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Category: Americas

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Video message for the COP16 Opening Ceremony on Biodiversity

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    Download the video: 

    https://s3.amazonaws.com/downloads2.unmultimedia.org/public/video/evergreen/MSG+SG+/SG+8+Oct+24/3271890_MSG+SG+BIODIVERSITY+OPENING+CEREMONY+08+OCT+24.mp4

    Excellencies, friends,

    I thank the Government of Colombia for hosting this important COP:

    The COP to make peace with nature;

    And the first since countries adopted the historic Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
     
    That Framework is grounded in a clear truth: for humanity to thrive, nature must flourish.

    Destroying nature inflames conflict, hunger and disease;

    Fuels poverty, inequality, and the climate crisis;

    And damages sustainable development, green jobs, cultural heritage, and GDP.

    A collapse in nature’s services – such as pollination, and clean water – would see the global economy lose trillions of dollars a year – with the poorest hardest hit.

    The Global Biodiversity Framework promises to reset relations with Earth and its ecosystems.

    But we are not on track.

    Your task at this COP is to convert words into action.

    That means countries presenting clear plans that align national actions with all the Framework’s targets.

    It means agreeing a strengthened monitoring and transparency framework.

    And it means honouring promises on finance – and accelerating support to developing countries.

    We must leave Cali with significant investment in the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund, and commitments to mobilise other sources of public and private finance to deliver the Framework in full.

    And those profiting from nature must contribute to its protection and restoration.

    Developing countries are being plundered:

    Digitised DNA from biodiversity underpins scientific discoveries and economic growth. But developing countries don’t gain fairly from these advances – despite being home to extraordinary richness. 

    This COP must operationalise the mechanism that has been agreed – to ensure that when countries share genetic information, they share benefits – equitably. 

    It must engage all of society – as “La COP de la gente”

    And it must strengthen the role of Indigenous Peoples and local communities.

    Indigenous Peoples are the world’s great guardians of biodiversity; luminaries of sustainable use.

    Their knowledge and stewardship must be at the heart of biodiversity action at every level. 

    Excellencies,

    We have a plan to rescue humanity from a degraded Earth.

    I look forward to seeing you in person at the end of the COP to hear how you have delivered.

    Thank you.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Governments helping fruit sector seek new opportunities

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    News release

    $4.4 million investment enabling fruit growers to meet consumer demand

    Oct. 21, 2024 – Toronto, Ontario  –  Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

    The governments of Canada and Ontario are helping 128 apple, tender fruit, and table grape producers grow more popular and hardy varieties of produce. The Growing Future Opportunities Initiative, with funding through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP), is supporting these projects through a $4.4 million investment.

    Growers are replanting more than 94 acres of apples and more than 60 acres of tender fruit and table grapes. The range of fruit varieties being planted are considered by the sector to have greater appeal with changing consumer tastes, and are more resilient to increase yield, improve hardiness, and enhance resistance to pests and diseases. This includes fruits such as Coral Star and Summer Serenade peaches and Gala and Honeycrisp apples.

    The Growing Future Opportunities Initiative is a 3-year, $8 million initiative providing eligible fruit producers with cost-share funding to purchase vines or trees of popular fruit varieties. Applications are still being accepted for tender fruit, table grapes and wine grapes. Under the Growing Future Opportunities Initiative, eligible producers can receive 75% of cost-share funding for plants.

    The Sustainable CAP is a 5-year, $3.5-billion investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen competitiveness, innovation, and resiliency of Canada’s agriculture, agri‐food and agri‐based products sector. This includes $1 billion in federal programs and activities and a $2.5-billion commitment that is cost-shared 60% federally and 40% provincially/territorially for programs that are designed and delivered by provinces and territories. 

    Quotes

    “Ontario’s fruit producers are vitally important to Canada’s agriculture sector. The Growing Future Opportunities Initiative will help them stay competitive and increase their resiliency, while ensuring folks have access to the locally grown fruit they enjoy.”

    – The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. 

    “In its first year, the Growing Future Opportunities Initiative is already helping Ontario fruit producers to be more competitive, so they can provide and market more popular products for consumers to enjoy,” said Rob Flack, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness. “Supporting agri-food production is part of our Grow Ontario Strategy, and it’s helping to drive economic growth in Ontario’s $50 billion agri-food sector.”

    – Rob Flack, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness

    Quick facts

    • Agricorp is delivering the Growing Future Opportunities Initiative. 

    • The Growing Future Opportunities Initiative is helping Ontario reach the goals outlined in the Grow Ontario Strategy, which include increasing the consumption and production of food grown and prepared in the province by 30% by 2032.

    • Building sector capacity and growth through realizing the potential of value-added agri-food and agri-products were among the top priorities set for Sustainable CAP by the federal-provincial-territorial agricultural ministers in The Guelph Statement.

    • For more information about OMAFA programs and services, contact the Agricultural Information Contact Centre (AICC) by phone at 1-877-424-1300 or by email at ag.info.omafa@ontario.ca.

    Associated links

    Contacts

    For media:

    Annie Cullinan
    Director of Communications
    Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
    annie.cullinan@agr.gc.ca

    Media Relations
    Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
    Ottawa, Ontario
    613-773-7972
    1-866-345-7972
    aafc.mediarelations-relationsmedias.aac@agr.gc.ca
    Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn
    Web: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

    Makena Mahoney
    Minister’s Office
    Makena.Mahoney@ontario.ca

    Meaghan Evans
    Communications Branch
    OMAFRA.media@ontario.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Trees in cities are beyond shady

    Source: US Geological Survey

    According to newly published U.S. Geological Survey research conducted in 8 large cities coast to coast, urban trees in hot and dry cities can amplify the cooling of local air temperature. 

    The multi-year study was conducted in Baltimore, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Portland, Miami, Tucson, Denver and Las Vegas. Scientists placed 80-100 sensors on trees in each city and measured hourly air temperatures for three months during the summers of 2016-2019. 

    “All trees have a cooling effect, but trees in hot, dry areas can have a greater impact than in humid cities,” said Peter Ibsen, USGS research ecologist. “Trees in areas like Las Vegas, Phoenix and Tucson are particularly effective at reducing heat.” 

    Tree canopy is important in urban environments as it has implications for city planning, public health, and climate resilience. 

    The team found that trees have a more pronounced cooling effect in hotter and drier regions, a contrast to buildings, which tend to have a warming effect in hotter and drier regions. Though in more humid cities like Baltimore, Portland, and Miami, tree cooling is stronger than warming coming from impervious surfaces, which highlights the potential for increasing local air temperature reductions by replacing impenetrable surfaces with tree canopy. 

    Trees reduce heat in all studied cities, but their effectiveness was contingent on local water availability. Irrigation is crucial for maintaining trees’ cooling effects in all studied areas.  

    Other surfaces had temperature changes more consistently across all regions. Flat surfaces like grass had a cooling effect consistently across the cities in the study, while paved areas had a warming effect consistently across the study.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SEC Division of Examinations Announces 2025 Priorities

    Source: Securities and Exchange Commission

    The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Examinations today released its 2025 examination priorities. The Division publishes its examination priorities annually to inform investors and registrants of potential risks in the U.S. capital markets and to make them aware of the examination topics that the Division plans to focus on in the new fiscal year. This year’s examinations will prioritize perennial and emerging risk areas, such as fiduciary duty, standards of conduct, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence.

    “The Division of Examinations 2025 priorities enhance trust in our ever-evolving markets,” said SEC Chair Gary Gensler. “In examining for compliance with our time-tested rules, the Division plays a critical role in protecting investors and facilitating capital formation. Working with registrants to understand the rules helps ensure that markets work for investors and issuers alike.”

    “Our 2025 examination priorities identify the key areas of potentially increased risks and related harm for investors,” said Keith Cassidy, Acting Director of the Division of Examinations. “We hope that registrants will evaluate their compliance programs in the areas we identified and make the changes necessary to protect investors and maintain fair and orderly capital markets.”

    The Division examines SEC-registered investment advisers, investment companies, broker-dealers, clearing agencies, and self-regulatory organizations, among others, for compliance with federal securities laws. The Division prioritizes examinations of the practices, products, and services that were found, through a risk-based assessment, to present a heightened risk to investors or the integrity of the U.S. capital markets. The annual publication of the examination priorities furthers the SEC’s mission and aligns with the Division’s four pillars to promote and improve compliance, prevent fraud, monitor risk, and inform policy.

    For fiscal year 2025, in addition to conducting examinations in core areas such as disclosures and governance practices, the Division will also examine for compliance with new rules, the use of emerging technologies, and the soundness of controls intended to protect investor information, records, and assets.

    The 2025 examination priorities cover a broad landscape of potential risks to investors that firms should consider as they review and strengthen their compliance programs. They are not, however, an exhaustive list of all the areas the Division will focus on in the upcoming year.  The scope of any examination includes analysis of other risk factors such as an entity’s history, operations, and products and services.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Competition Bureau seeks information from market participants on property controls to advance investigations

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Competition Bureau seeks information from market participants on property controls to advance investigations October 21, 2024 – GATINEAU, QC, Competition Bureau

    Bureau is examining whether property controls imposed by grocery retailers are harming competition 

    October 21, 2024 – GATINEAU, QC, Competition Bureau

    The Competition Bureau is inviting market participants to provide input about the use of property controls in the Canadian grocery industry.

    The Bureau is examining whether property controls imposed by grocery retailers are harming competition. Property controls may shield grocery stores from competition by preventing businesses from opening a retail food store or by limiting the products competitors can sell. As a result, consumers may be denied the benefits of competition, including: lower prices, better quality and more choice. 

    The call-out aims to gather information on the use of property controls in the grocery industry as a whole, and to inform the Bureau’s ongoing investigations into Sobeys and Loblaw. Areas of interest include:

    • any instances where property controls have prevented domestic or international grocers or food retailers from opening a store in Canada,
    • any instances where property controls have restricted the operations of a food retailer by, for example, limiting the sale of specific food products, and
    • the benefits and drawbacks of property controls for food retailers, landowners or landlords.

