NewzIntel.com

Category: AM-NC

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEWS: Casar Leads 46 Members of Congress to Demand EPA Bans Use of Paraquat to Protect Public Health

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Greg Casar (D-Texas)

    WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Greg Casar (D-Texas) and 46 other Members of Congress are calling on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to ban the use of an herbicide, Paraquat, in the U.S. to protect public health. Paraquat is already banned in over 70 countries.

    The Members of Congress released a letter today urging EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan to protect farm workers, rural Americans, and the environment from the harmful effects of Paraquat and ban the use of the herbicide in the U.S. Exposure to the herbicide is linked to life threatening diseases like Parkinson’s disease and thyroid cancer, and linked to an increase in soil and water pollution.

    “Paraquat is a toxic substance linked to life threatening diseases and grave impacts on the environment — it has been banned in dozens of countries and should be banned in the United States,” the members wrote. “We urge the EPA to change course and deliver critical protections for farmworkers, agricultural communities, and the environment by banning Paraquat.” 

    The EPA has already banned Paraquat for areas such as golf courses and recreational areas. If Paraquat is too dangerous for golfers, it is too dangerous for farm workers and rural Americans. Nearly 70 countries have banned or discontinued the use of Paraquat, including China, Brazil, the European Union, and Canada.

    The letter is led by U.S. Representative Greg Casar (TX-35), and signed by U.S. RepresentativesAlma Adams (NC-12), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Jamaal Bowman (NY-16), Cori Bush (MO-01), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Judy Chu (CA-28), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (IL-04), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Al Green (TX-09), Raúl Grijalva (AZ-07), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson (GA-04), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Barbara Lee (CA-12), James P. McGovern (MA-02), Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Katie Porter (CA-47), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Deborah Ross (NC-02), Raul Ruiz (CA-25), C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-02), Linda T. Sánchez (CA-38), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Mark Takano (CA-39), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Bennie Thompson (MS-02), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), Maxine Waters (CA-43), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Jennifer Wexton (VA-10), and Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24).

    It is endorsed by the Alianza Nacional de Campesinas, American Sustainable Business Network, Beyond Pesticides, the Brian Grant Foundation, Center for Biological Diversity, Center for Food Safety, the Davis Phinney Foundation, Earthjustice, Ecological Landscape Alliance, Environmental Working Group, Friends of the Earth, Green New Deal Network, HEAL (Health, Environment, Agriculture, Labor) Food Alliance, GreenLatinos, Laborers’ Health & Safety Fund of North America, Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA!), League of Conservation Voters, the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, Parkinson Association of Alabama, Parkinson Association of Northern California, PD Avengers (Global Alliance to End Parkinson’s Disease Assn.), Pesticide Action and Agroecology Network (PAN), Pesticide Action Network, Power for Parkinson’s, Power Over Parkinson’s, the Rachel Carson Council, Re:wild Your Campus, Rural Coalition, United Farm Workers (UFW), and the United Farm Workers Foundation (UFWF).

    “The people who feed us should not face twice the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease,” said Geoff Horsfield, policy director for the Environmental Working Group (EWG). “President Biden’s EPA should put the people who feed us ahead of the profits of a pesticide company that hid the risks of paraquat for decades. Seventy countries have banned paraquat, so we know that farmers have plenty of safer options. We are grateful to Rep. Casar for his leadership in protecting farmers and farmworkers.” 

    “More than 1 million people in the U.S. live with Parkinson’s disease, the second most common and fastest growing neurodegenerative disease in the world,” said Ted Thompson, senior vice president of public policy at The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. “With only about 30 percent of Parkinson’s risk explained by genetics, we know that other factors — including environmental risks like exposure to toxic chemicals — can play a role in the development of the disease. We appreciate Representative Casar’s efforts to ensure that the Environmental Protection Agency is doing all it can to protect Americans from the harms associated with exposure to these toxins.”

    “Every day across America, farm workers, as well as their families and communities, are exposed to Paraquat – a dangerous chemical known to cause severe health impacts,” said Teresa Romero, president of UFW. “We commend Congressman Casar for fighting to ensure that every worker is safe on the job and we call on the EPA to listen to the concerns of the people who put food on all of our tables.”

    “The UFW Foundation supports the banning of Paraquat, a chemical whose exposure puts the lives of hundreds of thousands of farm workers at risk,” said Erica Lomeli, interim chief executive officer of the UFW Foundation. “Farm workers deserve a safe environment free from harmful substances that can impact not only their health but also the well-being of their families. Not only is Paraquat dangerous for farm workers, but it also poses significant risks to consumers who may ingest produce treated with this pesticide.” 

    “We thank Rep. Casar and his colleagues for their leadership in urging the EPA to finally remove this dangerous chemical from the market,” said Lorette Picciano, executive director of the Rural Coalition. “We have heard from far too many farmers, ranchers and workers in communities we serve who have developed Parkinsons and other diseases. The devastating cost to their lives and health, families and communities far outweigh any possible benefit of Paraquat’s continued use.” 

    The full letter can be viewed here. 

    Learn more at banparaquat.org 

    ###

    Congressman Greg Casar represents Texas’s 35th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, which runs down I-35 from East Austin to Hays County to the West Side of San Antonio.  A labor organizer and son of Mexican immigrants, Casar serves as the Whip of the Congressional Progressive Caucus for the 118th Congress. He also serves on the Committee on Oversight and Accountability and the Committee on Agriculture.

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: USCG recovery from Hurricane Helene

    Source: US Coast Guard (video statements)

    Coast Guard Rear Admiral Doug Schofield, District Commander of District 7, the Coast Guard’s Southeast, speaks about the Coast Guard’s efforts to recover from Hurricane Helene while still serving the people of Florida.

    Links for more information on hurricane preparedness and the Coast Guard’s response.

    Coast Guard District 7 Southeast: https://www.facebook.com/USCoastGuardSoutheast
    Coast Guard Atlantic Area: https://www.facebook.com/USCGAtlanticArea

    Video by Petty Officer 2nd Class Jose Hernandez and Petty Officer 2nd Class Ian Gray.

    Important Safety Reminder
    During a hurricane or emergency, it’s critical to use the proper channels to report distress—NOT social media. To reach the U.S. Coast Guard, use VHF radio channel 16 or dial 911. Our social media accounts are not monitored 24/7, and tagged posts or private messages may not be seen right away, causing delays in lifesaving rescue efforts.

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

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Policies to Foster Green FDI: Best Practices for Emerging Market and Developing Economies

    Source: International Monetary Fund

    Summary

    Meeting COP28 goals requires a substantial increase in clean energy investment by 2030, including in emerging market and developing economies (EMDEs). Amid domestic financial constraints, foreign direct investment (FDI) could play a key role in EMDEs’ ability to close their renewable energy investment gap and finance green projects, more broadly. This Note finds that strengthening climate policies boosts FDI into renewable energy in EMDEs, especially in those with solar power potential, while less clear effects are found for FDI into EVs and green hydrogen possibly due to their recent emergence. Closing the average climate policy gap with respect to AEs could secure 40 percent of the private finance needed for renewable energy investment in EMDEs, helping overcome the impact of high financing costs. Strengthening the macro-structural framework, such as through improving trade and capital account openness and institutional quality, would also raise green FDI inflows, complementing climate policies. Case studies show that countries that attracted FDI into renewable energy put in place a large and diverse set of policies in the electricity sector, including those that secure a revenue stream for investors in the initial phases, such as power-purchase agreements/feed-in tariffs, renewables targets, and complementary investments. Countries that successfully attracted FDI into EVs relied on the development of national sectoral strategies including production and adoption subsidies, prior comparative advantage in the sector, and bilateral alliances with key players in the EV market. Finally, comprehensive national hydrogen strategies that leverage international efforts to boost production, and good conditions for production of renewable energy, were key drivers of green hydrogen FDI. Global initiatives such as the Just Energy Transition Partnerships and the EU strategy for green hydrogen are benefitting FDI to EMDEs.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta, Attorney General James Lead Coalition Suing TikTok for Exploiting Young Users, Deceiving Public

    Source: US State of California

    Platform designed to promote excessive, compulsive, and addictive use

    SAN FRANCISCO — California Attorney General Rob Bonta and New York Attorney General Letitia James today co-led a bipartisan coalition of 14 attorneys general in filing separate enforcement actions against TikTok for violations of state consumer protection laws. Filed in Santa Clara County Superior Court, Attorney General Bonta’s action alleges that TikTok exploits and harms young users and deceives the public about the social media platform’s dangers. The action seeks significant penalties, as well as injunctive and monetary relief, to address TikTok’s misconduct.

    “Our investigation has revealed that TikTok cultivates social media addiction to boost corporate profits. TikTok intentionally targets children because they know kids do not yet have the defenses or capacity to create healthy boundaries around addictive content,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “When we look at the youth mental health crisis and the revenue machine TikTok has created, fueled by the time and attention of our young people, it’s devastatingly obvious: Our children and teens never stood a chance against these social media behemoths. TikTok must be held accountable for the harms it created in taking away the time — and childhoods — of American children.” 

    “Young people are struggling with their mental health because of addictive social media platforms like TikTok,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James. “TikTok claims that their platform is safe for young people, but that is far from true. In New York and across the country, young people have died or gotten injured doing dangerous TikTok challenges and many more are feeling more sad, anxious, and depressed because of TikTok’s addictive features. Today, we are suing TikTok to protect young people and help combat the nationwide youth mental health crisis. Kids and families across the country are desperate for help to address this crisis, and we are doing everything in our power to protect them.”

    Use of TikTok is pervasive among young people in the United States. In 2023, 63% of all Americans aged 13 to 17 who responded to a Pew Research survey reported using TikTok, and most teenagers in the U.S. were using TikTok daily; 17% of American teens said that they were on TikTok “almost constantly.”

    In today’s lawsuit, Attorney General Bonta alleges TikTok violated California’s consumer protection statutes, the Unfair Competition Law (UCL), and the False Advertising Law (FAL).

    According to the complaint, TikTok’s misconduct arises from its underlying business model that focuses on maximizing young users’ time on the TikTok platform so as to enable the company to boost revenue from selling targeted advertising space. TikTok’s misconduct includes: 

    Deploying a content-recommendation system designed to be addictive in order to maximize the time young users spend on the platform. TikTok’s algorithmic features are designed to keep minors on the platform as long as possible and as often as possible, despite the dangers of compulsive use.

    Using manipulative features to addict young users and maximize their time on its platform. These features exploit children’s psychological vulnerabilities and are deployed to keep kids and teens on the platform for longer. 

