NewzIntel.com

Category: Business

  • MIL-OSI: ProCap Ushers in the Grand Opening of a New Business Lounge in China Hong Kong SAR

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Hong Kong, Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — On 9th October 2024, ProCap leaders from China, Japan, The Philippines, and South Korea graced the grand opening of ProCap’s new Hong Kong business lounge. The business lounge is located right in the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui district and marks a significant milestone in ProCap’s business expansion plans as the company is preparing to launch a strategic entry in the Mainland Chinese markets. The grand opening is a testament of ProCap’s commitment to serving our valued partners and business associates in the Pearl River Delta Region. Additionally, the new business lounge is a symbol of the company’s confidence in Hong Kong and the Greater China Region as the company continues to regard it as a key strategic focus market for expansion.

    Last Wednesday’s grand opening was the culmination of the hard work and dedication by ProCap’s management team and Hong Kong’s leaders as the company intends to capitalise on our presence in Hong Kong as a launching pad to realise the huge business potential in the Pearl River Delta Region. Specifically, the Pearl River Delta Economic Zone as a trading and logistics hub presents itself with unique opportunities for ProCap as the company seeks to make inroads into a bustling regional hub for trade and commerce. Additionally, the Pearl River Delta Economic Zone is also where the different economies of China, Hong Kong, and Macau converge, which gives rise to a dynamic and robust business environment; this is crucial and in-line with ProCap’s business ethos as the company seeks to grow continuously amidst an ever-changing fast paced regional backdrop.  

    At ProCap, we believe in constantly expanding our presence and network to better serve our growing customer base. With the new business lounge sited in Hong Kong, it will provide ProCap with access to a dynamic and vibrant region of Southern China while providing greater connectivity to our valued customers in the region. Additionally, the presence of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge will provide ProCap with further expansion and growth opportunities beyond Hong Kong. The company is aware of recent developments in China’s fiscal and monetary stimulus push and looks optimistically towards a better outlook for the domestic economic situation.

    ProCap would like to express our immense gratitude to all leaders and associates for attending the grand opening ceremony in Hong Kong. The company would also like to express our heartfelt thanks to our valued clients for their continuous support and trust placed in ProCap as your preferred partners for capital protection. ProCap will continue to grow as a company as we strive to be the world’s leading capital protection services provider by providing our clients with world class protection coverage.

    About Procap International

    ProCap International a technology-empowered, innovative financial services provider, is the pioneer of Capital Protection. The company is built on the basis of risk management in prediction games; and selected trading instruments on exchanges.

    By following the ProCap Formula, clients can get to enjoy stable returns daily by making the correct predictions; without the need to worry about making the wrong predictions and incurring any financial losses.

    As the industry transits through consolidation and technological disruptions, ProCap’s avant-garde operating model is poised to provide the most competitive and cost-effective insurance products tailored to our clients’ ever evolving needs. The amalgamation of ProCap, Clients and Gaming Operators seamlessly is an industry first with the company having tremendous growth potential to carve out a niche for itself with this revolutionary business model.

    Web: http://www.procap.insure

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: NVIDIA Contributes Blackwell Platform Design to Open Hardware Ecosystem, Accelerating AI Infrastructure Innovation

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —  OCP Global Summit—To drive the development of open, efficient and scalable data center technologies, NVIDIA today announced that it has contributed foundational elements of its NVIDIA Blackwell accelerated computing platform design to the Open Compute Project (OCP) and broadened NVIDIA Spectrum-X™ support for OCP standards.

    At this year’s OCP Global Summit, NVIDIA will be sharing key portions of the NVIDIA GB200 NVL72 system electro-mechanical design with the OCP community — including the rack architecture, compute and switch tray mechanicals, liquid-cooling and thermal environment specifications, and NVIDIA NVLink™ cable cartridge volumetrics — to support higher compute density and networking bandwidth.

    NVIDIA has already made several official contributions to OCP across multiple hardware generations, including its NVIDIA HGX™ H100 baseboard design specification, to help provide the ecosystem with a wider choice of offerings from the world’s computer makers and expand the adoption of AI.

    In addition, expanded NVIDIA Spectrum-X Ethernet networking platform alignment with OCP Community-developed specifications enables companies to unlock the performance potential of AI factories deploying OCP-recognized equipment while preserving their investments and maintaining software consistency.

    “Building on a decade of collaboration with OCP, NVIDIA is working alongside industry leaders to shape specifications and designs that can be widely adopted across the entire data center,” said Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA. “By advancing open standards, we’re helping organizations worldwide take advantage of the full potential of accelerated computing and create the AI factories of the future.”

    Accelerated Computing Platform for the Next Industrial Revolution
    NVIDIA’s accelerated computing platform was designed to power a new era of AI.

    GB200 NVL72 is based on the NVIDIA MGX™ modular architecture, which enables computer makers to quickly and cost-effectively build a vast array of data center infrastructure designs.

    The liquid-cooled system connects 36 NVIDIA Grace™ CPUs and 72 NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs in a rack-scale design. With a 72-GPU NVIDIA NVLink domain, it acts as a single, massive GPU and delivers 30x faster real-time trillion-parameter large language model inference than the NVIDIA H100 Tensor Core GPU.

    The NVIDIA Spectrum-X Ethernet networking platform, which now includes the next-generation NVIDIA ConnectX-8 SuperNIC™, supports OCP’s Switch Abstraction Interface (SAI) and Software for Open Networking in the Cloud (SONiC) standards. This allows customers to use Spectrum-X’s adaptive routing and telemetry-based congestion control to accelerate Ethernet performance for scale-out AI infrastructure.

    ConnectX-8 SuperNICs feature accelerated networking at speeds of up to 800Gb/s and programmable packet processing engines optimized for massive-scale AI workloads. ConnectX-8 SuperNICs for OCP 3.0 will be available next year, equipping organizations to build highly flexible networks.

    Critical Infrastructure for Data Centers
    As the world transitions from general-purpose to accelerated and AI computing, data center infrastructure is becoming increasingly complex. To simplify the development process, NVIDIA is working closely with 40+ global electronics makers that provide key components to create AI factories.

    Additionally, a broad array of partners are innovating and building on top of the Blackwell platform, including Meta, which plans to contribute its Catalina AI rack architecture based on GB200 NVL72 to OCP. This provides computer makers with flexible options to build high compute density systems and meet the growing performance and energy efficiency needs of data centers.

    “NVIDIA has been a significant contributor to open computing standards for years, including their high-performance computing platform that has been the foundation of our Grand Teton server for the past two years,” said Yee Jiun Song, vice president of engineering at Meta. “As we progress to meet the increasing computational demands of large-scale artificial intelligence, NVIDIA’s latest contributions in rack design and modular architecture will help speed up the development and implementation of AI infrastructure across the industry.”

    Learn more about NVIDIA’s contributions to the Open Compute Project at the 2024 OCP Global Summit, taking place at the San Jose Convention Center from Oct. 15-17.

    About NVIDIA
    NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) is the world leader in accelerated computing.

    For further information, contact:
    Kristin Uchiyama
    NVIDIA Corporation
    +1-408-313-0448
    kuchiyama@nvidia.com

    Certain statements in this press release including, but not limited to, statements as to: the benefits, impact, and performance of NVIDIA’s products, services, and technologies, including NVIDIA Blackwell accelerated computing platform, NVIDIA Spectrum-X Ethernet networking platform, NVIDIA GB200 NVL72, NVIDIA NVLink, NVIDIA HGX H100, NVIDIA MGX modular architecture, NVIDIA Grace CPUs, NVIDIA H100 Tensor Core GPU, and NVIDIA ConnectX-8 SuperNIC; NVIDIA contributing foundational elements of its NVIDIA Blackwell accelerated computing platform design to the Open Compute Project (OCP) and broaden NVIDIA Spectrum-X support for OCP standards; the benefits and impact of NVIDIA’s collaboration with third parties; third parties using or adopting our products or technologies; NVIDIA working alongside industry leaders to shape specifications and designs that can be widely adopted across the entire data center; by advancing open standards, NVIDIA helping organizations worldwide take advantage of the full potential of accelerated computing and create the AI factories of the future; as the world transitioning from general-purpose to accelerated and AI computing, data center infrastructure becoming increasingly complex; and the timing and themes of the 2024 OCP Global Summit are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause results to be materially different than expectations. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include: global economic conditions; our reliance on third parties to manufacture, assemble, package and test our products; the impact of technological development and competition; development of new products and technologies or enhancements to our existing product and technologies; market acceptance of our products or our partners’ products; design, manufacturing or software defects; changes in consumer preferences or demands; changes in industry standards and interfaces; unexpected loss of performance of our products or technologies when integrated into systems; as well as other factors detailed from time to time in the most recent reports NVIDIA files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, including, but not limited to, its annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Copies of reports filed with the SEC are posted on the company’s website and are available from NVIDIA without charge. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and speak only as of the date hereof, and, except as required by law, NVIDIA disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances.

    Many of the products and features described herein remain in various stages and will be offered on a when-and-if-available basis. The statements above are not intended to be, and should not be interpreted as a commitment, promise, or legal obligation, and the development, release, and timing of any features or functionalities described for our products is subject to change and remains at the sole discretion of NVIDIA. NVIDIA will have no liability for failure to deliver or delay in the delivery of any of the products, features or functions set forth herein.

    © 2024 NVIDIA Corporation. All rights reserved. NVIDIA, the NVIDIA logo, ConnectX, NVIDIA Grace, NVIDIA HGX, NVIDIA MGX, NVIDIA Spectrum-X, NVLink and SuperNIC are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of NVIDIA Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. Other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated. Features, pricing, availability and specifications are subject to change without notice.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a75e1ec2-a3aa-4833-a1fc-65420becb4cf

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Villers-Cotterêts Declaration (7 Oct. 2024)

    Source: Republic of France in English
    The Republic of France has issued the following statement:

    1. We, the Heads of State and Government of countries which have a shared relationship with the French language, meeting on 4 and 5 October 2024 for the 19th Francophonie Summit in the French Republic;

    2. Welcome the opening of this Summit at the Cité Internationale de la Langue Française, where in 1539 the Ordinance of Villers-Cotterêts was signed, for the first time making French the official language of France;

    3. Reiterate our commitment to the French language, a language of teaching and communication, development, transmission and sharing, of creation and opportunities, a language of negotiation in international forums, for our populations, particularly young people, in accordance with the Declaration on the French Language in the Linguistic Diversity of Francophonie, adopted at the 18th Summit in Djerba;

    4. Aware of the multi-faceted crises affecting the Francophone space, including armed conflict, situations of occupation and settlement, as well as terrorist acts, support the International Organisation of la Francophonie in its role as a key forum for dialogue, which is essential to strengthen the shared values of humanity, i.e. peace, sustainable development, democracy, the rule of law and human rights, pursuant to the Charter of the Francophonie, the Bamako Declaration (2000) and the Saint-Boniface Declaration (2006) and in compliance with the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Charter of the United Nations, international law and the United Nations Security Council resolutions;

    5. Condemn violations of international law and international humanitarian law;

    6. Remain committed to addressing the challenges of climate change, working to protect the environment, and supporting the work of the OIF through the 2023-2030 Francophonie Strategic Framework in order to encourage Francophone synergies and consultations prior to multilateral events on these issues, and highlight that the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) must urgently enter into force and call for swift progress in negotiating the International Treaty against Plastic Pollution with a view to the UN Ocean Conference (UNOC 2025); remain committed to the challenge of climate finance and recall that no State or government should have to choose between fighting poverty and preserving the planet; and in that regard, welcome the organization by France of the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact in Paris in 2023;

    7. We therefore recall that climate financing is the cornerstone in the global effort to fight climate change and highlight, in that regard, the importance of the Loss and Damage Fund established at COP27 in Sharm-el-Sheikh, recognizing its role in addressing the negative impact of climate change; Welcome the support provided by the OIF through the training of climate negotiators, in achieving this objective;

    8. Recall our commitment to the role of civil society and non-governmental organizations, and support an active Conference of International Non-Governmental Organisations for the benefit of populations and Francophone institutions.

    9. Renew our commitment to promoting gender equality, in accordance with the Francophonie Strategy for the Promotion of Gender Equality, the Rights and the Empowerment of Women and Girls, adopted at the 17th Francophonie Summit in Yerevan;

    10. Believe that the future of our young people is a priority which requires us to continually work with them to foster peace and sustainable development in our societies, in line with the Francophonie values of solidarity, tolerance, justice and inclusiveness;

    11. Reiterate that the promotion of the diversity of languages and cultures, as well as the diversity of expression and creation of cultural and educational content within the framework of a pluralistic, knowledge-based society are Francophonie’s most precious assets;

    12. Urge all OIF countries as well as institutions and agencies of the Charter of the Francophonie to promote the spirit of solidarity and respect shown both at the 2023 Francophone Games in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Olympic and Paralympic Games in France in the summer of 2024, with a view to upcoming international sporting events, particularly the Francophone Games, to be hosted by Armenia in 2027;

    13. Building on the legacy of Francophonie institutions, including the 36th session of the Francophonie Ministerial Conference (FMC) in Monaco and the 18th Francophonie Summit in Djerba, having highlighted the importance of innovation in promoting science and the digital economy in order to reduce the digital divide, ensure high-quality education and better access to employment;

    Have decided to make the theme of the 19th Summit: “Create, innovate and do business in French”

    I. The French language, serving an education, training and employability continuum

    Considering that the French language remains the bedrock of our Organisation, while respecting linguistic diversity and promoting multilingualism;

    14. Reiterate our commitment to the teaching of French, and teaching in French, and welcome the key role of educators and school communities. Commit to working alongside the OIF to develop linguistic training and teaching, in order to significantly increase the number of trained educators to ensure high-quality education for all; to this end, encourage sharing of expertise and best practices among training institution networks, the implementation of shared programmes and mechanisms, including greater online resources for educators and educational officials in the Francophone space;

    15. Support the adaptation of academic, professional and technical Francophone training, including through work-based learning, apprenticeships and mentoring in French, in order to promote a spirit of creation, innovation and entrepreneurship for young people, in line with the necessary skills to make them employable and boost the economic development of OIF member countries;

    16. Highlight the importance of facilitating exchanges among young Francophones in training, volunteers, academics, researchers and entrepreneurs, particularly within the framework of cross-cutting mobility projects in the Francophone space; encourage, to that end, multi-stakeholder cooperation involving OIF member countries and Charter of the Francophonie institutions and agencies, with economic and civil society stakeholders;

    17. To better tackle pandemics, call for greater French-language training in the area of healthcare through digital tools and in this regard, welcome national and multilateral efforts, particularly within the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, which this year will open its continuous training centre, the WHO Academy in Lyon, and the cooperation agreement signed between the OIF and WHO in 2021;

    18. Encourage Charter of the Francophonie institutions and agencies to strengthen their work for cultural diversity, in line with the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, adopted by UNESCO in 2005, thus enabling greater visibility among the huge diversity of French-language productions;

    19. Recall that Francophone cultural and linguistic diversity is very important within the digital space, and encourage Francophonie to actively continue its contribution to global digital governance, in accordance with the 2022-2026 Strategy for Digital Francophonie, particularly the process linked to the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in Geneva, the Global Digital Compact in New York and the 2025 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit in Paris.

