NewzIntel.com

Category: Business

  • MIL-OSI: Transaction in Own Shares and Total Voting Rights and Capital

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ALBION ENTERPRISE VCT PLC

    LEI Code 213800OVSRDHRJBMO720

    TRANSACTION IN OWN SHARES AND TOTAL VOTING RIGHTS AND CAPITAL

    Albion Enterprise VCT PLC (the “Company”) announces that it purchased 73,646 ordinary shares at 126.31 pence per share on 24 September 2024. The shares purchased represent 0.07% of the total number of voting rights in the Company before the transaction. These shares will be held in treasury.

    Following this transaction, and in conformity with the provisions of DTR 5.6, we would like to notify the market of the following:

    The capital of the Company as at 24 September 2024 consisted of 129,223,229 ordinary shares with a nominal value of 1 penny each. The Company holds 18,185,333 shares in treasury.

    Therefore, the total number of voting rights in the Company is 111,037,896 which may be used by shareholders or other persons as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, the Company under the FCA’s Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.

    24 September 2024

    Vikash Hansrani
    Operations Partner
    Albion Capital Group LLP
    Tel: 020 7601 1850

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: HP Workforce Solutions Advances Strategy to Deliver Exceptional Employee Experiences

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    News Highlights

    • Supercharges HP Workforce Experience Platform with expanded access and capabilities
    • Introduces managed services that reduce downtime and keep employees productive
    • Announces the industry’s most advanced remote remediation technology
    • Launches HOPE Recycling Futures to give PCs a second life while accelerating digital equity

    PALO ALTO, Calif., Sept. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today at HP Imagine, HP Inc.’s (NYSE: HPQ) Workforce Solutions division (HPWS) today announced a series of significant advancements designed to enable companies to achieve growth by delivering more personalized, fulfilling experiences.

    As part of this, HP is expanding access to HP Workforce Experience Platform, giving CIOs access to enhanced tools, data and insights to ensure their employees are connected and productive. For customers wanting HP to manage their IT environment, HP is announcing advanced monitoring solutions and global availability of HP Managed Collaboration Services that proactively remediate incidents before employees are impacted. And when technology does fail, HP is launching a new service that helps get employees back up and running quickly. HP is also introducing a new service to help companies harness the power of AI to drive further productivity in the workforce and expanded refurbishment programs to drive a more circular economy.

    “We are at the intersection of two major trends – AI and Flexible Work – and both are having a profound impact on our lives,” said Dave Shull, President of HP Workforce Solutions. “At the same time, employees want greater fulfillment and companies want improved productivity. Our Future-Ready portfolio of software and solutions helps guide companies through this shift.”

    Keeping Employees Engaged and Productive

    HP Workforce Experience Platform Expands Beta Access and Introduces New Features
    HP Workforce Experience Platform – a platform that intelligently anticipates and resolves digital friction across every employee endpoint from a single dashboard – has been in private beta for three months with more than 270K devices enrolled.[1]

    HP is now expanding access by making the Workforce Experience Platform Beta available to new or renewing HP Proactive Insights customers in the United States at no extra cost.

    As part of the new release, HP is rolling out new features that enable customers to monitor, secure, and manage printer performance at scale, in addition to PCs. New capabilities in AI-powered fleet management and employee sentiment analysis will help reduce IT support tickets and employee downtime through proactive anomaly detection and smart recommendations.

    Additionally, HP Workforce Experience Platform supports integrations with Microsoft Power BI, Power Automate and Tableau (available now) and plans to support Microsoft Intune and ServiceNow in a future release, enabling IT to leverage Workforce Experience Platform data easily and securely within their existing workflows. This means IT has a more holistic view of their device fleet, better data accuracy, and more tailored IT operations that help drive down expenses and improve return on investment.[2]

    New Global Command Centers for Advanced Monitoring Capabilities
    As companies look to shift their IT support from a reactive to a proactive approach, HP is announcing advanced Monitoring and Management capabilities – enabled by new global command centers – to help customers monitor and manage both HP and non-HP devices across the world, including detecting and remediating incidents.

    Leveraging telemetry,[3] HP monitors thousands of data points in conference room equipment, printers, and PCs. This enables HP Service Experts to detect and identify issues and take remote actions to proactively remediate incidents before employees are impacted. These HP Managed Services are available globally for HP’s managed solutions customers and sold through direct channels.

    Industry’s First Out-of-band Diagnostics and Remediation Capability
    Data shows that 90% of employees prefer flexible or hybrid work.[4] Employees have also come to expect the same level of support remotely that they would receive in an office. But existing remote support tools can’t always address the problem, like when a PC crashes and won’t reboot.

    To help reduce the time and frustration involved in restoring productivity for both hybrid employees and IT, HP is introducing a new HP out-of-band remediation service,[5] the industry’s most advanced remote remediation technology,[6] that enables more PC issues to be fixed remotely than ever before – even if the PC won’t boot. HP is the first PC manufacturer to use out-of-band technology to securely connect to remote PCs below the OS, using an encrypted cloud connection. This allows HP support agents full keyboard, video and mouse (KVM) control to diagnose and fix more complex issues like boot failures, imaging and BIOS issues — with virtually no assistance from the end user.

    This industry-first remediation service is expected to be available later this year in North America and the EU as an add-on to an HP Essential, Premium or Premium+ Support package with the purchase of any new Intel vPro enabled PC direct from HP or an authorized reseller. HP plans to expand the service feature availability across other commercial PCs in the coming months.

    New AI Advisory Services Help Customers Tap into the Potential of Microsoft Copilot
    HP is also announcing a new AI advisory service to help customers tap into the full potential of Microsoft 365 Copilot. This new AI advisory service will evaluate a company’s current setup and readiness for AI, conduct interactive workshops to help companies maximize the benefits of AI, and help companies plan for rolling out new AI tools. This new AI Advisory Service is expected to be available in November 2024 in the US, UK, France, Spain, Ireland, and Germany.

    Creating Collaborative Team Experiences

    Managed Collaboration Services Now Available to Customers Worldwide
    In today’s flexible working world, video collaboration connects more employees than ever before. To help customers modernize and maintain their conference rooms, HP is announcing the global availability of HP Managed Collaboration Services. HP Managed Collaboration Services uses Poly and HP gear to deliver exceptional meeting experiences with flexible, reliable, managed room solutions that ensure every space is video-enabled, and ready to be used. Learn more here.

    Driving Societal Impact

    HP is committed to accelerating equitable access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunity for those who are systemically excluded so they can participate and thrive in a digital economy. HP’s new services and programs help give technology a second life while delivering hope around the world.

    Expanded Portfolio of HP Certified Refurbished Hardware
    With growing customer demand for high-quality, reliable second-life devices, HP is announcing expansion of its HP Certified Refurbished hardware portfolio to now include LaserJet Multi-Function Printers, available for Managed Print Solutions customers in the United States.

    Each HP Certified Refurbished device undergoes rigorous refurbishment and inspection processes, utilizes approved HP parts, and comes backed by HP Support for added peace of mind. The LaserJet offerings are the latest addition to the HP Certified Refurbished hardware portfolio, which also includes availability of HP EliteBook 800 G6 and G7 series notebooks in the United States and France.

    Delivering HOPE Around the World
    HP is expanding HOPE Recycling Futures – HP’s signature program that helps companies connect and uplift children. HOPE Recycling Futures receives devices from organizations who would otherwise dispose of them, works with its partners to erase existing data and refurbish the devices. HP then coordinates with vetted non-governmental organizations to deliver the devices to schools serving vulnerable and marginalized youth — all at no cost to the company or receiving organization.

    HOPE Recycling Futures is already partnering with companies across the EU, UK, Switzerland, India, Singapore, and Brazil, and will now extend this partnership to include Mexico. More than 16,000 children in 22 countries have benefited from the program through 72 donation projects to date.

    By giving their PCs a second life for kids in need through HOPE Recycling Futures, businesses can play a crucial role in reducing e-waste and empowering the next generation with the tools they need to thrive in a digital world.

    For more information on today’s news at HP Imagine, visit https://www.hp.com/us-en/newsroom/press-kits/2024/hp-imagine.html.

    About HP Workforce Solutions
    Workforce Solutions is a global business unit of HP Inc. Given HP’s innovative and comprehensive portfolio of PCs, printers, and collaboration gear, HP Workforce Solutions (HPWS) is used by millions worldwide to solve customer problems, often proactively, through AI-enabled software and services. HP can help partners and customers from start to finish of their technology journey.

    About HP
    HP Inc. (NYSE: HPQ) is a global technology leader and creator of solutions that enable people to bring their ideas to life and connect to the things that matter most. Operating in more than 170 countries, HP delivers a wide range of innovative and sustainable devices, services and subscriptions for personal computing, printing, 3D printing, hybrid work, gaming, and more. For more information, please visit: http://www.hp.com. 

    [1] The Workforce Experience platform is for commercial customers and requires registration. At launch, some features will require a subscription. To register for access, visit https://admin.hp.com/. Some features and capabilities may require additional purchase of HP services and/or commercial hardware capable of supporting the HP Insights agent for Windows, Mac, & Android. Activation and restrictions may apply.
    Select HP Workforce Solutions require an HP Insights agent for Windows, Mac, & Android, available for download at https://admin.hp.com/software. For full system requirements and services that require the agent, please visit https://admin.hp.com/requirements. The agent collects telemetry and analytics around devices and applications that integrate into the Workforce Experience platform and is not sold as a standalone service. Internet access with connection to the Workforce Experience platform is required. HP follows stringent GDPR privacy regulations, and the platform is ISO27001, ISO27701, ISO27017 and SOC2 Type2 certified for Information Security.
    [2] Third party licenses required.
    [3] HP Services Scan is preinstalled and/or provided thru Windows Update and checks for service entitlement on each hardware device and downloads the applicable software agent automatically. To disable this feature, please follow the instructions at http://www.hpdaas.com/requirements. The HP Insights agent is a telemetry and analytics platform that provides critical data around devices and applications and is not sold as a standalone service. HP follows stringent GDPR privacy regulations and is ISO27001, ISO27701, ISO27017 and SOC2 Type2 certified for Information Security. Internet access with connection to the HP Insights agent is required. For full system requirements, please visit http://www.hpdaas.com/requirements. Not available in China.
    [4]Remote Work Statistics & Trends In (2024) – Forbes Advisor, Pew Research
    [5] Out-of-band diagnostics and remediation is available in North America (which includes the US and Canada), and the EU as an HP Care Pack for select HP commercial platforms that are Intel® vPro® and Intel® AMT enabled and are entitled to HP Premium Support or HP Premium+ Support. Service levels and response times for HP Care Packs may vary depending on your geographic location. Service starts on date of hardware purchase. Restrictions and limitations apply. For details, visit www.hp.com/go/cpc. HP Services are governed by the applicable HP terms and conditions of service provided or indicated to Customer at the time of purchase. Customer may have additional statutory rights according to applicable local laws, and such rights are not in any way affected by the HP terms and conditions of service or the HP Limited Warranty provided with your HP Product. Check with your HP authorized sales rep for availability.
    [6] Based on HP’s internal analysis of PC manufacturers with power cycle control, non-OS control, BIOS control and reimaging control as of 9/24/2024.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Introducing HP Print AI, Industry’s First Intelligent Print Experiences for Home, Office, and Large Format Printing

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    News Highlights

    • Unveils HP Print AI, including intelligent features to simplify and enhance printing from setup to support
    • Launches Perfect Output feature for consistent and accurate prints every time
    • Expands availability of HP Scan AI Enhanced to digitize workflows and help people work smarter
    • Debuts HP Build Workspace, new AI-enabled print collaboration ecosystem for design and construction

    PALO ALTO, Calif., Sept. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today at HP Imagine, HP Inc. (NYSE: HPQ) unveiled HP Print AI, the industry’s first intelligent print experiences1 designed to change how the world prints. HP Print AI’s features make printing frictionless by eliminating common challenges from printer setup to support. The first feature – Perfect Output – ensures prints look perfect every time and is available today via an exclusive beta program. HP Print AI features also enhance the printing experience at home and at work by unlocking new possibilities for creativity, productivity, and collaboration.

    “We are transforming the printing experience with HP Print AI, making it easier and more intuitive,” said Tuan Tran, HP President of Imaging, Printing, and Solutions. “Introducing AI solutions across our portfolio will simplify printing, ignite creativity, and accelerate collaboration – all while ensuring customer data is protected and kept private. This is our first step in setting a new standard for printing.”

    Delivering Perfect Output
    More than half of print jobs come from web browsers2, including online articles, travel documents, recipes, and how-to guides. However, printing from the web has traditionally yielded unnecessary white space, issues with image size, and inclusion of unwanted web ads. Consumers printing from web browsers have understandably felt frustrated, rating the experience with “strong dissatisfaction” 3.

    Perfect Output bridges the gaps between what people see on the screen and what they intend to print, reformatting and reorganizing content to fit perfectly on the page the first time. Perfect Output can detect unwanted content like ads and web text, printing only the desired text and images, saving time, paper, and ink.

    Messy web browser print layout before using HP Print AI

    Clean, reformatted print options after using HP Print AI

    Spreadsheets are another common print job, and more than half of spreadsheet users report experiencing challenges to make documents print out correctly 4. Perfect Output proactively creates a printable spreadsheet without splitting tables and charts across pages.

    Excel spreadsheet cuts across multiple pages without HP Print AI

    Spreadsheet and graph cleanly reformatted with HP Print AI

    Customizing Support
    HP Print AI will also simplify and tailor support for individual customers. From the moment a customer turns their printer on, intelligent technology anticipates their needs – walking through each step of setup. HP Print AI leverages natural language and contextual awareness, remembering users’ preferences and past questions, so customers receive immediate and customized support whenever they need it.