    The Bureau encourages market participants in the food retail and real estate sectors to confidentially share their experiences by emailing ControlesdePropriete-PropertyControls@cb-bc.gc.ca. For more information on how to submit information, please visit the Call-out for information about property controls in the Canadian grocery industry web page.

    The Competition Bureau is an independent law enforcement agency that protects and promotes competition for the benefit of Canadian consumers and businesses. Competition drives lower prices and innovation while fueling economic growth.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sen. Donzella James Honored with Pan-African American Leadership Award from African Women in Leadership Organization

    Source: US State of Georgia

    ATLANTA (October 21, 2024) — On Saturday, October 19,Sen. Donzella James (D–Atlanta) was honored with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Recognition Award at the Pan-African American Leadership Awards ceremony. The ceremony, held in Atlanta, recognized the Senator for her decades of service to the people of Georgia.

    The Pan-African American Leadership Awards (PAALA) is an esteemed event that recognizes exceptional leaders of African descent and their contributions to the growth of African American communities in the United States and the continent of Africa. The event is part of an initiative by the African Women in Leadership Organisation (AWLO) to preserve Pan-African ideals and set the tone for sustaining Afri-capitalism, sustained democracy and the global competitiveness of the African continent.

    Sen. James expressed gratitude for the award, saying, “It is an incredible honor to receive PAALA’s Lifetime Achievement Award. This recognition is a brilliant testament to all we have accomplished in the 35th Senate District since I began serving the area in 1995. It is exciting to support Georgia’s thriving African-American community by celebrating and promoting meaningful events such as International Diaspora Day and Rosa Parks Day. These events are deeply humbling and profoundly inspirational, laying the foundation for the success that we, as a district, have come to be recognized for.”

    More information on the AWLO is available here.

    # # # #

    Sen. Donzella James serves as the Chair of the Senate Committee on Urban Affairs. She represents the 35th Senate District, which includes portions of Douglas and Fulton counties. She may be reached by phone at 404.463.1379 or by email at donzella.james@senate.ga.gov

    For all media inquiries, please reach out to SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: First Lady Cathy Justice places 39th Friends With Paws therapy dog in Barbour County

    Source: US State of West Virginia

    CategoriesEnglish, MIL OSI, US State Governments, US State of West Virginia

    BELINGTON, WV — First Lady Cathy Justice visited Belington Middle School today for an assembly to celebrate the arrival of the state’s newest therapy dog through the Friends With Paws program. The dog introduced at today’s event is a female Golden Retriever, named Gia.

    “We are so excited to welcome Gia to Belington Elementary and Middle School,” said First Lady Cathy Justice. “As the 39th therapy dog through the Friends With Paws program, she will bring so much love and comfort to our students, helping them feel safe, supported, and ready to learn. Gia will be a wonderful addition to the school family, and we look forward to seeing all the positive impacts she’ll bring to the lives of students and staff.”
    Several Barbour County school officials were in attendance to help celebrate Gia’s arrival.

    “We are incredibly grateful to First Lady Cathy Justice for gifting us with Gia, our new therapy dog,” said Eddie Vincent, Superintendent of Barbour County Schools. “Gia will be a wonderful addition to our school community, providing comfort, support, and a sense of joy to our students and staff. This generous gift underscores the importance of nurturing not only the minds but also the hearts of our students, and we are excited to see the positive impact Gia will have on everyone she meets.”

    The Friends With Paws program places certified therapy dogs in several schools across the state, providing companionship and comfort for students in need of a boost. As of today, a total of 39 Friends With Paws therapy dogs, including Gia, have been placed throughout the state.
    Therapy dogs are specially trained to provide comfort and support to people in various tense environments. They can help people feel at ease, improve their mood, relieve anxiety, and remove social barriers. Friends With Paws therapy dogs are highly trained and certified to show their ability to work in stressful environments, ignore distractions, and provide therapy to people with diverse backgrounds and circumstances.

    Barbour County Communities In Schools County Contact, Chris Derico, has worked for weeks with the Office of First Lady Justice, ensuring that the school students and staff are prepared for Gia’s arrival, “We are thrilled to welcome our new therapy dog to the Communities In Schools program at Belington Elementary and Middle Schools. This addition will provide invaluable emotional support to our students, creating a more nurturing and calming environment. The presence of Gia will help us build stronger connections with students, reduce stress, and promote positive mental health, making a lasting impact on their educational journey and overall well-being.”

    Following today’s assembly, students and staff had the chance to greet Gia.
    “We are thrilled to have Gia join the Belington Elementary family,” said Principal of Belington Elementary, Cindy Sigley. “Gia will not only brighten our hallways but also help foster an environment where kids will want to come. We can’t wait for Gia to stroll the halls of Belington Elementary School.”

    “We are excited to welcome our new therapy dog to Belington Middle School,” said Ben Shew, Principal of Belington Middle School. “This addition of Gia to our school will enhance both the mental health and academic success of our students.”

    The Friends With Paws program is a partnership between the Governor’s Office, West Virginia Communities In Schools (CIS) Nonprofit, and the West Virginia Department of Education. Therapy dogs are placed in schools within CIS counties where students are disproportionately affected by poverty, substance misuse, or other at-risk situations, and are in the greatest need of a support animal. The dogs serve as a healthy and friendly outlet for these students to address trauma and other social-emotional issues.
     
    More information about Friends With Paws can be found in Communities In Schools: Friends With Paws, a documentary produced by West Virginia Public Broadcasting. Click HERE to view the documentary.
     
    A 2019 study published by the National Institute of Health found that a dog’s presence in the classroom promotes a positive mood and provides significant anti-stress effects on the body.

    In addition, research shows that the simple act of petting animals releases an automatic relaxation response. Therapy animals’ lower anxiety and help people relax, provide comfort, reduce loneliness, and increase mental stimulation. They are also shown to lower blood pressure and improve cardiovascular health, reduce the number of medications some people need, help control breathing in those with anxiety, and diminish overall physical pain, among other profound benefits.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Real Matters to Announce Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2024 Financial Results on November 21, 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, Oct. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Real Matters Inc. (“Real Matters”), a leading network management services provider for the mortgage lending and insurance industries, will announce its fourth quarter and fiscal 2024 financial results via news release on Thursday, November 21, 2024, before market open.

    Conference Call and Webcast         
    A conference call to review the results will take place at 10:00 a.m. (ET) on Thursday, November 21, 2024, hosted by Chief Executive Officer Brian Lang and Chief Financial Officer Rodrigo Pinto. An accompanying slide presentation will be posted to the Investor Relations section of our website shortly before the call.

    To access the call:

    • Participant Local (Toronto): (416) 764-8624
    • Participant Toll Free Dial-In Number: (888) 259-6580
    • Conference ID: 77493257

    To listen to the live webcast of the call:

    The webcast will be archived and a transcript of the call will be available in the Investor Relations section of our website following the call.

    About Real Matters
    Real Matters is a leading network management services provider for the mortgage lending and insurance industries. Real Matters’ platform combines its proprietary technology and network management capabilities with tens of thousands of independent qualified field professionals to create an efficient marketplace for the provision of mortgage lending and insurance industry services. Our clients include top 100 mortgage lenders in the U.S. and some of the largest banks and insurance companies in Canada. We are a leading independent provider of residential real estate appraisals to the mortgage market and a leading independent provider of title and mortgage closing services in the U.S. Headquartered in Markham (ON), Real Matters has principal offices in Buffalo (NY) and Middletown (RI). Real Matters is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol REAL. For more information, visit http://www.realmatters.com.

    For more information:
    Lyne Beauregard
    Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
    Real Matters
    lbeauregard@realmatters.com
    416.994.5930

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 52 Bipartisan Congressmembers Urge Biden Administration to Tighten Russian Oil Sanctions and Question Exception Approval

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)

    Contact: Alexis Torres, Alexis.Torres@mail.house.gov

    Washington, D.C.—U.S. Representatives Lloyd Doggett (D-TX-37) and Jake Auchincloss (D-MA-4) led a bipartisan effort to demand a tightening of Russian oil sanctions and to question an exception granted to a U.S.-based company, Schlumberger (SLB). Specifically, the lawmakers are questioning Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Secretary Antony Blinken as to why the Biden administration has permitted SLB to serve as an accomplice to Vladimir Putin.

    “We write regarding alarming findings that the U.S.-based company and world’s largest oilfield services firm SLB, widely known as Schlumberger, is expanding in Russia,” wrote the members. “Since Russia’s unjustified and illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, SLB has signed new contracts, recruited hundreds of staff, and imported nearly $18 million in equipment into Russia. This U.S.-based company is keeping Vladimir Putin’s war machine well-oiled with financing for the barbaric invasion of Ukraine. We urge you to continue supporting our Ukrainian allies by pursuing more rigorous oil sanctions to effectively restrict Putin’s profits.”

    “My name is on the first sanctions legislation to become law shortly after the Russian invasion,” said Rep. Doggett. “Implementation of that and similar legislation by our allies has not prevented Putin from earning billions from oil exports. And unfortunately, North Korea and Iran are not the only places providing him help. By permitting his exports and permitting continued American company investments in Russia, Americans, and our European allies, are essentially funding both sides of this war. While well aware of concerns about the price of gasoline at the pump, we must stop oiling the Putin war machine to win this war, secure a just peace, and reparations.”

    “While Ukrainians fight and die on the front lines of freedom, a U.S. oil company is supporting the enemy,” said Rep. Auchincloss. “Oil is the lifeblood of the Russian war economy, which is why the West must stand united in tightening and enforcing oil sanctions. That begins by holding SLB and its collaborators accountable for evading allied sanctions, profiteering from pain, and fueling Putin’s ability to wage war.”

    Additional signers include Representatives Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Barbara Lee (CA-12), Wiley Nickel (NC-13), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Danny Davis (IL-07), Jim Costa (CA-21), Sean Casten (IL-06), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Adam Schiff (CA-30), Susan Wild (PA-07), Joe Wilson (R-SC-02), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Tom Suozzi (NY-03), Brad Sherman (CA-32), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Nikema Williams (GA-05), Gerry Connolly (VA-11), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Earl Blumenaur (OR-03), Seth Magaziner (RI-02), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Patrick Ryan (NY-18), Chris Smith (R-NJ-04), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Raúl Grijalva (AZ-07),  Don Bacon (R-NE-02), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Jerry Nadler (NY-12), Annie Kuster (NH-02), Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Frank Pallone (NJ-06), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Ted Lieu (CA-36), John Larson (CT-01), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), David Trone (MD-06), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Bennie Thompson (MS-02) and Ro Khanna (CA-17).

