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Category: Canada

  • MIL-OSI Global: As automation showdowns with workers continue, India’s Kerala state offers an important lesson

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Sanjith Gopalakrishnan, Assistant Professor of Operations Management, McGill University

    Nearly 50,000 dockworkers from the International Longshoremen’s Association went on strike across the United States Eastern Seaboard in October. The strike, which lasted three days, ended on Oct. 3 after a tentative wage agreement was reached between the union and the United States Maritime Alliance.

    Yet the agreement doesn’t resolve the union’s concerns over automation. For dockworkers, machines like automated stacking cranes pose a direct threat to job security. The union is still aiming to prohibit the operators of U.S. marine terminals from automating cargo handling.

    However, this trend is not isolated to the shipping industry. In retail, frictionless stores are reducing the need for cashiers, while self-driving trucks are poised to replace drivers, at least on some routes.

    The dockworker strike may have been resolved for now, but it was neither the first, nor will it be the last, showdown between labour and automation.

    Indian communism

    May 1 saw rallies take place all over the world, celebrating the labour movement and commemorating American workers who, in 1886, marched in Chicago for an eight-hour workday.

    May Day holds particular significance in the southern Indian state of Kerala, a heartland of Indian communism. It had one of the earliest democratically elected communist governments in the world. In 1957, the Communist Party of India won the Assembly election in Kerala, setting a precedent for parliamentary communism in the country.



    Read more:
    May Day 2024: Workers on a warming planet deserve stronger labour protections

    But, on May 1, 2018, the state government in Kerala led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) abolished a practice that even it deemed far too proletarian — the nokku kooli.

    Commonplace until recently, nokku kooli literally translates to “wages for looking on.” It was a practice where private individuals and businesses were forced to compensate worker unions for using industrial equipment towards productive ends, even if no labour was done.

    For instance, a construction company moving material using cranes was still expected to pay wages at negotiated or union mandated rates to the workers who would have otherwise been needed to load and unload goods.

    Describing this extortionary practice, Keralan writer Paul Zacharia once wrote:

    “The revolution in Kerala says the worker must be paid even if he doesn’t work. That is a kind of workers’ paradise even Marx did not anticipate.”

    Widespread opposition to this practice eventually led to its 2018 abolition. In 2022, the High Court declared it “illegal and unconstitutional.”

    A cautionary tale

    The origins of nokku kooli stem from opposition to automation. As India’s economy liberalized and rapidly industrialized in the late 20th century, Kerala’s labour unions correctly identified mechanization as a threat to their jobs.

    In response, powerful unions backed the nokku kooli system, with the government turning a blind eye. The system ensured workers would still receive a share of the economic pie, even as technology rendered their labour increasingly unnecessary.

    Kerala’s nokku kooli practice, however, serves as a cautionary tale. What may have started as a natural immediate response of organized labour facing a rapid industrial transition eventually became increasingly extortionary, with predictable and damaging economic consequences.

    In the decades that followed, the state’s reputation for militant trade unionism hindered its ability to attract private investment. Kerala experienced labour shortages in several sectors, while workers in automated roles, such as loading and unloading, continued to expect compensatory wages for little effort.

    Same old fears

    Today, fears of automation causing job losses are still prompting calls for policy fixes. Bill Gates and others have called for a “robot tax” — a tax on automation.

    The revenue from such a tax would offset reduced income tax collections. Proponents argue it could be invested in worker retraining programs or for income replacement. These proposals mirror the spirit of nokku kooli: businesses should compensate workers, directly or indirectly, when machines replace their jobs.

    This speaks to a tension between short- and long-term approaches in addressing the impacts of technological disruption. Short-term fixes, like a robot tax, may mitigate immediate job losses and give workers a safety net.

    However, some economists argue this is a misguided response to a “techno-panic” and risks stifling innovation, which could reduce productivity and hinder companies that rely on efficiency to stay viable in a global market.

    Moreover, safety nets such as replacement incomes for displaced workers can also have unintended consequences in the long run, as seen in Kerala. While easing the transition, these measures risk creating a dependent workforce disincentivized to adapt to new economic realities.

    Short-term fixes better than none

    Still, perhaps short-term fixes — even ones that may eventually need undoing — are better than entirely ignoring the immediate and real impacts on workers, or offering glib solutions such as asking displaced industrial workers to learn to code.

    Globalization’s benefits were unevenly distributed across the world, and widening inequality is argued to be a driver of sociopolitical polarization. As automation advances, the same risk looms large.

    We still lack mechanisms to adequately redistribute economic gains due to technological innovation. Ignoring the disruptive impacts, however transitory, could still leave entire segments of the workforce behind, compounding inequality and social unrest.

    In the end, the lesson from Kerala might not just be about avoiding excess. It is also a reminder that policies that no longer work can, and should, be undone. As we embrace technological progress, we must not risk losing sight of the real people whose livelihoods are at stake in the here and now.

    Sanjith Gopalakrishnan 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. As automation showdowns with workers continue, India’s Kerala state offers an important lesson – https://theconversation.com/as-automation-showdowns-with-workers-continue-indias-kerala-state-offers-an-important-lesson-240304

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The lasting scars of war: How conflict shapes children’s lives long after the fighting ends

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Kerry McCuaig, Fellow in Early Childhood Policy, Atkinson Centre, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto

    The world is witnessing some of the highest levels of conflict in decades, with more than 110 armed conflicts occurring across Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America and Europe.

    The impact of these wars on children is vast and multifaceted. The trauma inflicted is enduring and will shape the rest of their lives — and by extension, the societies in which they, and we live.

    As researchers who study how public policies can intervene to reduce adverse outcomes for children, we contend that wars are not bound by geography. Airstrikes terrorize children in conflict zones, while those living in the nations involved in these conflicts also experience trauma in the form of poverty, neglect, and discrimination.

    Children as collateral — and targets

    In the first decade of the 21st century, civilians accounted for 90 per cent of deaths in armed conflicts. Of these casualties, a significant number were children.

    Modern conflicts are markedly lop-sided where often only one combatant has fighter jets, tanks, and explosives. Entire cities become war zones where children are not just caught in the crossfire, but are deliberately targeted.

    War is the ultimate abuse of children’s rights. According to the United Nations there were a record 32,990 grave violations against 22,557 children in 26 conflict zones, in 2023. “The highest numbers of grave violations occurred in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar, Somalia, Nigeria and Sudan.”

    The United Nations Children’s Fund and other global humanitarian organizations have raised the alarm, saying women and children “are disproportionately bearing the burden” of the violence.

    Beyond direct violence, children are subjected to the toxic stress of war. Suspended supply chains and agricultural production leave besieged populations vulnerable to acute and chronic malnutrition, with devastating consequences for children’s growth, immune and metabolic systems, and cognitive development. The destruction of schools, hospitals, and homes compounds the trauma, while attacks on humanitarian assistance eliminate any respite.

    The disruption of vaccination programs allows preventable diseases to proliferate. Polio, once on the verge of global eradication, is spreading in Gaza. The direct targeting of sanitation and water treatment facilities creates conditions ripe for cholera outbreaks. Mpox, a deadly virus that causes painful blistering rashes, kills children at a far higher rate than adults and is prevalent in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

    The situation is particularly dire for infant and maternal health. Pregnancy in war zones is associated with fewer live births, increased preterm delivery, and low birth weight. War-generated pollution has been linked to birth defects. The fallout reaches beyond the war zone. A study found greater incidents of pregnancy complications and birth defects in the children of U.S. war veterans.

    The psychological toll of war

    Witnessing constant violence, death and destruction can permanently change how a child’s brain develops. Research has shown that trauma in early childhood particularly affects the areas of the brain responsible for stress responses. This means that children who experience war are more likely to suffer from anxiety, depression, and stress disorders.

    As they grow into adulthood, these mental health issues can manifest in more profound ways, increasing the likelihood of depression and even neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

    Extreme stress also affects parenting, putting children at risk for maltreatment and neglect. Even when the fighting stops or families leave combat zones, parental substance abuse or deteriorating mental health can leave children vulnerable. Studies have documented increased physical and emotional mistreatment among the children of returning U.S. military personnel.

    The experiences of trauma are cumulative and far-reaching, not only affecting children’s immediate mental health, but also their ability to form relationships, learn, and thrive later in life.

    Impact on education

    Armed conflicts devastate the critical infrastructure needed to support healthy child development. Children can spend months fleeing war zones or sheltering against bombardment disrupting their education. Schools are often destroyed or repurposed. Teachers are displaced or killed. For many, attending school is simply too dangerous, leaving millions of children without basic education, significantly reducing their future opportunities.

    Girls are more likely to be kept out of school to fill in for absent or deceased adults. Those separated from their family are at increased risk for gender violence, exploitation, and teen pregnancy, further entrenching cycles of poverty and inequality that are difficult to break even after the conflict ends.

    A BBC news report about a school in Yemen destroyed during the war.

    Children in other countries also suffer, as public revenues are diverted from schools, health care, and other poverty-reduction measures to finance the machinery of war.

    The long-term societal impact is profound. Education is one of the strongest tools for reducing violence and rebuilding societies. Yet tragically, less than three per cent of humanitarian aid funding goes towards education in war zones.



    Read more:
    The war in Gaza is wiping out Palestine’s education and knowledge systems

    Breaking the cycle of violence

    Despite the enormous challenges, there are pathways to reduce the harm inflicted on children. Humanitarian organizations work to provide safe spaces for children to play, learn, and heal.

    These interventions, while often simple, are crucial for giving children a sense of normalcy during chaos. Supporting caregivers is another essential element, as the mental health of parents and guardians directly affects their children’s well-being.

    While invaluable, these efforts are only band-aid solutions. The international community must increase funding for child protection and education in humanitarian responses and undertake serious action to eliminate the causes of war.

    Kerry McCuaig receives funding from the Margaret and Wallace McCain Family Foundation, the Atkinson Foundation and the Lawson Foundation.

    Emis Akbari receives funding from The Margaret and Wallace McCain Family Foundation, The Lawson Foundation and The Atkinson Foundation.

    – ref. The lasting scars of war: How conflict shapes children’s lives long after the fighting ends – https://theconversation.com/the-lasting-scars-of-war-how-conflict-shapes-childrens-lives-long-after-the-fighting-ends-240640

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: Peyto Exploration & Development Corp. Confirms Monthly Dividend for November 15, 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CALGARY, Alberta, Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Peyto Exploration & Development Corp. (TSX: PEY) (“Peyto”) confirms that the monthly dividend with respect to October 2024 of $0.11 per common share is to be paid on November 15, 2024, for shareholders of record on October 31, 2024.

    Dividends paid by Peyto to Canadian residents are eligible dividends for Canadian income tax purposes.

    Shareholders and interested investors are encouraged to visit the Peyto website at http://www.peyto.com to learn more about what makes Peyto one of North America’s most exciting energy companies. The website also includes a monthly report, which discusses various topics chosen by the President and CEO and includes estimates of monthly capital expenditures and production. For further information please contact:

    Jean-Paul Lachance
    President and Chief Executive Officer
    Phone: (403) 261-6081
    Fax:     (403) 451-4100
    info@peyto.com

    Certain information set forth in this document, including management’s assessment of Peyto’s future plans and operations, contains forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond these parties’ control, including the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, volatility of commodity prices, currency fluctuations, imprecision of reserve estimates, environmental risks, competition from other industry participants, the lack of availability of qualified personnel or management, stock market volatility and ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. Peyto’s actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements and, accordingly, no assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits that Peyto will derive therefrom. The Toronto Stock Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the information contained herein.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Prime Minister announces changes in the senior ranks of the public service

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced the following changes in the senior ranks of the public service:

    Christiane (Chris) Fox, currently Deputy Clerk of the Privy Council and Associate Secretary to the Cabinet, will serve concurrently as Deputy Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Privy Council Office, effective October 21, 2024.

    Philip Jennings, currently Executive Director, Canada, Ireland, and the Caribbean, International Monetary Fund, becomes Deputy Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, effective November 4, 2024.

    Tricia Geddes, currently Associate Deputy Minister of Public Safety, becomes Deputy Minister of Public Safety, effective October 31, 2024.

    Daniel Rogers, currently Deputy National Security and Intelligence Advisor to the Prime Minister and Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet (Emergency Preparedness), Privy Council Office, becomes Director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, effective October 28, 2024.

    Tushara Williams, currently Deputy Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Privy Council Office, becomes Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet (Operations), Privy Council Office, effective October 21, 2024.

    Kaili Levesque, currently Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet (Operations), Privy Council Office, becomes Associate Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, effective October 21, 2024.

    Kevin Brosseau, currently Associate Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, becomes Deputy National Security and Intelligence Advisor to the Prime Minister and Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet (Emergency Preparedness), Privy Council Office, effective October 21, 2024.

    The Prime Minister also congratulated the following individuals on their recent and upcoming retirements and departures from the public service after years of tireless efforts serving Canadians, and he wished them the best in their future endeavours:

    • Simon Kennedy, former Deputy Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development
    • Shawn Tupper, Deputy Minister of Public Safety
    • Catherine Luelo, former Senior Official at the Privy Council Office

    Biographical Notes

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI: LeddarTech Announces Receipt of US$3.0 Million Following Disbursement of the Second Tranche of the Previously Announced Bridge Financing

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    QUEBEC CITY, Canada, Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — LeddarTech® Holdings Inc. (“LeddarTech” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: LDTC), an automotive software company that provides patented disruptive AI-based low-level sensor fusion and perception software technology, LeddarVision™, for ADAS, AD and parking applications, announced today that the Company received the second tranche of the bridge loans (the “Bridge Loans”) in an aggregate amount of US$3.0 million, which are part of a bridge financing in an aggregate amount of up to US$9.0 million (the “Bridge Financing”) made available to the Company by certain of its principal shareholders, namely FS Investors (“FS”), Investissement Québec (“IQ”) and its senior lender, Fédération des caisses Desjardins du Québec (“Desjardins” and, together with FS and IQ, the “Initial Bridge Lenders”). The principal details of the Bridge Financing were announced by the Company on August 19, 2024.

    As previously announced, the Bridge Financing is comprised of two tranches, with the first tranche of US$6.0 million funded on August 19, 2024. The second tranche of the Bridge Financing, in an amount of up to US$3.0 million, was conditioned on the absence of a default under the Bridge Loans and the receipt by the Company of a commitment from a strategic investor of its intent to invest a minimum amount of US$5.0 million in a subsequent equity capital raise.

    In connection with the Bridge Financing, FS converted US$1.5 million of its existing convertible notes into common shares in the capital of the Company at an above-market conversion price of US$2.00 per share, reducing the convertible note balance by US$1.5 million. The Company also received additional Bridge Loans in an aggregate amount of approximately US$334,000 from certain members of management and the board of directors (collectively, the “Additional Bridge Lenders” and, together with the Initial Bridge Lenders, the “Bridge Lenders”) in accordance with the terms of the Bridge Financing.

    The Bridge Financing constitutes a “related-party transaction” within the meaning of Regulation 61-101 – Protections of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (“Regulation 61-101”) as FS, IQ and the Additional Bridge Lenders are all “insiders” of the Company under Canadian securities laws. However, in light of the fact that the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”) have determined that the Company is in serious financial difficulty, the Company is relying on the exemption from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements contained in Regulation 61-101 on the basis of the “financial hardship” exemption therein.

