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  • MIL-OSI USA: WARNER, KAINE, AND SCOTT APPLAUD $380 MILLION IN INFLATION REDUCTION ACT FUNDING FOR PORT OF VIRGINIA

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bobby Scott (3rd District of Virginia)

    Headline: WARNER, KAINE, AND SCOTT APPLAUD $380 MILLION IN INFLATION REDUCTION ACT FUNDING FOR PORT OF VIRGINIA

    WASHINGTON, D.C. –  Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) and U.S. Representative Bobby Scott (D-VA-03) announced $380,000,000 in federal funding for the Port of Virginia to accelerate its plan to become carbon-neutral by 2040. Warner, Kaine, and Scott advocated for this funding and sent a letter of support for this grant. The funding was awarded through the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Ports Program, which was made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act that the members helped pass. 

    “The Port of Virginia is one of the largest and busiest ports on the eastern seaboard, and it’s critical to Virginia’s economy and offshore wind industry. As the Port of Virginia continues to grow thanks to investments we’re making, we must also ensure we’re reducing greenhouse gas emissions, which result in negative health and environmental impacts for our communities,” said the lawmakers. “That’s why we’re thrilled that this federal funding, which was made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act we supported, will accelerate the Port’s efforts to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040 and further cement Virginia’s place as a leader in clean energy.”  

    The Inflation Reduction Act made historic investments to support clean energy projects. It included clean energy tax credits that have incentivized a series of corporate investments in Virginia, including:

    • A $681 million investment by LS GreenLink to build a state-of-the-art facility to manufacture high-voltage subsea cables used for offshore wind farms in Chesapeake, which will create over 330 jobs in Virginia.
    • An investment of over $400 million by Topsoe to build a new manufacturing facility in Chesterfield County, which will create at least 150 new jobs in Virginia.
    • An investment of $208 million by Mack and Volvo Trucks—in addition to a federal grant award of over $208 million for the company—to sustain 7,900 union jobs and create 295 new jobs in Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Volvo Trucks is the second largest employer in the New River Valley, sustaining 3,600 jobs in Dublin, including 3,200 United Automobile Workers (UAW) jobs. In September 2024, Warner and Kaine visited Volvo’s New River Valley plant to celebrate the investment.

    Today’s announcement builds on other transformational investments made to the Port of Virginia by the Biden-Harris administration with the backing of Warner, Kaine, and Scott. That includes $225.4 million to fully fund the Norfolk Harbor Deepening and Widening Project, which will improve navigation and expand capacity by deepening and widening Norfolk Harbor’s shipping channels, allowing for two-way traffic in and out of the harbor. Of this amount, $141.7 million was made available through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and $83.7 million was provided through the Fiscal Year 2022 omnibus appropriations bill.

    The Port also previously received $20 million in federal funding from the Department of Transportation for improvements to Portsmouth Marine Terminal that will allow it to serve as a staging area to support the manufacturing and movement of offshore wind goods to support the 2.6 gigawatt Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind commercial project and other commercial offshore wind projects up-and-down the East Coast. Warner, Kaine, and Scott led a Virginia Congressional Delegation letter to Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg in support of the Port’s application for that funding.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Low-level helicopter flights to image geology in southern California

    Source: US Geological Survey

    RESTON, Va. — Low-level helicopter flights are planned over parts of the western Mojave Desert in Southern California to image geology using airborne geophysical technology. 

    The survey will begin in early November 2024 and is expected to be completed in December 2024, weather and flight restrictions permitting. 

    Flights will cover areas within Kern, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino counties in California.   

    Initial survey flights will be based out of the Barstow area. The survey base and flight locations are subject to change with little warning to other parts of the survey area as necessary to minimize ferrying distances and avoid adverse flying conditions.

    The purpose of the survey is to provide images of subsurface electrical conductivity that expand the fundamental knowledge of the geology of the western Mojave Desert.

    The helicopter will fly along pre-planned flight paths relatively low to the ground, about 200 feet (60 meters) above the surface. Flight line spacing will vary depending on location, typically separated by about 3,300 feet (1 kilometer) in detail survey areas or 1.8 miles (3 kilometers) in more regional survey areas. A sensor that resembles a large hula-hoop will be towed beneath the helicopter to measure small electromagnetic signals that can be used to map geologic features. 

    The data collected will be made freely available to the public on ScienceBase, typically within one to two years of flight completion.

    None of the instruments carried on the aircraft pose a health risk to people or animals. The aircraft will be flown by experienced pilots that are specially trained and approved for low-level flying. The survey company works with the FAA to ensure flights are safe and in accordance with U.S. law. 

    The surveys will be conducted during daylight hours only. Surveys do not occur over densely populated areas and the helicopter will not directly overfly buildings at low altitude. 

    This airborne electromagnetic survey is funded by the USGS Earth Mapping Resources Initiative as part of a national-scale effort to acquire modern high-resolution airborne geophysical data through airborne geophysical surveys like this one, geochemical reconnaissance surveys, topographic mapping using lidar technology, hyperspectral surveys, and geologic mapping projects

    This survey is designed to meet needs related to mineral resource assessments, geologic framework, and mapping studies, as well as supporting water resources studies. The survey area hosts evaporation-based mineral systems that may contain lithium and boron, as well as other critical minerals. 

    The survey will also cover areas over Edwards Air Force Base, California as part of a Department of Defense-funded collaboration between USGS and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, where the results will be used to evaluate how the results of airborne geophysical surveys can be integrated into water resources management of military installations. 

    The new geophysical data will be processed to develop high-resolution three-dimensional representations of geology to depths over 1,000 feet (300 meters) below the surface. The models and maps produced from the survey are important for improving our understanding of critical mineral resource potential, groundwater aquifer structure and salinity, and natural hazards. These results will support detailed geologic mapping studies being conducted by USGS and the California Geological Survey, by expanding on the mapping of formations where they can be observed in the hills and mountains into the valleys, where these geologic layers become buried under sediments and volcanic deposits.

    Similar airborne electromagnetic surveys have been conducted in other parts of California over the last decade by USGS, the California Department of Water Resources, and local resource management agencies to support groundwater research and management.

    The survey fits into a broader effort by the USGS, the California Geological Survey, and many other state geological surveys and other partners, including private companies, academics, and state and federal agencies to modernize our understanding of the nation’s fundamental geologic framework and knowledge of mineral resources. 

    Read this survey’s full project announcement here.

    To learn more about how the USGS is investing the resources from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, visit our website. To learn more about USGS mineral-resource and commodity information, please visit our website and follow us on X. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Climate change is making it harder for people to get the care they need

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Maria S. Floro, Professor Emerita of Economics, American University

    The world is witnessing the consequences of climate change: long-lasting changes in temperature and rainfall, and more intense and frequent extreme weather events such as heat waves, hurricanes, typhoons, flooding and drought. All make it harder for families and communities to meet their care needs.

    Climate change affects care systems in various ways. First, sudden illnesses and unexpected disabilities heighten the need for care. Second, it reduces access to important inputs for care such as water, food and safe shelter. Third, it can damage physical and social care infrastructures.

    It can also lead to breakdowns of traditional units of caregiving such as households and communities. And it creates new situations of need with the increase in displaced person settlements and refugee camps.

    Climate change creates sudden spikes in the demand for care, and serious challenges to meeting the growing need for care. All this has immediate and long lasting effects on human well-being.

    The size of the current unmet care needs throughout the world is substantial. In childcare alone, about 23% of children worldwide – nearly 350 million – need childcare but do not have it. Families in low- and lower-middle-income countries are the most in need.

    Similarly, as the world’s population ages rapidly, only a small proportion of the elderly who need assistance are able to use formal care (in an institution or paid homecare). Most are cared for by family members or other unpaid caregivers. Much of this unpaid care and formal care work is provided by women and girls.

    Hundreds of millions of people around the world struggle to get healthcare. Expansion of access to essential health services has slowed compared to pre-2015 . And healthcare costs still create financial hardship.

    Without comprehensive public and global support for care provision and the integration of care in the climate agenda, unmet care needs will only grow and inequalities will widen.

    Impact

    Climate change interacts with human health in complex ways. Its impact is highly uneven across populations. It depends on geographical region, income, education, gender roles, social norms, level of development, and the institutional capacity and accessibility of health systems.

    In 2018-22, Africa experienced the biggest increase in the heat-related mortality rate since 2000-05. This is not surprising as the continent has more frequent health-threatening temperatures than ever before and a growing population of people older than 65.

    Africa is also the region most affected by droughts in 2013-22, with 64% of its land area affected by at least one month of extreme drought per year on average. It was followed by Oceania (55% of its land area) and South and Central America (53%).

    Scientific evidence also points to increases in health inequalities caused by climate change. The health effects of climate change are not uniformly felt by different population groups.

    Exposure, severity of impact, and ability of individuals to recover depend on a variety of factors. Physiological characteristics, income, education, type of occupation, location, social norms and health systems are some of them.

    For example, older people and young children face the greatest health risks from high temperatures.

    There is also evidence of the disproportionate effect of climate change on the health of people living in poverty and those who belong to disadvantaged groups.

    Women of lower social and economic status and with less education are more vulnerable to heat stress compared to women in wealthier households and with higher education or social status. They are exposed to pollution in the absence of clean cooking fuel, and to extreme heat as they walk to gather water and fuel, or do other work outdoors.

    Bad sanitation in poor urban areas increases the incidence of water-borne diseases after heavy rains and floods.

    Lack of access to healthcare services and the means to pay for medicines make it difficult for women and men in low-income households to recover from illness, heat strokes, and air pollution-related ailments.

    Mental health problems are being attributed to climate change as well. Studies show that the loss of family or kin member, home, livelihood and a safe environment can bring about direct emotional impacts.

    These adverse impacts increase the demand for caregiving and the care workload. Climate-induced health problems force family and community caregivers, particularly women, to spend more time looking after the sick and disabled, particularly frail elderly people and children.

    Effect on food and water

    Climate change threatens the availability of food, clean water and safe shelter. It erodes households’ and communities’ care capacity and hence societies’ ability to thrive.

    Fluctuations in food supply and rising food prices as a result of environmental disasters, along with the inadequacy of government policies, underscore the mounting challenge of meeting food needs.

    The threat of chronic shortage of safe drinking water has also risen. Water scarcity is an area where structural inequalities and gender disparities are laid bare.

    Care for the sick and disabled, the young and the elderly is compromised when water is scarce.

    Effects on providing care

    Extreme weather events disrupt physical care infrastructures. It may be hard to reach hospitals, clinics, daycare centres, nursery schools and nursing homes. Some facilities may be damaged and have to close.

    Another type of care system that can break down is family networks and support provided by friends and neighbours. These informal care sharing arrangements are illustrated in a study of the three large informal settlements in Nairobi.

    About half (50.5%) of the sampled households reported having had a sick member in the two weeks before the survey. The majority relied on close friends and family members living nearby for care and support.

    Studies have shown that climate change eventually leads to livelihood loss and resource scarcity, which can weaken social cohesion and local safety nets in affected communities.

    Heightened risks and uncertainty and imminent changes in socio-economic and political conditions can also compel individuals or entire households to migrate. Migration is caused by a host of factors, but it has increasingly been a climate-related response.

    The World Bank’s Groundswell Report released in 2018, for example, projected that climate change could force 216 million people to move within their countries by 2050 to avoid the slow-onset impacts of climate change.

    A possible consequence of migration is the withdrawal of care support provided by the migrating extended kin, neighbours or friends, increasing the caregiving load of people left behind.

    In the case of forced displacements, the traditional social networks existing in communities are disrupted entirely.

    What’s needed

    There are compelling reasons to believe that meeting care needs can also help mitigate the effects of climate change. And actions to meet carbon-zero goals, prevent biodiversity loss and regenerate ecosystems can reduce the care work burden that falls heavily on families, communities and women.

    Any effort to tackle these grave problems should be comprehensive in scope and must be based on principles of equality, universality, and responsibility shared by all.

    This article is part of a series of articles initiated through a project led by the Southern Centre for Inequality studies, in collaboration with the International Development Research Centre and a group of feminist economists and climate scientists across the world.

    – Climate change is making it harder for people to get the care they need
    – https://theconversation.com/climate-change-is-making-it-harder-for-people-to-get-the-care-they-need-240557

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Brics+ could shape a new world order, but it lacks shared values and a unified identity

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Anthoni van Nieuwkerk, Professor of International and Diplomacy Studies, Thabo Mbeki African School of Public and International Affairs, University of South Africa

    The last two summits of Brics countries have raised questions about the coalition’s identity and purpose. This began to come into focus at the summit hosted by South Africa in 2023, and more acutely at the recent 2024 summit in Kazan, Russia.

    At both events the alliance undertook to expand its membership. In 2023, the first five Brics members – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – invited Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to join. All bar Saudi Arabia have now done so. The 2024 summit pledged to admit 13 more, perhaps as associates or “partner countries”.

    On paper, the nine-member Brics+ strikes a powerful pose. It has a combined population of about 3.5 billion, or 45% of the world’s people. Combined, its economies are worth more than US$28.5 trillion – about 28% of the global economy. With Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE as members, Brics+ produces about 44% of the world’s crude oil.

    Based on my research and policy advice to African foreign policy decision-makers, I would argue that there are three possible interpretations of the purpose of Brics+.

    • A club of self-interested members – a kind of global south cooperative. What I’d label as a self-help organisation.

    • A reforming bloc with a more ambitious goal of improving the workings of the current global order.

    • A disrupter, preparing to replace the western-dominated liberal world order.

    Analysing the commitments that were made at the meeting in Russia, I would argue that Brics+ sees itself more as a self-interested reformer. It represents the thinking among global south leaders about the nature of global order, and the possibilities of shaping a new order. This, as the world moves away from the financially dominant, yet declining western order (in terms of moral influence) led by the US. The move is to a multipolar order in which the east plays a leading role.

    Read more: Russia’s Brics summit shows determination for a new world order – but internal rifts will buy the west some time

    However, the ability of Brics+ to exploit such possibilities is constrained by its make-up and internal inconsistencies. These include a contested identity, incongruous values and lack of resources to convert political commitments into actionable plans.

    Summit outcomes

    The trend towards closer trade and financial cooperation and coordination stands out as a major achievement of the Kazan summit. Other achievements pertain to global governance and counter-terrorism.

    When it comes to trade and finance, the final communiqué said the following had been agreed:

    • adoption of local currencies in trade and financial transactions. The Kazan Declaration notes the benefits of faster, low cost, more efficient, transparent, safe and inclusive cross-border payment instruments. The guiding principle would be minimal trade barriers and non-discriminatory access.

    • establishment of a cross-border payment system. The declaration encourages correspondent banking networks within Brics, and enabling settlements in local currencies in line with the Brics Cross-Border Payments Initiative. This is voluntary and nonbinding and is to be discussed further.

    • creation of an enhanced roles for the New Development Bank, such as promoting infrastructure and sustainable development.

    • a proposed Brics Grain Exchange, to improve food security through enhanced trade in agricultural commodities.

    All nine Brics+ countries committed themselves to the principles of the UN Charter – peace and security, human rights, the rule of law, and development – primarily as a response to the western unilateral sanctions.

    Read more: South Africa walks a tightrope of international alliances – it needs Russia, China and the west

    The summit emphasised that dialogue and diplomacy should prevail over conflict in, among other places, the Middle East, Sudan, Haiti and Afghanistan.

    Faultlines and tensions

    Despite the positive tone of the Kazan declaration, there are serious structural fault lines and tensions inherent in the architecture and behaviour of Brics+. These might limit its ambitions to be a meaningful change agent.

    The members don’t even agree on the definition of Brics+. President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa calls it a platform. Others talk of a group (Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi) or a family (Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jianan).

