NewzIntel.com

Category: Asia Pacific

  • MIL-OSI: QOIBest Debuts Hong Kong Office to Revolutionize Global App Experiences with PWA Solutions

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Hong Kong, Sept. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — QOIBest, a global leader in Progressive Web Apps (PWA) technology, has enhanced its global service network by opening a new office in Hong Kong. The new location adds to QOIBest’s other continental headquarters in London, providing the firm with new and valuable access to assist businesses, technical directors and product managers in significantly improving mobile user experiences.

    QOIBest’s PWA technology allows web applications to function just like native mobile apps. Its Android solution enables users to access and install apps directly through their internet browser, bypassing Google Play. This makes installing apps easier than ever while also eliminating the need to install through traditional app stores, providing a smooth, app-like experience to users.

    Maximize User Retention with Cutting-Edge PWAs

    At the core of QOIBest’s offering is its innovative PWA technology, designed to maximize user retention. QOIBest’s PWAs offer fast loading times, offline functionality and Chrome-based push notifications to ensure interruption-free user experiences. Built on the Chrome Web App Protocol, the PWAs bypass app store reviews — which in turn minimizes their risk of being delisted. Even after a user installs an app, the PWA-fueled push notifications help retain users by encouraging them to reactivate the app.

    Lower Business Costs Through Cross-Platform Compatibility

    QOIBest’s PWAs also offer cross-platform compatibility, which eliminates the need for separate native apps and reduces costs of both development and maintenance. In bypassing Google Play’s commission fees, QOIBest’s technology helps companies save money and be more flexible in receiving payment from users.

    A Trusted Partner Across Industries

    QOIBest‘s international presence allows it to leverage its PWA expertise and offer its wide variety of services, including platform development, customer engagement, IT support and user retention to a larger global base of users. The firm works primarily in the gaming, social media, in-app advertising (IAA) industries and short drama, but is also growing rapidly into the retail, e-commerce and travel spaces, among others.

    Empowering Clients with Optimized Features

    QOIBest continually enhances its platform to improve client outcomes. Recent updates include Adjust integration for better data tracking, interception tools to boost conversion, and page obfuscation for privacy protection. The dashboard now offers more intuitive data displays, while landing pages and backend management have been optimized for smoother user experiences. Additional features like watermarking and ongoing bug fixes ensure system stability and protection.

    Learn more about QOIBest’s PWA products and solutions by visiting https://qoibest.com/ or following QOIBest’s X page. To schedule a demo or discuss collaboration opportunities, contact the company via Telegram or WhatsApp (+44 7379 704740).

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN tours CAEXPO Pavilion

    Source: ASEAN

    Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today toured the China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) Pavilion, to observe the preparations for the opening of the 21st CAEXPO, on 24 September 2024. The tour covered the B2 area of the Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Center, where the ASEAN Member States, Observer, and the ASEAN Secretariat are located.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI: BIO-key Expands Deployment with Province of British Columbia, Adds 10,000 Biometric Users for Sign-on and Physical Access Control

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia and HOLMDEL, N.J., Sept. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BIO-key® International, Inc. (NASDAQ: BKYI), an innovative provider of workforce and customer identity and access management (IAM) solutions featuring Identity-Bound Biometrics (IBB) for phoneless, tokenless, passwordless and phish-resistant authentication experiences, announced that its long-time customer, the province of British Columbia, has placed new orders with BIO-key. 10,000 users will be added to their existing deployment of WEB-key software, integrated with Broadcom’s SiteMinder infrastructure to streamline and strengthen access to a series of new applications via SAML 2.0 federation standards.

    BIO-key has worked closely with the province’s cybersecurity team to integrate BIO-key’s state-of-the-art, cloud-enabled biometric authentication platform with its existing authentication infrastructure to deliver advanced and secure biometric access to systems, applications and facilities across the organization.

    Since 2012, BIO-key’s secure biometric authentication platform has been integrated with the province’s authentication infrastructure to provide the strongest biometric ID without requiring phones or tokens. In 2017, the province expanded the platform to incorporate physical access control using the same fingerprint biometric for door access. This differentiated approach delivers secure sign in and streamlined access to facilities for users who roam among different workstations and locations without requiring added costs and risks of “what-you-have” token and card solutions that only verify that the card or token is present, not the user. BIO-key credentials derive from the individual themselves, so access cannot be shared, delegated, phished or forgotten.

    Jim Sullivan, BIO-key’s SVP Strategy and Chief Legal Officer, said, “The British Columbia government has been a leader in providing secure biometric authentication with BIO-key solutions for more than a decade. They recognize that unique ‘roving user’ scenarios call for uncompromising yet user-friendly security. We are pleased to be the trusted provider of the highest level of security, by ensuring only the right user accesses the most sensitive information. BIO-key has a long history providing highly secure, robust and cost-efficient solutions in government, defense, finance, retail and other highly-regulated industries. Today, we are finding that BIO-key’s superior user experience, through phoneless, tokenless and passwordless solutions, translates very well to many enterprise use cases, particularly where we bring multi-factor authentication to roving workforces.”

    About BIO-key International, Inc. (www.BIO-key.com)
    BIO-key is revolutionizing authentication and cybersecurity with biometric-centric, multi-factor identity and access management (IAM) software securing access for over forty million users. BIO-key allows customers to choose the right authentication factors for diverse use cases, including phoneless, tokenless and passwordless biometric options. Its hosted or on-premise PortalGuard IAM solution provides cost-effective, easy-to-deploy, convenient, and secure access to computers, information, applications, and high-value transactions.

    BIO-key Safe Harbor Statement
    All statements contained in this press release other than statements of historical facts are “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Act”). The words “estimate,” “project,” “intends,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are made based on management’s beliefs, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management pursuant to the “safe-harbor” provisions of the Act. These statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those included within or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, our history of losses and limited revenue; our ability to raise additional capital; our ability to protect our intellectual property; changes in business conditions; changes in our sales strategy and product development plans; changes in the marketplace; continued services of our executive management team; security breaches; competition in the biometric technology industry; market acceptance of biometric products generally and our products under development; our ability to execute and deliver on contracts in Africa; our ability to expand into Asia, Africa and other foreign markets; our ability to integrate the operations and personnel of Swivel Secure into our business; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; delays in the development of products and statements of assumption underlying any of the foregoing as well as other factors set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to disclose any revision to these forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.


    Investor Contacts
    William Jones, David Collins
    Catalyst IR
    BKYI@catalyst-ir.com
    212-924-9800

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Our digital 3D models of huge coral reefs could help revive these precious ecosystems

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Tim Lamont, Research Fellow, Marine Biology, Lancaster University

    As a team of marine biologists, assessing the health of thousands of square metres of coral reef can be a daunting prospect. Often, we have to monitor some of the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet, and there’s a strict time limit due to the safety regulations associated with Scuba diving.

    Accurately measuring and classifying even small areas of reefs can involve spending many hours underwater. And with millions of reefs around the world that need monitoring in the face of looming threats to their existence, speed is critical.

    But now, a digital revolution for coral reef monitoring could be underway, enabled by recent advances in low-cost camera and computing technology. Our new study shows how creating 3D computer models of entire reefs – sometimes known as digital twins – can help us monitor these precious ecosystems faster, more accurately and in greater detail than ever before.

    We worked at 17 study sites in central Indonesia – some reefs were degraded, others were healthy or restored. We followed the same protocol at rectangular areas measuring 1000m² in each location, using a technique called “photogrammetry” to create 3D models of each reef habitat.

    One of us Scuba dived and swam 2m above the coral back and forth in a “lawnmower” pattern across every square metre of this reef, while carrying two underwater cameras programmed to take photos of the seabed twice per second. Within just half an hour, we’d taken 10,000 high-resolution, overlapping pictures that covered the entire area.

    Later, we booted up a high-performance computer, and with the help of specialist experts from an underwater science tech company called Tritonia Scientific, we processed these images into accurate 3D representations for each of the 17 sites. The resulting models surpass traditional monitoring methods in speed, cost and the ability to consistently reproduce accurate measurements.

    Our research paper applies this technique to assess the success of the world’s largest coral restoration project. Mars Coral Reef Restoration Project is located at Bontosua Island on the Spermonde Archipelago in South Sulawesi, Indonesia.

    Our findings show that, when well-managed, coral restoration efforts can bring back many elements, including the complexity of reef structure across large areas. By comparing the 3D models, we can see how complex the surface structure of the coral reef looks and measure its details at different scales – these aspects would be far too tricky for divers to accurately measure underwater.

    3D model video visualisation of a 50m×20m reef restoration area.

    In an earlier 2024 study, our team applied photogrammetry to measure coral growth rates at the level of individual colonies. By capturing detailed 3D models before and after a year of growth, we revealed that restored reefs can achieve growth rates comparable to healthy natural ecosystems.

    This finding is particularly significant, as it highlights the potential for restored reefs to recover and function similarly to untouched reef environments.



    Read more:
    Restored coral reefs can grow as fast as healthy reefs after just four years – new study

    Beyond coral reefs

    Photogrammetry is becoming a widely adopted tool across various fields, both on land and in the ocean. Beyond coral reefs, it is used to monitor forests with drones, develop detailed architectural and urban planning models, and monitor soil erosion and landscape changes.

    In marine environments, photogrammetry is a powerful tool for monitoring and measuring environmental changes such as variations in coral cover, shifts in species diversity and alterations in reef structure. It has also been used to develop cost-effective methods for measuring coral reef rugosity (the bumpiness or texture of the reef’s surface).

    Greater rugosity generally indicates more complex habitats, which can support a wider variety of marine life and reflect healthier reef systems. Additionally, it measures the complexity of different shapes and structures within the reef. These methods provide crucial baselines that help scientists like us track changes over time and design effective conservation strategies.

    Although this method is cheaper and quicker than traditional fieldwork, there are still significant financial barriers. The necessary equipment and software can range from several thousand to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the specific equipment and software used, and mastering these techniques takes time. It may be some time before these methods become standard for most field biologists.

    Beyond coral reef monitoring, photogrammetry is increasingly being used in virtual reality and augmented reality development, enabling the creation of immersive, lifelike environments for education, entertainment and research. For example, The US agency National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s coral reef virtual reality offers an engaging way to explore coral reefs through virtual reality.

    In the future, photogrammetry could revolutionise environmental monitoring by offering faster, more accurate baselines and assessments of ecosystem changes such as coral bleaching and shifts in biodiversity. Advances in machine learning and cloud computing are expected to further automate and enhance photogrammetry, increasing its accessibility and scalability, and establishing its role as an essential tool in conservation science.


    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

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    Tim Lamont receives funding from the Royal Commission of the Exhibition of 1851, the Natural Environment Research Council and the Fisheries Society of the British Isles.

    Rindah Talitha Vida receives funding from Friends of Lancaster University in America through the Global Impact Small Grants and research studentship funding from Sheba Hope Advocate Program.

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

    – ref. Our digital 3D models of huge coral reefs could help revive these precious ecosystems – https://theconversation.com/our-digital-3d-models-of-huge-coral-reefs-could-help-revive-these-precious-ecosystems-237711

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The Taliban suspends polio vaccine campaign in Afghanistan – here’s the likely impact

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Lee Sherry, Postdoctoral Research Associate, School of Infection and Immunity, University of Glasgow

    The Taliban recently announced that they are suspending its polio vaccination campaign in Afghanistan. The announcement was made shortly before the campaign was due to start.