    After considering and reviewing all of the circumstances currently surrounding the Company and the Bridge Financing, the Board, including all independent members of the Board who are free from interest in the Bridge Financing and unrelated to the Bridge Lenders, acting in good faith, unanimously determined that (i) the Company is in serious financial difficulty, (ii) the Bridge Financing is designed to improve the financial condition of the Company, and (iii) the terms of the Bridge Financing are reasonable in the Company’s circumstances.

    The Bridge Loans have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or applicable State securities laws, and accordingly may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an effective registration statement or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and such applicable State securities laws.

    This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor will there be any sales of any securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction.

    About LeddarTech

    A global software company founded in 2007 and headquartered in Quebec City with additional R&D centers in Montreal and Tel Aviv, Israel, LeddarTech develops and provides comprehensive AI-based low-level sensor fusion and perception software solutions that enable the deployment of ADAS, autonomous driving (AD) and parking applications. LeddarTech’s automotive-grade software applies advanced AI and computer vision algorithms to generate accurate 3D models of the environment to achieve better decision making and safer navigation. This high-performance, scalable, cost-effective technology is available to OEMs and Tier 1-2 suppliers to efficiently implement automotive and off-road vehicle ADAS solutions.

    LeddarTech is responsible for several remote-sensing innovations, with over 160 patent applications (87 granted) that enhance ADAS, AD and parking capabilities. Better awareness around the vehicle is critical in making global mobility safer, more efficient, sustainable and affordable: this is what drives LeddarTech to seek to become the most widely adopted sensor fusion and perception software solution.

    Additional information about LeddarTech is accessible at http://www.LeddarTech.com and on LinkedIn, Twitter (X), Facebook and YouTube.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Certain statements contained in this Press Release may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (which forward-looking statements also include forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws), including, but not limited to, statements relating to LeddarTech’s anticipated strategy, future operations, prospects, objectives and financial projections and other financial metrics. Forward-looking statements generally include statements that are predictive in nature and depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, and include words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “likely,” “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “intend” and other similar expressions among others. Statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement as a result of various factors, including, without limitation: (i) the possibility that anticipated benefits of LeddarTech’s recent business combination will not be realized; (ii) the risk that shareholder litigation in connection with the business combination or other settlements or investigations may result in significant costs of defense, indemnification and liability; (iii) changes in general economic and/or industry-specific conditions; (iv) possible disruptions from the business combination that could harm LeddarTech’s business; (v) the ability of LeddarTech to retain, attract and hire key personnel; (vi) potential adverse reactions or changes to relationships with customers, employees, suppliers or other parties; (vii) potential business uncertainty, including changes to existing business relationships following the business combination that could affect LeddarTech’s financial performance; (viii) legislative, regulatory and economic developments; (ix) unpredictability and severity of catastrophic events, including, but not limited to, acts of terrorism, outbreak or escalation of war or hostilities and any epidemic, pandemic or disease outbreak (including COVID-19), as well as management’s response to any of the aforementioned factors; (x) access to capital and financing and LeddarTech’s ability to maintain compliance with debt covenants; (xi) LeddarTech’s ability to execute its business model, achieve design wins and generate meaningful revenue; and (xii) other risk factors as detailed from time to time in LeddarTech’s reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and on the Company’s SEDAR+ profile at http://www.sedarplus.ca, including the risk factors contained in LeddarTech’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023. The foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive. Except as required by applicable law, LeddarTech does not undertake any obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

    Contact:
    Daniel Aitken, Vice-President, Global Marketing, Communications and Investor Relations, LeddarTech Holdings Inc. Tel.: + 1-418-653-9000 ext. 232 daniel.aitken@LeddarTech.com

    Leddar, LeddarTech, LeddarVision, LeddarSP, VAYADrive, VayaVision and related logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of LeddarTech Holdings Inc. and its subsidiaries. All other brands, product names and marks are or may be trademarks or registered trademarks used to identify products or services of their respective owners.

    LeddarTech Holdings Inc. is a public company listed on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “LDTC.”

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Canadian soldier dies while off-duty in Riga, Latvia 

    Source: Government of Canada News

    News release

    October 15, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

    It is with a heavy heart that Task Force Latvia confirms that a member of the Latvian Allied Augmentation Team, Captain Aaron Wideman, a Canadian Armed Forces member posted within the Latvian National Armed Forces, has died while off duty in Riga, Latvia. The circumstances of the incident are under investigation by the Latvian State Police. The Canadian Military Police are supporting the authorities on the matter. As the investigation is ongoing, no further information can be released.

    Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family and loved ones.

    Quotes

    “We are deeply saddened to announce the loss of Captain Aaron Wideman, who passed away on October 13, 2024. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies go out to his family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.”

    Lieutenant-General Stephen Kelsey, Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff

    Contacts

    Media Relations
    Department of National Defence
    Phone: 613-904-3333
    Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Iqaluit — Emergency Landing at Iqaluit, Nunavut

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Iqaluit, Nunavut
    Date: 2024-10-15

    On October 15, 2024 at approximately 5:21 a.m, Air India flight 127 made an emergency landing to Iqaluit, Nunavut. The flight departed from New Delhi and was enroute to Chicago. All 211 passenger and crew disembarked the aircraft and were relocated to the Iqaluit International airport.

    Updates will be provided, once more information becomes available.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Kugluktuk — David Kuliktana arrested – RCMP seeking public assistance

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    On August 30, 2024, Kugluktuk RCMP obtained a warrant to arrest from the Nunavut Court of Justice for David Kuliktana.

    On September 05, 2024, Kugluktuk RCMP, V Division RCMP Containment Team along with K Division Emergency Response Team, arrested 31-year-old David Kuliktana at a cabin outside Kugluktuk.

    David Kuliktana is charged with:

    • Section 88 – Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose;
    • Section 151 – Sexual Interference;
    • Section 264.1(a) – Uttering Threats x 3;
    • Section 264(2)(d) – Criminal Harassment;
    • Section 266 – Assault x 2;
    • Section 267(a) – Assault with a weapon x 2;
    • Section 267(b) – Assault causing bodily harm x 2;
    • Section 267 (c) – Assault by choking x 2;
    • Section 271 – Sexual Assault x 2;
    • Section 279(2) – Forcible Confinement x 2;
    • Section 423(1)(a) – Intimidation to abstain from reporting x 2;
    • Section 733.1(1) – Fail to comply with Probation Order x 3

    David Kuliktana appeared before court and was remanded until his next court appearance on October 22, 2024 in Iqaluit, NU.

    Information received by Kugluktuk RCMP indicate that there may additional victims in the community. Anyone with information or wishing to come forward, is asked to please call Kugluktuk RCMP at 982-1111.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Ministers Hajdu and Saks to join Indigenous partners at the 2024 National Summit on Indigenous Mental Wellness in Calgary

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Please be advised that the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services, and the Honourable Ya’ara Saks, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, will deliver remarks at the 2024 National Summit on Indigenous Mental Wellness.

    Calgary, Alberta — Please be advised that the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services, and the Honourable Ya’ara Saks, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, will deliver remarks at the 2024 National Summit on Indigenous Mental Wellness.

    The Summit provides an opportunity for representatives from First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities, organizations and leaders in mental wellness, as well as direct service providers and researchers working with Indigenous populations to share knowledge and connect on what is working to improve First Nations, Inuit and Métis mental wellness.

    Media are invited to attend the Ministers’ opening remarks followed by a media opportunity.

    Date: Wednesday, October 16, 2024

    Time: 8:30 a.m. to 9:25 a.m. (MT)

    Note: Media to arrive by 8:00 a.m. (MT)

    Where: Westin Calgary Airport Hotel
    671 Aero Drive NE
    Calgary, Alberta

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

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI: RTI Awarded Elite Supplier Status by Lockheed Martin’s Rotary and Mission Systems (RMS) Division

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SUNNYVALE, Calif., Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Real-Time Innovations (RTI), the infrastructure software company for smart-world systems, has earned Elite Supplier status from Lockheed Martin’s Rotary and Mission Systems (RMS) division. This prestigious designation was awarded to only 37 of over 10,300 of Lockheed Martin’s suppliers. The recognition highlights RTI’s role in delivering innovative, data-centric software that powers mission-critical applications, enabling industry leaders like Lockheed Martin to integrate next-generation defense technologies and advance modular system design.

    Built on the industry-leading Data Distribution Service (DDS™) Standard, RTI Connext® enables Lockheed to seamlessly incorporate newer and advanced sensors into critical defense systems. Connext ensures that platforms such as Aegis remain adaptable to evolving global threats, supporting Lockheed Martin’s current and future battlefield requirements.

    As a long-term supplier, RTI also plays a pivotal role in facilitating Lockheed’s open architecture approach, ensuring that Aegis integrates radar, weapons, and command management systems efficiently. This framework is crucial for Navy programs and prevents vendor lock-in while adhering to Navy Open Architecture standards.

    Aegis is designed for interoperability among onboard and offboard sensors and weapon systems, including surface-to-air missiles and naval guns, and relies on a real-time command and control framework. Central to this rapid response is Connext, which ensures fast, secure, and reliable data transmission within sensor-to-shooter networks, as each engagement—from detection to interception—must occur in real time.

    As defense systems continue to evolve, leveraging AI and machine learning will become more essential for identifying and processing the vast amounts of data generated by additional sensors designed to spot increasing threats. While humans currently play a role, AI is needed to make faster, more informed decisions; this is where Connext comes in– ensuring the critical data flow that powers future combat systems.

    “We are proud to support Lockheed Martin and Aegis, the world’s most capable multi-mission combat system, which integrates a wide array of sensors and weapons to deliver unmatched Integrated Air and Missile Defense capabilities,” said John Breitenbach, Director of A&D at RTI. “Connext serves as the nervous system of these architectures, connecting all components to ensure real-time performance. Connext not only supports today’s missions but also lays the groundwork for the future of AI-enhanced defense systems.”

    Lockheed Martin works with over 10,300 suppliers across 46 countries. RTI is proud to be among less than 0.004% of suppliers who achieve Lockheed’s Elite Supplier designation, underscoring RTI’s dedication to performance, quality, and innovation in defense systems, further enabling 21st Century Security.

    For more information on RTI in Aerospace & Defense, please visit the RTI website.

    About RTI

    Real-Time Innovations (RTI) is the infrastructure software company for smart-world systems. RTI Connext® is the world’s leading software framework for intelligent distributed systems. Uniquely, Connext users can build systems that combine advanced sensing, fast control, and AI algorithms.

    With 2,000 customer designs, RTI excels at getting customers to production. RTI software runs over 250 autonomous vehicle programs, supports dozens of automotive ADAS and software-defined architectures, controls the largest power plants in North America, integrates over 400 major defense programs, drives a new generation of MedTech systems and robotics, and underlies Canada’s air traffic control and NASA’s launch control systems.

    RTI runs a smarter world.

    RTI is the market leader in products compliant with the Data Distribution Service (DDS™) standard. RTI is privately held and headquartered in Silicon Valley with regional offices in Colorado, Spain, and Singapore.

    Download a free trial of the latest, fully-functional Connext software today: http://www.rti.com/downloads

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Why Some Experts are Predicting Gold will Trade in Range of $2,800/oz to $3,200/oz in 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PALM BEACH, Fla., Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FN Media Group News Commentary – Gold, often referred to as the “safe-haven asset,” has been a cornerstone of global finance for centuries. Its value has historically been influenced by a myriad of factors, including economic indicators, geopolitical events, and market sentiment. According to expert analysts in a report by Skilling.com, the gold price prediction for 2024 is expected to be positive, with prices potentially reaching $2,500 per ounce. This is driven by the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy, interest rates, and global demand for safe-haven assets. Some experts predict that gold will trade in the range of $2,800-$3,200 in 2025, reflecting expectations of a Federal Reserve rate cut. The report said: “In the long term, the gold price prediction is influenced by factors such as inflation, central bank policies, and global economic trends. Analysts predict that the price of gold could reach $6,800 an ounce by 2040, estimating a rate of return of 7.2% per year. The increasing demand for gold as a safe-haven asset and the potential for a global recession are also driving factors behind the positive gold price prediction. Gold prices have been on a steady rise since 2023, with many analysts predicting a continued upward trend in 2024. According to J.P. Morgan Research, gold prices are expected to climb to $2,500/oz by the end of 2024, driven by factors such as U.S. fiscal deficit concerns, central bank reserve diversification into gold, inflationary hedging, and a fraying geopolitical landscape. This prediction is in line with other analysts’ predictions, with some predicting even higher prices, such as AG Thorson’s target of $3,000.” Active mining companies in the markets this week include RUA GOLD Inc. (OTCQB: NZAUF) (TSX-V: RUA), Newmont Corporation (NYSE: NEM) (TSX: NGT), OceanaGold Corporation (OTCQX: OCANF) (TSX: OGC), New Found Gold Corp. (NYSE: NFGC) (TSX-V: NFG), GoldMining Inc. (NYSE American: GLDG) (TSX: GOLD).

    Skilling.com concluded: “The current market trends also suggest a bullish outlook for gold prices in 2024. The World Gold Council reported that central banks purchased 1,037 tonnes of gold in 2023, with 2024 starting strongly with net purchases of 290 tonnes in the first quarter. This increased demand from central banks, combined with the ongoing economic uncertainty, is likely to drive gold prices higher in 2024. However, it’s worth noting that there are also bearish risks to the gold price prediction, such as a scenario where the Fed turns more aggressive in ensuring inflation swiftly reaches its target. Nevertheless, many analysts believe that the structural drivers that have helped gold’s rally so far will remain a critical bullish driving force going forward, making it likely for gold prices to hit another all-time high in 2024.”

    RUA GOLD’s (TSXV:RUA) (OTCQB:NZAUF) Drill Program Intersects Near Surface Gold at The Reefton Project – RUA GOLD Inc. (WKN: A4010V) (“RUA GOLD” or the “Company”) is pleased to provide an update from the drilling campaign underway at the Reefton Project on the South Island of New Zealand. The Company commenced its near mine drill program on the Murray Creek targets in July. A second drill rig was introduced in September to test the Capleston vein system. These historic mines collectively produced ~700koz of gold at 25.2g/t within a radius of ~20 kilometers.

    Robert Eckford, CEO of RUA GOLD commented: “Our five years of meticulous surface exploration work over the Reefton project is paying dividends from the outset of this drill program. Both of the initial drill holes have confirmed we are in right area and are locating these lodes. The near surface intercepts on Capleston are encouraging and makes for compelling economic ounces, it supports our thesis that the surface veins are continuous past the old workings. Despite the initial drill hole at Murray Creek hitting old workings, it is extremely encouraging that we have identified the dip angle of the Victoria lode and we have even more confidence with the subsequent hole that is underway now, and results from this will be ready in the next few weeks.”

    Capleston – On the second drill rig, which was introduced to test the Capleston vein system, the Company targeted an undeveloped and near-surface vein at the southern end of the two kilometer long historic Capleston project, the highest-grade producer of the Reefton Goldfield historically. Near surface targets lend themselves to early development and are the closest to transportation and infrastructure, providing low-cost operational advantages.

    The first diamond drill hole, DD_REF_043, intersected a 12m zone of quartz-pyrite-arsenopyrite in the hanging wall, with a 1m quartz vein from 31m to 32m @ 3.86 g.t Au. A legacy drill hole intercepted the southern lode at 33m downhole, with 1m @ 24g/t Au followed by 1m @ 2.5g/t Au1. Mapping has recorded historical waste samples up to 32.0g/t Au in the vicinity, and a strong soil anomaly enveloping the vein (up to 410ppb Au).

