Category: Business

MIL-OSI: Baffle Announces New Data Security Capabilities on Amazon S3
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Sept. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Baffle, the easiest way to protect sensitive data, today announced new data security capabilities for Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3). As organizations continue to experience unintentional disclosure of data through data stored and shared through S3 buckets, the new offering from Baffle provides customers with easy, comprehensive, and safe technical control to ensure that data is protected at rest, in use, and in motion as it is ingested, stored and processed in generative AI pipelines.

Amazon S3 is an object storage service from Amazon Web Services (AWS) offering industry-leading scalability, data availability, and security performance and is built to store and retrieve any amount of data from anywhere. S3 is the first step in the journey of sensitive data as it is ingested into Generative AI pipelines. Baffle’s data security capabilities for Amazon S3 require no-code changes, easily protecting data stored in any S3 bucket with masking, tokenization, and encryption at the object or field level. The data is protected before it is inserted into S3, and stays protected when processed, hence achieving a “fail-safe” posture with the data remaining protected even if there is a misconfiguration or a human error.

“The amount of data organizations store in S3 has continued to grow exponentially year over year driven by the tremendous growth of Generative AI pipelines being built in the cloud and yet, those storing data in S3 have done so without a fail-safe against human error, and the numerous data disclosures of private data stored in S3 reflect the dangers of doing so,” said Ameesh Divatia, co-founder and CEO of Baffle. “Now, with Baffle, enterprises can avoid the accidental disclosure of their S3 data whether it is driven by a cybercriminal or something as simple as human error.”

Key benefits of the new offering for Baffle and Amazon S3 customers will include:
- Transparent Reverse Proxy: Baffle provides a seamless, transparent reverse proxy for Amazon S3 that does not require any code changes for deployment, use, or management. Baffle can also leverage AWS server-side encryption acceleration in combination with fine grained policy and tenant management. This makes integration and operation straightforward without disrupting existing workflows.
- Comprehensive Security: Baffle’s solution offers robust data security through masking, tokenization, and encryption at the field, object, or bucket level. This ensures that sensitive information is securely protected from unauthorized access in all downstream systems, including analytics and generative AI
- Multi-Tenancy and Data Isolation: Baffle’s solution supports multi-tenancy and data isolation by cryptographically separating each tenant’s data from others. This ensures that each tenant’s information remains secure and private, even in a shared environment.
Baffle is the easiest way to protect regulated data in the cloud, whether it is at rest, in use, or in transit. Baffle delivers an enterprise-class data security platform that secures data stores for applications, analytics, and AI with “no code” changes. The solution supports masking, tokenization, and encryption with role-based access control at the logical database, column-, row-, or field level, and unstructured data in object stores.

For additional information about Baffle, please view the webinar here or to learn more about the product, please visit: https://baffle.io/data-security-for-amazon-s3/.

About Baffle
Baffle is the easiest way to protect sensitive data. We are the only security platform that cryptographically protects the data itself as it’s created, used, and shared across cloud-native data stores that feed analytics, applications, and AI. Baffle’s no-code solution masks, tokenizes and encrypts data without application changes or impacting the user experience. With Baffle, enterprises easily meet compliance controls and security mandates and reduce the effort and cost of protecting sensitive information to eliminate the impact of data breaches. Investors include Celesta Venture Capital, National Grid Partners, Lytical Ventures, Nepenthe Capital, True Ventures, Greenspring Associates, Clearvision Ventures, Engineering Capital, Triphammer Venture, ServiceNow Ventures, Thomvest Ventures, and Industry Ventures.

Follow Baffle on LinkedIn.

Contact:
Stephanie Schlegel
Offleash PR
baffle@offleashpr.com

The MIL Network –
September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI: Šiaulių bankas repays TLTRO III loan

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

On 25th September 2024, Šiaulių bankas AB repaid a EUR 478.81 million loan taken out under the ECB’s TLTRO III programme. The funds were borrowed for a period of three years, starting on 29th September 2021. The final interest rate set on the loan was 1.8475%.

The objective of the TLTRO III programme was to increase and support bank lending to businesses and individuals during times of economic instability.

After this repayment, Šiaulių bankas has no outstanding loans under the TLTRO III programme.

Additional information:
Tomas Varenbergas
Head of Investment Management Division
tomas.varenbergas@sb.lt

The MIL Network –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI: Kandji Introduces Kai, the Industry’s First AI Device Management Assistant for Apple Fleets

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Kandji, the Apple endpoint management and security platform, today announced Kai, the first-of-its-kind AI device management assistant for Apple devices. With Kai, Kandji harnesses the power of AI to equip IT teams with fast, insightful answers to questions about their corporate Apple devices, to drive efficiency and make more informed decisions – all while maintaining full data privacy.

In a 2023 survey of IT leaders in organizations with 1,000 or more employees, 76% said that the use of Apple devices in their companies increased over the past year. But only 35% of IT teams characterized their Apple device management capabilities as “mature,” while 93% said their organizations would benefit from additional management capabilities. Kai gives them just that: By simplifying the reporting process, IT teams can make a larger impact at work by dedicating more time to high-value execution.

Kai builds upon Kandji Prism, a reporting tool that uses traditional, filter-based queries to provide fleetwide visibility. Now those same queries can be performed using natural language, which empowers IT team members of all technical levels, including those in leadership positions, to quickly and efficiently obtain device information, freeing them up for more strategic work.

“Today’s IT teams face the challenge of delivering more to meet growing business demands, while navigating shrinking resources. As a result, the pressure to increase productivity is at an all-time high,” said Weldon Dodd, SVP of Global Solutions at Kandji. “Leveraging AI not only drives efficiency, but also amplifies what IT teams can accomplish, allowing them to focus on more strategic projects that drive innovation. Kai opens up a new dimension of efficiency for our customers, helping them to maximize their contribution to the highest value activities instead of being mired in manipulating data to uncover the insights they need.”

Kai is the first iteration of Kandji’s AI efforts and will be available to select customers for early testing on September 25. Kai will become generally available in 2025 as part of Kandji’s continued efforts to bring the same intelligence to other features. For more information please visit: https://kandji.io/blog/kandji-announces-kai-artificial-intelligence-for-device-management

Helpful Links

About Kandji
Kandji is the Apple endpoint management and security platform. Kandji empowers companies to manage and secure Apple devices in the enterprise and at scale. By centrally securing and managing your Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV devices, IT and InfoSec teams can save countless hours of manual, repetitive work with features like one-click compliance templates and more than 150 pre-built automations, apps, and workflows. Learn more at http://www.kandji.io.

Media Contact
Erica Anderson
pr@kandji.io

The MIL Network –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI: Altus Group Releases Q3 2024 CRE Industry Conditions & Sentiment Survey Findings
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

NEW YORK and TORONTO, Sept. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Altus Group Limited (“Altus” or “the Company”) (TSX: AIF), a leading provider of asset and fund intelligence for commercial real estate (“CRE”), today released the findings from its Q3 2024 CRE Industry Conditions & Sentiment Survey, a quarterly survey that collects insights on current market conditions and future expectations. The latest survey draws on feedback from 437 seasoned CRE professionals representing over 163 firms in the U.S. and Canada from July 11 to August 6, 2024.

The Q3 2024 CRE Industry Conditions & Sentiment Survey highlights participants’ perspectives on several topics, including:
- Operating environment expectations: the majority of respondents (69% in the U.S. and 67% in Canada) described the near-term operating environment as “somewhat challenging” – consistent with the sentiment expressed the prior quarter in both markets.
- Current focus areas: primary focus over the next six months remains on managing existing portfolios and exposures, with an uptick in respondents indicating they plan to deploy capital (up 11 percentage points in the U.S. and up 2 percentage points in Canada over the prior quarter).
- Transaction intentions over the next six months: a significant majority of respondents (89% in the U.S. and 75% in Canada) signalled intent to transact, nearly 10 percentage points higher than last quarter for both countries.
- Perception of pricing shifts: across the largest property sectors in the U.S., participants increasingly described current pricing as being “priced about right”, while in Canada respondents still characterized much of the market as largely “overpriced”.
- Property performance expectations: industrial and multifamily asset classes continued to be top ranked as best performers, with office consistently ranked as a worst performer.
- Priority issues: the cost of capital/interest rates remained as the top concern, reflecting overall low expectations for capital availability.
“The survey results revealed lingering concerns in the commercial real estate market in Q3, though there was increasing optimism about future improvements,” commented Omar Eltorai, Director of Research, Altus Group. “While CRE transaction activity remained muted in the face of high borrowing costs and expectations of impending interest rate cuts, last week’s rate cut in the U.S. should boost investor sentiment, potentially encouraging those on the sidelines to re-engage with the market.”

To download the full reports by country, please use the following links:

About Altus Group

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Elizabeth Lambe
Director, Global Communications, Altus Group
1-416-641-9787
Elizabeth.Lambe@altusgroup.com

The MIL Network –
September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI: High Wire Networks Recognized as Top Cybersecurity Leader in Frost & Sullivan’s 2024 Managed Security Services Report

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

BATAVIA, Ill., Sept. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — High Wire Networks, Inc. (OTCQB: HWNI), a leading global provider of managed cybersecurity, received top ranking in the new Frost & Sullivan (F&S) report on the cybersecurity industry, Frost Radar™: Managed Security Services in Americas, 2024.

Across a field of more than 200 competitors, Frost & Sullivan ranked High Wire among the Top 15 Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) that are delivering the greatest results in the categories of growth and innovation.

Frost & Sullivan noted that despite High Wire being a relatively new market entrant, “it continues to grow at an impressive triple-digit pace, surpassing almost every competitor in that metric.”

According to the report, such growth is made possible by the company’s channel-only strategy, which brings in the entirety of an MSP’s customer base instead of individual organizations.

“High Wire Networks has expanded its portfolio significantly since our last iteration of the Frost Radar,” noted Frost & Sullivan cybersecurity industry analyst, Lucas Ferreyra. “The company has centralized its entire offering around the Overwatch Managed Security Services Ecosystem, which includes its flagship product, the eponymous Overwatch platform that provides managed XDR and managed SOC/SOAR with 24/7 monitoring, detection, threat remediation, and proactive threat hunting across the environment.”

Operating at the core of High Wire’s security operation center is Overwatch SOAR™, a proprietary security orchestration, automation and response (SOAR) technology.

The unique AI embedded in Overwatch SOAR automatically consolidates alerts from various threat prevention and detection-and-response platforms and processes them with intelligence-based rules that provide enhanced visibility, improved correlation, and faster remediation.

“The Overwatch ecosystem provides a combination of prevention, detection, and response capabilities in a closed loop,” explained Ferreyra. “This provides comprehensive protection for customers and makes it easy for the provider to upsell its services, enhancing its growth potential.”