    BEAUTY FILTERS

    Beauty filters and effects are deeply harmful to young users; they foster unrealistic beauty standards, harm self-esteem, and can induce negative body image issues and related physical and mental disorders. TikTok knows these filters and effects significantly increase platform use, particularly among young users, and retains these features despite their harms.

    AUTOPLAY

    To manipulate users into compulsively spending more time on the platform, TikTok does not allow them to disable Autoplay. TikTok uses Autoplay to continuously play new and temporary posts; this exploits young users’ novelty-seeking minds and eliminates their autonomy to choose to stop.

    ENDLESS/INFINITE SCROLL

    Endless scrolling compels young users to spend more time on the platform by making it difficult to disengage. It strips away a natural stopping point or opportunity to turn to a new activity and distorts users’ perception of time.

    TIKTOK STORIES AND TIKTOK LIVE

    Content on these features is only available temporarily — users must tune in immediately or lose the opportunity to interact. These time-sensitive features are designed to encourage young users to compulsively return to the platform by exploiting their uniquely sensitive fear of missing out. 

    PUSH NOTIFICATIONS

    Push notifications unfairly entice young users by overloading and overwhelming them to return to the platform. Some pushes are designed to keep young users from quitting the platform altogether, and others encourage young users to open the application. TikTok has even used fake notifications to manipulate users into opening its platform. 

    LIKES AND COMMENTS

    At key development states it can be overwhelmingly important for children and teens to be accepted by their peers. TikTok’s design and display of highlighting “likes” as a form of social validation has an especially powerful effect on young users and can neurologically alter teenagers’ perception of online posts, in addition to driving compulsive use.

    Engaging in a scheme that deceptively markets the platform and platform features as promoting young users’ safety and well-being. TikTok employs a coordinated array of features, tools, content moderation efforts, community guidelines, and public assurances intended to promote a public narrative that the platform is appropriate and safe for young users and that TikTok prioritizes user safety. In truth, such features and efforts do not work as advertised, the harmful effects of the platform are far greater than acknowledged, and TikTok does not prioritize safety over profit.

    Exploiting children’s data without parental notice or consent. Despite knowing certain users are under 13 years old and despite the platform being directed toward children, TikTok has collected and used personal information from children’s accounts without parental consent or notice. Doing so is both unfair and fails to satisfy TikTok’s obligations under federal law. 

    Attorneys general from the following states join Attorney General Bonta today in filing separate enforcement actions against TikTok to hold it accountable for its role in the children’s mental health crisis: New York, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, Oregon, South Carolina, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia. As of today, 23 attorneys general have filed actions against TikTok for its conduct toward youth, including existing actions filed by the attorneys general of Utah, Nevada, Indiana, New Hampshire, Nebraska, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, and Texas. 

    Attorney General Bonta is a steadfast leader in protecting children against the mental health harms of using social media. In March 2022, Attorney General Bonta announced a nationwide investigation into TikTok, and in March 2023, he filed an amicus brief demanding TikTok comply with state investigations. In October 2023, Attorney General Bonta co-led a bipartisan coalition of 33 attorneys general in filing a federal lawsuit against Meta alleging the company designed and deployed harmful features that addict children and teens to their mental and physical detriment, and in November 2023, he announced the public release of a largely unredacted copy of the federal complaint. Last month, Attorney General Bonta issued a statement after Senate Bill 976 (SB 976) was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom. SB 976 provides important new protections for young people in California by resetting the defaults on social media platforms to disfavor addictive algorithmic feeds, notifications, and other addictive design features that lead children and teens to spend hours and hours on their platforms. 

    A copy of the redacted complaint can be found here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: R&D tax incentive transparency reports

    Source: Australian Department of Revenue

    About the transparency reports

    We’re required by law to publish certain data about Research and Development (R&D) tax incentive claims reported to us by companies (R&D entities). Publishing this information will:

    • provide transparency on the benefits received by R&D entities
    • encourage voluntary compliance with the requirements of the R&D tax incentive (R&DTI) program
    • increase public awareness of which companies have claimed the tax incentive.

    Publication of this report is a legal requirement under section 3H of the Taxation Administration Act 1953 (TAA). It came into effect in July 2021, following reforms to the policy and administration of the R&DTI program, as a result of Treasury Laws Amendment (A Tax Plan for the COVID-19 Economic Recovery) Act 2020External Link.

    Each year, the transparency report will be made up of 2 parts. These are:

    When we’ll publish the report

    We’re required to publish the R&D data 2 years after the end of the financial year that the data relates to. The delay in publishing this information is designed to address any perceived commercial sensitivity of the data.

    We’ll publish the first data report in early October 2024. It will include R&D entities:

    • that claimed the R&DTI in their 2022 company tax return, and
    • whose income year commenced on or after 1 July 2021.

    What R&D data we’ll publish

    The data we’ll publish in the data report is specific and limited to the:

    • name of the R&D entity claiming the R&DTI
    • entity’s Australian business number (ABN) or Australian company number (ACN)
    • ‘total R&D expenditure’ – total notional deductions claimed (label Z in Part A of the R&DTI schedule) less any feedstock adjustments (label B in Part B of the R&DTI schedule).

    We’ll base this on what the R&D entity provided in its company tax return.

    If an R&D entity amended its company tax return, we’ll report both the original information provided by the entity and the last client-initiated amendment lodged with us – including any voluntary disclosures provided during a review or audit.

    Commissioner-initiated amendments won’t be published. If, during a review or audit, the Commissioner amended the labels, we’re required to publish the total expenditure on R&D based on the company return lodged before the Commissioner-initiated amendment.

    You’re unable to opt out of having your R&D information published in the report. There are no exclusions.

    Due to tax law confidentiality provisions in the TAA, we can’t disclose any further information beyond what will be published in the report.

    Data notes

    Labels in the data report

    There will be 5 labels in the data report on data.gov.au:

    • Name – this is the name of the R&D entity on the date we extracted the data.
    • ABN or ACN – if the R&D entity had a valid ABN when we extracted the data, then we’ve published the ABN; if not, we’ve published its ACN.
    • Total R&D expenditure – this is based on the first information the R&D entity provided to the Commissioner and is the total notional deductions (label Z at Part A on the R&D schedule) less feedstock adjustments (label B at Part B on the R&D schedule).
    • Adjusted total R&D expenditure – this is based on the last amendment the R&D entity provided to the Commissioner and is the total of notional deductions (label Z at Part A on the R&D schedule) less feedstock adjustments (label B at Part B on the R&D schedule).
    • Income year – this is the income year for the R&D claim.

    Notes about the total R&D expenditure amounts

    We’ve generally rounded the total R&D expenditure amounts in the data report, so you may see differences between the totals in the data report and the amounts we’ve used in the information and charts in our analysis.

    There are also R&D entities that we’ve reported a ‘Nil’ dollar amount for. This could be because:

    • feedstock adjustments are more than the notional deductions
    • the R&D entity adjusted the amount in their tax return
    • the R&D entity did not provide information regarding total R&D expenditure.

    Consolidated groups

    Where an R&D entity is part of an income tax consolidated group or multiple entry consolidated (MEC) group, the subsidiary members are treated as part of the head company for income tax purposes, for as long as they remain part of the group for income tax purposes.

    The published total R&D expenditure amounts are those disclosed by the head company of the consolidated group or MEC group.

    Data sources

    We’ll get the data for the data report from the company tax return and R&D schedule labels.

    Company tax return

    We’ll include the entity in the data report if they’ve reported an amount at label 21A or 21U.

    R&D schedule

    The total R&D expenditure in the data report is the amount of total notional deductions less any feedstock adjustments. If notional deductions less feedstocks adjustments are negative or zero, the figure is reported as Nil.

    We’ll use Part A label Z to obtain the total notional R&D deduction amounts we include in the data report – this amount is worked out by adding together items 1 to 9 in Part A of the R&D schedule for both Australian-owned R&D (label X) and foreign-owned R&D (label Y).

    We’ll use Part B label B to obtain the feedstock adjustment amount.

    Amendments

    If you’ve reviewed your R&D claims and believe that there’s an error in the information that we’ll publish, you’re able to correct any errors by lodging an amendment with us in writing.

    If you’ve submitted an amendment and it’s not processed before we extract the data, we’ll publish the updated information in the next year’s report. If you’ve amended your R&DTI claim, we’ll publish both the original R&D expense amount and the amended R&D expense amount. If you’ve withdrawn your claim in full, we’ll publish the original R&D expense amount with the amended R&D expense amount published as Nil.

    Data assurance process

    In preparing the data for publishing, we’ve reviewed and confirmed the data in accordance with the information contained on our systems as at the date we extracted the data.

    If you are an R&D entity (or their nominated representative) with data included in the report and there is an error, you can contact us.

    What’s not in the report

    The information in the transparency report will not include:

    The report won’t contain information collected by Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR) on behalf of Industry Innovation and Science Australia (IISA) as authorised under the Industry Research and Development Act 1986.

    Communication approach

    Since September 2023, ahead of the release of the first report, we’ve been:

    • engaging with key external stakeholders to inform them of the new reporting requirement and to get their input into our approach
    • communicating directly with all affected R&D entities and their registered tax agents (in October 2023, February 2024 and July 2024), to inform them of the new reporting requirement and encourage them to review their information and amend any errors
    • communicating directly with those R&D entities that lodged an amendment, to let them know that both their original and amended amounts will be published
    • communicating directly with those R&D entities that had their claim amended by the Commissioner, to let them know we’re unable to publish the Commissioner-amended amount; we’ll only be publishing the original amount they claimed
    • issuing broader communications to the community to inform them about the new data report and provide them with access to comprehensive information about the data report.

    Visibility for future applicants

    To ensure future applicants are aware that the data they lodge in their R&DTI schedule will be included in R&DTI transparency reporting, we’ve added a notice to the R&DTI schedule 2024 (paper version) (PDF, 536KB)This link will download a file and digital version as well as the R&DTI calculator.

    Administration of the R&DTI program

    The R&DTI program is jointly administered by the:

    • Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR on behalf of IISA)
    • ATO.

    DISR manages the registration process for the R&DTI program and we review the eligibility of the expenditure incurred on the registered activities. We leverage the skills of each agency to:

    • reduce compliance costs for business
    • increase certainty while maintaining program integrity.

    The ATO and DISR regularly conduct engagement activities, including compliance reviews and audits of R&D entities to safeguard the integrity of the R&DTI program. Information in relation to these activities is not included in this report.