    So what could it be?

    Brics+ is state-driven – with civil society on the margins. It reminds one of the African Union, which pays lip service to citizens’ engagement in decision-making.

    One possibility is that it will evolve into an intergovernmental organisation with a constitution that sets up its agencies, functions and purposes. Examples include the World Health Organization, the African Development Bank and the UN general assembly.

    But it would need to cohere around shared values. What would they be?

    Critics point out that Brics+ consists of democracies (South Africa, Brazil, India), a theocracy (Iran), monarchies (UAE, Saudi Arabia) and authoritarian dictatorships (China, Russia). For South Africa this creates a domestic headache. At the Kazan summit, its president declared Russia a friend and ally. At home, its coalition partner in the government of national unity, the Democratic Alliance, declared Ukraine as a friend and ally.

    Read more: When two elephants fight: how the global south uses non-alignment to avoid great power rivalries

    There are also marked differences over issues such as the reform of the United Nations. For example, at the recent UN Summit of the Future the consensus was for reform of the UN security council. But will China and Russia, as permanent security council members, agree to more seats, with veto rights, on the council?

    As for violent conflict, humanitarian crises, corruption and crime, there is little from the Kazan summit that suggests agreement around action.

    Unity of purpose

    What about shared interests? A number of Brics+ members and the partner countries maintain close trade ties with the west, which regards Russia and Iran as enemies and China as a global threat.

    Some, such as India and South Africa, use the foreign policy notions of strategic ambiguity or active non-alignment to mask the reality of trading with east, west, north and south.

    The harsh truth of international relations is there are no permanent friends or enemies, only permanent interests. The Brics+ alliance will most likely cohere as a global south co-operative, with an innovative self-help agenda, but be reluctant to overturn the current global order from which it desires to benefit more equitably.

    Trade-offs and compromises might be necessary to ensure “unity of purpose”. It’s not clear that this loose alliance is close to being able to achieve that.

    – Brics+ could shape a new world order, but it lacks shared values and a unified identity
    – https://theconversation.com/brics-could-shape-a-new-world-order-but-it-lacks-shared-values-and-a-unified-identity-242308

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI: Progressive Announces Investor Relations Call

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MAYFIELD VILLAGE, OHIO, Oct. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As previously announced, The Progressive Corporation (NYSE: PGR) will host an Investor Relations conference call on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, beginning at 9:30 a.m. eastern time. This quarterly call, which will consist of both a conference call and audio-only webcast, is scheduled to last 60 minutes and will consist of a question-and-answer session with Tricia Griffith, our CEO, and John Sauerland, our CFO. Call-in participants will be able to ask questions via phone, however, webcast participants will not be able to submit questions online.

    On November 4, 2024, Progressive expects to file its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission and post its Shareholders’ Report, including the Letter to Shareholders from Tricia Griffith, to its website at www.progressive.com/annualreport.

    To receive the details on how to access the call or to join the webcast, visit Progressive’s website at https://investors.progressive.com/events/default.aspx.

    Replays of the webcast will be available approximately two hours after the call concludes. The archived webcast will be able to be accessed from Progressive’s website at https://investors.progressive.com/events/default.aspx and will remain available until November 6, 2025.

    About Progressive
    Progressive Insurance® makes it easy to understand, buy and use car insurance, home insurance, and other protection needs. Progressive offers choices so consumers can reach us however it’s most convenient for them — online at progressive.com, by phone at 1-800-PROGRESSIVE, via the Progressive mobile app, or in-person with a local agent.

    Progressive provides insurance for personal and commercial autos and trucks, motorcycles, boats, recreational vehicles, and homes; it is the second largest personal auto insurer in the country, a leading seller of commercial auto, motorcycle, and boat insurance, and one of the top 15 homeowners insurance carriers. 

    Founded in 1937, Progressive continues its long history of offering shopping tools and services that save customers time and money, like Name Your Price®, Snapshot®, and HomeQuote Explorer®.

    The Common Shares of The Progressive Corporation, the Mayfield Village, Ohio-based holding company, trade publicly at NYSE: PGR.

    Company Contact:
    Douglas S. Constantine
    (440) 395-3707
    investor_relations@progressive.com

    The Progressive Corporation
    300 North Commons Blvd.
    Mayfield Village, Ohio 44143
    https://www.progressive.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Coco Pool Corp. and Viridian Metals Corp. Announce TSXV Conditional Acceptance and Filing of Filing Statement for Their Qualifying Transaction

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Not for distribution to U.S. news wire services or for dissemination in the United States

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Coco Pool Corp. (“Coco”) (TSXV: CCPC.P), a capital pool company, is pleased to announce that it has received conditional acceptance from the TSX Venture Exchange (“TSXV”) for the closing of its proposed amalgamation transaction with Viridian Metals Corp. (“Viridian”) which transaction (the “Transaction”) is intended to constitute Coco’s Qualifying Transaction (within the meaning of Policy 2.4 – Capital Pool Companies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the “Exchange”).

    Coco has filed a filing statement that is dated effective October 28, 2024 (the “Filing Statement”) and certain additional documents, including a 43-101 Technical Report on Viridian’s Kraken Project with the TSXV and on Coco’s SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

    Further to its comprehensive news release dated August 2, 2024, Coco will acquire Viridian by way of a three cornered amalgamation of Coco, 16217494 Canada Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Coco, and Viridian under the Canada Business Corporations Act. In connection with the Qualifying Transaction, Coco will change its name to Viridian Metals Inc. (the “Resulting Issuer”). It is anticipated that the common shares of the Resulting Issuer will trade under the ticker “VRDN”.

    All details of the Transaction as disclosed in Coco’s comprehensive news release dated August 2, 2024 remain the same other than Viridian is currently conducting an additional non-brokered private placement (the “Viridian Private Placement”) of between 714,286 and 1,428,571 units of Viridian (“Viridian Units”), at a price of $0.35 per Viridian Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of a minimum of $250,000 and a maximum $500,000. Each Viridian Unit is comprised of one common share of Viridian (each a “Viridian Share”) and one half of one common share purchase warrant, with each whole warrant (each a “Viridian Warrant”) entitling the holder thereof to acquire one Viridian Share at a price of $0.45 for a period of 60 months from the date of issuance.

    “Receiving conditional approval for our TSXV listing marks an important step in Viridian’s growth strategy. We are excited about the future as we move closer to unlocking the potential of our assets and bringing value to our shareholders. We look forward to continuing our journey as a publicly traded company on such a respected exchange,” said Tyrell Sutherland, CEO, Viridian Metals.

    The Viridian Private Placement is expected to close prior to the completion of the Transaction and the Viridian Shares and Viridian Warrants comprising the Viridian Units will be exchanged for common shares and common share purchase warrants of the Resulting Issuer, as applicable, pursuant to the terms of the amalgamation agreement entered into between the parties as described in the Filing Statement. The closing of the Viridian Private Placement is a condition precedent to the closing of the Transaction.

    It is now currently anticipated that, immediately prior to the closing of the Transaction, there will be approximately between 46,619,224 and 47,333,509 Viridian Shares issued and outstanding (including Viridian Shares issued pursuant to the Viridian Private Placement) and between 9,022,081 and 9,379,224 Viridian Warrants issued and outstanding (including Viridian Shares issued pursuant to the Viridian Private Placement). The value of the consideration for the Viridian Shares pursuant to the Transaction is between $12,120,998.20 (assuming completion of the minimum amount of the Viridian Private Placement) and $12,306,712.30 (assuming completion of the maximum amount of the Viridian Private Placement).

    The fully diluted capitalization of the Resulting Issuer is expected to be as follows:

    Description of Issue Number of Resulting Issuer Shares After Giving Effect to the Transaction Assuming Minimum Viridian Private Placement Percentage of Total Number of Resulting Issuer Shares After Giving Effect to the Transaction Assuming Maximum Viridian Private Placement

    Percentage of Total
    Outstanding Coco Consolidated Shares prior to the Amalgamation 2,852,000 4.84% 2,852,000 4.75%
    Issuable to the Viridian Shareholders 46,619,224 79.13% 47,333,509 78.91%
    Issuable on the exercise of existing Coco stock Options 285,196 0.48% 285,196 0.48%
    Issuable on the exercise of existing Coco Warrants 138,000 0.23% 138,000 0.23%
    Issuable on the exercise of Viridian Warrants 9,022,081 15.31% 9,379,224 15.64%
    Fully diluted share capital 58,916,501 100.00% 59,987,929 100.00%

    Additional information in respect of the Transaction, Coco, Viridian and the Resulting Issuer can be found in the Filing Statement. In accordance with the policies of the TSXV, Coco’s common shares are currently halted from trading and will remain so until such time as required by TSXV policies.

    Coco Shareholder Meeting

    Coco was required to hold a meeting to seek approval of the shareholders of Coco (the “Coco Shareholders”) of certain matters in respect of the Transaction.

    Coco held its annual general and special meeting on September 12, 2024 where, along with resolutions commonly placed before shareholders at an annual general meeting, the Coco Shareholders approved, conditional upon the completion of the Transaction:

    (ii) the name change of Coco to “Viridian Metals Inc.”;
    (iii) the consolidation of the common shares of Coco on the basis of 0.46 of a post consolidation common share for each pre consolidation common share;
    (iv) the election of directors of the Resulting Issuer following the closing of the Transaction as agreed between Viridian and Coco and as set out in the Filing Statement; and
    (v)  the adoption of a new omnibus equity incentive plan of the Resulting Issuer.

    The completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions including, but not limited to, the required approvals of the shareholders of Viridian, receipt of all required regulatory approvals, including final Exchange approval, and satisfaction of other customary closing conditions. Assuming all conditions for closing are satisfied, closing of the Transaction is expected to occur on or about November 4, 2024 or such other date as Coco and Viridian may determine.

    Further Information

    Coco will provide further details in respect of the Transaction in due course by way of a subsequent news release, however, Coco will make available to the Exchange, all information, including financial information, as may be requested or required by the Exchange.

    For further information, please contact:

    All information contained in this news release with respect to Coco and Viridian was supplied by the respective party, for inclusion herein, without independent review by the other party, and each party and its directors and officers have relied on the other party for any information concerning the other party.

    Completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, Exchange acceptance and if applicable pursuant to Exchange Requirements, majority of the minority shareholder approval. Where applicable, the Transaction cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all.

    Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular or filing statement to be prepared in connection with the Transaction, any information released or received with respect to the Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of a capital pool company should be considered highly speculative.

    The TSX Venture Exchange has not in any way passed upon the merits of the proposed Transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.

    Neither the Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

    This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act”) or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

    Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information

    This news release contains statements which constitute “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of Coco and Viridian with respect to future business activities and operating performance.

    Often, but not always, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “expects”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, or “believes” or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or statements formed in the future tense or indicating that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” (or other variations of the forgoing) be taken, occur, be achieved, or come to pass. Forward-looking information includes information regarding: (i) expectations regarding whether the Transaction will be consummated, including whether conditions to the consummation of the Transaction will be satisfied including, but not limited to, the necessary regulatory approvals and the timing associated with obtaining such approvals, if at all; (ii) the business plans and expectations of the Resulting Issuer; and (iii) expectations for other economic, business, and/or competitive factors. Forward-looking information is based on currently available competitive, financial and economic data and operating plans, strategies or beliefs as of the date of this news release, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Viridian, Coco or the Resulting Issuer, as applicable, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors may be based on information currently available to Viridian, Coco and the Resulting Issuer, including information obtained from third-party industry analysts and other third-party sources, and are based on management’s current expectations or beliefs. Any and all forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

    Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is not based on historical facts but instead reflect Viridian and Coco’s respective management’s expectations, estimates or projections concerning future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made. Forward-looking information reflects Viridian’s and Coco’s current beliefs and is based on information currently available to Viridian and Coco and on assumptions it believes to be not unreasonable in light of all of the circumstances. In some instances, material factors or assumptions are discussed in this news release in connection with statements containing forward-looking information. Such material factors and assumptions include, but are not limited to:, Viridian, Coco or the Resulting Issuer; completion of the Transaction; satisfying the conditions precedent and covenants in the Amalgamation Agreement; satisfying the requirements of the Exchange with respect to the Transaction; meeting the minimum listing requirements of the Exchange, and anticipated and unanticipated costs and other factors referenced in this news release and the Filing Statement, including, but not limited to, those set forth in the Filing Statement under the caption “Risk Factors”. Although Viridian and Coco have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date of this news release and, other than as required by law, Viridian and Coco disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

    Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Although Viridian and Coco have attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Viridian and Coco do not intend, and do not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information except as otherwise required by applicable law.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Outside Analytics Awarded $215M Deneir Analytics & Visualization Ecosystem IDIQ Contract & Task Order 1

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BROOMFIELD, Colo., Oct. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today SMX announced that Outside Analytics has been awarded the Deneir Analytics & Visualization Ecosystem (DAVE) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase 3 Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract and initial task order. The contract includes performance over five years with three option years and a ceiling value of $215 million. The DAVE IDIQ, awarded by GSA, accepts any Department of Defense (DoD) or Intelligence Community funding, providing a significant acquisition vehicle for rapid fulfillment of all-domain data processing, analytics, and visualization needs.

    The DAVE IDIQ is designed to provide a wide range of software capabilities that enhance time dominant, data-driven decision-making. These capabilities include open frameworks for real-time, all-domain data integration, advanced sensor processing and analytics, and intuitive data visualizations to transform high throughput complex data sets into actionable insights.

    The initial Task Order awarded allows Outside Analytics to continue development and integration of real-time sensor data processing, analytics, and visualization platforms in support of USSF, Space Systems Command (SSC). The Task Order focuses on rapid capability delivery into the Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) Tools Applications Processing (TAP) Lab in Boulder, CO, which has become an integral environment for developing and transitioning R&D technologies for the operational community since its inception in 2016.

    “We’re excited to continue our collaboration with USSF under this award and for the ability to address Joint All-Domain needs across the DoD via the broader DAVE IDIQ,” said Ben Tarr, Co-Founder of Outside Analytics. “This award underscores our commitment to innovation and advancement of the mission in remote sensing data processing, analytics, and visualization.”

    “The DAVE IDIQ award reinforces our commitment to growth in the National Security Space ecosystem and the investment thesis behind our partnership with OA,” said Peter LaMontagne, CEO at SMX. “We couldn’t be more excited to have Ben and the Outside Analytics team as a part of our SMX family, delivering innovative, mission-relevant solutions to important space clients. This is a signature win for SMX.”

    The DAVE contract will enable Outside Analytics to work closely with various federal entities, providing the tools and insights needed to address mission-critical challenges. Outside Analytics software platforms and capabilities drive operational efficiency and informed decision-making across the federal landscape.

    About Outside Analytics + SMX
    Outside Analytics was acquired by SMX, a leader in next-generation cloud, C5ISR, and advanced engineering and IT solutions, in 2023. OA specializes in geospatial analytics and visualization, time dominant detection and tracking, and remote sensing systems. Together, SMX and Outside Analytics deliver scalable and secure solutions combined with the mission expertise needed to accelerate outcomes for the Department of Defense, Intelligence Community, Public Sector, Fortune 1000 and other public and private sector clients.

    For inquiries about this press release, please contact us at communications@smxtech.com.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Celona Supercharges Global Channel Program to Meet Surging Private 5G Demand

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CAMPBELL, Calif., Oct. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Celona, a pioneer in private 5G networks, today announced the Celona Frequency Partner Program – a significant expansion of its global channel program that introduces new tiers, training and marketing resources, and a global partnership agreement with TD SYNNEX to enable resellers and managed service providers and their customers in the rapidly-growing private 5G market. This expansion is in support of the significant uptick in global adoption of Celona’s 5G LAN solution by enterprises seeking to securely modernize their wireless infrastructure.