    Murray Creek – RUA GOLD reports the completion of the first hole testing the down-dip extension of the Victoria lode, DD_VIC_041, which is being evaluated by the team. This intersected the targeted reef at 344m down hole and encountered historical underground workings over a 4m length. It then exited out to the footwall before drilling on for an additional 20m.

    This confirms that the lode extension is accurate and, with the precise location confirmed, a second hole is underway that is 50m deeper down dip from the initial drill hole. The Company anticipates an intersection into an un-mined portion of the reef at around 350m. Results from this testing will be available in the coming weeks. CONTINUED… Read this full press release and more news for RUA GOLD at: https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-rua/

    Other recent developments in the mining industry of note include:

    Newmont Corporation (NYSE: NEM) (TSX: NGT) has recently announced it will sell its Akyem operation in the Republic of Ghana to Zijin Mining Group Co., Ltd. (“Zijin”) under a definitive agreement, for cash consideration of up to $1 billion. The sale is part of Newmont’s ongoing program to divest non-core assets as the Company makes a strategic shift to focus on its Tier 1 assets.

    Under the terms of the agreement, Newmont is expected to receive cash consideration of $900 million upon closing. A further $100 million is expected to be received upon the satisfaction of certain conditions. Proceeds from the transaction will support the Company’s capital allocation priorities, including strengthening the balance sheet and returning capital to shareholders.

    OceanaGold Corporation (OTCQX: OCANF) (TSX: OGC) recently reported that it will release its operational and financial results for the third quarter of 2024 after market close on Wednesday November 6th, 2024. The results will be made available on the Company’s website at http://www.oceanagold.com.

    Senior management will host a conference call / webcast to discuss the results on Thursday November 7th, 2024, at 10:00 am Eastern Time.

    Webcast and Conference Call Details:

    To register, please copy and paste the link into your browser: https://app.webinar.net/2wLnxVkYjlM
    Toll-free North America: +1-888-510-2154
    International: +1 437-900-0527

    New Found Gold Corp. (NYSE: NFGC) (TSX-V: NFG) recently announced the results of the first phase of channel samples from the Keats Trench and an update on the Iceberg Trench at the Queensway Project (“Queensway“), located on the Trans-Canada Highway 15km west of Gander, Newfoundland.

    Greg Matheson, COO of New Found, stated: “Our approach at the Keats Trench has been to systematically test across the entire exposed surface to accurately map the extent of gold mineralization and determine with more certainty the distribution and variability of the gold contained within the mineralized domain. This is the highest density of assay data at Keats obtained to date and we are extremely pleased to see the broad widths of high-grade mineralization carrying across the exposure which is largely in line with modelled mineralization from the drilling program. The assay grade data from the trench is another key component to building our geologic understanding of the mineralization and structural controls at Keats. Given some of the elevated high-grade gold encountered, with many individual samples exceeding 100 g/t and some above 1,000 g/t, the team is now completing a second phase of channel sampling. This Phase II program will include a more targeted assessment of the high-grade components of Keats and cross veins that were not well tested in the first phase.”

    GoldMining Inc. (NYSE American: GLDG) (TSX: GOLD) recently highlighted an updated Mineral Resource Estimate (“Whistler MRE”) that was announced by its publicly traded subsidiary, U.S. GoldMining Inc. (“U.S. GoldMining”) (NASDAQ: USGO) on October 7, 2024 for U.S. GoldMining’s Whistler Gold-Copper Project (the “Project”) located in Alaska, U.S.A.

    Alastair Still, Chief Executive Officer of GoldMining, commented: “Since the initial public offering of U.S. GoldMining in April 2023, we are extremely pleased by the progress of its exploration initiatives at the Whistler Project, which have resulted in strengthened confidence of the Whistler MRE by increasing the gold equivalent ounces in the indicated category by approximately 117% from prior estimates. The Project now contains 6.5 Moz AuEq in the indicated resource category and an additional 4.2 Moz AuEq in the inferred resource category. The successful 2023 drilling program and growth of the mineral resources at Whistler is an example of how our spin-out strategy continues to unlock value for GoldMining shareholders. We now hold over $175 million in cash and equities1 that help position us to advance strategic initiatives across our portfolio, which globally holds 12.5 million AuEq ounces of measured and indicated resources and 9.7 million AuEq ounces of inferred resources.”

    About FN Media Group:

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    DISCLAIMER: FN Media Group LLC (FNM), which owns and operates FinancialNewsMedia.com and MarketNewsUpdates.com, is a third party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels. FNM is NOT affiliated in any manner with any company mentioned herein. FNM and its affiliated companies are a news dissemination solutions provider and are NOT a registered broker/dealer/analyst/adviser, holds no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security. FNM’s market updates, news alerts and corporate profiles are NOT a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities. The material in this release is intended to be strictly informational and is NEVER to be construed or interpreted as research material. All readers are strongly urged to perform research and due diligence on their own and consult a licensed financial professional before considering any level of investing in stocks. All material included herein is republished content and details which were previously disseminated by the companies mentioned in this release. FNM is not liable for any investment decisions by its readers or subscribers. Investors are cautioned that they may lose all or a portion of their investment when investing in stocks. For current services performed FNM was compensated forty nine hundred dollars for news coverage of the current press releases issued by RUA GOLD Inc. by a non-affiliated third party. FNM HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE.

    This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. “Forward-looking statements” describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as “may”, “future”, “plan” or “planned”, “will” or “should”, “expected,” “anticipates”, “draft”, “eventually” or “projected”. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company’s annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and FNM undertakes no obligation to update such statements.

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    SOURCE: FN Media Group

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Sky Quarry Partners with Atlas Roofing Corp. to Explore Asphalt Shingle Recycling

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Exploratory Relationship Will Assess and Develop Mutually Beneficial Processes for the Recovery of Waste Asphalt Shingle Material and Oil

    WOODS CROSS, Utah, Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sky Quarry Inc. (NASDAQ: SKYQ) (“Sky Quarry” or the “Company”), an oil production, refining, and development-stage environmental remediation company formed to deploy technologies to facilitate the recycling of waste asphalt shingles and remediation of oil-saturated sands and soils, today announced it has entered into an exploratory relationship with Atlas Roofing Corporation (“Atlas”) to assess and develop mutually beneficial processes for asphalt shingle recycling.

    Atlas Roofing Corporation is an innovative, customer-oriented manufacturer of residential and commercial building materials. Atlas has grown from a single shingle-manufacturing plant into an industry leader with 33 facilities across North America. Atlas has partnerships with some of North America’s most respected companies, allowing Sky Quarry to provide new technologies to various markets.

    Under the partnership, Sky Quarry will collaborate with Atlas to explore the use of its closed loop recycling process and proprietary shingle extraction technology to recover both material and oil from Atlas’ waste shingles. In lab testing, Sky Quarry’s ECOSolv technology has demonstrated a material recovery rate of up to 95%, recycling of up to 99% of its solvent, and recovery of up to 99% of hydrocarbons.

    “As a leader in the building products industry, Atlas is an ideal partner to demonstrate our groundbreaking application capable of separating waste shingles into clean oil and other valuable materials,” said David Sealock, Chairman, CEO and Co-Founder of Sky Quarry. “Currently, there are no sustainably viable solutions for the disposal of waste asphalt shingles, and we believe this exploratory relationship will show how our sustainable business model can transform an environmental challenge into a profitable and sustainable prospect. We look forward to working with the team at Atlas to develop mutually beneficial processes for their waste shingles.”

    About Atlas Roofing Corporation

    From a single asphalt shingle manufacturing facility in 1982, Atlas has grown to 33 manufacturing facilities in North America providing worldwide product distribution. Today, products from the company’s four major divisions, Polyiso Roof & Wall Insulation, Shingles & Underlayments, Molded Products, and Web Technologies, are manufactured in state-of-the-art facilities and shipped from a network of manufacturing plants and distribution facilities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Atlas’ mission is to deliver leading products and solutions that enrich the lives of those they touch, by nurturing a culture of agility, teamwork, and accessibility that attracts the most talented people in their industries.

    Atlas Roofing Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hood Companies, Inc. Hood Companies is a privately owned, closely held holding company and is the parent to operating subsidiaries involved in the manufacture and distribution of forest and wood products, building and construction materials, and flexible and corrugated packaging products throughout North America. For more information, please visit atlas-arc.com.

    About Sky Quarry Inc.

    Sky Quarry Inc (NASDAQ: SKYQ) and its subsidiaries are, collectively, an oil production, refining, and a development-stage environmental remediation company formed to deploy technologies to facilitate the recycling of waste asphalt shingles and remediation of oil-saturated sands and soils. Our waste-to-energy mission is to repurpose and upcycle millions of tons of asphalt shingle waste, diverting them from landfills. By doing so, we can contribute to improved waste management, promote resource efficiency, conserve natural resources, and reduce environmental impact. For more information, please visit http://www.skyquarry.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release may include ”forward-looking statements.” All statements pertaining to our future financial and/or operating results, future events, or future developments may constitute forward-looking statements. The statements may be identified by words such as “expect,” “look forward to,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “seek,” “estimate,” “will,” “project,” or words of similar meaning. Such statements are based on the current expectations and certain assumptions of our management, of which many are beyond control. These are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and factors, including but not limited to those described in disclosures. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should underlying expectations not occur or assumptions prove incorrect, actual results, performance, or our achievements may (negatively or positively) vary materially from those described explicitly or implicitly in the relevant forward-looking statement. We neither intend, nor assume any obligation, to update or revise these forward-looking statements in light of developments which differ from those anticipated. You are urged to carefully review and consider any cautionary statements and other disclosures, including the statements made under the heading “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in the offering statement filed with the SEC. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of the document in which they are contained.

    Investor Relations
    Chris Tyson
    Executive Vice President
    MZ Group – MZ North America
    949-491-8235
    SKYQ@mzgroup.us
    http://www.mzgroup.us

    Company Website
    https://investor.skyquarry.com/

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Trio Provides Operational Update

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Company Details Plans to Increase Production

    Bakersfield, CA, Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Trio Petroleum Corp (NYSE American: TPET) (“Trio” or the “Company”), a California-based oil and gas company, today provided an operational update on each of its current oil and gas assets, by field. The update details the specific operational activities the Company is taking to increase daily oil and gas production.

    McCool Ranch Field

    • Production has been stable for a number of months averaging about 20 BOPD from the HH-1 and 35X wells collectively and we are actively continuing operations to increase oil production.
    • The Company is planning to acidize the HH-1 and 35X wells and anticipates a notable increase in oil production.
    • Planning is underway to return the 58X, HH-3 and HH-4 wells to production over the next several months.
    • Operations continue to prepare the field for cyclic-steam operations – when our current five oil wells were initially steamed in 2014-2015 oil production steadily increased over a nine month period from 30 BOPD to a peak of about 400 BOPD.

    Presidents Field, South Salinas Project

    • First oil sales from the HV-3A well occurred in August 2024. We believe production at HV-3A may be improved with acid treatments, by adding up to 625 feet of perforations across the proven oil-producing zones, and/or opening deeper behind-pipe oil zones that are currently below a bridge plug.
    • We expect workovers at HV-3A, whether acidizing, perforating and/or opening deeper zones, will result in notable increases in oil production.
    • Initially we expect to acidize (for borehole cleanup) the currently open 250 feet of perforations and anticipate production of at least 30 BOPD, (which was the average rate in the well’s first month of production), and potentially a much higher oil rate.

    Asphalt Ridge

    • The HSO 2-4 well is currently producing, utilizing a downhole heater, and the operator, Valkor LLC, expects that production may stabilize at approximately 40 BOPD.
    • Asphalt Ridge is known to be one of the largest tar-sand deposits in North America outside of Canada, and to have now established first-oil at this project is of utmost significance to the Company.
    • Downhole heater operations are expected to be operational shortly at the 8-4 well.
    • We expect at least one additional well at Asphalt Ridge by year’s end.
    • Valkor LLC projects that these 3 wells collectively will produce roughly 120-150 BOPD.

    “We are pleased to be able to provide these operational updates on our three oil and gas assets,” commented Robin Ross, CEO of Trio. “We have three good scalable projects today and one of my top priorities is developing what we control, and increasing production. The next few months should be exciting as we continue to demonstrate the potential of our company and grow our business.”

    About Trio Petroleum Corp

    Trio Petroleum Corp is an oil and gas exploration and development company headquartered in Bakersfield, California, with operations in Monterey County, California, and Uintah County, Utah. In Monterey County, Trio owns a 85.75% working interest in 9,245 acres at the Presidents and Humpback oilfields in the South Salinas Project, and a 21.92% working interest in 800 acres in the McCool Ranch Field. In Uintah County, Trio owns a 2.25% working interest in 960 acres and options to acquire up to an additional 17.75% working interest in the 960 acres, and also an option to acquire 20% working interest in an adjacent 1,920 acres, and a right of first refusal to participate in an additional approximate 30,000 acres of the Asphalt Ridge Project at terms offered to other third parties.

    Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

    All statements in this press release of Trio Petroleum Corp (“Trio”) and its representatives and partners that are not based on historical fact are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and the provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Acts”). In particular, when used in the preceding discussion, the words “estimates,” “believes,” “hopes,” “expects,” “intends,” “on-track”, “plans,” “anticipates,” or “may,” and similar conditional expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Acts and are subject to the safe harbor created by the Acts. Any statements made in this news release other than those of historical fact, about an action, event or development, are forward-looking statements. While management has based any forward-looking statements contained herein on its current expectations, the information on which such expectations were based may change. These forward-looking statements rely on a number of assumptions concerning future events and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are outside of the Trio’s control, that could cause actual results to materially and adversely differ from such statements. Such risks, uncertainties, and other factors include, but are not necessarily limited to, those set forth in the Risk Factors sections of the Trio reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Copies of such documents are available on the SEC’s website, http://www.sec.gov. Trio undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law.

    Investor Relations Contact:
    Redwood Empire Financial Communications
    Michael Bayes
    (404) 809 4172
    michael@redwoodefc.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Hamburg Sustainability Platform – New alliances are needed to provide blended finance at scale (15 Oct. 2024)

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

    Public-private stakeholder coalition kicks-off joint work to scale up private SDG investment in emerging markets and developing economies: At the Hamburg Sustainability Conference, a coalition of private and public institutions announced to join forces to set up the Hamburg Sustainability Platform. This platform aims at scaling sustainable investments into emerging markets and developing economies through standardization.

    The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as the climate and biodiversity goals, cannot be achieved with public funds alone. More private investment is urgently needed, especially in emerging markets and development economies. To close this financing gap, it must become easier for private investors to invest. Blended finance provides efficient mechanisms to address this challenge. This is the aim of an alliance of public and private stakeholders, the Hamburg Sustainability Platform (HSP), announced at the Hamburg Sustainability Conference.

    The German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, (BMZ); the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO); Global Affairs Canada; the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Treasury of the Republic of South Africa; the Secretary of State in charge of International partnerships of France; the German Development Bank KfW; British International Investment (BII); as well as Allianz and Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) are partnering to jointly develop the Hamburg Sustainability Platform. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) acts as an advisory body to the platform.

    Sustainable investments in emerging markets and developing economies have so far been for the pioneers in the private sector: while promising investment opportunities exist, large institutional investors such as pension funds or insurance companies rarely invest at scale. This is because implementation takes a long time, as preparations can take several years and financial products are often very complex. To make it easier for private investors to invest at scale, it would be necessary to pool the funds of public donors and standardize financial vehicles.

    As a solution, the HSP aims at better combining public and private investments through standardized financial products as well as harmonized public strategies. The initiative thereby aims to enhance simplicity, replicability and efficiency, thus enabling considerable additional investment volume.