    20. Recognize the urgent need to take action in the digital environment and urge Charter of the Francophonie institutions and agencies to implement solutions for accessibility, linguistic diversity and the discoverability of French-language cultural, educational and scientific content and French-language training of generative artificial intelligence; welcome the scale of digitized collections of Francophone documentation centres and new cooperation opportunities created by the Cité Internationale de la Langue Française in Villers-Cotterêts in these areas;

    21. Call for high-level dialogue and advocacy to continue in the area of culture, particularly with regard to protecting and promoting the diversity of cultural and linguistic expressions;

    22. Reiterate our commitment to the multilateral media outlet, TV5, and commit to promote and distribute it; in this regard, we will take every appropriate measure, using all distribution methods, to ensure our populations have the widest possible access to TV5’s channels and the TV5MondePlus digital platform, which showcase the cultural diversity of the Francophone space;

    23. Recalling UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, welcome the fact that advances in artificial intelligence can contribute to the fields of translation and interpreting, including within international bodies; and call for these technological developments to fully respect the essential role of French-speaking translators and interpreters;

    24. Highlight the determination of OIF member countries to maintain a reliable, free and safe information space, in accordance with the resolution on good governance adopted at the 44th Ministerial Conference of La Francophonie (CMF) in Yaoundé; declare our full support for the Information and Democracy Partnership and the need to promote media and information education; in this regard, we welcome the 1st High-Level Forum of members of the Network of French-speaking media regulatory authorities (REFRAM) and the major digital space platforms, the adoption of the Abidjan Declaration of 24 April 2024 aimed at strengthening dialogue between regulators and major online platforms in Africa and the Francophone space, as well as the signing of the voluntary commitment protocol, and in this regard, welcome the Villers-Cotterêts Call for an honest, trustworthy digital space in the Francophone world, launched at the opening of this 19th Francophonie Summit;

    II. Create, innovate and do business in the Francophone space

    Considering that success in Francophonie can only be achieved once the French language has been acquired;

    25. Highlight the essential role of compliance with the fundamental freedoms of creation, innovation and enterprise, in accordance with the Bamako Declaration;

    26. Together call on all Charter of the Francophonie institutions and agencies to encourage freedom of creation, in all the diversity of artistic expression, invite them to develop their work for cultural and creative industries, particularly through the development and improvement of vocational training in these sectors, which offer a wide range of employment opportunities;

    27. Recall that the future of artists and creators from all cultural sectors requires working in compliance with copyright and neighbouring rights, and we are committed to strengthening these legal and administrative mechanisms for the regular collection and payment of royalties, and to support the international distribution of works, including within the digital space;

    28. Welcome the work of the OIF for Francophone authors and express our commitment to the Francophonie literary awards, including the Prix des cinq continents, as well as the programmes to support broadcasting productions through the Images de la Francophonie and the Francophonie TV5Mondeplus Funds;

    29. Invite Charter of the Francophonie institutions and agencies in collaboration with civil society, to discuss the importance of Francophonie in sport, highlighting the social and economic opportunities it offers for young Francophones, as well as its positive impact on health and well-being;

    30. Welcome the meaningful results of the Francophonie economic and trade missions, as part of the Economic Strategy for La Francophonie 2020-2025, and reiterate our support for the involvement of women and young entrepreneurs in these missions; support partnerships with Francophone economic networks to back companies as they develop internationally;

    31. Encourage initiatives to promote Francophone entrepreneurship, particularly in sectors linked to climate change and sustainable tourism, and call for enhanced relations between companies and academic, vocational and technical training institutions, as well as Francophone standardization and intellectual property networks;

    32. Also encourage concerted Francophone efforts to facilitate access for OIF member countries and local authorities to climate and biodiversity finance, in support of innovation and entrepreneurship;

    33. Place special emphasis on actions to promote the empowerment of women and urge all OIF member countries to support the strengthening of the La Francophonie Avec Elles Fund, with regard to its importance for direct beneficiaries and positive impacts for local communities;

    34. Aware of the economic and cultural cooperation opportunities opened up by the French language, we are committed to promoting mobility via Francophonie programmes and movement within our space for nationals of our countries, entrepreneurs, artists and graduates who, for professional purposes, are required to travel regularly, in compliance with national visa legislation and regulations;

    35. Take note, in this regard, that the Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie (APF), in its declaration on citizen mobility in the Francophone space, recommends implementing measures to consolidate Francophonie as a more integrated space and to make better use of its social and economic potential;

    36. In the interests of all these commitments, encourage the institutions and agencies of the Charter of the Francophonie to continue diversifying their sources of finance, in addition to voluntary contributions from OIF member countries, in order to strengthen the implementation of their programmes, including through public-private partnerships and development banks.

    Source: Website of the Presidency of the Republic

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump’s musical interlude is a twist on the long tradition of candidates enlisting musicians’ support, from Al Jolson to Springsteen to Swift

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Matt Harris, Associate Professor of Political Science, Park University

    Donald Trump dances to the song “Y.M.C.A.” with South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, during a town hall event in Pennsylvania on Oct. 14, 2024. Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images

    Donald Trump made liberal use of music in what’s being called a “surreal” or “bizarre” town hall meeting on Oct. 14, 2024, in Oaks, Pennsylvania. After two attendees at the event had medical problems, Trump declared he would stop answering audience questions, and music would be played instead.

    Then, as the Washington Post reported, “For 39 minutes, Trump swayed, bopped — sometimes stopping to speak — as he turned the event into almost a living-room listening session of his favorite songs from his self-curated rally playlist.”

    The music included “YMCA” by the Village People and Sinead O’Connor’s “Nothing Compares 2 U.”

    The use of music in campaigns is a long tradition, although this may be the first time a playlist has substituted for talking points. While Trump is bopping at campaign events, both Democrats and Republicans anticipate what looks to be another coin flip election that could come down to a few hundred thousand votes in a handful of states. Every voter matters – no matter how you reach them. With that in mind, Democrats are communicating not just on matters of policy, but matters of pop culture.

    Specifically, Democrats are embracing football and Taylor Swift. The Harris-Walz campaign trotted out endorsements from 15 Pro Football Hall of Famers and sells Swiftie-style friendship bracelets on its campaign website, among other overtures. Swift herself has endorsed Kamala Harris.

    The Harris-Walz campaign is definitely stressing Walz’s football coach background.
    Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

    Tim Walz cited his experience as a football coach and mentioned Swift in the vice presidential debate.

    Democratic challenger and former NFLer Colin Allred, who is running to unseat GOP Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, has put out ads in which he appears moments from taking to the gridiron.

    But how much does pop culture campaigning, if you will, matter? Does trying to link a campaign to a sport, or a culture, or a style of music actually influence elections? Looking to five different election campaigns in the past can give a sense of the effects, or lack thereof, of such campaigning.

    An ad for Texas Democrat Rep. Colin Allred, a former NFL player, stresses his football past in his bid to unseat GOP Sen. Ted Cruz.

    Reagan and Springsteen

    Any discussion of the embrace of pop culture by candidates should probably start with Ronald Reagan’s Bruce Springsteen era.

    Reagan, attempting to reach beyond his base, viewed 1984 as a vibes-based election and cited Springsteen as an exemplar of the hope his campaign wished to inspire. Springsteen rejected a request from Reagan’s camp to use his often-misunderstood “Born in the U.S.A.” on the campaign trail. The song’s lyrics describe a down-on-his-luck Vietnam War veteran, but if you don’t listen carefully to the lyrics, the song can sound like a celebration of veterans and being American.

    While Reagan went on to win 49 states in that year’s election, perhaps the biggest long-term impact of his courtship of Springsteen fans was to turn Springsteen from a relatively apolitical performer to a staunch supporter of the Democratic Party.

    In this way, Springsteen’s transformation mirrors that of Taylor Swift, with Marsha Blackburn, the Tennessee Republican senator, serving as her Reagan – the person who pushed the performer into the political arena after years on the sidelines.

    Springsteen and Kerry

    Springsteen’s foray into politics eventually led him to back Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry in 2004 with a series of concerts called the “Vote for Change” tour.

    Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry greets the crowd with musician Bruce Springsteen while campaigning in Columbus, Ohio, on Oct. 28, 2004.
    AP Photo/Laura Rauch

    Kerry, meanwhile, undertook his own efforts at cultural turf claiming. His attempts to demonstrate his bona fides as a sports-loving everyman went awry at times, when he flubbed the name of “Lambeau Field,” home of Wisconsin’s Green Bay Packers, and referred to a nonexistent Boston Red Sox player, “Manny Ortez.” The ill-fated sports references arguably didn’t hurt his campaign – he won Wisconsin and Massachusetts – but he was ridiculed for a photo-op hunting trip late in the campaign and went on to lose rural Midwestern voters decisively – as well as the election.

    Kerry’s dabbling with hunting imagery was perhaps an attempt to dull President George W. Bush’s advantage in perceived strength of leadership, which was in part burnished by his adoption of a cowboy persona.

    Harding, Jolson and the Cubs

    While Reagan’s attempt to woo 1980s rock fans is one of the best-known attempts to campaign on a mantra of popular culture, it was far from the first.

    Sen. Warren Harding’s 1920 front porch campaign for president was given a jolt of enthusiasm by a visit from singer and actor Al Jolson. Harding was also visited in his hometown, Marion, Ohio, by other actors and celebrities and the Chicago Cubs.

    Harding’s strategy probably better serves as a template for things to come than a decisive move in the 1920 election: His victory with over 60% of the popular vote suggests no celebrity could have saved Democrat James Cox.

    Bill Clinton and MTV

    As the Harris-Walz campaign tries to draw votes from Swift’s young fans, parallels can be drawn to Democratic Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton’s attempts to embrace youth culture in the 1992 presidential election. Among other appearances, Clinton took questions from young voters on MTV and played saxophone on “The Arsenio Hall Show.”

    While the direct effect of Clinton’s forays into youth culture is difficult to measure, he did surge among young voters relative to Democrat Michael Dukakis’ 1988 presidential campaign.

    In his 1992 campaign, Bill Clinton went on MTV to answer young people’s questions, which included ‘If you had it to do over again, would you inhale?’

    Ford and football

    Any discussion of politicians embracing football culture would be incomplete without a discussion of the American president best at playing football, Gerald Ford, the vice president who became the nation’s 38th president in 1974, when Richard Nixon resigned during the Watergate scandal.

    Ford played center on two national championship teams at the University of Michigan. While not using his football player background to the same level as former football coach Walz did at the Democratic National Convention, Ford did make use of his football credentials on the stump during the 1976 presidential campaign and was joined on the campaign trail by Alabama football coach Paul “Bear” Bryant.

    But the votes of football fans were apparently not enough to keep Ford in the White House for long. He lost the 1976 election to Democrat Jimmy Carter.

    Potentially fruitful pickups

    Will the Harris-Walz strategy of recruiting voters through pop culture be successful? Swift’s fans are largely young, suburban women, and NFL fans are strewn across the political spectrum. There are potentially fruitful pickups in both camps. The candidates certainly think it matters: Walz said he “took football back” from Republicans, a claim disputed by Trump.

    Stressing pop culture credentials can also provide attention to a campaign, regardless of persuasion. Clinton’s pop culture appearances generated coverage beyond the appearances themselves and were cost-effective for a campaign short on funds.

    This type of pop culture campaigning generates coverage, then, even if voters aren’t moved by thinking a candidate shares their love of football or pop music.

    This story has been updated to include the Trump town hall in Oaks, Pennsylvania, on Oct. 14.

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

    – ref. Trump’s musical interlude is a twist on the long tradition of candidates enlisting musicians’ support, from Al Jolson to Springsteen to Swift – https://theconversation.com/trumps-musical-interlude-is-a-twist-on-the-long-tradition-of-candidates-enlisting-musicians-support-from-al-jolson-to-springsteen-to-swift-239381

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: StableMetal Disrupts Traditional Metals Market with Innovative Tokenized Assets

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — StableMetal, a trailblazing project on the ToneOpenNetwork, is ecstatic to announce the forthcoming launch of its innovative tokenized metals – AuS, CuS, and FeS – scheduled for early 2025. These tokens, backed by real-world physical assets, aim to revolutionize the commodities market by introducing stability, security, and accessibility to metal trading.

    Reshaping the Metals Trading Landscape with Tokenization

    Driven by its mission to transform the metal trading landscape, StableMetal has constructed a robust platform that leverages derivative tokens secured by NFTs. This ingenious approach empowers investors to participate in the tokenized metals market while ensuring transparency and liquidity. The STBL token, the lifeblood of the platform’s ecosystem, has already gained significant traction with a market cap of $6 million, while the combined capitalization of its upcoming tokenized metals approaches a staggering $2 billion.

