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Category: Education

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Lord Mayor of Leeds to open major Commonwealth trade and investment conference

    Source: City of Leeds

    The Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Abigail Marshall Katung, is set to welcome guests from across the Commonwealth to a major trade and Investment conference in Leeds tomorrow (Tuesday 29 October). 

    The Trade and Investment Opportunities in the Commonwealth conference has been organised by law firm, Womble Bond Dickinson, and is being jointly hosted by Leeds City Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

    The conference will feature a range of speakers including; Megan Wood, Trade Commissioner at the Canadian High Commissioner in London, Dr Olushola Kolawole, lecturer at the University of Bradford’s School of Management, and the Pakistani Consul General in Bradford, Zahid Jatoi. Several influential British-based groups, such as the Ethnic Minority Business and Policy Forum and British Friends of Pakistan, will also attend along with Chief Executive of West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce James Mason.

    The event brings together experts from India, Canada, Pakistan, and Nigeria to reflect on the outcomes of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2024, held in Samoa last week, and will explore how the UK’s commercial links to the Commonwealth can be enhanced. 

    The 56 nations of the Commonwealth are among the UK’s largest and fastest-growing trading partners. The UK exports £83 billion to Commonwealth markets annually, which accounts for 10% of overall UK exports, with significant further trade and investment opportunities for companies in West Yorkshire.

    The event will be an opportunity to encourage further West Yorkshire-Commonwealth trade, upskill businesses on commercial opportunities in the Commonwealth, and highlight the synergies around culture, education, and diasporic communities. It supports our mission to create an economy that works for everyone as set out in the Leeds Inclusive Growth Strategy.

    The Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Abigail Marshall Katung, said: “It gives me the greatest pleasure to welcome our distinguished Commonwealth guests and partners to Leeds.

    “I look forward to discussing furthering trade, culture, and education opportunities for our city, region and the Commonwealth markets. Leeds has a vibrant range of industries that would directly benefit from increasing opportunities with our Commonwealth partners, especially in our professional and financial services, advanced manufacturing, and digital and technology sectors, highlighted as growth-driving sectors in the UK’s recent Modern Industrial Strategy Green Paper.

    “The strength of our city and a driver of its success is its diversity, vibrancy, and people. Forging closer links with our Commonwealth partners is a great opportunity to build on that diversity, create new ideas and investment opportunities and succeed together.”

    Leeds City Council deputy leader and executive member for economy, transport, and sustainable development Councillor Jonathan Pryor said:

    “We are delighted that Leeds is hosting honoured guests from around the world to this trade and investment conference. As a city Leeds is very proud of the diverse make-up of our communities, and this is reflected in our commitment to welcome and support international trade and businesses to invest here.

    “As one of the leading UK cities for private-sector job creation, international investment and supporting business creation and growth across a wide-ranging economy, we very much look forward to this conference and the benefits it can help deliver through further strengthening international relationships and boosting the city and regional economy for all to benefit from.”

    Notes for editors:

    Leeds City Council Inclusive Growth Strategy: https://www.inclusivegrowthleeds.com/ 

    West Yorkshire Trade and Investment Statistics

    • India: 629 West Yorkshire businesses export goods to India at a total value of £126m, and 963 West Yorkshire businesses import goods from India at a total value of £356m. The value of services exported from West Yorkshire is £113m, and the total value of services imported from India to West Yorkshire is £134m. Total bilateral trade in goods and services between West Yorkshire and India is worth £729 million.
    • Indian Tech company Mastek delivers significant UK digital infrastructure projects (including the NHS Spine, and MOD contracts). Mastek has a substantial presence in Leeds including an ambitious new graduate programme. Mastek continues to strengthen its Leeds operation, recently creating an additional 200 new jobs.
    • In 2021 Mphasis launched a new UK Centre of Excellence in Leeds for their insurance clients. In 2022, Mphasis, announced plans to create an additional 1,000 new jobs in West Yorkshire. The investment will be worth tens of millions of pounds to the West Yorkshire economy.
    • Prime Focus Technologies create high-tech AI-enabled software for the media and entertainment industry.  Leeds is home to their UK headquarters and new state-of-the-art Media Centre which delivers Media and Online services for Channel 4 and other media companies.
    • The latest published figures are for the 2021/22 academic year and show the count of Indian students at West Yorkshire institutions to be 4,080. Indian visitors to Yorkshire as a whole spend £14 million annually. British Indian’s make up roughly 2.7% of the population in West Yorkshire which is higher than most groups except for British Pakistani’s (10.7%).
    • Pakistan: Pakistani’s make up the largest West Yorkshire Diaspora group, with 10.7% of the population.
    • Yorkshire and Humber accounted for over 5% of UK exports to Pakistan in 2023, with a value of £23 million and over 7% of imports from Pakistan, valued at £111 million.
    • Pakistan’s trade with the UK is covered by the Developing Countries Trading Scheme, which allows for preferential and tariff free trade on many products. 94% of goods exported from Pakistan to the UK are covered by the scheme, reducing tariffs by £120 million. Trade is expected to double between 2022-25.
    • The UK is Pakistan’s largest export destination in Europe and the third globally.
    • Canada: In 2023, the value of UK goods traded between Yorkshire and the Humber and Canada amounted to £442 million in exports (7.8% of total exports) and £0.3 billion in imports (5.1% of total imports).
    • With both Canada and the UK being signatories of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), 99% of goods traded between CPTPP member countries will be tariff-free. This is projected to diversify both countries’ supply chains within the broader Asia-Pacific region whilst boosting trade, investment and innovation in sectors such as automotive, pharmaceuticals, and machinery.
    • Leeds-based construction company Turner & Townsend have developed a strong presence in Canada with offices in Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver.
    • In the UK in 2020-21 the total number of Canadian students was 6615 while the amount of Canadian academic staff amounted to 1635. Academic partnership has seen 40,745 UK publications co-authored with Canadians, between 2018-2021.
    • Nigeria: In 2023, Yorkshire and Humber was the largest UK regional exporter to Nigeria, accounting for 45.5% of exports worth £661 million. In terms of imports, the region imported £29 million of goods from Nigeria during the same period.
    • The UK-Nigeria Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP) is the first the UK has signed with an African country and is designed to grow the UK and Nigeria’s already thriving trading relationship, which totalled £7 billion in the year to September 2023.
    • In 2022/23 Nigerian students were the third largest international group in Yorkshire. Council figures suggest that between 2018/19 and 2022/23 the number of students coming from Nigeria to Leeds Beckett rose from 17 to 677.

    ENDS

    For media enquiries please contact:

    Leeds City Council communications and marketing,

    Email: communicationsteam@leeds.gov.uk

    Tel: 0113 378 6007

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada announces judicial appointments in the province of Ontario

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    October 28, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Department of Justice Canada  

    The Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointments under the judicial application process established in 2016. This process emphasizes transparency, merit, and the diversity of the Canadian population, and will continue to ensure the appointment of jurists who meet the highest standards of excellence and integrity.

    Lisa A. Wannamaker, Assistant Crown Attorney at the Ministry of the Attorney General of Ontario in Peterborough, is appointed a Judge of the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario in Lindsay. Justice Wannamaker replaces Justice D.S. Gunsolus (Lindsay), who elected to become a supernumerary judge effective March 28, 2022.

    Robin A. Bellows, a sole practitioner in Huntsville, is appointed a Judge of the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario in Parry Sound. Justice Bellows replaces Justice J. Stothart (Parry Sound), who will be transferred to Sudbury upon the appointment of a new Judge. Due to internal court transfers by the Chief Justice, the vacancy is located in Parry Sound.   

    Quote

    “I wish Justices Wannamaker and Bellows every success as they take on their new roles. I am confident they will serve Ontarians well as members of the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario”.

    —The Hon. Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

    Biographies

    Justice Lisa A. Wannamaker was raised in Peterborough. She received an honours degree in political science and economics from the University of Waterloo after which, she travelled and lived abroad in Ireland.  She later attended law school at Queen’s University. She was called to the Ontario Bar in 2005.

    Justice Wannamaker worked for Osler Hoskin & Harcourt LLP and the Ontario Securities Commission. She joined the Etobicoke Crown Attorney’s Office in 2006 and joined the Peterborough office in 2012. She has handled complex prosecutions in both the Ontario Court of Justice and the Superior Court of Justice including homicides, sexual assaults, and dangerous offender proceedings.  She was frequently involved in education and training for other crowns and presented to police services across the province on search issues, expert issues and statements. She was an annual director for the crown attorney school on expert evidence. She also taught in the forensic science program at Trent University.

    Justice Wannamaker is highly committed to her community. She was on the board of Big Brothers and Big Sisters Peterborough and worked as a manager and game day announcer with the Peterborough Wolverines Football Organization and the Kinsmen Minor Football League. She was an articling principal and a mentor to junior lawyers. She has volunteered for student moots, and with the Ontario Justice Education Network.

    Justice Wannamaker enjoys travel with friends, and spending time between the lake and the football fields, with her two wonderful children and her dog.

    Justice Robin A. Bellows was born in Toronto and spent most of her formative years in Newfoundland. She began her undergraduate degree at Memorial University of Newfoundland. She graduated with an Honours Bachelor of Arts from Trinity College at the University of Toronto in 2003 before obtaining her Bachelor of Laws from Osgoode Hall Law School in 2006. She was called to the Ontario Bar in 2007.

    Justice Bellows started her criminal defence practice in Muskoka in 2007, where she worked as a sole practitioner and as duty counsel for 10 years. In 2017, she became the Agent for the Public Prosecution Service of Canada for Parry Sound. In 2023, she was appointed as a per diem Deputy Judge of the Small Claims Court.

    Justice Bellows served on the Board of the Muskoka Law Association since 2008 and became President in 2020. Additionally, she has been the President of the Parry Sound Law Association since 2021. For several years, she had the joy and privilege of coaching the Bracebridge and Muskoka Lakes Secondary School mock trial team. Outside of her legal pursuits, she shared her creative talents with the Muskoka theatre community, creating costumes and props for local productions.

    Justice Bellows is also a watercolor artist, a keen player of high-strategy board games, and a loving mother to two bright and caring children.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada announces a judicial appointment in the province of Nova Scotia

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    October 28, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Department of Justice Canada 

    The Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointment under the judicial application process established in 2016. This process emphasizes transparency, merit, and the diversity of the Canadian population, and will continue to ensure the appointment of jurists who meet the highest standards of excellence and integrity.

    The Honourable D. Shane Russell, Associate Chief Judge of the Provincial Court of Nova Scotia in Sydney, is appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia in Sydney. Justice Russel replaces Justice R. Gogan (Sydney), who was elevated to the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal effective February 19, 2024.

    Quote

    “I wish Justice Russell every success as he takes on his new role. I am confident he will serve the people of Nova Scotia well as a member of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia.”

    —The Hon. Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

    Biography

    Justice D. Shane Russell was bom and raised in North Sydney. He graduated from the University of Manitoba Robson Hall Law School in 2003 and has a Bachelor of Science Advance Major Psychology from Dalhousie University. He was called to the Nova Scotia Bar in 2004

    Justice Russell was appointed Associate Chief Judge of the Nova Scotia Provincial Court in February 2024. Prior to his appointment as Judge of the Nova Scotia Provincial Court in 2021, he practiced law for 17 years, all of those as a Crown Attorney at the Nova Scotia Public Prosecution Service. He served as co-counse! with the Desmond Fatality Inquiry. While serving as Senior Crown Counsel, he routinely carried many complex and high-profile prosecutions involving, intimate partner violence, sexual violence, home invasion, and homicide.

    Justice Russell had served as a member of the Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society’s bar council, Gender equity committee, and Provincial Court Liaison Committee. He is also the past president of the Cape Breton Barristers’ Society and the Nova Scotia Crown Attomeys’ Association.

    Justice Russell is happily married to Nicole Russell, also from North Sydney. He is the proud older brother of two siblings, Trevor Russell and Nadine Russell-Wadden.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada announces judicial appointments in the province of British Columbia

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    October 28, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Department of Justice Canada  

    The Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointments under the judicial application process established in 2016. This process emphasizes transparency, merit, and the diversity of the Canadian population, and will continue to ensure the appointment of jurists who meet the highest standards of excellence and integrity.

