She has also worked as a CNA and home health worker while pursuing her education at Dalton State College. Inspired by her personal experiences supporting her brother, who has Down syndrome, she passionately advocates for families navigating special education and state services. St. Pierre-Stackpole actively participates in advocacy events, helping families understand their rights and connect with necessary resources. Her commitment to service and advocacy reflects her belief in the power of every individual’s voice and the need for collective advocacy.

    Jennifer Snyder is an outreach and advocacy coordinator for Living Independence for Everyone (LIFE ). In her role, she works to help people with significant disabilities transition from nursing homes and other institutions to home and community-based residences. She resides in Chatham County.

    Leslie Kate Thornton advocates for the human and civil rights of all people and equality for people with disabilities, especially in employment. She has spent several years working as a social media content developer. Thornton is passionate about community engagement and empowering individuals to make a positive impact. She resides in St. Mary’s, Georgia. 

    Dave Ward is the president & CEO of Tommy Nobis Center, bringing over 30 years of nonprofit experience. He previously served as executive vice president at the Wounded Warrior Project, executive director at Big Brothers Big Sisters, and regional director at Make-A-Wish Foundation. He also held a role at Best Buddies International and was a licensed psychotherapist. Ward is a Leadership Atlanta Class of 2020 graduate and a Governor-appointed member of the Georgia Employment First Council. He served as president of the Georgia Association of Training, Employment and Supports (GATES) from 2019-2023 and was nominated for the Turknett Leadership Group’s 2018 Leadership Character Award. He holds a bachelor’s in sociology and criminal justice and a master’s in rehabilitation counseling. Ward resides in Kennesaw with his family.

     

    State Water Well Standards Advisory Council 

    Clayton Wayne McKinnon, Sr. was reappointed.

     

    Board of Human Services

    Douglas Aldridge, Jr., David Barbee, Monica Walters, and Rochard White were reappointed.

     

    Board of Control for Southern Regional Education

    Greg Dozier and Matthew Dubnik were reappointed.

     

    Board of Early Care and Learning 

    Kristin Morrissey and Cristina Washell were reappointed.

    Kristy Beam will now serve as the Fourth Congressional District Representative.

    Jennifer Bennecke will now serve as the Sixth Congressional District Representative.

    Karla Zisook will now serve as the Fifth Congressional District Representative.

    Maria Franklin is a board-certified behavior analyst with a strong educational background and work experience in behavior analysis and support. She earned a graduate certificate in behavior analysis from Florida Institute of Technology in May 2023 and holds a master’s in applied psychology (developmental psychology) and a bachelor’s in psychology from Liberty University. Currently, Franklin works as a board-certified behavior analyst at North Georgia Autism Center, where she develops individualized therapeutic plans and conducts initial client assessments. Her previous roles include registered behavior technician at the same center providing one-on-one ABA therapy and various positions such as behavior support clinician and field trip coordinator. Franklin also served as a motor transport operator in the U.S. Army Reserve.

    Joyce Freeman is the early childhood care and education program chair and a full-time ECCE instructor at West Georgia Technical College(WGTC). In 2016, Freeman began her career at WGTC as an early childhood care and education adjunct instructor. Previously, she was a lead teacher, trainer, and supervisor at Western Arkansas Child Development and served as a lead teacher and assistant director at Early Head Start Child and Family Services. Freeman holds a Master of Arts in teaching early childhood from Arkansas Tech University, a Bachelor of Arts in organizational leadership from the University of Arkansas Fort Smith, and an Associate of Arts in early childhood education from Carl Albert University. Some of her notable accomplishments include serving on a workgroup writing team to revise the workforce knowledge competencies for program administrators and education leaders, implementing the federal work-study program at WGTC, and serving as a certified trainer in first aid/CPR and child protection. She is an active member of the Southern Early Childhood Association.

    Karen Jones has been an educator for 27 years and is currently employed with Houston County School District as a program specialist. A graduate of Georgia Southern University, she holds advanced degrees from Valdosta State University and Columbus State University. She has worked as a preschool teacher, elementary school teacher, and district-level administrator. She worked in New York, Germany, South Carolina, and Nebraska before arriving back home in Georgia. She has a wealth of knowledge in the field of early childhood education, special education, educational leadership, and curriculum. Jones has served as a member on the Middle Georgia Community Action Agency (MGCCA) Health Advisory team, Middle Georgia RESA Preschool Consortium Lead, and an instructor for MGRESA Dyslexia Endorsement Cohort. She is passionate about improving the outcomes of young children and supporting their families with early intervention resources.

    Sylvia Washington is a pediatrician with a background in clinical practice, academia, and community service. Board-certified in general pediatrics since 2011, she completed her Pediatric Residency at Mercer University Medical Center in 2010 and holds a Doctor of Medicine from New Jersey Medical School.  Washington graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in biology from Howard University. She has served as a general pediatrician at Atrium Health Floyd Pediatrics since 2013, where she also chaired the Department of Pediatrics and directed the Reach Out and Read Program. Her previous roles include similar positions at East Albany Pediatric and Adolescent Center. Washington contributes to medical education as a preceptor for various institutions and has been involved in significant publications and research. Active in community service, she holds leadership roles with the Georgia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and engages in medical missions and youth outreach programs.

     

    State Board of Examiners for Speech Pathology and Audiology 

    Douglas Mattox was reappointed.

     

    Council on American Indian Concerns 

    Heidi Altman, Paul Brannen, Nealie McCormick, and Royce McCrary were reappointed.

    Maureen Meyers is a senior archaeologist with New South Associates, Inc. in Stone Mountain. She is an expert on pre-contact Native Americans of the southeast and has researched extensively on Native American settlement, households, ceramics, and fiber production. She is also an expert on archaeological field safety, sexual harassment and assault, and disability in archaeology. She received her bachelor’s from Radford University in Virginia, her master’s from the University of Georgia, and a Ph. D from the University of Kentucky. Meyers has over two dozen publications, many focused on her work on Mississippian period Native American mound sites in southwestern Virginia and north Georgia. She is the past president of the Southeastern Archaeological Conference, where she created partnerships with public outreach groups, scholarships for tribal and HBCU students, instituted organizational policy for addressing sexual harassment, and helped create and pass an image policy regarding Native American burial remains and associated objects.  

    Frank Williams is a full professor with tenure at Georgia State University, specializing in biological anthropology. He received his bachelor’s from the University of Florida and his master’s and Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Prior to coming to Georgia State University, he was a postdoctoral research assistant at Pennsylvania State University. Williams teaches courses in forensic anthropology, human paleontology, human osteology, statistical methods, and primate behavioral ecology. In 2020, he was the recipient of the University Faculty Award for Undergraduate Mentored Research in Policy, Entrepreneurship, Education, and Social Sciences. Williams has published extensively on reconstructing Neandertal diets using dental microwear, vertebral osteoarthritis, paleopathology, fossil primates, and dental morphology. He has received two U.S. Fulbright awards, a Fulbright Specialist Award to the University of Calgary, Canada (2014), and a Fulbright Core Scholars Award to the Royal Museum of Central Africa, Belgium (2016). He has previously served as director of undergraduate studies, department chair of anthropology, NAGRA coordinator, and faculty associate for tenure-track faculty development and review for the College of Arts and Sciences at Georgia State University.

     

    Georgia Real Estate Commission 

    Edward Lee Dollar was reappointed.

     

    Georgia Board of Dentistry 

    Glenn Maron was reappointed.

     

    Georgia Joint Defense Commission 

    Henry Childs, John L. Eunice, III, Peter Jones, and Al Konetzni were reappointed.

     

    Behavioral Health Reform and Innovation Commission 

    Kevin Tanner was reappointed as chairman.

    Karen Bailey, Jason Downey, Nora Haynes, Miriam Shook, Sarah Vinson, DeJuan White, and Michael Yochelson were reappointed.

    Melanie Dallas is the CEO of Highland Rivers Behavioral Health and a licensed professional counselor with 35 years of experience in behavioral health. Throughout her career she has held roles in crisis stabilization, mobile crisis assessment, and in-home care, working with children, families, and adults in both the public and private sectors. Dallas specializes in trauma and attachment issues. In 2019, she served on the Appalachian Regional Commission Substance Abuse Advisory Council and is currently the chair of the Policy Committee for the Georgia Association of Community Service Boards. Dallas holds a bachelor’s in marketing from the University of Kentucky and a master’s in counseling from Georgia State University. She has worked as a military family life consultant with the Department of Defense and helped develop a network of clinicians for the Georgia Army National Guard and Georgia State Defense Force. She has contributed to Georgia co-response programs, is trained in Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM), and leads a CISM team within her agency.

     

    Georgia Film, Music, and Digital Entertainment Advisory Council 

    Walker Dalton is the executive director of the Savannah Regional Film Commission. Previously, he served as the Savannah College of Art and Design’s director of content, where he led a team of creatives that produced art, fashion, and documentary films. Before moving to Savannah, he was a producer for 10 years on Jay Leno’s Garage and, for five years, served in NBC Universal’s digital marketing department. In 2017, Dalton earned an Emmy nomination for Jay Leno’s Garage. His leadership as the film commissioner for the region around Savannah, Georgia is reinforced by his 25 years of entertainment industry experience.

    Maria Guerra-Stoll is the president and CEO of PAM Studios and founder of GSB Architects + Interiors Inc. She began her career in film studio design working at Tyler Perry Studios in 2007 and has since overseen projects for major clients including Netflix and AT&T. Guerra-Stoll’s firm has extensive experience in designing entertainment facilities across the U.S. and internationally. She founded PAM Studios LLC, focused on fostering local talent and providing production facilities in Rome, Georgia. A native of Caracas, Venezuela, she graduated from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville with a Bachelor of Architecture. She has also completed two MBE programs at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. Guerra-Stoll serves as an executive board member of the Latin American Chamber of Commerce. She served as chairman of the Board of the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, Guerra-Stoll is a former board member of the Georgia Latino Film Festival, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Habitat for Humanity, and the YWCA.

    Pamela Thompson has been the owner-operator of Dillard House Stables since 1989. Along with her crew of experienced trail guides, she strives to keep the horseback riding tradition alive. Thompson’s lifetime of experience with horses and 25 years in the “trail riding” business allows her the opportunity to offer a safe and enjoyable horseback ride for every level rider. Additionally, she serves as president of the Dillard Tourism Association and as a camera-ready liaison for Rabun County to the Georgia film industry.

    Scott Votaw is the Assistant Vice Chancellor of the Georgia Film Academy. With over 25 years of experience working for production companies including Saban, Fox, Lucasfilm Ltd., and others, Votaw has a deep knowledge base of film production, 2D/3D animation, special FX, motion capture, and post-production. With a decade of experience in education, he also holds expertise in current and trending production needs, training educational circular creation, and workforce development. As an international consultant with CSV-Consulting, Votaw worked for studio infrastructure providers, workforce development, and emerging technology companies within the film and entertainment production sectors in the Asia-Pacific region. Prior to this, Votaw supported efforts to grow the film and TV production industry in Georgia by maintaining a highly trained and industry-standard workforce by creating/advising some of the most successful educational programs globally.

     

    State Board of Registration of Used Motor Vehicle Dealers and Used Motor Vehicle Parts Dealers 

    Azfar Haque, Jimmy Lydon, and Tyler Wood were reappointed. 

     

    Division on Family and Children Services State Advisory Board  

    Pam Clayton is the vice president of Quality Advancement & Regulatory Affairs at the Georgia Health Care Association. In her role, Clayton supports members in regulatory compliance and quality improvement, building strong relationships with stakeholders at all levels. She previously held various leadership roles at Ethica Health and Retirement Communities, where she developed and implemented strategic initiatives in skilled nursing and ancillary services. She holds a Bachelor of Science in organizational management from Covenant College and an Associate of Science in nursing from Dalton College. An active member of several professional organizations, Clayton serves on the American Health Care Association’s Quality Cabinet and co-chairs the AHCA/NCAL Quality Committee.

    Belinda Davis is the senior field operations manager of the southeast area at the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC). Davis began her career with the GDC in 1991 as an accounting technician at Burruss Correctional Training Center (CTC). In 1997, Davis was promoted to business manager of Burruss CTC, and, later that year, she was promoted to deputy warden of administration at Metro State Prison. In 2003, Davis transferred to Georgia Diagnostic & Classification Prison to serve as the deputy warden of administration. In 2005, Davis was promoted to superintendent at McEver Probation Detention Center. In 2008, she was promoted to warden of Dooly State Prison. Before its closure, Davis was the warden of Metro State Prison and subsequently became the warden of Pulaski State Prison. Davis earned her Bachelor of Business Administration from Mercer University and a Master of Public Administration degree from Columbus State University. She has completed basic correctional officer training, basic management training, Corrections Leadership Institute, Warden’s Pre-Command, and Georgia Law Enforcement Command College. Davis is the chair of the Butts County DFACS Board.

    Lesli Reece is a seasoned professional with over 30 years of experience. While she is retired now, she serves as the director of Fostering Together, a part of North Point Ministries that she has been involved in since 2011. She has also owned L & R Real Estate Services since 2009. Prior to her current endeavors, Reece spent 11 years at the Coca-Cola Company where she served in various roles, including corporate business development and director of US & Global Staffing. Based in Alpharetta, she is passionate about making a positive impact in her community and leveraging her extensive background in business and leadership to help people.

     

    Georgie Behavior Analyst Licensing Board 

    Brandy Locchetta is an Assistant Professor and Applied Behavior Analysis Program Coordinator at the University of West Georgia. She holds a Ph.D. in Early Childhood Education and Applied Behavior Analysis from Vanderbilt University, a master’s in early childhood special education from Vanderbilt University, and a bachelor’s in early childhood education from Georgia State University. Locchetta’s recent roles include serving as an editorial board member on topics in early childhood special education. Previously, she was adjunct faculty at York College of Pennsylvania and held leadership positions at the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning. She has received notable awards such as the Leading the Pack Focused on the Future Award from the University of West Georgia and the Shores Award for Excellence in Teacher Education from Vanderbilt University.

     

    Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce

    Steven Gautney was reappointed.

     

    Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists

    Brent Herrin and Bridget Knowles were reappointed.

     

    Georgia Commission on Civics Education

    Wes Cantrell, Kurt Doehrman, Judy Teasley, and Randy Trammell were reappointed

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Joint Statement on Arctic Security and Defence 

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Under the auspice of the Northern Defence Dialogue meeting held on the margins of the NATO Defence Ministers’ Meeting on 17 October 2024…

    October 17, 2024 – Brussels, Belgium – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

    Under the auspice of the Northern Defence Dialogue meeting held on the margins of the NATO Defence Ministers’ Meeting on 17 October 2024, the defence ministers of Canada, Denmark together with the Foreign Minister of the Faroe Islands and a representative from Greenland, Finland, Norway, and Sweden, and representatives from Iceland and the United States reaffirm their shared commitment to enhanced collaboration on security and defence in the Arctic.

    In a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape marked by new challenges, the region has become a growing global point of focus. Climate change is having profound effects on the strategic and operational environment and growing access to the Arctic’s resource potential is enticing new non-Arctic actors to the region. Potential adversaries are rapidly developing their militaries’ ability to operate both in the High North and the circumpolar Arctic region. Among its many negative consequences, Russia’s illegal and unprovoked further invasion of Ukraine has caused grave impediments to international cooperation and degraded the Euro-Atlantic security environment.

    These unprecedented challenges underline the need to foster deepened collaboration among the like-minded Arctic states. The accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO significantly strengthens NATO’s collective defence posture and capabilities in the region. As all like-minded Arctic states now belong to the Alliance, we affirm our leading role in NATO’s work relating to the region and stress the importance of maintaining a credible deterrence and defence in the entire Euro-Atlantic area—including our northern regions—as well as cooperation with our other NATO Allies to this end.

    At this Northern Defence Dialogue meeting, building on the work of and aiming to also strengthen NATO, we discussed:

    • Our situational awareness of the threat environment in the Arctic, and opportunities to enhance information and intelligence sharing in order to establish a common operating picture;
    • Emerging threats, risks, and geopolitical challenges from potential adversaries at both the national and international level;
    • Our capabilities to deter and, if necessary, defend against threats posed by our potential adversaries in the region, and our commitment to mutual participation in joint operations and exercises to enhance interoperability; and,
    • Ways to increase collaboration to address common threats and challenges posed to the region.

    Our countries’ common ambition to maintain low tension in the region has served as the foundation of our multilateral Arctic relations and will continue to guide our cooperation in the future. Guided by the core principles of multilateral cooperation, territorial integrity, and maintaining the rules-based international order, we are committed to strengthening our collaboration to address complex global challenges and maintain the Arctic as a stable, peaceful, and prosperous region.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Governments of Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador to announce support for culinary tourism industry

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Media advisory

    St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador · October 17, 2024 · Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)

    The Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for ACOA, will make an announcement regarding the culinary tourism industry in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Honourable Sarah Stoodley, Minister of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills and Minister responsible for Francophone Affairs, will also make an announcement on behalf of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

    Date: October 18, 2024

    Time:  12:00 p.m. (NDT)                        

    Location:
    O’Brien Farm
    150 Oxen Pond Road
    St. John’s, NL

    Contacts

    Connor Burton

    Press Secretary

    Office of the Minister of Rural Economic Development and minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

    Connor.Burton@acoa-apeca.gc.ca

    Paul McGrath

    Director of Communications

    Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

    709-689-5731

    Paul.McGrath@acoa-apeca.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: The Government of Canada supports the renovation of Le Pantoum

    Source: Government of Canada News

    News release

    QUÉBEC CITY, October 17, 2024

    Investing in cultural and creative spaces helps enrich our communities by providing them with spaces that bring people together and are accessible to everyone.

    Today, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and Procurement, Quebec Lieutenant and Member of Parliament (Québec), announced $962,105 in financial support for Création Le Pantoum. Minister Duclos made the announcement on behalf of the Honourable Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Canadian Heritage, the Honourable Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, and the Honourable Kamal Khera, Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities.

    Canadian Heritage provided $604,960 through the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund. Part of that funding was used to acquire the building. Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED) provided a non-repayable contribution of $285,000 under the Canada Community Revitalization Fund. Finally, Employment and Social Development Canada provided $72,145 under the Small Projects Component of the Enabling Accessibility Fund. These contributions will allow Création Le Pantoum to welcome its audiences in accessible and safe spaces and improve the environment for emerging artists to create and share their work.

    Quotes

    “By supporting the development of the Canadian arts scene, our government is helping to enrich a space where creativity and talent meet. After major renovations, Création Le Pantoum now has redesigned spaces for artists and the public. Thanks to the team for showcasing local talent and promoting the next generation.”

    – The Honourable Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Canadian Heritage

    “Our government is committed to the vitality of our communities. Community organizations like Création Le Pantoum are driving initiatives that support their communities and contribute to cultural development both in Québec and across the country. Supported by CED through the Canadian Community Revitalization Fund, this project promotes social inclusion by improving accessibility in the organization’s facilities. Congratulations to everyone on this visionary project for the development of culture and diversity in Québec!”

    – The Honourable Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec

    “Music and the arts give people a sense of belonging and unity and have been bringing people together for generations. We are working to remove barriers, improve accessibility and inclusion and support Quebec artists by investing in organizations like Création Le Pantoum through programs such as the Enabling Accessibility Fund. By working together, one project at a time, we can make Canada a place that is truly accessible for everyone.”

    – The Honourable Kamal Khera, Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities

    “We believe in supporting cultural spaces such as Le Pantoum, which is essential to the creation of music in the City of Québec. This investment will strengthen our support for emerging artists and cultural communities. Le Pantoum is managed by passionate artists and workers who will continue to innovate and showcase our city’s artistic heritage.”

    – The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and Procurement, Quebec Lieutenant and Member of Parliament (Québec)

    “Over the past 12 years, Création le Pantoum has established itself as the main centre for producing and promoting emerging music in the City of Québec. With the federal government’s help, we can carry out our organization’s most ambitious project: guaranteeing its sustainability for years to come.”

    – Émilie Tremblay, Executive Director of Création Le Pantoum

    Quick facts

    • Founded in 2012, Le Pantoum is a music creation centre run by a community of cultural workers in Québec City. Le Pantoum’s mission is to strengthen the arts community and promote its work using alternative and innovative means.

    • The Canada Cultural Spaces Fund helps improve the physical conditions to support innovation in the arts, heritage and creative fields. The Fund supports renovation projects as well as the acquisition of specialized equipment and the planning, design and execution of feasibility studies for arts and heritage cultural spaces.

    • The Canadian Community Revitalization Fund was created by Canada’s regional development agencies in June 2021 to help communities across Canada carry out community infrastructure projects and improve existing infrastructure with the goal of reestablishing momentum after the COVID-19 pandemic.

    • The Enabling Accessibility Fund is a federal grants and contributions program. It supports infrastructure projects across Canada aimed at increasing accessibility, safety and inclusion for people with disabilities in communities and in the workplace. The fund has supported more than 7,700 projects since its inception, which has helped thousands of Canadians access programs, services and jobs in their communities.

    Associated links

    Contacts

    For more information (media only), please contact:

    Charles Thibault-Béland
    Press Secretary
    Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage
    charles.thibault-beland@pch.gc.ca

    Media Relations
    Canadian Heritage
    1-819-994-9101
    1-866-569-6155
    media@pch.gc.ca

    Waleed Saleem
    Press Secretary
    Office of the Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities
    waleed.saleem@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca

    Media Relations Office
    Employment and Social Development Canada
    (819) 994-5559
    media@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca

    Marie-Justine Torres
    Press Secretary
    Office of the Minister of Sport and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
    (613) 327-5918
    marie-justine.torresames@ised-isde.gc.ca

    Media Relations
    Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
    media@dec-ced.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Needs Soar for Flood-Displaced Communities in Chad, IOM Scales Up Aid

    Source: International Organization for Migration (IOM)

    N’Djamena, 16 October – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is stepping up its efforts to support communities severely affected by widespread flooding in Chad, which has displaced over 13,000 people and left nearly two million people in need of urgent assistance.  N’Djamena alone hosts 5,137 individuals displaced, accounting for nearly a half of the total displacement from the floods.

    As of 1 October, the floods, concentrated in the capital N’Djamena and southern regions along the Chari River, have severely limited access to clean water and sanitation, posing a risk of waterborne diseases, and exacerbating the challenges faced by displaced families. As part of a larger regional crisis affecting 6.6 million people across West and Central Africa, the situation in Chad remains critical.

    “In the wake of devastating floods that have affected nearly two million people in Chad, the needs continue to grow.” said Pascal Reyntjens, Chief of Mission at IOM Chad. “Our teams are on the ground, coordinating with local authorities and partners to ensure that the assistance provided directly addresses the critical needs of those hardest hit.”

    IOM’s response has so far reached approximately 14,000 people across the Lake Chad region and N’Djamena. The Organization has been providing shelter and bedding, lighting, cooking and household kits. IOM has also been delivering essential water, sanitation, and hygiene support, including the installation of latrines to improve sanitary conditions in displacement sites. In collaboration with Chad’s National Commission for Refugee Reintegration (CNARR) and key humanitarian actors, IOM has mobilized rapid response teams to conduct needs assessments and register displaced individuals. Using its Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), IOM is actively tracking the needs of displaced communities to inform humanitarian response and provide essential assistance.

    Ongoing efforts are underway to gather comprehensive data across affected regions, ensuring that no one is left behind in the response.  

    “The floods have taken everything from us,” said Anassa, a resident of N’Djamena who was displaced by the flooding. “With a roof over our head and clean water, we can start to rebuild our lives.”

    IOM, along with its partners, is calling for increased support to meet the immediate and long-term needs of flood-affected populations in Chad. The scale of the disaster requires a coordinated and sustained response to help families like Anassa’s rebuild their lives.

    Note to Editor

    The impact of climate change, disasters and environmental degradation are increasingly influencing migration patterns, especially among vulnerable populations. At COP29, people must be at the heart of the discussions.  IOM urges leaders to take concrete actions that protect and support those who want to stay, those on the move, and those needing or wanting to move.  

    For more information, please contact:  

    In Chad: Christina Van Hooreweghe, cvanhooreweg@iom.int  

    In Dakar: Joëlle Furrer, jfurrer@iom.int  

    In Geneva: Kennedy Okoth, kokoth@iom.int  

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: HKETO Jakarta promotes latest initiatives of Policy Address in Indonesia (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Jakarta (HKETO Jakarta) supported the inaugural Hong Kong – Indonesia Digital Summit held in Jakarta, Indonesia, today (October 17). The Summit was jointly organised by the Indonesia Hong Kong Business Association and the Indonesia Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong.

         The Director-General of the HKETO Jakarta, Miss Libera Cheng, shared with Summit participants during the gala dinner the latest initiatives related to the development of new quality productive forces and the promotion of Hong Kong’s digital economy as announced in “The Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address” delivered by the Chief Executive yesterday (October 16), with a view to publicising the city’s latest developments and opportunities.

         Addressing the event, Miss Cheng stressed that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government is committed to developing Hong Kong into an international innovation and technology (I&T) centre by promoting the upgrading and transformation of traditional industries while diligently nurturing emerging ones. The measures include increasing investment and guiding market capital to invest in I&T industries, while an HK$10 billion I&T Industry-Oriented Fund will be set up to guide more market capital to invest in specified emerging and future industries of strategic importance, including life and health technology and artificial intelligence.

         She added, “The HKSAR Government will press ahead with the development of a digital economy. We will also expedite the integrated development of the digital economy and the real economy, which includes accelerating the digital transformation of industries, strengthening digital infrastructure, and exploring development of a data trading ecosystem.

         “In the digital world, data is king. Under the ‘one country, two systems’ framework, Hong Kong enjoys unique advantages in cross-boundary data flow. The HKSAR Government is exploring on a pilot basis facilitation arrangements for cross boundary data flow within the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area. Such co-operation would bring enormous opportunities for research and development work.”
         
         The gala dinner was attended by over 150 participants including senior representatives from government and business circles, as well as I&T companies.      

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Casey, Fetterman, Wild Secure Major Federal Investment in Lehigh Valley Semiconductor Manufacturer

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Pennsylvania Bob Casey

    Preliminary agreement would support the construction of new Infinera semiconductor manufacturing plant in Bethlehem

    Funding was made possible by the CHIPS and Science Act

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and John Fetterman (D-PA) and U.S. Congresswoman Susan Wild (D-PA-7) announced a critical first step in a major federal investment to help the semiconductor manufacturer Infinera build a new plant in Bethlehem, PA. This investment, made possible by the CHIPS and Science Act, would support the expansion and modernization of a new Advanced Test and Packaging (ATP) facility creating good-paying jobs in the Lehigh Valley and increasing Infinera’s capacity to manufacture semiconductors, which are vital to national security and American supply chain resilience.

    “I fought to pass the CHIPS and Science Act to ensure that Pennsylvania workers can continue leading the world in building the technology of tomorrow. This agreement is another critical step to deliver jobs and dollars to our Commonwealth, while protecting our Nation’s national and economic security,” said Senator Casey. “Infinera is emblematic of the future of the Lehigh Valley and I will keep fighting to bring manufacturing jobs to Pennsylvania.”

    “This is exactly what ‘Making Stuff Here’ in America and Pennsylvania looks like. Thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration’s implementation of the CHIPS Act, we’ll be seeing hundreds of good-paying jobs brought to Bethlehem. The Lehigh Valley has a rich history of innovation––it’s where the first facility to mass-produce transistors was built. By investing in companies like Infinera, we’re standing up to global competitors and building on American legacies,” said Senator Fetterman.

    “By supporting the construction of a new Advanced Test and Packaging Facility right here in Bethlehem, this grant will not only create hundreds of new jobs in our community, but it will revitalize our local semiconductor industry and address key national security concerns,” said Congresswomen Wild. “I was proud to help secure this funding for Infinera, to support our national security and intelligence communities and bolster our local economy and manufacturing ecosystem. I will continue to advocate for our community to receive federal resources, promote Made in America policies, and protect our nation from foreign adversaries.” 

    The preliminary agreement between the U.S. Department of Commerce and Infinera Corporation would provide major investments to Infinera plants in Pennsylvania and California. Infinera is a semiconductor and telecommunications equipment manufacturer that has operated for over 20 years. The proposed CHIPS funding would support the construction of a new Advanced Test and Packaging (ATP) facility in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and would be expected, with the California facility, to increase Infinera’s existing domestic manufacturing capacity by an estimated factor of 10.

    Senator Casey and Congresswoman Wild have long advocated for semiconductor manufacturing investments in Pennsylvania. Earlier this year both Casey and Wild urged the U.S. Department of Commerce to support the construction of a new Infinera manufacturing plant in Pennsylvania., Additionally, Casey and Wild visited Infinera to see the high-tech manufacturing already happening in the Commonwealth.

    Senator Casey and Congresswoman Wild are fighting to bring jobs and economic investment back to Pennsylvania. The Members worked to pass the CHIPS and Science Act to produce semiconductors in the United States, reducing the U.S. reliance on foreign adversaries, including China, for critical technology manufacturing. In addition to the CHIPS Act, Casey and Wild worked to pass Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act?and Inflation Reduction Act—two pieces of landmark legislation that have brought thousands of jobs and billions of dollars to Pennsylvania. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China unveils new measures to stabilize housing market

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

    BEIJING, Oct. 17 — Chinese officials announced new measures on Thursday to cement signs of stabilization in the property sector, after a bundle of pro-housing policies rolled out last month brought about “positive changes in the market.”

    Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development Ni Hong and other officials unveiled the fresh stimulus package and assessed the effects of previously announced policies at a press conference, after China’s leadership pledged last month to reverse the downturn of the property market and stabilize it.

    NEW PRO-HOUSING POLICIES

    The government will step up support for urban village and dilapidated housing renovation projects, Ni said, adding that China will renovate an additional 1 million such housing units with measures such as providing monetary compensation to residents.

    The minister stressed that all eligible real estate projects will be included in the “white list” mechanism and that their reasonable financing needs will be met through loans.

    Under the “white list” mechanism launched in January, local authorities are recommending that financial institutions provide financial support to eligible real estate projects.

    As of Oct. 16, loans approved for “white list” real estate projects had reached 2.23 trillion yuan (about 313 billion U.S. dollars), Xiao Yuanqi, deputy head of the National Financial Regulatory Administration, said at the press conference.

    It is expected that by the end of this year, the approved loan amount for the “white list” projects will surpass 4 trillion yuan, Xiao said.

    Last week, the Ministry of Finance announced a plan to allow local governments to issue special-purpose bonds to acquire commercial properties for use as affordable housing and to purchase idle land. Song Qichao, assistant minister of finance, told reporters that the ministry will work with other departments to formulate detailed regulations so that this policy will be implemented as soon as possible.

    Meanwhile, Ni urged local authorities to increase the provision of affordable housing. Official data showed that the number of affordable apartments nationwide grew to 1.48 million in the first nine months of this year.

    “By the end of the year, we aim to provide affordable housing to 4.5 million new urban residents and young people,” Ni said.

    EFFECTS OF PREVIOUS MEASURES

    A raft of pro-housing policies, which were released at the end of September, are kicking in, as evidenced by narrowing declines in property development investment and in sales of new commercial housing, Ni noted.

    “Particularly, since the end of September, there has been a significant increase in the number of visits to new property projects and in the number of sale contracts. Transactions on pre-owned homes have also gone up. There have been positive changes in the market,” he said.

    “Regulated by a series of policies, China’s real estate market has started bottoming out after three years of adjustment,” Ni stressed.

    To ease the financial burden on homeowners, China’s central bank has requested commercial banks lower interest rates for outstanding mortgage loans. The reduction will save borrowers 150 billion yuan, benefiting 50 million households, said Tao Ling, deputy governor of the People’s Bank of China, at the press conference.

    A key task for China’s policymakers in the housing sector is to ensure the delivery of homes under construction. Since China’s central government launched a campaign to this purpose in May, 2.46 million homes have been delivered to buyers, according to Ni.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China to improve economic, trade cooperation with Vietnam: commerce ministry

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

    BEIJING, Oct. 17 — China will work to enhance economic and trade cooperation with Vietnam, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday.

    Spokesperson He Yadong told a press conference that China is Vietnam’s largest trade partner, while Vietnam is China’s largest trade partner among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

    From January to September 2024, trade volume between the two countries reached 190.38 billion U.S. dollars, up 17.6 percent year on year.

    Vietnam is an important overseas investment destination for China. In the first eight months, direct investment by Chinese enterprises in Vietnam totaled 1.97 billion dollars, maintaining rapid growth.

    Efforts will be made to both explore and pilot the establishment of cross-border economic cooperation zones, expanding cooperation in emerging fields such as information technology, new energy and digital economy, the spokesperson said.

    Enterprises from the two countries will be supported to make full use of platforms like the China International Import Expo, the China Import and Export Fair and the China-ASEAN Expo to expand trade of agricultural and aquatic products, as well as manufactured industrial products, He said.

    Measures will also be taken to deepen cooperation related to supply chains and regional economic integration, He added.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Forum on promoting talent exchanges and cooperation between China and Europe held in Beijing

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    The 2024 China-Europe Talent Forum is held in Beijing on Oct. 15

    Over 40 politicians, experts, scholars and youth representatives from China and Europe attended the cultural sub-forum of the 2024 China-Europe Talent Forum themed Cultural Integration: A Bridge to Promote Talent Exchange and Cooperation Between China and Europe. Held in Beijing on Oct. 15, the event was co-hosted by the Beijing Talent Work Bureau and Switzerland’s Adecco Group, and organized by CICG Center for Europe and Africa, with guidance from China International Communications Group (CICG). 

    Liu Dawei, vice president of the CICG, and Antonio Miguel Carmona, president of Spain’s Friends of China Association, delivered keynote speeches at the forum. The forum was moderated by Zhao Lijun, president of the CICG Center for Europe and Africa (China Today).  

    Liu Dawei, vice president of the CICG, delivers a speech at the forum 

    In his speech, Liu pointed out that cultural integration serves a unique role in promoting talent exchanges and cooperation between China and Europe. Exchanges and mutual learning between cultures help broaden the perspectives of talents; cooperative innovation helps cultivate versatile talents; and strengthening alignment in talent-related policies helps optimize the environment for talent mobility between China and Europe. As a comprehensive international communications institution, CICG has always been committed to promoting Chinese culture and facilitating exchanges and mutual learning between Chinese and foreign cultures. CICG will further expand cooperation on cultural exchanges with European countries with an aim to enhance mutual understanding and collaboration among the younger generation on both sides.  

    Antonio Miguel Carmona, president of Spain’s Friends of China Association, delivers a speech at the forum 

    Carmona stated that President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative has provided a platform for equal dialogue and communication for countries and different civilizations. In recent years, a series of protectionist measures taken by some Western countries against Chinese products have been false decisions that go against the current tide. Only by promoting exchanges and communication between regions and countries can we achieve common development.  

    The forum witnessed in-depth discussions among Chinese and foreign participants, including Wang Daquan, director-general of Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange under the Ministry of Education; Fan Daqi, vice president of the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies; Joël Ruet; chairman of the Bridge Tank in France; Robert Walker, professor at the Beijing Normal University and fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in the UK; Zhang Jinling, fellow at the Institute of European Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; Fang Youzhong, deputy dean of the School of European Studies at Beijing International Studies University; Barbara Dietrich, CEO and editor-in-chief of “Diplomatic World”; David Bartosch, fellow of the Institute of Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences at Beijing Normal University; Jia Jianxin, former cultural counsellor at the Chinese embassy in Austria; Zhao Yongsheng, fellow at the Academy of Global Innovation and Governance at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing; Gilbert Van Kerckhove, rotating chairman of the Foreign Experts Committee of the BRITF Fund of China’s Ministry of Science and Technology; and Nils Bergemann, teacher at the University of International Business and Economics.  

    The discussion focused on three key topics: the overall situation and problems in today’s cross-cultural talent cultivation, the significance of cross-cultural competence in cultural integration, and how to improve cross-cultural management and governance capabilities. The participants provided valuable insights for promoting talent exchanges and cooperation between China and Europe.  

    Wang Daquan, director-general of Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange under the Ministry of Education, delivers a speech at the forum

    Wang Daquan said that international talents serve as a bridge for fostering understanding between different cultures and promoting connections between peoples. The Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange has been promoting the going out and coming in of talents, expanding international platforms for educational exchange and cooperation to support cross-cultural talent cultivation. In the future, the center will collaborate with partner universities and institutions in both China and Europe to jointly build a high-quality, trusted, and secure ecosystem for sustainable development in international education, supporting the cross-cultural exchange and talent development. 

    Fan Daqi noted that as China-Europe relations continue to deepen, considerable progress has been made in the cultivation of cross-cultural talents on both sides, but challenges remain due to cultural differences, technological changes, and a complex international environment. He emphasized that China-Europe cross-cultural talents must enhance their knowledge reserves, engage in practical cross-cultural exchanges, and foster inclusive understanding across cultures, thereby improving their international insight, global competence, and collaborative abilities. 

    In his video speech, Walker stated that global geopolitical issues are becoming increasingly prominent, leading to divisions in the world and regional instability. There is now a vast literature that stresses that China is “different,” which is heavily influenced by Western-centered thinking patterns and biases. He emphasized that cross-cultural exchange is the glue that binds the world together. Countries should strengthen the cultivation of cross-cultural talents to promote exchange and cooperation, and work together to establish a global trade system that aligns with the interests of the vast majority of nations. 

    Zhang Jinling stated that the significance of cross-cultural integration lies in the fact that civilizations can appreciate each other’s beauty while valuing their own. China and Europe should, on the basis of equality and mutual respect, appreciate and support each other, discover the beauty in each other’s cultures, and deepen the exchange and mutual learning between their civilizations to achieve common progress. 

    Dietrich emphasized that open and collaborative innovation is a prerequisite for sustainable growth of the cultural and creative industries and of a prosperous creative economy. Hence, long-term prosperity can only be realised if continents work together. We must build bridges between China and Europe, not tariff walls. Collaboration in trade, science, technology, culture, and education between the two regions can be promoted through talent exchanges. 

    In his video address, Zhao Yongsheng noted that current exchanges between China and France, and China and Europe in general, especially in the fields of humanities and education, are facing numerous challenges. He cautioned against the gradual “instrumentalization” of these exchanges. On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France, he called for greater interaction between young students from both sides and the strengthening of cultural cooperation in various fields. 

    Bergemann highlighted the difference between the education systems of China and Europe. He said every education system has its strengths and weaknesses, noting that we should use the best of both: China’s efficiency and technological progress and Europe’s emphasis on creativity, collaboration, and personal development. This way, we can create an education system that prepares young people for the challenges of the future. 

    CICG and the Leading Group for Talent Work of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee sign a strategic cooperation agreement 

    During the forum, Yang Jianping, director of the Personnel Department of the CICG, and He Yongjiang, deputy director of the Beijing Talent Work Bureau, signed a strategic cooperation agreement on talent exchange and collaboration on behalf of CICG and the Leading Group for Talent Work of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee. This agreement aims to further expand areas of cooperation, deepen collaborative measures, and consolidate practical results, all in order to promote the high-quality development of international communication and enhance the development of high-level talents in Beijing. Liu from CICG, and Zhang Ruobing, director of the Beijing Talent Work Bureau, witnessed the signing.  

    In her concluding remarks, Zhao Lijun, president of the CICG Center for Europe and Africa (China Today), stated that after in-depth discussions, participants reached a broad consensus: the cultivation of cross-cultural talents is a key driving force for China-Europe relations and global development. Cross-cultural competence plays an irreplaceable role in cultural integration, and education, training, and practice are effective ways to improve cross-cultural management and governance capabilities. These shared insights will provide a solid foundation and important guidance for further deepening China-Europe talent exchanges and cooperation. 

    Participants pose for a group photo during the forum

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China-Europe Talent Forum held in Beijing

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Venue of the 2024 China-Europe Talent Forum.  

    The 2024 China-Europe Talent Forum was held in Beijing on October 15. With the theme of Sharing Together, Growing Together, Winning Together – Bridging Continents: Fostering Future-Fit Talent Development, the forum invited more than 240 Chinese and foreign guests to participate in in-depth exchanges and dialogues and promote cooperation between China and Europe in talent innovation. 

    The event, which consisted of one main forum and six sub-forums, was co-hosted by the Beijing Talent Work Bureau and Switzerland’s Adecco Group. During the main forum, renowned Chinese and European scholars, representatives of international organizations, Nobel laureates, academicians and experts, heads of well-known think tanks, executives of multinational enterprises, and other guests conducted in-depth exchanges and dialogues to discuss China-Europe talent cooperation and innovation within the context of globalization. The sub-forums focused on the themes of youth, education, scientific and technological talents, culture, economy and trade, and international sports. Attendees had in-depth discussions on the key role of talents in the development of China-Europe relations, and further promoted practical ways for cooperation. 

    Du Zhanyuan, president of China International Communications Group, presenting a keynote speech.

    Yin Li, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech, and former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin delivered a video speech. Yin Yong, mayor of Beijing, presided over the opening ceremony. Deng Li, vice foreign minister of China, Jürg Burri, Swiss ambassador to China, Du Zhanyuan, president of China International Communications Group (CICG), Gong Qihuang, president of Peking University, and Jean-Christophe Deslarzes, chair of Adecco Group, each delivered keynote speeches.  

    During the forum, a number of talent cooperation projects were launched or unveiled. A Memorandum of Understanding in support of the operations of international science and technology organizations in Beijing was signed by the China Center for International Science and Technology Exchange, Beijing Talent Work Bureau, and Beijing Association for Science and Technology. It is part of Beijing’s efforts to build itself into an international hub of scientific and technological innovation. The GNIS China-Europe Innovation Center was launced by Beijing Overseas Talents Center and the government of  Xicheng District to build a broad stage for the innovation and entrepreneurship of young talents from both China and Europe. The Internship Base between Peking University and Adecco Group was unveiled. It provides internship opportunities, professional internship advice, and career consultation to achieve positive interaction between unviersities and enterprises and strive to improve the global career development ability of outstanding young students. 

    The 2024 Global City Talent Retention Index was released at the forum.

    During the section of publicizing research results, Adecco Group released the 2024 Global Workforce of the Future Report, which delved into a wide range of key topics concerning enterprises and workers worldwide, including employability skills, work practice, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), employee welfare, and the impact of artificial intelligence on the labor market.  With up-to-date opinions on the trend of workforce, this report provides employers with insights into future strategic planning.  

    1  2  >  

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Multiple entry visa allowed for expats from HK, Macao

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Starting Wednesday, foreign residents living in Hong Kong and Macao can apply for multiple-entry visas to the Chinese mainland with a validity period of up to five years by following a simplified procedure, according to the central government.

    The Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region announced on Wednesday that non-Chinese Hong Kong permanent residents and non-Chinese Hong Kong residents who are traveling to the mainland for tourism, business, family visits or cultural and academic exchanges can apply for a visa valid for up to five years, which will allow them to stay on the mainland for up to 180 days.

    Under the new arrangement, applicants are not required to provide proof of round-trip tickets or hotel reservations when applying for visas, the office said.

    Those who successfully applied for visas from overseas Chinese visa-issuing authorities and had their fingerprints collected during the process will be exempted from fingerprint collection when applying from Hong Kong, the office added.

    The office stressed that the validity of the visa and duration of stay will be decided case by case, and applicants may also be asked to submit additional documents or attend interviews.

    The visa policy does not apply to foreign domestic helpers, the office noted.

    Also on Wednesday, the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Macao SAR announced a similar optimization for permanent and temporary foreign residents of the city.

    People who apply from Macao for short-term activities such as tourism, trade and family visits can get visas with a validity period of five years and a stay for no more than 180 days, the office said, adding that proof of outbound transportation and hotel bookings are no longer required under the new arrangement.

    Starting July 10, non-Chinese permanent residents of both Hong Kong and Macao can apply for a new mainland travel permit, which allows multiple entries into the mainland within a five-year validity period, with each stay capped at 90 days.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: 2024 China-Europe Talent Forum held in Beijing

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    The 2024 China-Europe Talent Forum was held in Beijing on Oct. 15, attracting over 200 international professionals from European countries to discuss and advance China-Europe talent cooperation.

    Themed “Sharing Together, Growing Together, Winning Together – Bridging Continents: Fostering Future-Fit Talent Development,” the forum explored the crucial role of talent in strengthening China-Europe relations. Discussions spanned youth, education, scientific and technological research, culture, economy and trade, and international sports, aiming to enhance practical talent cooperation.

    Key cooperation projects were announced, including the establishment of the GNIS China-Europe Innovation Center and an internship partnership between Peking University and the Adecco Group.

    The forum also launched a memorandum to support international science and technology organizations in Beijing, aiming to attract more global entities through international collaboration.

    Su Xiaojun, director of the China Center for International Science and Technology Exchange, highlighted Beijing’s role as a global hub for innovation, attracting international organizations and talent. He noted that the forum aims to inspire new ideas, host major international conferences, and attract diverse scientific talent.

    The forum, held for six consecutive years, serves as a vital platform for deepening China-Europe ties and fostering exchanges. Looking ahead, the forum is set to enrich China-Europe talent cooperation further.

    You Jun, head of the Organization Department of the Communist Party of China Beijing Municipal Committee, emphasized Beijing’s commitment to creating a world-class talent environment. He underscored that by adopting an open and inclusive approach, the capital seeks to attract global talent, enhance cooperation among universities and research institutions, and contribute to a global community of shared future.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Kim to Hold 80th Town Hall Focused around Bullying Awareness

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03)

    WILLINGBORO, N.J. – Today, Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03) announced he will be holding a telephone town hall on Wednesday, October 23rd at 5 PM to hear directly from neighbors, share updates from his recent work in Congress, and uplift National Bullying Awareness Month.

    Sign-up for Congressman Kim’s telephone town halls or tune-in to the event live at kim.house.gov/live.

    At his 80th town hall, Congressman Kim will be joined by Jessica Smedley, LPC and Director of Counseling for West Windsor/Plainsboro Regional School District to speak about the role of school counselors and anti-bullying coordinators at schools and other resources available to students and families. The town hall will highlight the Congressman’s continued work to ensure local schools have the mental health and counseling resources they need to best support students, address students and families’ needs during the school year, as well as his office’s efforts to connect the local community to anti-bullying resources and support for impacted students.

    To sign up for more updates from Congressman Kim, including the location and time of his next town hall, click here.

    Congressman Kim is the Ranking Member on the Military Personnel Subcommittee, and a member of the House Armed Services Committee, the Foreign Affairs Committee, and the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party. More information about Congressman Kim’s accessibility, his work serving New Jersey’s 3rd Congressional District, and information on newsletters and his monthly town halls can be found on his website byclicking here.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Beijing Pavilion opens at Macao int’l trade, investment fair

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    The Beijing Pavilion at the 29th Macao International Trade and Investment Fair (MIF) officially opened on Wednesday in Macao, featuring a themed event highlighting the capital’s offerings.

    The pavilion, adorned in Chinese red and modeled after the Temple of Heaven’s echo wall, blends tradition and modernity with Beijing cultural elements. It includes exhibition areas showcasing the capital’s high-quality development, the Central Axis, traditional Chinese medicine, Fengtai district and local enterprises.

    Beijing companies from sectors including traditional Chinese medicine, health, scientific innovation, finance, culture and tourism are participating, unveiling special products and services.

    This year marks Beijing’s 15th participation in the fair. The city aims to deepen cooperation with Macao in key areas and expand exchanges with Portuguese-speaking countries worldwide to boost Macao’s economic diversification and promote high-quality development in both regions.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Trahan Tours Key Federally Backed Concord 250 Projects

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03)

    LOWELL, MA – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) was joined by State Representatives Carmine Gentile and Simon Cataldo to highlight federal funding she secured to support key Concord 250 projects ahead of next year’s celebrations.

    “With just six months until Concord hosts visitors from around the world for our semiquincentennial celebrations, it was great to see the progress being made on key projects at the Wright Tavern and all across Minute Man National Historical Park,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “I’m proud to have secured significant federal funding to help prepare for Concord 250, and I look forward to working with community leaders, national park officials, event organizers, and volunteers to make this celebration a resounding success.”

    “The federal funding secured by Congresswoman Trahan is absolutely critical to our success in hosting Concord250. This investment will allow us to enhance our historic sites, improve visitor experiences, and truly showcase the significance of Concord’s role in American history,” said Concord Town Manager Kerry Lafleur. “We’re deeply grateful for her leadership and the continued support of our legislative delegation.”

    “Thank you to Congresswoman Trahan for her crucial support to ensure that Concord’s 250th anniversary will be a celebration worthy of the town’s rich history and national significance,” said State Representative Carmine Gentile. “I look forward to working with the rest of Concord’s state delegation to ensure the town receives additional resources and support from the Commonwealth in order to make the Semiquincentennial an incredible success.”

    “I am grateful for the support of Congresswoman Trahan and Congress in directing substantial federal funds to supplement state grants in support of Concord’s historic places. The Wright Tavern and Minute Man National Historical Park will be center stage during next year’s celebration of the 250th anniversary of the shot heard ‘round the world,” said State Representative Simon Cataldo. “These funds will preserve the rich heritage of these sites, ensuring that their significance is preserved for future generations to learn and draw inspiration.”

    The lawmakers visited the Wright Tavern where she was joined by members of the Wright Tavern Legacy Trust as well as state and local officials to see the impact of the $521,265 federal grant she helped secure through the National Park Service’s Semiquincentennial Grant Program. Built in 1747, the Wright Tavern is home to some of America’s most significant historical moments, including the First Massachusetts Provincial Congress in 1774 and the gathering place of the Minutemen who organized the resistance against the British in the Battles of Concord and Lexington in 1775. The federal investment will support the Trust’s multiphase plan to preserve the Wright Tavern and re-establish it as a historic education center and community meeting place ahead of Concord 250.

    “We are honored and excited to receive this grant from the National Park Service. Rep. Trahan’s support brings the dream of the Tavern to life as a historic gathering place to exchange ideas,” said Wright Tavern Legacy Trust Chair Tom Wilson. “Federal funding for the Wright Tavern is a rallying cry for our future — fortifying our heritage as we prepare to assemble for learning, dialogue and celebration within these historic walls. Just as our forebears gathered here, we honor their legacy and inspire new generations. Together, we’re building a stronghold of education and community as we approach America 250.”

    After leaving the Wright Tavern, the lawmakers joined Minute Man National Historical Park Superintendent Simone Monteleone and local officials to tour the work being done on the trails surrounding the Old North Bridge, the site of the Shot Heard ‘Round the World. The park is deploying $27,400,000 in federal funding through the Great American Outdoors Act to complete several restoration and preservation projects to prepare for an increase in visitors during Concord 250. This year, Minute Man also received another $1,440,000 in federal funding through the Inflation Reduction Act to support temporary staffing needs and invasive vegetation management ahead of the semiquincentennial celebrations.

    In 2020, Trahan supported passage of the Great American Outdoors Act, bipartisan legislation to close the $22 billion deferred maintenance backlog in national parks and public lands across the country, including the $27.4 million allocated to Minute Man National Historical Park. Trahan also voted in 2022 to pass the Inflation Reduction Act, which, in addition to reducing prescription drug prices and decreasing energy costs for families, allocated funding for ecosystem restoration and resilience projects on federal lands like national parks.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: DHS Offers Protections for Lebanese Nationals Currently in the United States

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    Certain Lebanese nationals will be eligible for DED and TPS, allowing them to work and temporarily remain in the United States

    WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is announcing new actions to provide temporary immigration reprieve to eligible Lebanese nationals currently in the United States and allowing them the opportunity to request work authorization. Included in today’s announcement are details related to the Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for Lebanese nationals as previously announced in July, and a planned new Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for Lebanon.

    After consultation with interagency partners, Secretary Mayorkas is announcing a new TPS designation for Lebanon for 18 months due to ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions in Lebanon that prevent nationals of Lebanon from returning in safety. Those approved for TPS will be able to remain in the country while the United States is in discussions to achieve a diplomatic resolution for lasting stability and security across the Israel-Lebanon border. The designation of Lebanon for TPS will allow Lebanese nationals (and individuals having no nationality who last habitually resided in Lebanon) who have been continuously residing in the United States since October 16, 2024 to file initial applications for TPS, if they are otherwise eligible. Lebanese nationals who entered the United States after October 16, 2024 will not be eligible for TPS. More information about TPS, including how to apply for employment authorization, will be included in a forthcoming Federal Register Notice which DHS intends to publish in the next few weeks. Individuals should not apply for TPS under this designation until this Federal Register Notice publishes.

    Today, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)also posted a Federal Register Notice establishing procedures for those Lebanese nationals covered by President Biden’s July 26, 2024 grant of Deferred Enforced Departure to apply for Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) that will be valid through January 25, 2026. As described in the Federal Register Notice, eligible Lebanese nationals can apply for an EAD by filing Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization. USCIS adjudicates each EAD application on a case-by-case basis to determine if an applicant meets all standards and eligibility criteria. More information about DED-based EADs is available on the USCIS website.

    DHS is also publishing a Special Student Relief Notice for F-1 nonimmigrant students whose country of citizenship is Lebanon, or individuals having no nationality who last habitually resided in Lebanon, so that eligible students may request employment authorization, work an increased number of hours while school is in session, and reduce their course load while continuing to maintain F-1 status through the DED designation period.

    In total, approximately 11,000 Lebanese nationals will likely be eligible for DED and TPS pursuant to these actions. There are also approximately 1,740 F-1 nonimmigrant students from Lebanon in the United States who may be eligible for Special Student Relief. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Statement from Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas on the Independent Review Panel Report of the July 13, 2024 Assassination Attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    WASHINGTON – Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas issued the following statement on the Independent Review Panel report released today regarding the July 13, 2024 assassination attempt against former President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania.

    “We are grateful to the members of the bipartisan Independent Review Panel and their staff for their in-depth examination of the security failures that led to the July 13, 2024 assassination attempt on the former President and the loss of life and casualties suffered.  The members of the Independent Review Panel are highly accomplished individuals with extensive security and law enforcement backgrounds, and the U.S. Secret Service’s protection mission will benefit greatly from their recommendations.

    “I have reviewed the Independent Review Panel’s report and have met with the Panel members. We will fully consider the Panel’s recommendations and are taking the actions needed to advance the Secret Service’s protection mission.  These actions will be responsive not only to the security failures that led to the July 13, 2024 assassination attempt, but, importantly, to what the Independent Review Panel describes as systemic and foundational issues that underlie those failures.  I commend Acting Director Rowe for his leadership and for proactively undertaking security enhancements, including those informed by the Secret Service’s internal Mission Assurance Review.

    “I have the utmost confidence in the men and women of the United States Secret Service.  We are operating in a heightened and dynamic threat environment, and it is their talent, unwavering dedication, and tireless service that ensures the safety and security of their protectees and our nation.”

    Following the events of July 13 President Joe Biden directed DHS to conduct an independent security review. On July 21, 2024 Secretary Mayorkas named a bipartisan panel with extensive law enforcement and security experience to conduct a 45-day independent review. The independent review panel of experts from outside of government was comprised of former DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano; the Hon. Mark Filip, a former federal judge and Deputy Attorney General to President George W. Bush; Ms. Frances Townsend, former Homeland Security Advisor to President George W. Bush; and Chief David Mitchell, the former superintendent of Maryland State Police and former Secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Homeland Security for the State of Delaware.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Chernyshenko: Bashkortostan has passed the baton of the International Sports Forum “Russia – a Sports Power” to the Samara Region

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

    Dmitry Chernyshenko: Bashkortostan has passed the baton of the International Sports Forum “Russia – a Sports Power” to the Samara Region

    October 17, 2024

    The launch of the sports project “The Path of the Future Games 2.0 Trophy”. In the center are Dmitry Chernyshenko, Minister of Sports Mikhail Degtyarev and bloggers Mahyoub Haitham from Yemen and Han Xueying from China

    October 17, 2024

    Dmitry Chernyshenko and Mikhail Degtyarev inspected the stand of the State Sports Museum

    October 17, 2024

    Acting Prime Minister of Bashkortostan Andrey Nazarov solemnly handed over to the Governor of the Samara Region Vyacheslav Fedorishchev a symbolic baton – the right to host the forum “Russia – a Sports Power” in 2025

    October 17, 2024

    Launch of the sports project “The Path of the Future Games Trophy 2.0”

    October 17, 2024

    Dmitry Chernyshenko and Mikhail Degtyarev at the exhibition of the forum “Russia – a Sports Power”

    October 17, 2024

    Dmitry Chernyshenko and Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev inspected the exposition of the international forum “Russia – a Sports Power” and launched the sports project “The Path of the Future Games Trophy 2.0”. Ceremony of handing over the symbol of the forum and the right to host the event in 2025 to Samara

    October 17, 2024

    Previous news Next news

    Dmitry Chernyshenko: Bashkortostan has passed the baton of the International Sports Forum “Russia – a Sports Power” to the Samara Region

    Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko and Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev inspected the exposition of the international forum “Russia – a Sports Power” and launched the sports project “The Path of the Future Games Trophy 2.0”. During the inspection, a ceremony was held to transfer the forum symbol and the right to host the event in 2025 to Samara.

    “It is extremely important that the forum “Russia – a Sports Power” will host panel discussions on issues that are relevant to everyone, related to the development and future of international sports. Such sports that are not subject to political circumstances and are not used as a weapon against other countries. The attempts of the unfriendly West to ban everything Russian, including our culture, language and sports, have truly failed. This year we held the largest international, open competitions – the Games of the Future, “Children of Asia”, the BRICS Games. And their number will only increase. Russia is open to the whole world, and this is being stated today from the rostrum of the forum “Russia – a Sports Power”, – the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized.

    Dmitry Chernyshenko drew attention to the symbolism of holding the forum in the year of the 450th anniversary of Ufa and spoke about the region’s achievements in the field of sports development: Bashkortostan has one of the highest levels of provision of sports infrastructure and involvement of residents in regular sports.

    The Deputy Prime Minister noted that in the conditions in which our country finds itself, its unification around President Vladimir Putin is especially noticeable, including in the field of sports. The head of state set the task of increasing the number of people systematically involved in sports to 70% by 2030. According to the Deputy Prime Minister, the Republic of Bashkortostan is an excellent platform and example.

    “We plan that the goal of 70% of citizens regularly involved in sports will be achieved by 2030. Today, about 60% of Russians are actively involved in sports. The components of success here are our coaches, athletes, infrastructure, which, by decision of the President, has been developing at a very rapid pace in recent years. The head of state instructed us to additionally introduce 350 sports facilities per year. Money has been allocated for these purposes,” said Mikhail Degtyarev.

    The Minister of Sports also noted the joint work with the Government: “We take into account all the instructions of the President, federal programs, process events and work with the regions. Plus the comprehensive state program, which President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin supported at the suggestion of Dmitry Nikolaevich Chernyshenko. We are currently working on it. It will take into account the federal budget, and regional funds that go to sports, and extra-budgetary sources. Large companies spend a lot on sports, we thank them for this. Now these funds will be taken into account when planning expenses.”

    Dmitry Chernyshenko, together with Mikhail Degtyarev and Acting Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Bashkortostan Andrey Nazarov, visited the stands of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia, the State Sports Museum, SMP Racing, the Republic of Belarus, the Samara, Sakhalin and Tula regions, and Bashkortostan.

    The Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia presented developments of domestic manufacturers and showed their products. A unique collection of Olympic torches from different years was presented at the stand of the State Sports Museum.

    At the Samara Region stand, Acting Prime Minister of Bashkortostan Andrey Nazarov solemnly handed over a symbolic baton to the Governor of the Samara Region Vyacheslav Fedorishchev – the right to host the Russia – Sports Power forum in 2025.

    “We are grateful to President Vladimir Putin for the trust he has shown in holding the international forum in the capital of our republic. We approached this issue with special responsibility. We have done truly large-scale work. We are handing over the symbol of the country’s main sporting event to our esteemed neighbors – the Samara Region,” Andrey Nazarov emphasized.

    Also, Dmitry Chernyshenko, together with Mikhail Degtyarev, the President of the Russian Phygital Sports Federation Nikita Nagorny and the head of the Future Games project Igor Stolyarov, launched the sports project “The Path of the Future Games Trophy 2.0” – an international motor rally with the main trophy of the Games.

    The Deputy Prime Minister recalled that in February of this year, at the initiative of President Vladimir Putin, the Games of the Future were held for the first time in human history. They were a huge success: 116 countries, 2,000 athletes, more than 3.5 billion views.

    The International Phygital Sports Federation has already been organized. The next Games will be held in 2025 in the United Arab Emirates, and the third in Kazakhstan.

    “The trophy’s route will pass through eight countries, including the countries that will host the Games of the future. The importance of this journey is difficult to overestimate, as it will popularize the phygital movement – a sports movement that unites science, technology and sports, creating new stars who are equally developed in both the virtual and physical worlds. It is they who are the effective future of our world. We are very pleased that our partners continue to support this format,” the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized.

    Mikhail Degtyarev noted that the Games trophy even went to space, and spoke about the creation of phygital centers: “Also, on the instructions of Dmitry Nikolaevich Chernyshenko, with the support of our President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, we will build at least 300 phygital centers across the country by 2030. The funds are included in our budget, and are currently being approved. We have done this work, and this is the future – physical activity plus eSports give a healthy modern person of the future.”

    The international Future Games Trophy Route 2.0 rally aims to take phygital to an even bigger scale. It will run from October 17 to November 22, 2024, through Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Iran and Qatar.

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

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

    http://government.ru/nevs/53028/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: International appeal for humanitarian demining in Ukraine adopted in Lausanne

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

    Bern, 17.10.2024 – The first day of the Ukraine Mine Action Conference 2024 ended today with the presentation of the Lausanne Call for Action, which reaffirms the support of the majority of the countries present for humanitarian demining in Ukraine and around the world. The appeal calls for the needs of victims and disabled people to be addressed and promoting partnership and innovation to increase effectiveness in mine action. The conference, held in Lausanne at the EHL Hospitality Business School, brings together representatives of states, international organisations and partners in humanitarian demining.

    61 delegations met on 17 and 18 October 2024 in Lausanne for the Ukraine Mine Action Conference 2024 (UMAC2024). At the end of the first high-level day, the Lausanne Call for Action was adopted, calling for concrete action by states on humanitarian demining in Ukraine. This includes, for example, the swift and safe rehabilitation of agricultural areas, the economic and social reintegration of victims with disabilities, the promotion of international cooperation between the various partners active on the ground, and the exchange of experience and knowledge to foster innovative methods and technologies that increase the effectiveness of mine action at a global level. The text was presented by Switzerland and Ukraine, together with Croatia, which hosted the last mine action conference, and Japan, which will host the 2025 edition.

    Civil population, partnerships and innovation at centre of debate

    The event, hosted jointly by Switzerland and Ukraine, features debates and discussions based on three pillars – people, partners and progress – with the aim of highlighting the crucial importance of humanitarian demining as an integral part of the country’s economic and social reconstruction. The conference was opened by the Swiss president, Viola Amherd and the Ukrainian prime minister, Denys Shmyhal. The Swiss president emphasised in her speech that humanitarian demining is a priority for Switzerland: “Humanitarian demining is not only a security issue, but also a prerequisite for recovery, especially for the restoration of agricultural production and children’s education.”

    Also speaking at UMAC2024 will be figures from the scientific community and civil society, such as British photographer Giles Duley, a landmine survivor and UN Global Advocate for persons with disabilities in conflict situations and peacebuilding situations, and philanthropist Howard G. Buffett, chairman and CEO of the Howard G. Buffett foundation.

    Switzerland’s concrete support for humanitarian demining

    During the conference, the head of the FDFA, Ignazio Cassis, reiterated the importance of international cooperation in humanitarian demining and reaffirmed Switzerland’s commitment to the reconstruction of Ukraine, based on the Lugano Principles adopted in 2022. He also pointed out that the Federal Council decided last week to grant an additional CHF 30 million to the Fondation suisse de déminage (FSD) to extend its activities in the Kharkiv and Kherson regions until 2027. “Thanks to partners such as FSD and the International Centre for Humanitarian Demining, Switzerland is providing direct, effective support in Ukraine,” said Cassis. Since February 2022, the Swiss federal government has implemented various measures to support those affected by the war and allocated around CHF 3.7 billion. Last year the Federal Council approved CHF 100 million in support over four years, earmarked exclusively for mine action in Ukraine.

    Switzerland reiterates solidarity with Ukraine

    At the UMAC2024, a delegation from the Federal Council, led by President Viola Amherd, met with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. The meeting was dedicated to possible steps towards peace, reconstruction and solidarity with Ukraine in the face of the energy shortage in the upcoming winter months. The Swiss delegation, which included Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, emphasised Switzerland’s continued and long-term solidarity with Ukraine.

    Following the Summit on Peace in Ukraine at the Bürgenstock resort in June, the two sides discussed further possible substantive steps towards a lasting and just peace in Ukraine. For Switzerland, it is clear that any solution must respect international law and the UN Charter. Switzerland remains ready to offer its good offices with the aim of supporting firm steps towards the inclusion of both parties. The thematic follow-up conference scheduled to be held in Montreal at the end of October on the human dimension, the fate of prisoners of war, arbitrarily detained civilians and abducted children was also discussed. A further important topic of discussion was Switzerland’s support for Ukraine and the reconstruction effort, to which the Federal Council attaches strategic importance.

    The Vaud cantonal police are implementing the necessary security measures for the UMAC2024, adapted to the assessment of the situation and in close cooperation with the Federal Office of Police (fedpol). The Swiss Armed Forces provide them with support, in particular in the areas of personnel transport, logistics, air surveillance and air transport.

    Address for enquiries

    FDFA Communication
    Federal Palace West Wing
    CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland
    Tel. Press service: +41 58 460 55 55
    E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch
    Twitter: @SwissMFA

    Publisher

    Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
    https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Report of the Acting Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo: UK statement, October 2024

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Ambassador Holland welcomes the Report by the Acting Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, and underlines appreciation for the Mission’s work on monitoring and early warning functions in light of continued tensions in the north of Kosovo.

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

    Thank you, Madam Chair.

    Firstly, I would like to welcome the Acting Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo to the Permanent Council for the first time. Thank you for the written report on the activities of the Mission over the last six months, and for the comprehensive presentation this morning.

    Madam Chair, the United Kingdom shares the assessment in the Report of the concerning lack of progress towards Kosovo-Serbia normalisation, which continues to have negative implications for the daily lives of ordinary citizens and for wider stability in the Western Balkans. In this context we welcome the Government of Kosovo’s recent decision to lift its ban on access for Serbian goods as a positive step towards enabling free trade across the Western Balkans, and giving citizens across the region the opportunity to reap the economic benefit of closer alignment with their European neighbours.

    We continue to call on both Kosovo and Serbia to engage constructively in the EU-facilitated Dialogue and to deliver on their respective obligations, including establishing an Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities.

    The UK will continue to encourage Kosovo to ensure that non-majority communities can play a full and equal role in the country’s future. We have been clear with all interlocutors that any actions which impact the wellbeing of Kosovo-Serbs and other non-majority communities require careful consultation with Kosovo’s friends and security partners, to avoid fuelling tensions and disadvantaging the most vulnerable. All non-majority communities should be free to exercise their democratic rights and further integrate into Kosovan society. We continue to encourage Kosovo Serbs to participate in the democratic process, take up roles in the public service and serve their communities.

    The UK reiterates the importance of ensuring justice and accountability for all acts of violence. We continue to call on Serbia to co-operate fully with efforts to hold to account those responsible for the shocking attack in Banjska in September 2023, and on NATO KFOR troops in May 2023, and to act to tackle cross-border arms smuggling.

    The UK commends the work of the OSCE Mission during the last six months across the three core pillars of its mandate. In particular, we appreciate the Mission’s continued prioritisation of monitoring and early warning functions in light of continuing tensions in the north of Kosovo.

    We value the Mission’s ongoing support to government institutions on human rights and inter-community relations, including addressing concerns about the property rights of non-majority communities. We welcome the Mission’s continued work to address challenges to the right to freedom of religion or belief and the preservation of cultural heritage. We also appreciate the Mission’s support to the Central Election Commission in modernising Kosovo’s electoral processes, which will be particularly important ahead of the February 2025 Assembly elections.

    Madam Chair, the United Kingdom remains a long-standing and strong supporter of Kosovo as an independent and sovereign state. We are committed to supporting an inclusive, diverse and multi-ethnic democracy in Kosovo, and its full participation in the international system.

    As we mark the 25th anniversary of the OSCE Mission’s mandate and constructive engagement in Kosovo, I wanted to again thank you, Acting Head of Mission, for taking on the leadership of the Mission at this critical time. I also want to thank your team for their continued expertise, engagement and hard work under pressure and uncertainty – it really is much appreciated.

    Thank you, Madam Chair.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Waterville — Missing 54-year-old man

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    The Western Valley Region RCMP is asking for the public’s help locating a missing 54-year-old man from Millville, N.B.

    Andrew Irvine was last seen at approximately 4:30 p.m. on October 15, 2024, near 11300 Route 130, in Waterville. He was reported missing to police the same day. Police have followed up on several leads to try and locate him, but have so far been unsuccessful. Police and his family are concerned for his wellbeing.

    Andrew Irvine is described as being approximately five feet ten inches (178 centimetres) tall, and weighing approximately 270 pounds (122 kilograms). He has brown eyes, and brown hair. He was last seen wearing a camouflage jacket. A picture of him is not available at this time.

    Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact the Western Valley Region RCMP at 506-325-3000.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Norwich Remembers: Council sets out its plans for Remembrance Sunday

    Source: City of Norwich

    Published on Thursday, 17th October 2024

    With less than a month to go until Remembrance Sunday, Norwich City Council has set out its plans for how the city will come together to honour those who have made sacrifices in times of conflict.

    The commemorations will begin at 10am at the War Memorial outside City Hall on St Peters Gate, with the assembling of current and ex service personnel, civic dignitaries, emergency service representatives and members of the public.

    Reverend Canon Edward Carter, of St Peter Mancroft, will lead the service of remembrance, which will include laying wreaths at Norwich War Memorial and prayers, followed by The Last Post (the traditional final salute to the fallen) to mark the start of the national two-minute silence at 11am.

    After a blessing, the parade will march off at around 11:05am, from St Peters Street, down Gaol Hill, along London Street, Opie Street, Castle Meadow, Agriculture Hall Plain, Upper King Street, Tombland to Norwich Cathedral.

    Following a salute on Cathedral Close, everyone is invited to enter Norwich Cathedral for a service from 11:40am.

    All are welcome to attend, as well as lay any wreaths or tributes after the service has concluded.

    The Lord Mayor of Norwich, Councillor Vivien Thomas said: “As a council we remain deeply honoured to play a leading role in planning our city’s remembrance commemorations every year.

    “The period of remembrance is a sacred time for us all with our community coming together from all walks of life in gratitude, solidarity, and respect to remember all those who have served and died in conflict for our country.”

    Road closures:

    The following roads will be closed from 7am until 12pm.

    • St Peters Street.
    • Bethel Street (access maintained to The Forum Car Park).
    • St Giles Street at its junction to St Peters Street (access will be maintained to St Giles Car Park) all vehicles will be directed down Upper Goat Lane.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Brighton soldier killed at Passendale finally laid to rest

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    A World War One soldier who was injured and sent home, but then returned to the front where he was killed, has finally been buried close to where he fell.

    Rifleman Callum Phillips plays the Last Post in honour of Rifleman Adams.

    A World War One soldier who was injured and sent home, but then returned to the front where he was killed, has finally been buried close to where he fell; just weeks before Remembrance Sunday.

    The burial service for Rifleman (Rfn) Frederick Thomas Adams which was organised by the MOD’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC) , also known as the War Detectives, took place at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s (CWGC) Passchendaele New British Cemetery, in Belgium yesterday (Wednesday 16 October 24).

    Bob Adams, Rfn Adams’ first cousin twice removed, who aided JCCC by providing the DNA sample used to identify him was there.  

    Bob said: 

    I was intrigued to receive an e-mail last year asking me to carry out DNA testing in connection with Frederick, and once a positive result had been established, I had no hesitation in accepting the invitation to attend the burial service. 

    We are very proud to be related to someone with such a distinguished service record, and we want to give him the respect that he truly deserves. We are honoured to be invited to attend the burial service today, to commemorate his life that was sacrificed in the service of his country.

    Bob Adams, the first cousin twice removed of Rifleman Adams, with the party from 3rd Battalion The Rifles.

    Rfn Adams, who hailed from Brighton, was a career soldier who arrived on the Western Front immediately after the outbreak of hostilities. Having been wounded near Armentieres, on 25 October 1914, he was sent home and did not return to the fighting until 1917, when he was sent back into action as part of a citizen Army. He was killed in Passendale on 19 November 1917. As he was missing Rfn Adams was commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium. 

    In 2018, the remains of a soldier of The Rifle Brigade were discovered during roadworks in Passendale. He was found with two chevrons, indicating that he may have either have held the rank of corporal or that he may have been wearing or in possession of two Good Conduct Stripes. After extensive research and DNA testing, the soldier was identified as Rfn Adams.  

    JCCC Caseworker, Rosie Barron said: 

    It has been an honour to work with The Rifles to give Rfn Adams the full military funeral that he deserves and to have conducted the research which led to his identification. It has also been a priviledge to meet Bob and to have shared this experience with him and his family. Rfn Adams was a career soldier, and I am sure when he returned to the Western Front in 1917, his knowledge and experience would have been invaluable to the men around him. May he now rest in peace alongside his comrades.

    Lieutenant Henry Waterson gives a reading at Rifleman Adams’ graveside.

    The service was conducted by the Reverend Huw Ryden CF, Chaplain to 3rd Battalion The Rifles and was supported by a bearer party from that battalion. 

    Reverend Ryden said: 

    As we preside at the burial service of Rifleman Adams who had been missing for so long; we, by proxy, represent the generations who so deeply wanted to be here. Those past generations are the loved ones who hoped and prayed for the miracle of a safe return. If not a safe a return, then a funeral service to afford some closure and an opportunity to say their last goodbyes. We now stand for those loved ones, and with such a realisation, we stand here deeply moved by the weight and depth of meaning that this service carries.

    The coffin of Rifleman Adams is carried to his grave by serving soldiers of 3rd Battalion The Rifles.

    The graves will now be cared for in perpetuity by CWGC. 

     Director for Central and Southern Europe at the CWGC, Geert Bekaert, said:  

    As we move closer to the period of Remembrance, we are honoured to be able to commemorate Rifleman Adams from Brighton, who made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms we enjoy today. 

    We will care for his grave, and those of his comrades, in perpetuity.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Apple celebrates 10 years of Apple Pay

    Source: Apple

    Headline: Apple celebrates 10 years of Apple Pay

    October 17, 2024

    UPDATE

    Apple celebrates 10 years of Apple Pay

    Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet, reflects on a decade of Apple Pay enriching users’ lives, and shares new ways to pay with Apple Pay, including rewards and installments

    When we started our journey with Apple Pay 10 years ago, we saw a unique opportunity to leverage Apple’s hardware and software to make a meaningful impact on the financial health and lives of our customers. From the outset, we envisioned a world where you could use your iPhone to seamlessly pay for everything — from groceries to train tickets, in person and online, across the globe — all while keeping your personal and financial information safe and private.

    Today, Apple Pay is used by hundreds of millions of consumers in 78 markets, at checkout on millions of websites and apps, in tens of millions of stores worldwide, and is supported by more than 11,000 bank and network partners. We hear from customers every day about how much they love the ease, security, and privacy protections Apple Pay provides in their daily lives, and how much they enjoy using it across their devices — including iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, and Mac.

    One of my earliest memories of realizing how Apple Pay was positively impacting consumers’ lives was when we rolled out Apple Pay for transit in Tokyo, which is used by millions of travelers every day. I watched in awe as people quickly tapped their iPhone or Apple Watch to pay while passing through the turnstiles — no need to fish out any cash, cards, or coins from their wallets, or even unlock or wake their device. It’s a great example of how Apple Pay’s seamless and secure customer experience delivers convenience and peace of mind to consumers around the world, whether they’re commuting to work, shopping online, or picking up their morning coffee.

    We know how important it is for customers to feel secure and trust that their financial transactions are private when making a payment. That’s why we’re always working to safeguard consumers, while also enabling banks to have industry-low levels of fraud for Apple Pay transactions. And it’s also why Apple Pay was designed to protect users’ highly sensitive personal and financial information, like their card number, which is never shared with merchants. Our customers trust that when they use Apple Pay anywhere, they can have the peace of mind that their payments are protected.

    Looking ahead at what’s next for Apple Pay, we are excited to now bring our users more ways to pay, including the option to redeem rewards and access installment loans from Apple Pay-enabled issuers and lenders right at checkout with Apple Pay online and in-app on iPhone and iPad. This gives consumers greater flexibility in how they pay with the easy and trusted Apple Pay experience they already know and love. It also provides Apple Pay-enabled issuers and lenders with new ways to connect with their customers, and make their rewards and installment offerings even more accessible.

    Beyond payments, we’re also advancing our broader vision of replacing users’ physical wallets with an easy, secure, and private digital wallet — Apple Wallet. Today, users can seamlessly and securely add and access eligible event tickets, transit cards, keys, government IDs, and more all from Apple Wallet. And we’re always looking for new ways to make using Apple Wallet convenient while delivering unparalleled security and peace of mind.

    The last decade was an incredible journey, and we’re thrilled that so many people around the world are enjoying the experience that Apple Pay and Apple Wallet provide. I can’t wait to see what the next 10 years have in store.

    — Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet

    More Ways to Pay with Apple Pay

    With iOS 18, eligible users can now access installment loan options from Affirm in the U.S. and from Monzo Flex in the U.K. when checking out with Apple Pay online and in-app on iPhone and iPad.1 And starting today, eligible users in the U.S. and U.K. will also have the option to access Klarna’s flexible payment options right at checkout online and in-app with Apple Pay on iPhone and iPad.

    In the future, users will also be able to access installment payment options from eligible credit or debit cards when making online purchases with Apple Pay in the U.S. with Citi, Synchrony, and across eligible, participating Apple Pay issuers with Fiserv; in Australia with ANZ; in Singapore with DBS; in Spain with CaixaBank; and in the U.K. with HSBC, NewDay, and Zilch, with more issuers to follow. Users in Canada will also have access to Klarna’s flexible payment options at checkout with Apple Pay online and in-app on iPhone and iPad in the future.

    Additionally, with iOS 18, Apple Pay users in the U.S. can now redeem rewards with eligible Discover credit cards2 when they check out with Apple Pay online and in-app on iPhone and iPad. In the future, users will also be able to redeem rewards for purchases with Apple Pay in the U.S. with Synchrony and across eligible, participating Apple Pay issuers with Fiserv and FIS, and in Singapore with DBS, with more issuers to follow.

    Users can now also access Apple Pay on third-party web browsers and computers.3 At checkout, users will be prompted to use their iPhone or iPad to scan a code, and will then be able to securely complete the payment with Apple Pay on iPhone or iPad. And with Tap to Provision, it’s even easier for users to add a credit or debit card to Apple Wallet by simply tapping their eligible card to the back of their iPhone.4

    Next year, customers in the U.S. will also be able to see their PayPal balance when using their PayPal debit card in Apple Wallet, giving them greater visibility and confidence when shopping.

    1. This feature is offered by a card’s issuer, and is subject to issuer eligibility requirements and other issuer terms. This feature is not available in all markets, and may not be available for all types of purchases, such as subscriptions and recurring transactions. The full amount of the transaction will be charged to the user’s card at the time of their purchase, and a statement credit for the redeemed reward amount will be applied to the user’s account.
    2. Redemptions used with Discover credit cards will be reflected as a statement credit on a customer’s account.
    3. iOS 18 or iPadOS 18 or later required. Available with participating merchants on compatible browsers. Compatible browsers require WebSocket support. This feature is not available in all markets.
    4. Must have an eligible and supported card. Not available in all markets. To use this feature, a card’s NFC technology must be activated, and the user may need to enter their card’s security code during setup. Software requirements apply. To ensure a user has all features of this product, their iPhone must be updated to the latest software version.

    In the U.S., Apple Pay is a service provided by Apple Payments Services LLC, a subsidiary of Apple Inc. In other countries and regions, Apple Pay is a service provided by certain Apple affiliates, as designated by the Apple Pay privacy notice. Neither Apple Inc., nor Apple Payments Services LLC, nor its affiliates are a bank. Any card used in Apple Pay is offered by the card issuer.

    The survey was commissioned by Apple and conducted by Morning Consult between September 10-13, 2024, among a sample of 3,014 adults in the U.S. ages 18-64.

    Press Contacts

    Heather Norton

    Apple

    heather_norton@apple.com

    Kimberly Mai

    Apple

    k_mai@apple.com

    Apple Media Helpline

    media.help@apple.com

    MIL OSI Economics –