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Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI: MX Chief Advocacy Officer Jane Barratt Named Financial Data Exchange (FDX) Co-Chair

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Financial Data Exchange (FDX) – an industry standards body focused on Open Banking – today announced MX Chief Advocacy Officer Jane Barratt as its new Board Co-Chair alongside Franklin Garrigues from TD Bank. She replaces Steve Smith who has served as Co-Chair since 2018 and is retiring from MasterCard. 

    “Jane has been instrumental in FDX’s work building consensus standards and has worked with regulatory groups for years, perfectly positioning her to take on this role without missing a beat,” shared Steve Smith. “She has passionately advocated for the financial services industry to give consumers full control over their financial data and will be able to make an even greater impact serving as FDX Co-Chair.”

    As MX’s Chief Advocacy Officer and Global Head of Public Policy, Barratt has served as a member of the FDX Board of Directors since 2021. She collaborates across consumer advocacy groups, financial institutions, fintechs, regulatory bodies, and industry groups advocating to empower consumers to achieve better financial outcomes via secure access to their financial data. 

    “As I’ve spoken and written about for years, consumers should be in control and reap the full benefits of their financial data. FDX’s work is critical in promoting secure consumer data sharing within the U.S. and unifying the industry around a common standard,” said Jane Barratt. “I couldn’t be more excited to step into this new role with FDX.”

    About FDX 
    Financial Data Exchange (FDX) is a non-profit organization operating in the US and Canada that is dedicated to unifying the financial industry around a common, interoperable, royalty-free standard for secure and convenient consumer and business access to their financial data. FDX empowers users through its commitment to the development, growth, and industry-wide adoption of the FDX API, according to the principles of control, access, transparency, traceability, and security. Membership is open to financial institutions, fintech companies, financial data aggregators, consumer advocacy groups, payment networks and other industry stakeholders. For more information and to join, visit http://www.financialdataexchange.org.

    Contact:
    Porche Matthews, Marketing Manager
    pmatthews@financialdataexchange.org

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Expanding cardiac services in southern Alberta

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Alberta’s government is working to ensure Albertans living in southern Alberta have access to the cardiac services and care they need close to home. The planning work for a cardiac catheterization laboratory in Lethbridge has been underway since 2022 and is now complete. Alberta Health is moving the project forward to the next stage, which will define the project’s scope, schedule, budget and associated impacts.

    “Residents in southern Alberta should not have to travel for comprehensive cardiac care. Expanding services and building a new cardiac catheterization lab will help residents access the services and treatments they need close to home.”

    Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Health

    Earlier this year, Alberta Health Services submitted a needs assessment for cardiac services in southern Alberta. Typically, the next step in the process would be to develop a business case to assess options to address the identified needs and gaps; however, the needs assessment for this project identified solutions within existing facilities and it was determined the project could advance to functional programming. This will expedite the project timelines by up to one year. 

    To date, government has approved $2 million to support project planning.

    “Alberta Infrastructure is proud to work with our partner ministries to streamline project planning. We are looking forward to delivering the new cardiac catheterization lab at the Chinook Regional Hospital in a timely and cost-effective manner to improve access to vital cardiac services for residents in southern Alberta.”

    Pete Guthrie, Minister of Infrastructure

    The completed functional program will be used to inform capital funding discussions and decisions for future budget preparations.

    Quick facts

    • Compared with the provincial average, residents of southern Alberta are 30 per cent more likely to die from cardiac-related disease.
    • The submitted needs assessment recommended the construction of new intensive care units at Chinook Regional Hospital and Medicine Hat Regional Hospital, and the development of interventional cardiac services in Lethbridge.
    • The Health Facilities Capital Program Manual provides an overview of the provincial health capital planning process.
      • Project stages include clinical services plan, needs assessment, business case, functional program, and design and construction.  

    Related information

    • Health Facilities Capital Program Manual

    Related news

    • Expanding cardiac care at Chinook Regional Hospital (April 12, 2023)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Media Accreditation for the Ministerial Conference on the Human Dimension of Ukraine’s Peace Formula

    Source: Government of Canada News

    The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, announced that Canada, together with co-organizers Norway and Ukraine, will host the Ministerial Conference on the Human Dimension of Ukraine’s 10-Point Peace Formula on October 30-31, 2024.

    October 22, 2024 – The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, announced that Canada, together with co-organizers Norway and Ukraine, will host the Ministerial Conference on the Human Dimension of Ukraine’s 10-Point Peace Formula on October 30-31, 2024.

    Media representatives who wish to cover the visit must obtain media accreditation.

    The media accreditation process is open to journalists (print, radio, television, news agencies and online media) who are on assignment with a bona fide media organization.

    Individuals performing journalistic functions who do not work for a media organization and are unable to provide a letter of assignment will have to provide proof of recent publications under the applicant’s by-line that can be readily found in the public realm and under a bona fide media organization.

    Government officials, representatives, or observers will not be accredited as media.

    To apply, please complete the form here and include all requested documentation. The registration code for media is: c&Dw8sbLRQ@M

    Only applications that include all requested information will be considered.

    The application period will close on October 29, 2024 at 15:30 PM ET. Once the application process is closed, there will be no further opportunity to apply for accreditation. Please note that accreditation does not guarantee access to all events during the visit.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hoeven: DOE Awards $48.6 Million in Support of Project Tundra

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Dakota John Hoeven

    10.22.24

    WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Energy and Water Development Appropriations Committee, today announced that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded more than $48.6 million in support of Project Tundra, a carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) effort led by Minnkota Power Cooperative. The funding is being awarded to the DCC East Project in Grand Forks.

    “North Dakota has always been a leader in energy innovation and now with Project Tundra, we’re leading the technology development of carbon capture and storage on a traditional coal-fired power plant,” said Hoeven. “Project Tundra is vital to the future of our lignite industry, and will help ensure we have the reliability and affordability of coal-fired electric power today and for future generations.”

    Hoeven has worked to advance Project Tundra to provide a way forward for the state’s coal-fired electric industry. Last year, Minnkota and Hoeven announced that Project Tundra had entered its final stage of development as new affiliates, including TC Energy, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kiewit, were added to build the project.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hoeven Helps Secure $20 Million to Rehabilitate & Preserve Highway 52

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Dakota John Hoeven

    10.16.24

    BISMARCK, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Transportation Appropriations Committee, today announced a $20 million award to the North Dakota Department of Transportation for the Freight Reliability and Preservation Project on US 52. Specifically, the project will restore roughly 45 miles of existing asphalt pavement from west of Drake to Fessenden, consolidate access points at the intersection of US 52 and North Dakota Highway 3 (ND 3) in Harvey, add acceleration and deceleration lanes at existing at-grade railroad crossings as well as add turn lanes at critical intersections from seven miles south of Portal to Carrington. 

    “The funding we worked to secure will support much needed rehabilitation and enhancements for US 52,” said Hoeven. “This major highway is essential to North Dakota and this award will help expand access with greater safety across the state.”

    Earlier this year, Hoeven led the North Dakota congressional delegation in making the case for funding the project to the U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary, stressing the benefits to freight transportation, while reducing congestion and improving safety.

    -###-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Remarks by Vice President Harris in Press Gaggle | Royal Oak,  MI

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    Royal Oak Music TheatreRoyal Oak, Michigan
    3:59 P.M. EDT
    THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Good afternoon, everyone.  Well, we are here in Michigan, just left Pennsylvania.  And then after Michigan, we’ll be on our way to Wisconsin. 
    And I will mention a couple of things that have just recently come up — for example, that my opponent, Donald Trump, does not believe we should raise minimum wage.  And I think everyone knows that the current federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, which means that the person who is working a full day and working full weeks will make $15,000 a year, which is essentially poverty wages. 
    So, there is a big difference between Donald Trump and me on a number of issues, including this, where I absolutely believe we must raise minimum wage and that hardworking Americans, whether they’re working at McDonald’s or anywhere else, should have at least the ability to be able to take care of their family and take care of themselves in a way that allows them to actually be able to sustain their needs.
    The other issue that has come up recently has been the issue of what we are seeing, again, about Donald Trump just being, frankly, hostile to the whole notion and importance of Social Security.  There are many seniors in our country that Social Security is their only form of income.  And now an independent agency has reviewed Donald Trump’s theory about Social Security and his policies and has indicated that his policy would actually render the Social Security fund empty, essentially, in six years.
    Again, if you look at it from minim- — minimum wage to Social Security, Donald Trump clearly does not understand the needs of working people.  With Social Security be- — being rendered insolvent in six years, what that would mean for the seniors of America is catastrophic. 
    And then, lastly, on the issue of contraception, I’m very pleased that our administration today announced a rule that would essentially allow folks to get contraception over the counter.  And as we know, my policy is about making sure that Americans have what they need in terms of their reproductive health.  And Donald Trump, you just look at his plan 20- — his Project 2025 would actually restrict access to contraception, which would just contribute to the public health crisis he’s already created.
    I’ll take any questions.
    AIDE:  We’re going to start with Erica Green at the New York Times.
         Q    Madam President — Vice President, sorry.  Keeps happening.  Could you please speak to your — your messaging today —
    THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Sure.
         Q    — particularly as you go through the suburbs?
    THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Yeah.
         Q    You’re trying to reach swing voters.  Among them are women —
    THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Yep.
         Q    — white women who voted for Donald Trump in the last two elections.  Can you talk about your messaging to them and what you’re hoping will break through to them?
    THE VICE PRESIDENT:  So, today, I am spending the day with former Congresswoman Liz Cheney.  We are traveling to three states to talk with all Americans about what is at stake in this election, but doing it through the lens of a very important point, that what is at stake in this election is so fundamental that it really does cross partisan lines.
    We are talking about whether you will have a president of the United States who takes seriously their duty and their oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States.  And there is a clear distinction here, which is that I will and he will not, as evidenced by many statements he has made, including his intention to be a dictator on day one, his intention to weaponize the Department of Justice against his political enemies. 
    And then you just look at what the people who know him best and worked with him in the Oval Office and the White House have said about him, which is he is unfit to serve and would be dangerous if he were president again.  And he, even by the former chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff, has been called a “fascist to his core.”  I am quoting.
    So, what we are talking with folks about today is what I’ve been talking with folks about since I’ve been on the campaign trail these last 70-odd days, which is this is a choice for the American people, and it is a choice between whether we’re going to chart a new way forward that turns the page on the division, the hate, the chaos of Donald Trump. 
    But also, and maybe even more fundamentally, do we have a president of the United States who stands behind the seal of the president of the United States taking seriously their oath and their duty to uphold the Constitution of the United States and abide by the rule of law?
    And so, I’m out here talking with folks to remind them of what’s at stake.  And I’m very pleased and honored that so many people are showing up to these events to have this conversation, because I think they know, regardless of who they voted for in the last election and the party with which they’re registered to vote, on some issues, we just have to all be Americans and put party aside.
    AIDE:  We’re going to go to Colleen at the AP.
    THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Hi. 
    Q    Hi, Madam Vice President.  Do you think that Republican voters — in specific, women voters — will be more likely to vote for you because of the fall of Roe?  And are the Republican votes key to winning the (inaudible) states?
    THE VICE PRESIDENT:  So, I look at what happened in the midterms and in special elections to guide my thinking about this issue.  And what we saw is, in so-called “red” states and so-called “blue” states, when the issue of the freedom of a woman to make decisions about her own body is on the ballot, the American people vote for freedom regardless of the party with which they’re registered to vote.
    And I do believe it is such a fundamental issue, which is understanding you don’t have to abandon your faith or deeply held beliefs to agree the government should not be telling women what to do with their body.  So, I do believe it is a compelling issue, especially when we consider the fact that, for so many of us, our daughter is going to have fewer rights than their grandmother. 
    And America’s strength — one of the attributes of our progress has been the expansion of rights, not the restriction of rights.  And that’s what we’re seeing happen, and it has happened because Donald Trump created this situation when he hand-selected three members of the United States Supreme Court with the intention they would undo the protections of Roe v. Wade, and they did as he intended.
    AIDE:  We have time for one more.  Andrea at Reuters, are you here?
         Q    Yeah.  Hi.  So, Elon Musk is giving away a million dollars a day to voters who sign a petition.  Do you have concerns about that in ter- — in the context of law, you know, the sort of legal framework around elections? 
    And secondly, a Reuters investigation has shown something like 300 cases of political violence already in the run-up to the election.  Can you just address what can be done and what the federal government can do to push back against that?
    THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Well, on the first point, I think people are looking into that.
    On the second point —
         Q    When you say “people,” do you mean the U.S. government?
    THE VICE PRESIDENT:  I mean I hear that folks are looking into it, just based on the stuff you all are reporting.  (Laughs.)
    On the second point, there should be no place in America where we are seeing political violence.  And, sadly, we have seen, if we just look back to January 6th, when that occurred in a way that was most shocking and brought on because, of course, of Donald Trump, who incited a mob — a violent mob that attacked the United States Capitol, wherein over 140 uniformed law enforcement officers were injured and some were killed and where Donald Trump has still yet to acknowledge the travesty of that day and the political violence that occurred that day.
    So, I will say and repeat what I think most people understand: In America, in a democracy, we should have no room for nor should we ever condone any form of political violence.  In a democracy, people will debate, people will disagree, but not resort to violence.  And everyone should speak out about that, including and especially anybody who’s running for president of the United States.
    AIDE:  Thank you, Madam Vice President.
         Q    Thank you.
    THE VICE PRESIDENT:  All right.  Thank you all.
                            END                     4:07 P.M. EDT

