NewzIntel.com

Category: AM-NC

  • MIL-OSI USA: California Department of Justice Releases Report on Officer-Involved Shooting of Guillermo Huerta

    Source: US State of California

    Tuesday, September 24, 2024

    Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov

     
    OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta, pursuant to Assembly Bill 1506 (AB 1506), today released a report on Guillermo Huerta’s death from an officer-involved shooting in Bakersfield, California, on March 18, 2023. The incident involved officers from the Bakersfield Police Department (BPD). The report is part of the California Department of Justice’s (DOJ) ongoing efforts to provide transparency and accountability in law enforcement practices. The report provides a detailed analysis of the incident and outlines DOJ’s findings. After a thorough investigation, DOJ concluded that criminal charges were not appropriate in this case.

    “We hope this report brings a sense of assurance to our community,” said Attorney General Bonta. “The California Department of Justice remains steadfast in our commitment to working together with all law enforcement partners to ensure an unbiased, transparent, and accountable legal system for every resident of California. We acknowledge that this incident posed challenges for all parties involved, including Mr. Huerta’s family, law enforcement, and the community.”  

    On March 18, 2023, BPD responded to a call regarding an individual with a knife in the City of Bakersfield. When BPD arrived, Mr. Huerta ran at the officer while holding what appeared to be a knife, and the officer shot and killed Mr. Huerta. After Mr. Huerta fell, it was discovered that the weapon he held in his hand was a screwdriver.

    Under AB 1506, which requires DOJ to investigate all incidents of officer-involved shootings resulting in the death of an unarmed civilian in the state, DOJ conducted a thorough investigation into this incident and concluded that the evidence does not show, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the officer involved acted without the intent to defend himself and others from what he reasonably believed to be imminent death or serious bodily injury. Therefore, there is insufficient evidence to support a criminal prosecution of the officer. As such, no further action will be taken in this case. 

    A copy of the report can be found here.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Backgrounder: Canada’s Action Plan to Combat Hate

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French 1

    Hate and its devastating consequences impact the lives of too many people. Canada’s Action Plan to Combat Hate draws on the experiences of individuals and communities who have experienced hate.

    OTTAWA, September 24, 2024

    Hate and its devastating consequences impact the lives of too many people. Canada’s Action Plan to Combat Hate draws on the experiences of individuals and communities who have experienced hate. It builds on consultation activities organized by the Federal Anti-Racism Secretariat, including the following.

    Fifteen open discussion sessions Two national summits on anti-Semitism and Islamophobia A national youth forum on anti-Black racism Twenty-one roundtable discussions An online questionnaire open to anyone in Canada

    In addition, the Action Plan builds on community engagement led by the 2SLGBTQI Secretariat for the Federal 2SLGBTQI Action Plan; three roundtables led by Public Safety Canada on the Communities at Risk Infrastructure Funding Program (now the Community Safety Program of Canada); and research and recommendations from the Canadian Race Relations Foundation.

    The Action Plan lays the foundation for a robust Government of Canada response to the growing threat of hate, while ensuring that every person has the right to be safe and treated with dignity. To this end, the priorities for action are organized around three pillars.

    Empowering communities to detect and prevent hate. Supporting victims, survivors and protecting communities. Building community trust, partnerships and institutional capacity.

    To drive real change across the country, the Action Plan brings together new and existing programs to foster greater coordination and collaboration among federal agencies, working in partnership with their provincial, territorial, international, Indigenous and municipal counterparts. The Action Plan includes federal programs from the following departments and agencies.

    Canadian Heritage Canadian Race Relations Foundation Justice Canada Public Safety Canada Royal Canadian Mounted Police Statistics Canada Women and Gender Equality Canada

    Each person has multiple intersecting identity factors that impact how they understand and experience hate and the government’s response to hate crimes or incidents. This action plan was designed using Gender-Based Analysis Plus to develop tailored responses that take into account diverse needs and realities.

    For further information, please visit the Action Plan webpage by clicking on this link: https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/fight-against-hate.html.

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    For further information (media only), please contact:

    Waleed Saleem Press SecretaryOffice of the Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilitieswaleed.saleem@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca

    Media RelationsCanadian Heritage819-994-91011-866-569-6155media@pch.gc.ca

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Government of Canada launches Canada’s Action Plan to Combat Hate

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French 1

    Press release

    OTTAWA, September 24, 2024

    In recent years, Canada, like other countries, has seen an alarming rise in hate both in neighbourhoods and online. The federal government is committed to doing everything it can to protect all people living in Canada, as well as resilient and diverse communities across the country, and to ensuring that everyone can thrive while being themselves.

    The increase in hate incidents has disproportionately impacted Indigenous peoples; Black, racialized, religious minority and 2SLGBTQI communities; women; and persons with disabilities. Hateful behaviour not only harms those targeted, but also impacts Canadian society as a whole, undermining social cohesion and posing a threat to national security.

    That’s why today, the Honourable Kamal Khera, Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities, unveiled Canada’s Action Plan to Combat Hate. This action plan represents Canada’s first-ever whole-of-government effort to combat hate. It brings together 20 key federal programs under three pillars.

    Providing the means communities to detect and prevent hate. Support victims, survivors and protect communities. Build community trust, partnerships and institutional capacity.

    Through the Action Plan, the Government of Canada is investing $273.6 million over six years, and $29.3 million per year ongoing, to address hate from a variety of perspectives. The funding will increase support for victims and survivors; help communities prevent and respond to hate, and protect their members from it; improve research and data collection; provide more resources to law enforcement; and increase public awareness.

    Every person has the right to be safe and treated with dignity. We will work with provincial, territorial and international governments; First Nations, Inuit and Métis partners; and cities and communities across Canada to make this happen. Canada’s Action Plan to Combat Hate will help us continue to build a safer, more inclusive Canada where people can succeed, no matter who they are, who they love or what they believe.

    Quotes

    “Everyone has the right to feel safe, no matter who they are, what they look like or what they believe. We are all alarmed by the tragic consequences of hate, both in Canada and abroad. Hate has no place in Canada, whether in person or online, in schools or places of worship. Our government is committed to keeping every community safe across the country, because when one person is subjected to hateful behaviour, everyone suffers the consequences. Canada’s first-ever Action Plan to Combat Hate represents an unprecedented whole-of-government effort to combat hate while providing increased support to victims of hate and communities at risk. As we navigate these challenging and difficult times, we must stand up for who we are as a country – a country that is strong in its diversity and where people can be themselves and pursue their dreams without fear.”

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

    “Hate, in all its forms, has no place in Canada. Every person has the right to feel and be safe in their homes and communities. We all have a role to play in combating discrimination and promoting a fairer, safer and more inclusive Canada. The Diversity of Voices Fund is part of Canada’s Action Plan to Combat Hate. It will help break down systemic barriers and elevate diverse voices in the arts, culture and media sectors. The Fund will also ensure that their experiences and perspectives are better represented and advance the fight against racism, equity, diversity and inclusion in the culture and media sectors.”

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

    “In response to the increase in hate crimes, our government is taking action to ensure that at-risk communities receive financial support to protect their institutions. Canada’s new Community Safety Program is designed to be simpler, more flexible and more generous, in response to requests from community organizations across the country.”

    – The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs

    “Everyone should be able to bring their true selves to life without fear of reprisal, but we know that discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression remains a reality in Canada. This is unacceptable and must end. Canada’s Action Plan to Combat Hate complements the measures we have taken to protect and support Canadians since 2015, including the Federal 2SLGBTQI Action Plan . These measures have all been implemented with the stories and experiences of individuals and communities across Canada in mind. As always, we stand in solidarity with all communities who have experienced hate and will not hesitate to use all means at our disposal to protect and support them.”

    – The Honourable Marci Ien, Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Youth

    “We expect to feel safe in our homes, neighbourhoods and communities. That is why we introduced Bill C-63, an important part of Canada’s Action Plan to Combat Hate. We know that online harm can have tragic and even fatal consequences in the real world. This bill aims to ensure the safety of all Canadians in an online world that seems increasingly dangerous and toxic by the day. This means that women, racialized people, transgender people and people of diverse faiths and backgrounds will be able to go to their places of worship, community centres, schools and offices without fearing that threats in the online world will translate into real-world danger.”

    – The Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

    “Canada is as innovative as it is diverse, and it does best when everyone has a fair chance to reach their full potential, free from hate and discrimination. Through Canada’s Action Plan to Combat Hate, we are standing up to hate and protecting Canadians. And Statistics Canada will play a key role in researching and collecting the data needed to build a safer, more resilient society.”

    – The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

    “Canada is a country rich in diversity, where every person deserves to feel safe and respected. That is why today we are launching Canada’s first Action Plan to Combat Hate, a $273 million commitment to building a safer Canada for everyone.”

    – Sameer Zuberi, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities

    Quick Facts

    In Budget 2022, the Government of Canada committed $85 million over 4 years, starting in 2022–23, to Canadian Heritage to launch and implement the new Anti-Racism Strategy and a National Action Plan to Combat Hate. Budget 2024 provides an additional $273.6 million over 6 years, starting in 2024–25, and $29.3 million per year ongoing to support Canada’s Action Plan to Combat Hate. The Action Plan brings together major programs delivered by federal departments and agencies, including Canadian Heritage, Public Safety Canada, Justice Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Women and Gender Equality Canada, Statistics Canada and the Canadian Race Relations Foundation.