    Since launching its channel program in 2022, Celona has grown its channel network to more than 150 partners globally, with new partners signing up at a regular cadence. The company has gained significant worldwide momentum, partnering with global system integrators like NTT DATA ,Capgemini and Tech Mahindra. In Europe, Celona has partnered with companies such as Alcadis, Alternetivo, Clarus Networks, Telonic and Xantaro. The company also has expanded into China through partnerships with Xingtera, CBN, and Inspur. Additionally, Celona has established key relationships in Korea (Rhodos Consulting Group), Japan (Sojitz Tech-Innovation), Saudi Arabia (stc), and LatAm (Axity, Indeplo, and Inpro Telecom).

    Celona also today announced Aerloc, a new suite of advanced security capabilities that provide the next generation of private 5G wireless network security for Industry 4.0. New capabilities include extended SIM-based authentication for unified zero trust enforcement, dynamic and distributed policy enforcement, and air-gapping between IT and OT traffic running on a common private 5G network, enabled by Celona MicroSlicing ™. For more information, see the announcement here.

    “Celona’s expanded partner program comes at a pivotal time, as enterprise demand for private 5G is accelerating rapidly,” said Joel Mora, Senior Global Account Manager, GDT. “The new tiered structure, advanced training resources, and global distribution will be significant in helping us deliver cutting-edge private wireless solutions to our customers. Deepening our partnership with Celona will bring the transformative power of 5G LANs to organizations across industries.”

    “The private 5G market is experiencing explosive growth, making Celona’s innovative 5G LAN solution an essential addition to our comprehensive portfolio of vendor solutions,” said Cheryl Day, SVP of New Vendor Acquisition and Global Solutions at TD SYNNEX. “Our relationship with Celona will enable our vast network of partners to offer new solutions and value-added services to enterprises worldwide. We’re excited to play a pivotal role in accelerating the adoption of private 5G across industries to help organizations unlock new levels of performance, reliability, and security in their network infrastructure.”

    Key enhancements to the Celona Frequency Partner Program include:

    • New tiered structure with increased benefits for top-performing partners
    • Formal sales and technical certification programs
    • Expanded training and enablement resources
    • Global distribution agreement with TD SYNNEX

    The tiered program offers partners a clear path to unlock additional benefits such as joint marketing and dedicated resources as they grow their Celona business. New training programs will enable partners to develop in-house private 5G expertise. The program also gives Celona customers broader access to Celona’s technology through trusted local partners. Enterprises can now standardize on the Celona 5G LAN globally, with consistent support across regions.

    “The phenomenal growth of our partner ecosystem reflects the rapidly growing demand we’re seeing for enterprise private 5G,” said Rob Mustarde, SVP Worldwide Sales, Celona. “With this expanded Celona Frequency program, we’re enabling our partners to accelerate their business opportunities in this developing market. Together we’re advancing a new era of enterprise networking that is fundamentally transforming how businesses operate.”

    The Celona Frequency Partner Program is available immediately to new and existing partners. For more information, visit celona.io/partnerprograms.

    About Celona
    Based in Silicon Valley, Celona is a pioneer and leading innovator of enterprise private wireless solutions. The company developed the industry’s first 5G LAN system, a turnkey private 5G solution that enables enterprises to address their growing needs for secure and reliable wireless connectivity for critical business applications. Celona 5G LAN has been deployed by a wide range of global customers across industries. To date, the company has raised over $135 million in venture funding from Lightspeed Venture Partners, Norwest Venture Partners, NTT Ventures, Cervin Ventures, DigitalBridge and Qualcomm Ventures. For more information, please visit celona.io.

    Media contact:
    Janet Brumfield
    Mindshare PR for Celona
    janet@mindsharepr.com
    614-582-9636

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Celona Aerloc Brings Private 5G Zero Trust to OT Networks for Industrial IoT

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CAMPBELL, Calif., Oct. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Celona, a pioneer in private 5G networks, today announced Aerloc, a new suite of security capabilities that provide the next generation of private 5G wireless network security for Industry 4.0. Designed to address the unique challenges of securing increasingly digitized industrial IT and OT systems, Aerloc provides enhanced security and reliable connectivity without sacrificing agility. New capabilities include extended SIM-based authentication for unified zero trust enforcement, dynamic and distributed policy enforcement, and air-gapping between IT and OT traffic running on a common private 5G network, enabled by Celona MicroSlicing ™.

    Aerloc addresses several key concerns in Industrial IoT (IIoT). Traditional IT zero trust architectures often fail in industrial settings due to the need to keep data on-premises for low latency response, the thousands of IoT devices requiring agentless authentication and the division between IT and OT networks. Celona tackles these challenges by unifying IT, OT and private 5G into a seamless solution. This convergence enables organizations to securely capture real-time data from IIoT devices so that operational and security data can be immediately analyzed and acted on, including the mitigation of cybersecurity threats.

    Celona today also announced the expansion of its global channel program, now the Celona Frequency Partner Program, along with a global partnership agreement with TD SYNNEX to enable resellers and managed service providers to securely deliver private 5G services. For more information, see the announcement here. Celona Aerloc delivers the following:

    • SIM-based Authentication with Unified Zero Trust Enforcement for IT and OT devices eliminates the need for device-side software or agents. Celona’s open API approach provides native integration with best-in-class security services, such as firewalls, network access control (NAC) systems, and SD-WAN solutions, and is agnostic to their deployment – whether in the cloud, on-premises or in a hybrid setup. Celona Aerloc integrates with other leading enterprise security solutions, including Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSOAR and Next Generation Firewall (NGFW), Cisco ISE, and Aruba ClearPass. Celona continues to integrate with other top-tier security vendors through its open API framework to meet evolving enterprise needs.
    • Dynamic and Distributed Policy Enforcement to integrate with posture assessment tools, IoT security solutions, and security orchestration automation platforms. Aerloc provides a collaborative security architecture enabling localized and responsive security policy enforcement at a granular level—down to the individual device or user – and at the very edge of the network to significantly reduce the attack surface.
    • Air Gap Between IT and OT Traffic using Celona MicroSlicing technology. IT and OT traffic can be securely segmented both physically and logically over the air, on the LAN and within the shared 5G LAN network. This unique intent-based segmentation of IT and OT traffic ensures the separation of critical operational data from general enterprise traffic to maintain security and performance integrity across both environments.

    “Operational technology environments are challenging to secure from a connectivity perspective given the use of industrial sensors and IoT devices that are more easily compromised. 5G cellular technology provides additional encryption over 4G LTE and Wi-Fi standards, but more is needed given the growing sophistication of bad actors,” said Will Townsend, Principal Analyst, Networking & Security, Moor Insights & Strategy. “Celona Aerloc aims to address these challenges and accelerate the adoption of private 5G within the enterprise with a purpose-built, easy-to-manage, zero-trust security architecture that blends support for both IT and OT network deployments.”

    “A secure, reliable, and cost-effective network is essential to our operations in industrial environments like our refineries,” said Stefan Garrard, Principal Enterprise Technology Engineer at bp. “The new Celona security features further strengthen the robust connectivity we need to address these challenges. With the ability to securely leverage the same private 5G infrastructure for both IT and OT, we are confident that this Celona enhancement will strengthen our operational integrity and drive innovation, ensuring we remain at the forefront of safe and efficient energy production.”

    “Cybersecurity is one of our strongest practices, and we work with enterprise teams every day to develop and deploy bulletproof cybersecurity strategies,” said Jeremy Nelson, North American CISO, Insight. “With Aerloc, Celona is filling a critical gap between the IT and OT networks that has become more glaring as industrial organizations roll out their digital transformation programs, expanding the potential threat landscape. Celona brings us one step ahead of the game, allowing us to offer our customers an advanced private 5G solution that extends zero trust to where it’s needed most.”

    “Celona Aerloc represents a significant milestone in how industrial networks are secured,” said Rajeev Shah, CEO and Co-Founder of Celona. “By seamlessly integrating zero trust principles with our enterprise 5G LAN architecture, we empower organizations to confidently migrate mission-critical OT operations to private 5G while maintaining ironclad security and granular control. Aerloc eliminates the traditional trade-off between operational agility and cybersecurity, paving the way for true IT/OT convergence and all the benefits it offers.”

    Celona Aerloc is now available as part of the Celona 5G LAN solution. For more information, visit www.celona.io/aerloc.

    About Celona
    Based in Silicon Valley, Celona is a pioneer and leading innovator of enterprise private wireless solutions. The company developed the industry’s first 5G LAN system, a turnkey private 5G solution that enables enterprises to address their growing needs for secure and reliable wireless connectivity for critical business applications. Celona 5G LAN has been deployed by a wide range of global customers across industries. To date, the company has raised over $135 million in venture funding from Lightspeed Venture Partners, Norwest Venture Partners, NTT Ventures, Cervin Ventures, DigitalBridge and Qualcomm Ventures. For more information, please visit celona.io.

    Media contact:
    Janet Brumfield
    Mindshare PR for Celona
    janet@mindsharepr.com
    614-582-9636

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0cc48219-38ea-4247-9622-c7e542d9fee0

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Nicola Wealth Real Estate and Townline Celebrate Completion of Meridian Residential Project in Coquitlam, B.C.

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Vancouver, BC, Oct. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Nicola Wealth Real Estate (NWRE) and Townline are pleased to announce the completion of Meridian, a landmark 37-storey residential rental apartment project located at 515 Cottonwood Avenue in Coquitlam, B.C. The project, a joint venture between NWRE and Townline, brings 267 thoughtfully designed rental homes to the thriving Burquitlam neighbourhood, including nine units leased to BC Housing to support affordable housing. The 267 homes include a mix of market rental units and units which are dedicated to supporting middle-income households.

    Situated just a four-minute walk from the Burquitlam SkyTrain Station on the Evergreen Line, Meridian offers convenient access to public transit, nearby amenities like SFU, Burnaby Lake, Burnaby Mountain, and Douglas College, as well as popular recreational spots such as Rocky Point Park.

    “We are thrilled to have partnered with Townline on this significant project. Their expertise in development and construction has been invaluable, and together we’ve delivered a high-quality residential community that will meet the needs of renters in the lower mainland,” said Mark Hannah, Executive Managing Director and Head of Real Estate at Nicola Wealth.

    Rick Ilich, Founder and CEO of Townline, added, “We are proud to partner with Nicola Wealth to bring these amenity-rich homes to a growing, transit-oriented community. We look forward to building on Meridian’s success and partnering on future projects with the industry leaders at Nicola Wealth Real Estate.”

    Meridian is set to welcome its first residents in November 2024. Designed with renters in mind, Meridian offers 1-3 bedroom homes, including townhomes, all equipped with premium finishes and a wide range of modern conveniences.

    Retail Component 

    In addition to its residential offering, Meridian boasts approximately 10,000 square feet of commercial retail space, which is fully leased to popular tenants including Dos Bros, Pur&Simple, and Anytime Fitness.

    With modern interiors, generous outdoor spaces, and a host of amenities designed to enhance residents’ quality of life, Meridian is poised to be a vibrant community hub in Burquitlam.

    Building Features and Amenities

    Residents of Meridian will enjoy exclusive access to a variety of high-end amenities located on the 3rd and 37th floors, including:

    • A state-of-the-art fitness room, yoga studio, and strength area
    • Rooftop Sky Lounge with panoramic views of Metro Vancouver and Burnaby Mountain
    • Outdoor patios with grilling stations, a firepit lounge, and terrace dining area
    • Co-working spaces, study rooms, games rooms, and lounges
    • A dog run, parcel lockers, secure underground parking with EV-ready stalls, and keyless entry systems for enhanced security and convenience

    About Nicola Wealth Real Estate

    Nicola Wealth Real Estate (NWRE) is the in-house real estate team of Nicola Wealth, a premier Canadian financial planning and investment firm with over $16.4 billion (CAD) of assets under management as at October 29, 2024. NWRE has an experienced and innovative team that sources and asset manages a growing portfolio of properties in major markets across North America spanning a diversified range of asset classes which include industrial, self-storage, multi-family rental apartment, retail, seniors housing, and office. The Nicola Wealth Real Estate portfolio now exceeds $10 billion gross asset value. For more information, please visit realestate.nicolawealth.com.

    About Townline

    Townline is known for its innovative living solutions and unparalleled attention to detail. For over 40 years, every Townline project – from single-family homes and townhomes to concrete high-rise towers and mixed-use communities – has been defined by a strong focus on homeowner and tenant experience, purposeful design, and an unwavering commitment to enriching the cities and communities we build in. This is the Townline Way.

    The Townline Way is defined by our honesty, attention to detail, and thoughtfulness in all that we do. Our strong relationships are an important part of this – with our customers, our tenants, our partners, and our communities. Townline is deeply involved at each stage of every project, with in-house development, finance, construction, marketing, sales and leasing, asset management, property management and customer care teams.

    Attachments

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Climate change is making it harder for people to get the care they need

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Maria S. Floro, Professor Emerita of Economics, American University

    The world is witnessing the consequences of climate change: long-lasting changes in temperature and rainfall, and more intense and frequent extreme weather events such as heat waves, hurricanes, typhoons, flooding and drought. All make it harder for families and communities to meet their care needs.

    Climate change affects care systems in various ways. First, sudden illnesses and unexpected disabilities heighten the need for care. Second, it reduces access to important inputs for care such as water, food and safe shelter. Third, it can damage physical and social care infrastructures.

    It can also lead to breakdowns of traditional units of caregiving such as households and communities. And it creates new situations of need with the increase in displaced person settlements and refugee camps.

    Climate change creates sudden spikes in the demand for care, and serious challenges to meeting the growing need for care. All this has immediate and long lasting effects on human well-being.

    The size of the current unmet care needs throughout the world is substantial. In childcare alone, about 23% of children worldwide – nearly 350 million – need childcare but do not have it. Families in low- and lower-middle-income countries are the most in need.

    Similarly, as the world’s population ages rapidly, only a small proportion of the elderly who need assistance are able to use formal care (in an institution or paid homecare). Most are cared for by family members or other unpaid caregivers. Much of this unpaid care and formal care work is provided by women and girls.

    Hundreds of millions of people around the world struggle to get healthcare. Expansion of access to essential health services has slowed compared to pre-2015 . And healthcare costs still create financial hardship.

    Without comprehensive public and global support for care provision and the integration of care in the climate agenda, unmet care needs will only grow and inequalities will widen.

    Impact

    Climate change interacts with human health in complex ways. Its impact is highly uneven across populations. It depends on geographical region, income, education, gender roles, social norms, level of development, and the institutional capacity and accessibility of health systems.

    In 2018-22, Africa experienced the biggest increase in the
    heat-related mortality rate since 2000-05    . This is not surprising as the continent has more frequent health-threatening temperatures than ever before and a growing population of people older than 65.

    Africa is also the region most affected by droughts in 2013-22, with 64% of its land area affected by at least one month of extreme drought per year on average. It was followed by Oceania (55% of its land area) and South and Central America (53%).

    Scientific evidence also points to increases in health inequalities caused by climate change. The health effects of climate change are not uniformly felt by different population groups.

    Exposure, severity of impact, and ability of individuals to recover depend on a variety of factors. Physiological characteristics, income, education, type of occupation, location, social norms and health systems are some of them.

    For example, older people and young children face the greatest health risks from high temperatures.

    There is also evidence of the disproportionate effect of climate change on the health of people living in poverty and those who belong to disadvantaged groups.

    Women of lower social and economic status and with less education are more vulnerable to heat stress compared to women in wealthier households and with higher education or social status. They are exposed to pollution in the absence of clean cooking fuel, and to extreme heat as they walk to gather water and fuel, or do other work outdoors.

