Category: Business

  • MIL-OSI Translation: The Government of Canada and the Municipality of the District of Clare invest in the renovation of the Clare Veterans Centre

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Regional Government of Canada – in French 2

    Press release

    Saulnierville, Nova Scotia, July 14, 2023 – Today, Kody Blois, Member of Parliament for Kings–Hants, and Yvon LeBlanc, Warden of the Municipality of the District of Clare, announced a joint investment of more than $2.9 million to renovate the Clare Veterans Centre in Saulnierville.

    This investment will improve the building’s accessibility, including the addition of a new accessible entry point with a concrete ramp and an interior elevator. It will also install photovoltaic solar panels that will produce renewable energy and reduce operating costs. In addition, the building’s exterior cladding will be re-done with sustainability in mind, and a new façade will be constructed. Inside, numerous renovations and equipment upgrades will be carried out, including the installation of a new heating and cooling system, modernization of electrical systems and lighting, construction of new accessible washrooms, renovation of the kitchen, construction of a cold room, installation of new drywall and application of new paint.

    These improvements are expected to reduce the building’s energy consumption by approximately 31.9% and greenhouse gas emissions by 33.2 tonnes annually. In addition, the improvements will create an accessible environment for users and extend the life of the building, while enhancing its versatility and improving its overall appearance.

    The Clare Veterans Centre in Saulnierville is located in the largest rural Acadian community in Nova Scotia. The centre is widely used by groups from all sectors and demographics. In addition, it hosts many annual events.

    By investing in infrastructure, the Government of Canada is growing our country’s economy, increasing the resilience of our communities, and improving the lives of Canadians.

    Quotes

    “The Government of Canada’s investment will help ensure that the Clare Veterans Centre remains a welcoming and inclusive place for all members of the community. The renovations will allow the community to continue to successfully host cultural events in a comfortable environment. In addition, by reducing the facility’s carbon footprint, this project contributes to provincial and federal climate change mitigation efforts.”

    Kody Blois, Member of Parliament for Kings–Hants, on behalf of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities

    “The upgrade to the Clare Veterans Centre is necessary and well deserved. The building is used daily by residents of the municipality, and I am confident that the planned renovations will be enjoyed by all those who make good use of public space. The planned work will certainly improve the aesthetics of the building, but also more functional elements such as its accessibility and carbon footprint.”

    Yvon LeBlanc, Warden of the Municipality of the District of Clare

    Quick Facts

    Our government is investing $2,356,494 in this project through the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings (GICB) Program. The Municipality of the District of Clare is contributing $589,124.

    The BCVI program aims to improve the places where Canadians work, learn, play, live and gather by reducing pollution, making life more affordable and supporting thousands of good jobs. Through green upgrades and other work to existing public community buildings, and new construction in underserved communities, the BCVI program helps ensure community facilities are inclusive, accessible and have a long lifespan, and help Canada achieve its net-zero emissions targets by 2050.

    At least 10 percent of the funds are allocated to projects for First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities, which includes Indigenous populations in urban centres.

    The Green and Inclusive Community Buildings (GICB) program was created to support Canada’s Strengthened Climate Plan: A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy, and supports the first pillar of the Plan by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing energy efficiency and building resilience to climate change. The program provides $1.5 billion over five years for retrofits, repairs or improvements that promote the environment and accessibility.

    The funding announced today is part of the work the Government of Canada is doing under the Atlantic Growth Strategy to create good-paying middle-class jobs, strengthen local economies and build inclusive communities.

    For more information, please consult Infrastructure Canada website.

    Related links

    Contact persons

    For further information (media only), please contact:

    Jean-Sébastien Comeau Press Secretary and Senior Communications AdvisorOffice of the Honourable Dominic LeBlancMinister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities343-574-8116Jean-Sebastien.Comeau@iga-aig.gc.ca

    Media Relations Infrastructure Canada613-960-9251Toll free: 1-877-250-7154Email: media-medias@infc.gc.caFollow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram And LinkedInWebsite: Infrastructure Canada

    Pam Doucet Director of Community DevelopmentMunicipality of the District of Clare902-769-2031directorcd@munclare.ca

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Governments of Canada, Nova Scotia and Bayside Development Corporation invest in energy-efficient renovations at Bayside Travel Centre in Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Regional Government of Canada – in French 2

    Press release

    Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation, Nova Scotia, July 11, 2023—Today, Mike Kelloway, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard and Member of Parliament for Cape Breton-Canso, the Honourable Michelle Thompson, Minister of Health and Wellness, on behalf of the Honourable Tory Rushton, Minister of Natural Resources and Renewable Energy, and Rose Paul, CEO and President of Bayside Corporation, announced joint funding of over $1.6 million for energy-efficient green energy retrofits at the Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation’s Bayside Travel Centre.

    The project involves the installation of a direct current microgrid energy system consisting of solar photovoltaic panels, a battery storage system and two electric vehicle fast chargers at the Bayside Travel Centre, owned by the Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation. By integrating three separate technologies, this project is the first microgrid in Nova Scotia to work together to provide energy services.

    This investment will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 3,945 tonnes, improve access to electric vehicle chargers and create jobs in the community.

    By investing in infrastructure, the Government of Canada is growing our country’s economy, increasing the resilience of our communities, and improving the lives of Canadians.

    Quotes

    “The Bayside Travel Centre solar microgrid is a significant milestone for Nova Scotia, the Municipality of Antigonish and the Paq’tnkek Mi’kmaw Nation. Green energy projects like this benefit our communities in many ways. They generate clean electricity, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create good jobs. This project will play a vital role in combatting climate change and ensuring a clean energy future for Nova Scotia.”

    Mike Kelloway, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard and Member of Parliament for Cape Breton-Canso, on behalf of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities

    “The Government of Canada is working with Indigenous partners to make investments in clean energy that will create jobs across the country. Today’s investment is a great example of this ambitious action. We are pleased to deploy EV charging stations, batteries and solar panels at the Bayside Travel Centre with the Paq’tnkek Mi’kmaw Nation and our provincial partners.”

    The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources

    “Our approach to the energy transition must leave no one behind. Today’s announcement will enable the community to reduce emissions while creating good-paying jobs for its members. Investments in climate-friendly solutions like this will create benefits for years to come, for the environment and for Indigenous peoples. Congratulations to the Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation for taking this important step.”

    The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services

    “The technology being deployed in Nova Scotia’s renewable energy sector is truly inspiring. The upgrades completed by the Bayside Development Corporation will serve as an example for other organizations in the province looking to move toward a cleaner, greener future.”

    The Honourable Michelle Thompson, Minister of Health and Wellness, on behalf of the Honourable Tory Rushton, Minister of Natural Resources and Renewable Energy

    “Developing renewable energy is an example of energy sovereignty and being stewards of the land and resources. Working toward our carbon neutrality goals is an opportunity to be at the forefront of an industry that aligns with our sustainability values while providing social and economic opportunities for our communities.”

    Rose Paul, CEO and President of Bayside Corporation

    Quick Facts

    The Government of Canada is investing more than $1.4 million in this project, the Government of Nova Scotia is investing $200,000 and the Bayside Development Corporation is providing $18,309.

    The Government of Canada’s funding comes from Infrastructure Canada’s Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program – Green Infrastructure Stream, Natural Resources Canada’s Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program, and Indigenous Services Canada’s Atlantic Canada Clean Energy Indigenous Economic Development Strategic Partnerships Initiative.

    Federal investments are supporting the development of a coast-to-coast EV charging network along highways, as well as the deployment of chargers in local areas where Canadians live, work and play, with more than 43,600 EV chargers selected to date for funding.

    This green infrastructure component supports the development of greener communities by promoting climate change preparedness, greenhouse gas emission reductions and renewable technologies.

    Including today’s announcement, 63 infrastructure projects or groups of projects have been funded in Nova Scotia under the Green Infrastructure Stream, for a total federal contribution of more than $357 million and a total provincial contribution of nearly $459 million.

    Through the Investing in Canada plan, the federal government is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada’s rural and northern communities.

    Infrastructure Canada helps address the complex challenges Canadians face every day, from rapidly growing cities to climate change to environmental threats to our waters and lands.

    The funding announced today is part of the work the Government of Canada is doing under the Atlantic Growth Strategy to create good-paying middle-class jobs, strengthen local economies and build inclusive communities.

    Related links

    Contact persons

    For further information (media only), please contact:

    Jean-Sébastien Comeau Press Secretary and Senior Communications AdvisorOffice of the Honourable Dominic LeBlancMinister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities343-574-8116Jean-Sebastien.Comeau@iga-aig.gc.ca

    Media Relations Infrastructure Canada613-960-9251Toll free: 1-877-250-7154Email: media-medias@infc.gc.caFollow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram And LinkedInWebsite: Infrastructure Canada

    Patricia Jreige Communications AdvisorNatural Resources and Renewable Energy902-718-7866Patricia.jreige@novascotia.ca

    Richard Perry Public RelationsBayside Development Corporation902-318-7272rgperry@icloud.com

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Media Advisory: Infrastructure Announcement in Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Regional Government of Canada – in French 2

    Media Advisory

    Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation, Nova Scotia, July 10, 2023—Members of the media are invited to an infrastructure announcement with Mike Kelloway, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard and Member of Parliament for Cape Breton-Canso; the Honourable Michelle Thompson, Minister of Health and Wellness, on behalf of the Honourable Tory Rushton, Minister of Natural Resources and Renewable Energy; and Rose Paul, CEO and Chair of Bayside Corporation.

    Date: Tuesday, July 11, 2023

    Time: 11:00 a.m. (ADT)

    Location: Bayside Travel Centre, 86 Bayside Road, Afton Station, NS B0H 1A0

    Contact persons

    For further information (media only), please contact:

    Kelly Ouimet Director of Communications Office of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities 343-552-3420 Kelly.Ouimet@iga-aig.gc.ca

    Media Relations Infrastructure Canada 613-960-9251 Toll free: 1-877-250-7154 Email: media-medias@infc.gc.ca Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram And LinkedIn Website: Infrastructure Canada

    Patricia Jreige Communications Advisor Natural Resources and Renewable Energy 902-718-7866 Patricia.jreige@novascotia.ca

    Richard Perry Public Relations Bayside Development Corporation 902-318-7272rgperry@icloud.com

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Shoplifter’s next trip to court

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    One supermarket shoplifter in Papakura didn’t bargain for an eagle-eyed camera operator in her plans.

    Instead, she is without $300 in stolen groceries and faces the Papakura District Court today.