    The R&DTI program is a self-assessment regime. Receiving a registration number from DISR doesn’t mean the R&D activities meet the eligibility requirements. A registration number means the application has been received and is complete. R&D entities may still be subject to compliance action by DISR and the ATO.

    About the R&D program contains further details, including the aim of the program and our joint charter with DISR.

    Innovation success stories

    DISR provides information on its website about the innovation success storiesExternal Link the program has supported.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Carbajal, Lawler Introduce Bill to Strengthen Protections for Rail Workers

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Salud Carbajal (CA-24)

    Today, Congressman Salud Carbajal (CA-24), a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) introduced legislation to strengthen protections for rail yardmasters by giving them the same protections as other rail yard workers. 

    “Yardmasters serve a critical role in our nation’s railroad network. They oversee the operations of a rail yard and manage the duties of various rail workers” said Congressman Carbajal. “They not only direct the activities of their fellow workers but also passenger and freight trains when they arrive and depart. But currently, there are no limitations to the number of hours a yardmaster can work in a day, week, or month. This is not only dangerous for the well-being of the yardmasters but the safety of workers on the yard and train passengers.” 

    “Railroad incidents have sparked major concerns here in my district and across America,” said Congressman Lawler. “Ensuring safe conditions for those who operate our railways is essential to ensuring the safety not only of these workers but also of the communities in which these railways operate. Unfortunately, yardmasters are exempt from existing hours of service laws despite the integral rial they play. The Railroad Yardmaster Protection Act will ensure safe conditions for these essential workers and I’m proud to join Congressman Carbajal in introducing this critical common sense legislation.”

    The bipartisan Railroad Yardmaster Protection Act would include railroad yardmasters under federal hours of service requirements which currently cover safety-sensitive rail workers such as locomotive engineers, conductors, switchmen, dispatchers, and signal employees.

    The bill ensures that a yardmaster may not be required or allowed to remain on duty for more than a total of 12 hours, and then must receive a minimum of 10 hours off duty.

    First introduced in 2019, the Railroad Yardmaster Protection Act passed the House in 2020 as part of the INVEST in America Act. 

    The bill has also been endorsed by SMART, the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers.

    The full text of the legislation can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: “Moscow Model” is seven years old: what the pavilion’s guests were able to see

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The Moscow Model Pavilion at VDNKh celebrated its seventh anniversary on the first weekend of October. More than 5.2 thousand people attended the festive events in honor of this event. This was reported by the Minister of the Moscow Government, the head of the capital’s Department of Urban Development Policy Vladislav Ovchinsky.

    “On the weekend of October 5 and 6, the Moscow Model pavilion was visited not only by residents of Moscow, St. Petersburg and various Russian cities, but also by tourists from Belarus, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan and other countries. The exhibition guests were able to look at a 400-fold reduced exact copy of the capital’s center and see 36 lighting shows dedicated to various topics: the history of Moscow, the development of the capital’s architecture, the change of seasons,” said Vladislav Ovchinsky.

    The karaoke show “Songs about Moscow” was of particular interest to visitors to the exhibition. The pavilion guests also took part in a special excursion program. There they learned how the model was created, how many years it took, how many people worked on the implementation of the idea, and how the “Moscow Model” differs from other similar projects in the Russian Federation.

    Over the two days of celebration, six interactive quizzes were held for all comers. 316 people took part in them, almost 60 of whom received memorable prizes for winning.

    An electronic guest book was installed at the exit of the pavilion. Guests shared their impressions using text, images or emoji. Over 100 people took advantage of this opportunity during the holiday weekend.

    The Moscow Model Pavilion is located on Sirenevaya Alley at VDNKh. It can be visited free of charge every day from 10:00 to 20:00, except Monday.

    “Based on the results of the summer season, the pavilion entered the top 3 most visited sites of the VDNKh Museum City,” noted VDNKh General Director Sergei Shogurov.

    The scale of the city model is one to 400, the area is 429 square meters. The idea of creating a copy of the capital arose in 2011. Work began a year later, and on October 3, 2017, the pavilion was opened to visitors. During this time, the model was changed and updated approximately every two to three years. The craftsmen added houses built under the renovation program, landscaped parks, new institutions, and business centers.

    The pavilion continues to host a free exhibition of tactile models of six iconic city landmarks: the Spasskaya Tower of the Moscow Kremlin, the Bolshoi Theatre, the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, the Triumphal Arch, one of Stalin’s seven skyscrapers and the State Historical Museum. For those with limited vision, all models have been supplemented with a description in Braille.

    You can find detailed information, view the schedule of light shows and VR attractions, and sign up for excursions on the website and through the mobile application “Moscow Model”.

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

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

    http://vvv.mos.ru/nevs/item/144985073/

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The city allocated eight land plots for the implementation of large-scale investment projects in ZAO

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    As part of the implementation of large-scale investment projects (MaIP), the city has leased land plots with a total area of almost 17 hectares in the Western Administrative District of Moscow to investors and developers. This was reported by Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Urban Development Policy and Construction Vladimir Efimov.

    “The implementation of large-scale investment projects allows us to develop urban infrastructure and create jobs. Since the beginning of 2024, investors have been provided with almost 17 hectares of land in the west of the capital for the construction of industrial, commercial, social and transport facilities within the framework of the MAIP. Thanks to this, new jobs will appear for city residents. The total area of real estate under construction will exceed 245 thousand square meters,” said Vladimir Efimov.

    Two plots of land with a total area of over 11 hectares were allocated for the creation of manufacturing enterprises.

    “The provision of land plots without tenders and at a preferential rate of one ruble per year is one of the key measures to support industrial construction, which we are implementing in accordance with the order of Sergei Sobyanin. As part of the MAIP, a food industry production and logistics complex and an enterprise for the production of components for cleaning equipment, small architectural forms and joinery will be built in the west of the capital. It will supply the city with products under an offset contract,” said the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Transport and Industry

    Maxim Liksutov.

    Land lease agreements were concluded with investors for five years. During this time, entrepreneurs must build and commission the facilities.

    Minister of the Moscow Government, Head of the Department of City Property Maxim Gaman noted that investors were provided with two plots in Solntsevo with an area of over 0.7 hectares and 1.2 hectares for the construction of educational facilities. Thus, a kindergarten for 350 children will be built on Matrosov Street, and a preschool institution for 200 children will be built on Rodnikovaya Street. The total area of the buildings will exceed 13 thousand square meters.

    In Ramenki, the city allocated 0.46 hectares of land for the construction of a supplementary education center. Here, students from family education assistance centers and special schools will receive help with their education and adaptation.

    In Novo-Peredelkino, 0.63 hectares were provided for the expansion of the Arctic sports cluster, on the territory of which there are ice arenas, football fields, gyms, a swimming pool, running tracks, a basketball court and other facilities.

    MAIP is a special status that investors can obtain for the construction of facilities necessary for the development of urban infrastructure and the creation of jobs. These can be production complexes, innovation centers, social institutions, transport, commercial and other enterprises. For their construction, the city provides land plots for lease for a period of five years.

    Earlier Sergei Sobyanin told, that since the beginning of the year, investors have been provided with about 220 hectares of land for the implementation of the MAIP. This is almost twice as much as for the same period in 2023.

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

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

    https://vvv.mos.ru/nevs/item/144952073/

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Three sports facilities will be built as part of the city’s investor support program

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Moscow Foundation for the Support of Industry and Entrepreneurship provided investors with preferential investment loans for the construction of sports complexes. They will be built within the framework of the industry scheme for the placement of such facilities, approved by the Moscow Sports Committee. This was reported by the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Transport and Industry Maxim Liksutov.

    The preferential investment lending program has been in effect since March 2022. The fund compensates industrial enterprises for part of the costs of paying interest on loan agreements. Under the program, such companies can receive up to three billion rubles at three percent per annum for up to three years.

    “In July 2024, by decision of Sergei Sobyanin, the preferential investment lending program was expanded to investors who are developing the city’s sports infrastructure. Developers can receive up to 500 million rubles at three percent per annum for up to three years. Today, within the framework of this program, a multifunctional sports complex is being prepared for opening, and two more facilities are also under construction – a hockey arena and an indoor sports ground with artificial ice,” said Maxim Liksutov.

    Under the terms of the program, companies that build football fields, indoor skating rinks, indoor arenas, tennis courts, swimming pools, sports and recreation complexes with multi-purpose sports halls and other facilities for sports and physical education can receive financial support.

    “Since the start of the program, investors have attracted over 700 million rubles to implement three new projects in the sports sector. It is planned that by 2030, thanks to this support measure, up to 300 sports facilities will appear in the capital,” said the Minister of the Moscow Government, Head of the Department of Investment and Industrial Policy

    Anatoly Garbuzov.

    Thus, a multifunctional sports complex is planned to open in Olonetsky Proezd (property 5/1a). It has ice and football fields, four indoor tennis courts and one outdoor clay court. The area of the complex is eight thousand square meters. More than 180 million rubles were attracted for this project.

    The same investor will build an indoor hockey arena with an area of 4.5 thousand square meters at the address: Balaklavsky Prospekt, Building 33. It will house two ice arenas, a gym, and a choreography hall. To implement this project, the investor attracted 280 million rubles thanks to the fund.

    The fund also supported the construction of an indoor sports ground with artificial ice, which will be located at 9 Krymsky Val Street. The complex will include an ice arena, a gym, and a choreography hall. The opening is scheduled for the second quarter of 2025. The developer raised almost 300 million rubles.

    To receive funds at a preferential rate, you must enter into a loan agreement, then contact the Moscow Fund for the Support of Industry and Entrepreneurship. After the application is approved, a financial support agreement is signed to compensate for part of the costs of paying interest on the loan. Then, depending on the terms of writing off interest, the required amount is transferred to the company’s account in the bank where the loan is opened. All information is available on the foundation’s website.

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

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

    http://vvv.mos.ru/nevs/item/144978073/

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: “What you go for is what you’ll find” in Tagansky Park

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    On Friday evening, Tagansky Park will host the play “What You Go For Is What You’ll Find” based on Alexander Ostrovsky’s plays “The Marriage of Balzaminov” and “A Festive Dream – Before Lunch.” It will be presented by students of the “Teatralny Park” studio, directed by teacher Ildar Shamikov-Dasayev.

    According to the plot, the naive “mama’s boy” Balzaminov wants to marry a rich merchant woman in order to solve his financial problems and settle down in this world. “Don’t chase your mind, as long as you have happiness. With money, we can live without our minds!” – this phrase by Pavla Balzaminova vividly reflects the views and morals of the society in which her son was so eager to gain a foothold.

