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Category: Europe

  • MIL-OSI Global: Colonialism, starvation and resistance: How food is weaponized, from Gaza to Canada

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Charles Z. Levkoe, Canada Research Chair in Equitable and Sustainable Food Systems, Lakehead University

    For more than a year, the Israeli state has been engaged in a massive incursion into Gaza following the October 2023 Hamas attack against Israel.

    In March 2024, Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, announced: “There are reasonable grounds to believe that the threshold indicating the commission of the crime of genocide…has been met.”

    A core element of this apparent genocide includes food militarization and weaponization, a tactic that has also been used by Canada to exterminate, dispossess and control Indigenous populations.

    We have come together as a group of critical food systems scholars to examine the parallels between the weaponization of food in Gaza and Canada to bring about the systematic destruction of Indigenous Peoples. But we’ve also observed that food has been a powerful tool of resistance and resurgence.



    Read more:
    Israeli siege has placed Gazans at risk of starvation − prewar policies made them vulnerable in the first place

    Food as a weapon

    Throughout modern history, food has been deployed as a weapon by colonial regimes to control and displace Indigenous populations. The current crisis in Gaza has brought this into sharp focus as the Israeli state has engaged in the systematic destruction of Palestinian food systems, with devastating consequences.

    Israel’s blockade of Gaza, in place since 2007, has cut off access to essential agricultural areas and restricted fishing activities. Gaza farmers are often unable to access their land, while fishers are constantly barred from accessing the coast, harassed, intimidated and even killed by Israeli forces.

    This blockade, combined with military operations that destroy farmland, trees and infrastructure, has resulted in more than 95 per cent of people in Gaza facing severe food insecurity and a famine declared by the United Nations experts in the summer of 2024.



    Read more:
    Starvation is a weapon of war: Gazans are paying the price

    Canada’s use of food weaponization

    Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the Canadian government employed similar tactics to restrict Indigenous Peoples’ access to land, food and water. Colonial policies like the Indian Act, the Homesteading Act and the Pass System confined Indigenous Peoples to reserves, prohibited hunting and fishing and forced reliance on inadequate government food rations.

    This led to malnutrition and starvation, particularly in response to Indigenous resistance to settler expansion. The use of food as a weapon was part of a broader project to eliminate or otherwise undermine Indigenous identity and self-determination, a process that continues today.

    From ongoing boil-water advisories to environmental degradation caused by mining, oil and gas extraction, forestry, agriculture and chemical production, settler governments and industries continue to dispossess Indigenous Peoples from their lands and undermine their livelihood.

    These practices have severely and disproportionately impacted Indigenous health and well-being, as well as their food systems.



    Read more:
    Colonialists used starvation as a tool of oppression

    The Scream, by Kent Monkman (2016), was part of a travelling exhibition in 2017 on colonized Canada entitled ‘Shame And Prejudice: A Story Of Resilience.’
    (Courtesy of Kent Monkman)

    Israel targets food infrastructure

    In the occupied Palestinian territories, Israeli control over land and resources reflects a similar colonial dynamic. Laws like the Absentee Property Law of 1950 facilitated the expropriation of Palestinian land.

    Meanwhile, the Israeli military has systematically targeted Gaza’s food infrastructure and used starvation as a weapon of war, according to Human Rights Watch. Satellite imagery shows that 70 per cent of Gaza’s tree cover has been eliminated or damaged, and about one-third of greenhouses have been demolished.

    Tanks and trucks have decimated orchards, field crops and olive groves.

    An estimated 800,000 tonnes of asbestos among the debris of destroyed buildings will result in asbestos-related diseases for generations to come. Under the Geneva Conventions, destruction of civilians’ means of survival and starvation as a tool of warfare is strictly prohibited.

    Food as resistance

    Food has also long been mobilized as a powerful tool of resistance. Among Palestinians, struggles for food sovereignty have played a critical role in self-determination.

    Palestinians continue to cultivate their land under the rubble, grow olive trees despite ongoing violence and maintain food practices that connect them to their lands and their cultural heritage.

    Similarly, Indigenous nations and communities across Canada have used food as a form of resurgence. Alongside land back movements, efforts to revitalize Indigenous food systems — such as hunting, fishing, growing and gathering — are central to movements for Indigenous sovereignty.