    Acting Senior Sergeant Melody Brown, from Counties Manukau South Police, says a supermarket reported the shoplifting as it was occurring around lunchtime on Tuesday.

    “A woman was brazenly walking out of the store with a trolley full of around $300 in groceries.”

    In came the CCTV network installed around Papakura’s Town Centre.

    “A camera operator was able to track the woman’s movements to a vehicle and this information was relayed back to Police,” acting Senior Sergeant Brown says.

    A Police unit was soon arriving at a nearby Papakura address.

    “Our staff located a woman matching the description in the process of unloading the stolen goods from her vehicle.”

    The 33-year-old woman was arrested and has been charged with theft.

    Acting Senior Sergeant Brown says Police have a strong relationship locally with the Papakura Business Association.

    “Their camera network is invaluable in helping us respond to incidents as they occur, but also assist in other ongoing investigations,” she says.

    “We’d like to acknowledge their camera monitor for their diligent work yesterday.”

    ENDS. 

    Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cassidy Votes to Keep Government Open, Extend Flood Insurance Program, Fund Disaster Relief

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today voted to pass a bill to keep the government open until December 20th, 2024. Cassidy has urged Congress to extend the authorization of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and secure additional funding for disaster relief following Hurricane Francine.
    “Nobody wants a shutdown. We must keep the National Flood Insurance Program going, put more money into FEMA’s disaster relief fund, continue to pay our troops, and give the Secret Service additional resources to protect President Trump. While I’m disappointed the SAVE Act was not included, this bill gives us the time to find a lasting solution without harming Americans,” said Dr. Cassidy.
    Background
    Cassidy spoke on the Senate floor last week about the need to reauthorize and reform NFIP. That speech was the sixth installment of a series of Senate floor speeches Cassidy is using to focus attention on unsustainable flood insurance premiums.
    In January, the U.S. Senate Banking Committee held a hearing on NFIP at the request of Cassidy. The hearing highlighted the urgent need for Congress to act and featured a Louisiana witness. Cassidy also participated in a roundtable hosted by GNO, Inc. and the Coalition for Sustainable Flood Insurance before introducing the bill to hear from community leaders and advocates on the issue. Last year, Cassidy traveled St. Bernard Parish to talk with residents about their flood insurance premiums, resulting in the second episode of his series Bill on the Hill.
    Earlier this month, President Biden approved a disaster declaration in the wake of Hurricane Francine. Ascension, Assumption, Lafourche, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Mary, and Terrebonne Parishes were all covered by the declaration.
    Following the second assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump, Cassidy and seven Senate Republican colleagues called for President Trump to receive the same level of Secret Service protection as a sitting president.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Meeting with Chinese counterparts in Beijing

    Source: Australian Treasurer

    Over the next two days, I will meet with key Chinese counterparts in Beijing.

    This is another important step towards stabilising our economic relationship with China.

    It will be the first visit by an Australian Treasurer to China in seven years.

    These meetings are part of the Albanese Labor Government’s methodical and coordinated efforts to re‑establish dialogue with China, Australia’s largest trading partner.

    The main purpose is to co‑chair the 2024 Australia‑China Strategic Economic Dialogue with Zheng Shanjie, Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, on Thursday 26 September.

    Our relationship with China is full of complexity and opportunity.

    We recognise a more stable economic relationship between Australia and China is a good thing for Australian workers, businesses, investors and our country more broadly.

    That’s why in the last week I have consulted directly with the chairs, CEOs and senior executives of major China‑facing Australian employers, including Rio Tinto, Wesfarmers, BHP, Woodside, Fortescue, Macquarie, BlueScope, HSBC, King & Wood Mallesons, the Port of Newcastle, Sydney Airport, Cochlear, the University of New South Wales, GrainCorp and the Business Council of Australia.

    Dialogue and engagement gives us the best chance to properly manage and maximise these important links.

    Our approach to China has been to cooperate where we can, disagree where we must, and engage in Australia’s national interest.

    The Strategic Economic Dialogue has not been convened since 2017 but our Government has agreed with Chinese counterparts to restart it.

    I’ll also be meeting with other counterparts from the Chinese Government during my two days of engagements.

    My meetings in China build on Prime Minister Albanese’s engagements in November 2023 and Premier Li Qiang’s meetings in Australia in June 2024.

    We recognise that there’s a lot at stake and a lot to gain from the relationship with China.

    We’ve got an opportunity to make sure both countries benefit from the continued complementarity of our economies, while protecting Australia’s interests.

    MIL OSI News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Trade – NZ-UAE Trade Agreement welcomed by export sector

    Source: BusinessNZ

    New Zealand exporters will welcome the news of a new free trade agreement between New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates signed today, says ExportNZ.
    “The deal between the UAE and NZ looks to be a comprehensive agreement between our two countries, and the immediate tariff reductions will be warmly welcomed by NZ businesses exporting goods and services into the Gulf State,” ExportNZ Executive Director, Josh Tan said.
    “Once enforced, the FTA will eliminate 98 per cent of tariffs on NZ goods entering the UAE, streamline customs entry for goods, and will help to reduce other barriers to trade.”
    NZ’s current main exports to the UAE include dairy, meat, industrial products, horticultural products and tourism.
    “The deal will also open up new opportunities in both in the UAE and further into the Middle East, as the UAE acts as an important hub in the region for travel, imports and exports, and business,” Josh Tan said.
    “We congratulate the negotiators on both sides for taking this agreement from launch to signature in four months – a record time.”
    The BusinessNZ Network including BusinessNZ, EMA, Business Central, Business Canterbury and Business South, represents and provides services to thousands of businesses, small and large, throughout New Zealand.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ernst, Grassley Demand Accountability on ATF’s Unlawful Misclassification Scandal

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) are pushing for accountability after the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) decided to reinstate the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ (ATF) position classification authority, even after claims that ATF repeatedly and unlawfully labeled administrative positions as “law enforcement,”costing taxpayers at least $20 million. 
    “Appropriate corrective action must be taken in regards to all employees that allowed taxpayer dollars to be wasted after notification of the aforementioned misconduct,” the senators wrote. “The American public must know ATF will not revert to its previous impropriety after the restoration of its classification authority.”
    The senators are revealing the far-reaching failures among the agencies and demanding OPM release the full, unredacted Human Capital Management Evaluation (HCME) audit, and questioning why ATF’s five-year position classification review has been put on hold and for the Justice Management Division (JDM) of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to provide all documents related to the classification of law enforcement positions.
    View the letters to the ATF, DOJ’s JDM, and OPM.
    Background:
    Last year, Ernst called out the ATF for posing as law enforcement to scam taxpayers and followed up earlier this year by demanding corrective action.
    Ernst previously blasted ATF’s unwarranted “knock and talk” tactics in which ATF agents in full gear visit private residences without a warrant to request that residents show a recently purchased firearm as proof they did not conduct a straw purchase.
    Ernst and Grassley previously grilled the agency for inappropriately targeting federal firearms license (FFL) holders and stifling Second Amendment rights by abusing its federal regulatory powers.
    To protect gun dealers, Ernst introduced her Fighting Irrational Regulatory Enforcement to Avert Retailers’ Misfortune (FIREARM) Act which would create a safe harbor for lawful gun dealers at risk of having their federal firearm license stripped for a single, minor, clerical error.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sinema Introduces Sharad Desai, Nominee for U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona to the Senate Judiciary Committee

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Kyrsten Sinema (Arizona)
    Sinema worked directly with the White House to nominate Sharad Desai to serve as a U.S. District Court Judge 

    For a broadcast-quality HD clip, click HERE.
    For an MP3 soundbite, click HERE.WASHINGTON – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema introduced Sharad Desai, nominee to the U.S. District Court Judge for the District of Arizona to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Sinema recommended Mr. Desai and worked directly with the White House on his nomination to the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona.  “Sharad Desai represents the best of the Arizona legal community. He possesses the experience, integrity, and intellect to serve honorably as a federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona,” said Sinema.  Earlier this year, Sinema applauded Sharad Desai’s nomination to serve as a U.S. District Court Judge for the District of Arizona. Mr. Desai is a native Arizonan and, if confirmed by the U.S. Senate, he would be Arizona’s first South Asian federal district judge. Mr. Desai currently serves as Vice President and General Counsel for Honeywell’s Integrated Supply Chain and Information Technology groups, where he manages legal risk, ensures compliance with laws and regulations across the globe, resolves disputes prior to litigation, and more. At Honeywell, Mr. Desai has served in numerous roles, including as Litigation Counsel for Honeywell’s Aerospace division and Chief Litigation Counsel for the Safety and Productivity Solutions division. In these roles, Mr. Desai managed a docket of federal and state court matters and arbitrations – including commercial, qui tam, product liability, and toxic tort matters. Mr. Desai also selected outside counsel, developed the litigation strategy, and coordinated discovery efforts. He was also responsible for handling government subpoenas and civil investigatory demands, as well as subpoenas received in connection with civil and criminal matters. Mr. Desai also worked almost for a decade at the Arizona law firm Osborn Maledon, becoming a partner in the litigation group where he represented clients – including individuals, small business, and Fortune 100 companies – in commercial litigation and appellate matters. In this role, Mr. Desai regularly appeared in both federal and state courts, mental health court proceedings, and lawyer ethics matters. After graduating from New York University Law School in 2006, Mr. Desai clerked for Arizona Supreme Court then-Vice Chief Justice Rebecca White Berch. Mr. Desai earned a Bachelor of Science in Molecular and Cellular Biology, Magna Cum Laude, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Magna Cum Laude, from the University of Arizona in 2003, where he was a Flinn Scholar. Sinema has a track record of earning broad bipartisan support for judicial nominees. Earlier this year, Sinema celebrated the Senate confirmation of Arizona’s Angela Martinez and Krissa Lanham as federal judges for the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona – which Sinema personally ensured both nominees earned a broad bipartisan vote. 

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Quality Jobs and the Future of Work in Asia and the Pacific: Impacts of a Triple Transition—Demographic, Digital, and Green

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. It assists its members and partners by providing loans, technical assistance, grants, and equity investments to promote social and economic development.

    Headquarters

    6 ADB Avenue, Mandaluyong City 1550, Metro Manila, Philippines

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-Evening Report: Before Trump, there was a long history of race-baiting, fear-mongering and building walls on the US-Mexico border

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marie-Eve Loiselle, Lecturer in Law, Macquarie University

    Last month, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump delivered a one-hour address on the danger of illegal immigration to the United States. His stage was the US-Mexico border in Arizona and the set piece of his performance was the border wall.