    The full letter can be found here.

    Rep. Doggett is a strong champion for a prosperous Ukraine, consistently urging Congress and the Biden administration to take further actions in holding Putin accountable and ensuring full support for a Ukrainian victory. In 2022, the morning after Putin launched his unprovoked and illegal invasion, Rep. Doggett filed the first sanctions legislation, which later became law, to prohibit the direct import of energy products from Russia into the United States. The following year, he introduced the bipartisan Ending Importation of Laundered Russian Oil Act to close a “refining loophole” that allows Russian oil to be laundered through third-party countries and sold in the U.S. as gasoline and other petroleum products—therefore linking American consumers to financing parts of Putin’s war machine. In recent months, Rep. Doggett expanded his efforts to prevent Russia from continuing to profit off Western countries by publishing an opinion piece in Foreign Policy, calling for U.S. sanctions against a network of companies associated with Rosatom, Russia’s state-owned nuclear corporation.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Opioid addiction market to reach $2.4 billion in 8MM by 2033, forecasts GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    Opioid addiction market to reach $2.4 billion in 8MM by 2033, forecasts GlobalData

    Posted in Pharma

    The opioid addiction market across the eight major markets (8MM*) is poised to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.8% from $2.0 billion in 2023 to $2.4 billion in 2033, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    GlobalData’s latest report “Opioid Addiction: Opportunity Assessment and Forecast,” reveals that growth will primarily be driven by an increase in diagnosed prevalent cases, as well as an increase in treatment rates and the introduction of four late-stage pipeline products – cannabidiol, mazindol controlled release (CR), probenecid, and TRV-734.

    Jos Opdenakker, Neurology Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Of the four late-stage pipeline products, three of them (cannabidiol, mazindol CR, and probenecid) are non-opioids. Cannabidiol and mazindol CR are expected to be used as potential adjunctive treatments in addition to the standard of care in the treatment of opioid use disorder, driving an increase in the OUD market. Probenecid is indicated for the treatment of OWS and is expected to take market share from existing OWS agents.”

    GlobalData forecasts that the late-stage pipeline products could drive combined sales of approximately $171.4 million in the 8MM by 2033. Trevena’s TRV-734 will be the most promising pipeline product, indicated for the treatment of opioid withdrawal syndrome (OWS).

    According to GlobalData forecasts, TRV-734 could generate global sales of approximately $77.6 million by 2033. It has the potential to see strong uptake due to its position as a partial mu-opioid receptor agonist. This means that it has the potential to elicit the partial effects of opioids but not the full effect, and this could limit some of the distressing side effects and potentially prevent withdrawal associated with existing opioid-based treatments.

    Opdenakker adds: “While the OUD pipeline agents will bring new mechanisms to market, they are unlikely to become first line treatments. The need for effective non-opioid treatments that do not target the mu receptor, which could potentially replace opioids as first-line therapies, remains.”

    Opdenakker continues: “The overall opioid addiction market is expected to experience growth until 2033; however, continued generic erosion will be an important barrier. Generic erosion is expected to be particularly significant in the US opioid addiction market.”

    In 2023, the US represented the largest market for opioid addiction, with 74.1% of the 8MM sales, due to its larger patient population and the high price of medications. Although the US is expected to remain the largest market for opioid addiction at the end of the forecast period, its proportion of global sales is expected to fall to 70.5% in 2033.

    The decline in the contribution of  the US opioid addiction market will be fueled by the patent expiries of Indivior’s extended-release formulation of buprenorphine, Sublocade, which was the top-selling drug in the opioid addiction market in 2023, Alkermes’ Vivitrol (naltrexone ER), Braeburn’s long-acting buprenorphine product, Brixadi and Orexo US’ Zubsolv (buprenorphine), all of which will expire throughout the forecast period, resulting in sales erosion amongst the key OUD therapies.

    Opdenakker concludes: “Although the impending entry of numerous generic products will act as a major barrier to growth and the introduction of the late-stage pipeline products is limited in their potential to generate significant revenues to counter the generic erosion, the increase in diagnosed prevalence, treatment rates, and general awareness surrounding opioid addiction will continue to act as the main drivers of growth across the 8MM.”

    *8MM- US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, Canada, and Australia

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Cordova Man Sentenced in Connection with $5.9 Million Insurance Fraud Scheme

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Memphis, TN – Christopher C. Brown, 47, of Cordova, Tennessee, was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $5,214,302.00 in restitution after his conviction related to a multi-year scheme to defraud four insurance companies.  Reagan Fondren, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

    While operating a music recording business on Monroe Avenue in Memphis, Brown made claims to Main Street Assurance Company for alleged losses of over $340,000 due to water damage and a purported burglary at the business location.  Main Street paid Brown’s claims.  Brown then obtained insurance coverage for the same business location from Markel Corporation.  Brown made a claim to Markel for $2,840,000 for alleged fire damage to the location, and the claim was honored.

    Brown then formed a limited liability corporation named Tattooed Millionaire Entertainment (TME).  This action allowed Brown to apply for insurance coverage without disclosing his previous insurance claims.  Through TME, Brown purchased a second Memphis property at Rayner Street which had previously housed a well-known recording studio known as the House of Blues.  Brown obtained insurance coverage for the Rayner property and music recording business from Hanover American Insurance Company.  Brown later filed a claim with Hanover for purported damages from an arson fire that damaged the Rayner property, and Hanover paid him $2,200,000 on that claim.

    During this time, Brown also obtained vehicle insurance from Progressive Insurance on a 1985 diesel bus.  He later filed a claim with Progressive alleging that the bus had been stolen.  Progressive paid Brown $109,580 in settlement of that claim.

    In Brown’s claims with the four victim insurance companies, Brown made false statements and representations.  This included the submission of fake or altered documents to the companies.

    In September 2023, Brown pled guilty to mail fraud.  On October 17, 2024, United States District Court Judge Samuel H. Mays sentenced Brown to 27 months of incarceration followed by 2 years of supervised release and ordered him to pay $5,214,302.00 in restitution.  There is no parole in the federal system.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Fondren said, “Insurance fraud schemes like this cheat honest companies and their policyholders.  These schemes also raise the cost of insurance for everyone and make it harder for people to obtain needed insurance in the first place.  Whenever fraud like this occurs in the Western District of Tennessee, this office will be prepared to hold offenders accountable for such crimes of dishonesty.”

    Inspector in Charge Tommy D. Coke, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Atlanta Division, said, “This defendant misused the U.S. Mail to defraud four insurance companies of millions of dollars.  I believe this sentence will send a message that this type of crime is serious and let criminals know that our agency will continue to hold them accountable for their actions.”  

    This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Fondren thanked Assistant United States Attorneys David Pritchard and Tony Arvin who prosecuted this case on the government’s behalf, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated this case.

    ###

    For more information, please contact the media relations team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Murder Defendant Extradited from El Salvador for 2013 Stabbing

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

                WASHINGTON – Angel Monge, 51, of El Salvador, was transported from El Salvador to the United States by members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force, on October 18, 2024, and placed under arrest for a September 2013 murder. Monge was presented in Superior Court in the District of Columbia the next day when the Honorable Leslie Meeke ordered him to be held without bond. The arrest and extradition were announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves.

               According to the government’s evidence, at approximately 6:11 p.m. on September 2, 2013, the United States Park Police (USPP) received a call for an unconscious person located in Grove #6 of the park at Beach Road in Northwest D.C. Upon arrival, USPP officers found a deceased male lying on a creek bed. The Metropolitan Police Department and the D.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) were notified. The OCME conducted an autopsy on the decedent, who was later identified as Matias Molina, 49, of Washington, D.C. Autopsy results showed that the cause of death was multiple sharp force wounds and the manner of death was determined to be a homicide. The case was presented before a grand jury and, in 2015, Angel Dilmar Monge was indicted on a charge of second-degree murder while armed. A bench warrant was issued and Monge was eventually located in El Salvador.   

              This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.

              The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dennis Clark.

              The U.S. Attorney’s Office would like to thank the members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with the Government of El Salvador to secure the arrest and extradition of Monge.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Rector of SPbPU Andrey Rudskoy became a participant of the XXII Mendeleev Congress

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    The 22nd Mendeleev Congress on General and Applied Chemistry was held in the federal territory of Sirius. The rector of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, Chairman of the St. Petersburg Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences Andrey Rudskoy took part in the work of the congress.

    This year, the forum was dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the founding of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the 190th anniversary of the birth of Dmitry Ivanovich Mendeleyev. The event is also part of the main program of the Decade of Science and Technology in Russia.

    Four thousand delegates from 40 countries, including over 1,420 young scientists and students, discussed various aspects of chemical science and education over three days. The congress program included nine plenary sessions, 75 sectional sessions within nine sections, 12 symposia, two round tables and three poster sessions, thematically covering all the main areas of fundamental and applied chemistry, the chemical industry, and the history of chemistry. The congress featured an exhibition of devices, scientific, technical and innovative developments of enterprises and organizations from various regions of Russia, as well as an exhibition of scientific literature.

    Among the special features of this year is a separate program for schoolchildren, “Mendeleev Congress for Children,” organized in Sirius together with the International Festival SCIENCE 0, PhyschemQuest, a symposium on the popularization of chemistry, and much more.

    At the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation Denis Sekirinsky read out a greeting from the head of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science Valery Falkov. On the first day of the congress, lectures were given by the President of the Russian Academy of Sciences Gennady Krasnikov, the President of the National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute” Mikhail Kovalchuk, the 2011 Nobel Prize laureate in Chemistry Dan Shechtman (Israel), a professor of physics at the National Autonomous University of Mexico Ana Maria Cetto Kramis, and a professor at the University of Southern California Valery Fokin.

    At the plenary session on the third day of the congress, the rector of SPbPU, chairman of the SPbB RAS Andrey Rudskoy gave a report on the current state and prospects for the development of thermomechanical processing of steel.