    Learning about and enacting traditional food practices are important acts of resistance, as these practices sustain communities, strengthen connections to land and assert rights over the unceded territories Indigenous Peoples are fighting to reclaim. By reclaiming and rebuilding their land and food systems on their own terms, they continue to challenge colonial structures.

    Food, colonialism and resistance

    The destruction of food systems in Gaza and Canada is part of a larger effort of land dispossession and capitalist accumulation. By severing Indigenous Peoples’ connection to their food systems, settlers and colonial regimes have sought to control not only the land but also the people who depend on it.

    Yet, through food sovereignty movements, these same populations are reclaiming their right to self-determination and building global networks of solidarity.



    Read more:
    Indigenous food sovereignty requires better and more accurate data collection

    The struggle for food sovereignty is inseparable from broader struggles for land, justice and self-determination.

    Connecting the dots between the Palestinian territories and Canada provides powerful examples of global colonial relations and struggles for justice and self-determination. It challenges us to critically examine the role of food in these struggles and demand government accountability.

    We wish to acknowledge Mustafa Koç, professor emeritus at Toronto Metropolitan University, as a co-author and to thank Max Ajl, Yafa Al Masri and Justin Podur for contributions to this article.

    Charles Z. Levkoe receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the the Government of Ontario.

    Sarah Rotz receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

    Tammara Soma receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

    Martha Stiegman 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. Colonialism, starvation and resistance: How food is weaponized, from Gaza to Canada – https://theconversation.com/colonialism-starvation-and-resistance-how-food-is-weaponized-from-gaza-to-canada-241525

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General James Leads Multistate Coalition Backing National Ban on Price Gouging

    Source: US State of New York

    NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today led a coalition of 15 attorneys general urging Congressional leaders to support a ban on price gouging at the national level. While over 40 states ban price gouging, there is no federal law preventing businesses from raising prices to increase their profits on essential goods during an emergency. In a letter to Congressional leaders, Attorney General James and the coalition argued that a national ban on price gouging would give the federal government the power to crack down on price gouging that cannot be stopped by a single state, and allow states and the federal government to work together to stop illegal price gouging in national supply chains. 

    “Businesses should never be able to hike prices during an emergency just to increase their profits,” said Attorney General James. “When companies take advantage of major disruptions and raise prices of food and supplies that New Yorkers rely on, my office holds them accountable, getting people their money back and protecting their wallets. Our federal government should have the same power to protect Americans when disaster strikes and stop price gouging at the national level that threatens both hardworking families and small businesses.” 

    Bans on price gouging let businesses raise prices to cover costs but prevent them from raising prices further solely to increase their profits during an emergency. Attorney General James and the coalition argue in their letter that prohibiting price gouging benefits both consumers and businesses. First, it encourages much-needed production at critical times by only allowing businesses to make more money by selling more products, instead of by raising prices. Second, it prevents businesses from risking long-term harm and reputational damage by overreacting in an emergency and setting prices too high. Third, it discourages hoarding in an emergency, since rising prices can prompt customers to over-buy. Fourth, price gouging bans protect consumers from monopolists who can raise prices without worrying about consumers’ reactions or being undercut by a competitor. 

    The COVID-19 pandemic and the onset of war in Ukraine disrupted supply chains at the national level, creating opportunities for price gouging that were sometimes out of reach from individual states. Attorney General James and the coalition argue in their letter that a federal ban would complement states’ anti-price gouging measures to help stop price gouging at the national level. 

    As Attorney General James and the coalition note, attorneys general have successfully stopped price gouging at the state level, demonstrating a clear need for national enforcement to complement these efforts. In New York, Attorney General James has secured decisive settlements with companies for illegally raising prices during emergencies, including the COVID-19 pandemic. In March and April 2024, Attorney General James distributed over 9,500 cans of baby formula in Buffalo and New York City as part of a settlement with Walgreens for illegally raising prices of baby formula during the 2022 shortage. In May 2023, Attorney General James recovered $100,000 from Quality King for price gouging Lysol products at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. In April 2021, Attorney General James secured 1.2 million eggs for New Yorkers from Hillandale Farms Corporation as part of a settlement resolving a lawsuit brought by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) in August 2020 for illegally gouging egg prices in the early months of the pandemic. 