    The message was simple: with their border policy, Democrats have “unleashed a deadly plague of migrant crime”. Trump has ratcheted up the tensions on immigration further since then, repeating wild conspiracy theories about Haitian immigrants eating pets and, more recently, claiming migrants are “attacking villages and cities all throughout the Midwest”.

    What the US needs, Trump has repeatedly stressed, is a closed border, a walled border.

    A long history of wall-building advocacy

    The US-Mexico border wall, which is currently around 700 miles in length in various stretches, has loomed large in American politics in recent decades, especially since the 2016 US presidential campaign. Yet, current stories about the wall mostly overlook its history.

    Most importantly, the media ignore the long-standing appeal of the wall as a tool of spatial and cultural division in the making of the US-Mexico border.

    In my forthcoming book, I trace the origin of the border wall to the early 1900s, when the US Immigration Service and other federal agencies called for the construction of barriers at the border.

    Congress answered their appeal by adopting an act in 1935 that authorised the secretary of state to construct and maintain fences between the US and Mexico. For decades following its adoption, US officials stood before Congress almost yearly, asking for funding for the construction of border fences.

    This trend culminated in the 1940s with two parallel projects: the Western Land Boundary Fence Project (576 miles or 926 kilometres of fencing from El Paso, Texas, to the west) and the Rio Grande Border Fence Project (415 miles or 668 kilometres of fencing along the Mexico-Texas border).

    Neither one of these projects was ever fully realised. But if they had been built, they would have surpassed the length of the current border wall.

    Immigration, disease and crime

    What is telling when looking at the history is how similar the arguments supporting such fences in the early 1900s were to those deployed today. Immigration, disease and crime have been recurring justifications for the wall, both then and now.

    Indeed, there is an uncanny likeness to Trump’s rhetoric surrounding the US-Mexico border — including during his August speech in Arizona — and the narratives justifying a border wall in the mid-20th century.

    High on the list of justifications was the need to deter “juvenile delinquents”, “thieves”, “beggars”, undocumented workers, narcotic smugglers, “wetbacks” (a derogatory term for Mexicans), and Mexican nationals seeking medical care in the US at public expense.

    These arguments appeared regularly in government reports and during congressional hearings from the 1930s to the late 1950s.

    A 1934 report by the Immigration Services on the feasibility of a short border fence between El Paso and Ciudad Juárez, for example, said it would stifle illegal immigration that took employment opportunities from American workers, while lowering wages in the borderland area.

    Reminiscent of recent analogies between the borderland and a “war zone”, the report noted that sending agents to patrol the border without proper equipment was pointless. It was akin to:

    put[ting] a body of troops in the field in an enemy’s theatre of operation without artillery, observation planes, trucks, ammunition and other weapons.

    The fence was “the correct solution to the problem.”

    At times, the fear of the undocumented merged with the fear of contagion. A foot and mouth disease outbreak in Mexico in 1946, for example, provided additional rhetorical support for the wall. As Texas Senator Tom Connally said when the Committee on Foreign Relations considered the issue:

    It has been a dream of the Department of State for many years to have this fence, not because of the hoof and mouth disease, but for immigration and customs and smuggling and all of that sort of thing.

    Senator Tom Connally in 1938.
    Harris & Ewing photographs, via Wikimedia Commons

    Persistent racial faultlines

    The 1935 act has long been forgotten. In fact, by the end of the 1950s, only a few hundred miles of fencing had actually been built.

    These earlier walling plans failed for a range of reasons, including opposition by Texan landowners and industries relying on illegal Mexican labour. Perhaps most importantly, there were serious reservations back then about the efficiency of fences in curbing immigration.

    Yet, these doubts have not weighed in to the same extent in contemporary debates about the border wall. This underscores the performative role of the wall in today’s politics.

    In fact, close to 700 hundred miles (1,126 kilometres) of fencing has been built under the Secure Fence Act of 2006. This includes large portions of the wall built under the presidency of Barack Obama and, to a lesser extent, Trump’s.

    What has filtered through, however, is the racialised narrative that paints Mexicans nationals in a disparaging way.

    This rhetoric relied on generalisations and stereotypes on themes such as criminality, licentiousness and disease. It transformed Mexico into a threat to be curtailed and became a frame of reference that has permeated politics for decades – and is now a defining issue in the upcoming presidential election.

    Marie-Eve Loiselle 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. Before Trump, there was a long history of race-baiting, fear-mongering and building walls on the US-Mexico border – https://theconversation.com/before-trump-there-was-a-long-history-of-race-baiting-fear-mongering-and-building-walls-on-the-us-mexico-border-238425

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI: Westhaven Announces Brokered Private Placement for Gross Proceeds of Up to C$5.0 Million

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES.

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Westhaven Gold Corp. (TSX-V:WHN) (“Westhaven” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that the Company has entered into an agreement with Red Cloud Securities Inc. (the “Agent”) to act as sole agent and bookrunner in connection with a best efforts, private placement (the “Marketed Offering“) for aggregate gross proceeds of up to C$5,000,000 from the sale of the following:

    • 10,000,000 units of the Company (each, a “Unit”) at a price of C$0.15 per Unit for gross proceeds of up to C$1,500,000 from the sale of Units; and
    • gross proceeds of up to C$3,500,000 from the sale of any combination of (i) common shares of the Company that will quality as “flow-through shares” within the meaning of subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (each, a “Traditional FT Share”) at a price of C$0.175 per Traditional FT Share and (ii) flow-through units of the Company to be sold to charitable purchasers (each, a “Charity FT Unit”, and collectively with the Units and Traditional FT Shares, the “Offered Securities”) at a price of C$0.22 per Charity FT Unit.

    Each Unit will consist of one common share of the Company (each, a “Unit Share”) and one half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a “Warrant”). Each Charity FT Unit will consist of one Traditional FT Share and one half of one Warrant. Each Warrant shall entitle the holder to purchase one common share of the Company (each, a “Warrant Share”) at a price of C$0.22 at any time on or before that date which is 24 months after the closing date of the Offering (as defined below).

    The Agent will have an option, exercisable in full or in part, up to 48 hours prior to the closing of the Offering, to sell up to an additional C$1,000,000 in any combination of Units, Traditional FT Shares and Charity FT Units at their respective offering prices (the “Agents’ Option” and together with the Marketed Offering, the “Offering”).

    Subject to compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and in accordance with National Instrument 45-106 – Prospectus Exemptions (“NI 45-106”), those Units, Traditional FT Shares and Charity FT Units representing gross proceeds of up to C$5,000,000 (the “LIFE Securities”) will be offered for sale to purchasers in the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Saskatchewan (the “Canadian Selling Jurisdictions”) pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of NI 45-106 (the “Listed Issuer Financing Exemption”). The Unit Shares, Traditional FT Shares, Warrants and Warrant Shares issuable pursuant to the sale of the LIFE Securities are expected to be immediately freely tradeable under applicable Canadian securities legislation if sold to purchasers resident in Canada. The Units may also be sold in offshore jurisdictions and in the United States on a private placement basis pursuant to one or more exemptions from the registration requirements of the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the “U.S. Securities Act“), as amended.

    Any Units and Charity FT Units sold in excess of gross proceeds of C$5,000,000 as well as the Traditional FT Shares (collectively, the “Non-LIFE Securities”) will be offered by way of the “accredited investor” and “minimum amount investment” exemptions under NI 45-106 in the Canadian Selling Jurisdictions, or in the case of the Units, also in offshore jurisdictions and the United States on a private placement basis pursuant to one or more exemptions from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act. The Unit Shares, Traditional FT Shares, Warrants and Warrant Shares issuable from the sale of Non-LIFE Securities will be subject to a hold period ending on the date that is four months plus one day following the closing date of the Offering under applicable Canadian securities laws.

    The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of Units for working capital and general corporate purposes. The gross proceeds from the issuance of the Traditional FT Shares and the Charity FT Units will be used for Canadian exploration expenses on the Company’s mineral projects in British Columbia and will qualify as “flow-through mining expenditures”, as defined in subsection 127(9) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the “Qualifying Expenditures”), which will be incurred on or before December 31, 2025 and renounced to the subscribers with an effective date no later than December 31, 2024 in an aggregate amount not less than the gross proceeds raised from the issue of the Traditional FT Shares and Charity FT Units.

    The Offering is scheduled to close on or around October 15, 2024, or such other date as the Company and the Agent may agree, and is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, receipt of all necessary approvals including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

    The Company will pay to the Agent a cash commission of 6% of the gross proceeds raised in respect of the Offering (the “Agents’ Commission”). In addition, the Company will issue to the Agent warrants of the Company (each warrant, a “Broker Warrant”), exercisable for a period of 24 months following the Closing Date, to acquire in aggregate that number of common shares of the Company which is equal to 6% of the number of Offered Securities sold under the Offering at an exercise price equal to C$0.15 per Common Share.

    There is an offering document related to the Offering that can be accessed under the Company’s profile at http://www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company’s website at http://www.westhavengold.com. Prospective investors should read this offering document before making an investment decision.

    To the extent that any directors and/or officers the Company participate in the Offering, such participation will constitute a “related party transaction” within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 – Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (“MI 61-101“). The Company expects any participation by directors and officers in the Offering will be exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 based on the fact that neither the fair market value of the Units, Traditional FT Shares or Charity FT Units subscribed for by directors and officers, nor the consideration for such securities to be paid by them, will exceed 25% of the Company’s market capitalization.

    The securities offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act, as amended, or any state securities law, and may not be offered, sold or delivered, directly or indirectly, within the United States, or to or for the account or benefit of U.S. persons, absent registration or an exemption from such registration requirements. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of securities in any state in the United States in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

    On behalf of the Board of Directors

    WESTHAVEN GOLD CORP.

    “Gareth Thomas”

    Gareth Thomas, President, CEO & Director

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

    About Westhaven Gold Corp.

    Westhaven is a gold-focused exploration company advancing the high-grade discovery on the Shovelnose project in Canada’s newest gold district, the Spences Bridge Gold Belt. Westhaven controls 60,950 hectares (609.5 square kilometres) with four gold properties spread along this underexplored belt. The Shovelnose property is situated off a major highway, near power, rail, large producing mines, and within commuting distance from the city of Merritt, which translates into low-cost exploration. Westhaven trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the ticker symbol WHN. For further information, please call 604-681-5558 or visit Westhaven’s website at http://www.westhavengold.com

    Forward Looking Statements:

    This press release contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities laws, which is based upon the Company’s current internal expectations, estimates, projections, assumptions and beliefs. The forward-looking information included in this press release are made only as of the date of this press release. Such forward-looking statements and forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, statements concerning the Company’s expectations with respect to the Offering; the use of proceeds of the Offering; completion of the Offering and the date of such completion. Forward-looking statements or forward-looking information relate to future events and future performance and include statements regarding the expectations and beliefs of management based on information currently available to the Company. Such forward-looking statements and forward-looking information often, but not always, can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “expects”, “potential”, “is expected”, “anticipated”, “is targeted”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, or “believes” or the negatives thereof or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved.