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Leads Senators In Demanding Answers From Pfizer, Eli Lilly On New Telehealth Platforms Amid Concerns Of Inappropriate Prescribing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
    10.22.24
    In Letters to Pfizer and Eli Lilly, Durbin, Sanders, Welch, and Warren request details about whether the companies’ new advertising & telehealth schemes create conflicts of interest that steer patients toward particular medications
    CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) sent a letter to the CEOs of Pfizer Inc. and Eli Lilly demanding answers about the pharmaceutical companies’ recent move to establish new direct-to-consumer (DTC) telehealth platforms.  These new arrangements steer patients toward particular medications and create the potential for inappropriate prescribing that can increase spending for federal health care programs. 
    As Durbin notes in his letters, federal law, specifically the Anti-Kickback Statute, prohibits the willful payment of remuneration to induce patient referrals for Medicare or Medicaid-covered services or goods.  Durbin requested additional information about the nature of Pfizer and Eli Lilly’s contracts with their chosen telehealth platforms, including the characteristics of the medical evaluation and whether the telehealth providers are pressured to prescribe Pfizer or Eli Lilly medications.
    Along with Durbin, the letters were also signed by U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) .
    “Pfizer recently launched a new telehealth platform, PfizerForAll, that links patients interested in receiving specific medications with a health care provider who can virtually prescribe that medication…  We write to learn more about the financial relationship between Pfizer and its chosen telehealth prescribers, given the potential implications for the federal Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS),” the Senators began their letter to Pfizer.
    The United States is one of only two countries in the world that permit DTC advertising of prescription drugs, in part because this practice has been shown to increase patient demand for advertised drugs and the likelihood of a patient receiving a prescription for that drug.  Pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer, spend an estimated $6 billion annually on DTC advertising to boost patient demand for medications.  As a result, a small number of prescription drugs advertised on television accounted for 58 percent of Medicare’s overall spending on prescription drugs between 2016 and 2018. 
    The Senators continued their letter, expressing his concern that Pfizer and Eli Lilly’s new telehealth platforms may be pressuring health care providers into prescribing their medications, which could violate federal law. 
    “The launch of Pfizer’s new telehealth platform, similar to an existing platform for the virtual prescribing of Nurtec, raises questions about the nature of Pfizer’s relationship with its hired telehealth prescribers and the potential for inducement of prescriptions payable by federal health care programs,” the Senators wrote in their letter to Pfizer.
    “After describing Pfizer’s medications and the benefit they can have for patients, Pfizer’s telehealth platform provides a link for patients to ‘talk to a doctor now’ and fill prescriptions via an online pharmacy.  This creates the impression that any patient interested in a particular medication can indeed receive it with just a few clicks, and the appearance of Pfizer’s approval that these chosen telehealth providers can ensure a patient receives the given medication,” the Senators wrote.
    The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Inspector General (HHS OIG) has been wary of telehealth platforms, issuing a Special Fraud Alert in 2022 to warn health care practitioners of specific risks of schemes involving telehealth platforms that “intentionally paid physicians … kickbacks to generate … prescriptions for medically unnecessary … medications, resulting in submission of fraudulent claims to Medicare [and] Medicaid.”  HHS OIG listed limited interaction with the purported patient, limited opportunity to review the patient’s medical records, and/or a directive to prescribe a preselected item, regardless of clinical appropriateness as potential fraudulent aspects of telehealth platforms’ arrangements with prescribers.
    In their letter to Pfizer, the Senators points to a specific example of PfizerForAll engaging in behavior that HHS OIG warned about.
    “The nature of the PfizerForAll platform appears to reflect many aspects of the HHS OIG warning for potential fraud.  Unsurprisingly, a patient coming straight from Pfizer’s website to a telehealth appointment with a prescriber chosen by Pfizer is overwhelmingly more likely to ask for Pfizer’s medication.  Further, that prescriber may have an incentive to prescribe such medication, whether or not it is medically necessary or clinically appropriate.  Payments by Pfizer hold the potential to induce specific actions of the prescribing pen,” the Senators wrote.
    The Senators continued, “These concerns are underscored by statements by Pfizer’s chosen prescribing contractor—Populus—for its Nurtec migraine medication.  Populus’ co-founder claimed in reporting by STAT News that more than 90 percent of eligible patients receive a prescription for the brand of drug whose marketing they clicked on, further adding, ‘We’re driving prescriptions.’  Similarly, UpScriptHealth has advertised job openings to prescribers with the statement, ‘on average, providers can complete 6-10 visits an hour’ and by defining ‘a completed visit is either an approval or denial of prescription request,’ which raises concerns about the adequacy of the provider’s patient engagement, quality of medical review, and expected outcomes.”
    The Senators concluded their letters to both Pfizer and Eli Lilly by requesting details about how the companies run their telehealth platforms and if patients are receiving adequate care rather than a hastily written prescription to a heavily-advertised medication produced by the pharmaceutical company.
    Today’s letters are Durbin’s latest action in cracking down on excessive prescription drug advertising that can harm patients and increase prescription drug costs.  Last November, Durbin took to the Senate floor to request unanimous consent for his bipartisan Drug-price Transparency for Consumers (DTC) Act, a bill that would require price disclosures on advertisements for prescription drugs in order to empower patients and reduce excessive spending on medications.  Durbin also introduced the Protecting Patients from Deceptive Drug Ads Online Act, bipartisan legislation that would protect public health and close regulatory loopholes by having the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) address false and misleading prescription drug promotions by social media influencers and telehealth companies. 
    In May, Durbin chaired a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “Ensuring Affordable & Accessible Medications: Examining Competition in the Prescription Drug Market.”  The hearing examined prescription drug prices, competition, and innovation, and how to ensure medications are accessible and affordable for American families.
    In his role as Chair of the Judiciary Committee, Durbin also supported the advancement of a package of bills, which were reported unanimously out of Committee in February 2023, to lower prescription drug prices.  The package included Durbin’s Interagency Patent Coordination and Improvement Act, which establishes an interagency task force between the United States Patent and Trademark Office and FDA for purposes of sharing information and providing technical assistance with respect to patents.
    A copy of the letter to Eli Lilly is available here.
    A copy of the letter to Pfizer is available here and below:
    October 21, 2024
    Dear Mr. Bourla:
                Pfizer recently launched a new telehealth platform, PfizerForAll, that links patients interested in receiving specific medications with a health care provider who can virtually prescribe that medication.  This manufacturer-sponsored arrangement appears intended to steer patients toward particular medications and creates the potential for inappropriate prescribing that can increase spending for federal health care programs.  We write to learn more about the financial relationship between Pfizer and its chosen telehealth prescribers, given the potential implications for the federal Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS). 
                Direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising of prescription drugs has been shown to increase both patient demand for specific medications and the likelihood of a patient receiving a prescription for that drug.  Pharmaceutical manufacturers like Pfizer spend an estimated $6 billion annually in DTC advertising to boost patient awareness and demand for advertised medications.  The U.S. is one of only two developed countries in the world that permits such health claims.  The American Medical Association has stated, “direct-to-consumer advertising inflates demand for new and expensive drugs, even when these drugs may not be appropriate.”
                A recent study found that more than two-thirds of drugs advertised on television were considered “low added value.”  This creates concern for taxpayers, as a review by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that the small number of prescription drugs advertised on television accounted for 58 percent of Medicare’s overall spending on prescription drugs between 2016-2018.  For example, these DTC advertisements helped to balloon Medicare spending on Pfizer’s Xeljanz to more than $886 million in 2022.
                Telehealth can help to address barriers to care, including by expanding access for patients facing transportation barriers, helping to overcome stigma, and identifying providers when there may be workforce shortages.  But those important aspects of care can be undermined without comprehensive services that ensure a thorough patient evaluation and follow-up, especially if there is any appearance of a conflict of interest for the treatment provider.
    The launch of Pfizer’s telehealth platform, similar to an existing one for the virtual prescribing of Nurtec, raises questions about the nature of Pfizer’s relationship with its contracted telehealth prescribers and the potential for inducement of prescriptions payable by federal health programs.  The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Inspector General (HHS OIG) warns, “as a physician, you are an attractive target for kickback schemes because you can be a source of referrals for … health care … suppliers.”  OIG adds, “many … companies want your patients’ business and would pay you to send that business their way.”
                After describing Pfizer’s medications and the benefit they can have for patients, Pfizer’s telehealth platform provides a link for patients to “talk to a doctor now” and fill prescriptions via an online pharmacy.  This creates the impression that any patient interested in a particular medication can indeed receive it with just a few clicks, and the appearance of Pfizer’s approval that these chosen telehealth providers can ensure a patient receives the given medication. 
    In 2022, the HHS OIG issued a Special Fraud Alert to notify health care practitioners of the specific risks of schemes involving telehealth platforms that “intentionally paid physicians … kickbacks to generate … prescriptions for medically unnecessary … medications, resulting in submission of fraudulent claims to Medicare [and] Medicaid.”  According to the HHS OIG, fraudulent aspects of these arrangements for prescribers may include: limited interaction with the purported patient, limited opportunity to review the patient’s medical records, and/or a directive to prescribe a preselected item, regardless of clinical appropriateness.
    The nature of the PfizerForAll platform appears to reflect many aspects of the HHS OIG warning for potential fraud.  Unsurprisingly, a patient coming straight from Pfizer’s website to a telehealth appointment with a prescriber chosen by Pfizer is overwhelmingly more likely to ask for Pfizer’s medication.  Further, that prescriber may have an incentive to prescribe such medication, whether or not it is medically necessary or clinically appropriate.  Payments by Pfizer hold the potential to induce specific actions of the prescribing pen. 
    These concerns are underscored by statements from Pfizer’s chosen prescribing contractor—Populus—for its Nurtec migraine medication.  Populus’ co-founder claimed in reporting by STAT News that more than 90 percent of eligible patients receive a prescription for the brand of drug whose marketing they clicked on, further adding, “We’re driving prescriptions.”  Similarly, UpScriptHealth has advertised job openings to prescribers with the statement, “on average, providers can complete 6-10 visits an hour” and by defining “a completed visit is either an approval or denial of prescription request,” which raises concerns about the adequacy of the provider’s patient engagement, quality of medical review, and expected outcomes.
    To better understand the nature of Pfizer’s relationship with contracted telehealth prescribers, we request written responses to the following questions by November 25, 2024:
    1.       Do Pfizer’s DTC advertisements for certain medications, including commercials on television or promotions on social media, direct consumers to PfizerForAll or the Nurtec/Populus page?
    1.       How much has Pfizer spent on such advertisements in the most recent six-month period for which data is available?
    2.       How much has Pfizer spent on disease awareness, continuing medical education activities, medical publications, patient advocacy/engagement, or other health promotion directed at prescribers or consumers for diseases related to medications listed on PfizerForAll or the Nurtec/Populus page in the most recent six-month period for which data is available?
    2.       Are any forms of insurance excluded from eligibility or participation with PfizerForAll or the Nurtec/Populus page?  Please list which types of insurance are not eligible to participate.
    3.       Does Pfizer direct, encourage, or educate UpScriptHealth- or Populus-affiliated health care providers to prescribe Pfizer’s medications?
    4.       Did Pfizer share, consult, or communicate with UpScriptHealth or Populus in creating the “discussion guide” for patients to speak with their Pfizer-linked telehealth provider?
    5.       What is the average duration of the virtual health care visit between an UpScriptHealth- or Populus-affiliated health care provider and a patient who is connected to them via Pfizer’s website? 
    1.       After initially filling out information, are such visits always conducted via a video platform, or are there other options available?
    6.       Do UpScriptHealth- or Populus-affiliated health care providers always review the medical history and records of a patient who is connected to them via Pfizer’s website?  If so, please describe in detail how those records are accessed.
    7.       How does Pfizer set the compensation paid to its telehealth partners?  Please provide a copy of the terms of agreement between Pfizer and UpScriptHealth, and between Pfizer and Populus.
    1.       Is Pfizer paying fair market value for the services of UpScriptHealth or Populus?
    2.       Does Pfizer make a bonus payment to UpScriptHealth or Populus based on the number of prescriptions written, including refills?
    3.       Does Pfizer contract with UpScriptHealth or Populus to furnish a certain number of prescriptions for certain medications?
    4.       Would the UpScriptHealth- or Populus-affiliated health care provider have actual or constructive knowledge that a patient was referred to them via Pfizer’s telehealth platform?
    5.       What metrics does Pfizer use to evaluate the performance of its contracts with UpScriptHealth and Populus and affiliated health care providers?
    8.       What data is being provided by UpScriptHealth or Populus to Pfizer as part of these agreements?  Please list all fields or categories of data being provided to Pfizer, including patient information, consumer behavior information, and marketing outcomes information.
    9.       What role, if any, does Pfizer play in collecting, defraying, or otherwise interacting with the co-pay that is associated with the provider consultation on Pfizer’s telehealth platforms?
    10.   Based upon prescribing or claims data that Pfizer has access to, how many prescriptions for a Pfizer medication have UpScriptHealth- or Populus-affiliated health care providers written in the most recent 30-day period for which Pfizer has available information?
    11.   What percentage of consumers who meet virtually with an UpScriptHealth- or Populus-affiliated health care provider receive a prescription for a Pfizer medication?
    1.       What percentage of such consumers receive a prescription for a medication manufactured by another brand-name company?
    2.       What percentage of such consumers receive a prescription for a generic medication?
    3.       What percentage of such consumers receive no prescription?
    12.   How much revenue has Pfizer generated from these telehealth platforms in the most recent 30-day period for which Pfizer has available information?
    13.   Outside of the contract terms with UpScriptHealth or Populus, please provide a list of all payments by Pfizer to each health care provider that is linked to via PfizerForAll over the past 12-month period, including for “speaking,” “consulting,” or other goods, fees, or services.
    Thank you for your attention to this matter.  We look forward to your response. 
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Polis Celebrates Colorado’s Leadership in Education With Visits to Poudre Valley High School and National Blue Ribbon School in Fort Collins