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

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

    http://vvv.mos.ru/poster/event/320146257/

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Kim, Correa Push for Federal Support for OC Veteran Cemetery Gains Momentum 

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Young Kim (CA-39)

    Anaheim Hills, CA – Last week, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration (NCA) released its FY 2025 Priority List of State and Tribal Government Cemetery Construction Grant Pre-Applications, which includes California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet)’s application for the Southern California Veteran Cemetery at Gypsum Canyon in Anaheim Hills. 

    In August, U.S. Representatives Young Kim (CA-40) and Lou Correa (CA-46) led a bipartisan letter to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) urging federal support for the building of the cemetery, which would be the first-ever veteran cemetery in Orange County. 

    “Building a veteran cemetery in Orange County is long overdue and has been a project near and dear to my heart since my time in the State Assembly,” said Rep. Young Kim. “I’m thrilled we are one step closer to making this a reality for those who have served and their loved ones. I thank Rep. Lou Correa for being a steadfast partner in urging for federal support, and I’ll keep fighting to get this done.”

    “All gave some and some gave all,” said Rep. Lou Correa. “Across Orange County, Democrats and Republicans alike are united in our support for Gypsum Canyon to serve as a final resting place for our veterans and their families, who courageously served our nation. I thank Rep. Young Kim for joining me in this fight—and promise to not stop fighting until we bring Orange County its first-ever veteran cemetery.” 

    The Orange County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved $20 million exclusively for site development of a veterans’ cemetery at Gypsum Canyon on July 27, 2021, and allocated over 200 acres of county-owned land near the intersection of the 91 freeway and 241 toll road for the purpose of building a public cemetery and a separate veterans cemetery. The amount of combined state and local funding to begin the construction for a veterans’ cemetery at this location currently totals $50 million, including $5 million allocated as part of the 2024 State Budget Act and $25 million in state funding already allocated in the previous state budget.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN speaks highly of the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) at the Special Reception hosted by World Economic Forum

    Source: ASEAN

    Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn this evening attended a Special Reception hosted by Professor Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF).

    Organised on the margins of the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits in Vientiane, Lao PDR, the reception also saw discussions with industry leaders, including with the WEF’s Champions for ASEAN’s Economic Future and Digital Economy Agreement Leadership (DEAL) communities. With support from the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund, the WEF is implementing the ASEAN DEAL initiative to support the ASEAN Coordinating Committee on E-Commerce and Digital Economy.

    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN speaks highly of the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA) at the Special Reception hosted by World Economic Forum appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Group of Exceptional Students Graduate: 4th Cohort of Samsung-UWC Software Development Programme

    Source: Samsung

    At a graduation ceremony held on Tuesday, 08 October 2024, Samsung celebrated the achievements of the 4th Cohort in the University of the Western Cape (UWC) Software Development (SWD) programme. This Samsung sponsored programme aims to enhance the graduating students’ prospects of employment as well as address the problem of youth unemployment in the province and the country as a whole.
     

     
    South Africa, like many countries globally, grapples with the challenge of youth unemployment. This is supported by statistics indicating a 45,5% unemployment rate among young individuals (aged 15-34 years), in contrast to the national average of 32,9% in the first quarter of 2024”, according to Statistics SA.”  The Western Cape is no exception to this alarming trend.
     
    In response to the country’s youth unemployment issues and a way to assist government to address this challenge, Samsung launched a R280-million worth Equity Equivalent Investment Programme (EEIP) in 2019. The company is now celebrating five years of this EEIP programme’s sustained success. This EEIP programme is projected to have a measurable impact on job creation and a contribution of nearly R1-billion to the South African economy at large. Five years in and Samsung’s EEIP programme has managed to train 539 youth in SWD and artisanal skills.
     
    Jose Frantz, Deputy Vice Chancellor: research and innovation, University of the Western Cape said: “We firmly believe in the transformative power of higher education to empower youth. The Future-Innovation Lab at UWC exemplifies this commitment by equipping previously disadvantaged youth with the skills and experiences necessary to succeed in an AI-driven economy. By bridging the gap between education and industry, this initiative not only addresses the pressing issue of youth unemployment but also fosters a culture of innovation and resilience. As we celebrate the upcoming graduation of the fourth cohort, we recognize the importance of such programs in nurturing the next generation of leaders and change-makers. Together, we can create a future where every young person has the opportunity to thrive and contribute meaningfully to society.”
     
    This SWD programme that is part of Samsung’s EEIP has ensured sustained ICT investment in historically disadvantaged universities, which in turn has helped to enhance the prospects of employment in the country’s youth. Importantly, this SWD programme has provided an opportunity to previously disadvantaged youth to gain skills in software development and digital social innovation with the ultimate aim of opening doors to employment or further training. Samsung strives for a 100% absorption rate of all the students in its training programmes.
     
    Lenhle Khoza, Manager for B-BBEE and Transformation at Samsung South Africa said: “As Samsung, we would like to congratulate this group of brilliant students. From the start of this programme, our focus has been on capacity building in ICT training and development. With these software development skills, we are confident that these UWC students will now be able to play a crucial role in the digital economy.”
     

     
    For Samsung, this graduation of the fourth cohort in this SWD programme is a clear indication of how successful partnerships with institutions of higher learning such as UWC are helping to address the country’s societal challenges through the development of digital solutions.
     
    And according to UWC, the 41 students that participated in the SWD programme have gained proficiency in high-demand coding languages, software architecture, web and mobile app development as well as database management and more. The hands-on and project-based approach has ensured that graduates emerge not just with theoretical knowledge, but also with the practical skills demanded by the modern job market.
     
    With hands-on, real-world experience provided through creativity and fun in a learning and working environment, these UWC students will now be able to successfully apply their new skills, which are highly sought-after in the country’s digital economy.
     

     
    “As Samsung, we’ve always prioritised the need to demonstrate a measurable outcome on the country’s youth in all our education-focused initiatives. This SWD is no exception, in collaboration with UWC – we have ensured that these graduating students are employable and that some are able to attain permanent employment through our partner network,” concluded Khoza.
    _________________________
    *Source – Unemployment in South Africa: A Youth Perspective | Statistics South Africa (statssa.gov.za)

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Springdale — Impaired driver arrested by Springdale RCMP

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    A 23-year-old man was arrested by Springdale RCMP for impaired driving on October 5th, 2024.

    At approximately 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, police observed a vehicle on Little Bay Road with a burnt-out headlight and conducted a traffic stop. The driver showed signs of alcohol impairment, failed a roadside breath test, and was arrested. Back at the detachment, the man provided breath samples that were above the legal limit.

    He was released from custody and is set to appear in court at a later date to answer to charges of impaired operation of a motor vehicle.

    The vehicle was seized and impounded and the man’s driver’s licence was suspended.

    RCMP NL continues to fulfill its mandate to protect public safety, enforce the law, and ensure the delivery of priority policing services in Newfoundland and Labrador.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Samsung celebrates the launch of Music Frame in South Africa

    Source: Samsung

    Samsung Electronics South Africa, in partnership with Decorex Africa, recently celebrated the launch of its innovative Music Frame Smart Speaker in Cape Town, captivating an audience of tech, design and décor enthusiasts. The event featured a curated music experience that allowed guests to witness the smart speaker’s impressive capabilities first-hand. Positioned atop the venue’s giant speakers, the Music Frame filled the venue with sound as attendees arrived, only to be amazed when they learned that the music was actually emanating from the Music Frame itself, redefining their expectations of audio technology in a stylish format.
     

     
    Designing the Experiences of Tomorrow
    Samsung is home to forward-looking departments seeking untapped opportunities. True to its name, the Visual Display Business’ Future Experience Design group actively develops concepts for user experiences that are missing in the market before turning those ideas into innovative products.
     
    Launching a new product is no easy feat, however. There is a long journey ahead after proposing an initial concept, from designing for mass production and collaborating with other departments to enhancing marketability and perfecting the product’s technical aspects. Brought to fruition through unceasing passion and innovation, this is Music Frame and its design story.
     
    Bringing Style to Spaces
     

     

    Inspired by Your Lifestyle
    Consumers are now opting to purchase products that seamlessly blend into their living spaces instead of ones that only offer functionality. To that end, Samsung has introduced a series of lifestyle TVs including The Serif, The Frame and The Sero. Since TVs are not in use most of the time, these products transition to Ambient or Art Mode to offer a tasteful design experience — rather than displaying a black screen.
     
    Delivering audio in the form of a picture frame, Music Frame is an extension of this approach. Setting itself apart from conventional speakers designed mainly to amplify sound, Music Frame and its concept of lifestyle audio prioritise the user’s lifestyle and living space. Picture frames are a familiar furnishing that can be placed anywhere, reflecting each individual’s taste and personality based on the kind of art being displayed. Music Frame draws inspiration from ordinary picture frames, allowing users to listen to music as they appreciate their favourite pictures.
     
    Breathing Life into an Innovation
    In collaboration with the development and CX teams, Samsung designers built and tested a working prototype that demonstrated high-quality sound. They received positive responses from users after extensive testing, which solidified their confidence in the product’s acoustic performance and overall concept. As a result, the initial design remained intact and went into mass production.
     
    Bridging the Gap Between Decor and Audio
     

    Sculpting Unseen Sound
    Music Frame embodies audio, so Samsung couldn’t lose sight of how people enjoy listening to high-quality music. Given the product’s unique form factor compared to traditional, elongated soundbars, the designers worked closely with the sound development team to perfect acoustics from the get-go.
     
    Speakers commonly have fabric, grilles or other materials on the front to easily emit sound. Together with the sound development team, the designers found a way for Music Frame to amplify sound through a gap between the frame and panel — creating a design rarely seen in audio products. The result? A frame-shaped speaker that is not restricted by the material that covers the front side.
     
    Due to the frame’s shape, the gap between the bezel and the panel was important since this portion produces high- and medium-pitched sounds. After countless tests to find the optimal sized gap, both in terms of design and sound quality, the team settled on a width of 9mm. The designers worked with developers to make sure the vibrations from the rear woofer speaker — responsible for the bass — would not create noise when the product is hung on a wall like a picture frame.
     
    A Piece to Personalise Your Space
    Just like a real frame, Music Frame allows users to swap the images inside for personal photos or works of art. Listening to music while looking at a framed photo of a precious memory or a piece of art adds new levels of depth to users’ experiences.
     