    Forward-looking information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others, and without limitation: that the Offering may not close within the timeframe anticipated or at all or may not close on the terms and conditions currently anticipated by the Company for a number of reasons including, without limitation, as a result of the occurrence of a material adverse change, disaster, change of law or other failure to satisfy the conditions to closing of the Offering; the Company will not be able to raise sufficient funds to complete its planned exploration program; that the Company will not derive the expected benefits from its current program; the Company may not use the proceeds of the Offering as currently contemplated; the Company may fail to find a commercially viable deposit at any of its mineral properties; the Company’s plans may be adversely affected by the Company’s reliance on historical data compiled by previous parties involved with its mineral properties; mineral exploration and development are inherently risky industries; the mineral exploration industry is intensely competitive; additional financing may not be available to the Company when required or, if available, the terms of such financing may not be favourable to the Company; fluctuations in the demand for gold or gold prices generally; the Company may not be able to identify, negotiate or finance any future acquisitions successfully, or to integrate such acquisitions with its current business; the Company’s exploration activities are dependent upon the grant of appropriate licenses, concessions, leases, permits and regulatory consents, which may be withdrawn or not granted; the Company’s operations could be adversely affected by possible future government legislation, policies and controls or by changes in applicable laws and regulations; there is no guarantee that title to the properties in which the Company has a material interest will not be challenged or impugned; the Company faces various risks associated with mining exploration that are not insurable or may be the subject of insurance which is not commercially feasible for the Company; the volatility of global capital markets over the past several years has generally made the raising of capital more difficult; inflationary cost pressures may escalate the Company’s operating costs; compliance with environmental regulations can be costly; social and environmental activism can negatively impact exploration, development and mining activities; the success of the Company is largely dependent on the performance of its directors and officers; the Company’s operations may be adversely affected by First Nations land claims; the Company and/or its directors and officers may be subject to a variety of legal proceedings, the results of which may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business; the Company may be adversely affected if potential conflicts of interests involving its directors and officers are not resolved in favour of the Company; the Company’s future profitability may depend upon the world market prices of gold; dilution from future equity financing could negatively impact holders of the Company’s securities; failure to adequately meet infrastructure requirements could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business; the Company’s projects now or in the future may be adversely affected by risks outside the control of the Company; the Company is subject to various risks associated with climate change, the Company is subject to general global risks arising from epidemic diseases, the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, rising inflation and interest rates and the impact they will have on the Company’s operations, supply chains, ability to access mining projects or procure equipment, supplies, contractors and other personnel on a timely basis or at all is uncertain; as well as other risk factors in the Company’s other public filings available at http://www.sedarplus.ca. Readers are cautioned that this list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. The Company cannot guarantee future results, performance, or achievements. Consequently, there is no representation that the actual results achieved will be the same, in whole or in part, as those set out in the forward-looking information. The Company undertakes no duty to update any of the forward-looking information to conform such information to actual results or to changes in the Company’s expectations, except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained in this offering document is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Funding Developing Asia’s Old-Age Needs: Challenges and Opportunities

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    The paper also finds that labor income will play a smaller role in funding the region’s old-age needs, while public and private transfers will play a larger role. While expanding public transfers will contribute toward old-age economic security, the region must carefully plan such expansion and avoid unsustainable generosity to safeguard the macroeconomic stability that underpinned its rapid economic growth and development.

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: “I call for an immediate ceasefire between Lebanese Hizballah and Israel.”: UK statement at the UN Security Council

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Statement by Foreign Secretary David Lammy at the UN Security Council meeting on the situation in Lebanon.

    This is a moment of maximum danger.

    We are on the brink. The precipice. At a few minutes to midnight.

    We talk of the risk of full-scale regional war but the truth is we are already witnessing conflict on multiple fronts.

    In Gaza. In the West Bank. In Lebanon. And the Red Sea.

    The strikes in recent days have taken 550 lives in Lebanon. 

    The death of civilians, women and children. 

    The UN workers killed. 

    The Hizballah rockets that have killed Israelis are just the latest in the cycle of pain, anguish and loss.

    President, 

    As we face the abyss, this Council has a duty to speak with one voice.

     And we must say that the rockets must stop now. The air strikes must stop now. Talks must start now. With an immediate ceasefire on both sides now.

    It is time to pull back from the brink.

    President,

    A full-blown war is not in the interests of the Israeli or the Lebanese people.

     And that is why within hours of last week’s strikes I called for an immediate ceasefire between Lebanese Hizballah and Israel. 

    Since then, we’ve worked closely with the US and France to formalise a wider demand for the ceasefire and a political plan to implement it.

    And at the UN in New York, the Prime Minister and I have been urging our G7 and other partners to do the same.

    Our priority must be a political solution in line with Resolution 1701. It is our duty to do all we can to exert maximum diplomatic pressure so Israeli and Lebanese civilians can return to their homes. So lives can be saved. So security can return to Northern Israel and Southern Lebanon. So that daily life can begin to return.

    Now let me be clear.

    The United Kingdom condemns Hizballah’s attacks on Israel over the last 11 months, which have driven more than 60,000 people from their homes.

    There was no justification for these attacks.

    They have brought misery to ordinary people in Lebanon and Israel.

    And they have done nothing to end the conflict in Gaza or secure Palestinian statehood.

    And Iran, nothing justifies supplying weapons to terror groups in defiance of this Council. 

    We call on Tehran to use its influence and urge Hizballah to agree a ceasefire.

    President,

    For the people of Israel and for the people of Lebanon, a brilliant, multicultural and tolerant nation taken captive by an armed militia that puts itself before the Lebanese people, we must come together to bring this conflict to an end.

    In 2006, this Council acted in the interests of peace and security. All parties need to embody that same spirit today.

    By coming together, act now to bring this conflict to an end.

    To stop the cycle of destruction. 

    To stop the loss of yet more innocent lives. 

    And to stop this conflict from exploding into full-blown war and open a path to peace. 

    That is what we need.

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 September 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI USA: Casey Introduces Legislation to Improve Flood Insurance Affordability for Families, Help Pennsylvanians Protect Their Homes

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Pennsylvania Bob Casey

    Fair Flood Protection Act caps insurance premiums, cuts fees

    Casey bill to provide long-term stability for Pennsylvania homeowners

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) introduced legislation to cap the cost of flood insurance, making homeownership more affordable for working families. Across Pennsylvania, as floods become more frequent and intense, homeowners are struggling to keep up with significant increases in flood insurance costs, which can be as high as thousands of dollars per year. The Fair Flood Protection Act would lower the cost of flood insurance by creating a sliding scale premium cap to ensure that families pay fair amounts based on their income.

    “Throughout the Commonwealth, including in my home county of Lackawanna, families’ budgets are being increasingly squeezed by the rising costs of flood insurance. This bill will cut fees and cap flood insurance costs to help ensure that Pennsylvanians can afford to keep their homes safe for generations to come,” said Senator Casey. “Hardworking homeowners should be able to protect their homes without worrying about how to pay the bills.”

    With many Pennsylvanians struggling to get by and raise their families, flooding poses a looming financial threat. Most home insurance does not include flood insurance, making the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) a key safety net to protect against the devastating impacts of flooding. After hearing concerns about rising costs of flood insurance, coupled with reports of increased heavy rain and flood risk, Casey introduced the Fair Flood Protection Act to help working families protect their homes without breaking the bank. This bill would help make and keep flood insurance affordable and strengthen the NFIP. This legislation would help expand flood insurance coverage by reauthorizing NFIP for ten years, increasing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)’s authorization to provide funding for flood protection and mitigation projects, and creating a cap for NFIP premiums based on a sliding scale determined by income. Currently FEMA has instituted a premium model that sets rates based on an individual’s flood risk, which can lead to prohibitively high costs of flood insurance. Adjusting premium rates to account for income, rather than risk alone, would help to ensure that working class homeowners are not priced out of flood protection.

    Senator Casey has long worked to help Pennsylvania communities mitigate and recover from the devastating impacts caused by floods. Most recently, he successfully pushed President Biden to provide federal disaster relief support to Pennsylvania communities affected by the devastating flooding last month. Additionally, Casey has championed infrastructure investments to improve flood control infrastructure, including through community project funding and FEMA grant programs. Additionally, Casey voted to pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which poured billions of additional federal funding into programs like the Flood Mitigation Assistance grant program and the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant program.  

    Senator Casey has always fought to lower costs for working families in Pennsylvania. From creating tax credits for renewable energy development, to negotiating the price of prescription drugs, Casey has consistently worked to bring prices down Pennsylvania families.