In the category of innovation, the report highlights how High Wire is developing more automation capabilities for its entire stack, regularly adding pre-built automations and integrations to decrease analysts’ workload. R&D activities also include enhancing real-time threat intelligence as it further builds its own threat intelligence network.

As the report highlighted, High Wire’s ecosystem includes managed detection and response, managed SASE, managed secure edge, continuous vulnerability scanning and management, patch management (to remediate patch vulnerabilities and fix misconfigurations), OT/IoT security, email security and security awareness training. To increase flexibility, High Wire Networks can leverage tools and solutions in the customer ecosystem, integrating tools into its SOAR capabilities.

Regarding growth, the report notes that while High Wire Networks “has only a small slice of the Americas MSS market, but it continues to grow at an impressive triple- digit pace, surpassing almost every competitor in that metric. Such growth is made possible by the company’s channel-only strategy, which brings in the entirety of an MSP’s customer base instead of individual organizations.”

High Wire offers its Overwatch managed security services exclusively through a global network of managed service providers (MSPs) and managed security service providers totaling more than 200 worldwide.

The report also discussed how High Wire Networks’ approach to the MSS space revolves around reducing the workload for security analysts, multiplying efficiency, and automating tasks unrelated to decision-making.

High Wire’s SOAR technology serves as an exponential force multiplier for its dedicated teams of professional security experts, empowering them to deliver the most secure and cost-effective cybersecurity solutions available on the market today.

“High Wire Networks’ investments in a security service to disrupt the edge security space, coupled with its current managed SASE and zero trust offerings are appropriate for its target market,” added Ferreyra. “Establishing an effective zero trust strategy is a complex endeavor that requires sizeable resources and expert knowledge; as a result, organizations with lower security maturity will usually look to partner with cybersecurity providers to deploy these technologies. High Wire Networks should continue to invest in this significant growth opportunity.”

High Wire CEO, Mark Porter, commented: “We are honored to be recognized by Frost & Sullivan for our commitment to innovation and growth in the MSS space. The Top 15 ranking reflects the hard work and dedication of our entire team in delivering comprehensive, cutting-edge security solutions through our Overwatch managed security services ecosystem. By leveraging our platform’s robust suite of offerings—from managed XDR to advanced edge protection—we continue to meet the evolving needs of our partners and customers.”

“For our channel partners, we create significant opportunities by providing layers of expertise at every engagement with MSPs,” added Porter. “Every deal has the upsell potential for the MSP or reseller to migrate its entire customer base to High Wire Networks’ services, augmenting our growth potential significantly.”

The company provides further details about the Frost & Sullivan’s report in this YouTube video here.

High Wire’s Overwatch offering addresses a global cybersecurity market that is projected to grow at a 14.3% CAGR to reach $563 billion by 2032.

High Wire was also named to CRN’s MSP 500 and Elite 150 lists of the nation’s top IT managed service providers for 2023 and 2024.

Porter discusses the Frost & Sullivan’s 2024 Managed Security Services report in the company’s YouTube video here.

About High Wire Networks
High Wire Networks, Inc. (OTCQB: HWNI) is a fast-growing, award-winning global provider of managed cybersecurity. Through over 200 channel partners, it delivers trusted managed services for more than 1,100 managed security customers worldwide. End-customers include Fortune 500 companies and many of the nation’s largest government agencies. Its U.S. based 24/7 Network Operations Center and Security Operations Center is located in Chicago.

Learn more at HighWireNetworks.com. Follow the company on X, view its extensive video series on YouTube or connect on LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statements
The above news release contains forward-looking statements. The statements contained in this document that are not statements of historical fact, including but not limited to, statements identified by the use of terms such as “anticipate,” “appear,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “hope,” “indicate,” “intend,” “likely,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “potential,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “will,” “would,” and other variations or negative expressions of these terms, including statements related to expected market trends and the Company’s performance, are all “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. These statements are based on assumptions that management believes are reasonable based on currently available information, and include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company and its management. Prospective investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performances and are subject to a wide range of external factors, uncertainties, business risks, and other risks identified in filings made by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in the company’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances upon which any statement is based except as required by applicable law and regulations.

High Wire Contact
Susanna Song
Chief Marketing Officer
High Wire Networks
Tel +1 (952) 974-4000
Email contact

Investor & Media Relations:
Ronald Both or Grant Stude
CMA Investor & Media Relations
Tel +1 (949) 432-7557
Email contact

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e7bae7cf-3bc9-46bd-8170-0f9fe66d3685

The MIL Network –

September 29, 2024

MIL-OSI: LM Funding America, Inc. estimates that the 135.7 Bitcoin holdings on August 31, 2024, were valued at approximately $8.7 million in their monthly updates

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

TAMPA, Fla., Sept. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — LM Funding America, Inc. (NASDAQ: LMFA) (“LM Funding” or the “Company”), a cryptocurrency mining and technology-based specialty finance company, today provided a preliminary, unaudited Bitcoin mining and operational update for the month ended August 31, 2024.

Metrics *	Three Months 1^st Qtr. 2024		One Month April 30, 2024		One Month May 31, 2024		One Month June 30, 2024		One Month July 31, 2024		One Month August 31, 2024		Eight Months Ended August 31, 2024
Bitcoin Beginning Balance	95.1		163.4		155.1		163.1		160.5		132.5		95.1
Bitcoin Mined, net	86.4		24.7		14.0		5.4		4.6		7.2		142.3
Bitcoin Sold	(18.0	)	(33.0	)	(6.0	)	(8.0	)	(32.5	)	(4.0	)	(101.5	)
Service Fee	(0.1	)	–		–		–		(0.1	)	–		(0.2	)
Bitcoin Holdings at Month End	163.4		155.1		163.1		160.5		132.5		135.7		135.7

Approximate Miners Deployed at Month End	5,940		5,880		5,510		1,878		3,800		3,700
Approximate Miners In-Transit at Month End					370		4,002		2,080		2,200
Approximate Potential Hash Rate at Month End (PH/s)	614		639		639		639		639		639

*Unaudited

The Company estimates that the value of its 135.7 Bitcoin holdings on August 31, 2024, was approximately $8.7 million, based on an estimated September 24, 2024, BTC price of $64,250.

Bruce Rodgers, Chairman and CEO of LM Funding, commented, “We continue to make significant progress on our key initiatives, including the expansion of our new 15 MW hosting facility near Oklahoma City, where we relocated approximately 3,000 Antminer S19j Pro machines. Hosting these machines at cost for the next six months will enable us to significantly reduce our operating expenses.”

“We are also investing the proceeds from our recent private placement, alongside the $5 million secured non-convertible loan facility, into high-return projects. These strategic investments are expected to be accretive, while accelerating our growth and driving meaningful returns on capital for our shareholders,” concluded Rodgers.

About LM Funding America
LM Funding America, Inc. (Nasdaq: LMFA), together with its subsidiaries, is a cryptocurrency mining business that commenced Bitcoin mining operations in September 2022. The Company also operates a technology-based specialty finance company that provides funding to nonprofit community associations (Associations) primarily located in the state of Florida, as well as in the states of Washington, Colorado, and Illinois, by funding a certain portion of the Associations’ rights to delinquent accounts that are selected by the Associations arising from unpaid Association assessments.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements made pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” and “project” and other similar words and expressions are intended to signify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guaranties of future results and conditions but rather are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Some of these risks and uncertainties are identified in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and its other filings with the SEC, which are available at www.sec.gov. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, uncertainty created by the risks of entering into and operating in the cryptocurrency mining business, uncertainty in the cryptocurrency mining business in general, problems with hosting vendors in the mining business, the capacity of our Bitcoin mining machines and our related ability to purchase power at reasonable prices, the ability to finance and grow our cryptocurrency mining operations, our ability to acquire new accounts in our specialty finance business at appropriate prices, the potential need for additional capital in the future, changes in governmental regulations that affect our ability to collected sufficient amounts on defaulted consumer receivables, changes in the credit or capital markets, changes in interest rates, and negative press regarding the debt collection industry. The occurrence of any of these risks and uncertainties could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Contact:
Crescendo Communications, LLC
Tel: (212) 671-1021
Email: LMFA@crescendo-ir.com

The MIL Network –

September 29, 2024

MIL-OSI China: Chinese vice premier meets ASEAN leaders attending 21st China-ASEAN Expo

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

NANNING, Sept. 25 — Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang on Tuesday met with leaders from Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, who are in Nanning, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, to attend the 21st China-ASEAN Expo and the China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit.

When meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Vietnam Ho Duc Phoc, Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said China is ready to work with Vietnam in accordance with the strategic direction set by the leaders of the two parties and the two countries to consolidate political mutual trust, enhance the synergy of development strategies, advance infrastructure connectivity, upgrade economic, trade and investment cooperation, cement public support, and push forward the building of the China-Vietnam community with a shared future.

Speaking highly of China’s great development achievements, Ho Duc Phoc said Vietnam is willing to work with China to push for more results in practical cooperation in various fields to better benefit the two countries and the two peoples.

When meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister in charge of the Office of the Council of Ministers of Cambodia Vongsey Vissoth, Ding said China is willing to work with Cambodia to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, enhance the synergy between the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and Cambodia’s development strategies, expand cooperation in emerging fields such as green development and digital economy, encourage Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Cambodia, implement more projects that benefit local people, and push the development of bilateral relations to a new level.

Vongsey Vissoth said Cambodia firmly pursues a friendly policy toward China and is willing to work with China to enrich the Diamond Hexagon cooperation framework, and join hands to build a Cambodia-China community with a shared future.

When meeting with Deputy Prime Minister of Laos Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune, Ding noted that this year marks the 15th anniversary of the China-Laos comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, and China is willing to work with Laos, under the guidance of the top leaders of the two parties and two countries, to strengthen economic, trade and investment cooperation, accelerate the construction of major projects, set a new benchmark for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and work together to advance the process of national modernization.

Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune said Laos attaches great importance to the building of a Laos-China community with a shared future, and is willing to strengthen high-level interactions with China, deepen practical cooperation and push for long-lasting Laos-China friendly relations.

MIL OSI China News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI China: China starts building first high-voltage AC/DC hybrid power grid project

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

NANJING, Sept. 25 — China on Wednesday started the construction of its first high-voltage alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) hybrid power grid project in Jiangsu Province, marking another step toward a cleaner, safer and more efficient energy system.

The demonstration project will connect the two cities of Huai’an and Danyang, adding approximately 228 km of DC transmission lines to the existing power grid with two ±200 kV converter stations to be built at both ends, according to the State Grid Jiangsu Electric Power Co., Ltd.

The project is expected to be operational after completion in 2026.