    Samsung designers also considered users who might place the Music Frame on a table instead of hanging it on a wall. Meticulous refinements were made to the frame stand’s shape and angle to ensure it doesn’t look too prominent or cause reflections on the panel. Since the rear of the product is visible if placed on a table, the back was designed in a neat and minimal fashion.
     
    Music Frame in Your Everyday

    Your Life, in the Frame
    If there’s a particular image users want to cherish, they can create their own art panel by uploading an image to a third-party website and placing an order. Music Frame comes in a default black bezel, but users can purchase an additional white bezel to match their decor. They can fill their frames with stunning images to create a stylish space that is perfect for listening to music.
     
    Fill Your Room with Rhythm
    For more captivating TV viewing, users can utilise Q-Symphony for richer stereo sound by placing two Music Frames on either side of their TVs. For surround sound, users can place a soundbar in front of their TV and a Music Frame on the opposite wall to act as a rear speaker. With the SmartThings app, users can set the equaliser settings to their preferences. By fine-tuning the audio, users can enjoy more vibrant sound and immersive content.
     
    Looking forward to a future of new possibilities, Samsung designers will continue to develop products and designs that naturally blend into users’ lifestyles and living spaces. For more information about Samsung Electronics’ design, please visit the Samsung Design website.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Samsung and GBCSA Host Insightful Panel Discussion on Clean Air During World Green Building Week

    Source: Samsung

    As part of World Green Building Week, Samsung, in partnership with the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA), hosted a compelling panel discussion themed ‘Planet Shapers’ on Thursday, 12 September 2024. The event, held at the Samsung DQX store at Design Quarter in Fourways, served as a crucial platform for knowledge sharing, networking, and dialogue on the intersection of clean air technology, climate change, and environmental health.
     
    The session, expertly facilitated by Abi Godsell, GBCSA’s Research and Technical Coordinator, brought together a distinguished panel of industry leaders and experts in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) field. The discussion featured Joseph Kaseke, HVAC Engineering Manager at Samsung; Annelide Sherratt, Head of Green Buildings Certification at Solid Green Consulting; Martin Smith International Professional Engineer and Design Director at Zutari; Matthew Marshall Co-founder and Partner at Redimension Capital; and Alex Varughese Senior Technical Coordinator at GBCSA.
     
    The panelists addressed the profound impact of clean air technology on human health, productivity, and environmental sustainability. The conversation underscored that clean air is not only vital for well-being but also plays a crucial role in enhancing productivity across various building types, from residential homes and schools to hospitals, offices, and recreational facilities such as malls and museums.
     
    When sharing his insights, Kaseke noted a World Health Organisation article published back in 2018, which stated that wildfires, climate change, city pollution, greenhouse gases, and pandemics were the biggest aspects that were detrimental to the health of our respiratory systems. He stressed the importance for manufacturers of air-conditioners to consider and ensure that when they build their products, they take into account all these factors and thus produce air-conditioners that create clean air which would be good for users’ health, while also being comfortable for them.
     
    He also spoke about the latest advancements in Samsung’s HVAC systems designed to improve indoor air quality and said these innovations are crucial in mitigating the effects of pollution and creating healthier living and working environments. Kaseke shared four air-conditioners that have shown to be excellent in the provision of clean air.
     
    WindFree 1-Way Cassette (Indoor Unit), which is Samsung’s best-selling air-conditioning unit globally, comes with prefiltration, deodorisation and PM 1.0 filters and its cooling helps maintain a comfortable level of coolness without the feeling of direct cold wind draft. At a height of only 135 mm, it is the thinnest indoor air-cooling unit in Samsung’s line-up. The compact, lightweight design makes installation and maintenance in your space easier than ever. These high-performing units are so subtle that they can easily blend into interiors of all types and styles. A quiet workplace is not only more comfortable for employees, but it also aids productivity.
     

     
    The bigger capacity WindFree 4-Way Cassette also maintains a comfortable level of coolness as cool air is gently dispersed through 15,672 micro air holes, so you won’t feel too cold. It has a prefiltration filter, a secondary filter for dust electrification as well as the PM 1.0 filter that all work together to remove the air’s impurities. The 4-Way Cassette allows efficient energy saving of up to 55%[1] and has a Motion Detect Sensor which enables customised air flow and energy efficient operation.
     

     
    According to Kaseke, the best in the line-up in terms of design is the 360 Cassette, which has the most momentum in all these air purification categories and ideal for large open spaces. It also comes standard with all the filtration features. Its innovative circular design can match a multitude of interior designs, so it perfectly fits in everywhere. Its minimalist modern styling creates a sophisticated look, and its circular shape stands out beautifully. The AR9000 wall-mounted unit, which is the premium range of Samsung’s residential line-up also comes with that same technology.
     

     
    The panel concluded with a call to action, urging attendees and the broader public to prioritise clean air in their environmental strategies. The discussion reaffirmed the necessity of collaborative efforts among companies, communities, and individuals to combat climate change and enhance the quality of life through improved air quality.
     
    The session was a testament to the power of dialogue and collaboration in driving forward the green building agenda. It highlighted how technological advancements, and thoughtful strategies can collectively contribute to a healthier planet and more sustainable future.
     
    Tested on Outdoor unit AC140MXADKH, Indoor unit AM140FN4DEH when running simultaneously. Individual result may vary depending on consumer usage.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Verizon anuncia nueva ronda de apoyos para pequeñas empresas

    Source: Verizon

    Headline: Verizon anuncia nueva ronda de apoyos para pequeñas empresas

    • A través de Verizon Small Business Digital Ready, las pequeñas empresas pueden acceder a cursos gratuitos en inglés y español, capacitación con expertos en pequeñas empresas y la oportunidad de solicitar un apoyo de $10,000.
    • La plataforma también se ha asociado con Next Street para compartir un “Mercado de financiación para pequeñas empresas”, donde los propietarios de empresas pueden buscar oportunidades de préstamos y subvenciones según sus necesidades comerciales.
    • El programa ha llegado a más de 350,000 empresas en todo el país, de las cuales el 51% son propiedad de mujeres y el 62% son propiedad de personas de color o hispanas.

    BASKING RIDGE, NJ – Como el acceso a capital es un desafío común para los emprendedores, Verizon anuncia nuevas oportunidades de financiamiento de subvenciones de $10,000 disponibles para pequeñas empresas a través de la plataforma Verizon Small Business Digital Ready. Los propietarios de pequeñas empresas que se registren en la plataforma pueden recibir acceso gratuito y personalizado a más de 50 cursos en línea en inglés y español, oportunidades de tutoría con expertos de la industria, entrenamiento de expertos personalizados y en grupo, eventos comunitarios virtuales y en persona y la oportunidad de postularse para obtener financiamiento mediante subvenciones.

    El programa es operado en asociación con Next Street y Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC). Hasta la fecha, Small Business Digital Ready ha apoyado a más de 350,000 pequeñas empresas en todo el país, de las cuales el 51% son propiedad de mujeres y el 62% son propiedad de personas de color o hispanas.

    Hasta el 13 de diciembre de 2024 a las 11:59 p.m. (hora del Pacífico), las pequeñas empresas pueden acceder a la solicitud para esta ronda de financiamiento de subvenciones registrándose primero en el portal Verizon Small Business Digital Ready y completando al menos dos cursos, capacitación o eventos comunitarios, en cualquier combinación entre 1 de julio de 2024 y 13 de diciembre de 2024 a las 11:59 p.m. PT. Las pequeñas empresas que completen la solicitud serán elegibles para recibir una subvención de $10,000.

    “Las pequeñas empresas son el pilar de las comunidades y tenemos la responsabilidad de ayudarles a prosperar”, dijo Donna Epps, Chief Responsible Business Officer de Verizon. “Verizon Small Business Digital Ready se creó para impulsar a los propietarios de pequeñas empresas a través de capacitación en habilidades digitales, y estamos orgullosos de ofrecer otra oportunidad de apoyo a esta comunidad diversa y en crecimiento de propietarios de pequeñas empresas en todo el país”.

    La plataforma también está lanzando el “Mercado de financiación para pequeñas empresas”, un repositorio de oportunidades de financiación y préstamos disponibles para pequeñas empresas, y ha lanzado “Learning Paths”. Rutas de aprendizaje como “Mejora tu acceso al capital” y “Construye tu marca única” invitan a los usuarios a completar una serie de recursos para ayudarlos a acercarse a lograr un objetivo comercial. 

    Verizon no es un prestamista ni un corredor. El mercado de financiación para pequeñas empresas es proporcionado por Next Street Financial LLC. No todas las solicitudes son aprobadas. Todas las decisiones de financiación las toman terceros proveedores de capital. Las calificaciones, los requisitos, la aprobación y los términos del préstamo varían según el tipo de préstamo, las calificaciones del solicitante y el estado.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Neguse, Colorado Delegation Announce Support for Colorado River District’s Application for Funding to Complete Shoshone Water Rights Purchase

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joe Neguse (D-Co 2)

    Lafayette, CO — Today, House Assistant Minority Leader Joe Neguse joined Colorado Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, and members of the state’s congressional delegation in writing to the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) in support of the Colorado River Water Conservation District’s (CRWCD) application for federal funding to purchase two of the oldest water rights on the Colorado River mainstem in Colorado, known as the Shoshone Permanency Project. The lawmakers offered their support as part of an ongoing BOR funding opportunity to provide environmental benefits in response to drought, which remains open for additional projects in Colorado and the rest of the Upper Colorado River Basin.

    “The Colorado River District’s mission is to promote the protection, conservation, use, and development of the water resources of the Colorado River water basin for the welfare of the state of Colorado. Preserving the Colorado River’s historical flow regime as intended by the Shoshone Permanency Project will benefit the Colorado River ecosystem every year, and especially in dry years,” wrote the lawmakers.

    The letter continues: “This strong show of funding reflects the local recognition of the Shoshone Water Rights’ importance to the health of western Colorado’s environment and local economies. We recognize the Shoshone Permanency Project’s complex nature and ongoing technical review, but believe the opportunity to protect historical Colorado River flows deserves your attention.”

     The full text of the letter is available HERE. 

    “For the future of water, agriculture, outdoor recreation, and our way of life on the Western Slope and for the entire state of Colorado, the time to permanently secure the Shoshone water rights is now. At the state legislature this year, we made a $20 million investment in this effort, our local partners have offered over $36 million and I am so grateful for our federal partners, Congressman Joe Neguse and Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper, for doing everything they can to ensure the federal government becomes a key partner in this effort, ” said Dylan Roberts, State Senator, Chair of the Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee.  