    Read more about the Fair Flood Protection Act HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: 09.25.2024 ICYMI: Cruz-Kelly Chips Permitting Reform Bill Passed Congress with Widespread Bipartisan Support

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas Ted Cruz
    WASHINGTON, D.C. –– In case you missed it, earlier this week, U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Sen. Mark Kelly’s (D-Ariz.) semiconductor plant permitting reform bill cleared the House after unanimously passing the Senate last December. The bill, S.2228 as replaced by the Kelly-Cruz full substitute amendment, is now headed to the President’s desk to be signed into law. The legislation would expedite the process to construct semiconductor manufacturing plants by removing burdensome environmental reviews and permits for microchip projects.
    The Kelly-Cruz chips permitting reform bill received widespread bipartisan support, including from Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. The legislation is a critical step in decreasing dependency on China and creating more jobs and incentives for investment in Texas.
    Watch the interview and read more about the legislation below.
    Local News Live: Congress passes bill to streamline federal process for chip manufacturing projects in America
    CLICK HERE TO WATCH
    “Congress passed a bill this week that will streamline federal reviews for some microchip manufacturing projects in America.
    “The Building Chips in America Act passed in the House on Monday and is now on its way to President Joe Biden’s desk.
    “The bill streamlines the environmental review process for semiconductor manufacturing facilities that were incentivized by the CHIPS and Science Act.
    “Several projects are in the works but supporters of the bill have said that they have been delayed because of government red tape.
    “The bipartisan bill was authored in the Senate by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ).
    “Cruz said that the passage of the bill will benefit communities across the country where the projects are happening like his home state of Texas.
    “‘What this is going to mean is new manufacturing plants will be built in Texas much faster. It will mean billions more dollars invested in the economy in Texas, and it will mean thousands more high-paying jobs in Texas. It’s a great victory for jobs in Texas,” said Sen. Cruz.
    “The senator also said the bill will also make America safer by manufacturing the chips domestically.”
    The Texas: U.S. House Passes ‘Kelly-Cruz Amendment’ to CHIPS Act, Sent to Biden’s Desk
    “The U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill on Monday aimed at streamlining permitting laws to facilitate the domestic construction of semiconductor factories.
    “The bipartisan legislation passed by a vote of 257 to 125, with 49 members not voting, and now moves to the president’s desk for approval.
    “The bill passed the Senate last year, and was passed in the House of Representatives this week as the “Kelly-Cruz substitute amendment.”
    “Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) submitted the amended text of their Senate bill in December 2023.
    “When a bill passes as a “substitute amendment” in Congress, the original text is entirely replaced with new content. This new version of the bill, offered as an amendment, becomes the text that is voted on and passed.
    “It aims to accelerate the construction of U.S. semiconductor facilities, as the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) and Science Act of 2022 has made over $50 billion available to promote domestic production and innovation.
    “It will also streamline federal permitting by designating the Department of Commerce as the lead agency for National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews, exempting certain projects from NEPA, providing the Secretary of Commerce with greater authority to expedite reviews in coordination with state and local governments, and limiting court challenge timelines.
    “Cruz and Kelly celebrated the amendment’s passage in a joint statement after the House passed it this week.
    “‘My number one priority in the Senate is delivering jobs for Texans. When soon signed into law, the Kelly-Cruz legislation will mean tens of thousands of good-paying jobs and hundreds of billions in new investments for the Lone Star State,” wrote Cruz.
    “‘I’m proud to have led this effort with Senator Mark Kelly to streamline environmental permitting for semiconductor factories, a crucial step in onshoring jobs and making our country less dependent on China for semiconductors critical to national defense.”
    “Cruz continued to exchange jabs with Rep. Colin Allred (D-TX-32), who voted to pass the most recent act, over the past year regarding Cruz’s “no” vote on related legislation last year.
    “At the time, Cruz supported one portion of the CHIPS Act but disagreed with another.
    “Cruz explained in 2023 that the CHIPS Act consisted of two key parts: the Facilitating American-Built Semiconductors (FABS) Act, offering a tax credit to boost domestic semiconductor manufacturing investment, and the CHIPS Act itself, providing billions in direct subsidies to companies. While Cruz co-sponsored the FABS Act, he voted against the CHIPS Act due to his opposition to direct subsidies, favoring the more indirect incentive of the tax credit.
    “Following this week’s passage of the Building Chips in America Act, Samsung celebrated by saying that the bill is “ensuring U.S. innovation continues to surge!”
    “Texas has seen businesses flocking to the state over the past few years, and semiconductor manufacturers have already started construction on facilities in towns like Taylor and Sherman.
    “The ongoing battle for semiconductor supremacy between China and the U.S. is intensifying as both nations invest heavily in domestic chip production and innovation, with the global semiconductor industry projected to reach a value of approximately $1 trillion by 2030.”

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Manchin Announces $14.5 Million For Infrastructure Upgrades, Economic Development In West Virginia

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Joe Manchin
    September 25, 2024
    Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (I-WV), member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced $14,507,612 from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) to support infrastructure upgrades and economic development projects across West Virginia.
    “Investing in our local communities creates good-paying jobs, spurs economic opportunity and sets up the community for future success,” said Senator Manchin. “These infrastructure improvements will attract new businesses and good-paying jobs, ensuring long-term economic growth across the Mountain State. As a member of the Senate Appropriations, I will continue to fight for meaningful investments to ensure that West Virginia continues to be a great place to live, work and raise a family.”
    Individual awards listed below:
    $4,000,000 — Boone County Public Service District
    This funding will support waterline extension improvements at the Mountain State Clean Energy complex in Danville, West Virginia.

    $3,801,600 – Wyoming County Economic Development Authority
    This funding will support expanding the Rockefeller Industrial Park in Welch, West Virginia.

    $3,402,000 – McDowell County Public Service District
    This funding will support installing new waterlines and all associated work in the Baker Ridge, Panther Creek Road, Rock Ridge, Lex areas of McDowell County.

    $2,506,500 – Kingwood Water Works
    This funding will supports making water infrastructure improvements in Preston County. 

    $797,512 – Blue Ridge Community and Technical College
    This funding will support creating and integrating a new Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) certification program in Martinsburg.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: 09.25.2024 Sen. Cruz Sends Letter Urging Biden Administration to Appeal LNG Decision Undermining American Energy

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas Ted Cruz
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) sent a letter today urging Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Willie L. Phillips to appeal the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit’s decision vacating permits for the Rio Grande liquified natural gas (LNG) project and Texas LNG project.
    In the letter, Sen. Cruz wrote, “The decision sets a chilling precedent that will harm the development of infrastructure for projects related to all forms of energy, directly undermining American energy security and therefore national security. If the permits are not reauthorized, over 7,000 high-paying jobs will disappear, and roughly $24 billion in investments in the Rio Grande Valley will be lost.

    “Since 2016, America has become the largest exporter of LNG in the world, passing competitors such as Russia and Qatar. This achievement was made possible through the work, innovation, and investment of private companies willing to fund and build capital-intensive projects. That progress has now been put at acute risk by the court’s decision.”
    Read the full letter here or below:
    Dear Chairman Willie L. Phillips:
    On August 6, 2024, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit vacated reauthorizations for the Rio Grande LNG and Texas LNG projects and remanded the issue to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for further proceedings.
    We write today to urge you to pursue an appeal and seek a stay of the decision pending the outcome of that appeal.
    State and local officials across Texas had already done extensive work related to the two projects. The Rio Grande LNG project already started construction a year ago. The Texas LNG project was less than two months away from securing enough offtake commitments for achieving a final investment decision.
    The decision sets a chilling precedent that will harm the development of infrastructure for projects related to all forms of energy, directly undermining American energy security and therefore national security. If the permits are not reauthorized, over 7,000 high-paying jobs will disappear, and roughly $24 billion in investments in the Rio Grande Valley will be lost.
    There is no precedent for this decision. Charles McConnell, the former Assistant Secretary of Energy at the Department of Energy in President Barack Obama’s Administration says “If allowed to stand, the precedent from this ruling would be absolutely draconian to investment progress.”
    The decision itself, as well as its unprecedented nature, will have far-reaching and negative cascade effects. The Brazos Island Harbor Channel Improvement Project, a $400 million project to deepen the Brownsville shipping channel from 42 to 52 feet, will likely stop. Over $20 billion in economic investment and 31 million tonnes per annum of liquified natural gas (LNG) exports will be wiped out. More broadly, if project developers come to believe that federal permits can be overturned due to procedural missteps by the regulator, apart from any actions or fault by the developers, U.S. infrastructure projects will slow and stall.
    Since 2016, America has become the largest exporter of LNG in the world, passing competitors such as Russia and Qatar. This achievement was made possible through the work, innovation, and investment of private companies willing to fund and build capital-intensive projects. That progress has now been put at acute risk by the court’s decision. We look forward to your prompt response on this matter.
    Sincerely,
    /X/

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Graham Introduces Bill To Restrict Birthright Citizenship

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Lindsey Graham
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today introduced a bill that would restrict one of the biggest magnets for illegal immigration into the United States. Graham’s Birthright Citizenship Act of 2024 stops the practice of granting citizenship to both the children of illegal immigrants and the children of non-immigrants in the U.S. on temporary visas.
    The exploitation of birthright citizenship is a major pull factor for illegal immigration and a weakness for our national security. The United States is one of only 33 countries in the world with no restrictions on birthright citizenship. In 2018, Senator Graham supported President Trump’s executive order eliminating birthright citizenship for children born to illegal immigrants on American soil.
    “It is long overdue for the United States to change its policy on birthright citizenship because it is being abused in so many ways,” said Senator Graham. “One example is birth tourism, where wealthy individuals from China and other nations come to the United States simply to have a child who will be an American citizen. When you look at the magnets that draw people to America, birthright citizenship is one of the largest. It is time for the United States to align itself with the rest of the world and restrict this practice once and for all.”
    The Biden-Harris Administration’s catch-and-release policies let migrants come into the U.S. illegally and stay for years, while enjoying many of the benefits of living in America.
    Illegal immigration has skyrocketed under the Biden-Harris Administration.
    In the last 3.5 years, there have been over 8.3 million encounters with illegal aliens at the southern border.
    Our adversaries are taking advantage of our laws.
    Recently, two individuals from California were found guilty in a “birth tourism” scheme. Predominantly Chinese clients paid the operators of a “maternity hotel” tens of thousands of dollars to come to the U.S. to give birth. Clients were coached on how to lie during the admissions process.
    A 2022 Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee report found a birthing company catering to the wives of Russian oligarchs, celebrities, athletes, and public figures.
    The Birthright Citizenship Act of 2024:
    Specifies who can receive citizenship by virtue of their birth in the United States, including children born to at least one parent who is either:
    A citizen or national of the U.S.,
    A lawful permanent resident of the U.S., or
    An alien performing active service in the armed forces.
    This bill only applies to children born after the date of enactment.
    To read the full bill text, click HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI China: Closer China-ASEAN cooperation boosts regional high-quality development

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    NANNING, China, Sept. 25 — Visitors arriving at this year’s China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) will encounter an intriguing blend of fresh innovations and familiar attractions. A new section spotlights emerging industries such as artificial intelligence and lithium batteries, while longstanding crowd favorites, like durian, longan, and rice, continue to draw attention.

    This evolving landscape mirrors the deepening partnership between China and ASEAN. China’s commitment to expanding high-standard opening-up and the rapid industry upgrading in ASEAN nations has fostered stronger economic ties between the two sides. Together, these efforts drive regional high-quality development while sharing China’s development opportunities with ASEAN.

    EMPOWERING ASEAN SMES

    Stepping into the Thai Pavilion at CAEXPO, visitors are greeted by the distinct aroma of durian mingling with the herbal scent of Zam-buk, a popular Thai remedy for insect bites. A booth showcasing the collaboration between TOPTHAI and China’s e-commerce leader, JD.com, drew significant interest.

    TOPTHAI store on leading e-commerce platforms is an initiative launched by the Thai Department of International Trade Promotion this year. It aims to help Thai small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) expose their products to more overseas markets, among which the Chinese market is a crucial destination, said Dr. Nisachol Thaithong, a Thai trader and researcher in China-Thailand cross-border e-commerce.

