NewzIntel.com

Category: Economy

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government reduces credit card fees by 27 per cent for small business owners

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    Canada’s small- and medium-sized businesses create good-paying jobs, keep main streets flourishing across the country, and deliver the dream of entrepreneurship.

    October 17, 2024 – Hamilton, Ontario           

    Canada’s small- and medium-sized businesses create good-paying jobs, keep main streets flourishing across the country, and deliver the dream of entrepreneurship. It is essential that these businesses thrive so they can continue being the bedrock of our communities and our economy.

    Small businesses pay fees to process credit card transactions, with the largest component being the interchange fee paid to credit card-issuing financial institutions, such as banks. That is why the federal government negotiated and finalized new agreements with Visa and Mastercard, which also protect reward points offered to Canadians.

    Today in Hamilton, the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), announced that new credit card fee reductions for small business owners will come into effect this Saturday, October 19, 2024. For qualifying small businesses, Visa and Mastercard have agreed to:

    • reduce domestic consumer credit interchange fees for in-store transactions to an annual weighted average interchange rate of 0.95 per cent;
    • reduce domestic consumer credit interchange fees for online transactions by 10 basis points, resulting in reductions of up to 7 per cent; and,
    • provide free access to online fraud and cyber security resources to help small businesses grow their online sales while preventing fraud and chargebacks.

    More than 90 per cent of businesses that accept credit cards will receive lower rates and see interchange fees reduced by up to 27 per cent. These fee reductions will save eligible small businesses about $1 billion over five years.

    Reduced credit card transaction fees will save small businesses thousands of dollars every year. For example, if a store processes $300,000 in credit card payments, they currently pay nearly $4,000 in annual interchange fees. With these new agreements, the store could save $1,080 in fees every year. The federal government expects all members of the credit card industry, including payment processors, to pass these savings on directly to small businesses.

    Second, the federal government announced a revised Code of Conduct for the Payment Card Industry in Canada to protect over 1 million businesses that accept credit card and debit card payments from customers. Starting on October 30, 2024, the revised Code will help businesses compare prices and offers from different payment processors, and shorten the complaint handling response time by nearly 80 per cent to just 20 business days. All major payment card network operators in Canada have agreed to the terms of the revised Code. Certain obligations requiring complex or technical system changes will come into effect by April 30, 2025.

    In addition, the federal government announced the payment amounts for the new Canada Carbon Rebate for Small Businesses, which will deliver over $2.5 billion to about 600,000 Canadian businesses before the end of this year. The Canada Carbon Rebate for Small Businesses will deliver up to $4,010 to a business with 10 employees in Ontario, $59,100 to a business with 50 employees in Alberta, and $576,844 to a business with 499 employees in Saskatchewan. Small businesses in Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador will also receive payments.

    The government is taking action to help small businesses start up, grow, and thrive by reducing the costs of running a business. These reduced credit card fees for small business owners build on the government’s lowering of the small business tax rate to 9 per cent—which is already saving small businesses $6.6 billion every single year. 

    Katherine Cuplinskas
    Deputy Director of Communications
    Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
    Katherine.Cuplinskas@fin.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: McConnell Secures Over $33 Million in Federal Funding for the Paducah and Louisville Railway

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Mitch McConnell
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced today the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) will provide $33,780,304 in federal funding to Paducah and Louisville (P&L) Transportation to support several infrastructure projects along its 280-mile main line between Louisville and Paducah, Kentucky; including upgrades to signals and track infrastructure, installation of a wheel truing machine, and rehabilitation of five rail bridges in Hardin and Muhlenberg Counties.
    DOT awarded this grant as part of the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) program, which awards competitive grants for freight and highway projects. Senator McConnell helped secure $3.2 billion for the INFRA program in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which passed Congress with the Senator’s support and was signed into law by the President. Senator McConnell also wrote to the Secretary of Transportation in support of P&L Transportation’s grant application.
    The P&L main rail line connects with four major railroads in North America, transporting equipment for Kentucky’s military installations, materials used for manufacturing, and other freight vital to interstate commerce.
    “As a transportation and logistics hub, Kentucky keeps millions of American goods and people on the move. From strengthening our regional economy to facilitating interstate commerce nationwide, our rail infrastructure – and investments to sustain it – has benefits that ripple across the entire country. Projects like this one are precisely the reason I supported the bipartisan infrastructure law, which has delivered billions for Kentucky’s roads, ports, railroads, and waterways. I look forward to watching this much-needed investment spur development along the entire P&L corridor,” said Senator McConnell.
    “P&L is excited to continue our work to rebuild critical freight railroad infrastructure. This project will benefit all Kentuckians by keeping employers in the Commonwealth connected to markets around the world. I want to especially thank Senator McConnell for all of his hard work to ensure that Kentucky infrastructure projects receive their fair share of funding. These projects and the funding announced today would not be possible without his support,” said Chairman, President, and CEO of P&L Transportation Tom Greene.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wild, Casey, Fetterman, Secure Major Federal Investment in Lehigh Valley Semiconductor Manufacturer

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Susan Wild (PA-07)

    Today, U.S. Congresswoman Susan Wild (D-PA-07) and U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and John Fetterman (D-PA) announced a critical first step in a major federal investment to help the semiconductor manufacturer Infinera build a new plant in Bethlehem, PA. This investment, made possible by the CHIPS and Science Act, would support the expansion and modernization of a new Advanced Test and Packaging (ATP) facility creating good-paying jobs in the Lehigh Valley and increasing Infinera’s capacity to manufacture semiconductors, which are vital to national security and American supply chain resilience.

    “By supporting the construction of a new Advanced Test and Packaging Facility right here in Bethlehem, this grant will not only create hundreds of new jobs in our community, but it will revitalize our local semiconductor industry and address key national security concerns,” said Congresswomen Wild. “I was proud to help secure this funding for Infinera, to support our national security and intelligence communities and bolster our local economy and manufacturing ecosystem. I will continue to advocate for our community to receive federal resources, promote Made in America policies, and protect our nation from foreign adversaries.” 

    “I fought to pass the CHIPS and Science Act to ensure that Pennsylvania workers can continue leading the world in building the technology of tomorrow. This agreement is another critical step to deliver jobs and dollars to our Commonwealth, while protecting our Nation’s national and economic security,” said Senator Casey. “Infinera is emblematic of the future of the Lehigh Valley and I will keep fighting to bring manufacturing jobs to Pennsylvania.”

    “This is exactly what ‘Making Stuff Here’ in America and Pennsylvania looks like. Thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration’s implementation of the CHIPS Act, we’ll be seeing hundreds of good-paying jobs brought to Bethlehem. The Lehigh Valley has a rich history of innovation––it’s where the first facility to mass-produce transistors was built. By investing in companies like Infinera, we’re standing up to global competitors and building on American legacies,” said Senator Fetterman.

    The preliminary agreement between the U.S. Department of Commerce and Infinera Corporation would provide major investments to Infinera plants in Pennsylvania and California. Infinera is a semiconductor and telecommunications equipment manufacturer that has operated for over 20 years. The proposed CHIPS funding would support the construction of a new Advanced Test and Packaging (ATP) facility in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and would be expected, with the California facility, to increase Infinera’s existing domestic manufacturing capacity by an estimated factor of 10.

    Senator Casey and Congresswoman Wild have long advocated for semiconductor manufacturing investments in Pennsylvania. Earlier this year both Casey and Wild urged the U.S. Department of Commerce to support the construction of a new Infinera manufacturing plant in Pennsylvania., Additionally, Casey and Wild visited Infinera to see the high-tech manufacturing already happening in the Commonwealth.

    Congresswoman Wild and Senator Casey are fighting to bring jobs and economic investment back to Pennsylvania. The Members worked to pass the CHIPS and Science Act to produce semiconductors in the United States, reducing the U.S. reliance on foreign adversaries, including China, for critical technology manufacturing. In addition to the CHIPS Act, Casey and Wild worked to pass Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and Inflation Reduction Act—two pieces of landmark legislation that have brought thousands of jobs and billions of dollars to Pennsylvania. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NCDHHS Supports Child Care Facilities Impacted by Hurricane Helene to Reopen Safely, Return to Serving Families

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: NCDHHS Supports Child Care Facilities Impacted by Hurricane Helene to Reopen Safely, Return to Serving Families

    NCDHHS Supports Child Care Facilities Impacted by Hurricane Helene to Reopen Safely, Return to Serving Families
    rmbeck

    The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is supporting child care facilities to reopen as safely and quickly as possible after Hurricane Helene to ensure families in storm-impacted communities have access to child care services. More than 200 facilities in the 25 major disaster counties in western North Carolina were impacted by the storm, with 55 centers having damage that will prevent them reopening for the foreseeable future.

    “Even before Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina, our child care facilities were in financial crisis,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “Quality child care is a critical resource not only for children in storm-impacted counties, but for parents working to rebuild their homes and lives. Work is underway to get programs reopened quickly, but we will need additional funding from the General Assembly to address both the immediate Hurricane impacts and also ensure the long-term viability of North Carolina’s child care system.”

    State and local efforts to safely reopen child care facilities align with Governor Cooper’s recently announced Executive Order, which allows regulatory flexibilities in storm-impacted counties so that critical services can resume supporting families, even as facilities recover and rebuild. These flexibilities are especially important as the North Carolina child care system faces a drastic cut in state funding. Without additional funding to assist child care programs, facilities across the state, and particularly in Western North Carolina, will struggle to remain open and serve families and their communities. 

    “As our friends, neighbors and communities in Western North Carolina begin to recover, we are committed to helping child care facilities reopen safely,” said NC Health and Human Services Secretary Kody H. Kinsley. “We want children to have access to quality early care and learning, and parents to return to work confident their children are safe and cared for.”

    NCDHHS is helping child care facilities reopen so they can support the children and families in their communities. Regulated child care facilities who lack their usual sources of power, drinking water, wastewater treatment, etc., or have lost records, documents or other paperwork may be able to reopen under an Emergency Operations Plan developed with their child care licensing consultant from the NCDHHS Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE). DCDEE is collaborating with the Division of Public Health (DPH) to develop environmental health guidance for child care facilities to reopen quickly and operate safely. 

    Additionally, the department is collaborating with the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) to align North Carolina’s child care facility rules and regulations with disaster flexibilities allowed under the federal program. The CACFP is administered by U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to ensure eligible children receive nutritious meals through qualifying child care facilities. Disaster flexibilities in the program after Hurricane Helene will help to simplify the delivery of nutrition assistance, make these benefits more accessible to families impacted by the storm, and prevent a lapse in food security for children currently served by the program.

    For families impacted by Hurricane Helene seeking child care options, NCDHHS has partnered with Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies to activate the Find Child Care NC hotline. Families can call 1-888-600-1685 weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for help finding an open child care facility near you.

    El Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte está apoyando a las instalaciones de cuidado infantil para que vuelvan a abrir de la manera más segura y rápida posible después del huracán Helene para garantizar que las familias en las comunidades afectadas por la tormenta tengan acceso a los servicios de cuidado infantil. Más de 200 instalaciones en los 25 condados con desastres mayores en el oeste de Carolina del Norte se vieron afectadas por la tormenta, y 55 centros sufrieron daños que evitarán su reapertura en el futuro previsible.

    “Incluso antes de que el huracán Helene devastara el oeste de Carolina del Norte, nuestros centros de cuidado infantil estaban en crisis financiera”, dijo el gobernador Roy Cooper. “El cuidado infantil de calidad es un recurso fundamental no solo para los niños en los condados afectados por la tormenta, sino también para los padres que trabajan para reconstruir sus hogares y sus vidas. Se está trabajando para que los programas se reabran rápidamente, pero necesitaremos fondos adicionales de la Asamblea General para abordar los impactos inmediatos del huracán y también garantizar la viabilidad a largo plazo del sistema de cuidado infantil de Carolina del Norte”.

    Los esfuerzos estatales y locales para reabrir de manera segura las instalaciones de cuidado infantil se alinean con la Orden Ejecutiva recientemente anunciada por el gobernador Cooper, que permite flexibilidades regulatorias en los condados afectados por la tormenta para que los servicios críticos puedan reanudar el apoyo a las familias, incluso mientras las instalaciones se recuperan y reconstruyen. Estas flexibilidades son especialmente importantes ya que el sistema de cuidado infantil de Carolina del Norte se enfrenta a un recorte drástico en la financiación estatal. Sin fondos adicionales para ayudar a los programas de cuidado infantil, las instalaciones en todo el estado, y particularmente en el oeste de Carolina del Norte, tendrán dificultades para permanecer abiertas y servir a las familias y sus comunidades.

    “A medida que nuestros amigos, vecinos y comunidades en el oeste de Carolina del Norte comienzan a recuperarse, nos comprometemos a ayudar a que las instalaciones de cuidado infantil vuelvan a abrir de manera segura”, dijo el secretario de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte, Kody H. Kinsley. “Queremos que los niños tengan acceso a atención y aprendizaje tempranos de calidad, y que los padres regresen al trabajo confiados de que sus hijos están seguros y cuidados”.

    El Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte (NCDHHS, por sus siglas en inglés) está ayudando a los centros de cuidado infantil a reabrir para que puedan apoyar a los niños y las familias en sus comunidades. Las instalaciones de cuidado infantil reguladas que carecen de sus fuentes habituales de energía, agua potable, tratamiento de aguas residuales, etc., o que han perdido registros, documentos u otros documentos pueden reabrir bajo un Plan Operativo de Emergencia desarrollado con su consultor de licencias de cuidado infantil de la División de Desarrollo Infantil y Educación Temprana (DCDEE, por sus siglas en inglés) del Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte. DCDEE está colaborando con la División de Salud Pública (DPH, por sus siglas en inglés) para desarrollar una guía de salud ambiental para que las instalaciones de cuidado infantil vuelvan a abrir rápidamente y operen de manera segura.

    Además, el departamento está colaborando con el Programa de Alimentos para el Cuidado de Niños y Adultos (CACFP, por sus siglas en inglés) para alinear las reglas y regulaciones de las guarderías de Carolina del Norte con las flexibilidades por desastre permitidas por el programa federal. El CACFP es administrado por el Servicios de Alimentos y Nutrición (FNS, por sus siglas en ingles), del Departamento de Agricultura de los Estados Unidos para garantizar que los niños elegibles reciban comidas nutritivas a través de instalaciones de cuidado infantil calificadas. Las flexibilidades para desastres en el programa, después del huracán Helene, ayudarán a simplificar la prestación de asistencia nutricional, hacer que estos beneficios sean más accesibles para las familias afectadas por la tormenta y evitar un lapso en la seguridad alimentaria de los niños actualmente atendidos por el programa.

    Para las familias afectadas por el huracán Helene que buscan opciones de cuidado infantil, el NCDHHS se ha asociado con las Agencias de Recursos y Referencias de Cuidado Infantil para activar la línea directa de Búsqueda de Cuidado Infantil en Carolina del Norte (Find Child Care NC). Las familias pueden llamar al 1-888-600-1685 de lunes a viernes de 8:00 a.m. a 5:00 p.m. y pedir ayuda para encontrar un centro de cuidado infantil abierto cercano.

    Oct 17, 2024

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Polis-Primavera Administration’s Landmark Reinsurance Effort Will Save Coloradans $493 Million on Healthcare Premiums in 2025, Putting Money Back in the Pockets of Hardworking Coloradans

    Source: US State of Colorado

    Even more savings can be found by shopping and switching to a Colorado Option plan during open enrollment.

    DENVER – Today Governor Polis, Lt. Governor Primavera, and the Colorado Division of Insurance (DOI), part of the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), announced that Reinsurance will save Coloradans almost $493 million on approved plans and premiums for 2025, building on the millions in savings available to Coloradans through Colorado Option plans. The figures below on the final, approved health insurance plans and premiums for 2025, highlight the impact of these efforts to save people money on health insurance.  

    “Our landmark bipartisan reinsurance plan continues to lower healthcare premiums and provide Coloradans with historic savings on their healthcare plans. These savings put money back in the pockets of hardworking Coloradans to spend on what people need and in our strong, small local businesses across the state,” said Governor Polis.

    “Access to high quality and affordable healthcare is critical for the health of all Coloradans. Increasing access to quality healthcare people can afford is something I have fought for over my decades of public service. These reinsurance savings will ensure getting the care people and their families need doesn’t feel out of reach,” said Lt. Governor Primavera.

    “These savings are incredible,” said Colorado Insurance Commissioner Michael Conway. “We have a Reinsurance Program that will save nearly $500 million for Coloradans next year. Add to that, Colorado Option plans that continue to be cheaper than non-Option plans, saving families millions a year. So my advice this year is the same as it is every year – get out there and shop to see what plans are available for you and your families.”

    Reinsurance Savings: Nearly $493 Million

    Colorado’s Reinsurance Program continues to deliver savings for people buying their insurance on the individual market (meaning insurance that is not provided through an employer). For 2025, the program is estimated to save Coloradans 23.8% on their premiums, equal to nearly $493 million ($492,847,3512). For a 40-year-old individual, that means an average savings over $1,500, and for a family of four, up to $5,800 in savings.

    In many counties in the western half of Colorado, Reinsurance is saving people more than 40% on their premiums, and in Mesa County (Rating Area 5), premiums would be 44% higher without the Reinsurance Program. For a 40-year-old individual in Mesa County, that means an average savings of $2,700, and for a family of four, almost $10,000 in savings.

    Reinsurance Savings by county

    With the $493 million in savings for 2025, the total estimated savings for the program will be over $2 billion since its inception.

    Colorado Option: Colorado Consumers Could Save an estimated $235 Million

    For 2025, Colorado Option plans will again offer significant savings for enrollees.

    In the individual market, the average increase for Colorado Option plans is again lower than non-Option plans: Colorado Option plans average premium change is 4.6%, while non-Option premiums will increase by an average of 6.1%. And Colorado Option plans will be the lowest or the second lowest plan in over 90% of Colorado counties next year for Bronze and Silver plans. For Gold plans, Colorado Option plans will be the lowest or second lowest plan in every county in the state in 2025.

    Additionally, someone currently enrolled in an average cost, non-Option plan who switches to a Colorado Option plan in the same metal tier (bronze, silver, gold), could see significant savings. A 40-year-old switching to the lowest cost Colorado Option plan could save up to $225 a month, or nearly $2,700 for the year (depending on where they live in the state). A family of four making the same change could realize savings of $800 a month, or nearly $10,000 for the year. These Colorado Option savings add up to $235 million if everyone in the individual market made this switch.

    In the small group market (for business with less than 100 employees), a 40-year-old making the change to the lowest cost Colorado Option plan would see savings of up to nearly $3,700 for the year, and a family of four would save over $14,000 on the year.

    Rate Review Savings: $15 million

    Every year, the DOI’s Rate Review Team works through all of the information the health insurance companies file to check that it meets the requirements of State and federal laws and regulations, but also to ensure that the premiums the companies request make sense. This year, the rate review process saved Coloradans over $15 million.

    In the individual market, the average premium increase for 2025 will only be 5.6%, while in the small group market, the average premium increase will be 7.1%

    Take the Time to Shop to Find More Savings

    On top of these programs saving Coloradans money on health care, many people who get their insurance from the individual market and use the state’s exchange, Connect for Health Colorado, will be eligible for additional savings.

    At least 80% of people currently enrolled in 2024 health insurance through Connect for Health Colorado will be eligible for financial assistance in 2025 that will help to make their insurance more affordable.

    And that financial assistance can also be significant, as 77% of customers getting financial assistance will be able to find a plan with a premium less than $100 a month if they shop,  and 62% will be able to find a premium under $25.

    With 219 plans available across Colorado for 2025 in the individual market, plus all of the available financial assistance, it is important that Colorado consumers take the time to shop and compare plans available as well as determine how much assistance would be available. Remember, the expanded eligibility for assistance available that was created by the Inflation Reduction Act is still in place, so if it’s been some time since you checked what assistance you might qualify for, it is time to check again at the Connect for Health Colorado’s Quick Cost and Plan Finder Tool.

    Open Enrollment Starts Nov. 1 – Don’t Wait

    Even though open enrollment doesn’t start until November 1, we encourage everyone to start looking at the health insurance plans available for 2025 and determining what financial assistance is available. At Connect for Health Colorado’s Quick Cost and Plan Finder Tool, the 2025 plans, premiums and financial assistance details will be available to view starting on October 22.

    Open enrollment for 2025 individual health insurance lasts until January 15, 2025. People enrolling November 1 – December 15, will have their coverage start on January 1, 20254. For those that wait to enroll between December 16 and January 15, coverage will start on February 1, 2025.

    More information can be found on the DOI’s website for approved plans.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Alabama Man Arrested for Role in Securities and Exchange Commission X Account Hack

    Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

    An Alabama man was arrested by the FBI this morning in Athens, Alabama, on charges related to the January hack of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)’s social media account on X, formerly known as Twitter.

    According to court documents, on or about Jan. 9, Eric Council Jr., 25, of Athens, allegedly conspired with others to take unauthorized control of the SEC’s X account and, in the name of SEC Chair Gary Gensler, prematurely announced the approval of bitcoin Exchange Traded Funds. Immediately following the false announcement, the price of bitcoin increased by more than $1,000 per bitcoin. Shortly after this unauthorized post, the SEC regained control over its X account and confirmed that the announcement was unauthorized and the result of a security breach. Following this corrective disclosure, the value of BTC decreased by more than $2,000 per bitcoin.

    The conspirators gained control of the SEC’s X account through an unauthorized Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) swap, allegedly carried out by Council. A SIM swap refers to the process of fraudulently inducing a cell phone carrier to reassign a cell phone number from the legitimate subscriber or user’s SIM card to a SIM card controlled by a criminal actor. As part of the scheme, Council and the co-conspirators allegedly created a fraudulent identification document in the victim’s name, which Council used to impersonate the victim; took over the victim’s cellular telephone account; and accessed the online social media account linked to the victim’s cellular phone number for the purpose of accessing the SEC’s X account and generating the fraudulent post in the name of SEC Chairman Gensler.

    “The indictment alleges that Eric Council Jr. unlawfully accessed the SEC’s account on X by using the stolen identity of a person who had access to the account to take over their cellphone number,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Council’s co-conspirators then allegedly used this unauthorized access to the X account to falsely announce that the SEC had approved listing bitcoin ETFs, which caused the price of bitcoin to rise by $1,000 and then fall by $2,000. Council’s indictment underscores the Criminal Division’s commitment to countering cybercrime, especially when it threatens the integrity of financial markets.”

    “These SIM swapping schemes, where fraudsters trick service providers into giving them control of unsuspecting victims’ phones, can result in devastating financial losses to victims and leaks of sensitive personal and private information,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia. “Here, the conspirators allegedly used their illegal access to a phone to manipulate financial markets. Through indictments like this, we will hold accountable those who commit these serious crimes.”

    “The FBI works to identify, disrupt, and investigate cyber-enabled frauds, including SIM swapping,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge David E. Geist of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division. “SIM swapping is a method bad actors exploit to illicitly access sensitive information of an individual or company, with the intent of perpetrating a crime. In this case, the unauthorized actor allegedly utilized SIM swapping to manipulate the global financial market. The FBI will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners around the country and globe to hold accountable those who break U.S. laws.”

    “This criminal indictment demonstrates our commitment to holding bad actors accountable for undermining the integrity of the financial markets,” said Inspector General Deborah Jeffrey of the SEC.

    A federal grand jury in the District of Columbia returned an indictment on Oct. 10 charging Council with one count of conspiracy to commit aggravated identity theft and access device fraud. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    The FBI Washington Field Office and SEC Office of Inspector General are investigating the case.

    Trial Attorney Ashley Pungello of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, Trial Attorney Lauren Archer of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Rosenberg for the District of Columbia are prosecuting the case.

    For more information on SIM swapping, go to http://www.ic3.gov/PSA/2024/PSA240411.

    An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why many Poles are not as supportive of Ukraine’s war effort as their leaders in Warsaw

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Chris Hann, Emeritus Director, Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology

    Consumers of western media could be forgiven for supposing that Ukraine, the state whose sovereignty was violated so brutally with the Russian invasion of February 2022, enjoys unstinting support from its western neighbour Poland. The support of the Polish government has been unambiguous. Donations of military equipment and humanitarian support for refugees have been second to none in Europe.

    The election of a new government at the end of 2023 made no discernible difference to the Polish commitment. Antipathy towards Russia in Poland has strong roots, dating back even before the days when much of the country (including Warsaw) was formally incorporated into the Romanovs’ Russian empire.

    Observers in the west take it for granted that the pro-Ukrainian policies of successive Polish governments – endorsed by the Catholic churches – reflect views shared by citizens throughout the country.

    But after more than two years of war, as I found during a recent research trip, doubts are being voiced in some segments of society.

    Farmers have been angry for years. Ukraine has rich soils and its agribusiness is free from EU regulations. In the exceptional conditions created by the invasion, with the government desperately in need of revenue, Ukraine has been allowed to export its cheap grain to the EU. This has undermined the market for Polish farmers. Some Poles event believe that, since much Ukrainian farmland is owned by foreign capital, the prolongation of the war has been orchestrated by the west for economic reasons.

    Similar arguments can be heard concerning energy. The end of cheap gas from the Russian Federation promises a bonanza for the producers of alternative supplies, notably in the United States at the expense of higher prices for Polish households. I also heard in plenty of conversations that Poland is the only ally of Ukraine to provide military hardware free of charge – whereas other Nato states insist on full payment or offer credits that will theoretically have to be repaid one day.

    The resentments run deep and they affect large sections of the population. Why do I have to wait months for my hospital appointment, people ask – is it because of increased demand for health services from the millions of Ukrainian refugees? Why should my taxes pay for generous financial grants to Ukrainians who turn up at the border, claim the cash, and promptly return home?

    A tangled history

    Most educated citizens dismiss such allegations with scorn. Those who complain and exaggerate isolated abuses are often written off as gullible victims of Russian propaganda. But Poles are unlikely dupes. Monuments to communist crimes are everywhere – above all the Katyń massacres of 1940, when the Soviet security forces murdered thousands of Polish officers. More recently, many Poles still suspect the Kremlin’s complicity in the plane crash that killed their then president, Lech Kaczyński in Smolensk in 2010.

    Yet hatred of Russia does not translate into unconditional support for Ukraine.

    The enduring reason for friction between the two states has to do with diverging interpretations of violence which took place during and after the second world war. Ukrainian ministers have the undiplomatic habit of pointing out that large areas of present-day Poland were formerly occupied by Ukrainians. According to the historical ethno-linguistic and religious criteria generally considered central in the formation of peoples, Ukraine might indeed have a stronger claim to sections of the Polish Carpathians than it has to Crimea or Donbas.

    Does this help explain why the Polish government upholds the sanctity of Ukraine’s border with Russia? They want Ukraine’s border with their country to be equally sacrosanct.

    The typical Polish response to Ukrainian nationalist goading is to point out that Poles used to form the majority in most towns of western Ukraine – and that Lviv itself was a Polish city until Stalin redrew the borders in 1944 and the Polish population was deported westwards. These eastern borderlands are known to Poles as the Kresy. They are the focus of strong emotions and mythology. The Kresy is imagined as a harmonious realm in which, for many centuries, cultivated Poles ruled benignly over all other nationalities.

    This multiculturalism came to an abrupt end in the 1940s. These days, Poles with family roots in Volhynia and Galicia, much of which is now in western Ukraine, are incensed by Kyiv’s refusal to admit that Ukrainian nationalists were responsible for the ethnic cleansing of the Polish population. Poland’s prime minister, Donald Tusk, recently made it clear that Poland’s continued support for admitting Ukraine to the EU will depend on coming to terms with this dark past.

    Western complicity

    During my recent visit, I was sometimes asked why the BBC and other influential western media never probed behind the slick public face of Volodymyr Zelensky’s team to report on the real conditions and opinions of ordinary Ukrainians. Instead, Russians are demonised and Ukrainians hailed for their “European values” and their sacrifices on behalf of the west.

    Coverage in Polish state media conveys a similar message – but I found many citizens have become sceptical. There is pity for conscripts, sorrow for the loss of young lives on both sides and fear for where all this dehumanising violence is leading. But few of the people I spoke with believed that Russians are the only party violating the Geneva Conventions.

    Often, the conversation turned to Boris Johnson. I was asked to explain why the then prime minister advised Zelensky in April 2022 that Ukraine should continue the fighting. Did Johnson, as has often been rumoured, sabotage proposals for a negotiated peace carefully drawn up in Istanbul shortly before his visit? Was it the spontaneous whim of a western politician who knew nothing about regional history, a clown playing macho games with Zelensky for the sake of his own image? Did he not care at all about the hundreds of thousands who would suffer and die if this war continued? Was he pursuing a devious strategy agreed with EU leaders and Nato partners, above all Washington?

    I did not have answers to any of these questions.

    Chris Hann 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. Why many Poles are not as supportive of Ukraine’s war effort as their leaders in Warsaw – https://theconversation.com/why-many-poles-are-not-as-supportive-of-ukraines-war-effort-as-their-leaders-in-warsaw-240562

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Béla Bartók: pioneering Hungarian composer who fused folk melodies with classical music

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Robert Taub, Director of Music, The Arts Institute, University of Plymouth

    Considered one of the great composers of the 20th century, the deeply expressive Béla Bartók synthesised elements of folk music of Hungarian and related cultures into classical forms, producing a style that was both individual and influential.

    Through Bartók’s music, powerful elements of local folk melodies are performed and heard in concert halls worldwide. For the 80th anniversary of the composer’s death coming up in 2025, the University of Plymouth’s Musica Viva – of which I am founder and director – is planning a series of concerts celebrating the notion of the “music of home” as brought to life by Bartók, by including one of his pivotal works in every concert. His Piano Sonata, String Quartet No. 3, String Quartet No. 5 and Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta will all be performed by leading artists.

    From the start, the young Bartók, born in 1881, displayed a fascination with music, and his widowed mother encouraged his musical gifts. When the family moved to Pozsony, a former region of Hungary that now lies mostly within Slovakia, he began a formal musical education and attended concerts for the first time.

    As an 18-year-old student of piano and composition at the Budapest Conservatory, Bartók immersed himself in the musical dramas of Wagner and the orchestral works of Liszt. But his primary focus was the piano, and he became known as a pianist of extraordinary abilities, playing the music of Chopin, Liszt and Robert Schumann.

    During his last years as a student, nationalist currents in Hungary – which had been suppressed since the uprising in 1848-1849 – became resurgent. Caught up in this movement, Bartók devoted considerable thought to issues of a national music.

    It is not surprising that under this influence and that of the music of Richard Strauss, his first major composition in 1903 was a vast symphonic poem called Kossuth, a Hungarian “Hero’s Life” – whose ten tableaux depict events of the 1948-49 war of independence. This work was followed by the Liszt-inspired Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra in 1904.

    Bartók’s interest in folk music grew to the point at which he and his friend and fellow composer Zoltán Kodály travelled throughout central Europe, Turkey, and north Africa to collect folk melodies. Bartók wrote five books and many articles on folk music.

    He considered his most interesting finds to be from isolated Hungarian communities living among the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains, where he encountered and recorded authentic, untainted Magyar folk music. His fascination with the unbridled spirit of this music helped him gradually develop a compositional style in which he fused folk elements with highly developed techniques of classical music more intimately than had ever been done before.

    Between the two world wars Bartók performed as a concert pianist, touring Britain, the US and the former USSR, and was prolific as a composer. Elements of his style include melodic lines derived from eastern European folk music; powerful forward-leaning rhythms in irregular meters with off-beat accents; strong control of form; and harmonies which, although primarily focused on one key, often include elements of multiple keys thereby creating a sense of musical tension.

    Paramount among his piano works is his only Piano Sonata, written in 1926, which is also his largest composition for solo piano. It was composed during a particularly prolific year during which he also composed his First Piano Concerto, Out of Doors Suite and Nine Little Piano Pieces – all works which he included in his own public performances.

    The Sonata is in three movements and follows a classic sonata form – a lively first movement, a slower second movement and an energetic finale in which the lively main theme recurs in different guises. The full resources of the piano are used in creating a wide spectrum of expression, from incisive detached clusters of notes to smoothly flowing lyrical melodic lines.

    Throughout, the music is inspired by Bartók’s ethnomusicological (social and cultural) research. Although the themes are not folk melodies per se, they imitate their style in terms of melodic shaping, searing dynamics, driving rhythmic features and harmonic content. The piano is used in new percussive ways that often seem a vivid portrayal of folk passions. At the time this was groundbreaking.

    Bartók’s contribution to the musical repertoire is immense. He composed six String Quartets, Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion, a large canon of solo piano music as well as chamber music, and an opera, Bluebeard’s Castle. The Concerto for Orchestra, three Piano Concerti, and the Violin Concerto are all masterpieces in large-scale musical forms.

    Bartók emigrated to the US in 1940 and found temporary employment at Columbia University. His health deteriorated along with his financial situation, although his friends Joseph Szigeti and Fritz Reiner arranged for the Koussevitzky Foundation to commission him to write the Concerto for Orchestra in 1943 and the Sonata for Solo Violin in 1944, which provided temporary relief from a dismal situation.

    Bartok died on September 26, 1945, with the score of his Viola Concerto unfinished, but he left behind an unparalleled canon of music that is deeply expressive and vital to our musical understanding today.

    Robert Taub 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. Béla Bartók: pioneering Hungarian composer who fused folk melodies with classical music – https://theconversation.com/bela-bartok-pioneering-hungarian-composer-who-fused-folk-melodies-with-classical-music-238820

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Guthrie and Griffith “The Biden-Harris EPA- From the Government Not Here to Help”

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brett Guthrie (2nd District Kentucky)

    In Case You Missed It – Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02) and Congressman Morgan Griffith (VA-09), recently published a joint op-ed in The Washington Reporter detailing how the Biden-Harris Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been providing solutions in search of a problem in the name of “climate justice.”

    Below are the highlights of their op-ed published by The Washington Reporter.

    Click HERE to read the full op-ed.

    “When you drive to work in the morning and drop your kids off at school, the EPA wants to make sure they can choose which vehicle you’re using. Their electric vehicle (EV) mandates, which are attempting to make two thirds of all US car sales by 2032 electric vehicles, are completely unrealistic and ignore the factors that make EVs untenable for many families across the country.  EV use is limited in mountainous regions where traversing the mountains drains batteries at a faster rate. EVs cost on average $17,000 more than their gas-powered counterparts and some EVs are suspectable to severe weather with battery range cut by up to 40% in cold conditions. This is further evidenced by the high percentage of auto-dealers’ lots filled with unsold EVs because of the continued popularity of gas-powered cars.

    The Biden-Harris hypocritical electrification strategy will increase the need for reliable baseload power generation, while at the same time they’re forcing the use of intermittent sources of wind and solar through the Clean Power Plan 2.0 that will drive out fossil fuels that are reliable and keep the lights on. But don’t just take our word for it, the very entities charged with overseeing our grid are sounding alarms about implications of EPA’s plans. Access to electricity is not a luxury, but a necessity.

    Power generation is the linchpin to economic activity in our nation. We should see this next-gen economy as an opportunity to reduce our reliance on adversarial nations like China and create stable, good paying jobs that lift up communities across the nation. Unfortunately, the Biden-Harris EPA doubled down on their radical agenda by implementing a host of regulations that target the manufacturing sector in an effort to fulfill a far-left environmentalist wish list.”

    …

    Click HERE to read the full op-ed.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Labrador Files Brief to Stop Biden-Harris Administration’s Electric-Truck Mandate

    Source: US State of Idaho

    [BOISE] – Attorney General Raúl Labrador and a coalition of 23 other states filed a brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to stop the Biden-Harris Administration from imposing an electric-vehicle mandate on truck manufacturers in Nebraska v. EPA.  This coalition has joined the suit alongside Nebraska as petitioners to challenge the new rule.
    In April, the federal Environmental and Protection Agency (EPA) published a rule imposing stringent tailpipe emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles that effectively force manufacturers to produce more electric trucks and fewer internal-combustion trucks. The Attorneys General argued that EPA’s electric-truck mandate raises a “major question” that Congress has not clearly authorized EPA to decide.
    “Once again, the Biden-Harris administration is superseding their constitutional authority in a short-sighted pursuit of their green agenda,” said Attorney General Labrador.  “They are making laws and standards which are the sole purview of Congress.  This kind of reckless rulemaking will damage our national economy, infrastructure, and resiliency.”
    The brief points out that just one-tenth of one percent (0.10%) of all heavy-duty trucks sold today are powered by a battery, but that EPA’s rule would increase that number to 45 percent in less than a decade away. That massive shift in the nation’s trucking and logistics industries will slow down transportation of essential goods, stress the electric grid, and raise prices for Americans. The brief also argues that EPA has never before forced manufacturers to produce heavy-duty electric vehicles and that allowing the electric-truck mandate to stand would short circuit the ongoing policy debate that should be left to Congress and the States.
    In addition to Attorney General Labrador, attorneys general from the following States joined the suit against the Biden Administration: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, South Dakota, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: The Government of Canada Announces Funding for Emissions Reduction Alberta Through the Green Industrial Facilities and Manufacturing Program

    Source: Government of Canada News

    News release

    October 17, 2024                    Calgary, Alberta                   Natural Resources Canada

    The Government of Canada is committed to maximizing energy performance and reducing greenhouse gas emissions while helping industry gain a competitive edge.  

    Today, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson announced a federal investment of $40 million from the Green Industrial Facilities and Manufacturing Program (GIFMP) to Emissions Reduction Alberta. This funding will help to develop and manage a province-wide program for industry to become more cost- and energy-efficient.

    Funding will support Emissions Reduction Alberta’s $50-Million Strategic Energy Management for Industry (SEMI) program, which will provide industrial and manufacturing facilities with expertise and training in energy management.  Industrial participants will be given the opportunity to increase profitability by reducing energy costs and to take advantage of funding to help cover the cost of capital retrofits for industrial process equipment. An additional $10 million was invested by the Government of Alberta for Emissions Reduction Alberta’s Strategic Energy Management for Industry program.   

    As Canada advances toward a net-zero future, investments like these are key to minimizing emissions while maximizing industry competitiveness. Today’s investment supports workers and industry in Alberta on the road toward a prosperous and clean future.

    Quotes

    “Energy efficiency means cost savings for Canadian business. Supporting Canadian industrial facilities with their efficiency targets is a necessary step toward improving competitiveness in the global economy. We are pleased to play a part in launching Emissions Reduction Alberta’s innovative Strategic Energy Management for Industry (SEMI) program, which helps strengthen the knowledge and expertise that Alberta industries need to keep energy-efficient and competitive. Through investments like the $40 million we are providing for SEMI, the federal government is helping provinces, territories and industry in their goal to seize the financial opportunities of a clean economy.”

    The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson

    Minister of Energy and Natural Resources

    “Improving the efficiency of industrial and manufacturing processes and facilities is the quickest, most cost-effective way to lower energy bills and stay competitive. But it takes knowledge, expertise, training and capital. With SEMI, Alberta companies now have even more opportunity to invest in energy- and cost-saving technologies, right here in the province.” 

    Justin Riemer

    CEO, Emissions Reduction Alberta

    “ERA’s SEMI program represents a pivotal opportunity for industry to further our collective mission of enhancing environmental performance and operational efficiency. By providing the necessary financial support, this program will enable companies to invest in advanced technologies and practices that significantly reduce emissions and improve efficiency and energy management solutions to contribute to a more sustainable future.” 

    Grant Wilde

    Board Chair, Spartan Controls and BlueMarvelValidator 

    “Reducing greenhouse emissions through energy efficiency is a powerful way industries can make a mark on reducing their carbon footprint while reducing energy costs. The SEMI program is an ideal opportunity for industries seeking to decarbonize through energy management and retrofits. At Lafarge, we have benefited from long standing support from ERA, and we are excited to see new opportunities put forward in energy management and conservation.”

     

    Stephanie Voysey

    Head of Sustainability and Environment, Lafarge, Western Canada

    Quick facts

    • Canada’s industrial sectors represented about 3,650 petajoules (PJ), or more than 40 percent, of Canada’s total energy use in 2021. 

    Related products

    Contacts

    Natural Resources Canada
    Media Relations
    343-292-6100
    media@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca

    Cindy Caturao
    Press Secretary
    Office of the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources
    613-795-5638
    cindy.caturao@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca

    Follow us on LinkedIn

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Announcement by Minister Lebouthillier in support of the Gaspé Peninsula and Lower St. Lawrence fishing industry

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Newport (Quebec) – The Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, will hold a press conference to announce a major financial support for the Gaspé Peninsula and Lower St. Lawrence fishing industry.

    Newport (Quebec) – The Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, will hold a press conference to announce a major financial support for the Gaspé Peninsula and Lower St. Lawrence fishing industry.

    Date:                  Friday, October 18, 2024

    Time:                 9:30 a.m. (local time)

    Registration: Media wishing to attend the press conference on site must send an email to media.qc@dfo-mpo.gc.ca to confirm their attendance. The location of the announcement will be sent to media upon registration.

    Andrew Richardson
    Acting Director of Communications
    Office of the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard
    andrew.richardson@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

    Media Relations
    Fisheries and Oceans Canada
    Quebec Region
    media.qc@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
    418-648-5474 

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bennet, Hickenlooper, Colleagues Urge Defense Secretary to Fix Rule Hurting Colorado Springs Children’s Hospitals

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Colorado Michael Bennet

    Denver — Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper and U.S. Representatives Doug Lamborn and Jason Crow, along with 16 of their Senate and House colleagues, sent a letter to U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. The letter urges the Defense Health Agency (DHA) to address the financial burden caused by a change in the way children’s hospitals are reimbursed for the care provided to military families covered by TRICARE, the government health care program for active duty service members and their families. 

    “We write to express our deep concerns about a 2023 Defense Health Agency (DHA) rule that catalyzed a major shift in the TRICARE reimbursement methodology for children’s hospitals,” wrote Bennet and the lawmakers. “Children’s hospitals situated in defense communities in our home states are now grappling with the impacts of this change.” 

    Each year over 2.4 million children obtain care from children’s hospitals through TRICARE, and the change has placed an outsized burden on children’s hospitals in major defense communities, like Colorado Springs. Specifically, Children’s Hospital Colorado said one in five patients in their Colorado Springs facility pay with TRICARE. The DHA previously exempted children’s hospitals from the adult Medicare reimbursement process because the program’s policies weren’t applicable to the care children typically need. The rule change is expected to cost the hospital over $25 million annually. 

    The Children’s Hospital Association (CHA) sent letters to DoD in 2020 and 2023 expressing their concerns about the proposed rule. However, they did not receive a response before the DHA implemented the change in October 2023.

    The lawmakers specifically asked the following questions:

    • What dialogue has DHA had with the affected children’s hospitals to understand how this new reimbursement methodology impacts operations and access to care? 
    • What data and sources informed the agency’s analysis of the impact on children’s hospitals that care for TRICARE patients? 
    • How did the agency account for the financial impacts of military families traveling for care in circumstances where local services are no longer available? 
    • How did the agency develop the contingency payment and why did the DHA set a lower contingency payment for pediatrics?
    • Can the agency verify the number of children’s hospitals that are expected to qualify for the contingency payment that is outlined in the rule?  

    In addition to Bennet, Hickenlooper, Lamborn and Crow, U.S. Senators … and X members of the U.S. House of Representatives also signed the letter.

    The text of the letter is available HERE and below. 

    Dear Secretary Austin: 

    As members of Congress representing military-connected children, we write to express our deep concerns about a 2023 Defense Health Agency (DHA) rule that catalyzed a major shift in the TRICARE reimbursement methodology for children’s hospitals. Specifically, we urge the Department of Defense (DOD) and DHA to expeditiously meet with the affected hospitals to discuss administrative policy options to preserve access to pediatric care for military dependents. 

    Collectively, we represent a significant number of the 2.4 million children who obtain care in children’s hospitals through TRICARE each year. These hospitals provide specialized treatment for a spectrum of concerns, including minor health issues and complex, long-term health conditions. They play an essential role in the wellbeing of our nation’s military families. 

    Until recently, since 2008, TRICARE exempted children’s hospitals from the adult Medicare Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS). This exemption made logical sense, as very few children who seek care in children’s hospitals are covered by Medicare and the program policies do not adequately reflect children’s health needs.  

    In 2019, however, DHA proposed a rule to eliminate this exemption. In response, children’s hospitals with larger TRICARE volumes collectively submitted comments through the Children’s Hospital Association (CHA), outlining a number of concerns and asking DHA to extend the comment and implementation timelines pending the provision of more information. Instead, DHA’s final rule, TRICARE; Reimbursement of Ambulatory Surgery Centers and Outpatient Services Provided in Cancer and Children’s Hospitals, was finalized without any response and took effect on October 1, 2023. 

    Children’s hospitals situated in defense communities in our home states are now grappling with the impacts of this change, as well as the ripple effects that the ensuing financial challenges may have on the provision of care for military families. For states with large military populations and no specialty children’s hospital, any reduction in access to care would further complicate military family’s choices by increasing burdens placed on families who already have to travel outside of their own state for medical services. Given the significant concerns expressed by children’s hospitals about how the rule may impact military families’ access to timely health care, we request that you provide us with responses to the following questions: 

    1. Dialogue: What dialogue has DHA had with the affected children’s hospitals to understand how this new reimbursement methodology impacts operations and access to care? 
    2. Financial Data: What data and sources informed the agency’s analysis of the rule’s impact on children’s hospitals that care for TRICARE patients? How did the agency account for the financial impacts of military families traveling for care in circumstances where local services are no longer available? 
    3. Contingency Payment: How did the agency develop the contingency payment and why did the DHA set a lower contingency payment for pediatrics? Can the agency verify the number of children’s hospitals that are expected to qualify for the contingency payment that is outlined in the rule? 

    Additionally, we request DoD and DHA officials schedule a meeting as soon as possible with the children’s hospitals that support military families. We believe a dialogue between the department and the hospitals will help identify impactful policy adjustments that can protect access to care. As you know, a robust TRICARE network for pediatric care is critical to the sustainment of our armed forces—working together, we can achieve this.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: CAF is the first multilateral financial institution to join the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty

    Source: CAF Development Bank of Latin America

    On the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, CAF formally joined the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty, an initiative proposed by Brazil during its G20 Presidency, aimed at establishing an international union to combat hunger and poverty worldwide. The announcement was made today by the Executive President of the Institution, Sergio Díaz-Granados, who participated virtually in the event “Reimagining Solutions for Poverty,” held in New York in collaboration with UNDP (United Nations Development Programme). The Minister of Development and Social Assistance, Family, and Fight Against Hunger, Wellington Dias, was also present.

    CAF is the first multilateral financial institution to join the Alliance and, in doing so, commits to making its best efforts to improve the allocation, assignment, and alignment of its resources, including through the coordination and cooperation facilitated by the Global Alliance, to support member countries in the implementation, improvement, or expansion of the execution of selected programs or policy instruments in the Alliance’s reference framework, with the aim of boosting the fight against hunger and poverty in accordance with sustainable financing and implementation strategies led by the countries.

    “CAF is ready to act as a regional voice for the Global Alliance, advocating for Latin American and Caribbean solutions to the global challenges of hunger and poverty. We are committed to working closely with the governments of our member countries, including Brazil, to ensure that these initiatives are impactful and aligned with the strategic priorities of each government,” stated Díaz-Granados.

    In recent years, CAF has allocated approximately USD 1.6 billion to initiatives that directly contribute to the fight against hunger and poverty. Our actions have focused on critical areas such as reducing malnutrition, social protection systems, and sustainable rural development. We have also increased investments in sustainable infrastructure and climate-resilient agriculture, essential for promoting food security and economic opportunities for vulnerable communities.

    In the adhesion document, the institution acknowledges that hunger and poverty remain persistent challenges for humanity, which must be addressed through comprehensive and integrated approaches. Therefore, our bank remains committed to aligning its efforts with these specific needs in our region, offering our member countries customized solutions to address their development needs and challenges, including financial services, knowledge, and technical assistance.

    Global Alliance

    The mission of the Global Alliance will be, from its launch until 2030, to support and accelerate efforts to eradicate hunger and poverty, SDGs 1 and 2. Additionally, it will seek to reduce inequalities and contribute to revitalizing global partnerships for sustainable development and achieving other interconnected SDGs, advocating for sustainable, inclusive, and just transition pathways. The Alliance is open to governments, international organizations, knowledge institutions, funds and development banks, and philanthropic foundations.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI: Digitalist Group Plc decreases its earlier guidance regarding future prospects

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Digitalist Group Plc Inside information 17 October 2024 20:15

    Digitalist Group Plc decreases its earlier guidance regarding future prospects

    Digitalist Group Plc (”Company”) decreases its earlier guidance regarding future prospects. The new guidance is:
    In 2024, turnover and EBITDA are expected to decrease in comparison with 2023.

    The previous guidance of the company was:
    In 2024, it is expected that turnover will maintain its current level and EBITDA will improve in comparison with 2023.

    Although the third quarter shows an improvement compared to the first quarters of the year, and we are cautiously optimistic regarding the fourth quarter, we do not expect to reach last year’s reported EBITDA, which included other operating income of EUR 1.0 million. Operationally, not including the impact of other operating income, we expect that the current financial year will still be stronger than the previous year.

    DIGITALIST GROUP PLC Board of Directors

    For more information, please contact:

    Digitalist Group Plc Magnus Leijonborg, CEO, tel. +46 76 315 8422 magnus.leijonborg@digitalistgroup.com
    Chairman of the Board Esa Matikainen, tel. +358 40 506 0080, esa.matikainen@digitalistgroup.com
    Distribution:  Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd Main media https://digitalist.global
     

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Joint African Development Bank- Government of Japan Visit to Fund for African Private Sector Assistance (FAPA)-Funded Projects in Ghana

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

    ACCRA, Ghana, October 17, 2024/APO Group/ —

    The African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) and the Government of Japan recently concluded a joint visit to two projects funded by the Fund for African Private Sector Assistance (https://apo-opa.co/4dOF0oP) (FAPA) in Ghana to assess their impact on stimulating the growth of small businesses and boosting private sector development.

    The Japanese delegation led by Japan’s Deputy Vice Minister of Finance for International Affairs, Mr. Daiho Fujii, together with the African Development Bank’s Executive Director for Japan, Mr. Takaaki Nomoto, were received by the African Development Bank Country Manager for Ghana, Ms. Eyerusalem Fasika. The Delegation engaged with implementing agencies and beneficiaries of two FAPA funded projects – the Ghana SME Business Linkage Program, and Fashionomics Africa Online Platform and Mobile App.

    FAPA, a joint initiative between the Bank and the Japanese government, provides untied grants to support the implementation of the Bank’s Private Sector Development Strategy. Through capacity building and technical assistance, the Fund enhances the business environment, strengthens financial systems, promotes the development of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and facilitates trade across African countries.

    Focusing on the projects’ contribution to Ghana’s broader economic and social development goals, Deputy Vice Minister Fujii reaffirmed Japan’s support to FAPA and the Bank. “My thrill turned into confidence that the Japanese taxpayers’ money via FAPA contributes to motivating the beneficiaries by developing their businesses as micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and improving their livelihood and well-being. I was also glad that FAPA projects in Ghana played the catalytic role in applying such models to other African countries and in attracting other donors.”

    Referencing the positive impact of the projects, Fasika emphasized FAPA’s pivotal role in driving inclusive private sector development and economic growth, creating job opportunities, and reducing poverty. She also expressed gratitude for Japan’s continued support and highlighted the importance of the partnership between the Bank and the Government of Japan. “The projects funded by FAPA are clear examples of how strategic partnerships can have a tangible impact on the ground. We are pleased with the progress made and the transformative effects these projects have on local communities (in Ghana),” she stated.

    The visit underscores the continued commitment of the African Development Bank and the Government of Japan to fostering economic growth and strengthening private sector development in Africa through sustainable and impactful investments.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Mauritania: IMF Staff Concludes 2024 Article IV Consultation Mission and Reaches Staff-Level Agreement on Third Review of Extended Fund and Extended Credit Facilities and the Second Review of Resilience and Sustainability Facility

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    October 17, 2024

    • Despite its resilience, the Mauritanian economy is expected to slow down in 2024 and in the medium term, in a context marked by the persistence of downside risks linked to an escalation of geopolitical tensions in the region, delays in the start of operation of the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) gas project, and weather shocks.
    • A prudent rule-based fiscal policy would help preserve debt sustainability. Developing the banking sector and sustaining the implementation of the national governance action plan and the new investment code would foster the role of the private sector and enhance prospects for inclusive growth.
    • IMF and Mauritania reached staff-level agreement on the Third Review of Mauritania’s economic program under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and Extended Credit Facility (ECF) and the Second Review of the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF)”

    Washington, DC: An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team, led by Felix Fischer, visited Nouakchott during October 3–16, 2024 to conduct the 2024 Article IV consultation and to hold discussions on the Third Review of Mauritania’s ECF/EFF and the Second Review of the RSF arrangement, and at the end of the mission, Mr. Fischer issued the following statement:

    “The Mauritanian economy is expected to slowdown in 2024 with a growth rate estimated at 4.6 percent (compared to 6.5 percent in 2023) reflecting sluggish extractive sector. The economic growth in 2025 is projected at 4.2 percent, reflecting a slowdown in the mining sector, moderated by the expected start of the GTA gas project. The growth outlook is subject to significant risks, including an escalation of geopolitical tensions in the region, additional delays in the start of operation of the GTA gas project, and the occurrence of weather shocks.

    “Anchoring fiscal policy to the non-extractive primary balance would reduce the impact of fluctuations in commodity prices on the economy and maintain debt sustainability. After a tightening since 2022, conditions are favorable to shift towards monetary policy easing. The mission encourages the ongoing reforms aimed at financial sector development and stability, which would enhance financial sector contribution to economic development. The timely adoption and implementation of the new investment code will contribute to level the playing field among all market participants and foster private sector-led inclusive growth.

    “IMF staff and Mauritanian authorities have reached a staff level agreement on policies to complete the Third Review of Mauritania’s blended ECF/EFF and the Second review of the RSF. Subject to approval by the IMF Executive Board, Mauritania will receive a disbursement of SDR 6.4 million (about $ 8.6 million) under the ECF and EFF arrangements and SDR 29.72 million (about $ 39.7 million) under the RSF arrangement, bringing the total disbursement under the EFF/ECF and the RST to SDR 89.7 million (about $ 119.7 million).

    “Performance under the program is robust — all quantitative targets for end-June 2024 have been met. Fiscal consolidation is proceeding in line with the fiscal rule aimed at converging in the medium term towards the fiscal anchor (defined by the non-extractive primary deficit) of 3.5 percent of GDP. Capitalizing on Mauritania’s substantial tax potential, better domestic revenue mobilization will help create fiscal space to meet Mauritania’s significant development needs while preserving the medium-term budgetary framework credibility.

    “The structural reform program, integrating climate considerations, is advancing well. The mission noted the progress made in finalizing the draft laws on SOEs, asset declaration, and conflicts of interest, and encourages the authorities to finalize these important reforms in line with their Governance Action Plan.”

    “The team met with His Excellency the President of the National Assembly Mohamed Ould Megett, His Excellency, the Prime Minister Moctar Ould Diay, the Governor of the Central Bank Mohamed Lemine Dhehby, the Minister of Economy and Finance Sid’Ahmed Bouh, and the Minister Delegate in charge of the Budget Codioro N’Guenor. The team held also meetings with the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Energy and Oil, the Minister of Mining and Industry, the Minister of Hydraulics and Sanitation, the Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, , other senior government officials, the civil society, the banking association and other representatives of the private sector, and donor community.

    “The IMF team would like to thank the Mauritanian authorities and various stakeholders for the excellent hospitality and cooperation and candid discussions during the mission.”

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Mayada Ghazala

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    @IMFSpokesperson

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2024/10/17/pr-24379-mauritania-imf-concl-art-iv-consult-mission-and-3rd-rev-ef-and-ecf-and-2nd-rev-rsf

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Trading Standards warning about UK Government Living Allowance scam text

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    Highland Council Trading Standards are warning residents to be on their guard following reports of an unsolicited text message claiming to be from the UK Government Living Allowance Office.

    The text reads:

    “UK Government Living Allowance Office Last Time Reminder: Due to the reduction of winter heating subsidy, you can no longer receive it, and the uk government has decided to advance the living subsidy to allow you to survive the winter.

    We will reopen applications. Please apply for your living subsidy in the link as soon as possible after receiving the information. If you do not submit an application before 2024/10/15, we will cancel your qualification and reallocate the funds.”

    Mark McGinty Trading Standards Team Leader states: “Please be careful when you receive a text message from a Government Body, it’s not usually something that Government Bodies do, and if you think the text means something to you please go to your original source and check things out that way”
    He also offered this advice to anyone receiving such a text message:

    • Never click on any links in the text
    • Be suspicious
    • Beware of pressure selling tactics. These can include being told time is of the essence
    • Always check with the Government Body in another way, the .gov website is a good starting point.
    • Do not rely on a number provided in the text
    • Do not provide any personal information
    • Report the text by using 7726

    Mr McGinty adds, “Scam texts are designed to get your interest and mislead you into thinking you are doing the right thing by responding.  Responding will only give the scammers what they need to exploit you, usually financially, by emptying your bank account.  Please take a minute to think and if in doubt do not engage.”

    If you have a complaint or wish to report a scam text you can contact Trading Standards partner agency Advice Direct Scotland on telephone 0808 164 6000 or at http://www.consumeradvice.scot

    The National Cyber Crime Agency provide further information on scam texts and how you can help protect yourself.  This can be found at https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/phishing-scams/report-scam-text-message

    If you are concerned about your safety or wish to report any suspicious behaviour you can contact Police Scotland on 101 or 999 in an emergency.

    17 Oct 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: New school funding to provide successful career pathways for Piikani Nation youth

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    News release

    October 17, 2024 – Calgary, Treaty 7 Territory, Alberta – Indigenous Services Canada (ISC)

    Schools are often the cornerstone of First Nations communities, providing students with a safe place to learn and grow and acting as a gathering place for community events and cultural activities. Chief Troy Knowlton, Piikani Nation leadership, along with Indigenous Services Canada Minister, the Honourable Patty Hajdu and the Peigan Board of Education Society announced today the new and enhanced education facilities at Piikani Nation so that youth have the tools they need to learn.

    Minister Hajdu and community leaders announced funding today for the new school to be built in the First Nation. This new school will be a place for 600 students from kindergarten to grade 12 to learn, grow and form connections. 

    The existing school was initially constructed over 60 years ago, and parts of the aging facility are no longer suitable for repair. This project reaffirms the ongoing work of the Government of Canada to support essential infrastructure in Indigenous communities and to ensure that all children on reserve have access to high-quality, culturally appropriate education.

    With an investment from Indigenous Services Canada, the new school will allow students who attend school off reserve to access education that is culturally appropriate, with distinctly Blackfoot programs, and provides spaces that better meet the needs of the community and its youth.

    Quotes

    “This project represents the Piikani Nation’s commitment to their youth and future generations. Investing in education is investing in each child’s potential. I look forward to seeing the completion of the school and the student success to follow.”

    The Honourable Patty Hajdu
    Minister of Indigenous Services

    “Today is a monumental day in the history of our Piikani Nation. The announcement of our new school build is a result of the cumulative efforts by dedicated people who had a dream, and determination to make it a reality. I am honoured to have been able to play a part in this process. This project will stimulate the economy of the Peigan Nation, creating jobs and opportunities for all my peoples. This school will also create great learning opportunities for our students in a modern facility with all the amenities for a bright future ahead.”

    Troy Knowlton
    Chief of Piikani Nation

    “We, the Peigan Board of Education Society Board Trustees (PBOES), are elated for the future generations of Piikani Nation children and all students who attend Piikani Nation Schools on campus. Special acknowledgements to the PBOES technical working group for their hard work in making this dream possible. I also wish to extend the utmost gratitude to the community ff supporting this initiative, as well as past and present Peigan Board of Education Society trustees and Piikani Nation Chief and Council.

    Dr. Beatrice Little Mustache
    Chair, Peigan Board of Education Society (PBOES)

    “Education has always been important to the Piikani way of life, in the past and the present, as well as the future. This new school will provide opportunities to educate our children and our community. It will also provide opportunities for the people we serve, with short-term construction jobs and long-term employment positions in the field of education delivery, for those who wish to seek careers as educators and or support staff.

    “We had a vision that started with a feasibility study being carried out many years ago, knowing our community wished for a new modern school. Through hard work, dedication and perseverance in both our educational and political efforts, this is a dream come true. It is an achievement we can celebrate together.

    “The design and concept of the new school will be the focal point for both education and the community for years to come. It will also serve as a significant role in the foundation of the Piikani Nation. This is a win for the Piikani Nation, but most of all, a win for the children and future generations. We always say: Our children are our future.”

    Wesley Crow Shoe
    Piikani Nation councillor and Peigan Board of Education Society trustee

    Quick facts

    • Piikani Nation is located 60 KM west of the City of Lethbridge and a part of Treaty 7.

    • There are approximately 3,800 registered members with about 60% living on reserve.

    • Planning for the new school began in 2017.

    • Since 2016 and as of June 30, 2024, ISC has invested $2.18 billion of targeted funds to support 320 school-related infrastructure projects. These projects will result in the construction or renovation of 232 schools, benefitting approximately 38,000 students, 150 of which are complete.

    Associated links

    Contacts

    For more information, media may contact:

    Jennifer Kozelj
    Press Secretary
    Office of the Honourable Patty Hajdu
    Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for FedNor
    Jennifer.Kozelj@sac-isc.gc.ca

    Media Relations
    Indigenous Services Canada
    819-953-1160
    media@sac-isc.gc.ca

    Stay connected 

    Join the conversation about Indigenous Peoples in Canada:

    X: @GCIndigenous
    Facebook: @GCIndigenous
    Instagram: @gcindigenous

    Facebook: @GCIndigenousHealth

    You can subscribe to receive our news releases and speeches via RSS feeds. For more information or to subscribe, visit http://www.isc.gc.ca/RSS.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Minister Boissonnault hosts Twenty first Century Workforce Summit in Montreal

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    This week, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, Randy Boissonnault, convened businesses, non-profits, industry, labour and communities organizations from across the country, to build the 21st century Canadian workforce.

    October 17, 2024              Montréal, Quebec              Employment and Social Development Canada

    Canadian workers are talented, driven and among the most highly educated in the world. As Canada’s economy continues to grow and change, the Government of Canada is focused on creating meaningful and rewarding jobs that provide a good quality of life.

    This week, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, Randy Boissonnault, convened businesses, non-profits, industry, labour and communities organizations from across the country, to build the 21st century Canadian workforce.

    Nearly 200 leaders from various sectors of the labour market came together to discuss fresh ideas and innovative approaches to tackle pressing labour market issues and put forward a vision to support the needs of a modern Canadian economy and Canadian workers.   

    At the Summit, Minister Boissonnault delivered a keynote address identifying some of the challenges facing the Canadian economy including critical labour shortages in key sectors, an aging population set to retire, and more frequent economic disruptions felt around the world.

    The Minister highlighted the need to offer the right supports to help the untapped pool of Canadians from under-represented groups including Indigenous people, women, and persons with disabilities, find good jobs.  He stressed the importance of attracting more young people to rewarding careers in the skilled trades as well as finding new ways to provide training, retraining and upskilling to meet the needs of workers no matter what point they are at in their working lives.

    The Minister noted the important role that provinces and territories play in education and skills training and was disappointed that they chose not to participate in this year’s Workforce Summit.

    The Minister also announced the launch of a new call for proposals for $30 million over two years for the Canada Retraining and Opportunities Initiative that will fund community-based workforce retraining projects in situations of mass layoffs.

    To support the Summit, an online engagement to collect Canadians’ views on the most pressing issues impacting Canada’s labour market is open until October 31, 2024. An update on findings will be accessible and will inform priorities and future directions for workforce development in Canada and further engagement with employers, unions as well as provinces, territories and Indigenous partners.

    Canada is home to the smartest minds, the most talented workers, and a strong education, training, and employment system. By working together, we can better equip the workforce of today and tomorrow, and build a more innovative, productive, and competitive labour force for generations to come.”

    –Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, Randy Boissonnault

    Alice Hansen
    Director of Communications
    Office of the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages
    alice.hansen@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Study: Microsoft 365 Copilot drove up to 353% ROI for small and medium businesses

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Study: Microsoft 365 Copilot drove up to 353% ROI for small and medium businesses

    As a small or medium-sized business (SMB) leader, you’ve likely heard a lot about generative AI and how it’s transforming businesses of all sizes. To better understand how AI is helping businesses grow and compete, Microsoft commissioned Forrester Consulting to study the potential return on investment (ROI) of Microsoft 365 Copilot for SMBs.

    The results of the study are eye-opening. Forrester’s New Technology: Projected Total Economic Impact Of Microsoft 365 Copilot for SMB1 projects that over a three-year period, businesses can experience a return on investment (ROI) ranging from 132% to 353%.2

    Moreover, the study reports that businesses are already experiencing the transformational impact of AI for their organizations in the following areas:

    • Faster time to market
    • Increased productivity
    • Improved employee satisfaction

    Let’s take a closer look at how early adopters of Copilot have used the power of AI to transform their businesses, while keeping their data secure with enterprise data protection.

    Microsoft 365 Copilot

    Focus on what matters most with Microsoft 365 Copilot and the power of AI.

    Investing in Copilot delivers substantial returns for SMBs

    The Forrester study demonstrates the transformative results that AI can help bring to businesses—making Copilot not just a productivity tool but a strategic investment for long-term growth:

    • 6% increase in net revenue
    • 20% reduction in operating costs
    • 25% acceleration in new-hire onboarding

    “Upskilling on AI now is absolutely critical to being prepared for its capabilities in a few years. In five years, running a business without Copilot would be like trying to run a company today using typewriters instead of computers.”

    —Forrester Study: Head Vice President of Technology Services, IT Services and Business Consulting

    Turning innovation into action with faster time to market

    Bringing new products to market faster and promptly meeting customer demands are critical for business success. Forrester’s study highlights how Copilot can help accelerate revenue growth and open doors to additional business opportunities.

    The study found that 24% of businesses experienced a 16% to 20% reduction in time to market for new products, and 27% of businesses saw improvements in time to market ranging from 11% to 15%. These improvements can help you enhance your agility and increase competitiveness in the market.

    “With Copilot, we have faster turnarounds…with the ability to turn things around more quickly, clients can come to us with more work. It can be 15% more business.”

    —Forrester Study: Head Vice President of Technology Services, Managed Technology Solutions

    You can optimize your business processes by working with Copilot to map out your workflow and ask Copilot for recommendations to eliminate inefficiencies. Then you can share the list of recommendations with your team for feedback before deciding how to move forward. Copilot can help ensure projects move forward without delays—ask Copilot to provide updates on your team’s progress to quickly identify where support is needed.

    Increasing productivity across your business

    Employees at small and medium-sized businesses often wear multiple hats, doing jobs across different departments, and sometimes having less time to spend on their own projects. Copilot can help address this challenge by taking on routine, repetitive tasks, helping teams to focus on more strategic work.

    Forrester’s study shows that 51% of businesses using Copilot reported a 1% to 10% reduction in supply chain costs, while 59% saw operating costs decrease by 1% to 20%. This can help you to shift resources toward growth-focused initiatives without overwhelming your team.

    “In terms of getting the information to the various departments and having my legal assistants then redo it, so they can enter that data and answer questions from other departments more easily. My guess is on contract review we’ll save at least 50% of time in the coming years.” 

    —Forrester study: General Counsel, Chief Diversity Officer at the Staffing, IT, and Business Solutions Firm

    With Copilot, your team can quickly find critical details from client contracts or vendor agreements and have emails from key clients prioritized, helping to ensure that the most urgent emails are addressed first. Copilot can also gather data from spreadsheets and text documents, analyze it, and create easy-to-understand charts and tables for faster decision-making.

    Enhancing employee satisfaction and retention

    The study also highlights Copilot’s impact on employee satisfaction. By freeing up time for employees to collaborate more effectively and take on more fulfilling tasks, SMBs have experienced or anticipated, on average, an 18% increase in employee satisfaction, with a corresponding 11% to 20% reduction in employee churn.

    “People have a lot of anxiety [about going] on vacation because of what they’re going to miss. Well, the ability to ramp up fast with summarization on a lot of those key meetings doesn’t just save the person the time, but it also is going to save the other leaders in the organization the time to have to ramp them up.”
    —Forrester study: President, Staffing, IT, and Business Solutions

    Use Copilot to help pull together training materials and build presentations so you quickly bring new team members up to speed. Copilot’s meeting and email summaries also allow your employees to stay on top of work, even when they miss a meeting. This can help reduce stress and help create smoother transitions between projects, fostering a more inclusive and productive work environment.

    Now is the right time to invest in AI. We are here to help.

    With potential benefits like increased revenue, faster time to market, and significant ROI, Microsoft 365 Copilot can be a valuable investment for SMBs looking to thrive in a competitive market.

    To find out more about the Forrester findings and learn how you can best implement Copilot for your business, please join our webinar on October 31, 2024, 9 AM PST to 10 AM PST.

    To use Copilot across all your Microsoft 365 apps and work data, you can purchase Microsoft 365 Copilot as an add-on to your Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Microsoft 365 Standard, or Microsoft 365 Business Premium subscriptions. If you do not already have these core productivity offerings, you can purchase them now.

    Find out more about Microsoft 365 Copilot or reach out to a Microsoft Cloud Solution Partner to learn more.

    You can also learn how to make Copilot part of your everyday business activities by exploring the new Copilot Success Kit for Small and Medium-Sized Business, which provides resources on licensing, technical requirements, and AI capabilities.

    Sources:

    1. “New Technology: The Projected Total Economic Impact : Of Microsoft 365 Copilot for SMB,” a commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Microsoft. Results are based on Microsoft 365 Copilot customer interviews and surveys of over 200 companies with up to 300 employees across various industries, from retail to financial services.
    2. Forrester modeled a range of projected low-, medium-, and high-impact outcomes based on evaluated risk. This financial analysis projects that the composite organization accrues the following three-year net present value (NPV) for each scenario by enabling Microsoft 365 Copilot: 
      • Projected high impact of a $955,000 NPV and projected ROI of 353%. 
      • Projected medium impact of a $658,000 NPV and projected ROI of 243%. 
      • Projected low impact of a $358,000 NPV and projected ROI of 132%.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI: IronSight Accelerates Innovation in Field Operations with Strategic Support

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    EDMONTON, Alberta, Oct. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — IronSight (Pack Energy Services Ltd.), a leader in real-time field service management solutions, is excited to announce that it is receiving advisory services and up to $2.64 million in funding from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP). This vital support will accelerate IronSight’s research and development (R&D) initiatives, helping the company introduce new technologies, expand its workforce, and further position itself as a global leader in field operations software.

    The advisory services and funding from NRC IRAP will enable IronSight to create new job opportunities in R&D and product development, contributing to the growth of the local economy. As IronSight expands, it is poised to add skilled professionals to its team, driving innovation and supporting the growing need for enhanced efficiency and sustainability in sectors such as energy production, utilities, and logistics.

    In addition to job creation, IronSight will integrate advanced Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and machine learning capabilities into its platform. These technologies will provide real-time predictive analytics, resource optimization, and compliance automation, enabling clients to achieve unprecedented efficiency and safety in field operations. These innovations will help companies meet sustainability targets, reduce operational downtime, and minimize their environmental footprint.

    “The support from NRC IRAP is instrumental not only in helping us accelerate technological advancements but also in creating new jobs and contributing to the economic growth of Alberta and Canada,” said Shawn Martens, President and Co-Founder of IronSight. “This support will allow us to accelerate the development of cutting-edge solutions, helping industries streamline operations, improve safety, and enhance profitability. We are excited to push the boundaries of what’s possible in field operations.”

    IronSight’s enhanced platform, already equipped with real-time tracking, mobile access, and digital documentation, will now incorporate predictive maintenance, automated compliance tracking, and AI-powered operational insights. These advancements are expected to create a significant impact for clients, reducing energy consumption, optimizing resource use, and driving operational excellence across critical industries.

    “This support helps us advance our development of innovative technologies in industrial field services, driving digital transformation and operational excellence,” Martens added. “We’re committed to driving innovation that improves operational efficiency while helping our clients achieve their sustainability goals. Our solutions empower industries to perform better, safer, and more sustainably.”

    About IronSight

    IronSight is a real-time field operations platform designed to enhance operational performance, streamline workflows, and improve collaboration for industrial service providers, energy producers, and mining operations.

    Founded by Shawn Martens and Adam Jessome, IronSight connects people, processes, and technology to create more efficient, intelligent workflows. By leveraging advanced technology and real-time data, IronSight empowers organizations to achieve operational excellence while promoting safety, sustainability, and productivity.

    For more information, visit [http://www.ironsight.com].

    Media Contact:

    Taylor Loader

    Marketing

    IronSight

    Taylor.loader@ironsight.app

    http://www.ironsight.app

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Polis Delivers Keynote Address at Colorado Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting

    Source: US State of Colorado

    DENVER – Today, Governor Polis delivered the keynote address at the Colorado Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting to highlight Colorado’s economic success.

    “Colorado has one of the best economies in the country and we continue working to ensure it remains the best place to launch and grow a business. Since taking office, we have brought thousands of new jobs to Colorado. From cutting taxes, to addressing housing costs, expanding access to quality education and more, ours is a great place for individuals, families, and businesses to plant their roots,” said Governor Jared Polis.

    At the meeting, the Chamber announced the “Coolest Thing Made in Colorado” award, which was voted on by members of the Chamber. Freedom Trax was announced as the winner. Freedom Trax is a motorized off-road attachment designed for manual wheelchairs that helps navigate difficult terrain, breaking down barriers to access for Coloradans using wheelchairs in Colorado’s great outdoors.

    “Small, innovative businesses and products like Freedom Trax are driving our economy forward and helping Coloradans of all abilities access our great outdoors. Congratulations on being named the coolest thing made in Colorado! I am proud to celebrate this innovation and your impact on our great state,” said Governor Polis.

    In the last year, Governor Polis has signed laws cutting property, sales, and income taxes, breaking down barriers to housing Coloradans can afford, investing in Colorado workforce and connecting Coloradans to needed skills to fill available jobs, expanding access to low-cost education and more. All critical to a strong economy and a strong workforce.  

    ###
     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Minister Ng announces 2025 Team Canada Trade Missions to bring more of Canada to the Indo-Pacific

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    As a key part of Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, Team Canada Trade Missions help Canadian businesses open doors in dynamic markets, unlock new opportunities and connect with government and industry leaders. Diversity is Canada’s strength, and Team Canada supports and advances inclusive trade, which contributes to more competitive, innovative and successful businesses.

    October 17, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

    Since the Team Canada Trade Mission to Japan nearly a year ago, these large-scale missions have visited Malaysia, Vietnam and the Republic of Korea and will soon visit Indonesia and the Philippines. Today, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, announced that she will lead a Team Canada Trade Mission to Australia from February 16 to 21, 2025. These trade missions have allowed more than 650 representatives from over 440 Canadian organizations from more than 15 sectors gain market exposure and pursue commercial opportunities and partnerships. The Team Canada model has proven to be effective at generating economic impact for Canada: for example, the trade mission to Japan led to at least 70 new contracts with an overall value estimated at close to $30 million CAD.

    As a key part of Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, Team Canada Trade Missions help Canadian businesses open doors in dynamic markets, unlock new opportunities and connect with government and industry leaders. Diversity is Canada’s strength, and Team Canada supports and advances inclusive trade, which contributes to more competitive, innovative and successful businesses.

    During the Team Canada Trade Mission to Australia, Canadian companies will learn about opportunities in key sectors of focus:

    • agri-food and agritech
    • clean technologies and clean energy
    • mining equipment technology and services
    • information and communications technologies (with a focus on digital infrastructure and smart cities)

    Following this trade mission, Minister Ng will lead the Team Canada Trade Mission to Thailand and Cambodia in May 2025. Canada will also send business delegations to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Brunei Darussalam in 2025.

    Register now to join Minister Ng in Australia to help grow your Canadian business in a global market. Stay tuned for more details on other trade missions in 2025.

    • The Indo-Pacific is Canada’s second-largest regional export market, after the United States, with yearly 2-way merchandise trade valued at $257 billion in 2023.

    • Launched in November 2022, Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy is creating opportunities to expand trade and investment, grow good jobs and build supply chain resilience.

    • The Indo-Pacific region is rapidly becoming an increasingly important global centre of economic dynamism and strategic challenge, offering Canadian companies unparalleled opportunities for expansion, market exploration, and strategic partnerships. It accounts for over one-third of the world’s economic activity. By 2030, the region is expected to become home to two-thirds of global middle class. By 2040 it is projected to make up over half of the global economy.   

    • Team Canada Trade Missions help Canadian exporters and innovators expand and diversify their international business portfolios and reach in the region, strengthening their supply chains and facilitating long-term trade and investment opportunities that contribute to the growth of the Canadian economy.

    • Canadian participants gain direct benefits from Team Canada Trade Missions, such as getting market intelligence, access to key local interlocutors, and increased visibility and profile in the market. Canadian businesses have yielded a number of immediate successes and promising outcomes, including, for example, the signature of Memoranda of Understanding (MOU), as well as securing sales contracts, new strategic partnerships, or local representation.

    Huzaif Qaisar
    Press Secretary
    Office of the Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development
    343-575-8816
    Huzaif.Qaisar@international.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: At a Glance – Parliament’s reading of the 2025 EU budget – 17-10-2024

    Source: European Parliament

    During the October II plenary session, Parliament is expected to amend the Council’s position on the draft EU budget for 2025. The Committee on Budgets (BUDG) voted to reverse all of the reductions the Council has made to the Commission’s draft and proposes considerable increases in the 2025 budget for Parliament’s priorities: investments tailored to improving people’s lives, and boosting the Union’s competitiveness and sustainability. It would set 2025 commitments at almost €201 billion and payments at €153.5 billion, and proposes to finance the NGEU borrowing costs without cutting into expenditure on flagship programmes.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Unacceptable state of urban transport in Attica – E-001459/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Commission attaches great importance to public transport as it is key to achieving more sustainable mobility and reduce congestion in urban areas.

    It seeks to promote urban transport, which is efficient, safe, sustainable and inclusive, regardless of whether it is provided by public or private operators.

    The procurement of clean road transport vehicles under Directive 2009/33/EC[1] is part of the Commission’s goal to promote sustainable transport solutions and stimulate the market for clean and energy-efficient vehicles, including zero-emission buses.

    European funds support greener public urban transport in Attica and are made available, inter alia, for the purchase of clean public transport buses in Athens, the renew of rail rolling stock on Metro Line 1, construction of new Metro Line 4, and development of the suburban rail, under the Cohesion Fund, the European Regional Development Fund and the Recovery and Resilience Facility.

    National authorities should accelerate the pace of implementation of these projects to ensure the greening of transport, sustainable and improved level of public service for all citizens.

    It is for national authorities to monitor transport operations safety and ensure that operators implement periodic maintenance and also comply with applicable labour law provisions as well as relevant technical/safety requirements including the training of staff.

    The Commission would also note that public authorities may financially support public passenger transport services, in accordance with the conditions set out in Regulation (EC) 1370/2007[2].

    The Commission would like to point out that EU law does not prescribe privatisation in the field of public transport.

    • [1] Directive 2009/33/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 on the promotion of clean and energy-efficient road transport vehicles OJ L 120, 15.5.2009, p. 5-12.
    • [2] Regulation (EC) No 1370/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2007 on public passenger transport services by rail and by road and repealing Council Regulations (EEC) Nos 1191/69 and 1107/70, OJ L 315, 3.12.2007, p. 1-13.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: RECOMMENDATION FOR SECOND READING on the Council position at first reading with a view to the adoption of a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the implementation of the Single European Sky (recast) – A10-0010/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

    on the Council position at first reading with a view to the adoption of a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the implementation of the Single European Sky (recast)

    (08311/2024 – C10‑0114/2024 – 2013/0186(COD))

    (Ordinary legislative procedure: second reading)

    The European Parliament,

    – having regard to the Council position at first reading (08311/2024 – C10‑0114/2024),

    – having regard to its position at first reading[1] on the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council (COM(2013)0410),

    – having regard to the amended Commission proposal (COM(2020)0579),

    – having regard to the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council (COM(2020)0577 – 2020/0264(COD)),

    – having regard to Article 294(7) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

    – having regard to Rule 68 of its Rules of Procedure,

    – having regard to the recommendation for second reading of the Committee on Transport and Tourism (A10-0010/2024),

    1. Approves the Council position at first reading;

    2. Considers that, due to the incorporation of the content of Commission proposal COM(2020)0577 into that position, legislative procedure 2020/0264(COD) has lapsed;

    3. Approves the joint statement by Parliament and the Council annexed to this resolution, which will be published in the C series of the Official Journal of the European Union;

    4. Notes that the act is adopted in accordance with the Council position;

    5. Instructs its President to sign the act with the President of the Council, in accordance with Article 297(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union;

    6. Instructs its Secretary-General to sign the act, once it has been verified that all the procedures have been duly completed, and, in agreement with the Secretary-General of the Council, to arrange for its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union;

    7. Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the national parliaments.

     

     

    ANNEX TO THE LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

    JOINT STATEMENT BY THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

    Without prejudice to the prerogatives of the budgetary authority in the framework of the annual budgetary procedure and to the Commission’s powers to establish the draft budget, the European Parliament and the Council invite the Commission to propose in the framework of the annual budgetary procedure the creation of an additional administrative support budget line under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), financed from CEF available appropriations as identified in the Legislative Financial Statement provided by the Commission. This new budget line would cover the cost of contractual agents and other administrative expenditures for the Secretariat of the Performance Review Board, Performance Review Board and National Supervisory Authorities Cooperation Board such as technical assistance, expert costs, contracts for data provision, external studies and for additional consultancy services, while establishment plan posts will be financed from the administrative budget line under Heading 7, with full respect of the current Multiannual Financial Framework Regulation. To the extent possible, such a financing under CEF should be without prejudice to the funds already earmarked in the latest CEF Transport Work Programme.

    The financing under CEF of contractual agents and other administrative expenditures for the Secretariat of the Performance Review Board, Performance Review Board and National Supervisory Authorities Cooperation Board should not set a precedent for the financing of the Secretariat of other boards. It should not prejudge in any way the financing arrangements to be agreed upon in the framework of the next Multiannual Financial Framework Regulation.

     

     

    SHORT JUSTIFICATION

    The Council position at first reading reflects the agreement reached between Parliament and the Council in interinstitutional negotiations at early second-reading stage. The agreed text has been the result of complex negotiations but the co-legislators have reached a satisfactory compromise text aiming to set provisions to make air navigation services and network management contribute to climate neutrality. EU performance targets on capacity, cost efficiency, climate and environmental factors for air navigation services will be developed by the Commission and the performance of these services against these targets will be reviewed at least every three years.

    An independent advisory Performance Review Board will be established to help the Commission and Member States take decisions on the implementation of performance plans for air navigation services to improve network management of EU airspace, that will have to have binding targets and incentives to make flights more efficient and environmentally friendly.

    The agreement also stipulates that the air navigation service providers and the national supervisory authority can be part of the same organisation as long as they are functionally separated and fulfil independence requirements. Member States may merge economic and safety oversight functions in the same administrative entity and they may authorise the opening of certain air navigation services to market conditions.

     

     

    ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEURS HAVE RECEIVED INPUT

    The rapporteurs declare under their exclusive responsibility that they did not receive input from any entity or person to be mentioned in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.

    PROCEDURE – COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

    Title

    Implementation of the Single European Sky (recast)

    References

    08311/1/2024 – C10-0114/2024 – 2013/0186(COD)

    Date of Parliament’s first reading – P number

    12.3.2014 T7-0220/2014

    Draft act considered at first reading

    COM(2013)0410 – C7-0171/2013

    Amended Commission proposal

    COM(2020)0579 – C9-0334/2020

    Receipt of Council position at first reading announced in plenary

    10.10.2024

    Committee(s) responsible

    TRAN

     

     

     

    Rapporteurs

     Date appointed

    Jens Gieseke

    30.9.2024

    Johan Danielsson

    30.9.2024

     

     

    Previous rapporteurs

    Marian-Jean Marinescu

    Boguslaw Liberadzki

     

     

    Date adopted

    14.10.2024

     

     

     

    Result of final vote

    +:

    –:

    0:

    30

    1

    5

    Members present for the final vote

    Oihane Agirregoitia Martínez, Adrian-George Axinia, Tom Berendsen, Rachel Blom, Nikolina Brnjac, Nina Carberry, Benoit Cassart, Anna Maria Cisint, Vivien Costanzo, Johan Danielsson, Valérie Devaux, Siegbert Frank Droese, Jens Gieseke, Borja Giménez Larraz, Sérgio Gonçalves, Sophia Kircher, Luis-Vicențiu Lazarus, Julien Leonardelli, Milan Mazurek, Ştefan Muşoiu, Philippe Olivier, Matteo Ricci, Arash Saeidi, Andreas Schieder, Rosa Serrano Sierra, Kai Tegethoff

    Substitutes present for the final vote

    Arno Bausemer, Asger Christensen, Norbert Lins, Lena Schilling, Tomas Tobé

    Members under Rule 216(7) present for the final vote

    Fredis Beleris, Katrin Langensiepen, Hélder Sousa Silva, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, Marion Walsmann

    Date tabled

    17.10.2024

     

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Combating child sexual abuse and exploitation – 17-10-2024

    Source: European Parliament

    The impact assessment (IA) effectively substantiates the need for a recast of the Child Sexual Abuse Directive, to expand the definitions of offences, and introduce higher penalties and more specific requirements for prevention and assistance for victims. The IA draws largely on the findings of an ex-post evaluation of the Child Sexual Abuse Directive, which provided input and concrete evidence of the need for regulatory intervention. The IA presents a well evidenced problem definition and identifies the initiative’s general and specific objectives, which appear to be specific, achievable, relevant and measurable but not time-bound, as recommended by the Better Regulation Toolbox ‘S.M.A.R.T.’ criteria. The IA considered three cumulative options; however, it remains unclear whether such options really qualify as ‘alternative options’, in respect of the Better Regulation Guidelines requirement to provide a sufficient range of policy options. The IA examined all the options’ security, social, economic, and fundamental rights impacts. However, although the IA mentions that child sexual abuse infringes children’s fundamental rights under the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU, it analyses the impact on fundamental rights only briefly under the dedicated chapter. In addition, the analysis would have benefited from a more in-depth assessment of the balance between the different fundamental rights of children and users, and of the proportionality of the measures envisaged. The IA considers that the financial impact is expected to be outweighed by the positive economic impact relating to the reduction in the prevalence of child sexual abuse in the EU through prevention, protection, support, investigation and prosecution. The IA is transparent about the evidence and analytical methods used, including the underlying assumptions and limitations. Stakeholders were widely consulted and their views taken into account; however, the feedback from this consultation strategy could have been reflected more effectively in the IA, particularly regarding the available policy options and their potential impacts. The European Commission made efforts to take the Regulatory Scrutiny Board’s comments into account, but some weaknesses remain. It appears that the legislative proposal follows the IA’s preferred option.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Final draft agenda – Tuesday, 22 October 2024 – Strasbourg

    Source: European Parliament

    31 Implementation of the Single European Sky
    Jens Gieseke, Johan Danielsson     – Amendments; rejection Friday, 18 October 2024, 13:00     – Requests for “separate”, “split” and “roll-call” votes Monday, 21 October 2024, 19:00 19 Draft amending budget No 2/2024: entering the surplus of the financial year 2023
    Siegfried Mureşan (A10-0005/2024)      – Amendments Wednesday, 16 October 2024, 13:00 21 Draft amending budget 4/2024: update of revenue (own resources) and adjustments to some decentralised agencies
    Siegfried Mureşan (A10-0007/2024)      – Amendments Wednesday, 16 October 2024, 13:00 28 Mobilisation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund: application EGF/2024/001 BE/Match-Smatch
    Michalis Hadjipantela (A10-0009/2024)      – Amendments Wednesday, 16 October 2024, 13:00 22 Discharge 2022: EU general budget – European Council and Council
    Jonas Sjöstedt (A10-0003/2024)      – Amendments Wednesday, 16 October 2024, 13:00 20 General budget of the European Union for the financial year 2025 – all sections
    Victor Negrescu, Niclas Herbst (A10-0008/2024)      – Amendments Thursday, 17 October 2024, 12:00 27 Guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States
    Li Andersson (A10-0004/2024)      – Amendments Wednesday, 16 October 2024, 13:00 55 Situation in Azerbaijan, violation of human rights and international law and relations with Armenia     – Motions for resolutions Monday, 21 October 2024, 19:00     – Amendments to motions for resolutions; joint motions for resolutions Wednesday, 23 October 2024, 10:00     – Amendments to joint motions for resolutions Wednesday, 23 October 2024, 11:00     – Requests for “separate”, “split” and “roll-call” votes Wednesday, 23 October 2024, 19:00 56 People’s Republic of China’s misinterpretation of the UN resolution 2758 and its continuous military provocations around Taiwan     – Motions for resolutions Monday, 21 October 2024, 19:00     – Amendments to motions for resolutions; joint motions for resolutions Wednesday, 23 October 2024, 10:00     – Amendments to joint motions for resolutions Wednesday, 23 October 2024, 11:00     – Requests for “separate”, “split” and “roll-call” votes Wednesday, 23 October 2024, 19:00 Separate votes – Split votes – Roll-call votes Texts put to the vote on Tuesday Friday, 18 October 2024, 12:00 Texts put to the vote on Wednesday Monday, 21 October 2024, 19:00 Texts put to the vote on Thursday Tuesday, 22 October 2024, 19:00

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Final draft agenda – Wednesday, 23 October 2024 – Strasbourg

    Source: European Parliament

    44 General budget of the European Union for the financial year 2025 – all sections     – Draft amendments to the general budget – committees, at least 36 Members Thursday, 5 September 2024, 12:00     – Draft amendments to the general budget – political groups Thursday, 12 September 2024, 12:00     – Retabling of amendments rejected in committee Wednesday, 16 October 2024, 12:00     – Requests for “separate votes”, “split votes” and “roll-call votes” on amendments to the draft budget Monday, 21 October 2024, 12:00 20 General budget of the European Union for the financial year 2025 – all sections
    Victor Negrescu, Niclas Herbst (A10-0008/2024)      – Amendments Thursday, 17 October 2024, 12:00 27 Guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States
    Li Andersson (A10-0004/2024)      – Amendments Wednesday, 16 October 2024, 13:00 34 Urgent need to revise the medical devices regulation     – Motions for resolutions Wednesday, 16 October 2024, 13:00     – Amendments to motions for resolutions; joint motions for resolutions Monday, 21 October 2024, 19:00     – Amendments to joint motions for resolutions Monday, 21 October 2024, 20:00     – Requests for “separate”, “split” and “roll-call” votes Tuesday, 22 October 2024, 16:00 52 EU actions against the Russian shadow fleets and ensuring a full enforcement of sanctions against Russia     – Motions for resolutions Wednesday, 6 November 2024, 13:00     – Amendments to motions for resolutions; joint motions for resolutions Monday, 11 November 2024, 12:00     – Amendments to joint motions for resolutions Monday, 11 November 2024, 13:00 Separate votes – Split votes – Roll-call votes Texts put to the vote on Tuesday Friday, 18 October 2024, 12:00 Texts put to the vote on Wednesday Monday, 21 October 2024, 19:00 Texts put to the vote on Thursday Tuesday, 22 October 2024, 19:00

    MIL OSI Europe News –