    Expanding Reach: Upcoming Listings on Major Cryptocurrency Exchanges

    StableMetal is actively engaged in discussions with leading cryptocurrency exchanges, including MEXC, BitMart, and Bitvavo, for listing the STBL token. Acquiring the necessary funds will be the final step before securing these listings, which will play a pivotal role in enabling global access to STBL and its tokenized metal derivatives.

    The project has further ambitions to secure additional listings on prominent exchanges like Gate.io, KuCoin, and Bybit, solidifying its market presence and bolstering liquidity. “Our primary objective is to make STBL and our tokenized metals universally available, granting investors effortless access to metal-backed assets,” stated the StableMetal Team.

    Rewarding Early Supporters and Bolstering Growth

    To commemorate the launch of these novel tokenized metals, StableMetal is planning a unique airdrop catering to early investors and active users. This campaign will shower participants with exclusive tokens, presenting an exciting opportunity to become an integral part of the StableMetal community.

    Furthermore, StableMetal is gearing up for a funding round, prioritizing a decentralized token distribution strategy. “We are thrilled to welcome new investors who share our vision of building a transparent and highly liquid metal trading ecosystem,” commented Semion Bozbei, CEO of StableMetal.

    Seamless Integration and Continued Expansion

    While STBL currently lacks EVM compatibility, StableMetal is diligently developing bridge solutions to achieve cross-chain compatibility. This initiative will ultimately enhance accessibility and facilitate integration with other platforms.

    Join the StableMetal Revolution

    StableMetal extends an open invitation to metal enthusiasts, investors, and traders to join its journey as it redefines the future of metal trading. To learn more, explore their website or connect with them on their social media platforms.

    About Us

    Stable Metal is a ground-breaking platform that combines blockchain technology with real-world precious metals. Built on top of vast metal reserves, the platform’s native token, STBL, ushers in a new era of market stability for cryptocurrencies. Combining the stability of precious metals with the potential of blockchain technology on the TON network, this novel strategy gives investors a chance to partake in the conventional and digital asset markets at the same time.

    Contact

    Company: StableMetal
    Name: Semion Bozbei, CEO
    Email: mail@stablemetal.com
    Website: https://stablemetal.com/

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

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/867ad240-f580-42ea-94b6-4a62c03be312

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: McConnell Statement On The Passing Of Tom Donohue

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Mitch McConnell
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) released the following statement today on the passing of former U.S. Chamber of Commerce CEO Tom Donohue:
    “Elaine and I were saddened to learn of the passing of our good friend, Tom Donohue. Around Washington and across the country, so many people will remember Tom as exactly that: a friend. And no doubt, that is what Tom would prefer.
    “But those fortunate to call Tom a friend also knew a visionary leader, an extraordinary advocate, and a tireless builder of coalitions whose transformative work left the U.S. Chamber, the broader business community, and our entire nation stronger.
    “Job creators and entrepreneurs across America could hope for no greater partner than Tom. He was a seasoned navigator of the halls of power and a clearinghouse for professional connections who turned the Chamber into an unmatched champion of American enterprise.
    “Today, our prayers are with the entire Donohue family as they mourn an incredible life.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Bybit’s World Series of Trading (WSOT) 2024 with DEX Integration is Now Open for Registration, Offering Over 10 Million USDT in Rewards

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WSOT 2024 partners with the world’s top crypto ecosystem players, offering traders access to exclusive content, Web3 engagement, and a chance for incredible prizes.

    DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bybit, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, has officially opened registration for traders worldwide for the World Series of Trading (WSOT) 2024.

    Now in its fifth year, WSOT 2024 is bigger, better, more connected and more innovative than ever and offers participants the opportunity to compete for the largest prize pool to date: more than 10,000,000 USDT.

    Don’t Miss Out on a 100,000 USDT Airdrop Special Event on 9 Oct 2024!

    In a one-day special event, Bybit is offering participants the chance to win a share of 100,000 USDT in an airdrop. Simply register and join a squad to boost your rewards. With multiple subaccounts allowed, participants can significantly increase their chances of claiming more prizes!

    Partnering with the World’s Top Crypto Ecosystem Players

    For WSOT 2024, Bybit has established strong collaborations with Web3 builders, top crypto platforms, and Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs). This year, participants will stay connected to the crypto world like never before, gaining access to exclusive livestreams, special events, and in-depth content.

    These partnerships will offer real-time insight and expert opinions, allowing traders to stay ahead of the curve in decentralized finance (DeFi) and Web3 projects. Participants will have access to the minds behind the top projects in the space, learn from the most innovative crypto industry leaders, and network with a like-minded community.

    WSOT Goes DeFi with DEX integration

    This year’s edition introduces the integration of centralized exchanges (CEXs) and, for the first time, decentralized exchanges (DEXs) trading, connecting participants from both backgrounds. This feature also introduces the WSOT DEX Wave, a decentralized side campaign integrating Web3 voting and rewards.

    Through Bybit’s DEX Wave, traders can engage with over 1 million decentralized tokens, including memecoins, GameFi tokens, and DeFi projects, earning points by completing tasks and voting for their favorite Web3 projects. With a daily prize pool of 200,000 MNT for top scorers, the DEX Wave allows participants to compete for a whopping 1,000,000 MNT prize pool.

    Fair Competition with Tiered Structure

    WSOT 2024 is committed to fairness and features a tiered competition structure that divides traders into lightweight, middleweight, and heavyweight categories based on their account balance. This system balances the scales for newcomers and seasoned traders alike, ensuring a fair competition that prioritizes skill and methodology above all else.

    For the first time in the series, WSOT 2024 introduces the ROI Reset Card, enabling participants to reset their profit and loss (PnL) metrics if they fall into negative values. This new feature gives traders a fresh start and a confidence boost as they persevere through the competition’s highs and lows.

    For even more fairness and an edge in the competition, Bybit’s Unified Trading Account (UTA) will allow participants to use one main account and up to four subaccounts. This multi-account flexibility enables traders to maximize their shot at winning in both the Squad Showdown and individual rankings.

    More Than 10M USDT Prize Pool and Luxury Rewards

    WSOT 2024 will feature the biggest prize pool to date: a staggering 10 million USDT in rewards and luxury prizes, including a yacht, Rolex watches, and world trips.

    Whether part of a Squad or flying solo, traders can get a chance to claim their share of these incredible prize offerings.

    WSOT 2024 Registration

    To participate in WSOT 2024, traders must hold at least 500 USDT in their participating Bybit account. Registration is now open for WSOT 2024, with different windows for Squad Leaders and general participants:

    • Squad Leader registration is open until Oct. 9, 10 am UTC,
    • Standard registration runs until Oct. 10, 10 am UTC, with late registration available until Oct. 20, 10 am UTC.

    The competition kicks off on Oct. 10, 10 am UTC, and runs through until Oct. 31, 10 am UTC.

    About Bybit

    Bybit is the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, serving over 53 million users. Established in 2018, Bybit provides a professional platform where crypto investors and traders can find an ultra-fast matching engine, 24/7 customer service, and multilingual community support. Bybit is a proud partner of Formula One’s reigning Constructors’ and Drivers’ champions: the Oracle Red Bull Racing team.

    To learn more about Bybit, please visit https://www.bybit.com.

    Contact:
    Belinda Goh
    Belinda.goh@bybit.com

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

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7e5a7b1d-27c1-485b-96c8-a2d21a0fb51f

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Canada to announce support to grow southern Ontario’s manufacturing sector

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Media advisory

    October 15, 2024 – Welland, Ontario

    On behalf of the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), Vance Badawey, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport and Member of Parliament for Niagara Centre along with Chris Bittle, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities and Member of Parliament for St. Catharines, will make an important announcement in support of southern Ontario’s manufacturing sector.

    A media availability will follow the in-person announcement.

    Please note that details are subject to change. All times are local.

    Date:  Wednesday, October 16, 2024

    Time: 9:00 a.m.

    Location:       
     Niagara College Canada – Welland Campus
    Walker Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre Labs
    100 Niagara College Boulevard
    Welland, Ontario
    L3C 7L3

    R.S.V.P: Please submit your request to fdo.rsvp-rsvp.fdo@feddevontario.gc.ca.

    Contacts

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

    FedDev Ontario
    Media Relations
    media@feddevontario.gc.ca

    Stay connected

    FedDev-Ontario.Canada.ca

    Follow us on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook

    Subscribe to FedDev Ontario’s Southern Ontario Spotlight newsletter, featuring economic development news and updates from across the region.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Canada continues progress on greening operations and supporting clean electricity infrastructure

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    October 15, 2024 Calgary, Alberta Public Services and Procurement Canada The Government of Canada is taking further action on its Greening Government Strategy commitment to use 100 per cent clean electricity in federal buildings. This strategy supports green energy projects and reduces greenhouse gas emissions, leading Canada’s continued energy transition.

    October 15, 2024          Calgary, Alberta                         Public Services and Procurement Canada

    The Government of Canada is taking further action on its Greening Government Strategy commitment to use 100 per cent clean electricity in federal buildings. This strategy supports green energy projects and reduces greenhouse gas emissions, leading Canada’s continued energy transition.

    Today, on behalf the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Quebec Lieutenant, George Chahal, Member of Parliament for Calgary Skyview, announced contracts totalling over $73 million, awarded to hep solar and South Head Switch Power, for the supply of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs).  

    These contracts support the Government of Canada’s commitment to the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. The announcement aligns with Public Services and Procurement Canada’s (PSPC) clean electricity initiative and Canada’s ongoing commitment to invest in renewable energy. These contracts will supply 100,600 RECs annually from new clean electricity solar facilities.

    This agreement will enable the Government of Canada to attribute its electricity consumption as being clean in regions where opportunities for new clean renewable sources are not yet available, while supporting the creation of new green energy facilities. The RECs will reduce up to 32,600 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent (eCO2) for the Government of Canada’s real property operations, which is equivalent to the annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of more than 9,980 gas-powered passenger vehicles.  

    Furthermore, these contracts will help promote Indigenous business capacity in the clean energy sector and contribute to Canada’s efforts to strengthen economic relationships with Indigenous entrepreneurs. South Head Energy is an Indigenous-owned business, and South Head Switch Power is joint venture with Switch Power, which is registered with the Indigenous Business Directory.

     

    “As a leader in clean energy, Canada is making significant progress toward a sustainable future with the announcement of over $73 million in Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). This investment supports our commitment to powering federal buildings with 100% clean electricity, reducing greenhouse gas emissions all while boosting our economy. Together, with our Indigenous partners, we are not just envisioning a net-zero future by 2050; we are actively creating it, ensuring that environmental responsibility and economic growth go hand in hand.”

    George Chahal
    Member of Parliament of Calgary Skyview

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Message from the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health – Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Statement

    October 15, 2024 | Ottawa, Ontario | Public Health Agency of Canada

    Today, we recognize Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, a time to extend our compassion and support to the many families across Canada who have experienced the loss of a child during pregnancy or early infancy. This day serves as a reminder that behind each statistic is a family forever changed by grief and loss.

    Too many Canadian families experience a perinatal loss each year. Families often face complex emotions. For many, the grief that accompanies the loss of a baby is indescribable, affecting the parents and their loved ones. Recognizing the emotional weight of such a loss, it is essential that families feel supported by their community and health care providers through tailored care, rooted in empathy and respect—as they navigate their personal grief journey.

    We can all contribute to making sure that no one feels isolated during such a difficult time. Loved ones provide crucial emotional support, while health professionals and community support groups play a critical role in providing the necessary information and emotional care during and after these moments.

    Canada’s Family-centred maternity and newborn care: National guidelines outline principles for supporting families experiencing perinatal loss. These include offering parents the opportunity to make informed choices, ensuring they have the time and space to grieve in a way that feels right for them, and receiving care that respects their personal and cultural preferences. Families also benefit when they are given opportunities to connect with others who have faced similar losses, creating a space for shared healing and understanding.

    If you or someone you know is dealing with pregnancy or infant loss, reaching out to organizations such as Baby’s Breath Canada can provide helpful resources and guidance. These support networks can be invaluable in helping families find their way forward after a loss. By keeping the conversation open, we can help break down the isolation often felt by families and provide the care and understanding they need.

    You can also visit Canada.ca/mental-health for the most up-to-date information and resources, including information on free, virtually delivered mental health and substance use supports and services offered across Canada.

    The Honourable Ya’ara Saks, P.C., M.P.

    Contacts

    Yuval Daniel
    Director of Communications
    Office of the Honourable Ya’ara Saks
    Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health
    819-360-6927

    Media Relations
    Health Canada
    613-957-2983
    media@hc-sc.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: On eve of Stansted expansion, Zack Polanski AM continues to push Mayor to stand against disastrous London airport growth

    Source: Mayor of London

    In his latest refusal to stand against pollution in London, Mayor Sadiq Khan rejected an offer by Zack Polanski AM to join together and urge the national government to reject any future efforts to expand the city’s airports.  

    Pointing to the Mayor’s power over the Airport National Policy Statement (ANPS), Zack pushed the Mayor to explain his previous support for suspending the ANPS with his present refusal to take any meaningful action to actually do so. [1] While Stansted Airport lies outside the boundaries GLA remit, Heathrow Airport and London City Airport both fall under the Mayor’s purview. [2] 

    Zack’s questions come after numerous questions over the Mayor’s puzzling support for United Airlines, an American company that sponsored both London Pride 2023 as well as round trip business class flights for the Mayor’s trip to New York City. [3] 

    Following his exchange with the Mayor, Green Party London Assembly Member Zack Polanski said: 

    “Bigger and bigger airports will never be compatible with a net zero target. Ever. 

    “The Mayor has a real chance to step up and stop any further airport expansion across London, yet when given any opportunity to do so, all we get is more dithering, blame games, and petty partsianship.  

    “It’s time to put action to his words: If London’s Mayor is serious about building a city that is safe and healthy for all Londoners, there is simply no excuse for not joining me in urging the national government to reject further plans for airport expansion.” 

    Zack Polanski AM’s full exchange with the Mayor can be viewed here.  

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Media Advisory: Infrastructure Announcement in Cape Breton Regional Municipality

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Media advisory

    Cape Breton Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia October 15, 2024 — Members of the media are invited to an infrastructure announcement with Jaime Battiste, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Member of Parliament for Sydney-Victoria; Mike Kelloway, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard and Member of Parliament for Cape Breton—Canso; and Amanda McDougall-Merrill, Mayor of Cape Breton Regional Municipality.