    For SMEs and small-scale farmers in ASEAN countries, participating in e-commerce with China has transformed their businesses.

    “It (CAEXPO) is moving forward dynamically in terms of the more areas of cooperation, in terms of engaging wider stakeholders,” said Kao Kim Hourn, secretary-general of ASEAN, in an interview on the sideline of CAEXPO and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (CABIS). “Now they are involved in the Micro-, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs), for example. MSMEs are really the backbone of the economy on both sides. We have to get them involved, in addition to the big cooperations. I think this is the right direction that we are taking.”

    Frequent exchanges between China and Malaysia leadership have set a positive tone for SMEs, said Ravenna Chen, the CEO of TusStar Malaysia, an innovation and entrepreneurship platform.

    Huang Aimin, chairman of the first council of the Guangxi Cross-border E-Commerce Association, said cross-border e-commerce has the potential to be a critical platform for promoting in-depth economic and trade cooperation between China and ASEAN.

    Collaborating with China has sped up modernization in Laos. For instance, working with China to digitize businesses and develop e-commerce skills has been advantageous for both businesses and young individuals in Laos, according to Thanongsinh Kanlaya, Vice President of the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

    UPGRADING AGRIBUSINESS

    At a durian orchard in Thailand’s Chanthaburi province, Kosai, the 32-year-old owner and a Chinese social media influencer, was promoting durians to Chinese netizens through the live streaming e-commerce platform Tmall.

    Kosai is proud that his orchard is a smart orchard jointly built by the Commercial Association for Sustainability of Agriculture in Thailand and the Foreign Economic Cooperation Center of China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

    The Internet of Things installed by the Chinese side in Kosai’s orchard, which includes meteorological, water level, and soil moisture monitoring, could provide data support for the scientific cultivation of durian and the improvement of fruit quality.

    Modern farming is a sector with a promising future for cooperation between Malaysia and China, said Low Kian Chuan, president of the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia.

    Despite the difference in size and population between Brunei and China, CAEXPO and CABIS have offered a platform for Brunei enterprises to conduct win-win cooperation with Chinese peers, said National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Brunei Darussalam President Haji Abdul Saman bin Haji Ahmad.

    Platforms like CAEXPO and CABIS incentivize Brunei SMEs to grow “more resilient and more proactive” by exposing their products and services to the Chinese market, said Saman, adding that he sees particularly promising opportunities for Brunei’s halal food.

    GREEN TRANSITION

    Leading Chinese renewable energy firms are working closely with ASEAN enterprises and investing in new facilities to produce innovative, locally adapted products, thus actively contributing to ASEAN’s green transition.

    In July, BYD opened an electric vehicle plant in Thailand, the automaker’s first Southeast Asian factory, a fast-growing regional EV market. The same month Eve Energy announced a plan to build a new factory in Kulim, Kedah state, Malaysia to meet the fast-growing demand for energy storage and consumer batteries in the South East Asia region.

    In August, Gotion High-tech announced that a battery assembly plant project in Malaysia is under negotiation, in addition to its assembly plants in Indonesia and Thailand. The battery manufacturer’s Vietnam factory is expected to begin production in October this year.

    Malaysia’s East Coast Rail Link under the Belt and Road Initiative is expected to drive economic development in the east coast areas and promote more balanced development among regions within the countries, said Anthony Loke Siew Fook, the minister of transport of Malaysia.

    As outlined in the National Automotive Policy 2020 and National Energy Transition Roadmap, Malaysia is developing its renewable energy battery sector and welcomes leading battery manufacturers to invest in it, said Loke.

    Malaysia encourages Chinese companies to form partnerships with local companies to further promote the use of electric and hybrid vehicles in Malaysia, not only in terms of car manufacturing but also in the entire ecosystem, from charging networks to battery manufacturing, said Zalina Zainol, deputy chief executive officer of investment development at Malaysian Investment Development Authority.

    Malaysia highly encourages such cooperation to further create high-skilled jobs in engineering, research and development, and advanced manufacturing, thereby boosting economic growth here, Zainol added.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: Chang’e-6 lunar samples to be displayed at 15th Airshow China

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, Sept. 25 — Lunar samples collected by China’s Chang’e-6 mission from the far side of the moon will be on display at the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, also known as Airshow China, the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense announced Wednesday.

    The Chang’e-6 return capsule will also be showcased, allowing the public to witness the advancements of China’s space industry, said Li Yang, an official with the agency.

    The airshow is scheduled for Nov. 12-17 in Zhuhai, a city in south China’s Guangdong Province, and will feature various types of aircraft and carrier rockets.

    According to Hao Changfeng, spokesperson for China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, the company will present nearly 200 high-tech products, including first-time exhibits such as the Chang’e-6 probe and the Long March-8A carrier rocket. “About 150 items will be debuting, with new exhibits making up 75 percent of the display,” said Hao.

    Wu Jiwei, spokesperson for the Aviation Industry Corporation of China, announced that the company will showcase more than 260 products, emphasizing advancements in new quality productive forces.

    Since its inception in 1996, Airshow China has become an important window for showcasing advanced aviation and aerospace technologies and equipment from home and abroad. It has also become an international platform for promoting business cooperation in aviation and aerospace technologies and equipment.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: First ever UK-hosted meeting of AUKUS Defence Ministers as UK-Australia set to commence defence treaty negotiations

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    A landmark AUKUS meeting will be held in the UK today as the Defence Secretary John Healey hosts counterparts from the US and Australia in London.

    • Landmark meeting as Defence Ministers from AUKUS partners meet outside the US for first time.
    • Negotiations set to commence on UK-Australia treaty to define defence relationship for decades.
    • Billions of pounds of UK exports expected to support Australian submarine build, with AUKUS to support over 21,000 UK jobs and helping to grow the economy.

    The meeting will be the first trilateral Defence Ministers AUKUS meeting to be held outside of the United States. Healey will host US Secretary of Defense Lloyd James Austin III and Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles to discuss the importance of the AUKUS partnership.

    It comes as the UK and Australia have agreed plans to commence negotiations on a bilateral AUKUS treaty between the UK and Australia. The treaty will establish the strategic and operational framework for bilateral cooperation under AUKUS with a focus on the core elements of the delivery of SSN-AUKUS.

    Given the importance of accelerating the design, build and delivery of SSN-AUKUS, Australia and the UK agreed these negotiations should occur at pace and with high priority.

    This first-of-its-kind treaty between the two countries could create a major UK trade boost – it is estimated that facilitating the SSN-AUKUS build in Australia will see billions of pounds of submarine components exported from the UK through our defence industry supply chains. The treaty will lay out the nations’ relationship on submarine co-operation, as work progresses on future conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered attack submarines for the UK and Australia. 

    The three-year anniversary of the landmark AUKUS partnership was marked this month, following shortly after a historic breakthrough in defence trade was reached between the UK, US, and Australia.

    The significant reduction in red tape will cover up to £500 million of UK defence exports each year, and billions of dollars of trade across all three nations, helping boost UK economic growth.

    In a further boost for the UK economy, it is estimated at its peak the future AUKUS attack submarine programme will have more than 21,000 people working on it at UK sites, with the work generating an additional 7,000 skilled roles.

    UK Defence Secretary, John Healey said:

    I’m proud to be the first UK Defence Secretary to host a meeting of AUKUS Defence Ministers in Britain.

    As AUKUS partners, we stand shoulder-to-shoulder in an increasingly unstable world. This is a partnership that will boost jobs, growth and prosperity across our three nations, as well as strengthening our collective security.

    I’m delighted that we will soon be commencing negotiations on a bilateral AUKUS treaty with Australia, which will help create a more secure and stable Indo-Pacific for decades to come.

    The treaty work comes off the back of a UK-Australia Defence and Security Cooperation Agreement being signed earlier this year, helping make it easier for our Armed Forces to operate together in each other’s countries and facilitate UK submarine crews visiting Australia as part of the AUKUS partnership.

    Since the AUKUS launch, nearly £10 billion of investment has been allocated towards UK nuclear work and infrastructure:

    • £4 billion to progress SSN-AUKUS UK submarines through design, prototyping and initial purchases.
    • £3 billion for new advanced manufacturing capabilities in Barrow-in-Furness and Derby.
    • £2.4 billion over ten years from Australia to boost Rolls-Royce infrastructure and to share costs on SSN-AUKUS submarine design.

    Through AUKUS Pillar 2, Australia, the UK and the US are pooling the talents of their defence sectors to develop at pace the delivery of advanced capabilities. Four UK companies have been selected by the UK’s Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) to receive a share of £2 million of funding to develop solutions in electromagnetic targeting and protection.

    The competition was run to find low cost, disposable, high volume and highly autonomous electromagnetic technology that can detect enemy actions or protect against them.

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 September 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: £1bn investment secures over 300 jobs in North Wales

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The UK and Welsh Government have announced £1 billion of investment into Shotton Mill in North Wales.

    • Major joint investment in Deeside will safeguard 147 jobs and create a further 220.
    • Shotton Mill will become UK’s largest recycled paper manufacturer helping the UK’s transition to net zero and creating jobs in green industries of the future.
    • Stronger relationship between UK and Welsh Government delivers boost to local economy.
    • Announcement comes ahead of Investment Summit which will bring together international business leaders to boost growth.

    A major investment of over £1 billion in the redevelopment of Shotton Mill in Deeside, North Wales, will safeguard 147 jobs and create a further 220 when fully commissioned, the UK and Welsh governments have confirmed today [Thursday 26 September].

    Cabinet ministers from both the UK and Welsh government will visit the historic industrial centre of Wales to meet with members of Eren Holdings, who acquired Shotton Mill in 2021. There, they will hear more about the site’s transformation, which will turn the area into the UK’s largest paper manufacturing site.

    The announcement comes ahead of the Investment Summit next month which will make clear that the UK is “open for business” as the UK government resets relations with trading partners around the globe and creates a pro-business environment that supports innovation and high-quality jobs at home and supports our mission to deliver growth.

    The Welsh Government has provided nearly £13 million in funding alongside £136 million in support from UK Export Finance (UKEF), the UK government’s export credit agency.

    Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

    This is a massive vote of confidence in the Welsh economy and this government’s plans to make Britain the destination of choice for investments in the industries of tomorrow. This transformative investment will not only support local skilled jobs but raise living standards in the community.

    The deal being announced today is testament to what can be achieved when the Welsh and UK governments work hand in hand. 