    The suspension is temporary, according to the Taliban, and is due to security fears and the fact that women are involved in administering the vaccine.

    Poliovirus is a highly infectious virus that mainly affects children under the age of five, but anyone who is unvaccinated can be infected. The virus spreads from person to person mainly through traces of contaminated faeces on people’s hands getting into their mouths or, less commonly, through contaminated food or water.

    It initially infects the intestines, leading to symptoms such as fever, fatigue, headache and vomiting in the early stages of the disease. But, as the infection progresses, the virus can invade the nervous system, often leading to paralysis. In the worst cases, affected children will die as the paralysis spreads to the muscles that control breathing.

    Polio was a major global childhood health concern in the 19th and 20th centuries. However, the development of polio vaccines has given us the ability to prevent polio-induced paralysis. There are two main types of polio vaccine: live-attenuated oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV), made from weakened poliovirus, and inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV).

    Following the introduction of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in 1988, OPV and IPV have nearly eliminated the disease. Yet polio remains a global threat, as was seen recently with the emergence of polio in the Gaza Strip.

    Afghanistan is one of only two countries, alongside neighbouring Pakistan, where polio has continued to spread. So the news that the Taliban have suspended polio vaccination will probably have major consequences for the control of the disease in Afghanistan and the surrounding region.

    Earlier in 2024, Afghanistan had used a house-to-house vaccination strategy, recommended by the WHO, for the first time in five years. This tactic ensures that most children have access to the vaccine. However, in the southern Kandahar province, the Taliban used a mosque-to-mosque vaccination campaign, which has been proven to be less effective. So Kandahar is believed to have a large number of unvaccinated children who are now susceptible to infection.

    Locally, this setback in vaccination not only poses a risk to the children of Afghanistan, but also poses a risk to children in bordering Pakistan. This is due to the high levels of movement across the borders between the two countries.

    “Afghanistan is the only neighbour from where Afghan people in large numbers come to Pakistan and then go back,” Anwarul Haq, the coordinator at the National Emergency Operation Centre for Polio Eradication, told Associated Press.

    Much wider spread

    Afghanistan has already seen an increase in paralytic polio cases in 2024, rising from six in 2023 to 14 confirmed cases in 2024 so far. Paralysis occurs in about one in 200 infections, so this increase in paralytic polio suggests a much wider spread of infection in the region. This includes Pakistan, which has reported 13 cases so far this year.

    With the reduced number of vaccinations and an increasing number of children vulnerable to polio infection, we are likely to see an increased number of paralytic polio cases in the near future. This potential increase in viral spread coupled with the number of people travelling in and out of the region may lead to the spread of polio beyond Afghanistan and Pakistan and into areas such as India and Iran.

    Unfortunately, those who are not vaccinated will also be susceptible to vaccine-derived poliovirus. This is where the OPV vaccine, which contains a weakened version of the virus, has been able to spread in areas with low vaccination coverage, allowing the virus to return to virulence.

    This has seen new vaccine-derived outbreaks seeded across several countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, which now accounts for most paralytic polio cases worldwide.

    Lee Sherry has previously worked on a WHO-funded project to develop new vaccines for poliovirus.

    – ref. The Taliban suspends polio vaccine campaign in Afghanistan – here’s the likely impact – https://theconversation.com/the-taliban-suspends-polio-vaccine-campaign-in-afghanistan-heres-the-likely-impact-239316

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: Wearable Devices Announces First Half 2024 Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    YOKNE’AM ILLIT, Israel, Sept. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Wearable Devices Ltd.  (the “Company” or “Wearable Devices”) (Nasdaq: WLDS, WLDSW), a technology growth company specializing in artificial intelligence (“AI”)-powered touchless sensing wearables, today announced its financial results for the six months ended June 30, 2024.

    First Half 2024 Financial Results and Recent Company Highlights:

    • Recognized initial revenue from the sale of business-to-consumer (B2C) focused Mudra Band for Apple Watch and business-to-business (B2B) collaborations, totaling $394 thousand.

    Mudra Band:

    • Enhanced product proposition for flagship product: We have introduced two major new features for our Mudra Band: touchless gesture control for Apple Watch, allowing users to manage tasks hands-free, and integration with ChatGPT, enabling users to interact with AI directly via predefined gestures and voice commands on their Apple Watch. These innovations enhance convenience, accessibility, and AI-powered functionality for on-the-go multitasking.
    • Announced new innovative and disruptive product- the Mudra Link: Currently receiving preorders for Mudra Link, the first AI neural interface wristband for Android and beyond, providing advanced neural input technology for Android users. Official launch expected in the first quarter of 2025.
    • Expanded market potential with range of new supported devices: Now supports the Apple Vision Pro, in addition to other Apple devices including Mac, iPad, Apple TV and iPhone, allowing Apple users to extend their gesture control experience.

    Global B2B collaborations:

    • Signed an agreement with Qualcomm Technologies (“Qualcomm”) to collaborate in elevating extended reality (“XR”) experiences with Mudra neural technology and successfully completed the first phase of integration of Mudra technology with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Spaces XR developer platform.
    • Fortune 500 consumer electronics corporation has purchased a special license for a state-of-the-art Mudra Development Kit (“MDK”) to evaluate certain deep-level capabilities of the MDK for developing next-generation user interfaces.
    • Announced successful demonstrations of the Mudra technology on Lenovo’s ThinkReality XR headset, at the Augmented World Expo (AWE) 2024.
    • Signed reseller agreement to enhance licensing program presence in South Korea and China.
    • Strengthened presence in the defense sector and delivered custom touchless technology to global defense company as part of an ongoing collaboration.

    In the first half of 2024, Wearable Devices continued recognizing revenue from the sale of Mudra Band for Apple Watch, the Company’s flagship B2C product, which began shipping towards the end of 2023. Revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2024 were $394 thousand, increasing from approximately $12 thousand compared to the six months ended June 30, 2023. Net loss increased to $4.2 million, or $(0.21) per basic and diluted share, in the six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to net loss of $3.9 million, or $(0.26) per basic and diluted share, for the six months ended June 30, 2023, primarily related to an increase in the Company’s operating expenses associated with its continued efforts to scale its business activity.

    Asher Dahan, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Wearable Devices, commented, “In the first half of 2024, we increased the delivery of our flagship B2C product, the Mudra Band for Apple Watch. After an extended preorder period during which the Mudra Band generated strong customer interest, we began shipping the product towards the end of 2023 and are pleased to have reached this important milestone.

    Subsequent to the close of the first half of 2024, we announced the launch of our new Mudra Link wristband, bringing our state-of-the-art neural input Mudra technology to a broader range of operating system platforms, including iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS. This has been a major initiative for our business, and the logical next step in our growth trajectory. With preorders now open and an official launch planned for the first half of 2025, we expect the Mudra Link to significantly expand our addressable market as we tap into the large and expanding population of Android, Windows, and macOS users.

    We continue to invest in our business, as reflected in the modest increases in research and development, sales and marketing, and general and administrative expenses in the period. We’re still in the early stages of growth in the broader wearables industry, and Wearable Devices is well positioned to be a leader in the space given our patented AI-based neural input interface technology.”

    About Wearable Devices Ltd.

    Wearable Devices Ltd. is a growth company developing AI-based neural input interface technology for the B2C and B2B markets. The Company’s flagship product, the Mudra Band for Apple Watch, integrates innovative AI-based technology and algorithms into a functional, stylish wristband that utilizes proprietary sensors to identify subtle finger and wrist movements allowing the user to “touchlessly” interact with connected devices. The Company also markets a B2B product, which utilizes the same technology and functions as the Mudra Band and is available to businesses on a licensing basis. Wearable Devices Is committed to creating disruptive, industry leading technology that leverages AI and proprietary algorithms, software, and hardware to set the input standard for the Extended Reality, one of the most rapidly expanding landscapes in the tech industry. The Company’s ordinary shares and warrants trade on the Nasdaq market under the symbols “WLDS” and “WLDSW”, respectively.

    Forward-Looking Statement Disclaimer

    This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are intended to be covered by the “safe harbor” created by those sections. Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe our future plans, strategies and expectations, can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as “believe,” “expect,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “seek,” “intend,” “plan,” “goal,” “estimate,” “anticipate” or other comparable terms. For example, we are using forward-looking statements when we discuss our growth trajectory; the launch of the Mudra Link and its benefits and advantages, including significant potential increase in the Company’s total available market; future investment in our business; and our position as a leader in the space of wearable devices. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release regarding our strategies, prospects, financial condition, operations, costs, plans and objectives are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Our actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the following: the trading of our ordinary shares or warrants and the development of a liquid trading market; our ability to successfully market our products and services; the acceptance of our products and services by customers; our continued ability to pay operating costs and ability to meet demand for our products and services; the amount and nature of competition from other security and telecom products and services; the effects of changes in the cybersecurity and telecom markets; our ability to successfully develop new products and services; our success establishing and maintaining collaborative, strategic alliance agreements, licensing and supplier arrangements; our ability to comply with applicable regulations; and the other risks and uncertainties described in our annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed on March 15, 2024 and our other filings with the SEC. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

    IMS Investor Relations
    203.972.9200
    wearabledevices@imsinvestorrelations.com

         
    INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)    
    U.S. dollars (in thousands)          
               
        June 30,   December 31,  
        2024   2023  
    ASSETS          
               
    CURRENT ASSETS:          
               
    Cash and cash equivalents   3,103   810  
    Short-term bank deposits   57   4,045  
    Account receivable   47   –  
    Governmental grant receivable   7   108  
    Other receivables and prepaid expenses   306   757  
    Inventories   1,218   1,032  
               
    TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS   4,738   6,752  
               
    NON-CURRENT ASSETS:          
               
    Long-term bank deposits   –   54  
    Right-of-use assets   458   592  
    Property and equipment, net   176   194  
               
    TOTAL NON-CURRENT ASSETS   634   840  
               
    TOTAL ASSETS   5,372   7,592  
               
               
    INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)          
    U.S. dollars (in thousands)          
               
        June 30,   December 31,  
        2024   2023  
    LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY          
               
    CURRENT LIABILITIES:          
    Accounts payables   175   410  
    Advance payments   101   312  
    Accrued payroll and other employment related accruals   641   579  
    Convertible promissory note   1,934   –  
    Accrued expenses   386   190  
    Lease liabilities   296   297  
    TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES   3,533   1,788  
    Lease liabilities   144   278  
    TOTAL LIABILITIES   3,677   2,066  
               
    SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY          
    Ordinary shares, NIS 0.01 par value:   58   57  
    Authorized 50,000,000 as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023; issued and outstanding 20,887,428 shares as of June 30, 2024 and 20,387,428 shares as of December 31, 2023  
    Additional paid-in capital   27,070   26,692  
    Accumulated losses   (25,433)   (21,223)  
               
    TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY   1,695   5,526  
               
    TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY   5,372   7,592  
               
    INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (UNAUDITED)          
    U.S. dollars (in thousands)          
               
        Six months ended
    June 30,
    2024
    		     Six months
    ended
    June 30,
    2023 
               
         U.S. dollars
    in thousands
        (except per share amounts)
               
    Revenues   394     12
    Expenses:          
    Cost of revenues   (315)     (3)
    Research and development, net   (1,616)     (1,560)
    Sales and marketing expenses   (1,083)     (1,050)
    General and administrative expenses   (1,601)     (1,453)
    OPERATING LOSS   (4,221)     (4,054)
    FINANCING INCOME, NET   11     158
               
    NET LOSS AND TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE LOSS   (4,210)     (3,896)
               
    Net loss per ordinary share, basic and diluted   (0.21)     (0.26)
               
    Weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding basic and diluted   20,392,984     15,254,457
               
                 
    INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
    U.S. dollars (in thousands)    		            
                   
        Six months ended  
    June 30,
        2024     2023  
    CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:            
    Net loss   (4,210)     (3,896)  
                 
    Adjustments required to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities              
                 
    Depreciation   54     23  
    Accrued interest on deposits   39     *(19)  
    Interest expenses on convertible promissory note   14     –  
    Share based compensation expenses   112     109  
    Unrealized gain from foreign currency derivative activities   61     –  
                 
    Changes in operating assets and liabilities items:            
    Increase in inventory   (186)     (6)  
    Increase in accounts receivables   (47)     –  
    Decrease (increase) in governmental grants receivables   101     (29)  
    Decrease (increase) in other receivables and prepaid expenses   380     (95)  
    (Decrease) increase in advance payments   (211)     20  
    Decrease in deferred revenues   –     (12)  
    Decrease in accounts payable   (236)     (44)  
    Increase in accrued payroll and other employment related accruals   62     163  
    Increase in accrued expenses   206     48  
    Net cash used in operating activities   (3,861)     (3,738)  
                 
    CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:            
    Purchase of property and equipment   (36)     (93)  
    Proceeds (investments) associated with deposits, net   4,003     *(2,036)  
    Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities   3,967     (2,129)  
                 
    CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:            
    Proceeds from issuance of convertible promissory note   1,920     –  
    Proceeds from issuance of ordinary shares as a result of exercise of warrants   –     1,448  
    Proceeds from issuance of ordinary shares associated with the SEPA   267        
    Net cash provided by financing activities   2,187     1,448  
                 
    NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS   2,293     (4,419)  
    CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD   810     10,373  
    CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD   3,103     5,954  
         
    SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:    
    Interest received from deposits 110       159  
    Right-of-use asset recognized against lease liability –       446  
                   
                   
    *Reclassified              

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Foreign affairs lecture held

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Ministry of Foreign Affairs Department of West Asian & North African Affairs Deputy Director General Yang Xin delivered a lecture titled “China-Middle East Relations” at the Civil Service College today.

    The lecture is part of a series on the country’s foreign affairs organised by the college in collaboration with the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

    Addressing the talk, Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung said that Hong Kong, as a key link for the Belt & Road Initiative, can capitalise on its unique advantages under “one country, two systems” to actively participate in and contribute to the initiative, adding that Hong Kong will give full play to its roles as a super connector and super value-adder.

    She highlighted that possessing the advantages of being an international city and enjoying the support of mature professional services, Hong Kong has been promoting co-operation with Middle East countries in a wide range of areas such as finance, innovation and technology, business, transportation and energy in recent years. The city has also been playing a bridging role in connecting the Mainland and the Middle East region.

    The civil service chief noted that today’s talk enabled civil servants to understand how Hong Kong can seize opportunities from the country’s overall development and promote deeper and broader co-operation with the Middle East, thereby better supporting national strategies.

    Mrs Yeung pointed out that the series on the country’s foreign affairs has been well received since its launch. She noted that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and in celebration of this important day, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will organise a series of celebratory activities. Among the activities organised by the Civil Service Bureau, training on the country’s foreign affairs is one of the key initiatives.

    About 100 senior officials and civil servants in the directorate and senior ranks attended the talk at the college today. 

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Goodwill created a new high school for dropouts − it led to better jobs and higher wages

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Patrick Turner, Associate Research Professor of Economics, University of Notre Dame

    Graduates found jobs in high-paying sectors, new research shows. izusek/E+ via Getty Images

    When Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana realized most of the clients in its job-training program lacked a high school diploma, it set out to address the issue.

    In 2010, with the help of per-pupil funding from the state, the nonprofit opened The Excel Center, a tuition-free high school tailored for adults. The charter school offered flexible schedules, free on-site child care, transportation assistance and a life coach. Thirteen years later, research by my team at the University of Notre Dame’s Lab for Economic Opportunities shows that The Excel Center is a success.

    Indiana graduates of the program, which has now expanded to 10 other states and the District of Columbia, were able to find better jobs and earn substantially more over their lifetimes than their peers who did not graduate from the program.

    At the Lab for Economic Opportunities – or LEO – I worked with colleagues Rebecca Brough and David Phillips to measure the economic return of graduating from The Excel Center. We found that graduates of The Excel Center experience a nearly 40% increase in earnings five years after applying – or roughly US$80,000 more in their pockets over their lifetimes – than similarly situated adults who applied but did not enroll. The LEO team did not receive any funding from The Excel Center or Goodwill in its research, although Goodwill provided assistance with data.

    More steady employment

    According to our research, graduates of The Excel Center didn’t just earn more, but the jobs they found were more stable. Excel graduates experienced a 22% increase in continuous employment within the same industry over five years than their peers in the comparison group. Graduates of the program were 19% less likely to work in the hospitality industry – among the lowest-paid sectors in the country – and more likely to work jobs such as pharmacy technician, dental assistant or in HVAC maintenance.

    Graduates of Excel found jobs in high-paying sectors, such as HVAC maintenance.
    Mikael Vaisanen/The Image Bank via Getty Images

    In addition to a diploma, students earned industry-recognized credentials, such as those in phlebotomy and child development, and certification as nursing assistants and pharmacy technicians. These credentials opened up careers in industries such as health care and education.

    Some students used the certificates as a launching point for additional study at the local community college. At the time we conducted our research, Excel graduates in Indiana were more likely to have earned college credits: Roughly 30% of Excel graduates earned college credit, compared with 11.5% of the group that didn’t enroll.

    To reach these conclusions, we looked at the data of more than 9,000 Excel Center applicants from 2013–15. We focused on their earnings over the five years before and after they applied to the program. Our analysis compared the experience of Excel students – both graduates and nongraduates – with other adult residents of Indiana from similar backgrounds who had expressed interest in going to The Excel Center but never enrolled.

    Why it matters

    The Excel program is not just good for the students who graduate; it offers the states who help fund the program a return on their investment. Because graduates earn more, they pay more in taxes, allowing states to recoup much of the per-student cost over the graduates’ working careers. Each additional dollar of government funding generates $20 in benefits for the typical Excel Center student, measured as the present value of their lifetime increase in after-tax earnings.

    In contrast, federally funded programs such as Job Corps and Adult Education and Literacy primarily help adults without credentials study and pass a high school equivalency exam, such as the GED test. But research suggests a GED diploma has little effect on earnings, especially for women.

    More than 23 million adults in the U.S. lack a high school credential such as a diploma or a GED certificate. They are not only shut out of most jobs but also earn substantially less than their peers who have graduated from high school.

    Plans to expand

    Goodwill is leveraging the LEO study to expand the impact of its programs. In addition to the 18 Excel Center campuses the group currently operates throughout central and southern Indiana, it has partnered with Goodwill regions across the country to bring adult high schools to Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, South Carolina and Washington, D.C.

    LEO’s data was cited directly when Arizona, which had been one of 18 states without a high school option for adults, decided to join the Excel roster. In February 2020, state lawmakers – prompted by testimony from Goodwill and by the LEO research – amended the state’s law to establish a continuing high school program in the state.

    Patrick Turner has received funding to support his research from J-PAL North America, the TIAA Institute, the Russel Sage Foundation, the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, and Policy Impacts.

    – ref. Goodwill created a new high school for dropouts − it led to better jobs and higher wages – https://theconversation.com/goodwill-created-a-new-high-school-for-dropouts-it-led-to-better-jobs-and-higher-wages-235079

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lankford’s Shadow Wolves Improvement Act Clears Homeland Security Committee

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Oklahoma James Lankford

    OKLAHOMA CITY, OK — The Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee unanimously approved the Shadow Wolves Improvement Act, which was introduced by Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), Ranking Member and Chair of the Border Management Subcommittee, along with Senators John Hoeven (R-ND) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ). The Shadow Wolves Improvement Act would provide additional career mobility opportunities for Shadow Wolves law enforcement officers, making it easier to recruit and retain Shadow Wolves agents and to improve border security. 

    “ICE Shadow Wolves agents—a Native American tactical patrol unit—use their unique expertise and personal knowledge to stop drug traffickers and human smugglers from coming across the southern border. Giving these critical law enforcement officers access to expanded career mobility and opportunity not only supports their work to secure the border but also strengthens recruiting and retention for agents,” said Lankford.

    “Our bill ensures the Tohono O’Oodham Nation’s Shadow Wolves have the resources needed to continue combating drug smuggling, human trafficking, and other illicit activity on the Southwest border. I’m proud my legislation earned strong bipartisan support, and I look forward to getting it passed into law,” said Sinema.

    “Our legislation builds upon the success of the Shadow Wolves initiative, giving these agents the career mobility they deserve while expanding the program, including along the northern border,” said Hoeven. “Doing so comes as part of our broader efforts to deploy the personnel, infrastructure and technology needed to ensure the security of our nation’s borders, get the illegal immigration crisis under control and protect against human and drug trafficking.” 

    “The Shadow Wolves are a critical asset of our nation’s border security efforts, using their unique skills and knowledge to stop dangerous drug and human trafficking operations on tribal lands,” said Kelly. “By enhancing recruitment and retention, we are not only protecting the Tohono O’odham Nation, but strengthening security along our entire southern border. I’m proud to see our bill advance with strong bipartisan support, and I look forward to seeing it through to final passage.” 

    “The Shadow Wolves are an elite, all-Native American tracking and investigative unit with decades of experience, who use both technology and traditional tracking methods to interdict human and drug smuggling on the Tohono O’odham reservation. The Tohono O’odham Nation strongly supports the Shadow Wolves Improvement Act, which will further enhance the effectiveness of the Shadow Wolves program by improving retention and recruitment and expanding the program. The Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee has done great work incorporating feedback from the Nation into this bill. Its passage will ensure that this group of Native American agents can continue to grow and provide their uniquely important capabilities to protect the Tohono O’odham and the US homeland,” said Verlon Jose, Chairman of Tohono O’odham Nation.

    “Public Safety, particularly drug and human trafficking, continue to be a priority for Indian Country. These issues are uniquely difficult for tribal communities, like the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, who are located along the US border. The Shadow Wolves Improvement Act is an additional tool within the law enforcement toolbox that will help. The Tribe appreciate Senators Sinema and Hoeven introducing this legislation and urge its swift passage in the Senate,” said Jamie Azure, Chairman of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians.

    “The Shadow Wolves Improvement Act is a necessary step forward to provide appropriate guidance and options to a group of Native American law enforcement agents which will permit them to receive the same compensation, benefits, and opportunities as their non-native brothers and sisters,” said President Mat Silverman of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA). “FLEOA recognizes the value and expertise the Shadow Wolves provide and support the expansion of this program. Our country and Native American border communities will benefit from the increased opportunities, increased safety, and equality this Act will bring to the Tohono O’odham Nation and other tribes across this great nation.”

    Shadow Wolves are members of the Tohono O’odham Nation who patrol the 76-mile stretch of land that the Tohono O’odham Nation shares with Mexico. They are known for their ability to track drug smugglers as they attempt to smuggle illegal commodities across Tribal land, thanks to their unique geographical and cultural knowledge. They also help improve the relationship between the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Tribal communities. The Shadow Wolves unit is classified as special agents allowed to patrol, investigate, interdict, and secure the border. Shadow Wolves were previously classified as tactical officers under ICE Homeland Security Investigation (HSI), making them unable to access the same career opportunities, pay, and job mobility afforded to HSI special agents. However, Shadow Wolves still lack the same career opportunities as other HSI special agents because of how they were originally hired.

    The Shadow Wolves Improvement Act solves this by providing ICE with the authority to convert Shadow Wolves from the excepted to the competitive service upon completion of three years of satisfactory service—affording them career mobility and compensation parity with other HSI special agents. This update will enhance career opportunities for Shadow Wolves agents, strengthen recruitment efforts, and improve border security. Additionally, the legislation codifies GAO’s recommendations to improve and expand the Shadow Wolves program.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: A video game based on the Chinese novel ‘Journey to the West’ is the most recent example of innovative retelling of this popular story

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Michael Naparstek, Lecturer in Religious Studies, University of Tennessee

    Gaming enthusiasts at the 2023 Gamescom gaming fair on Aug. 23, 2023, in Cologne, Germany. Sascha Schuermann/Getty Images

    The recent launch of the video game “Black Myth: Wukong” has broken numerous records around the world for the number of users. The game is set in the world of the famous Chinese novel “Journey to the West,” where players battle gods and demons of traditional popular Chinese religion. In the first few weeks following its release on Aug. 19, 2024, “Black Myth: Wukong” had reportedly sold over 18 million copies, making it one of the fastest-selling games of all time.

    Players take on the role of freeing Sun Wukong, the monkey protagonist from the popular 16th-century novel. The story details the journey of the Chinese monk, Xuanzang, as he makes his way to India in search of Buddhist scrolls. Sun Wukong aids the monk in this trip. Yet, the monkey proves to be the ultimate troublemaker, as Sun Wukong insults popular gods of the Chinese pantheon and insists on besting them in magical battles. Sun Wukong’s fate is sealed when the Buddha imprisons him under a mountain as punishment for all the havoc he created in Heaven.

    The video game picks up after the end of the story, pitting the player against those whom Sun Wukong had fought in the popular narrative. In so doing, the game continually references the complex and competitive world of traditional Chinese religion in which Buddhist, Taoist and popular gods are always interacting with one another.

    As a scholar of Chinese religion, I am interested in the ways narratives of Chinese deities become popular and spread across different contexts. The popularity of “Black Myth: Wukong” is the most recent example in a centuries-old tradition of retelling this story through popular media.

    Woodblock print of the monkey king from the Chinese novel ‘Journey to the West.’
    Japanese Artist Yashima Gakutei, 1827, Metropolitan Museum of Art.

    Many stories, many versions

    “Journey to the West” was first published in 1592, but the stories were popular long before that.

    As scholar of Chinese literature Anthony Yu notes, the various tales describing Xuanzong and Sun Wukong’s adventures existed for nearly 1,000 years before they were collected and published in “Journey to the West.” People in traditional China would hear many of these adventures through oral storytelling, but also through various media such as dramatic performances, poetic tales and short stories.

    Traveling opera troupes were one of the most popular ways to tell Sun Wukong’s tale. Professional actors would perform tales of Sun Wukong’s exploits through dramatic renditions coupled with acrobatic fight scenes and dazzling displays of martial arts. These entertaining performances would disseminate information about the gods to both literate and illiterate audiences all throughout China.

    An 18th-century painting of a Chinese traveling opera performance.
    Xu Yang, 18th c. via Wikimedia Commons

    Stories of Sun Wukong’s mischievous, and often irreverent, behavior made their rounds throughout traditional Chinese society. The monkey hero’s brash attempts at subverting authority and picking fights with divine personae cemented his place as a popular cultural icon. As scholar of Chinese religions Meir Shahar notes, novels such as “Journey to the West” served as a way to define and transmit an entire pantheon of deities all across the various regions of traditional China.

    In so doing, these forms of media would reflect the dynamic world of Chinese religion and, at the same time, help shape the way people would come to understand the stories of their own gods.

    Impact on Chinese religions

    Many of the characters who appear in “Journey to the West” come directly out of the Chinese pantheon. Guanyin, the Buddhist deity of compassion and one of the most popular gods across East Asia, has her struggles against Sun Wukong; Taoist figures, such as the deified Lao-tzu, the purported author of the Taoist classic “Tao Te Ching,” battles with the monkey, and ancient Chinese deities like the Queen Mother to the West and the Jade Emperor play a prominent role as authority figures throughout the story.

    Sun Wukong also battles localized gods like the martial deity Erlang. Many of these figures are also referenced throughout the video game, while some, like Erlang, appear as “bosses” who need to be defeated before moving on to the next level.

    In the novel, the gods work together to stand in the way of Sun Wukong, representing the authority of the Chinese pantheon. At the same time, Sun Wukong often gets the better of the gods, either through trickery or martial prowess. Eventually, the authority of the gods wins out, with the monkey trapped under the mountain. Yet, this is not the end of Sun Wukong. As the recent release of the video game demonstrates, it is but one more beginning to the monkey’s story.

    While the game is careful not to promote any one religious identity, the cultural source for these compelling characters remains deeply rooted in the long history of Chinese religions.

    Today’s gamers get to encounter aspects of Chinese culture in a whole new way. Players who may be unfamiliar with Sun Wukong’s character from the novel can still see Sun Wukong flip in the air, brandish his weapons and defeat his enemies with dramatic flair. Only now the gamer gets to perform these feats through their connection with the video game’s hero.

    Still, while the gaming experience may be relatively new, enjoying tales of the gods is very old.

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

    – ref. A video game based on the Chinese novel ‘Journey to the West’ is the most recent example of innovative retelling of this popular story – https://theconversation.com/a-video-game-based-on-the-chinese-novel-journey-to-the-west-is-the-most-recent-example-of-innovative-retelling-of-this-popular-story-238404

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Indictment Charges Two in $230 Million Cryptocurrency Scam

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

                WASHINGTON – An indictment was unsealed today charging Malone Lam, 20, of Miami, FL and Los Angeles, CA, and Jeandiel Serrano, 21, of Los Angeles, CA, with conspiracy to steal and launder over $230 million in cryptocurrency from a victim in Washington, D.C.  Lam, a citizen of Singapore who goes by the online monikers “Anne Hathaway” and “$$$”, and Serrano, who uses “VersaceGod” and “@SkidStar”, were arrested last night and are appearing in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida and the Central District of California, respectively, today.

                The arrests and indictment were announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge David Geist of the Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division, and Executive Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Washington, D.C. Field Office.

                According in the indictment, since at least August 2024, Lam, Serrano, and others conspired to carry out cryptocurrency thefts and to launder the stolen crypto currency through exchanges and mixing services. The conspirators would fraudulently gain access to victim cryptocurrency accounts and then transfer victim funds into their possession. They laundered the proceeds, including by moving the funds through various mixers and exchanges using “peel chains,” pass-through wallets, and virtual private networks (VPNs) to mask their true identities.  Lam and Serrano then allegedly spent the laundered cryptocurrency proceeds on international travel, nightclubs, luxury automobiles, watches, jewelry, designer handbags, and rental homes in Los Angeles and Miami. In one instance, on August 18, 2024, Lam, Serrano, and their conspirators contacted a victim in D.C. and, through the communications with that victim, fraudulently obtained over 4,100 Bitcoin (worth over $230 million at the time).

                This ongoing investigation is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and the IRS-Criminal Investigation Washington Field Office.  Significant investigative and operational support was provided by the FBI’s Los Angeles and Miami Field Offices.

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

    ###

    24cr417

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: U.S. Navy EOD advances exMCM capabilities with Allies and partners at Exercise Sea Breeze 2024

    Source: United States Navy

    VARNA, Bulgaria – Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 8 and Mobile Diving and Salvage Company (MDS) 2-3 operated alongside NATO allies and partners at Exercise Sea 24-3, Sept. 9-20, 2024. This collaborative exercise aims to address the current maritime mine threat, collective demining capabilities, and effective means of enhancing Black Sea regional maritime security.

    In its 23rd iteration, Sea Breeze is an annual, multinational maritime exercise, originally co-hosted by Ukraine and U.S. 6th Fleet to enhance interoperability and capabilities among participating forces.

    For Sea Breeze 24.3, U.S. 6th Fleet led the pre-planning and coordinated logistics, and EODMU 8, a subordinate command of Commander Task Force (CTF) 68 headquartered in Rota, Spain, led the planning and execution, sharing extensive expeditionary mine countermeasure (exMCM) knowledge and capabilities with NATO allies and partners. Countries participating, observing, or mentoring during Sea Breeze 24-3 included Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, France, Georgia, Japan, Norway, Romania, Sweden, Türkiye, Ukraine, and U.S.

    U.S. Navy expeditionary forces such as EODMU 8 have had a consistent presence in the Black Sea and have a longstanding history of training alongside partner nations on tactics, techniques, and procedures for mine threat operations in order to enhance our shared lethality and support freedom of navigation.

    “EOD Mobile Unit 8 operates consistently with outstanding professionalism, and every member of the Thunderstealer team plays a critical role in ensuring mission success,” said Cmdr. John Kennedy, commander, EOD Mobile Unit 8. “Exercises like Sea Breeze allow us to share our knowledge, techniques, and best practices with our NATO Allies and partners for enhanced agility and interoperability in future mine countermeasure operations and demining the Black Sea.”

    Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Allied and partner nations have counter charged over 100 floating mines. As this threat increases, EOD forces have a responsibility to prepare for a large-scale post-conflict demining effort.

    “Our goal for this year’s Sea Breeze is to improve freedom of navigation in the Black Sea region for the security and stability of the Black Sea nations,” said Vice Adm. Thomas Ishee, commander, U.S. 6th Fleet. “We’ll do this through continued training and by enhancing interoperability to counter the floating mine threat in the Black Sea.”

    The mines in the Black Sea region pose a significant danger to civilian ships, disrupt exports, and threaten freedom of navigation.

    “Due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, there is currently a mine concern in international waters, and our job is to mitigate that,” said Kennedy. “We’ve shown our standards to our partners and allies, we’ve practiced our techniques shoulder-to-shoulder, and that builds confidence when we are called to mitigate explosive threats in the Black Sea. Our support to Ukraine has never been stronger.”

    In response to the current mine threat, NATO members Bulgaria, Romania, and Türkiye joined forces to tackle this issue through the Mine Countermeasures Task Group Black Sea (MCM Black Sea).

    Collaboration between NATO members in support of MCM Task Group Black Sea underscores the importance of collective security efforts to restore safety and stability in the region.

    Multinational exercises like Sea Breeze are a tangible representation of the agility and cooperation made possible through partnership in the dynamic security environment of the Black Sea.

    “The greatest value we’ve gained from Sea Breeze is an understanding how each unit of action operates, and then learning to operate together in order to be the most lethal combined force in a future conflict,” said Lt. Jon Miller, EOD company commander, EODMU 8. “We’re able to enhance the tactics, techniques, and procedures of all participating units at the exercise, and then flex those capabilities in the event of real-world operations.”

    Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2, a subordinate command of EODGRU 2, is also participating in Sea Breeze 24-3, with a focus on diving and salvage training. MDS Company 2-3, currently deployed to U.S. 6th Fleet, trained alongside partners and Allies from Ukraine and Romania on surface supplied diving, underwater cutting and welding, and other skills to enhance harbor clearance and battle damage repair capabilities.

    “Operating and exchanging knowledge on battle damage repair in this area of operations is our unit’s first opportunity to train the techniques and capabilities in a region with real world implications,” said Chief Navy Diver Michael Christensen, company master diver, MDSU 2. “We are in the Black Sea, doing this with the Ukrainian salvage divers, and their military is currently engaged in conflict. After Sea Breeze, they can return to the fight and utilize these skills for harbor clearance.”

    Navy EOD is the only community with mine warfare as a core competency, and our capabilities directly support deterrence of aggression, promote freedom of navigation and stability, and contribute directly to the fight for sea control. Our unique ability to conduct explosive ordnance disposal operations and clear hazards underwater make Navy EOD crucial in a future fight for sea control – protecting our own and our partners’ bases, harbors and sea lanes, sea transport capabilities, mobility and combat strength.

    CTF 68 provides explosive ordnance disposal operations, naval construction, expeditionary security, and theater security efforts in the 6th Fleet area of responsibility.

    EODGRU 2 operates as part of Navy Expeditionary Combat Command and provides skilled, capable, and combat-ready deployable Navy EOD and Navy Diver forces around the globe to support a range of operations.

    Details of Sea Breeze 2024 activities and imagery are available at http://www.c6f.navy.mil and https://www.dvidshub.net/feature/seabreeze24.

    For the full collection of photos of EODGRU2 operating at Sea Breeze 2024, and news about U.S. Navy EOD, visit https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/EODG-2.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: U.S., Egyptian Naval Forces Conducts Inaugural Eagle Defender Exercise in Red Sea

    Source: United States Navy

    For the first time, U.S. and Egyptian naval forces integrated unmanned systems in a bilateral maritime exercise to uphold the international rules-based order while ensuring maritime security in the Red Sea. Scenarios included: explosive ordnance disposal, mine countermeasures, harbor defense, and the integration of unmanned systems.

    The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) sailed alongside Egyptian Navy ships during the exercise while several other units also participated.

    This is one of many exercises the U.S. military participates in every year with partner nations in the Middle East to enhance partnerships and strengthen interoperability. The combined exercise is designed to broaden levels of cooperation, support long-term regional security, and enhance Egyptian Naval Force interoperability with U.S. naval forces.

    The U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations encompasses nearly 2.5 million square miles of water area and includes the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea, parts of the Indian Ocean and three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, Suez Canal and Bab al-Mandeb.

    For more information, contact U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Public Affairs at m-ba-cusnc-publicaffairs@us.navy.mil.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Offers Disaster Assistance to Businesses and Residents of Illinois Affected by July Storms

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    WASHINGTON – Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are available to businesses and residents in Illinois following the announcement of a Presidential disaster declaration for severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding that occurred on July 13-16.

    “SBA’s mission-driven team stands ready to help Illinois small businesses and residents impacted by this disaster in every way possible under President Biden’s disaster declaration for certain affected areas,” said SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman. “We’re committed to providing federal disaster loans swiftly and efficiently, with a customer-centric approach to help businesses and communities recover and rebuild.”

    The disaster declaration covers Cook, Fulton, Henry, St. Clair, Washinton, Will and Winnebago counties which are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the SBA. Small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs):  Boone, Bureau, Clinton, Dekalb, DuPage, Grundy, Jefferson, Kane, Kankakee, Kendell, Knox, Lake, Madison, Marion, Mason, McDonough, McHenry, Mercer, Monroe, Ogle, Peoria, Perry, Randolph, Rock Island, Schuyler, Stark, Stephenson, Tazewell, Warren and Whiteside in Illinois; Lake in Indiana; St. Louis in Missouri; and Green and Rock in Wisconsin. 

    Disaster survivors should not wait to settle with their insurance company before applying for a disaster loan. If a survivor does not know how much of their loss will be covered by insurance or other sources, SBA can make a low-interest disaster loan for the total loss up to its loan limits, provided the borrower agrees to use insurance proceeds to reduce or repay the loan.

    Businesses and private nonprofit organizations of any size may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.  

    For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any physical property damage.

    Disaster loans up to $500,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $100,000 to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed personal property.

    Interest rates are as low as 4% for businesses, 3.25% for nonprofit organizations, and 2.688% for homeowners and renters, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and monthly payments are not due, until 12 months from the date of the initial disbursement. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    Building back smarter and stronger can be an effective recovery tool for future disasters. Applicants may be eligible for a loan amount increase of up to 20% of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements may include a safe room or storm shelter, sump pump, French drain or retaining wall to help protect property and occupants from future disasters. 

    “The opportunity to include measures to help prevent future damage from occurring is a significant benefit of SBA’s disaster loan program, said “Francisco Sánchez, Jr., associate administrator for the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the Small Business Administration.  “I encourage everyone to consult their contractors and emergency management mitigation specialists for ideas and apply for an SBA disaster loan increase for funding.”

    With the changes to FEMA’s Sequence of Delivery, survivors are now encouraged to simultaneously apply for FEMA grants and the SBA low-interest disaster loan assistance to fully recover.  FEMA grants are intended to cover necessary expenses and serious needs not paid by insurance or other sources. The SBA disaster loan program is designed for your long-term recovery, to make you whole and get you back to your pre-disaster condition.  Do not wait on the decision for a FEMA grant; apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at sba.gov/disaster.  

    Applicants may also call the SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or send an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Nov. 19, 2024. The deadline to return economic injury applications is June 20, 2025.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration 

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN attends CAEXPO Welcome Banquet

    Source: ASEAN

    Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, this evening attended the China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) Welcome Banquet, which brought together representatives from all participating nations of the 21st CAEXPO. The banquet was also attended by heads of delegation from ASEAN Member States and Observers, along with representatives from China and the United Arab Emirates, the Special Partner Country for the 21st CAEXPO.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: In Cuba, Vietnamese parliamentary delegation

    THOUSAND OSI Translation. Region: Spanish/Latin America/UN –

    Source: Republic of Cuba

    Vietnamese parliamentary delegation in CubaHavana, September 22, 2024.- The Vice President of the National Assembly of Vietnam, Nguyen Duc Hai, is in Cuba, leading a large delegation from his country, to participate in the First Binational Interparliamentary Session.According to the National Assembly of People’s Power of Cuba (ANPP, parliament), during their stay, Duc Hai and his entourage will hold talks with leaders of the Legislature and the Council of State, including its president Esteban Lazo.They will also visit centers of economic, historical, scientific and cultural interest; Among other activities. Upon their arrival the day before at the José Martí International Airport in Havana, the legislators were received by the Hero of the Republic and member of the Council of State, Gerardo Hernández, who conveyed to them the fraternal greetings of the head of the Cuban Parliament and other members of the ANPP leadership. He also stressed that it is an honor to preside over the Cuba-Vietnam Parliamentary Group, belonging to a generation that grew up admiring the heroism of the Vietnamese people. For his part, Duc Hai expressed his great joy at visiting Cuba for the second time; this time to work “with our Cuban brothers,” fulfilling the request of the president of the Vietnamese National Assembly, Tran Thanh Man. Vu Hai Ha, president of the Foreign Relations Commission of the Vietnamese legislative body and of the Vietnam-Cuba Parliamentary Friendship Group, also participated in the dialogue. (Cubaminrex-Granma)

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI: Aether Fuels Signs MOU with JetBlue

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHICAGO, Sept. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Aether Fuels (Aether), a venture-backed climate technology company, today announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with JetBlue (NASDAQ: JBLU). Aether has developed a breakthrough technology that utilizes a diverse array of waste feedstocks to produce sustainable liquid fuels at a lower cost and greater scale than existing approaches. The agreement creates a pathway for Aether to supply JetBlue with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) when commercial production begins.

    The MOU extends Aether’s relationship with JetBlue that began when its venture capital subsidiary, JetBlue Ventures, invested in Aether’s convertible note and Series A financings.

    Aether’s technology, known as Aether Aurora™, uses a range of waste carbon feedstocks that do not compete with food or feed value chains. This critical “feedstock flexibility” differentiator enables the large-scale deployment of Aether Aurora technology and contributes to the breakthrough economics that are essential for sustainable liquid fuels, by enabling the conversion of numerous abundant waste carbon feedstocks into jet fuel. This overcomes the supply constraints faced by many other SAF production processes that rely on a limited type of often-scarce or cost-constrained feedstocks.

    The technology, an enhanced version of the Fischer-Tropsch (FT) process, combines innovations in chemistry (catalysts), equipment (reactors), and novel process flow schemes that enable major process simplifications (intensification) when converting waste carbon streams, such as captured carbon dioxide, industrial waste gases, biogas and treated agricultural residues, into liquid hydrocarbons. It is a robust, flexible, and efficient process engineered to deliver high yield and broad feedstock support at lower investment and operating costs.

    This MOU is the first for Aether in the SAF space. It comes as the company’s team of expert technologists, in partnership with GTI Energy, are constructing a 100 gallon-per-day (380l/day) pilot line that builds on the successful operation of an existing 1.5 gallon-per-day (6l/day) pilot line. The work leverages eight years of technology development initiated by GTI Energy and accelerates the commercial deployment of Aether Aurora at scale.

    In parallel, Aether is developing a pipeline of commercial-scale production facilities. This includes projects in the U.S. and Southeast Asia to produce SAF and other high-value sustainable liquid fuels in collaboration with select strategic partners.

    “JetBlue is a leader in proactively transitioning to SAF so their interest in the company and the Aether Aurora technology is gratifying,” said Conor Madigan, Co-founder and CEO at Aether. “For a disruptive technology like ours, early and informed input from potential users, including airlines, can accelerate the ramp from R&D to commercialization. We are excited to engage with JetBlue and look forward to supporting their SAF vision.”

    “Scaling up production of SAF is the essential challenge to solve for the decarbonization of aviation,” said Sara Bogdan, Managing Director of Sustainability and ESG at JetBlue. “Aether Fuels’ technology targets a key need. By enabling access to a much wider range of feedstocks than previously available, the new technology shows incredible promise to help SAF reach the commercial scale needed for the industry transition to renewable fuels. As our investment via JetBlue Ventures demonstrates, we are believers in the Aether technology and team, and we look forward to being part of that journey.”

    Aether Aurora is trademarked by Aether Fuels

    About JetBlue: JetBlue is New York’s Hometown Airline®, and a leading carrier in Boston, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, Los Angeles, Orlando and San Juan. JetBlue, known for its low fares and great service, carries customers to more than 100 destinations throughout the United States, Latin America, the Caribbean, Canada and Europe. For more information and the best fares, visit jetblue.com.

    About Aether Fuels: Aether Fuels envisions a net-zero world enabled by its breakthrough sustainable liquid fuel production technology. We are developing highly scalable solutions that dramatically improve the unit economics of producing sustainable fuels for aviation and ocean shipping. Established in 2022 as a spin-out of Xora Innovation, a deep-tech early-stage investment platform of Temasek, we maintain principal offices in the U.S. and Singapore. For more information, visit www.aetherfuels.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

    Contact

    Kelsey Duke; Diffusion PR for Aether Fuels; email: AetherFuels@Diffusionpr.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Minister Ng promotes trade and investment ties at Association of Southeast Asian Nations economic ministers meeting in Lao People’s Democratic Republic

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Over the weekend, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, concluded her participation in the 13th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Economic Ministers-Canada Consultation, in Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR).

    September 23, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

    Over the weekend, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, concluded her participation in the 13th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Economic Ministers-Canada Consultation, in Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR).

    During the consultation, Minister Ng highlighted the progress Canada and ASEAN member states have made toward an ASEAN-Canada free trade agreement, and underscored the importance of intensifying efforts to conclude the agreement negotiations in 2025.

    At the meeting, Minister Ng and ASEAN partners discussed the increased trade and economic cooperation since the launch of Canada-ASEAN Strategic Partnership a year ago, including the advancement of initiatives under Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy in key areas such as inclusive trade, digital trade, agriculture and agri-food and sustainability.

    The Minister also acknowledged the Canada-ASEAN Business Council’s participation in the consultations and recognized its support of Canada’s commitment to creating new opportunities for Canadian businesses and investors.

    On the margins of the consultations, Minister Ng also interacted with several international partners to advance discussions on trade priorities of mutual interest.

    These included:

    • Malaithong Kommasith, Minister of Industry and Commerce, Lao PDR
    • Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Malaysia
    • Filipus Nino Pereira, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Timor-Leste
    • Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN
    • Cham Nimul, Minister of Commerce, Cambodia
    • Helene Budliger Artieda, State Secretary for Economic Affairs, Switzerland
    • Tim Ayres, Assistant Minister for Trade, Australia
    • Douglas Alexander, Minister of State (Minister for Trade Policy and Economic Security), the United Kingdom

    “These in-person engagements in the Lao PDR were an excellent opportunity for us to continue strengthening the ASEAN-Canada bilateral commercial relationship and contribute to our mutual economic prosperity and growth. Canada will keep working with ASEAN partners to deepen trade ties that will benefit Canadian businesses and workers, create good jobs and generate strong, inclusive and sustainable economic growth from coast to coast to coast.”

    – Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development

    Huzaif Qaisar
    Press Secretary
    Office of the Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development
    343-575-8816
    Huzaif.Qaisar@international.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NIST Awards $3 Million for Community-Based Cybersecurity Workforce Development

    Source: US Government research organizations

    GAITHERSBURG, Md. — The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has awarded cooperative agreements totaling nearly $3 million aimed at developing the workforce needed to defend the nation’s organizations and infrastructure from cybersecurity risks. The grants of roughly $200,000 each will go to 15 education and community organizations in 11 states that are working to address the nation’s shortage of skilled cybersecurity employees.

    The cooperative agreements will be overseen by NICE, a NIST-led partnership between government, academia and the private sector focused on cybersecurity education, training and development of a diverse workforce. 

    “To strengthen our national and economic security, we need a highly skilled and talented cybersecurity workforce,” said Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and NIST Director Laurie E. Locascio. “This investment in cybersecurity education and training will help fill a critical workforce need while giving people the skills they need to succeed in good-paying, high-quality jobs.”

    The NICE-funded CyberSeek tool, which analyzes data about the cybersecurity job market, found that there were nearly 470,000 cybersecurity job openings in the U.S. between May 2023 and April 2024. Roughly 85 workers were available to fill every 100 cybersecurity job openings in the U.S. during this time.

    The organizations receiving the awards will build Regional Alliances and Multistakeholder Partnerships to Stimulate (RAMPS) cybersecurity education and workforce development. These RAMPS projects will align the workforce needs of local business and nonprofit organizations with the NICE Workforce Framework for Cybersecurity.

    “The RAMPS program provides individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences and life circumstances access to cybersecurity careers,” said NICE Director Rodney Petersen. “It also helps communities collaborate on creating career pathways to good jobs for all Americans and contributes to economic development by addressing workforce needs at the local and regional scales.”

    Many of the RAMPS projects promote curriculum development or education and training at the high school, collegiate or professional levels. Others support work-based learning experiences in the form of internships, apprenticeships or projects. Still others support workshops, bootcamps, competitions and hackathons.

    With these latest awards, there will now be 33 RAMPS communities in 20 states. The award recipients, areas served, and amounts awarded are:

    Adventurous Minds Produce Extraordinary Dreams Inc.          
    Louisville, Kentucky   
    $199,670

    The Coding School   
    New York City & Westchester County Region
    $200,000

    Del Mar College District       
    Corpus Christi, Texas               
    $200,000

    The Escal Institute of Advanced Technologies Inc.          
    North Bethesda, Maryland   
    $199,700 

    Howard Community College            
    Columbia, Maryland 
    $200,000

    Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments       
    Washington, D.C.        
    $195,726

    Miami University
    Oxford, Ohio                   
    $199,850

    Moraine Valley Community College            
    Palos Hills, Illinois      
    $199,982                

    New York University
    New York, New York   
    $200,000

    Old Dominion University Research Foundation
    Norfolk, Virginia 
    $200,000

    Purdue University     
    West Lafayette, Indiana          
    $199,717

    Research Foundation of CUNY on behalf of Lehman College  
    Bronx, New York           
    $200,000

    The Sierra College Foundation        
    Rocklin, California 
    $198,000

    University of Florida                
    Gainesville, Florida    
    $199,999

    Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University          
    Blacksburg, Virginia  
    $194,270

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Minister Ng promotes trade and investment ties at Association of Southeast Asian Nations Economic Ministers Meeting in Lao People’s Democratic Republic

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French

    Over the weekend, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, concluded her participation in the 13th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-Canada Economic Ministers’ Consultation in Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR).

    September 23, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

    Over the weekend, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, concluded her participation in the 13th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-Canada Economic Ministers’ Consultation in Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR).

    During the consultation, Minister Ng highlighted the progress made by Canada and ASEAN Member States towards an ASEAN-Canada Free Trade Agreement and stressed the importance of intensifying efforts to achieve the goal of concluding negotiations for the agreement in 2025.

    At the meeting, Minister Ng and ASEAN partners discussed the trade and economic cooperation that has grown since the launch of the Canada-ASEAN Strategic Partnership a year ago, including advancing initiatives under Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy in key areas such as inclusive trade, digital trade, agriculture and agri-food, and sustainability.

    The Minister also welcomed the participation of the Canada-ASEAN Business Council in the consultations and acknowledged its support for Canada’s commitment to creating new opportunities for Canadian businesses and investors.

    On the sidelines of the consultations, Minister Ng also met with several international partners to advance discussions on trade priorities of mutual interest.

    She met in particular:

    Malaithong Kommasith, Minister of Industry and Commerce, Lao PDR Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Malaysia Filipus Nino Pereira, Minister of Trade and Industry, Timor-Leste Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN Cham Nimul, Minister of Commerce, Cambodia Helene Budliger Artieda, State Secretary for Economic Affairs, Switzerland Tim Ayres, Deputy Minister for Trade, Australia Douglas Alexander, Minister of State (Minister for Trade Policy and Economic Security), United Kingdom

    “These face-to-face exchanges in Lao PDR provided us with an excellent opportunity to continue to strengthen the ASEAN-Canada bilateral trade relationship and contribute to the economic prosperity and growth of both our countries. Canada will continue to work with our ASEAN partners to deepen commercial ties that will benefit Canadian businesses and workers, create good jobs, and generate strong, inclusive and sustainable economic growth from coast to coast to coast.”

    – Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development

    Huzaif QaisarPress SecretaryOffice of the Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development343-575-8816Huzaif.Qaisar@international.gc.ca

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Economics: New updates to help you do more with Google TV

    Source: Google

    New updates are coming to all Google TV devices starting today — including the new Google TV Streamer, available on September 24. From new ways to find what to watch to new ways to control your smart home, here’s a look at everything we’re launching.

    Control your smart home with Google TV

    With the new home panel on Google TV, you can control all of your compatible smart home devices — including lights, thermostats and cameras — without leaving the couch. The new doorbell notifications also allow you to see who’s at the front door without pausing what you’re watching. And, if you can’t find the remote, you can control your devices using your voice and the Google Assistant.

    Turn your TV into a personal masterpiece

    When you’re not watching your TV, you can turn your idle screen into a personalized work of art. An improved Ambient screensaver lets you create AI-generated designs or relive your favorite moments with Google Photos. To create a screensaver, simply describe your vision or go through a series of suggested prompts, then generative AI will create a one-of-a-kind image for your display. Or if you’re looking for something more sentimental, you can ask Google Assistant to display your favorite memories in Google Photos on your TV.

    Watch more of what you love

    Looking for somewhere to catch tonight’s game? The new sports page in the For You tab brings all of your sports content into one place. Quickly find live and upcoming games, catch sports commentary, browse YouTube highlights and get personalized recommendations to stay in the loop.

    And with all of the channels and subscription services out there, who couldn’t use some help deciding what to watch? Starting today, we’re bringing enhanced overviews of top movies and shows using Gemini technology. These overviews include full summaries, audience reviews and season-by-season breakdowns so you can make the perfect choice about what to watch.

    Last year, we made it even easier for you to watch live TV without breaking the bank with free built-in channels from Google TV — no downloads or subscriptions needed. Now with 150 channels to choose from, Google TV Freeplay is getting an updated channel guide so you can browse by genre and topic and quickly access free channels, including new additions like Heartland, The FBI Files and ION Plus.

    Get Google TV today

    Selection for Google TV devices is better than ever. In addition to the new Google TV Streamer, you can choose from new art TVs from Hisense and TCL and smart projectors from Vankyo, Epson and XGIMI. Google TV is also expanding to more countries including Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines. And we’re proud to be bringing better TV to 270 million monthly active Google TV and other Android TV OS devices.

    POSTED IN:

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI: Altus Group Introduces ARGUS Intelligence, Built to Drive CRE Portfolio Performance

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, Sept. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Altus Group (TSX: AIF) introduced ARGUS Intelligence at its Altus Connect conference last week, a new product built to drive CRE portfolio performance.

    ARGUS Intelligence is Altus’ next-generation software for CRE investment management. It is designed to transform the way investors model, monitor and manage their assets and portfolios by providing instant performance insights. It delivers new capabilities for asset, portfolio, and benchmark management, and includes industry-leading ARGUS Enterprise. With ARGUS Intelligence, CRE investors can now dynamically drill into data to quickly analyze and compare performance metrics to enhance returns and reduce risk.

    “For more than 30 years, ARGUS has led the way in bringing valuation transparency to the CRE industry. ARGUS Intelligence builds and expands upon this foundation with automated data connectivity and advanced analytics to deliver performance insights,” commented David Ross, Chief Technology Officer at Altus. “This launch marks a significant evolution for ARGUS, transforming it from its forecasting and modelling roots into a mission-critical solution for driving CRE performance.   CRE investors can now consistently measure their performance against both internal plans and relevant peers and identify key metrics to stress-test their cash flows.”        
            
    Ross continued, “Altus is investing in enhancing CRE intelligence. We’re leveraging AI to solve critical data challenges and providing the industry with a new data model that connects the ARGUS ecosystem. This provides us with an incredibly rich CRE dataset to bring unmatched intelligence back to our clients.”

    ARGUS Intelligence core capabilities:

    • Asset Manager Functionality: Dynamically access asset-level metrics and underlying assumptions, and seamlessly conduct scenario analysis.
    • Automated Data Consolidation: Benefit from Altus’ scalable data model which streamlines ARGUS modelling data to unlock new insights.
    • ARGUS Enterprise: Utilize the industry-leading software for trusted commercial property valuation, budgeting and cash flow forecasting, essential for managing commercial assets and property portfolios.

    ARGUS Intelligence add-on capabilities:

    • Portfolio Manager Functionality: Create custom asset groupings and conduct scenario analysis to gain insights into portfolio level performance metrics and quickly identify which assets are driving performance.
    • Benchmark Manager Functionality (available in early 2025): Compare performance against the ARGUS ecosystem and conduct comprehensive attribution analysis.

    “It’s great to see Altus deliver a product that modernizes the way the industry can access and consume data,” added Merritt Poole, Chief Financial Officer at Core Spaces, who attended Altus Connect. “The interactive dashboard on the Portfolio Manager capability highlights the most critical performance insights, enabling CRE professionals to quickly identify and react to the key drivers of portfolio value and cash flow growth.”

    To learn more about ARGUS Intelligence, click here.  

    About Altus Group

    Altus Group is a leading provider of asset and fund intelligence for commercial real estate. We deliver intelligence as a service to our global client base through a connected platform of industry-leading technology, advanced analytics, and advisory services. Trusted by the largest CRE leaders, our capabilities help commercial real estate investors, developers, proprietors, lenders, and advisors manage risks and improve performance returns throughout the asset and fund lifecycle. Altus Group is a global company headquartered in Toronto with approximately 2,900 employees across North America, EMEA and Asia Pacific. For more information about Altus (TSX: AIF) please visit www.altusgroup.com.

    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

    Camilla Bartosiewicz
    Chief Communications Officer, Altus Group
    (416) 641-9773
    camilla.bartosiewicz@altusgroup.com  

    Elizabeth Lambe
    Director, Global Communications, Altus Group
    (416) 641-9787
    elizabeth.lambe@altusgroup.com

    FOR CUSTOMERS INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT ALTUS INTELLIGENCE:

    Website: https://www.altusgroup.com/solutions/argus-intelligence/
    North America: +1 888 692 7487
    United Kingdom: +44 0 20 3551 6700

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Steel Calls on Columbia to Cancel Event with Communist Vietnam Leader

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Michelle Steel (CA-48)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – With the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam set to headline an event at Columbia University tomorrow, Congresswoman Michelle Steel (CA-45) is calling on Columbia to cancel the event and clarify whether suffocating basic human rights comports with the university’s values.

    In a letter to Columbia, Steel notes that under To Lam’s leadership Vietnam has doubled down on the repression of human rights, limiting free expression and detaining prisoners of conscience. Such abuses largely occur due to the communist regime’s crackdown on dissent from journalists and activists as well as those seeking to practice their faith.

    “To Lam is a dangerous authoritarian who has stifled free expression and taken many prisoners of conscience in Vietnam. Columbia must reverse course and refuse to grant legitimacy to someone who jails his own citizens simply for speaking their mind,” said Rep. Michelle Steel, who represents a large population of Vietnamese Americans in Orange County, CA.

    “Columbia cannot claim to foster a campus environment of free speech and expression while hosting one of the most prominent leaders of authoritarianism. Going forward with hosting To Lam would unfortunately signal more of the same from an institution that has too often identified itself with civil rights while disregarding the circumstances of those most affected,” Steel added.

    To Lam, who recently took over as Vietnam’s head of state, will be in New York for a meeting of the United Nations General Assembly followed by a trip to Cuba. Even prior to his current human rights abuses, To Lam has a documented history of stifling free speech in his prior role as Vietnam’s Minister of Public Security.

    Below is a copy of Steel’s letter:

    Dear President Armstrong,

    I write to you today to express my serious concern regarding Columbia University’s planned event on September 23 with To Lam, the General Secretary for the Communist Party of Vietnam, and Columbia University’s promotion of an individual who is chiefly responsible for the ongoing repression of the Vietnamese people. Columbia University should immediately rescind its invitation to To Lam and clarify whether suffocating basic human rights comports with its values.

    Since Lam assumed the role of General Secretary, the Communist Party of Vietnam has doubled down in adopting the Chinese Communist Party model of repression. In turn, there are currently over 170 prisoners of conscience detained in Vietnam.

    Prisoners of conscience in Vietnam face lengthy prison sentences, endure solitary confinement, face unfair trials, and are arbitrarily detained by the one-party police state. In addition, Vietnamese prisoners of conscience are unable to seek care for their health conditions, subjected to forced labor, and banned by prison authorities form religious practices, such as prayer. Some have succumbed to unspecified medical issues and have died while serving life sentences.

    Just this week, Vietnam’s Hanoi People’s Court sentenced Phan Van Bach, an independent journalist and prominent activist, for “distributing anti-state propaganda after voicing his concerns about the Communist Party of Vietnam on Facebook and YouTube. While in custody, Mr. Bach’s health has seriously deteriorated according to his wife and attorney.

    Additionally, noodle vendor Bui Tuan Lam was jailed for the same “anti-state propaganda” charges last year after posting 19 videos on Facebook and 25 on YouTube that “affected the confidence of the people in the leadership of the state,” according to the indictment. Days prior, footage surfaced of then-Vietnam Minister of Public Security To Lam eating a $2,000 steak after he had visited the grave of Karl Marx.

    Sadly, Columbia University’s welcoming of To Lam is yet another example of its lack of moral clarity. Columbia cannot claim to foster a campus environment of free speech and expression while hosting one of the most prominent leaders of authoritarianism. Condoning this level of repression will only embolden further persecution of the Vietnamese people.

    Now is the time for Columbia University to define its posture toward the Communist Party of Vietnam. Going forward with hosting To Lam would unfortunately signal more of the same from an institution that has too often identified itself with civil rights while disregarding the circumstances of those most affected.

    Sincerely,

    Michelle Steel
    Member of Congress

    Rep. Steel represents parts of Los Angeles County and Orange County, including the Little Saigon community, which has the largest population of Vietnamese anywhere outside of Vietnam.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 4th Forum of Mayors to convene global Cities Summit of the Future

    Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

    Cities are on the front lines of addressing humanity’s most pressing challenges, from climate change to migration as well as natural disasters and socioeconomic inequalities.  

    City leaders from across the globe will convene for the 4th Forum of Mayors (Geneva, 30 September – 1 October) to discuss the implications for local governments of the Pact for the Future, which will be agreed upon by UN Member States at the United Nations Summit of the Future (New York, 22-23 September). 

    At the Forum of Mayors, cities will collaboratively draft an Outcome Statement on the Future of Cities.  

    This statement will emphasize the vital role of cities and local actors in driving a sustainable and brighter future for all. It will then be transmitted to the Secretary General of the United Nations as a contribution to strengthening the engagement of local and regional governments in UN intergovernmental bodies and processes. 

    As a unique platform within the United Nations system, the Forum of Mayors connects local and national authorities within a normative intergovernmental framework, contributing to a more networked and inclusive multilateralism.  

    The Forum will be chaired by Ms. Danela Arsovska, Mayor of Skopje (North Macedonia), with Vice-Chairpersons Mr. Ricardo Rio, Mayor of Braga (Portugal), Ms. Susan Aitken, City Leader of Glasgow Council (United Kingdom) and Mr. Sami Kanaan, Deputy Mayor of Geneva (Switzerland). The keynote address will be delivered by renowned architect Lord Norman Foster. 

    Leaders from a diverse range of cities across the pan-European region and North America will participate, including mayors and deputy mayors from Tirana (Albania), Gyumri (Armenia), Vienna (Austria), Ganja (Azerbaijan), Quebec (Canada), Osijek (Croatia), Nicosia (Cyprus), Ostrava (Czech Republic),  Tallinn  (Estonia), Turku (Finland), Strasbourg Eurometropolis (France), Heidelberg (Germany), Athens (Greece), Debrecen (Hungary), Bat Yam (Israel),  Valmiera (Latvia),  Balzan (Malta), Podgorica (Montenegro), Utrecht (Netherlands),  Łódź (Poland), Mafra (Portugal), Bucharest (Romania),  Novo Mesto (Slovenia), Dushanbe (Tajikistan), Konya (Türkiye), Ashgabat (Turkmenistan), Mykolaiv (Ukraine), London (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), New Orleans (United States of America). Additional Mayors are expected to confirm their participation. 

    Additionally, through collaboration with other Regional Economic Commissions (ESCWA, ECLAC, ECA, ESCAP) and the Global Cities Hub, and in recognition of the global connections between urban areas and the opportunities they present for learning, partnerships, and exchange, the Forum will also unite Mayors from the UNECE region with their counterparts from cities such as Buenos Aires (Argentina), Ifangni (Benin), San Jose (Costa Rica), Pichincha (Ecuador), Irbid (Jordan), Klang (Malaysia), Turbat Kech (Pakistan), Dakar (Senegal), Freetown (Sierra Leone), Lusaka (Zambia), Rabat (Morocco). 

    The Forum will also feature a rich programme of side events, tackling key issues such as the underrepresentation of women in local government leadership, urban peace dialogues, cities’ solutions to the triple planetary crisis, and cities’ experiences with Voluntary Local Reviews of SDGs progress. 

    More information on the Forum is available at https://forumofmayors.unece.org/. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: New UN regulations target pedal misapplication and usher in new generation of braking systems for electric vehicles 

    Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

    The United Nations’ Working Party on Automated/Autonomous and Connected Vehicles (GRVA) has adopted the new regulation for Acceleration Control for Pedal Error (ACPE), and regulatory provisions for the introduction of a new generation of braking systems for electric vehicles. 

    The new UN regulation is expected to significantly improve road safety, while the regulatory provisions for the new braking systems in electric vehicles aim at improving energy efficiency. 

    Pedal misapplication more frequent among older drivers 

    Drivers sometimes press the acceleration pedal instead of the brake pedal by mistake, causing serious accidents. Relevant data from Asia and Europe suggest that older drivers tend to make this error more often than young drivers. For example, in Japan, they are 8 times more likely to make that mistake than other generations, leading Japan to propose a draft UN regulation to address this issue.  

    With population ageing affecting Europe, North America and most of Eastern and South-Eastern Asia, and estimates indicating that the number of people aged 65 years or older worldwide will more than double by 2050 the number of older drivers is also expected to rise. For example, in Japan, the number of driving license holders older than 75 is projected to increase from 4% in 2009 to 9.2%  in 2025.  

    According to the United Nations, persons aged 65 years or above account for 30% of the overall population in Japan, 23% in Germany, 22% in France, 20% in Canada, 19% in the Republic of Korea, 18% in the United States, and 15% in China.  

    Given the suggested correlation between pedal misapplication and age, these figures imply a potentially increased risk of accidents in the future.  

    Another factor likely to contribute to this increased risk is the global rise in sales of vehicles with automatic transmission. Crash data from Japan and the United Kingdom reveal that such vehicles are more frequently associated with pedal misapplication cases. For example, in the United Kingdom, 7 out of 8 pedal misapplications with associated gear confusion are automatics. 

    The new UN regulation will therefore only apply to passenger cars with automatic transmission. Expected to enter into force in June 2025, the new regulation introduces a system designed to detect an object in front and rear of the vehicle and then prevent sudden acceleration.   

    New generation of braking systems for electric vehicles to boost energy efficiency 

    The continued growth of electric car sales, and estimates that it could reach 45% of the market share in China, 25% in Europe and 11% in the United States in 2024, has revealed a need to optimize the energy consumption necessary for them to brake.   

    Hydraulic systems, typically used in passenger cars, rely on the muscular energy of the driver for the basic braking function, but may use reserves of stored energy for advanced safety features. Braking systems using compressed air (trucks and buses), and the advanced functions of passenger cars, rely on the energy converted from fossil energy. However, in electric vehicles, it is not efficient to convert electrical energy from batteries to stored energy (pressurized fluids) and then apply the brakes.  

    A new braking technology, employing stored electrical energy for both the control transmission and the energy transmission, aims to be more energy efficient for electric vehicles and is seen as an important element to advance the transition from vehicles employing internal combustion engines to alternatives powered by electric energy.  

    The hydraulic and pneumatic braking systems currently regulated by UN Regulations No. 13 (heavy vehicle braking) and No. 13-H (light vehicle braking) have reached a high level of safety, reducing the risk of dangerous crashes, especially when it comes to heavy-duty vehicles and those transporting dangerous goods. 

    The UNECE Working Party on Automated/Autonomous and Connected Vehicles has reviewed potential layouts for the new braking system in both light-duty and heavy-duty vehicles, and it has defined relevant technical provisions to provide a comparable level of safety.  

    The new regulatory provisions will be adopted as amendments to UN Regulations No.13 and No.13_H. They are expected to enter into force in June 2025, while some manufacturers are anticipated to introduce new braking systems in compliance with the provisions already by end of 2025. 

    Note to editors 

    The UNECE World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) is a unique worldwide regulatory forum hosted within the institutional framework of the UNECE Inland Transport Committee. Overall, the regulatory framework developed by the World Forum WP.29 allows the market introduction of innovative vehicle technologies, while continuously improving global vehicle safety, and vehicles’ environmental performance.  
      
    GRVA is the Working Party preparing draft regulations, guidance documents and interpretation documents for adoption by the parent body, WP.29. GRVA deals with safety provisions related to the dynamics of vehicles (braking, steering), Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, Automated Driving Systems and well as Cyber Security provisions.   

    GRVA meets three times a year, with around 160 experts present at each session. It gathers the decision makers (the representatives of Countries and REIOs – “the Contracting Parties”) as well as many stakeholders having a technical interest in the work of GRVA: the vehicle manufacturers (cars, trucks, buses etc.), the suppliers, the motorists, the test houses, the consumers representatives to name a few.  

    More at: https://unece.org/transport/vehicle-regulations/working-party-automatedautonomous-and-connected-vehicles-introduction  

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defendants Sentenced for Global Darknet Conspiracy

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

    Defendants Sold Stolen Financial Information from Tens of Thousands of Victims Worldwide

    KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A citizen of Nigeria, who was extradited from the United Kingdom, was sentenced in federal court yesterday for his involvement in a conspiracy to sell stolen financial information on the darknet from tens of thousands of victims from around the world.

    Simon Kaura was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to five years in federal prison without parole. At sentencing, the court found that Kaura’s crimes resulted in an intended loss of $6,338,500.

    On May 22, 2024, Kaura pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud and one count of access device fraud.  According to court documents, Kaura admitted to being part of a sophisticated, global conspiracy to obtain and sell stolen financial information on darknet markets — including a market he helped create and administer with his co-conspirators.  Kaura operated under the online monikers  “apples,” “applepiecards,” “cartman,” and “dpharoah.”

    Kaura and his co-conspirators operated as prominent “carding” (stolen financial information) vendors, sometimes under the moniker brand “ggmccloud” and “ggmccloud1,” on multiple darknet markets. Each market allowed users to buy and sell stolen and fraudulent financial information. The markets operated much like conventional e-commerce websites, except that the goods sold on the markets were primarily criminal in nature. Each market required users to transact in digital currencies, such as Bitcoin. These sites enabled users to distribute illegal contraband to buyers throughout the world to perpetrate fraud.

    Kaura and his co-conspirators obtained large quantities of stolen financial information and passed it along to other co-conspirators to check, organize, and sell on numerous darknet markets. Kaura and his co-conspirators possessed card information belonging to victims from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Kaura and his co-conspirators were responsible for conducting tens of thousands of illegal transactions on darknet markets from Feb. 22, 2016, to Oct. 1, 2019.

    During the conspiracy, Kaura and his co-conspirators also created, launched, and administered their own darknet market, Skynet. From April 2016 to October 2019, the co-conspirators’ market offered stolen financial information and other contraband for sale. The market also hosted a messaging forum and private messaging service, allowing cybercriminals from around the world to meet and communicate freely about their crimes. 

    Co-defendant Taylor Ross Staats, 41, of Texas was sentenced on Jan. 25, 2024, to 18 months in federal prison without parole after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud. Staats’s main role in the conspiracy was to determine, prior to being advertised for sale, whether the stolen payment cards were still active and capable of use. If so, he organized the card information, and it was posted for sale on the darknet.  Staats operated under the online moniker “f9ac4”.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Department of Justice continue to seek forfeiture of more than $4.5 million in criminal proceeds resulting from the co-conspirators crimes.

    The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with the Government of the United Kingdom to secure the arrest and extradition of Kaura.

    This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas Heberle, Matthew Blackwood, and John Constance of the Western District of Missouri and Trial Attorneys Michael Christin and Louisa Becker from the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section of the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice. It was investigated by the FBI.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: ASEAN Media Statement of the Twelfth EAS Economic Ministers’ Meeting

    Source: ASEAN

    THE TWELFTH EAS ECONOMIC MINISTERS’ MEETING 21 September 2024, Vientiane, Lao PDR ASEAN MEDIA STATEMENT The Twelfth EAS Economic Ministers’ Meeting was held on 21 September 2024 in Vientiane, Lao PDR. The Meeting was chaired by H.E. Malaithong Kommasith, Minister of Industry and Commerce of Lao PDR. The Meeting also welcomed the participation of H.E. Filipus Nino Pereira, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste as an observer.According to ASEAN preliminary statistics, the combined nominal GDP of EAS participating countries stood at 62.3 trillion in 2023. The Meeting also noted that ASEAN merchandise trade with non-ASEAN EAS participating countries amounted to USD 1.7 trillion in 2023. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flows from non-ASEAN EAS participating countries to ASEAN reached USD 124.6 billion in 2023.

    Download the full statement here.

    The post ASEAN Media Statement of the Twelfth EAS Economic Ministers’ Meeting appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN attends the 12th EAS Economic Ministers’ Meeting

    Source: ASEAN

    Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, attended the 12th East Asia Summit (EAS) Economic Ministers’ Meeting, convened today in Vientiane, Lao PDR.

    The Meeting exchanged views on the global and regional economic outlook and discussed how EAS participating countries can take concerted actions to mitigate global economic challenges. The meeting also discussed possible areas for cooperation to support efforts to drive robust economic growth in the region.

    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN attends the 12th EAS Economic Ministers’ Meeting appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN meets with Minister of State for Trade, Minister for Women, and Associate Minister of Agriculture (Horticulture), New Zealand

    Source: ASEAN

    Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today met with H.E. Nicola Grigg, Minister of State for Trade, Minister for Women, and Associate Minister of Agriculture (Horticulture) of New Zealand, on the margins of 56th AEM Meeting and Related Meetings in Vientiane, Lao PDR.

    They discussed, among others, measures to enhance economic cooperation between ASEAN and New Zealand, especially in supply chain resilience, digital transformation, sustainability cooperation, agriculture and inclusive trade.

    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN meets with Minister of State for Trade, Minister for Women, and Associate Minister of Agriculture (Horticulture), New Zealand appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI: Yeeha! Games Partners with SOMSOC GALLERY to Bridge Web2 and Web3 through Designer Toy Art

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, Sept. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Yeeha! Games, an industry-leading gaming platform, announced an exciting strategic partnership with Tokyo-based SOMSOC GALLERY during the Token2049 conference in Singapore. The collaboration aims to merge the worlds of Web2 and Web3, with both parties launching an exclusive co-branded “HOUSEBOY” designer toy collection, marking their official entry into the designer toy industry. On the 19th, Yeeha! Games presented HOUSEBOY at the National Gallery Singapore.

    As part of this collaboration, Yeeha! Games and SOMSOC GALLERY have created a mascot ——「HOUSEBOY」, which will debut as a limited-edition SOFUBI ONEOFF designer toy. Sofubi, derived from an English term and simplified in Japanese, refers to soft vinyl toys made from flexible PVC material. Sofubi toys have a rich and long history, with the first Sofubi debuting in 1966. Over time, these toys have evolved from being merely a cultural symbol into a significant branch of art toys, including designer and collectible toys. Known for their unique designs and limited releases, Sofubi toys have grabbed the attention of collectors worldwide, making them highly sought-after and valuable. The co-branded HOUSEBOY Sofubi designer toy not only merges traditional craftsmanship with modern pop culture but also represents a new paradigm of cross-collaboration between Web3 and Web2, symbolizing the future creative convergence.

    This limited-edition designer toy features a custom paint job inspired by Yeeha! Games signature brand color scheme, making it even more desirable for collectors and fans of both designer toys and Web3 enthusiasts.

    As an industry-leading Web3 gaming platform that integrates cross-chain technology, Web3 middleware, Content Strategies and Game Distribution, Yeeha! Games connects mass users, including Web2 players, through high-quality gaming content and IPs. One of Yeeha! Games’ key strategies is to seamlessly merge Web3 and Web2 ecosystems, a theme that resonates strongly with its participation in Token 2049. The collaboration with SOMSOC Gallery is an important attempt by Yeeha! Games in advancing this strategy. As a comprehensive art space located at the entrance to Harajuku in Tokyo, SOMSOC Gallery has been dedicated to connecting the inner universe of artists with their expressions in the real world since its establishment in 2022. Through the partnership with Yeeha! Games, SOMSOC has embarked on a journey to explore more possibilities in the Web3 world.

    At the recently concluded WebX Tokyo event, SOMSOC and HOUSEBOY made their debut at Tokyo Tower alongside Yeeha!, receiving widespread recognition and admiration from the audience. Responding to requests from the community and creators, SOMSOC launched a Yeeha! exclusive Lottery Sale during this trip to Singapore. By filling out an order form, creators and users worldwide have the chance to win a one-of-a-kind physical HOUSEBOY figure.

    One of Yeeha! Games’ key goals is to collaborate with leading builders and creators in the Asia-Pacific region, creating a carefully curated content hub and a rapidly growing community. Through this partnership, Yeeha! Games not only demonstrates its strategic expansion into the Web2 designer toy market but also paves the way for new possibilities in cross-industry collaboration between Web3 and Web2.

    In the future, Yeeha! Games and SOMSOC GALLERY will continue to work closely, driving the integration of art and gaming by launching more designer toy NFTs, additional artworks, and even mini-games, jointly exploring the limitless potential of the Web3 ecosystem.

    Contact:
    Yeeha! Games
    Connie
    connie.w@yeehagames.com

    SOMSOC GALLERY
    info@somsoc.jp

    Disclaimer: This content is provided by Yeeha! Games. The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the content provider. The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities. Please conduct your own research and invest at your own risk.

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1c0c3eb4-fafc-4565-9cfe-1c5f6ceb7e12
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/80da998c-7f5f-4e6a-b96e-5f1125ffc1da
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/38162732-7fd5-42f9-83e4-2a75d41328d7

    The MIL Network –