    Personalizing Experiences
    With HP Print AI, customers can easily transform photos into creative projects. Using simple conversational prompts, HP Print AI can seamlessly integrate unique layouts, custom styles, and fonts to personalize greeting cards for every occasion. HP Print AI also corrects common print errors by automatically upscaling images and removing unwanted objects.

    Once the design is ready, customers can choose to print or explore a curated list of partners that offer unique photo printing capabilities, gift certificates to be printed on the card, and so much more.

    Collaborating Seamlessly
    For the commercial market, HP announced the expanded availability of HP Scan AI Enhanced. This cloud-based, AI-driven solution automatically recognizes the type of documents being scanned and extracts key information based on the customer’s specific business needs. By reducing manual steps and data entry, this solution saves time and money for SMB and enterprise customers. For instance, a major retail group with 300 locations in Italy saw an 80% reduction in labor costs after implementing HP Scan AI Enhanced in its delivery and inventory workflow 5.

    HP is also extending AI capabilities to vertical industries, starting with design and construction, an industry lagging behind in using technology to deliver productivity improvements 6. HP’s new Build Workspace enables design and construction professionals to easily create and organize site observations, facilitate collaboration, and automate tasks such as field reports. By automating time-consuming tasks, HP Build Workspace drives efficiency and collaboration among professionals in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) field. Key features such as site capture, AI vectorization, and continuous feedback empower AEC professionals to streamline their workflows and optimize designs. The collaboration hub, HP Build Workspace, allows AEC professionals to access projects on desktop or mobile devices.

    Availability

    • HP Print AI is available today, starting with an exclusive beta delivering the Perfect Output feature to select print customers. HP intends to continue launching HP Print AI capabilities throughout 2025.
    • HP Build Workspace is available today, with HP Print AI capabilities also in beta in the US and Europe, scaling to the UK and Ireland soon, with expected worldwide rollout starting Spring 2025.
    • HP Scan AI Enhanced is a software service available today in North America, most of Europe and Latin America, and in parts of Asia.

    More information on today’s news at HP Imagine can be found here.

    ABOUT HP
    HP Inc. (NYSE: HPQ) is a global technology leader and creator of solutions that enable people to bring their ideas to life and connect to the things that matter most. Operating in more than 170 countries, HP delivers a wide range of innovative and sustainable devices, services and subscriptions for personal computing, printing, 3D printing, hybrid work, gaming, and more. For more information, please visit: http://www.hp.com.

    1. Based on HP’s internal analysis of intelligent solutions meeting the criteria of artificial intelligence, having a print platform, and covering scope of home, office and large format printing, as of September 2024
    2. Print Telemetry Data from Microsoft
    3. –62 Net Promoter Score (NPS) for strong dissatisfaction
    4. HP Research: Excel AI Print Add-In, July 2024
    5. Based on HP client use case, June 2023
    6. McKinsey Report: Delivering on construction productivity is no longer optional, August 2024

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9cedbace-5799-4efb-a2da-526a418476cd
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fafd7c20-abaf-413f-b0b8-9b7863aa3490
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/decb99ba-962e-4180-bab3-85fe1621e576
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/92e3b40b-c748-4dae-a41d-42e41d153e92

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kennedy introduces bill to protect taxpayer privacy, strengthen penalties for leaking personal data

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)
    WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Banking Committee, has introduced the Taxpayer Data Protection Act to safeguard Americans’ sensitive data and increase penalties for those who steal and leak Americans’ tax information.
    “American taxpayers deserve to know that their financial data is safe from criminals and bad actors. My bill would discourage would-be crooks and vigilantes from exposing anyone’s personal tax information by increasing the punishment for those abuses,” said Kennedy. 
    Rep. Jason Smith (R-Mo.) introduced the Taxpayer Data Protection Act in the House, which passed the legislation earlier this month.
    “Americans rightfully expect their personal tax information is safe and protected when they file their tax returns with the IRS. Unfortunately, that expectation was shattered when IRS contractor Charles Littlejohn was discovered to have stolen the private tax data of thousands of individuals, including President Trump, and leaked that information to the New York Times and ProPublica for publishing. Mr. Littlejohn was aware of the legal consequences before committing his theft, but was unfazed and undeterred. He even went as far as to destroy evidence and conceal his actions from law enforcement. The Taxpayer Data Protection Act scales up the punishment to fit the crime and sends a clear message to would-be criminals that Congress will not tolerate the theft of Americans’ personal and private tax information,” said Smith.
    Under current law, disclosing tax information without that authority is a felony that is punishable by a fine of up to $5,000, by a sentence of up to five years in prison or both. The legislation would increase the maximum fine to as much as $250,000, lengthen potential prison sentences to as many as 10 years and subject criminals to either or both punishments.
    Kennedy’s bill would also clarify that a person who exposes personal data is subject to prosecution for every taxpayer whose data he or she leaked. The Biden Justice Department recently employed a political maneuver by charging Charles Littlejohn with one count of improperly disclosing tax return information even though he stole tax return information for thousands of Americans. Under this bill, criminals who share data from multiple Americans would not be able to avoid prosecution for multiple counts.
    Background:
    In 2019, Internal Revenue Service contractor Charles Littlejohn illegally leaked the tax returns of President Donald Trump to the New York Times. 
    In 2020, Littlejohn also illegally disclosed the tax information of roughly 7,600 individuals and 600 entities to ProPublica for political purposes.
    In 2023, the Department of Justice announced it was charging Littlejohn with just one count of disclosing tax return information without authorization despite his distributing the information of thousands of Americans.
    The judge overseeing the case ultimately sentenced Littlejohn to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine because the law did not allow a more appropriate punishment. 
    The full bill text is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Belt-Road tax forum held

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The three-day 5th Belt & Road Initiative Tax Administration Cooperation Forum (BRITACOF) opened today at the AsiaWorld-Expo, marking the first time for Hong Kong to host the forum.

    Themed “Deepening Tax Administration Cooperation for High-Quality Belt & Road Development”, the forum gathered more than 400 tax officials, tax experts, as well as representatives from international organisations, academic institutions and enterprises from different countries and regions to discuss emerging tax issues and exchange tax administration experiences.

    In his welcome address, Chief Executive John Lee said tax administration plays a crucial role in ensuring sustainable development. Efficient tax systems provide the essential resources for the delivery of public services and infrastructure.

    Mr Lee noted that Hong Kong believes transparent and fair tax policies could foster trust among investors, governments and taxpayers.

    As a champion of free and multilateral trade, Hong Kong supports the co-ordinated efforts of the international tax community, actively engaging in initiatives designed to bring economies together, he added.

    On the margins of the forum, Mr Lee met Commissioner of the State Taxation Administration Hu Jinglin and witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on tax co-operation within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) among the finance and taxation departments of Guangdong Province, Shenzhen, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Macao SAR.

    The MOU will promote the co-ordination of tax administration and services in the GBA. The deepened tax co-operation in the GBA can enhance Hong Kong’s tax competitiveness and create a more favourable business environment.

    Speaking at the welcome dinner, Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui said that BRITACOF is a crucial and exemplary international platform designed to enhance co-operation among tax administrations along the Belt & Road.

    Mr Hui added that Hong Kong is also fully supportive of the international standard of tax information exchange to avoid tax evasion. By endorsing and implementing these standards, Hong Kong ensures that Belt & Road projects involving Hong Kong companies adhere to the highest international benchmarks in terms of tax governance and transparency.

    In addition, during BRITACOF, Mr Hui held bilateral meetings separately with representatives from Kazakhstan, Maldives, Tajikistan and Türkiye to discuss deepening tax co-operation at the international and Belt & Road levels.

    This year’s forum gathered more than 400 tax officials, tax experts, as well as representatives from international organisations, academic institutions and enterprises from different countries and regions to discuss emerging tax issues and exchange tax administration experiences.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Ludwig: in this comic BBC detective drama, puzzles are key to solving a murder – and understanding other people

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Deborah Klika/Klikova, Academic Portfolio Lead in Film & Television Production, University of Greenwich

    “It makes no sense. It’s impossible to solve” – so decries John “Ludwig” Taylor (David Mitchell) when trying to solve a murder using puzzle techniques in the new six-part BBC detective series, Ludwig.

    Each week puzzle designer John uses his skill to solve a crime. The show, also starring Anna Maxwell Martin, is guided by the thematic question: “how do we solve life’s puzzles?”

    John’s twin brother James (also portrayed by Mitchell) has suddenly gone missing. Enlisted by his sister-in-law Lucy (Maxwell Martin) to help find James, John reluctantly moves in with her and her son, leaving behind his ordered and self-contained (but lonely) world. Lucy wants John to pose as his brother to get some information from James’ office about a case that he was working on, which she suspects is related to his disappearance.

    What begins as a benign task very quickly escalates into John taking on James’ role as DCI James Taylor with Cambridge’s Major Crime Squad. John is swept along to crime scenes wherein he proceeds to solve murders using various puzzle techniques: logic puzzles, spot the difference, coincidences (three to be statistically relevant) and even reverse chess (where maths, probability and reason are used to determine prior moves in the middle of a chess game).

    The situation creates a bind plot. John wants the love of a family – specifically James’ family – but if he finds James, he will lose the “family” he has found. He is caught between his want (to have a family and Lucy) and his flaw (to learn to engage with people and the world).

    In my research, I posit that the bind plot is more prevalent in comedy than in drama. The tension between the want and the flaw is what underpins the comedy.

    John is navigating life on two levels: as an imposter detective and as a lonely man with signs of neurodiversity, such as an inability to understand and express feelings, and the need to follow certain rules. This results in misunderstanding and confusion for some of those around John, but not for John himself.

    The trailer for Ludwig.

    This duality is a common technique in comedy writing. As comic writer Steve Kaplan notes in The Hidden Tools of Comedy (2013), comedy emerges in the gap between the wavy-line character (the confused one) and the straight-line character (with a fixed view on life).

    What is interesting in Ludwig is John’s character arc. He begins as a straight-liner, but both his interactions with Lucy and her determination to find her husband force him to question his own life. His increasing confusion about, and interaction with, other people result in him becoming a wavy-line character.

    In my book Situation Comedy, Character, and Psychoanalysis (2019) I label the straight-liner as “echo characters”. That’s because they echo the unconscious fear of the main character, while maintaining their own fixed view of the world. It is because the main character is unconscious of this behaviour in themselves that such characters become “trapped” in their dynamic.

    These kinds of relationships define the sitcom. Think Phoebe in Friends, who echoes Rachel’s fear of commitment. In the first episode of Friends, Rachel is a runaway bride and Ross is recovering from a failed marriage, setting both these characters up as commitment-phobic. Phoebe, however, embraces life and all its alternatives, no matter how kooky or off-beat.

    Moss in The IT Crowd, echoes in a different way. His attention to detail and focus are the antithesis of Roy’s approach to work and Jen’s lack of knowledge of anything to do with IT. Roy fears work and Jen fears being exposed as ignorant, making Moss their perfect echo character.

    Maintaining the pretence

    The challenge for Ludwig’s head writer and creator, Mark Brotherhood, is to ensure that John can keep up the pretence of being his twin brother, while at the same time ensuring the pretence is believable.

    Brotherhood’s previous credits (Father Brown, Death in Paradise, Benidorm and Mount Pleasant) have shown his ability to merge genres such as crime and drama with comic moments.

    Set-ups such as characters having recently joined the crimes unit (who did not know James), and fleeting interactions with other characters (who do know James), save John from exposure. But they also distract the audience from the central question – “why don’t other people see that John is a different person?”. Instead we are drawn into the world of puzzles and how they can help solve crimes – and maybe help us solve problems in our own lives.

    Dramatic irony enables the audience to be in on the conceit. We know John is not James, but we also know that John is a puzzle master, and we revel in his ability to solve crimes. However, being in on the deception prompts the question: what will happen when John is exposed?

    In the vein of Poirot or Miss Marple, John is dedicated to solving murder through reasoned logic as well as increasingly astute observations of human behaviour – something he has avoided until now.

    Ludwig is an engaging (and at times puzzling) drama with comic moments, governed by a thematic premise – to understand puzzles is to understand life.


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

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

    – ref. Ludwig: in this comic BBC detective drama, puzzles are key to solving a murder – and understanding other people – https://theconversation.com/ludwig-in-this-comic-bbc-detective-drama-puzzles-are-key-to-solving-a-murder-and-understanding-other-people-239626

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kennedy, Scott introduce bill to help Americans access capital, make investments and hold SEC accountable

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)
    WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Banking Committee, today joined Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and colleagues in introducing the Empowering Main Street in America Act to promote Americans’ access to capital and investment opportunities. The legislation also fosters transparency of the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) so that regulators are held accountable to the public.
    “Every day, the American dream is becoming less attainable thanks to government bureaucracy. Louisianians and all Americans deserve a level playing field when it comes to accessing capital and making investments. I’m proud to help introduce the Empowering Main Street in America Act to ensure that small businesses and job creators in every corner of our country have the tools they need for financial prosperity and security,” said Kennedy. 
    “Our capital markets system is the envy of the world and has helped many Americans build wealth and save for their futures. But unfortunately for individuals in communities like the one I grew up in, investing in a local venture or raising capital to grow a business seems out of reach. We need to change that – and this comprehensive legislation will create economic opportunity and provide more Americans with the resources necessary to achieve financial security for their families and realize their version of the American Dream, while ensuring small business owners can access capital to grow and innovate,” said Scott. 
    The legislation would:
    Reverse burdensome regulations to help entrepreneurs, small business owners and public companies raise funding in rural and metropolitan areas alike. 
    Expand the criteria that everyday Americans must meet in order to qualify as accredited investors. 
    Improve the readability, clarity and accessibility of information that retail investors need to make informed decisions.
    Ensure the SEC is transparent by holding it accountable to Congress and the public by broadening oversight provisions in the Dodd-Frank Act. 
    Sens. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) also cosponsored the legislation. 
    The full bill text is available here.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The rise of the ‘megapub’: is bigger really better?