    The Honourable Peter H. Edelmann, a Judge of the Supreme Court of British Columbia, is appointed a Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal for British Columbia in Vancouver. Justice Edelmann replaces Justice P. Willcock, who elected to become a supernumerary judge effective June 19, 2024.

    Scott Morishita, Associate Counsel at Rice Harbut Elliott LLP in Vancouver, is appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court of British Columbia in Vancouver. Justice Morishita replaces Justice P.H. Edelmann (Vancouver), who was elevated to the Court of Appeal for British Columbia effective October 25, 2024.

    Quote

    “I wish Justices Edelmann and Morishita every success as they take on their new roles. I am confident they will serve the people of British Columbia well as members of the Court of Appeal for British Columbia and the Supreme Court of British Columbia.

    —The Hon. Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

    Biographies

    Justice Peter H. Edelmann is fluently bilingual and was appointed to the Supreme Court of British Columbia in 2019. He received an undergraduate degree in French literature and philosophy from the University of Toronto and went on to pursue graduate studies at the University of British Columbia. In 2004, he received both LL.B. and Civil Law degrees from McGill University. He was called to the bar of British Columbia in 2005.

    Prior to his appointment to the Supreme Court of British Columbia in 2019, Justice Edelmann was a partner at Edelmann and Company, a recognized immigration and refugee law firm in Vancouver. He had begun his career as a sole practitioner primarily focused on criminal defence, in a practice that came to encompass national security, extradition, immigration and refugee law.

    Justice Edelmann appeared before all levels of the federal and provincial courts, as well as the various divisions of the Immigration and Refugee Board. He was an active member of the Immigration Section of the Canadian Bar Association and sat on the litigation committee for the Canadian Council for Refugees. He appeared regularly before Parliamentary committees and before the Supreme Court of Canada.

    Justice Scott Morishita was born and raised in Richmond. He is Japanese Canadian and a proud member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of British Columbia and an LL.B. from the University of Victoria. He was called to the British Columbia bar in 2007.

    Justice Morishita was Associate Counsel at Rice Harbut Elliott LLP, where he acted for plaintiffs in personal injury claims. Prior to that, he was Legal Counsel at the Municipal Insurance Association of British Columbia, where he defended local governments in various types of liability claims. He spent his career as a civil litigator, representing a diverse range of clients, including individuals, insurance companies, and local governments.

    Justice Morishita is a passionate volunteer and a strong advocate for lawyers’ mental health. He dedicated his time to numerous legal organizations, serving as President of the Canadian Bar Association, British Columbia (B.C.) Branch for the 2023-24 term, and as a Law Society of B.C. appointee to the Transitional Board of Legal Professions B.C. He was also a past board member of the Continuing Legal Education Society of B.C. and an active member of the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers (B.C.).

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada announces a judicial appointment to the Tax Court of Canada

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    October 28, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Department of Justice Canada  

    The Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointment under the judicial application process established in 2016. This process emphasizes transparency, merit, and the diversity of the Canadian population, and will continue to ensure the appointment of jurists who meet the highest standards of excellence and integrity.

    Laurie A. Goldbach, Partner at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP in Calgary, is appointed a Judge of the Tax Court of Canada. Justice Goldbach replaces Justice A. Pelletier, who was appointed Associate Chief Justice of the Tax Court of Canada on December 14, 2023.

    Quote

    “I wish Justice Goldbach every success as she takes on her new role. I am confident she will serve Canadians well as a member of the Tax Court of Canada.”

    —The Hon. Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

    Biography

    Justice Laurie A. Goldbach was raised in Arva, a hamlet near London, Ontario. She received a B.A. Hons (1995) from Huron College at the University of Western Ontario and a LL.B. from University of Victoria (1998). She clerked with the Court of Appeal for Ontario before being called to the Ontario Bar in 1999, and the Alberta Bar in 2000.

    Justice Goldbach has lived and worked in Calgary for the past 25 years. She began her litigation career with Bennett Jones LLP before moving to a tax litigation boutique within Deloitte LLP in 2014. She joined Borden Ladner Gervais LLP in 2017 where she led the national tax disputes practice and served as regional group manager of the specialized business group. She has appeared before courts from coast to coast: the Supreme Court of Canada, all levels of courts in Alberta and Quebec, the Federal Courts, the Tax Court of Canada, and courts in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Nova Scotia.

    Justice Goldbach chaired the Tax Court Bench and Bar Committee of the Canadian Bar Association, was a Governor of the Canadian Tax Foundation, and a regular speaker at professional development programs and conferences. She has been invested in mentoring students and lawyers and supporting mental health and wellness in the legal community. She is a long-time supporter of ASSIST and co-chaired a task force on mental wellness amongst dispute lawyers.

    Justice Goldbach and her spouse, Brett, are proud parents of one remarkable teenage daughter.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bovine H5N1 influenza from infected worker transmissible and lethal in animal models

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 2

    Media Advisory

    Monday, October 28, 2024

    Some antiviral drugs highly effective against bovine H5N1

    What

    A highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus, isolated from the eye of a farm worker who became infected through contact with dairy cows, was lethal in mice and ferrets infected in a high-containment laboratory environment, according to a new study in Nature. The study investigators also found that the virus isolated from the worker, who experienced mild inflammation of the cornea (conjunctivitis), could be transmitted through the air between separated ferrets and might be capable of binding to and replicating in human respiratory tract cells.

    The virus isolated from the worker is called huTX37-H5N1 and has a mutation (PB2-E627K) frequently seen in avian influenza viruses that replicate in mammals, typically making virus replication more efficient. These mutations underscore the need for continued monitoring and evaluation of viruses from the current H5N1 outbreak.

    The study also showed that a bovine H5N1 virus is susceptible to the antiviral drugs favipiravir and baloxavir marboxil (brand name Xofluza) of the polymerase inhibitor class, as well as the neuraminidase inhibitor zanamivir. The virus is less sensitive to oseltamivir (Tamiflu), another neuraminidase inhibitor.

    In laboratory experiments, huTX37-H5N1 replicated in human cornea and lung cells. The scientists determined the lethal dose of huTX37-H5N1 as less than 1 plaque-forming unit (PFU) in mice, compared to 31.6 PFU as the lethal dose of a bovine H5N1 virus isolated from the milk of a lactating cow. The huTX37-H5N1 virus also infected each of 15 different mouse tissues tested, with the highest virus levels found in respiratory tissues.

    Researchers also infected ferrets with a high dose of huTX37-H5N1. Flu infections in ferrets more closely resemble human flu infections than those in mice. All infected ferrets died within 5 days and scientists found huTX37-H5N1 virus in all the tissues sampled, with high levels in the respiratory system. In a prior study, the researchers had infected ferrets with a bovine H5N1 virus and, although it caused severe disease, lethality was limited.

    To evaluate respiratory transmission, the scientists placed healthy ferrets in cages about 5 centimeters away from ferrets infected one day earlier with one of four decreasing doses of huTX37-H5N1. All directly infected ferrets died within 6 days and, depending on the exposure dose, between 17% and 33% of the nearby animals became infected via respiratory droplet transmission. These results indicate that a bovine HPAI H5 virus isolated from an infected person can transmit among mammals via respiratory droplets, though with limited efficiency.

    The authors note that the person infected with the huTX37-H5N1 virus did not develop severe illness. In fact, human cases reported from the current outbreak have mostly experienced conjunctivitis and/or mild respiratory symptoms. The researchers speculate that eye infection with a low dose of bovine H5N1 virus might result in localized conjunctivitis without severe disease in humans. Multiple exposures to seasonal human influenza viruses, they say, might provide people with low levels of protection against currently circulating HPAI H5N1 viruses—though additional study is needed.

    In summary, this study characterizes the huTX37-H5N1 isolate, finding that it may be capable of replicating in cells of the respiratory tract in humans, that it is pathogenic in mice and ferrets, and that it is capable of being transmitted by the respiratory route in ferrets. The authors note that “based in these observations, every effort should be made to contain HPAI H5N1 outbreaks in dairy cattle to limit the possibility of further human infections.”

    Scientists from the University of Wisconsin at Madison led the research with collaborators from Shizuoka and Tokyo Universities and the Research Center for Global Viral Diseases in Japan. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, funded much of the work through its Centers of Excellence for Influenza Research and Response program.

    Articles

    C Gu et al. A human isolate of bovine H5N1 is transmissible and lethal in animal models. Nature DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-08254-7 (2024).

    A Eisfeld et al. Pathogenicity and transmissibility of bovine H5N1 influenza virus in mice and ferrets. Nature DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07766-6 (2024).

    Who

    Lauren Byrd-Leotis, Ph.D., with the Viral Respiratory Diseases Section of NIAID’s Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, is available to discuss the findings. 

    NIAID conducts and supports research—at NIH, throughout the United States, and worldwide—to study the causes of infectious and immune-mediated diseases, and to develop better means of preventing, diagnosing and treating these illnesses. News releases, fact sheets and other NIAID-related materials are available on the NIAID website.  

    About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation’s medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.

    NIH…Turning Discovery Into Health®

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: National Forum explores future of multilingual education in Kyrgyzstan

    Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE

    Headline: National Forum explores future of multilingual education in Kyrgyzstan

    Participants of the National Forum on Multilingual Education held on 25 October in the National Library of the Kyrgyz Republic. (OSCE) Photo details

    Policymakers, educators and international experts discussed the future of multilingual education in Kyrgyzstan at the National Forum on Multilingual Education in Bishkek on 25 October 2024. The event was organized by Kyrgyzstan’s Education Ministry of Education with support from the office of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities.
    Participants explored potential policy avenues to improve and expand multilingual education in Kyrgyzstan. Multilingual education is an excellent tool that can help promote integration in diverse societies while supporting educational excellence. When education is based first in a child’s mother tongue, and additional languages are gradually introduced, children from different linguistic backgrounds have the opportunity to develop academic proficiency in their mother tongue, which is a prerequisite for their overall educational success.
    “Multilingual education is one of the most effective ways to foster integration in our diverse societies. It is not just an educational approach that generates excellent results in the classroom; it is also a powerful tool to increase social cohesion, cultural understanding and economic opportunity.” said Ambassador Marek Szczygiel, Director and Officer-in-Charge of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities during his online address.
    Participants also had the opportunity to discuss how international best practices employed in other countries of Asia, particularly in Singapore and Mongolia, could be adapted for use in Kyrgyzstan. The day included the presentation of a draft roadmap for multilingual education from 2025 to 2030, aimed at ensuring quality and inclusive education across the country.
    The National Forum was the final segment in a series of activities in October, dubbed the “Month of Multilingual Education”. This included an event on learning the Kyrgyz language through multilingual education and a study tour for members of parliament and government officials, supported by the office of the High Commissioner on National Minorities. During the study tour, participants visited schools and kindergartens providing multilingual education in the Osh and Chuy regions of Kyrgyzstan. Participants were then able to share their first-hand experiences at the Forum, demonstrating how multilingual education supports social cohesion by providing children from different linguistic backgrounds the opportunity to learn in an inclusive environment.
    “Seeing children interact and learn in multiple languages is truly inspiring. It shows us that multilingual education is not just an abstract policy but a real opportunity to empower the next generation to embrace diversity and thrive together.” said Aigul Omorova, Lecturer at the Republican Institute for Advanced Training and Retraining of Teaching Staff
    As part of its engagement on multilingual education across the OSCE area, and in Central Asia in particular, the office of the High Commissioner on National Minorities is committed to supporting Kyrgyzstan in developing an education system that provides academic excellence and strengthens social cohesion by embracing the country’s linguistic diversity.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: New Orleans Man Sentenced for Firearm and Drug Offense

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)

    NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JEREL CLAVO (“CLAVO”), age 36, of New Orleans, was sentenced on October 15, 2024 by U.S. District Judge Brandon S. Long to 62 months incarceration, five (5) years of supervised release, and a $200 mandatory special assessment fee, after previously pleading guilty to possession with the intent to distribute marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(D) (Count 1); and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 924(c)(1)(A)(i) (Count 2).