    In March 2023, Attorney General James proposed new rules to protect consumers and small businesses by making it easier for OAG to investigate and combat price gouging. Throughout the pandemic, during major disruptions, and ahead of recent declared disasters, Attorney General James has issued consumer warnings against price gouging on essential supplies.

    Joining Attorney General James in sending the letter to Congress are the attorneys general of California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and the District of Columbia.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: National recognition for Council support to people seeking sanctuary

    Source: Scotland – City of Perth

    The formal recognition of the Council’s support for the sanctuary-seeking population follows a comprehensive evaluation by UK City of Sanctuary.  

    Perth and Kinross has been a place of sanctuary for people for many years, and since at least the outbreak of World War I in 1914 when a group of Belgian refugees came to Perth. In more recent times, people of all ages from countries around the world, including the Ukraine, Syria and Afghanistan, have received vital help and multi-agency support for positive integration and resettlement within the community. 

    Leader of Perth and Kinross Council, Councillor Grant Laing said: “Our vision is for Perth and Kinross as a place where ‘everyone can live well free from poverty and inequalities’. For refugees and people seeking asylum this can be a challenge, however we will continue to work creatively across our services and with our public sector and community partners to make the area as safe and welcoming as possible.” 

    Equalities Lead, Councillor Peter Barrett said: “Our sanctuary seeking population have come from wide-ranging and difficult circumstances in their own countries from war to persecution. This national recognition of what we have done to make a difference to their lives, from families to unaccompanied children and young people, is something we all warmly welcome at the Council and the link with the UK City of Sanctuary organisation also opens up new avenues of support, advice and good practice we can access for the benefit of those most in need.” 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The ‘nocebo effect’ in IBS: Why gluten might not be the real problem

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Caroline Seiler, PhD, McMaster University

    One-third of patients with irritable bowel syndrome aslo have disordered eating habits and perceptions about food that may cause symptoms in and of themselves. (Shutterstock)

    Many people find that wheat or gluten cause them to react in some way: Some people have a wheat allergy, some have the autoimmune condition celiac disease, but the majority find they have some sort of intolerance or sensitivity to wheat and gluten.

    This is challenging to diagnose because there still aren’t any reliable biomarkers to confirm gluten or wheat sensitivity, and clinicians typically rely on patient self-reports.

    In irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), patients experience gastrointestinal symptoms without any visible damage to the digestive tract. Many patients with IBS believe that specific foods, like gluten or wheat, trigger their symptoms, prompting them to exclude these foods from their diets without consulting a dietitian or their doctor.

    Unsurprisingly, about a third of IBS patients develop disordered eating habits and perceptions about food that may cause symptoms in and of themselves, such as orthorexia, or an unhealthy preoccupation with healthy eating. This may cause a “nocebo effect,” where patients experience symptoms due to their beliefs and expectations about a substance they assume is causing their issues but is actually inert — a “nocebo.”

    Identifying the true sensitivities for patients with IBS is a controversial research area, with some studies finding gluten avoidance to be beneficial versus others finding it to have [no significant effect.
    (Shutterstock)

    As a nutrition researcher at McMaster University’s Farncombe Institute, I’m a member of a team that ran a clinical trial to find out whether wheat, gluten or a gluten-free nocebo caused symptoms in IBS. And the results were surprising: even though some patients experienced worse symptoms from gluten or wheat, they weren’t very different from the nocebo, with similar proportions of patients reacting to each.

    These results are similar to other published studies. Identifying the true sensitivities for patients with IBS is a controversial research area, with some studies finding gluten avoidance to be beneficial versus others finding it to have no significant effect.

    Researchers from the United Kingdom and the Netherlands published an innovative study from the Lancet medical journal. Patients with reported gluten sensitivity were divided into four groups: Two groups were given gluten-free bread, but one of these groups was told it contained gluten and one was told it didn’t. Two other groups were given bread that did contain gluten, with one group believing it was gluten-free and the other believing it contained gluten.

    The results showed that the patients who ate gluten and were also told they were eating gluten had significantly worse symptoms than the other three groups.

    Why are people concerned about gluten?

    Patients with IBS are often left to navigate conflicting online resources and test new diets to treat their symptoms.
    (Shutterstock)

    Given the controversial evidence that not only gluten, but other wheat components like fermentable carbohydrates or immune-stimulating proteins, may exacerbate IBS symptoms, it’s possible for this hot topic to get blown out of proportion or taken out of context, contributing to nutrition misinformation.