    Source: US State of Colorado

    NORTHERN COLORADO – Today, Governor Polis made visits across Northern Colorado to celebrate Colorado’s leadership in education. This morning, the Governor visited Poudre High School for their Ninth Grade Success Showcase. Poudre received a Colorado Ninth Grade Success Grant to help increase the number of 9th grade students with the skills needed to successfully reach 10th grade on-track and on-time. To date , the school has seen a 13% increase in students who are on track. Poudre School District also received a $457,999 Response, Innovation, and Student Equity Education (RISE) Youth Apprenticeship grant in December 2023. This grant has helped high schools in the region expand youth-based apprenticeship opportunities and create more pathways for students to build skills and experiences needed to get good-paying jobs. 

    “Colorado is committed to helping every student succeed no matter their zip code and it’s exciting to see the work Poudre High School is doing to help more students get the needed skills to thrive in the classroom and beyond, whether that’s through the Ninth Grade Success grant or in partnership with the school district through our RISE Youth Apprenticeship grant,” said Governor Jared Polis. 

    The Governor also visited Zach Elementary School, one of Colorado’s 2024 National Blue Ribbon Award-Winning Schools. Zach Elementary received their second Blue Ribbon Award in September, for continuing to promote collaboration and personalized learning approaches to ensure student success. 

    “Schools across Colorado are creating more pathways for students to succeed. I am excited to visit this nationally-recognized school. Zach Elementary is an important reflection of our shared efforts to make Colorado a leader in education and I want to thank the educators and staff who work so hard to support students,” said Governor Polis. 

    Governor Polis then joined Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon, to announce $3 million in funding for Climate Resilience Projects through the National Science Foundation-funded Colorado-Wyoming Climate Resilience Engine, which is driving climate resilience projects across the region. This plan will help support water security, wildfire prediction and response, extreme weather modeling, soil carbon sequestration, and methane emissions mitigation.

    “Colorado is leading the way in addressing climate change and using innovative solutions to become more resilient in the face of its impact. I’m thankful for Wyoming and Governor Gordon’s partnership and openness to work together to drive innovation, strengthen public-private partnerships, and make the region more climate resilient. These projects will help secure our water future, protect Coloradans from wildfire dangers, and protect our air and I am excited to see them in action,” said Governor Polis. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: USGS discusses water security challenges with Namibia and Botswana agencies

    Source: US Geological Survey

    The USGS Office of International Programs’ Science Advisor for International Water John Lane and USGS Water Mission Area Hydrologic Networks Branch Chief Molly Wood visited Namibia and Botswana on an assignment of the U.S. Ambassador’s Water Experts Program (AWEP). AWEP is administered by the Department of Interior International Technical Assistance Program (DOI ITAP) with funding from the U.S. State Department, Bureau of Oceans and International Environment and Scientific Affairs. 

    USGS scientists met with representatives of the water sector in both countries, including government ministries, bulk water suppliers, municipal utilities operators, multinational water commissions, private consultants, and U.S. Embassy staff. 

    Namibia and Botswana have semi-arid to arid climates and are undergoing severe drought. Water resources for drinking water supply, livestock watering, mining, and industry are stretched thin. The Namibia and Botswana governments are seeking technical support for improved understanding and use of available water resources.

    Discussions centered on potential USGS support to Namibia and Botswana agencies to

    • Leverage remote sensing datasets to improve understanding of water availability,
    • Improve hydrologic monitoring networks to increase access to hydrologic data to inform water resource management decisions, and
    • Collaboratively develop scientific solutions to better manage groundwater and surface water resources to address the ongoing drought.

    DOI ITAP posted on Facebook about the visit.

    USGS employees Molly Wood (3rd from left) and John Lane (3rd from right) with staff from the Namibia Ministry of Mines and Energy and the Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform, after a workshop on geophysics data collection.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: President Biden Hosts a Bilateral Meeting with Prime Minister Golob of the Republic of Slovenia

    Source: United States of America – The White House (video statements)

    The White House

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EB5sLkYQ3bQ

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Intergovernmental Group of Twenty-Four on International Monetary Affairs and Development

    Source: International Monetary Fund

    October 22, 2024

    1. The G-24 expresses its deep concern over the humanitarian crises and conflicts afflicting numerous regions across the globe, resulting in loss of lives, immense suffering, forced displacement and migration for countless individuals. We call for a strong, united, multilateral approach to restore peace, stability, and livelihoods. To this end, we urge all parties to prioritize diplomacy, de-escalation, and cooperation. Furthermore, we call for robust multilateral support for recovery, reconstruction, and long-term development efforts in affected areas.

    2. Global economic growth is forecast to remain relatively stable in the coming year, but risks and uncertainties persist, especially for some Emerging Markets and Developing Economies (EMDEs). Despite a projected stabilization of global growth in 2024 and 2025, the relatively optimistic forecast masks the tepid economicprospects in the most vulnerable countries. Furthermore, geopolitical tensions, trade fragmentation, increasingly frequent extreme weather conditions, and a more pronounced slowdown could pose significant headwinds to global growth and worsen some EMDEs’ prospects of as they deal with the spillover effect of Advanced Economies’ policies.

    3. Although inflationary pressures are gradually easing, the outlook remains uncertain due to elevated risks. Food price inflation is declining or stabilizing, and energy prices have remained low, in part reflecting the role of the OPEC Declaration of Cooperation in safeguarding oil market stability. Though many advanced economies have successfully brought inflation back to target levels, some EMDEs are still grappling with high inflation rates. Looking ahead, trade tensions and increased policy uncertainty would contribute to heightened upside risks to inflation. Furthermore, escalating geopolitical tensions could lead to heightened volatility in food and energy prices. Given the uncertainty, central banks may likely maintain a cautious approach to monetary easing, potentially keeping interest rates high for an extended period.

    4. Against this background, some EMDEs are confronted with significant challenges, as a prolonged period of elevated or slower reduction of policy rates increases external, fiscal, and financial risks. Furthermore, depreciation of some EMDE’s currencies, together with high debt and rising debt-servicing costs, is constraining fiscal space, impacting capital flows and growth, while straining financial stability. As EMDE policymakers struggle to balance sizable investment needs with fiscal sustainability, real growth could suffer.

    5. Given the uncertain economic environment, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) should stand ready to fulfill its role as the center of the Global Financial Safety Net. Strengthening the international monetary system by enhancing crisis prevention and adjustment mechanisms; coordinating global stability; and providing timely, predictable, and adequate liquidity support to members facing balance of payments difficulties will contribute to a more resilient and interconnected global economy.

    6. We welcome the ongoing reviews and updates of IMF procedures and policies, as this will support members. The incorporation of emerging challenges such as climate-related risks, domestic public debt, and complex debt restructuring scenarios in the review of the Low-Income Countries Debt Sustainability Framework (LIC-DSF) is welcome. However, we look forward to the comprehensive review which we hope will address the fundamental concerns about the methodology. Furthermore, the recent approval of the use of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) for the acquisition of hybrid capital instruments by prescribed holders is a significant step forward. The approved limit of SDR15 billion could increase lending by four-fold, including through supporting the goals of G20 Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty, the sustainable development and climate goals. We call on countries with strong external positions to voluntarily explore rechanneling SDRs, including through Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), where legally possible, while respecting the reserve asset quality of the SDR and ensuring their liquidity. 

    7. Ongoing refinements to the IMF’s lending toolkit provide another opportunity to address the challenges confronting members while strengthening IMF’s financial resilience. We welcome the refinements to the Resilience and Sustainability Trust (RST), including adjustments to its design to facilitate early disbursements, eliminate dual-purpose reforms, and ensure program continuity. We look forward to further work to operationalize the RST mandate on pandemic preparedness. We also call for the comprehensive review planned for 2026 to address the remaining issues, especially with respect to the requirement of an upper credit tranche program and expansion of focus into other medium-term challenges facing EMDEs. Additionally, we welcome the completion of the review of charges and surcharges that resulted in a reduction of the cost of borrowing from the General Resource Account. The approved changes are in the right direction, but we call on the IMF to consider initiating, as soon as possible, further reforms to provide more significant reduction of surcharges, and additional cut in the margin for the rate of charge. Furthermore, we welcome the Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust (PRGT) reforms, including the increase in resources for concessional financing, and the additional boost to the subsidy resources.

    8. The approval of a Third chair for Sub-Saharan Africa at the IMF Executive Board would strengthen the region’s voice, improve its representation, and simultaneously, reduce the workload of the region’s officials. Additionally, we recommend further pursuit of governance reforms in MDBs and International Financial Institutions, (IFIs), to correct the regional and gender underrepresentation in their top management and senior staff positions. We call upon all countries to complete the internal approval procedures for the 16th General Review as soon as possible. We await the result of the ongoing efforts to develop possible approaches for a new quota formula and we hope that it will serve as a guide for quota realignment that reflects members’ relative economic weight and strengthen the voice of EMDEs under the 17th General Review of Quotas. As the review is crucial for the legitimacy of the IMF, we emphasize the importance of adhering to the June 2025 deadline.

    9. We welcome the progress in the implementation of the World Bank Group (WBG) Evolution Roadmap. The launch of the PortfolioGuarantee Platform, and stronger private capital mobilization efforts have the potential to help bring additional resources to support client countries in meeting their development needs. We hope that more contributions to the Livable Planet Fund would incentivize global challenge related projects across borders, and that the launch of the Grant Facility for Project Preparation Trust Fund would enhance clients’ institutional capacity in project preparations. Not only is it paramount to increase investment, but such investment must be at an affordable cost in order to ensure the debt sustainability of EMDEs as they pursue new growth strategies aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement. Therefore, we look forward to a timely and successful conclusion of the 2-stage International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) loan pricing adjustments to enhance affordability of IBRD loan.