    According to court documents, on November 27, 2021, the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) received a call regarding shots being fired near North Claiborne Avenue and Columbus Street.  NOPD Officers arrived at the scene and discovered a deceased black female.  Officers learned that the victim had been riding in a gray Dodge Charger driven by CLAVO when she was shot.  An NOPD officer present at University Medical Center (UMC) saw CLAVO pull up outside the emergency room driving a gray Dodge Charger with several bullet holes in the front windshield.  CLAVO sustained multiple gunshot wounds, including to his neck and right arm.  NOPD Detectives executed a state search warrant for the Dodge Charger and located two firearms and marijuana inside the vehicle.  CLAVO admitted possessing the marijuana for later sale.  Additionally, CLAVO possessed the firearms to further his marijuana sales activities.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

    The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Trummel of the Violent Crime Unit.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: We invite young specialists to the International Scientific and Practical Conference “Science and Technology”

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    On November 26-27, 2024, the State University of Management will host the International Scientific and Practical Conference “Science and Technology”.

    Leading Russian scientists and practitioners, scientific and teaching staff, young researchers studying in bachelor’s, master’s and postgraduate programs for training scientific and scientific-pedagogical personnel in higher education institutions under the scientific supervision of scientific-pedagogical staff are allowed to participate in the conference.

    The conference will include the following sections:

    Social technologies of society management; Innovative technologies of management in the digital environment of the information society; Transformation of industry management in the context of development of technological sovereignty; Marketing technologies of management; Technologies of development of social and business communications; Theory and practice of economic, technological and financial security of the country.

    Application deadline: November 21, 2024, 18:00

    Registration form: https://forms.yandex.ru/u/6703e5b190fa7b943127d827/

    Contacts for reference information: Alexandra Shkurenkova: ad_volkova@guu.ru.

    Details in the information letter.

    Information letter of the International Conference Science and Technology

    Subscribe to the tg channel “Our State University” Announcement date: 10/28/2024

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Brown Announces Major New University of Cincinnati Initiative to Save Taxpayer Funds on Infrastructure Construction

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Ohio Sherrod Brown
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced a new $5.1 million investment for the University of Cincinnati to improve and accelerate transit construction projects in Ohio, improving efficiency and saving taxpayers money. The University of Cincinnati will help Cincinnati Metro and other Ohio transit agencies deploy and test digital systems that will manage the entire construction process of transit infrastructure projects – which will speed up completion and improve projects while reducing costs. The award was made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Brown helped to write and pass. 
    “This investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will save taxpayers money and speed up transit projects,” said Brown. “Ohioans at the University of Cincinnati will do innovative work helping ensure that infrastructure projects are delivered on time and on budget.”
    The University of Cincinnati will partner with Cincinnati Metro (Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority), the Butler County Regional Transit Authority, and Akron Metro to deploy and demonstrate advanced digital systems to improve the construction delivery process. New digital systems for construction management enable engineers and construction workers at all stages of an infrastructure project to accomplish tasks faster, safer, and more accurately. 
    The Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration is awarding the investment through the Accelerating Advanced Digital Construction Management Systems Program. Brown – who serves as the chairman of the U.S. Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, which oversees DOT’s Federal Transit Administration – has championed federal investment to support Ohio’s local transit authorities.
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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Cohen Announces $8.6 Million Grant to Vanderbilt University Intermodal Mobility Consortium

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09)

    MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, today announced that a project he supported at Vanderbilt University will receive a grant of $8,666,053 from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to accelerate integrated multimodal mobility operations in Memphis, Knoxville, Nashville and Chattanooga. The consortium will foster collaborative efforts in tracking intermodal transportation issues, enabling efficient data sharing and pooling statewide resources to develop models and strategies. The funding came from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that Congressman Cohen voted for.

    Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

    “Multimodal freight transportation is the future and investments in its efficiencies across Tennessee makes sense. I was pleased to endorse Vanderbilt’s use of advanced technologies and innovation to improve the transportation of goods across our state.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Icebreaker Morale! #USCGCHealy #Science #Morale #CGATSEA

    Source: US Coast Guard (video statements)

    Workouts, paint classes, and karaoke! The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy crew and their attached friendly neighborhood scientists participate in a wide range of activities and morale events to keep their spirits up during their Arctic deployments!

    In addition to taking time out for morale activities, the crew assists in specialized scientific missions, providing scientists and researchers access to the most remote reaches of the Arctic Ocean. Their most recent deployment included members from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) ship Fairweather, and the University of New Hampshire.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PC6jGSfrs6k

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Announces STEM Engagement Lead, Chief Economist Retirements

    Source: NASA

    NASA Administrator Bill Nelson announced Monday Mike Kincaid, associate administrator, Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM), and Alexander MacDonald, chief economist, will retire from the agency.
    Following Kincaid’s departure on Nov. 30, Kris Brown, deputy associate administrator for strategy and integration in OSTEM, will serve as acting associate administrator for that office beginning Dec. 1, and after MacDonald’s departure on Dec. 31, research economist Dr. Akhil Rao from NASA’s Office of Technology, Policy and Strategy will serve as acting chief economist.
    “I’d like to express my sincere gratitude to Mike Kincaid and Alex MacDonald for their service to NASA and our country,” said Nelson. “Both have been essential members of the NASA team – Mike since his first days as an intern at Johnson Space Center and Alex in his many roles at the agency. I look forward to working with Kris Brown and Dr. Akhil Rao in their acting roles and wish Mike and Alex all the best in retirement.”
    As associate administrator of NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement, Kincaid led the agency’s efforts to inspire and engage Artemis Generation students and educators in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). He also chaired NASA’s STEM Board, which assesses the agency’s STEM engagement functions and activities, as well as served as a member of Federal Coordination in STEM, a multiagency committee focused on enhancing STEM education efforts across the federal government. In addition, Kincaid was NASA’s representative on the International Space Education Board, leading global collaboration in space education, sharing best practices, and uniting efforts to foster interest in space, science, and technology among students worldwide.
    Having served at NASA for more than 37 years, Kincaid first joined the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston as an intern in 1987, and eventually led organizations at Johnson in various capacities including, director of education, deputy director of human resources, deputy chief financial officer and director of external relations. Kincaid earned a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M and a master’s degree from University of Houston, Clear Lake.
    MacDonald served as the first chief economist at NASA. He was previously the senior economic advisor in the Office of the Administrator, as well as the founding program executive of NASA’s Emerging Space Office within the Office of the Chief Technologist. MacDonald has made significant contributions to the development of NASA’s Artemis and Moon to Mars strategies, NASA’s strategy for commercial low Earth orbit development, NASA’s Earth Information Center, and served as the program executive for the International Space Station National Laboratory, leading it through significant leadership changes. He also is the author and editor of several NASA reports, including “Emerging Space: The Evolving Landscape of 21st Century American Spaceflight,” “Public-Private Partnerships for Space Capability Development,” “Economic Development of Low Earth Orbit,” and NASA’s biennial Economic Impact Report.
    As chief economist, MacDonald has guided NASA’s economic strategy, including increasing engagement with commercial space companies, and influenced the agency’s understanding of space as an engine of economic growth. MacDonald began his career at NASA’s Ames Research Center in the Mission Design Center, and served at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory as an executive staff specialist on commercial space before moving to NASA Headquarters. MacDonald received his bachelor’s degree in economics from Queen’s University in Canada, his master’s degree in economics from the University of British Columbia, and obtained his doctorate on the long-run economic history of American space exploration from the University of Oxford.
    For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

    Home Page

    -end-
    Meira Bernstein / Abbey DonaldsonHeadquarters, Washington202-358-1600meira.b.bernstein@nasa.gov / abbey.a.donaldson@nasa.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: NMRTC Beaufort- Infection Prevention Week

    Source: United States Navy (Medical)

    Beaufort S.C.- During the week of October 15th through the 18th, 2024, NMRTC Beaufort recognized Infection Prevention.
    Lieutenant Erika Berg and Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Santana Parchment created a fun and educational week for the command and staff of Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Beaufort to bring awareness to Infection Prevention. A few fun educational events that took place during this week; Build a Bug, Infection Control Trivia, and Bacteria or Virus Scavenger Photo Hunt.

    During the week emails were sent out with educational information about the a few topics such as healthcare worker sharps safety, chain of infection, healthcare equity in infection control, and standard precautions.
    To end the Infection Prevention week each department were challenged to create a “bug” to display. Their bug should identify what disease/condition it causes, how it spreads, how to prevent transmission, and what it looks like.
    The Triad and the command staff were all invited to vote on each of these bugs with 3 category options for winners. Occupational Health department won Best Educational board, Medical Homeport won the People’s Choice board, and the Main Operating Room won Leaderships Choice.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: First tenants move into pioneering affordable homes in Edinburgh

    Source: Scotland – City of Edinburgh

    Tenants have moved into the first ‘net zero ready’ affordable homes to be delivered in Granton Waterfront.

    A housing emergency was declared in Edinburgh last year and the 75 energy efficient homes for social and mid-market rent at Granton Station View built by CCG (Scotland) Ltd on behalf of the Council are part of the local authority’s £1.3bn regeneration of the area to provide much needed affordable housing.  

    The project is part of the major transformation of Granton Waterfront to create a new coastal town in the north of the city with tenants and homeowners also due to start moving into over 400 ‘net zero ready’ homes for social rent, mid-market rent and homes for sale at Western Villages throughout next year.  Work is also well underway to deliver a further 143 ‘net zero ready’ social and mid-market rent homes at Silverlea due for completion in Summer 2026.

    The homes at Granton Station View are the first Edinburgh Home Demonstrator (EHD) programme pilot which is part of a collaborative programme between local and national government, academia and the construction industry that has developed a new model for delivering affordable housing in Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal. The homes will help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support the city’s 2030 net zero target. The homes were largely manufactured offsite and have high performance energy efficient features which will help reduce utility bills for tenants. Features include triple glazing, communal zero direct emissions heating as well as solar panels linked to the communal energy centre being provided. The University of Edinburgh will monitor the energy efficiency of the building design for the first year.

    Granton Station View was supported by of over £6.6m funding from the Scottish Government’s Affordable Housing Supply Programme (ASHP).  

    Other innovative features in the development include an underground waste collection system, cycle parking twice the capacity of the residents living there and links to existing and established walking, cycling and wheeling routes.

    Three commercial spaces are also situated underneath the homes at Granton Station View providing business and employment opportunities for the area. Two of the spaces have recently been let out ensuring that residents of Granton Station View will have access to a local convenience store with a post office and a fitness gym.

    As well as delivering over 3,500 ‘net zero’ homes in the next 10 years, the wider £1.3 billion Granton Waterfront regeneration will include a primary school, a health centre, commercial and cultural space as well as a new public park at the iconic Granton Gasholder, currently being restored.

    Council leader Cammy Day said:

    Today’s announcement is welcome news as the housing emergency we declared last year means we have a chronic shortage of housing in the city.

    Despite Scottish Government cuts in affordable housing, the homes at Granton Station View are part of an exciting pilot project which will not just help us ease this shortage but will provide many individuals and families with comfortable modern homes using the very latest technology to keep energy bills down.

    I wish everyone moving into Granton Station View well and look forward to seeing hundreds of other individuals and families move into the high-quality homes we are delivering at Western Villages and Silverlea as part of our wider £1.3bn regeneration of Granton Waterfront.

    Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said:

    I am pleased that the City of Edinburgh Council has delivered 75 high-quality, energy-efficient homes for social and Mid-Market Rent in Granton. These homes were backed by over £6.6 million of Scottish Government funding and they will help to meet the needs of the local community for generations to come, whilst supporting Scotland’s net-zero ambitions.

    We remain focused on delivering 110,000 affordable homes across Scotland by 2032 with at least 70% for social rent and 10% in our rural and island communities.

    CCG (Scotland) Managing Director, David Wylie, said:

    Scotland is in a housing emergency and our planet is in the midst of a climate emergency. Both issues are some of the most challenging that will face this generation and it is fundamental that we tackle both in equal measure by delivering more, sustainable homes like we have here at Granton Station View.