    According to the Statistics Canada July 2024 data release, the number of police-reported hate crimes increased from 3,612 in 2022 to 4,777 in 2023 (a 32% increase), and some victims may not have reported a hate crime. This follows an 8% increase in 2022 and a 72% increase between 2019 and 2021. Overall, the number of police-reported hate crimes has more than doubled since 2019 (a 145% increase).

    Canada’s Action Plan to Combat Hate includes the work of the Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Anti-Semitism and Canada’s first Special Representative on Combating Islamophobia

    Public Safety Canada’s new Community Safety Program (CSPP) (formerly the Communities at Risk Security Infrastructure Program) is also part of Canada’s Action Plan to Combat Hate. The CSPP makes it easier and more effective for communities and organizations at risk of hate crime to access security support when they need it.

    The Action Plan is part of efforts to further reduce the risk of exposure to harmful content online through Bill C-63, which proposes to create a new Online Harms Act to strengthen protections for the most vulnerable groups. To this end, the Government of Canada tabled in the House of Commons the Bill C-63, An Act to enact the Online Harms Act, to amend the Criminal Code, the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Act respecting the mandatory reporting of Internet child pornography by persons who provide an Internet service and to make consequential and related amendments to other Acts.

    Canada is a signatory to theChristchurch Call to Eliminate Violent Extremism and Terrorism on the Internet (Christchurch Call to Action). This is an agreement signed by 56 governments, as well as online service providers and civil society organizations, to coordinate efforts to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online. The Government of Canada reiterates its commitment to advance the Christchurch Call to Action as part of Canada’s Action Plan to Combat Hate.

    Canada’s Anti-Hate Action Plan complements Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy 2024–28: Changing Systems to Transform Lives. Through these two initiatives, the government is implementing a comprehensive and intersectional approach to combating hate, racism and discrimination.

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    Contact persons

    For further information (media only), please contact:

    Waleed Saleem Press SecretaryOffice of the Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilitieswaleed.saleem@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca

    Media RelationsCanadian Heritage819-994-91011-866-569-6155media@pch.gc.ca

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Yukon MP Brendan Hanley to make announcement on critical minerals

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French 1

    Media Advisory

    WHITEHORSE — Yukon Member of Parliament, Dr. Brendan Hanley, on behalf of the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, will make a funding announcement to support critical minerals infrastructure projects. He will be joined by the Yukon Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources, the Honourable John Streicker. A media availability will follow.

    Date: September 20, 2024

    Time: 2:00 p.m. (PT)

    Accredited journalists wishing to attend the event are requested to register in advance by sending an email to the following address: media@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca.

    Contact persons

    Media RelationsNatural Resources CanadaOttawa343-292-6100media@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca

    Cindy CaturaoPress SecretaryOffice of the Minister of Energy and Natural ResourcesCindy.Caturao@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Security: Charter School Founder Pleads Guilty to Embezzling More Than $73,000 from Former School in Concord

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)

    CONCORD – A Boscawen woman pleaded guilty in federal court to stealing over $73,000 in U.S. Department of Education funds from the former Capital City Public Charter School in Concord, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack announces.

    Stephanie Alicea, 49, pleaded guilty to one count of theft from a program receiving federal funds. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Landya B. McCafferty scheduled sentencing for January 6, 2025.

    Alicea was the founder of the Capital City Public Charter School (“Capital City”) in Concord, New Hampshire. Capital City offered classes to several dozen students during the 2018-19 and 2019-20 school years. Alicea oversaw the school’s finances and day-to-day operations.  Capital City received federal charter school grant funds, which were to be used solely for education-related expenses.

    In spring 2020, an external auditor detected irregularities with Capital City’s finances.  Specifically, the auditor found that Alicea had spent some of the grant funds on expenses that were personal in nature, including gambling, dining, and travel. In total, Alicea stole $73,253.36 in federal grant funds from Capital City. 

    Capital City closed after the 2019-20 school year, surrendered its charter in February 2021, and declared bankruptcy in March 2021. 

    The charge of Theft from a Program Receiving Federal Funds provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

    The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Inspector General and Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen is prosecuting the case.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Celebrating Our 235th Anniversary

    Source: US Marshals Service

    235 years ago, George Washington signed the Judiciary Act which defined the U.S. Marshals as officers of the court and charged them with aiding federal courts in their law enforcement functions.

    Just days after signing the act into law, President Washington then appointed the very first 13 U.S. Marshals, one for each federal district or territory.

    Today, more than two centuries later, 94 Marshals and their numerous deputies are responsible for locating and arresting federal suspects, handling the administration of fugitive operations and managing criminal assets across states, territories and tribal lands. 

    As we look back on 235 years of U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), let us remember the ways in which this agency has served our country and the history it has made.

    The U.S. Marshals Service has continually protected our federal judges alongside American citizens while simultaneously carrying out the law to benefit all.  

    One of the earlier historical examples in which the U.S. Marshals Service was able to accomplish their many missions occurred during the Civil War.

    U.S. Marshals supported the Union home front by rooting out Confederate spies and seizing property being used to support the Confederacy. Their work ensured the formation of a more perfect union.

    In 1875, Bass Reeves was assigned the position of Deputy U.S. Marshal, one of the first African Americans to serve in this capacity. He served for 32 years, until 1907, in dangerous Indian Territory. Reeves’ bravery allowed him to bring justice to some of the most ruthless outlaws in the West. Through his service, he not only made the American West a safer place but created opportunities for more people of color to serve our country.

    In 1887, a new trailblazer came onto the scene. Phoebe Couzins, the first female U.S. Marshal, was temporarily appointed to the position after the death of her father, U.S. Marshal John Couzins. Marshal Phoebe Couzins accomplished what no other woman had done before and created the initial opportunities for operational female employees with the USMS for decades to come. 

    The work for equal opportunity did not end there. Deputy U.S. Marshals were asked to enforce the integration of educational institutions, including those in New Orleans, Boston and Oxford, MS. Deputies escorted students into their respective schools, provided protective details and enforced integrated bus routes despite heavy opposition.

    USMS involvement in upholding federal rulings for the integration of educational institutions allowed our nation to move towards a more egalitarian nation with equal opportunities, regardless of one’s race.

    The USMS continued their protective mission in 1971, as the Witness Security Program was established as a divisional program within the Marshals Service. This Program has protected thousands of American witnesses and victims along with their immediate families as they in turn assisted the American legal system in the cases of drug traffickers, terrorists, organized crime members and other major criminals. 

    Not only has the USMS protected members of discriminated communities and provided opportunities for minorities, but most importantly, it has also worked to apprehend fugitives threatening American safety.

    In 2005, Operation FALCON (Federal and Local Cops Organized Nationally) began, and through its implementation, Deputies and their law enforcement partners conducted national fugitive operations to apprehend felons. By its close in 2009, FALCON had completed 91,086 arrests and cleared 117,874 warrants. 

    On July 27, 2006, Congress authorized the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act which provided the USMS three principle responsibilities under the law including: assisting state, local, tribal and territorial authorities in locating and apprehending non-compliant and fugitive sex offenders; investigating violations of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act for federal prosecution; and assisting in the identification and location of sex offenders relocated as a result of a major disaster. The Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act has allowed for the protection of the most vulnerable members of American society and granted them the justice they deserve. 

    The U.S. Marshals Service continues to prioritize the safety of minors. This year alone, the USMS recovered over 200 missing children across the country during Operation “We Will Find You” as an effort to bring displaced minors to safety.

    Looking back on 235 years of operation, the USMS has continued to uphold its original intended purpose of protecting the U.S. Federal Judiciary. In addition, the role of the USMS has expanded to include: locating and arresting federal escapees, administrating fugitive operations, managing criminal assets, operating the United States Federal Witness Protection Program and the Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System (JPATS) and protecting senior government officials through the Office of Protective Operations. 

    Because of the United States Marshals Service, people in America and its territories and tribal lands have lived in a safer nation for the past 235 years.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Misipawistik Cree Nation — Grand Rapids RCMP investigating homicide

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    On September 23, 2024, at approximately 12:35 am, Grand Rapids RCMP responded to a report of a shooting in a residence, located in Misipawistik Cree Nation.

    Officers responded and located the victim, a 23-year-old male from the community, who had been shot and was pronounced deceased on scene.

    The investigation led to the arrest of a 16-year-old male, from Chemawawin, who has been charged with numerous firearms-related offences and has been remanded into custody.

    Grand Rapids RCMP, along with RCMP Major Crime Services and Forensic Identification Services, continue to investigate.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Cayuga County Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child Pornography

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

    SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Brien Fredendall, age 46, of Port Byron, New York, pled guilty today to two counts of possession of child pornography. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) made the announcement.

    As part of his guilty plea, Fredendall, who has a previous New York State conviction for possession of child pornography, admitted that he possessed videos and images of child pornography he received from a minor on his Snapchat account. He also admitted to possessing additional child pornography on his cellular phone.

    Sentencing is scheduled for January 21, 2025, before Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes.  Fredendall faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison, a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000.00 and a term of supervised release of between five years and life, to begin after imprisonment. Fredendall will also be required to continue to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.

    This case was investigated by the FBI’s Albany Division Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force with the assistance of the Cayuga County Sherriff’s Office. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Tuck prosecuted Fredendall as part of Project Safe Childhood. 

    Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS).  Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden, Merkley Demand Postmaster General DeJoy Reverse Decision Hurting Mail Services in Southern Oregon

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)
    September 24, 2024
    Senators: “We share the grave concerns of the residents of Southern Oregon that this consolidation poses significant negative consequences for both our community and the efficiency of postal services in the region”
    Washington D.C.— U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today demanded Postmaster General DeJoy immediately reverse his damaging position to relocate outgoing operations at the regional postal distribution center in Medford. 
    “We share the grave concerns of the residents of Southern Oregon that this consolidation poses significant negative consequences for both our community and the efficiency of postal services in the region,” the senators wrote in a letter to DeJoy. “The Medford processing center plays a critical role in ensuring timely mail delivery for local residents, businesses, and government agencies. The consolidation of this facility has led to delays in mail delivery, affecting vital services like prescription deliveries, bill payments, and other essential communications.” 
    Wyden and Merkley wrote that these changes land hardest on seniors, rural Oregonians and small businesses in the area who rely on prompt and reliable postal services. 
    “Oregonians rely on the high-quality service provided by USPS, especially as a state that votes entirely by mail,” they wrote. “We are confident that, with thoughtful consideration, a solution can be found that both strengthens the Postal Service and supports the needs of local communities in Southern Oregon. Downgrading the Medford site is not that solution.”
    The senators’ letter comes as the USPS Office of Inspector General issued a report that further illustrates Oregonians’ concerns as expressed by the senators’ letter about delays in first class mail deliveries. 
    The full text of the letter is here.
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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: A Soldier’s Journey: new first world war memorial in Washington revitalises classic image of the ‘American doughboy’

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Alice Kelly, Assistant Professor of Literature and History, University of Warwick

    America’s inaugural national memorial marking the first world war was unveiled this month in Washington DC, on the birthday of war commander General John J. Pershing – 106 years after the end of the war. We don’t often get to see a new memorial to a century-old war, especially one that has been deliberately designed in a century-old style.

    Its sculptor, Sabin Howard – who was recently referred to as a “self-appointed bulwark against the scourge of modern art” – rejects the vogue for abstract commemorative art seen in memorials such as Maya Lin’s Vietnam Veterans Memorial (1982). The centrepiece of the new memorial is Howard’s 58-foot panoramic sculpture, A Soldier’s Journey. Five connected scenes tell the story of an American everyman who enlists as a volunteer, fights in Europe, then returns home.

    The 38 realist figures were painstakingly sculpted from costumed models before being cast in 25 tonnes of weather-resistant bronze. Howard wanted to “tell a story” about the first world war and how it affected Americans, to make the conflict more visible to viewers today and in the future.

    In an episode of Cheers from 1983, when a first world war veteran comes into the bar, Coach asks: “Is that the war with Clark Gable or Gary Cooper?” I’m not sure American knowledge of the war has come much further in the past 40 years.

    In every other participating nation, the centenary of the war was marked by a pageant of commemorative activity – think of the 5 million people who went to see the ceramic poppies at the Tower of London. But in the US, despite having a culture of venerating veterans, the first world war is notoriously a “forgotten” war. It tends to be overshadowed by the civil war on one side, and the second world war on the other.

    Perhaps this blindspot is because the American experience of the first world war was much shorter. For the US, it lasted just 19 months from the declaration of war in April 1917 to the signing of the armistice in November 1918. And the fighting – as the song goes – was “over there” rather than on the home front, as it was in Europe. American losses, although high at 116,516 men (plus several hundred women who lost their lives while serving as nurses), were much lower than those of European nations. Britain, for example, lost 880,000 servicemen – 6% of the adult male population at the time.

    But the role this war played in the development of the “American century” is incomparable. The first world war destabilised the European powers – already in imperial decline – to the extent that the US grew to become the pre-eminent financial and military power after the war.

    The sacred and the dead

    The first world war hasn’t always been forgotten in the US. Indeed, in the 1920s and ’30s, American commemoration of the war was at its most “supercharged”, as scholar Steven Trout has shown. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, was interred in 1921 – a commemorative form borrowed from Europe after the first “unknowns” were interred in London and Paris in November 1920.

    Arlington is now the site for national memory of all wars, woven into the fabric of US political life. The recent controversy over a confrontation between Donald Trump staffers and cemetery officials demonstrates its continuing role in ensuring the sacred place of war dead in American culture.

    Across the nation, Americans have sought to remember their war dead in myriad forms, including memorial halls, parkways, plazas, opera houses, arches, gymnasiums, parks, trees and bell towers. There were so many memorials erected in New York City in the 1920s and ’30s – including parks, sculptures and the planting of memorial trees – that after the second world war, New York City’s commissioner for parks and recreation, Robert Moses, effectively banned new monuments being built, considering them “monstrosities”.

    Many memorials are still peppered across America, hidden in plain sight but instantly recognisable, even if viewers don’t know the context. The Spirit of the American Doughboy, designed by sculptor E.M. Viquesney and copyrighted in 1920, features a “doughboy” (recruit) holding his rifle with fixed bayonet and a grenade in his other hand – deliberately echoing the Statue of Liberty.

    ‘American doughboy’: a memorial to the Americans who served in the first world war, designed by E.M. Viquesney.
    Rosemarie Mosteller/Shutterstock

    Advertised as an affordable tribute that could be bought by towns as their local memorial, there are currently 135 originals and replicas on public display across the US. I find it impossible not to think of those doughboys when I look at the soldiers in Howard’s memorial.

    Commentators may well criticise Howard’s figurative sculpture as old-fashioned, but the debate over appropriate memorial forms and the question of “taste” is not new. In fact, it was a very live debate in the first world war’s immediate aftermath.

    In attempting to correct the historical omission of a national memorial, it seems appropriate that Howard’s figurative sculpture looks like – and recalls – first world war sculpture of the time.

    Will it earn the war its place in American memory that it deserves? I’m not sure. But in giving old form to an old war, it will make it visible to generations of Americans unfamiliar with it – and help the rest of us remember it anew.

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

    – ref. A Soldier’s Journey: new first world war memorial in Washington revitalises classic image of the ‘American doughboy’ – https://theconversation.com/a-soldiers-journey-new-first-world-war-memorial-in-washington-revitalises-classic-image-of-the-american-doughboy-239757

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: UK oil and gas workers risk becoming the ‘coal miners of our generation’

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Freddie Daley, Research Associate, Centre for Global Political Economy, University of Sussex

    Grangemouth oil refinery is set to close in 2025 with the loss of 400 jobs. orxy / shutterstock

    At the end of September, the UK’s last remaining coal power plant, Ratcliffe-on-Soar in Nottinghamshire, will be retired. The closure of the plant should – and will – be celebrated by environmentalists, as the move away from coal has made Britain’s electricity much cleaner over the past decade. It is on this basis that the UK claims climate leadership.

    In the 1950s, coal provided the overwhelming majority of British energy, and as recently as 2012 it still generated 40%. By 2022, it was less than 2%. In a month’s time, it will be zero.

    Phasing out coal was a brutal and profound process. Organised labour was decimated, entire regions were forced into decline, and communities were left with sustained economic, social and health problems. The towering ghosts of power stations like Ratcliffe-on-Soar will haunt Britain’s ongoing effort to phase out North Sea oil and gas and replace it with clean energy.

    Towering ghosts: Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station.
    The Exposure / shutterstock

    And we are witnessing this haunting in real-time. After the Labour government announced its plans to end new licenses for oil and gas in British waters – necessary to meet the Paris Agreement – workers and trade unions feared history would repeat itself in terms of job losses and blighted communities.

    The general secretary of Unite, Sharon Graham, noted that without a more thorough plan, the policy risked creating “the coal miners of our generation”. A recent motion at the Trades Union Congress (TUC) gathering in Brighton called for no ban on oil and gas licensing before a fully funded jobs guarantee is agreed. The motion narrowly passed.

    Workers and unions are demanding a “just transition” from polluting industries into the clean industries of the future. But to achieve this, the UK government must learn from what happened with coal.

    Many places still rely on oil and gas jobs

    Although oil and gas are not as embedded throughout British life as coal once was, there are many settlements and larger areas still dependent on energy jobs. Grangemouth in central Scotland is a good example. In November 2023, the owner, Petroineos, announced plans to close the town’s oil refinery in 2025, bringing a century of production to an end at the cost of 400 jobs.

    Even if the UK government did issue new oil and gas licences, the North Sea faces structural decline. Production peaked around the turn of the century. Since 2014, as many as 200,000 jobs have been lost either offshore or along the supply chain onshore.

    From gas to wind?

    Planning for the end of fossil fuels is therefore an urgent endeavour. The dominant strategy for protecting skilled jobs is to transition workers into the industries set to replace North Sea production: wind energy and other low-carbon technologies.

    However, though Britain has developed a large wind power sector, it remains a major importer of turbines. Domestic manufacturing makes only a small contribution, and developers are not required to use British-made turbines or other parts, despite the jobs this would create.

    This has left Grangemouth workers discontented. When one of us (Ewan Gibbs) and Riyoko Shibe interviewed young refinery workers at Grangemouth earlier this year, many commented that there were relatively few jobs in renewables. When jobs were visible on LinkedIn and comparable job sites, one told us that “you’ll see there’s a big difference in terms and conditions”.

    Wind farms are relatively easy to run once installed, so most jobs are in building them.
    Kevin Shipp / shutterstock

    In its current form, the UK wind industry will find it hard to provide the types of secure ongoing employment that oil and gas historically has. Most jobs are in the construction and maintenance of wind farms, with the latter threatened by automation. Without public investment and a targeted industrial policy, Britain will remain a net importer of wind technology, and the phasing out of North Sea oil and gas will prove costly in job terms.