China’s current main power grid is primarily composed of AC power grids. However, compared with AC transmission, DC transmission at the same voltage level can transmit larger amounts of power with lower energy losses.

Once operational, the project will significantly alleviate the pressure on north-to-south power transmission in Jiangsu and enhance grid flexibility, further expanding the application of hybrid grid technologies and helping develop a clean, low-carbon, safe and efficient energy system, according to the company.

China recently issued a plan to promote advanced technologies in key energy fields, including hybrid AC/DC power grids

MIL OSI China News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI China: China allocates funds to support flood, typhoon-hit regions

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

BEIJING, Sept. 25 — Chinese authorities have earmarked 719 million yuan (about 102 million U.S. dollars) to support disaster relief and restore agricultural production in regions hit by Super Typhoon Yagi and several rounds of heavy rainfall, the finance ministry said Wednesday.

The fund, jointly allocated by the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Water Resources, has been distributed to the regions of Hainan, Guangdong, Liaoning, Inner Mongolia, Jilin, Hunan, Guangxi, Yunnan, Qinghai and Ningxia.

The fund will be used to buy agricultural supplies and services for crop replanting and reseeding and repair damaged facilities to help disaster-hit regions resume agricultural production, according to the ministry.

Super Typhoon Yagi, the 11th typhoon of this year, made two landfalls in China earlier this month, first striking Hainan and later Guangdong. It is the strongest autumn typhoon to land in China since 1949, according to meteorological authorities.

MIL OSI China News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Global: America is increasingly dependent on foreign doctors − but their path to immigration is getting harder

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Selma Hedlund, Postdoctoral Associate at Center of Forced Displacement, Boston University

For immigrant doctors, the path to permanent residency is fleeting and far from guaranteed. Stefano Spicca/iStock via Getty Images

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed a pressing issue: The U.S. health care system is increasingly dependent on immigrant physicians, but it’s becoming harder for aspiring ones to work and settle in the U.S.

Today, 1 in 4 doctors are foreign-born, international medical graduates. Their numbers are even larger in underserved areas – essentially, low-income, more rural parts of the country where many American doctors don’t want to work.

This immigrant workforce is key to offsetting a dire physician shortage. The need for more doctors is due, in part, to America’s growing and aging population; U.S.-born doctors’ unwillingness to move to poorer and more rural areas; and U.S.-born doctors’ lack of interest in going into primary care, which can be less lucrative and prestigious than other areas of medicine.

As a result, immigrant doctors have become indispensable in hospitals and clinics across the nation. But while they’re in demand, more and more foreign doctors are starting to see the immigration process as a risky endeavor.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, I wrote my dissertation about how immigrant physicians navigate the U.S. immigration system and foreign licensing procedures. My interviewees described how a combination of stricter immigration policies and more competition for residency spots have made the U.S. a less feasible destination.

Visa vicissitudes

U.S. visas can be categorized into two categories: immigrant and nonimmigrant. Nonimmigrant visas, such as tourist, student or exchange visitors visas, prohibit holders from having what’s called “immigrant intent,” meaning that they don’t plan to use their visas to permanently stay in the U.S.

In order for immigrant doctors to be licensed to practice in the U.S., they need to complete licensing exams. They also need to obtain clinical experience in the U.S. This can be completed while on a tourist visa or a student visa, which are relatively easy to obtain.

However, all immigrant physicians – even if they’re certified specialists in their home country – need to get accepted into and complete a U.S. residency program in order to practice in the U.S. as specialists. These are intensive, supervised training programs that can last up to seven years.

Nonetheless, a majority of immigrant doctors in the U.S. will complete their American residencies on nonimmigrant visas, even though by this point in the process they quite clearly have immigrant intent.

It wasn’t always this way.

There’s a special work visa called the H-1B that allows for both immigrant and nonimmigrant intent. A few decades ago, many immigrant physicians entered residency programs that sponsored H-1B visas, which served as stepping stones to green cards.

But drastic restrictions to the number of people admitted into this visa program, coupled with cuts in graduate medical education funding, have directed most foreign-born doctors to what’s called a J-1 exchange visitors visa.

Challenges of working in underserved areas

The J-1 not only explicitly prohibits immigration intent, it also requires that doctors return to their home country for at least two years upon completing American residency training.

Foreign-born doctors nonetheless pursue the J-1 because there’s the opportunity to obtain a waiver, with limited slots that will allow them to remain in the U.S. and adjust to an H-1B visa. If selected for the waiver program, they must commit to a minimum of three years of service in a designated medically underserved area in the U.S.

Through a special waiver, immigrant doctors can work at rural hospitals that are underfunded and understaffed.
Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

While this system can offer short-term relief to physician shortages, it can also lead to exploitation.

As one interviewee told me, “We hear very scary things about the J-1 waiver. The employers can take advantage and make you work more and pay less.”

For the duration of the waiver program, immigrant physicians have minimal ability to change employers without violating the conditions of the waiver – and their path to immigration. Underserved areas are often understaffed and underresourced, which can make for stressful working conditions.

Forced to go above and beyond

The challenges don’t end with the visa process. There are financial burdens as well.

International medical graduates often spend tens of thousands of dollars to pay for U.S. medical licensing exams, multiple visa applications, international travel and lodging, residency and green card applications.

They also spend months in unpaid positions in hospital settings to gain the U.S. clinical experience that’s required to apply for residency. Then, in order to match into residency, immigrant physicians typically need to outperform their American peers on exams. They also need to have more prestigious research qualifications and stronger recommendation letters. Still, immigrant doctors are more likely to match into less competitive residency programs.

While interviewing immigrant physicians, many testified to the competition getting steeper in recent years.

“I told a friend, if you don’t have scores in upper 90s in all the exams and you’re not a green card holder, don’t even bother,” an Indian physician who immigrated 20 years ago explained to me. “It’s so tough.”

Stuck in limbo

Over the course of my research I noticed a trend: Many international medical graduates will come to the U.S. on student visas to pursue U.S. graduate degrees in health-related fields, such as public health, before they even start the licensing process. This helps them get their foot in the door into a very complicated immigration system and build a stronger resume as they prepare for residency applications. It’s also another expensive investment.

But even those who match into and complete residency won’t necessarily be able to stay and work in America.

Those with positive experiences from working in underserved communities often struggle to remain in their positions after their waiver contracts are fulfilled because of the green card backlog.

The average immigrant’s wait time for a green card has doubled since the national quota system was introduced in the early 1990s.

By 2018, an applicant had to wait an average of 18 months to get approved for their green card and another five years and eight months to receive it. The COVID-19 pandemic introduced new barriers and delays.

Indians, one of the biggest nationalities among immigrant physicians, have the longest wait times under the current system, sometimes waiting up to a decade to obtain the security of permanent residence. Among the 1.8 million cases currently stuck in the employment-based green card backlog, 63% are Indian nationals.

A pending green card application is often formally considered abandoned if the applicant leaves the country, preventing people from visiting loved ones abroad for years.

No fix on the horizon

Despite frequent calls for change and reform, these bottlenecks continue to adversely affect both patients and doctors.

While the current model has its benefits, it also reflects a trend in which much-needed immigrant professionals live in prolonged, demoralizing uncertainty. Work visas have been subject to increasing cuts and restrictions in recent years under both the Trump and Biden administrations. Conditions will likely worsen if Trump returns to office: The “Muslim ban” he enacted in 2017 adversely affected many immigrant doctors and their patients, and his calls for increased vetting will likely exacerbate existing barriers to legal immigration.

A paradox has emerged: While the U.S. says it wants to attract and retain world class talent, its byzantine immigration system continually discourages potential hires.

The doctors I interviewed gave a variety of reasons for wanting to work in the U.S., including better lifestyles and opportunities for professional development. But the complexity and sheer unwieldiness of the U.S. visa regime is causing the nation to lose skilled professionals to other countries with more streamlined processes.

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

– ref. America is increasingly dependent on foreign doctors − but their path to immigration is getting harder – https://theconversation.com/america-is-increasingly-dependent-on-foreign-doctors-but-their-path-to-immigration-is-getting-harder-229980

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Global: Diet-related diseases are the No. 1 cause of death in the US – yet many doctors receive little to no nutrition education in med school

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Nathaniel Johnson, Assistant Professor of Nutrition and Dietetics, University of North Dakota

Nearly 60% of respondents to one medical school survey said they received no nutritional education at all. Peter Dazeley/The Image Bank via Getty Images

On television shows like “Grey’s Anatomy,” “The Resident” and “Chicago Med,” physicians seem to always have the right answer.

But when it comes to nutrition and dietary advice, that may not be the case.

One of us is an assistant professor of nutrition and dietetics; the other is a medical student with a master’s degree in nutrition.

Both of us understand the powerful effects that food has on your health and longevity. A poor diet may lead to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity and even psychological conditions like depression and anxiety. Diet-related diseases are the leading causes of death in the U.S., and a poor diet is responsible for more deaths than smoking.

These health problems are not only common and debilitating, but expensive. Treating high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol costs about US$400 billion per year. Within 25 years, those costs are expected to triple, to $1.3 trillion.

These facts support the need for physicians to give accurate advice about diet to help prevent these diseases. But how much does a typical physician know about nutrition?

The deficiencies in nutrition education happen at all levels of medical training.

What doctors don’t know

In a 2023 survey of more than 1,000 U.S. medical students, about 58% of respondents said they received no formal nutrition education while in medical school for four years. Those who did averaged about three hours of nutrition education per year.

That is woefully short of the goals set by the U.S. Committee on Nutrition in Medical Education back in 1985: that med students should receive a total of 25 hours of nutrition education while in school – a little more than six hours per year.

But a 2015 study showed only 29% of medical schools met this goal, and a 2023 study suggests the problem has become even worse – only 7.8% of med students reported 20 or more hours of nutrition education across all four years of med school. If this is representative of medical schools throughout the country, it has happened despite efforts to bolster nutrition education through numerous government initiatives.

Not surprisingly, the lack of education has had a direct impact on physicians’ nutrition knowledge. In a study of 257 first- and second-year osteopathic medical students taking a nutrition knowledge quiz, more than half flunked the test. Prior to the test, more than half the students – 55% – felt comfortable counseling patients on nutrition.

Unfortunately, this problem is not limited to U.S. medical schools. A 2018 global study concluded that no matter the country, nutrition education of med students is insufficient throughout the world.

Bringing nutrition education back

Even though evidence suggests that nutrition education can be effective, there are many reasons why it’s lacking. Medical students and physicians are some of the busiest people in society. The amount of information taught in medical curricula is often described as overwhelming – like drinking out of a fire hose.