    Date:
    Wednesday, October 16, 2024

    Time:
    1:00 p.m. ADT

    Location:
    Transit Cape Breton
    227 Welton Street
    Sydney, NS B1P 5R9

    Contacts

    For more information (media only), please contact:

    Sofia Ouslis
    Communications Advisor
    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

    Rob MacNamara 
    Communications Advisor – Mayor’s Office
    Cape Breton Regional Municipality
    902-563-5297   
    rjmacnamara@cbrm.ns.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Unlicensed door supervisor convicted after working at club

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    A man has been given a suspended sentence for fraud after he used someone else’s SIA licence to work illegally at a venue in Newcastle.

    An SIA investigation found that Samuel Miller committed fraud by lying to his employers and working unlicensed as a door supervisor at City Vaults in Newcastle.

    He worked multiple shifts between August and October 2022 at the venue using the SIA licence number of somebody with a similar name. Northumbria Police were investigating a separate incident at a venue when they discovered Mr Miller working without a licence and referred the matter to the SIA to investigate.

    Jenny Hart, a criminal investigations manager at the SIA, said:

    Door supervisors and security guards have an important frontline role protecting the public. That is why we have a robust licensing regime in place to make sure they have the skills they need to keep people safe.

    Mr Miller used a fraudulent licence to obtain work. He showed a brazen disregard for public safety by deceiving his employers to get a job for which he was not qualified. We take matters like this incredibly seriously. Mr Miller has found out the hard way that crime does not pay.

    Samuel Miller pleaded guilty on 13 May 2024 to one count of fraud and one count of breaching the Private Security Industry Act by working in a licensable role without a valid licence. He was sentenced to 18 weeks imprisonment, suspended for two years, at Newcastle Crown Court on 11 October 2024. He must also pay £500 in court costs.

    Notes to editors  

    By law, security operatives working under contract must hold and display a valid SIA licence. Information about SIA enforcement and penalties can be found on GOV.UK/SIA.

    The offence relating to the Private Security Industry Act 2001 that is mentioned above is: 

    • Section 3 – engaging in licensable conduct without a licence 

    The offence relating to the Fraud Act 2006 that is mentioned above is: 

    • Section 2 – fraud by false representation 

    Further information

    The SIA is the organisation responsible for regulating the private security industry in the UK, reporting to the Home Secretary under the terms of the Private Security Industry Act 2001. The SIA’s main duties are the compulsory licensing of individuals undertaking designated activities and managing the voluntary Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS).  

    For further information about the SIA or to sign up for email updates visit http://www.gov.uk/sia. We also post articles and updates on WordPress. The SIA is on LinkedIn, Facebook (Security Industry Authority) and Twitter (@SIAuk). 

    Media enquiries

    For media enquiries only, please contact: 

    media.enquiries@sia.gov.uk

    Updates to this page

    Published 15 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK-Switzerland Financial Dialogue 2024 Joint Statement

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Joint Statement between HM Treasury and the State Secretariat for International Finance on the UK-Switzerland Financial Dialogue.

    Documents

    UK-Switzerland Financial Dialogue Joint Statement – October 2024

    MS Word Document, 35.5 KB

    This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

    Request an accessible format.
    If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email digital.communications@hmtreasury.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

    Details

    This is a joint statement between HM Treasury and the State Secretariat for International Finance following the UK-Switzerland Financial Dialogue, held on Tuesday 15 October 2024. The statement summarises what was discussed at the meeting and the key outcomes.

    Updates to this page

    Published 15 October 2024

    Sign up for emails or print this page

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: A brief history of deadly dolls in horror cinema – from Annabelle to M3gan

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Sandra Mills, Associate researcher, faculty of arts, cultures and education, University of Hull

    From Longlegs (2024) to M3GAN (2022) to Annabelle Comes Home (2019), creepy dolls are eerily at home on the big screen. Their cinematic history can be traced back to The Doll’s Revenge (1907) in which a young boy witnesses his previously destroyed sister’s doll reassemble itself, before tearing him apart and devouring him.

    Over the course of the 20th century, cinematic dolls became more aggressively homicidal and the 1980s saw a significant shift in the killer toy sub-genre of horror cinema. Previously governed by puppets and ventriloquist dummies, as seen in Dead of Night (1945) and Magic (1978), in the eighties, the horror output spotlighted malevolent dolls, as can be seen in Curtains (1983) and Black Devil Doll from Hell (1984).

    It was the latter part of the decade though, specifically the release of Dolls (1987) and Child’s Play (1988), that really won over horror fans.

    Dolls is a somewhat unique film in that the other-worldly dolls it spotlights play the part of both antagonist and hero. The suggestion that these dolls possess a morality – however erroneous that morality may be – adds an additional dimension to the killer doll archetype presented to genre fans so far.

    Indeed, Dolls actively encourages the viewer to favour these murderous dolls over their human victims. The transgressions these mortals commit, including theft and parental neglect, make them seemingly worthy of this unique form of punishment.

    These dolls are not the glossy, mass-produced figures of Child’s Play. Instead they are humans metamorphosed into dolls as penance for their indiscretions. There is an inherent sentimentality to Dolls, echoes of which can be found in Annabelle (2014), Robert (2015) and The Boy (2016).

    Dolls of the 2000s

    Child’s Play was the first instalment in the “living doll” sub-genre’s most prevalent and durable cinematic franchise – Chucky. Charles Lee Ray, nicknamed “Chucky”, is a serial killer who moves his life-force into a doll, and persistently attempts to transfer his soul from the toy to a mortal body.

    The Chucky films span five decades and six direct cinematic sequels alongside a TV series and film reboot. And a new Chucky film is anticipated in 2026.

    In the 2000s, cinema-goers were gripped by haunted house horror, as seen in The Others (2001) and Paranormal Activity (2007) and exorcism horror, as seen in The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005) and The Last Exorcism (2010).

    Chucky’s first appeared in Child’s Play (1988).

    The Conjuring (2013) deftly married these two subgenres to produce a purportedly true account of domestic horror that introduced viewers to demonic doll, Annabelle. The doll here exists primarily as a conduit – a haunted object that can manipulate the people and objects around her to do her macabre bidding.

    Annabelle is notable for both her stillness and silence – something of an anomaly in a subgenre that tends to favour a “they walk, they talk, they kill” approach. The doll’s motion is largely limited to occasional subtle movements of the head, and she doesn’t speak throughout the series.

    Instead, Annabelle prefers to occupy others, carrying out her will through unsuspecting hosts and purging the susceptible victims of their own autonomy in the process.

    Annabelle, Chucky and other lesser-known icons of the deadly dolls horror subgenre, typify our enduring cultural fascination with animism (the attribution of life, and on occasion a soul, to an inanimate object) and anthropomorphism (the attribution of human-like characteristics or personality traits to an inanimate object). And more recent films, including M3GAN, are articulating new anxieties surrounding digital surveillance and artificial intelligence.



    Read more:
    M3gan review: an animatronic doll is out to destroy the nuclear family – much to fans’ delight

    The horror of “living” dolls, after all, lies in their uncanny resemblance to something that it is inherently not human. Their faces, whether of porcelain or plastic, mimic our own and so are imbued with an eerily uncanny hue.

    While the fantasy of a treasured toy coming to life may be a bewitching possibility, horror cinema directly threatens that notion as the childhood playthings it portrays become sources of suspicion, trepidation and terror, rather than pleasure.


    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.

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

    – ref. A brief history of deadly dolls in horror cinema – from Annabelle to M3gan – https://theconversation.com/a-brief-history-of-deadly-dolls-in-horror-cinema-from-annabelle-to-m3gan-238128

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Songwriters have long revealed the ugly side of ‘love’ – from John Lennon to Mariah Carey

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Glenn Fosbraey, Associate Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Winchester

    For as long as pop music has existed, there have been love songs. And as long as there have been love songs, songwriters have been wrestling with what love means to them. We have been told that love is the best, that it can mend our souls, and keep us alive. But we have also been warned that love is a battlefield upon which we will be torn apart, and eventually killed.

    Sitting somewhere between these mixed messages is what I will call the “ugly love songs” category. These are songs that focus on concepts like control, jealousy and emotional blackmail, all presented (to paraphrase U2) in the name of love. It’s unlikely you’ll ever see ugly love songs popping up as a genre search option on Spotify, but here’s what you might find if it did.

    First, songs with themes of control and possession. In 2020, a group of psychology researchers used the phrase “you belong to me” in the title of a piece of research which focused on male control, dominance and manipulation of women. Yet these words have been sung in over 600 songs, by artists as diverse as Boyz II Men and Slipknot and used as a song title for the likes of Brian Adams, Steve Perry, Elvis Costello, Dean Martin, Suede and Sam Cooke.

    Similarly possessive phrases are also commonplace in lyrics such as “never gonna let you go” (Led Zeppelin, Kiss and Jay Sean) “won’t let you leave” (Nas, Trey Songz and Air Supply) and “won’t let you go” (Daniel Bedingfield, Three Dog Night and Elvis Presley).

    The phrase “you’re mine” (or variations thereof) has also been frequently used, showing up in hundreds of songs. And then there are artists that make possessions of themselves, like Little Mix and Selena Gomez singing “I’m yours” on Secret Love Song and Come and Get It respectively, and Destiny’s Child on Cater 2 U with the vomit-inducing lyrics: “What you wanna eat, boo? Let me feed you / Let me run your bathwater / Baby, I’m yours, I wanna cater to you, boy.” Shudder.

    Cater 2 U by Destiny’s Child.

    Songs about jealousy

    A complex emotion which contains varying levels of anger, sadness, irrationality, fear and resentment, jealousy has found its way into several ugly love songs over the years. The most famous example came courtesy of John Lennon with Jealous Guy (1971), which saw him rework the lyrics of White Album-era Beatles demo Child of Nature into a display of chronic insecurity.

    Lines like “I was feeling insecure / You might not love me anymore” make listeners sympathise with him. But perhaps less so “I began to lose control/ I’m sorry that I made you cry”, which show how hurtful and damaging the emotion can be to the other person in the relationship.

    No One Else by Weezer.

    Elsewhere, alt-rock band Weezer’s song No One Else is described by its songwriter Rivers Cuomo as being “about the jealous-obsessive asshole in me freaking out on my girlfriend” and contains the lyrics “I want a girl who will laugh for no one else / When I’m away, she puts her makeup on the shelf / When I’m away, she never leaves the house.”

    Then there’s The Police’s infamously creepy Every Breath You Take which sees our heartsick narrator begging for his former lover’s embrace (“I keep crying, baby, baby please”) before really overstepping the mark and, now in full-on stalker mode, informing them that he’ll be watching their every move, breath and step. And not just occasionally, either, but every single day.

    Emotional blackmail

    Emotional blackmail is the act of using a person’s feelings of kindness, sympathy, or duty in order to persuade them to do something or feel something, and it has cropped up in a number of songs over the years.

    Without You, originally by the group Badfinger, and later covered by both Harry Nilsson and Mariah Carey, suggests that “it’s only fair” to let their departing lover know what they “should know” – which is that they’ll be unable to go on living if they follow through on their desire to leave the relationship.

    If You Buy This Record Your Life Will Be Better by The Tamperer feat. Maya.

    LeAnn Rimes goes down a similar route with her 1997 hit How Do I Live?, where she tells her “baby” that they are “everything good” in her life, and that (I guess logically) their exit would leave her unable to survive.

    To end on a lighter note, a year later, with tongue firmly in cheek, The Tamperer (featuring Maya) took the manipulation angle to the extreme by singing over and over that “if you buy this record your life will be better, your life will be better, your life will be better”. Note: I didn’t buy it, so can’t comment, but maybe if I had, I’d be writing this from my private beach in the Maldives.


    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.

    Glenn Fosbraey 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. Songwriters have long revealed the ugly side of ‘love’ – from John Lennon to Mariah Carey – https://theconversation.com/songwriters-have-long-revealed-the-ugly-side-of-love-from-john-lennon-to-mariah-carey-240501

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Decline of X is an opportunity to do social media differently – but combining ‘safe’ and ‘profitable’ will still be a challenge

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Andy Tattersall, Information Specialist, University of Sheffield

    BongkarnGraphic / Shutterstock

    It’s now almost two years since Elon Musk concluded his takeover of Twitter (now called X) on 27 October 2022. Since then, the platform has become an increasingly polarised and divisive space.

    Musk promised to deal with some of the issues which had already frustrated users, particularly bots, abuse and misinformation. In 2023, he said there was less misinformation on the platform because of his efforts to tackle the bots. But others disagree, claiming that misinformation is still rife there.

    A potential reaction to this may be apparent in recent data highlighted by the Financial Times, which showed the number of UK users of the platform had fallen by one-third, while US users had dropped by one-fifth. The the data used to reach these conclusions may be open to question, as it is hard to find out user numbers directly from X.

    The figures also come out against the background of a disagreement over whether X’s traffic is waning or not. But there has been a notable trend in academia for individuals and some organisations to leave for alternative platforms such as Bluesky and Threads, or to quit social media altogether.

    Elon Musk has claimed that X is hitting record highs in user-seconds, a measure of how long users are spending on the site. But advertising revenue is reported to have dropped sharply amid Musk’s controversial changes, such as his “free speech” approach on the platform. If so, it will be reflected in the platform’s financial performance which has been dire. The platform currently has no clear pathway to profitability.

    X’s loss has naturally been a gain for its competitors. Despite a rather slow start due to its “invite only” model, Bluesky recently announced that it had topped 10 million users. This is still quite small compared to X’s 550 million users and Threads’ 200 million users.

    But there are questions with all platforms over how active users are and the proportion of bots versus human users. Threads also benefits by being connected to Instagram.

    The world’s richest man can afford to let X devalue from his purchase price of US$44 billion (£33.7 billion). Likewise, Meta can probably afford to prop up Threads. But Bluesky will have to find inventive ways to remain viable as a platform. So is it the right time for users to try something completely different on social media?