    Read more:
    Grangemouth job losses are a stark reminder of the cost of a greener industrial future

    More investment needed

    Britain’s lack of state intervention is not the norm. After all, more than half of British wind farms are state-owned, though less than 1% are owned by the UK government. Swedish, Norwegian, French, Irish and German state-owned entities are major players, but the biggest is Denmark’s Ørsted, a former oil company turned renewables giant which is mostly state-owned. In the UK’s most recent offshore wind auction, 70% of the projects were awarded to Ørsted.

    The newly launched Great British Energy could give the state a foothold in the North Sea once more. This publicly owned company plans to focus on domestic manufacturing and will invest in ports and other infrastructures to “unlock strategic bottlenecks”.

    But if such projects are to be meaningfully incorporated into a just transition, they will need to offer continuity and security to oil and gas workers. As one Grangemouth worker put it, referring to his colleagues facing the choice of either remaining unemployed locally or relocating to use their skills:

    They’re moving to the Middle East, they’re moving to the north-east of Scotland. They’re moving offshore, they’re moving to the Shetlands, and therefore it’s not a just transition, in my view, if we’re moving to these jobs.

    Another worker highlighted the risks that Grangemouth could join the coalfields in becoming “stranded” communities:

    We’ve got a community that’s been built round the site, we’ve got skills and we’ve got people that work there, we’ve got the infrastructure there – why should we not have these jobs when the time comes to move to these industries? Why can we not have it at Grangemouth?

    Britain’s push to phase out oil and gas is urgent and necessary, but it cannot follow the same trajectory as Britain’s exit from coal – lessons must be learned. The opportunities presented by the transition away from fossil fuels will only be fully realised if workers are at its centre.

    Freddie Daley receives funding from UKRI for the SUS-POL project at the University of Sussex, which explores fossil fuel phase-outs around the world. Freddie also campaigns on demand reduction with Badvertising.

    Ewan Gibbs received funding from a British Academy Wolfson Fellowship that supported this research (grant number: WF21210099).

    – ref. UK oil and gas workers risk becoming the ‘coal miners of our generation’ – https://theconversation.com/uk-oil-and-gas-workers-risk-becoming-the-coal-miners-of-our-generation-239262

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Keir Starmer’s party conference speech – what he said and what it meant

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Ben O’Loughlin, Professor of International Relations, Royal Holloway University of London

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer was under immense pressure to announce some big policies in his 2024 party conference speech. Those who felt the agenda had been captured by stories of scandal and discontent in Number 10 saw a major new offering as a potential way to distract. But Starmer chose a different path – one that he overtly described as the more difficult one.

    This, for him, is not about policies. Starmer is offering Britain a choice about how it thinks about politics. In his speech, he rejected what he called a politics of “easy answers” offered in the “cowardly fantasy” of populists. He asked the British public to ignore the “whims of Westminster” that see a politician stirring uproar to hide their lack of action.

    Looking back at the last government, he said: “Take Rwanda, a policy they knew from the beginning would never work, was never supposed to work. £700 million of your money, frittered away on something that was never a credible option because politically it was an easier answer.”

    Want more politics coverage from academic experts? Every week, we bring you informed analysis of developments in government and fact check the claims being made.

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    What is required is for politicians to address difficult challenges directly, not duck them, he said, adding: “If this path were popular or easy we would have walked it already.” The public must therefore be prepared to debate difficult challenges. This is a difficult version of politics.

    Will people like it?

    Easy-answers politics is quick and based on the performance of utter certainty. X is wrong, Y will fix it. If government doesn’t do Y, it is betraying the country. A flight to Rwanda will solve global migration patterns caused by climate, conflict and the way the world economy works. We don’t want to even think about climate, conflict and the way the world economy works. This is how Starmer characterised the Conservative government of the last 14 years.

    Take the rough with the smooth

    Starmer is offering a performance of seriousness and trying to create an expectation he will deliver a serious politics. He called this a “renewal” because Britain has done serious politics before, generations ago, and it is in British people’s blood: “We will turn our collar up and face the storm,” he said. British people will all contribute, all participate in that renewal, because “this is a country with fairness in the water”.

    This entails being open to debate with other citizens who we disagree with, in a spirit of collective endeavour, not self-interest. You want security? Prisons may be built near you, he said. You want cheaper electricity? Then we’ll build pylons overground. You want government to have some control in the immigration process? We’ll make it function properly. But you must accept that in that fair and proper process, some people will be granted asylum. Agree to disagree, but, more fundamentally, agree that disagreement is OK, because we are equal citizens.



    Read more:
    Know your place: what happened to class in British politics – a new podcast series from The Conversation Documentaries

    The British public must be persuaded to trust this government and this renewal project because they understand government not as aloof partying liars. Look to my government, Starmer said, to see politicians in service to the country of Britain and the British “working people”. But for government to show it thinks it is in the service of the public, it struck me that it can’t be accepting free tickets to watch Arsenal.

    Do we have a narrative yet?

    Starmer addressed the question of whether he has a story to tell about the country. Since he came to government, it has felt as though he lacks one. He said Britain’s dilemma is “our story is uncertain. Hope is beaten out of us.”

    Yet the world thinks of Britain as a great nation, he said, of scientific genius, the industry of its working people, and pragmatism about the complexity of global relations. He said this shows Britain was capable of writing “our own story and that of the world”. He called for Britain to do this again.

    For this to happen, citizens need to be able to see a connection through time. It begins with the government saying it is serious and trustworthy. Then, at a certain point in time, the public needs to be able to look back and see the actions that government has taken. Finally, at a later time, citizens decide whether they’ve seen the results of those actions in their lives.

    This is how the story of a nation is built. But it is where enormous patience is needed. And while his narrative was more successful than previous attempts, there was a piece missing from the puzzle. Will building prisons or electricity pylons provide conditions that allow companies to create economic growth?

    This is not a fully coherent story based on a clear plan – at least not one that has been made public. It is more a wager Starmer is calling on Britons to make. Bet now, and wait. And that’s a lot to ask.

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

    – ref. Keir Starmer’s party conference speech – what he said and what it meant – https://theconversation.com/keir-starmers-party-conference-speech-what-he-said-and-what-it-meant-239766

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: UNGA: President Meloni meets with President Erdoğan of Türkiye

    Source: Government of Italy (English)

    The President of the Council of Ministers, Giorgia Meloni, met today with the President of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in the margins of the high-level week of the 79th United Nations General Assembly.

    In addition to the increasingly difficult situation in the Middle East, the meeting also focused on the common commitment to support Ukraine’s territorial integrity and pursue a just and lasting peace.

    With regard to the debate on Security Council reform, the two leaders reiterated their shared commitment in the context of the ‘United for Consensus’ group, supporting a solution inspired by the principles of equality, democracy and representativeness which therefore excludes the creation of new permanent seats.

    On a bilateral level, President Meloni and President Erdoğan reaffirmed the shared desire to hold a summit between their two governments and a business forum as soon as possible in order to further strengthen the bilateral relationship.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Foreign Press Center Briefing “Preview of President Biden’s Quad Summit”

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

    Washington Foreign Press Center Briefing “Preview of President Biden’s Quad Summit” on September 24, 2024.

    The mission of the Foreign Press Centers is to assist foreign media in their coverage of the United States by providing firsthand access to both government and non-government experts to gain a deeper understanding of U.S. politics, history, values, and culture.  The views expressed by briefers not affiliated with the Department of State or U.S. government are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of State or the U.S. government. Participation in Foreign Press Center programming by briefers not affiliated with the Department of State or U.S. government does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation of their views. 

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

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

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

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    #StateDepartment #DepartmentofState #Diplomacy

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N829OSmJhz8

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congresswoman Lee Announces Additional $20 Million to Construct New Erosion Control Structure in Las Vegas Wash

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03)

    WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03) announced she helped secure another $20 million for Nevada from the Bureau of Reclamation to strengthen the Las Vegas Wash. This federal investment, to be provided to the Southern Nevada Water Authority, will go toward the construction of an erosion control structure, known as a weir, in the Lower Las Vegas Wash within Lake Mead National Recreation Area. 

    The Las Vegas Wash is a critical drought mitigation tool and the primary drainage channel for the Las Vegas Valley watershed, carrying around 200 million gallons of water to Lake Mead daily. The additional weir will help filter the water returning to the lake and improve habitat conditions for endangered wildlife, fortifying the Wash for years to come. 

    “Nobody knows better than a Nevadan how important our water is, and today’s announcement is another huge win to protect both our local and regional water supply,” said Congresswoman Susie Lee. “The Las Vegas Wash is critical to keeping more water in Lake Mead as well as ensuring safe and clean water for this generation and those to come. I’ll keep fighting to bring back federal dollars to strengthen southern Nevada’s water infrastructure.”

    The investment is funded in part by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Congresswoman Lee helped negotiate and pass last Congress. In 2023 alone, Lee delivered more than $122 million for local water projects and infrastructure. This year, she secured another $4 million for the Lake Mead/Las Vegas Wash Program. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SEC Charges Crypto Companies TrustToken and TrueCoin With Defrauding Investors Regarding Stablecoin Investment Program

    Source: Securities and Exchange Commission

    The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced settled charges against TrueCoin LLC and TrustToken Inc. for their fraudulent and unregistered sales of investment contracts involving TrueUSD (TUSD), a purported stablecoin.