First- and second-year medical students focus on dense topics, including biochemistry, molecular biology and genetics, while they learn clinical skills such as interviewing patients and understanding heart and lung sounds. Third- and fourth-year students are practicing in clinics and hospitals as they learn from physicians and patients.

As a result, their schedules are already jammed. There is no room for nutrition. And once they are physicians, it gets no better. Providing preventive care including nutrition counseling to patients would take them more than seven hours per week – and that’s not counting the time they would have to spend on continuing education to keep up with new findings in nutrition science.

On top of that, the lack of nutrition education in medical schools has been attributed to a dearth of qualified instructors for nutrition courses, as most physicians do not understand nutrition well enough to teach it.

Ironically, many medical schools are part of universities that have nutrition departments with Ph.D.-trained professors; those academicians could fill this gap by teaching nutrition to medical students. But those classes are often taught by physicians who may not have adequate nutrition training – which means truly qualified instructors, within reach of most medical schools, are left out of the process.

This doctor said he learned virtually nothing about nutrition in medical school.

Finding the right advice

The best source of nutrition information, whether for medical students or the general public, is a registered dietitian, certified nutrition specialist or some other type of nutrition professional with multiple degrees and certification. They study for years and record many practice hours in order to give dietary advice.

Although anyone can make an appointment with a nutrition professional for dietary counseling, typically a referral from a health care provider like a physician is needed for the appointment to be covered by insurance. So seeing a physician or other primary care provider is often a step before meeting with a nutrition professional.

This extra step might be one reason why many people look elsewhere, such as on their phones, for nutrition advice. However, the worst place to look for accurate nutrition information is social media. There, about 94% of posts about nutrition and diet are of low value – either inaccurate or lacking adequate data to back up the claim.

Keep in mind that anyone can post nutrition advice on social media, regardless of their qualifications. Good dietary advice is individualized and takes into account one’s age, sex, goals, body weight, goals and personal preferences. This complexity is tough to capture in a brief social media post.

The good news is that nutrition education, when it occurs, is effective, and most medical students and physicians acknowledge the critical role nutrition plays in health. In fact, close to 90% of med students say nutrition education should be a mandatory part of medical school.

We hope that nutrition education, after being devalued or ignored for decades, will soon be an integral part of every medical school’s curriculum. But given its history and current status, this seems unlikely to happen anytime soon.

In the meantime, those who want to learn more about a healthy diet should meet with a nutrition professional, or at the very least read the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans or the World Health Organization’s healthy diet recommendations.

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Diet-related diseases are the No. 1 cause of death in the US – yet many doctors receive little to no nutrition education in med school – https://theconversation.com/diet-related-diseases-are-the-no-1-cause-of-death-in-the-us-yet-many-doctors-receive-little-to-no-nutrition-education-in-med-school-236217

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Video: Ninth ECB Annual Research Conference 2024: Session 5

Source: European Central Bank (video statements)

Session 5:

Chair: Philipp Hartmann, European Central Bank

Monetary policy without commitment
Hassan Afrouzi, Columbia University
Marina Halac, Yale University
Kenneth S. Rogoff, Harvard University
Pierre Yared*, Columbia University
Discussant: Albert Marcet, CREI and Universitat Pompeu Fabra

The secular decline of bank balance sheet lending
Greg Buchak, Stanford University
Gregor Matvos, Northwestern University
Tomasz Piskorski, Columbia University
Amit Seru*, Stanford University
Discussant: Neeltje van Horen, Bank of England and University of Amsterdam

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6MpqQtiRC4

MIL OSI Video –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Video: Ninth ECB Annual Research Conference 2024: Session 6

Source: European Central Bank (video statements)

Session 6:

Chair: Ulrich Bindseil, European Central Bank

Specialization in banking
Kristian Blickle, Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Cecilia Parlatore*, New York University
Anthony Saunders, New York University
Discussant: Diana Bonfim, Banco de Portugal and European Central Bank

The global credit cycle
Nina Boyarchenko*, Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Leonardo Elias, Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Discussant: Stijn Claessens, Yale University

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0jaKjL5ALo

MIL OSI Video –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Scottish Secretary reacts to GDP for July 2024
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Ian Murray says difficult short-term decisions must be made for long-term gain
The latest Scottish GDP stats are published here this morning for the month of July.

Scottish Secretary Ian Murray says that although the 0.3% growth for the month is encouraging, tough short-term decisions are still required for long-term improvement.

He said:

Economic growth is one of the key missions of the UK Government and Scotland is at the heart of that, as the Prime Minister underlined yesterday when he confirmed that GB Energy will be headquartered in Aberdeen. Backed by £8.3bn of UK Government investment, it will bring jobs and opportunity for all parts of the UK.

We inherited a dire fiscal situation from the previous government, as well as an industrial one, and that requires tough decisions that are hard in the short term, but the right thing for the country in the long term.

Right now, we are making work pay, ensuring the national minimum wage is a true living wage, and we’re ending exploitative zero-hours contracts so workers have increased job security. At next month’s International Investment Summit, we will forge stronger links with our global business partners, all to achieve the growth that’s vital for economic stability.

Background

Scotland’s onshore GDP is estimated to have grown by 0.3% in July. This follows 0.0% change in June (revised up from -0.3%).

In the three months to July GDP is estimated to have grown by 0.3%. This is a decrease compared to the Quarter 2 (April to June) growth rate of 0.6%.

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Published 25 September 2024
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI: CERo Therapeutics, Inc. Announces Financing and Provides Update on Investigational New Drug Application for CER-1236

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Company requests Type A Meeting with U.S. Food and Drug Administration regarding clinical hold for CER-1236; announces key management changes

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Sept. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CERo Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: CERO) (“CERo”), an innovative immunotherapy company seeking to advance the next generation of engineered T cell therapeutics that employ phagocytic mechanisms, today announced that existing investors have committed a financing of $1.25 million. With these funds the Company plans to work with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to resolve the remaining IND issue for CER-1236, which is on clinical hold.

Vice Chairman Chris Ehrlich will become Chairman and Interim Chief Executive Officer. Brian Atwood has elected to step down as President and CEO to become a consultant to CERo and to Mr. Ehrlich during this transition; he will remain on the board of directors. Both Charles Carter, CERo’s Chief Financial Officer, and Daniel Corey, M.D., Chief Technology Officer have also elected to step down from their positions and board seat in the case of Dr. Corey. The Company has already identified consultants to continue to progress its ongoing work.

“This is a unique opportunity for us to reset and ensure that CERo is able to deliver on the promise of its science,” stated Mr. Ehrlich. “We will continue to benefit from Brian’s experience in the market, while we work diligently to progress CER-1236 into the clinic. In the meantime, we are implementing cost reductions to minimize our capital needs and have already made considerable headway in identifying replacements for the CFO and CTO positions, both activities which we believe will be instrumental in helping us to drive forward and complete the task at hand.”

CERo continues to progress in its work to address the Clinical Hold placed on its Investigational New Drug Application for CER-1236. The company has requested a Type A Meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding its open Investigational New Drug Application, which is currently on Clinical Hold. The Company intends to discuss its plans and data collected to date.

As announced previously, the clinical hold is related to only two pharmacology and toxicology questions which the Company believes can be addressed. CERo has initiated pre-clinical in vitro studies and experiments, interim data from which constituted the Company’s Type A Meeting Request regarding the clinical hold. These experiments will continue into October, as CERo awaits FDA’s response to the submitted Type A Meeting Request.

About CERo Therapeutics, Inc.
CERo is an innovative immunotherapy company advancing the development of next generation engineered T cell therapeutics for the treatment of cancer. Its proprietary approach to T cell engineering, which enables it to integrate certain desirable characteristics of both innate and adaptive immunity into a single therapeutic construct, is designed to engage the body’s full immune repertoire to achieve optimized cancer therapy. This novel cellular immunotherapy platform is expected to redirect patient-derived T cells to eliminate tumors by building in engulfment pathways that employ phagocytic mechanisms to destroy cancer cells, creating what CERo refers to as Chimeric Engulfment Receptor T cells (“CER-T”). CERo believes the differentiated activity of CER-T cells will afford them greater therapeutic application than currently approved chimeric antigen receptor (“CAR-T”) cell therapy, as the use of CER-T may potentially span both hematological malignancies and solid tumors. CERo anticipates initiating clinical trials for its lead product candidate, CER-1236, in 2024 for hematological malignancies.

Forward-Looking Statements
This communication contains statements that are forward-looking and as such are not historical facts. This includes, without limitation, statements regarding the financial position, business strategy and the plans and objectives of management for future operations of CERo. These statements constitute projections, forecasts and forward-looking statements, and are not guarantees of performance. Such statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. When used in this communication, words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “strive,” “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. When CERo discusses its strategies or plans, it is making projections, forecasts or forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on the beliefs of, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to, CERo’s management.

Actual results could differ from those implied by the forward-looking statements in this communication. Certain risks that could cause actual results to differ are set forth in CERo’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed on April 2, 2024, and the documents incorporated by reference therein. The risks described in CERo’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission are not exhaustive. New risk factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible to predict all such risk factors, nor can CERo assess the impact of all such risk factors on its business, or the extent to which any factor or combination of factors may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. You should not put undue reliance on these statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. All forward-looking statements made by CERo or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements. CERo undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Contact:
Brian Atwood
Chief Executive Officer
batwood@cero.bio

Investors:
CORE IR
investors@cero.bio

The MIL Network –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI USA: Welch, Braun, Klobuchar Support USPTO Rule to Help Lower Drug Prices, Rein in Big Pharma

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)

Proposed rule is in alignment with the Senators’ bipartisan bill to hold Big Pharma accountable for abusing the patent system
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.),and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) sent a letter to Kathi Videl, Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), expressing strong support for a proposed rule released by USPTO that would help restore competition to the prescription drug market and lower prescription drug prices for patients. The Senators urged USPTO to quickly finalize the rule and called on Congress to pass their bipartisan, bicameral bill to streamline drug patent litigation and make it easier for generic and biosimilar companies to enter the market.
“Restoring competition to the prescription drug market would provide American patients with much needed and overdue relief on the cost of prescription drugs—and USPTO’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking is an important step towards this goal. The rule would require patent applicants filing terminal disclaimers to agree that their patent will be unenforceable if any claim in another patent tied to the original patent by a terminal disclaimer has been held unpatentable or invalid by a federal court or the USPTO,” wrote the Senators. “Challenging patents is extremely costly, and this rule would reduce incentives for filing numerous duplicative patents that are tied to each other by terminal disclaimers, which would reduce gamesmanship by patent holders and allow for more innovation in the market. USPTO should finalize this rule without delay.”
“To further bolster USPTO’s efforts, Congress should also pass S. 3583, a bipartisan, bicameral bill that complements the proposed rule. S. 3583 would limit the number of patents with a common terminal disclaimer that a pharmaceutical company can assert in infringement litigation to one,” continued the Senators. “While our bill attempts to address patent thickets that have already been created, the proposed rule is equally as important, as it will prevent pharmaceutical companies from manipulating the use of terminal disclaimers to build future patent thickets. Together, by advancing our bill to address patent thickets and finalizing the proposed rule, we could provide tangible benefits to the patient community.”
The Senators concluded: “We strongly urge USPTO to finalize the proposed rule so that Americans can start to see the benefits of lower cost prescription drugs.”
In January, Senators Welch, Braun, and Klobuchar introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to streamline drug patent litigation, encourage fair market competition, and lower prescription drug prices by making it easier for generic and biosimilar companies to enter the market. The bill codifies the practice that many federal district courts across the country already apply to limit the number of patents or patent claims a company can assert in litigation. Rep. Jodey Arrington (TX-19) introduced companion legislation in the House. Read more about the bill.
Read the full letter.