    Standardization is a key enabler of operational efficiency. By delivering simplicity, efficiency and speed, volume becomes possible. Standardization acts like a common language, combatting fragmentation and accelerating procedures. It could therefore be an important step to help scaling private investment. This is recognized and demanded by different institutions and initiatives such as the UN-convened Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance (NZAOA), the OECD, as well as the B20 Finance & Infrastructure Working Group. Nevertheless, standardization is currently lacking in blended finance.

    The HSP was announced at the inaugural Hamburg Sustainability Conference, held on 7-8 October. Under the motto “together we co-create development”, the Hamburg Sustainability Conference challenges barriers to SDG implementation. It establishes a new global forum to speed up progress towards achieving the SDGs and deliver result-oriented solutions. The annual conference is a joint initiative of the United Nations (UNDP), the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Michael Otto Foundation and the City of Hamburg.

    On their motivations for the HSP, the founding members have said:

    Anneliese Dodds, Minister for Development and Minister for Women and Equalities, United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: “Meeting the Sustainable Development Goals will require trillions of dollars of additional public and private investment into emerging markets and developing economies. To get private capital moving quickly and at scale, investors need to be able to compare options and make decisions with confidence. That’s why the UK is pleased to support the Hamburg Sustainability Platform, which will focus on scaling up sustainable investment into the regions that need it most, by providing standardized investment products in a clear and simple format.”

    Jochen Flasbarth, State Secretary of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development: ”The SDGs represent an unprecedented global consensus and as such, a joint mission of public and private stakeholders. We need to join forces to make this mission heard. Over the past years, numerous good examples of blended finance vehicles have been set up. It is now time to identify those success cases, standardize, and scale them. This is what the Hamburg Sustainability Platform stands for. It is a great example of how the German government enhances international partnerships and how development cooperation efficiently uses market mechanisms to co-create impact. “

    Thani Mohamed Soilihi, French Secretary of State for Francophonie and international partnerships: “We need to boost financing capacities if we collectively want to achieve United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and this requires far more private sector leveraging. This is a priority for France, that we are pursuing with 66 partners through the Paris Pact for People and Planet. In that perspective, the Hamburg Sustainability Platform plays an important role and we hope it will bolster current efforts to scale sustainable investments and deliver tangible results.”

    Lina Gandløse Hansen, State Secretary for Trade and Investments, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Denmark: “We need to bridge the financing gap to deliver on the SDGs and the Paris agreement. The numbers tell a clear story: We are far off track. We need all hands on deck and the private sector must play a key role. We need to deliver scale and replicable models. The Hamburg Sustainability Platform can play an important role. Denmark is looking forward to bringing our strong focus on innovative financing to the table and explore synergies, not least with the work in the Investment Mobilization Collaboration Alliance (IMCA) which aims at mobilizing billions of USD in private capital in support of climate action.”

    Mmakgoshi Lekhethe, Head of Asset and Liability Management at the National Treasury of the Republic of South Africa: “We need impactful solutions and investments on a global scale. And for investments to be impactful, private and public sector need to work together. Development efforts can only be sustainable in the long run if we succeed in mobilizing private markets for our goals. The Hamburg Sustainability Platform can become a key lever on this mission.”

    Patricia Peña, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Global Affairs Canada: “Setting up the Hamburg Sustainability Platform involves learning from and working with existing solutions, ensuring what we put forward and how we work together adds value and avoids duplication. Recognising the need to cooperate more efficiently with other donors and private investors from an early stage, the Hamburg Sustainability Platform could become a key tool to enhance donor cooperation and address existing challenges in blended finance.”

    Claus Stickler, Global Co-Lead at Allianz Investment Management: “Speed and scalability are key success factors in achieving sustainable change globally, including for example accelerating the deployment of renewable energy in emerging markets. The Hamburg Sustainability Platform can help simplify the creation and management of blended finance vehicles, thereby increasing their investability. Let’s work together to create this important platform for real action.”

    Vito Dellerba, Managing Director, Sustainable Investing at CDPQ: “Templates and standardized frameworks for financial returns and impact – initiatives highlighted by the Hamburg Sustainability Platform – facilitate timely and knowledgeable decisions by providing streamlined and consistent information. In addition, it has the potential to boost market efficiency by enhancing risk management practices, lowering transaction costs and increasing liquidity.“

    OECD Deputy Secretary-General Mary Beth Goodman: “The OECD supports the Hamburg Sustainability Platform in an advisory role. Promoting innovative approaches to scaling up private capital mobilization in Emerging Market and Developing Economies is core to the work of the OECD. As a convener, we will be a partner in driving this initiative forward. Based on the OECD’s work in harmonising blended finance approaches, and with standardization featuring prominently in the current update of the Blended Finance Principles Guidance, the OECD can be a key contributor of this initiative.”

    Christiane Laibach, Member of the Executive Board of KfW: “We have all learnt valuable lessons from the past twenty years of blended finance and impact investment. But to reach scale, we need to join forces, agree on common models based on these lessons and roll them out in a predictable and standardized manner. This is the objective of the Hamburg Sustainability Platform.”

    Liz Lloyd, Chief Investment Officer at BII: “Unlocking private capital is critical to meet the twin challenges of development and the climate emergency. One important way to do that is through innovative blended finance, using concessional public finance to encourage private investment to achieve the SDGs. We are pleased to collaborate with others to reach a common approach to blended finance, to help mobilize private capital into sustainable investments at scale.“

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI: Trupanion, Inc. Announces Third Quarter 2024 Earnings Release and Conference Call

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SEATTLE, Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Trupanion, Inc. (Nasdaq: TRUP), a leader in medical insurance for cats and dogs, announced today it will report financial results for its 2024 third quarter after the market closes on Wednesday, October 30, 2024. The company will host a conference call that day beginning shortly after 1:30 p.m. PT / 4:30 p.m. ET.

    A live webcast (including a slide presentation) discussing results, guidance and management observations will be available on Trupanion’s Investor Relations site under Investor Events at http://investors.trupanion.com and will be archived online for 3 months upon completion of the conference call.

    Participants can access the conference call by dialing 1-877-300-8521 (United States) or 1-412-317-6026 (International). A telephonic replay of the call will also be available after the completion of the call, by dialing 1-844-512-2921 (United States) or 1-412-317-6671 (International) and entering the replay pin number: 10192561.

    About Trupanion:

    Trupanion is a leader in medical insurance for cats and dogs throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Puerto Rico and Australia with over 1,000,000 pets enrolled. For over two decades, Trupanion has given pet owners peace of mind so they can focus on their pet’s recovery, not financial stress. Trupanion is committed to providing pet owners with the highest value in pet medical insurance with unlimited payouts for the life of their pets. With its patented process, Trupanion is the only North American provider with the technology to pay veterinarians directly in seconds at the time of checkout. Trupanion is listed on NASDAQ under the symbol “TRUP”. The company was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Seattle, WA. Trupanion policies are issued, in the United States, by its wholly-owned insurance entity American Pet Insurance Company and, in Canada, by Accelerant Insurance Company of Canada. Trupanion Australia is a partnership between Trupanion and Hollard Insurance Company. Policies are sold and administered by Trupanion Managers USA, Inc. (CA license No. 0G22803, NPN 9588590). For more information, please visit trupanion.com.

    Contact: 

    Laura Bainbridge, Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications
    Gil Melchior, Director, Investor Relations
    Investor.Relations@trupanion.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: CarGurus Teams With NFL Legend Drew Brees for “Keys to Success” Campaign

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Known for his confidence and ability to deliver under pressure, the former NFL quarterback and auto enthusiast is coaching today’s drivers in new digital campaign

    BOSTON, Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CarGurus (Nasdaq: CARG), the No. 1 visited digital auto platform for shopping, buying, and selling new and used vehicles1, today launched a new campaign with NFL legend Drew Brees focused on helping today’s drivers feel even more confident and prepared during the car buying and selling process. The “Keys to Success” campaign taps Brees—who is known for his ability to deliver under pressure both on and off the field—to empower all drivers in getting “game day-ready” to feel assured they’re getting the best deal and are in control through the car buying and selling process.

    “CarGurus helps today’s shoppers get ready for their big moment by providing access to thorough vehicle information, the most extensive deal ratings, and the most new and used cars so you know you’re getting the best deal possible,” explained Brees. “So much of performing at a high level is about focusing on the process and having the tools that instill confidence so that by the time you step on the field—or into the dealership—you’re ready to make things happen.”

    As one of the largest financial commitments today’s consumer can make, purchasing a car can be daunting for many. According to a recent CarGurus study2, many game-time decisions can erode a shopper’s confidence:

    • The top three factors that can cause someone to second-guess their car purchase are 1) Not being sure what makes for a fair price (39%); 2) Feeling rushed to make a decision (37%); and 3) The general stress of making such a big purchase/commitment (36%).
    • Nearly two-thirds (61%) of buyers said that negotiating a price is one of the most intimidating aspects of buying a car.
    • Mirroring the trend seen for car buying, 50% of respondents said the most intimidating aspect of selling or trading in a car was getting the most money.

    “Known for his rigorous mental and physical preparation during his professional football career, Drew’s winning combination of steady confidence and rigorous research both on and off the field makes him the perfect confidence coach for today’s drivers, and a natural partner for CarGurus,” said Dafna Sarnoff, CarGurus Chief Marketing Officer. “Car shoppers can identify with Drew’s mindset of gathering the best information and tools available to feel confident that they are getting the best deals for their unique individual needs.”

    The “Keys to Success” campaign will be featured on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, and other digital video placements. See here to learn more about the campaign.

    About CarGurus, Inc.

    CarGurus (Nasdaq: CARG) is a multinational, online automotive platform for buying and selling vehicles that is building upon its industry-leading listings marketplace with both digital retail solutions and the CarOffer online wholesale platform. The CarGurus platform gives consumers the confidence to purchase and/or sell a vehicle either online or in-person, and it gives dealerships the power to accurately price, effectively market, instantly acquire and quickly sell vehicles, all with a nationwide reach. The company uses proprietary technology, search algorithms and data analytics to bring trust, transparency, and competitive pricing to the automotive shopping experience. CarGurus is the most visited automotive shopping site in the U.S.1

    CarGurus also operates online marketplaces under the CarGurus brand in Canada and the United Kingdom. In the United States and the United Kingdom, CarGurus also operates the Autolist and PistonHeads online marketplaces, respectively, as independent brands.

    To learn more about CarGurus, visit http://www.cargurus.com, and for more information about CarOffer, visit http://www.caroffer.com.

    CarGurus® is a registered trademark of CarGurus, Inc., and CarOffer® is a registered trademark of CarOffer, LLC. All other product names, trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

    1Similarweb: Traffic Insights (Cars.com, Autotrader.com, TrueCar.com), Q2 2024, U.S.
    2Methodology: July 2024 survey of 1,501 U.S. licensed residents, 18+

    Media Contact:
    Maggie Meluzio
    Director, Public Relations & External Communications
    pr@cargurus.com

    Investor Contact:
    Kirndeep Singh
    Vice President, Investor Relations
    investors@cargurus.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9cd48575-34a4-44b2-90ed-3b28fd021eed

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Canada to provide update on Public Lands for Homes Plan

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Media advisory

    October 15, 2024

    Québec, Quebec – The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Quebec Lieutenant, will announce developments in the government’s efforts to address the national housing crisis and build more homes, faster.

    There will be a media availability following the announcement.

    Please note that all details are subject to change and all times are local.

    Date: October 16, 2024
    Time: 10:00 AM
    Location:     Québec, Quebec

    Notes for media

    • Media wishing to attend this announcement are asked to confirm their participation by sending their full name and the name of the media organization they represent to Public Services and Procurement Canada Media Relations team to media@pwgsc-tpsgc.gc.ca by October 15, at 5:00 pm.
    • Please include “RSVP for October 16, 2024 Quebec Press Conference” in the subject line of the email.
    • Event location details will be shared once media are registered.
    • Media attending the event are asked to arrive no later than 9:45 am.

    Contacts

    For information (media only):

    Guillaume Bertrand
    Acting Director of Communications
    Office of the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos
    418-564-9571
    guillaume.bertrand@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca

    Media Relations
    Public Services and Procurement Canada
    819-420-5501
    media@pwgsc-tpsgc.gc.ca

    Follow us on X (Twitter)
    Follow us on Facebook

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Grand Bay-Westfield — RCMP seeking public’s help in connection with copper wire thefts

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    The Grand Bay-Westfield RCMP is seeking the public’s help in connection with a rise in copper wire thefts along Highways 1 and 7, near Grand Bay-Westfield.

    Since 2022, there has been a significant increase in reports of copper wire thefts across the province, posing a significant risk to public safety as it can limit access to 911 and other critical infrastructure.

    The RCMP encourages everyone to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity, for example:

    • All-Terrain vehicles in unusual areas, especially near utility poles or cell phone towers.
    • Flashlights or unusual movement around utility or cell phone towers, particularly at night.
    • Unmarked vehicles parked in areas where copper wire or metal might be stored or transported.
    • Individuals handling or transporting large amounts of copper or large industrial batteries without reason.
    • Thick black smoke as a result of melting down the wire

    The RCMP is also warning the public of the dangers of stealing copper wire. Power lines and electrical substations can contain very high voltages of electricity, which should only be handled with the right training and equipment. Vandalizing electrical equipment poses a significant safety risk, and can cause serious injuries, including death.

    Anyone who witnesses suspicious activity, or who has information related to these crimes is asked to contact their local police department. Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), by downloading the secure P3 Mobile App, or by Secure Web Tips at http://www.crimenb.ca.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Apple introduces powerful new iPad mini built for Apple Intelligence

    Source: Apple

    Headline: Apple introduces powerful new iPad mini built for Apple Intelligence

    October 15, 2024

    PRESS RELEASE

    Apple introduces powerful new iPad mini built for Apple Intelligence

    The ultraportable iPad mini is more capable and versatile than ever with the powerful A17 Pro chip and support for Apple Pencil Pro

    CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA Apple today introduced the new iPad mini, supercharged by the A17 Pro chip and Apple Intelligence, the easy-to-use personal intelligence system that understands personal context to deliver intelligence that is helpful and relevant while protecting user privacy. With a beloved ultraportable design, the new iPad mini is available in four gorgeous finishes, including a new blue and purple, and features the brilliant 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display. A17 Pro delivers a huge performance boost for even the most demanding tasks, with a faster CPU and GPU, a 2x faster Neural Engine than the previous-generation iPad mini,1 and support for Apple Intelligence. The versatility and advanced capabilities of the new iPad mini are taken to a whole new level with support for Apple Pencil Pro, opening up entirely new ways to be even more productive and creative. The 12MP wide back camera supports Smart HDR 4 for natural-looking photos with increased dynamic range, and uses machine learning to detect and scan documents right in the Camera app.

    The new iPad mini features all-day battery life and brand-new experiences with iPadOS 18. Starting at just $499 with 128GB — double the storage of the previous generation — the new iPad mini delivers incredible value and the full iPad experience in an ultraportable design. Customers can pre-order the new iPad mini today, with availability beginning Wednesday, October 23.

    “There is no other device in the world like iPad mini, beloved for its combination of powerful performance and versatility in our most ultraportable design. iPad mini appeals to a wide range of users and has been built for Apple Intelligence, delivering intelligent new features that are powerful, personal, and private,” said Bob Borchers, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “With the powerful A17 Pro chip, faster connectivity, and support for Apple Pencil Pro, the new iPad mini delivers the full iPad experience in our most portable design at an incredible value.”