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Rachael. E. Rees-Jones, Lecturer in Strategy, University of South Wales

    shutterstock niksdope/Shutterstock

    Wetherspoons has unveiled its latest venture at London’s Waterloo Station – a vast new pub called The Lion & The Unicorn. This so-called “Superspoons” is part of a growing trend in the UK’s hospitality industry, where ever-larger venues are reshaping traditional experiences.

    With its prime location and expansive layout of 5,000 sq ft and almost 600 seats, the venue’s opening marks what some business commentators are describing as the dawn of the “megapub” era, where bigger seems to mean better for chains like Wetherspoons.

    Megapubs are designed to offer more than just a quick pint. These vast, multi-purpose venues aim to cater to a variety of needs throughout the day, from morning coffee and business lunches to evening meals and live entertainment. The inclusion of extensive seating, diverse menus and designated zones for different activities – such as socialising or working on a laptop – aim to attract a broad range of customers.

    By offering an all-in-one experience, they are deliberately designed to stand apart from the traditional pub model. And they are positioning themselves as destinations rather than typical pubs.

    True to Wetherspoons’ business model, the new megapub promises competitive prices on food and drink, which may make it an attractive option for budget-conscious customers. By offering a variety of experiences under one roof, megapubs are attempting to tempt customers inside with convenience, variety and affordability all in one package, while also feeling part of a community.

    What could it mean for the hospitality sector?

    One major concern over the onset of the megapub is the potential impact on smaller, independent pubs and restaurants. Over the last ten years, pubs have been closing at an alarming rate, as publicans struggle with rising supply costs and overheads. A growing number of young people are also choosing to abstain from alcohol. Such factors have reduced the demand for traditional pubs.

    Megapubs, with their size and pricing power, could exacerbate these challenges by drawing customers away from independent venues that struggle to compete on price or scale. This may be especially true of those relying on niche markets or unique experiences.

    While it is still early days, and the effects of the megapub are yet to unfold, experts are already questioning whether this could change the way we socialise. By combining affordability with a range of amenities, megapubs like the new “Superspoons” may set new expectations for what a pub experience should be. Instead of visiting multiple locations for different activities, people may prefer to spend their leisure time in a single, multi-functional venue where they can socialise, dine and work.

    Wetherspoons is not the only company experimenting with this new model. Across the hospitality and retail sectors, businesses are increasingly seeking to create more versatile spaces to attract a broader customer base.



    Read more:
    Youth drinking is declining – myths about the trend, busted

    So, could we see more companies following Wetherspoons’ lead? Given the current economic conditions, where many consumers are tightening their belts, it seems probable. This could be the beginning of a long-term shift towards larger, multi-functional venues. Of course, it may just be a temporary response to the challenges of the present market.

    Economically, this concept appears to be well-suited to the financial challenges and uncertainty of our current times, as increasingly isolated people look for cost-effective ways to dine and socialise. Offering both affordability and a wide range of options, these venues could thrive during economic downturns by drawing in budget-conscious consumers.

    Whether you’re a fan of the traditional pub or intrigued by new concepts like the “Superspoons”, it’s clear that the way we socialise is evolving. As hospitality businesses continue to push boundaries, we may see a significant change in how we spend our leisure time and money.

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

    – ref. The rise of the ‘megapub’: is bigger really better? – https://theconversation.com/the-rise-of-the-megapub-is-bigger-really-better-238629

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: His Three Daughters: an honest reflection on death and the meaning of family

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Shelley Galpin, Lecturer in Culture, Media and Creative Industries, King’s College London

    How do you communicate death? This is the question posed towards the end of His Three Daughters – a rather audacious move considering that it revolves around the last days of a father whose titular daughters have all gathered to be present for his passing.

    Set almost entirely within the apartment that is home to dying Vincent and daughter Rachel, the film captures a palpable sense of claustrophobia. Here, controlling, uptight Katie (Carrie Coon playing the modern-day equivalent of her character from The Gilded Age), emotional Christina (Elizabeth Olsen) and slacker Rachel (Natasha Lyonne) are unwillingly thrown together, all with their own personal but conflicting senses of duty to their father.

    With its restricted setting and small cast of characters, the film by writer and director Azazel Jacobs, risks feeling stagey at times, as the small dramas play out in the crucible of the apartment. However, the striking camera work, in which the three women are frequently shot in direct, single mid-shots, almost as if they are talking heads in a documentary, creates an uncomfortable sense of isolation.

    The family dynamics are immediately clear. Katie and Christina have moved into Rachel’s home and have instantly dominated the space. Katie doesn’t attempt to conceal her judgment of weed-smoking, professional gambler Rachel, literally forcing her out of her own home in order to smoke. Frequently, scenes play out for some time before it’s clear that Rachel is even in the room. This is due to the fragmenting camera work that creates a confessional tone but denies the intimacy of showing the sisters together – an intimacy it is clear these women so desperately crave.

    The character work is not subtle. Katie’s obsession with obtaining a “do not resuciate” form for her dying father is controlling bordering on the macabre. Her turning to alcohol while still pouring judgment on Rachel’s substance use highlights her hypocrisy, while also hinting that these two apparently different women have more in common than it would seem.

    Despite Christina’s self-appointed role as peacemaker and emotional support, she also uncomfortably goes along with Katie’s exclusionary behaviour. The two sisters occasionally fall into their own (slightly bizarre) language, and routinely refer to Rachel as “she”. As the film progresses the reason for this is gradually revealed, with the title taking on extra resonance when it becomes clear that Rachel is Vincent’s step-daughter.

    At its heart, the film is an exploration of family, blended or otherwise. Through the laboured task of attempting to write a eulogy for their father, the three women realise that despite coming from the same home, their experiences of it have been very different.

    The character arcs, as each wrestles with the person they have become and the past that made them that way, are not original, with the emotional journeys following well-trodden tracks. However, the cast give it their all. Natasha Lyonne is excellent as the silent heart of the family and Elizabeth Olsen captures Christina’s suppressed fragility nicely. Carrie Coon also fulfils her role in the mismatched triumvirate well, suitably scary as the micro-managing Katie, although the role hardly feels like a stretch for her considerable talents.

    In answer to the question of how one communicates death, the film proposes that this is most effectively done through absence. In one of the more “on the nose” moments this is unnecessarily stated through the sisters’ dialogue. Infinitely more effective, though, is the film’s conceit of having the father almost entirely off-screen, both dominant and absent at the same time.

    Yet this absence also manifests itself in the sister’s relationships with each other, as they frequently comment that each other’s lives are “not my business” and converse as you would with a vague acquaintance. Ultimately, the film is a refreshingly downbeat and honest reflection on the nature of families, and what being part of a family even means when all members have matured into diverse and full adult lives.

    When the inevitable finally happens, the film attempts a brave rug pull with real emotional heft. Characters, and viewers, are left reflecting on what it really means when the time, which had felt like it could go on forever, finally runs out. Although it is sometimes a little heavy-handed, His Three Daughters will get you at the end, which, given the film’s subject matter, feels entirely fitting.


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

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

    – ref. His Three Daughters: an honest reflection on death and the meaning of family – https://theconversation.com/his-three-daughters-an-honest-reflection-on-death-and-the-meaning-of-family-239664

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Exploding pagers and walkie-talkies are a reminder of how easily your devices can be hacked – here’s how to make sure they are safe

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Nick Hajli, AI Strategist and Professor of Digital Strategy, Loughborough University

    Quality Stock Arts/Shutterstock

    The recent attacks on walkie-talkies and pagers in Lebanon have highlighted the hidden vulnerabilities in everyday technology. These incidents underscore the need for individuals to understand the potential risks associated with their devices and to take proactive steps to protect themselves in an increasingly digital world where safety can be compromised.

    Research shows that many people have significant concerns about security and privacy as technology advances. Statistics reveal an alarming rise in cyber threats and privacy breaches, underscoring the urgency of addressing these issues. According to IBM, the average cost of a data breach worldwide reached US$4.88 million (£3.65 million) in 2024, demonstrating the severe consequences of technological vulnerabilities.

    So, are our smartphones and devices truly safe? With numerous reports of data breaches and privacy violations linked to technological development – especially concerning artificial intelligence (AI) – the recent attacks in Lebanon raise new concerns about the security of technology in an era where AI introduces complex challenges.

    The pressing question for consumers is whether any of our devices can genuinely be deemed safe. If Israel can launch such an attack (and it has not confirmed it was behind the device attacks – but neither has it denied widespread reports insisting it was) other states may very well follow suit.

    The Lebanon device attacks should serve as a crucial wake-up call regarding the vulnerabilities in devices we often take for granted. Part of the challenge lies in the less discussed impact of AI, which can track, analyse, and act on information in ways that pose risks to privacy and security. While AI brings substantial benefits to society, it also creates complex challenges, particularly in terms of democratic integrity and personal safety.

    As technology increasingly becomes an indispensable part of our everyday lives – through smartphones, tablets, and smart home devices – it’s really important to understand the risks associated with our dependency on this tech. There are some practical steps that we can all take to enhance our security and take control of our digital lives.

    What you can do

    1. Be careful who you buy from: One critical lesson is to be mindful of where you purchase your products. As technology advances, consumers often turn to price comparison apps to find cheaper options. But these less expensive products frequently originate from distant countries with complex supply chains. For example, in 2020, it was revealed that some Huawei and ZTE devices used in telecom infrastructure contained back doors, which led to allegations of espionage and resulted in some countries banning or limiting their use.

    It’s worth thoroughly researching the manufacturer before making a purchase. Before buying, check reviews and security certifications, and find out if the company has a history of security breaches or privacy concerns. Ensuring the manufacturer is reputable adds an extra layer of protection.

    It’s vital to ensure the security of your mobile device is not compromised.
    OLE.cnx/Shutterstock

    2. Understand potential risks: Older devices, such as pagers, often lack modern security features such as regular updates, making them more vulnerable to interception. Additionally, recent advances in AI raise concerns about the security of newer devices. For instance, AI algorithms used in smart home devices can learn user patterns and behaviours.

    If these devices are compromised, hackers could use this information to orchestrate targeted attacks or gain unauthorised access to homes. It’s crucial to assess the risks associated with both old and new technologies – and if you think them unsafe, it’s best to just not use them.

    3. Update devices regularly: Ensure you regularly update your software and firmware to benefit from the latest security patches. Stick to devices that are still supported by their manufacturers, as unsupported devices may stop receiving vital security updates, leaving them vulnerable.

    4. Keep your eyes on your tech: Anyone who is able to gain physical access to your device could tamper with it. Always store your devices securely when not in use, minimising the risk of unauthorised access.

    5. Stay informed on cybersecurity issues: Keep yourself updated on the latest cybersecurity threats and learn how attackers exploit various technologies. Familiarise yourself with basic defensive practices, such as using strong, unique passwords and enabling two-factor authentication. Remember that many modern devices are interconnected, making them potential gateways for attacks. For example, a compromised smartphone could potentially infect your laptop or other devices on the same network.

    Exercise caution with smart devices such as speakers, cameras, and wearables by ensuring they are properly configured, using encrypted connections, and limiting unnecessary data sharing.

    By taking these steps, you can enhance your security and navigate the complexities of our technology-driven world with greater confidence.

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

    – ref. Exploding pagers and walkie-talkies are a reminder of how easily your devices can be hacked – here’s how to make sure they are safe – https://theconversation.com/exploding-pagers-and-walkie-talkies-are-a-reminder-of-how-easily-your-devices-can-be-hacked-heres-how-to-make-sure-they-are-safe-239657

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Can cryptocurrencies ever be green?

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jean Bessala, Lecturer in Finance, Salford Business School, University of Salford

    Mabeline72/Shutterstock

    Cryptocurrencies have been condemned over their environmental record at a time when
    traditional investments have been rapidly moving towards greener environmental, social and governance (ESG) values. So how long will it be until crypto earns its green credentials?

    Green investments are assets like bonds that pay for projects with positive environmental and social outcomes. Green bonds for example, contribute to cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, an increase of renewable energy capacity and uptake in clean transport infrastructures.

    Crypto investments on the other hand are widely seen as environmentally unfriendly, mainly because of crypto mining and the huge energy it demands. Mining in the context of crypto refers to a mechanism called “proof of work” (POW) where crypto “miners” use specialised computers to solve complex mathematical equations to secure transactions and create new coins. This is where the energy use comes in.

    Agencies and organisations like the International Energy Agency and the United Nations have raised concerns about the effects of crypto mining – particularly Bitcoin, the best-known crypto asset.

    The environmental footprint of crypto

    The United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health estimated that in 2020-2021, Bitcoin networks had significant carbon, water and land footprints. Bitcoin’s carbon footprint was equivalent to burning 38 billion tonnes of coal, while its water footprint (mainly used for cooling systems) would have met the domestic water needs of more than 300 million people in sub-Saharan Africa.

    The Cambridge Blockchain Network Sustainability Index puts the electricity consumption of Bitcoin networks above those of several developed countries, including Norway and Sweden. For investors who are serious about achieving ESG goals, this aspect of crypto would likely be a deal-breaker.

    It is also made difficult by the lack of regulations around crypto activities. After years of being on the fringes of financial markets and being considered a “get-rich-quick” venture, crypto investments are becoming mainstream. But there is still little regulation to protect investors and ensure participants adopt practices that are in line with ESG values.

    Sceptics point out the major issues plaguing these markets including the use of cryptocurrencies and platforms for money-laundering, scamming, and price manipulation.

    So it is certainly hard to make a green case for crypto. But at the same time, it would be misleading to look only at one side of the coin. The fact is that crypto has a challenging but reachable path towards being widely accepted as green.