    Alternatives to X have to be mindful of striking the right balance between being a viable social media platform and not developing the same issues that have turned X toxic for many users.

    Elon Musk bought Twitter in 2022.
    Frederic Legrand – Comeo / Shutterstock

    The approach taken by Bluesky and Mastodon is to engage with their community more to deal with issues such as abuse and fake information. Moderating content is tricky, as it requires a lot of resources and support for those using the platform.

    But the contrast with Elon Musk’s approach to ownership is stark.

    The problem for Bluesky, and to a lesser extent Mastodon, is that once a platform gains traction it also attracts those with bad intent. Think of it as the one nice, cool bar in town that suddenly becomes popular. Once everyone hears about the bar, the troublemakers start to arrive.

    When that happens, the good people have to find a bar elsewhere. Once an alternative platform becomes a means to reach many millions, the people that drove users away from X may head there like moths to a light.

    Alternative approaches

    One possible solution is a subscription model for social media alongside paid advertisements. For growing platforms, such as Bluesky, sponsored posts and adverts will come as the user base grows in numbers.

    But as was evident with X, that is unlikely to be enough. X’s annual revenue peaked at US$5 billion (£3.8 billion) in 2021 and has been in decline ever since. This also takes into account how the platform has culled thousands of jobs in the past two years.

    The subscription model is not new to social media. X has its own paid-for blue checkmark and LinkedIn has a premium subscription. This alone still does not guarantee a profitable or functioning social media platform.

    Having a subscription-based social media platform is not exactly equitable either, as not everyone can afford to pay. The question is how much people would be willing to pay for a social media subscription that guarantees no adverts and bots, as well as proper moderation to remove abusive and fake information accounts.

    The trade off is that free users would have to deal with the inconvenience of adverts on their timelines. There could be other models floated where non-profit and student accounts are cheaper, but this again excludes other users. It also may not sit well with shareholders focused on profitability.

    As it stands, if all 10 million Bluesky users paid £5 a month to the platform, it would generate £60 million a year. That is not even close to X’s revenue of US$300 million (£230 million) back in 2012.

    Real change

    People moving to a new social media platform will want assurances that it won’t turn into another X. Organisations and individuals with large followings may also be reluctant to invest time in new platforms when they still get something out of the old. There are big, mainstream alternatives of course: Instagram, Facebook and TikTok, but Twitter offered something different.

    Real change could happen when the organisations leaving X due to how it has been run reaches a critical mass, though what that threshold represents is open to question. Those in the world of academia are cautious and at best hedging their bets, as I have found with my own search.

    Just as X increasingly fails to deal with misinformation, it is leaning further into the same headwind as right-wing platforms such as Truth Social. The newer platforms might find themselves a safer haven for now, but that is likely to change if lessons around ownership, funding and moderation are not learned.

    Andy Tattersall 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. Decline of X is an opportunity to do social media differently – but combining ‘safe’ and ‘profitable’ will still be a challenge – https://theconversation.com/decline-of-x-is-an-opportunity-to-do-social-media-differently-but-combining-safe-and-profitable-will-still-be-a-challenge-241228

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: 2Synergize, a Simpleview Consulting Agency, Releases the “Top 250” Report

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TUCSON, Ariz., Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The 2024 “Top 250” report has been released on behalf of 2Synergize, a Simpleview consulting agency, and Destinations International. This edition of the sought-after annual report identifies the destination marketing organization (DMO) industry’s largest rotating conventions nationwide.

    The report analyzes the top 250 rotating conventions in the MINT+ database — an exclusive data cooperative that helps destinations prospect intelligently by using both historical data and information on future bookings.

    Notable highlights from the 2024 edition of the report include:

    • Nearly half of the top 250 conventions met in May, June, September, and October
    • 88% of the top 250 conventions will meet in 20 destinations
    • The West/Pacific region will host 33% of the top 250 conventions, followed by the South/Southeast region

    “The ‘Top 250’ report is an invaluable tool for DMOs, offering a deep dive into the trends shaping the meetings and conventions landscape,” said Vail Ross, Managing Director of 2Synergize. “By harnessing the data within MINT+, DMOs can make smarter, data-driven decisions that position their destinations competitively and strategically. This report sheds light on where opportunities lie and empowers destinations to navigate an evolving market confidently.”

    Download the full “Top 250” report here. To dive further into the data, register for the upcoming webinar, “MINT+ ‘Top 250’ Report: Revealing Key Trends in the DMO Industry’s Largest Rotating Conventions,” happening at 10 a.m. PDT/1 p.m. EDT on October 16, 2024.

    About Simpleview
    Simpleview, now part of Granicus, is a worldwide leading provider of CRM, CMS, website design, digital marketing services, and data insights for convention bureaus, venues, tourism boards, destination marketing organizations (DMOs), and attractions. The company employs staff across the globe, serving clients of all sizes, including small towns, world capitals, top meeting destinations, and countries across multiple continents. For more information, please visit https://www.simpleviewinc.com/.

    About 2Synergize
    2Synergize, LLC is a Simpleview consulting agency specializing in the DMO industry, with a laser focus on helping destinations and partner organizations gain a competitive edge in the meetings and events market.

    Media Contact:
    Stacie Wingfield
    VP of Marketing at Simpleview
    859-206-5020
    stacie.wingfield@simpleviewinc.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Credit Agricole Sa: Crédit Agricole Personal Finance & Mobility takes a stake in GAC Leasing to support the growth of GAC Group sales in China

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Massy – October 15th, 2024

    Crédit Agricole Personal Finance & Mobility
    takes a stake in GAC Leasing to support the growth
    of GAC Group sales in China

    • CA Personal Finance & Mobility announces the planned acquisition of 50% of the equity interests of GAC Finance Leasing Co. Ltd. (GAC Leasing), the leasing company of one of the largest Chinese manufacturers Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd. (GAC Group), via a reserved capital increase.
    • With this new joint venture, CA Personal Finance & Mobility is expected to offer financial and operational leasing solutions on the Chinese market in 2025 and will thus promote the deployment of electric vehicles in China.
    • This transaction will consolidate a partnership that has existed since 2009 between CA Personal Finance & Mobility and GAC Group with the creation of GAC-Sofinco AFC, a 50-50 joint venture. The latter operates throughout China and offers automotive financing and services to the GAC-Honda, GAC-Toyota, AION, HYPTEC and GAC Motor networks, serving more than 3,000 dealers.

    CA Personal Finance & Mobility to become 50% shareholder of GAC Leasing

    Following a reserved capital increase, CA Personal Finance & Mobility will hold 50% of the equity interests of GAC Leasing. The company has been operating on the Chinese market since 2004 and offers financial and operational leasing solutions to GAC customers and its dealer network.

    Through this transaction, CA Personal Finance & Mobility and GAC group are strengthening the leasing offer proposed to Chinese customers, thereby stimulating the sale of electric vehicles, which already represents 60% of GAC Leasing’s leasing contracts on a portfolio of more than 200,000 vehicles.

    The impact on the CET1 ratio of Crédit Agricole S.A. and that of the Crédit Agricole group will be very limited.

    « This transaction reaffirms the importance of our long-standing partnership with GAC group. It will enable us to support together and over the long term the development of the particularly dynamic electric automobile market in China. »
    STEPHANE PRIAMI – CEO of Crédit Agricole Personal Finance & Mobility

    Key figures:

    • In 2023, GAC group was the 4th largest automotive group in China
    • More than 2.5 million vehicles sold in 2023 worldwide
    • 39,90% of electrified vehicles sold in 2023

    Press Contact

    Claire Garcia
    presse@ca-cf.fr
    +33 (0)1 87 38 11 81 / +33 (0)6 80 41 17 77

    About Crédit Agricole Personal Finance & Mobility

    Crédit Agricole Personal Finance & Mobility is a leader in personal financing and a provider of access to all mobility solutions in Europe. It distributes directly, at the point of sale or on its partners’ e-commerce platforms, a wide range of financing solutions – amortizable credit, revolving credit, leasing and credit buyback – with associated services including insurance, split payment solutions and services dedicated to mobility, with the aim of meeting the challenges of energy transition in mobility, housing and consumption. Its financing solutions and services are offered in France via Sofinco, in Italy via Agos, in Germany via Creditplus, in Portugal via Credibom, in Spain via Sofinco Espana, in Morocco via Wafasalaf, and in China via GAC-Sofinco (automotive financing only). Crédit Agricole Personal Finance & Mobility aims to be the leader in electric mobility in Europe and offers a mobility continuum in the 22 countries where it is present (leasing, medium and short-term rental, subscription, car sharing, installation of charging stations, etc.). The company relies on Leasys, a joint venture equally owned by Stellantis, CA Auto Bank and Drivalia, the pan-European leader in automotive financing, rental and mobility, Crédit Agricole Mobility Services, a comprehensive service offering dedicated to mobility and the development of automotive financing in its universal subsidiaries in Europe and in Crédit Agricole Regional Banks and at LCL via Agilauto. CA Personal Finance & Mobility acts every day in the interest of its 17.2 million customers and society. As of December 31, 2023, CA Personal Finance & Mobility managed €113 billion in outstanding credit. More information: http://www.ca-personalfinancemobility.com

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Sidetrade: 33% Increase in Revenue for Q3 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Q3 bookings at €1.52 million, in line for 2024

    Strong revenue growth, up 33%, with SaaS subscriptions up 31%

    Registration completed in France’s public invoicing portal

    Sidetrade rises to the Top 15% on EcoVadis

    Sidetrade, the global leader in generative AI-powered Order-to-Cash applications, announced a 33% revenue increase for the third quarter of 2024.

    Olivier Novasque, CEO of Sidetrade commented:

    “To date, our continually robust organic growth, combined with the strategic relevance of our external growth through the consolidation of SHS Viveon, has triggered an impressive 33% increase in our revenue. The expected slowdown in bookings over the third quarter, which is traditionally the weakest period of the year, in no way affects our ambition to match or even exceed our all-time record for contracts won last year. That said, we are embarking on a strong trajectory and reiterate our confidence in stepping up double-digit growth for 2024 and further out.

    Parallel to this, our official registration as a Dematerialization Platform Partner by France’s Public Finance Department, and, in a different context, reaching the Top 15% of the EcoVadis ranking highlights our commitment to the environmental, social and governance responsibility. Performance, safety and efficiency are more than mere targets; together, they form the pillars that shape our future.

    Quarter after quarter, our resilient economic model combined with our technological lead in AI and accelerated international growth – now with 68% of revenue achieved outside France – have enabled us to significantly upscale in next to no time, fast-tracking Sidetrade’s development into one of the select few Order-to-Cash technology leaders worldwide.”

    Q3 bookings at €1.52 million, in line for 2024
    In Q3 2024, which is traditionally the weakest of the year, Sidetrade achieved bookings of €1.52 million in New Annual Contract Value (ACV), versus €2.49 million in the same period last year. As announced during the September 11 investor presentation, the expected slowdown in third-quarter bookings against a complex economic and political backdrop does not affect the Group’s positive outlook for the full 2024 fiscal year.

    In the first nine months of 2024, Sidetrade recorded €8.94 million for bookings in New Annual Contract Value (ACV), compared to €8.42 million year-over-year (+6%). Given the postponement of a number of new contracts in Q3 2024 – serving to bolster an already strong business pipeline for Q4 2024 – Sidetrade is expected to match or even exceed its historic bookings record on a full fiscal year basis, which was set in 2023 with €11.2 million achieved in new ACV terms.

    Strong revenue growth, up 33%, with SaaS subscriptions up 31%

    Sidetrade

    (€m)

    		 Q3 2024 Q3 2023 Change
    SaaS subscriptions 12.5 (1) 9.5 +31%
    Revenue 14.9 (2) 11.2 +33%

    (1) includes €1.5m in recurring revenue from SHS Viveon
    (2) includes €2.1m in revenue from SHS Viveon

    In Q3 2024, Sidetrade achieved revenue of €14.9 million, representing an increase of 33% and up 14% on a comparable scope basis (excluding the recent acquisition of SHS Viveon). This strong performance is attributable to several key factors.

    First, the robust momentum in revenue growth on a constant scope basis continues. As a reminder, in the first half of 2024, Sidetrade reported a 19% increase in its revenue with growth of 18% in revenue for SaaS subscriptions which was impacted by a 4% contribution from the CreditPoint Software business, consolidated as of July 2023. On a constant scope basis, growth in the Company’s revenue was therefore 15%, with a 14% increase in revenue for SaaS subscriptions. In line with this performance, Sidetrade (excluding SHS Viveon) sustained vigorous momentum over Q3 2024, posting a 14% increase in its total Company revenue and 15% revenue growth for SaaS subscriptions, driven by a record performance for half-year bookings.

    In addition, the consolidation of the SHS Viveon business – effective since July 1, 2024 – substantially contributed to this quarterly growth, delivering a positive impact of 19%. SHS Viveon generated revenue of €2.1 million in Q3 2024. Fully consolidated in the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland and eastern European countries), SHS Viveon’s business represents a new growth driver for Sidetrade, with this geography now accounting for 14% of the Company’s total revenue.

    On the back of SHS Viveon’s consolidation, international markets now represent 68% of the Group’s revenue. With more than 70% of its workforce based outside France, Sidetrade is strongly positioned to capitalize on an increasingly globalized market, while leveraging a strong local presence in its strategic markets.

    Lastly, North America delivered the strongest growth, with revenue up 30%, representing €4.1 million over the period. This market will continue to play a pivotal role in Sidetrade’s growth trajectory.

    Analysis of the Company’s customer profiles (including the consolidated SHS Viveon) is underpinned by brisk growth of 53% in subscriptions with multinational corporations generating €2.5 billion-plus revenue. These contracts now account for more than half (52%) of Sidetrade’s total subscriptions and are expected to remain an important growth driver in the quarters ahead. The acquisition of SHS Viveon has helped accelerate this momentum, thanks to the business’ established portfolio of key accounts.

    Registration completed in France’s public invoicing portal

    Under France’s reform of electronic invoicing, Sidetrade was recently registered as a Dematerialization Platform Partner by the country’s Public Finance Department.