    A17 Pro Unlocks Powerful Performance

    The new iPad mini gets a major update with A17 Pro, delivering incredible performance and power efficiency in an ultraportable design. A17 Pro is a powerful chip that unlocks a number of improvements over A15 Bionic in the previous-generation iPad mini. With a 6-core CPU — two performance cores and four efficiency cores — A17 Pro delivers a 30 percent boost in CPU performance.1 A17 Pro also brings a boost in graphics performance with a 5-core GPU, delivering a 25 percent jump over the previous generation.1 A17 Pro brings entirely new experiences — including pro apps used by designers, pilots, doctors, and others — and makes it faster than ever for users to edit photos, dive into more immersive AR applications, and more. The new iPad mini brings true-to-life gaming with hardware-accelerated ray tracing — which is 4x faster than software-based ray tracing — as well as support for Dynamic Caching and hardware-accelerated mesh shading. From creating engaging content faster than ever in Affinity Designer, to playing demanding, graphics-intensive AAA games like Zenless Zone Zero, users can take the powerful performance and ultraportable iPad mini anywhere.

    Built for Apple Intelligence

    With the power of the A17 Pro chip, the new iPad mini delivers support for Apple Intelligence. Deeply integrated into iPadOS 18, Apple Intelligence harnesses the power of Apple silicon and Apple-built generative models to understand and create language and images, take action across apps, and draw from personal context to simplify and accelerate everyday tasks. Many of the models that power Apple Intelligence run entirely on device, and Private Cloud Compute offers the ability to flex and scale computational capacity between on-device processing and larger, server-based models that run on dedicated Apple silicon servers.

    The first set of Apple Intelligence features will be available in U.S. English this month through a free software update with iPadOS 18.1, and available for iPad with A17 Pro or M1 and later. Apple Intelligence delivers experiences that are delightful, intuitive, easy to use, and specially designed to help users do the things that matter most to them:2

    • With Writing Tools, users can refine their words by rewriting, proofreading, and summarizing text nearly everywhere they write, including Mail, Notes, Pages, and third-party apps.
    • Siri becomes more deeply integrated into the system experience and gets a new design with an elegant glowing light that wraps around the edge of the screen when active on iPad. With richer language-understanding capabilities, communicating with Siri is more natural and flexible. Siri can follow along when users stumble over their words, can maintain context from one request to the next, and now, users can type to Siri. Siri also has extensive product knowledge to answer questions about features on iPad and other Apple devices.
    • In Photos, the Memories feature now enables users to create the movies they want to see by simply typing a description, and with the new Clean Up tool, they can identify and remove distracting objects in the background of a photo — without accidentally altering the subject.

    Additional Apple Intelligence features will be rolling out over the next several months:

    • Image Playground allows users to create playful images in moments.
    • Image Wand is a new tool in the Apple Pencil tool palette that can transform a rough sketch into a polished image.
    • Emoji will be taken to an entirely new level with the ability to create original Genmoji by simply typing a description, or by selecting a photo of a friend or family member.
    • Siri will be able to draw on a user’s personal context to deliver intelligence that is tailored to them. It will also gain onscreen awareness to understand and take action with users’ content, as well as take hundreds of new actions in and across Apple and third-party apps.
    • With ChatGPT integrated into experiences within iPadOS 18, users have the option to access its expertise, as well as its image- and document-understanding capabilities, within Siri and Writing Tools without needing to jump between tools. And privacy protections are built in so a user’s IP address is obscured, and OpenAI won’t store requests. Users can access ChatGPT for free without creating an account, and ChatGPT’s data-use policies apply for those who choose to connect their account.

    Even Faster Connectivity

    With faster wireless and wired connectivity, users can do even more on iPad mini while on the go. The new iPad mini supports Wi-Fi 6E, which delivers up to twice the performance than the previous generation,3 so users can download files, play games online, and stream movies even faster. Wi-Fi + Cellular models with 5G allow users to access their files, communicate with peers, and back up their data in a snap while on the go. Cellular models of the new iPad mini are activated with eSIM, a more secure alternative to a physical SIM card, allowing users to quickly connect and transfer their existing plans digitally, and store multiple cellular plans on a single device. Customers can easily get connected to wireless data plans on the new iPad mini in over 190 countries and regions around the world without needing to get a physical SIM card from a local carrier. The USB-C port is now up to 2x faster than the previous generation, with data transfers up to 10Gbps, so importing large photos and videos is even quicker.

    Incredible Camera Experience

    Great cameras, along with the incredibly portable form factor of iPad mini, enable powerful mobile workflows. The 12MP wide back camera delivers gorgeous photos, and with Smart HDR 4, they will be even more detailed and vivid. Utilizing the powerful 16-core Neural Engine, the new iPad mini uses artificial intelligence (AI) to automatically identify documents right in the Camera app and can use the new True Tone flash to remove shadows from the document. The 12MP Ultra Wide front-facing camera in portrait orientation, with support for Center Stage, is great for all the ways customers use iPad mini.

    Magical Capabilities with Apple Pencil Pro

    Apple Pencil Pro unlocks magical capabilities and powerful interactions, turning iPad mini into a sketchbook users can take anywhere. Apple Pencil Pro can sense a user’s squeeze, bringing up a tool palette to quickly switch tools, line weights, and colors, all without interrupting the creative process. A custom haptic engine delivers a light tap that provides confirmation when users squeeze, double-tap, or snap to a Smart Shape for a remarkably intuitive experience. Users can roll Apple Pencil Pro for precise control of the tool they’re using. Rotating the barrel changes the orientation of shaped pen and brush tools, just like pen and paper, and with Apple Pencil hover, users can visualize the exact orientation of a tool before making a mark. Apple Pencil Pro features support for Find My, and pairs, charges, and is stored through a new magnetic interface on the new iPad mini. iPad mini also supports Apple Pencil (USB-C), ideal for note taking, sketching, annotating, journaling, and more, at a great value.

    iPadOS 18 Brings Powerful and Intelligent New Features

    In addition to the groundbreaking capabilities of Apple Intelligence, iPadOS 18 brings powerful features that enhance the iPad experience, making it more versatile and intelligent than ever. iPadOS also has advanced frameworks like Core ML that make it easy for developers to tap into the Neural Engine to deliver powerful AI features right on device.

    • Designed for the unique capabilities of iPad, Calculator delivers an entirely new way to use Apple Pencil to solve expressions, as well as basic and scientific calculators with a new history function and unit conversions. With Math Notes, users are now able to type mathematical expressions or write them out to see them instantly solved in handwriting like their own. They can also create and use variables, and add an equation to insert a graph. Users can also access their Math Notes in the Notes app, and use all of the math functionality in any of their other notes.
    • In the Notes app, handwritten notes become more fluid, flexible, and easy to read with Smart Script and the power of Apple Pencil. Smart Script unleashes powerful new capabilities for users editing handwritten text, allowing them to easily add space, or even paste typed text in their own handwriting. And as users write with Apple Pencil, their handwriting will be automatically refined in real time to be smoother, straighter, and more legible.
    • With new Audio Recording and Transcription, iPad can capture a lecture or conversation, and transcripts are synced with the audio, so users can search for an exact moment in the recording.
    • New levels of customization come to iPad, and users have even more options to express themselves through the Home Screen with app icons and widgets that can be placed in any open position. App icons and widgets can take on a new look with a dark or tinted effect, and users can make them appear larger to create the experience that is perfect for them. Control Center has been redesigned to provide easier access to many of the things users do every day, delivering quick access to new groups of a user’s most-utilized controls. Users can even organize new controls from third-party apps in the redesigned Control Center.
    • The Photos app receives its biggest update ever, bringing users powerful new tools that make it easier to find what they are looking for with a simplified and customizable app layout that takes advantage of the larger display on iPad and helps users browse by themes without having to organize content into albums.
    • Users have new ways to stay connected and express themselves in Messages, with all-new animated text effects, redesigned Tapbacks, and the ability to schedule messages to send at a later time.

    Better for the Environment

    The new iPad mini is designed with the environment in mind, including 100 percent recycled aluminum in the enclosure, 100 percent recycled rare earth elements in all magnets, and 100 percent recycled gold plating and tin soldering in multiple printed circuit boards. The new iPad mini meets Apple’s high standards for energy efficiency, and is free of mercury, brominated flame retardants, and PVC. The packaging is 100 percent fiber-based, bringing Apple closer to its goal to remove plastic from all packaging by 2025.

    Today, Apple is carbon neutral for global corporate operations and, as part of its ambitious Apple 2030 goal, plans to be carbon neutral across its entire carbon footprint by the end of this decade.

    Pricing and Availability

    • Customers can pre-order the new iPad mini starting today, October 15, on apple.com/store, and in the Apple Store app in 29 countries and regions, including the U.S. It will begin arriving to customers, and will be in Apple Store locations and Apple Authorized Resellers, starting Wednesday, October 23.
    • Available in blue, purple, starlight, and space gray, the new iPad mini starts at $499 (U.S.) for the Wi-Fi model, and $649 (U.S.) for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model.
    • The new iPad mini starts with 128GB of storage — double the storage of the previous generation. The new iPad mini is also available in 256GB and 512GB configurations.
    • For education, the new iPad mini starts at $449 (U.S.). Education pricing is available to current and newly accepted college students and their parents, as well as faculty, staff, and home-school teachers of all grade levels. For more information, visit apple.com/us-hed/shop.
    • Apple Pencil Pro is compatible with the new iPad mini. It is available for $129 (U.S.), and $119 (U.S.) for education. Apple Pencil (USB-C) is available for $79 (U.S.), and $69 (U.S.) for education.
    • The new Smart Folio, available in charcoal gray, light violet, denim, and sage, is $59 (U.S.).
    • Apple offers great ways to save on the latest iPad. Customers can trade in their current iPad and get credit toward a new one by visiting the Apple Store online, the Apple Store app, or an Apple Store location. To see what their device is worth and for terms and conditions, customers can visit apple.com/shop/trade-in.
    • Customers in the U.S. who shop at Apple using Apple Card can pay monthly at 0 percent APR when they choose to check out with Apple Card Monthly Installments, and they’ll get 3 percent Daily Cash back — all up front. More information — including details on eligibility, exclusions, and Apple Card terms — is available at apple.com/apple-card/monthly-installments.
    • AppleCare+ for iPad provides unparalleled service and support. This includes unlimited incidents of accidental damage, battery service coverage, and 24/7 support from the people who know iPad best.
    • Every customer who buys directly from Apple Retail gets access to Personal Setup. In these guided online sessions, a Specialist can walk customers through setup, or focus on features that help them make the most of their new device.

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

    1. Testing conducted by Apple in September 2024 using preproduction iPad mini (A17 Pro) and production iPad mini (6th generation) units. Tested with Affinity Photo 2 v2.5.5.2636 using the built-in benchmark version 25000. Performance tests are conducted using specific iPad units and reflect the approximate performance of iPad mini.
    2. Apple Intelligence will be available as a free software update for iPad with A17 Pro or M1 and later with device and Siri language set to U.S. English. The first set of features will be available in beta this month with iPadOS 18.1 with more features rolling out in the months to come. Later this year, Apple Intelligence will add support for localized English in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the U.K. In the coming year, Apple Intelligence will expand to more languages, like Chinese, English (India), English (Singapore), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Vietnamese, and others.
    3. Wi‑Fi 6E available in countries and regions where supported.

    Press Contacts

    Tara Courtney

    Apple

    tcourtney@apple.com

    Skylar Eisenhart

    Apple

    s_eisenhart@apple.com

    Apple Media Helpline

    media.help@apple.com

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI: Bullish Sentiments High on Gold Trends as Mining Operations Continue to Ramp Up

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PALM BEACH, Fla., Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FN Media Group News Commentary – In an recent article published by Skilliing.com regarding current Gold trends: “From ancient civilizations to modern-day investors, gold has consistently been sought after for its perceived stability and hedge against inflation and economic uncertainty. This enduring appeal has led to significant price movements over the years, with gold prices often mirroring broader economic trends. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for predicting future gold price movements and making informed investment decisions. According to experts, the gold price in October 2024 is expected to be influenced by several key factors. The ongoing geopolitical tensions, particularly in the Middle East, are likely to keep gold prices elevated. Additionally, the anticipation of US rate cuts in the third and fourth quarters of 2024 could further boost gold prices. With the current record already at $2,431.85, the next milestone to watch is $2,500 per ounce. The bullish setup of gold’s chart and its leading indicators suggest that gold could move close to the $2,550 area in 2024. This prediction is supported by the recent rally in gold prices, which has already surpassed many predictions for the year. The combination of geopolitical concerns and the potential for rate cuts makes a further rally in gold prices plausible.” Active mining companies in the markets this week include RUA GOLD Inc. (OTCQB: NZAUF) (TSX-V: RUA), Mawson Gold Limited (OTCPK: MWSNF), Founders Metals Inc. (OTCQX: FDMIF), SNOWLINE GOLD CORP (OTCQB: SNWGF) (TSX-V: SGD), Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (NYSE: AEM) (TSX: AEM).

    Skilliing.com added: “In the context of broader economic trends, the gold price prediction for October 2024 is also influenced by the strength of the dollar and the overall economic landscape. As interest rates start to fall, gold prices could hit fresh records. The average price target for gold in the final quarter of 2024 is around $2,175 per ounce, according to JPMorgan Chase & Co. This suggests a continued upward trajectory for gold prices in the latter half of 2024. 2025 Outlook: The outlook for 2025 is more uncertain. Some experts expect gold prices to stabilize around $2,350 per ounce in early 2025, with a potential decline to $2,175 later in the year, depending on the pace of U.S. central bank rate cuts. HSBC predicts a 12% drop in gold prices in 2025 due to rising real interest rates, while other analysts remain bullish, suggesting prices could exceed $3,000. 2030 Outlook: By 2030, some forecasts suggest gold could reach $7,000 per ounce, driven by low real interest rates, rising inflation, and demographic shifts that fuel demand for gold as a secure asset. Central bank demand will likely play a key role in supporting long-term growth.”

    RUA GOLD’s (TSXV:RUA) (OTCQB:NZAUF) Drill Program Intersects Near Surface Gold at The Reefton Project – RUA GOLD Inc. (WKN: A4010V) (“RUA GOLD” or the “Company”) is pleased to provide an update from the drilling campaign underway at the Reefton Project on the South Island of New Zealand.    The Company commenced its near mine drill program on the Murray Creek targets in July. A second drill rig was introduced in September to test the Capleston vein system. These historic mines collectively produced ~700koz of gold at 25.2g/t within a radius of ~20 kilometers.

    Robert Eckford, CEO of RUA GOLD commented: “Our five years of meticulous surface exploration work over the Reefton project is paying dividends from the outset of this drill program. Both of the initial drill holes have confirmed we are in right area and are locating these lodes. The near surface intercepts on Capleston are encouraging and makes for compelling economic ounces, it supports our thesis that the surface veins are continuous past the old workings. Despite the initial drill hole at Murray Creek hitting old workings, it is extremely encouraging that we have identified the dip angle of the Victoria lode and we have even more confidence with the subsequent hole that is underway now, and results from this will be ready in the next few weeks.”

    Capleston – On the second drill rig, which was introduced to test the Capleston vein system, the Company targeted an undeveloped and near-surface vein at the southern end of the two kilometer long historic Capleston project, the highest-grade producer of the Reefton Goldfield historically. Near surface targets lend themselves to early development and are the closest to transportation and infrastructure, providing low-cost operational advantages.