MIL OSI USA News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Translation: Iodine distribution campaign for people living near a nuclear power plant

MIL OSI Translation. Government of the Republic of France statements from French to English –

Source: Republic of France in FrenchThe French Republic has issued the following statement:

Since 1997, preventive and free distributions of stable iodine tablets have been organized for people living near a nuclear facility. A new distribution campaign is being set up from September 2024. It is aimed at people living in a municipality located:

within a radius of 10 kilometers around a nuclear power plant; within a radius of 5 kilometers around other civil or military nuclear installations.

To find out if you are affected by this distribution campaign, you must indicate your address in the “know the risks near me” section of the Géorisques website, then click on “access detailed information”. If you are concerned, a “2024/2025 iodine campaign” banner will be present on the page. You are therefore invited to withdraw a number of boxes of tablets adapted to the size of your household, free of charge from a pharmacy partnering with this distribution campaign. You do not need to provide any supporting documents.

Please note

If your workplace is located in an area affected by this stable iodine distribution campaign, your company manager is responsible for supplying the tablets.

Establishments open to the public receive withdrawal vouchers allowing them to obtain a supply of stable iodine tablets for the people they welcome.

When to take stable iodine tablets?

In the event of a major accident, some nuclear facilities may release radioactive elements into the atmosphere, particularly radioactive iodine, which increases the risk of developing thyroid cancer. Taking stable iodine protects your thyroid gland against the effects of radioactive iodine.

You should only take stable iodine when instructed to do so by the prefect. Information is disseminated via public service media and loudspeaker vehicles. Having stable iodine tablets at home is a precautionary measure; it allows you to save time when iodine intake is ordered.

Taking stable iodine tablets concerns everyone, but in priority people whose thyroid is most sensitive to the effects of radioactive iodine:

newborns; persons under 18 years of age; pregnant and breastfeeding women.

The number of tablets to take varies depending on the person’s age; the dosage appropriate for each situation is indicated in the leaflet.

Please note

Tablets distributed from 2024 are valid for 10 years. During this period, they must be stored in their cardboard packaging, protected from humidity and at room temperature.

If you have iodine tablets from previous campaigns that have expired, you can return these boxes of expired tablets to the pharmacy.

Attention

Stable iodine tablets do not protect against releases of other radioactive elements for which sheltering or evacuation is the only protection.

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

MIL Translation OSI

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Economics: Behind the Scenes of Galaxy Ring: Product Planning a Game Changer in Health Management

Source: Samsung

Dating back more than 3,000 years to ancient Egypt, rings have symbolized different values throughout human history — including love, power and self-expression. With Samsung Electronics’ newly unveiled Galaxy Ring, health has now been added to that list.
The smallest and most compact form factor in the Galaxy wearable portfolio, the Galaxy Ring fits comfortably on users’ fingers like a traditional ring. Equipped with cutting-edge sensors and Galaxy AI features, the Galaxy Ring offers a powerful health management experience.
Samsung Newsroom sat down with Sungjin Kim and Yujin Roh from the Wearable Product Planning Group, Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics, to learn how the Galaxy Ring came to be.

Ultra-Compact Form Factor Optimized for 24/7 Health Monitoring
Q: What inspired the creation of the Galaxy Ring, a completely new addition to Samsung’s wearable lineup?
Kim: We’ve been exploring new opportunities in the wearable market with a particular focus on the rapidly growing field of health management. This led us to look for the optimal form factor to provide more accurate, uninterrupted health data for personalized health solutions. After evaluating various form factors, we settled on the ring — a user-friendly, small and lightweight shape that can be worn 24/7.

Q: What key health management benefits does the Galaxy Ring offer?Roh: Sleep is the foundation of health. The Galaxy Ring is comfortable enough to wear while sleeping and can last up to a week on a single charge,1 making it ideal for collecting detailed and in-depth sleep data. A powerful sleep AI algorithm provides advanced sleep insights to help users better understand and improve their sleep. Furthermore, Energy Score analyzes sleep quality, activity levels, sleeping heart rate and sleeping heart rate variability data to deliver a daily health index to users.
Yujin Roh
Q. What factors were considered during the design process?
Kim: To maximize the advantages of the ring form, we examined the historical and biological significance of rings before incorporating these insights into the product. For example, we adopted a simple yet modern concave style to enhance the Galaxy Ring’s value as an everyday accessory. Moreover, the charging case and packaging have clamshell designs reminiscent of a jewelry box — elevating the quality of the product down to the finest details that users touch.

MIL OSI Economics –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI: Pixability and Ad Fontes Media Join Forces to Empower Advertisers to Safely Support News Content on YouTube
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

BOSTON, Sept. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Pixability, (www.pixability.com), a leader in AI-driven contextual targeting, brand suitability and performance on YouTube and CTV, today announced the launch of a brand safety solution for news content with Ad Fontes, a leader in rating news sources for bias and reliability. The new offering will be the only misinformation solution in the marketplace that tackles the two-part problem of protecting advertisers on news channels on YouTube–(1) identifying sources of news that are reputable, trustworthy and not overly biased and (2) screening those reputable news channels for high risk, sensitive news stories. Pixability will combine its brand safety solution, which includes tech and human monitoring, with Ad Fontes’ in depth news ratings system to ensure marketers are running their ads in a trusted news environment.

“At a time when false and misleading information is rampant across all platforms, it’s important we identify and provide support for sources of news that are trustworthy and not expressing extreme bias,” said Vanessa Otero, founder and CEO of Ad Fontes. “As the largest video platform in the world, YouTube has a vast ocean of content of varying reliability, which presents both huge opportunities and challenges. We believe our solution, combined with Pixability’s brand suitability technology, will together provide a much-needed way to target high-quality journalism and information on YouTube while in turn steering clear of low-reliability content.”

The new solution will give advertisers the ability to select channels on YouTube that are not overly biased and that follow proper and recognized journalistic practices of fact-checking. It also incorporates Pixability’s brand suitability technology and real-time monitoring of sensitive news to isolate stories, even on reputable sources, that may not be appropriate for certain advertisers.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Ad Fontes to bring this solution to the market at a time when supporting reputable news sources matters more than ever,” commented David George, CEO of Pixability. “We’ve seen a pattern of brands and agencies avoiding news content altogether because of a lack of effective brand suitability solutions in the market tailored for news sites and are proud to be solving for this problem on YouTube specifically.”

Industry leaders are also acknowledging the importance of the new solution for YouTube. AJ Brown, COO of the Brand Safety Institute said the following:
“Brands play a critical role in safeguarding the future of reliable, quality journalism. The decision to invest in news calls for nuanced buying options that go beyond traditional brand suitability risk categorization, which too often bluntly demonetizes high-quality, high-impact journalism. Bringing together Pixability’s Brand Safety solutions and Ad Fontes Media’s reliability and bias scoring allows marketers to support quality journalism with targeted ad buys on YouTube that align with their brand’s values.”

Pixability’s insights team recently released data that showed that, on average, 40% of YouTube advertisers ask to avoid news content on YouTube. This not only leads to a lack of funding for reputable news sources but also hurts advertisers as they may miss engagement opportunities with their audiences in key areas of interest.

Pixability’s insights team also released the following data that demonstrates the value of news content for advertisers:
- Advertisers from food & beverage, automotive, entertainment, travel and many other industries see that news content drives anywhere from 24%-44% better engagement than the average content category on YouTube
- The desirable 18-24 year old demographic is most likely to engage with advertising on news content on YouTube
- Reputable news channels on YouTube have a 99% favorability rating from audiences
About Pixability

Pixability is the leading AI-driven technology company empowering the world’s largest brands and their agencies to maximize the value of their video advertising on YouTube and CTV. Leveraging its proprietary technology platform and data, Pixability makes every video impression matter by identifying contextually relevant, brand suitable inventory and maximizing cost efficient outcomes. Pixability’s suite of solutions are used by the top media agencies including IPG, Publicis, Omnicom, Dentsu, Stagwell, and GroupM, as well as brands such as KIND, McDonalds, Salesforce, Lego and CVS. The company is the only YouTube partner certified for brand suitability and contextual targeting as well as content insights, enabling unique solutions for the benefit of brands and their agencies. For more information about Pixability, please visit www.pixability.com.

About Ad Fontes Media

Ad Fontes Media is the producer of The Media Bias Chart®, which rates media sources in terms of political bias and reliability. The company was founded with the mission of rating all the news to positively impact the media ecosystem. Ad Fontes Media rates content at the source level, article level, and episode level using a combination of human analysts and AI for the most accurate and real-time ratings available on the market. The company’s Interactive Media Bias Chart Data Platform, API, and direct ad-tech integrations allow Ad Fontes Media’s brand, media, and media technology partners to leverage its comprehensive news source ratings so they can engage with them in real time in media planning, activation, and reporting.

CONTACT:

Silicon Alley Media for Pixability
Alexandra Levy
alex@siliconalley-media.com

The MIL Network –
September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General’s remarks to meeting of G20 Foreign Ministers [as delivered]

Source: United Nations secretary general

Agradeço ao Presidente Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva e ao governo do Brasil por co-organizar esta reunião entre os ministros das Relações Exteriores do G20, todos os Estados Membros das Nações Unidas, e as organizações financeiras internacionais.

[I thank President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and the government of Brazil for co-convening this meeting between G20 foreign ministers, all UN Member States, and the international financial organizations.]

This is a historic first.

The G20, the United Nations system and the Bretton Woods institutions and other international financial institutions deal with some of the most important challenges of our time: inequality, financing for development, the climate crisis, the impact of new technologies.

In all these areas, progress is slipping out of reach as our world becomes more unsustainable, unequal and unpredictable.