    Bad sanitation in poor urban areas increases the incidence of water-borne diseases after heavy rains and floods.

    Lack of access to healthcare services and the means to pay for medicines make it difficult for women and men in low-income households to recover from illness, heat strokes, and air pollution-related ailments.

    Mental health problems are being attributed to climate change as well. Studies show that the loss of family or kin member, home, livelihood and a safe environment can bring about direct emotional impacts.

    These adverse impacts increase the demand for caregiving and the care workload. Climate-induced health problems force family and community caregivers, particularly women, to spend more time looking after the sick and disabled, particularly frail elderly people and children.

    Effect on food and water

    Climate change threatens the availability of food, clean water and safe shelter. It erodes households’ and communities’ care capacity and hence societies’ ability to thrive.

    Fluctuations in food supply and rising food prices as a result of environmental disasters, along with the inadequacy of government policies, underscore the mounting challenge of meeting food needs.

    The threat of chronic shortage of safe drinking water has also risen. Water scarcity is an area where structural inequalities and gender disparities are laid bare.

    Care for the sick and disabled, the young and the elderly is compromised when water is scarce.

    Effects on providing care

    Extreme weather events disrupt physical care infrastructures. It may be hard to reach hospitals, clinics, daycare centres, nursery schools and nursing homes. Some facilities may be damaged and have to close.

    Another type of care system that can break down is family networks and support provided by friends and neighbours. These informal care sharing arrangements are illustrated in a study of the three large informal settlements in Nairobi.

    About half (50.5%) of the sampled households reported having had a sick member in the two weeks before the survey. The majority relied on close friends and family members living nearby for care and support.

    Studies have shown that climate change eventually leads to livelihood loss and resource scarcity, which can weaken social cohesion and local safety nets in affected communities.

    Heightened risks and uncertainty and imminent changes in socio-economic and political conditions can also compel individuals or entire households to migrate. Migration is caused by a host of factors, but it has increasingly been a climate-related response.

    The World Bank’s Groundswell Report released in 2018, for example, projected that climate change could force 216 million people to move within their countries by 2050 to avoid the slow-onset impacts of climate change.

    A possible consequence of migration is the withdrawal of care support provided by the migrating extended kin, neighbours or friends, increasing the caregiving load of people left behind.

    In the case of forced displacements, the traditional social networks existing in communities are disrupted entirely.

    What’s needed

    There are compelling reasons to believe that meeting care needs can also help mitigate the effects of climate change. And actions to meet carbon-zero goals, prevent biodiversity loss and regenerate ecosystems can reduce the care work burden that falls heavily on families, communities and women.

    Any effort to tackle these grave problems should be comprehensive in scope and must be based on principles of equality, universality, and responsibility shared by all.

    This article is part of a series of articles initiated through a project led by the Southern Centre for Inequality studies, in collaboration with the International Development Research Centre and a group of feminist economists and climate scientists across the world.

    Maria S. Floro 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. Climate change is making it harder for people to get the care they need – https://theconversation.com/climate-change-is-making-it-harder-for-people-to-get-the-care-they-need-240557

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Brics+ could shape a new world order, but it lacks shared values and a unified identity

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Anthoni van Nieuwkerk, Professor of International and Diplomacy Studies, Thabo Mbeki African School of Public and International Affairs, University of South Africa

    The last two summits of Brics countries have raised questions about the coalition’s identity and purpose. This began to come into focus at the summit hosted by South Africa in 2023, and more acutely at the recent 2024 summit in Kazan, Russia.

    At both events the alliance undertook to expand its membership. In 2023, the first five Brics members – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – invited Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to join. All bar Saudi Arabia have now done so. The 2024 summit pledged to admit 13 more, perhaps as associates or “partner countries”.

    On paper, the nine-member Brics+ strikes a powerful pose. It has a combined population of about 3.5 billion, or 45% of the world’s people. Combined, its economies are worth more than US$28.5 trillion – about 28% of the global economy. With Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE as members, Brics+ produces about 44% of the world’s crude oil.

    Based on my research and policy advice to African foreign policy decision-makers, I would argue that there are three possible interpretations of the purpose of Brics+.

    • A club of self-interested members – a kind of global south cooperative. What I’d label as a self-help organisation.

    • A reforming bloc with a more ambitious goal of improving the workings of the current global order.

    • A disrupter, preparing to replace the western-dominated liberal world order.

    Analysing the commitments that were made at the meeting in Russia, I would argue that Brics+ sees itself more as a self-interested reformer. It represents the thinking among global south leaders about the nature of global order, and the possibilities of shaping a new order. This, as the world moves away from the financially dominant, yet declining western order (in terms of moral influence) led by the US. The move is to a multipolar order in which the east plays a leading role.



    Read more:
    Russia’s Brics summit shows determination for a new world order – but internal rifts will buy the west some time

    However, the ability of Brics+ to exploit such possibilities is constrained by its make-up and internal inconsistencies. These include a contested identity, incongruous values and lack of resources to convert political commitments into actionable plans.

    Summit outcomes

    The trend towards closer trade and financial cooperation and coordination stands out as a major achievement of the Kazan summit. Other achievements pertain to global governance and counter-terrorism.

    When it comes to trade and finance, the final communiqué said the following had been agreed:

    • adoption of local currencies in trade and financial transactions. The Kazan Declaration notes the benefits of faster, low cost, more efficient, transparent, safe and inclusive cross-border payment instruments. The guiding principle would be minimal trade barriers and non-discriminatory access.

    • establishment of a cross-border payment system. The declaration encourages correspondent banking networks within Brics, and enabling settlements in local currencies in line with the Brics Cross-Border Payments Initiative. This is voluntary and nonbinding and is to be discussed further.

    • creation of an enhanced roles for the New Development Bank, such as promoting infrastructure and sustainable development.

    • a proposed Brics Grain Exchange, to improve food security through enhanced trade in agricultural commodities.

    All nine Brics+ countries committed themselves to the principles of the UN Charter – peace and security, human rights, the rule of law, and development – primarily as a response to the western unilateral sanctions.



    Read more:
    South Africa walks a tightrope of international alliances – it needs Russia, China and the west

    The summit emphasised that dialogue and diplomacy should prevail over conflict in, among other places, the Middle East, Sudan, Haiti and Afghanistan.

    Faultlines and tensions

    Despite the positive tone of the Kazan declaration, there are serious structural fault lines and tensions inherent in the architecture and behaviour of Brics+. These might limit its ambitions to be a meaningful change agent.

    The members don’t even agree on the definition of Brics+. President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa calls it a platform. Others talk of a group (Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi) or a family (Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jianan).

    So what could it be?

    Brics+ is state-driven – with civil society on the margins. It reminds one of the African Union, which pays lip service to citizens’ engagement in decision-making.

    One possibility is that it will evolve into an intergovernmental organisation with a constitution that sets up its agencies, functions and purposes. Examples include the World Health Organization, the African Development Bank and the UN general assembly.

    But it would need to cohere around shared values. What would they be?

    Critics point out that Brics+ consists of democracies (South Africa, Brazil, India), a theocracy (Iran), monarchies (UAE, Saudi Arabia) and authoritarian dictatorships (China, Russia). For South Africa this creates a domestic headache. At the Kazan summit, its president declared Russia a friend and ally. At home, its coalition partner in the government of national unity, the Democratic Alliance, declared Ukraine as a friend and ally.



    Read more:
    When two elephants fight: how the global south uses non-alignment to avoid great power rivalries

    There are also marked differences over issues such as the reform of the United Nations. For example, at the recent UN Summit of the Future the consensus was for reform of the UN security council. But will China and Russia, as permanent security council members, agree to more seats, with veto rights, on the council?

    As for violent conflict, humanitarian crises, corruption and crime, there is little from the Kazan summit that suggests agreement around action.

    Unity of purpose

    What about shared interests? A number of Brics+ members and the partner countries maintain close trade ties with the west, which regards Russia and Iran as enemies and China as a global threat.

    Some, such as India and South Africa, use the foreign policy notions of strategic ambiguity or active non-alignment to mask the reality of trading with east, west, north and south.

    The harsh truth of international relations is there are no permanent friends or enemies, only permanent interests. The Brics+ alliance will most likely cohere as a global south co-operative, with an innovative self-help agenda, but be reluctant to overturn the current global order from which it desires to benefit more equitably.

    Trade-offs and compromises might be necessary to ensure “unity of purpose”. It’s not clear that this loose alliance is close to being able to achieve that.

    Anthoni van Nieuwkerk 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. Brics+ could shape a new world order, but it lacks shared values and a unified identity – https://theconversation.com/brics-could-shape-a-new-world-order-but-it-lacks-shared-values-and-a-unified-identity-242308

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murphy Op-Ed For The Financial Times: Breaking Up Concentrated Economic Power Must Be A Foreign Policy Priority

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy

    October 29, 2024

    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on Tuesday authored an op-ed for the Financial Times arguing that American foreign and domestic policies must align to break up concentrated economic power and revitalize local communities. Pointing to the Biden-Harris administration’s work to break up corporate monopolies, rebuild local economies, and create a new industrial policy, Murphy called for America’s foreign policy to be similarly reshaped.

    Murphy described how the Biden-Harris Administration’s decision at the World Trade Organization to block new data transit rules reflects a larger effort to combat the consequences of neoliberalism: “They saw the negotiations through the prism of America’s twin crises of alienation and the concentration of economic power. While all the key economic indicators point to a country that has bounced back from the pandemic, rates of addiction, self-harm and political extremism continue to rise as more Americans report feeling unhappy and disconnected from their communities. This alienation is the wreckage left in the wake of a half century of shared, bipartisan faith in economic neoliberalism — the doctrine that unrestricted free trade and market forces would best uphold the public good. The unchecked gobbling up of economic power by a few large corporations has left us with broken supply chains and uncompetitive markets.”

    Murphy underscored the need for a post-neoliberal foreign policy that aims to break up concentrated global economic power, protect fair trade, and breathe life back into local communities: “Trade agreements should be put to a simple test: will the terms concentrate or distribute private economic power? When new rules clearly give large global companies too much power over workers and citizens in individual nation states, then the answer must be to rewrite or reject them, as demonstrated by Tai. A post-neoliberal foreign policy must also challenge the ability of state-run economies to rig the rules of the global marketplace. Too often US foreign policy is focused on military threats. Yes, China and Russia present conventional military threats to global order; but America must expend equal effort on confronting our adversaries’ growing economic influence. This should involve speeding up renewable energy adoption to weaken the power of Russia and other petro-dictatorships and continued work to contest Chinese dominance of critical supply chains for products such as solar panels or advanced batteries.”

    “Our foreign policy must also buttress growing bipartisan efforts to create a new industrial and commercial approach rooted in localism,” Murphy continued. “Americans do not want to be part of a homogenized, flattened global economy. They want vibrant local economies where worker power is prioritized over shareholder power, community wellness prevails over the cult of efficiency, and values such as generosity and fairness matter more than greed and excess. Through carefully constructed tariffs and subsidies for domestic manufacturing and research and development, foreign and trade policy can be the vehicle for this change.”

    Murphy concluded: “Americans will continue to lose faith in their country’s democracy if we do not marry foreign and domestic policy in an effort to prioritize the common good over shameless profit-seeking. That decision at the WTO to rethink global data rules offers proof that the Biden-Harris administration understands the scale of the crisis the America faces and that it has laid the foundations of a coherent way forward for US foreign policy. The next generation of national security leaders must now build on and finish this work.”

    Read the full op-ed here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Apple’s new Mac mini is more mighty, more mini, and built for Apple Intelligence

    Source: Apple

    Headline: Apple’s new Mac mini is more mighty, more mini, and built for Apple Intelligence

    October 29, 2024

    PRESS RELEASE

    Apple’s all-new Mac mini is more mighty, more mini, and built for Apple Intelligence

    The compact, do-it-all desktop now features the power of M4 and M4 Pro, and marks an important environmental milestone as the first carbon neutral Mac

    CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA Apple today unveiled the all-new Mac mini powered by the M4 and new M4 Pro chips, and redesigned around Apple silicon to pack an incredible amount of performance into an even smaller form of just 5 by 5 inches. With M4, Mac mini delivers up to 1.8x faster CPU performance and 2.2x faster GPU performance over the M1 model.1 With M4 Pro, it takes the advanced technologies in M4 and scales them up to tackle even more demanding workloads. For more convenient connectivity, it features front and back ports, and for the first time includes Thunderbolt 5 for faster data transfer speeds on the M4 Pro model. The new Mac mini is also built for Apple Intelligence, the personal intelligence system that transforms how users work, communicate, and express themselves while protecting their privacy. And marking an important environmental milestone, Mac mini is Apple’s first carbon neutral Mac with an over 80 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions across its materials, manufacturing, transportation, and customer use.2 Starting at just $599 with 16GB of memory, the new Mac mini is available to pre-order today, with availability beginning November 8.

    “The new Mac mini delivers gigantic performance in an unbelievably small design thanks to the power efficiency of Apple silicon and an innovative new thermal architecture,” said John Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering. “Combined with the performance of M4 and the new M4 Pro chip, enhanced connectivity on both the front and back, and the arrival of Apple Intelligence, Mac mini is more capable and versatile than ever, and there is nothing else like it.”

    Small, but Fierce

    The new Mac mini footprint is less than half the size of the previous design at just 5 by 5 inches, so it takes up much less space on a desk. The super-compact system is enabled by the incredible power efficiency of Apple silicon and an innovative thermal architecture, which guides air to different levels of the system, while all venting is done through the foot.

    When compared to the best-selling PC desktop in its price range, Mac mini is up to 6x faster at one-twentieth the size.1 For a wide range of users, from students to aspiring creatives and small business owners, the Mac mini with M4 is a tiny powerhouse. Mac mini with M4 features a 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, and now starts with 16GB of unified memory. Users will feel the performance of M4 in everything they do, from multitasking across everyday productivity apps to creative projects like video editing, music production, or writing and compiling code.

    When compared to the Mac mini with Intel Core i7, Mac mini with M4:

    • Applies up to 2.8x more audio effect plugins in a Logic Pro project.1
    • Delivers up to 13.3x faster gaming performance in World of Warcraft: The War Within.1
    • Enhances photos with up to 33x faster image upscaling performance in Photomator.3

    When compared to the Mac mini with M1, Mac mini with M4:

    • Performs spreadsheet calculations up to 1.7x faster in Microsoft Excel.1
    • Transcribes with on-device AI speech-to-text up to 2x faster in MacWhisper.1
    • Merges panoramic images up to 4.9x faster in Adobe Lightroom Classic.4

    Introducing M4 Pro for Pro-Level Performance 

    For users who want pro-level performance, Mac mini with M4 Pro features the world’s fastest CPU core5 with lightning-fast single-threaded performance. With up to 14 cores, including 10 performance cores and four efficiency cores, M4 Pro also provides phenomenal multithreaded performance. With up to 20 cores, the M4 Pro GPU is up to twice as powerful as the GPU in M4, and both chips bring hardware-accelerated ray tracing to the Mac mini for the first time. The Neural Engine in M4 Pro is also over 3x faster than in Mac mini with M1, so on-device Apple Intelligence models run at blazing speed. M4 Pro supports up to 64GB of unified memory and 273GB/s of memory bandwidth — twice as much bandwidth as any AI PC chip — for accelerating AI workloads. And M4 Pro supports Thunderbolt 5, which delivers up to 120 Gb/s data transfer speeds on Mac mini, and more than doubles the throughput of Thunderbolt 4.