    The first diamond drill hole, DD_REF_043, intersected a 12m zone of quartz-pyrite-arsenopyrite in the hanging wall, with a 1m quartz vein from 31m to 32m @ 3.86 g.t Au.   A legacy drill hole intercepted the southern lode at 33m downhole, with 1m @ 24g/t Au followed by 1m @ 2.5g/t Au1. Mapping has recorded historical waste samples up to 32.0g/t Au in the vicinity, and a strong soil anomaly enveloping the vein (up to 410ppb Au).

    Murray Creek – RUA GOLD reports the completion of the first hole testing the down-dip extension of the Victoria lode, DD_VIC_041, which is being evaluated by the team. This intersected the targeted reef at 344m down hole and encountered historical underground workings over a 4m length. It then exited out to the footwall before drilling on for an additional 20m.

    This confirms that the lode extension is accurate and, with the precise location confirmed, a second hole is underway that is 50m deeper down dip from the initial drill hole. The Company anticipates an intersection into an un-mined portion of the reef at around 350m. Results from this testing will be available in the coming weeks.    CONTINUED… Read this full press release and more news for RUA GOLD at:   https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-rua/

    Other recent developments in the mining industry of note include:

    Mawson Gold Limited (OTCPK: MWSNF) recently announced that further to its news releases dated June 10, 2024 and July 30, 2024, Mawson has entered into an arrangement agreement (the “Arrangement Agreement”) with SUA Holdings Ltd. (“SUA”), a newly formed wholly-owned subsidiary of Mawson, pursuant to which the Company proposes to spin-out its uranium assets in Sweden (the “Uranium Assets”) to SUA in consideration for common shares of SUA (“SUA Common Shares”) and distribute 100% of the SUA Common Shares it then holds to the Mawson shareholders on a pro rata basis. As a result, following completion of the Arrangement, the Mawson shareholders (other than any dissenting shareholders) will also become shareholders of SUA and SUA will no longer be a subsidiary of Mawson.

    In connection with the Arrangement, Mawson has subscribed for additional SUA Common Shares for aggregate consideration of $600,000 to provide working capital to SUA. Such additional SUA Common Shares will also be distributed to the Mawson shareholders under the Arrangement.

    Founders Metals Inc. (OTCQX: FDMIF) recently announced that, further to the press release dated October 10, 2024, it has entered into an agreement with B2Gold Corp (“B2Gold”) for a C$12.1 million investment (the “Strategic Investment”) at a price of C$2.75 per common share (each, a “Share”). Together with the previously announced bought deal private placement of C$20M (the “Brokered Offering”), the Company will raise a total of C$32.1 million, fully funding the planned 2025 budget. Upon completion of the Strategic Investment and the Brokered Offering, B2Gold will own 5.0% of the Company’s issued and outstanding common shares on a non-diluted basis.

    Colin Padget, Founders’ President & CEO commented, “We are very pleased with B2Gold’s investment in Founders along with the support and validation it brings to our Antino Gold Project. We look forward to drawing on B2Gold’s experience in exploring for, and developing, world-class mining assets in similar geological environments. This broader financing package leaves Founders well positioned to ramp up exploration at Antino, fully funding our planned 2025 exploration budget and the near-term addition of a fourth diamond drill.”

    SNOWLINE GOLD CORP (OTCQB: SNWGF) (TSX-V: SGD) recently announced additional analytical results from its 2024 Valley deposit drilling campaign on the Rogue Project in Canada’s Yukon Territory alongside updates on its regional activities. Holes V-24-081 and V-24-084 returned strong, consistent gold grades from near-surface along the southwestern edge of the Valley deposit, outperforming the model used for the Company’s initial mineral resource estimate (MRE) earlier this year. In addition, Snowline has completed the first phase of a reclamation program at the Plata mining camp near the Rogue Project, organizing and inventorying debris and abandoned equipment from historical mining activities in the region for future demobilisation. The Company awaits analytical results from the majority of its 2024 exploration campaign, including >24,600 m of drilling in 44 holes across 5 different targets.

    “It is a testament to the consistency of mineralization at Valley that results like today’s have become almost commonplace,” said Scott Berdahl, CEO & Director of Snowline. “Nonetheless, they further demonstrate the strength of the system near surface, and key holes V-24-081 and V-24-084 outperform our model along the southwest margin of the deposit.

    Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (NYSE: AEM) (TSX: AEM) recently announced that it has filed an updated technical report for the Detour Lake mine in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

    The technical report is available on SEDAR+ (http://www.sedarplus.ca) and on the Company’s website (http://www.agnicoeagle.com).   Agnico Eagle is a Canadian based and led senior gold mining company and the third largest gold producer in the world, producing precious metals from operations in Canada, Australia, Finland and Mexico.

    About FN Media Group:

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    This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. “Forward-looking statements” describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as “may”, “future”, “plan” or “planned”, “will” or “should”, “expected,” “anticipates”, “draft”, “eventually” or “projected”. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company’s annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and FNM undertakes no obligation to update such statements.

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    SOURCE: FN Media Group

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Defence Minister Bill Blair to travel to Europe for North Atlantic Treaty Organization and G7 Defence Ministers’ Meetings

    Source: Government of Canada News

    The Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, will travel to Europe from October 17-20 to meet with Allies and partners to discuss issues of shared interest and ways to strengthen defence relationships.

    October 15, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

    The Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, will travel to Europe from October 17-20 to meet with Allies and partners to discuss issues of shared interest and ways to strengthen defence relationships.

    From October 17-18, Minister Blair will attend the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting (DMM) in Brussels, Belgium. This meeting will be an important opportunity for Allies to discuss issues related to security in the Euro-Atlantic, Middle East and Indo-Pacific regions, as well as NATO’s ongoing support for Ukraine.

    In Brussels, Minister Blair will participate in several side events, including a Defence Ministers’ Meeting of the Global Coalition Against Daesh. The Minister will also host a Northern Defence Dialogue with Arctic Allies and partner states to reaffirm their shared commitment to enhanced collaboration on Arctic security and defence.

    From October 18-20, the Minister will attend the first-ever G7 DMM in Naples, Italy. He will participate in discussions with his counterparts on G7 priorities, including support for Ukraine, the conflict in the Middle East, as well as economic security and resilience.

    While in Europe, Minister Blair will hold several bilateral meetings with counterparts.

    Media Availability

    Following the G7 DMM, Minister Blair will hold individual interviews with Canadian media. For further information, please contact Simon Lafortune (details below).

    Date and time: Saturday, October 19 between 9:30AM and 10:30AM ET

    Other arrangements can be made if necessary.

                                                                                            -30-      

    Simon Lafortune
    Press Secretary and Communications Advisor
    Office of the Minister of National Defence
    Phone: 343-549-0778
    Email: Simon.Lafortune2@forces.gc.ca

    Media Relations
    Department of National Defence
    Phone: 613-904-3333
    Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Double Double: October 15th Canada Carbon Rebate delivers boost for rural families

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    Today, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, visited community members at a local coffee shop in Gananoque, Ontario, to announce the latest quarterly Canada Carbon Rebate payments are being delivered to their bank accounts and mailboxes, with a one-time “double double” rural top-up

    October 15, 2024 – Gananoque, Ontario

    Today, families across Canada will receive their Canada Carbon Rebate, a payment that is making life more affordable for Canadians. The Canada Carbon Rebate—alongside measures like dental care, child care, and others—contribute to the Government of Canada’s plan to help Canadian families get ahead while ensuring big polluters pay their fair share.

    Today, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, visited community members at a local coffee shop in Gananoque, Ontario, to announce the latest quarterly Canada Carbon Rebate payments are being delivered to their bank accounts and mailboxes, with a one-time “double double” rural top-up.

    The “double double” rural top-up

    In Budget 2024, the Government of Canada doubled the rural top-up from 10 percent to 20 percent of the Canada Carbon Rebate base amount, to better support Canadians who live in rural areas and small communities, since they often drive longer distances and have higher energy needs. Given the delayed passage of the Budget, today families are receiving an added one-time 20 percent to make up retroactively for the doubling of the rural top-up on the April 15 and July 15 payments, effectively adding a one-time 40 percent top-up to the base amount of this quarter’s Canada Carbon Rebate. For a family of four in Gananoque, Ontario, this means receiving a payment of $392 today, and a total of $1,344 from Canada Carbon Rebates this fiscal year.

    The Canada Carbon Rebate and the rural supplement are part of a broader government effort to ease financial pressures on Canadians while simultaneously supporting the Government of Canada’s plan to combat climate change.

    Canada’s price on pollution is working. When it comes to meeting Canada’s goals, pollution pricing alone is delivering at least a third of the reductions needed, while delivering clean air and incentivizing job-creating greener investments in communities. As of today, emissions are trending down, while the economy grows and wages for Canadians are increasing.

    Hermine Landry
    Press Secretary
    Office of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change
    873-455-3714
    Hermine.Landry@ec.gc.ca

    Media Relations
    Environment and Climate Change Canada
    819-938-3338 or 1-844-836-7799 (toll-free)
    media@ec.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Canada Carbon Rebate rural top-up, 2024 and 2025

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Backgrounder

    Ensuring carbon pollution pricing helps make life more affordable

    A price on pollution is widely recognized as the most efficient means to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that are contributing to the more intense wildfires, droughts, and floods caused by climate change. Canada’s approach to pollution pricing is also designed to put money back into people’s pockets.

    Putting a price on pollution is a cornerstone of Canada’s plan, which is working to tackle climate change.

    Quarterly Canada Carbon Rebate for individuals—increased rural top-up

    The climate crisis is affecting all of Canada, but especially rural and small communities. They frequently face environmental, social, economic, cultural, and health impacts from climate change that are more intense than those in urban areas. Despite these challenges, these communities show remarkable resilience and often lead the way in adaptation efforts across Canada.

    Canadians living in rural and small communities are on the front lines of climate change, witnessing firsthand the devastating impacts of intensified wildfires, droughts, and floods. A price on pollution is found to be one of the most efficient ways that Canada is reducing greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute significantly to the frequency and severity of these impacts caused by climate change. The Canada Carbon Rebate both puts money back into people’s pockets and also stimulates investment in clean alternatives.

    In provinces where the federal fuel charge applies, most households get back more than they pay through the Canada Carbon Rebate for individuals, as a result of the federal carbon pollution pricing system, with lower- and middle-income households benefitting the most.

    To further recognize rural Canadians’ higher energy needs, particularly for home-heating and transportation, the Government of Canada has doubled the rural top-up available for households in rural areas and smaller communities from 10 percent to 20 percent of their Canada Carbon Rebate base amount, as of April 2024.

    This October, eligible Canadians will receive the enhanced rural top-up for the first time. The increase will be retroactive to April 1, 2024, so those households can expect an increased top-up amount for October 2024 with a one-time boost due to the increased top-up amounts for April and July.

    The top-up will apply to residents of provinces where the federal fuel charge applies, that is, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia whose primary residence is outside a Census Metropolitan Area, as defined by Statistics Canada. All rebate recipients in Prince Edward Island are eligible for the rural top-up, and it is included in their base amount. Determine if you qualify for the rural top-up.

    The table below shows the amount a family of four can expect to receive each quarter in 2024–2025. As all proceeds are returned in the province they were collected in, the rebate amount varies between provinces. It is higher in provinces with more consumption of fossil fuels.

    Table 1

    Quarterly Canada Carbon Rebate amounts for families of four for 2024 and 2025
    Province Family of four Rural
    Alberta $450.00 $540.00
    Manitoba $300.00 $360.00
    Ontario $280.00 $336.00
    Saskatchewan $376.00 $451.20
    New Brunswick $190.00 $228.00
    Nova Scotia $206.00 $247.20
    Prince Edward Island* $220.00 $220.00
    Newfoundland and Labrador $298.00 $357.60

    *As all residents of Prince Edward Island are eligible for the 20 percent rural top-up, it is reflected in the base amount for that province.

    Table 2

    Annual Canada Carbon Rebate amounts for families of four for 2024 and 2025
    Province Family of four Rural
    Alberta $1,800.00 $2,160.00
    Manitoba $1,200.00 $1,440.00
    Ontario $1,120.00 $1,344.00
    Saskatchewan $1,504.00 $1,804.80
    New Brunswick $760.00 $912.00
    Nova Scotia $824.00 $988.80
    Prince Edward Island* $880.00 $880.00
    Newfoundland and Labrador $1,192.00 $1,430.40

    *As all residents of Prince Edward Island are eligible for the 20 percent rural top-up, it is reflected in the base amount for that province.

    Canada Carbon Rebate for Small Businesses

    Canada’s small- and medium-sized businesses are the backbone of the Canadian economy and the heart of our communities. Across the country, they keep main streets flourishing, create good jobs, and deliver on the dream of entrepreneurship. Through the new Canada Carbon Rebate for Small Businesses, the Government of Canada is delivering on its commitment to return proceeds from the price on pollution directly to small- and medium-sized businesses with employees in the provinces where the federal fuel charge applies.

    This accelerated and automated return process will deliver over $2.5 billion directly to an estimated 600,000 small- and medium-sized businesses with employees in provinces where the pollution pricing system applies through a refundable tax credit. By receiving direct payments from the Canada Revenue Agency, separate from tax refunds, this simple process for returning fuel charge proceeds will help eligible small- and medium-sized businesses to focus on what matters most—driving their businesses forward.

    The Canada Revenue Agency plans to issue the rebate to eligible Canadian-controlled private corporations (CCPCs) that filed their 2023 tax return no later than July 15, 2024, by the end of the calendar year. Most businesses should receive their payment by:

    • December 16, 2024, if registered for direct deposit
    • December 31, 2024, if receiving payment by cheque

    On October 1, 2024, the Government of Canada specified payment rates, on a per employee basis, for the 2019–2020 to 2023–2024 fuel charge years, and the designated provinces in which these payment rates will apply.

    Table 3

    Specified payment rates per employee for the Canada Carbon Rebate for Small Businesses, 2019 and 2020 to 2023 and 2024
    – 2019 to 2020 2020 to 2021 2021 to 2022 2022 to 2023 2023 to 2024
    Alberta* n/a $147 $123 $140 $181
    Saskatchewan $110 $271 $244 $298 $233
    Manitoba $48 $99 $77 $89 $168
    Ontario $26 $68 $75 $86 $146
    New Brunswick* n/a n/a n/a n/a $87
    Nova Scotia* n/a n/a n/a n/a $119
    Prince Edward Island* n/a n/a n/a n/a $82
    Newfoundland and Labrador* n/a n/a n/a n/a $179

    *As the federal fuel charge only came into effect as of January 1, 2020, in Alberta, and as of July 1, 2023, in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador, small businesses in these provinces will receive payments for proceeds collected as of those respective dates.

    Table 4

    Example payment amounts for businesses, by number of employees, 2019 to 2023
    – 10 employees 25 employees 50 employees 100 employees 499 employees
    Alberta* $5,910 $14,775 $29,550 $59,100 $294,909
    Saskatchewan $11,560 $28,900 $57,800 $115,600 $576,844
    Manitoba $4,810 $12,025 $24,050 $48,100 $240,019
    Ontario $4,010 $10,025 $20,050 $40,100 $200,099
    New Brunswick* $870 $2,175 $4,350 $8,700 $43,413
    Nova Scotia* $1,190 $2,975 $5,950 $11,900 $59,381
    Prince Edward Island* $820 $2,050 $4,100 $8,200 $40,918
    Newfoundland and Labrador* $1,790 $4,475 $8,950 $17,900 $89,321

    *As the federal fuel charge only came into effect as of January 1, 2020, in Alberta, and as of July 1, 2023, in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador, small businesses in these provinces will receive payments for proceeds assessed after those respective dates.