Conflicts are raging, the climate crisis is accelerating, inequalities are growing, and new technologies have unprecedented potential for good – and bad.

Global institutions must work together – not on parallel or conflicting tracks.

They must cooperate and collaborate for the good of humanity and the Summit of the Future was an essential first step.

It has created opportunities and possibilities for reform across the board.

But without implementation, it will be meaningless.

The work starts today.

Excellencies,

The Pact for the Future is about action in the here and now.

And G20 countries can act in three specific areas.

First, finance.

We need ambitious reforms of the international financial architecture to make it fully representative of today’s global economy, so it can provide strong support to implement the Sustainable Development Goals.

I commend the leadership of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund for making important progress.

But the resources available are still dwarfed by the size of the needs.

Many developing countries are being hit by a double whammy of climate chaos and debt.

To support low- and middle-income developing countries effectively, multilateral development banks must be bigger, bolder and better.

We need a far more robust financial safety net to shield countries in a world of frequent shocks.

Voting rights and decision-making rules should reflect the changing global landscape.

And access to concessional finance should be based on needs and vulnerabilities, not just on income.

All parts of the global financial system must work together to reduce the cost of finance and the inequalities that blight our world.

This demands action on debt – starting with an effective mechanism to deal with debt relief and restructuring.

As a first step, I welcome the commitment by the International Monetary Fund to review the debt architecture – as set out in the Pact for the Future.
I look to all G20 countries to push for deep reforms so that global financial institutions reflect today’s world and respond to today’s challenges.

One of those challenges is global hunger. It is shameful that in our world of plenty, around one person in ten regularly goes without food for an entire day or more – known as severe food insecurity.

I welcome President Lula and Brazil’s focus on global hunger during the G20 presidency and call on all G20 countries – and all UN Member States – to strengthen efforts to end this affront to our common humanity.

Excellencies,

The second area for action is climate.

We are at a critical moment: a battle to prevent temperatures from rising above the agreed limit of 1.5 degrees.

Today’s decisions and actions will determine the course of our world for decades to come.

The climate crisis transcends borders and politics. Climate action cannot be a victim of geopolitical competition.

Under G20 leadership we will be able to have drastic reductions in fossil fuel production and consumption as an essential element for climate action.

By 2030, global production and consumption of all fossil fuels must decline by at least thirty per cent – and global renewables capacity must triple.

This requires OECD countries to phase out coal by 2030 and to fully decarbonize power generation systems by 2035.

And it means non-OECD countries must phase out coal by 2040.

I have been strongly advocating for no new coal or upstream oil and gas projects for all G20 nations.

New national climate plans due next year are an opportunity for countries to align energy strategies and development priorities with climate ambition, taking into account the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities.

They must also show how each country intends to transition away from fossil fuels, in line with the outcome at COP 28.

Excellencies,

There has never been a greater global challenge than the climate crisis.

There has never been more agreement on the solution: a just transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

And renewable technologies have never been better – or cheaper.

The obstacle to the renewables revolution is not economics, or a lack of solutions.

It is mindsets, and lack of vision.

Those that lead the renewables revolution are already reaping the rewards.

But many developing countries are being left behind.

Clean energy investments in emerging and developing economies outside China and India have barely increased since 2015.

The energy transition must be based on justice and equity, so that all countries benefit.

Excellencies,

Third, we need strong, inclusive, legitimate global institutions and tools to tackle the challenges of today and tomorrow.

Fair and representative governance is a first step to unlock broader reforms.

The Pact for the Future includes commitments to make multilateral institutions more representative, effective, transparent and accountable.

I urge the strong engagement of G20 countries, including in reforms of our United Nations bodies:

Making the Security Council truly representative by addressing the under-representation of Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean;

Strengthening the role of the General Assembly and the Peacebuilding Commission;

And enhancing the Economic and Social Council.

The same principle applies to the international financial architecture: it should correspond to today’s global economy, with much stronger representation of developing countries.

For our part, the United Nations is totally committed to strengthening our convening role as an inclusive platform for dialogue and action.

As part of that role, from next year, we intend to host biennial summits to formalize a dialogue between the UN system, the G20, and international financial institutions.

Excellencies,

Only together will we achieve the reforms in the Pact for the Future and deliver the SDGs and the Paris Agreement, to meet the expectations of the people we serve.

I urge the G20 to seize every opportunity to raise ambition for global leadership and transformative action for a safer, more peaceful and sustainable world for all.

Thank you.

MIL OSI United Nations News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Canada invests close to $4M in quantum sector with support for Calcul Québec and Anyon Systems
Source: Government of Canada News

The two organizations receive a total of $3,997,500 in financial assistance from CED.
The two organizations receive a total of $3,997,500 in financial assistance from CED.

Montréal, Quebec, September 25, 2024 – Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED)

Supporting the development, adoption and commercialization of quantum technologies not only helps Quebec organizations to position themselves in this emerging field, but also strengthens Canada’s global leadership. That is why the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, on behalf of the Honourable Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for CED, today announced a non-repayable contribution of $3,500,000 for Calcul Québec and a repayable contribution of $497,500 for Anyon Systems.

Calcul Québec is a non-profit organization with a mission to provide cutting-edge infrastructure for computational calculations for academic and scientific research and for businesses. Its computational servers, also called supercomputers, are shared by thousands of researchers, mainly in Quebec, but also across Canada. MonarQ, its quantum computer designed by Anyon Systems, is located at the École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS) in a room dedicated to advanced computation, a site that already houses one of the country’s most powerful supercomputers. Calcul Québec’s project aims to increase MonarQ’s computational power from 12 to 24 qubits and thereby better meet businesses’ technology transfer needs.

Anyon Systems is a Montréal business that develops turn-key quantum computing products such as integrated quantum computers, as well as electronic controllers and cryogenic systems. CED’s support will enable it to pursue its growth and continue to commercialize technologies resulting from R&D, including by manufacturing a demonstrator and participating in trade fairs.

To support Canada’s quantum sector and solidify the country’s position among the leaders in this fast‑growing field, the Government of Canada has implemented a National Quantum Strategy. The goal of the Strategy is to help Canadian businesses adopt quantum technologies so that they can position themselves in this emerging field and generate economic benefits for the entire community.

Quotes

“Quantum research and computing are more than just the frontiers of technology but a keystone for innovation. By unlocking new realms of problem-solving and processing power, they promise to drive unprecedented economic growth, reshape industries, and address the most pressing challenges of our society, from climate change to healthcare. The quantum technology of today builds a more resilient, prosperous, and equitable tomorrow.”

The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Member of Parliament for Saint-Maurice–Champlain and Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

“Quebec and Canada are taking their place in the economy of the future, and our government is here to support them. MonarQ’s arrival will give the academic and scientific communities and businesses access to the quantum technologies needed for research in fields as diverse as energy, transportation, pharmaceuticals and materials. By boosting innovation in this way, we are ensuring Quebec’s SMEs and organizations are well positioned and ensuring our global leadership in this area. Congratulations to Calcul Québec, Anyon Systems and the ÉTS on this outcome!”

The Honourable Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Member of Parliament for Hochelaga, Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for CED

“Integrating the computational power of a quantum computer into Calcul Québec’s service offering will provide the research and innovation community with a unique opportunity to develop and test new quantum and hybrid algorithms. This will be done while also guaranteeing that all intellectual property generated will remain within Quebec and Canadian institutions. MonarQ will also enable Calcul Québec, in collaboration with research teams, to develop techniques essential to ensuring fluid interoperability between classic and quantum computers. This new infrastructure, which will have an impact both nationally and internationally, will foster the development of free software, thereby strengthening accessibility and innovation in the field.”

Suzanne Talon, CEO, Calcul Québec

“Installing the MonarQ superconductor quantum computer in Calcul Québec’s room dedicated to advanced computer calculations enables Anyon Systems to take a major step forward in developing quantum computing solutions. We are proud to be able to offer researchers and industrial users a quantum solution designed and developed entirely in Canada.”

Alireza Najafi-Yazdi, CEO, Anyon Systems

Quick facts
- Funding has been provided under CED’s Support for Regional Quantum Innovation initiative, which stems from the Government of Canada’s National Quantum Strategy.
- This initiative has a budget of $23.3 million to be used to make strategic investments up to 2028 to help SMEs and NPOs adopt, develop and commercialize quantum technologies and products based on these technologies.
- CED is the key federal partner in Quebec’s regional economic development. Through its 12 regional business offices, CED accompanies businesses, supporting organizations and all regions across Quebec into tomorrow’s economy.
Associated links

Information

Media Relations
Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
media@dec-ced.gc.ca

Marie-Justine Torres Ames
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for
Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
Cell: 613-327-5918
Marie-Justine.TorresAmes@ised-isde.gc.ca

Stay connected

Follow CED on social media
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MIL OSI Canada News –
September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Africa: Saipem Pre-Qualifies for Structures A&E Project as Libya Advances Gas Monetization Drive

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

ROME, Italy, September 25, 2024/APO Group/ —

Italian multinational oilfield services company Saipem announced it has pre-qualified to carry out EPCC works for Production Platform E – part of the $8-billion Structures A&E Development Project – during the Libya-Italy Roundtable and VIP Networking Event in Rome on Monday.

Led by Mellitah Oil & Gas – a joint venture between Italian multinational Eni and Libya’s National Oil Company – the Structures A&E project aims to increase gas production to supply the Libyan domestic market and exports to Europe, targeting 750 million cubic feet of gas per day (mmcf/d) by 2026. Mellitah Oil & Gas launched the invitation for pre-qualification for the Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Hook-up, Commissioning and Start-up of Production Platform E earlier this year.

“We are committed to Libyan projects,” said Giorfio Elia, Managing Director – North East Africa & Cyprus for Saipem. “We have pre-qualified for Platform E, which will give Libya one of the biggest production platforms in the Mediterranean. It will be challenging – it’s a more than 60,000-ton platform, with one of the largest jackets in the industry.”

The announcement was made during an oil and gas-focused roundtable at the Libya-Italy Roundtable and VIP Networking Event, which outlined the country’s current exploration and development prospects. In addition to the Structures A&E Development Project, Eni highlighted several major gas projects under development, including the Bouri Gas Utilization Project – which will recover hydrocarbons from associated gas from two platforms installed on the Bouri field, accompanied by a carbon capture facility – and another 100-mmscf/d gas production project set to come online in 2025.

“We are committed to providing enough gas to Libya to meet domestic needs and continue exporting, while at the same time reducing our carbon footprint,” said Martina Opizzi, Head of North Africa & the Levant Region for Eni, adding that the operator has “already signed some contracts” for all three projects.