    Decarbonising the crypto industry

    First and foremost, the industry itself has recognised the need to change practices and processes to become more sustainable. In 2021, a significant number of players in the crypto industry signed the crypto climate accord (CCA) with the long-term target of decarbonising the global crypto industry by 2040.

    The CCA set two interim objectives. The first was the development of standards and technologies to have 100% renewably powered blockchains as soon as 2025. The second aim states that signatories should achieve net-zero emissions from electricity consumption by 2030.

    Recent developments in technology suggest the industry has started putting plans into action, with the appearance of sustainable tools and infrastructures.

    Several companies such as Mara and Argo are working on technologies like energy-efficient immersion cooling systems that significantly reduce the energy consumption required for mining.

    When cryptocurrency Ethereum changed its processes, it cut its energy use by close to 100%.
    rafapress/Shutterstock

    These companies are also developing systems that can recycle heat produced by digital assets and from data centres, and redirect it to provide energy to communities. The implementation of these technologies is facilitated by the relative mobility of crypto miners and the opportunities that some governments and regions offer to them.

    In addition, the crypto industry has seen the emergence of self-proclaimed environmentally friendly cryptocurrencies, such as Cardano public blockchain and Powerledger. These currencies use a less energy-intensive mechanism called “proof-of-stake” (POS) rather than POW.

    Unlike POW, POS miners must stake their holdings (the amount of cryptocurrency) when validating and verifying transactions and records. So if a miner tries to falsify records, they could potentially lose their stake. The process removes the need for the complex computer calculations and so cuts the energy use dramatically. In fact, in 2022, the cryptocurrency Ethereum transitioned from POW to POS, reducing its energy consumption by nearly 100%.

    The path towards green crypto is being eased by institutions like the Financial Stability Board, which is taking steps to provide frameworks for understanding, compliance and achievements of ESG goals and values.

    Together, these elements could open the door to a future where conscious investors can take a chance on cryptocurrencies.

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

    – ref. Can cryptocurrencies ever be green? – https://theconversation.com/can-cryptocurrencies-ever-be-green-238359

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Billie Eilish and Google Maps help fans travel sustainably

    Source: Google

    As part of her HIT ME HARD AND SOFT: THE TOUR, Billie Eilish is working with Google Maps to help fans make more sustainable choices when traveling to her upcoming shows.

    “I am so excited to see you all at my shows over the coming months, and for us to work together in reducing our collective footprint when it comes to transportation and what we eat,” Billie says. “Every action matters, no matter how big or small, and together we can truly begin to heal our beautiful planet. Thanks to Google Maps, everyone will have easy access to resources that will help you make great sustainable choices when you come to my shows. Thank you for caring. See you soon!”

    If you’re heading to one of Billie’s shows, check out these helpful tips:

    Check out Billie’s plant-based favs : For fans grabbing a bite before the show, Billie is sharing local plant-based eateries in various tour cities, including Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Nashville, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. Just search for one of these cities in Maps and scroll down to find Billie’s list of plant-based spots.

    You should see me on a bus : When you get directions, you can easily choose from many different travel options, like walking, cycling or even using scooter share. Additionally, if you’re looking for driving routes in tour cities like Berlin, L.A., Paris, Sydney and Toronto, Google Maps will automatically suggest walking or public transit options if they’re just as convenient and fast as driving.

    Choose fuel-efficient routes : Look for the leaf icon in driving directions to find routes that optimize for lower fuel or energy consumption. Since launching in late 2021 through the end of 2023, fuel-efficient routing in Google Maps is estimated to have helped reduce more than 2.9 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions — equivalent to taking about 650,000 fuel-based cars off the road for a year.

    We’re excited to support Billie’s commitment to sustainability and help her fans make more eco-conscious choices. You can learn about other ways Google is helping reduce carbon emissions with initiatives like Project Green Light and Project Contrails.

    P.S. Keep an eye out for Billie’s signature Blohsh near some of her concert venues on Street View while Google’s Pegman takes a vacation .

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI USA: DURING NATIONAL RECOVERY MONTH, CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN DELIVERS $1.25 MILLION TO COMBAT YOUTH DRUG USE, CRACKDOWN ON FENTANYL IN HUDSON VALLEY COMMUNITIES

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Pat Ryan (New York 18th)

    During National Recovery Month, Congressman Pat Ryan Delivers $1.25 Million to Combat Youth Drug Use, Crackdown on Fentanyl in Hudson Valley Communities

    Ryan secured $625,000 for the Alcohol and Drug Awareness Council of Orange County’s Tri-County Prevention Coalition and $625,000 for The Council on Addiction, Prevention, and Education of Dutchess County, Inc. to implement comprehensive strategies and programming to combat youth drug use over the next five years, including keeping out deadly fentanyl 

    WASHINGTON DC –  Today, Congressman Pat Ryan secured $1.25 million in federal Drug Free Community (DFC) funding to combat youth drug use in Orange and Dutchess County communities. Ryan delivered $625,000 for the Alcohol and Drug Awareness Council (ADAC) of Orange County’s Tri-County Prevention Coalition (TCPC) and $625,000 for The Council on Addiction, Prevention, and Education of Dutchess County, Inc. to implement comprehensive strategies and programming to combat youth drug use over the next five years. Each coalition will receive $125,000 per year for the next five years. The funding comes during this month’s National Recovery Month that promotes awareness of drug addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery. Last year, Ryan secured $125,000 in DFC funding for the Warwick Valley Prevention Coalition to combat youth addiction in the Warwick Valley Central School District. 

    “Addiction is tearing Hudson Valley families apart and stealing the bright futures of our kids with gut-wrenching frequency. I’m pushing to end that vicious cycle,” said Congressman Pat Ryan. “During National Recovery Month, I’m proud to deliver this crucial funding that will help prevent Hudson Valley youth from ever falling into the spiral of addiction and keep deadly fentanyl out of our communities. I look forward to continuing to work with community partners and local officials as we fight to end youth drug use.” 

    “The Northern Dutchess Community Coalition (NDCC), and its fiscal agent the Council on Addiction Prevention and Education (CAPE) of Dutchess County, are eager to enhance our work after securing a five-year continuation of the federal Drug-Free Communities (DFC) grant,” said Dana Nalbandian, Interim Agency Director and Staff Accountant for the Council on Addiction Prevention and Education of Dutchess County, Inc. “The new funding will help the coalition expand its use of evidence-based prevention practices, increase public awareness of substance use trends, and continue efforts to prevent and reduce underage drinking, vaping, and the use of marijuana and other drugs. The coalition also aims to enhance the well-being of local youth and families through strong community bonds, collective action, and advocacy for policy change.”

    “Research shows that PREVENTION is the most effective tool we have to reduce the consequences associated with underage drinking and drug use among young people,” said Alayne Eisloeffel, Program Director and Project Coordinator for TCPC. “This funding will allow the Tri-County Prevention Coalition to better engage and involve the community to steer more young people toward success and enable them to live healthier and safer lives.”

    Congressman Ryan secured the $1.25 million in funding from the Fiscal Year 2024 White House Office of National Drug Control Policy’s Drug-Free Communities Support Program grants, in cooperation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2023, Ryan secured $125,000 for the Warwick Valley Prevention Coalition from the same program.

    With the funding, the Council on Addiction, Prevention, and Education of Dutchess County, Inc.’s Northern Dutchess Community Coalition looks to establish and strengthen community collaboration in support of local efforts to prevent youth substance use. The coalition will achieve its goals by implementing strategies that focus on youth alcohol use, tobacco and marijuana use, the opioid epidemic, increased community awareness, greater access to information, and infrastructural and policy reforms promoting a drug-free lifestyle. The Coalition serves Amenia, Rhinebeck, Red Hook, Barrytown, Millerton, Hyde Park, Millbrook,  Annandale-on-Hudson, Pleasant Valley and Pine Plains, New York. This area encompasses a

    population of 65,282 residents. 

    The Alcohol and Drug Awareness Council (ADAC) of Orange County’s Tri-County Prevention Coalition plans to use the $625,000 in funding to establish and strengthen community collaboration in support of local efforts to prevent youth substance use. The coalition will achieve its goals by implementing these strategies: 

    • Mobilizing key adult and youth stakeholders to challenge and address risk factors of community norms around substance use, low perception of risk, and easy access to substances by promoting and rewarding healthy choices and lifestyles
    • Increasing protective factors of opportunities and rewards for prosocial involvement and social skills by supporting and expanding inclusive prevention programs and clubs in and out of schools
    • Enhancing skills to identify and address local conditions contributing to youth substance use
    • Supporting policies/laws that reduce access to alcohol and marijuana by minors, and increasing opportunities for youth to engage in needs assessment and strategic planning  activities, act as role models, and provide leadership around substance abuse prevention.

    The Tri-County Prevention Coalition will specifically work to address underage drinking and marijuana use among youth through environmental strategies. The coalition includes diverse representation from all sectors of the community, including the Pine Bush Central School District, Town of Wallkill and Town of Crawford Police Departments, the Towns of Wallkill and Crawford, the Pine Bush Chamber of Commerce, The Alcohol and Drug Awareness Council (ADAC) of Orange County, Wallkill East Rotary, Mid-Hudson Prevention Resource Center, STOP-DWI of Orange County, POW’R Against Tobacco, Orange County Department of Mental Health, local hospitals, parents, business owners, and students. Its mission is to engage collaborative partners in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of strategies that prevent youth substance use. 

    Congressman Pat Ryan has delivered major investments to combat drug trafficking and use in Hudson Valley communities, including $400,000 for the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office crisis intervention ORACLE team that tackles drug trafficking, addiction, and the overdose epidemic in Ulster County. Ryan has repeatedly called for increased funding to address drug trafficking and use, in particular the opioid and fentanyl crisis currently gripping Hudson Valley communities. He cosponsors the Stop Chinese Fentanyl Act and the END FENTANYL Act and has demanded that any comprehensive border security legislation must include funding and provisions to stop the flow of fentanyl across the southern border. Congressman Ryan introduced the Public Safety and Community Support Act to use Byrne-JAG funds for deflection and pre-arrest diversion programs to help local law enforcement combat drug addiction

    A key component of Congressman Ryan’s recently introduced Youth Agenda is preventing youth drug use and addiction. Ryan is a member of both the Congressional Dads Caucus and the Bipartisan Addiction and Mental Health Task Force. Ryan cosponsors the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Act and the Mental Health Services for Students Act to make mental healthcare more accessible for youth, as well as the Substance Use Disorder Workforce Act to bolster the mental healthcare workforce to treat drug addiction. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen to visit Winnipeg and Montreal

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Media advisory

    Longueuil, Quebec, — From to , Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen will be in Winnipeg to talk about the Artemis II mission, during which he will become the first Canadian to fly around the Moon. After that, he will be in the Montreal area on .

    He will speak to students, give presentations to the public, and grant media interviews.

    Journalists who wish to attend one of the events listed below or request an interview with CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen are asked to contact the Media Relations Office.

    Winnipeg

    Time What Where
    12:30 p.m. CT Presentation to 350 members of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce and to students at the RBC Convention Centre RBC Convention Centre
    375 York Ave.
    Winnipeg, Manitoba
    R3C 3J3
    7:00 p.m. CT Presentation to the general public (about 200 people) at the Manitoba Museum Manitoba Museum
    190 Rupert Ave.
    Winnipeg, Manitoba
    R3B 0N2
    Time What Where
    2:00 p.m. CT Presentation to the general public (150 to 175 people) at the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada
    2088 Wellington Ave.
    Winnipeg, Manitoba
    R3H 1C5

    Montreal

    Time What Where
    10:20 a.m. CT Presentation to 100 students at Cedar Street School Cedar Street School
    250 Cedar St.
    Belœil, Quebec
    J3G 3M1

    Additional information

    – 30 –

    Contact information

    Canadian Space Agency
    Media Relations Office
    Telephone: 450-926-4370
    Website: www.asc-csa.gc.ca
    Email: asc.medias-media.csa@asc-csa.gc.ca
    Follow us on social media

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse calls for urgent action on countering gendered disinformation

    Source: Government of Iceland

    The undersigned country members of the Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse (Global Partnership) call attention to the urgent need to counter the spread of gendered disinformation and address all forms of technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) against women in political and public life.  

    Gendered disinformation is a threat to societies defending peaceful, democratic values. False or misleading gender and sex-based narratives are being used in campaigns by malign actors to deter and discredit the participation of women, girls and LGBTQI+ persons in political and public life. This not only causes deep harm to the individuals targeted, but also threatens electoral integrity, access to information and the exercise of freedom of expression. At the same time, new and emerging technologies are being used to enable harmful, violent rhetoric and attacks against women, girls and LGBTQI+ public figures across borders at a scale and speed previously unseen.

    In our 2023 Road Map, the Global Partnership committed to promoting the meaningful participation in public life for women and girls, in all their diversity, by countering TFGBV and gendered disinformation.  

    We welcome the work being done to shine a light on how and why gendered disinformation is conceived, who it targets and how it is spread. Last year, in a groundbreaking study, Canada, the European External Action Service, Germany, Slovakia, the United Kingdom, and the United States jointly assessed the tactics used by foreign state and non-state actors to sow gendered and other identity-based disinformation across the world. 

    In March 2024 the Global Partnership and members of its Advisory Group co-hosted a multi-stakeholder conference convened by the National Democratic Institute on possible responses to countering the spread of gendered disinformation in the context of electoral processes. Stakeholders affirmed the need for a comprehensive response to disrupt the spread of gendered disinformation and to support victims and survivors. 

    The world is at a critical moment for upholding democracy. More than 100 countries have held, or are soon to be holding elections, many of them taking place under democratically challenging circumstances. The active participation of all people, including women, girls and LGBTQI+ persons, is essential for secure, healthy and prosperous democracies.    