    The 1902 Senior and the 1929 Junior Shoshone Water Rights currently held by Xcel Energy are used to generate power at the Shoshone Power Plant and then return it to the river. Communities across Western Colorado have already committed over $55 million, and are applying to BOR for funding from the Upper Colorado River Basin Environmental Drought Mitigation program to help complete the purchase and create stability for communities, water and recreational users, and the environment. The Upper Colorado River Basin Environmental Drought Mitigation program funding opportunity is open for application through November 22, 2024, and the lawmakers welcome other applicants to contact their offices on the opportunity to provide support. 

    As part of the Shoshone Permanency Project, CRWCD will seek a change in these rights to include an alternate beneficial use and preserve the historical flow regime. The state process for changing these decreed water rights is distinct from any federal funding review or outcome, and will proceed separately. As acknowledged in the letter, data collection and analysis related to the Shoshone water rights’ historic use is ongoing and important to the state of Colorado’s formal review. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Verizon announces new round of grant funding for small businesses

    Source: Verizon

    Headline: Verizon announces new round of grant funding for small businesses

    • Through Verizon Small Business Digital Ready, small businesses can access free courses in English and Spanish, coaching with small business experts, and an opportunity to apply for a $10,000 grant.
    • The platform has also partnered with Next Street to share a “Small Business Funding Marketplace,” where business owners can search for loan and grant opportunities based on their business needs.
    • The program has reached over 350,000 businesses across the country, of which 51% are women-owned and 62% are Black or Hispanic-owned.

    BASKING RIDGE, NJ – As access to capital is a common challenge for entrepreneurs, Verizon is announcing new $10,000 grant funding opportunities available for small businesses via the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready platform. Small business owners who register on the platform can receive free, personalized access to over 50 online courses in English and Spanish, mentorship opportunities with industry experts, 1:1 and group expert coaching, virtual and in-person community events and the opportunity to apply for grant funding.

    The program is operated in partnership with Next Street and Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC). To date, Small Business Digital Ready has reached over 350,000 small businesses nationwide, of which 51% are women-owned and 62% are Black or Hispanic-owned.

    Until December 13, 2024 at 11:59pm PT, small businesses can unlock the application for this round of grant funding by first registering on the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready portal and completing at least two courses, coaching or community events, in any combination between July 1, 2024 and December 13, 2024 at 11:59pm PT. Small businesses that complete the application will be eligible for consideration to receive a $10,000 grant.

    “Small businesses are the backbone of communities, and we have a responsibility to help them thrive,” said Donna Epps, Chief Responsible Business Officer at Verizon. “Verizon Small Business Digital Ready was created to uplift small business owners through digital skills training, and we’re proud to offer another grant opportunity to this diverse and growing community of small business owners nationwide.”

    The platform is also launching “Small Business Funding Marketplace,” a repository of open funding and loan opportunities available to small businesses, and has launched “Learning Paths.” Learning paths such as “Improve your access to capital” and “Build your unique brand” prompt users to complete a series of resources to help them get closer to achieving a business goal.

    Verizon is not a lender or broker. The Small Business Funding Marketplace is provided by Next Street Financial LLC. Not all applications are approved. All financing decisions are made by third-party capital providers. Qualifications, requirements, approval, and loan terms vary based on the type of loan, applicant qualifications, and by state.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kelly, Neal Commemorate the 100th Anniversary of U.S. – Ireland Diplomatic Relations

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

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Congressman Mike Kelly (R-PA-16), and U.S. Congressman Richard E. Neal (D-MA-01), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Friends of Ireland Caucus, commemorated the 100th anniversary of U.S.-Ireland diplomatic relations.

    Established on October 7, 1924, when Irish Ambassador Timothy Smiddy presented his credentials to U.S. President Calvin Coolidge, U.S.-Ireland relations have endured countless challenges, both foreign and domestic, over the last century. Spanning 16 U.S. Presidents and 15 Taoisigh, the friendship between the United States and Ireland has been unwavering, reflecting their strong ancestral ties and shared values. 

     “Like many in the United States, I’m proud to trace my roots back to Ireland,” said Congressman Kelly. “As we mark the 100th anniversary of United States-Irish diplomatic relations, it’s important to remember the role that our Irish ancestors played in developing the United States and the role that so many still play today as we chart our future together.”

    “One century has passed since Irish Ambassador Smiddy presented his credentials to President Coolidge, and the relationship between the United States and Ireland is stronger than ever. It is a relationship rooted in our shared democratic values and mutual commitment to promote freedom and rules-based international order around the globe; not to mention, the common denominator that will forever bond our two nations: winning our independence from Great Britain to become thriving republics,” said Congressman Neal. “The sanctity of that relationship was underscored when the United States helped broker the Good Friday Agreement, marking the end of the longest period of conflict in Irish history. As a guarantor of that agreement, the United States has the indispensable role of continuing to uphold the principles embodied in the peace accord and working to protect and strengthen these gains for future generations to enjoy.” 

    On July 9, 2024, Congressman Neal and Congressman Kelly introduced H.Res.1345 – Recognizing the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and Ireland. The resolution calls for, among other things, the continued strengthening of U.S.-Ireland relations, including their mutually beneficial economic relationship, and reaffirms Congress’ support for peace and reconciliation on the island of Ireland. The bill also supports cooperation between the two nations to address global challenges, including insecurity, poverty, and hunger. The bill currently has 37 cosponsors.

    The bill text can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: Fleet Readiness Center Southeast inducts first F-35B aircraft and F135 power module for depot-level work

    Source: United States Navy

    Fleet Readiness Center Southeast (FRCSE) achieved two significant milestones in the same week by inducting its first F-35B Lightning II and F135 power module (PM), one of five major modules of the F-35 propulsion system. 

    The F-35B, which came from the Flying Leathernecks of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 (VMFA-122), based out of Yuma, Arizona, arrived at FRCSE on Aug. 7 and the F135 PM on Aug. 9.   

    “This is a historic time for FRC Southeast,” said FRCSE’s Commanding Officer, Capt. Al Palmer. “Between welcoming the first F-35 airframe and receiving the first F135 power module, we remain steadfast in our commitment to the Naval Aviation Enterprise. Inducting these products propels FRCSE into a new era of depot-level maintenance and paves the way for current and next-generation products.” 

    The timing of the airframe and engine inductions was purely coincidental. However, the back-to-back arrivals were indicative of the progress and effort the command put into preparing to work on these fifth-generation assets.   

    While the first F135 PM will go through the planned maintenance process, — disassembly, inspection, repair and reassembly — with an expected completion date of May 2025, the F-35 line is a corrosion speed line designed to quickly and efficiently locate corrosion and address any discovered problem areas.  

    “Hitting that 60-day target will allow us to return one aircraft this fiscal year and up to 16 aircraft next fiscal year,” said Savanna Massey, FRCSE’s F-35 production line deputy director. “We’ll eventually get to a cycle where we induct one and return one back to the fleet at the same time. It’s a corrosion speed line, so speed will be the name of the game, but without sacrificing quality.”  

    The F-35 induction is part of a more significant effort to support corrosion mitigation efforts for the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) through a process called Production Asset Inspection Requirement (PAIR). FRCSE artisans will conduct these inspections on targeted areas of the aircraft where corrosion may be taking place. 

    “A PAIR-II inspection consists of artisans removing a number of panels from the aircraft and inspecting the substructure,” said Tim Duncan, FRCSE’s F-35 general foreman. “If we find corrosion present, we will remove it, treat the aircraft’s surface and reinstall the panels.” 

    Preparation for the highly technical jet began years ago with the establishment of the F-35 product line in 2022 and the command’s activation as an F135 Department of Defense second depot source of repair (DSOR) in 2020. However, both teams had to undergo extensive training to accommodate the new products.  

    Since the F-35 line was established, the 60 artisans and support staff have not only received extensive education and training on the aircraft’s Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS), surface coatings and other areas, but have also had the opportunity to immerse themselves in the F-35 community by traveling to various USMC squadrons and Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE), which has been the lead Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) site for F-35 organic depot-level maintenance since 2013. 

    “Being part of the team that established the F-35 line here at FRC Southeast gives the artisans a sense of ownership,” said Brandon Smith, an FRCSE F-35 work lead. “This being a new aircraft and corrosion line for the command, there weren’t any examples for us to utilize, so the team was empowered to collect data and implement best practices from other sites.”  

    While the command is excited to receive the fifth-generation aircraft, a shortened timeline meant overcoming hurdles – challenges that the F-35 production line team took in stride.    

    “The F-35, being a fifth-generation aircraft, comes with a whole new set of security requirements, which we typically haven’t had to engage here at FRC Southeast while working on some of the legacy platforms,” said Bruce Crooke, FRCSE’s F-35 Production Line Director. “So, there was a learning curve. There are requirements for controlled entry points at the aircraft and electronic security systems that monitor and measure the vibrations of the fencing. There will be visual barriers to prevent seeing the aircraft when it’s opened and panels removed since there are security concerns there as well.” 

    Simultaneously, the F135 team has had to conduct extensive training and overcame obstacles to get their team ready to work on this complex engine. 

    “Since being named a DSOR, FRCSE F135 artisans successfully executed over 2,600 qualification requirements shared across the Power Module and Mini Modules,” said Aaron Powers, FRCSE’s F135 product line deputy director. “This ensured that FRCSE had a proficient and qualified labor force to execute the newly established workload. The first qualification evolution trained and qualified 23 primary artisans and support group personnel, and this is the team who will execute the initial production workload.” 

    As a result of the hard work and preparation to perform maintenance on next-generation components, the F135 team expects huge milestones in the future. 

    “We expect F135 production to ramp up through 2034 to the max production requirement, or roughly 600 Mini Modules and 120 Power Modules per year, correlating to about 600,000 man-hours,” said Richard Eveson, FRCSE’s F135 product line director. 

    From the moment the Lightning II landed on the flight line at Naval Air Station Jacksonville and taxied toward the ground crew, to the uncrating of the first F135 PM in front of a skilled group of prepared artisans, a surge of tangible excitement has spread through the command. 

    “This milestone belongs to all of us,” said Palmer. “Thank you for your unwavering dedication and commitment to our mission, which has undoubtedly led us to this historic moment.” 

    As FRCSE looks to the future amid ever-changing fleet requirements, it’s clear that the command will continue to adapt to support military readiness with unwavering dedication and perseverance. 