    Additionally, to allow more businesses to receive a payment, it is also being proposed that corporations that file their tax return for 2023 after July 15, 2024, and on or before December 31, 2024, would be eligible for a payment. Legislation enacting these changes requires Royal Assent before payments can be issued to businesses filing after the initial July 15 deadline.

    More information on the Canada Carbon Rebate for Small Businesses payment amounts from 2019 and 2020 to 2023 and 2024 has been published by Finance Canada.

    Pollution pricing relief for farmers and fishers

    Farmers are on the frontlines of climate change, facing ever-increasing risks of floods, droughts, and storms to their operations. Canada’s approach to pollution pricing offers targeted support to farmers, who are also investing to deploy cost-saving and job-creating clean technology solutions. Farmers generally do not pay the fuel charge for gasoline and light fuel oil (diesel) used in eligible farming machinery on farms. Additionally, biological emissions are not priced under this federal system, totalling roughly 97 percent of on-farm emissions.

    Greenhouse operators also receive upfront relief of 80 percent of the fuel charge on propane and marketable natural gas used to heat an eligible greenhouse or to supplement carbon dioxide in eligible greenhouses to grow or produce plants.

    Additionally, farm businesses that operate in provinces where the federal fuel charge is in place can generally receive a refundable tax credit, the purpose of which is to return fuel charge proceeds related to farm use of natural gas and propane in heating and drying activities in those provinces to help farmers transition to lower-carbon ways of farming.

    Canada’s Greenhouse Gas Offset Credit System also provides an economic incentive for farmers to undertake innovative greenhouse gas reduction and removal projects.

    As part of the strengthened climate plan and the 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan, the Government of Canada committed over $1.5 billion to accelerate the agricultural sector’s progress on reducing emissions while remaining a global leader in sustainable agriculture. This includes $470.7 million for the Agricultural Clean Technology (ACT) Program to create an enabling environment for developing and adopting clean technology. This will help drive the changes required to achieve a low-carbon economy and promote sustainable growth in Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector.

    Fishers are also provided with relief from paying the federal fuel charge on gasoline and light fuel oil (diesel) used in fishing vessels for eligible fishing activities.

    Industrial pollution pricing system

    Industrial pollution pricing systems are designed to ensure there is a price incentive for industrial emitters to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and spur innovation while remaining competitive. Not only does pollution pricing ensure big polluters pay their fair share, it is also helping Canada attract new major projects that are creating good paying jobs.

    Canada’s approach to pollution pricing gives major heavy industries certainty on the price they pay for the pollution they generate, helping to bring forward investments in job-creating cleaner alternatives to meet their business needs. This helps them make informed decisions and is also designed to protect against the risk of industrial facilities moving to another region to avoid paying a price on carbon pollution.

    All proceeds generated from the federal industrial pollution pricing system in backstop jurisdictions are returned in the jurisdiction of origin to support industrial projects in cutting emissions and using new, cleaner technologies and processes.

    The Output-Based Pricing System (OBPS) Proceeds Fund returns proceeds collected under the federal OBPS and is comprised of two streams: the Decarbonization Incentive Program and the Future Electricity Fund. Further information on projects being funded by federal industrial pollution pricing proceeds has been published on the Open Government Portal.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New leader for ARU’s work-based courses

    Source: Anglia Ruskin University

    Published: 14 October 2024 at 10:30

    Specialist in education and workforce development Carl Dawson joins university

    Carl Dawson, a globally renowned expert in online education and workforce development with over 20 years of experience, has been appointed to lead Anglia Ruskin University’s Online and Degrees at Work teams.

    Relocating to the UK from Texas, Carl has previously worked closely with universities, governments and companies in the United States, Canada, Australia, Bangladesh, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

    Carl has extensive experience across both the public and private sectors and has implemented digital learning programs for institutions and governments, including the UK Cabinet Office. In 2013, he co-founded Construct Education, later recognized by Deloitte as one of the fastest-growing technology companies in the UK and now operating globally.

    He helped build accredited online education programs at institutions such as Howard University, the University of Michigan, and the University of Tennessee.

    In 2021, Carl became an advisor to the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) on new digital learning strategies in a post COVID world. 

    His academic research includes time as a Transformational Leadership Fellow at Oxford University, a Policy Fellow at Cambridge University, and a Senior Research Associate at Jesus College, Cambridge, focusing on new economic models for higher education.

    The Degrees at Work team is at the forefront of driving growth for ARU’s distance learning and apprenticeships. The team collaborates closely with employers and academics to identify future talent needs, generating insights that shape ARU’s innovative, professional work-based programs.

    Carl, who takes the role of Director of Learning Development Services at ARU, said:

    “I’m thrilled to return to the UK to join Anglia Ruskin University and help shape the future of work in the East of England and beyond, ensuring this unique region leads in preparing learners for tomorrow’s industries and societal needs.

    “Being part of the University of the Year is an incredible opportunity, and I’m eager to build on our Gold Award for teaching, pioneering degree apprenticeships, and decade-long distance and online learning success.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: OTC Markets Group Welcomes Blumetric Environmental, Inc. to OTCQX

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, Oct. 14, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM), operator of regulated markets for trading 12,000 U.S. and international securities, today announced Blumetric Environmental, Inc. (TSX-V: BLM; OTCQX: BLMWF), (“BluMetric”) an integrated product and service organization, has qualified to trade on the OTCQX® Best Market. BluMetric Environmental, Inc. upgraded to OTCQX from the Pink® market.

    BluMetric Environmental, Inc. begins trading today on OTCQX under the symbol “BLMWF.”  U.S. investors can find current financial disclosure and Real-Time Level 2 quotes for the company on http://www.otcmarkets.com.

    The OTCQX Market provides investors with a premium U.S. public market to research and trade the shares of investor-focused companies. Graduating to the OTCQX Market marks an important milestone for companies, enabling them to demonstrate their qualifications and build visibility among U.S. investors. To qualify for OTCQX, companies must meet high financial standards, follow best practice corporate governance, and demonstrate compliance with applicable securities laws. 

    “We are excited to announce our trading debut on the OTCQX,  a milestone that reflects our commitment to connecting with a broader investor base,” said Scott MacFabe, CEO of BluMetric. “This achievement coincides with our strategic expansion into the U.S. market through our recent acquisition of Gemini Water. We look forward to leveraging this platform as we execute on our new opportunities and drive shareholder value.”

    About BluMetric Environmental Inc.
    BluMetric Environmental Inc. is an integrated product and service organization. It principally provides sustainable solutions for complex environmental issues. It serves clients in many industrial sectors, and at all levels of government, both domestically and internationally. The organization offers services and solutions such as environmental earth sciences and engineering; contaminated site remediation; water resource management; industrial hygiene; occupational health and safety; and water and wastewater design-build and pre-engineered solutions. It operates in Canada and internationally, of which the majority of the revenue is derived from the operations in Canada.

    About OTC Markets Group Inc.
    OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM) operates regulated markets for trading 12,000 U.S. and international securities. Our data-driven disclosure standards form the foundation of our three public markets: OTCQX® Best Market, OTCQB® Venture Market and Pink® Open Market.

    Our OTC Link® Alternative Trading Systems (ATSs) provide critical market infrastructure that broker-dealers rely on to facilitate trading.  Our innovative model offers companies more efficient access to the U.S. financial markets.

    OTC Link ATS, OTC Link ECN and OTC Link NQB are each an SEC regulated ATS, operated by OTC Link LLC, a FINRA and SEC registered broker-dealer, member SIPC.

    To learn more about how we create better informed and more efficient markets, visit http://www.otcmarkets.com.

    Subscribe to the OTC Markets RSS Feed

    Media Contact:
    OTC Markets Group Inc., +1 (212) 896-4428, media@otcmarkets.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Descartes Acquires Sellercloud

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Adds Inventory Management and Order Management Capabilities to Descartes’ Ecommerce Suite

    WATERLOO, Ontario and ATLANTA, Oct. 14, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Descartes Systems Group (TSX:DSG) (Nasdaq:DSGX), the global leader in uniting logistics-intensive businesses in commerce, announced that it has acquired Sellercloud, a leading provider of omnichannel ecommerce solutions.

    Based in the US, Sellercloud supports small and mid-market retailers, distributors, wholesalers, and manufacturers with multi-channel ecommerce operations. Sellercloud’s Inventory Management Solutions and Order Management Solutions (IMS/OMS) help customers synchronize, plan and manage inventory levels across multiple sales channels. In addition, Sellercloud helps product sellers orchestrate the fulfillment process from routing orders to the right warehouse to enabling warehouse staff to better manage order picking, packing, shipping, and returns.

    “Our integrated ecommerce solutions are designed to help product sellers through all phases of their growth, from a single product startup to a global multi-channel enterprise,” said Mikel Richardson, General Manager of ecommerce at Descartes. “Sellercloud expands our product suite with advanced inventory and order management capabilities that our customers have been asking for. When combined with Descartes’ existing ecommerce shipping, fulfilment and warehouse management solutions, we believe the result is a truly differentiated offering to manage the full lifecycle of domestic and cross-border ecommerce shipments.”

    “We continue to listen to our customers for key areas of investment in our Global Logistics Network,” said Edward J. Ryan, Descartes’ CEO. “Sellercloud directly complements our ecommerce investments in XPS, ShipRush, pixi, and Peoplevox, and we’re excited to welcome the Sellercloud employees, customers and partners into the Descartes family.”

    Sellercloud is headquartered in New Jersey. Descartes acquired Sellercloud for up-front consideration of approximately US $110 million satisfied from cash on hand, plus additional potential performance-based consideration. The maximum amount payable under the all-cash performance-based earn-out is US $20 million, based on the combined business achieving revenue-based targets in each of the first two years post-acquisition. Any earn-out is expected to be paid in fiscal 2026 and fiscal 2027.

    About Descartes Systems Group           
    Descartes is the global leader in providing on-demand, software-as-a-service solutions focused on improving the productivity, security, and sustainability of logistics-intensive businesses. Customers use our modular, software-as-a-service solutions to route, track and help improve the safety, performance and compliance of delivery resources; plan, allocate and execute shipments; rate, audit and pay transportation invoices; access global trade data; file customs and security documents for imports and exports; and complete numerous other logistics processes by participating in the world’s largest, collaborative multimodal logistics community. Our headquarters are in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada and we have offices and partners around the world. Learn more at http://www.descartes.com, and connect with us on LinkedIn and X (Twitter).

    Descartes Investor Contact         
    Laurie McCauley
    (519) 746-2969
    investor@descartes.com

    Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

    This release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws (“forward-looking statements”) that relate to Descartes’ acquisition of Sellercloud and its solution offerings; the potential to provide customers with omnichannel ecommerce solutions including inventory management and order management solutions; other potential benefits derived from the acquisition and Sellercloud’s solution offerings; and other matters. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the expected future performance of the Sellercloud business based on its historical and projected performance as well as the factors and assumptions discussed in the section entitled, “Certain Factors That May Affect Future Results” in documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Ontario Securities Commission and other securities commissions across Canada including Descartes’ most recently filed management’s discussion and analysis. If any such risks actually occur, they could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. In that case, the trading price of our common shares could decline, perhaps materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purposes of providing information about management’s current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. We do not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in our expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Statement by the Prime Minister on Thanksgiving

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on Thanksgiving:

    “Today, Canadians across the country will gather to celebrate Thanksgiving – a time to reflect, share meals with friends and family, and give thanks for all of life’s blessings.

    “As we celebrate the harvest season, we have much to be thankful for: our hardworking farmers and food banks who work to ensure Canadians have access to nutritious food; our health care workers who are there for us in times of need; and the members of the Canadian Armed Forces who keep us safe. We also give thanks to the volunteers in our communities, whose acts of kindness exemplify what it means to be Canadian. Whether lending a hand to a neighbour or creating opportunities to bring people together, their contributions make Canada the country we proudly call home.

    “As we give thanks for all we have, let’s commit to making Canada even better. Let’s work to make our communities more vibrant, dynamic, and inclusive. Together, we can break down barriers and create more opportunities for everyone. Let’s keep building a future where every generation has a fair shot – regardless of who you are, where you come from, how you pray, or who you love.

    “On behalf of the Government of Canada, I wish you all a happy and healthy Thanksgiving.”

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Godzilla at 70: The monster’s warning to humanity is still urgent

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Amanda Kennell, Assistant Professor of East Asian Languages and Cultures, University of Notre Dame

    The monster in the 2023 movie “Godzilla Minus One.” Toho Co. Ltd., CC BY-ND

    The 2024 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to Nihon Hidankyo, the Japan Confederation of A- and H-bomb Sufferers Organizations. Many of these witnesses have spent their lives warning of the dangers of nuclear war – but initially, much of the world didn’t want to hear it.

    “The fates of those who survived the infernos of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were long concealed and neglected,” the Nobel committee noted in its announcement. Local groups of nuclear survivors created Nihon Hidankyo in 1956 to fight back against this erasure.

    Atomic bomb survivor Masao Ito, 82, speaks at the park across from the Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima in May 15, 2023.
    Richard A. Brooks/AFP via Getty Images

    Around the same time that Nihon Hidankyo was formed, Japan produced another warning: a towering monster who topples Tokyo with blasts of irradiated breath. The 1954 film “Godzilla” launched a franchise that has been warning viewers to take better care of the Earth for the past 70 years.

    We study popular Japanese media and business ethics and sustainability, but we found a common interest in Godzilla after the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and meltdown at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. In our view, these films convey a vital message about Earth’s creeping environmental catastrophe. Few survivors are left to warn humanity about the effects of nuclear weapons, but Godzilla remains eternal.

    Into the atomic age

    By 1954, Japan had survived almost a decade of nuclear exposure. In addition to the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Japanese people were affected by a series of U.S. nuclear tests in the Bikini Atoll.

    When the U.S. tested the world’s first hydrogen bomb in 1954, its devastation reached far outside the expected damage zone. Though it was far from the restricted zone, the Lucky Dragon No. 5 Japanese fishing boat and its crew were doused with irradiated ash. All fell ill, and one fisherman died within the year. Their tragedy was widely covered in the Japanese press as it unfolded.

    The Castle Bravo hydrogen bomb test on March 1, 1954, produced an explosion equivalent to 15 megatons of TNT, more than 2.5 times what scientists had expected. It released large quantities of radioactive debris into the atmosphere.

    This event is echoed in a scene at the beginning of “Godzilla” in which helpless Japanese boats are destroyed by an invisible force.

    “Godzilla” is full of deep social debates, complex characters and cutting-edge special effects for its time. Much of the film involves characters discussing their responsibilities – to each other, to society and to the environment.

    This seriousness, like the film itself, was practically buried outside of Japan by an alter ego, 1956’s “Godzilla, King of the Monsters!” American licensors cut the 1954 film apart, removed slow scenes, shot new footage featuring Canadian actor Raymond Burr, spliced it all together and dubbed their creation in English with an action-oriented script they wrote themselves.

    This version was what people outside of Japan knew as “Godzilla” until the Japanese film was released internationally for its 50th anniversary in 2004.

    From radiation to pollution

    While “King of the Monsters!” traveled the world, “Godzilla” spawned dozens of Japanese sequels and spinoffs. Godzilla slowly morphed from a murderous monster into a monstrous defender of humanity in the Japanese films, which was also reflected in the later U.S.-made films.