    We call upon states to join us in recognising and taking action to counter the threat of gendered disinformation to democracies globally. We urge technology and other private companies to take appropriate action to respond to this threat, including a commitment to a Safety-by-Design approach to the development and deployment of platforms and technologies. We ask states and all stakeholders to defend and protect the ability of women, girls and LGBTQI+ persons to participate in public life freely, safely and without fear.

     

    The governments of Australia, Chile, Denmark, France, Iceland, the Republic of Korea, Spain, Sweden, New Zealand, the UK and the USA gave this joint statement.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Front Street improvement works to get underway next month

    Source: City of York

    Published Tuesday, 24 September 2024

    Work to improve Front Street will start next month after designs shaped by the community were approved at a decision session earlier today (24 September).

    A drop-in session is being held on Thursday 26 September at the Gateway Centre from 3pm to 6pm with residents and businesses invited to meet the team and find out about what’s happening and when.

    Councillor Pete Kilbane, Deputy Leader of City of York Council and Executive Member for Culture and Economy said:

    This is a significant step forward and I want to thank everyone in the community, and the Council teams, who have helped us to get this far.

    “We need to move at pace as the UK Shared Prosperity Funding stipulates that the cash must be spent by the end of March 2025. This is funding awarded specifically for the regeneration of our local high streets and we are not allowed to spend it on anything else, such as fixing potholes. So, it’s a case of use it on this scheme, or lose it.

    “I encourage everyone who is interested in the project to pop into the session at the Gateway Centre on Thursday 26 September any time between 3pm to 6pm. As we have already demonstrated, we will continue to work with the community. With construction starting next month we’ll work with local businesses and residents to support them while we make the changes to the area.

    “Of course, Front Street remains open for trade while the improvements take place, and I would urge everyone to support the fantastic businesses located there and keep on using Acomb and Westfield’s main shopping street throughout the works.

    “We thank everyone for their patience while we carry out these important improvements. I can’t wait to see the difference these changes will make to an area that is already on the up.”

    In October 2023, the council’s Executive approved £570,000 of UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) money for phase 2 improvements to Front Street in Acomb. Earlier this year, residents, visitors, businesses and other stakeholders were invited to share their priorities and provide feedback on ideas for phase 2. This process received 900 individual responses and over 5,000 comments.

    The work will bring about significant changes to the area following feedback from the local community with:

    • An increased ability to hold events and community activities, including with new electrical point being installed. Carriageway resurfacing and the ability to close the road will also help create a more friendly space.
    • Wider and more accessible pedestrian crossings, including creating a new central space in the main shopping area and a new pedestrian crossing near Morrisons.
    • Around two thirds of the bollards being removed. Any bollards that are removed will be saved and used on other projects as needed.
    • Clearly marked, accessible Blue Badge car parking in four locations, supported by enforcement to prevent the misuse of these spaces.
    • More seating, bins, a community notice board and planting in the main shopping area and welcoming entrance points.
    • On top of the construction works taking place in the coming months feasibility study will be carried out to look at pedestrianising the area in the future and the council is working to commission a community mural from a professional artist.

    Businesses will be open as usual and the council is working to support them with deliveries.

    • Cross Street will be closed from 4-15 November between 7.30am and 4pm to allow for the Blue Badge spaces to be created there.
    • 19 and 20 November Cross Street will be closed all day for resurfacing work.
    • Front Street will be closed to vehicles from 7 October for up to four weeks while work to install the wider crossings takes place.
    • 19 and 22 November Front St will close again to vehicles for resurfacing works.

    ENDS

    Details of the upcoming road closures

    Road Closure

    Hours of closure

    Dates

    Work

    Front Street

    24hrs

    7 October – 1 November

    7.00am and 10.30 am on weekdays only traffic ambassador on site to support delivery vehicles to turn

    Construction of new wide crossing points

    Front Street

    24hrs

    19 Nov – 22 Nov

    Carriageway resurfacing

    Cross Street

    7.30am -4.00pm

    4 Nov- 15 Nov

    York Road layby works, new BB parking Spaces (civils)

    Cross Street

    24hrs

    19-20 Nov

    Carriageway resurfacing

    Public toilets closed no access.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Scottish Government must use powers to full extent

    Source: Scottish Greens

    24 Sep 2024 Finance

    The Scottish Government has the responsibility to use the powers it has to the maximum, and it’s not yet doing so

    More in Finance

    The Scottish Government must use the powers of devolution to the full extent to build a fairer, greener Scotland and offset some of the damage being done from Westminster, says Scottish Green co-leader, Patrick Harvie MSP.
     
    In a debate today on The UK Budget – Scotland’s Priorities, the Scottish Greens called for the new Labour government to reject the broken economic policies of the Tories and for the SNP to go further in its use of existing powers now and as part of the upcoming Scottish budget.
     
    Speaking in the chamber today, Mr Harvie called for the Scottish Government to prioritise projects that will cut climate emissions.
     
    Mr Harvie said: “This government and this parliament still have the responsibility to use the powers we have to the maximum, and we’re not yet doing so.
     
    “The Scottish Greens have made the case for policies like the Scottish Child Payment and others. We’ve also successfully brought to the chamber the solutions that show how we can pay for them.
     
    “It’s because of the work of the Scottish Greens that we have progressive taxation in this country and an extra £1.5 billion in the Scottish budget every year. It’s because of the work of the Scottish Greens that we have already made progress on more local powers, whether that’s powers to double council tax on second and empty homes, the introduction of the Transient Visitor Levy or the workplace parking levy as options for councils. There is more to come with the carbon land tax and others.
     
    “We need to go further on this and, finally, we need to cut unsustainable investment in those high cost, high carbon pieces of infrastructure and invest instead in what will cut costs and cut emissions, like energy efficient homes and buildings that use renewables and not fossil fuels.
     
    “The Scottish Government will have to go further with the powers it does have.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Trash to Treasure: Could energy wastewaters be a viable source of lithium?

    Source: US Geological Survey

    Global demand for lithium has skyrocketed as the need grows for batteries to power electric vehicles and store energy generated by wind turbines and solar panels. 

    USGS estimates show that there is likely enough lithium in the Earth’s crust to meet demand several times over, but accessing it can require large amounts of energy, water and infrastructure. The challenge is getting lithium quickly, efficiently and with minimal environmental impact.

    That’s why USGS scientists are looking for it in a surprising place.  

    In 2023, over 10 times as much lithium was produced from mines than in 2003. This increase in production reflects the rising demand for lithium.

    From Trash to Treasure?  

    Each year, billions of gallons of saline water are pumped from deep underground to the surface during oil and gas production. These brines, known as “produced waters”, can be ten times saltier than seawater and can be contaminated with oils, greases and heavy metals that must be pumped back into the ground or intensively treated.  

    But these waters also contain lithium and other valuable materials.   

    “Treating waste as a potential resource is a crucial shift for the energy and mineral fields,” said Sarah Ryker, PhD, USGS Associate Director for Energy and Minerals. “Every state, and every country, has legacy waste from extractive industries. A key question is how much of that waste could be put to use to strengthen energy and mineral supply chains.”  

    Lithium is typically difficult to access. The highest concentrations of lithium are in rocks called pegmatites formed deep under the ground, often at the edge of ancient and vast volcanic systems. Mining these pockets of lithium-rich minerals is expensive, energy and water intensive and can impact local water and air quality.  

    Instead, much of the lithium produced in the world comes from the briny waters within arid salt flats. Here, lithium-rich fluids are caught in low-lying areas and concentrated over time by high evaporation rates. Producing lithium from brines is typically less expensive and energy intensive than mining hard rock, but still requires considerable infrastructure including a large network of evaporation pools.

    Recovering lithium during oil and gas production could provide a new way to meet demands for lithium and other valuable minerals.

    To understand how feasible this method might be, however, scientists must know where lithium-rich produced waters might be, and how much lithium they could contain.   

    Studying the Brines 

    USGS scientists are working to understand the geologic conditions that create lithium-rich brines and identify locations with potentially high lithium concentrations.  

    One tool in this hunt is the U.S. Produced Waters Database, a compilation of geochemical information from roughly 113,000 produced water samples analyzed by USGS, academia, private industry, and other federal and state agencies.  

    Madalyn Blondes, PhD, co-lead of the has worked on the database for over a decade and explains that many of these samples were taken before lithium was in demand, but that the routine lithium measurements are now proving invaluable.  

    “This database lets us look across the nation to identify national and regional trends in lithium concentration, as well as understand resource availability at the local scale,” Blondes said.  

    The USGS U.S. Produced Waters Database is an important tool for understanding the potential for recovering valuable commodities, including lithium, during oil and gas production. This map shows the locations of more than 6500 measurements of lithium concentration in oil and gas wastewaters. 

    This extensive dataset can also be combined with machine learning algorithms to predict how much lithium is in locations that haven’t been sampled. Katherine Knierim, PhD, USGS research hydrologist has been working on estimating the total lithium that could be recovered from oil and gas production in the Smackover formation in southern Arkansas, a hotspot of petroleum production with promising lithium concentrations. 

    “We’re at a really exciting time where we have both the computing power and the incoming data to run these models and predict where energy and mineral commodities may occur at significant concentrations,” said Knierim.  

    Down the hall from Knierim, a more micro approach is in action. Here, scientists in the USGS Brine Research Instrumentation and Experimental (BRInE) Laboratory painstakingly measure the concentrations of lithium and other commodities in samples taken at oil and gas wells. Scientists also heat up fragments of rocks taken from deep underneath the ground to mimic the geologic conditions that leach lithium into underground fluids.  

    “At the USGS, we have both the technical knowledge of how to analyze the samples and an understanding of the geologic context from our research,” said Blondes.  

    Researchers are beginning to understand how rock-type, chemistry and pressure interact to create valuable brines.  

    “I think lithium recovery from energy wastewaters has real potential,” Blondes said, “The data are showing that there are high concentrations of lithium in places across the country where it could be a really important resource. And the infrastructure to produce it is already there.” 

    USGS scientists process samples of brines from an oil and gas production site in the Smackover Formation in Southern Arkansas. These samples are transported to Reston, VA where scientists will use them to estimate how much lithium or other mineral commodity is concentrated in the brines. 

    This research can also be applied beyond petroleum production: USGS scientists are using the same principles to identify locations where geothermal energy and lithium could be produced side-by-side. 

    One location is of particular interest: the Salton Sea in California.  

    In 2021, USGS partnered with the Department of Energy in an initiative known as GeoFlight to send low-flying aircraft across the area to gather magnetic, radiometric and elevation characteristics of rocks above and below the ground.   

    USGS scientists are currently analyzing these data to understand how heat and fluids are generated and transported through the earth, and what locations could be both geothermal and lithium hotspots.  

    Science for the Future 

    Ryker explains this research is not only illuminating a potential avenue to help meet demands for lithium and low-carbon energy: it also demonstrates the power of thinking about any geologic resource as a circular economy, where wastes can feed back into production.  

    “Our science is identifying ways to turn waste into an opportunity, not only a liability,” said Ryker. “Our goal is to bring this science to bear on both clean-up at legacy waste sites and waste management at present-day sites.” The USGS is also researching the potential of recovering minerals from wastes left behind historic mines, and from modern-day mining. 

    Several companies have already launched pilot programs to recover lithium and other valuable materials from produced waters. If scaling up recovery of minerals from energy wastes proves to be economically and technologically feasible, produced waters, long seen as streams of waste, may be seen with new eyes as streams of resource.  

    In which case, USGS science will be more important than ever in deciding how best to use the resources below our feet.   

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Help Remains After Disaster Recovery Centers and FEMA Registration Period Close

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Help Remains After Disaster Recovery Centers and FEMA Registration Period Close

    Help Remains After Disaster Recovery Centers and FEMA Registration Period Close

    Cape Girardeau, MO – FEMA’s Sept. 23 registration deadline has passed. State/federal Disaster Recovery Centers have closed. Now what do you do if you still need help with your FEMA case? 

    “We’re just a phone call away,” says David Gervino, FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer. “FEMA has a helpline staffed with operators who can provide the status of your case once you have applied, update your case with new information, help you understand your grant award or explain how to appeal a FEMA decision.” 

    The FEMA Helpline is a free call and available daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time. There is no limit to the number of times you can call the Helpline. Translators are available to assist those who speak limited or no English.

    “We know that some Missourians have just recently applied for assistance just ahead of the September twenty-third deadline,” Gervino added. “Please be assured that we will continue to work on your case past that deadline until we have provided all the assistance for which you are eligible. The important thing is that you stay in touch with FEMA while you work through your recovery.” 

    While FEMA funds can be used for many essential recovery needs, they generally will not pay for all disaster-related expenses a survivor incurs. Many other government and voluntary agencies have resources that can help with those costs too. 

    Other Helpful Numbers: 

    Missouri 2-1-1 

    • Hotline run by the United Way that can refer callers to a multitude of agencies and/or organizations to get help with other unmet needs. To access, dial 2-1-1.

    Disaster Legal Services: 1-800-829-4128  

    • Messages can be left around the clock. The service is available until further notice.
    • Callers can receive help with legal issues including the following:
    • FEMA, U.S. Small Business Administration and other public assistance financial benefits including disaster unemployment insurance claims    
    • Price-gouging, scams, or identity theft
    • Home repair contracts and property insurance claims
    • Mortgage-foreclosure and home-ownership issues 
    • Landlord/tenant problems
    • Replacement of wills and other vital documents destroyed in the storms
    • Disability-related access to federal, state and local disaster programs.
    •  

    For more information about available legal services and resources in Missouri, go online to: www.Missourilawyershelp.org.