    While acknowledging that this initiative marks a step forward, Sidetrade does not regard it as providing a competitive advantage to its solutions and the Company is continuing to assess all options consistent with its targets for strategic development, both in France and internationally.

    Sidetrade rises to the Top 15% on EcoVadis

    Sidetrade recently secured a new Silver medal from EcoVadis, ranking among the top 15% of companies rated within its industry. This award recognizes the Group’s social and environmental performance.

    In September 2024, the Company reached a score of 70/100, placing it in the 91st percentile. This progress from its previous rating of 68/100 and its positioning in the top 25% underscore the Group’s relentless focus on improving its sustainable operations. The EcoVadis score illustrates the strides taken to address environmental, social, and ethical issues, particularly through strengthened policies on cutting energy consumption and optimizing technical infrastructure.

    Such recognition distinguishes Sidetrade as one of the sustainability leaders in its sector, enhancing its credibility with international clientele and partners while cementing its position as a responsible company committed to driving the transition towards a more sustainable economy.

    Next financial announcement
    Annual Revenue for 2024: January 21, 2025 (after the stock market closes)

    Investor relations
    Christelle Dhrif                00 33 6 10 46 72 00           cdhrif@sidetrade.com

    About Sidetrade (http://www.sidetrade.com)
    Sidetrade (Euronext Growth: ALBFR.PA) provides a SaaS platform designed to revolutionize how cash flow is secured and accelerated. Leveraging its next-generation AI, nicknamed Aimie, Sidetrade analyzes $6.1 trillion worth of B2B payment transactions daily in its Cloud, thereby anticipating customer payment behavior and the attrition risk of more than 38 million buyers worldwide. Aimie recommends the best operational strategies, dematerializes and intelligently automates Order-to-Cash processes to enhance productivity, results and
    working capital across organizations.
    Sidetrade has a global reach, with 400+ talented employees based in Europe, the United States and Canada, serving global businesses in more than 85 countries. Amongst them: Bidcorp, Biffa, Bunzl, Engie, Expedia, Inmarsat, KPMG, Lafarge, Manpower, Opentext, Page, Randstad, Saint-Gobain,
    Securitas, Sodexo, Tech Data, UGI, and Veolia.
    Sidetrade is a participant of the United Nations Global Compact, adhering to its principles-based approach to responsible business.

    For further information, visit us at http://www.sidetrade.com and follow @Aimie on LinkedIn.

    In the event of any discrepancy between the French and English versions of this press release, only the French version is to be taken into account.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: JLT Mobile Computers appoints Tejal Ranjan to drive the company’s US partner marketing strategy and accelerate growth

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Tejal Ranjan joins JLT as Vice President of Marketing – North America

    Växjö, Sweden, October 15, 2024 * * * JLT Mobile Computers, a leading supplier of rugged computing solutions, is pleased to announce the appointment of Tejal Ranjan as Vice President of Marketing – North America. With extensive experience in supply chain, partner marketing, customer success, and demand generation, Tejal will lead the transformation and acceleration of JLT’s US partner strategy. Further, she will play a pivotal role in the global team, creating a unified go-to-market strategy that establishes a consistent foundation across all geographies while addressing the unique challenges and demands of each region. This strategic move is designed to position JLT for significant growth in the Vehicle-Mounted Computers and Rugged Computer markets, capitalizing on the substantial opportunities the industry offers.

    Further developing their partner-based go-to-market strategy is critical for JLT’s continued expansion in the rugged computing space. By leveraging the expertise and reach of partners, JLT will scale its operations more effectively, gain wider market coverage, and create a robust ecosystem capable of meeting the rising demand for rugged computing solutions.

    “We are thrilled to have Tejal join JLT,” said Per Holmberg, CEO of JLT Mobile Computers. “Our partner-based market approach is key in acquiring new customers and unlocking future growth. This strategy will not only enhance our presence in our target markets, but also build shareholder value as we strengthen our position globally. And Tejal’s experience in partner marketing, and demand generation, along with deep understanding of the supply chain industry will be instrumental in driving growth and expanding our partner ecosystem in the US, as well as globally.”

    The demand for rugged computing devices continues to grow as they enhance operational efficiency in key sectors like warehousing and logistics. By working closely with JLT, partners deliver comprehensive, cost-effective solutions that drive productivity, reliability, and value for end-users across industries like logistics, manufacturing, and warehousing. JLT’s renewed partner program will empower partners to capture a significant share of this expanding market.

    “I’m excited to join JLT at this pivotal time,” said Tejal Ranjan. “By focusing on channel-led growth, there’s potential to deliver greater value, enabling our partners to achieve their goals while expanding JLT’s footprint in existing and new markets.” I look forward to contributing and applying my experience to build a more robust and engaged partner ecosystem in the US and Globally. By focusing on delivering value, we will not only drive stronger business outcomes but also help our partners unlock new growth opportunities.”

    With a renewed focus on channel strategy, JLT is well-positioned for future growth, benefiting both partners and investors alike. For more information about JLT Mobile Computers, its products and solutions, please visit jltmobile.com.

    About JLT Mobile Computers

    Reliable performance, less hassle. JLT Mobile Computers is a leading supplier of rugged mobile computing devices and solutions for demanding environments. Almost 30 years of development and manufacturing experience have enabled us to set the standard in rugged computing, combining outstanding product quality with expert service, support and solutions to ensure trouble-free business operations for customers in warehousing, transportation, manufacturing, mining, ports and agriculture. JLT operates globally from offices in Sweden, France, and the US, complemented by an extensive network of sales partners in local markets. The company was founded in 1994, and the share has been listed on the Nasdaq First North Growth Market stock exchange since 2002 under the symbol JLT. Eminova Fondkommission AB acts as Certified Adviser. Learn more at jltmobile.com.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Upgrades for the Crawford Lake Visitor Centre

    Source: Government of Canada News

    News release

    Milton, Ontario, October 15, 2024 — The Crawford Lake Visitor Centre is becoming more energy efficient after a federal investment of over $2.3 million.

    Today, MP Adam Van Koeverden, the Honourable Anita Anand, President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Transport, and Chandra Sharma, Conservation Halton’s President and CEO, announced the investment through the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings (GICB) program.

    In 2023, Crawford Lake was identified as an important site for studying the Anthropocene, a concept that identifies human activity as the dominant force changing the planet’s natural systems. The lake’s remarkable sediment record and location within a protected area have helped researchers discover the extent of our impact on the environment. Combining the natural and human histories of this site, the visitor centre serves as a community space and home for Indigenous art, artifacts, and educational resources.

    This project will include the replacement of windows, doors, and insulation. Upgrades to the HVAC systems will help to decrease the centre’s energy requirements and improve climate control to preserve and protect its artifacts. Finally, the funding will also help expand the facility with a new entrance space that will contain an accessible elevator. Overall, these upgrades will help the centre reduce operating costs and lower carbon emissions.

    Quotes

    “Crawford Lake is recognized internationally as an important scientific site for studying and identifying the impacts of human history. By protecting the history and art of Indigenous peoples, the Crawford Lake Visitor Centre is doing its part to tell the human story. Together, as we move into a greener and more inclusive future, the federal government will continue to invest in sustainable and accessible infrastructure.”

    Adam Van Koeverden, Member of Parliament for Milton on behalf of the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

    “Today’s announcement demonstrates our government’s commitment to improving sustainability and accessibility for community infrastructure like the Crawford Lake Visitors Centre, an important educational and economic resource in our Halton community. Through our Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program, we will continue to collaborate with partners to create more environmentally friendly and sustainable community spaces for all to enjoy.”

    The Honourable Anita Anand, Member of Parliament for Oakville

    “The Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program investment was a catalyst in bringing this project to fruition. Thanks to the support of the federal government, the new Crawford Lake Visitor Centre will transform the visitor experience and support our commitment to accessibility and inclusivity through carefully designed infrastructure upgrades. This project also enhances our capacity to provide immersive educational programming on the area’s Indigenous history, the impacts of climate change and the unique ecology of this rare meromictic lake.”

    Chandra Sharma, President and CEO, Conservation Halton

    Quick facts

    • The federal government is investing $2,390,960 in this project through the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings (GICB) program and Conservation Halton is contributing $5,099,040.

    • The GICB program was created in support of Canada’s Strengthened Climate Plan: A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy. It is supporting the Plan’s first pillar by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing energy efficiency, and helping develop higher resilience to climate change. 

    • The program launched in 2021 with an initial investment of $1.5 billion over five years towards green and accessible retrofits, repairs or upgrades. 

    • Budget 2024 announced an additional $500 million to support more projects through GICB until 2029.

    • At least 10% of funding is allocated to projects serving First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities, including Indigenous populations in urban centres.

    • The GICB program is now accepting applications for:

      • Small and medium retrofit projects with eligible costs ranging from $100,000 to $2,999,999.
      • Large retrofit projects, ranging from $3 million to $25 million in eligible costs, to upgrade existing community buildings or to create new, energy-efficient buildings.
      • Both intake streams will close on October 16, 2024 at 15:00 Eastern Time.

    • For more information, please visit the Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada website at: Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada – Green and Inclusive Community Buildings Program.

    Associated links

    Contacts

    For more information (media only), please contact:

    Sofia Ouslis
    Communications Advisor
    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

    Declan Kelly
    Senior Communications Advisor
    Conservation Halton
    905-208-2941
    dkelly@hrca.on.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Canada to scale growth of six manufacturers in the EV sector in southern Ontario

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Backgrounder

    October 15, 2024

    Today, the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), announced a combined repayable investment of more than $12 million for six manufacturers in the EV sector to expand production capabilities and adopt new equipment. Minister Tassi was joined by Pam Damoff, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Consular Affairs) and Member of Parliament for Oakville North—Burlington.

    Recipient Name Project Funding Amount

    B.S.B. Manufacturing Ltd.

    To modernize its facility and seize future growth in the industry with the addition of automated production equipment to increase its capacity to produce EV and hybrid vehicle components.

    $1.2 million

    Can Art Aluminum Extrusion Canada Inc.

    To expand its aluminium parts manufacturing (extrusion) capacity to produce new components for the EV market at its Lakeshore, Ontario, facility.

    $5 million

    Clover Tool Manufacturing Ltd.

    To support enhanced manufacturing capabilities to produce intricate components for the EV sector at its Concord facility.

    $750,000

    CMP Automation Inc.

    To bring to market modified computer numerical control (CNC) machinery for high-volume production of EV parts.

    $499,532

    Electrovaya Inc.

    To expand its lithium-ion battery manufacturing capacity in order to meet the demand from the EV industry for its products.

    $2 million

    Marwood International Inc.

    To increase its parts manufacturing and assembling capabilities for complex EV parts.

    $3 million

    Related Product

    News Release: Government of Canada supports six companies boosting EV growth in southern Ontario

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI: Malaga Financial Corporation Reports Record Earnings

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PALOS VERDES ESTATES, Calif., Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Malaga Financial Corporation “Company” (OTCPink:MLGF), the parent company of Malaga Bank FSB, today reported that net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 was $17,339,000 ($1.93 basic and fully diluted earnings per share) compared to $17,198,000 ($1.92 basic and fully diluted earnings per share, as adjusted for the stock dividend declared on November 9, 2023) for the same period ended September 30, 2023, an increase of $141,000 or 1%. Net income for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, was $5,548,000 ($0.62 basic and fully diluted earnings per share), a decrease of $181,000 or 3% from net income of $5,729,000 ($0.64 basic and fully diluted earnings per share, as adjusted for the stock dividend declared on November 9, 2023) for the quarter ended September 30, 2023. For the first nine months of 2024, the Company’s annualized return on average equity was 11.39% and the annualized return on average assets was 1.61%.

    Net interest income totaled $11,044,000 in the third quarter of 2024, a decrease of $381,000 or 3% from the same period in 2023. This resulted primarily from a decrease in average interest-earning assets of $142.3 million offset by an increase in the interest rate spread from 2.82% to 2.95%. The increase in the interest rate spread is primarily attributable to an increase of 0.34% in yield on average interest-earning assets offset by an increase of 0.21% in yield on average interest-bearing liabilities.

    Other operating income increased $1,000 in the third quarter of 2024 to $217,000 from $216,000 for the same period in 2023.

    Operating expenses decreased 3% in the third quarter of 2024 to $3,427,000 from $3,535,000 in the third quarter of 2023. The decrease is primarily attributed to decreases in compensation of $66,000, and general and administrative expenses of $49,000.

    The Company had two delinquent consumer loans collateralized by certificates of deposit which were fully paid off in early October 2024. The Company had no foreclosed real estate owned at September 30, 2024. The Company’s allowance for loan losses was $3,719,000, or 0.30% of total loans, at September 30, 2024.

    Randy C. Bowers, Chairman, President and CEO, commented, “As we strive to adapt to an uncertain and rapidly changing operating environment, we are pleased to report earnings for the first nine months of 2024 remain strong and stable with a modest increase over the prior year. While earnings continue to improve, asset quality remains excellent, capital levels are strong, and expenses are well controlled. We anticipate the remainder of 2024 and 2025 will be challenging, however are reasonably optimistic regarding our ability to continue to achieve favorable results.”

    The Company’s total assets decreased by 10% to $1.404 billion at September 30, 2024, compared to $1.554 billion at September 30, 2023. The loan portfolio at September 30, 2024, was $1.232 billion, a decrease of $50.2 million or 4% from September 30, 2023. The Company originates loans principally for its own portfolio and not for sale.

    The Company funds its assets with a mix of retail deposits, wholesale deposits and FHLB borrowings. Retail deposits totaled $731.3 million as of September 30, 2024, a $107.9 million decrease from $839.2 million at September 30, 2023. Wholesale deposits increased $14.8 million or 9% from $159.6 million at September 30, 2023, to $174.4 million at September 30, 2024. Wholesale deposits are primarily comprised of State of California certificates of deposit in the amount of $51.0 million and $123.4 million of long-term brokered certificates of deposits. FHLB borrowings decreased $70.0 million or 21% from $330.0 million at September 30, 2023, to $260.0 million at September 30, 2024. The decrease in FHLB borrowings is an interest rate risk management strategy related to the decrease in net loan growth.