    About Fleet Readiness Center Southeast   

    Fleet Readiness Center Southeast (FRCSE) is Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia’s largest maintenance, repair, overhaul and technical services provider, employing approximately 5,000 civilian, military and contract workers. With annual revenue exceeding $1 billion, the organization serves as an integral part of the greater U.S. Navy, Naval Air Systems Command, and Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers by maintaining the combat airpower for America’s military forces. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: Harvey Milk Completes First Replenishment-at-Sea with two Japanese Training Ships

    Source: United States Navy

    NORFOLK Va., (Sept. 24, 2024) — Recently, Civil Service Mariners (CIVMARS) aboard the Military Sealift Command (MSC) fleet replenishment oiler USNS Harvey Milk (T-AO 206) completed their first replenishment-at-sea (RAS) with two Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) vessels.

    Apart of a six-month around the world training cruise, that began in May 2024 and included 180 newly commissioned JMSDF officers, JMSDF training vessels JS Kashima (TV-3508) and guided missile destroyer JS Shimakaze (DDG 172, TV 3521), which has now been converted into a training vessel, completed its first RAS event with USNS Harvey Milk in the Virginia Capes’ (VACAPES) operating area in the Atlantic Ocean, Sept. 24. This bilateral exercise between the United States and Japan helps to improve JMSDF’s tactical capabilities and to build on the interoperability between the JMSDF and the U.S. Navy.

    According to USNS Harvey Milk’s Ship Master Capt. James “Jim” White, this refueling event was a rare opportunity for the Harvey Milk crew to work with the professionals of the JMSDF and a chance to demonstrate the capabilities of the T-AO 205 class oiler. This event marked only the second time that a T-AO 205 class oiler has replenished two ships simultaneously.

    USNS Harvey Milk is the second ship of the T-AO 205 class oiler, operated by MSC. The ship provides diesel fuel, lubricating oil and jet fuel; small quantities of fresh and frozen provisions and dry stores; and potable water to Navy ships at sea. T-AOs add underway replenishment capacity to the Navy’s Combat Logistics Force (CLF) and is expected to become the cornerstone of the fuel delivery system.

    USNS Harvey Milk is named after U.S. Navy veteran and LGBT activist Harvey Milk who was one of the first openly gay candidates elected to public office as a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1978.

    Constructed in the 1990’s, JS Kashima is JMSDF’s flagship training vessel, which helps trainees build relations with other nations and develop seamanship skills and international experience.

    JS Shimakaze is the second of the Hatakaze-class guided missile destroyers built for JMSDF. The vessel was reclassified as a training ship in 2021.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Justice Department Secures Agreement with Durham, North Carolina, to End Discriminatory Hiring Practices in City’s Fire Department

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    The Justice Department announced today that it has secured a settlement agreement with the City of Durham (City), North Carolina, to resolve the department’s claim that the hiring process for firefighters in the Durham Fire Department (DFD) violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. Specifically, the department alleges that the City’s fire department screens applicants with a written test that discriminates against Black candidates.

    Title VII is a federal statute that prohibits employment discrimination based on race, sex, color, national origin and religion. Title VII prohibits not only intentional discrimination but also employment practices that result in a disparate impact on a protected group, unless such practices are job related and consistent with business necessity.

    The settlement agreement resolves a civil pattern or practice investigation the Civil Rights Division opened in February 2020. As part of the investigation, the division conducted an in-depth review of DFD’s hiring practices, applicant data and other information received from the DFD. The division concluded that the fire department was using a written test that does not meaningfully distinguish between applicants who can and cannot perform the job of a firefighter. The test also disqualified Black applicants from employment at significantly disproportionate rates. The department thus concluded that the test violates Title VII.

    “Discriminatory employment tests do more than cost applicants a fair chance to compete for public service jobs like firefighting; they also prevent communities from being served in these crucial positions by the most qualified candidates for the job,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The under-representation of Black people in the fire department workforce in Durham, and across the country, undermines public safety efforts. This settlement agreement requires the Durham Fire Department to reform its unlawful hiring process and provide monetary and other relief to those already harmed. The Justice Department will continue to work to ensure that all qualified applicants have a fair and equal opportunity to serve their communities.”

    “Employers should identify and eliminate practices that have a disparate impact based on race,” said U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Hairston for the Middle District of North Carolina. “The Justice Department will continue to work to eliminate discriminatory policies that deprive qualified applicants of a fair chance to compete for employment opportunities.” 

    The complaint, filed yesterday in the Middle District of North Carolina, alleges that the City’s uses of the written test called the Comprehensive Examination Battery (CEB) disproportionately exclude Black candidates from employment as firefighters. The department further alleges that DFD’s uses of the CEB are not job-related and consistent with business necessity, and thus violate Title VII.

    Under the terms of the consent decree also filed yesterday, DFD will:

    • Adopt a written test that does not discriminate in violation of Title VII and provide data to the department on the administration of the new test to ensure compliance;
    • Pay $980,000 in back pay to applicants who were disqualified by DFD’s uses of the challenged test; and
    • Hire up to 16 applicants who were unfairly disqualified by the challenged test and who successfully complete the new firefighter selection process.

    The full and fair enforcement of Title VII is a top priority of the Civil Rights Division. The division has issued a fact sheet on combating hiring discrimination by police and fire departments to help applicants for public safety jobs understand their rights to be free from discriminatory hiring processes. More information about the Civil Rights Division can be found at http://www.justice.gov/crt.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: Fleet Readiness Center Southeast engineer earns NAWCAD Fellow distinction

    Source: United States Navy

    Ian Hawkins, a Fleet Readiness Center Southeast (FRCSE) materials engineering supervisor, was recently accepted into the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Fellow Program coordinated by Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division’s (NAWCAD) during an award ceremony held at NAVAIR headquarters in Pawtuxet River, Md.

    “This award recognizes the technical accomplishments over my career to improve capability and readiness,” said Hawkins. “The results of my efforts are due to the teams and great teammates I’ve been lucky to work with. I was fortunate to be in positions where I could guide teams on engineering projects and programs to achieve safety and readiness goals for the Navy. Additionally, I’ve been fortunate to work on national efforts with my NAWCAD and FRC counterparts and on international efforts with our ally partners.”

    Introduced in the 1980s, the Fellows Program became a NAVAIR program in the 2000s, and NAWCAD re-established it in 2021 after a three-year pause in inductions. Inductees into the Fellow Program are nominated and selected by a team of peers based on their tenure and technical accomplishments in safety and readiness. The program is unique in that it does not have senior leadership.

    The Fellow Program has three levels of prestige: Associate Fellows, or the first tier, make up the top three percent of scientists and engineers at NAVAIR. Fellows, the second tier, represents the top three-quarters of a percent and is the level Hawkins has achieved. Finally, Esteemed Fellows make up the top one-quarter of a percent. Each level pulls new members from the tier below, and members are inducted by majority vote.

    Hawkins’ primary discipline is nondestructive inspection, or the examination of aircraft and components that does not require taking them apart.

    “It’s a privilege to work for the Navy, and I feel like I need to do more and more every day, and that’s the main reason I’m here,” said Hawkins.

    About Fleet Readiness Center Southeast 

    Fleet Readiness Center Southeast (FRCSE) is Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia’s largest maintenance, repair, overhaul and technical services provider, employing approximately 5,000 civilian, military and contract workers. With annual revenue exceeding $1 billion, the organization serves as an integral part of the greater US Navy, Naval Air Systems Command, and Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers by maintaining the combat airpower for America’s military forces.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UN Human Rights Council 57: UK Statement for Oral Update on Ukraine

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    UK statement for Interactive dialogue with the High Commissioner on the oral update on Ukraine. Delivered by the UK’s Permanent Representative to the WTO and UN, Simon Manley.

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

    Thank you, Mr Vice President and thank you very much, High Commissioner. I do hope that the Russian Ambassador and his film crew were able to capture your stark account of the realities of the human rights atrocities that are being committed by the Russians, and not merely the fantasy fiction of the disinformation that we have been presented with by the Russian Ambassador. 

    The evidence presented in your report presents a stark pattern of the atrocities Russia is committing against the Ukrainian people. Your report describes systematic torture of Ukrainians by Russia – 97% of prisoners of war interviewed since March reported experiencing torture or ill treatment, and 68% said they had experienced sexual violence. Senior Russian officials calling for the execution of Ukrainian POWs. Its large-scale coordinated attacks against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, deliberately targeting power systems which serve civilian populations, and which you rightly conclude is a violation of international humanitarian law

    Just last week, as you noted, we marked two years since Russia’s attempted annexation of four oblasts in eastern Ukraine. Those living under Russian occupation continue to face arbitrary detention, passportisation, and the seizure of land and property.

    Even children, both those living under Russian occupation and those who have been deported to Russia, are facing indoctrination and re-education programmes designed to distort and erase Ukrainian history.

    High Commissioner,

    How can we continue to remind Russia of its obligations under international humanitarian law, international human rights law and the UN Charter?

    Updates to this page

    Published 8 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Historic Preservation Council to consider nominations for National Register Oct. 11

    Source: US State of Missouri

    JEFFERSON CITY, MO, OCT. 8, 2024 – The Missouri Advisory Council on Historic Preservation will consider nominations to the National Register of Historic Places during its quarterly meeting. The meeting begins at 10 a.m., Friday, Oct. 11, in the Roaring River Conference Rooms at the MoDNR Elm Street Conference Center, located at 1730 E. Elm St., Jefferson City. Remote participation is also available as outlined below:

    stateofmo.webex.com/stateofmo/j.php?MTID=m7e25d16fa3f0ca8bcf26e1e2160c5948

    Teleconference Call number: 650-479-3207 
    WebEx meeting number (access code): 2632 514 6991 
    Meeting password: 2pbE59pH22m 
    NOTICE: This public meeting may be subject to audio and video recording

    The following nominations will be considered at the meeting:

    • Mayfair Apartment Hotel, 1224 E. Linwood Blvd., Kansas City, Jackson County
    • Roberts Farmstead, 1120 S. Farm Road 193 (primary); 715 S. Farm Road 193, Springfield (vic.), Greene County
    • Faherty House, 11 S. Spring St., Perryville, Perry County
    • Hermann High School, 808 Washington St., Hermann, Gasconade County
    • Lincoln School, 1400 E. Pony Thomas St., West Plains, Howell County
    • First Christian Church, 116 W. Gracia Ave., Marceline, Linn County
    • Lincoln School, 210 W. Wells, Marceline, Linn County
    • Marceline Mercantile & Supply Company, 125 E, California, Marceline, Linn County
    • Marceline Masonic Lodge No. 481, 201 N. Main St. USA, Marceline, Linn County                             

    The Missouri Advisory Council on Historic Preservation is a group of historians, architects, archaeologists and citizens with an interest in historic preservation. The council is appointed by the governor and works with the department’s State Historic Preservation Office, which administers the National Register of Historic Places program for Missouri. The council meets quarterly to review Missouri property nominations to the National Register, the nation’s honor roll of historic properties. Approved nominations are forwarded to the Keeper of the National Register in Washington, D.C., for final approval.