    The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Customer Service Center: 1-800-659-2955              

    • 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. For those who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
    • SBA offers which offers low-interest disaster loans to eligible applicants, has a Customer Service Center that can answer questions and assist with SBA applications. 
    • Email support also is available at disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Applicants can access their SBA lending portal by visiting https://lending.sba.gov 
    • The Economic Injury Disaster Loan application deadline for businesses and nonprofit organizations is April 23, 2025. 

    Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-800-985-5990 

    • 24 hours/7 Days a Week
    • Free, confidential crisis/mental health support for those impacted by a disaster. Multilingual. You can remain anonymous. 

    For more disaster-related information and/or to learn how to be better prepared for emergencies, visit the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency online at www.sema.dps.mo.gov or FEMA at www.fema.gov. Disaster-specific information can be found at www.fema.gov/disaster/4803. 

    FEMA is committed to ensuring disaster assistance is accomplished equitably, without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, English proficiency, or economic status. Any disaster survivor or member of the public may contact the FEMA Office of Civil Rights if they feel that they have a complaint of discrimination.  FEMA’s Office of Civil Rights can be contacted at FEMA-CivilRightsOffice@fema.dhs.gov or toll-free at 833-285-7448. Multilingual operators are available. 

    martyce.allenjr

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Aptean Empowers Snack Connection B.V. With Cloud-Based ERP Solution Set

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ALPHARETTA, Ga., Sept. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, Aptean, a global provider of mission-critical enterprise software solutions, announced its recent collaboration with Snack Connection B.V., a prominent private label manufacturer of nut blends, seeds and sweet fruits in the Netherlands. The deal marks a significant step forward for the Dutch company as it embarks on a journey towards modernizing its business operations.

    Snack Connection, founded in 2010, has quickly established itself as a successful player in the European market, delivering high-quality products to various European retailers. The business differentiates itself by a wide variety of products, innovative packaging and an individual customer approach that ensures quick action and response. With a client-centric mindset and commitment to innovation and efficiency, the company sought a robust software solution to replace its current ERP system and drive operational excellence across two production sites in Giessen and Bergschenhoek, Netherlands.

    Recognizing the need for a transformative solution, Snack Connection selected the cloud-based Aptean Food & Beverage ERP, alongside Aptean Patch OEE and Aptean Business Intelligence, to streamline processes and enhance decision-making capabilities. The comprehensive suite of software solutions offered by Aptean aligns seamlessly with Snack Connection’s vision for a data-driven, paperless organization. Renowned for its maturity and comprehensive support, the software provides the company with essential features such as multiple location management, traceability functionalities and allergen registration, along with the ability to optimize production efficiency and gain valuable insights for informed decision-making.

    “Aptean’s solution suite is an all-in-one package with all the food-specific functionality we need. We believe we can benefit from this by standardizing our processes, based on the best practices on which the software is built,” said Martijn van Gink, ICT Manager at Snack Connection. “The decision to partner with Aptean was driven by our desire to modernize our operations and achieve greater efficiency. Aptean’s proven track record in the food and beverage industry, coupled with their commitment to understanding our unique needs and local business culture, made them the clear choice for us.”

    By standardizing processes and embracing cloud technology, Snack Connection anticipates shorter training periods for new hires and enhanced cybersecurity practices. Aptean’s local leadership and dedication to understanding Snack Connection’s business culture have further solidified the partnership, ensuring a smooth transition to the new software environment.

    “At Aptean, we believe that success is built on strong partnerships and a deep understanding of our customers’ businesses. We look forward to supporting Snack Connection as they leverage our industry-leading ERP solution to streamline operations, drive growth and maintain a competitive edge in today’s dynamic Food & Beverage market,” said Duane George, President EMEA and APAC at Aptean.

    About Snack Connection
    Snack Connection is a relatively young (established 2010) Dutch company specialized in purchasing, processing, mixing and packing nuts, kernels, seeds, subtropical fruits and related products. By means of two modern production facilities, located in Giessen and Bergschenhoek (Netherlands) and more than 150 dedicated and professional employees, Snack Connection has proven to be a reliable and flexible partner for several European retailers, B2B and Out of Home clients. Discover more about our passion for snacking excellence at www.snackconnection.nl.

    About Aptean 
    Aptean is a global provider of industry-specific software that helps manufacturers and distributors effectively run and grow their businesses. With rapid deployment, Aptean’s solutions and services help businesses of all sizes to be Ready for What’s Next, Now®. Aptean is headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia and has offices in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific. To learn more about Aptean and the markets we serve, visit www.aptean.com. 

    Aptean and Ready for What’s Next, Now are Registered Trademarks of Aptean, Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated. 

    For Media Inquiries Please Contact
    MediaRelations@Aptean.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: A Soldier’s Journey: new first world war memorial in Washington revitalises classic image of the ‘American doughboy’

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Alice Kelly, Assistant Professor of Literature and History, University of Warwick

    America’s inaugural national memorial marking the first world war was unveiled this month in Washington DC, on the birthday of war commander General John J. Pershing – 106 years after the end of the war. We don’t often get to see a new memorial to a century-old war, especially one that has been deliberately designed in a century-old style.

    Its sculptor, Sabin Howard – who was recently referred to as a “self-appointed bulwark against the scourge of modern art” – rejects the vogue for abstract commemorative art seen in memorials such as Maya Lin’s Vietnam Veterans Memorial (1982). The centrepiece of the new memorial is Howard’s 58-foot panoramic sculpture, A Soldier’s Journey. Five connected scenes tell the story of an American everyman who enlists as a volunteer, fights in Europe, then returns home.

    The 38 realist figures were painstakingly sculpted from costumed models before being cast in 25 tonnes of weather-resistant bronze. Howard wanted to “tell a story” about the first world war and how it affected Americans, to make the conflict more visible to viewers today and in the future.

    In an episode of Cheers from 1983, when a first world war veteran comes into the bar, Coach asks: “Is that the war with Clark Gable or Gary Cooper?” I’m not sure American knowledge of the war has come much further in the past 40 years.

    In every other participating nation, the centenary of the war was marked by a pageant of commemorative activity – think of the 5 million people who went to see the ceramic poppies at the Tower of London. But in the US, despite having a culture of venerating veterans, the first world war is notoriously a “forgotten” war. It tends to be overshadowed by the civil war on one side, and the second world war on the other.

    Perhaps this blindspot is because the American experience of the first world war was much shorter. For the US, it lasted just 19 months from the declaration of war in April 1917 to the signing of the armistice in November 1918. And the fighting – as the song goes – was “over there” rather than on the home front, as it was in Europe. American losses, although high at 116,516 men (plus several hundred women who lost their lives while serving as nurses), were much lower than those of European nations. Britain, for example, lost 880,000 servicemen – 6% of the adult male population at the time.

    But the role this war played in the development of the “American century” is incomparable. The first world war destabilised the European powers – already in imperial decline – to the extent that the US grew to become the pre-eminent financial and military power after the war.

    The sacred and the dead

    The first world war hasn’t always been forgotten in the US. Indeed, in the 1920s and ’30s, American commemoration of the war was at its most “supercharged”, as scholar Steven Trout has shown. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, was interred in 1921 – a commemorative form borrowed from Europe after the first “unknowns” were interred in London and Paris in November 1920.

    Arlington is now the site for national memory of all wars, woven into the fabric of US political life. The recent controversy over a confrontation between Donald Trump staffers and cemetery officials demonstrates its continuing role in ensuring the sacred place of war dead in American culture.

    Across the nation, Americans have sought to remember their war dead in myriad forms, including memorial halls, parkways, plazas, opera houses, arches, gymnasiums, parks, trees and bell towers. There were so many memorials erected in New York City in the 1920s and ’30s – including parks, sculptures and the planting of memorial trees – that after the second world war, New York City’s commissioner for parks and recreation, Robert Moses, effectively banned new monuments being built, considering them “monstrosities”.

    Many memorials are still peppered across America, hidden in plain sight but instantly recognisable, even if viewers don’t know the context. The Spirit of the American Doughboy, designed by sculptor E.M. Viquesney and copyrighted in 1920, features a “doughboy” (recruit) holding his rifle with fixed bayonet and a grenade in his other hand – deliberately echoing the Statue of Liberty.

    ‘American doughboy’: a memorial to the Americans who served in the first world war, designed by E.M. Viquesney.
    Rosemarie Mosteller/Shutterstock

    Advertised as an affordable tribute that could be bought by towns as their local memorial, there are currently 135 originals and replicas on public display across the US. I find it impossible not to think of those doughboys when I look at the soldiers in Howard’s memorial.

    Commentators may well criticise Howard’s figurative sculpture as old-fashioned, but the debate over appropriate memorial forms and the question of “taste” is not new. In fact, it was a very live debate in the first world war’s immediate aftermath.

    In attempting to correct the historical omission of a national memorial, it seems appropriate that Howard’s figurative sculpture looks like – and recalls – first world war sculpture of the time.

    Will it earn the war its place in American memory that it deserves? I’m not sure. But in giving old form to an old war, it will make it visible to generations of Americans unfamiliar with it – and help the rest of us remember it anew.

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

    – ref. A Soldier’s Journey: new first world war memorial in Washington revitalises classic image of the ‘American doughboy’ – https://theconversation.com/a-soldiers-journey-new-first-world-war-memorial-in-washington-revitalises-classic-image-of-the-american-doughboy-239757

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: UK oil and gas workers risk becoming the ‘coal miners of our generation’

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Freddie Daley, Research Associate, Centre for Global Political Economy, University of Sussex

    Grangemouth oil refinery is set to close in 2025 with the loss of 400 jobs. orxy / shutterstock

    At the end of September, the UK’s last remaining coal power plant, Ratcliffe-on-Soar in Nottinghamshire, will be retired. The closure of the plant should – and will – be celebrated by environmentalists, as the move away from coal has made Britain’s electricity much cleaner over the past decade. It is on this basis that the UK claims climate leadership.

    In the 1950s, coal provided the overwhelming majority of British energy, and as recently as 2012 it still generated 40%. By 2022, it was less than 2%. In a month’s time, it will be zero.

    Phasing out coal was a brutal and profound process. Organised labour was decimated, entire regions were forced into decline, and communities were left with sustained economic, social and health problems. The towering ghosts of power stations like Ratcliffe-on-Soar will haunt Britain’s ongoing effort to phase out North Sea oil and gas and replace it with clean energy.

    Towering ghosts: Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station.
    The Exposure / shutterstock

    And we are witnessing this haunting in real-time. After the Labour government announced its plans to end new licenses for oil and gas in British waters – necessary to meet the Paris Agreement – workers and trade unions feared history would repeat itself in terms of job losses and blighted communities.

    The general secretary of Unite, Sharon Graham, noted that without a more thorough plan, the policy risked creating “the coal miners of our generation”. A recent motion at the Trades Union Congress (TUC) gathering in Brighton called for no ban on oil and gas licensing before a fully funded jobs guarantee is agreed. The motion narrowly passed.

    Workers and unions are demanding a “just transition” from polluting industries into the clean industries of the future. But to achieve this, the UK government must learn from what happened with coal.

    Many places still rely on oil and gas jobs

    Although oil and gas are not as embedded throughout British life as coal once was, there are many settlements and larger areas still dependent on energy jobs. Grangemouth in central Scotland is a good example. In November 2023, the owner, Petroineos, announced plans to close the town’s oil refinery in 2025, bringing a century of production to an end at the cost of 400 jobs.

    Even if the UK government did issue new oil and gas licences, the North Sea faces structural decline. Production peaked around the turn of the century. Since 2014, as many as 200,000 jobs have been lost either offshore or along the supply chain onshore.

    From gas to wind?

    Planning for the end of fossil fuels is therefore an urgent endeavour. The dominant strategy for protecting skilled jobs is to transition workers into the industries set to replace North Sea production: wind energy and other low-carbon technologies.

    However, though Britain has developed a large wind power sector, it remains a major importer of turbines. Domestic manufacturing makes only a small contribution, and developers are not required to use British-made turbines or other parts, despite the jobs this would create.

    This has left Grangemouth workers discontented. When one of us (Ewan Gibbs) and Riyoko Shibe interviewed young refinery workers at Grangemouth earlier this year, many commented that there were relatively few jobs in renewables. When jobs were visible on LinkedIn and comparable job sites, one told us that “you’ll see there’s a big difference in terms and conditions”.

    Wind farms are relatively easy to run once installed, so most jobs are in building them.
    Kevin Shipp / shutterstock

    In its current form, the UK wind industry will find it hard to provide the types of secure ongoing employment that oil and gas historically has. Most jobs are in the construction and maintenance of wind farms, with the latter threatened by automation. Without public investment and a targeted industrial policy, Britain will remain a net importer of wind technology, and the phasing out of North Sea oil and gas will prove costly in job terms.



    Read more:
    Grangemouth job losses are a stark reminder of the cost of a greener industrial future

    More investment needed

    Britain’s lack of state intervention is not the norm. After all, more than half of British wind farms are state-owned, though less than 1% are owned by the UK government. Swedish, Norwegian, French, Irish and German state-owned entities are major players, but the biggest is Denmark’s Ørsted, a former oil company turned renewables giant which is mostly state-owned. In the UK’s most recent offshore wind auction, 70% of the projects were awarded to Ørsted.

    The newly launched Great British Energy could give the state a foothold in the North Sea once more. This publicly owned company plans to focus on domestic manufacturing and will invest in ports and other infrastructures to “unlock strategic bottlenecks”.

    But if such projects are to be meaningfully incorporated into a just transition, they will need to offer continuity and security to oil and gas workers. As one Grangemouth worker put it, referring to his colleagues facing the choice of either remaining unemployed locally or relocating to use their skills:

    They’re moving to the Middle East, they’re moving to the north-east of Scotland. They’re moving offshore, they’re moving to the Shetlands, and therefore it’s not a just transition, in my view, if we’re moving to these jobs.