    When compared to the Mac mini with Intel Core i7, Mac mini with M4 Pro:

    • Performs spreadsheet calculations up to 4x faster in Microsoft Excel.1
    • Executes scene-edit detection up to 9.4x faster in Adobe Premiere Pro.3
    • Transcribes with on-device AI speech-to-text up to 20x faster in MacWhisper.1
    • Processes basecalling for DNA sequencing in Oxford Nanopore MinKNOW up to 26x faster.1

    When compared to the Mac mini with M2 Pro, Mac mini with M4 Pro:

    • Applies up to 1.8x more audio effect plugins in a Logic Pro project.1
    • Renders motion graphics to RAM up to 2x faster in Motion.6
    • Completes 3D renders up to 2.9x faster in Blender.6

    Upgraded Connectivity and Display Support 

    The new Mac mini features a wide array of ports to drive any setup. It includes front-facing ports for more convenient access, including two USB-C ports that support USB 3, and an audio jack with support for high-impedance headphones. On the back, Mac mini with M4 includes three Thunderbolt 4 ports, while Mac mini with M4 Pro features three Thunderbolt 5 ports. Mac mini comes standard with Gigabit Ethernet, configurable up to 10Gb Ethernet for faster networking speeds, and an HDMI port for easy connection to a TV or HDMI display without an adapter. With M4, Mac mini can support up to two 6K displays and up to one 5K display, and with M4 Pro, it can support up to three 6K displays at 60Hz for a total of over 60 million pixels.

    A New Era with Apple Intelligence on the Mac

    Apple Intelligence ushers in a new era for the Mac, bringing personal intelligence to the personal computer. Combining powerful generative models with industry-first privacy protections, Apple Intelligence harnesses the power of Apple silicon and the Neural Engine to unlock new ways for users to work, communicate, and express themselves on Mac. It is available in U.S. English with macOS Sequoia 15.1. With systemwide Writing Tools, users can refine their words by rewriting, proofreading, and summarizing text nearly everywhere they write. With the newly redesigned Siri, users can move fluidly between spoken and typed requests to accelerate tasks throughout their day, and Siri can answer thousands of questions about Mac and other Apple products. New Apple Intelligence features will be available in December, with additional capabilities rolling out in the coming months. Image Playground gives users a new way to create fun original images, and Genmoji allows them to create custom emoji in seconds. Siri will become even more capable, with the ability to take actions across the system and draw on a user’s personal context to deliver intelligence that is tailored to them. In December, ChatGPT will be integrated into Siri and Writing Tools, allowing users to access its expertise without needing to jump between tools.

    Apple Intelligence does all this while protecting users’ privacy at every step. At its core is on-device processing, and for more complex tasks, Private Cloud Compute gives users access to Apple’s even larger, server-based models and offers groundbreaking protections for personal information. In addition, users can access ChatGPT for free without creating an account, and privacy protections are built in — their IP addresses are obscured and OpenAI won’t store requests. For those who choose to connect their account, OpenAI’s data-use policies apply.

    The First Carbon Neutral Mac 

    The new Mac mini is Apple’s first carbon neutral Mac, marking a significant milestone toward Apple 2030, the company’s goal to be carbon neutral across the entire carbon footprint by the end of this decade.

    Mac mini is made with over 50 percent recycled content overall, including 100 percent recycled aluminum in the enclosure, 100 percent recycled gold plating in all Apple-designed printed circuit boards, and 100 percent recycled rare earth elements in all magnets. The electricity used to manufacture Mac mini is sourced from 100 percent renewable electricity. And, to address 100 percent of the electricity customers use to power Mac mini, Apple has invested in clean energy projects around the world. Apple has also prioritized lower-carbon modes of shipping, like ocean freight, to further reduce emissions from transportation. Together, these actions have reduced the carbon footprint of Mac mini by over 80 percent.2 For the small amount of remaining emissions, Apple applies high-quality carbon credits from nature-based projects, like those generated by its innovative Restore Fund.

    In another first for Mac mini, the packaging is now entirely fiber-based, bringing Apple closer to its goal to remove plastic from its packaging by 2025.

    An Unrivaled Experience with macOS Sequoia

    macOS Sequoia completes the new Mac mini experience with a host of exciting features, including iPhone Mirroring, allowing users to wirelessly interact with their iPhone, its apps, and notifications directly from their Mac.7 Safari, the world’s fastest browser,8 now offers the Highlights feature, which quickly pulls up relevant information from a site; a smarter, redesigned Reader with a table of contents and high-level summary; and a new Video Viewer to watch videos without distractions. With Distraction Control, users can hide items on a webpage that they may find disruptive to their browsing. Gaming gets even more immersive with features like Personalized Spatial Audio and improvements to Game Mode, along with a breadth of exciting titles, including the upcoming Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Easier window tiling means users can stay organized with a window layout that works best for them. The all-new Passwords app gives convenient access to passwords, passkeys, and other credentials — all stored in one place. And users can apply new, beautiful built-in backgrounds for video calls, which include a variety of color gradients and system wallpapers, or upload their own photos.

    Pricing and Availability

    • Customers can pre-order the new Mac mini with M4 and M4 Pro starting today, Tuesday, October 29, on apple.com/store and in the Apple Store app in 28 countries and regions, including the U.S. It will start arriving to customers, and in Apple Store locations and Apple Authorized Resellers, beginning Friday, November 8.
    • Mac mini with M4 starts at $599 (U.S.) and $499 (U.S.) for education. Additional technical specifications are available at apple.com/mac-mini.
    • Mac mini with M4 Pro starts at $1,399 (U.S.) and $1,299 (U.S.) for education. Additional technical specifications are available at apple.com/mac-mini.
    • New accessories with USB-C — including Magic Keyboard ($99 U.S.), Magic Keyboard with Touch ID ($149 U.S.), Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad ($179 U.S.), Magic Trackpad ($129 U.S.), Magic Mouse ($79 U.S.), and Thunderbolt 5 Pro Cable ($69) — are available at apple.com/store.
    • Apple Intelligence is available now as a free software update for Mac with M1 and later, and can be accessed in most regions around the world when the device and Siri language are set to U.S. English. The first set of features is in beta and available with macOS Sequoia 15.1, with more features rolling out in the months to come.
    • Apple Intelligence is quickly adding support for more languages. In December, Apple Intelligence will add support for localized English in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, and the U.K., and in April, a software update will deliver expanded language support, with more coming throughout the year. Chinese, English (India), English (Singapore), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Vietnamese, and other languages will be supported.
    • With Apple Trade In, customers can trade in their current computer and get credit toward a new Mac. Customers can visit apple.com/shop/trade-in to see what their device is worth.
    • AppleCare+ for Mac provides unparalleled service and support. This includes unlimited incidents of accidental damage, battery service coverage, and 24/7 support from the people who know Mac best.
    • Every customer who buys directly from Apple Retail gets access to Personal Setup. In these guided online sessions, a Specialist can walk them through setup, or focus on features that help them make the most of their new device. Customers can also learn more about getting started with their new device with a Today at Apple session at their nearest Apple Store.

    About Apple Apple revolutionized personal technology with the introduction of the Macintosh in 1984. Today, Apple leads the world in innovation with iPhone, iPad, Mac, AirPods, Apple Watch, and Apple Vision Pro. Apple’s six software platforms — iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, visionOS, and tvOS — provide seamless experiences across all Apple devices and empower people with breakthrough services including the App Store, Apple Music, Apple Pay, iCloud, and Apple TV+. Apple’s more than 150,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth and to leaving the world better than we found it.

    1. Testing was conducted by Apple in September and October 2024. See apple.com/mac-mini for more information.
    2. Carbon reductions are calculated against a business-as-usual baseline scenario: No use of clean electricity for manufacturing or product use, beyond what is already available on the latest modeled grid; Apple’s carbon intensity of key materials as of 2015; and Apple’s average mix of transportation modes by product line across three years. Learn more at apple.com/2030.
    3. Results are compared to previous-generation 3.2GHz 6-core Intel Core i7-based Mac mini systems with Intel Iris UHD Graphics 630, 64GB of RAM, and 2TB SSD.
    4. Results are compared to previous-generation Mac mini systems with Apple M1, 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 16GB of RAM, and 2TB SSD.
    5. Testing conducted by Apple in October 2024 using shipping competitive systems and select industry-standard benchmarks.
    6. Results are compared to previous-generation Mac mini systems with Apple M2 Pro, 12-core CPU, 19-core GPU, 32GB of RAM, and 8TB SSD.
    7. Available on Mac computers with Apple silicon and Intel-based Mac computers with a T2 Security Chip. Requires that iPhone and Mac are signed in with the same Apple Account using two-factor authentication, iPhone and Mac are near each other and have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi turned on, and Mac is not using AirPlay or Sidecar. Some iPhone features (e.g., camera and microphone) are not compatible with iPhone Mirroring.
    8. Testing was conducted by Apple in August 2024. See apple.com/safari for more information.

    Press Contacts

    Michelle Del Rio

    Apple

    mr_delrio@apple.com

    Starlayne Meza

    Apple

    starlayne_meza@apple.com

    Apple Media Helpline

    media.help@apple.com

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Commission commences inquiry into Bradford based charity

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government Non-Ministerial Departments

    On 13 September 2024, the Charity Commission opened a Statutory Inquiry into Bradford based Al-Hikam after the charity failed to comply with an Official Warning issued by the regulator.

    Al-Hikam was established to advance the Islamic faith and supports young people, providing education services in Bradford.

    Al-Hikam was issued with an Official Warning around misconduct and/or mismanagement in November 2023. This involved a failure to comply with legal duties.

    The trustees have since failed to demonstrate that they have made progress against rectifying the actions set out in the warning.

    The scope of the inquiry will cover:

    • The administration and governance of the charity by the trustees

    • Preparedness of trustees to fulfil their responsibilities under charity law

    • Suitability of the environment, particularly in relation to the vulnerable people in their care

    • Links to connected companies, the viability of the charity and suitability of the structure.

    Additionally, it will examine any conflicts of interest in relation to the charity.

    It is the Commission’s policy, after it has concluded an inquiry, to publish a report detailing what issues the inquiry looked at, what actions were undertaken as part of the inquiry, and what the outcomes were.

    ENDS

    Notes to editors

    • The inquiry has been opened under Section 46 of the Charities Act 2011. Reports of previous inquiries are available on GOV.UK. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/inquiry-reports-charity-commission 

    • The Charity Commission is the independent, non-ministerial government department that registers and regulates charities in England and Wales. Its purpose is to ensure charity can thrive and inspire trust so that people can improve lives and strengthen society. Find out more at: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/charity-commission

    • A statutory inquiry is a legal power enabling the Commission to formally investigate matters of regulatory concern within a charity and to use protective powers for the benefit of the charity and its beneficiaries, assets, or reputation. An inquiry will investigate and establish the facts of the case so that the Commission can determine the extent of any misconduct and/or mismanagement; the extent of the risk to the charity, its work, property, beneficiaries, employees or volunteers; and decide what action is needed to resolve the concerns. When opening an inquiry, the Commission normally expects to deal directly with the charity trustees. This is because they have general control and management of the charity’s administration and are directly and legally responsible for what happens in it.

    Press office

    Email pressenquiries@charitycommission.gov.uk

    Out of hours press office contact number: 07785 748787

    Updates to this page

    Published 29 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Taché Celebrates Construction of New Community Centre

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    October 29, 2024

    Taché Celebrates Construction of New Community Centre

    – – –
    Provincial Investment of $13.3 Million Helping to Bring Communities and Families Together

    LORETTE—The governments of Canada, Manitoba and the Rural Municipality (RM) of Taché celebrated the official groundbreaking for the new Taché Community Centre project today, Municipal and Northern Relations Minister Ian Bushie announced today, alongside partners from the RM of Taché.

    “It’s so exciting to see a growing community such as the RM of Taché getting a state-of-the-art facility that will foster a sense of community and encourage healthy living,” said Bushie. “Our government congratulates the people and leadership of Taché who have been working so hard to make this centre a reality. On behalf of the province, we are proud of the work you have done, and today we proudly celebrate your success.”

    RM of Taché Mayor Armand Poirier along with several councillors broke ground on the joint project that will serve as a central hub for the surrounding communities, providing a wide range of recreational services to residents from Lorette, Landmark, Ste. Geneviève, Ross, Linden and beyond.

    “The RM of Taché is proud to partner with Manitoba and the Government of Canada on the journey toward building the new Taché Community Centre, a project that is very close to our hearts,” said Poirier. “This centre will be a place where our residents can come together, celebrate and create lasting memories. It is a project that embodies the spirit of community and the value we place on providing spaces that serve the diverse needs of our population.”

    Once the construction site is fully prepared, construction will get underway in the weeks ahead with anticipated completion in the summer of 2026, noted Bushie. The new Taché Community Centre will include a new arena and skating rink, community library, seniors’ centre, multipurpose area and canteen.

    – 30 –

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Barragán Announces $411 Million in Funding for Port of Los Angeles to Electrify Based on Barragán’s Climate Smart Ports Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44)

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    29 October 2024

    Contact: Kevin G. McGuire, 202-538-2386 (mobile)

    Kevin.McGuire@mail.house.gov

    Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Nanette Barragán (CA-44) announced the Port of Los Angeles (POLA) has been awarded a $411 million grant award from the EPA Clean Ports Program to replace diesel equipment and trucks with human operated, zero-emission technology, clean energy microgrids, electric charging, shore power, and more.

    “This grant is a game-changer for the Port of LA and our port communities,” said Rep. Barragán. “Today’s funding announcement is the direct result of a five-year effort by my office to work with labor, environmental justice groups, industry, and ports, to secure billions of dollars to clean up ports across the country. It will help the Port of LA and ports across the country transition to zero-emission, human operated equipment. This investment will significantly reduce pollution from ports and help our nearby port communities breathe cleaner air.”

    “The men and women of the ILWU are thrilled to learn of this over $400 Million investment, by the U.S. EPA, in the environmental and economic well-being of our members and local communities. Human operated, zero-emission cargo handling equipment is the gold standard for maritime port operations not only because it protects good jobs while cleaning the air, but is also the most efficient and cost-effective in terms of port operations, while additionally providing the necessary safeguards against cyber threats to our national security,” said Gary Herrera, President, International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), Local 13.

    “This transformative investment will be a tremendous boost to our efforts to meet our ambitious zero emission goals, improve regional air quality, and combat climate change, while accelerating the port-industry’s transition to zero emissions across the country,” said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka. “This grant will fund over 400 pieces of ZE cargo handling equipment, replacing nearly one-third of the diesel equipment currently on our docks, and eliminating over 40,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually. This successful application is the culmination of a deep partnership with environmental justice groups, labor, the private sector, and stakeholders at all levels of government, and we’ll continue to work with our local communities to ensure this investment delivers benefits in their neighborhoods. We thank Congresswoman Barragán, the EPA and the Biden-Harris Administration for their unprecedented support of our ambition and look forward to delivering on our commitment to cleaner air for future generations.”

    POLA processes the highest volume of containerized cargo in the United States, supporting 1 in 15 jobs in Los Angeles and 1.4 million jobs nationwide. However, cargo handling equipment (CHE) at POLA is a significant source of pollution, emitting over 500 tons of nitrogen oxides and other harmful emissions annually and contributing to high rates of asthma, cancer, and other health consequences.

    The grant, made possible by Congresswoman Barragán’s Climate Smart Ports Act, whose funding was included in the Inflation Reduction Act, will reduce air pollution and improve public health by helping the port transition to 100% zero-emissions terminal operations by 2030. In addition to the federal grant, POLA and its partners will also match $200 million for the project, totaling over $600 million to meet their clean air goals.

    In line with the Climate Smart Ports Act, which was supported by the ILWU and several community-based organizations, the funds must be used for human-operated equipment and technology.