    10. International Development Association, (IDA21), replenishment will be crucial for supporting vulnerable populations, breaking the cycle of poverty, and promoting global stability. We welcome the focus on key areas of People, Planet, Prosperity, Digitalization, and Infrastructure, which are at the core of the development challenges of the Global South. Given rising external financing needs amidst declining Overseas Development Assistance and Foreign Direct Investments, we hope that the ongoing IDA21 replenishment discussions will result in a robust and impactful outcome, increasing support for LICs in real terms, supported by an expanded donor base. We call on donors to be ambitious, and to align their contributions with the scale of the challenges. It is also important to thoroughly consider the different levels of fragility before applying any adjustment to loan terms that may impact debt sustainability. While we welcome the proposed Global and Regional Opportunities Window (GROW), which aims to address regional and global challenges, such as adaptation, we call for an expanded focus on other issues that impact the Global South such as biodiversity, desertification, carbon and methane gas emissions from agricultural production, and rising sea level.

    11. Considering the need for significant resources, and the misalignment of shareholding structure, the upcoming 2025 Shareholding Review for IBRD and the International Finance Corporation, (IFC), is crucial. We call on shareholders to build consensus for a speedy and successful review in line with the Lima Shareholding Principles, resulting in the increase of the voice and representation of EMDEs and ensuring a more equitable balance of voting power to improve legitimacy and effectiveness. In addition, the review should propose specific options to address misalignment.

    12. We look forward to the implementation of the G20 Brazil Presidency MDB Roadmap Towards Bigger, Better, and more Effective MDBs, building on the mandate from G20 New Delhi Leaders Declaration, and based on the recommendations of the G20 Independent Experts Group. To further increase scale and impact, we call for deepening of engagement and cooperation between WBG and the MDBs with a view to operating as a system to address countries’ development priorities and needs, as well as global and regional challenges. We call for regular reviews of the alignment of MDBs resources and strategies. These reviews would lay a solid basis for MDB Boards’ consideration on if and when additional capital may be needed. In addition, to enhance private capital mobilization, we advocate for providing support aimed at removing regulatory bottlenecks to private investment, developing innovative risk-sharing and hedging instruments, including through local currency lending and domestic capital market reforms. To further maximize the impact of public investment, and its ability to boost growth, improve productivity, and reduce poverty, EMDEs should be supported with comprehensive policy reform programs to improve public investment efficiency, governance and fiscal administration, subject to the country’s specific circumstance.

    13. We commend the recent progress under the G20 Common Framework and the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable (GSDR), including establishing a common understanding of processes and practices. We call for a step up of the implementation of the G20 Common Framework in a predictable, timely, orderly, and coordinated manner and more meaningful debt relief. Additionally, we welcome the joint efforts of all stakeholders to enhance debt management and transparency and encourage private creditors to follow suit. We draw attention to the need for further reforms, especially with respect to early engagement with creditors and interaction with credit rating agencies. Ultimately, we urge for a comprehensive reform of the sovereign debt framework that addresses debt vulnerabilities in low and middle-income countries in an effective, comprehensive and systematic manner. We call for consideration of options – including the support of the IMF and the World Bank – to help countries facing short-term liquidity challenges whose debt is sustainable.

    14. The global community is falling short of attaining climate and development goals, and in providing the commensurate financial support to developing countries towards achieving them. The frequency, intensity, and scale of extreme weather events, particularly in developing countries, are increasing, necessitating urgent action. Recognizing the varying national circumstances, we call for accelerating climate action based on equity and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. Therefore, climate change strategies must incorporate the needs of EMDEs, and mitigation and adaptation actions should aim at ensuring accessibility to all types of energy, and energy security, bearing in mind sustainable development and efforts to eradicate poverty. Furthermore, MDBs and IFIs should support investment in the research and development of green technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We acknowledge the need to significantly scale up finance, and hence call for a concrete goal that is commensurate with the pressing challenges, and that is therefore greater than the $100 billion per year planned during the upcoming CoP29. We look forward to faster progress on the operationalization and capitalization of the Loss and Damage Fund. We reiterate our call for new and additional grant-based, highly concessional finance and non-debt instruments to support both middle- and low-income countries, especially as they transition in a just and equitable manner.

    15. Domestic Resource Mobilization is essential for sustainable development. We strongly support national efforts to prevent and combat illicit financial flows, corruption, money-laundering and tax evasion, as such efforts would increase domestic resources. We call for increased capacity building to support members, to improve their expertise in domestic resource mobilization. We acknowledge the work of the Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development on tax base erosion and profit shifting, and welcome the progress made on the Two-Pillar Solution under the OECD Inclusive Framework. Additionally, we look forward to the forthcoming negotiation of the United Nations Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation and its two early protocols. We call for a constructive engagement as well as multilateral consensus to achieve lasting progress on this initiative. Finally, we commend the work of the Brazil G20 Presidency on taxation and inequality.

    16. Challenges to multilateralism are not abating. It is concerning that policymakers in some of the world’s largest economies continue to pursue protectionist or nationalist policies that are not in line with global integration on trade and development. We reaffirm our support for a rules-based, non-discriminatory, fair, open, inclusive, equitable, sustainable, and transparent, multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its We encourage countries to contribute to the strengthening of multilateralism through ongoing initiatives. These include the Bretton Woods Initiative, which seeks to develop a long-term perspective on the global economy and the roles of the IMF and World Bank, and the Fourth Conference on Financing for Development, a forum aimed at identifying obstacles and constraints to the achievement of the SDGs and supporting the reform of the international financial architecture. We call for enhanced collaboration and cooperation among multilateral institutions to ensure a coherent and collaborative approach towards multilateralism.

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER:

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    @IMFSpokesperson

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: The H.R. MacMillan Space Centre in Vancouver shines bright with new federal funding

    Source: Government of Canada News

    News release

    VANCOUVER, October 22, 2024

    Cultural institutions inspire curiosity and wonder, strengthening community connections and creating opportunities to explore diverse perspectives.

    Today, Taleeb Noormohamed, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage, announced an investment of $350,000 in the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre Society. He made this announcement on behalf of the Honorable Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Canadian Heritage.

    This funding, provided through the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund, will allow the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre Society to upgrade and modernize its Planetarium Star Theatre, and support the purchase and installation of new state-of-the-art equipment, including projectors and computers.

    This specialized technology will enable the Space Centre to offer more innovative and creative programming, develop a broader range of content, and encourage collaboration across cultural and technological sectors, given the many community organizations that also use the Planetarium Star Theatre.

    The H.R. MacMillan Space Centre Society is also exploring exciting possibilities for the theatre in spatial computing, virtual reality and augmented reality, expanding the impact of this investment beyond hardware replacement.

    Quotes

    “For more than half a century, the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre has inspired generations of British Columbians to look to the skies, cementing a love of science and space education for visitors of all ages and backgrounds. This funding ensures that the Planetarium Star Theatre will remain at the forefront of innovation, captivating audiences with high-quality programming and experiences. It is not only an investment in creativity and vision, but also in the future of learning. I am over the moon that Canadian Heritage is a partner in this important modernization project.”

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

    “The improvements to the Planetarium Star Theatre will not only elevate visitor experiences, but expand the horizons of possibility, transforming how we engage with science, culture and technology. With upgraded projectors and computers, the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre can continue to share the wonders of our planet and the cosmos without technological restriction. This project reflects our government’s commitment to supporting vibrant and accessible cultural spaces that enrich our communities.”

    —Taleeb Noormohamed, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage

    “As the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre embarks on an exciting new chapter, we are profoundly grateful to Canadian Heritage for its crucial support for the Planetarium Star Theatre upgrades. This funding arrives at a pivotal moment, with advancements in space science and technology accelerating, and Vancouver emerging as a dynamic hub for technology and innovation. Our revitalized dome will not only inspire future innovators but also serve as an immersive platform for storytelling, celebrating the shared history with our Host First Nations. We look forward to fostering vibrant cross-disciplinary partnerships in this remarkable journey ahead.”

    —Lorraine Lowe, Executive Director, H.R. MacMillan Space Centre

    Quick facts

    • The H.R. MacMillan Space Centre Society oversees the operations and management of the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre, located in Vanier Park in Vancouver. The Space Centre opened in 1968 and welcomes more than 145,000 visitors every year.  The organization shares its facility with the Museum of Vancouver.

    • The Planetarium Star Theatre is the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre’s main attraction and features a dome screen that provides a 360-degree immersive experience. As the largest theatre of its kind in British Columbia, it can seat up to 230 guests.

    • The Canada Cultural Spaces Fund supports improvements to the physical conditions for arts, heritage, culture and creative innovation. The Fund also supports renovation and construction projects, the acquisition of specialized equipment and feasibility studies related to cultural spaces.

    Associated links

    Contacts

    For more information (media only), please contact:

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

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

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Applications are now open for business growth and artificial intelligence projects

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Eligible southern Ontario businesses and organizations can now apply for support to grow, innovate and diversify, including targeted investments for artificial intelligence projects.

    Eligible southern Ontario businesses and organizations can now apply for support to grow, innovate and diversify, including targeted investments for artificial intelligence projects

    October 22, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario   

    The Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) works with businesses and organizations to support strong and inclusive economic growth throughout Canada’s most populous region.

    Today, the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, announced that the fall intake is open for eligible small- and medium-sized businesses, and the organizations that support them, for projects that support business growth and artificial intelligence (AI).

    FedDev Ontario is delivering the national Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative (RAII) in southern Ontario. Support is available for projects that accelerate the development of the AI sector in the region and for businesses and organizations to adopt or integrate AI to improve operational efficiency, productivity and competitiveness.

    Targeted regional support is available for projects that help businesses grow, innovate and diversify so they can launch new products, compete in a changing marketplace, or reach new customers. Not-for-profit and community economic development organizations can apply for funding to support businesses, grow economic networks and strengthen the economic resilience of our communities.

    Applications for all initiatives are being accepted until December 20, 2024. For more information and to apply, visit the FedDev Ontario website. Indigenous businesses and organizations are encouraged to contact the Agency’s dedicated team at 1-877-553-5507 or visit Funding and support for Indigenous businesses and organizations.

    Edward Hutchinson
    Press Secretary
    Office of the Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
    Edward.Hutchinson@feddevontario.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Brown Announces New Investment at John Glenn Columbus International Airport

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Ohio Sherrod Brown

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced a new $8.5 million investment for the John Glenn Columbus International Airport. The investment will be used to acquire five passenger boarding bridges and associated ground power units.

    “Ohio airports are vital infrastructure supporting travel and commerce in our state,” Brown said. “These investments will enhance operations at John Glenn Columbus International Airport and improve travel for Ohioans.”

    The Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration awarded these investments as a part of its FY 2025 Airport Terminal Program. The Airport Terminal Program is made possible through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Brown helped write and pass.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Brown Announces New Investment at Port Bucyrus-Crawford County Airport

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Ohio Sherrod Brown

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced a new $1.9 million investment for the Port Bucyrus-Crawford County Airport. The investment will be used to design and construct a new 2,400 square foot general aviation terminal for area and regional fliers.

    “Ohio airports are vital infrastructure supporting travel and commerce in our state,” Brown said. “These investments will enhance operations at Port Bucyrus-Crawford County Airport and improve travel for Ohioans.”