    Another worker highlighted the risks that Grangemouth could join the coalfields in becoming “stranded” communities:

    We’ve got a community that’s been built round the site, we’ve got skills and we’ve got people that work there, we’ve got the infrastructure there – why should we not have these jobs when the time comes to move to these industries? Why can we not have it at Grangemouth?

    Britain’s push to phase out oil and gas is urgent and necessary, but it cannot follow the same trajectory as Britain’s exit from coal – lessons must be learned. The opportunities presented by the transition away from fossil fuels will only be fully realised if workers are at its centre.

    Freddie Daley receives funding from UKRI for the SUS-POL project at the University of Sussex, which explores fossil fuel phase-outs around the world. Freddie also campaigns on demand reduction with Badvertising.

    Ewan Gibbs received funding from a British Academy Wolfson Fellowship that supported this research (grant number: WF21210099).

    – ref. UK oil and gas workers risk becoming the ‘coal miners of our generation’ – https://theconversation.com/uk-oil-and-gas-workers-risk-becoming-the-coal-miners-of-our-generation-239262

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Keir Starmer’s party conference speech – what he said and what it meant

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Ben O’Loughlin, Professor of International Relations, Royal Holloway University of London

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer was under immense pressure to announce some big policies in his 2024 party conference speech. Those who felt the agenda had been captured by stories of scandal and discontent in Number 10 saw a major new offering as a potential way to distract. But Starmer chose a different path – one that he overtly described as the more difficult one.

    This, for him, is not about policies. Starmer is offering Britain a choice about how it thinks about politics. In his speech, he rejected what he called a politics of “easy answers” offered in the “cowardly fantasy” of populists. He asked the British public to ignore the “whims of Westminster” that see a politician stirring uproar to hide their lack of action.

    Looking back at the last government, he said: “Take Rwanda, a policy they knew from the beginning would never work, was never supposed to work. £700 million of your money, frittered away on something that was never a credible option because politically it was an easier answer.”

    Want more politics coverage from academic experts? Every week, we bring you informed analysis of developments in government and fact check the claims being made.

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    What is required is for politicians to address difficult challenges directly, not duck them, he said, adding: “If this path were popular or easy we would have walked it already.” The public must therefore be prepared to debate difficult challenges. This is a difficult version of politics.

    Will people like it?

    Easy-answers politics is quick and based on the performance of utter certainty. X is wrong, Y will fix it. If government doesn’t do Y, it is betraying the country. A flight to Rwanda will solve global migration patterns caused by climate, conflict and the way the world economy works. We don’t want to even think about climate, conflict and the way the world economy works. This is how Starmer characterised the Conservative government of the last 14 years.

    Take the rough with the smooth

    Starmer is offering a performance of seriousness and trying to create an expectation he will deliver a serious politics. He called this a “renewal” because Britain has done serious politics before, generations ago, and it is in British people’s blood: “We will turn our collar up and face the storm,” he said. British people will all contribute, all participate in that renewal, because “this is a country with fairness in the water”.

    This entails being open to debate with other citizens who we disagree with, in a spirit of collective endeavour, not self-interest. You want security? Prisons may be built near you, he said. You want cheaper electricity? Then we’ll build pylons overground. You want government to have some control in the immigration process? We’ll make it function properly. But you must accept that in that fair and proper process, some people will be granted asylum. Agree to disagree, but, more fundamentally, agree that disagreement is OK, because we are equal citizens.



    Read more:
    Know your place: what happened to class in British politics – a new podcast series from The Conversation Documentaries

    The British public must be persuaded to trust this government and this renewal project because they understand government not as aloof partying liars. Look to my government, Starmer said, to see politicians in service to the country of Britain and the British “working people”. But for government to show it thinks it is in the service of the public, it struck me that it can’t be accepting free tickets to watch Arsenal.

    Do we have a narrative yet?

    Starmer addressed the question of whether he has a story to tell about the country. Since he came to government, it has felt as though he lacks one. He said Britain’s dilemma is “our story is uncertain. Hope is beaten out of us.”

    Yet the world thinks of Britain as a great nation, he said, of scientific genius, the industry of its working people, and pragmatism about the complexity of global relations. He said this shows Britain was capable of writing “our own story and that of the world”. He called for Britain to do this again.

    For this to happen, citizens need to be able to see a connection through time. It begins with the government saying it is serious and trustworthy. Then, at a certain point in time, the public needs to be able to look back and see the actions that government has taken. Finally, at a later time, citizens decide whether they’ve seen the results of those actions in their lives.

    This is how the story of a nation is built. But it is where enormous patience is needed. And while his narrative was more successful than previous attempts, there was a piece missing from the puzzle. Will building prisons or electricity pylons provide conditions that allow companies to create economic growth?

    This is not a fully coherent story based on a clear plan – at least not one that has been made public. It is more a wager Starmer is calling on Britons to make. Bet now, and wait. And that’s a lot to ask.

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

    – ref. Keir Starmer’s party conference speech – what he said and what it meant – https://theconversation.com/keir-starmers-party-conference-speech-what-he-said-and-what-it-meant-239766

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: UNGA, President Meloni meets with Turkish President Erdoğan

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Italy –

    Source: Government of Italy

    The Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, met, on the sidelines of the high-level week of the 79th United Nations General Assembly, the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

    At the heart of the meeting, in addition to the increasingly difficult situation in the Middle East, was the shared commitment to supporting the territorial integrity of Ukraine and to seeking a just and lasting peace.

    Regarding the debate on the reform of the Security Council, the two Leaders reaffirmed their common commitment within the context of the “United for Consensus” group to support a solution inspired by the principles of equality, democracy and representativeness which therefore excludes the creation of new permanent seats.

    On the bilateral front, the common will to convene a Summit between the two Governments and a “Business Forum” as soon as possible was reaffirmed in order to further strengthen the bilateral relationship.

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI: Quick Custom Intelligence Partners with Maropost to Address Critical Industry Challenge, Unveils Joint Solutions at G2E 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN DIEGO, Sept. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI), a leading provider of innovative gaming and hospitality intelligence platforms, is proud to announce a strategic partnership with Maropost for Marketing Cloud, its enterprise-grade email marketing tool built to personalize customer communications at scale.

    Enhanced with QCI data, Marketing Cloud automates and elevates email marketing to high-value customers, making it more timely, relevant, and engaging. The combined solution connects casinos to their best customers on a deeper level by learning preferences, spotlighting interactions, and enabling VIP experiences

    The partnership will be highlighted at the upcoming Global Gaming Expo (G2E) 2024 in Las Vegas, where team members from Maropost will join QCI at their booth. Together, they will showcase how their integrated solutions empower casino operators to enhance player engagement, improve operational efficiency, and gain actionable insights.

    “Maropost is a steadfast supporter of the gaming sector, and we are thrilled to partner with them,” said Dr. Ralph Thomas, CEO of Quick Custom Intelligence. “Connecting QCI data with Marketing Cloud allows us to offer our clients robust and compliant marketing automation tools. Our partnership is not just strategic; it’s essential for the industry’s continued growth and success.”

    Andrew Cardno, QCI’s Chief Technology Officer, emphasized the urgency of the collaboration: “Maropost’s commitment to the gaming industry advances the industry’s capabilities. Their proven marketing automation platform, which sends more than 104 million emails each day, enables casino operators to effectively and compliantly deliver hyper-personalized offers, increasing response rates and driving revenue.”

    Jarred Young, VP of Revenue at Maropost, highlighted the transformative impact of the partnership: “Our collaboration with QCI has been a game-changer for casino operators. By integrating QCI’s rich data with Maropost’s powerful email automation, we’ve unlocked next-level guest engagement. We’re proud to stand with QCI to deliver the solutions our clients urgently need.”

    About Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI)

    Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) is the pioneer behind the QCI Platform, an artificial general intelligence platform that seamlessly integrates player development, marketing, and gaming operations with real-time tools designed for the gaming and hospitality industries. Our advanced, highly configurable software is deployed in over 160 casino resorts across North America, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Latin America, and The Bahamas. Managing over $24 billion in annual gross gaming revenue, QCI’s platform serves as a best-in-class solution for on-premises, hybrid, or cloud-based operations. Our data-driven, AGI-powered software facilitates swift, informed decision-making, optimizing resources, crafting effective marketing campaigns, and enhancing customer loyalty. Co-founded by Dr. Ralph Thomas and Mr. Andrew Cardno, QCI is headquartered in San Diego, with additional offices in Las Vegas, St. Louis, Dallas, Denver, and Phoenix. For more information, visit www.quickcustomintelligence.com.

    About Maropost

    Only Maropost unites the commerce tools and insights growing brands need to engage customers and scale their business. Built on unified customer data and an enterprise-grade infrastructure, Maropost offers a complete, connected suite of marketing, merchandising and search, ecommerce, and retail solutions. Since its founding in 2011, Maropost has made multiple appearances on Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500 list and G2’s leaderboard. A global company, Maropost proudly serves 5,000+ leading commerce brands across North America, Australia, and Europe, including Victoria Beckham, Sandro Paris, Untuckit, Scott Sports, James Perse, and Fujifilm. Learn more at www.maropost.com.

    About Global Gaming Expo (G2E)

    Global Gaming Expo (G2E) is the world’s premier international gaming trade show and conference, bringing together industry leaders, innovators, and decision-makers from around the globe. G2E 2024 will take place in Las Vegas, showcasing the latest trends and technologies that are shaping the future of the gaming industry.

    About Dr. Ralph Thomas

    Dr. Ralph Thomas is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Quick Custom Intelligence. A product visionary in applied analytics, he has founded two companies delivering solutions in casino gaming, education, and adult learning. As a gaming industry veteran, Dr. Thomas has substantial experience implementing analytics into single and multi-property gaming companies to drive tangible and measurable gains to the bottom line. He has built business intelligence tools for multibillion-dollar casinos and is the co-author of seven books and over 80 articles on applied analytics and data science in gaming. An inventor on dozens of patents, Dr. Thomas understands gaming from raw data up through casino operations, giving him a unique, 360-degree view of the industry.

    About Andrew Cardno

    Andrew Cardno is a distinguished figure in the realm of artificial intelligence and data plumbing. With over two decades spearheading private Ph.D. and master’s level research teams, his expertise has made significant waves in data tooling. Andrew’s innate ability to innovate has led him to devise numerous pioneering visualization methods. Of these, the most notable is the deep zoom image format, a groundbreaking innovation that has since become a cornerstone in the majority of today’s mapping tools. His leadership acumen has earned him two coveted Smithsonian Laureates, and teams under his mentorship have clinched 40 industry awards, including three pivotal gaming industry transformation awards. Together with Dr. Ralph Thomas, the duo co-founded Quick Custom Intelligence, amplifying their collaborative innovative capacities. A testament to his inventive prowess, Andrew boasts over 150 patent applications. Across various industries—be it telecommunications with Telstra Australia, retail with giants like Walmart and Best Buy, or the medical sector with esteemed institutions like City Of Hope and UCSD—Andrew’s impact is deeply felt. He has enriched the literature with insights, co-authoring eight influential books with Dr. Thomas and contributing to over 100 industry publications. An advocate for community and diversity, Andrew’s work has touched over 100 Native American Tribal Resorts, underscoring his expansive and inclusive professional endeavors.

    Contact:
    Laurel Kay, Quick Custom Intelligence
    Phone: 858-349-8354

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Hockey in Canada: Can it still bridge divides in an era of political polarization?

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Joseph Dick, PhD Student in Sport Management, University of Guelph

    Contemporary ice hockey was pioneered in Canada, and the sport has historically been watched and played by Canadians. (Shutterstock)

    Hockey has played a significant role in shaping Canada’s culture and identity over the years. As sport scholar Tony Patoine once put it, “hockey has become more than a simple pasttime: it is a true Canadian tradition, a quasi-religion.”

    This deep attachment to the game is reflected in Bill C-212, which acknowledges hockey as Canada’s official winter sport. Modern ice hockey was, after all, pioneered in Canada, where it has historically been watched, played and been perceived as a unifying force that transcends linguistic and ethnic divides.

    Despite these perceptions, however, we question the strength of such unification potential amidst recent changes to hockey culture. Can hockey continue to unify all of Canada?

    ‘Communitas’

    Hockey’s purported sense of unity closely relates to the concept of “communitas,” coined by anthropologist Victor Turner, which describes the strong bonds of comradery that form between members of a group — and sometimes between members of disparate groups — where rank and status disappear.

    However, not everyone experiences this sense of unity equally. Since social groups establish behaviours required for group membership, those who don’t align with these norms may feel excluded.

    Former Hockey Night in Canada commentator, Don Cherry, was once praised for upholding values characteristic of hockey, including the promotion of violence, hyper masculinity and an overall adherence to “ideas of loyalty, fraternity, and mutual respect.” These values, once normalized within the hockey community, shaped how both players and fans were expected to act.

    But as the game continues to evolve and these values are increasingly considered archaic and out of sync with the broader political culture fostered within Canada, we as Canadian sport and political science researchers, respectively, question if hockey still provides that sense of communitas for all of Canada.

    Hockey in French Canada

    Although Canadians often view hockey as a monolithic, universally adopted sport across Canada, a closer look reveals patterns of non-uniformity. Nowhere are such differences more apparent than in the historical development of the sport in Québec versus the rest of Canada.

    As historian Emmanuel Lapierre wrote, “French Canadians appropriated hockey in their own manner and used it to tell a story about themselves,” a story that is, like the province of Québec itself, unique within the Canadian federation.

    For much of Canadian history, Anglophone hockey players represented the in-group, while Francophone hockey players were often seen as outsiders. In the 1950s, for example, Francophone players in the NHL believed they were treated more harshly when it came to suspensions and fines.