    Through our own, pioneering construction methods and a new delivery model that focuses on streamlined procurement and collaborative working, we have unlocked brownfield land and evidenced that a just net zero transition is achievable, the needs of our communities can be met, and our carbon impact can be significantly lowered.

    We thank the partners of the Edinburgh Home Demonstrator programme for their support during construction, and we look forward to continuing our work with the Council at Western Villages where a further 444 net zero ready homes, including 56 for sale from CCG Homes, will be completed in 2025.

     The EHD programme has developed a housing delivery model for ‘net zero ready’ homes across the six council areas in the City Region Deal. As part of this programme, in Edinburgh, there are also 140 affordable homes being built in Greendykes which will be ready in 2027 and another 40 affordable homes currently being designed for Burdiehouse Crescent. These homes will have similar energy saving features.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Genomic variants that increase risk of kidney disease are found in nearly one-third of West Africans

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 2

    News Release

    Monday, October 28, 2024

    NIH study suggests potential for earlier health interventions for people with West African ancestry.

    A study from researchers at National Institutes of Health (NIH) and their collaborators revealed a significant genetic risk factor for kidney disease in people from Ghana and Nigeria. Their study demonstrated that having just one risk variant in a gene known as APOL1 can significantly increase the risk of developing kidney disease. APOL1 is important for the immune system and variants of the gene are linked to increased risk of chronic kidney disease. The study is published in the New England Journal of Medicine and was conducted by researchers from the Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa) Kidney Disease Research Network.

    Previous research established that genomic variants in APOL1 increase the risk of developing chronic kidney disease among African Americans. However, not much is known about how these genomic variants affect people from West African countries, where many African Americans derive genetic ancestry. Studying how these genomic variants contribute to chronic kidney disease in West Africans and people with West African ancestry can also help inform the risk of kidney disease in many Americans.

    “Our study provides data about West Africans that will help us better understand the risk of chronic kidney disease associated with APOL1 variants,” said Adebowale A. Adeyemo, M.B.B.S., who is a co-author of the study and is the deputy director and chief scientific officer of the Center for Research on Genomics and Global Health at NIH’s National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI). “By comparing this study to previous studies involving the African American population, we can gain a deeper understanding of the effects of these high risk APOL1 variants. Knowing your genetic risk for a disease, such as kidney disease, can help you make more informed decisions about your health and potentially lead to earlier interventions.”

    Over 8,000 people from Ghana and Nigeria participated in the study, including nearly 5,000 people with chronic kidney disease of various stages and more than 800 people who had kidney biopsies that confirmed their disease.

    The study found that nearly one-third of individuals in these two nations carry APOL1 variants that increase the risk of chronic kidney disease. While these APOL1 variants are seen most often in people of West African descent, other studies have found these variants in people from Europe, Asia, Central and South America.

    The researchers also found that having a risk variant in one copy of the APOL1 gene increases the risk of developing chronic kidney disease, contrary to previous studies in the African American population suggesting that both copies of APOL1 needed to contain such variants to increase the overall risk. One risk variant increases the risk of chronic kidney disease by 18%, while two risk variants, one on each copy of APOL1, increases the risk by 25%.

    These APOL1 risk variants also drastically increase the likelihood of developing a rare kidney condition called focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, which is scarring of the kidney tissues.

    “Findings in a particular study or with a specific ancestral group are often taken to be true for all humankind, but there is often substantial diversity even within specific ancestry or ethnic groups,” says Dr. Adeyemo. “This study highlights the importance of studying diverse populations around the globe when studying the genomics of human disease so that genomic medicine can equitably benefit people worldwide.”

    More than 1 in 7 U.S. adults have chronic kidney disease — an estimated 37 million Americans, and African American, Hispanic American and Native American populations are more likely to develop the disease. Both genetic and environmental factors, which includes social factors, such as smoking, lack of exercise, an unhealthy diet and lack of access to healthcare, contribute to the risk of kidney disease. People with kidney disease may not have noticeable symptoms in the early stages of the disease. Additionally, for people with diabetes or hypertension, there is a greater risk for developing kidney disease. As the kidneys are slowly damaged over time, they are unable to filter blood properly, leading to a buildup of waste in the body.

    As the disease progresses, additional kidney functions are affected, such as stimulating red blood cell production and maintaining the body’s calcium balance. The disease can lead to other health issues such as stroke and heart attacks.

    “Further research conducted with participants in the United States can help us understand how APOL1 variants affect the kidney,” says Paul Kimmel, M.D., program director at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and co-author of the study. “Overall, we hope that these findings can provide insight into improving the health of patients at risk for and with kidney disease.”

    The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) is one of the 27 institutes and centers at the NIH, an agency of the Department of Health and Human Services. The NHGRI Division of Intramural Research develops and implements technology to understand, diagnose and treat genomic and genetic diseases. Additional information about NHGRI can be found at: https://www.genome.gov.

    About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation’s medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.

    NIH…Turning Discovery Into Health®

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Murphy Holds Roundtable Discussion on Expanding Access to Public Contracting Opportunities for Historically Marginalized Businesses

    Source: US State of New Jersey

    Discussion Seeks to Address Findings of Statewide Disparity Study

     

    TRENTON – Governor Phil Murphy today held a roundtable discussion where he met with legislators and stakeholders to gather input on potential legislative remedies and ongoing administrative initiatives to eliminate disparities in the public procurement process and create a more equitable business environment for Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs) in New Jersey.

    The discussion follows the release of a comprehensive statewide disparity study earlier this year – the first since 2005 – which reviewed statewide procurement data relating to goods and services, professional services, and construction between 2015 and 2020, and found statistically significant disparities in the awarding of public contracts to MWBEs. The study was necessary so that the State had a legal basis for addressing these gaps. This discussion also follows a series of meetings over the past months led by the Governor’s Office and the Department of Treasury with community partners, faith leaders, labor, and diverse business chambers across the state.

    “One of New Jersey’s best attributes has always been its vast diversity. Our state is home to people of so many different backgrounds, who all deserve the opportunity to succeed in their chosen field; however, lingering inequities continue to create barriers to entry for our minority and women-owned businesses that want to contract with our state government. This is unacceptable and, with the help of our lawmakers and business community, we will take action,” said Governor Murphy. “Today’s meeting underscores our steadfast commitment to building a stronger, fairer, more equitable, and more inclusive New Jersey. I look forward to continuing this conversation and working with our partners in the Legislature and our state’s business community to create a system where all businesses can thrive.”

    The Governor was joined by Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter, Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus; Senator Nellie Pou, Chair of the Legislative Latino Caucus; Assemblyman Sterley Stanley, Chair of the Asian American Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus; and Assemblyman Benjie Wimberly, Co-Chair of the Joint Committee on Economic Justice and Equal Employment Opportunity and Member of the Legislative Black Caucus.

    The African American Chamber of Commerce, the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Women’s Chamber of Commerce, the Punjabi Chamber of Commerce, the Veteran’s Chamber of Commerce, and the NJ Diverse Business Advisory Council —  a coalition representing small and diverse businesses in New Jersey, such as LGBTQ+ and veteran-owned businesses — were also in attendance, in addition to Senior Pastor of Saint James AME Church Reverend Ronald Slaughter, Jo-Ann Povia, Chief of Staff to the Department of the Treasury and Associate Deputy State Treasurer, Michelle Bodden, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at the Economic Development Authority, and Jayné Johnson, Director of the Governor’s Office of Equity.

    “I want to commend Governor Murphy for his courageous leadership in commissioning the public contracting disparity study that equips us to make long-needed reforms. I also want to thank the Treasurer and the Treasury team for their work in overseeing the disparity study and Chief Diversity Officer Candice Alfonso for getting it over the finish line, as well as our partners in the Legislature and the business community who joined us at the table today to discuss legislative reforms. The study— as an assessment tool— equips us to tailor remedies specific to the study’s findings and the nuances of New Jersey law,” said Jayné Johnson, Director, Governor’s Office of Equity. “Our office has convened the Cabinet and the authorities across state government in support of efforts to accelerate capacity-building through initiatives that engage historically marginalized businesses. We are also leading statewide efforts to advance people-centered workplace initiatives—recognizing that when our colleagues have a better awareness of their neighbors, the outcomes of our policies and systems are more equitable and responsive.”

    “From day one, Treasury has been committed to advancing the Murphy Administration’s goal of building a more equitable landscape for New Jersey businesses,” said State Treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio. “The recent disparity study overseen by Treasury’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion, led by Chief Diversity Officer Candice Alfonso, shone a light on inequities faced by diverse businesses in the public contracting system. This years-long effort will serve as a roadmap as the State plans responsive action to promote a more equitable procurement process.”

    “Under Governor Murphy’s leadership, New Jersey has made tremendous strides to increase transparency and create a more equitable economy, especially across state contracting opportunities for diverse entrepreneurs. I am proud of the investments we are making to bolster diverse-owned businesses and ensure they have the capacity to secure larger-scale contracts,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “But undoing decades of unfair treatment and unequal outcomes is a work in progress, and conversations like the one today are critical to guaranteeing our work to improve the procurement process is bold, meaningful, and transparent.”

    Throughout the Murphy Administration, the State has instituted a number of initiatives designed to promote equitable contracting practices and uplift small businesses across all sectors. This has ranged from bonding readiness assistance to matchmaking and outreach events, complementing a whole-of-government approach to create new opportunities for New Jersey’s MWBEs.

    Today’s discussion served as a valuable working session for representatives from the Executive and Legislative Branches to hear directly from industry stakeholders, fostering a collaborative foundation as the State works to establish concrete legislative solutions to make the public bidding process more accessible and resolve disparities in procurement processes.

    “We have a moral obligation to ensure economic opportunities for every New Jerseyan,” said Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin. “Equity in the contracting process for minority- and women-owned businesses will benefit every corner of our state. We have demonstrated that when every community has the chance to thrive, it grows the entire economy. I commend the work of my colleagues in the Legislature, the Administration, and the business community to find solutions to the challenges outlined in the Disparity Study and look forward to our next steps.”

    “Today’s discussion will serve as an important foundation as we work on viable, long-term solutions to make New Jersey’s business community more equitable,” said Senator Nellie Pou, Chair of the Legislative Latino Caucus. “We must ensure our minority and women-owned businesses are able to succeed in New Jersey, especially when it comes to doing business with the State. I was pleased to see so many come together in collaboration this morning and look forward to continuing our work in this space.”

    “The findings of the New Jersey Disparity Study serve as a stark reminder of the long road we still must travel to ensure true equity for minority- and women-owned businesses in our state,” said Assemblywoman Shavonda E. Sumter, Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus. “This study sheds light on critical gaps that continue to limit fair access to government contracts and the essential resources needed to allow these businesses not only to compete but to thrive. Armed with this data, we’re seizing this opportunity to enact real change. After hearing from our communities and stakeholders earlier this year, we introduced a bold package of a dozen bills that will help shape a more inclusive New Jersey. One where every business owner has a fair shot at success. Roundtable discussions like today’s are vital steps forward, bringing us closer to a more equitable economy that benefits all New Jerseyans.”

    “The New Jersey Disparity Study authored an undeniable truth: minority and women-owned businesses are not being afforded the public contract opportunities that align with their product. This disparity does not reflect their ability to deliver quality services. Instead, it highlights systemic barriers that have gone unaddressed, barriers that allow state agencies to be relaxed about diversifying vendors and broadening business opportunities, and this demands immediate, decisive action,” said Assemblyman Benjie E. Wimberly, Co-Chair of the Joint Committee on Economic Justice and Equal Employment Opportunity. “Since this report was released, I have collaborated with many stakeholders like the African American Chamber of Commerce NJ and the New Jersey State Women’s Chamber of Commerce to launch a targeted legislative agenda focused on eliminating these obstacles and creating a more fair approach to market competition. But our commitment needs to go beyond legislation; it’s about real, actionable solutions for business owners and the government agencies responsible for contracting. By deepening our work with stakeholders and business leaders, we’re positioning New Jersey as a model of economic fairness and inclusion driving lasting impact for diverse business owners and strengthening our state economy.”