    The Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration awarded these investments as a part of its FY 2025 Airport Terminal Program. The Airport Terminal Program is made possible through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Brown helped write and pass.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: WSJ Ed Board Promotes Ernst’s Telework Transparency Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)
    WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, the Wall Street Journal Editorial Board highlighted Senator Joni Ernst’s (R-Iowa) oversight of federal telework abuse and her bipartisan Telework Transparency Act, which would bring accountability to the billions wasted on unused space and the bureaucrats failing to serve Americans.
    Since August 2023, Ernst has been demanding investigations into 24 federal departments and agencies to determine the impact of telework on their delivery and response times.
    The Absent Government Workforce
    Fully remote work lives on among federal workers, and it’s costing taxpayers.
    By: The Editorial Board
    Working from home every day is a fading memory for most Americans, but it’s become a permanent perk of government work, leaving federal offices vacant. Some lawmakers want to give agencies two options: Call your staff back in or sell off wasted space.
    Sens. Joni Ernst (R., Iowa) and Gary Peters (D., Mich.) are behind the ultimatum. Under their Telework Transparency Act, each federal agency would have to lay out its work-from-home policy and count how many people come into the office. That would give Congress the data it needs to crack down on laggards. The Senate Homeland Security Committee approved the bill by a 12-2 vote last month.
    Congressional action is overdue since nearly every agency has let mass absence linger. Not one of the 24 largest agencies used even half of its office space during a three-month period last year, according to the Office of Personnel Management. The Social Security Administration was essentially a ghost town, with 7% of space occupied.
    Mass government telework has been costly and sometimes crooked. At the Commerce Department, nearly a quarter of sampled employees continued to claim residence in Washington or other pricey cities after moving to less expensive places, which let them keep a higher pay level. Sen. Ernst has catalogued cases of federal employees golfing, taking bubble baths and even sitting in jail on Uncle Sam’s time.
    Yet the Biden Administration has stonewalled attempts to learn the scale of the problem. The nonprofit watchdog Open the Books requested location data for federal workers under the Freedom of Information Act. The Administration returned a document with 281,000 redactions, making it impossible to know how many workers even claim they’re still in the capital.
    The bright side is that once the numbers are gathered, an existing law will force agencies to act. The Federal Property Management Reform Act mandates that the executive branch create and carry out annual plans to reduce unused space. Many agencies have dodged this by being vague about how much space they’re wasting, but the Senate bill would shed light into their vacant cubicles.
    Federal office space eats up about $7 billion a year, including the cost of leasing, maintenance and operations. Selling even some of that would produce worthwhile savings, and perhaps force an agency or two into running more efficiently.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper, Bennet, Polis Call on Reclamation to Ensure Colorado Tribes Have Access to Drought, Water Management Funding

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Colorado John Hickenlooper
    Leaders push for opportunities for Tribal Nations to apply for drought mitigation dollars following recent Bureau of Reclamation determination on Inflation Reduction Act funds
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet and Governor Jared Polis called on the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) to explore new opportunities for the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and Southern Ute Indian Tribe to access federal funding for drought and water supply management. USBR recently announced that forbearance proposals – paying water users to forgo water use, like the projects the Tribal Nations had planned to submit – will not be considered in the upcoming Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding round aimed to increase water conservation and efficiency in the Upper Colorado River Basin.    
    “We write to urge you to ensure that the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and Ute Mountain Ute Tribe (“the Colorado Tribal Nations”) have the opportunity to apply for funding programs that address drought and water supply management in the Colorado River Basin, including through upcoming drought mitigation funding under the Inflation Reduction Act,” wrote the lawmakers.
    “We strongly encourage you to explore other avenues for Colorado’s Tribal Nations to pursue funding related to drought response, recognizing that they are currently forgoing their water use not by choice, but resulting from a history of inequity reflected in their long-term lack of infrastructure.”
    The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and Southern Ute Indian Tribe hold combined water rights to over 33,000 acre-feet of water in Lake Nighthorse southwest of Durango but lack adequate infrastructure to deliver that water to their reservations. As a result, the Tribal Nations currently cannot use or benefit from their water, and it flows downstream to other users.
    The Tribal Nations planned to apply for IRA funding to receive compensation for forgoing development of their water rights, but recently learned that their planned project would not qualify under the upcoming IRA drought funding announcement. In the letter, the lawmakers urge USBR to explore alternative funding opportunities that could better suit the needs of the Colorado Tribal Nations.
    Hickenlooper and Bennet fought for $8 billion for western water infrastructure, $10 billion for forests, $19 billion for agricultural conservation, and $4 billion for drought in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
    The text of the letter is available HERE or below.
    Dear Commissioner Touton:
    We write to urge you to ensure that the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and Ute Mountain Ute Tribe (“the Colorado Tribal Nations”) have the opportunity to apply for funding programs that address drought and water supply management in the Colorado River Basin, including through upcoming drought mitigation funding under the Inflation Reduction Act.
    As you know, Colorado’s two federally-recognized Tribal Nations had intended to apply for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s (USBR) Upper Colorado River Basin Inflation Reduction Act funding for water supply purposes, known as “Bucket 2 Water Supply,” or “B2W” funding. The Colorado Tribal Nations had planned to apply in a bid to receive compensation for forgoing use of certain water rights as recognized under the Colorado Ute Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 1988 (as amended in 2000). For decades since that Act’s passage, the Colorado Tribal Nations have lacked the infrastructure needed to fully develop their allocated water supply. The Colorado Tribal Nations’ intent to develop uses for their legally recognized settlement water reflects their demand for full utilization of their water rights, despite challenges relating to infrastructure and other issues.
    The Colorado Tribal Nations were disheartened to learn that USBR’s forthcoming B2W funding announcement would not be open to projects such as those they originally planned, which would seek compensation for a forbearance of future development of their settlement water. We understand that USBR believes this activity will not qualify as a verifiable reduction in water use that can be compensated under B2W. Still, we must stress that a Tribe’s lack of opportunity to develop those supplies does not equate to a lack of demand – nor should it foreclose other opportunities for that Tribe, including those under the Inflation Reduction Act. 
    We strongly encourage you to explore other avenues for Colorado’s Tribal Nations to pursue funding related to drought response, recognizing that they are currently forgoing their water use not by choice, but resulting from a history of inequity reflected in their long-term lack of infrastructure. We ask that you work with the Colorado Tribal Nations and provide them sufficient time to apply if your agency determines another funding opportunity or source may be better suited to their needs – whether this be USBR’s environmentally-focused funding for the Upper Basin known as “Bucket 2 Environmental” or “B2E”, or another source yet to be identified. 
    We value your leadership and continued willingness to work with us on efforts to promote the health of the Colorado River Basin. We also appreciate your attention to addressing the longstanding inequities that Colorado’s Tribal Nations have faced, and we look forward to working with you to ensure that paths toward a more equitable future remain open for them.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper, Bennet, Neguse Welcome $47 Million from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for U.S. 287 Safety Improvements in Larimer, Boulder Counties

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Colorado John Hickenlooper
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet and U.S. Representative Joe Neguse welcomed over $47 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for wildlife safety improvements around U.S. Highway 287 in Larimer County. The funding comes from DOT’s Wildlife Crossing Pilot Program, which was created and supported by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
    “Wildlife crossings save lives by dramatically reducing traffic collisions with animals,” said Hickenlooper. “Infrastructure updates like these are exactly why we passed the infrastructure bill.”
    “U.S. 287 helps connect communities across Northern Colorado, and historic funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will improve roadway safety while meeting the needs of Colorado’s growing population. I’m pleased to see Colorado continue to benefit from the most significant investment in America’s roads, bridges, and essential infrastructure since President Eisenhower built the interstate highway system,” said Bennet.
    “The US 287 corridor is one of Colorado’s main north-south routes, serving as a gateway to Boulder, Longmont, Loveland, and Fort Collins. I’m proud to have helped secure $47 million in federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for the improvement and redevelopment of this major roadway, which will help connect countless communities and improve roadway safety,” said Neguse.
    Every year, more than a million collisions between American drivers and wildlife cost over $8 billion and result in approximately tens of thousands of serious injuries and hundreds of fatalities across the country. This infrastructure project is expected to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions in the area by at least 80 percent.
    Specifically, this funding will help Larimer County and Colorado’s Department of Transportation:
    Construct wildlife crossings and intersection improvements
    Add passing lanes and centerline rumble strips
    Widen shoulders where needed
    Install a median barrier from the Colorado-Wyoming state border to the Boulder County line
    “In Colorado, we are committed to ensuring the safety and protection of Coloradans on the road and avoiding costly wildlife-vehicle collisions. Thanks to the Colorado Department of Transportation for their efforts to secure this funding, Senator Bennet, Senator Hickenlooper, House Assistant Democratic Leader Neguse for their leadership, and the Biden-Harris administration for providing our state with $47 million in funding to continue reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions and help create a safer Colorado for travelers and wildlife in Larimer County and on our roads,” said Colorado Governor Jared Polis.
    “US-287 connects bustling communities in Northern Colorado and is an important connector between Colorado and our neighbors in Wyoming. This grant will make it possible to address long-needed safety improvements across this growing corridor and to continue our nation-leading efforts to protect against wildlife collisions. We appreciate the strong support of our Congressional delegation and our strong partnership with Larimer county as well as Wyoming to pursue and advocate for this grant. We are grateful to the U.S. Department of Transportation for funding the grant with dollars from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” said Shoshana Lew, Executive Director, CDOT.
    “We are grateful for this critical funding for CDOT and the support received from Senator Bennet, Senator Hickenlooper, and Congressman Neguse. Improving road safety and protecting our residents is a top priority for Larimer County. This investment in Highway 287 will help ensure safer travel through our region,” said Kristin Stephens, Larimer County Commissioner.
    In September, the lawmakers sent a letter to DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg supporting funding for the wildlife crossing and roadway safety improvements along U.S. 287. In 2023, Hickenlooper welcomed $22 million for other wildlife crossing projects in Colorado after urging leadership to prioritize natural infrastructure restoration, resilience, and reclamation in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cramer, Merkley Request Update from Army Corps on Initiating the Western Water Cooperative Committee

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
    BISMARCK, N.D. – The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2022 included bipartisan language from U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee, and Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chairman of the Senate EPW Subcommittee on Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice, and Regulatory Oversight, directing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to establish the Western Water Cooperative Committee (WWCC). The purpose of the WWCC is to ensure the USACE flood control projects in western states are operated consistent with congressional directives and adhere to state water rights and water laws. The legislation was signed into law December 2022, and in March 2024, Congress fully funded the committee. 
    During an EPW Committee hearing in February, Cramer asked Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Mike Connor for a status update on the WWCC. In his response, Connor stated, “We’re teed up ready to go, but we do need the resources to implement.” Less than two weeks later, Congress fully funded the WWCC, but more than half a year later, it has not been established.  
    Cramer and Merkley sent a letter today to the USACE requesting an update on the WWCC. 
    “The Committee was created to ensure Army Corps water projects in Western states adhere to applicable state water rights and water laws,” the senators wrote. “It also provides a critical platform of dialogue for western states to better coordinate with the Army Corps. We firmly believe the increased communication and transparency will facilitate improved collaboration. Western states across the political spectrum were advocates of this committee and are anxiously awaiting its commencement.”
    “Within 30 days, we request an update on the implementation of the directive outlined in WRDA 2022 as well as a specific timeline for when the Committee will be formally established and conduct its first meeting,” the senators concluded.
    Click here for the letter.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Salinas, Wyden, Merkley Announce Nearly $1 Million to Support Affordable Housing for Oregon Farmworkers

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06)

    Washington, DC — Today, U.S. Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06), along with Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded $956,333 for a project to rehabilitate Villa Del Sol, a multifamily affordable housing complex in McMinnville that serves farmworkers and their families.

    “Despite being the backbone of our agricultural economy, many farmworkers still can’t afford to feed their families or put a roof over their heads. As the daughter of a former farmworker, I’m committed to changing that reality – which is why I am so proud to announce this federal funding for Community Home Builders in Yamhill County,” said Rep. Salinas. “These dollars will be used to deliver safe, affordable housing for farmworkers and their families here in the mid-Valley. It’s a critical step in the right direction, and I’ll keep fighting for investments just like this one that will help us make housing more accessible and affordable for Oregonians.”

    “Housing is a human right, and farmworkers in Oregon deserve affordable and secure living options,” said Sen. Wyden. “I’m gratified this McMinnville housing complex has earned nearly $1 million in federal funds to provide that housing for farmworkers and their families. And I’ll continue pressing for similar investments in housing for agricultural workers and every person statewide.”

    “Making sure families have access to safe and affordable housing in the communities where they work is essential,” said Sen. Merkley. “This federal investment will help ensure safer, more modern housing for the farmworkers in Yamhill County who work every day to help feed families across Oregon and America. I will keep fighting to deliver necessary housing resources like this so everyone in our state can thrive and live healthy lives.”

    “Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA Rural Development has invested over $1 billion in creating safe, affordable housing options for rural Oregonians,” said USDA Rural Housing Administrator Joaquin Altoro. “We are proud of our partnership with Community Home Builders and it is an honor to see these investments increase the health and wellbeing of Oregon’s farm workers.”

    The funding comes from USDA Rural Development’s Off-Farm Labor Housing Program, which helps property owners make health and safety repairs, accessibility improvements, energy efficiency upgrades, and more to benefit their tenants. Across five states, the Off-Farm Labor Housing Program is awarding a total of $18 million in grants and loans to improve approximately 500 homes, including Villa Del Sol in Oregon.