    Québec society, during this time, faced an endemic struggle of oppression against an Anglophone-dominated society controlled by the Catholic Church. Francophone resistance to this was linked to the Richard Riot that occurred during the 1954-55 NHL season.

    Maurice Richard scoring his 500th goal on Oct. 19, 1957. At the time, he was the first and only professional NHL player to achieve such a feat.
    (Wikimedia Commons)

    After Montreal Canadiens’ player Maurice “Rocket” Richard was suspended from the playoffs in March 1955 for punching an official, a massive riot broke out among fans. They raged through downtown Montréal, targeting Anglophone-owned buildings. This riot became a symbol of Francophone resistance to Anglophone dominance, serving as a stepping stone towards the Quiet Revolution and renewed French Canadian nationalism.

    This, in turn, strengthened the sense of unity around hockey in Canada. Francophone hockey players began to be viewed as more equal to, and at the very least not controlled by, Anglophone players. Hockey was used to forge a sense of communitas amongst French Canadians, serving as a transcendent unifier in Canada.

    But that was then, and it occurred within the context of a province historically rich with connections to French Canadian culture, where hockey’s unification potential was, therefore, heightened. Does this similar sense of communitas still exist in the rest of Canada with respect to hockey? Or has the sport’s ability to unite the nation become weakened in an era of unprecedented political polarization?

    Hockey today

    Hockey fandom remains strong in Canada, with about 31 per cent of Canadians still following the sport — the highest of any sport in the country. This is re-enforced by the recent success of the Professional Women’s Hockey League and the near-record Canadian viewership of the most recent Stanley Cup finals.

    However, hockey participation has seen a notable decline, dropping 33 per cent since its peak in 2010 amidst high participation costs. Additionally, Hockey Canada has been accused of fostering a culture of misogyny and sexual assault.



    Read more:
    Hockey Canada scandal highlights toxic masculinity in sports

    In 2023, Hockey Canada’s former CEO acknowledged the need to address racism, sexism, and other forms of discrimination in hockey culture. “Each topic, or part of culture that we’re trying to get at, that will determine who the audience is as we move forward,” he said.

    As hockey navigates these changes, it must adapt to the growing emphasis on equity, diversity and inclusion, alongside the impacts of an increasing immigrant population and the globalization of the game.

    This evolution could mean the demise of “traditional” hockey values, and perhaps that is a good thing: misogynistic, “rock ‘em and sock ’em” mentalities don’t align with the values of a modern liberal democracy like Canada.

    Still, for communitas to transcend division, hockey must also find a way to bring traditional fans along, who may have enjoyed the undertones of violence and masculinized definitions of loyalty, fraternity and respect, without alienating them.

    Where should hockey go now?

    Hockey’s role as a unifying force in Canada is well established. Not only is it still Canada’s official winter sport, but as outlined above, it has also served as a unifier for French and English Canada. Hockey has, moreover, unified Canadians during other key moments, such as Canada’s victory over the USSR in the 1972 Summit Series, which symbolized democracy’s triumph over communism.

    However, hockey’s role as a unifying force has diminished over the years. For many Canadians, hockey is no longer “the best game you can name,” as Stompin’ Tom Connors once sang.

    If hockey is to maintain its historic place as a contributor to Canadian nationalism and communitas, the sport must evolve. While some traditional values — such as teamwork, loyalty and respect — should be preserved, outdated notions like hyper masculinity and aggression no longer align with today’s values.

    As Canada changes, so too must hockey. Canadian hockey culture and policies must better adapt to meet contemporary Canadian values like diversity and inclusivity.

    The question for Canadians isn’t just the future of hockey, but what can unite us in today’s world. Communitas need not be confined to hockey, let alone a sport. Hockey has traditionally filled this unification role, but if it fails to keep up, what will take its place?

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

    – ref. Hockey in Canada: Can it still bridge divides in an era of political polarization? – https://theconversation.com/hockey-in-canada-can-it-still-bridge-divides-in-an-era-of-political-polarization-238277

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Apple Retail Workers in Oklahoma City Win First Collective Contract with CWA

    Source: Communications Workers of America

    (Oklahoma City, Okla.) — Last night, Apple Retail Union-CWA Local 6016 members at the Penn Square Mall Apple Store in Oklahoma City overwhelmingly voted to ratify their first collectively-bargained contract, becoming the second union of Apple Store retail workers in the country to do so.  

    Highlights of the three-year agreement include:

    • Wage increases of up to 11.5% over the next three years.
    • Worker involvement in scheduling and guaranteed paid time off to vote.
    • A safer and more democratic workplace with a grievance and arbitration process and the establishment of joint Safety and Health and Working Relations committees. 
    • Job protection in the event of a store closure or relocation and severance pay.
    • Guaranteed paid time off, health and other benefits

    “It is exhilarating to finalize this bargaining process and know that after all the work we have done and all the obstacles that Apple has put in our way, we have finally secured the protection and improvements in pay and benefits that we deserve. We hope this sets an example for Apple’s tens of thousands of retail workers that when we stand together, we have the power to make meaningful changes in our workplace,” said Michael Forsythe, Genius Admin and member of Apple Retail Union-CWA.

    Last month workers voted unanimously to authorize a strike and held an informational picket following months of delays at the bargaining table. However, subsequent bargaining sessions in early September were productive and workers secured a tentative agreement on September 6th.

    “This contract is a direct result of the collective strength and determination of Apple workers who fought for a voice at one of the most profitable tech companies in the world. In doing so, this sends a powerful message to Apple Store workers that when we fight, we win,” said Antonio Flores, President of CWA Local 6016.

    The 78 retail workers at the Penn Square Apple Store represent the second team of Apple’s retail workers to win a collectively bargained contract and the first to do so with the support of Communications Workers of America. In August, workers at the Towson Town Square store in Maryland, represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, ratified the first collectively-bargained contract between Apple retail workers and the tech giant.

    “With the Oklahoma City workers’ success and the growing public support for unions across the country, it’s time for Apple to change course, hold itself accountable to their credo, and allow workers at all stores a free and fair opportunity to choose whether or not to join a union,” said Derrick Osobase, CWA District 6 Vice President.

    Apple workers interested in improving their working conditions and having the protections of a union contract should visit this site to learn more about organizing.

    ###

    The Campaign to Organize Digital Employees (CODE-CWA) is a network of worker-organizers and their staff working every single day to build the voice and power necessary to ensure the future of the tech, game, and digital industries in the United States and Canada. CODE-CWA is a project of the Communications Workers of America which represents hundreds of thousands of workers throughout tech, media, telecom, and other industries who stand together to fight for justice on the job and in our communities.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Canadian Space Agency Astronaut Jeremy Hansen Visits Winnipeg and Montreal

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French 1

    Media Advisory

    Longueuil (Quebec), September 24, 2024 – From September 27 to 29, Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen will be in Winnipeg to speak about the Artemis II mission during which he will be the first Canadian to fly over the Moon. He will then pass through the Montreal region on October 1.

    He will speak to students, give presentations to the general public and give interviews to the media.

    Journalists wishing to attend one of the presentations or request an interview with CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen should contact the Media Relations Office.

    Winnipeg

    Friday, September 27, 2024

    Hour What Or
    12:30 p.m. (CT) Presentation to 350 Chamber of Commerce members and Winnipeg students RBC Convention Centre375 York AvenueWinnipeg, ManitobaR3C 3J3
    7:00 p.m. (CT) Presentation to the general public (approximately 200 people) at the Manitoba Museum Manitoba Museum190 Rupert AvenueWinnipeg, ManitobaR3B 0N2

    Sunday, September 29, 2024

    Hour What Or
    2:00 p.m. (CT) Presentation to the general public (150 to 175 people) at the Royal Western Canadian Air Force Museum Royal Western Canadian Air Force Museum2088 Wellington AvenueWinnipeg, ManitobaR3H 1C5

    Montreal

    Tuesday, October 1, 2024

    Hour What Or
    10:20 a.m. (CT) Presentation to a hundred students from Cedar Street School Cedar Street School250 Cedar StreetBeloeil (Quebec)J3G 3M1

    Additional information

    – 30 –

    Information

    Canadian Space AgencyMedia Relations OfficeTelephone: 450-926-4370Email: asc.medias-media.csa@asc-csa.gc.caWebsite: www.asc-csa.gc.caFollow us in the social media!

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI: CalAmp Industrial IoT Gateway Named an OEM Off-Highway 2024 Top New Product Award Recipient

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CARLSBAD, Calif., Sept. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — OEM Off-Highway, the nationally recognized magazine serving product development teams for mobile OEMs globally, has selected the HMU-3640LB Industrial IoT Gateway as one of the favored new mobile on- and off-road equipment products of 2024.

    The 2024 Top New Products represent the top new product introductions that exhibit innovation, quality, efficiency, and productivity in the mobile on- and off-road equipment manufacturing space.

    The awarded products are based on submitted nominations and audience engagement during a 12-month period on OEMOffHighway.com and narrowed down by the editorial team and advisory board.

    The HMU-3640LB is a hardened, next-generation Industrial IoT gateway for OEMs in construction, agriculture, mining, landscaping, oil & gas, forestry, and related industries. Manufacturers rely on this technology to exchange critical data with remote equipment operating in harsh environments.

    By capturing GNSS, accelerometer, bus, controller, and peripheral data, and enabling over-the-air equipment firmware updates and device management, the HMU-3630LB solves a host of challenges for OEMs. Customers now rely on the gateway to inform design and testing decisions, bolster maintenance, prevent theft, impact revenue and cash flow, boost asset utilization, improve efficiency, and strengthen equipment operator training and coaching.

    “The winners of this year’s Top New Products Award represent innovation and ingenuity in product design and development,” said Kathy Wells, editor of OEM Off-Highway. “The 2024 class of top products offers new and creative solutions to recurring challenges. OEM Off-Highway applauds these industry innovators as they continue to drive mobile equipment design forward.”

    Additional information on the award recipients can be found in the September/October issue of OEM Off-Highway or online at www.oemoffhighway.com

    About CalAmp

    CalAmp provides flexible solutions to help organizations worldwide monitor, track, and protect their vital assets. Our unique device-enabled software and cloud platform enables commercial and government organizations worldwide to improve efficiency, safety, visibility, and compliance while accommodating the unique ways they do business. With over 10 million active edge devices and 220+ approved or pending patents, CalAmp is the telematics leader organizations turn to for innovation and dependability. For more information, visit calamp.com, or LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube or CalAmp Blog.

    CalAmp, LoJack, TRACKER, Here Comes The Bus, Bus Guardian, CalAmp Vision, CrashBoxx and associated logos are among the trademarks of CalAmp and/or its affiliates in the United States, certain other countries and/or the EU. Spireon acquired the LoJack® U.S. Stolen Vehicle Recovery (SVR) business from CalAmp and holds an exclusive license to the LoJack mark in the United States and Canada. Any other trademarks or trade names mentioned are the property of their respective owners.

    CalAmp Investor 
    Contact:    		 CalAmp Media 
    Contact:
    Jikun Kim Mark Gaydos
    SVP & CFO Chief Marketing Officer
    ir@calamp.com Mgaydos@calamp.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Crapo Statement at Hearing on Women’s Health

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo
    Washington, D.C.–U.S. Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo delivered the following remarks at a hearing entitled “Chaos and Control: How Trump Criminalized Women’s Health Care.” 
    As prepared for delivery:
    “Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
    “Before I begin my opening statement, let me address the fact that the Senate Finance Committee has never had a non-sitting President’s name in its hearing title, which should tell us all we need to know about the reason for this hearing.
    “Since its earliest origins, the practice of medicine has been grounded in the Hippocratic Oath. 
    “Often colloquially distilled into ‘first, do no harm,’ the code of medical ethics is far more complex, rooted in compassion and humility.  Across the country, thousands of providers commit to upholding these principles, to treat all patients, all lives, with profound respect.
    “When a provider serves a pregnant woman, this philosophy applies to two lives. 
    “Mrs. Joshua, your experience is unacceptable.  Fear and ignorance should never drive clinical decision-making.  Let me be perfectly clear—seeking care for a miscarriage is not an abortion.
    “Similarly, to the families and loved ones of Amber Thurman and Candi Miller, you have my deepest sympathies.  Their deaths were preventable, and it is incumbent on us all to ensure no lives are lost under similar circumstances.
    “The subject of abortion touches our moral and ethical core.  The conversation demands respect, and the rhetoric must be accurate.  Anything short risks sowing confusion with potentially devastating consequences.
    “Unfortunately, as demonstrated by the overtly partisan nature of the title, it appears that the purpose of today’s hearing is to score political points against the former President is disappointing.
    “The Majority’s decision to use this issue to score political points against the former President is disappointing.
    “In 2022, the Supreme Court appropriately ruled abortion policy should be determined by states and, importantly, their residents.
    “Since that time, a number of states have passed laws that reflect their values, either through legislatures or ballot initiatives.
    “Unsurprisingly, Idaho and Oregon have taken different approaches, as they do on many issues.
    “However, regardless of divergent views on abortion, everyone on this dais agrees that life is precious. 
    “Women and children, including unborn children, deserve high-quality health care from professionals who are equipped to both share in the joy of pregnancy and react to unforeseen complications.
    “As a board-certified OB/GYN, Dr. Francis is here to discuss her work educating physicians on life-affirming care.  As an accomplished attorney, Ms. Hacker will share her deep understanding of state abortion laws. 
    “Together, their testimony will seek to clarify the facts surrounding this debate.
    “Abortion is unlike any other policy issue.  Positions are shaped by our experiences, tied to our ethical philosophies, and rarely simplistic. 
    “As we move forward with our conversation today, I encourage all my colleagues to remember the Hippocratic Oath, and to approach this discussion with compassion and humility.”

    MIL OSI USA News –