In addition to gas monetization, Libya is prioritizing enhanced oil recovery to maximize output from mature oil fields and brownfield assets. As a result, the country is looking to international private sector partners to implement advanced technologies and carry out upgrades and maintenance works to boost recovery rates and stabilize production.

“Short turn-around-time assets are a major opportunity for companies like ourselves,” said Ibraheim Mejerissi, Managing Director of Wazen Oil Services. “There is a huge potential [in maintenance works] in Libya, whether you’re a trader wanting to provide products, or a service or engineering company.”

Looking ahead, challenges in fiscal, political and contractual stability remain for Libya, which continues to face long project lead times that impede foreign investment and the timely completion of ongoing projects. Italian engineering and general contracting firm RENCO, for instance, was awarded a contract for the 36 MW Sarir Power Plant in 2013, yet only commissioned the plant in June this year owing to geopolitical uncertainty and delays in payments.

“We need to start projects with bonds, credit letters and tools from the financial point of view that provide support and create certainty from the banking system,” said Alessandro Galli, Industrial Plants Division Director for RENCO.

“We need to find a way with our operators to ensure projects are secured and can enter into operation,” added Nicola Ghirelli, Energy Maintenance & Production Services Director at Bonatti, which is currently nearing completion of EPC works for Nafusah Oil Operation at a project in western Libya.

The Libya-Italy Roundtable and VIP Networking Event served to launch the third edition of the Energy Capital & Power-sponsored Libya Energy & Economic Summit taking place in Tripoli next year, as well as to celebrate the Libyan-Italian connection in the upstream space and forge new pathways to cooperation and partnership in the energy sector.

MIL OSI Africa –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI USA: Republican Governors Call on U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to Take Action and Reinforce the Civil Rights of Jewish Community

Source: US Republican Governors Association

The following text contains opinion that is not, or not necessarily, that of MIL-OSI –

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the U.S. Senate sits on legislation to reinforce the civil rights of the Jewish community less than one month away from the first anniversary of October 7, Republican governors have united to demand that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer take action now and pass legislation to show support for the nation’s Jewish population.

The governors wrote:

“We are less than one month away from the first anniversary of October 7, when Hamas terrorists brutally murdered, raped, tortured, and kidnapped Israeli and American citizens. This tragedy is far from over as we recently received the devastating news that six innocent hostages were murdered in cold blood, including one American citizen. There are still more than 60 hostages presumed to be alive being held captive in Gaza, that we pray do not meet the same fate. Meanwhile, we have all watched the horrific rise of overt antisemitism on display in our own nation. As students across the country return to college campuses, we must send a unified and clear message that antisemitism will not be tolerated in America.

“Action needs to be taken now to reinforce the civil rights of our Jewish community in the wake of these tragedies. We ask you to take immediate action to pass H.R. 6090, the Antisemitism Awareness Act (AAA), codifying the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism and its 11 accompanying examples. In May, this legislation passed with an overwhelming, bipartisan majority in the U.S. House with a vote of 320-91 and there is no reason for it to languish in the Senate without a vote. In fact, the companion legislation in the Senate, S.4127 already boasts 30 bipartisan cosponsors. The passing of this legislation is critical to combatting violent acts of antisemitism that are taking place across America.

“Republican governors across the nation have unanimously supported the adoption of the IHRA working definition at the state level, and now we call upon the U.S. Senate to show support for our nation’s Jewish population at this time of growing attacks against their religion. Our nation was founded on freedom of religion, and this legislation reaffirms our commitment that people can live, learn, and prosper safely. There is no place for hate in our great nation.”

Read the letter in full here.

All signatories include: Governor Kay Ivey (AL), Governor Mike Dunleavy (AK), Governor Sarah Sanders (AR), Governor Ron DeSantis (FL), Governor Brian Kemp (GA), Governor Brad Little (ID), Governor Eric Holcomb (IN), Governor Kim Reynolds (IA), Governor Jeff Landry (LA), Governor Tate Reeves (MS), Governor Mike Parson (MO), Governor Greg Gianforte (MT), Governor Jim Pillen (NE), Governor Joe Lombardo (NV), Governor Chris Sununu (NH), Governor Doug Burgum (ND), Governor Mike DeWine (OH), Governor Kevin Stitt (OK), Governor Henry McMaster (SC), Governor Kristi Noem (SD), Governor Bill Lee (TN), Governor Greg Abbott (TX), Governor Spencer Cox (UT), Governor Glenn Youngkin (VA), Governor Jim Justice (WV), and Governor Mark Gordon (WY).

###

MIL OSI USA News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI: TSplus Talks Remote Work Security in Exclusive Interview with SafetyDetectives

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — TSplus, a global leader in remote access technology, is proud to announce that its Marketing Director, Caleb Zaharris, was recently interviewed by SafetyDetectives, where he shared insights into TSplus’ ongoing mission to enhance cybersecurity for businesses of all sizes.

Caleb Zaharris, who has 15 years of experience in network engineering and administration, discussed how TSplus is at the forefront of providing secure, cost-effective, and user-friendly solutions for remote access.

Remote Work Security in Today’s Digital Landscape

With the rise of remote work, remote work security has become a critical focus for organizations around the world, and TSplus is committed to delivering solutions that ensure secure remote connections and protection against evolving cyber threats. As businesses continue to adapt to the remote work model, protecting sensitive data and ensuring secure access to company resources are more important than ever.

Caleb states, “Anybody can deploy a server, and with our products, it’s even easier because we focus on making them easy to install and use. But the key to success is planning—understanding your security needs and server loads.”

TSplus’s Solutions for Remote Work Security

In the interview (full interview here), Caleb highlighted the company’s flagship product, TSplus Remote Access, which has been designed to enable seamless access to company resources from anywhere in the world while maintaining top-tier security. He also emphasized the importance of solutions like TSplus Advanced Security, which provides an added layer of protection for companies facing potential cyber risks.

TSplus Advanced Security offers businesses a comprehensive suite of tools designed to bolster remote work security and control access, monitor threats, and secure their remote desktop environments. Its robust set of features includes IP filtering, geo-restriction, ransomware protection, and more, ensuring that users can operate safely in a remote work setting.

Download TSplus Advanced Security today and experience the power of cutting-edge cybersecurity tailored for remote access environments. TSplus invites all businesses to test the software for free and see firsthand how TSplus is shaping the future of remote work security.

Learn more and download the free trial here: Link to TSplus Advanced Security

About TSplus
TSplus is a global leader in remote access, application delivery, and cybersecurity solutions, helping organizations worldwide stay productive and secure in a remote-first world.

Media Contact:
Floriane Mer
Marketing Manager at TSplus
floriane.mer@tsplus.net

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/04801e84-3a5b-4c30-b514-512b9cb9a580

The MIL Network –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI: MELD Bringing Fiat Payments On-chain With a New zk Privacy Network

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SINGAPORE, Sept. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MELD, a new Neobank coming to the market with a new type of banking services platform that merges crypto services and fiat services into a single platform for both users and businesses alike, giving them the ability to have a traditional deposit account and a crypto wallet. MELD account holders can exchange between crypto/fiat and transfer funds between MELD accounts for free while earning interest on stablecoins. Bringing the best of both worlds together in one account.

This new network is the latest component of MELD neobanking solution, built directly on the blockchain and employs the benefits of being transparent and verifiable. Blockchains like Bitcoin and Ethereum have been doing this for more than ten years. MELD’s innovation is bringing these qualities to the traditional financial space and applying it to banking transactions.

In its zkBanking network, MELD has built a high performance banking system in line with traditional solutions used by banks today. With each transaction the details of the transaction are confirmed and then processed into a blockchain transaction with a confirmation code. This confirmation is then turned into a proof and published on the MELD public blockchain.

When a MELD Neobank user wants to prove to a third party they have paid for something or do not have the funds in their bank account, they can share the proof which has been verified. This applies to both private and business accounts in the MELD Neobank.

This new type of verification becomes particularly useful when businesses are doing cross border trade and need to prove they have the funds to pay for a trade deal. Also businesses can build technology on top of zkProofs to verify a transaction without receiving sensitive private data from a user.

The network will go live on January 1, 2025. zkBanking nodes will be initially run by five parties with plans to expand that to more than ten in the coming months. MELD’s ambition is to make the traditional neobank network as decentralized as the MELD blockchain while meeting the regulatory requirements of running a global neobank.

MELD neobank offering will be launching in October, giving retail and businesses in 160 countries crypto-friendly banking. MELD is different because they are crypto native, coming from the world of decentralized finance (DeFi) and integrating classic banking products with a twist.

MELD is doing a presale of their zkBanking nodes to boost the decentralized nature of the network and give users access to the networks block rewards while they secure the network at the same time. For more details about the node sale go to: https://docs.meld.com/meld-blockchain/zkbanking-network

About MELD
MELD is a crypto-native global neobank powered by the blockchain. Bringing fiat currencies like (30+ including USD and EUR) and crypto currencies (1000+ BTC and ETH) together in one seamless wallet supporting more than 150 countries. MELD makes it easy to navigate between these two worlds and get the best out of both. From generating a yield on your crypto to debit cards and business accounts, MELD brings fundamental banking services to everyone.

The MELD blockchain powers more than just the MELD Neobank, with a non-custodial lending and borrowing protocol and more than 30 businesses building on MELD. Users interact with all of this through the MELD web and Mobile app helping people and businesses take full advantage of both their crypto and fiat assets.

You can follow the project and stay up to date with its development at these links: Website | X (Twitter) | Telegram |

Contact:
Ken Olling
press@meld.com

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

The MIL Network –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Global: Kenya’s whistleblowers are key to fighting corruption: how a new law could protect them

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Gedion Onyango, Research Fellow, Firoz Lalji Institute for Africa, London School of Economics and Political Science

Kenya has published a draft bill outlining protections for whistleblowers. Long in the making, the Whistleblower Protection Bill 2024 could help to encourage disclosures in a country where 86% of the respondents to a 2023 survey feared what might happen to them if they reported corruption cases. Gedion Onyango, who researches public accountability reforms, anti-corruption and whistleblowing reforms, sets out what protections are needed and how to change public mindsets.

What is whistleblowing?

Whistleblowing is disclosing information about behaviour or misconduct that could harm the public interest – the overall welfare of a society.

Whistleblowing is primarily associated with disclosing corruption in state institutions. Because the private sector has become a partner in public service and national development processes, emerging laws like Kenya’s whistleblower protection bill and existing ones like Botswana’s Whistleblower Protection Act 2016 have been designed also to expose activities of companies and institutions that directly affect public affairs.

Several key conditions must be met for whistleblowing to be effective.

Read more:
Corruption in South Africa: would paying whistleblowers help?

Firstly, the society needs to broadly agree on what misconduct is. People should feel obliged to flag and address wrongdoing, and know what is expected when such information is disclosed. Essentially, the disclosure must be made in good faith.