    As of September 30, 2024, Malaga Bank was in compliance with all applicable regulatory capital requirements and was deemed “well-capitalized” under applicable regulations. Core capital and risk-based capital ratios were 15.59% and 27.11%, respectively, significantly exceeding the minimum “well-capitalized” requirements of 5% and 10%, respectively.

    Malaga Bank, a subsidiary of Malaga Financial Corporation, is a full-service community bank headquartered on the Palos Verdes Peninsula with six offices located in the South Bay area of Los Angeles. For over fifteen years Malaga Bank has been consistently recommended by one of the nation’s leading independent bank rating and research firms, Bauer Financial Inc. Malaga Bank was awarded Bauer’s premier Top 5-Star rating for the 67thconsecutive quarter as of June 2024. Since 1985 Malaga has been delivering competitive banking services to residents and businesses of the South Bay, including real estate loan products custom-tailored to consumers and investors. As the largest community bank in the South Bay, Malaga is proud of its continuing tradition of relationship-based banking and legendary customer service. The Bank’s web site is located at http://www.malagabank.com.

       
    Contact: Randy Bowers
      Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer
      Malaga Financial Corporation
      310-375-9000
      rbowers@malagabank.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Canada supports six companies boosting EV growth in southern Ontario

    Source: Government of Canada News

    News release

    Federal investment will support the growth of six manufacturers in the electric vehicles supply chain

    October 15, 2024 – Burlington, Ontario   

    Southern Ontario has a growing and competitive electric vehicle (EV) sector. Businesses across the sector are developing advanced technologies to seize new growth opportunities. The Government of Canada is investing in these businesses so they can reach their potential and develop new possibilities for our country.

    Today, the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) visited B.S.B. Manufacturing Ltd. (B.S.B), a Burlington-based machined components and parts manufacturer serving the automotive, agricultural and industrial product markets, to meet with employees and learn about the company’s ongoing shift to manufacture parts for electric vehicles. Minister Tassi was joined by Pam Damoff, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Consular Affairs) and Member of Parliament for Oakville North–Burlington.

    To support this transition, B.S.B. is receiving $1.2 million to seize future growth in the industry with the addition of new automated production equipment and facility upgrades. This will increase the company’s capacity to produce EV and hybrid vehicle components and fulfill new contracts within the EV industry.

    This funding is part of a combined investment of more than $12 million to help six manufacturers scale up EV production: B.S.B. Manufacturing Ltd., Can Art Aluminum Extrusion Canada Inc., Clover Tool Manufacturing Ltd., CMP Automation Inc., Electrovaya Inc. and Marwood International Inc. By expanding production capabilities and adopting new equipment, Ontario companies are meeting the growing demand for innovative production capabilities to feed the EV supply chain. Additional information on these projects is included in the backgrounder.

    The Government of Canada is committed to supporting businesses as they evolve to develop new opportunities in the EV sector and create good jobs for Canadians. Together, we are building a stronger, more sustainable future for everyone.

    Quotes

    “Southern Ontario has a rapidly growing EV sector and is home to many leading manufacturers across the EV supply chain that are using their expertise and talent to drive our EV sector forward. The Government of Canada is committed to supporting these companies as they help Canada to make progress towards its goal of reaching net-zero emissions and build a competitive EV sector in the region.”
    – The Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) 

    “The federal government is taking steps to help Canadians, businesses and communities adapt to climate change while making life more affordable on the path to net-zero. Today’s announcement highlights not only the resilience of this region, but also the strength of the manufacturing sector throughout southern Ontario.”
    – Pam Damoff, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Consular Affairs) and Member of Parliament for Oakville North–Burlington

    “Today, as we embark on a new chapter with EV and hybrid solutions for our customers, we are paving the way for the future of competitive manufacturing in Canada—one that requires constant innovation. B.S.B. is built on a strong foundation of high-quality products, in-house expertise and cutting-edge solutions. Thanks to the FedDev Ontario funding, we’ve been able to invest in new machinery, tooling, automation and robotics, ensuring that we can retain direct and indirect manufacturing jobs in Canada.”
    – Narinder Bhogal, P.Eng, President, B.S.B. Manufacturing Ltd.

    Quick facts

    • Established in 1976 in Burlington, B.S.B. Manufacturing Ltd. is a Tier 1 & 2 automotive supplier to major customers such as Stellantis (Chrysler), Magna, Tesla and GM.

    • Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Brampton, Can Art Aluminum Extrusion Canada Inc. has emerged as a leader in designing and producing housing units and components for EV batteries at its Lakeshore, Ontario facility, used in a significant number of EVs in North America.

    • Concord-based Clover Tool Manufacturing Ltd. was established in 1979 and is a supplier of tooling, stampings, and welded and mechanical assemblies for automotive and other industries.

    • Founded in 1988, Kitchener-based CMP Automation Inc. provides custom automated manufacturing equipment and solutions to various industries, including nylon tubing used in the automotive industry.

    • Established in 1996, Mississauga-based Electrovaya Inc. is a pioneering leader in the global energy transformation, focused on contributing to the prevention of climate change by manufacturing safe and long-lasting lithium-ion batteries for heavy-duty vehicles and battery systems.

    • Incorporated in 1990, Tillsonburg-headquartered Marwood International Inc. is an award-winning stamping and assembly company that manufactures a full range of automotive components, such as structural assemblies, rear-end components, roof and sunroof components, and more.

    • Since 2015, FedDev Ontario has invested more than $86.9 million in 26 EV-related projects, creating and maintaining more than 2,250 jobs.

    Associated links

    Contacts

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

    FedDev Ontario
    Media Relations
    media@feddevontario.gc.ca

    Stay Connected

    FedDev-Ontario.Canada.ca

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    Subscribe to FedDev Ontario’s Southern Ontario Spotlight newsletter, featuring economic development news and updates from across the region.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Appointment of Director General for the East Africa Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery Office Dr. Kennedy K. Mbekeani

    Source: African Development Bank Group

    The African Development Bank Group is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Kennedy K. Mbekeani as Director General for the East Africa Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery Office, effective from 16th October 2024.

    Dr. Kennedy K. Mbekeani, a citizen of Malawi brings over 25 years of senior level experience in development finance, project management, policy advisory services, and knowledge generation across country and regional levels. Prior to this appointment, he served as Deputy Director General for the Bank’s Southern Africa Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery Office.

    He holds a Bachelor of Social Science (Economics and Statistics) degree from the University of Malawi, an MPhil in Monetary Economics from the University of Glasgow, and both an MA and PhD in International Economics from the University of California. He has authored numerous publications focusing on trade, regional integration, and infrastructure development in Africa.

    In his previous role as Deputy Director General for the Southern Africa Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery Office, Dr. Mbekeani led the Bank’s business development and delivery for sovereign, non-sovereign investments and provided advisory services to South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Eswatini, Namibia and Mauritius. His efforts contributed to the Bank’s reputation as a trusted partner for high impact development projects in the region. He also managed relationships with key government and private sector, positioning the Bank for success.

    Dr. Mbekeani joined the Bank in 2009 as Chief Trade and Regional Integration Officer. He has held various senior roles including Lead Regional Economist at the South African Resource Centre, Officer in Charge and Acting Regional Director of the Bank’s South African Resource Centre in South Africa, and Officer in Charge of the Bank’s Ghana Country Office. When he served Country Manager for Uganda, he successfully expanded the Bank’s portfolio to over $2 billion.

    Before joining the Bank, Dr. Mbekeani worked for the United Nations Development Programme as a Trade, Debt and Globalisation Advisor for East and Southern Africa. He also served as Senior Research Fellow at the Botswana Institute for Development Policy Analysis, and Senior Economist at the National Institute for Economic Policy in South Africa.

    Commenting his appointment, Dr. Mbekeani said: “I am grateful and feel honoured by the confidence President Adesina placed in me through this appointment, as Director General for the East Africa Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery Office. I look forward to working with the President, the Board of Directors, Senior Management, our teams and stakeholders to enhance the Bank’s operational efficiency, effectiveness and drive impactful developmental outcomes across the region”.

    Commenting the appointment, the President of the African Development Bank Group, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina said: “I am delighted to appoint Dr. Kennedy Mbekeani as Director General for the East Africa Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery Office. Kennedy brings extensive experience in managing operations, policy dialogue, coupled with astute diplomacy and well-tested ability to work effectively with countries and development partners. He had previously worked in East Africa as the Country Manager for Uganda, before being promoted to the position of Deputy Director General of the Southern Africa Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery Office. His knowledge of the Eastern Africa region and well-proven experience in delivering robust operations for the public and private sectors will strongly benefit the work and operations of the African Development Bank Group in East Africa and all countries in the region”.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI: Genie Energy to Report Third Quarter 2024 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEWARK, NJ, Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Genie Energy Ltd., (NYSE: GNE), a leading retail energy and renewable energy solutions provider, will announce financial and operational results for the third quarter of 2024 on Wednesday, November 6th, 2024.

    Genie Energy will issue an earnings release over a wire service and post it in the “Investors” section of the Genie Energy website (https://genie.com/investors/quarterly-earnings/) at 7:30 AM Eastern. The release also will be filed in a current report (Form 8-K) with the SEC.

    At 8:30 AM Eastern, Genie Energy’s management will host a conference call to discuss financial and operational results, business outlook, and strategy. The call will begin with management’s remarks followed by Q&A with investors.

    To participate in the conference call, dial 1-877-545-0523 (toll-free from the US) or 1-973-528-0016 (international) and provide the following participant access code: 644435.

    Approximately three hours after the call, a call replay will be accessible by dialing 1-877-481-4010 (toll-free from the US) or 1-919-882-2331 (international) and providing the replay passcode: 51441. The replay will remain available through Wednesday, November 20, 2024. In addition, a recording of the call will be available for playback on the “Investors” section of the Genie Energy website. 

    In this press release, all statements that are not purely about historical facts, including, but not limited to, those in which we use the words “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “plan,” “intend,” “estimate, “target” and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. While these forward-looking statements represent our current judgment of what may happen in the future, actual results may differ materially from the results expressed or implied by these statements due to numerous important factors, including, but not limited to, those described in our most recent report on SEC Form 10-K (under the headings “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”), which may be revised or supplemented in subsequent reports on SEC Forms 10-Q and 8-K. We are under no obligation, and expressly disclaim any obligation, to update the forward-looking statements in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. 

    About Genie Energy Ltd.: 

    Genie Energy Ltd., (NYSE: GNE) is a leading retail energy and renewable energy solutions provider. The Genie Retail Energy division (GRE) supplies electricity, including electricity from renewable resources, and natural gas to residential and small business customers in the United States. The Genie Renewables division (GREW) is a vertically-integrated provider of community and utility-scale solar energy solutions. For more information, visit Genie.com.

    Contact: 
    Genie Energy Investor Relations
    Bill Ulrey
    E-mail: wulrey@genie.com 

    # # # 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cardin, Van Hollen, Ivey Highlight $1.15 Million in Direct Federal Investments for Youth Services and Restoration Projects in Prince George’s County

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maryland Ben Cardin

    WASHINGTON – Recently, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressman Glenn Ivey (all D-Md.) were in Prince George’s County to highlight $1,150,000 in direct federal investments they secured for youth services and environmental restoration projects in the community. The lawmakers fought for these investments in the federal funding bills passed and signed into law for Fiscal Year 2024.

    “The dam ruins at Laurel’s Riverfront Park and the Laurel Boys and Girls Club are at the heart of the community and tell the city’s origin story. These are stories that need to be told,” said Senator Cardin. “Investment in these historic places preserves our history and culture while creating economic and educational opportunities for Laurel’s residents.”

    “We fought for these direct investments in Prince George’s County with key goals in mind: building stronger communities and empowering our future leaders. Funding for the Laurel Boys & Girls Clubs will enable them to maintain safe spaces for after-school activities, and resources for restoring the Laurel Dam ruins will preserve the historic landmark that this City was built around while enhancing outdoor recreational opportunities. These are investments in the preservation of our local history and the wellbeing of Marylanders today and for generations to come,” said Senator Van Hollen.

    “Investing in our communities begins with raising the quality of life for residents.  Creating a beautiful, safe and environmentally friendly park space in the ruins of a dam along the Patuxent River gives people of Laurel and beyond a look into it’s storied history as a mill town and its future with the walkable Riverfront Park.  Keeping kids safe and promoting their wellbeing is a down payment on our leaders of tomorrow.  Keeping one of the oldest boys and girls clubs in the region thriving gives a glimpse of that future.  With the leadership of Maryland’s federal delegation bringing these grant monies, Laurel’s future is as bright as ever,” said Congressman Glenn Ivey (MD-04). 

    Senators Van Hollen, Senator Cardin and Congressman Ivey were joined by Laurel Council President James Kole to celebrate $850,000 in direct federal funding they secured to stabilize, protect, and restore the Dam Ruins at the City’s Riverfront Park. The project involves renovating the observation deck, improving drainage to control erosion, and repairing signage around the dam.

    “I am thankful and  thrilled to receive this funding, which will help us preserve and enhance the Laurel Dam Ruins, an important piece of our town’s history. This investment ensures that future generations can appreciate its significance while improving safety and access for our community. Our goal is to make the Ruins a destination place  for all to enjoy,” said City of Laurel Mayor Keith Sydnor.

    The lawmakers then visited the Boys and Girls Club of Laurel to highlight $300,000 for renovations at the clubhouse. The funds will allow the Boys and Girls Club to continue providing after-school activities and a positive, safe learning environment for middle and high school students.

    “We are so thankful for the continued support and leadership by Senator Van Hollen, Senator Cardin, and Congressman Ivey. This federal funding will enable us to make some of the critical renovations to our center and continue providing the care and services that impact the lives of our community’s children every day,” said Adrian Rousseau, President of the Laurel Boys and Girls Club.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Miller-Meeks Leads 232 House Members to Address Doc Cuts Before 2025

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks’ (IA-02)

    DAVENPORT – U.S. Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks led 232 bipartisan House members in urging House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) to address the scheduled 2.8% cut in reimbursement for physicians who participate in Medicare before the end of the 118th Congress. With rising provider costs, the proposed 2025 Medicare physician payment schedule would threaten to impact patient care, especially for rural Americans, and contribute to provider burnout, which is already straining the healthcare workforce. 