    “The recently released disparity study highlighted the urgent need for change, and this roundtable was an important step in ensuring that New Jersey’s public contracting opportunities reflect the diversity of our communities,” said Assemblyman Sterley Stanley, Chair of the Asian American Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus. “Minority- and women-owned businesses have faced significant marginalization, but by working with stakeholders, our fellow legislators, and government representatives, we can create pathways for all businesses to succeed in today’s marketplace.” 

    “I am grateful to Governor Murphy for his invitation to discuss how we move forward with policies and systems that will yield more equitable outcomes for the 1.2 million black residents and over 88,000 black owned businesses. Blacks have demonstrated tremendous patience, sacrifice, and support to help so many New Jerseyans to achieve their goals; now it’s time for the leadership within all sectors of our state to apply that same level of vigor and intentionality in partnership with the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey to enable our constituency to achieve their dreams and aspirations,” said John Harmon, Founder, President, and CEO of the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey.

    “Since the Disparity Study results were presented, the Governor’s Office has been highly engaged in keeping us informed. We’ve been part of roughly a dozen meetings, working closely together. While the findings are stark, the Governor’s Office has shown unwavering partnership from day one, committing to meaningful collaboration and sustained efforts. This joint approach aims to create a level playing field, drive increased competition, and ultimately secure greater savings for the state,” said Carlos Medina, Chair of the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey.

    “Governor Murphy’s proactive approach in addressing the findings of the disparity study is paving the way for a more inclusive economy in New Jersey,” said Robin Tabakin, Public Policy Leader and President Elect of New Jersey State Women’s Chamber of Commerce. “I appreciate that Governor Murphy has taken the initiative to sign legislation directing the Department of the Treasury to establish procurement goals that prioritize women, minority, veteran, and LGBTQ owned businesses. Additionally, by increasing delegated purchasing authority for state agencies from $46,000 to $250,000, he has empowered these agencies to create real opportunities for diverse businesses in state contracting. His commitment to working with state chambers is critical to building a stronger, more equitable economic future for all New Jerseyans.”

    “I want to applaud Governor Murphy and his Administration for the groundbreaking step they have taken toward remedying the stark economic injustices uncovered in this disparity study. As one of the founders of, and today’s representative of, the New Jersey Diverse Business Advisory Council—a coalition of diverse business chambers across the state, including the Veteran’s Chamber—I urge us all to continue to be reminded of the stark findings in this study and to ensure the remedies are inclusive of all the impacted communities outlined in the study, and even those not in the study, including our veteran, minority, and LGBTQ+ business owners. I look forward to working with the members of this roundtable and the community at large in the coming months to deliver on this critical initiative,” said Francisco Cortes, Founder of the NJ Diverse Business Advisory Council & President of the NJ State Veteran’s Chamber of Commerce.

    “The Punjabi Chamber of Commerce along with our fellow Asian Americans commends Governor Murphy for directing attention and resources to addressing disparity in public contracting opportunities for Minority and Women Business Enterprises. New Jersey is fortunate to have a Governor who not only recognizes the disparity but is willing to assert leadership in remedying this serious issue,” said Gurpreet “Gary” Pasricha, Founder of the Punjabi Chamber of Commerce.

    “By being the first Governor to conduct a disparity study in our state’s history, Governor Murphy has taken a measurable step towards fostering equity and inclusivity in our State’s multi-billion dollar contracting sphere. This conversation today to address these disparities not only highlights the commitment to achieving economic justice for all, but also sets a precedent for leadership in creating a more just society. As a faith leader, I will work to see that the state accomplishes this tall task and that the effects trickle down to every member of my community. I look forward to sharing this much-needed information with the various houses of worship and community groups throughout the state, as it all flows through us.  This is a pivotal step by the Governor that will indeed pave the way for meaningful change,” said Senior Pastor of Saint James AME Church Reverend Ronald Slaughter.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Financial news: Conference “Ethics and AI: on the edge of technology and human values” was held with the support of the Moscow Exchange

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –

    On October 24–25, 2024, the annual conference “Ethics and AI: on the Edge of Technology and Human Values” was held, organized by the Institute of Compliance and Business Ethics of the Higher School of Law at the National Research University Higher School of Economics with the support of the Moscow Exchange.

    The conference was attended by experts in the field of compliance, including representatives of regulators and major domestic companies, as well as scientific and professional communities.

    The conference discussed global trends in compliance and the use of artificial intelligence technologies to automate it. An exchange of practical developments and innovative solutions in the field of compliance took place, and changes in the regulatory environment were analyzed.

    Irina Grekova, Managing Director for Compliance and Business Ethics at Moscow Exchange:

    “The Russian compliance community continues to actively develop, adapting to modern realities and implementing best practices. Strengthening interaction between business, government agencies and expert organizations remains an important area. The conference once again confirmed that compliance today has become a full-fledged interdisciplinary science that requires the involvement of specialists of different levels: lawyers, economists, IT specialists and ethics specialists. All of them are developing their field, and by combining efforts, they provide a synergy effect in protecting and developing business. Moscow Exchange Group pays special attention to issues of increasing the transparency and efficiency of internal control procedures, as well as training employees and raising their awareness of compliance with regulatory requirements. In addition, we are expanding the use of digital tools to optimize compliance processes, which allows us to promptly identify potential threats and prevent violations of the law.”

    The conference included an award ceremony for the winners of the Compliance 2024 award. The award’s expert council awarded:

    Alfa-Bank – for the best EdTech solution in business education on compliance topics for entrepreneurs; MTS – for the use of modern technologies in creating the methodology and tools for managing SCM; B1 Group of Companies – for creating its own best compliance practices in the changing conditions in the field of professional audit services; KSK LLC – for its original approach to implementing a compliance culture taking into account limitations and opportunities; Anton Kuznetsov, Deputy Director of the Anti-Corruption Policy and Corporate Ethics Department at NOVATEK – for a proactive response to modern challenges and threats; Oksana Kaminskaya, Chairperson of the AML/CFT Committee at the Association of Belarusian Banks – for the effective implementation of compliance practices in the financial sector in the Republic of Belarus; Daria Afanasyeva, leading specialist of the Competence and Corruption Prevention Center of ANO Moscow Directorate of Transport Services – for an inspiring start in compliance.

    The Moscow Exchange Group operates the only multifunctional exchange platform in Russia for trading shares, bonds, derivatives, currencies, money market instruments and commodities. The Group includes a central depository and a clearing center that acts as a central counterparty in the markets, which allows Moscow Exchange to provide its clients with a full cycle of trading and post-trading services.

    Contact information for media 7 (495) 363-3232PR@moex.com

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    https://www.moex.com/n74360

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Cuellar Announces $2,690,608 in Federal Funding in Support of Mental Health Professionals for San Antonio Independent School District

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28)

    SAN ANTONIO, TX – Today, Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Ph.D. announced $2,690,608 in federal funding in support of mental health professionals for the San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD).  

    “This year, I secured $2,690,608 in federal funding from the Department of Education’s Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Grant for the San Antonio Independent School District,” said Dr. Cuellar, a Senior Member of the House Appropriations Committee. “Our communities need more licensed mental health professionals, and SAISD is helping train the next generation of this crucial sector in San Antonio. I would like to thank Stephanie Ratliff, Principal of Herff Elementary, Tony Thompson, Chief of Staff for SAISD, and Gabriella Bello, Counselor for SAISD, for being here today and for their efforts in providing mental health resources for students in San Antonio.”  

    This funding supports a five-year project, Con Cariño: School Mental Health with Heart, which assists with SAISD’s internship-to-employment pipeline for licensed Master Social workers by adding a new pathway for counseling interns. 

    There is a demand for more licensed mental health professionals in SAISD. The grant funding for the Con Cariño project supports four social work interns and two school psychology counseling interns that will help meet this demand.  

    As part of the Con Cariño project, local graduate students can work with children, gain real-world experience to advance their careers, and get paid to do so. The program also helps with the costs of licensing exams and their preparation. Some interns have returned to work full-time after completing their internships, helping SAISD retain a workforce that understands the community and the needs of its students.  

    Congressman Cuellar has previously helped SAISD by securing $36,511,343 in federal funding for school lunch reimbursements in 2023, $344,000 in federal funding from the Title I, School Improvement Grant in FY24, and $494,304 in federal funding from the FY22 COPS School Violence Prevention Program.  

    Congressman Cuellar will continue to support San Antonio schools with the federal funding they need for more mental health resources. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Alberta’s impending anti-2SLGBTQIA+ legislation is stoking fear and anxiety

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Corinne L. Mason, Professor, Women’s and Gender Studies, Mount Royal University

    The Alberta Legislature has reconvened for its fall sitting, and the United Conservative Party is expected to table new anti-2SLGBTQIA+ legislation that will restrict trans women and girls’ access to sports, curtail inclusive education and ban youth from accessing gender affirming care.

    Some of the potential measures include banning puberty blockers for youth, and having parents opt-in for their children to be present for formal lessons on sexual health. In addition, trans women could be banned from competing in women’s sports.

    In February, when Alberta Premier Danielle Smith first announced these policies, she was riding the wave of the “parental rights” movement. Smith framed these policies as the government protecting children from harm, telling the media that she was “sympathetic to parents who want to preserve the innocence of their kids for as long as they can.”

    The parental rights movement has reintroduced homophobic and transphobic narratives from the 1970s that position 2SLGBTQIA+ people as pedophiles and “groomers” who “recruit” children. According to parental rights proponents, kids have to be protected from “gender indoctrination.” This hate movement has led to violent attacks against 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, such as bomb threats targeting drag performers at library storytimes.

    Despite growing awareness that “parental rights” proponents are connected to a larger network of dangerous hate groups including the Proud Boys, The Patriot Front and the neo-Nazi group Blood Tribe, provincial conservative governments and parties in New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia have introduced anti-2SLGBTQIA+ policies inspired by this movement.

    As concerned parents, we have been following how the “parental rights” movement is influencing provincial government policies. As researchers, we have been publishing our analysis about the rise in anti-2SLGBTQIA+ sentiments in Alberta for the past two years.

    In early 2024, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced her government will implement new policies relating to transgender youth.

    Our conversations with parents

    As the parental rights movement and associated anti-2SLGBTQIA+ legislation are new, scholars and other organizations are just beginning to publish findings showing the harm they have created. For example, a recently published academic study from the United States found that in states where anti-transgender laws legislation has been enacted, suicide attempts among transgender and non-binary youth have increased by up to 72 per cent.

    Academic scholarship about the impact of anti-2SLGBTQIA+ legislation in Canada does not yet exist. This gap in knowledge motivated us to undertake a research project that could capture the experiences of parents as this new “parental rights” legislation rolls out.

    Set in Calgary, Alberta, our ongoing study involves 10 parents from 2SLGBTQIA+ families who have committed to bi-monthly focus groups over the period of a year. By facilitating conversations with parents, our aim is to track the short and long-term impacts of the anti-2SLGBTQIA+ climate in Alberta. The participants in our study are a mix of straight, cisgender, queer and trans parents. All of them are already experiencing the negative outcomes of Alberta’s move to legislate 2SLGBTQIA+ lives.

    Below, we have used pseudonyms to protect their identities.

    We held our first focus group in late September 2024 where we asked participants about their concerns related to the impending changes to education, health care and sports in the province. We also asked parents what they knew about the parental rights movement, and how the rhetoric of parental rights is affecting their families.

    One of the overwhelming sentiments of the parents was that the parental rights movement excluded parents of 2SLGBTQIA+ kids. According to our participants, voices of 2SLGBTQIA+ parents and families are missing or silenced in the conversations around “protecting children.”

    One participant, Maia, said: “There needs to be more representation of the parents especially because it’s a legislation that’s being fought on behalf of parents so we need to make our voices heard.”

    Olivia similarly stated, “I feel like people keep talking for parents. I’m a parent and you’re not saying anything I think … so I just feel very unheard.”

    When it came to parental rights, participants remarked that their parental choice to support their 2SLGBTQIA+ kids is not being protected. In fact, they felt their responsibility to protect their children from harm is being taken away by the provincial government that is making choices for their families.

    Courtney stated: “It makes me really angry that our kid’s medical care can be adjusted based on the government. I work in health care. The thought that the government could step in and get a doctor to go against evidence-based medical care is … insanity.”

    2SLGBTQIA+ youth express fear

    According to the parents in our study, the impending legislation has stoked so much fear and anxiety in their children that their school experiences have already been negatively affected. Courtney’s trans child has missed a large chunk of school since the announcement of impending anti-2SLGBTQIA+ policies last February.

    Another parent, Sophia, told us that her teenager’s overall well-being has “deteriorated” since the impending legislation was announced: “She has started self harming. She is missing school. She is terrified for what’s coming … even though she knows that for her she’s somewhat protected with her HRT [hormone replacement therapy], but it doesn’t mean that they’re not going to say something about bathrooms or that her friends are safe.”

    Saskatchewan’s Conservative Premier Scott Moe recently promised to implement a new policy that would ban trans girls from school change rooms. In Alberta, the UCP’s policy resolutions for 2024 include a similar ban, but instead of focusing on schools, the party aims to remove trans women and girls from all “exclusively female spaces.”

    Our research, while preliminary, demonstrates that harmful effects are already taking shape in Alberta, and parents in 2SLGBTQIA+ families are terrified of what is coming with the legislation dropping soon.

    As we map the fallout of Alberta’s anti-2SLGBTQIA+ legislation over the next year, we expect to collect similar findings to that of our U.S. research counterparts who are publishing evidence that these policies are associated with adverse consequences to mental and physical well-being.

    Corinne L. Mason receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

    Leah Hamilton receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

    – ref. Alberta’s impending anti-2SLGBTQIA+ legislation is stoking fear and anxiety – https://theconversation.com/albertas-impending-anti-2slgbtqia-legislation-is-stoking-fear-and-anxiety-241874

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: Skyward Specialty Announces Time Change for Third Quarter Earnings Call on Wednesday, October 30, 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HOUSTON, Oct. 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Skyward Specialty Insurance Group, Inc.™ (NASDAQ: SKWD) (“Skyward Specialty” or “the Company”) today announced a time change of its previously announced third quarter earnings call. The conference call and webcast will still be held on Wednesday, October 30, but will now begin at 9:30 a.m. EDT, rather than the previously scheduled time of 8:30 a.m EDT.

    As previously communicated, Skyward Specialty will issue its third quarter 2024 earnings results after the market closes on Tuesday, October 29. The earnings results will be available on the Company website at investors.skywardinsurance.com/ under Quarterly Results.

    Investors may access the live audio webcast via the link on the Company’s investor site at investors.skywardinsurance.com/ under Events & Presentations. Additionally, investors can access the earnings call via conference call by registering via the conference link. Users will receive dial-in information and a unique PIN to join the call upon registering.

    A webcast replay will be available two hours following the call in the same location on the Company’s investor website.

    About Skyward Specialty

    Skyward Specialty (NASDAQ: SKWD) is a rapidly growing and innovative specialty insurance company, delivering commercial property and casualty products and solutions on a non-admitted and admitted basis. The Company operates through eight underwriting divisions — Accident & Health, Captives, Global Property & Agriculture, Industry Solutions, Professional Lines, Programs, Surety and Transactional E&S.

    Skyward Specialty’s subsidiary insurance companies consist of Houston Specialty Insurance Company, Imperium Insurance Company, Great Midwest Insurance Company, and Oklahoma Specialty Insurance Company. These insurance companies are rated A (Excellent) with a stable outlook by A.M. Best Company. For more information about Skyward Specialty, its people, and its products, please visit skywardinsurance.com.

    For investor relations information contact:

    Natalie Schoolcraft
    nschoolcraft@skywardinsurance.com
    614-494-4988

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Blaine’s Bulletin: The Promise of NextGen MURR

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-03)

    For so many of us, cancer isn’t just a word—it’s personal.  Whether it’s touched a friend, family member, or even ourselves, cancer has left its mark on our lives and our communities. It’s a fight that impacts not only our loved ones but also our entire nation. But here in the Third District, we are leading the charge in the fight against this devastating disease. With each passing day, research and treatment options are advancing, and I’m proud to say that Missouri is at the forefront of that progress.

    Over the past 15 years, I’ve been an avid supporter of funding the nuclear reactor at the University of Missouri. This isn’t just about funding a reactor; it’s about powering life-saving discoveries. The NextGen MURR project will bring a new, 20-megawatt state-of-the-art research reactor to Mizzou, expanding critical medical isotope research and production for cancer treatments. These are the technologies that make a real difference in the lives of cancer patients—technologies that come from uranium, cobalt, and rare earth elements, which are the backbone of nuclear reactors and the radiopharmaceuticals they produce. NextGEN MURR builds on the legacy of the existing MURR facility, the only U.S. producer of four essential medical isotopes used to treat liver, thyroid, pancreatic, and prostate cancers.  This new reactor will allow Missouri to remain a global leader in the development of radiopharmaceuticals, strengthening our role in research that will impact healthcare nationwide. 

    This couldn’t have come at a more crucial moment. As the demand for critical minerals essential for lifesaving treatments is projected to surge by over 20% in the next decade—largely fueled by the increasing need for cancer therapies that rely on isotopes—NextGEN MURR is perfectly positioned to meet this challenge. Currently, MURR is already making significant contributions to healthcare, generating billions through enhanced diagnostics and treatment. With the development of NextGEN MURR, we have the potential to elevate that impact to an astounding $3 billion annually. 

    I began supporting the research reactor at the University of Missouri because I believed in its potential to change lives right here in the Third District. Supporting Missouri-based research has always been an easy decision for me—not just for the research dollars, but for positioning Missouri as a hub for innovation. Today, we’re seeing that vision realized as MURR leads groundbreaking work that’s saving lives and advancing cancer treatment. But this is just the beginning. As NextGEN MURR propels us into the next 15 years, driving new discoveries in nuclear research, medical treatments, and technological advancements that will directly benefit our district and our nation, its impact will extend far beyond the lab. It will create high-skilled jobs, boost our local economy, and ensuring more families in our community have access to cutting-edge treatments.

    I’ll leave you with this – I can assure you that the future of the Third District is bright as we lead the nation in nuclear research and medical technology, offering real hope in the fight against cancer. Our investment today is more than just a financial commitment; it’s a promise to future generations to come.  

    CONTACT US: I encourage you to visit my official website or call my offices in Jefferson City (573-635-7232) or Cottleville (636-327-7055) with your questions and concerns. If you want even greater access to what I am working on, please visit my YouTube site, Facebook page, and keep up-to-date with Twitter and Instagram. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Orezone Provides Notice of Q3-2024 Results and Conference Call

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Orezone Gold Corporation (TSX: ORE, OTCQX: ORZCF) (“Orezone”) will announce its third quarter 2024 results on November 5, 2024, after market close. A conference call and audio webcast to discuss the results will take place on November 6, 2024, at 8:00 am PT (11:00 am ET).

    Webcast

    Conference Call
    Toll-free in U.S. and Canada: 1-800-715-9871
    International callers: +646-307-1963
    Event ID: 9776163

    About Orezone Gold Corporation

    Orezone Gold Corporation (TSX: ORE OTCQX: ORZCF) is a West African gold producer engaged in mining, developing, and exploring its flagship Bomboré Gold Mine in Burkina Faso. The Bomboré mine achieved commercial production on its oxide operations on December 1, 2022, and is now focused on its staged hard rock expansion that is expected to materially increase annual and life-of-mine gold production from the processing of hard rock mineral reserves. Orezone is led by an experienced team focused on social responsibility and sustainability with a proven track record in project construction and operations, financings, capital markets and M&A.

    The technical report entitled Bomboré Phase II Expansion, Definitive Feasibility Study is available on SEDAR+ and the Company’s website.

    Patrick Downey
    President and Chief Executive Officer

    Vanessa Pickering
    Manager, Investor Relations

    Tel: 1 778 945 8977 / Toll Free: 1 888 673 0663
    info@orezone.com / www.orezone.com

    For further information please contact Orezone at +1 (778) 945 8977 or visit the Company’s website at www.orezone.com.

    The Toronto Stock Exchange neither approves nor disapproves the information contained in this news release.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn Researchers Working to Extinguish ‘Inflammatory Fire’ Stroke Causes in the Brain

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    It’s been more than three decades, but still there are only two treatments for a stroke: either rapid use of a clot-busting medication called tPA or surgical removal of a clot from the brain with mechanical thrombectomy. However, only 5% to 13% percent of stroke cases are actually eligible for these interventions.

    In his research laboratory at UConn School of Medicine, Rajkumar Verma Ph.D., of the Department of Neuroscience and the Pat and Jim Calhoun Cardiology Center at UConn Health (Tina Encarnacion/UConn Health photo).

    “We need to be persistent with our research to find a new therapy for stroke,” says Rajkumar Verma, M.Pharm., Ph.D., assistant professor, Department of Neuroscience at UConn School of Medicine working in cross-campus collaboration with Professor Raman Bahal Ph.D. of the Deparment of Pharmaceutical Sciences in the UConn School of Pharmacy. “Stroke research is hard and challenging to do. But without trying we won’t make progress. We need to keep trying. UConn is determined to keep trying.”

    In addition to being life-threatening, stroke is the major cause of long-term disability worldwide.

    “When a stroke strikes a patient, we don’t have any treatment to offer to effectively repair the brain’s damage. Once brain cells and tissue are damaged by a stroke, nothing can help restore the damage. In essence, the cascading inflammation caused by a stroke in the brain is like a fire in a house. We need to find a way to stop stroke’s fire,” says Verma.

    Verma and his multidisciplinary research team believe they have found a new innovative therapy to try to stop a stroke’s “fire” or inflammation. This October they reported their new findings in the journal Molecular Therapy: Nucleic Acid.

    To try to more effectively control a stroke’s damage and turn back time, UConn researchers are leveraging the power of micro-RNA (MiRNA), small molecules that regulate protein expression inside cells as they are able to control multiple proteins at a time.

    “MiRNAs are small RNA molecules that help cells to regulate multiple gene and protein expression,” says Verma. “UConn researchers discovered that during a stroke these MiRNA get dysregulated, thus leading to brain damage by multiple unchecked proteins. Also, our laboratory research has confirmed the presence of increased levels of one such MiRNA, known as miRNA-141-3p, in blood samples of stroke patients.”

    Novel gamma PNA based miRNA-141-3p inhibitors (syPNA-141) reduced brain damage (image on right with less atrophy) after stroke in mouse model of ischemic stroke. (Courtesy of Verma laboratory image).

    Verma adds, “We are thrilled to report that we have successfully tested a novel MiRNA-141-3p inhibitor synthesized in our collaborator Dr. Bahal’s lab with the ability to reduce stroke damage and extinguish spreading inflammatory fire in the brain. In mouse models, we have seen swift restoration of once-lost motor function and memory. Also, we see a decrease in brain injury and enhanced expression of neuroprotective genes and growth factors fueling the brain’s recovery from stroke.”

    The new promising therapeutic modality developed to inhibit stroke is called anti-miR-141-3p. UConn’s medical school is currently working to commercialize the discovery and take it toward clinical trial testing as a future treatment option for stroke.

    Verma says UConn’s research findings once again showcase the powerful tool of miRNA and the promise of their newly developed miRNA inhibitor’s ability to stop the overexpression of dangerous, dysregulated bad proteins causing inflammation in the brain post-stroke.

    Verma came to the U.S. over a decade ago from India and continued his stroke research journey at UConn School of Medicine studying stroke.

    “I saw the big therapeutic gap in a new drug treatment for stroke to mitigate its brain damage and help with post-stroke recovery, and was motivated to try to fill this gap by learning more about stroke and by performing more translational research. I have chosen to stay at UConn for my stroke research, as UConn excels at this.”

    But Verma is also driven to fight stroke personally.

    “So many people have a personal story or family member who has been personally impacted about stroke – including me,” Verma shares. “My father died from a cardiovascular incident. We are not sure if it was in the brain or the heart. But this experience has led to my motivation for pursuing more stroke research.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How a Trump election win could hit the US food industry and leave millions of Americans hungry

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Shonil Bhagwat, Professor of Environment and Development, The Open University

    Sheila Fitzgerald/Shutterstock

    As the US presidential election inches closer, a recent survey found that the economy is the top issue for voters, and many are also concerned about healthcare, foreign policy and inequality. Amid all the noise about these key issues however, food has received only marginal coverage in the campaigning despite the country’s high cost of living.

    Project 2025, a 900-page policy document produced by conservative thinktank the Heritage Foundation, has become a major talking point in the election campaign. Although Republican candidate Donald Trump has denied any links between his campaign and Project 2025, the people who have authored this document are no strangers to the former president, with more than half of the 307 contributors having served in the Trump administration or on his campaign or transition teams.

    Trump’s Democratic rival in the race to the White House, Vice President Kamala Harris, has been very vocal about the dangers to the American people if the Project 2025 proposals were to be implemented. Instead, her campaign has promised an “opportunity economy” to support the American middle class, which will seek to cut prices and taxes, lower household costs, and offer various tax reliefs.

    Analyses of Harris’ versus Trump’s economic policies suggest that the tariffs Trump has proposed will cause a rise in prices of imported goods – including food. On the other hand, Trump’s policies could lower energy costs because more domestic fossil fuel production could make US-produced foodstuffs cheaper.

    But Project 2025 proposes deregulation of US dietary guidelines and US food assistance programmes, including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap), Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC), and the National School Lunch Program. Democrats have argued that this will “drastically reduce” the access that families have to fresh American-grown food, threatening the health of the most vulnerable.



    Read more:
    How Harris and Trump’s economic pledges stack up

    Democrats have also claimed that Project 2025 policies would reduce support to small-scale farmers, favouring large agribusinesses while deregulating the flow of ultra-processed food manufactured and distributed by influential corporations. Some estimates suggest that 73% of US food supply is already made up of ultra-processed foods, and they have been found to provide 60% of the calories consumed by the average US adult.

    The links between ultra-processed food and negative health outcomes are increasingly being drawn. As such, food policy under Project 2025 would be very likely to have a negative impact on wider public health in the US.

    But at the same time, Project 2025 would probably make healthcare less affordable and more restrictive for millions of citizens. It promises to reinstate the ability of the pharmaceutical industry to fix prices, raising the cost of drugs for American people.

    It would also cut funding for health coverage for low-income Americans, threatening the survival of hospitals, health centres or doctors who serve those people.

    These healthcare policies, combined with deregulation of the food industry and dietary guidelines, as well as the defunding of food assistance programmes, could spell a triple whammy for the health and wellbeing of some of the most vulnerable people in America.

    How do Harris’s plans compare?

    Harris’s plans, on the other hand, aim to make healthcare less expensive and more accessible, particularly for those from vulnerable groups such as black Americans or those on low incomes, the elderly or veterans.

    But while these proposals might remove barriers to healthcare, they won’t directly improve food provision for Americans. Some of the proposals in Harris’s “opportunity economy”, however, could directly address the issue.

    The outcome of the presidential election could have serious consequences for food security and wellbeing – especially among America’s poorer populations.
    Tada Images/Shutterstock

    Harris’s proposals focus on strengthening and diversifying supply chains for food production, processing and distribution. She has been outspoken about investigating price-fixing of food products by large corporations – and prosecuting firms anywhere in the supply chain where this is found to have happened.

    Harris’s plans would also support small producers, processors, distributors, family farms and food and farm workers with more funding to compete with large conglomerates. This could result in more decentralised supply chains, which are known to make it easier to provide healthier food to more people by encouraging crop diversity and lowering the cost of fresh local products.

    And she is promising to crack down on mergers and acquisitions of food corporations, which are known to compromise the sustainable provision of healthy food by curbing farmers’ bargaining power and leaving communities with little say over how their land is used.

    Food is integral to the public sector economy, alongside things such as providing healthcare, protecting the environment and reducing inequalities. The organisation of the entire food system – from production to processing, trade to transport, and consumption to nutrition – needs to consider ways in which feeding a country can strenghten its public sector economy, and meet its obligation to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The US has already made a commitment to these goals through global food security programmes like Feed the Future.

    These issues are especially pertinent to the US, as its food system is highly centralised. In fact, 6% of farms grow 60% of food. Meanwhile family farms – which represent 88% of the total – contribute only 19%. Harris’s proposals could go some way to correcting this imbalance. But the rhetoric coming from her rivals on the other hand could ultimately end up making the US worse off in terms of food provision and health.

    Shonil Bhagwat is a member of the UK Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs Science Advisory Council: Social Science Expert Group and the National Trust, UK, Specialist Advice Network: Natural Environment Advisory Group. He has received funding from UK Research and Innovation (Research England, Natural Environment Research Council, Economic and Social Research Council), European Union Horizon 2020, The Leverhulme Trust, The Royal Society, and the British Ecological Society.

    – ref. How a Trump election win could hit the US food industry and leave millions of Americans hungry – https://theconversation.com/how-a-trump-election-win-could-hit-the-us-food-industry-and-leave-millions-of-americans-hungry-242316

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Japan-style ‘tiny forests’ are taking root in British cities

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Hanyu Qi, PhD Candidate, School of Architecture and Landscape, University of Sheffield

    Anatta_Tan/Shutterstock

    A staggering one in three people in England lack access to nature-rich spaces within a short walk from their homes. Now, a growing movement is bringing nature back to cities across the UK. The Miyawaki forest method involves planting a diverse mix of densely packed native woodland trees – or “tiny forests” – that grow quickly in small areas, around the size of a tennis court.

    Already, there are more than 280 Miyawaki-style forests nationwide. Tucked away within housing estates, school grounds and wasteland on the urban edge, these urban forests are growing faster than conventionally planted trees.

    This tree planting approach was developed by Japanese ecologist Akira Miyawaki in the 1970s. Proponents argue that tiny forests create more habitat for wildlife and increase the capacity of land to store carbon, although few studies aim to quantify those benefits in western countries. If planted in a certain way, they can help create a more complete plant community structure from the ground up to the canopy.

    This means that the forest has distinct layers from the slow-growing canopy species right down to the smaller shrubs and ground covering herbs. These habitats are self-sustaining, so after three to five years’ growth they apparently don’t need much maintenance.

    The environmental charity Earthwatch Europe uses the Miyawaki method to plant tiny forests in urban areas. So far, with the help of local communities, they have planted 285 forests since 2022.

    Some local councils and community groups are embracing this tiny forest revolution. At Tychwood in Witney, near Oxford, the UK’s first tiny forest now has an outdoor classroom area that’s used by schoolchildren and local residents who can work on citizen science projects and tree maintenance.

    Since it was first planted in March 2020, the habitat has become home to insects, birds and lots of native plants such as oak, birch, crab apple, dogwood and goat willow.

    But while a government-funded pilot project called Trees Outside Woodlands has received attention for its possible socio-environmental benefits, very little research has quantified how best to do this effectively. One report published by conservation charity the Tree Council shows that Miyawaki plots have significantly higher survival rates and are more cost-effective than non-Miyawaki plots. But lots of unknowns remain.

    A climate of uncertainty

    Despite recognition of the potential benefits, including carbon storage, biodiversity conservation and educational opportunities, there’s a lot of uncertainty about how to apply the tiny forest method in different climates, particularly in the UK.

    Our recent study, published in the Arboricultural Journal, explores how suitable these tiny forests are within the UK context. Our interviews with 12 professionals (tree experts from academia or practitioners) reveal that while half of them supported the Miyawaki method, especially in specific urban areas such as schools and small parks, concerns remained about tree mortality and the high costs of buying saplings, prepping soil and maintaining trees. A few people told us that they could see potential in using unused farmland to establish tiny forests in rural settings too.

    Climate adaptation is paramount and planting trees in urban environments has never been more important. Access to nature also improves people’s health and wellbeing, with green spaces helping to connect communities and reduce loneliness, as well as mitigate the negative effects of climate change, such as air pollution, heatwaves and flooding, and improve biodiversity.

    As UK cities face both climate change and biodiversity loss, the tiny forest method offers a promising solution. There are still many challenges to overcome as this movement is still in its infancy – but it could be key to a greener, more resilient future.


    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like? Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 35,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    Nicola Dempsey is on the Board of Green Estate, CIC, Secretary of the Sheffield Green Spaces Forum and a member of the Sheffield Street Tree Partnership.

    Hanyu Qi 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. Japan-style ‘tiny forests’ are taking root in British cities – https://theconversation.com/japan-style-tiny-forests-are-taking-root-in-british-cities-239005

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How a crisis of truth is putting US electoral system under stress

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Clodagh Harrington, Lecturer in American Politics, University College Cork

    America is in the grip of a crisis of truth and its political and electoral systems are under duress. Losing the connection between what is true and what is fiction could have enormous consequence in the middle of this US election campaign.

    Academics refer to this as an epistemological crisis, a situation where different people believe different “truths” and it becomes difficult to get a shared understanding of key facts. This, they argue, can lead to polarisation and potentially, even, an ungovernable country, based on an inability to decide on what is factually correct.

    Jonathan Rauch, the journalist and author of The Constitution of Knowledge: A Defense of Truth, says historically disagreement about what is true has, on some occasions, led to untold killing and suffering.

    Right now in the US, it’s clear that there are massive differences in what people believe is true. Polls show, for instance, that around 69% of Republicans and Republican-leaning voters think the 2020 election result was not legitimate and that Joe Biden did not win.

    This division is amplified by what is happening in and around the campaigns, and the use of new and developing techniques. The Trump campaign, for instance, continues to make claims that the 2020 election was stolen.

    Sharing misinformation (that is, when inaccurate content is disseminated but not with the intent to mislead) has always been part of political life, but it is now quickly amplified by social media. Spreading disinformation takes this to the next level, when organisations or individuals deliberately spread lies. But the means to do so have grown more sophisticated, as demonstrated in the recent Moldovan election, where a massive Russian disinformation campaign was discovered.

    History reminds us that fake news is at a premium during wartime and the world is currently experiencing two major conflicts. In both cases, the geopolitical consequences for the US are sky-high.

    By spring 2024, US news media were reporting on Russia’s potential to interfere in the US election. The US administration’s position on the Ukraine war in particular matters greatly to the Kremlin, and it is no secret that a Donald Trump victory would suit Putin far better than a continuation of the Ukraine-funding Democrat alternative.

    What is an epistemological crisis?

    In September, US officials warned of election threats, not only from Russia but also Iran and China. Former director of the US Cyber-Security and Infrastructure Agency, Chris Krebs, stated that 2024 is “lining up to be a busy election interference season”. What makes these multi-faceted and constantly evolving threats even harder to manage is the fact that Maga influencers are embroiled in the proceedings. This makes a unified American response against an external threat all but impossible.



    Read more:
    Why do millions of Americans believe the 2020 presidential election was ‘stolen’ from Donald Trump?

    One recent such example involved a company in Tennessee which was used by members of the Russian state-owned broadcaster RT (formerly Russia Today) to spread Russia-friendly content. The content-creators were paid US$10 million (£7.7 million) by RT to publish pro-Russia videos in English on a range of social media platforms. The RT employees were charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and violating the Foreign Agent Registration Act.

    This is one of many developments by the foreign interference machine as the election on November 5 nears. Other incidents include dozens of internet domains used by the Kremlin to spread disinformation on websites designed to look like news sites and to undermine support for Ukraine. The US government response to these complex and boundary-blurring threats is complicated by the tension between maintaining discretion and informing the public.

    Old challenges, new technology

    Looking back, the 2016 presidential campaign and subsequent victory for Trump brought many firsts, some comical, others deadly serious in this post-truth arena. The lighter side included inaccurate claims made by White House press secretary Sean Spicer about the size of Trump’s 2017 inauguration crowd. When Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway declared on television to have “alternative facts” to those reported by the media on the crowd size, her phrase entered general use.

    With hindsight, such falsehoods now seem a little quaint, as the images from the day told the truth better than any script. Far more disturbingly, Russia’s Project Lakhta involved a “hacking and disinformation campaign” described in Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s 2019 Report as vast and complex in scale. The scheme involved human and technological input and targeted politicians on the political left and right, with a view to causing maximum disruption. Just a year later, Russia interfered in the 2020 race, this time spreading falsehoods about Biden and working in Trump’s favour.

    Fast forward to 2024 and we are awash with AI-created images and writing. Now any sort of lie is possible. Deep fakes, voice, image and video manipulation now mean that we literally can no longer believe our ears and eyes.

    Kellyanne Conway on alternative facts.

    Meanwhile, back on the campaign trail in 2024, Team Trump demonstrates few qualms when dishing out alternative facts. A long-time proponent of “truthful hyperbole” the former real-estate dealer takes exaggeration to a point no longer on the scale. From sharing an AI-generated image of Taylor Swift endorsing him (she soon backed his opponent) to claims that helicopters were not getting through with hurricane relief, the news cycle is awash with baseless content.

    An inevitable outcome of this crisis and conflict over truth is voters’ confusion and disengagement, and increasing public tension, with a new poll reporting that the majority of Americans are expecting violence after the election.

    Voters deserve to know whether what they know is real, but in this campaign it is increasingly clear that they don’t and the consequences of this could be stark.

    Clodagh Harrington 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. How a crisis of truth is putting US electoral system under stress – https://theconversation.com/how-a-crisis-of-truth-is-putting-us-electoral-system-under-stress-242046

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: US election: Puerto Rican voters could deliver Donald Trump an unwelcome ‘October surprise’

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Todd Landman, Professor of Political Science, University of Nottingham

    As it moves into the final week, the US election campaign remains so tight that most commentators are calling it a toss-up. But Donald Trump’s campaign may have just dealt itself its own “October surprise” – something no candidate for the US president wants as it stands for a last-minute disaster.

    At his much anticipated “closing argument” rally at Madison Square Garden in New York City on October 27, various warm-up speakers engaged in strong, dark rhetoric about the state of the nation that laid the ground for Trump to take the stage and assert his position as the “protector”,“fixer”, and “liberator” of what he and his support base like to think of as an “occupied” country.

    But the tone and content of the event was problematic from the start. Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe made opening remarks in which he described Puerto Rico as an “island of garbage”.

    Deep offence at these remarks rippled across America’s Puerto Rican community and beyond. His slur on Puerto Rico drew condemnation across the political spectrum and mobilised a rash of new endorsements for the Harris-Walz campaign. The incident has raised the prospect of a Puerto Rican backlash that could well have an impact on the outcome of the election.

    Tony Hinchcliffe: an October surprise?

    Causing such deep offence to a significant minority population at a crucial moment in the campaign could have real consequences. Ultimately, the outcome of the election is determined by electoral college votes. These, in the end, will rely heavily on tallies across seven swing states: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Caroline, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

    The outcome of the 2016 and 2020 elections, although the Democrats received far more votes than the Republicans in total (3 million and 7 million, respectively), came down to very close margins across these swing states. In 2020, Joe Biden won the electoral college vote across these seven states – but with an average of less than half a percentage point (0.47%).

    Why Puerto Rico matters

    Puerto Rico is what is known as an “unincorporated territory” of the United States. Since it is not a state, it does not have any electoral college votes. But Puerto Ricans are citizens of the United States – a status they have enjoyed since 1917 – and can move freely between Puerto Rico and the mainland.

    Those who reside in Puerto Rico may not vote in federal elections, but those who do live in the United States are eligible to vote in the states where they are registered.

    Historically Puerto Ricans have been more likely to support the Democrats. But their turnout has been in consistent in the past. And both campaigns have made special effort to target this group. If enough people take offence at Hinchcliffe’s remarks, this could have a significant impact on the election result.

    Millions of Puerto Ricans have made successful lives and careers in the US. As of 2021, Puerto Ricans make up 2% of the US population (5.8 million, up from 4.7 million in 2010). Despite this relatively low percentage overall, it is the distribution of the Puerto Rican population that makes them important in the presidential election.

    The table below shows the Puerto Rican population across swing states in 2024 as well as the number of electoral college votes that are up for grabs in each state and the winning vote margin for Joe Biden in 2020. The figures in the table are for the whole Puerto Rican population.

    Across these seven swing states, it is clear that the distribution of Puerto Ricans is not insignificant. This is especially the case in the key state of Pennsylvania. The total number and proportion of Puerto Ricans living there is easily large enough to affect the marginal vote share needed to tip the state to one of the two main political parties, which has 19 electoral college votes.

    It’s telling that the Harris-Walz campaign was in Pennsylvania actively courting Latino voters at the same time the rally was underway in New York. The rapid impact from the rally manifested in real time and included the endorsement of the Harris-Walz campaign from world-famous celebrities.

    Shortly after the remarks at the rally, Bad Bunny, the world’s most-streamed musical artist on Spotify between 2020 and 2022, endorsed Harris, as did singer Ricky Martin and actress Jennifer Lopez, whose parents come from Puerto Rico.

    Bad Bunny showed his support by resharing with his millions of social media followers a video of Harris speaking about Trump’s response to the devastating hurricanes Irma and Maria that ravaged Puerto Rico in 2017. Ricky Martin posted “Esto es lo que piensan en nosotros” (This is what they think of us) with a tag of “vote for @kamalaharris”.

    In a race where margins of victory are extremely thin, a small island country like Puerto Rico with its special status and mobile voters may just tip the scales in Harris’s direction.

    Todd Landman receives funding from International Justice Mission, US State Department Trafficking in Persons Office, J. Sainsbury’s Ltd., and the US National Institute for Justice. .

    – ref. US election: Puerto Rican voters could deliver Donald Trump an unwelcome ‘October surprise’ – https://theconversation.com/us-election-puerto-rican-voters-could-deliver-donald-trump-an-unwelcome-october-surprise-242326

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Five reasons Warhammer 40,000 should be considered a great work of science fiction

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Mike Ryder, Lecturer in Marketing, Lancaster University

    Games Workshop, the British company behind the tabletop war game Warhammer and its futuristic counterpart Warhammer 40,000 (also known as Warhammer 40k), is now worth in the region of £3.75 billion. And it counts among its fans celebrities like Henry Cavill, Brian May and the late Robin Williams.

    The original Warhammer (known as Warhammer Fantasy Battle) was a fantasy tabletop miniature war-game. Released in 1983 it featured J.R.R. Tolkien-esque orc, goblin, dwarf and elf characters. A few years later, Games Workshop launched a science fiction version of the game, Warhammer 40k, where many of the fantasy races were re-imagined for a futuristic science fiction setting.

    Historically, many fans of science fiction have looked down on Warhammer 40k as something of a niche interest, the darker, grimier cousin of the clean-cut American franchises of Star Wars and Star Trek. But things are starting to change. Warhammer 40k is now so much more than a simple tabletop battle game. It is a whole universe of rich and diverse characters of great depth, and it is supported by a body of literature.

    Here are five reasons the Warhammer 40k franchise is as worthy of science fiction fandom as its American cousins.

    1. The grand scope of its format

    Warhammer 40k is no longer just a miniatures game. Rather, it is a complete fictional universe far grander in scope than any other science fiction universe that exists today.

    This multi-modal format means that fans don’t just have to collect model miniatures to enjoy it. There are so many different formats available, including animations, role-playing and video games, as well as comic books and the extensive literary publications from the Black Library, the publishing arm of Games Workshop.

    2. The franchise’s scale

    Warhammer 40k universe is huge. And I mean, seriously huge. The Horus Heresy series – the key saga that sets the context for the “present day” universe – spans some 54 books, with a further ten books mapping out the series’ conclusion.

    This is arguably the biggest single collective literary undertaking in all of science fiction. The series started in 2006 with the novel Horus Rising, and has now reached its conclusion, with just the final few books awaiting their paperback release.

    3. Depth of storytelling

    Make no mistake, Warhammer 40k is no simple battle of good versus evil. Rather, it is a universe of deep politics, philosophy and nuance, where even the so-called “good guys” are forced to make difficult choices in the name of survival.

    This tension is encapsulated in the leader of the Imperium (humanity), known as The Emperor, who has sat atop his golden throne for more than 10,000 years. He is sustained by the ritual daily sacrifice of thousands of souls, who give up their lives in order that he continue his psychic battle with the forces of chaos in the psychic realm, known as The Warp.

    Such depth has helped the universe flourish over many decades, providing a constant stream of ideas for fans to engage with, and characters to explore.

    4. The grimdark aesthetic

    Such has been the impact of the Warhammer 40k universe that it has even spawned its own unique sub-genre of science fiction and fantasy, known as grimdark. Spearheaded by legendary artist John Blanche, grimdark is characterised by its bleak aesthetic that calls back to a kind of primordial existence, where day-to-day survival is not guaranteed.

    This sub-genre extends far beyond the realms of Warhammer, even shaping the work of bestselling fantasy novelists such as Joe Abercrombie, author of The First Law trilogy.

    5. Research potential

    Researchers are also now starting to take Warhammer seriously. In September, Germany hosted the world’s first academic conference dedicated to all things Warhammer. The conference attracted almost 60 speakers, with academics from across the globe looking at the universe through their own particular academic lens.

    Meanwhile, the depth of academic literature on Warhammer is also growing rapidly. In my own research I often write about science fiction and its potential to help us think about complex problems in new ways. With Warhammer, I have been able to explore what it means to be a soldier, and the symbolic relationship between the soldier and the state. I do this by exploring the portrayal of 40k’s most iconic characters, the space marines – genetically enhanced super-soldiers who live a monk-like existence committed to waging endless war against the enemies of mankind.

    The Prime series Secret Level will feature a Warhammer 40k episode.

    Time to go mainstream

    While it is fair to say that Warhammer 40k has so far been fairly underrepresented in science fiction circles, it seems the tide is finally starting to turn. Just last year Games Workshop signed a deal with Amazon to produce a TV series. There will also be a Warhammer 40k animation, due for release in December 2024. There have also been several important critical successes for 40k in the realm of video games, the most recent example being Space Marine II.

    With the growth of the tabletop hobby, the continued success of licensed video games and with an Amazon series on the horizon, we are now at a point where Warhammer is about to go mainstream. No longer is it merely a game of rolling dice, and painting model miniatures. Rather now, it is a huge and deeply significant work of science fiction, and one that is worthy of being spoken about in the same way as its American peers.


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    Mike Ryder 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. Five reasons Warhammer 40,000 should be considered a great work of science fiction – https://theconversation.com/five-reasons-warhammer-40-000-should-be-considered-a-great-work-of-science-fiction-241040

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Capito Announces Congressionally Directed Spending Award for WVU Research Initiative

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito
    CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies (CJS), announced funding from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for West Virginia University (WVU).
    This award, which was secured through a Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) request made by Senator Capito in Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24), will support new research equipment and resources.
    “WVU is known to be a global leader in critical research initiatives,” Senator Capito said. “During the appropriations process, I worked closely with the university to identify the areas of need, and it was clear that strengthening their research capabilities was a priority. This award will help the university continue its efforts by acquiring state-of-the-art equipment that meets the demands of a leading electron microscopy facility, which can ultimately lead to attracting and retaining a high caliber of research faculty and students. I was proud to help secure this award that will have long-lasting benefits for WVU and our entire state.”
    Award details listed below:
    $1,140,000 CJS CDS award to WVU (Morgantown, W.Va.) for a suite of research equipment to develop standards and optimization in the areas of advanced energy systems, advanced manufacturing, and fundamental biomedical, neuroscience and life science studies. This equipment will be used to upgrade the existing Sample Preparation Laboratory (SPL) within the Electron Microscopy Facility (EMF) to optimally utilize current and future electron microscopes. The SPL processes samples for the EMF, as well as other research facilities. The availability of modern electron microscopy sample preparation facilities will support the recruitment of new faculty and student talent and in the retention of existing talent. The award also has the potential to benefit the entire Shared Research Facility by enabling faculty to propose and execute more ambitious studies in collaborative teams and by promoting greater industrial engagement by means of the materials insights that WVU can contribute.

    MIL OSI USA News –