    In 1971, a new, younger creative team tried to define Godzilla for a new era with “Godzilla vs. Hedorah.” Director Yoshimitsu Banno joined the movie’s crew while he was promoting a recently completed documentary about natural disasters. That experience inspired him to redirect Godzilla from nuclear issues to pollution.

    World War II was fading from public memory. So were the massive Anpo protests of 1959 and 1960, which had mobilized up to one-third of the Japanese people to oppose renewal of the U.S.-Japan security treaty. Participants included housewives concerned by the news that fish caught by the Lucky Dragon No. 5 had been sold in Japanese grocery stores.

    At the same time, pollution was soaring. In 1969, Michiko Ishimure published “Paradise in the Sea of Sorrow: Our Minamata Disease,” a book that’s often viewed as a Japanese counterpart to “Silent Spring,” Rachel Carson’s environmental classic. Ishimure’s poetic descriptions of lives ruined by the Chisso Corp.’s dumping of methyl mercury into the Shiranui Sea awoke many in Japan to their government’s numerous failures to protect the public from industrial pollution.

    The Chisso Corp. released toxic methylmercury into Minamata Bay from 1932 to 1968, poisoning tens of thousands of people who ate local seafood.

    “Godzilla vs. Hedorah” is about Godzilla’s battles against Hedorah, a crash-landed alien that grows to monstrous size by feeding on toxic sludge and other forms of pollution. The film opens with a woman singing jazzily about environmental apocalypse as young people dance with abandon in an underground club.

    This combination of hopelessness and hedonism continues in an uneven film that includes everything from an extended shot of an oil slick-covered kitten to an animated sequence to Godzilla awkwardly levitating itself with its irradiated breath.

    After Godzilla defeats Hedorah at the end of the film, it pulls a handful of toxic sludge out of Hedorah’s torso, gazes at the sludge, then turns to stare at its human spectators – both those onscreen and the film’s audience. The message is clear: Don’t just lazily sing about imminent doom – shape up and do something.

    Official Japanese trailer for ‘Godzilla vs. Hedorah’

    “Godzilla vs. Hedorah” bombed at the box office but became a cult hit over time. Its positioning of Godzilla between Earth and those who would harm it resonates today in two separate Godzilla franchises.

    One line of movies comes from the original Japanese studio that produced “Godzilla.” The other line is produced by U.S. licensors making eco-blockbusters that merge the environmentalism of “Godzilla” with the spectacle of “King of the Monsters.”

    A meltdown of public trust

    The 2011 Fukushima disaster has now become part of the Japanese people’s collective memory. Cleanup and decommissioning of the damaged nuclear plant continues, amid controversies around ongoing releases of radioactive water used to cool the plant. Some residents are allowed to visit their homes but can’t move back there while thousands of workers remove topsoil, branches and other materials to decontaminate these areas.

    Before Fukushima, Japan derived one-third of its electricity from nuclear power. Public attitudes toward nuclear energy hardened after the disaster, especially as investigations showed that regulators had underestimated risks at the site. Although Japan needs to import about 90% of the energy it uses, today over 70% of the public opposes nuclear power.

    The first Japanese “Godzilla” film released after the Fukushima disaster, “Shin Godzilla” (2016), reboots the franchise in a contemporary Japan with a new type of Godzilla, in an eerie echo of the damages of and governmental response to Fukushima’s triple disaster. When the Japanese government is left leaderless and in disarray following initial counterattacks on Godzilla, a Japanese government official teams up with an American special envoy to freeze the newly named Godzilla in its tracks, before a fearful world unleashes its nuclear weapons once again.

    Their success suggests that while national governments have an important role to play in major disasters, successful recovery requires people who are empowered to act as individuals.

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

    – ref. Godzilla at 70: The monster’s warning to humanity is still urgent – https://theconversation.com/godzilla-at-70-the-monsters-warning-to-humanity-is-still-urgent-237934

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: When AI plays favourites: How algorithmic bias shapes the hiring process

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Mehnaz Rafi, PhD Candidate, Haskayne School of Business, University of Calgary

    Given the rapid integration of AI into human resource management across many organizations, it’s important to raise awareness about the complex ethical challenges it presents. (Shutterstock)

    A public interest group filed a U.S. federal complaint against artificial intelligence hiring tool, HireVue, in 2019 for deceptive hiring practices. The software, which has been adopted by hundreds of companies, favoured certain facial expressions, speaking styles and tones of voice, disproportionately disadvantaging minority candidates.

    The Electronic Privacy Information Center argued HireVue’s results were “biased, unprovable and not replicable.” Though the company has since stopped using facial recognition, concerns remain about biases in other biometric data, such as speech patterns.

    Similarly, Amazon stopped using its AI recruitment tool, as reported in 2018, after discovering it was biased against women. The algorithm, trained on male-dominated resumes submitted over 10 years, favoured male candidates by downgrading applications that included the word “women’s” and penalizing graduates of women’s colleges. Engineers tried to address these biases, but could not guarantee neutrality, leading to the project’s cancellation.

    These examples highlight a growing concern in recruitment and selection: while some companies are using AI to remove human bias from hiring, it can often reinforce and amplify existing inequalities. Given the rapid integration of AI into human resource management across many organizations, it’s important to raise awareness about the complex ethical challenges it presents.

    Ways AI can create bias

    As companies increasingly rely on algorithms to make critical hiring decisions, it’s crucial to be aware of the following ways AI can create bias in hiring:

    1. Bias in training data. AI systems rely on large datasets — referred to as training data — to learn patterns and make decisions, but their accuracy and fairness are only as good as the data they are trained on. If this data contains historical hiring biases that favour specific demographics, the AI will adopt and reproduce those same biases. Amazon’s AI tool, for example, was trained on resumes from a male-dominated industry, which led to gender bias.

    2. Flawed data sampling. Flawed data sampling occurs when the dataset used to train an algorithm is not representative of the broader population it’s meant to serve. In the context of hiring, this can happen if training data over-represents certain groups —typically white men — while under-representing marginalized candidates.

    As a result, the AI may learn to favour the characteristics and experiences of the over-represented group while penalizing or overlooking those from underrepresented groups. For example, facial analysis technologies have shown to have higher error rates for racialized individuals, particularly racialized women, because they are underrepresented in the data used to train these systems.



    Read more:
    Artificial intelligence can discriminate on the basis of race and gender, and also age

    3. Bias in feature selection. When designing AI systems, developers choose certain features, attributes or characteristics to be prioritized or weighed more heavily when the AI is making decisions. But these selected features can lead to unfair, biased outcomes and perpetuate pre-existing inequalities.

    For example, AI might disproportionately value graduates from prestigious universities, which have historically been attended by people from privileged backgrounds. Or, it might prioritize work experiences that are more common among certain demographics.

    This problem is compounded when the features selected are proxies for protected characteristics, such as zip code, which can be strongly related to race and socioeconomic status due to historical housing segregation.

    Bias in hiring algorithms raises serious ethical concerns and demands greater attention toward the mindful, responsible and inclusive use of AI.
    (Shutterstock)

    4. Lack of transparency. Many AI systems function as “black boxes,” meaning their decision-making processes are opaque. This lack of transparency makes it difficult for organizations to identify where bias might exist and how it affects hiring decisions.

    Without insight into how an AI tool makes decisions, it’s difficult to correct biased outcomes or ensure fairness. Both Amazon and HireVue faced this issue; users and developers struggled to understand how the systems assessed candidates and why certain groups were excluded.

    5. Lack of human oversight. While AI plays an important role in many decision-making processes, it should augment, rather than replace, human judgment. Over-reliance on AI without adequate human oversight can lead to unchecked biases. This problem is exacerbated when hiring professionals trust AI more than their own judgment, believing in the technology’s infallibility.

    Overcoming algorithmic bias in hiring

    To mitigate these issues, companies must adopt strategies that prioritize inclusivity and transparency in AI-driven hiring processes. Below are some key solutions for overcoming AI bias:

    1. Diversify training data. One of the most effective ways to combat AI bias is to ensure training data is inclusive, diverse and representative of a wide range of candidates. This means including data from diverse racial, ethnic, gender, socioeconomic and educational backgrounds.

    2. Conduct regular bias audits. Frequent and thorough audits of AI systems should be conducted to identify patterns of bias and discrimination. This includes examining the algorithm’s outputs, decision-making processes and its impact on different demographic groups.

    It is important to actively involve human judgment in AI-driven decisions, particularly when making final hiring choices.
    (Shutterstock)

    3. Implement fairness-aware algorithms. Use AI software that incorporates fairness constraints and is designed to consider and mitigate bias by balancing outcomes for underrepresented groups. This can include integrating fairness metrics such as equal opportunity, modifying training data to show less bias and adjusting model predictions based on fairness criteria to increase equity.

    4. Increase transparency. Seek AI solutions that offer insight into their algorithms and decision-making processes to make it easier to identify and address potential biases. Additionally, make sure to disclose any use of AI in the hiring process to candidates to maintain transparency with your job applicants and other stakeholders.

    5. Maintain human oversight. To maintain control over hiring algorithms, managers and leaders must actively review AI-driven decisions, especially when making final hiring choices. Emerging research highlights the critical role of human oversight in safeguarding against the risks posed by AI applications. However, for this oversight to be effective and meaningful, leaders must ensure that ethical considerations are part of the hiring process and promote the responsible, inclusive and ethical use of AI.

    Bias in hiring algorithms raises serious ethical concerns and demands greater attention toward the mindful, responsible and inclusive use of AI. Understanding and addressing the ethical considerations and biases of AI-driven hiring is essential to ensuring fairer hiring outcomes and preventing technology from reinforcing systemic bias.

    Mehnaz Rafi 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. When AI plays favourites: How algorithmic bias shapes the hiring process – https://theconversation.com/when-ai-plays-favourites-how-algorithmic-bias-shapes-the-hiring-process-239471

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Transparency and trust: How news consumers in Canada want AI to be used in journalism

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Nicole Blanchett, Associate Professor, Journalism, Toronto Metropolitan University

    Developing clear policies and principles that are communicated with audiences should be an essential part of any newsroom’s AI practice. (Shutterstock)

    When it comes to artificial intelligence (AI) and news production, Canadian news consumers want to know when, how and why AI is part of journalistic work. And if they don’t get that transparency, they could lose trust in news organizations.

    News consumers are so concerned about how the use of AI could impact the accuracy of stories and the spread of misinformation, a majority favour government regulation of how AI is used in journalism.

    These are some of our preliminary findings after surveying a representative sample of 1,042 Canadian news consumers, most of whom accessed news daily.

    This research is part of the Global Journalism Innovation Lab which researches new approaches to journalism. Those of us on the team at Toronto Metropolitan University are particularly interested in looking at news from an audience perspective in order to develop strategies for best practice.

    The industry has high hopes that the use of AI could lead to better journalism, but there is still a lot of work to be done in terms of figuring out how to use it ethically.

    Not everyone, for example, is sure the promise of time saved on tasks that AI can do faster will actually translate into more time for better reporting.

    We hope our research will help newsrooms understand audience priorities as they develop standards of practice surrounding AI, and prevent further erosion of trust in journalism.

    AI and transparency

    We found that a lack of transparency could have serious consequences for news outlets that use AI. Almost 60 per cent of those surveyed said they would lose trust in a news organization if they found out a story was generated by AI that they thought was written by a human, something also reflected in international studies.

    The overwhelming majority of respondents in our study, more than 85 per cent, want newsrooms to be transparent about how AI is being used. Three quarters want that to include labelling of content created by AI. And more than 70 per cent want the government to regulate the use of AI by news outlets.

    Organizations like Trusting News, which helps journalists build trust with audiences, now offer advice on what AI transparency should look like and say it’s more than just labelling a story — people want to know why news organizations are using AI.

    Audience trust

    Our survey also showed a significant contrast in confidence in news depending on the level of AI used. For example, more than half of respondents said they had high to very high trust in news produced just by humans. However, that level of trust dropped incrementally the more AI was involved in the process, to just over 10 per cent for news content that was generated by AI only.

    In questions where news consumers had to choose a preference between humans and AI to make journalistic decisions, humans were far preferred. For example, more than 70 per cent of respondents felt humans were better at determining what was newsworthy, compared to less than six per cent who felt AI would have better news judgement. Eighty-six per cent of respondents felt humans should always be part of the journalistic process.

    As newsrooms struggle to retain fractured audiences with fewer resources, the use of AI also has to be considered in terms of the value of the products they’re creating. More than half of our survey respondents perceived news produced mostly by AI with some human oversight as less worth paying for, which isn’t encouraging considering the existing reluctance to pay for news in Canada.

    This result echoes a recent Reuters study, where an average of 41 per cent of people across six countries saw less value in AI-generated news.

    Concerns about accuracy

    In terms of negative impacts of AI in a newsroom, about 70 per cent of respondents were concerned about accuracy in news stories and job losses for journalists. Two-thirds of respondents felt the use of AI might lead to reduced exposure to a variety of information. An increased spread of mis- and disinformation, something recognized widely as a serious threat to democracy, was of concern for 78 per cent of news consumers.

    Using AI to replace journalists was what made respondents most uncomfortable, and there was also less comfort with using it for editorial functions such as writing articles and deciding what stories to develop in the first place.

    There was far more comfort with using it for non-editorial tasks such as transcription and copy editing, echoing findings in previous research in Canada and other markets.

    We also gathered a lot of data unrelated to AI to get a sense of how Canadians are tapping into news and the news they’re tapping into. Politics and local news were the two most popular types of news, chosen by 67 per cent of respondents, even though there is less local news to consume due to extensive cuts, mergers and closures.

    A lot of people in our sample of Canadians, around 30 per cent, don’t actively look for news. They let it find them, something called passive consumption. And although this is proportionally higher in news consumers under 35, this isn’t just a phenomenon seen in the younger demographic. More than half of those who reported letting news find them were over 35 years old.

    Although smartphones are increasingly becoming the likely access points of news for many consumers, including almost 70 per cent for those 34 and under and about 60 per cent of those between 35 and 44, television is where most news consumers in our study reported getting their journalism.

    Respondents in our survey were asked to select all of their points of news access. More than 80 per cent of participants chose some form of TV, with some respondents picking two TV formats, for example, cable TV and smart TV. Surprisingly to us, half of 18-24 year olds reported TV as an access point for news. For those 44 and under, it was more often through a smart TV, though. As shown in other Canadian studies, TV news still plays an important role in the media landscape.

    This is just a broad look at the data we have collected. Our analysis is just beginning. We’re going to dig deeper into how different demographics feel about the use of AI in journalism and how the use of AI might impact audience trust.

    We will also soon be launching our survey with research partners in the United Kingdom and Australia to find out if there are differences in perceptions of AI in the three countries.

    Even these initial results provide a lot of evidence that, as newsrooms work to survive in a destabilized market, using AI could have detrimental effects on the perceived value of their journalism. Developing clear policies and principles that are communicated with audiences should be an essential part of any newsroom’s AI practice in Canada.

    Nicole Blanchett receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) and The Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University.

    Charles H. Davis receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) and has received funding from Toronto Metropolitan University.

    Mariia Sozoniuk works with the Explanatory Journalism Project which is supported by funding from The Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC).

    Sibo Chen receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) and The Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University.

    – ref. Transparency and trust: How news consumers in Canada want AI to be used in journalism – https://theconversation.com/transparency-and-trust-how-news-consumers-in-canada-want-ai-to-be-used-in-journalism-240527

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –