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  • MIL-OSI Europe: JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the cases of unjustly imprisoned Uyghurs in China, notably Ilham Tohti and Gulshan Abbas – RC-B10-0101/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    pursuant to Rules 150(5) and 136(4) of the Rules of Procedure
    replacing the following motions:
    B10‑0101/2024 (Verts/ALE)
    B10‑0115/2024 (Renew)
    B10‑0116/2024 (S&D)
    B10‑0117/2024 (PPE)
    B10‑0118/2024 (ECR)

    Sebastião Bugalho, Miriam Lexmann, Michael Gahler, David McAllister, Isabel Wiseler‑Lima, Luděk Niedermayer, Ana Miguel Pedro, Mirosława Nykiel, Paulo Cunha, Marta Wcisło, Vangelis Meimarakis, Loránt Vincze, Danuše Nerudová, Rosa Estaràs Ferragut, Tomáš Zdechovský, Jörgen Warborn, Wouter Beke, Nicolás Pascual De La Parte, Željana Zovko, Inese Vaidere
    on behalf of the PPE Group
    Yannis Maniatis, Francisco Assis, Raphaël Glucksmann, Pina Picierno
    on behalf of the S&D Group
    Joachim Stanisław Brudziński, Adam Bielan, Mariusz Kamiński, Jaak Madison, Reinis Pozņaks, Alexandr Vondra, Jadwiga Wiśniewska, Veronika Vrecionová, Ondřej Krutílek, Michał Dworczyk, Assita Kanko, Alberico Gambino, Carlo Fidanza, Charlie Weimers, Beatrice Timgren, Sebastian Tynkkynen, Roberts Zīle, Waldemar Tomaszewski
    on behalf of the ECR Group
    Petras Auštrevičius, Helmut Brandstätter, Benoit Cassart, Olivier Chastel, Engin Eroglu, João Cotrim De Figueiredo, Svenja Hahn, Karin Karlsbro, Moritz Körner, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Nathalie Loiseau, Urmas Paet, Ana Vasconcelos, Hilde Vautmans, Lucia Yar
    on behalf of the Renew Group
    Erik Marquardt, Markéta Gregorová
    on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
    Per Clausen, Rima Hassan, Hanna Gedin, Jonas Sjöstedt

    Document selected :  

    RC-B10-0101/2024

    Texts tabled :

    RC-B10-0101/2024

    Texts adopted :

    European Parliament resolution on the cases of unjustly imprisoned Uyghurs in China, notably Ilham Tohti and Gulshan Abbas

    (2024/2857(RSP))

    The European Parliament,

    – having regard to Articles 4 and 36 of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China (PRC),

    – having regard to Rules 150(5) and 136(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

    A. whereas in 2014 Ilham Tohti was convicted of politically motivated charges of ‘separatism’ and sentenced to life imprisonment; whereas he worked to foster dialogue between Uyghurs and Han Chinese; whereas he was awarded the 2019 Sakharov Prize;

    B. whereas Gulshan Abbas is serving a 20-year sentence on fallacious terrorism-related charges relating to activities of her sister, a defender of the human rights of persecuted Uyghurs in the PRC;

    C. whereas this reflects the PRC authorities’ systemic repression of Uyghurs in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR); whereas Uyghurs are arbitrarily detained in internment camps and forced to renounce their ethnic identity and religious beliefs;

    D. whereas the defence of human rights, democracy and the rule of law should be at the centre of EU-PRC relations;

    1. Strongly condemns the PRC’s violations of the human rights of Uyghurs and people in Tibet, Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China;

    2. Urges the PRC to immediately and unconditionally release Ilham Tohti and Gulshan Abbas, as well as those arbitrarily detained in China and those mentioned by the EU during the 57th session of the UN Human Rights Council, guarantee their access to medical care and lawyers, provide information on their whereabouts and ensure family visiting rights; calls for the EU and the Member States to apply pressure in this respect at every high-level contact;

    3. Calls for the EU and the Member States to adopt additional sanctions against high-ranking officials and entities involved in human rights violations in the PRC;

    4. Demands that the PRC authorities halt their repression and targeting of Uyghurs with abusive policies, including intense surveillance, forced labour, sterilisation, birth prevention measures and the destruction of Uyghur identity, which amount to crimes against humanity and a serious risk of genocide; calls for the closure of all internment camps;

    5. Strongly condemns the PRC for not implementing the recommendations of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR); calls on the PRC to allow the OHCHR independent access to XUAR and invites the OHCHR to issue a comprehensive situational update and an action plan for holding the PRC accountable;

    6. Regrets the PRC’s lack of commitment to the Human Rights Dialogue and the absence of results;

    7. Calls on Member States and the international community to suspend extradition treaties with the PRC and Hong Kong, respect the non-refoulement principle and implement the OHCHR report;

    8. Urges Member States to address the transnational repression of Chinese dissidents and Uyghurs on their territory and prosecute individuals responsible;

    9. Welcomes the EU’s forced labour regulation and insists on its full implementation; calls on businesses operating in the PRC, particularly in XUAR, to comply with their HR due diligence obligations;

    10. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the PRC authorities, the VP/HR, the Commission, the Member States and the United Nations.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Highlights – EU priorities for the 69th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women – Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality

    Source: European Parliament

    On Monday, 14 October 2024, the FEMM Committee will debate the draft recommendation to the Council on the EU priorities for the 69th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).

    The main focus of CSW 69 being the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the FEMM committee will consider its recommendation to the Council.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the case of Bülent Mumay in Türkiye – RC-B10-0095/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Sebastião Bugalho, Isabel Wiseler‑Lima, Michael Gahler, Luděk Niedermayer, Ana Miguel Pedro, Mirosława Nykiel, Marta Wcisło, Vangelis Meimarakis, Danuše Nerudová, Tomáš Zdechovský, Nicolás Pascual De La Parte, Jörgen Warborn, Željana Zovko, Miriam Lexmann, Inese Vaidere
    on behalf of the PPE Group
    Yannis Maniatis, Francisco Assis, Nacho Sánchez Amor, Nikos Papandreou
    on behalf of the S&D Group
    Rihards Kols, Ondřej Krutílek, Ivaylo Valchev, Assita Kanko, Emmanouil Fragkos, Sebastian Tynkkynen, Waldemar Tomaszewski, Veronika Vrecionová
    on behalf of the ECR Group
    Lucia Yar, Petras Auštrevičius, Helmut Brandstätter, Benoit Cassart, Olivier Chastel, Engin Eroglu, Svenja Hahn, Karin Karlsbro, Moritz Körner, Nathalie Loiseau, Jan‑Christoph Oetjen, Hilde Vautmans
    on behalf of the Renew Group
    Vladimir Prebilič
    on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
    Isabel Serra Sánchez
    on behalf of The Left Group

    European Parliament resolution on the case of Bülent Mumay in Türkiye

    (2024/2856(RSP))

    The European Parliament,

    – having regard to its previous reports and resolutions on Türkiye,

    – having regard to the 2024 World Press Freedom Index, which ranks Türkiye 158th out of 180 countries,

    – having regard to Rules 150(5) and 136(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

    A. whereas, on 6 May  2023, Bülent Mumay, a Turkish journalist and coordinator of the Istanbul bureau of Deutsche Welle’s Turkish editorial office, was sentenced to 20 months in prison for social media posts about a pro-government company’s seizure of Istanbul Municipality’s subway funds during the AKP administration; whereas his appeal was rejected, and his tweets removed;

    B. whereas, on 20 August 2024, Istanbul’s 26th Regional Court, acting as an appeals court, upheld the sentence and ordered the Information and Communication Technologies Authority to block access to news reports about the upheld prison sentence;

    C. whereas the verdict, coupled with repeated censorship, demonstrates the escalating pressure on press freedom in Türkiye, with Bülent Mumay’s case not being an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of judicial harassment and censorship targeting Türkiye’s independent media;

    D. whereas Türkiye, as a member of the Council of Europe and EU candidate country, is required to apply the highest democratic standards and practices, including respect for human rights, the rule of law, fundamental freedoms (such as press freedom and freedom of expression), the universal right to a fair trial and strict respect for the principle of presumption of innocence and the right to due process;

    1. Condemns the sentence against Bülent Mumay, which follows a broader pattern of silencing critical journalism; calls on the Turkish authorities to drop the charges against Bülent Mumay, and all arbitrarily detained media workers and journalists;

    2. Is deeply concerned about the ongoing deterioration of democratic standards in Türkiye, relentless crackdown on any critical voices and targeting of independent journalists, activists and opposition members amid frequent reports of legal intimidation, censorship and financial coercion as ways to suppress criticism and investigative journalism;

    3. Deplores the fact that, the Turkish Government, through a number of laws, including the 2020 social media law, the 2021 anti-money laundering law, and the 2022 disinformation law, has built a complex web of legislation serving as a tool to systematically control and silence journalists; is highly concerned about the new ‘foreign agent regulation’ to be introduced by the end of 2024;

    4. Continues to condemn the lack of independence of the prosecution and judiciary and the political instrumentalisation of the judicial system in Türkiye and calls on the Turkish authorities to restore judicial independence, respect press freedom and ensure compliance with international human rights obligations;

    5. Calls on the EEAS to adequately support the EU Delegation to Türkiye in intensifying trial observation of detained journalists and media workers and raising their cases with the Turkish authorities at all levels, while maintaining close relations with civil society;

    6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the EEAS, and the President, Government and Parliament of Türkiye and have it translated into Turkish.

     

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the cases of unjustly imprisoned Uyghurs in China, notably Ilham Tohti and Gulshan Abbas – RC-B10-0101/2024/REV1

    Source: European Parliament

    pursuant to Rules 150(5) and 136(4) of the Rules of Procedure
    replacing the following motions:
    B10‑0101/2024 (Verts/ALE)
    B10‑0115/2024 (Renew)
    B10‑0116/2024 (S&D)
    B10‑0117/2024 (PPE)
    B10‑0118/2024 (ECR)

    Sebastião Bugalho, Miriam Lexmann, Michael Gahler, David McAllister, Isabel Wiseler‑Lima, Luděk Niedermayer, Ana Miguel Pedro, Mirosława Nykiel, Paulo Cunha, Marta Wcisło, Vangelis Meimarakis, Loránt Vincze, Danuše Nerudová, Rosa Estaràs Ferragut, Tomáš Zdechovský, Jörgen Warborn, Wouter Beke, Nicolás Pascual De La Parte, Željana Zovko, Inese Vaidere
    on behalf of the PPE Group
    Yannis Maniatis, Francisco Assis, Raphaël Glucksmann, Pina Picierno
    on behalf of the S&D Group
    Joachim Stanisław Brudziński, Adam Bielan, Mariusz Kamiński, Jaak Madison, Reinis Pozņaks, Alexandr Vondra, Jadwiga Wiśniewska, Veronika Vrecionová, Ondřej Krutílek, Michał Dworczyk, Assita Kanko, Alberico Gambino, Carlo Fidanza, Charlie Weimers, Beatrice Timgren, Sebastian Tynkkynen, Roberts Zīle, Waldemar Tomaszewski
    on behalf of the ECR Group
    Petras Auštrevičius, Helmut Brandstätter, Benoit Cassart, Olivier Chastel, Engin Eroglu, João Cotrim De Figueiredo, Svenja Hahn, Karin Karlsbro, Moritz Körner, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Nathalie Loiseau, Urmas Paet, Ana Vasconcelos, Hilde Vautmans, Lucia Yar
    on behalf of the Renew Group
    Erik Marquardt, Markéta Gregorová
    on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
    Per Clausen, Rima Hassan, Hanna Gedin, Jonas Sjöstedt, Lukas Sieper

    Document selected :  

    RC-B10-0101/2024

    Texts tabled :

    RC-B10-0101/2024

    Texts adopted :

    European Parliament resolution on the cases of unjustly imprisoned Uyghurs in China, notably Ilham Tohti and Gulshan Abbas

    (2024/2857(RSP))

    The European Parliament,

    – having regard to Articles 4 and 36 of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China (PRC),

    – having regard to Rules 150(5) and 136(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

    A. whereas in 2014 Ilham Tohti was convicted of politically motivated charges of ‘separatism’ and sentenced to life imprisonment; whereas he worked to foster dialogue between Uyghurs and Han Chinese; whereas he was awarded the 2019 Sakharov Prize;

    B. whereas Gulshan Abbas is serving a 20-year sentence on fallacious terrorism-related charges relating to activities of her sister, a defender of the human rights of persecuted Uyghurs in the PRC;

    C. whereas this reflects the PRC authorities’ systemic repression of Uyghurs in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR); whereas Uyghurs are arbitrarily detained in internment camps and forced to renounce their ethnic identity and religious beliefs;

    D. whereas the defence of human rights, democracy and the rule of law should be at the centre of EU-PRC relations;

    1. Strongly condemns the PRC’s violations of the human rights of Uyghurs and people in Tibet, Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China;

    2. Urges the PRC to immediately and unconditionally release Ilham Tohti and Gulshan Abbas, as well as those arbitrarily detained in China and those mentioned by the EU during the 57th session of the UN Human Rights Council, guarantee their access to medical care and lawyers, provide information on their whereabouts and ensure family visiting rights; calls for the EU and the Member States to apply pressure in this respect at every high-level contact;

    3. Calls for the EU and the Member States to adopt additional sanctions against high-ranking officials and entities involved in human rights violations in the PRC;

    4. Demands that the PRC authorities halt their repression and targeting of Uyghurs with abusive policies, including intense surveillance, forced labour, sterilisation, birth prevention measures and the destruction of Uyghur identity, which amount to crimes against humanity and a serious risk of genocide; calls for the closure of all internment camps;

    5. Strongly condemns the PRC for not implementing the recommendations of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR); calls on the PRC to allow the OHCHR independent access to XUAR and invites the OHCHR to issue a comprehensive situational update and an action plan for holding the PRC accountable;

    6. Regrets the PRC’s lack of commitment to the Human Rights Dialogue and the absence of results;

    7. Calls on Member States and the international community to suspend extradition treaties with the PRC and Hong Kong, respect the non-refoulement principle and implement the OHCHR report;

    8. Urges Member States to address the transnational repression of Chinese dissidents and Uyghurs on their territory and prosecute individuals responsible;

    9. Welcomes the EU’s forced labour regulation and insists on its full implementation; calls on businesses operating in the PRC, particularly in XUAR, to comply with their HR due diligence obligations;

    10. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the PRC authorities, the VP/HR, the Commission, the Member States and the United Nations.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Successful election: Switzerland to take a seat on the UN Human Rights Council for the 2025–27 term

    Source: Switzerland – Federal Administration in English

    Bern, 09.10.2024 – Switzerland was elected today to the UN Human Rights Council by the UN General Assembly in New York with 175 votes. It will serve as a member of the UN’s most important intergovernmental human rights body for three years starting in early 2025.

    Promoting and protecting human rights globally is a core objective of Swiss foreign policy. Respect for human rights is enshrined in the Swiss Federal Constitution and reflected in various international agreements to which Switzerland is a party. Switzerland is also the host state for the Human Rights Council and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. In 2006, it played a key role in the establishment of the Human Rights Council. Today, Switzerland was elected to the Human Rights Council for the fourth time and will serve from January 2025 until the end of 2027. Alongside Switzerland, 46 other states will serve on the UN’s most significant intergovernmental body in the field of human rights during this period.

    During its term on the Human Rights Council, Switzerland will work to strengthen the institution, promote human rights across the UN system, and implement them at national level. Its key priorities are the worldwide abolition of the death penalty, enforcing the prohibition of torture, promoting freedom of expression, and protecting minorities and women’s rights. In addition, Switzerland will work to strengthen democratic institutions globally by promoting electoral standards and emphasising the role of human rights in peaceful protests. In this context, Switzerland will also address the impact of new technologies, such as cyber, digital, and neurotechnologies, on human rights.

    As a bridge-builder, Switzerland will foster dialogue and cooperation among all states and contribute to solutions founded on international norms and standards. Ensuring the inclusion of civil society in the work of the Human Rights Council is a key concern for Switzerland.

    The UN and human rights
    The UN Human Rights Council is one of the UN’s main bodies dedicated to promoting and protecting human rights. Its mandate includes addressing human rights violations worldwide, setting international standards, and promoting human rights, for example, through providing technical support to states. The Human Rights Council comprises 47 member states and is based in Geneva.
     

    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 USA: Salazar and Colleagues Call on IMF to Create New Argentina Program

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar’s (FL-27)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Western Hemisphere Subcommittee Chairwoman María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) was joined by Republican members of Congress to urge the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to open new negotiations with the Republic of Argentina to create a robust financial package in order to support Argentina on their economic path to recovery. Joining Congresswoman Salazar on the letter were Representatives Chris Smith (R-NJ), Carlos Giménez (R-FL), Bill Huizenga (R-MI), Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Mike Lawler (R-NY), Mike Waltz (R-FL), Joe Wilson (R-SC), Tom Kean, Jr. (R-NJ), and Keith Self (R-TX).  

    In their letter to Dr. Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the IMF, the Representatives commended President Milei’s efforts to restore reliability as an economic borrower and end Argentina’s historical financial mismanagement under previous socialist administrations. The Members highlighted Milei’s background as an economist, his already-enacted measures to curtail inflation, and his Déficit Cero budget austerity plan as positive steps taken to accomplish those outcomes. 

    “The United States is the largest shareholder of the International Monetary Fund and therefore takes a keen interest in its activities. In Argentina, President Milei has vowed to restore his country’s reputation as a country that pays its debts and belongs in the club of countries that are reliable borrowers,” wrote the legislators. “According to reports, the economic adjustment plans he has implemented through the executive branch and the legislature are already curtailing inflation, hopefully setting Argentina on a path that ensures it will not miss any international financial obligations. As such, we ask that you consider these positive measures as you assist Argentina in charting the course ahead.”

    Below is the text of the letter. The full letter can be found HERE.

    Dear Managing Director Georgieva,

    As members of Congress of the United States who oversee foreign affairs issues, we write to you concerning the Republic of Argentina’s stated commitment to putting its fiscal house in order and righting the ship of state. The United States is the largest shareholder of the International Monetary Fund and therefore takes a keen interest in its activities. In Argentina, President Milei has vowed to restore his country’s reputation as a country that pays its debts and belongs in the club of countries that are reliable borrowers. According to reports, the economic adjustment plans he has implemented through the executive branch and the legislature are already curtailing inflation, hopefully setting Argentina on a path that ensures it will not miss any international financial obligations. As such, we ask that you consider these positive measures as you assist Argentina in charting the course ahead.

    We are encouraged that President Milei appears to be working toward meeting Argentina’s international obligations.

    As an economist, President Milei knows what the necessary measures are to tame inflation and ensure Argentina meets its commitments to the International Monetary Fund and other international creditors. In fact, should his Déficit Cero budget austerity plan be implemented in its entirety, the result would go beyond what the IMF has requested, cutting spending across the board and responsibly tackling Argentina’s economic challenges. 

    We believe that the IMF was generous with past profligate socialist governments.

    Since the Presidency of socialist Néstor Kirchner, the IMF has treated Argentina with incredible generosity, despite refusals of consecutive socialist governments to cut spending. The few times these governments did pay, it was because they printed more of the Argentine peso (ARS), a strategy which many economists believe caused a painful inflation crisis which wrecked Argentina’s economy. Nonetheless, these profligate governments received deals for $21.6 billion in 2001, $15.6 billion in 2003 and most recently $44 billion in 2022. Despite the IMF’s generosity, the Kirchner government was in default from 2007-2015. We are encouraged by President Milei’s stated commitment to leaving this shameful and damaging legacy where it belongs – in the past.

    President Milei’s government appears to be reinstituting fiscal responsibility after decades of mismanagement, but needs support.

    The current $800 million disbursement provided earlier this year is helpful. To repair the years of corruption and mismanagement, we believe that Argentina will need robust multilateral bank support, such as through a comprehensive IMF program, that would support Argentina’s difficult path toward economic health. Within all applicable rules and regulations, we respectfully request that you assess whether such support would both complement and reward the tough decisions that President Milei has made toward promoting Argentina’s long-term solvency and prosperity.

    We appreciate President Milei’s efforts to pay down Argentina’s debt and bring prosperity to his country. We think that these efforts could be bolstered by time and help from multilateral financial institutions such as the IMF.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: New Zealand’s BMI threshold for publicly funded fertility treatment is outdated and unethical. Here’s why it should go

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Carina Truyts, Associate Research Fellow (Deakin) and Research Officer, Monash University

    Getty Images

    Women seeking publicly funded fertility treatment in New Zealand must have a body mass index (BMI) under 32, according to clinical priority assessment criteria for access to assisted reproductive technology.

    But as our in-depth interviews and a growing body of evidence show, this approach is outdated and unethical.

    One of our study participants described the system as “completely rigged if you’re a fat person”. Nina, a 37-year-old dance teacher, was denied public funding support to help her conceive because her BMI was above 32 – even though the cause of infertility was her husband’s sperm count.

    Nina is not alone. Paratta, who moved to Aotearoa from Sri Lanka in 2009, was also denied because of her BMI. She raced to lose the required weight in spite of a medical condition, but was then denied again because she had reached 40, the age limit for access to public funding.

    Both women’s experiences highlight New Zealand’s obsolete and discriminating BMI limit. The United Kingdom does not include BMI as a criterion for public funding, and international cutoffs are generally between 35 and 45.

    We argue New Zealand’s BMI threshold must be scrapped to reflect impactful research and respond ethically to New Zealand’s diverse population.

    BMI and fertility

    One in six people worldwide are affected by infertility, according to the World Health Organization’s most recent estimate. They suffer severe social and psychological consequences.

    There are numerous factors that can affect fertility, and obesity is certainly one of them, impacting 6% of women who have never been pregnant.

    But the BMI is an outdated method of assessing this risk. It doesn’t measure body fat percentage, distribution or differences across populations.

    Our study participants have raised concerns about the BMI limit. International and local studies concur with them. Research shows Polynesians are much leaner than Europeans at significantly higher BMIs, meaning Māori and Pacific women are disadvantaged before they even step into the clinic.

    Quick weight loss unlikely to help

    In New Zealand, people seeking public support are told that “making lifestyle changes like quitting smoking or losing weight” could help them become eligible. They are given a stand-down period wherein they must lose the requisite weight before referrals.

    As in Paratta’s case, this can lead to a race to lose weight before the inflexible age limit of 40 is reached. Evidence-based research advises that fertility care should balance the risk of age-related fertility decline with weight-loss advice.

    Nina rejected the advice to lose weight. She was concerned that quick weight loss would require unhealthy practices that could affect her success rate during the embryo transfer.

    Lifestyle changes made within a short time before conception don’t improve outcomes.
    Getty Images

    At the Australia and New Zealand Fertility Association’s annual conference last month, US obstetrician Kurt Barnhart confirmed that lifestyle interventions made weeks or months before conception are unlikely to improve outcomes. They may even cause harm.

    He discussed the FIT—PLESE randomised control study, which compared two groups of infertile women. One underwent a targeted weight-loss program and another exercised but did not lose weight. The results showed no statistically significant difference between the groups’ fertility and live-birth rates. These findings suggest the stand-down period should be revised.

    Barnhart also highlighted that weight loss through lifestyle changes can be practically impossible given obesity is often linked to endocrine issues that have nothing to do with choice. He observed signals that the medical community is changing its views on obesity as a “lifestyle” choice – a welcome shift.

    BMI, lifestyle and ethics

    Social science research has long challenged a colonial and biomedical habit of imposing standards on women whose bodies do not conform to Western ideas of a healthy or ideal body.

    Historically, the emphasis on weight as a criterion for reproductive health echoes harmful eugenicist beliefs. As US science historian Arleen Tuchman writes, the discovery of insulin prompted some groups to recommended banning marriages for people with diabetes to prevent the “unfit” from reproducing. New Zealand’s BMI criteria similarly suggest only those who fit specific physical standards deserve access to fertility care.

    The idea that lifestyle and health are straightforward individual choices is also challenged by research in epigenetics and philosophy. Obesity is often linked with poverty, which in turn is linked to broader social and living environments, including access and income.

    The high economic burden of obesity has led biomedical experts to recommended obese people should be considered for particular support, given the prohibitive cost of assisted reproductive technologies.

    Nina exercises more than eight hours a week and Paratta leads an active lifestyle. For both women, behavioural advice – and the stigma and assumptions it underscores – is offensive.

    Weight-loss advice can be particularly culturally offensive for Māori and Pacific peoples, who may be stigmatised in clinic settings for being too “fat” but considered “skinny” in their communities if they lose the required weight.

    New Zealand’s assessment criteria for publicly funded fertility treatment have not been updated in 27 years. While infertility and health risks associated with obesity during pregnancy and at birth should not be ignored, research shows these risks can be managed effectively and with empathy through a transdisciplinary approach.

    The Australian state of Victoria now offers two free cycles of fertility treatment to any Medicare-holding woman, regardless of BMI, up to the age of 42. The program deliberately reaches out to specific groups whose ethnicity, sexuality and environment limit their access. It has been highly successful and should inspire New Zealand to approach fertility funding with fresh perspectives.

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

    – ref. New Zealand’s BMI threshold for publicly funded fertility treatment is outdated and unethical. Here’s why it should go – https://theconversation.com/new-zealands-bmi-threshold-for-publicly-funded-fertility-treatment-is-outdated-and-unethical-heres-why-it-should-go-240295

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: The dangers of voice cloning and how to combat it

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Leo S.F. Lin, Senior Lecturer in Policing Studies, Charles Sturt University

    David Herraez Calzada/Shutterstock

    The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) has brought both benefits and risk.

    One concerning trend is the misuse of voice cloning. In seconds, scammers can clone a voice and trick people into thinking a friend or a family member urgently needs money.

    News outlets, including CNN, warn these types of scams have the potential to impact millions of people.

    As technology makes it easier for criminals to invade our personal spaces, staying cautious about its use is more important than ever.

    What is voice cloning?

    The rise of AI has created possibilities for image, text, voice generation and machine learning.

    While AI offers many benefits, it also provides fraudsters new methods to exploit individuals for money.

    You may have heard of “deepfakes,” where AI is used to create fake images, videos and even audio, often involving celebrities or politicians.

    Voice cloning, a type of deepfake technology, creates a digital replica of a person’s voice by capturing their speech patterns, accent and breathing from brief audio samples.

    Once the speech pattern is captured, an AI voice generator can convert text input into highly realistic speech resembling the targeted person’s voice.

    With advancing technology, voice cloning can be accomplished with just a three-second audio sample.

    While a simple phrase like “hello, is anyone there?” can lead to a voice cloning scam, a longer conversation helps scammers capture more vocal details. It is therefore best to keep calls brief until you are sure of the caller’s identity.

    Voice cloning has valuable applications in entertainment and health care – enabling remote voice work for artists (even posthumously) and assisting people with speech disabilities.

    However, it raises serious privacy and security concerns, underscoring the need for safeguards.

    How it’s being exploited by criminals

    Cybercriminals exploit voice cloning technology to impersonate celebrities, authorities or ordinary people for fraud.

    They create urgency, gain the victim’s trust and request money via gift cards, wire transfers or cryptocurrency.

    The process begins by collecting audio samples from sources like YouTube and TikTok.

    Next, the technology analyses the audio to generate new recordings.

    Once the voice is cloned, it can be used in deceptive communications, often accompanied by spoofing Caller ID to appear trustworthy.

    Many voice cloning scam cases have made headlines.

    For example, criminals cloned the voice of a company director in the United Arab Emirates to orchestrate a $A51 million heist.

    A businessman in Mumbai fell victim to a voice cloning scam involving a fake call from the Indian Embassy in Dubai.

    In Australia recently, scammers employed a voice clone of Queensland Premier Steven Miles to attempt to trick people to invest in Bitcoin.

    Teenagers and children are also targeted. In a kidnapping scam in the United States, a teenager’s voice was cloned and her parents manipulated into complying with demands.

    It only takes a few seconds of audio for AI to clone someone’s voice.

    How widespread is it?

    Recent research shows 28% of adults in the United Kingdom faced voice cloning scams last year, with 46% unaware of the existence of this type of scam.

    It highlights a significant knowledge gap, leaving millions at risk of fraud.

    In 2022, almost 240,000 Australians reported being victims of voice cloning scams, leading to a financial loss of $A568 million.

    How people and organisations can safeguard against it

    The risks posed by voice cloning require a multidisciplinary response.

    People and organisations can implement several measures to safeguard against the misuse of voice cloning technology.

    First, public awareness campaigns and education can help protect people and organisations and mitigate these types of fraud.

    Public-private collaboration can provide clear information and consent options for voice cloning.

    Second, people and organisations should look to use biometric security with liveness detection, which is new technology that can recognise and verify a live voice as opposed to a fake. And organisations using voice recognition should consider adopting multi-factor authentication.

    Third, enhancing investigative capability against voice cloning is another crucial measure for law enforcement.

    Finally, accurate and updated regulations for countries are needed for managing associated risks.

    Australian law enforcement recognises the potential benefits of AI.

    Yet, concerns about the “dark side” of this technology have prompted calls for research into the criminal use of “artificial intelligence for victim targeting.”

    There are also calls for possible intervention strategies that law enforcement could use to combat this problem.

    Such efforts should connect with the overall National Plan to Combat Cybercrime, which focuses on proactive, reactive and restorative strategies.

    That national plan stipulates a duty of care for service providers, reflected in the Australian government’s new legislation to safeguard the public and small businesses.

    The legislation aims for new obligations to prevent, detect, report and disrupt scams.

    This will apply to regulated organisations such as telcos, banks and digital platform providers. The goal is to protect customers by preventing, detecting, reporting, and disrupting cyber scams involving deception.

    Reducing the risk

    As cybercrime costs the Australian economy an estimated A$42 billion, public awareness and strong safeguards are essential.

    Countries like Australia are recognising the growing risk. The effectiveness of measures against voice cloning and other frauds depends on their adaptability, cost, feasibility and regulatory compliance.

    All stakeholders — government, citizens, and law enforcement — must stay vigilant and raise public awareness to reduce the risk of victimisation.

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

    – ref. The dangers of voice cloning and how to combat it – https://theconversation.com/the-dangers-of-voice-cloning-and-how-to-combat-it-239926

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Rebates for buying e-bikes and e-scooters are good but unlikely to greatly boost sustainable transport on their own

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Abraham Leung, Senior Research Fellow, Cities Research Institute, Griffith University

    BikePortland/Flickr, CC BY

    Queensland has joined Tasmania as the second Australian state or territory to offer a A$500 rebate for buyers of new e‑bikes. The pre-election announcement includes a smaller $200 rebate for e‑scooters.

    The Queensland e‑mobility rebate scheme is first come, first served, until its $2 million budget ($1 million was added last week) is used up. The Tasmanian scheme has closed for this reason.

    These schemes follow a trend of government incentives to buy e‑bikes in North America and Europe. The Australian schemes differ from most schemes overseas by including e‑scooters too.

    It’s a welcome move to promote sustainable transport. These personal transport devices have smaller environmental footprints to produce and operate than electric cars. Owning e‑bikes or e‑scooters can enable people to drive less – reducing congestion and emissions – and avoid high fuel costs.

    However, my research and other studies suggest ownership doesn’t guarantee much greater use. Additional measures will be needed to boost use of these sustainable transport modes.

    Why own e-bikes or e-scooters when you can share?

    The rebate is likely to boost retailers’ sales. More than 860 rebate applications were received within three days of the scheme starting on September 23.

    And existing owners now have an incentive to upgrade or replace models. They might then sell their pre-loved e‑bikes or e‑scooters on the second-hand market. This means others could get them more cheaply.

    Queensland was the first Australian state to legalise the use of e‑scooters in 2018, when Brisbane introduced shared e‑scooter operations. Regional cities such as Townsville and Cairns launched similar schemes. Dockless e‑bikes later replaced Brisbane’s initial CityCycle bike-sharing scheme.

    I recently conducted research to understand why South-East Queensland residents want to own e‑scooters. The study methods were comparable to an earlier e‑bike user survey.

    Both sets of owners cite replacing car use as their top reason for ownership. However, their motivations differ.

    E‑scooter owners are mainly driven by the lower price and the fun factor of riding. E‑bike owners focus more on fitness and the health benefits of getting some exercise when riding. Australian regulations require e‑bikes to be pedal-assisted.

    But does this mean people will ride more?

    Since 2022, the Queensland government has offered a rebate of up to $6,000 for buying full-sized electric vehicles (that scheme closed last month). It now appears to have responded to calls to do the same for e‑bikes and e‑scooters.

    Buyers certainly won’t mind freebies and rebates, but rebate-induced ownership might not increase overall use by much.

    An Australia-wide survey in 2023 found 57% of respondents had access to at least one working bicycle at home and this proportion has been increasing. However, only 15% reported riding in the previous week. Only 36.7% had ridden in the past year.

    Overall cycling participation has declined over the past decade, except during the COVID pandemic when work and travel patterns were more local. For all periods, men are significantly more likely to cycle than women.

    The same 2023 survey revealed only about 2.1% own e‑bikes. The rebate will likely increase this rate in Queensland.

    Some preliminary evidence suggests e‑bike users ride more often and further than those riding non-electric bikes. It also helps older people get into cycling. And it has the potential to replace car use even in rural areas.

    Despite e‑bikes offering advantages over traditional bikes, riders of both face obstacles to greater use, such as road safety and poor cycling infrastructure.

    What kinds of incentives do other countries offer?

    Australian policymakers should consider offering incentives to ensure the new purchases are well used, not sitting idle most of the time.

    The United Kingdom has a long-standing cycle-to-work scheme that offers commuters a tax exemption for buying bicycles or e‑bikes.

    In the Netherlands, incentive schemes have used smartphone technology to track their mileage. For example, in the B-Riders scheme, riders earn €0.08–0.15 (A$0.13–0.21) per kilometre. There was a 68% increase in e‑bike use by former car commuters after one month and 73% increase after six months of participation.

    Schemes in North America tend to be aimed at lower-income households. They are more likely to be involuntarily carless, so e‑bikes can improve their access to jobs, goods and services.

    There are alternatives to rebates. North Vancouver, for example, is trialling e‑cargo bike lending to replace car shopping trips, as these bulky bikes are not practical for every household to own.

    In France, residents can claim a bike or e‑bike subsidy of up to €2,000 (A$3,210). Second-hand devices sold by approved repairers are covered too, which is likely to help reduce e‑waste. Australian schemes so far only cover new purchases.

    What more can be done?

    For e‑bike and e‑scooter owners, the main barrier to riding more is the lack of safe and well-connected infrastructure. Numerous studies have connected rates of riding to the quality and quantity of infrastructure. Extensive, high-quality and safe cycling networks can deliver lasting shifts towards sustainable transport.

    When the Spanish city of Seville built such networks, cycling rates surged 11-fold in a few years.

    In the Netherlands, this infrastructure is so well-funded and extensive that it’s no surprise cycling is popular there.

    Riders don’t just need bikeways. They also need end-of-trip facilities with secure parking (and maybe free charging too).

    In Australia, cycling gets only around 2% of transport funding.

    In Brisbane, despite not being anywhere close to the European level of cycling infrastructure, new “green bridges” and bikeways will be expanded to more areas of the city (and other Queensland venues). It’s part of preparations to host “climate-positive” Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2032. This year’s games host, Paris, successfully upgraded infrastructure and boosted cycling rates.

    Another benefit of more riders on the streets is that it creates “safety in numbers”. Greater numbers would also help attract more funding for infrastructure that makes cycling and scooting safer and more attractive.

    Both e‑bikes and e‑scooters are already worthwhile investments. Using them often would free yourself from car dependence – and that’s good for the planet and your wallet.

    Abraham Leung received funding from the Transport Academic Partnership (Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) and the Motor Accident Insurance Commission) and the Transport Innovation and Research Hub (Brisbane City Council, BCC). The data from the Privately Owned Electric Mobility User Survey (POEMUS) used in this article is funded and commissioned by BCC.

    His current Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellowship is funded and/or partnered with TMR, BCC, Townsville City Council, and micromobility operators Neuron and Beam. He is also an active member of PedBikeTrans.

    – ref. Rebates for buying e-bikes and e-scooters are good but unlikely to greatly boost sustainable transport on their own – https://theconversation.com/rebates-for-buying-e-bikes-and-e-scooters-are-good-but-unlikely-to-greatly-boost-sustainable-transport-on-their-own-239939

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Our new study shows life expectancy is stagnating for Australians under 50

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sergey Timonin, Research Fellow in Demography, School of Demography, Australian National University

    Global life expectancy has increased dramatically over the past century, with Australia among the best performing countries.

    But during the last two decades, some high-income countries have reported stagnation or even declining life expectancy, particularly the United States and the United Kingdom.

    Could this indicate a broader decline in health advancements in English-speaking countries? Our new study compared life expectancy between English-speaking countries and against other high-income countries.

    We found Australians born between 1930 and 1969 continue to do exceptionally well for life expectancy. But the picture for those under 50 is not so rosy – life expectancy is stagnating for that younger group.

    Why measure life expectancy?

    Life expectancy is a valuable and widely used measure to examine health trends and patterns over time and compare different places or population groups.

    It estimates the average number of years a person would be expected to live. This is calculated using the mortality – or death rates – across different age groups within a specific period. When death rates fall, life expectancy rises, and vice versa.

    Life expectancy can tell a story about a population’s overall health.
    Christian Wiediger/Shutterstock

    Not only does life expectancy tell us about mortality in a population, it is indirectly a measure of overall population health. Most leading causes of death in high-income countries are chronic diseases. These typically affect the health of a person for multiple years before their death.

    Stagnations or reversals in life expectancy can be warning signs of both longstanding and emerging health problems.

    Nobel Prize-winning economist Amartya Sen has also pointed to mortality as a key indicator of economic success and failure. This makes it a powerful tool for researchers and policymakers.

    Thanks to a long and largely standardised tradition of collecting mortality statistics across high-income countries, researchers are able to carry out in-depth, comparative studies. This can help uncover how specific causes of death have contributed to the changes in life expectancy.

    What we did

    In our study, we analysed mortality trends and patterns in a broader group of English-speaking countries and compared them with other high-income countries. English-speaking countries have shown similarities in recent mortality trends and their causes, such as patterns of drug overdose and obesity prevalence.

    Our analysis focuses on six high-income English-speaking countries: Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK and US. We compared them with the average in 14 other high-income, low-mortality countries from Western Europe (such as France and Norway), plus Japan. This was the “comparison group”.

    We used data from 1970 onwards from well-established, comprehensive sources of high-quality mortality data: the Human Mortality Database and World Health Organization Mortality Database.

    For each English-speaking country and the comparison group, we estimated:

    • life expectancy at birth
    • partial life expectancy between ages 0 and 50 years
    • remaining life expectancy at age 50
    • average length of life.

    Looking at average length of life helps to compare the mortality of the birth cohorts (people born in the same calendar year) as they age. This measure is the closest way to estimate how long people in different populations actually live, and can be used to assess the differences in survival between populations.

    First we looked at how age and causes of death were contributing to a gap between English-speaking countries and the comparison group. Then we compared the average length of life of different birth cohorts.

    What we found

    In the pre-COVID period, both men and women in Australia had a higher life expectancy at birth, compared to the non-English speaking comparison group (the average between those 14 countries). This was also true for men in Ireland, New Zealand and Canada. In the UK and US, however, life expectancy at birth was lower for both men and women, compared to the non-English speaking group.

    But the most striking finding was the difference in mortality for those under 50 in English-speaking versus non-English speaking countries.

    Relatively high death rates for those under 50 dragged the overall life expectancy at birth down for each English-speaking country, including Australia. Suicides and drug or alcohol-related deaths were the main reason for these trends.

    But over age 50, Australia performs exceptionally well in life expectancy for both men and women. Australians born in the 1930s-60s are likely to live longer than those in the non-English speaking comparison group and all other English-speaking countries. But Australians born in the 1970s onwards had lower life expectancy than the comparison group.

    This means overall, life expectancy at birth in Australia is higher than the average for the non-English group. But when you break it down by age, the results show a clear distinction in life expectancy according to when you were born.

    For example, in 2017-19 , male life expectancy between ages 0 and 50 years was 0.3 years lower in Australia compared to the average for the non-English group, while remaining life expectancy at age 50 was 1.45 years higher.

    What this means

    Our study shows a worrying trend for people born from the 1970s onwards. This is true in all English-speaking countries, even before accounting for the negative impacts of the COVID pandemic in places like the UK and US.

    In Australia, the results point to significant generational differences in life expectancy compared to other high-income countries. If the relatively high mortality rates of Australians born from the 1970s onwards continue into the future, then the gains in Australian life expectancy will likely slow. Our status as having one of the highest life expectancies of any country will diminish.

    Our research aimed to examine trends and potential causes of stagnating life expectancy, rather than make policy recommendations.

    But the results suggest real improvement could come through measures that reduce inequality and structural disadvantages that lead to poor health outcomes, such as improving access to education and security of employment and housing, supporting mental health and drug-related safety, and addressing diseases like obesity and diabetes.

    Sergey Timonin receives funding from the Australian Research Council (DP210100401).

    Tim Adair receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    – ref. Our new study shows life expectancy is stagnating for Australians under 50 – https://theconversation.com/our-new-study-shows-life-expectancy-is-stagnating-for-australians-under-50-240790

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: How can you help your child learn to self-regulate?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Natalie Day, Postdoctoral research fellow, Early Start, University of Wollongong

    Allan Mas/ Pexels , CC BY

    Throughout our lives, we need to be able to manage our thoughts and behaviour. We need to do this to reach various goals and to get along with others – even if other distractions and impulses get in the way.

    This is our ability to self-regulate, and it starts to develop between the ages of three and five.

    My colleagues and I have been researching what parents can do to help children learn to self-regulate. What are the dos and don’ts?

    Why is self-regulation important?

    A child’s ability to self-regulate has a huge impact on shorter-term outcomes such as making and keeping friends, engaging in school and making academic progress.

    Self-regulation allows children to keep going with a task or situation when things are tough, and to keep their emotions and behaviour focused on reaching the goal.

    For example, when playing a game with friends, a child who can self-regulate can wait their turn, stay within the rules, and keep playing even when they are losing. A child with low levels of self-regulation may become easily upset and show frustration, and in some cases be dysregulated. This can include meltdowns.

    But there can also be impacts later in life. Low levels of self-regulation at preschool age have been associated with a range of problems in adulthood, such as gambling, substance abuse, poor health, poor sleep and weight issues.

    The capacity to self-regulate emerges from around three years of age, when the brain undergoes rapid physical growth. The period of peak growth is typically between three to five.

    The capacity to self-regulate is not only influenced by genetics, but also by children’s environment and their experiences. This is where parents come in.

    Self-regulation is important for children’s short and long-term development.
    Artem Podrez/ Pexels, CC BY

    Jumping in to ‘help’

    Naturally, parents want to protect their children from difficulty. But sometimes this desire to protect and “help” kids can hamper their development.

    Children experience challenges all the time – this may be opening a water bottle, trying to find a certain toy in their bedroom, or tying their shoelaces. As parents, we can often rush to fix the problem straight away.

    But it is important for children’s brain development to experience and cope with challenges. When parents let children face a tricky task, they can learn to think flexibly, create solutions and persist toward the goal. It also teaches them they can handle things themselves.

    Persistence when playing a game can translate to persistence when tying their shoelaces, and in time, fewer meltdowns.

    What should parents do instead?

    This is not to say you should ignore your child if they are very distressed and stuck up a tree, or have fallen and seriously hurt themselves.

    But there are many other occasions when you can wait, or help in less obvious ways.

    For example, if a child is struggling to find the right puzzle piece, parents should wait for the child to either ask for help or show visible signs of frustration.

    If possible, start just by using guiding words to help, rather than taking a hands-on approach. You could try encouragement, questions, hints and suggestions to lead your child to a solution. For example, “have you tried all the pieces yet?”

    Or if they are playing with Lego, parents may remind the child of their last success or ask them “what does the diagram show?”, they might give a hint such as “I sometimes need to go back some steps to find where I went wrong”, or maybe more directly, “how about we look through the steps together?”.

    This type of guidance means the child is still the one solving the problem.

    Parents start by just using verbal prompts or tips to their child.
    eggegg/Shutterstock

    Step up your approach

    If the child is still stuck, parents can use their hands to offer more guidance.

    When completing a section of a puzzle, a parent may move some pieces closer to the child to draw their attention to them.

    If needed, a more direct approach would be to identify the piece the child is looking for, and hand it to the child so that they can put it in and remain active in completing the task.

    The child may not have the piece the right way round, so the parent should revert to using verbal guidance for encouragement or suggest turning the piece to see if it fits.

    Kids are still in charge

    The key thing to remember is the child should be guiding your approach to helping them.

    Don’t intervene without them asking you, and don’t offer full support straight away.

    You can use encouragement, hints and suggestions, and then hands-on help. Keep offering your child the chance to work elements out for themselves. And know their way of solving the problem might be different from yours.

    Natalie Day’s research was funded by a Faculty Postgraduate Research Scholarship and International Postgraduate Tuition Award from the University of Wollongong, with a contribution from the NSW Institute of Educational Research—Distinguished Student Award.

    – ref. How can you help your child learn to self-regulate? – https://theconversation.com/how-can-you-help-your-child-learn-to-self-regulate-240454

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Federal government invests in flood mitigation for the Raisin River

    Source: Government of Canada News

    News release

    Cornwall, Ontario October 9, 2024 — Flood mitigation measures are being put in place to reduce the likelihood, frequency, and severity of flooding to residents and businesses located on the south branch of the Raisin River in Cornwall, after an investment of $783,360 from the federal government.

    A new culvert will significantly decrease the likelihood of flooding from the south branch of the river. This will reduce sewer overflows and the risk of wastewater moving into storm water systems. Once upgraded, the culvert will have an increased life span and reduced maintenance requirements.

    This project aligns with the 2022 City of Cornwall Climate Change Action Plan.

    Making adaptation investments now not only keeps Canadians safe but also has major economy-wide benefits later. Every dollar that is invested in adapting and preparing for climate-related disasters can return as much as $13 to $15 in benefits.

    Quotes

    “As we deal with the growing impacts of climate change, we need to work with communities to keep them safe from potential natural disasters. A new culvert for the south branch of the Raisin River will do just that for the residents and business of Cornwall.”

    The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

    “We appreciate the support of the federal government in the replacement of our culvert located on McConnell Avenue. This project not only enhances the safety and resilience of our community but also underscores a shared commitment to proactive disaster preparedness and sustainable development.”

    Justin Towndale, Mayor of Cornwall

    Quick facts

    • The federal government is investing $783,360 in this project through the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF).

    • The DMAF program supports projects that include new construction of public infrastructure or the modification or reinforcement of existing public infrastructure that helps communities withstand natural disasters and climate-related risks.

    • Eligible recipients include municipalities, local governments, provinces and territories, public sector bodies, Indigenous organizations, not-for-profit, and for-profit organizations in partnership with other eligible applicants outside the private sector. Projects must have a minimum of $1 million in total eligible costs to be considered eligible.

    • Since 2018, the federal government has committed over $3 billion to the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund. Part of this commitment is $489.1 million in funding from the Adaptation Action Plan, which was released in November 2022 alongside Canada’s National Adaptation Strategy: Building Resilient Communities and a Strong Economy. Overall, the National Adaptation Strategy commits $1.6 billion in new federal funding to help address both immediate and future climate risks to Canadian communities.

    Associated links

    Contacts

    For more information (media only), please contact:

    Sofia Ouslis
    Communications Advisor
    Office of the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
    Sofia.ouslis@infc.gc.ca

    Media Relations
    Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada
    613-960-9251
    Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
    Email: media-medias@infc.gc.ca
    Follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn
    Web: Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada

    City of Cornwall
    communications@cornwall.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sinema, Kelly Announce $300k From Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for the City of Glendale to Increase Energy Efficiency

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Kyrsten Sinema (Arizona)
    Bipartisan infrastructure law led by Sinema and shaped by Kelly provides $300,000 to lower energy costs and improve operations at the City of Glendale’s water treatment facility. 
    WASHINGTON – $300,000 will be invested in the City of Glendale to perform a detailed energy analysis and replace two chillers at the city’s water treatment facility from bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs led by Senator Kyrsten Sinema and shaped by Senator Mark Kelly.
    The City of Glendale will receive $300,000 through the Industrial Training and Assessment Centers (ITAC) Implementation Grant Program – a program supported by Sinema and Kelly’s bipartisan infrastructure to help small- and medium-sized manufacturers make improvements at their facilities to save energy, reduce carbon pollution, lower costs, and strengthen our domestic manufacturing sector.  
    “We’re proud to deliver these funds to lower energy costs and increase efficiency at Glendale’s water treatment facility,” said Sinema, co-author and lead negotiator of the bipartisan infrastructure law.  
    “These kinds of investments are exactly what we need to modernize our energy infrastructure and secure Arizona’s water future,” said Kelly. “These federal resources will help local facilities optimize their energy usage and bring down costs for Arizonans.”  
    Sinema led bipartisan Senate negotiations with Republican Senator Rob Portman of Ohio that included Senator Kelly and senators from both parties.
    For more than four decades, the ITAC program has supported small and medium-sized manufacturers who are looking to make investments in energy efficiency and modern manufacturing processes. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provided $80 million to support the ongoing goals of the ITAC program.
    The bipartisan infrastructure law was supported by groups including The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Business Roundtable, The National Association of Manufacturers, The AFL-CIO, The National Retail Federation, The Bipartisan Policy Center, North America’s Building Trades Unions, the Outdoor Industry Association, The American Hotel and Lodging Association, The National Education Association, as well as hundreds of mayors across all 50 states.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Markey, Massachusetts Delegation Secure Nearly $60 Million in Federal Funding to Fight the Opioid Crisis

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

    Funding will support efforts to mitigate the overdose crisis in Massachusetts, which has one of the highest overdose mortality rates in the country

    Boston (October 7, 2024) – Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), along with Representatives Katherine Clark (D-Mass.), Richard Neal (D-Mass.), Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.), Bill Keating (D-Mass.), Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), Lori Trahan (D-Mass.), Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), and Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.), today announced the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe will receive nearly $60 million in federal grants for state and tribal opioid response and prevention from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

    The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health revealed that over 48 million people experienced substance use disorder in the past year, but only a quarter of those in need of substance use disorder treatment services actually received them.

    “The opioid crisis is indiscriminate in the impact it has on communities across Massachusetts, but the most effective solutions are driven by the communities on the frontline, living through the devastation that addiction and overdose can cause. The funding that the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe will receive will fuel strategies for prevention, expanding access to treatment, and providing holistic care that puts people’s health and dignity first. In short, this funding can help save lives,” said Senator Markey.

    “The opioid crisis is something we feel deeply across this country, especially in Massachusetts,” said Senator Warren. “Thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration’s leadership, we can provide vital resources to hard-hit communities in Massachusetts, and I’ll keep fighting for more resources that allow us to address this crisis like the public health crisis it is.”

    “The opioid epidemic has devastated families and entire communities in Massachusetts and across America,” said Democratic Whip Katherine Clark. “Under the steadfast leadership of the Biden-Harris administration, we are expanding access to treatment options for Americans struggling with substance use disorder and ensuring they receive the care they deserve. This award builds upon that progress, and I am proud to have partnered with local and state champions to bring these critical dollars back home.”

    “Every community here in Massachusetts and across our nation has been impacted by the immense grief and hardship caused by the opioid crisis. The disease of addiction is a battle that no family should have to bear alone,” said Congresswoman Lori Trahan. “Critical investments like these that support prevention and treatment programs are instrumental in expanding access to treatment, supporting recovery, and preventing tragic overdose deaths.”

    The funds will be used to address the overdose crisis in Massachusetts and in tribal communities through prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery support. This includes opioid reversal drugs such as naloxone, as well as medications for opioid use disorder.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mastermind of Multimillion-Dollar Penny-Stock Scam Indicted for Fraud and Obstruction

    Source: United States Attorneys General 7

    A federal grand jury in the District of Columbia returned an indictment today charging a Michigan man with defrauding investors in Minerco Inc. (stock ticker MINE) — leading to millions of dollars in investor losses — as well as obstructing a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proceeding by destroying evidence.

    According to the indictment, Bobby Shumake Japhia (Shumake), 56, also known as Robert Samuel Shumake Jr., Robert Japhia, and Shaman Bobby Shu, of Michigan, allegedly ran Minerco’s day-to-day operations and organized a scheme to defraud investors in the publicly traded securities of Minerco by, among other things, making or causing to be made materially false and misleading statements to the public, including in press releases, in an effort to artificially inflate the share price of, and demand for, Minerco stock. Beginning in or around January 2020, Minerco purported publicly to be in the business of developing, marketing, and distributing psilocybin mushrooms, also known as magic mushrooms or psychedelic mushrooms.

    As alleged in the indictment, Shumake concealed his role with Minerco, even though he controlled all aspects of Minerco, by recruiting another individual, Julius Jenge, to serve as the nominal chief executive officer of Minerco because Shumake had a criminal history and negative news articles about Shumake were available on the internet. To further conceal the scheme, Shumake allegedly made materially false and misleading statements to investigators from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority who were investigating Minerco.

    Shumake allegedly used an alias to promote Minerco on an investor message board and provided the false and misleading impression that he was not affiliated with Minerco and was an independent investor. Shumake also allegedly recruited others to promote Minerco on internet message boards to further create the false and misleading impression that the public had a favorable view of Minerco.

    Shumake allegedly sold nearly one billion shares of Minerco that he covertly acquired and then caused himself or entities under his control to receive at least $2.5 million from the sale of the shares. Shumake’s scheme to defraud allegedly caused the share price of, and demand for, Minerco’s securities to artificially increase, ultimately resulting in Minerco investors’ losing millions of dollars.

    After learning of an SEC investigation into Minerco, Shumake allegedly obstructed the SEC proceedings by deleting the contents of at least one Minerco email account, which Shumake used to conduct Minerco business.

    Shumake is charged with one count of securities fraud and one count of obstruction. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count.

    The chief executive officer of Minerco, Julius Jenge, was arrested earlier this year on charges of securities fraud related to a scheme to defraud investors in Minerco.

    Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; SEC Inspector General Deborah Jeffrey; and Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Criminal Investigations Group made the announcement.

    The SEC Office of Inspector General and USPIS are investigating the case.

    Trial Attorney Kyle Crawford of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is prosecuting the case.

    If you believe you are a victim in this case, please contact the Fraud Section’s Victim Witness Unit toll-free at (888) 549-3945 or by email at victimassistance.fraud@usdoj.gov. You are also encouraged to visit the webpage for this case at http://www.justice.gov/criminal/case/united-states-v-bobby-shumake-japhia.

    An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: The University of Kansas Must Immediately Fire Professor Who Said Men Who Don’t Vote For Kamala Should be ‘Lined Up and Shot’

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. is calling for the immediate termination of a University of Kansas professor after a disturbing video circulated of the professor saying men who don’t vote for Kamala Harris should be ‘lined up and shot’ to a class at a KU lecture. 
    “The University of Kansas must fire this professor immediately. Anyone who says that people who don’t vote for Kamala Harris should be ‘lined up and shot’ are completely deranged and shouldn’t be around students nor in academia. This promotion of political violence should be met with quick action by KU,” Senator Marshall said.
    You may click HERE or on the tweet above to see the video.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Mastermind of Multimillion-Dollar Penny-Stock Scam Indicted for Fraud and Obstruction

    Source: US State of California

    A federal grand jury in the District of Columbia returned an indictment today charging a Michigan man with defrauding investors in Minerco Inc. (stock ticker MINE) — leading to millions of dollars in investor losses — as well as obstructing a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proceeding by destroying evidence.

    According to the indictment, Bobby Shumake Japhia (Shumake), 56, also known as Robert Samuel Shumake Jr., Robert Japhia, and Shaman Bobby Shu, of Michigan, allegedly ran Minerco’s day-to-day operations and organized a scheme to defraud investors in the publicly traded securities of Minerco by, among other things, making or causing to be made materially false and misleading statements to the public, including in press releases, in an effort to artificially inflate the share price of, and demand for, Minerco stock. Beginning in or around January 2020, Minerco purported publicly to be in the business of developing, marketing, and distributing psilocybin mushrooms, also known as magic mushrooms or psychedelic mushrooms.

    As alleged in the indictment, Shumake concealed his role with Minerco, even though he controlled all aspects of Minerco, by recruiting another individual, Julius Jenge, to serve as the nominal chief executive officer of Minerco because Shumake had a criminal history and negative news articles about Shumake were available on the internet. To further conceal the scheme, Shumake allegedly made materially false and misleading statements to investigators from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority who were investigating Minerco.

    Shumake allegedly used an alias to promote Minerco on an investor message board and provided the false and misleading impression that he was not affiliated with Minerco and was an independent investor. Shumake also allegedly recruited others to promote Minerco on internet message boards to further create the false and misleading impression that the public had a favorable view of Minerco.

    Shumake allegedly sold nearly one billion shares of Minerco that he covertly acquired and then caused himself or entities under his control to receive at least $2.5 million from the sale of the shares. Shumake’s scheme to defraud allegedly caused the share price of, and demand for, Minerco’s securities to artificially increase, ultimately resulting in Minerco investors’ losing millions of dollars.

    After learning of an SEC investigation into Minerco, Shumake allegedly obstructed the SEC proceedings by deleting the contents of at least one Minerco email account, which Shumake used to conduct Minerco business.

    Shumake is charged with one count of securities fraud and one count of obstruction. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count.

    The chief executive officer of Minerco, Julius Jenge, was arrested earlier this year on charges of securities fraud related to a scheme to defraud investors in Minerco.

    Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; SEC Inspector General Deborah Jeffrey; and Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Criminal Investigations Group made the announcement.

    The SEC Office of Inspector General and USPIS are investigating the case.

    Trial Attorney Kyle Crawford of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is prosecuting the case.

    If you believe you are a victim in this case, please contact the Fraud Section’s Victim Witness Unit toll-free at (888) 549-3945 or by email at victimassistance.fraud@usdoj.gov. You are also encouraged to visit the webpage for this case at www.justice.gov/criminal/case/united-states-v-bobby-shumake-japhia.

    An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Justice Department Obtains Injunction to Prevent California Company from Manufacturing and Distributing Adulterated Food Following Listeria Outbreak

    Source: US State of California

    A federal court yesterday enjoined a California company from manufacturing and distributing adulterated food products following a listeria outbreak linked to multiple hospitalizations and two deaths.

    In a civil complaint filed on Sept. 27 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, the United States alleged that Rizo Lopez Foods Inc., along with its president, chief executive officer and co-owner, Edwin Rizo, and its chief financial officer, secretary and co-owner Tomas Rizo, violated the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) at the company’s facility in Modesto, California, by manufacturing and distributing adulterated food products. Rizo Lopez Foods produced cotija cheese and other cheeses, yogurt, sour cream and other foods sold under the brand names Tio Francisco, Don Francisco, Rizo Bros, Rio Grande, Food City, El Huache, La Ordena, San Carlos, Campesino, Santa Maria, Dos Ranchitos, Casa Cardenas and 365 Whole Foods Market.

    The complaint further alleged that, in January, Hawaiian state health officials detected Listeria monocytogenes (L. mono), the bacterial pathogen that can cause listeriosis, in cheese made by the defendants. The government further alleged that during a subsequent inspection of the defendant’s facility, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found L. mono in two locations as well as various insanitary conditions. The complaint alleged that a genetic analysis matched the L. mono strain collected in Hawaii to the strain from defendants’ facility, as well as to L. mono samples from patients sickened as early as 2014 during a years-long listeriosis outbreak. An investigation by the Centers for Disease Control identified 26 cases of listeriosis in 11 states linked to the same L. mono strain. The CDC reported that 23 individuals were hospitalized as a result of the outbreak, including two patients who died. In February, Rizo Lopez recalled all cheese and dairy products produced at their facility.

    “Food manufacturers have an important responsibility to ensure the safety of their products,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Justice Department and FDA will continue to work closely on enforcement actions against food manufacturers who fail to meet their obligations and put the health of their customers at risk.”

    “Food producers in the Eastern District of California feed the nation,” said U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert for the Eastern District of California. “Our office is committed to assuring compliance with the FDCA throughout the District.”

    The defendants agreed to settle the suit and be bound by a consent decree of permanent injunction. The injunction entered by the court permanently enjoins the defendants from violating the FDCA. As part of the settlement, the defendants represented that they have discontinued all operations related to preparing and processing food. Under the permanent injunction, the defendants must notify FDA in advance of resuming such operations, comply with specific remedial measures set forth in the injunction and allow FDA to inspect their facility, including the buildings, sanitation-related systems, equipment, utensils, all articles of food and relevant records.

    Trial Attorney David G. Crockett Jr. and Senior Trial Attorney James Nelson of the Justice Department’s Civil Division prosecuted this case, with assistance from Assistant Chief Counsel for Enforcement Lauren Fash of the FDA’s Office of Chief Counsel.

    Additional information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts can be found at http://www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch.

    The claims resolved by the consent decree announced today are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.

    Consent Decree

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Alan Wilson co-leads lawsuit against federal agency over staffing rule that would shut down some nursing homes and raise costsRead More

    Source: US State of South Carolina

    (COLUMBIA, S.C.)– South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announces that he has co-led a coalition of 20 state attorneys general and groups that represent hundreds of not-for-profit aging services providers across the country in filing a lawsuit to overturn a new nursing home staffing mandate that’s impossible to implement. The staffing mandate is being implemented by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS).

    Filed in the United States District Court’s Northern District of Iowa, the complaint intends to overturn the mandate itself and vacate certain of the more onerous requirements in the rule.

    “This new staffing rule is impossible to implement based on the nursing shortage and will force the closure of nursing homes and raise costs at those that remain, devastating families financially and leaving people without the care they need,” Attorney General Wilson said.

    In April, CMS released the Nursing Home Minimum Staffing Standards final rule to the Federal Register. The rule requires all federally funded nursing homes to produce a revised facility assessment and changes the minimum number of hours per resident day (HPRD). All providers must provide 3.48 hours of direct nursing care per patient, per day and staff a registered nurse 24 hours a day. These specific breakdowns also require 0.55 RN and 2.45 certified nurse aide (CNA) coverage per patient, per day.

    These newly prescribed HPRDs mean nursing homes across the U.S. will need an additional 27,000 full-time registered nurses (RNs) and 78,000 full-time nurse aides costing over $7 billion—an impossible requirement to meet amid a worldwide nursing shortage and dismal Medicaid reimbursement rates that do not fully cover the actual cost of care. Sadly, the HPRD limits the utilization of licensed practical nurses (LPNs) who provide most of the direct patient care in nursing homes, potentially displacing thousands of these workers across the U.S.

    LeadingAge South Carolina’s CEO, Kassie South, commented, “We are thankful for Attorney General, Alan Wilson, for fighting for the elders, healthcare system, and taxpayers in South Carolina and nationwide that will be gravely impacted by this unfunded and unlawful mandate.”

    You can read the complaint here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Columbia Man Arrested on Criminal Solicitation of a Minor and Related ChargesRead More

    Source: US State of South Carolina


  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Alan Wilson announces $52 million multistate settlement with Marriott for data breach of Starwood guest reservation databaseRead More

    Source: US State of South Carolina

    (COLUMBIA, S.C.) – Attorney General Alan Wilson announced today that a coalition of 50 attorneys general has reached a settlement with Marriott International, Inc. as the result of an investigation into a large multi-year data breach of one of its guest reservation databases. The Federal Trade Commission, which has been coordinating closely with the states throughout this investigation, has reached a parallel settlement with Marriott. Under the settlement with the attorneys general, Marriott has agreed to strengthen its data security practices using a dynamic risk-based approach, provide certain consumer protections, and make a $52 million payment to states. South Carolina will receive $767,458.00 from the settlement.

    “This case should serve as an important reminder for businesses to take preventive measures to protect the private information of their customers,” Attorney General Wilson said. “Data privacy is one of the most important issues facing consumers right now, and our office will continue to do its part in ensuring the protection of our citizens in this way.”

    Marriott acquired Starwood in 2016 and took control of the Starwood computer network in 2016.  However, from July 2014 until September 2018, intruders in the system went undetected. This led to the breach of 131.5 million guest records pertaining to customers in the United States. The impacted records included contact information, gender, dates of birth, legacy Starwood Preferred Guest information, reservation information, and hotel stay preferences, as well as a limited number of unencrypted passport numbers and unexpired payment card information.

    Shortly after the breach of the Starwood database was announced, a coalition of 50 attorneys general launched a multi-state investigation into the breach. Today’s settlement resolves allegations by the attorneys general that Marriott violated state consumer protection laws, personal information protection laws, and, where applicable, breach notification laws by failing to implement reasonable data security and remediate data security deficiencies, particularly when attempting to use and integrate Starwood into its systems.

    Under the terms of the settlement, Marriott has agreed to strengthen and continually improve its cybersecurity practices. Some of the specific measures include:

    • Implementation of a comprehensive Information Security Program. This includes new overarching security program mandates, such as incorporating zero-trust principles, regular security reporting to the highest levels within the company, including the Chief Executive Officer, and enhanced employee training on data handling and security.
    • Data minimization and disposal requirements, which will lead to less consumer data being collected and retained.
    • Specific security requirements with respect to consumer data, including component hardening, conducting an asset inventory, encryption, segmentation to limit an intruder’s ability to move across a system, patch management to ensure that critical security patches are applied in a timely manner, intrusion detection, user access controls, and logging and monitoring to keep track of movement of files and users within the network.
    • Increased vendor and franchisee oversight, with a special emphasis on risk assessments for “Critical IT Vendors,” and clearly outlined contracts with cloud providers.
    • In the future, if Marriott acquires another entity, it must timely further assess the acquired entity’s information security program and develop plans to address identified gaps or deficiencies in security as part of the integration into Marriott’s network.
    • An independent third-party assessment of Marriott’s information security program every two years for a period of 20 years for additional security oversight.

    These settlement terms are grounded in a well-developed risk-based approach in which Marriott not only needs to conduct an annual enterprise level risk assessment, but it must also perform risk analyses throughout the year for changes to security controls.  Those ongoing risk assessments must address the criteria of “harm to others” – which would include potential harm to consumers. 

    As part of the settlement, Marriott will give consumers specific protections, including a data deletion option, even if consumers do not currently have that right under state law. Marriott must offer multi-factor authentication to consumers for their loyalty rewards accounts, such as Marriott Bonvoy, as well as reviews of those accounts if there is suspicious activity.

    Connecticut, Maryland, and Oregon as well as the District of Columbia, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Texas co-led the multistate investigation, assisted by the Executive Committee of Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Vermont, and joined by Alaska, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Breast Cancer Survivor is an Inspiration for Others

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    In the United States, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, aside from skin cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2024, there will be about 310,720 new cases of invasive breast cancer in women.

    But there is hope.

    Advancements in early detection methods and support continue to increase the chances of survival. When caught in its earliest, localized stages, the 5-year relative survival rate of breast cancer is 99%.

    Annual mammograms for those over the age of 40 and other imaging as determined by your provider is the key to early detection.

    Terry Deely was diligent about her health and faithfully did all her preventative tests.  So, in May of 2021 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, she was shocked.

    “I was so surprised, my world crashed,” says Deely.  “My sister and husband were with me, and I could see the doctor’s mouth moving but I could not hear what she was saying.”

    All she could think was “how and why is this happening to me, I did all the right things.”

    About half of breast cancers occur in women with no specific risk factors other than age and sex. However, a woman’s risk of breast cancer increases if she has a first-degree relative with breast cancer. About 5–10% of breast cancers are linked to gene mutations, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2.

    Deely’s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer at 40 years old and had passed away from the disease at 47. Both of Deely’s sisters also had breast cancer.

    She had a painful lump in her breast that led to an MRI that showed a fibroadenoma.  A fibroadenoma is a non-cancerous, solid breast tumor that’s usually painless and feels like a marble under the skin. They are the most common type of benign breast tumor and are made up of glandular and connective tissue.

    Advocating for herself, she told her doctor that she wanted it removed. Upon removal a 1.7 cm tumor was found hiding behind the fibroadenoma that had travelled to her lymph nodes.  A biopsy concluded that two of the four nodes were cancerous.

    Yueming Chang, MD, is a physician in the Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center at UConn Health. (Photo by LIndsay Vigue)

    Deely had a lumpectomy, and her breast surgeon referred her to oncologist, Dr. Yueming Chang to devise a treatment plan.

    “The first time I met her, I left her office, and I said to my husband Pat, I know I am in good hands,” says Deely. “She is amazing and throughout the whole journey she was there.”

    Deely had 16 rounds of chemotherapy and 21 rounds of radiation finishing chemotherapy in 2022.  She had horrible side effects including mouth sores and brittle nails as well as the loss of her hair which was the hardest for her.

    “If my hair doesn’t look good, I don’t feel good,” says Deely. “I hated wigs, but I lost all my hair, so I got a great wig and called it Amazing Grace.”

    Each day as Deely went to work, which she did throughout her treatment, she would say “Grace lets go be amazing.”   No one knew it was a wig until her hair started growing back.

    When she heard Dr. Chang had left the practice she went to, she was disappointed and didn’t want to see anyone else. So, when she learned from a colleague that Chang was now practicing at UConn Health, she picked up the phone to see if she could see her and was thrilled when they booked an appointment for her.

    “Honestly I love that woman, she is so good to me, so caring and concerned and always so positive,” says Deely.

    Deely doesn’t mind the 45-minute drive from Watertown to Farmington to see Chang at UConn Health, “I’d follow her to the ends of the earth, I didn’t want to see anyone else.”

    During her residency training, Chang’s mother who came to visit and help her taking care for her 2-month-old baby, started having some health issues and a colonoscopy detected colon cancer.  For Chang, it was a harsh moment, she felt like she was in the medical field and didn’t know what to do.  She leaned on her attending physicians and mentors for support, and her mother has since made it through and is now well.

    Going through that experience made her want to help others knowing that patients and their family members need someone who understands when they get such a difficult diagnosis, and this led her to oncology as her subspecialty.

    Chang joined the Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center at UConn Health a year ago and has been helping patients with breast and lung cancer navigate their treatment.

    “Early detection is very important, know your risk and going for screenings, you have a higher chance to cure the disease,” says Chang. “With advances in early detection and treatment options the survival rate is better compared to decades ago.”

    In addition to a healthy diet, Chang encourages patients to exercise as physical activity helps reduce fatigue and exercise itself reduces the risk of recurring cancer.

    “The prognosis and treatment are different for each patient, and here at UConn Health we individualize the patient’s treatment plan. Our multidisciplinary team considers genetics, tumor molecular changes, overall medical conditions, patient’s preference, psychosocial status to provide personalized care, ” says Chang.

    Deely who is the clerical coordinator in the recovery room at a hospital sees this as her opportunity to be an inspiration to others and help them get through. She saw how hard her mother fought for her family, and she had to do it for hers.  She is cancer free now and is regularly monitored.

    “It’s a journey, everyone has the strength to overcome it. We are here to provide cancer patients the right support and care they need to navigate this challenging time, offering compassion and understanding every step of the way,” says Chang.

    It takes a team to beat a breast cancer diagnosis and the team approach is the cornerstone of our breast cancer services at UConn Health.  Every patient’s case and treatment program is designed specifically for the patient and is carefully assessed and frequently reviewed by a diverse team of specialists. In addition our breast cancer program offers support care services.  To schedule your mammogram contact 860-679-2784.

    [embedded content]

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NY National Guard to Assist in Response to Hurricane Milton

    Source: US State of New York

    Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that 65 New York National Guard Soldiers and Airmen will deploy to Florida on Wednesday, Oct. 9 to assist the Florida National guard in responding to Hurricane Milton, which is expected to hit Florida’s west coast late on Wednesday.

    “As hurricanes wreak devastation along much of the Southeastern United States, we are stepping up to support response efforts for those in need,” Governor Hochul said. “I am deploying the New York National Guard to protect Floridians in the path of Hurricane Milton — offering resources, assistance and standing united with our neighbors in this time of crisis.”

    The New York National Guard will deploy 65 Soldiers and Airmen to Camp Blanding Joint Training Center near Jacksonville, Florida. The New York Army National Guard will deploy 41 Soldiers from the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team in Syracuse and 10 Humvees to provide general purpose support as required by circumstances. The Soldiers will deploy to Florida on board a C-17 Globemaster III transport flown by the New York Air National Guard’s 105th Airlift Wing based at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh.

    The New York Air National Guard will deploy 24 pararescue Airmen from the 106th Rescue Wing which is based at F.S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton Beach on Long Island. The Pararescue Airmen are all trained EMTs who go through extensive training that involves parachuting, scuba diving and survival skills. The Airmen will deploy with watercraft and specialized vehicles. They will deploy from Gabreski Air National Guard Base to Florida on board the wing’s organic HC-130J search and rescue aircraft. The New York National Guard contingent will be on the ground north of the hurricane’s expected landfall before the storm hits.

    Major General Ray Shields said, “At the direction of Governor Hochul, the New York National Guard is ready to support our fellow citizens in Florida, as Hurricane Milton heads for their state. Our Soldiers and Airmen are simply amazing at the way they respond on very short notice. I could not be prouder of their dedication and professionalism. They continue to make a difference in people’s lives every day. At the same time, the Citizen Soldiers and Airmen we have already deployed are continuing their support of the response effort in North Carolina.”

    The New York National Guard currently has 48 Soldiers and Airmen deployed, including Army engineers and CH-47F Chinook heavy lift helicopters on storm response missions in North Carolina.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Streaming online and airing on PBS affiliates. Thao Lam and Kjell Boersma’s multi-award-winning National Film Board of Canada animated short Boat People featured on POV Shorts, starting November 12.

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    Beginning November 12, 2024, Thao Lam and Kjell Boersma’s acclaimed new National Film Board of Canada (NFB) animated short Boat People will be featured in season seven of POV Shorts—a collection of the best and boldest independent short films streaming free of charge on POV.org and on the PBS App.

    October 8, 2024 – Montreal – National Film Board of Canada (NFB)

    Beginning November 12, 2024, Thao Lam and Kjell Boersma’s acclaimed new National Film Board of Canada (NFB) animated short Boat People will be featured in season seven of POV Shorts—a collection of the best and boldest independent short films streaming free of charge on POV.org and on the PBS App.

    POV Shorts will be airing on PBS affiliate stations—check local listings.

    Canadians can also continue to enjoy Boat People on the NFB’s free online screening platform, nfb.ca.

    About the film

    Boat People by Thao Lam and Kjell Boersma (10 min)
    Produced by Justine Pimlott and Jelena Popović for the NFB
    Press kit: mediaspace.nfb.ca/epk/boat-people-2

    • As a little girl in Vietnam, Thao’s mother would rescue ants from bowls of sugar water. The tiny creatures would later return the favour, leading her desperate family through darkness—and pointing the way to safety.
    • With Boat People, illustrator and author Thao Lam undertakes a creative rescue mission of her own, joining forces with animator Kjell Boersma to recount the experiences of her family, who were among over 1.6 million refugees who fled the chaotic aftermath of the Vietnam War, venturing across the South China Sea in precarious open boats.
    • Boat People employs a hybrid of traditional 2D animation, stop-motion multiplane, and 3D rendering to capture the unique aesthetic of Lam’s handmade paper textures and patterns. The film speaks across time and culture to anyone who’s ever fought to protect their family or community.

    Acclaim for Boat People

    • Boat People has been selected by more than 30 festivals around the world, including the Ottawa International Animation Festival, DOC NYC, the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film and the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival.
    • The film has garnered 10 awards and mentions to date, including the Milos Stehlik Global Impact Award at the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival, a Special Mention at the Oberhausen International Short Film Festival in Germany, and the Audience Award and Helen Hill Award for Animated Short at the New Orleans Film Festival, a short-films qualifying festival for the 97th Academy Awards.

    About the filmmakers

    • Thao Lam is a critically acclaimed Vietnamese-Canadian children’s book author and illustrator who arrived in Canada with her parents at the age of three as a refugee from Vietnam. Her books include the multi-award winning Wallpaper (2018) and Paper Boat (2020).
    • Kjell Boersma is a writer, director and animator whose projects combine traditional and digital animation techniques in novel ways. He directed the short film Monster Slayer (2015) and was commissioned by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and TIFF Kids to write and direct DAM! The Story of Kit the Beaver (2017).

    About the National Film Board of Canada

    Founded in 1939, the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) is a one-of-a-kind producer, co-producer and distributor of engaging, relevant and innovative documentary and animated films. As a talent incubator, it is one of the world’s leading creative centres. The NFB has enabled Canadians to tell and hear each other’s stories for over eight decades, and its films are a reliable and accessible educational resource. The NFB is also recognized around the world for its expertise in preservation and conservation, and for its rich and vibrant collection of works, which form a pillar of Canada’s cultural heritage. To date, the NFB has produced more than 14,000 works, 7,000 of which can be streamed free of charge at nfb.ca. The NFB and its productions and co-productions have earned over 7,000 awards, including 11 Oscars and an Honorary Academy Award for overall excellence in cinema.

    About American Documentary, Inc.

    American Documentary, Inc. (AmDoc) is a multimedia organization dedicated to creating, identifying and presenting contemporary stories that express opinions and perspectives rarely featured in mainstream media outlets. AmDoc is a catalyst for public culture, developing collaborative strategic engagement activities around socially relevant content on television, online and in community settings. These activities are designed to trigger action, from dialogue and feedback to educational opportunities and community participation.

    Major funding for POV is provided by PBS, the Open Society Foundations, The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Wyncote Foundation, Reva & David Logan Foundation, Park Foundation, and Perspective Fund. Additional funding comes from the National Endowment for the Arts, New York State Council on the Arts, public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, Chris and Nancy Plaut, Ann Tenenbaum and Thomas H. Lee, Acton Family Giving, and public television viewers. POV is presented by a consortium of public television stations, including KQED San Francisco, WGBH Boston and THIRTEEN in association with WNET.ORG.

    About PBS

    PBS, with more than 330 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and digital content. Each month, PBS reaches over 120 million people through television and 26 million people online, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; to hear diverse viewpoints; and to take front row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS’s broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry’s most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. Decades of research confirm that PBS’s premier children’s media service, PBS KIDS, helps children build critical literacy, math and social-emotional skills, enabling them to find success in school and life. Delivered through member stations, PBS KIDS offers high-quality educational content on TV—including a 24/7 channel, online at pbskids.org, via an array of mobile apps and in communities across America. More information about PBS is available at http://www.pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the internet, or by following PBS on Twitter, Facebook or through our apps for mobile and connected devices. Specific program information and updates for press are available at pbs.org/pressroom or by following PBS Communications on Twitter.

    About POV

    Produced by American Documentary, POV is the longest-running independent documentary showcase on American television. Since 1988, POV has presented films on PBS that capture the full spectrum of the human experience, with a long commitment to centering women and people of color in front of, and behind, the camera. The series is known for introducing generations of viewers to groundbreaking works like Tongues Untied (1989), Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse (1992), Rabbit in the Room (1999), Of Civil Wrongs & Rights: The Fred Korematsu Story (2001), Made in L.A. (2007), American Promise (2013), Not Going Quietly (2021), While We Watched (2022), A House Made of Splinters (2022) and the mini-series And She Could be Next (2020). Throughout its history POV has featured the work of award-winning, innovative filmmakers including Jonathan Demme, Laura Poitras, Nanfu Wang, Frederick Wiseman, Emiko Omori, Janus Metz Pedersen and Ava DuVernay. In 2018, POV Shorts launched as one of the first PBS series dedicated to bold and timely short-form documentaries. In 2024, Indiewire named seven POV films in its roundup of “The 50 Best Documentaries of the 21st Century”: Faya Dayi (2021), The Mole Agent (2020), Minding The Gap (2018), Cameraperson (2016), The Look of Silence (2015), The Act of Killing (2013) and After Tiller (2013). All POV programs are available for streaming concurrent with broadcast on all station-branded PBS platforms, including PBS.org and the PBS App, available on iOS, Android, Roku streaming devices, Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung Smart TV, Chromecast and VIZIO. For more information about PBS Passport, visit the PBS Passport FAQ website.

    POV goes “beyond the broadcast” to bring powerful nonfiction storytelling to viewers wherever they are. Free educational resources accompany every film and a community network of thousands of partners nationwide work with POV to spark dialogue around today’s most pressing issues. POV continues to explore the future of documentary through innovative productions with partners such as The New York Times and the National Film Board of Canada and on platforms including Snapchat and Instagram.

    POV films and projects have won 48 Emmy Awards, 28 George Foster Peabody Awards, 16 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards, three Academy Awards® and the first-ever George Polk Documentary Film Award. Learn more at pbs.org/pov and follow @povdocs on social media.

    About POV Shorts

    POV Shorts launched in 2018 as one of the first PBS series dedicated to bold and timely short-form documentaries. The series is known for its curation, and for broadcasting award-winning titles, including: Emmy®-nominated Earthrise, Water Warriors, The Changing Same, Emmy® winner The Love Bugs and the Oscar® shortlisted A Broken House and Aguilas. It won Best Short Form Series at the IDA Documentary Awards in 2023, 2022 and 2020.

    – 30 –

    Stay Connected

    Online Screening Room: NFB.ca
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    Curator’s perspective | Director’s notes

    About the NFB

    Lily Robert
    Director, Communications and Public Affairs, NFB
    C.: 514-296-8261
    l.robert@nfb.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: 09/10/2024 Strengthening defence cooperation and security in the region as topics of Polish-Checo consultations

    MIL ASI Translation. Region: Polish/Europe –

    Fuente: Gobierno de Polonia en poleco.

    Strengthening defense cooperation and security in the region are the topics of Polish-Czech consultations09/10/2024Cooperation between defense industries, assistance for fighting Ukraine, cooperation within the EU and NATO to build deterrence and defense capabilities, and further strengthening cooperation within the Visegrad Group are the main topics of the talks between the defense ministers of Poland and the Czech Republic in Prague.

    W środę 9 października br. w Pradze, wicepremier Władysław Kosiniak Kamysz spotkał się z Janą Černochová, minister obrony Czech oraz wziął udział w międzyrządowych konsultacjach polsko-czeskich pod przewodnictwem Prezesów Rady Ministrów obu państw.Podczas rozmów poruszono kwestie działań i perspektyw realizacji postanowień szczytu NATO w Waszyngtonie – ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem wzmacniania potencjału do obrony flanki wschodniej NATO i UE oraz przeciwdziałania zagrożeniom o charakterze hybrydowym i cybernetycznym.Spotkanie było również okazją do podziękowania stronie czeskiej za pomoc, której udzieliły załogi śmigłowców SZ tego kraju podczas ewakuacji ludności w trakcie ostatniej powodzi, która nawiedziła Polskę. 2 czeskie śmigłowce Mi-17, stacjonujące w Polsce wsparły działania ewakuacyjne oraz brały udział w zabezpieczaniu terenów dotkniętych wspomnianą katastrofą naturalną.>>> GALLERY – Polish-Czech intergovernmental consultations***The defence and military cooperation between Poland and the Czech Republic is an example of good mutual political and economic relations between the two countries. The joint operation of the Polish and Czech Armed Forces, among others within the Canadian eFP group in Latvia, not only strengthens the regional potential for deterrence and defence, but also demonstrates the readiness of Warsaw and Prague to further strengthen partnership cooperation, among others in the field of exchange of experience covering technical modernisation of the Armed Forces and participation in joint military exercises.

    Photos (4)

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  • MIL-OSI Canada: Breaking ground on supportive housing in Spruce Grove

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Seniors lodges play an essential role in Alberta’s housing system by ensuring that seniors have access to housing that fits their needs and budgets. Today, there are 11,000 seniors lodge units in Alberta.

    Through the Affordable Housing Partnership Program (AHPP), Alberta’s government is contributing $14.7 million to the Spruce Grove Supportive Living Lodge project to provide 102 units for seniors in Spruce Grove.

    “Through Alberta’s commitment to affordable and supportive seniors housing, we are taking care of those who paved the way before us. By investing in these new units in Spruce Grove, we are ensuring that more seniors can live in the communities they choose, and in homes that fit their budgets and provide comfort and security.”

    Jason Nixon, Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services

    “Our government is building more homes than ever before. Today’s groundbreaking of 102 new supportive living units for seniors is proof that we are delivering on that goal. This means more homes, faster, to benefit seniors in Spruce Grove.”

    Randy Boissonnault, federal minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages

    By investing in this project, Alberta’s government is ensuring more seniors have access to safe, secure and affordable homes in environments where they can thrive. Funding will go toward a new building which will ensure a diversity of housing options are available for Albertan seniors in the Spruce Grove-Stony Plain region. Through the Spruce Grove Supportive Living Lodge project, Alberta’s government is supporting the creation of a mix of studio and one- and two-bedroom apartments. Construction is expected to be complete by spring 2026.

    “Seniors lodges play a vital role in our province and I’m grateful to see a facility like this being built in Spruce Grove-Stony Plain. I know this project will help address the need for affordable housing options for seniors in our community, and I look forward to its completion.”

    Searle Turton, MLA for Spruce Grove-Stony Plain

    The Spruce Grove Supportive Living Lodge project is a partnership between Alberta’s government, Meridian Housing Foundation, the City of Spruce Grove, and the federal government. The province will continue to work closely with its housing partners like Meridian Housing Foundation to make sure Alberta’s seniors have the supports they need.

    “It’s exciting to see this work that will bring more housing options to our seniors in Spruce Grove. It’s so important for seniors to have the opportunity to remain in the community they call home, surrounded by friends and family as they enjoy their golden years, and this new facility will provide a place where they can maintain that connection.”

    Jeff Acker, mayor, City of Spruce Grove

    “This groundbreaking ceremony marks more than the start of a building – it represents a promise to our seniors, ensuring they have a safe, affordable place to call home in the years to come. This lodge will be a haven where they can live with dignity, surrounded by care and community. Together, we are laying the foundation for a future where every senior feels valued and supported.”

    Lori-Anne St. Arnault, executive director, Meridian Housing Foundation

    Funding for the Affordable Housing Partnership Program is eligible for cost-matching through the Canada–Alberta Bilateral Agreement under the National Housing Strategy.

    Quick facts

    • Since 2019, Alberta’s government has invested almost $850 million to build more than 5,100 affordable units and close to 900 shelter spaces. This includes projects the province has committed to, that are in progress and that are complete.  
      • Through the Affordable Housing Partnership Program, Alberta’s government has approved $189 million to support construction of 1,500 affordable housing units.
    • The Alberta government’s Stronger Foundations strategy will help support a total of 82,000 low-income households by 2031 – an increase of more than 40 per cent compared with 2021.
    • Together with partners that include municipal and federal governments and non-profit and private organizations, Alberta is supporting $9 billion in housing investments to support 25,000 additional households by 2031.

    Related information

    • Affordable Housing Partnership Program
    • Stronger Foundations affordable housing strategy
    • Affordable housing and rent assistance
    • Canada’s National Housing Strategy

    Related news

    • Building affordable homes and stronger communities (May 10, 2024)
    • Investing in affordable housing (March 9, 2023)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: 09/10/2024 Prague Consultations between the Polish and Czech governments

    MIL ASI Translation. Region: Polish/Europe –

    Fuente: Gobierno de Polonia en poleco.

    The 9th Polish-Czech intergovernmental consultations were held in Prague. The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Donald Tusk and the head of the Czech government, Petr Fiala. We have many common interests and we look at issues in a similar way, such as the role of Europe, assistance to Ukraine, security and actions related to crisis situations. Polska and Chequia also have a common position on illegal immigration in the European Union. Prime Minister Donald Tusk was accompanied by 14 members of the Council of Ministers. Joint action of Poland and Checo. Cooperation between Warsaw and Prague is very good. This was especially visible during the tragic flood that hit both of our countries in September. “With a rare partner we have relationships so intense, so good and so characterized by mutual understanding,” said Prime Minister Donald Tusk during the opening of Polish-Czech intergovernmental consultations. Special thanks go to to the pilots of Checo Mi-17 helicopters, who actively helped in rescue operations on the Polish side of the border. “This is just an illustration of our very good cooperation in the broadly understood field of security. What we are trying to do together – both bilaterally and in Europe – is the best example of how to build security policy in relations between nations and states,” noted the Prime Minister. At the same time, Donald Tusk recalled the Polish initiative to organize a meeting in Wrocław regarding the rapid and flexible aid from the European Union, which will concern flood-affected areas. “The idea is to use European funds as effectively as possible and in some situations also jointly […] so that we can jointly and effectively counteract this type of disasters in the future,” explained the head. Polish government. Prime Minister Petr Fiala, who was one of the participants of the meeting in Wrocław, thanked the Polish initiative in the EU. “I thanked the Prime Minister for his actions. It was a meeting with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the Prime Ministers of Central European countries in Wrocław,” emphasized the head of the Czech government. Countries struggling with the effects of the September flood will be able to benefit from aid in the amount of EUR 10 billion for reconstruction from the Cohesion Fund. For our country, it will be half of this amount – 5 million de euros, i.e. approximately PLN 20 billion. Together in the international arena, Poland and the Czech Republic cooperate very well in the European Union forum, as well as in the matter of helping the struggling Ukraine. “I would like to thank the Czech Republic very much for their initiatives regarding Ukraine. We will cooperate even closer. We do it in a responsible, rational and very solidary way – both when it comes to helping refugees from Ukraine and helping to defend Ukraine against Russian aggression,” explained the head of the Polish government. El primer ministro checo, Petr Fiala added that both our countries are perfectly they know that the defense of Ukraine is an issue directly related to our security. “We know from our own experiences that we cannot allow Russia to make any expansion […]. Poland and the Czech Republic also have in common the fact that we have accepted a huge number of Ukrainian refugees in both countries. This shows that for us, words about solidarity are not just platitudes,” noted Petr Fiala. Poland and the Czech Republic, as one of the first countries in the EU, have been helping fighting Ukraine from the very beginning of the war. Poland and Chequia together on the issue of illegal immigration in the EUWarsaw and Prague also has a common position on illegal immigration in the European Union. El primer ministro Donald Tusk explained that during the Polish presidency in 2025, our governments will cooperate on a profound correction of some traditional European policies on illegal migration. “We present a common, firm and rational position, without any obsessions. We are definitely in favor of defending Europe against the wave of illegal migration,” emphasized the Prime Minister. As he explained during the press conference after the consultations, Poland and the Czech Republic must convince other partners in the European Union that the EU’s task is to protect the external border, not to create internal borders and searching in, which only consist in moving groups of illegal immigrants within Europe. “We will cooperate here in all aspects. Poland can count on Chequia and Chequia can count on Poland. We will give examples of this at the next meeting of the European Council,” announced the head of the Polish government. Prime Minister Petr Fiala also drew attention to the need for decisive action in the fight against illegal migration. “A change of perspective is necessary on migration. We need to be more active and more assertive towards third countries. I am convinced that both our countries have similar positions and views here,” said the head of the Czech government. As he added, organized pseudo-terrorist groups are particularly active in the matter of illegal migration. Polish-Czech energy cooperation One of the topics of intergovernmental consultations in Prague was energy cooperation .“Cooperation in the field of energy is important to us. We are starting nuclear energy practically from scratch. You already have a very long experience […]. Therefore, I am very glad that we have decided to cooperate closely and exchange information so that our activities in this field are effective and as cheap and effective as possible,” emphasized Donald Tusk. Prime Minister Petr Fiala also drew attention to the aspect of developing energy cooperation. “In both Our countries are preparing to build new nuclear blocks […]. The nuclear alliance is a form of cooperation that makes sense,” said the head of the Czech government. As he added, both countries see the benefits of the development of nuclear energy. By train from Prague to the Polish seaThis year’s tourist season on the Baltic Sea was exceptional – over half a million Czechs visited Poland beaches. “I am an eyewitness to the most friendly and expected invasion of ours, which were tourists from the Czech Republic at our seaside. You broke all Historical Records. We are very proud of it […]. Czech women and men are the most welcomed tourists on Polish soil,” emphasized Donald Tusk. Soon, tourists will have a new opportunity to reach the Baltic Sea. A direct railway connection between Prague and Tricity will be opened. Trains will run 4 times a day. Prime Minister Donald Tusk was accompanied in Prague by 14 members of the Council of Ministers: Vice-President of the Council of Ministers, Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Minister of State Assets Jakub Jaworowski, Minister of EU Affairs Adam Szłapka, Minister de Infraestructura Dariusz Klimczak, Minister de Cultura y National Heritage Hanna WróblewskaMinister of Climate and Environment Paulina Henning-Kloska,Minister of Science Dariusz Wieczorek,Minister of Interior and Administration Tomasz Siemoniak,Minister of Foreign Affairs Radosław Sikorski,Minister of Development and Technology Krzysztof Paszyk,Minister of Industry Marzena Czarnecka,Minister of Health Izabela Leszczyna ,Minister of Funds and Regional Policy Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz,Minister – Member of the Council of Ministers, Head of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister Jan Grabiec.

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  • MIL-OSI Translation: 09/10/2024 Additional PLN 10 billion for local government units for 2024

    MIL ASI Translation. Region: Polish/Europe –

    Fuente: Gobierno de Polonia en poleco.

    Additional PLN 10 billion for local government units for 202409/10/2024

    In August this year, El minister of finance Andrzej Domański declared that local government units would receive additional financial support in the amount of PLN 10 billion. On October 8 this year, the local government side was provided with information on the distribution of additional funds. Local government units will receive additional funds in the coming weeks. Distribution of additional funds for local government units for 2024 In 2024, local government units will receive additional revenues, in the total amount of PLN 10,000,000 thousand. PLN, in order to support the implementation of tasks. Additional revenues, in the amount of PLN 8,216,794,889, are received by local government units from their share in revenues from personal income tax. The amount specified in point 2 will be distributed between: 1) municipalities, 2) poviats, 3) voivodeships – in proportion to the share of the amount of revenue for 2024 from the share in revenues from the PIT tax of municipalities, poviats and voivodeships in the total amount of revenues of all local government units from this title in 2024 (determined taking into account the amounts resulting from the PIT correction for 2022). The amount referred to in point 3, due to the municipalities, is distributed between the municipalities in proportion to the share of the amount of revenue of a given municipality from the share in revenues from the PIT tax in the total amount of revenues of all municipalities from this title in 2024 (determined taking into account the amounts resulting from the PIT correction for 2022). The division principle will be applied accordingly to the division of amounts due to counties and voivodeships. If the amount calculated in the manner referred to in point 4 is lower than:1) PLN 1,000,000, if the number of residents of the commune does not exceed 5,000,2) PLN 1,500,000, if the number of residents of the commune exceeds 5,000 but does not exceed 10,000,3) PLN 2,000,000 if the number of residents of the commune exceeds 10,000,4) PLN 3,000,000 if the number of residents of the county does not exceed 75,000,5) PLN 4,000,000 if the number of residents of the county exceeds 75,000,6) PLN 6,000,000 if the number of residents of the voivodeship does not exceed 1,250,000,7) PLN 8,000,000 if the number of residents voivodeships exceeds PLN 1,250,000 – the local government unit will receive funds from supplementing the general subsidy in order to provide additional revenues in an amount not lower than those specified in items 1 – 7. The amount of the subsidy supplement will be subject to an appropriate reduction if the sum of the income of the local government unit referred to in items 4 and 5 is higher than the income of this unit in 2024 from the share in revenues from the PIT tax (determined taking into account the amounts resulting from the PIT correction for 2022). Cities with county rights are entitled to additional revenues referred to in item 1, calculated as for communes and counties, from each of the parts determined for communes and counties, respectively. In 2024, the general subsidy will be increased by PLN 1,783,205,111 in order to secure the necessary funds for local government units.

    MaterialDivision of additional funds for local government units for 2024Division of​_additional​_funds​_for​_local​_government​_units​_2024​_r.xlsx 0.19MB

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Travel Advisory: Three-Night Closure of Providence Street Bridge Over I-295 Scheduled to Begin Tuesday, October 15 for Pier Work

    Source: US State of Rhode Island

    On the nights of October 15-17, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) will close the Providence Street Bridge over I-295 in West Warwick for ongoing work at the bridge. Motorists are advised to use the signed detour via Route 2 and East Avenue during the closure period from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. for each of these three nights.

    The Providence Street Bridge was built in 1968 and carries 10,500 vehicles per day. RIDOT used accelerated bridge construction methods to replace it, installing the new bridge deck in just one weekend in August. The entire project finishes in spring 2025.

    All construction projects are subject to changes in schedule and scope depending on needs, circumstances, findings and weather.

    The replacement of the Providence Street Bridge is made possible by RhodeWorks and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. RIDOT is committed to bringing Rhode Island’s infrastructure into a state of good repair while respecting the environment and striving to improve it. Learn more at http://www.ridot.net/RhodeWorks.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: State Arts Agency encourages high schools to sign up for 20th Poetry Out Loud Recitation Competition

    Source: US State of Rhode Island

    This school year marks the 20th anniversary of Poetry Out Loud�, the national and local arts education program and dynamic poetry recitation competition for high school students. A partnership of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), Poetry Foundation, and Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (RISCA), the competition boasts “lifting poetry off the page” and improving students’ public speaking skills.

    The state’s arts agency, RISCA, a 20-year participant, has opened registration and is calling on high schools to participate in the competition. The deadline to sign up is Nov. 17. This year’s state championship will occur Saturday, March 8, at the Providence Public Library.

    “RISCA is a proud partner with the NEA and the Poetry Foundation for this venerable arts education program, which inspires an appreciation of great classic and contemporary poems. Additionally, students gain public speaking skills and life-long confidence,” said Todd Trebour, Executive Director of RISCA. “Rhode Island is looking forward to celebrating Poetry Out Loud’s incredible milestone. We invite high schools to register and take part in this program that has 20 years of proven success.”

    All 50 states, American Samoa, District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands participate in the Poetry Out Loud competitions. Poetry Out Loud provides free poetry education resources nationally, including lesson plans and other educational materials for teachers and organizers, tips on reciting, and an online anthology of more than 1,200 classic and contemporary poems.

    Poetry Out Loud starts at the local level in the classroom where students memorize and recite poems they select from supplied materials. Each school’s winner advances to the state competition. The state champion moves onto the Regional and National Finals.

    The state winner receives $200, and the school receives a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry materials. The first runner-up will receive $100, with $200 for his or her school library. Other prize money will be given out at the national and regional finals as stipends to winning finalists, schools or organizations.

    R.I. Poetry Out Loud champions for the past 20 years were:

    � 2024: Jennifer Shon, Portsmouth Abbey School

    � 2023: Natasha Connolly, Classical High School

    � 2022: Mariama Hawa Bandabaila, Classical High School

    � 2021: Virginia Keister, Chariho Regional High School

    � 2020: Nayeli Santana Vazquez, Central Falls High School

    � 2019: Haley Long, Classical High School

    � 2018: Steven Rosario, Trinity Academy for the Performing Arts

    � 2017 Simon Rabatin, Moses Brown School

    � 2016: Austin Paulhus, Central Falls High School

    � 2015: Zoe Butler, Portsmouth Abbey School

    � 2014: Yesenia Rego, Barrington Christian Academy

    � 2013: Jenifer Henriquez, Classical High School

    � 2012 & 2011: Daraja Aranda Hinds, Jacqueline M. Walsh School for the Performing and Visual Arts

    � 2010 & 2009: Amber Rose Johnson, Classical High School

    � 2008: Andrew Westlake, Burrillville High School

    � 2007: Jean-Paul D. Lagace, Providence Country Day School

    � 2006: Kris Aponte, William M. Davies Career and Technical Institute

    For the 2024-25 school year, Rhode Island’s coordinators for the Poetry Out Loud R.I. Program are its director, Damont Combs and teaching artists, Marlon Carey and Sarah Ashley, all live in Providence.

    In 2004, the Poetry Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts began developing and piloting a first-of-its-kind national poetry recitation program for high school students. Poetry Out Loud launched at the start of the following school year in time for the 2005-06 school year. Since then, the program has reached more than 4.4 million students and 81,000 teachers from 20,000 schools across the nation.

    A study completed in 2020 found that participation in Poetry Out Loud can help schools become more vibrant learning spaces and support students in their academic, literary and social-emotional development.

    MIL OSI USA News –