    Community Home Builders in Yamhill County will use the $956,333 federal award to significantly rehabilitate eight two-bedroom, 12 three-bedroom, and four four-bedroom units at Villa Del Sol. The improvements will not only enhance living conditions for the 24 tenants who are expected to benefit from the project, but all future farmworkers and their families who will call the housing complex home. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Buenos Aires Sets Global Precedent by Empowering 3.6 Million Citizens with Blockchain-based Digital Identity on miBA platform

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, Oct. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

    • QuarkID, powered by ZKsync, marks world’s first government-enabled decentralized digital identity
    • ZKsync-powered QuarkID becomes first decentralized ID enabled by a government entity

    Today, the Government of the City of Buenos Aires announces the integration of QuarkID, a ZKsync-powered decentralized identity solution, into its miBA platform. This groundbreaking initiative makes Buenos Aires the first city worldwide to implement blockchain and zero-knowledge cryptography for creating self-sovereign digital identities. By empowering 3.6 million residents with enhanced control over their personal data, the city sets a new standard in privacy and security for digital identity management.

    Starting October 1, 2024, all active users of miBA, the city’s digital platform for accessing government services and documents, received their own decentralized digital identity (DID). These DIDs are secured by QuarkID’s wallet and settled on Era, a Layer 2 blockchain powered by ZKsync. This initiative positions Buenos Aires as a pioneer in transforming government services through blockchain technology, setting a new global standard for privacy-focused digital identity.

    Empowering Citizens with Ownership and Control

    In a world where governments and institutions traditionally own and manage citizens’ data, Buenos Aires is turning the model upside down by giving citizens direct ownership of their personal information. Through QuarkID, individuals can now access, store, and share their verified credentials — like birth certificates or tax documents — securely and independently.

    This self-sovereign identity approach gives citizens control over their personal data. Rather than relying on physical documents that expose unnecessary information, such as a full name or address when proving one’s age, residents can now verify their credentials peer-to-peer through their mobile devices. This guarantees that no third party, including the government, can track when, how, or why a credential is being used.

    Jorge Macri, Chief of Government of the City of Buenos Aires, commented on the news: “The incorporation of zero-knowledge blockchain technology into the City’s digital identity system is an unprecedented milestone that positions us globally and once again demonstrates that the City of Buenos Aires is at the forefront of innovation. Adopting new technologies that simplify citizens’ processes and grant them full control over their information is a fundamental step to continue offering more secure and transparent digital solutions.”

    The Benefits of Decentralized Identity

    At the core of this initiative are QuarkID’s open-source digital trust framework powered by ZKsync’s zero-knowledge proof blockchain technology, which brings a new level of security, privacy, and transparency to how personal data is managed:

    • Privacy and Zero-Knowledge Proofs: With QuarkID powered by ZKsync Era, citizens can verify the accuracy of their credentials without ever exposing their personal data. Through zero-knowledge proofs, only the necessary information is revealed — for instance, confirming an individual’s age without disclosing their full birthdate, address, or document number. This ensures maximum privacy while maintaining verifiable accuracy.
    • Ownership and Control: Citizens now have full custody over their digital credentials, stored securely on their mobile devices and protected by biometric encryption. They are no longer reliant on centralized systems that retain and manage their data on their behalf, significantly reducing the risks of data breaches and identity theft.
    • Security and Immutability: ZKsync’s decentralized architecture adds an additional layer of security. Proof of citizen’s personal credentials are settled on chain , making them far less vulnerable to cyberattacks.The verification of these credentials occurs through a secure peer-to-peer system, with zero-knowledge proofs ensuring that no personally identifiable information (PII) is ever exposed.
    • Open Source and Scalable: QuarkID’s architecture is open-source and has been recognized as a Digital Public Good (DPG) working towards achieving the SDGs set by the United Nations. By making it accessible to cities, governments, and private enterprises across Latin America and beyond. This framework is designed to scale, encouraging banks, sports teams, artists, and businesses to adopt QuarkID and offer secure login solutions for citizens with endless possibilities such as providing exclusive benefits, including loyalty programs or discounts for verified users.

    “We’ve seen a lot of blockchain-based innovation in financial services, but this initiative demonstrates the power of blockchain to revolutionize other uses cases such as government services by empowering citizens to safely and securely own their data,” said Diego Fernandez, Secretary of Innovation and Digital Transformation of the City of Buenos Aires. “By giving residents control over their identities, we’re not only improving privacy and security, but we’re also setting the foundation for a future where personal data ownership is a basic right, protected by advanced zero-knowledge-based cryptographic proofs.”

    QuarkID: Present and Future

    Since the initial announcement of QuarkID in September 2023, Buenos Aires has worked closely with partners such as Extrimian to transition miBA’s centralized system to a decentralized one. QuarkID allows residents to view, download, and share documents while also serving as the login portal for all government systems to schedule appointments, carry out procedures, or submit requests. Citizens can now access any of the City’s systems (previously miBA login) by simply scanning a QR code—no password required.

    With the integration of QuarkID, miBA users will have access to over 60 digital documents and certificates, including but not limited to:

    • Birth, marriage, and death certificates
    • Student certificates
    • Vaccination certificates
    • Gross income tax certificates
    • Citizen credentials

    In the coming months, additional documents, such as driver’s licenses, public space permits, and high school diplomas, will be added. This innovation will also allow users to add credentials from other organizations that adopt the QuarkID protocol, enhancing the platform’s versatility and usability.

    In addition to its use in Buenos Aires, QuarkID has successfully conducted pilot programs in Mexico, Colombia, and Peru, and is slated for future adoption in other Argentine provinces, including Salta.

    Diego Fernández, Secretary of Innovation and Digital Transformation from the Buenos Aires City Government commented: “When we developed the open-source protocol QuarkID, one of our main goals was for the Government of the City of Buenos Aires to be not its owner but another user, allowing over 3 million citizens to have their official documents in their miBA wallet, secured by the ZKsync Era blockchain. Today, this is a reality, and we are very proud that this development positions us as pioneers in the region and the world”.

    QuarkID: Open-Source Collaboration for Secure Digital Identity

    As an open-source Digital Public Good, QuarkID invites developers, enterprises, and institutions to contribute to its continued growth. The framework offers a secure, decentralized infrastructure that can be adapted for secure logins, identity verification, and even loyalty programs across various industries.

    • Developers: Contribute to QuarkID’s core protocol to help expand secure login capabilities for citizens. Learn more and get involved through the open-source codebase at [GitHub link].
    • Private Enterprises: Banks, sports teams, and businesses are encouraged to enable secure logins and offer exclusive benefits to verified citizens, helping build a more secure and engaging ecosystem for everyone.

    About miBA

    miBA is the digital platform for accessing services and documents issued by the Government of Buenos Aires. Used by more than 3.6 million residents, miBA offers secure access to government services, document viewing, and management, all from a mobile app. Now, with the integration of QuarkID technology, miBA is taking a major step toward self-sovereign digital identity, giving citizens more control and security over their personal data.

    About QuarkID

    QuarkID is a digital protocol that implements a new trust framework for creating and managing digital identities and all their credentials in a decentralized manner, using asymmetric cryptography and the immutability of the blockchain to establish trust in a digital world. It is open-source and based on international standards such as those from W3C, Trust Over IP, and Decentralized Identity Foundation. It is designed to be interoperable with other protocols created around the world.

    About Extrimian

    Extrimian is a leading company in Latin America specializing in digital identity solutions on the blockchain. Its mission is to empower individuals and organizations through decentralized technologies that allow full control over digital identity and personal data.

    About ZKsync

    ZKsync leverages cutting-edge zero-knowledge (ZK) technology to create secure, scalable, and interoperable blockchain solutions. Through its ZK Stack framework, ZKsync enables developers, enterprises, and financial institutions to deploy customizable ZK Chains, forming the Elastic Chain ecosystem. This innovative network offers native, trustless interoperability, enhanced privacy, and unparalleled scalability while maintaining Ethereum’s security. ZKsync’s mission is to bring crypto to the mainstream, empowering millions of developers and billions of users with digital self-ownership and personal freedom. To learn more, users can visit zksync.io.

    Contact

    Henri Vies

    mgroup@matterlabs.dev

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: McCaul on Reported Leak of Classified Information

    Source: US House Committee on Foreign Affairs

    Media Contact 202-226-8467

    Austin, Texas – Today, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul issued the following statement expressing concern over the alleged leak of classified information on Israel’s planned attack on Iran.

    “I am very concerned by the reported leak of classified information. Any leak of this gravity would be an inexcusable breach of U.S. national security with serious consequences, including damaging America’s relationship with our allies and credibility on the world stage. We must find out who was responsible for this criminal conduct and hold them fully accountable. I urge the Biden-Harris administration and the FBI to keep Congress updated on this incident and on their plans for new safeguards to prevent future leaks.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta, Together with Local, State, and Federal Law Enforcement Partners, Announces Eradication of 774,829 Cannabis Plants and 106,141 Pounds of Illegally-Grown Cannabis Worth over $353 Million

    Source: US State of California

    LOS ANGELES – California Attorney General Rob Bonta, together with local and federal law enforcement partners, today announced the eradication of 774,829 illegally cultivated cannabis plants and 106,141 pounds of processed cannabis, as well as 282 arrests in 36 different counties across California as part of Eradication and Prevention of Illicit Cannabis (EPIC) program. The total underground market price for these seizures is valued at approximately $353 million. EPIC is an interagency task force focused on combating the illegal cannabis market, cannabis enforcement work, and investigating and prosecuting civil and criminal cases with a focus on environmental, economic, and labor impacts from illegal cultivation.

    “California has the largest safe, legal, and regulated cannabis market in the world, but unfortunately illegal and unlicensed grows continue to proliferate,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “The EPIC program was forged out of our recognition of the need for a more comprehensive approach that addresses the broader implications of the underground cannabis market. This includes tackling the environmental damage caused by these illicit activities, as well as the economic ramifications that arise from unregulated cultivation. Furthermore, there is a growing concern about labor exploitation within this underground market, where workers may face unsafe conditions and unfair treatment. I want to express my gratitude to the various partners involved in this effort, including local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. Together, we are working toward a solution that not only curtails illegal activities but also promotes a sustainable and equitable cannabis industry in the state.”

    “California has the largest state park system in the country with 1.59 million acres of park land to protect,” said California State Parks Law Enforcement Assistant Chief Jeremy Stinson. “Unfortunately, illegal cannabis cultivation is a serious threat to that land with more than 400 sites documented. California State Parks appreciates being a partner agency within EPIC to help address this issue. Protecting our state’s natural resources for all Californians and future generations is an important part of our mission. We look forward to continuing this valuable partnership to preserve and protect California’s state parks system.” 

    “California cannabis enforcement has a long way to go to ensure that the illicit cannabis doesn’t make it into the legal market,” said San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus. “Partnerships like EPIC are a major step forward in tackling this problem.”

    Over the course of the 2024 season, EPIC teams operating in Northern, Central, and Southern California, conducted 665 operations, recovered 201 weapons, and removed infrastructure, including dams, water lines, and containers of toxic chemicals, such as carbofuran, methyl parathion, aluminum phosphate, zinc phosphide, and illegal fertilizers. Carbofuran, in particular, poses untold risks to public health. A lethal insecticide that is effectively banned in the United States, carbofuran remains on plants after application and seeps into soil and nearby water sources. 