    According to the SEC’s complaint, filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, TrueCoin was an issuer of TUSD and TrustToken was the developer and operator of TrueFi, a so-called lending protocol. The SEC’s complaint alleges that from November 2020 until April 2023, TrueCoin and TrustToken engaged in the unregistered offer and sale of investment contracts in the form of the crypto asset TUSD and profit-making opportunities with respect to TrueUSD on TrueFi. The complaint further alleges that TrueCoin and TrustToken falsely marketed the investment opportunity as safe and trustworthy by claiming that TUSD was fully backed by U.S. dollars or their equivalent, when in fact a substantial portion of the assets purportedly backing TUSD had been invested in a speculative and risky offshore investment fund to earn additional returns for the defendants. The complaint alleges that, by approximately March 2022, after the TUSD operations had been sold to an offshore entity, that entity and TrueCoin had invested more than half a billion dollars of the assets purportedly backing TUSD in the speculative fund, and that, by Fall 2022, TrueCoin and TrustToken became aware of redemption problems at the offshore fund but continued to make false statements to investors casting TUSD as backed one-for-one by U.S. dollars. As alleged, by September 2024, 99% of the reserves backing TUSD were invested in the speculative fund.

    “TrueCoin and TrustToken sought profits for themselves by exposing investors to substantial, undisclosed risks through misrepresentations about the safety of the investment,” said Jorge G. Tenreiro, Acting Chief of the SEC’s Crypto Assets & Cyber Unit. “This case is a prime example of why registration matters, as investors in these products continue to be deprived of the key information needed to make fully informed decisions.”

    Without admitting or denying the allegations, TrueCoin and TrustToken have agreed to settle the SEC’s charges by consenting to the entry of final judgments enjoining them from violating applicable provisions of the federal securities laws and to pay civil penalties of $163,766 each. TrueCoin has agreed to pay disgorgement of $340,930 with prejudgment interest of $31,538. The settlements are subject to court approval.

    The SEC’s investigation, which is ongoing, was conducted by Michael C. Baker, Michael Friedman, Pasha Salimi, and Bryan Hsueh. The matter was supervised by Michael Brennan, James Connor, and Mr. Tenreiro.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: UNGA, President Meloni meets with Turkish President Erdoğan

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Italy –

    Source: Government of Italy

    The Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, met, on the sidelines of the high-level week of the 79th United Nations General Assembly, the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

    At the heart of the meeting, in addition to the increasingly difficult situation in the Middle East, was the shared commitment to supporting the territorial integrity of Ukraine and to seeking a just and lasting peace.

    Regarding the debate on the reform of the Security Council, the two Leaders reaffirmed their common commitment within the context of the “United for Consensus” group to support a solution inspired by the principles of equality, democracy and representativeness which therefore excludes the creation of new permanent seats.

    On the bilateral front, the common will to convene a Summit between the two Governments and a “Business Forum” as soon as possible was reaffirmed in order to further strengthen the bilateral relationship.

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI USA: IAM CORE Apple Leader Meets International President Bryant, Tours IAM Headquarters

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    In August 2024, workers at the first U.S. unionized Apple Store, represented by the IAM, ratified a new contract after 18 months of bargaining. The union contract included a 10% raise, scheduling improvements, and protections for part-time and current members. It also includes a severance clause, limits on contracted employees, and a clear disciplinary process.

    IAM District 4 Organizer Kevin Gallagher, who was an Apple worker at the Towson, Md., Apple store, recently visited the IAM Headquarters in Upper Marlboro.

    Watch the video here.

    “The amount of support the IAM union gives workers is unbelievable,” said Gallagher. “Apple store employees across America who are considering organizing would be wise to join the IAM.”
     
    Gallagher toured the massive IAM building and met directly with many department heads and support representatives. 

    “I was very impressed with the Health and Safety Department,” said Gallagher. “Some Apple workers are exposed to potentially hazardous situations working with materials like lithium batteries. It was good to hear how the IAM trains workers on handling such substances.”

    The high point of the tour was sitting down with IAM International President Brian Bryant 

    “We’re here, willing and able to you assist you,” said Bryant. “It’s important to bring the same justice that you’ve got in Maryland and bring that to all other locations.”

    Share and Follow:

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: UNGA, President Meloni meets with the Head of the Provisional Government of Bangladesh

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Italy –

    Source: Government of Italy

    September 24, 2024

    On the sidelines of the high-level week of the 79th United Nations General Assembly, the Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, met with the Head of the Interim Government of Bangladesh, Prof. Muhammad Yunus.

    During the meeting, President Meloni expressed Italy’s support for the reform process in Bangladesh and the primary objective of improving the socio-economic conditions of the population.

    The meeting also provided an opportunity to address the issue of immigration and to affirm the desire to strengthen collaboration on the matter, relaunching in particular the negotiation for the conclusion of a bilateral agreement that contrasts irregular migratory flows, establishes closer collaboration on repatriations and, at the same time, favors legal pathways.

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Basketball Africa League and Speak Up Africa Launch Second Edition of Women’s Mentorship Program

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    DAKAR, Senegal, September 24, 2024/APO Group/ —

    The Basketball Africa League (BAL) (https://BAL.NBA.com) and Speak Up Africa, an African-led, Senegal-based organization working with leaders and changemakers in Africa and beyond to solve Africa’s pressing sustainable development challenges, today announced the launch of the second edition of their mentorship program, “Teaming Up: African LeadHERs meet BAL4HER,” which this year will pair 10 young African female athletes and aspiring sports industry leaders with female executives in the sports industry. The program is part of the BAL and Speak Up Africa’s efforts to advance gender equity and public health, propel women’s leadership, and prepare the next generation for careers in sports business across the continent. 

    The second edition of the program, which will run from Friday, Nov. 1, 2024 – Sunday, June 1, 2025, will once again pair each mentee with an industry executive and experienced mentor who will guide them through a personalized development journey. Through monthly workshops, targeted goal-setting, and immersive learning experiences, the mentees will gain essential skills and knowledge to thrive in Africa’s sports industry and become advocates for critical health issues affecting women and girls.  Applications (https://apo-opa.co/3ZzrFNG) are open now and will close on Monday, Oct. 7.  The mentors for this year’s program include:

    • Laeticia Amihere (WNBA player, Atlanta Dream)
    • Chrysa Chin (Executive Vice President, Strategic Relations, National Basketball Player’s Association)
    • Ashley Combs (Senior Director of Player Marketing, Excel Management)
    • Aicha Diop (Director of Marketing, BAL)
    • Allison Feaster (Vice President of Team Operations & Organizational Growth, Boston Celtics)
    • Dr. Kensa Gunter (Director of Mind Health, NBA)
    • Ebony Hoffman (Assistant Coach, Seattle Storm)
    • Dr. Ndidi Onyejiaka (Mental Health Professional, Chicago Sky)
    • Jamila Wideman (Senior Vice President of Player Development, NBA)

    “‘Teaming Up: African LeadHERs meet BAL4HER’ reflects the BAL’s commitment to supporting the development of young African women who will shape the future of the sports industry on the continent,” said BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall. “As we continue our efforts to advance gender equity, we look forward to once again collaborating with Speak Up Africa to pave the way for a more inclusive, dynamic, and health-conscious basketball community.”

    “Basketball is more than a game. It is a powerful catalyst for social change,” said Speak Up Africa Founder, Yacine Diop. “Through ‘Teaming Up: African LeadHERs meet BAL4HER,’ we’re igniting a movement that intertwines sports, gender equality and health. These young women leaders will break barriers on the court and in boardrooms, champion critical health issues, and inspire millions across Africa.”

    Similar to last year’s program, mentees will have the opportunity to visit their mentors in their home countries, allowing them to engage with leading professionals in their workplace. This hands-on experience will allow mentees to forge meaningful connections, broaden their networks, and gain practical knowledge directly from industry leaders. 

    As part of the launch, BAL and Speak Up Africa hosted an event at the NBA headquarters in New York City that brought together sports industry leaders and stakeholders to discuss and address areas impacting women in African basketball. The event featured the Speak Up Africa LINGEER exhibition, a photo exhibition designed to drive greater inclusion in basketball by highlighting the impact of women across a range of roles and functions.

    Launched in 2023 as part of Speak Up Africa’s African LeadHERs movement and the BAL’s “BAL4HER” initiative, last year’s program matched six young women from Egypt, Rwanda and Senegal with sports industry executives Amber Nichols (General Manager, Capital City Go-Go), Chin, Feaster, Ebony Hoffman (assistant coach, Seattle Storm), Taylor Kielpinski-Rogers (Vice President of Communications, Boston Celtics) and Kornelia Semmelink (NBA Africa Senior Director, Media Partnerships).