    We’re also proud to celebrate National Manufacturing Day, where we recognise the tremendous innovations taking place right across the sector, not least here in Shotton Mill.

    Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said:

    Deeside has a long and proud history as one of Wales’ key industrial centres and this significant investment from our two governments will secure jobs and help bring a prosperous future for the area.

    We have reset the relationship between the UK and Welsh Government. Working together in close partnership we are delivering growth and good jobs to people across Wales.

    Economy, Energy and Planning Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Evans said:

    This is excellent news for Deeside and the wider Welsh economy and is a prime example of how, through our commitment to a prosperous, green economy we are able to attract investment, and create good, sustainable jobs whilst reducing waste.

    Once fully operational, instead of transporting paper waste many hundreds or thousands of miles overseas to be processed it will be turned into recycled packaging here in Wales. This, alongside the nature of the technology, means a net reduction in carbon emissions equivalent to emissions from 190,000 homes a year.

    Our £13million support will help ensure this is delivered whilst safeguarding and creating local jobs and ensuring that the community is at the heart of the business’ success for many years to come.

    Eren Holding is a leading containerboard and corrugated cardboard manufacturer from Turkey and ranks among the leading producers in Europe. Their plans will see Shotton Mill become the UK’s largest paper-manufacturing campus, boosting UK paper production by recycling wastepaper which would otherwise go overseas or into landfill.

    The plant will produce nearly 100% recycled paper and will have an environmentally friendly production model as it purifies its own wastewater, recycles and reuses it in the system, helping to create good, highly paid jobs in the green industries of the future.

    UKEF supported by issuing a guarantee which allows HSBC and UBS to arrange debt financing for the project. 

    The Eren investment is expected to boost Welsh and UK exports in paper, with UKEF support offered on the understanding that Shotton Mill will export 10% of its turnover within 5 years. This is also expected to reduce UK reliance on imports of paper.

    Hamdullah Eren, Senior board member of the Eren Holding Group said:

    “Production at our new plant at Shotton Mill will be based on state-of-the-art technology, making this the most advanced paper campus in Europe. Our custom-built plant will deliver sophisticated and sustainable manufacturing solutions well into the 21st century. This is the first major Eren Holding cap ex project outside Türkiye and we are delighted to have chosen Deeside as an ideal location to meet our ambitions for growth. We are putting down deep roots on a site of historic industrial significance. We believe this new plant will bring prosperity, leadership in our industry, and long-term employment prospects that will be the pride of Deeside, Wales and Türkiye.”

    Northeast Wales is a key industrial centre, with Deeside being one of the largest industrial parks in Europe. Shotton steelworks once operated on site, with industrial activity at the Mill dating back over 100 years.

    The investment represents a new lease of life for the site and will support economic stability in Deeside and the North Wales area as both governments look to deliver long-term, sustainable, growth right across the UK.

    The announcement also falls on National Manufacturing Day as the government celebrates the nation’s first-class manufacturing industry. The UK government’s upcoming modern industrial strategy will back workers and give international investors the confidence they need to invest in Britain, creating jobs and growth across the UK.

    The UK remains an attractive destination for green investment and this announcement will help create jobs, grow the economy and export high-quality, sustainable goods around the world.

    Notes to Editors

    • More information on the UK’s trading relationship with Turkey can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66e937f47f20ecc7ec3aa226/turkey-trade-and-investment-factsheet-2024-09-20.pdf

    • UK Export Finance (UKEF) is a government department which provides loans, guarantees, and insurance to help UK exporters access international trading opportunities. It is the UK’s export credit agency and works closely with the Department of Business and Trade.

    • UKEF’s support has come in the form of a financing guarantee issued under its Export Development Guarantee (EDG) product, which helps UK exporters to access high-value debt facilities.
    • A financial guarantee is an arrangement which can help a borrower to access debt financing such as loans and lines of credit. It involves a guarantor agreeing to ensure that the lender is repaid if the borrower defaults.
    • In this case, UKEF has provided an 80% guarantee worth £136 million covering a £170 million financing facility being made available by other institutions to Shotton Mill, with HSBC and UBS acting as arranging banks.
    • This is the second time that UK has used its EDG product to support an overseas business looking to increase its UK exporting capacity through an ‘invest-to-export’ arrangement.

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 September 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New support for semiconductor firms to grow, powering growth in £10 billion UK industry

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Support for semiconductor scale-ups announced as Lord Vallance kicks off a stakeholder forum ahead of the G7 Semiconductors Points of Contact group in Cambridge.

    16 semiconductor scale up projects backed to advance innovative tech

    • Science Minister Lord Vallance unveils new support for UK semiconductor scale-ups to advance innovations, from phone screens to medical tech
    • Support to help businesses grow unveiled as Minister welcomes leading tech nations to a stakeholder forum preceding the G7 Semiconductors Points of Contact group in Cambridge
    • Comes as new report finds rapidly growing UK semiconductor industry valued at nearly £10 billion and expected to rise this decade

    UK semiconductor firms producing vital technology from phone screens to surgical lasers are being backed in their efforts to scale up into large businesses and drive economic growth.

    The science Minister Lord Patrick Vallance has announced the 16 projects that will win a share of a £11.5 million pot – provided by Innovate UK – that will help drive innovation, as he opened an industry conference of G7 nations today (Thursday 26 September).

    Pioneering projects across the country will help take the UK’s thriving semiconductor industry to the next level as it further enhances everyday life – from more efficient medical devices to energy saving phone screens – and kickstart economic growth.

    This comes shortly before the Government’s International Investment Summit which will showcase the UK as a place to do business. Today’s move is yet another reason for business to choose the UK as a place to invest – as it is backing the industries of the future.

    A new report by Perspective Economics reveals the UK semiconductor sector, which includes over 200 companies in research, design, and manufacturing, is valued at almost £10 billion and could grow up to £17 billion by 2030.

    Semiconductors are small chips at the core of everyday technology from smartphones to renewable energy systems and this support will help to scale up domestic manufacturing and strengthen supply chain resilience, so the UK is fit for the future in a global industry.

    The funding comes as the G7 Semiconductors Point of Contact group kicks off with a stakeholder forum at major UK tech company Arm’s HQ in Cambridge, where member states, research organisations, and industry representatives are discussing key issues affecting the global semiconductor industry, like supporting early-stage innovation and sustainability.

    Science Minister, Lord Vallance, said:

    Semiconductors are an unseen but vital component in so many of the technologies we rely on in our lives and backing UK innovators offers a real opportunity to growth these firms into industry leaders, strengthening our £10 billion sector and ensuring it drives economic growth.

    Our support in these projects will promote critical breakthroughs such as more efficient medical devices that could significantly lower costs and faster manufacturing processes to improve productivity.

    Hosting the G7 semiconductors Points of Contact group is also a chance to showcase the UK’s competitive and growing sector and make clear our commitment to keeping the UK at the forefront of advancing technology.

    Among the funded projects, receiving a share of £11.5 million, is Vector Photonics Limited in collaboration with the University of Glasgow, which aims to enhance the power and cost-effectiveness of blue light lasers in everyday technology by using gallium nitride, a high-performance material. Blue lasers are key in devices like medical equipment, quantum displays and car headlights.

    Another project, led by Quantum Advanced Solutions Ltd with the University of Cambridge, is developing advanced shortwave infrared (SWIR) sensors which improve vision in critical sectors like defence, by supporting surveillance in challenging conditions in low-visibility environments, such as during adverse weather conditions or atmospheric disturbances. The project looks to simplify production using innovative quantum dot materials – tiny semiconductor particles that emit light at specific wavelengths – offering higher sensitivity and performance, cutting costs and making this advanced technology more accessible to multiple sectors including manufacturing and healthcare.

    Andrew Tyrer, Deputy Director, Electronics, Sensors and Photonics, Innovate UK, said:

    Innovate UK’s investment in this programme directly supports the National Semiconductor Strategy launched in 2023 and aims to ensure the UK’s place in the global landscape.

    Iain Mauchline Innovation Lead – Electronics, Sensors, and Photonics at Innovate UK, added:

    It has been recognised that semiconductors are key enablers for the UK ambitions across all critical technology areas. Funding these diverse projects highlights the strengths and depth of the UK’s semiconductor ecosystem.

    The G7 Semiconductors Point of Contact Group, established under Italy’s G7 Presidency earlier this year, continues its mission to address issues impacting the semiconductor industry, including early-stage innovation, crisis coordination, sustainability, and the impact of government policies and practices.

    Rene Haas, CEO, Arm said: 

    It is an honour to host the G7 Semiconductor working group at Arm’s global headquarters in Cambridge to advance collective efforts from industry, research organizations, and governments to increase supply chain resilience, security, and energy efficiency.  We look forward to continued partnership with the G7 representatives and the UK government as we work to enable innovation and realize the full potential of AI.” 

    This meeting immediately follows the OECD Semiconductor Informal Exchange Network gathering, where countries and stakeholders shared strategies for strengthening global semiconductor supply chains and addressing shared challenges in the semiconductor industry.

    The UK is playing a key role in the OECD’s efforts to unite government and industry in navigating the complexities of the global chip supply chain.

    Charles Sturman, CEO of TechWorks said:

    This report represents the first detailed economic study of the UK Semiconductor sector in many years. I am proud to have been part of this important work and pleased with the results. Key findings here show that the UK already sees significant revenue from the sector and, by building on strong innovation, we can see significant opportunity to increase this together with our ~2% share of global semiconductor revenues; ultimately creating much more than the 86,000 jobs currently in the wider economy. The industry is set to grow rapidly in the next decade and the right mix of scale-up support and industrial policy can secure future growth of the UK semiconductor sector.

    Notes to editors

    DSIT media enquiries

    Email press@dsit.gov.uk

    Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 6pm 020 7215 300

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 September 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Gartner Announces ReimagineHR Conference 2024 in Sydney

    Source: Gartner – IT Research

    Headline: Gartner Announces ReimagineHR Conference 2024 in Sydney

    What: Gartner ReimagineHR Conference 2024
    When: December 4-5, 2024
    Where: Hilton Sydney, Australia

    Details: Organizations are on the cusp of a major reset with expectations that new technology-fueled business models will unlock productivity and innovation, while AI-powered tools will reduce drudgery and unleash new capabilities. The hope is that productivity and sustainability pressures will reinforce autonomy and flexibility, making work both more meaningful and better.

    These promises also prompt the question: Better for whom?

    HR leaders play a pivotal role in delivering the new work in new ways that ensures employers and employees succeed together. To deliver, HR leaders must help organizations move beyond asking “who wins” to reshape employers’ and employees’ common currency: the work itself.