    In 2024, EPIC operations were conducted in the following 36 counties:

    • Alameda: 1 site, 751 plants eradicated
    • Butte: 5 sites, 4,397 plants eradicated
    • Colusa: 3 sites, 10 plants eradicated
    • Contra Costa: 2 sites, 5,010 plants eradicated
    • El Dorado: 8 sites, 2,174 plants eradicated
    • Fresno: 31 sites, 52,796 plants eradicated
    • Glenn: 1 site, 747 plants eradicated
    • Kern: 60 sites, 89,819 plants eradicated
    • Kings: 1 site, 539 plants eradicated
    • Lake: 48 sites, 42,776 plants eradicated
    • Lassen: 1 site, 7,359 plants eradicated
    • Los Angeles: 3 sites, 3,684 plants eradicated
    • Madera: 3 sites, 1,230 plants eradicated
    • Mariposa: 2 sites, 1,368 plants eradicated
    • Mendocino: 116 sites, 133,702 plants eradicated
    • Nevada: 33 sites, 28,428 plants eradicated
    • Riverside: 79 sites, 136,601 plants eradicated
    • Sacramento: 13 sites, 46,042 plants eradicated
    • San Bernardino: 23 sites, 27,845 plants eradicated
    • San Diego: 7 sites, 9,301 plants eradicated
    • Santa Barbara: 1 site, 362 plants eradicated
    • Santa Clara: 2 sites, 1,012 plants eradicated
    • Shasta: 67 sites, 51,289 plants eradicated
    • Siskiyou: 98 sites, 67,943 plants eradicated
    • Stanislaus: 6 sites, 5,103 plants eradicated
    • Trinity: 38 sites, 32,381 plants eradicated
    • Tulare: 7 sites, 5,468 plants eradicated
    • Tuolumne: 2 sites, 7,637 plants eradicated
    • Ventura: 3 sites, 7,891 plants eradicated
    • Yuba: 2 sites, 1,164 plants eradicated
    • Monterey: reconnaissance only
    • Napa: reconnaissance only
    • San Benito: reconnaissance only
    • San Luis Obispo: reconnaissance only
    • Santa Cruz: reconnaissance only
    • Solano: reconnaissance only

    The EPIC program focuses on the investigation and prosecution of civil and criminal cases relating to illicit cannabis cultivation with a focus on environmental and economic harms and labor exploitation. EPIC is a multi-agency collaboration led by DOJ in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s U.S. Forest Service; the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service; the California Department of Fish and Wildlife; the U.S. Department of Justice’s Drug Enforcement Administration; the California National Guard, Counter Drug Task Force; the Central Valley High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program; California State Parks; California Environmental Protection Agency; and other local law enforcement departments.

    EPIC marks an evolution in DOJ’s cannabis enforcement work, reflecting the issues and concerns arising from operations each summer. EPIC works in close coordination with DOJ’s Cannabis Control Section, Special Prosecutions Section, and Tax Recovery and Underground Economy (TRUE) Task Force to build investigations and prosecute civil and criminal cases.

    B-roll of the operations produced by DOJ are available for use by producers and members of the media. Please contact agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov. 

    Graphics of 2024 EPIC season statistics are available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: McCaul on State Department OIG Reports: “Persistent Refusal to Address Systemic Issues”

    Source: US House Committee on Foreign Affairs

    Media Contact 202-226-8467

    Austin, Texas – House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul issued the below statement following receipt of two reports from the State Department’s inspector general (IG), which further confirm the chairman’s investigative finding that U.S. Embassy Kabul abandoned and failed to secure significant amounts of sensitive security assets, including firearms and other lethal weapons, during the chaotic evacuation from Afghanistan. The IG reports also found the department has been unwilling and unable to learn from those mistakes. 

    “These reports by the State Department’s own inspector general confirm my investigation’s findings of willful blindness and dangerous negligence by key State Department officials at Embassy Kabul. They left valuable lethal assets available to the Taliban, who can use those same weapons in their oppression of the Afghan people, support for terrorist groups, and hostilities against the United States. In a world where Americans and our interests abroad are increasingly threatened by our adversaries, the State Department’s persistent refusal to address systemic issues is unacceptable. I will continue working to keep the United States safe and will not relent in pursuing the transparency and accountability Americans deserve.”

    Background:

    The State Department’s Inspector General recently released two reports: (1) Management Assistance Report: The Department Would Benefit From a Formal, Systematic Methodology To Capture and Utilize Lessons Learned Following Post Evacuations (U); and (2) Audit of the Disposition of Sensitive Security Assets at U.S. Embassies Kabul, Afghanistan, and Kyiv, Ukraine (SBU).

    According to the IG reports, U.S. Embassy Kabul abandoned 26% of its special protective equipment holdings and 63% of its total armored vehicle fleet in Afghanistan, with many of those abandoned assets intact for use by the Taliban.

    These findings are consistent with Chairman McCaul’s September 9 report, which — through public hearings, transcribed interviews, and document discovery — revealed how the State Department’s willful blindness to the deteriorating situation during the Afghanistan withdrawal resulted in a failure to plan for a Taliban takeover of the country and the deadly Abbey Gate ISIS-K terrorist attack killing 13 U.S. servicemembers and over 170 Afghan civilians.

    Click here to read the chairman’s full report.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Businesses can now apply to Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative in the Prairie provinces

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    Government of Canada invests $200 million to help businesses adopt AI and bring new technologies and solutions to market

    October 22, 2024 – Edmonton, Alberta – PrairiesCan

    Artificial Intelligence (AI) represents a transformational opportunity for Canadian businesses. To ensure that Canada stays at the forefront of innovation, the Government of Canada is making strategic investments that will help drive AI adoption across the country. This includes $200 million over five years for Canada’s regional development agencies, including PrairiesCan, to deliver the Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative (RAII) to help businesses bring new AI technologies to market and speed up AI adoption in sectors across the country.

    Today, the Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister responsible for PrairiesCan, announced that businesses and organizations can now apply for the new initiative in the Prairie provinces.

    The funding will support eligible businesses to take their AI projects and technologies from the lab to the marketplace. Funding is also available to not for profits organizations supporting businesses to develop, demonstrate and commercialize their AI applications and solutions.

    Applications are being accepted until December 31, 2028. For more information on eligibility criteria and eligible costs, or to apply to the Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative, visit the PrairiesCan web page.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Subcommittee Chair Bean, Committee Chair Foxx Work to Protect Career and Technical Education Programs

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Aaron Bean Florida (4th District)

    WASHINGTON—In case you missed it, last week Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee Chairman Aaron Bean (FL-04) and Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (NC-05) questioned the Department of Education’s (ED) attempt to circumvent Congress and mire key career and technical education (CTE) programs in red tape. The two called on ED to withdraw its ill-advised changes to the State Plan Guide and Consolidated Annual Report for the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (Perkins V).

    Upon questioning the ED, Congressman Bean said, “The most valuable part of America’s job market is its skilled workforce. That’s why the Department of Education should empower local and state CTE programs, not drown them in paperwork. In Northeast Florida, we’ve consistently underscored the value of career and technical education and continue to prove how to do CTE right as we actively prepare young students for success in the modern economy. Now more than ever, we must work to strengthen the public education system and help employers access a pipeline of talented workers.”

    In the letter, the lawmakers write: “The proposed revisions to the Department of Education’s (Department) State Plan Guide and Consolidated Annual Report for the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (Perkins V) are problematic and we write to express our significant concerns with the Department’s action. These proposed revisions make substantive policy changes that exceed the Department’s authority under the law and will pose a significant and unjustified burden on state career and technical education (CTE) agencies, institutions of higher education, school districts, and CTE programs.”

    Read the full letter here.
     

    BACKGROUND: 

    In January 2024, Chairman Bean held a subcommittee hearing titled, “Preparing Students for Success in the Skills-Based Economy,” to highlight the role career and technical education (CTE) plays in filling America’s 8.8 million open jobs. Expert witnesses joined the subcommittee to affirm the successes of CTE, including the Fourth District’s own, Kelly Mosley, Career and Technical Education Supervisor of Clay County District Schools. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: ‘Nobody Wants This’ amps laughs about intermarriage in Judaism but intended humour hurts

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Celia E. Rothenberg, Associate Professor, Department of Religious Studies, McMaster University

    Kristen Bell and Adam Brody star in ‘Nobody Wants This.’ (Netflix)

    Netflix’s new rom-com Nobody Wants This debuted with great success: it occupied the No. 1 spot on Netflix’s Top 10 list for two weeks. It has been praised by a range of critics for its humour, “millennial magic” and pitch-perfect casting.

    Nobody Wants This presents viewers with a mix of classic stereotypes of both Jewish women and men, and the contemporary issue of intermarriage — marriage of two partners who are members of different religions — in Jewish communities.

    It revolves around a young, ambitious rabbi, Noah (Adam Brody), who falls in love with a non-Jewish woman, Joanne (Kristen Bell).

    Joanne and her sister Morgan (Justine Lupe) produce a podcast that features frank, spontaneous talk about sex and relationships, a discursive foil for Rabbi Noah’s carefully composed and tame sermons.

    The show is loosely inspired by creator Erin Foster’s own life as an agnostic woman who fell in love with her husband, Simon Tikhman, a Jewish man. Tikhman, although not a rabbi, wanted to marry a Jewish woman, leading Foster to convert to Judaism. Her conversion and involvement in her Jewish family led to the creation of Nobody Wants This.

    Foster has said she wanted to shed positive light on Jewish culture and her experiences of being brought into it.

    From my perspective as a scholar who has examined aspects of Jewish life and practice in North America, the problem is that Foster’s good intentions fall flat at best, and at worst, could hurt the very people Foster has joined.

    The character Joanne and her sister Morgan produce a podcast which features frank, spontaneous talk about sex and relationships.
    (Netflix)

    Stereotypes of women

    Quickly following the accolades, criticism of the show has particularly focused on its problematic stereotypes of Jewish women. Jessica Radloff wrote in Glamour that after watching two episodes she called her mom and said (speaking of Jewish women), “we come off as controlling, marriage-hungry women who want to plan dinner parties and alienate anyone who doesn’t share those same dreams.” Jessica Grose in the New York Times argues that nearly all the Jewish women in Nobody Wants This are “manipulative, spoiled and selfish.”

    Nobody Wants This reflects long-standing and popular Jewish stereotypes consistently featured in American films – the meddling matriarch, pampered princess and neurotic nebbish – stereotypes that have proven to be widely appealing and thus quite profitable.

    Rabbi Noah’s mother, Bina, is not only the meddling matriarch extreme version, but also a hypocrite who refuses to accept Joanne’s hostess gift when they first meet — a lovely charcuterie tray — because it contains pork (prosciutto). Joanne later discovers Bina secretly stuffing the prosciutto into her mouth.

    Noah’s ex-girlfriend, sister-in-law and their friends seem the epitome of pampered princesses, or JAPs (Jewish American Princesses) — one-dimensional characters who exclude Joanne from their social circle, often appearing overly concerned with jewelry or solely focused on husbands, children and social lives.

    The rabbi

    Foster has said the character of a weed-smoking Rabbi Noah defies stereotypes of a rabbi, yet he can equally be seen to echo the neurotic nebbish, an American Jewish man who is “emasculated, insecure, passive, … romantically obsessed with Gentile women.”

    While Rabbi Noah might be called “hot rabbi” at his Jewish summer camp by teen girls, he works to appease his mother’s demands, he can’t (really) play basketball and he won’t commit to his long-term Jewish girlfriend (who eventually finds his hidden engagement ring and gives it to herself).

    Foster has said these characters are “not, in my opinion, Jewish stereotypes. They’re comedic points of view,” and has also pointed to the show’s sensitive female characters, such as a female rabbi who welcomes Joanne. Present in the writer’s room, Foster noted, were Jewish women, including converts, as well as men with a variety of Jewish backgrounds.

    Rabbi Steve Leder, former senior rabbi of Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Los Angeles was also a consultant on the show.

    Trailer for ‘Nobody Wants This.’

    Perhaps there is some room for comedy here, but the timing is less than ideal. Antisemitism is at a new level of ferocity in the United States and around the world.

    Stereotypes, however potentially humorous, can create, affirm or increase prejudice and distorted understandings of Jews and Jewish life.

    Religious intermarriage

    And what of intermarriage, the seemingly most pressing issue standing between Rabbi Noah and Joanne?

    Is intermarriage so unimaginable, impractical and undesirable for rabbis and their congregants to navigate? There are rabbis who work within liberal streams of Judaism who are not only not opposed to intermarriage, but also in intermarriages themselves.

    Rabbi Gershon Winkler, a formerly Orthodox rabbi who left Orthodoxy and now identifies as independent, points to Jewish precedent for such marriages: the Biblical and Talmudic figures of Moses, Eliezer the High Priest, Joshua, Boaz and Rabbi Akiva who were all married to non-Jews.

    Intermarried rabbis exist within Humanist, Reform (Rabbi Noah’s most likely affiliation), Jewish Renewal and Reconstructionist Jewish movements, although not within Conservative and Orthodox streams.

    Statistics about intermarriage in the U.S. demonstrate quite a varied portrait of Jewish life: overall, 42 per cent of American Jewish adults have a non-Jewish spouse; among those who married after 2010, intermarriage rates reach 61 per cent. Of non-Orthodox Jews, 72 per cent are intermarried, while 98 per cent of Orthodox Jews report their spouse is Jewish.