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: King Cosponsors Bipartisan Legislation to Help Ease the Burden of Student Loans

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is cosponsoring bipartisan legislation to help college graduates reduce the burden of student loans through a tax-free employer contribution. The Employer Participation in Repayment Act would permanently extend a provision of the Internal Revenue Code allowing employees to exempt up to $5,250 from tax annually in student loan repayments that employers contribute on their behalf. The original provision was included in the bipartisan CARES Act and later extended through January 2026. Before the expansion of the provision, employers were only allowed to contribute toward continuing educating — not student loan repayments — in a way that is tax-free to the employee. The bill’s original sponsors are Senators Mark Warner (D-VA) and John Thune (R-SD).
    “Student loans are an essential financial tool to help people in Maine and across the nation access and afford higher education,” said Senator King. “However, as we seek to tackle the cost of living in America, if we can cut costs for college graduates, those extra dollars can help them afford apartments, cars or even set aside savings. The bipartisan Employer Participation in Repayment Act is a commonsense step forward to ease the burden of student loan debt, while also creating a valuable recruiting and retention tool for employers. It’s not just smart policy, it’s a win-win for Maine workers and businesses.”
    According to a report from Federal Student Aid, an office of the Department of Education, it is estimated that Americans owe a combined $1.74 trillion dollars in student loan debt. This debt is a significant financial burden that not only influences the way the American workforce saves and spends, but also has a stifling effect on the economy. The Employer Participation in Repayment Act would update an existing federal program so that it works better for employees living with the reality of burdensome student loan debt.
    From day one in the Senate, Senator King has advocated for student loan borrowers, working to ease the heavy debt burden that impacts thousands of Maine people. Earlier this year, he joined his colleagues in urging Education Secretary Miguel Cardona to consider a pause for student loan borrowers who are nearing their final payments during the Department’s transition to additional student loan servicers. In April 2019, Senator King joined Senators Coons and Portman to introduce Domenic’s Law, bipartisan legislation which would allow a parent whose child develops a total and permanent disability to qualify for student loan forgiveness. After an alarming report in 2019 from National Public Radio (NPR) which found that hundreds of thousands of Americans with qualifying disabilities have not received the student loan relief they are entitled to by law, Senator King joined a bipartisan group of Senate colleagues in sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Education urging the Department’s Acting Inspector General, Sandra Bruce, to investigate the federal student loan discharge process for Americans with total and permanent disabilities (TPD).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: MSF responds to humanitarian needs in Lebanon amid military escalation story Sep 24, 2024

    Source: Doctors Without Borders –

    For example, since yesterday, some of MSF’s staff in south Lebanon, Beirut, and other parts of the country have been forced to leave their homes, with people fleeing and spending hours in traffic in search of safety. In south Lebanon and Baalbek-Hermel—areas that continue to experience heavy aerial strikes—MSF staff reported bombardments in close proximity to their homes. Many staff there were still sheltering in their homes while Israeli warplanes continued to fly overhead and throughout the night.

    MSF is distributing non-food items like mattresses and hygiene kits to collective shelters across the country. MSF mobile medical units are providing primary and mental health care to shelters for those in need. In addition, teams are running mental health helplines, offering psychological support to displaced and affected individuals during this time of distress.

    Following the pager attacks last week, MSF immediately reached out to health actors, including hospitals, to provide support and donate supplies.

    MSF will continue to coordinate closely with partners and hospital networks, offering support where possible as the situation develops.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kaptur, Mann, Brown, Marshall Lead Bipartisan and Bicameral Legislation Fighting For American Farmers

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09)

    Washington, DC — Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Congressman Tracey Mann (KS-01), Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Senator Roger Marshall, MD (R-KS), introduced the bicameral and bipartisan Farmer First Fuel Incentives Act requiring the Treasury Department to restrict the eligibility of the 45Z Tax Credit to renewable fuels made only from domestically sourced feedstocks and extending the tax credit to make it a full ten-year credit.

    “I joined my colleagues in this important bicameral and bipartisan effort because helping American farmers, producers, and growers goes beyond state and party lines,” said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), senior member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture.” We must ensure the Clean Fuel Production tax credit is structured in a way that benefits domestic producers and not one that advantages foreign-produced feedstocks from China or Brazil. Our legislation will extend this credit through 2034 and bolster American energy independence by prioritizing American producers and the production of domestic biofuels.”

     “In no world should American tax incentives first benefit foreign producers,” said Congressman Tracey Mann (KS-01). “While the use of foreign feedstocks can play an important role in producing domestically manufactured ethanol, biodiesel, renewable diesel, and sustainable aviation fuel, we must not displace harvest in America. Our legislation puts American farmers first by ensuring that American tax credits are incentivizing American-grown products.”

    “American tax dollars should support American farmers – not imported feedstocks. To continue to grow the biofuels industry and open new markets for Ohio farmers, we must stop taxpayer money from subsidizing a surge in Chinese cooking oil or any other foreign feedstock from infiltrating the American market. Our bipartisan bill ensures these investments benefit Ohio farmers and Ohio energy producers,” Said Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH).

    “It’s very tough in farm country with high interest rates and low commodity prices, which is exactly why we can’t have a tax policy that will lower commodity prices even more. While we support free trade and open markets, we do not believe foreign feedstocks should be incentivized through the hard-earned dollars of US taxpayers to the detriment of American farmers,” said Senator Roger Marshall, MD (R-KS). “This legislation puts farmers FIRST to ensure they are the primary beneficiaries of renewable fuel tax incentives and provides businesses a decade of certainty.”

    “The federal clean fuel production tax credit is meant to foster a domestic market for cleaner burning fuels that promote American jobs and energy independence,” said Rusty Goebel, President, Ohio Soybean Association. “Foreign imported feedstocks shouldn’t benefit from American taxpayer investments in this industry. Ohio Soybean farmers support Congresswoman Kaptur’s efforts to ensure Ohio-grown feedstocks aren’t undercut by foreign suppliers.”  

    “NOPA commends this bipartisan, bicameral legislative effort which puts U.S fuel producers, US crushers and US farmers first. We thank Senators Brown and Marshall and Representatives Mann and Kaptur for their leadership,” said NOPA President and CEO Kailee Tkacz Buller. “We support free trade and open markets but do not believe foreign feedstocks should benefit on the backs of U.S. taxpayers to the detriment of US farmers. Without this fix, the 45Z credit will incentivize the use of foreign feedstocks over those grown by US farmers. Our industry has made significant investments to expand US crush capacity by 30 percent and this fix is pivotal to ensuring these investments are delivered.”

    “Corn growers are making every effort to help the airline industry lower its greenhouse gas emissions through the use of corn ethanol,” said Minnesota farmer and NCGA president Harold Wolle. “We are deeply appreciative of these leaders for introducing legislation that establishes requirements for the tax credit that will level the playing field for America’s corn growers.”

    “Biofuel production paves a key path for our country to be a clean energy leader, and US farmers who grow the crops going into those biofuels take pride in helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions while supporting the US economy and energy independence,” said ASA President Josh Gackle, a North Dakota soybean farmer. “However, for continued growth of America’s promising biofuels industry, US farmers need the support of a final 45Z rule that prioritizes domestically sourced feedstock.”

    “The Farmer First Fuel Incentive Act recognizes the vital role of American agriculture in 45Z. This legislation ensures that the guidance is designed and implemented in a farmer-focused manner, supporting domestic clean energy production and stimulating economic growth across rural America,” said Craig Meeker, Chairman of National Sorghum Producers.

    “This important bill sends a strong signal that extending the 45Z credit is going to be a top, bipartisan priority in this Congress and the next,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “We applaud all our rural champions for working to give biofuel producers and our farm partners the long-term certainty we need to accelerate innovation in America’s bioeconomy. With a longer runway from Congress, and clear, flexible, and timely guidance from the US Department of the Treasury, we’ll have the pieces in place to unlock billions of dollars in new clean energy investments across rural America,” Emily Skor, CEO of Growth Energy, said.

    The 10-year credit will give the ethanol industry the time and financial incentive to build up the infrastructure needed for the US to be less reliant on foreign fuel, open new markets for farmers, and increase ethanol production across the Midwest. However, we recently learned that 45Z has a glaring flaw that needs to be fixed for farmers wanting to sell feedstocks to the biodiesel and renewable diesel industry. If 45Z goes into effect as is, taxpayers will be massively subsidizing Chinese used cooking oil and would all but eliminate the use of homegrown soy or corn oil in renewable diesel.

    House cosponsors include: Representatives Don Bacon (NE-02)  Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), and Representatives James Comer (KY-01).

    Senate cosponsors include: Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Tina Smith (D-MN). 

    The Farmer First Fuel Incentives Act is supported by Growth Energy, National Oilseed Processors Association, National Corn Growers Association, American Soybean Association, Ohio Corn and Wheat Growers Association, Ohio Soybean Association, Kansas Corn Growers Association, Kansas Soybean Association, Kentucky Soybean Association, Scoular, and Louis Dreyfus Company. 

    Background:

    Prior to introducing this legislation, Congresswoman Kaptur joined Senators Brown and Marshall in a July bipartisan letter they led calling for the US Treasury Department to restrict the eligibility of the 45Z Tax Credit to renewable fuels made only from domestically-sourced feedstocks, like Kansas soybean oil and corn oil. You may click here to read Senator Brown and Marshall’s full letter. Representatives Kaptur and Mann led 39 House colleagues in a subsequent letter September. A similar letter calling for 45z to be restricted to domestic feedstocks was sent by the American Farm Bureau Federation, American Soybean Association, National Corn Growers Association, and National Farmers Union to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and US Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young. 

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: UNGA: President Meloni meets with Head of the Interim Government of Bangladesh

    Source: Government of Italy (English)

    24 Settembre 2024

    In the margins of the high-level week of the 79th United Nations General Assembly, the President of the Council of Ministers, Giorgia Meloni, met today with the Head of the Interim Government of Bangladesh, Prof. Muhammad Yunus.

    During the meeting, President Meloni expressed Italy’s support for the reform process in Bangladesh and the main goal of improving the population’s social and economic conditions.

    The meeting also provided an opportunity to discuss migration, with the intention being stated to strengthen cooperation on this issue, in particular by relaunching negotiations to complete a bilateral agreement to combat irregular migration flows, establish closer cooperation on returns and, at the same time, support legal paths.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Hockey in Canada: Can it still bridge divides in an era of political polarization?

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Joseph Dick, PhD Student in Sport Management, University of Guelph

    Contemporary ice hockey was pioneered in Canada, and the sport has historically been watched and played by Canadians. (Shutterstock)

    Hockey has played a significant role in shaping Canada’s culture and identity over the years. As sport scholar Tony Patoine once put it, “hockey has become more than a simple pasttime: it is a true Canadian tradition, a quasi-religion.”

    This deep attachment to the game is reflected in Bill C-212, which acknowledges hockey as Canada’s official winter sport. Modern ice hockey was, after all, pioneered in Canada, where it has historically been watched, played and been perceived as a unifying force that transcends linguistic and ethnic divides.

    Despite these perceptions, however, we question the strength of such unification potential amidst recent changes to hockey culture. Can hockey continue to unify all of Canada?

    ‘Communitas’

    Hockey’s purported sense of unity closely relates to the concept of “communitas,” coined by anthropologist Victor Turner, which describes the strong bonds of comradery that form between members of a group — and sometimes between members of disparate groups — where rank and status disappear.

    However, not everyone experiences this sense of unity equally. Since social groups establish behaviours required for group membership, those who don’t align with these norms may feel excluded.

    Former Hockey Night in Canada commentator, Don Cherry, was once praised for upholding values characteristic of hockey, including the promotion of violence, hyper masculinity and an overall adherence to “ideas of loyalty, fraternity, and mutual respect.” These values, once normalized within the hockey community, shaped how both players and fans were expected to act.

    But as the game continues to evolve and these values are increasingly considered archaic and out of sync with the broader political culture fostered within Canada, we as Canadian sport and political science researchers, respectively, question if hockey still provides that sense of communitas for all of Canada.

    Hockey in French Canada

    Although Canadians often view hockey as a monolithic, universally adopted sport across Canada, a closer look reveals patterns of non-uniformity. Nowhere are such differences more apparent than in the historical development of the sport in Québec versus the rest of Canada.

    As historian Emmanuel Lapierre wrote, “French Canadians appropriated hockey in their own manner and used it to tell a story about themselves,” a story that is, like the province of Québec itself, unique within the Canadian federation.

    For much of Canadian history, Anglophone hockey players represented the in-group, while Francophone hockey players were often seen as outsiders. In the 1950s, for example, Francophone players in the NHL believed they were treated more harshly when it came to suspensions and fines.

    Québec society, during this time, faced an endemic struggle of oppression against an Anglophone-dominated society controlled by the Catholic Church. Francophone resistance to this was linked to the Richard Riot that occurred during the 1954-55 NHL season.

    Maurice Richard scoring his 500th goal on Oct. 19, 1957. At the time, he was the first and only professional NHL player to achieve such a feat.
    (Wikimedia Commons)

    After Montreal Canadiens’ player Maurice “Rocket” Richard was suspended from the playoffs in March 1955 for punching an official, a massive riot broke out among fans. They raged through downtown Montréal, targeting Anglophone-owned buildings. This riot became a symbol of Francophone resistance to Anglophone dominance, serving as a stepping stone towards the Quiet Revolution and renewed French Canadian nationalism.

    This, in turn, strengthened the sense of unity around hockey in Canada. Francophone hockey players began to be viewed as more equal to, and at the very least not controlled by, Anglophone players. Hockey was used to forge a sense of communitas amongst French Canadians, serving as a transcendent unifier in Canada.

    But that was then, and it occurred within the context of a province historically rich with connections to French Canadian culture, where hockey’s unification potential was, therefore, heightened. Does this similar sense of communitas still exist in the rest of Canada with respect to hockey? Or has the sport’s ability to unite the nation become weakened in an era of unprecedented political polarization?

    Hockey today

    Hockey fandom remains strong in Canada, with about 31 per cent of Canadians still following the sport — the highest of any sport in the country. This is re-enforced by the recent success of the Professional Women’s Hockey League and the near-record Canadian viewership of the most recent Stanley Cup finals.

    However, hockey participation has seen a notable decline, dropping 33 per cent since its peak in 2010 amidst high participation costs. Additionally, Hockey Canada has been accused of fostering a culture of misogyny and sexual assault.



    Read more:
    Hockey Canada scandal highlights toxic masculinity in sports

    In 2023, Hockey Canada’s former CEO acknowledged the need to address racism, sexism, and other forms of discrimination in hockey culture. “Each topic, or part of culture that we’re trying to get at, that will determine who the audience is as we move forward,” he said.

    As hockey navigates these changes, it must adapt to the growing emphasis on equity, diversity and inclusion, alongside the impacts of an increasing immigrant population and the globalization of the game.

    This evolution could mean the demise of “traditional” hockey values, and perhaps that is a good thing: misogynistic, “rock ‘em and sock ’em” mentalities don’t align with the values of a modern liberal democracy like Canada.

    Still, for communitas to transcend division, hockey must also find a way to bring traditional fans along, who may have enjoyed the undertones of violence and masculinized definitions of loyalty, fraternity and respect, without alienating them.

    Where should hockey go now?

    Hockey’s role as a unifying force in Canada is well established. Not only is it still Canada’s official winter sport, but as outlined above, it has also served as a unifier for French and English Canada. Hockey has, moreover, unified Canadians during other key moments, such as Canada’s victory over the USSR in the 1972 Summit Series, which symbolized democracy’s triumph over communism.

    However, hockey’s role as a unifying force has diminished over the years. For many Canadians, hockey is no longer “the best game you can name,” as Stompin’ Tom Connors once sang.

    If hockey is to maintain its historic place as a contributor to Canadian nationalism and communitas, the sport must evolve. While some traditional values — such as teamwork, loyalty and respect — should be preserved, outdated notions like hyper masculinity and aggression no longer align with today’s values.

    As Canada changes, so too must hockey. Canadian hockey culture and policies must better adapt to meet contemporary Canadian values like diversity and inclusivity.

    The question for Canadians isn’t just the future of hockey, but what can unite us in today’s world. Communitas need not be confined to hockey, let alone a sport. Hockey has traditionally filled this unification role, but if it fails to keep up, what will take its place?

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

    – ref. Hockey in Canada: Can it still bridge divides in an era of political polarization? – https://theconversation.com/hockey-in-canada-can-it-still-bridge-divides-in-an-era-of-political-polarization-238277

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Apple Retail Workers in Oklahoma City Win First Collective Contract with CWA

    Source: Communications Workers of America

    (Oklahoma City, Okla.) — Last night, Apple Retail Union-CWA Local 6016 members at the Penn Square Mall Apple Store in Oklahoma City overwhelmingly voted to ratify their first collectively-bargained contract, becoming the second union of Apple Store retail workers in the country to do so.  

    Highlights of the three-year agreement include:

    • Wage increases of up to 11.5% over the next three years.
    • Worker involvement in scheduling and guaranteed paid time off to vote.
    • A safer and more democratic workplace with a grievance and arbitration process and the establishment of joint Safety and Health and Working Relations committees. 
    • Job protection in the event of a store closure or relocation and severance pay.
    • Guaranteed paid time off, health and other benefits

    “It is exhilarating to finalize this bargaining process and know that after all the work we have done and all the obstacles that Apple has put in our way, we have finally secured the protection and improvements in pay and benefits that we deserve. We hope this sets an example for Apple’s tens of thousands of retail workers that when we stand together, we have the power to make meaningful changes in our workplace,” said Michael Forsythe, Genius Admin and member of Apple Retail Union-CWA.

    Last month workers voted unanimously to authorize a strike and held an informational picket following months of delays at the bargaining table. However, subsequent bargaining sessions in early September were productive and workers secured a tentative agreement on September 6th.

    “This contract is a direct result of the collective strength and determination of Apple workers who fought for a voice at one of the most profitable tech companies in the world. In doing so, this sends a powerful message to Apple Store workers that when we fight, we win,” said Antonio Flores, President of CWA Local 6016.

    The 78 retail workers at the Penn Square Apple Store represent the second team of Apple’s retail workers to win a collectively bargained contract and the first to do so with the support of Communications Workers of America. In August, workers at the Towson Town Square store in Maryland, represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, ratified the first collectively-bargained contract between Apple retail workers and the tech giant.

    “With the Oklahoma City workers’ success and the growing public support for unions across the country, it’s time for Apple to change course, hold itself accountable to their credo, and allow workers at all stores a free and fair opportunity to choose whether or not to join a union,” said Derrick Osobase, CWA District 6 Vice President.

    Apple workers interested in improving their working conditions and having the protections of a union contract should visit this site to learn more about organizing.

    ###

    The Campaign to Organize Digital Employees (CODE-CWA) is a network of worker-organizers and their staff working every single day to build the voice and power necessary to ensure the future of the tech, game, and digital industries in the United States and Canada. CODE-CWA is a project of the Communications Workers of America which represents hundreds of thousands of workers throughout tech, media, telecom, and other industries who stand together to fight for justice on the job and in our communities.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Cohen Celebrates Placement of Statue of Johnny Cash in the U.S. Capitol

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09)

    WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today delivered remarks from the House floor after attending a ceremony in the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center where a statue of Johnny Cash was unveiled. The statue, commissioned by the State of Arkansas, has been placed in the Capitol, along with the statue of Arkansas civil rights activist and journalist Daisy Bates which was unveiled in May.