Secondly, there must be an authority that is expected to and is willing to take action after receiving such information.

Thirdly, clear procedures or legal processes should be in place for receiving the information and determining the truth.

The person disclosing the information must find it easy to report, besides having sufficient evidence to support their claims. A thoroughly bureaucratic way of receiving information about wrongdoing is more likely to intimidate and discourage potential whistleblowers.

Fourthly, a system should be in place to reward individuals who disclose wrongdoing. This could involve recognising their contribution to society or providing financial incentives, often a percentage of money recovered in cases of corruption and asset recovery. Not all countries have this provision. But having such a reward is not always enough. This has been shown in Nigeria, where whistleblowing is declining despite the reward of 5% of recovered funds.

Finally, there needs to be trust in the authority and the process for it to work.

Why the focus on whistleblowers?

Whistleblowers are important sources of information about misconduct, dishonesty and unethical behaviour that would otherwise remain concealed from the public. They are critical in promoting human rights, fighting corruption and addressing governance misconduct and inequalities.

Many infamous scandals around the world have been brought to light by individuals who disclosed the wrongdoing. These include Kenya’s Anglo Leasing scandal.

Whistleblowing is essential to ethical public leadership. It is no accident that many developing countries are now enacting laws to encourage and protect whistleblowers. With new laws in Kenya, whistleblowers would no longer have to primarily defend themselves against non-disclosure clauses that outlaw disclosures of a potential wrongdoing. Whistleblowers have previously been targeted by public organisations for releasing information in an unprocedural manner.

You want to blow the whistle. What next?

Potential whistleblowers can use internal or external mechanisms to disclose wrongdoing. The choice of mechanism will depend on the whistleblower’s confidence or history with these mechanisms.

Studies have shown that internal whistleblowing is less desirable, and most whistleblowers prefer anonymous external whistleblowing channels that could prompt an investigation by an authority.

Read more:
South Africa’s corporate whistleblowers don’t get enough protection: what needs to change

What protections should whistleblowers expect?

Effective whistleblower protection mechanisms include protecting the identities of whistleblowers until the responsible authority has checked that there was wrongdoing.

Whistleblowers should be protected from retaliation or harm, including social victimisation, physical attacks and disciplinary actions.

The law should ensure that an insider whistleblower, such as an employee, is protected from being intimidated, disciplined or removed from their position. This should be for a long enough time (for example, at least five years), even if the case ultimately collapses, as often happens.

In other words, the person should be protected from any loss, including damages that would affect their mental health or their job. This is typical of legislation globally.

In today’s age of social media, the laws against defamation should be applied strictly to guard against online harassment.

What would a forward-looking whistleblower policy look like?

It’s important that whistleblower protection policies are understood and accepted by everyone. The process should start with extensive consultation. It should involve authorities such as religious groups, traditional leaders and government administrators at the lowest levels.

Including whistleblowing in the country’s school, college and professional curriculum would increase awareness and improve social acceptance.

It’s often the case that whistleblowers are seen as betrayers or snitches rather than as courageous defenders of public interest and ethical members of society. The reward system for whistleblowers should be included in prestigious national honours such as the Presidential Award.

Gedion Onyango receives funding from ESRC. He is also affiliated with Afrobarometer East Africa

– ref. Kenya’s whistleblowers are key to fighting corruption: how a new law could protect them – https://theconversation.com/kenyas-whistleblowers-are-key-to-fighting-corruption-how-a-new-law-could-protect-them-239647

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI USA: Gallego Applauds FTC For Answering His Calls, Taking Action Against Predatory Rental Practices

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Ruben Gallego (AZ-07)

September 24, 2024

FTC action follows multiple letters from Rep. Gallego urging action on predatory, anticompetitive rental practices

WASHINGTON – Today, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced it is taking action against Invitation Homes, which owns nearly 9,000 homes in Arizona, for an array of unlawful actions against consumers. The action follows multiple letters Rep. Gallego has sent urging the Commission to take action on predatory, anticompetitive rental practices.

“From charging undisclosed junk fees to failing to provide basic maintenance, Invitation Homes has been swindling Arizonans for years,” said Rep. Gallego. “I’m glad to see the FTC is answering my calls and cracking down on these kinds of predatory, anti-competitive practices that harm Arizona families and legitimate businesses. Arizonans deserve affordable housing with honest landlords, and that’s what I’ll keep fighting for.”

Invitation Homes has agreed to a proposed settlement order that would require the company to turn over $48 million to be used to refund consumers harmed by its actions. The corporate landlord will also be required to clearly disclose its leasing prices, establish policies and procedures to handle security deposit refunds fairly, and stop other unlawful behavior.

You can learn more about Rep. Gallego’s work to make Arizona more affordable in his reporters Cutting Costs for Arizonan

MIL OSI USA News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: FS wraps up Spain trip

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Financial Secretary Paul Chan today wrapped up his visit to Spain by attending an exchange session organised by the IESE Business School in Madrid.

Leading a delegation of technology startups, Mr Chan met more than 10 Spanish startup entrepreneurs, representatives of venture capital funds, investors and business matching enterprises.

As one of the top business schools in Europe and the world, IESE has close collaborations with several universities in Hong Kong, as well as with the Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation and Cyberport.

Mr Chan introduced the new advantages and new opportunities in Hong Kong and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the policies and measures of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government to promote innovation and technology, along with the flourishing development of the city’s innovation and technology ecosystem.

Representatives of startups and investors from both economies introduced their businesses and development strategies, with a view to enhancing mutual knowledge and understanding, and opening up more opportunities for collaboration.

Mr Chan also IESE Business School Dean Prof Franz Heukamp to exchange views on the business environments of Hong Kong and Spain, as well as promote academic exchanges and co-operation between the two places.

The finance chief welcomed the business school to further leverage Hong Kong’s international academic environment and convenient connections with Mainland China and Asia to deepen exchanges with various academic institutions and businesses in Hong Kong, promoting more co-operation in education, company executive training and other business areas.

Mr Chan will now proceed to London.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Translation: The Government of Canada invests nearly $4 million in the quantum sector by supporting Calcul Québec and Anyon Systèmes

MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

Source: Government of Canada – in French

The two organizations receive financial assistance totaling $3,997,500 from DEC.

The two organizations receive financial assistance totaling $3,997,500 from DEC.

Montreal (Quebec), September 25, 2024 – Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (DEC)

Supporting the development, adoption and commercialization of quantum technologies helps position Quebec organizations in this emerging field, while strengthening Canada’s global leadership. This is why the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Canada’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, announced today, on behalf of the Honourable Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for CED, a non-repayable contribution of $3,500,000 to Calcul Québec and a repayable contribution of $497,500 to Anyon Systèmes.

Calcul Québec is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide cutting-edge computational computing infrastructure for academic and scientific research and businesses. Its computing servers, also called supercomputers, are shared by thousands of researchers, mainly in Quebec, but also in Canada. MonarQ, its quantum computer designed by Anyon Systèmes, is located at the École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS) in a room dedicated to advanced computing, a site that already hosts one of the most powerful supercomputers in the country. Calcul Québec’s project aims to increase MonarQ’s computing power from 12 to 24 qubits and thus better meet the technology transfer needs of businesses.

Anyon Systèmes is a Montreal-based company that develops turnkey quantum computing products such as integrated quantum computers, electronic controllers and cryogenic systems. CED’s support will enable it to continue its growth and commercialize the technologies resulting from its research and development, including the manufacture of a demonstrator and participation in trade shows.

To support Canada’s quantum sector and solidify the country’s position as a leader in this growing field, the Government of Canada has implemented the National Quantum Strategy. It aims to help Canadian companies adopt quantum technologies so that they can position themselves in this emerging field and generate economic benefits for the entire community.

Quotes

“Quantum research and computing push the boundaries of technology and are the cornerstone of innovation. These powerful, high-performance computing tools will solve problems, drive unprecedented economic growth, transform industries, and address our society’s most significant challenges, from climate change to healthcare. Today’s quantum technology is enabling a more resilient, prosperous, and equitable future.”

The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Member of Parliament for Saint-Maurice–Champlain, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry of Canada

“Quebec and Canada are taking their place in the economy of the future, and our government is there to support them. The arrival of MonarQ will allow the academic and scientific community and businesses to have access to the quantum technologies needed for research in fields as diverse as energy, transportation, pharmaceuticals and materials. By supporting innovation in this way, we are ensuring that Quebec SMEs and organizations are well positioned and strengthening our global leadership in this field. Congratulations to Calcul Québec, Anyon Systèmes and ÉTS for this achievement!”

The Honourable Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Member of Parliament for Hochelaga, Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for DEC

“Integrating the computing power of a quantum computer into Calcul Québec’s service offering will provide the research and innovation community with a unique opportunity to develop and test new quantum and hybrid algorithms. This will be done while ensuring that all intellectual property generated remains the property of Quebec and Canadian institutions. MonarQ will also enable Calcul Québec, in collaboration with research teams, to develop essential techniques to ensure seamless interoperability between classical and quantum computers. This new infrastructure, with its national and international impact, will promote the development of free software, thereby strengthening accessibility and innovation in the field.”

Suzanne Talon, General Manager, Calcul Québec

“The installation of the MonarQ superconducting quantum computer in Calcul Québec’s advanced computing room allows Anyon Systèmes to take an important step in its development of quantum computing solutions. We are proud to be able to offer researchers and industrial users a quantum solution entirely designed and developed in Canada.”

Alireza Najafi-Yazdi, Managing Director, Anyon Systems

Quick Facts

The funding was provided under CED’s Support for Regional Quantum Innovation, which stems from the Government of Canada’s National Quantum Strategy. This support has a budget of $23.3 million that will allow for strategic investments until 2028 to help SMEs and NPOs adopt, develop and commercialize quantum technologies and products based on these technologies. CED is the key federal partner in regional economic development in Quebec. Through its 12 regional business offices, CED supports businesses, support organizations and all regions of Quebec towards the economy of tomorrow.

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Media RelationsCanada Economic Development for Quebec Regionsmedia@dec-ced.gc.ca

Marie-Justine TorresPress SecretaryOffice of the Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec RegionsCell.: 613-327-5918marie-justine.torresames@ised-isde.gc.ca

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

MIL Translation OSI

September 29, 2024
MIL-OSI Economics: Agora Ltd

Source: Isle of Man

Published on: 25 September 2024

Notice is hereby given that Agora Ltd, which was registered under the Designated Businesses (Registration & Oversight) Act 2015, has been de-registered in accordance with 12(1)(a) of this Act with effect from 25/09/2024.

MIL OSI Economics –

September 29, 2024

Category: Business

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