    One of the most relevant areas of development of metallurgy and mechanical engineering is the creation and implementation of new resource-saving technologies based on modern scientific achievements, ensuring an increase in the range of technological and operational characteristics of products while simultaneously reducing their material and energy intensity, – noted the rector of the Polytechnic University. – These include progressive technologies of plastic forming, which allow a sharp increase in the level of mechanical, technological and operational properties and, first of all, thermomechanical processing (TMO), which, due to the constant improvement of schemes and the creation of new ones, as well as more precise process control, allows achieving an increasingly higher range of mechanical and service properties.

    Andrey Rudskoy emphasized that TMT is the most important energy- and resource-saving technology that allows for the production of modern products with increased structural strength and improved service characteristics from steel and alloys for various industries. It is currently used in the manufacture of products in space, aviation technology, shipbuilding, transport, medicine and many other areas. The Rector of St. Petersburg State University gave examples of products that were created using thermomechanical processing. These are shafts and axles for special tracked vehicles, profile rings, steel for ships, icebreakers and platforms, etc. Developing the topic, the RAS academician also spoke about metal pressure processing methods and materials used in TMT technologies.

    The development of new TMO schemes in combination with rational alloying allows us to sharply reduce the costs of producing high-quality products for critical purposes and contribute to solving the problems of import substitution, concluded Andrey Rudskoy.

    In conclusion, the Chairman of the SPbB RAS recalled that St. Petersburg materials science played an outstanding role in the history of world and domestic science and technology. Currently, the largest universities, research organizations and industrial enterprises work in the Northern capital in the field of creating new materials and technologies. Among them are: SPbPU, SPbSU, St. Petersburg State Marine Technical University, National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute” – Central Research Institute of KM “Prometheus”, A.F. Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute and others.

    The work of the congress once again confirmed that chemistry occupies a key place in the successful transition to sustainable development of the economy of the Russian Federation, and allows us to solve a wide range of problems of scientific and technological progress – from studying the molecular foundations of life, methods of rational use of natural resources and ensuring the safety of the natural environment to the creation of new materials and energy sources and the engineering of energy-efficient, environmentally friendly chemical technologies.

    Reference

    Mendeleev Congresses are scientific forums with international participation in the field of fundamental and applied chemistry. They are held at intervals of 4–5 years and cover the main areas of development of chemical science, technology and industry. The first congress was held in 1907 in St. Petersburg and was dedicated to the memory of Dmitry Ivanovich Mendeleev.

    The XXI Mendeleev Congress was held in 2019 in St. Petersburg and became the main event of the International Year of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements.

    Photo: http://vk.com/mendeleevcongress

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How finance can be part of the solution to the world’s biodiversity crisis

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Emma O’Donnell, Research Assistant, Environmental Change Institute and PhD Candidate, Nature-based Solutions Initiative, University of Oxford

    Nature loss should be treated with the same urgency as climate change. NOBUHIRO ASADA/Shutterstock

    More than half of the world’s total GDP is at least moderately dependent on nature. Yet arguably, there is no economy (or life) without nature. A quarter of animal and planet species are now threatened, and 14 out of 18 key ecosystem services – including fertile soils to grow food, flood and disease control and regulation of air and water pollution – are in decline.

    These ecosystem services are essential and have no easy substitutes. Despite this, almost US$7 trillion (£5.4 trillion) per year is spent by governments and the private sector on subsidies and economic activities that have a negative impact on nature – including intensive agriculture and fossil-fuel subsidies. This compares to only US$200 billion that is spent on nature-based solutions (just a third of what is estimated to be needed).

    Although the biodiversity crisis has often been overshadowed by climate change on the global stage, the tide is turning. In 2022, the Kunming-Montreal global biodiversity framework was adopted with its overarching goal to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.

    At the end of October 2024, the signatories of the framework will again come together at the UN’s Cop16 biodiversity conference in Cali, Colombia, to negotiate the implementation of their targets. To make progress towards these goals, Cop16 aims to align finance with the framework; effectively ensuring finance is part of the solution rather than the problem.

    To do this, the flow of finance will need to be redirected. A central lever in this is the pricing of risk. Financial institutions face significant risk, both from the degradation of ecosystem services (physical risks) and the social responses to degradation, including regulation and changing consumer demand (transition risks). Yet these risks are not fully priced into financial decisions.

    On top of this, corporations do not disclose their nature-related risks, dependencies and impacts, making it difficult for financial institutions to understand the implications of their investments. Together, this means that finance continues to flow unhindered into riskier activities.

    Central banks are now starting to highlight risks from nature to financial institutions and to explore the areas where these risks manifest in the financial system.

    The financial risks are real

    Earlier this year, we published the first study of the seriousness of nature-related financial risks.

    We found that, for the UK, nature-related shocks could cause a 6% decline in GDP by 2030 under scenarios such as soil health decline or water scarcity putting pressure on global supply chains. And there could be a drop in GDP of more than 12% in the scenario of an antimicrobial resistance or pandemic shock, driven by increased human-wildlife interaction due to habitat loss and deforestation.

    These results are equal to or even greater than the UK’s 6% decrease in GDP after the 2008 financial crisis and 9.7% during the 2020 COVID lockdowns.

    We also found that nature-related financial risks were of a similar scale to climate-related risks. Nature loss and climate change occur in parallel, amplify and compound each other. As such, it is essential that solutions look to solve both challenges simultaneously. After all, what is the point of having a cooler planet that is no longer livable?

    Of its 23 targets for 2030, the GBF includes two goals that specifically address finance. Target 18 aims to reduce incentives for financial flows that damage nature by at least US$500 billion per year and scale up incentives for nature-positive financial flows. And target 19 aims to mobilise US$200 billion per year for restoring and protecting nature, including at least US$30 billion from international finance flowing from developed to developing countries. A further target, target 15, calls for the disclosure of nature-related risks, dependencies and impacts by firms.

    COP16 gets under way in Cali, Colombia.

    So, what do we need from Cop16 to pull the financial risk lever?

    First, there must be international recognition that the long-term, widespread and often irreversible risks of the biodiversity crisis are not being priced by the financial system, despite progress on the integration of climate risks. This can cause a buildup of systemic risks and lead to financial instability; as such, there must be a global consensus that central banks play a key role in taking proactive measures to manage this.

    Second, at the individual, corporate and financial institution level, firms must manage and disclose their nature-related financial risks, alongside their climate risks.

    Third, similar to transition finance for net zero, financial institutions must begin to engage actively with clients to explore opportunities to support their transition towards more nature-positive activities and reflect this within their transition plans.

    Securing financial resilience and nature and climate goals are synonymous; and all are essential for securing economic growth and sustainable development globally.

    Emma O’Donnell receives funding from the UK Natural Science Research Council.

    Jimena Alvarez receives funding from UK Natural Environment Research Council.

    Nicola Ranger receives funding from the UK Natural Environment Research Council, Climate Arc and EU Horizon

    – ref. How finance can be part of the solution to the world’s biodiversity crisis – https://theconversation.com/how-finance-can-be-part-of-the-solution-to-the-worlds-biodiversity-crisis-241829

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Moody’s Corporation Reports Results for Third Quarter 2024

    Source: Moody’s

    Headline: Moody’s Corporation Reports Results for Third Quarter 2024

    NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Moody’s Corporation (NYSE: MCO) today announced results for the third quarter 2024, and provided an updated outlook for full year 2024.

    The Third Quarter 2024 Earnings Release and other earnings materials can be found on the Moody’s IR website at ir.moodys.com. In addition, the Earnings Release will be furnished with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on a Form 8-K and will be available on the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov.

    “Moody’s record-breaking revenue performance in the third quarter is a testament to our unwavering status as the Agency of Choice for our customers and our actions to prime the business for durable future growth,” said Rob Fauber, President and Chief Executive Officer of Moody’s. “In parallel, we delivered strong recurring revenue growth in our analytics business, driven by investments and innovation that enhance our offerings and empower our customers with the insights necessary to navigate the complexities of an increasingly dynamic risk environment.”

    Teleconference Details:

    Date and Time

    October 22, 2024, at 11:30 a.m. ET

    Webcast

    The webcast and its replay can be accessed through Moody’s Investor Relations website, ir.moodys.com within “Events & Presentations”.

    Dial In

    U.S. and Canada

    +1-888-596-4144

    Other callers

    +1-646-968-2525

    Passcode

    515 6491

    Dial In Replay

    A replay will be available immediately after the call on October 22, 2024 and until November 21, 2024.

    U.S. and Canada

    +1-800-770-2030

    Other callers

    +1-609-800-9909

    Confirmation code

    515 6491

    For further information, please contact Investor Relations at ir@moodys.com.

    ABOUT MOODY’S

    In a world shaped by increasingly interconnected risks, Moody’s (NYSE:MCO) data, insights, and innovative technologies help customers develop a holistic view of their world and unlock opportunities. With a rich history of experience in global markets and a diverse workforce of approximately 16,000 across more than 40 countries, Moody’s gives customers the comprehensive perspective needed to act with confidence and thrive.

    Source: Moody’s Corporation Investor Relations

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: DLNR News Release – RENOVATIONS TEMPORARILY CLOSE NĀWILIWILI HARBOR OFFICE, Oct. 21, 2024

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    DLNR News Release – RENOVATIONS TEMPORARILY CLOSE NĀWILIWILI HARBOR OFFICE, Oct. 21, 2024

    Posted on Oct 21, 2024 in Latest Department News, Newsroom, Office of the Governor Press Releases

     

    DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES

     

    JOSH GREEN, M.D.
     GOVERNOR

     

    DAWN CHANG
     CHAIRPERSON

     

    NEWS RELEASE 

     

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    October 21, 2024

     

    RENOVATIONS TEMPORARILY CLOSE NĀWILIWILI HARBOR OFFICE

     

    (LĪHUʻE, KAUA‘I) – The Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) office at Nāwiliwili Small Boat Harbor is currently undergoing renovations that will run through Nov. 7. The Nāwiliwili office will tentatively reopen at 7:45 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 8.

     

    During the construction period, all services offered at the Nāwiliwili Small Boat Harbor will be relocated to the Port Allen Small Boat Harbor at 4337 Waialo Road, ‘Ele‘ele. This includes Nāwiliwili mooring and commercial permittees, as well as vessel registration and titling services. Staff can be contacted at 808-335-8400.

     

    Boat owners also have the option to renew vessel registrations online at https://vessel.ehawaii.gov. A convenience fee is charged for any registration renewals completed online.

     

    DOBOR staff recognizes the inconvenience this temporary office closure creates and appreciates the community’s patience through the process.

     

    # # # 

     

    RESOURCES 

    (All images/video courtesy: DLNR) 

     

    HD Video – Nāwiliwili Small Boat Harbor (Jan. 2021):

    https://vimeo.com/1021899542

     

    Photographs – Nāwiliwili Harbor Office Temporary Closure (various):

    https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/npy6qz47pro8lr8fz6by7/ANaH9q9AeXTa10qHpzpE0ig?rlkey=yn1yt533f3sjvia1p3swkfmt0&st=gsii9oo1&dl=0

     

     

    Media Contact: 

    Ryan Aguilar

    Communications Specialist

    Hawaiʻi Dept. of Land and Natural Resources

    808-587-0396

    [email protected]

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Bybit Card Opens up Pre-registration in New Regions Offering Sign-up Bonus

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Oct. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bybit, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, expands the global footprint of Bybit Card in collaboration with S1LKPAY, an international payment solution provider. Pre-registration is now open with a $10 bonus in addition to the multiple benefits of the Bybit Card for the first 1,000 applicants. 

    The go-to option for crypto spending for crypto-native users across the world, the Bybit Card has been on an expansion streak. Now spanning across markets including Argentina, Brazil, and the Netherlands, it is trusted for its robust security, excellent customer support, user-friendly and rewarding experience, and ease of access to the Mastercard network. 

    The latest development is led by Bybit Limited, the entity regulated by the Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA), and marks the first branded card issuance by Bybit Limited (AFSA) in collaboration with S1LKPAY, a certified principal member of Mastercard’s payment network and a provider of Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) and Card-as-a-Service (CaaS), to support the issuance and integration of in-app payment functions for the Bybit Mastercard prepaid card.

    “The past year has seen tremendous growth of the Bybit Card and we are pleased to be able to serve more regions and users from the EEA to South America, bridging their crypto wealth and their payment needs. Spending and growing your crypto has never been so easy with Bybit, and now it comes with a bonus until the official launch,” said Joan Han, Sales and Marketing Director at Bybit. 

    “We are thrilled to announce the launch of the first crypto prepaid card in the region and to partner with Bybit in offering this long-waited solution in its next chapter of card expansion. The partnership provides crypto holders with frictionless access to the Mastercard network anytime, anywhere,” said Gani Uzbekov, Founder and CEO of S1LKPAY.

    Offering a smooth experience for users with digital wealth in their portfolios, the Bybit Card is instrumental in making crypto spending and daily consumption more seamless. It also boasts clear and low fees, generous rewards with up to 10% cashback and 8% APY, and a wide array of tokens supported. The mainstreaming of crypto includes not only crypto as an investment asset class, but also retail use and merchant acceptance. Bybit is committed to refining its products to encourage the adoption of digital assets among everyday users.

    Bybit invites users to get a Bybit Card and enjoy its full benefits: Pre-register for the Bybit Card 

    #Bybit / #TheCryptoArk 

    About Bybit

    Bybit is the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, serving over 50 million users. Established in 2018, Bybit provides a professional platform where crypto investors and traders can find an ultra-fast matching engine, 24/7 customer service, and multilingual community support. Bybit is a proud partner of Formula One’s reigning Constructors’ and Drivers’ champions: the Oracle Red Bull Racing team.

    For more details about Bybit, users can visit: Bybit Press 

    For media inquiries, users can contact: media@bybit.com

    For more information, users can visit: https://www.bybit.com

    For updates, users can follow: Bybit’s Communities and Social Media

    Discord | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Reddit | Telegram | TikTok | X | Youtube

    About Mastercard

    Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships and passion, our innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments and businesses realize their greatest potential. Our decency quotient, or DQ, drives our culture and everything we do inside and outside of our company. With connections across more than 210 countries and territories, we are building a sustainable world that unlocks priceless possibilities for all.

    Mastercard press office in Kazakhstan

    mastercard@pressclub.kz

    Contact

    Head of PR
    Tony Au
    Bybit
    tony.au@bybit.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: News Release – October 20 to 26 is National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    News Release – October 20 to 26 is National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week

    Posted on Oct 21, 2024 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

    DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

    KA ʻOIHANA OLAKINO

    JOSH GREEN, M.D.
    GOVERNOR

    KE KIA‘ĀINA

    KENNETH S. FINK, MD, MGA, MPH
    DIRECTOR

    KA LUNA HO‘OKELE

     

    OCTOBER 20-26 IS NATIONAL LEAD POISONING PREVENTION WEEK

    Learn how to keep yourself and your keiki safe from lead exposure

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    October 21, 2024                                                                                                    24-137

    HONOLULU — Lead is a toxic metal that is dangerous to health at all ages and there is no safe level of lead in the blood for children. Oct. 20 to 26 is National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week and this year’s theme is “Bright Futures Begin Lead-Free.” This observation provides an opportunity to learn how to protect your keiki and yourself from exposure to lead and its serious health effects.

    Lead is often present in the paint of older buildings constructed prior to 1978 and can be found in soil, house dust, old toys, jewelry, antiques, souvenirs, fishing tackle, keys, dishes, food, spices, tobacco products and water. Certain work or hobbies can expose you to lead and you can also bring it home on your clothes, shoes, hair and other items.

    Public water systems in Hawaiʻi do not historically have lead contamination; however, it is possible for lead to contaminate drinking water through fixtures and piping in older buildings. In a collaborative project funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Hawaiʻi Departments of Health (DOH), Education and Human Services tested drinking water taps for lead in schools and childcare centers and are continuing work to ensure lead is no longer present in taps that showed five parts per billion lead or higher.

    “Keiki are especially susceptible to the effects of lead exposure because they are still in the developmental stages, which can impact both mental and physical development,” said Dr. Ruben Frescas, chief of the DOH Children with Special Health Needs Branch. “They can be exposed to sources of lead in their everyday environment at home and anywhere they play or receive care. With young children who like to play on the ground and put their hands or other objects in their mouths, lead exposure can place these younger keiki at an even higher risk for swallowing lead.”

    In children, lead can cause learning and behavior problems that can result in long-term negative effects throughout adulthood like increased delinquency, lower educational attainment and lower income. In pregnant people, lead can damage a developing baby’s nervous system and has the potential to cause miscarriages and stillbirths. Children tend to show signs of severe lead toxicity at lower exposure levels than adults. However, most children with lead in their blood have no obvious symptoms.

    In adults, exposure to high levels of lead may cause serious health problems like anemia, kidney and brain damage, infertility in men and women, cancer, nerve and hearing damage, and heart disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the risk of dying from a heart attack or stroke is two to five times higher among people with higher blood lead levels, which is comparable to the increased risk from smoking, high cholesterol and hypertension.

    The DOH Hawaiʻi Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (HI-CLPPP) receives funding from the CDC to help the community prevent children from being exposed to lead; to identify children already exposed to lead so the source can be removed; and to link families to recommended services like Early Intervention and in-home residential investigations.

    According to the CDC and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), children should have a risk assessment for lead exposure at well-child visits and children at increased risk should get a simple blood test for lead. Testing children at 1 and 2 years of age or later if never tested before is required and free with Med-QUEST, the Hawaiʻi Medicaid program. It is okay to test at other times if you or your child’s doctor are concerned about lead exposure.

    “Lead poisoning is completely preventable and the best way to protect children is to keep them away from lead in the environment and get screened,” Frescas said. “Taking a few simple steps today can make a big difference tomorrow and we are here to help our families take those steps.”

    To learn more about how to keep yourself and your keiki safe from lead exposure, visit lead.hawaii.gov.

    # # #

    Media Contact:

    Brandin Shim

    Information Specialist

    Family Health Services Division

    808-586-4120

    [email protected]

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: At COP16, EIB to announce new partnerships to strengthen environmental protection

    Source: European Investment Bank

    • EIB and WWF set for financing initiative.
    • Bank deepens cooperation with European Environment Agency.
    • Findings to be released from EIB-backed survey of public development banks’ support for green transition in Latin America and Caribbean.

    The European Investment Bank (EIB) will announce a series of steps to bolster global environmental protection during the United Nations Biodiversity Conference in Cali, Colombia from 21 October to 1 November 2024.  

    At the event, which marks the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16), the EIB will publish an agreement with WWF on developing natural ways to protect biodiversity and enhance climate resilience. In addition, the EIB and the European Environment Agency are strengthening cooperation to support environmental sustainability and climate action. Furthermore, in partnership with the Association of Public Development Banks of Latin America and the Caribbean (ALIDE), the EIB will release the findings of a survey on the role of public development banks in supporting the two regions’ green transition.

    “The role of finance will be front and centre of the COP16 discussions on how to meet the world’s goals in supporting biodiversity,” said EIB Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle. “We must act with urgency to reduce financial flows to activities that harm nature and scale up financing to projects that have a positive impact on the environment. Doing so is central to overcoming the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss. The EIB is working closely with countries, the European Commission, fellow multilateral development banks, national promotional banks and the private sector to scale up nature-positive finance.”

    EIB at COP16

    The EIB delegation will be led by Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle. For interview requests with members of the EIB delegation, please get in touch with the press contact below. Find out more about the EIB at the United Nations Biodiversity Conference here.

    On 28 October, Vice-President Fayolle will address the COP16 plenary to speak about unlocking opportunities to align and enhance responses to nature-related risks. On 30 October representatives from multilateral development banks will discuss progress on the joint MDB statement on supporting nature, people and the planet. A special focus will be MDBs’ role in defining and tracking nature finance as outlined in the MDB Common Principles for Tracking Nature Positive Finance that were announced at the United Nations Climate Conference COP28 in Dubai.

    Background information

    The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union owned by its Member States. It is active in more than 160 countries and makes long-term finance available for sound investment in order to contribute towards EU policy goals.

    EIB Global is the EIB Group’s specialised arm dedicated to increasing the impact of international partnerships and development finance.  EIB Global is designed to foster strong, focused partnership within Team Europe, alongside fellow development finance institutions, and civil society. EIB Global brings the Group closer to local people, companies and institutions through our offices across the world. 

    The EIB has been providing economic support for projects in Latin America since 1993, facilitating long-term investment with favourable conditions and providing the technical support needed to ensure that these projects deliver positive social, economic and environmental results. Since the EIB began operating in Latin America, it has provided total financing of around €14 billion to support more than 160 projects in 15 countries in the region.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Bharat Tex 2025 gains international momentum:

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Bharat Tex 2025 gains international momentum:

    Ministry of Textiles organises interaction session with over 30 Countries

    Bharat Tex 2025 to focus on scale, sustainability and skills

    India is looking at a shared future, a future that is sustainable, equitable and prosperous for all of us: Shri Pabitra Margherita

    Posted On: 22 OCT 2024 2:07PM by PIB Delhi

    Ministry of Textiles organized an interactive Session with Foreign Missions in India for Bharat Tex 2025 at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, New Delhi yesterday. The event saw participation from over 30 Foreign Missions in India namely Australia, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, Indonesia, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lesotho, Montenegro, Malaysia, Mongolia, Mexico, Peru, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Russia, Sri Lanka, Somalia, Taiwan, Togo, Thailand, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.

    Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Textiles, Shri Pabitra Margherita graced the event as the Chief Guest. The session was also attended by Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, Ms. Rachna Shah; Special Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, Shri P. Kumaran; Additional Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, Shri Rohit Kansal; Trade Advisor, Ministry of Textiles, Ms. Shubhra; industry leaders and officials.

    Speaking on the occasion, the Minister invited the ambassadors and representatives of various countries to proactively participate in Bharat Tex 2025. Describing it as the largest and the most comprehensive textiles event ever, he described Bharat Tex as a unique effort to bring the entire value chain of textiles under one roof. He highlighted the entrepreneurial spirit of the Indian textile industry in finding innovative solutions for the challenges posed by the global textile industry. He underlined that Bharat Tex will reaffirm the attractiveness of India as a reliable, sustainable sourcing destination as well as an investment destination at a large scale for textiles. The sector has the potential to provide large scale employment across the value chain and touch the lives of people across all social spheres. With innovation, collaboration, and the Make in India spirit at its core, this event is an embodiment of the 5F vision of the Prime Minister- Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign, he added.

     

    Ms. Rachna Shah also highlighted the role of Bharat Tex in the Global Textiles Industry. She invited the attendees to participate as a Partner Country in the mega textile global event. Further she emphasised on India’s focus on the Textiles sector with strong policy support backed by various incentives and schemes including PLI and PM-MITRA Parks.  

    Bharat Tex is a mega global textiles event being organized by a consortium of Textile Export Promotion Councils (EPCs) and supported by the Ministry of Textiles. Scheduled to be held from February 14 to 17, 2025 BHARAT TEX 2025, is positioned as a global scale textile trade fair and knowledge platform. The event will be held simultaneously at two state of the art venues: Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi and India Expo Centre and Mart, Greater Noida. While the main event will be held from February 14-17 at the Bharat Mandapam and will cover the entire value chain of textiles, exhibitions pertaining to handicrafts, garment machinery and ethnic apparel will be held from February 12 to 15 at the India Expo Centre and Mart, Greater Noida.

    Bharat Tex 2025 aims to build on the resounding success of the first edition in 2024. Built around the twin themes of resilient global value chains and sustainability, this year’s show promises to be even more vibrant and attractive than the first edition, attracting top policymakers, global CEOs, international exhibitors, and global buyers. A record number of over 5,000 Exhibitors, 6,000 international buyers from over 110 countries and over 1, 20,000 visitors are expected to participate in this year’s event.

    The Bharat Tex 2025 exhibition will feature dedicated pavilions for Apparel, Home Furnishings, Floor Coverings, Fibres, Yarns, Threads, Fabrics, Carpets, Silk, Handlooms, Handicrafts, Technical Textiles, Apparel Machinery, Dyes & Chemicals and many more. It will also have a retail High Street focusing on India’s fashion retail market opportunities.

    The textile mega event will also provide a platform for global textiles dialogue covering conference, seminars, CEO roundtables, and B2B and G2G meetings across various key topics such as Industry 4.0, Sustainability, Global Value Chain, Investment, Trade among other areas.

    Attendees can look forward to live demonstrations, cultural events, and fashion presentations, designer and brand exhibitions and sustainability workshops, and expert talks. Bharat Tex 2025 aims to serve as a unique and consolidated platform to showcase India’s full textile value chain, while highlighting its strengths in fashion, traditional crafts, and sustainability initiatives.

    ***

    VN

    (Release ID: 2067001) Visitor Counter : 79

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Salazar Joins Honduran Leaders in Denouncing Socialist President Xiomara Castro de Zelaya

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

    MIAMI, FL – Today, Western Hemisphere Subcommittee Chairwoman María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) joined Rep. Carlos A. Giménez (R-FL) and several leaders of the Honduran opposition in a press conference to denounce Honduran President Xiomara Castro de Zelaya’s corrupt administration.

    Since 2021, the Castro administration in Honduras has trampled on the liberties of ordinary Hondurans while affiliating herself with the tyrannical regimes of Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua. With over 1 million Hondurans living in the United States, the Castro government represents a serious threat to the U.S.–Honduras relationship, especially after it announced its intention to cancel our shared extradition treaty.

    “Unfortunately, there is currently a President in Honduras who may have came to power through democratic means, but who has trampled on that same democratic system,” said Chairwoman Salazar. “My message to President Castro de Zelaya: Don’t listen to your husband Mel. Don’t heed the socialist tendencies that he has always maintained. Protect Honduras’ democracy because we in the United States are committed to preserving a solid democracy in Honduras.”

    Chairwoman Salazar has been at the forefront of calling out the Castro administration for permitting corruption within her ranks, cozying up to dictators, and embracing China. She first called attention to the Castro administration’s recognition of China over Taiwan in a hearing in October 2023 detailing growing Chinese influence over political and economic institutions in Latin America.

    Later that month, Salazar exposed Xiomara Castro for not only leading Honduras into dangerous alliances with the dictatorships in Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua and threatening to expropriate private property, but also for colluding with local officials in the Choluteca region to extort desperate migrants passing through the country by forcing them to pay illegal tolls. Worse yet, the Chairwoman revealed that this extortion scheme was personally enriching President Castro and her partners in the government.

    The socialist Castro administration is also guilty of pushing harmful antisemiticnarratives about the Jewish State of Israel and its war against Hamas terrorism after the October 7th terrorist attack. Furthermore, she allowed 100 Cuban doctors who are victims of forced labor and human trafficking to work in the country against the will of the Honduran people. Showing her true colors as an ally of the worst dictators in the region, she awarded the highest honor Honduras can bestow, the Order of Francisco Morazán, to the dictator Nicolás Maduro. She also established Chávez-like colectivos to enforce her ideology, following in Maduro’s example.

    The inauguration of Xiomara Castro was attended by Vice President Kamala Harris with much fanfare.

    Congresswoman Salazar proudly represents the city of Miami in Congress, home to more than 22,000 constituents of Honduran heritage.

    To watch the full press conference, click here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: How We’re Making American Transportation More Accessible

    Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)

    Millions of Americans with disabilities rely on our transportation systems to get where they need to go but too often are limited by systems that are inaccessible or unreliable. We’re working to fix that.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NwdXLnPyUU

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Strengthening Alberta’s economic partnerships abroad

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    The minister will engage in trade missions to Argentina and the UAE from Oct. 21 to Nov. 9. During these missions, Minister Jones will meet with companies, potential investors and government officials in several high-value, in-demand sectors to discuss investment and trade opportunities for Alberta.

    Government-led trade missions enhance Alberta’s trade market access and help Alberta businesses diversify into new international markets.

    “Our government is committed to establishing strong relationships that connect Alberta businesses with key international partners. With Canada’s most investment-friendly environment, competitive tax system, highly educated workforce and robust research and development pipeline, Alberta is a competitive partner on the global stage. I am looking forward to showcasing Alberta’s world-class products, energy, agriculture and innovation to our partners in Argentina and the UAE. These missions will enhance collaboration, driving us toward a more prosperous future together.”

    Matt Jones, Minister of Jobs, Economy and Trade

    Minister Jones will participate in the Argentina Oil and Gas Patagonia Expo and speak at the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC). During a trade mission in 2023, Minister Jones made many connections at ADIPEC. This year’s participation will further strengthen those relationships while showcasing Alberta’s innovative energy solutions and helping Alberta-based companies establish new business partnerships.

    Minister Jones will be joined by three government employees. Mission expenses will be posted on the travel and expense disclosure page.

    Alberta’s government is committed to working with its national and international partners to advance shared interests that can lead to new opportunities for people and businesses in Alberta and around the world.

    Quick facts

    • In 2023, Alberta exported about $126 million worth of goods to Argentina.
      • Top exports included filtering/purifying machinery and apparatuses for gases ($71.2 million), air or other gas compressors ($5.1 million) and aircraft ($3.7 million). 
    • In 2023, Alberta exported almost $242 million to the UAE.
      • Top exports included food and agriculture ($130.6 million), machinery ($82.9 million) and metal, stone or glass ($13.1 million).
    • Trade missions to priority markets are one way Alberta’s government is helping small- and medium-sized businesses get their products to international markets, making Alberta’s economy more resilient.

    Itinerary for Minister Jones*

    Oct. 21-22
    • Travel to Neuquén, Argentina

    Oct. 23-25
    • Meetings and briefings in Neuquén

    Oct. 26
    • Travel to Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Oct. 27-29
    • Meetings and briefings in Buenos Aires

    Oct. 29-31
    • Travel to Abu Dhabi, UAE

    Nov. 1-6
    • Meetings and briefings in Abu Dhabi

    Nov. 5
    • Participate in ADIPEC ministerial panel

    Nov. 6
    • Travel to Dubai
    • Meetings and briefings in Dubai

    Nov. 7-8
    • Meetings and briefings in Dubai

    Nov. 9
    • Return to Alberta

    *Subject to change.

    Related information

    • Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference
    • Argentina Oil and Gas Patagonia Expo

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Federal Court Decision to Grant Biological Opinion Relief is Welcome News

    Source: National Ocean Industries Association – NOIA

    Headline: Federal Court Decision to Grant Biological Opinion Relief is Welcome News

    For Immediate Release: Monday, October 21, 2024NOIA .org
    Federal Court Decision to Grant Biological Opinion Relief is Welcome News
    Washington, D.C. – National Ocean Industries Association President Erik Milito issued the following statement after a federal court granted the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) more time to complete a new Biological Opinion (BiOp) for the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. Under a previous ruling, the BiOp would have been vacated effective December 20, 2024, threatening to halt new and existing oil and natural gas production and activity in the region. Today’s decision grants NMFS until May 21, 2025 to complete a new BiOp.
    “We are pleased with the court’s decision to grant the requested relief, allowing the federal government additional time to issue a new Gulf of Mexico Biological Opinion. This ruling is crucial for maintaining our energy security, affordability, and national security, all of which depend on the uninterrupted supply of oil and gas from the Gulf of Mexico.
    “It has become readily apparent to elected officials on both sides of the aisle that an impairment of production from the Gulf of Mexico could lead to a cascading effect throughout the American economy, delivering an unwelcome blow to consumers still reeling from inflationary impacts.
    “The Gulf of Mexico is a powerhouse in the global energy landscape. If it were a country, it would rank among the top twelve oil producers worldwide. This region supports nearly 435,000 jobs, produces approximately two million barrels of oil daily, and funds essential conservation and coastal resilience programs. Its role as a vital and well-established energy hub is indispensable to the U.S. economy and national security.
    “Potential permitting and operational delays or logjams pose significant risks, injecting unnecessary uncertainty into this critical sector. We must continue to support and protect the Gulf of Mexico’s energy production to ensure stability and growth for our nation and reduce dependence on volatile global markets and adversarial nations such as Russia or Iran.”
    ##
    About NOIA The National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA) represents and advances a dynamic and growing offshore energy industry, providing solutions that support communities and protect our workers, the public and our environment.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Top 25 global banks navigate market shifts with 4% gain in MCap in Q3 2024, reveals GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    Top 25 global banks navigate market shifts with 4% gain in MCap in Q3 2024, reveals GlobalData

    Posted in Business Fundamentals

    The aggregate market capitalization (MCap) of the top 25 global banks went up by 4% to $4.27 trillion quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) during the third quarter (Q3) ended 30 September 2024. This growth was fueled by interest rate cuts from several central banks, including the US Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank, alongside stronger-than-expected US economic performance, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) and Bank Central Asia (BCA) stocks recorded over 15% growth, while Charles Schwab saw a decline of nearly 12% in market value. JPMorgan Chase retained its position as the most valuable bank for the tenth consecutive quarter, reflecting resilient performance amidst evolving economic landscapes.

    Murthy Grandhi, Company Profiles Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “The third quarter of 2024 concluded with healthy returns across most major asset classes, despite periods of market turbulence. Early August saw stocks come under pressure, driven by weaker US economic data, an interest rate hike by the Bank of Japan, and thin summer trading volumes. However, the Federal Reserve’s much-anticipated rate cuts in September, combined with a softer stance from Japanese policymakers and fresh stimulus measures in China, helped ease investor concerns and fuel a strong stock market rally by the end of the quarter.”

    As inflation eased and economic activity remained subdued, several other Western central banks followed suit in cutting rates. The European Central Bank implemented its second-rate reduction in September, lowering interest rates to 3.5%. Similarly, the Bank of England commenced its own easing cycle, introducing a 25-basis point cut during its August meeting.”

    In Q3 2024, RBC’s stock value surged 17.2%, driven by a 17% increase in earnings from its personal and commercial banking segment, which reached CAD2.49 billion ($1.80 billion), including a CAD198 million boost from its CAD13.5 billion acquisition of HSBC’s domestic operations. RBC’s overall profit rose 16% to CAD4.5 billion, surpassing expectations. Similarly, BCA’s market value climbed 15.1%, ending the quarter with a market cap of $83.3 billion, fueled by strong quarterly results and optimism about future performance.

    JPMorgan Chase reinforced its global leadership with a 22% rise in net revenue to $50.2 billion, largely driven by a 41% increase in net interest income and gains from Visa shares.

    Meanwhile, Charles Schwab’s market cap fell to $118.6 billion due to reduced interest revenue and regulatory scrutiny, partly linked to its cash sweep program financing the 2020 TD Ameritrade acquisition.

    Overall, for the nine months ended Sept 2024, Wells Fargo lost $13 billion in market value due to persistent regulatory challenges stemming from past scandals and inconsistent earnings performance. The bank is working to lift a $1.95 trillion asset cap imposed by the Federal Reserve. Recent assessments revealed insufficient safeguards against money laundering has limited its ability to expand in deposit intake and trading.

    Grandhi concludes: “As the Fed begins its easing cycle, Q4 2024 market focus will shift to the US elections, with the outcome likely to have an impact on the country’s fiscal policy, debt, and trade, especially tariffs. Potential policy changes could stoke inflation, while escalating geopolitical risks may hit consumer confidence and trigger market selloffs, driving investors toward safer assets amidst global uncertainty.”

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: American Bar Association Offers Free Legal Aid to Hurricane Helene Survivors in South Carolina

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency 2

    ree legal assistance is available to disaster survivors in Abbeville, Aiken, Allendale, Anderson, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Cherokee, Chester, Edgefield, Fairfield, Greenville, Greenwood, Hampton, Jasper, Kershaw, Laurens, Lexington, McCormick, Newberry, Oconee, Orangeburg, Pickens, Richland, Saluda, Spartanburg, Union and York counties and the Catawba Indian Nation who were affected by Hurricane Helene in South Carolina. 
    If you need help, you can call (803) 799-6653 ext. 120 or (803) 576-3815 8:30 a.m. — noon; 1:00 — 4:30 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday. If after business hours, survivors can leave a message. The hotline is available to connect survivors to free legal services in qualifying counties who cannot afford an attorney.
    Legal Aid may be able to help survivors in the following ways: 

    FEMA and SBA financial benefits.
    Home repair contracts and property insurance claims.
    Re-doing wills and other important legal documents destroyed in the disaster.
    Price gouging, scams or identity theft.
    Landlord or tenant problems, or threats of foreclosure.
    Disability-related access to federal, state and local disaster programs.

    The Disaster Legal Services program works with state and local partners to provide free legal help for low-income disaster survivors. The service is a partnership between the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, FEMA, and various organizations and volunteer attorneys. 
    Hotline partners cannot help in all cases. For example, the Disaster Legal Services program cannot take cases where a settlement could include legal fees or an award, but DLS can refer those cases to other legal help.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Abaxx Announces C$2.795 million Strategic Financing

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    /NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES/

    TORONTO, Oct. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Abaxx Technologies Inc. (CBOE CA:ABXX) (“Abaxx” or the “Company”), a financial software and market infrastructure company, majority shareholder of Abaxx Singapore Pte Ltd., the owner of Abaxx Commodity Exchange and Clearinghouse (individually, “Abaxx Exchange” and “Abaxx Clearing”), and producer of the SmarterMarkets™ Podcast, is pleased to announce that it anticipates entering into a binding agreement with a strategic investor, pursuant to which the investor has agreed to purchase 215,000 common shares (the “Shares”) of the Company at a price of CAD$13.00 per common share for aggregate gross proceeds of C$2,795,000 on a private placement basis (the “Financing”).

    The proceeds of the Financing are expected to be used for general corporate and working capital requirements, including to fund ongoing operations and/or working capital and minimum regulatory requirements for Abaxx Exchange and Abaxx Clearing. No finder’s fees or commissions were paid in connection with the Financing. The parties must enter into a binding subscription agreement to complete the Financing which is expected to close as soon as reasonably practicable and is subject to final acceptance of Cboe Canada.

    This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities issuable under the Financing have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold to or for the account or benefit of persons in the “United States” or “U.S. persons” (as such terms are defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

    About Abaxx Technologies
    Abaxx is building Smarter Markets — markets empowered by better financial technology and market infrastructure to address our biggest challenges, including the energy transition. In addition to developing and deploying financial technologies that make communication, trade, and transactions easier and more secure, Abaxx is a majority-owner of Abaxx Exchange and Abaxx Clearing, subsidiaries recognized by the Monetary Authority of Singapore as “recognized market operator” and “approved clearinghouse”, respectively.

    Abaxx Exchange and Abaxx Clearing are a Singapore-based commodity futures exchange and clearinghouse, introducing centrally cleared, physically deliverable commodities futures and derivatives to provide better price discovery and risk management tools for the commodities critical to our transition to a lower-carbon economy.

    For more information please visit abaxx.tech, abaxx.exchange and smartermarkets.media.

    For more information about this press release, please contact:

    Steve Fray, CFO
    Tel: 647-490-1590

    Media and investor inquiries:

    Abaxx Technologies Inc.
    Investor Relations Team
    Tel: +1 647 490 1590
    E-mail: ir@abaxx.tech

    Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

    This press release includes certain “forward-looking statements” which do not consist of historical facts. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe Abaxx’s future plans, objectives, or goals, including words to the effect that Abaxx expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as “seeking”, “should”, “intend”, “predict”, “potential”, “believes”, “anticipates”, “expects”, “estimates”, “may”, “could”, “would”, “will”, “continue”, “plan” or the negative of these terms and similar expressions. Since forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Although these statements are based on information currently available to Abaxx, Abaxx does not provide any assurance that actual results will meet respective management expectations. Risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information.