    “As a Physician, I am thrilled to lead more than 200 bipartisan House members in urging leadership on both sides to address the proposed doc reimbursement cuts,” said Miller-Meeks. “The overwhelming, bipartisan support is a testament to the importance of fixing this issue to preserve patient access to quality care. Long-term payment reform is still desperately needed, but a temporary fix is also critical. In Congress, I will continue to lead the charge for better health access and outcomes for Americans.”

    “As physicians face yet another year of pending cuts stemming from the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, the AMA appreciates that a majority of House members cosigned a letter urging Congress to stop this harmful cycle,” said American Medical Association President Bruce A. Scott, M.D. “This unsustainable onslaught of annual cuts must cease, and physicians must receive a long-overdue and desperately needed payment increase. We applaud Reps. Miller-Meeks and Panetta for their leadership and thank the more than 218 bipartisan members of Congress who recognized that the status quo is not an option. We need Congress to Fix Medicare STAT!”

    “We applaud the work done by Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, MD (IA-01), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Ami Bera, MD (CA-06), Larry Bucshon, MD (IN-08), Kim Schrier, MD (WA-08), Greg Murphy, MD (NC-3), John Joyce, MD (PA-13), and Raul Ruiz, MD (CA-25) to gain support from more than 200 House members to prevent the upcoming cuts to Medicare part B payments in January,” said American Medical Group Association (AMGA) President and CEO Jerry Penso, M.D., M.B.A.  “We are thankful for this strong showing by House members and encourage Congress to prevent these cuts so that AMGA members can continue to put the health of their communities, and not cost reductions, first.”

    The full text of the letter is below

    Dear Speaker Johnson and Minority Leader Jeffries:

    The undersigned bipartisan members of Congress write to urge you to expeditiously pass legislative fixes that not only stop another damaging round of cuts to Medicare payments, but also provide greater certainty and stability for clinicians serving Medicare beneficiaries. On July 10, the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Calendar Year (CY) 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) Proposed Rule, which includes provisions subjecting all physicians and other clinicians treating Medicare patients to a 2.8 percent payment cut. In lieu of these harmful cuts, which, absent federal legislation, will take effect on January 1, 2025, Congress must pass a bill providing physicians and other clinicians with a payment update that takes into account the cost of delivering care to patients.

    The scheduled 2.8 percent reduction represents the fifth consecutive year that CMS issued a fee schedule regulation lowering payments to physicians and other clinicians. While Congress has intervened in the past four years to mitigate portions of these cuts, the fact remains that the MPFS is inherently broken. Continued payment cuts undermine the ability of independent clinical practices—especially in rural and underserved areas—to care for their community, which reduces patient access to care. These ongoing cuts have forced medical groups and integrated systems of care to make difficult choices, such as imposing hiring freezes, delaying system improvements, postponing transitions to value-based care models, and potentially eliminating services. Because healthcare often comprises a large percentage of employment in rural areas, the closure of independent practices not only lessens patient access to care but also jeopardizes the livelihood of rural Americans.

    Over the last two decades, Medicare payment rates have fallen by 29 percent when adjusted for the costs of running a practice. Additionally, compliance with the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) is both expensive and a flawed method of measuring quality and costs of care, resulting in steep and unfair penalties. These payment cuts and MIPS compliance costs also come on the heels of the extremely disruptive COVID-19 public health emergency and the Change Healthcare cyberattack.

    The CY 2025 MPFS Proposed Rule highlights that the estimated cost of running a practice—covering expenses like rent, staff compensation, and purchasing supplies and equipment—is expected to increase substantially next year. This widening gap between what Medicare pays and the cost of delivering quality care to patients demands Congressional intervention.

    Thankfully, bipartisan lawmakers have come together to propose several legislative solutions aimed at providing permanent relief from the long-term problems plaguing the Medicare payment system. We urge Congressional Leadership to move legislation that provides physicians and other clinicians with a permanent, annual inflationary update in Medicare equivalent to the Medicare Economic Index (MEI). We also request targeted reforms to statutory MPFS budget neutrality requirements, raising the current MPFS budget neutrality threshold to reflect 2024 dollars, requiring CMS to cross-check utilization assumptions associated with newly unbundled codes that trigger budget neutrality cuts, mandating CMS to review key elements of practice expense costs every five years, and limiting changes to the MPFS conversion factor to no more than 2.5 percent in a given year. Some of these legislative solutions have already passed the Energy and Commerce Committee in 2023 with strong bipartisan support. Moreover, we urge Congressional Leadership to utilize bipartisan offsets as we address all issues pertaining to Medicare payments to physicians and other clinicians.

    Increased instability in the healthcare sector due to looming cost hikes impacts the ability of physicians and clinicians to provide the highest quality of care and threatens patient access to affordable healthcare. Rural physicians and other clinicians, along with those treating underserved populations, are facing the most daunting challenge of trying to provide care in the wake of devastating reimbursement cuts. To prevent the very real scenario of insufficient access to physicians and other clinicians treating Medicare patients, Congress must stop the 2.8 percent payment cut from occurring in 2025, enact targeted reforms to statutory budget neutrality requirements, and provide physicians with a payment update reflective of inflationary pressures. We stand ready to work with you to pass crucial bipartisan legislative initiatives before the conclusion of the 118th Congress.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SCHUMER ANNOUNCES NEW $750 MILLION PRELIMINARY INVESTMENT FOR WOLFSPEED FROM HIS CHIPS & SCIENCE LAW; SENATOR SAYS NEW $$$ WILL HELP ACCELERATE ONGOING MOHAWK VALLEY EXPANSION & SUPPORT HUNDREDS OF…

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer

    Includes $750M Agreement For Funding From Schumer’s CHIPS Act & $750M Private Investment, Boosting Wolfspeed’s Ongoing Expansion In Upstate NY And Building A New North Carolina Facility Which Sends Wafers To Oneida County’s Marcy Nanocenter To Be Finished, Providing Long Term Work For Mohawk Valley

    Wolfspeed Says It Also Plans To Tap Up To Nearly $1 Billion From The CHIPS ITC That Schumer Created To Help Fund Completion Of Mohawk Valley Plant

    Schumer: My CHIPS & Science Law Is Bringing Wolfspeed To Front Of The Pack & Helping Mohawk Valley Lead America’s Semiconductor Renaissance

    U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer today announced Wolfspeed has reached a $750 million preliminary memorandum of terms (PMT) funding agreement under the CHIPS & Science Law he led in writing and passing into law, helping them unlock an additional $750 million in private investment. Wolfspeed also said it plans to tap nearly $1 billion from the CHIPS Investment Tax Credit that Schumer helped create to fund much of the state-of-the-art equipment being installed to complete the expansion their Silicon Carbide Fabrication Facility at Marcy Nanocenter in Oneida County.

    Wolfspeed said this massive collective investment will help accelerate their ongoing expansion in the Mohawk Valley and boosting good-paying jobs expected to be created at the Marcy facility. This CHIPS investment will also support Wolfspeed’s new North Carolina Siler City facility which is integral to the Mohawk Valley’s future as it will send wafers to be finished in NY, creating long term work and future growth opportunities for the Marcy operation.

    “Wolfspeed is leading the pack in bringing semiconductor manufacturing back to America. This major multibillion investment powered by my CHIPS & Science Law will accelerate the ongoing expansion in the Mohawk Valley, helping boost hundreds of good paying jobs and providing long term work for the Marcy fab to succeed well into the future,” said Senator Schumer. “From electric vehicles to artificial intelligence, so much critical technology relies on the silicon carbide chips that Wolfspeed will manufacture and perfect in the Mohawk Valley. Today’s massive investment will make America’s economy and our national security stronger as Wolfspeed helps us write the next chapter of America’s resurgence as the leader in the semiconductor industry, with the Mohawk Valley as the beating heart.”

    Schumer explained that Wolfspeed’s Mohawk Valley Fab is the largest and one of the only 200mm Silicon Carbide fabrication facilities in the world. Wolfspeed officially opened their new fab in 2022 and is actively expanding with approximately $790 million in additional capital planned investment in the Mohawk Valley which will help support new good paying manufacturing and construction jobs to the region. The proposed CHIPS investment would also support the construction of Wolfspeed’s silicon carbide wafer manufacturing facility in North Carolina. Nearly all of the wafers from Wolfspeed’s new facility in Siler City, NC are needed and sent to the Mohawk Valley Fab to be finished and this investment is essential to ramp up chip production in New York. The proposed CHIPS funding will support the Mohawk Valley fab to increase its production capacity by approximately 30%.

    To achieve this increase in capacity in the Mohawk Valley, Wolfspeed will purchase and install additional tools & equipment in the Mohawk Valley, such as photolithography tools, ion implanters, metal deposition tools, etch systems, automation equipment and more that will be support by the Investment Tax Credit from the CHIPS & Science Law.

    The proposed $750 million in CHIPS funding will also help catalyze private capital investment of at least $750 million to support the company’s expansion plans. This injection of private capital would not have occurred were it not for the CHIPS and Science Act. Wolfspeed is the world’s leading manufacturer of wafers and devices made from silicon carbide, a compound which has favorable chemical and material properties compared to traditional silicon, enabling Wolfspeed’s semiconductors to be highly energy-efficient and durable. The silicon carbide devices manufactured by Wolfspeed power electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrids, enabling extended driving range-per-charge, faster charging times, and lower overall systems costs, they also are vital for artificial intelligence and in military applications critical for national security.

    Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. said, “We thank Senator Schumer for securing $750 million in funding for Wolfspeed from his historic CHIPS & Science Law. This transformative investment will accelerate hundreds of good-paying jobs in Oneida County and further elevate our region as a leader in semiconductor production. As Wolfspeed enhances its capabilities, we look forward to the opportunities this brings for our workforce and our future in the Mohawk Valley.”

    Acting President of Mohawk Valley EDGE Shawna Papale said, “On behalf of Mohawk Valley EDGE, we commend the Department of Commerce for reaching a preliminary agreement with Wolfspeed to leverage more than $2.5 billion of investment including over $750 million in CHIPS Act grant funding. The growth of the Mohawk Valley Fab is hinged on the ability of Siler City to produce 200mm silicon carbide wafers to supply Wolfspeed’s Mohawk Valley Fab. Thanks to Senate Majority Leader Schumer, this CHIPs announcement accelerates hiring towards Wolfspeed’s job target of over 600 employees and increases production capacity at the Marcy Nanocenter. This was a true collaboration across local, county, State, and Federal officials along with the leadership of Wolfspeed to make the dream of recreating American made manufacturing a reality right here in Oneida County.”

    Last week, Schumer announced Edwards Vacuum reached a $18 million CHIPS PMT to build its new $300+ million dry pump manufacturing facility for the semiconductor industry, the first of its kind for America, in Western NY. Earlier this year, Schumer also announced that Micron, which plans to invest $100 billion over the next two decades – the largest private investment in New York’ s history – reached a $6.1 billion CHIPS PMT funding agreement. In addition, GlobalFoundries in the Capital Region also reached an agreement for $1.5 billion in direct grant funding under his CHIPS & Science Law to support a $12.5 billion public-private investment over the next ten plus years to expand and construct a second, new state-of-the-art computer chip factory in Malta, NY. 

    Schumer added, “The CHIPS & Science Law keeps helping grow the booming semiconductor industry in Upstate NY. We are seeing more targeted federal investment than ever before to bring back manufacturing, and awards like this show how the I-90 corridor from Buffalo to Syracuse to Utica to Albany truly is becoming America’s semiconductor superhighway.”

    Schumer has long worked to position the Mohawk Valley for semiconductor investment. In addition to his efforts on further recruiting chip suppliers to Marcy Nanocenter, Schumer secured $2 million in U.S. DOL funding for the Workforce Development Board of Herkimer, Madison and Oneida Counties and Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC) to boost technical training to support the expansion and attraction of the semiconductor industry. Schumer also secured $2 million for MVCC to create a new state-of-the-art semiconductor and advanced manufacturing training center.

    Schumer is also actively working with Mohawk Valley EDGE to help lure additional semiconductor and supply chain companies to Marcy Nanocenter which will get a further boost from Wolfspeed and Micron’s expansions in the region.

    Schumer said, “Marcy Nanocenter is one of the most shovel-ready sites in the whole country and with this investment helping to strengthen Wolfspeed and with Micron rapidly establishing itself in the broader region, I am going all out to land more companies to make the Mohawk Valley a central component of bringing semiconductor manufacturing back to America.”

    Thanks to Schumer’s CHIPS & Science Law, Upstate New York has seen a major revival in tech manufacturing. Micron has announced plans for a historic $100+ billion investment to build a cutting-edge memory fab in Central New York. GlobalFoundries plans to invest over $12 billion to expand and construct a second, new state-of-the-art computer chip factory in the Capital Region. TTM Technologies, a printed circuit board manufacturer, plans to invest up to $130 million to expand their facilities in Onondaga County, creating up to 400 good-paying jobs. Menlo Micro will invest $150 million to build their microchip switch manufacturing facility in Tompkins County, creating over 100 new good-paying jobs. In addition, Upstate New York is home to semiconductor supply chain companies like Corning Incorporated, which manufactures glass critical to the microchip industry at its Canton and Fairport, NY plants. Edwards Vacuum is also moving forward with a $300+ million investment to build a dry pump manufacturing facility in Western New York, creating 600 good-paying jobs to support the growing chip industry in Upstate New York and across the nation.

    The PMT outlines key terms for Wolfspeed’s CHIPS agreement. To finalize the federal CHIPS agreement, the Commerce Department will now begin a comprehensive due diligence process on the proposed project and other information contained in the application. After satisfactory completion of the due diligence phase, the Commerce Department will finalize the PMT.

    MIL OSI USA News –