    In real life, harmful stereotypes of Jews persist, while intermarriage in Jewish communities, lived by many couples and families in the U.S. and beyond, is a nuanced and rich reality reflecting many factors.

    Nobody Wants This makes for a successful and profitable rom-com that hurts some while others laugh.

    Celia E. Rothenberg 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. ‘Nobody Wants This’ amps laughs about intermarriage in Judaism but intended humour hurts – https://theconversation.com/nobody-wants-this-amps-laughs-about-intermarriage-in-judaism-but-intended-humour-hurts-241070

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: What are you really eating? 1 in 5 seafood products in our study were mislabelled

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Matthew R. J. Morris, Associate Professor of Biology, Ambrose University

    If you eat seafood, you could be unknowingly consuming an endangered species without realizing it due to fish mislabelling. Mislabelling is a worldwide issue, and it occurs when the species of fish you think you’re buying is not the one you actually receive.

    Tracing fish from capture to table is logistically complex, as fish products often pass through multiple countries. Along the way, products can be misidentified as another species or intentionally renamed to make more profit.

    For instance, a cheap fish like tilapia may be given the name of a more expensive fish, like red snapper, or an endangered species might be passed off as a better-faring alternative.

    Seafood mislabelling not only threatens vulnerable marine populations, but makes it harder for people to make informed, ethical choices about the food they eat.

    Searching for mislabelling in Calgary

    To investigate this issue in Canada, our recent research paper examined mislabelling and ambiguous market names in invertebrate and finfish products — fish with fins, like cod, salmon and tuna — in Calgary between 2014 and 2020. This was the first study of its kind in Canada to compare shellfish to finfish.

    University students sampled 347 finfish product and 109 shellfish — including shrimp, octopus and oysters — from Calgary restaurants and grocery stores. These samples were then genetically tested using a species-specific marker called a DNA barcode.

    In Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency maintains a Fish List that provides the acceptable common names for the labelling of fish in Canada.

    A seafood product was considered mislabelled if it was sold using a name not found on the Fish List for the DNA-identified species. For instance, there is only one species that can be sold under the name salmon: Atlantic salmon. If sockeye salmon was sold as salmon without any other qualifier, it was considered mislabelled.

    Seafood mislabelling not only threatens vulnerable marine populations, but makes it harder for people to make informed, ethical choices about the food they eat.
    (Shutterstock)

    1 in 5 seafood products were mislabelled

    We discovered that mislabelling is running rampant in Calgary, and that certain product names are more likely to hide species of conservation concern. The result: one in five finfish, and one in five shellfish, were not as advertised. These results fell within the predicted global rates of seafood mislabelling.

    It was not difficult for students to stumble upon examples of mislabelling. Notable findings include:

    • 100 per cent of snapper and red snapper products were mislabelled. They were either tilapia (79 per cent) or a species of rockfish or snapper that cannot be sold under those names (21 per cent).
    • Nine salmon products were determined to be rainbow trout, which are cheaper.
    • Three Pacific cod were determined to be Atlantic cod, which are listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
    • Two eel products were determined to be the critically endangered European eel.
    • Cuttlefish, squid and octopus were often mislabelled as one another.

    Some products, however, fared better than others. All Atlantic salmon, basa, halibut, mackerel, sockeye salmon and Pacific white shrimp were as advertised.

    Mislabelling hurts

    Calgary’s mislabelled seafoods has far-reaching and well-documented implications for public health, conservation and the economy.

    For instance, one student purchased “white tuna” at an all-you-can-eat sushi buffet that turned out to be escolar. Escolar is sometimes called the “laxative of the sea” for the effects its fatty acids can have on digestion. People have landed in the hospital because of this fish.

    Several examples of mislabelling involved substituting an expensive product for a cheaper species: tilapia for snapper, rainbow trout for Atlantic salmon. While companies in places like Miami and Mississippi have faced fines for such fraudulent practices, the global nature of fisheries makes legal action difficult.



    Read more:
    Confusion at the fish counter: How to eat fish responsibly

    European eel are critically endangered, yet students found this species twice in the Calgary market. There is a global black market for European eel and a Canadian company was fined in 2021 for illegally importing them.

    Although red snapper is faring poorly in the wild, replacing it with tilapia is not helping snapper conservation. Instead it provides an illusion of snapper abundance.

    The situation is even murkier when it comes to invertebrates like shrimp, squid and octopus. Unfortunately, so little is known about their conservation status that we couldn’t assess their risks.

    The study found that 100 per cent of snapper and red snapper products were mislabelled.
    (Shutterstock)

    What you can do

    If you eat seafood, there is a chance you could be misled as a consumer and end up eating threatened species. You can reduce these possibilities by doing the following:

    1. Purchase whole, head-on finfish whenever possible, as they are harder to mislabel.

    2. Purchase seafood products that are certified sustainable, as these have been shown to have lower rates of mislabelling.

    3. Purchase products that clearly name the exact species being purchased.

    4. Write to your MPs in support for laws seeking to trace fish from boat to table — Canada has improved its regulations, but it can do better.

    This will require that you brush up on your fish identification skills, but it’s a small price to pay for protecting our fish, saving on groceries and limiting unexpected and urgent trips to the restroom.

    Ambiguous names hide protected species

    To help vendors, the Fish List permits the use of ambiguous names, meaning the same name can be applied to multiple species. Snapper could refer to 96 different species, tuna to 14, cod to two. This helps vendors when related species are difficult to tell apart and is expected to reduce mislabelling.

    We noticed that seafood products with ambiguous names were just as likely to be mislabelled as those with precise names. We wondered: which is worse for conservation, mislabelling or ambiguous names? After all, tuna could legally include yellowfin tuna (least concern) or southern bluefin tuna (endangered).

    A statistical test found that ambiguous names were more important than mislabelling in hiding threatened species. This is a good thing, because it suggests there is a way consumers can help.

    Just as you wouldn’t go to a restaurant and order a “mammal sandwich,” why settle for “fish and chips?” If we as consumers can vote with our wallets by buying Pacific cod instead of cod, or yellowfin tuna instead of tuna, we can be more confident that we aren’t eating the ocean’s equivalent of the giant panda.

    Matthew R. J. Morris received funding from Internationalization at Home in Science Education (i@Home) for this research.

    – ref. What are you really eating? 1 in 5 seafood products in our study were mislabelled – https://theconversation.com/what-are-you-really-eating-1-in-5-seafood-products-in-our-study-were-mislabelled-240891

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Social Security Administration Commissioner Martin O’Malley and NC Health and Human Services Secretary Kody H. Kinsley Celebrate 70th Anniversary of the NC Disability Determination Services Program

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Social Security Administration Commissioner Martin O’Malley and NC Health and Human Services Secretary Kody H. Kinsley Celebrate 70th Anniversary of the NC Disability Determination Services Program

    Social Security Administration Commissioner Martin O’Malley and NC Health and Human Services Secretary Kody H. Kinsley Celebrate 70th Anniversary of the NC Disability Determination Services Program
    hejones1

    North Carolina Health and Human Services Secretary Kody H. Kinsley will join state and federal leaders to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the North Carolina Disability Determination Services Program on Wednesday, Oct. 23, at 4 p.m. at the Governor’s Mansion in Raleigh. The group will highlight the 70 years of teamwork in supporting North Carolinians who are applying for disability benefits. The North Carolina Disability Determination Services (NC DDS) is the seventh largest DDS in the nation and since 2002 NC DDS staff have assisted with more than 3.3 million disability applications for people in North Carolina.

    North Carolina’s Disability Determination Services provides a safety net for people whose disabilities have left them unable to work. Staff receive applications from Social Security offices across the state and determine eligibility for Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income payments. Staff also determine eligibility for Medicaid disability benefits received from the state’s county departments of social services.

    Credentialed media are invited to join Social Security Administration Commissioner Martin O’Malley and NC Health and Human Services Secretary Kody H. Kinsley along with other federal and state leaders for an event in honor of this 70th anniversary. The year carries particular significance for the Social Security Administration Disability Program as the Social Security Amendment of 1954 established the first SSA definition of disability and that state agencies, in partnership with SSA, would make disability determinations. 

    What: 70th Anniversary of the North Carolina Disability Determination Services Program 

    Who: Martin O’Malley, Commissioner, Social Security Administration 
                Kody H. Kinsley, Secretary, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services 
                Deborah Ross, Congresswoman NC-District 02
                Valerie Foushee, Congresswoman NC-District 04
                Jacqueline Russell, Director, NC Disability Determination Services 

    Where: North Carolina Executive Mansion 
                     200 N. Blount St.
                     Raleigh, NC 27601

    When: Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024
                   4 – 6 p.m.

    Media: Officials will have an opportunity to answer questions from credentialed media on-site. Please RSVP to news@dhhs.nc.gov if you plan to attend. 

    Oct 22, 2024

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: I Am Artemis: Casey Wolfe

    Source: NASA

    While precision, perseverance, and engineering are necessary skills in building a Moon rocket, Casey Wolfe knows that one of the most important aspects for the job is teamwork.
    “Engineering is vital, but to get this type of work done, you need to take care of the human element,” said Wolfe, the assistant branch chief of the advanced manufacturing branch in the Materials and Processes Laboratory at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
    Together with her team, Wolfe is developing and producing the next generation payload adapter for NASA’s SLS (Space Launch System) super-heavy lift rocket. The adapter is made with some of the world’s most advanced composite manufacturing techniques.
    Wolfe’s work integrates the technical day-to-day operations and personnel management of the composites manufacturing team and additive manufacturing team, balancing production of SLS hardware with the creation of new engines using the latest manufacturing technologies. 
    “A lot of my day to day is in managing our two teams, making connections, building relationships, and making sure people feel supported,” Wolfe explains. “I conduct individual tag ups with each team member so we can be proactive about anticipating and addressing problems.”
    Wolfe grew up in Huntsville, a place known as the “Rocket City,” but it wasn’t until she visited a job fair while studying at Auburn University for a polymer and fiber engineering degree that she began to consider a career at NASA Marshall. Wolfe applied for and was selected to be a NASA intern through the Pathways Program, working in the non-metallic materials branch of the Materials and Processes Laboratory.
    Wolfe supported a coating system for electrostatic discharge on the first uncrewed test flight of the Orion spacecraft. Launching December 5, 2014, Orion traveled to an altitude of 3,600 miles, orbited Earth twice, and splashed down in the Pacific Ocean. It was during her internship that Wolfe realized how inspirational it felt to be treated like a vital part of a team:
    “The SLS program gave everyone permission to sign the hardware, even me – even though I was just an intern,” says Wolfe. “It was impactful to me, knowing that something I had worked on had my name on it and went to space.” 
    Since being hired by NASA, Wolfe’s work has supported development of the Orion stage adapter diaphragms for Artemis II and Artemis III, and the payload adapters for Artemis IV and beyond. The first three Artemis flights use the SLS Block 1 rocket variant, which can send more than 27 metric tons (59,500 pounds) to the Moon in a single launch. Beginning with Artemis IV, the SLS Block 1B variant will use the new, more powerful exploration upper stage to enable more ambitious missions to deep space, with the cone-shaped payload adapter situated atop the rocket’s exploration upper stage. The new variant will be capable of launching more than 38 metric tons (84,000 pounds) to the Moon in a single launch.
    “While the engineering development unit of the payload adapter is undergoing large-scale testing, our team is working on the production of the qualification article, which will also be tested,” Wolfe says. “Flight components should be starting fabrication in the next six months.”
    When Wolfe isn’t working, she enjoys hiking, gardening, and hanging out with her dogs and large family. Recently, she signed another piece of SLS hardware headed to space: the Orion stage adapter for the second Artemis mission.
    With as many responsibilities as Wolfe juggles, it’s easy to lose sight of her work’s impact. “I work in the lab around the hardware all the time, and in many ways, it can become very rote,” she says.
    But Wolfe won’t forget what she saw one evening when she worked late: “Everybody was gone, and as I walked past the launch vehicle stage adapter, there were two security guards taking pictures of each other in front of it. It was one of those things that made me step back and reflect on what my team accomplishes every day: making history happen.”
    NASA is working to land the first woman, first person of color, and its first international partner astronaut on the Moon under Artemis. SLS is part of NASA’s backbone for deep space exploration, along with the Orion spacecraft, supporting ground systems, advanced spacesuits and rovers, the Gateway in orbit around the Moon, and commercial human landing systems. SLS is the only rocket that can send Orion, astronauts, and supplies to the Moon in a single launch.

    MIL OSI USA News –