    Forward-looking information related to Abaxx in this press release includes but is not limited to, Abaxx’s objectives, goals or future plans, the anticipated closing and timing of closing of the Financing, regulatory approvals in connection with the Financing and intended use of proceeds from the Financing. Such factors impacting forward-looking information include, among others: the ability to enter into a binding subscription agreement and completion of the Financing on the terms as announced or at all; risks relating to the global economic climate; dilution; Abaxx’s limited operating history; future capital needs and uncertainty of additional financing; the competitive nature of the industry; currency exchange risks; the need for Abaxx to manage its planned growth and expansion; the effects of product development and need for continued technology change; protection of proprietary rights; the effect of government regulation and compliance on Abaxx and the industry; the ability to list Abaxx’s securities on stock exchanges in a timely fashion or at all; network security risks; the ability of Abaxx to maintain properly working systems; reliance on key personnel; global economic and financial market deterioration impeding access to capital or increasing the cost of capital; and volatile securities markets impacting security pricing unrelated to operating performance. In addition, particular factors which could impact future results of the business of Abaxx include but are not limited to: operations in foreign jurisdictions, protection of intellectual property rights, contractual risk, third-party risk; clearinghouse risk, malicious actor risks, third-party software license risk, system failure risk, risk of technological change; dependence of technical infrastructure; and changes in the price of commodities, capital market conditions, restriction on labor and international travel and supply chains. Abaxx has also assumed that no significant events occur outside of Abaxx’s normal course of business.

    Abaxx cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive. In addition, although Abaxx has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. When relying on forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Abaxx has assumed that the material factors referred to in the previous paragraphs will not cause such forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this press release represents the expectations of Abaxx as of the date of this press release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Abaxx undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements and information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and information. Cboe Canada does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn Ranked Among Top U.S. Universities for Patent Issuances

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    UConn has been named one of the top 100 universities for patent issuances by the National Academy of Inventors (NAI).

    UConn is number 72 on this list. In 2023, UConn inventions received 25 U.S. patents.

    “It’s a great feeling,” says Abhijit Banerjee, UConn associate vice president for innovation and entrepreneurship. “I think it’s a reflection of the University’s total research mission as well as the accomplishments our faculty and scientists are doing every day. Increasing in patents is just one reflection of that.”

    Published annually, this list highlights and celebrates U.S. universities that play a large role in advancing innovation and invention in the United States. NAI has published rankings since 2013, starting with the Top 100 Worldwide Universities list. Last year, they introduced the Top 100 U.S. Universities rankings.

    The National Academy of Inventors bases its list on data from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

    By filing patents, UConn helps researchers protect their work from infringement by others. Technology Commercialization Services (TCS) actively commercializes patents for licensing to third parties and to support the creation of startups.

    A vast majority, approximately 90%, of UConn’s provisional patents are filed in-house with two attorneys hired in 2021. A fraction of provisional patents may still require the support of external law firms with expertise in special topics.

    This strategy has vastly reduced the cost of filing patents and helped UConn develop a more targeted strategy about what to patent based on the market it would be entering and its commercialization potential. It has also supported filing quality patents and better coordination with external law firms.

    TCS periodically reviews the University’s patent portfolio to identify patents for continuation, commercialization, infringement, and portfolio development.

    The University’s patent portfolios help demonstrate areas of research expertise, such as climate and sustainability.

    TCS not only supports researchers in filing patents but defends those patents in court if they are infringed.

    “At UConn, Technology Commercialization Services is the guardian angel for protecting our patents,” Banerjee says. “We are the ones that preserve one of the University’s most valuable assets which is intellectual property.”

    UConn’s patenting strategy reflects the University’s commitment to supporting research and innovation that contributes to the public good, Banerjee says.

    “Patents are a testament to faculty’s contribution to the field,” Banerjee says. “And it demonstrates faculty’s inclination towards research commercialization, entrepreneurship, and, most importantly from the University’s standpoint, having these patents do public good in the future.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Month of Discovery: Undergraduate Researcher Krithika Santhanam

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Krithika Santhanam’s ’25 (CLAS) research activities started early on in her time at UConn.  

    During her freshman year, Santhanam reached out to Caroline Dealy, professor of orthodontics, about working in her lab.  

    Santhanam spent her first and sophomore years in Dealy’s lab, which researches treatments for osteoarthritis. 

    “Osteoarthritis is a condition where there’s a spontaneous degeneration of cartilage cells which impacts our joints,” Santhanam says.  

    There is currently no treatment for osteoarthrosis. That’s why Dealy’s lab is working on finding a way to get cartilage cells to spontaneously regenerate. Santhanam found that when certain BMP ligands, a type of molecule, were removed in mouse models, something caused cartilage cells in their knees to regenerate.  

    Santhanam had the opportunity to present her findings at the 16th International Conference on Limb Development, Regeneration, and Evolution and the New England Science Symposium at Harvard University.  

    “The amount of skills that I gained, the confidence that I gained through that opportunity as a freshman,” Santhanam says. “I was able to talk to professional scholars within the field, which was amazing.”  

    After identifying a new cell population within the cartilage of mice samples, Santhanam continued her work with Dealy through a SURF (Summer Undergraduate Research Find) Award. With the SURF Award, Santhanam dug deeper to determine what was causing the regeneration she had observed in the last step of her project.  

    “My project proposal was looking at what properties do these new cells have,” Santhanam says. “Because we have no idea what type of cartilage cells these are, what is allowing them to regenerate, what stage of chondrocyte maturation are they in?”  

    After a long process of trial and error, Santhanam found that the cells matched with a tag called RUNX2, which is related to bone cell differentiation. 

    Santhanam is now working with Fumilayo Showers, assistant professor of sociology and Africana studies, on a project looking at frontline and non-frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of how health care had to change during the pandemic and what we can learn from the emergency. 

    Santhanam is also currently putting the finishing touches on a documentary project about disability advocacy in South India that she made through the BOLD Scholars program.  

    Santhanam’s individualized major in health policy and racial disparities has allowed her to take classes in a wide array of subjects including women’s, gender, and sexuality studies and human development and family sciences. In these classes, she learned about harmful patient-provider interactions where individuals with disabilities do not feel heard or lack access to healthcare facilities in the first place.  

    “This was interesting to me because I feel like when we talk about intersectionality between race, class, gender, and all these things, sometimes we don’t think about disability as one of those social determinants of health,” Santhanam says.  

    Santhanam went to her parents’ home of Chennai, India to interview people involved in disability advocacy there. 

    “The differences and cultural stigmas I see when I go back really is something that is not talked about enough,” Santhanam says. “I know individuals with disabilities in India, and I know how that care is different, and I really want people to know that, and I also want people to know the positive strides that have been made in the past 20 years.”  

    Santhanam interviewed doctors and people involved with advocacy groups, including Dr. Aishwarya Rao, pediatrician, disability rights activist, and the founder of Better World Shelter, a rehabilitation shelter for women with disabilities; Sharada Devi, an assistant professor at the University of Kerala’s Institute of English; and KVJ Sumitra Prasad, founder of SAI Center, which promotes the importance of adults with disabilities living independently through the DORAI Foundation.  

    Santhanam will screen her documentary at UConn Storrs in January. 

    Santhanam plans to attend medical school after graduation with the long-term goal of opening a clinic focused on women’s health.  

    During her sophomore year, Santhanam participated in the UConn Health Leaders program where she screened patients for social determinants of health. She quickly realized that in Connecticut there are massive disparities in people’s ability to access healthcare, like healthy food and transportation that support wellbeing.  

    “That experience really was eye-opening,” Santhanam says. “Doing that program really made me feel like this is my calling, and really sent me into wanting to see what internal medicine was like. In my opinion, I believe primary care is the first place and the most important place where you can make an impact on someone’s health outcomes.”  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. construction costs rose slightly for solar and wind, dropped for natural gas in 2022

    Source: US Energy Information Administration

    In-brief analysis

    October 22, 2024

    The average U.S. construction costs for solar photovoltaic systems and wind turbines in 2022 were close to 2021 costs, while natural gas-fired electricity generators decreased 11%, according to our recently released data. Average construction costs for solar generators increased by 1.7% in 2022, and for wind turbines they increased by 1.6%.

    These three technologies—solar, wind, and natural gas—comprised 86% of the capacity added to the U.S. electric grid in 2022. Investment in new electric-generating capacity in 2022 decreased by 27% from 2021 to $36.9 billion dollars.

    Generator cost data are reported to EIA through the EIA-860, Annual Electric Generator Inventory. The costs discussed in this article reference our electric generator construction costs data, which organize the nominal construction cost values for generators installed in each reporting year. The recently released data examine trends from past years. Discussion of additional cost information and trends is available in our Short-Term Energy Outlook.

    Solar
    Average U.S. solar construction costs across all solar panel types increased 1.7% to $1,588 per kilowatt (kW) in 2022. The increase was primarily driven by a 13% increase in the construction cost for crystalline silicon tracking panels, which increased to $1,605/kW, the highest price since 2018.

    The average construction cost for crystalline silicon fixed-tilt panels decreased by 13%, but they remained the most expensive of the major solar technologies at $1,788/kW. The average cost for Cadmium telluride panels also decreased by about 6% to $1,529/kW in 2022.

    Most solar panels installed in the United States are crystalline silicon tracking panels. Unlike fixed-tilt systems, solar tracking systems automatically move to follow the sun as it moves across the sky, allowing more continuous sun exposure and, therefore, greater electricity production.

    Wind
    The average construction cost for U.S. onshore wind turbines increased 1.6% in 2022 to $1,451/kW. Higher costs were driven by increases in construction costs for wind farms greater than 100 megawatts (MW) in nameplate capacity. The cost for wind farms between 100 MW and 200 MW of capacity increased by 10% to $1,614/kW. Construction costs for the largest wind farms—those with more than 200 MW—also increased to average $1,402/kW in 2022, up 1.4%. Construction costs for wind farms with 1 MW to 100 MW of capacity continued to decrease, this time by an average of 7.3% to 1,806/kW in 2022.

    Natural gas
    The average construction cost for natural gas-fired generators fell 11% between 2021 and 2022. The decrease was driven primarily by decreases in the cost for combined-cycle facilities. The average construction cost for generators at combined-cycle facilities fell by 42% in 2022 to $722/kW.

    The costs for other natural gas technologies increased in 2022. The average construction cost for a combustion turbine almost doubled between 2021 and 2022 to $1,006/kW, and the cost for internal combustion engines fueled with natural gas increased by 27% to $1,677/kW.

    Principal contributor: Alex Mey

    MIL OSI USA News –