    More information, including draft nominations and meeting agenda, is available online at dnr.mo.gov/commissions-boards-councils/advisory-council-historic-preservation. For more information on Missouri State Parks and Historic Sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Justice Department Secures Agreement with Durham, North Carolina, to End Discriminatory Hiring Practices in City’s Fire Department

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    The Justice Department announced today that it has secured a settlement agreement with the City of Durham (City), North Carolina, to resolve the department’s claim that the hiring process for firefighters in the Durham Fire Department (DFD) violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. Specifically, the department alleges that the City’s fire department screens applicants with a written test that discriminates against Black candidates.

    Title VII is a federal statute that prohibits employment discrimination based on race, sex, color, national origin and religion. Title VII prohibits not only intentional discrimination but also employment practices that result in a disparate impact on a protected group, unless such practices are job related and consistent with business necessity.

    The settlement agreement resolves a civil pattern or practice investigation the Civil Rights Division opened in February 2020. As part of the investigation, the division conducted an in-depth review of DFD’s hiring practices, applicant data and other information received from the DFD. The division concluded that the fire department was using a written test that does not meaningfully distinguish between applicants who can and cannot perform the job of a firefighter. The test also disqualified Black applicants from employment at significantly disproportionate rates. The department thus concluded that the test violates Title VII.

    “Discriminatory employment tests do more than cost applicants a fair chance to compete for public service jobs like firefighting; they also prevent communities from being served in these crucial positions by the most qualified candidates for the job,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The under-representation of Black people in the fire department workforce in Durham, and across the country, undermines public safety efforts. This settlement agreement requires the Durham Fire Department to reform its unlawful hiring process and provide monetary and other relief to those already harmed. The Justice Department will continue to work to ensure that all qualified applicants have a fair and equal opportunity to serve their communities.”

    “Employers should identify and eliminate practices that have a disparate impact based on race,” said U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Hairston for the Middle District of North Carolina. “The Justice Department will continue to work to eliminate discriminatory policies that deprive qualified applicants of a fair chance to compete for employment opportunities.” 

    The complaint, filed yesterday in the Middle District of North Carolina, alleges that the City’s uses of the written test called the Comprehensive Examination Battery (CEB) disproportionately exclude Black candidates from employment as firefighters. The department further alleges that DFD’s uses of the CEB are not job-related and consistent with business necessity, and thus violate Title VII.

    Under the terms of the consent decree also filed yesterday, DFD will:

    • Adopt a written test that does not discriminate in violation of Title VII and provide data to the department on the administration of the new test to ensure compliance;
    • Pay $980,000 in back pay to applicants who were disqualified by DFD’s uses of the challenged test; and
    • Hire up to 16 applicants who were unfairly disqualified by the challenged test and who successfully complete the new firefighter selection process.

    The full and fair enforcement of Title VII is a top priority of the Civil Rights Division. The division has issued a fact sheet on combating hiring discrimination by police and fire departments to help applicants for public safety jobs understand their rights to be free from discriminatory hiring processes. More information about the Civil Rights Division can be found at http://www.justice.gov/crt.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Press Release: FDIC Announces Extension of Comment Period for Proposed Changes to its Brokered Deposit Regulations

    Source: US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation FDIC

    CategoriesBusiness, Commerce, MIL-OSI, United States Federal Government, United States Government, United States of America, US Commerce, US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation FDIC, US Federal Government, US Insurance Sector, USA

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Delivering better outcomes for our future pensioners

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Minister for Pensions Emma Reynolds addressed an audience at the ABI ‘Pension Investment: Where Next?’ event on Thursday 3 October.

    Location:
    1 America Square London EC3N 2LS to 1 Horse Guards Rd, London SW1A 2HQ
    Delivered on:
    (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

    Thank you for that kind introduction, and good morning everybody.

    I’m delighted to be here today. This is the third time I’ve been to the ABI in the last couple of months to discuss the government’s reform agenda for pensions, and in particular to highlight the work of the pensions Review, I’m very grateful to the ABI.

    Thank you, Yvonne and the team here for inviting me today and for also your ongoing commitment to working with the government to tackle the barriers that pension funds face to invest in growth assets. And I’d also like to give particular thanks to the ABI for your comprehensive response to our recent Call for Evidence, which closed last week.

    I’m delighted to be here today as the first joint DWP and HMT Minister for Pensions, as Yvonne has set out, the government is determined to bring down the silos between departments which too often in the past, have prevented effective Government and effective reform. And as the First Minister to sit between these two great Departments of State, I am excited by the job of work ahead.

    We face many challenges, but also we face many great opportunities to drive significant reform of pensions. As the Pensions Minister, I have two overarching objectives, first to increase pensions, investment in UK productive assets, supporting UK businesses of all sizes to grow and expand across the country. Second, to improve retirement outcomes for future pensioners, which everyone in this room and many millions of savers across the country have a stake in.

    Both of these objectives require more economic growth. The Chancellor reiterated in her commitment to powering growth in every part of Britain in her recent speech [political content redacted], growth is the most important of the government’s five missions to rebuild Britain, and as you will know, reforming pension investments is a crucial part of that.

    Earlier this year, in the King’s Speech, our new government announced a Pension Schemes Bill which includes three key elements. First, the Bill will enable the consolidation of multiple small pots, helping bring individuals eligible pots together in one place. This will support people to keep track of their savings so they can live better and more comfortably in retirement, but it will also mean that consolidators will generate scale at a greater rate, improving opportunity for investment.

    Second, the Bill will introduce a Value for Money Framework for defined contribution schemes, which you’ve already mentioned, to drive consolidation of the sector. We want to see fewer, larger providers who have the scale and expertise to invest in a more diverse portfolio. The Value for Money Framework will also contribute to economic growth, as there will be an increased focus on assets that can deliver long term value.

    Third, the Bill will introduce a requirement for pension schemes to offer retirement products, including a default retirement solution. It is crucial that we improve the options for people when they reach retirement age, and many have said to me that people feel as if they’re left on their own at that crucial time that they retire. But we need to go further, and in July, the Chancellor asked me to lead the first phase of the Pensions Review. I would like to thank all of you in this room who contributed to our Call for Evidence, especially given the short timeframe of our consultation.

    The consultation closed last week and asked questions relating to; DC and LGPS funds, driving further investment in the UK economy, scale and consolidation and driving a shift to value. We were delighted to receive over 100 responses, and it will come as no surprise that many of the themes that you’ll be discussing today have come through in those responses.

    We are putting together our proposals, taking into consideration the consultation responses and the stakeholder engagement we have been doing over the last few months, and we will publish an interim report in the autumn with the full recommendations from phase one to be published next year.

    It is essential to overcome the barriers to increasing pension fund investment in UK productive assets to support our capital markets, which in turn will drive growth in our economy and improve the retirement outcomes for future pensioners. I welcome the discussion on pension fund investments in infrastructure and illiquid assets that you will be having today, and the work that the ABI and its members are doing on this subject. Understanding the barriers that prevent DC schemes from investing more in these assets is crucial to the government’s reform agenda.

    I would also like to thank the PPI for publishing their report today ‘Pension Scheme assets a deep dive into infrastructure’. I was very pleased to read in the report that investment in infrastructure has been developing over the last five years. However, the proportion of infrastructure assets held by pension schemes is still a small minority, and DC schemes need to achieve greater scale and management capabilities to ensure infrastructure assets are a cost-effective component to their investment strategies. The PPI analysis underlines that we can collectively do more to drive this trend further, and I’m grateful for them, once again, for producing analysis and building our evidence base to support change.

    The Review is also exploring ways to drive greater scale and consolidation and working closely with employers, advisors, Trustees and pension providers on ways we can incentivise much greater competition on the basis of Pension returns, rather than purely cost in the DC market. On LGPS, I want to deliver a strong and sustainable scheme by tackling fragmentation and inefficiency. This will ensure that the LGPS serves the interests of members, employers and local communities, and supports growth across the economy.

    As part of the review, I also want to look at the way the current pension system operates. I want to ensure the market is well equipped to deal with the challenges of the future. So your discussion today around the Value for Money and other regulatory apparatus is a key enabler for getting this right. We want to shift the focus from price to value as a crucial part of delivering better retirement outcomes over the long term.

    Separate to phase one, will be a wider phase two, which will look more widely at further long-term steps we can take to improve pension outcomes, including assessing the level of savings people need to achieve the retirement that they want. There is no accident in the sequencing here. Growth is the government’s first priority, so we are prioritizing measures on pensions which can expedite growth and improve returns.

    The ABI is playing a crucial role in delivering this agenda, in particular, in monitoring the investments of some of the UK’s largest DC schemes, it is clear that rate of change and progress is required to reach the Mansion House complex commitment by 2030 the ABI has reported that schemes are taking enabling steps, by, for example, starting to recruit more resorts, engaging with clients as support and producing research to better understand the barriers.

    The ABI is instrumental in measuring developments going forward, and I hope that we will see a significant increase of pension fund investments into growth assets across the UK. The themes of today’s conference are fundamental to the pensions review, which I am leading. So, in conclusion, before you ask me some difficult questions, I want to challenge you as a collective group to continue to make changes, to drive further change. Thank you.

    Updates to this page

    Published 8 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI China: Book of Xi’s discourses on water management published

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

    BEIJING, Oct. 8 — A compilation of excerpts from discourses on China’s water management by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, has been published by the Central Party Literature Press.

    Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, the CPC Central Committee with Xi Jinping at its core has made coordinated progress in water-related disaster control, water resource conservation, protection and restoration of water ecosystem, and water environment management, significantly improving water security.

    Xi’s discourses in this regard are important for ensuring greater water security in building China into a modern socialist country in all respects.

    The book, featuring six themes, brings together 297 pieces of discourse extracted from over 130 important speeches and written works by Xi between December 2012 and August 2024. Some of these passages are made public for the first time.

    MIL OSI China News –