    At Gartner ReimagineHR Conference 2024 in Sydney, Gartner experts will come together to deliver actionable insights to help HR leaders redefine the what, why and how of work for leaders and employees.

    The conference agenda will deliver insights and technology optimization guidance for chief human resources officers (CHROs) and HR leaders across a range of pressing topics such as the future of work, employee experience, talent acquisition and more. 

    Keynote Speakers

    • Gartner Opening Keynote: Making Work Better – A Path to Shared Success for Employers and Employees with Jessica Knight, Vice President, Research and Harsh Kundulli, Senior Director Analyst at Gartner.

    • Guest Keynote: Crafting success: Leadership lessons from Joe Brumm, creator of Bluey

    • Guest Keynote: Digital Zen – Mastering Wellbeing in a Constantly Connected World with Rahaf Harfoush, Digital Anthropologist and Best-selling Author

    Exhibitor Showcase: The exhibitor showcase will bring together leading HR decision makers and buyers who are actively seeking solutions. A listing of current exhibitors can be found on the Exhibitor Directory.

    Media Registration: Full-time journalists from editorial publications are eligible for a press pass. Please contact Emma Keen for details and registration requests: emma.keen@gartner.com.

    Social Media: Join the discussion on social media using #GartnerHR.

    For complete conference details, please visit the Gartner ReimagineHR Conference 2024 website.

    MIL OSI Global Banks

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Rubio Responds to WSJ on U.S. Trade with China

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Florida Marco Rubio

    ICYMI: Rubio Responds to WSJ on U.S. Trade with China

    Sep 25, 2024 | Press Releases

    Letter to the Editor: On U.S. Trade Policy with China

    U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL)

    September 25, 2024

    Wall Street Journal

    …When our leaders established so-called free trade with state-subsidized Chinese companies, 2.4 million Americans lost their jobs…. It took policy makers over a decade to catch up with reality, but their efforts to stem Beijing’s anti-market onslaught are now accepted as common sense.

    Mr. Furman hearkens to a different era. He asserts that the Biden administration “was wrong to keep and add to the tariffs Mr. Trump placed on China” and celebrates how Vice President Kamala Harris “doesn’t seem enthusiastic” about tough trade policies. Does Mr. Furman mean for us to ignore the past 25 years?

    Allowing China to acquire supply-chain dominance clearly threatens U.S. national security. The Chinese regime hasn’t been shy about this: …Last month it began cutting America off from antimony, a metal crucial to the construction of bullets, missiles and nuclear weapons. Mr. Furman offers no solution to this threat.

    Those who favor re-establishing so-called free trade with China are welcome to make their case. But the burden is on them to show it is in America’s interest to let a communist dictatorship run rampant over the U.S. economy….

    Read the rest here.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: New Zealand concludes trade agreement with the UAE

    Source: New Zealand Government

    New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates have concluded negotiations on a trade agreement, which will unlock economic opportunities for Kiwi exporters and create stronger supply chains with one of our most important trading partners in the Gulf region.

    This agreement was concluded in just over 4 months following the launch of negotiations on 7 May this year, making this New Zealand’s fastest-ever trade agreement negotiation, and the most trade liberalising of any of the UAE’s CEPAs to date. 

    “This shows the Government’s commitment to opening doors and reducing costs and barriers for Kiwi exporters,” Mr McClay says. 

    The announcement follows formal talks between Trade Minister Todd McClay and his UAE counterpart Minister of State for Foreign Trade Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Wellington.

    “Our Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the UAE will eliminate duties on 98.5 per cent of New Zealand’s exports immediately on entry into force, rising to 99 per cent within three years. This will create new opportunities for New Zealand businesses in the dynamic UAE market, contributing to our ambitious target of doubling exports by value in ten years,” Mr McClay says. 

    “The UAE is a key export destination and hub in the Gulf region. In the year to June 2024, two-way trade was valued at NZ$1.3 billion. The UAE is one of our largest markets in the Middle East, and a top 20 export market overall.” 

    New Zealand dairy exports to the UAE amounted to $718 million, industrial products $237 million, red meat $46 million, horticulture $44 million, and tourism $31 million. 

    New Zealand imported $152 million of products and services from the UAE over the same period, including plastics, carpets, travel services and glass.

    In addition to removing tariffs, the CEPA includes new commitments which will provide greater certainty for New Zealand services exporters when operating in the UAE. 

    The CEPA’s Investment Facilitation chapter, and a Bilateral Investment Treaty concluded alongside the CEPA, will together provide a framework for broadening and strengthening our investment relationship and help increase two-way investment with the UAE. The agreement does not include Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS).

    Professional services, education services, and the audio-visual and gaming sectors, as well as engineering and environmental services will all benefit from this Agreement.

    The CEPA also includes chapters on intellectual property, sustainable development, labour, sustainable agriculture, climate, and on indigenous trade. We have also secured New Zealand’s Treaty of Waitangi exception to allow us to meet treaty obligations. 

    H.E. Dr Al Zeyoudi says New Zealand is a long-standing and highly valued trade partner of the UAE. 

    “The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement will further strengthen our bilateral relations and boost private-sector opportunity in both nations. The conclusion of our CEPA is also an important step forward in realizing our shared ambition to secure long-term prosperity for our peoples and nations alike.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Oil and gas is alive and well, Minister Wilkinson: Minister Jean

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    “It is a shame that the federal energy minister is so misinformed when it comes to the future of oil and gas in Canada and around the world.

    “Wilkinson falsely claimed that oil and gas will be peaking this year, that the market is inevitably declining and that making more investments in this industry, supporting it and defending it will allegedly make Canada poorer.

    “We shouldn’t be surprised that this comes from a government whose anti-energy and anti-development policies broke Canada.

    “Let us be absolutely clear, Alberta’s government remains committed to increasing oil and gas production. Small, medium and large companies are actively investing in oil and gas growth all across our province to reach this target.

    “The demand for Alberta’s oil is only growing and reached record production in July. Alberta has recently developed new markets in Asia. Millions of people die every year from energy poverty. To kill the oil and gas industry would be to condemn developing countries to energy poverty.

    “It is Alberta’s responsibility to meet this demand.

    “All reputable international forecasters predict this growth to continue for years to come. Alberta’s oil and gas sector is driving Canada’s economy, and we will continue to defend the sector by any means possible.”

    MIL OSI Canada News

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Gartner Security & Risk Management Summit 2024 London: Day 3 Highlights

    Source: Gartner – IT Research

    Headline: Gartner Security & Risk Management Summit 2024 London: Day 3 Highlights

    We are bringing you news and highlights from the Gartner Security & Risk Management Summit 2024, taking place this week in London, U.K. Below is a collection of the key announcements and insights coming out of Day 3 of the conference.

    MIL OSI Global Banks

  • MIL-OSI USA: Yakima Projects to Reduce Flooding & Recover Salmon Get Federal Investment

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell
    09.25.24
    Yakima Projects to Reduce Flooding & Recover Salmon Get Federal Investment
    Yakima County, in collaboration with the City of Yakima, gets $10.9M federal grants for Cowiche Creek Confluence Projects to restore floodplains and protect the City of Yakima from flooding; Chelan County also receives grant for floodplain restoration on lower Chiwawa River
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) announced that Yakima County will receive $9,976,792 to implement Phase I of the Cowiche Creek Confluence Project, which will address recurring flooding of Cowiche Creek, improve fish passage and habitat, and maintain water delivery by constructing a new irrigation delivery pipeline, removing obsolete irrigation structures, and restoring adjacent floodplains and riparian areas along Cowiche Creek. Yakima County will also receive $1,002,149 for Phase II of the Cowiche Creek Confluence Project to complete the study and design on additional floodplain restoration and salmon habitat projects along Cowiche Creek and at the confluence of Cowiche Creek and Naches River.  
    The Chelan County Natural Resource Department will also receive $806,511 to work with the Yakama Nation to complete designs of a floodplain restoration project at the lower Chiwawa River in the Wenatchee Basin. The grants were awarded from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding for the Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSMART Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Program.
    “Restored floodplains can provide rich fish habitat and protect homes, community infrastructure, and farms from flooding,” said Sen. Cantwell. “These federal funds will enable Yakima County to restore the Cowiche Creek floodplains, helping to reduce flooding, clearing the way for salmon to pass, and improving water delivery to Yakima residents. This funding will also help Chelan County restore a floodplain in the lower Chiwawa River that will revive once-thriving salmon habitat in the Wenatchee Basin.”
    Cowiche Creek overflowed into Yakima in 2016 and 2017, and the once-productive floodplain no longer provides optimal spawning habitat for native populations of Steelhead trout and Coho salmon. 
    With this funding, Yakima County will make progress on two critical projects:
    Cowiche Creek Confluence Project Phase I
    Construct a new irrigation delivery pipeline to connect to existing surface water irrigation delivery systems on the Naches River to the City of Yakima;
    Remove surface irrigation diversion facilities including a dam, fish screen, and bypass facilities to allow restoration of the lower Cowiche Creek to a more natural alignment;
    Restore adjacent floodplains and riparian zones on property owned by the Flood Control Zone;
    Construct approximately 800 feet of side channel habitat fed by existing cold-water springs in the project area;
    Convert approximately 67 acres of current and former orchard into native floodplain vegetation;
    Reconfigure existing flood control levees; and
    Design a wider Powerhouse Road bridge over Cowiche Creek to further expand the floodplain of Cowiche Creek.
    Cowiche Creek Confluence Project Phase II
    Complete the 60% design to replace an undersized bridge, remove obsolete irrigation infrastructure, regrade disturbed areas to mimic natural floodplain topography, and replant with native riparian vegetation;
    Reorganize lands, easements, and covenants held by the County to facilitate development of a future park; and
    Reduce flood potential across 136-acres of floodplain, improve fish passage and riparian habitat in over two river miles of the confluence area, and create a park that will provide recreation opportunities.
    With its funding, Chelan County, in partnership with the Yakama Nation, will complete designs for a floodplain restoration project on the lower 13 miles of the Chiwawa River and the lower 0.2 miles of Big Meadow Creek. The project area is afflicted by low baseflows, homogeneous, plane-bed habitat with limited large wood, and high stream temperatures — all of which limits its utility as habitat for endangered salmon.
    Throughout her time in the Senate, Sen. Cantwell has been a staunch advocate for protecting and strengthening critical salmon populations. Sen. Cantwell secured a historic $2.85 billion investment in salmon and ecosystem restoration programs in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, including $400 million for a new community-based restoration program focused on removing fish passage barriers.

    MIL OSI USA News