    This grant will allow POLA to meet ZE goals by:

    • funding the acquisition of approximately 400 pieces of ZE CHE and associated charging infrastructure to replace nearly 30% of POLA’s diesel-burning CHE fleet;
    • procuring 250 ZE drayage trucks and associated charging infrastructure;
    • installing cutting-edge power management systems with solar generation and battery
    • providing energy storage capacity to power additional ZE CHE;
    • establishing one of the first shore-power support systems for auto carrier vessels to; and
    • eliminating nearly 41,500 tons of carbon dioxide emissions and 55 tons of NOx emissions annually.

    POLA and Harbor Community Benefit Foundation will also carry out an ambitious community-driven grant program to empower port-adjacent communities to award grants for zero-emission equipment, and offer opportunities for career engagement and workforce development.

    This large-scale deployment of zero-emission equipment will support continued commercialization while helping California meet its climate goals, improve air quality in nearby communities, promote sustainable maritime practices, and protect and create good-paying jobs.

    Rep. Barragán led a California Delegation letter of 19 members in support of the EPA grant.

    # # #

    Congressmember Nanette Barragán represents California’s 44th District.  She sits on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and works on environmental justice and healthcare issues.  She is also Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Form 8.3 – [ECKOH PLC – 28 10 2024] – (CGWL)

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FORM 8.3

    PUBLIC OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE/DEALING DISCLOSURE BY
    A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE
    Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the “Code”)

    1.        KEY INFORMATION

    (a)   Full name of discloser: CANACCORD GENUITY WEALTH LIMITED (for Discretionary clients)
    (b)   Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a):
            The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named.    		 N/A
    (c)   Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates:
            Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree    		 ECKOH PLC
    (d)   If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree: N/A
    (e)   Date position held/dealing undertaken:
            For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure    		 28 OCTOBER 2024
    (f)   In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer?
            If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”    		 N/A

    2.        POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

    If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security.

    (a)      Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any)

    Class of relevant security: 10p ORDINARY
      Interests Short positions
    Number % Number %
    (1)   Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: 20,115,126 6.9227    
    (2)   Cash-settled derivatives:        
    (3)   Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:        
    TOTAL: 20,115,126 6.9227    

    All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.

    Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions).

    (b)      Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors’ and other employee options)

    Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists:  
    Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages:  

    3.        DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

    Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in.

    The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated.

    (a)        Purchases and sales

    Class of relevant security Purchase/sale Number of securities Price per unit
    10p ORDINARY SALE 4,940 43p
    10p ORDINARY SALE 52,370 42.5p

    (b)        Cash-settled derivative transactions

    Class of relevant security Product description
    e.g. CFD    		 Nature of dealing
    e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position    		 Number of reference securities Price per unit
    NONE        

    (c)        Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options)

    (i)        Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

    Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc. Number of securities to which option relates Exercise price per unit Type
    e.g. American, European etc.    		 Expiry date Option money paid/ received per unit
    NONE              

    (ii)        Exercise

    Class of relevant security Product description
    e.g. call option    		 Exercising/ exercised against Number of securities Exercise price per unit

    (d)        Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities)

    Class of relevant security Nature of dealing
    e.g. subscription, conversion    		 Details Price per unit (if applicable)
    NONE      

    4.        OTHER INFORMATION

    (a)        Indemnity and other dealing arrangements

    Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer:
    Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”

    NONE

    (b)        Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives

    Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to:
    (i)   the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or
    (ii)   the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced:
    If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”

    NONE

    (c)        Attachments

    Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached? NO
    Date of disclosure: 29 OCTOBER 2024
    Contact name: MARK ELLIOTT
    Telephone number: 01253 376539

    Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service.

    The Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code’s disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.

    The Code can be viewed on the Panel’s website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Mission Index Focuses Help Where It’s Needed

    Source: Fannie Mae

    Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s (the Enterprises) Mission Index disclosures provide insights into mission-oriented lending activities underlying our Single-Family mortgage-backed securities (MBS) — helping meet specific portfolio needs and informing investment strategy. The disclosure was designed in response to investors’ increased interest in allocating capital to support affordable housing and provide access to credit for underserved borrowers and markets. Since the first version of the Mission Index was introduced two years ago, it has evolved based on investor feedback and is now the foundation of the Enterprises’ Single-Family Social Bond programs. We’ve also introduced a new disclosure supplement, the Mission Index Criteria Attribution (MICA), to further support investors in their impact analysis.

    Our Mission Through Disclosures

    The Enterprises support liquidity, stability, and affordability in the U.S. housing finance market. We work especially hard to ensure that includes support for mortgage credit to moderate- and low-income families and underserved areas. The Mission Index helps to highlight these activities. In summary, it’s a disclosure designed as two aggregate measures per MBS pool. The first measure helps investors understand how many loans in a pool finance a property to borrowers meeting certain income, borrower, and property dimensions. The second measure illustrates how many of those loans meet multiple mission criteria. These measures are aggregated by design to minimize disruption to Uniform Mortgage-Backed Securities (UMBS) in the “to be announced” (TBA) market and to deliver transparency to investors while protecting borrower privacy.

    Market Reception

    The Mission Index has been well received by both impact-focused investors and by value-focused investors. That is because, in addition to providing more information on the social characteristics of the borrowers underlying a pool, many of the criteria that comprise the Mission Index are historically correlated with slower prepayments, or call protection. As a result, both impact and non-impact investors alike have expressed interest in these new disclosures. Some of this interest has been expressed through pay-ups, meaning investors find value in MBS pools with high Mission Index scores and are willing to pay more for them than the typical TBA security. This demand, and the pay-ups received by lenders who originate these loans, are designed to help incentivize more mission-oriented mortgage financing.

    Single-Family Social Bonds

    Our Single-Family Social Bonds, or MBS, launched in the first half of this year, are designed to satisfy international standards and are bolstered by independent second party opinions. And the Mission Index is the foundation of the program. MBS pools with 100% of their loans having at least one mission-focused attribute and an average of at least two of the three high-level attributes (i.e., income, borrower, or property) per loan now receive a Social Bond label.  When the Enterprises pool whole loans purchased from lenders that meet the criteria for our Single-Family Social Bond labels into an MBS and sell that MBS with a pay-up, the programs are designed to support more mission lending. Specifically, the Enterprises plan to allocate incremental funds they receive from pay-ups for Single-Family Social MBS to incent lenders to prioritize these types of loans, while any surplus revenue are expected to support mission lending programs, such as our Duty to Serve plans.

    Bolstering Impact Analysis

    Recently, Fannie Mae published a MICA disclosure supplement and Freddie Mac expects to release its MICA soon. These supplements are designed with the impact-focused investor in mind and seek to help respond to more detailed questions about how an investor’s portfolio supports mission lending.

    The MICA provides cohort-level information about all MBS pools issued between January 2010 and February 2024 for Fannie Mae and between January 2010 and May 2024 for Freddie Mac under the original Mission Index Version 1. The MICA tells investors how common each attribute is among borrowers in securities issued by the Enterprises, with cohorts divided by issuance quarter, pool type, and the average number of mission-focused attributes for loans in the pool. This can provide valuable information about the types of borrowers receiving loans ultimately pooled into Enterprise MBS.

    What’s Next?

    Market feedback is key to the success of our programs. We’re excited to hear from investors on v1.0 of the MICA as we prepare to launch v1.1 in 2025, which will cover bonds issued under v1.1 of the Mission Index.

    We’re also focused on creating our first impact reports for our Single-Family Social Bond programs, helping investors to see the effectiveness of the money they are putting to work to support mission-oriented lending.

    To further aid in analysis, later this quarter we plan to update the Social Indicator disclosure for Fannie Megas, Freddie Giants, and Fannie and Freddie Supers to be disclosed as Yes if all the underlying security collateral have a Social Indicator of Yes.

    We look forward to continuing to use this disclosure to work with lenders and investors to serve the needs of households across the country.

    Learn More

    Dive into the Mission Index and new MICA Resources – including Fannie Mae’s excel-based tool where investors can load their portfolios to receive an estimate of impact.

    Review our Single-Family Social Bonds, including eligibility, disclosures, and expected impact reporting.

    The information contained in this blog post and in the documents that may be accessed through this blog post is provided for your general information only and speaks only as of the date of those documents. Numerous assumptions were used in preparing the information, which may or may not be reflected herein. As such, no assurance can be given as to the information’s accuracy, appropriateness or completeness in any particular context. The information could be out of date and no longer accurate. Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae undertake no obligation, and disclaim any duty, to update any of the information in those documents.  Opinions contained in this blog post are those of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae as of the date of this blog post and are subject to change without notice.

    This is not an offer to buy or sell any Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae securities. Offers for any given security are made only through applicable offering circulars and related supplements, which incorporate the issuer’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC); all other reports the issuer files with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange Act), excluding any information “furnished” to the SEC on Form 8-K; and all documents that the issuer files with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c) or 14 of the Exchange Act, excluding any information “furnished” to the SEC on Form 8-K.

    The financial and other information contained in this blog post is not incorporated by reference into, or a part of, any offering documents of any security. The information does not constitute a sufficient basis for making a decision with respect to the purchase and sale of any security and is directed only at, and is intended for distribution to and use by, qualified persons or entities in jurisdictions where such distribution and use is permitted and would not be contrary to law or regulation. All information regarding or relating to Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae securities is qualified in its entirety by the relevant offering circular and any related supplements. You should review the relevant offering circular and any related supplements before making a decision with respect to the purchase or sale of any security. In addition, before purchasing any security, please consult your legal and financial advisors for information about and analysis of the security, its risks and its suitability as an investment in your particular circumstances.

    These materials may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond Freddie Mac’s control. Freddie Mac’s management’s expectations for the company’s future necessarily involve a number of assumptions, judgments and estimates and various factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations expressed in these and other forward-looking statements. These assumptions, judgments, estimates and factors are discussed in Freddie Mac’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and its reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K, which are available on the Investor Relations page of the company’s website at http://www.freddiemac.com/investors and the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Freddie Mac undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements it makes to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this blog post.

    This discussion contains a number of expectations, beliefs and forward-looking statements, including statements regarding Fannie Mae’s business plans, strategies and activities and the impact of those plans, strategies and activities. These expectations, beliefs and other forward-looking statements are based on Fannie Mae’s current assumptions regarding numerous factors and are subject to change. Actual outcomes may differ materially from those reflected in these forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, those described in “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” in Fannie Mae’s most recently filed Form 10-K and Form 10-Q. Any forward-looking statements made by Fannie Mae speak only as of the date on which they were made. Fannie Mae is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, subsequent events, or otherwise.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: The ESAs finalise rules to facilitate access to financial and sustainability information on the ESAP

    Source: European Banking Authority

    The three European Supervisory Authorities (EBA, EIOPA and ESMA – the ESAs) today published the Final Report on the draft implementing technical standards (ITS) regarding certain tasks of the collection bodies and functionalities of the European Single Access Point (ESAP).

    The ESAP is foreseen in Level 1 legislation to be a two-tier system, where information is first submitted by entities to the “collection bodies” – Officially Appointed Mechanisms (OAMs), offices and agencies of the EU, national authorities, among others – and then made available by the collection bodies to the ESAP. These ITS are the first milestone for the successful establishment of a fully operational ESAP.

    The requirements are designed to enable future users to be able to access and use financial and sustainability information effectively and effortlessly in a centralised ESAP platform.

    Collection bodies

    The ITS on the tasks of collection bodies specify detailed requirements for collection bodies, such as by when and in what format information should be made available to the ESAP, what type of validation checks should be performed on the information submitted by entities and what metadata should be included.

    Functionalities of the ESAP

    The ITS on the functionalities of the ESAP specify the requirements for making information easily accessible to users. These requirements define, among other things, how reporting entities should be categorised by industry and size, which identifier should be used, what types of information should be made available on the ESAP, and the characteristics of the public Application Programming Interface (API) available to data users.

    Background and next steps

    The set up of the ESAP will be a key contribution to establishing the Savings and Investments Union. The ESAP will facilitate access to publicly available information relevant to financial services, capital markets and sustainability.

    The ESAP is expected to start collecting information in July 2026, while the publication of the information will start no later than July 2027.

    The Final Report has been sent to the European Commission for adoption.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Reed – “Britain back on global stage to support nature’s recovery”

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 2

    • UK to kickstart new international efforts to protect and restore nature at COP16 biodiversity conference with a renewed drive to implement the Global Biodiversity Framework

    A wildflower meadow on the Pembrokeshire coast

    • Government sets out the path to protecting 30% of land by 2030
    • Special Representative for Nature Ruth Davis will drive coordinated international action on nature

    The UK has today (29 October) taken a leading role at the UN Biodiversity COP16 conference announcing an ambitious international package to protect and restore nature across the world.  

    At the conference, Environment Secretary Steve Reed set out new criteria to meet England’s 30by30 targets.

     Achieving 30 percent of land and sea protected for nature is a key pillar of global efforts to halt the decline of nature and create new areas for wildlife with countries around the world signed up to the target. The Government has worked with farming groups and nature organisations to finalise the criteria for land that can count toward 30by30 in England and accelerate progress toward the target.  

     To ensure the final criteria are applied consistently across land in England, the update also confirms that Sites of Special Scientific Interest will only count towards 30by30 if they are in favourable or recovering condition. This revises existing estimates to show that approximately 7.1% of England’s land currently counts towards the target.  

    Environment Secretary Steve Reed, speaking at a meeting of the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People at COP16, said:        

    “Nature around the world is declining at an alarming rate.        

    “At COP16, we have put Britain back on the global stage to support nature’s recovery.  

    “The UK is calling for high ambition and momentum to reach our international targets to protect and restore the natural world.” 

    Analysis is now being undertaken to identify further land which may already be meeting the criteria and to understand where action and support is needed to accelerate progress. A 30by30 pilot is planned for later this year, and the government will work with partners to develop a 30by30 delivery strategy in 2025.  

    The announcement today follows the appointment of Ruth Davis as the very first Special Representative for Nature, alongside Rachel Kyte’s appointment as Special Representative for Climate, a role abolished by the previous government.   

    Tony Juniper, Chair of Natural England, said:   

     “It is vital that we halt and reverse the decline of Nature. Our planet’s web of life is fundamental for sustaining our health, wealth and security and further declines in the health of the natural world will undermine growth and well-being, threaten water and food supplies and diminish our resilience in the face of a fast-changing climate.    

     “We must take urgent action to restore nature in England at every level, and the criteria for delivering 30by30 is a welcome step which translates the ambitions of our international commitments into meaningful action on the ground.”  

    “As COP16 nature talks progress in Colombia, the UK is showing real rigour in its approach to 30by30.  

    “Now high-standard accounting must be matched by high-speed delivery. There’s a credible risk that Governments spend years adding up what should “count” toward 30by30 without actually improving the world.  

    “We welcome the new commitment to a 30by30 delivery strategy, which must begin without delay. Faster farming reform, spatial planning for nature’s recovery, and large-scale public and private investment will be the hallmarks of an effective delivery plan to meet the target. “

    Supercharging nature protection at home and abroad is a key part of the government’s mission to tackle the twin threats of climate change and biodiversity loss which threatens growth, our future prosperity and wellbeing.  

    This builds on swift action the government has taken to recover nature at home. This includes committing to a rapid review of the Environmental Improvement Plan and new delivery plans to meet targets on air quality, the circular economy and water.

    In the first few months of government, we have introduced legislation to put failing water companies under special measures to curb pollution in our waterways and introduced a Flood Resilience Taskforce to speed up the building of flood defences and implement nature-based solutions like planting trees to protect communities against the impact of extreme weather.

    Updates to this page

    Published 29 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: “Entrepreneurs need meta-competencies that help them adapt to new conditions”

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –

    Photo: TASS

    Entrepreneurs lack the knowledge to run a successful business, and they are willing to pay for their education. It is important that they have access to verified content. At the same time, only those programs that adapt content to new challenges while maintaining high educational standards, as is the case at HSE, can be in demand.