    In his remarks, Congressman Cohen said:

    “Today I attended a marvelous program in Emancipation Hall where the statue of Johnny Cash was placed for time immemorial. Johnny Cash was put in there by the State of Arkansas who earlier placed Daisy Bates in the Capitol. I commend the State of Arkansas for doing that and the outstanding addresses by Arkansas legislators, the governor, and by Roseanne Cash, the daughter of Johnny Cash.

    “Johnny Cash was born in Arkansas but he came to Memphis to start his musical career. He went to Sun Records and Sam Phillips got him started. He was at Sun Records on the day when Elvis was there, Jerry Lee Lewis was there, and Carl Perkins was there. They put together songs that day that Sam Phillips recorded that was called ‘The Million-Dollar Quartet.’ Johnny Cash was a great singer, a great humanitarian worthy of this honor, and someone we should all remember. A life well-lived and memorialized in the Capitol.”

    See those remarks here.

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Canadian Space Agency Astronaut Jeremy Hansen Visits Winnipeg and Montreal

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French 1

    Media Advisory

    Longueuil (Quebec), September 24, 2024 – From September 27 to 29, Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen will be in Winnipeg to speak about the Artemis II mission during which he will be the first Canadian to fly over the Moon. He will then pass through the Montreal region on October 1.

    He will speak to students, give presentations to the general public and give interviews to the media.

    Journalists wishing to attend one of the presentations or request an interview with CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen should contact the Media Relations Office.

    Winnipeg

    Friday, September 27, 2024

    Hour What Or
    12:30 p.m. (CT) Presentation to 350 Chamber of Commerce members and Winnipeg students RBC Convention Centre375 York AvenueWinnipeg, ManitobaR3C 3J3
    7:00 p.m. (CT) Presentation to the general public (approximately 200 people) at the Manitoba Museum Manitoba Museum190 Rupert AvenueWinnipeg, ManitobaR3B 0N2

    Sunday, September 29, 2024

    Hour What Or
    2:00 p.m. (CT) Presentation to the general public (150 to 175 people) at the Royal Western Canadian Air Force Museum Royal Western Canadian Air Force Museum2088 Wellington AvenueWinnipeg, ManitobaR3H 1C5

    Montreal

    Tuesday, October 1, 2024

    Hour What Or
    10:20 a.m. (CT) Presentation to a hundred students from Cedar Street School Cedar Street School250 Cedar StreetBeloeil (Quebec)J3G 3M1

    Additional information

    – 30 –

    Information

    Canadian Space AgencyMedia Relations OfficeTelephone: 450-926-4370Email: asc.medias-media.csa@asc-csa.gc.caWebsite: www.asc-csa.gc.caFollow us in the social media!

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI USA: Monster weekend: Closures on SR 520, northbound I-405, southbound SR 167, and I-5 Sept. 27-30

    Source: Washington State News 2

    WSDOT is planning the set of biggest closures of the year to make progress on key transportation projects in the metro area

    SEATTLE – Drivers traveling across Lake Washington on State Route 520, through the Interstate 405/SR 167 corridors, and on I-5 in Seattle and between Federal Way and Tacoma should prepare for major closures beginning late Friday, Sept. 27 to early Monday, Sept. 30.

    Together these closures form a “monster” traveler challenge – the biggest weekend of Washington State Department of Transportation construction closures for the region this year. Knowing the location of each closure is important for drivers to prepare in advance and make alternate plans to get around the region.

    SR 520 closure

    The SR 520 closure stretches from I-5 in Seattle to 92nd Avenue Northeast in Clyde Hill on the Eastside and include all of the associated on- and off-ramps. The SR 520 Trail will also close for bicyclists and pedestrians across the lake. The highway and trail will close at 11 p.m. Friday and reopen at 5 a.m. Monday. Part of the SR 520 Montlake Project, crews will work on lighting and the fire suppression system under the new Montlake lid over SR 520.

    Northbound I-405 closure

    Northbound I-405 in Renton will be closed from Sunset Boulevard Northeast/Southport Drive (Exit 5) to Coal Creek Parkway Southeast from 11 p.m. Friday to 4 a.m. Monday. The following ramps will also be closed:

    • Sunset Boulevard Northeast on-ramp (Exit 5).
    • Northeast 30th Street on- and off-ramps (Exit 6).
    • Northeast 44th Street on- and off-ramps (Exit 7).
    • Lake Washington Boulevard Southeast on- and off-ramps (Exit 8).
    • Coal Creek Parkway off-ramp (Exit 10).

    During the closure, contractor crews working for WSDOT will shift northbound traffic onto a new bridge as part of the I-405/Renton to Bellevue Widening and Express Toll Lanes Project. A signed detour will be available. This work requires mostly dry weather and could be rescheduled if it rains.

    Southbound SR 167 closure

    Southbound SR 167 will be closed in Kent from SR 516 to South 277th Street beginning 11:59 p.m. Friday to 4 a.m. Monday. The following ramps will also be closed:

    • SR 516 on-ramp to southbound SR 167.
    • Southbound SR 167 off-ramp to South 277th Street.

    Crews will be paving and striping sections of southbound SR 167. A signed SR 167 detour will be in place for this SR 167 Corridor Improvements Project closure. This work requires mostly dry weather and could be rescheduled if it rains.

    I-5 overnight closures

    Both directions of I-5 between SR 18 in Federal Way and 54th Avenue East in Fife will be closed overnight on Friday, Sept. 27 and Saturday, Sept. 28. Northbound lanes are closed by 10:30 p.m. and southbound lanes by 11 p.m. Lanes begin reopening at 7 a.m. on Saturday with all lanes open by 11 a.m. On Sunday, lanes begin reopening at 8 a.m. with all lanes open by noon.

    Travelers headed to the Fife area should use the signed SR 99 detour route. People with destinations other than Fife should consider using regional routes including SR 18, SR 161, SR 167 and SR 512.

    During this closure, WSDOT contractor crews will set girders for a new overpass crossing I-5. This work is part of WSDOT’s Puget Sound Gateway Program to complete SR 167.

    Mercer Street on-ramps to I-5

    The Mercer Street on-ramps to both north- and southbound I-5 in Seattle will close beginning at 10 p.m. on Friday and reopen at 5 a.m. Monday. This work is part of the SR 520 I-5 Express Lanes Connection Project. Crews will use the shutdown to pave the ramp and adjacent shoulders.

    Know before you go

    Detour routes cannot accommodate normal traffic volumes, so people are advised to “know before you go,” travel during off-peak hours or, if possible, delay discretionary travel to help minimize backups. Traffic flow information is available using WSDOT’s real-time travel map.

    Resources to stay informed about the project:

    • SR 520 24-hour construction hotline: 206-775-8885
    • I-405/Renton to Bellevue Widening and Express Toll Lanes Project 24/7 construction hotline: 425-818-0161
    • SR 167 Corridor Improvements Project hotline: 425-456-8585
    • SR 167 Completion Project: 253-220-5009
    • SR 520 I-5 Express Lanes Connection Project: 206-316-2559

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Fighting IP Crime: A global responsibility

    Source: Interpol (news and events)

    Experts from around the world gather to address intellectual property crime threat

    WILLEMSTAD, Curaçao – Law enforcement officials, security and industry experts are meeting in Curaçao to strengthen global partnerships and coordinate action to counter intellectual property (IP) crime.

    Affecting all sectors and all regions, the trade in fake and pirated goods by transnational organized crime groups is often linked to other crime types, such as human trafficking, corruption and money laundering.

    To counter this evolving threat, some 375 specialists from more than 65 countries are meeting at the 17th International Law Enforcement Intellectual Property (IP) Crime Conference to shape effective enforcement strategies.

    Co-hosted by INTERPOL, the Government of Curaçao and its partner the Curinde Free Trade Zone in partnership with UL Standards and Engagement, and delivered by the International IP Crime Investigators College (IIPCIC), this is the first time the event is being held in the Caribbean.

    The event also marks the creation of the first National IP Crime Task Force in Curaçao which will provide expert assistance in anti-counterfeiting activities.

    On behalf of the Council of Ministers, Curaçao’s Minister of Justice, Mr Shalten Hato said:

    “We must unite to fight crime. For Curaçao, the advantage of creating a dedicated task force goes beyond simply identifying criminals who travel internationally and tackling cross-border crime; the exchange of information is essential in helping us stay ahead of criminal activities.”

    INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock said:

    “With every region of the world and all industry sectors affected by intellectual property crime, a global and coordinated response is essential.

    “This conference will provide new impetus to our united efforts to tackle this threat, which not only harms public health, but also damages economies, undermining communities.”

    Focusing on Free Trade Zones and Supply Chain Security, the theme of the conference is “Reducing the Harm”, and will address the following three key areas:

    • Coordinating Responses
    • Aligning Resources
    • Leveraging Opportunities

    “We are a safety advocacy organization, and counterfeits represent the absence of safety,” said George Borlase, Interim Executive Director of UL Standards & Engagement.

    “We are proud to partner and co-host with INTERPOL, the Government of Curaçao, and the Curinde Free Trade Zone to convene key stakeholders and support information sharing that will lead to solutions that leave us better protected against the harms of counterfeits.”

    First held in 2007, the Law Enforcement IP Crime Conference has become the premiere event for law enforcement and private sector professionals.

    MIL Security OSI –