    A press conference was held at TASS, where the results of the PRIM sociological study (“Entrepreneurs of Russia: Research Monitoring”) for the first nine months of 2024 were presented.

    This study is regularly conducted by the Russian Ministry of Economic Development together with Sber and the Public Opinion Foundation. The quarterly survey involves 600 active entrepreneurs, 600 self-employed individuals and 2,200 other respondents. The emphasis is on the entrepreneur’s personality – their moods and expectations, problems and needs. This time, the experts focused on business education.

    According to Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation Tatyana Ilyushnikova, the business education market in Russia is growing and is expected to exceed 100 billion rubles by the end of the year. Almost 80% of the entrepreneurs surveyed note that they lack the knowledge to run a business, and 40% of those surveyed have undergone training in the last three years or are currently undergoing it. This is not about classical education in the generally accepted sense, but about short training formats.

    They are offered, in particular, within the framework of the flagship project “My Business”, created under the auspices of the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia and successfully competing with market platforms. “It is important for entrepreneurs to receive information from verified sources, which is a guarantee of its quality,” emphasized Tatyana Ilyushnikova.

    The study showed that entrepreneurs prefer flexible training formats — webinars with the possibility of feedback, text materials that can be studied at a convenient pace, video lectures. “Although educational tracks are provided free of charge in the state support system, 75% of entrepreneurs are ready to pay more than 20 thousand rubles a month for the necessary knowledge,” the deputy minister said.

    Deputy Chairman of the Board of Sberbank Anatoly Popov added that young entrepreneurs are more actively seeking knowledge than their experienced colleagues. In-person training is also in demand, as it expands the opportunities for networking. The survey showed that 71% of those who completed the training noted improvements in their business.

    Alexander Lind, CEO of the educational platform Lerna.ru, emphasized that small businesses are focused on quickly learning specific skills, while large businesses invest in long-term educational programs in fundamental areas.

    Natalia Ababiy, Managing Partner of the online platform Distant Global, said that meetings with real entrepreneurs who talk about their experiences are of particular interest.

    Roman Levkovich, Director of Public Relations at the National Research University Higher School of Economics, emphasized the importance of the brand of providers of training programs for entrepreneurs, be it the My Business project or leading universities. He also confirmed the growing need for business education using the example of the National Research University Higher School of Economics: “One of the leaders in business education in Russia — Higher School of Business “We see double-digit growth every year, and over the last year the number of MBA students has grown by 50%.”

    According to Roman Levkovich, entrepreneurs need not only solid knowledge, but also meta-competences that help them adapt to new conditions. They also need to master modern digital technologies. “Only those programs that adapt content to new challenges while maintaining high educational standards can be in demand,” says the HSE Public Relations Director.

    One of these challenges is the introduction of AI and other digital tools: HSE has continuing education programs that teach entrepreneurs how to use them. Another challenge is the changing geopolitical situation associated with the turn to the East, and the university is implementing programs that help build successful businesses with China and other Eastern countries. A number of continuing education programs are being created together with businesses, including a joint intensive course “Scaler» for top managers of small technology companies.

    According to Roman Levkovich, HSE is seriously investing in the development of DPO. Created marketplace — a catalog of DPO programs, where you can not only choose a program, but also pay for it, and after training receive a certificate (which, however, does not exclude the possibility of a personal visit to the university for a consultation on choosing a program). From November 14 to 16, the HSE will host the 1st Moscow DPO Forum “Challenges of digitalization and new university solutions“.

    The HSE Public Relations Director noted that it is the university that determines the professions and business areas that will be in demand in the future. He also described the university as an environment of like-minded people, where leaders of the entrepreneurial community can communicate with their peers — not just exchange experiences, but also adopt competencies from colleagues with whom they study. “When you come to an advanced university, you can be sure that you will be taught advanced skills that will be in demand in the near and distant future,” concluded Roman Levkovich.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Supporting communities in tackling homelessness

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    News release

    Ottawa, Ontario, October 29, 2024 — Today, Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities announced the Homelessness Reduction Innovation Fund, a $50 million fund to help communities develop innovative projects to prevent homelessness and accelerate new homes for people currently experiencing homelessness.

    The funding is part of the federal government’s $1 billion commitment to Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy, that was announced in Budget 2024.

    The Minister announced this initiative at the annual Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness Conference (CAEH) in Ottawa. Through CAEH, funds will be distributed to communities to help channel investments into targeted, data-informed projects that reduce homelessness. The CAEH will offer one-on-one guidance and coaching to communities on their initiatives and share successful approaches with other communities across the country.

    Further acknowledging the importance of partnerships in combatting homelessness, Minister Fraser also announced that the CAEH will receive more than $1.3 million in funding from the Veteran Homelessness Program to support their work with 26 communities working to end homelessness for Veterans through their Built for Zero Canada program. To date, three Built for Zero Canada communities have achieved functional zero Veteran homelessness: London, Ontario, St. Thomas-Elgin, Ontario and Fort McMurray, Alberta.

    Eliminating chronic homelessness will take a coordinated effort. The federal government is committed to helping our most vulnerable and to working with communities and partners, including Veteran organizations, Indigenous partners, and housing providers to maintain safe, stable and affordable housing and eliminate chronic homelessness across the country.

    Quotes

    “Everyone deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. We will continue working with our partners, like CAEH, to tackle homelessness and provide Canadians in need with the support they deserve.”

    The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

    “Millions of Canadians have served and sacrificed for our country – one of these service members experiencing homelessness is one too many. That’s why we’re partnering with organizations across the country to bring an end to Veteran homelessness. The project led by the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness project will meet communities where they are, build partnerships and share tried-and-tested practices to be there for Canada’s Veterans.”

    The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence

    “As homelessness surges across the country, communities are struggling to respond. This fund is designed to support the kind of data-driven, rapid cycle continuous improvement that’s at the heart of all successful efforts to reduce homelessness. Taken together with new housing investments, we’re hopeful we can begin to reverse the lethal trajectory of homelessness in Canada.”

    Tim Richter, President & CEO, Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness

    Quick facts

    • Since 2015, the federal government has helped almost two million Canadians find a place to call home.

    • Reaching Home is a community-based program aimed at preventing and reducing homelessness across Canada. This program provides funding and support to urban, Indigenous, territorial and rural, and remote communities to help them address their local homelessness needs. 

    • This fund is intended to foster sector partnerships and expertise to help communities in the development and use of data to accelerate efforts to reduce homelessness.

    • The Government of Canada and the Government of Quebec will collaborate on strategies to implement this funding in Quebec. 

    • In September 2024, the federal government announced $250 million to address the urgent issue of encampments and unsheltered homelessness. The government is working with provincial, territorial, and municipal leaders to deliver this funding in communities across the country. 

    • In 2024, the federal government announced $79.1 million over five years for the Veteran Homelessness Program, to fund local organizations that provide rent supplements, wraparound supports for veterans, and to provide funding for projects that build capacity to serve veterans experiencing homelessness.

    • The Veteran Homelessness Program funds projects under two streams:

      • Services and Supports Stream – $72.9 million for rent supplements and wrap-around services such as counselling and treatment for substance use.
      • Capacity Building Stream – $6.2 million for research and improved data collection; increase capacity of organizations to deliver tailored programs.

    • CAEH’s Sustain, Strengthen, & Expand Support for Communities to End Veteran Homelessness project will work with 26 participating communities using coaching, tools, and peer learning to support local real-time comprehensive data on Veteran homelessness, partnerships between homelessness response systems and Veteran-serving organizations, and local system improvements towards reducing and ending Veteran homelessness using a data driven approach.

    • Through Reaching Home, the Government of Canada is already investing $4 billion over 9 years to address homelessness. This includes investments announced in Budget 2021 and Budget 2022.

    • In December 2023, the federal government provided an additional $100 million to Reaching Home in order to help communities respond to unsheltered homelessness during the winter season.

    Associated links

    Contacts

    For more information (media only), please contact:

    Sofia Ouslis
    Press Secretary
    Office of the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
    Sofia.Ouslis@infc.gc.ca

    Media Relations
    Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada
    613-960-9251
    Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
    Email: media-medias@infc.gc.ca
    Follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn
    Web: Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 2024 United States Mint Limited Edition Silver Proof Set™ Available on Nov. 5

    Source: United States Mint

    WASHINGTON – The 2024 United States Mint (Mint) Limited Edition Silver Proof Set will be available for purchase beginning on November 5 at noon EST.  Mintage is limited to 50,000 sets, with orders limited to one set per household for the first 24 hours of sales.

    This set features eight proof coins struck in 99.9 percent fine silver at the Mint’s facility in San Francisco.  Each coin is encapsulated and placed in a beautifully designed package.  The Mint’s certificate of authenticity accompanies each set which contains the following coins:

    • One American Eagle One Ounce Silver Proof Coin
    • Five American Women Quarters™ Program coins with reverse designs honoring Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray, the Hon. Patsy Takemoto Mink, Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, Celia Cruz, and Zitkala-Ša.
    • One Kennedy half dollar
    • One Roosevelt dime 

    The 2024 United States Mint Limited Edition Silver Proof Set is priced at $255.  To set up a “Remind Me” alert, visit catalog.usmint.gov/limited-edition-2024-silver-proof-set-24RC.html/ (product code 24RC).

    This recurring set is now available for purchase through the Mint’s Subscription Program.  Structured like a magazine subscription, this program affords customers the convenience of signing up to receive automatic shipments of products in a series.  The shipments continue until the subscription is cancelled.  For details, visit https://catalog.usmint.gov/shop/subscriptions/.

    The 2024 United States Mint Limited Edition Silver Proof Set will also be available for purchase at the Mint’s sales centers at the Philadelphia Mint, 151 N. Independence Mall East, Philadelphia, PA 19106 (on 5th Street between Arch Street and Race Street); at the Denver Mint, 320 West Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO 80204 (on Cherokee Street, between West Colfax Avenue and West 14th Avenue); and from the Mint Headquarters Coin Store in Washington, D.C., 801 9th St. NW, Washington, DC 20220.

    This product is part of the Authorized Bulk Purchase Program (ABPP) and is available to Authorized Bulk (AB) members.  Products listed in this program are eligible for early release, carry an AB suffix to the product code, and carry a premium.  Early release products are not eligible for discounts.

    Please use the Mint’s catalog site at catalog.usmint.gov as your primary source of the most current information on product and service status or call 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468).  Hearing and speech impaired customers with TTY equipment may order by calling 1-888-321-MINT (6468).

    About the United States Mint

    Congress created the United States Mint in 1792, and the Mint became part of the Department of the Treasury in 1873.  As the Nation’s sole manufacturer of legal tender coinage, the Mint is responsible for producing circulating coinage for the Nation to conduct its trade and commerce.  The Mint also produces numismatic products, including proof, uncirculated, and commemorative coins; Congressional Gold Medals; silver and bronze medals; and silver and gold bullion coins.  Its numismatic programs are self-sustaining and operate at no cost to taxpayers.  

    Note:  To ensure that all members of the public have fair and equal access to United States Mint products, the United States Mint will not accept and will not honor orders placed prior to the official on-sale date of November 5, 2024, at noon EST.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Three Defendants Convicted in Murder-for-Hire Conspiracy Trial

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

    MOBILE, AL – Following a three-week trial, a federal jury convicted three defendants of a murder-for-hire conspiracy, murder for hire, a carjacking conspiracy, interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle, evidence tampering, and witness tampering.

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, John Fitzgerald McCarroll, Jr., 30, Darrius Dwayne Rowser, 20, and Lyteria Isheeia Hollis, 30, each of Mobile, were part of a plot to murder an individual as retribution for a prior killing. Jurors reviewed evidence that McCarroll, aided by Hollis and others, directed payments to hired shooters, including Rowser and others, to carry out the intended murder. The evidence included text messages, social media evidence, financial records, surveillance videos, firearm and toolmark evidence, DNA evidence, and cell tower data, among other things.

    As part of the murder plot, evidence showed that McCarroll’s hired shooters attempted but failed to kill the intended target during multiple nightclub shootings. In September 2022, Reginald Dennis Alan Fluker, who pleaded guilty to the conspiracy, opened fire in the Bank Nightlife club using a gun provided to him by McCarroll. Fluker shot the wrong person, who later died of his injuries. In November 2022, Rowser used a machinegun provided to him by McCarroll to shoot at the intended target inside the Paparazzi Lounge. Rowser likewise missed the target and instead hit four victims, one of whom was rendered paralyzed.

    The evidence also showed that as part of the conspiracy, Rowser and others, at McCarroll’s direction, traveled to Mississippi to steal cars for use in surveilling the target of the plot. In September 2022, during an attempted carjacking in D’Iberville, Mississippi, Rowser shot and killed a victim. As part of that murder, Rowser and a coconspirator traveled back to Mobile and burned the stolen car they were using during the attempted carjacking.

    The evidence further showed that in December 2022, at McCarroll’s direction, Rowser and other coconspirators traveled to the Walmart on I-65 Service Road South in Mobile to purchase a GPS tracker for the target’s vehicle. During that trip, Rowser and a coconspirator opened fire into the self-checkout area of the store, striking two victims.

    Finally, evidence showed that following the arrests of McCarroll, Fluker, and other members of the conspiracy, the defendants attempted to tamper with evidence and a witness. Specifically, McCarroll directed Hollis to hide a weapon that he had previously purchased for Fluker because of Fluker’s participation in the murder plot. Federal agents seized that gun from Hollis’s house. Additionally, the jury convicted McCarroll of attempting to tamper with Fluker’s testimony by having him sign a sham affidavit, which was filed in state court to earn McCarroll a bond from jail.

    U.S. District Judge Terry F. Moorer scheduled sentencing for March 6, 2025. Under federal law, each defendant faces a mandatory life sentence.

    U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Mobile Police Department, and the D’Iberville, Mississippi Police Department are investigating the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Roller, Gaillard Ladd, and Kasee Heisterhagen are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Midwest Manufacturer To Pay Over $3.6 Million To Resolve Allegations It Received Paycheck Protection Program Loan In Violation Of Employee Size Rules

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

              GRAND RAPIDS – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Exo-s US LLC, a manufacturing company with plants and offices located in Coldwater, Michigan, and Howe, Indiana, has agreed to pay $3,628,819.44 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by falsely obtaining a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan for which it was ineligible.

              “The Paycheck Protection Program provided important relief to eligible small businesses and other entities,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “Today’s resolution demonstrates our continued commitment to work with the Small Business Administration to protect taxpayer dollars and investigate allegations of fraud on critical government programs.”

              When Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act in 2020 and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) in 2021, it enacted a program to provide emergency financial assistance to individuals and businesses suffering economic and public health effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. ARPA continued the CARES Act’s PPP loan program administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA), creating a second-draw PPP loan that allowed eligible businesses that had previously received a PPP loan to apply for a second loan.  One of the eligibility requirements for receiving this second-draw loan was that the applicant had no more than 300 employees, including employees of affiliated entities.

              In March 2021, Exo-s US LLC obtained a second-draw PPP loan, which the SBA subsequently forgave. The United States alleges that the company was not eligible for this loan because Exo-s US LLC and its affiliates had more than 300 employees.

              “The favorable settlement in this case is the product of enhanced efforts by federal agencies such as the Small Business Administration working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, other federal law enforcement agencies, as well as financial institutions or private individuals who uncover misconduct to recover the lending program’s damages,” said Therese Meers, SBA General Counsel.

              The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act against Exo-s US LLC. Under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of the settlement or judgment. Here, the United States elected to take over the case, investigated it, and negotiated the settlement. The qui tam case is captioned U.S. ex rel. GNGH2 Inc. v. Exo-s US LLC, No. 1:24-cv-264 (W.D. Mich.).

              The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan and the SBA. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Hull investigated this case.

              The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Amid the West’s wavering aid to Ukraine, North Korea backs Russia in a mutually beneficial move

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By James Horncastle, Assistant Professor and Edward and Emily McWhinney Professor in International Relations, Simon Fraser University

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently accused North Korea of plans to send 10,000 soldiers to fight for Russia in Ukraine. South Korean intelligence later gave credence to Zelenskyy’s assertion, as the country’s legislators noted that North Korea has already dispatched 3,000 soldiers to Russia.

    North Korea lending a helping hand to Russia is nothing new. The country has already provided Russia with significant munitions to supplement its depleted reserves. North Korean soldiers, in fact, are likely already fighting in the conflict.

    North Korea’s alleged decision to send additional soldiers to fight demonstrates the inadequacy of the West’s actions. Wavering western commitment to Ukraine has not only made the situation in Ukraine worse, it’s compromised global security too.



    Read more:
    Kim Jong-un sends North Korean troops to fight in Ukraine – here’s what this means for the war

    Immediate benefits for Russia

    Each side in the Russia-Ukraine conflict is seeking any and all assistance from its allies. In Russia’s case, western efforts to make Russian President Vladimir Putin a pariah caused him to turn to another pariah in the international order: North Korea.

    Russian-North Korean diplomatic relations are longstanding. With the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Boris Yeltsin initially favoured relations with South Korea over its northern counterpart. But since Putin assumed power in 2000, Russia has strengthened its ties with North Korea, albeit with a few notable exceptions.

    Russia has always been the dominant partner in the relationship. North Korea, however, has leveraged Russia’s diplomatic isolation for its own benefit. This explains why it’s providing soldiers to Russia on a scale that helps address the most immediate Russian concern: lessening the burden on its population.

    Russia has employed mass mobilization in the conflict, but it has sought to push this burden onto the ethnic minorities and rural population of the country.

    The protracted nature of the conflict, however, means that it’s increasingly difficult for Russia to disproportionately mobilize these elements. The more Putin’s government relies on ethnic Russians from the larger cities of the country, the more it puts his position under strain. Ten thousand North Korean soldiers will help alleviate this issue in the short term.



    Read more:
    Russians flee the draft as the reality of the war in Ukraine hits home

    Benefits for North Korea

    Despite North Korea’s diplomatic connections with Russia, it remains one of the world’s most isolated countries.

    North Korea’s closest relationship is with China, which is both a blessing and a curse — a blessing because China, for its own reasons, frequently provides diplomatic cover for North Korean actions; a curse because it puts North Korea at risk of becoming dependent on China, even though their objectives do not often align.

    North Korea’s deepening alliance with Russia is reminiscent of its strategy during the Cold War, when it maintained strong relations with both the Soviet Union and China to prevent itself from being subsumed by either.

    North Korea will also receive substantive benefits from its alliance with Russia. An endemic problem for North Korea is food shortages. During the 1990s, as many as three million people died from starvation.

    There is evidence North Korea faced famine conditions as recently as 2023. Russia’s delivery of almost 500 goats to North Korea in what’s been dubbed a “goats for guns” exchange addresses a pressing need for North Koreans.

    North Korean participation in the Russia-Ukraine war also gives the country opportunities to access Russian military training. While western analysts have criticized Russia’s military performance in terms of training and doctrine, it still represents a substantial upgrade for North Korea. Furthermore, there is no substitute for the live experience North Korean soldiers will amass on the battlefield.



    Read more:
    3 ways Russia has shown military ‘incompetence’ during its invasion of Ukraine

    Perhaps more worrisome is potential Russian aid for North Korea’s missile program. As one of the world’s nuclear powers, North Korea has lagged in its ability to deploy nuclear weapons, with its ballistic missile tests frequently ending in malfunctions, disasters or both.

    While Russian missile technology has its own limitations, it is still significantly beyond North Korea’s current capabilities.

    Given the pressure that North Korea has been able to exert with its missile tests alone in recent years, any improvement in its capabilities has the potential to destabilize the Asia-Pacific region.

    Global consequences for western inaction

    Russia’s need for North Korean support will undoubtedly improve North Korea’s military technology, as well as provide its army with valuable military experience.

    North Korea has in the past — and will likely in the future — stoke instability in the Asia-Pacific region. The gains North Korea has made from its partnership with Russia will only increase its ability to pose a threat in the region.

    It should not be a shocking development that North Korea provided Russia with soldiers. Instead, what should be controversial is how the West’s wavering support of Ukraine and delays in providing meaningful aid have resulted in a protracted conflict that gave Russia the time to muster resources, like North Korean soldiers, for the conflict.

    Western states, in so doing, not only put Ukraine in a disadvantageous position, but weakened their own security as well.

    James Horncastle 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. Amid the West’s wavering aid to Ukraine, North Korea backs Russia in a mutually beneficial move – https://theconversation.com/amid-the-wests-wavering-aid-to-ukraine-north-korea-backs-russia-in-a-mutually-beneficial-move-241970

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: HAProxy Fusion 1.3 Showcases the Power of a High-Performance Control Plane for App Delivery and Security

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEWTON, Mass., Oct. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — HAProxy Technologies, the company behind HAProxy One, the world’s fastest application delivery and security platform, and HAProxy, the most widely used software load balancer, today announced the launch of HAProxy Fusion 1.3. HAProxy Fusion is the scalable control plane that provides full-lifecycle management, monitoring, and automation of HAProxy Enterprise deployments, and is central to the HAProxy One platform. The latest release of HAProxy Fusion significantly advances platform performance, observability, and ease of use.

    HAProxy Fusion combines a high-performance control plane with a modern GUI and API (with 100% coverage), enterprise administration, a comprehensive observability suite, and infrastructure integrations including AWS, Kubernetes, Consul, and Prometheus. Threat intelligence from HAProxy Edge, enhanced by machine learning, powers the next-gen security layers in HAProxy Fusion and HAProxy Enterprise. Today, with the release of version 1.3, HAProxy Fusion adds:

    • High-performance service discovery with near-instant configuration generation, which simplifies the automation of Kubernetes networking and application routing at scale.
    • Customizable monitoring dashboards, which enable high-level observability and the ability to drill down into granular metrics and events.
    • A pre-built security dashboard, which provides a unified view of bot management and web application firewall (WAF) data and any actions taken, empowering teams with the intelligence needed for threat response.
    • Collaborative configuration editing with efficient and low-latency updates, which makes it easier and faster for multi-team organizations to update rules safely.

    Kubernetes service discovery, first introduced in version 1.2, is made more powerful in HAProxy Fusion 1.3. New filters allow teams to pull targeted Kubernetes services into HAProxy Fusion, while performance has increased to enable dynamic generation of over 100,000 lines of HAProxy configuration in seconds. This automatic process provides everything that application teams need to route external traffic into Kubernetes clusters, including external IP addresses, routing rules, load balancing, and security layers (DDoS protection, bot management, API security, global rate limiting, and WAF). 

    “With massive Kubernetes deployments, updating traffic routing rules can be a slow process when backends are added, changed, or removed,” said Andjelko Iharos, Director of Engineering, HAProxy Technologies. “But with the power of HAProxy Fusion 1.3, the configuration is updated almost immediately. This allows businesses to be more agile and drastically simplify Kubernetes networking at scale.” 

    HAProxy was recently named a Leader in 20 G2 Fall 2024 Grid® Reports across multiple G2 categories including API Management, Container Networking, DDoS Protection, DevOps, Load Balancing, Web Application Firewall (WAF), and Web Security. HAProxy’s success in the reports was due to an exceptional Satisfaction Score of 99 and the reliability, flexibility, and performance of the platform.

    “When we say that our platform – HAProxy One – is the world’s fastest application delivery and security platform, we look at the impact of every layer,” said Dujko Radovnikovic, CEO, HAProxy Technologies. “We are known for the low latency and high throughput of HAProxy’s data plane, but high performance in the control plane is just as important – as HAProxy Fusion proves, with real benefits for large-scale customers. Very few vendors can offer the top-to-bottom performance that’s fundamental to our culture and available in the HAProxy One platform.”

    See HAProxy Technologies at KubeCon NA 2024
    HAProxy Technologies will attend KubeCon + CloudNativeCon, North America 2024 in Salt Lake City, Utah to showcase its platform and latest Kubernetes capabilities. Visit the company’s booth on November 12-15 or schedule a meeting with us.

    Join the Global HAProxy Community at HAProxyConf 2025
    HAProxyConf 2025 will take the stage in San Francisco, California, from June 3 to 5, 2025. The 2+ days flagship conference for the highly active HAProxy community will be held in the Mission Bay Conference Center, hosting expert speakers from across the open source and enterprise landscape.

    HAProxy users, customers, and developers are invited to submit a talk and become a part of HAProxyConf 2025’s exciting lineup.

    Registration for HAProxyConf 2025 is coming soon.

    About HAProxy One
    HAProxy One is the world’s fastest application delivery and security platform, from the company behind HAProxy. It combines the performance, reliability, and flexibility of our open source core (HAProxy) with the capabilities of a unified enterprise platform. Its next-generation security layers are powered by threat intelligence from HAProxy Edge, enhanced by machine learning and optimized with real-world operational feedback. The platform consists of a flexible data plane (HAProxy Enterprise and HAProxy ALOHA), a scalable control plane (HAProxy Fusion), and a secure edge network (HAProxy Edge), which together enable multi-cloud load balancing as a service (LBaaS), web app and API protection, API/AI gateways, Kubernetes networking, application delivery network (ADN), and end-to-end observability.

    About HAProxy Technologies
    HAProxy Technologies is the company behind HAProxy One, the world’s fastest application delivery and security platform, and HAProxy, the most widely used software load balancer. Leading companies and cloud providers trust HAProxy to simplify, scale, and secure modern applications, APIs, and AI services in any environment. HAProxy Technologies is headquartered in Newton, MA, with multiple offices across the US and Europe. Learn more at HAProxy.com.

    For questions or comments, please contact press@haproxy.com.

    Media Contact:
    Deb Randel, VP Marketing
    HAProxy Technologies, LLC
    press@haproxy.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6eb842b3-7b37-4866-821c-faa14b2fac79

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Israeli UNRWA ban will deepen Palestinian humanitarian catastrophe

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –

    The Israeli Knesset’s (parliament’s) ban on UNRWA’s operations voted on 28 October represents a devastating blow to Palestinian life. It will further undermine people’s survival prospects in Gaza and heavily impact communities in the West Bank.

    Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) denounces this legislation, which represents an inhumane ban on vital humanitarian aid. The Knesset’s vote is propelling Palestinians towards an even deeper humanitarian crisis. It is imperative that the world acts to safeguard Palestinians’ fundamental rights. Immediate international intervention is needed to pressure Israel to allow unhindered access to humanitarian aid, implement a ceasefire, and bring to an end the current campaign of destruction in Gaza.

    “UNRWA is a lifeline for Palestinians,” says Christopher Lockyear, MSF Secretary General. “If implemented, the ban on UNRWA’s activities would have catastrophic implications on the dire humanitarian situation of Palestinians living in Gaza, as well as in the West Bank, now and for generations to come. We strongly condemn this decision, which is the culmination of a long-running campaign against the organisation.”

    The newly voted legislation will make it almost impossible for UNRWA to work in Gaza or the West Bank; coordination with Israeli authorities will be impeded and entrance permits to either of the occupied territories will be denied, and essentially blocking delivery of UNRWA aid into and within Gaza. UNRWA handles almost all the distribution of UN aid coming into the strip.

    UNRWA is the largest health provider in Gaza, with over half of Gazans relying on UNWRA for essential healthcare services, including for the treatment of chronic diseases, maternal and child heath, and vaccinations. Each day UNWRA’s health teams provide over 15,000 consultations in the Gaza Strip. The ban of its activities threatens to create a vast gap in services within an already largely destroyed health system in Gaza – directly and indirectly endangering the lives of Palestinians. Without urgent action, more Gazans could die from preventable diseases and displacement-related conditions.

    The impact of UNRWA’s ban will extend beyond Gaza. Critical services, including refugee camp management, health services, education, and social programmes across the West Bank are also at risk of destabilisation under this legislation. This legislation sets a grave precedent for other conflict situations where governments may wish to eliminate an inconvenient United Nations presence.

    For months, international leaders and organisations, including MSF, have raised warnings about the disastrous potential of these newly adopted bills. Yet Israel has chosen to press forward with measures that will undermine vital assistance, endangering Palestinian lives and intensifying the collective punishment they face.

    This vote adds to the endless physical and bureaucratic impediments imposed by Israel to limit the amount of aid reaching Gaza, and blatantly contradicts Israel’s claims that it is facilitating humanitarian assistance into the Strip.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI: Walter Graham Announces Enhanced Asset Allocation Management

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    QINGDAO, China, Jan. 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In response to the growing challenges of global economic and geopolitical instability, Walter Graham is proud to announce that it has revisited the best ways to manage asset allocation in today’s uncertain market environment. As volatility continues to shape financial markets, Walter Graham provides clients with precise wealth and investment strategies designed to plot a course through unpredictable conditions and safeguard long-term financial goals.

    Walter Graham has introduced several key initiatives to enhance asset allocation management in investment portfolios. These include:

    1. Dynamic Portfolio Adjustments: Implementing real-time monitoring and adjustments to portfolios to respond swiftly to market changes and minimize risks.
    2. Geographic Diversification: Expanding investment opportunities across various regions to reduce exposure to any single market’s volatility.
    3. Sustainable Investing: Incorporating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria into investment decisions to promote long-term sustainability and ethical practices.
    4. Advanced Risk Management: Utilizing cutting-edge risk assessment tools and techniques to identify and mitigate potential threats to client portfolios.

    “With rising inflation, shifting geopolitical landscapes, and fluctuating market trends, investors face heightened uncertainty in their decision-making. Walter Graham’s approach emphasizes the importance of diversified portfolios that are flexible enough to adapt to these changing circumstances and always ensure clients are well-positioned to handle market turbulence,” said Thomas Allen, VP of Private Clients at Walter Graham.

    “Our focus is on providing a comprehensive, adaptable approach to asset allocation that can respond to market fluctuations while supporting long-term financial success. By staying true to our core values of Personal, Partnership, and Performance, we help our clients navigate even the most volatile times confidently.”

    Walter Graham’s latest insights highlight the importance of balancing asset classes, reassessing geographic exposure, and incorporating sustainable investing practices, through which the firm aims to provide clients with the certainty needed to make well-informed decisions in an uncertain world.

    This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice or a recommendation for any specific investment strategy.

    About Walter Graham:

    Walter Graham is committed to offering personalized, thoughtful advice to every client. By staying true to its Personal, Partnership, and Performance core values, the firm provides the clarity and confidence needed to make informed financial decisions. Whether working with individuals seeking to strengthen their financial future or families planning for the next generation, Walter Graham is dedicated to supporting clients with tailored strategies designed to meet their unique goals.

    For more information, please contact:
    Natalie Chen, Chief Brand Officer
    n.chen@waltergraham.com
    +86 532 8898 5024
    https://www.waltergraham.com/

    For more information about Walter Graham’s Global Wealth Management strategies, please visit https://www.waltergraham.com/global-wealth-management or contact info@waltergraham.com.

    Disclaimer: This content is provided by the Walter Graham. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the content provider. The information shared in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment, financial, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended that you conduct thorough research and consult with a professional financial advisor before making any investment or trading decisions. Please conduct your own research and invest at your own risk.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/aa03142e-d244-4e2b-a46f-6ec7235d0989

    The MIL Network –