    All of these factors — that it is often diagnosed by excluding all other options, the significant psychological component, the division in the scientific community and clinicians who often discount patients’ experiences — make treatment difficult for patients with this disorder.

    As a result, patients with IBS are often left to navigate conflicting online resources and test new diets to treat their symptoms.

    How patients respond to evidence

    When researchers challenge patients with gluten, wheat or a nocebo, they rarely report the personalized results back to the patients and see how this information impacts patient behaviour.

    At McMaster University, we wanted to see how presenting personalized nutrition information would affect our patients. After providing them with personal results about their gluten and wheat reactions, we followed up with patients after six months or more to see how this impacted their beliefs, behaviours and symptoms.

    Again, we were in for a surprise! Patients largely kept similar beliefs about gluten, maintained a gluten-free diet and had consistent symptoms even after learning that most of them did not react to gluten or wheat. This begs the question: when people more generally learn new information that conflicts with an existing belief, what may help them to change accordingly?

    The role of psychology in treating IBS

    IBS has been long understood as a disorder of the gut-brain interaction. Psychological treatments are being increasingly investigated to minimize patient fears of foods, or nocebo effects, and to treat IBS symptoms more generally. At Harvard, a recent study found that exposure-based cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) showed promise to improve IBS symptoms in five sessions with a nurse practitioner.

    Similarly, CBT correlated with shifts in brain networks and the gut microbiome, or gut bacteria, that were also correlated with improvements in gastrointestinal symptoms. At the University of Calgary, virtually delivered yoga was highly feasible and helped improve symptoms for patients with IBS.

    However, IBS is a complex disorder which may be exacerbated due to many different causes, and psychological treatment will likely be only one component of an effective treatment plan for many patients.

    Diet plays an important role in human health, but how it does so — especially among those with gastrointestinal diseases — becomes complicated by the emotional aspects of eating and the real needs for people to have nutritious, well-balanced diets without risking malnutrition. If you have concerns that certain foods, like gluten, trigger your symptoms, it’s a good idea to consult your doctor or a registered dietitian.

    Caroline Seiler receives funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

    – ref. The ‘nocebo effect’ in IBS: Why gluten might not be the real problem – https://theconversation.com/the-nocebo-effect-in-ibs-why-gluten-might-not-be-the-real-problem-241553

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Disastrous budget for farming families

    Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland

    Statement by TUV vice chairman and East Londonderry representative Councillor Allister Kyle:

    “Every agricultural business with assets, in buildings and land, over £1m will be hit further with 20% inheritance tax. Livestock and equipment were already taken into account for inheritance tax.

    “£1m sounds like a lot of money, which it is, but with the Northern Ireland average farm size being 41 hectares (101 acres), if ground was valued at £12k per acre and a farmyard and house valued at £400k, this would leave a tax bill of around £100k, on top of the livestock and equipment values.

    “One needs to remember that land is not tax deductible when being purchased. Therefore, if a farmer purchases land he pays tax. When his son or daughter inherits the farm, tax will be paid on the same land again. That is perverse.

    “Many farmers will be forced to sell ground to clear this new tax bill which will then also trigger possible capital gains tax to be paid on the level that ground may have increased in value since the time it was bought.

    “Currently 36% of farmers in Northern Ireland are 65 or over.

    “When will the nation and its politicians start to respect those who put food on our tables?

    “The agricultural sector isn’t generally a cash rich business, most profits are usually re-invested in ground, farmyards or equipment to have a lasting legacy for future generations to keep on stewarding the land, caring for livestock and keeping us fed.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: IAM Joins Western Pennsylvania Union Members to Get Out the Vote

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    For weeks, IAM and other union members in Pittsburgh and from across the country have flocked to the Allegheny-Fayette County Labor Council office to pick up materials before heading out to door-knock as part of the national AFL-CIO’s political program.

    In the first stage of the program, political volunteers visited union members’ households to provide information about the candidates endorsed by their unions and to gauge union voters’ priorities.

    Now, less than a week before Election Day, door-knockers are just trying to make sure registered voters get to the polls.

    “It is imperative that we motivate our members to vote in the election of our lifetime,” said IAM Air Transport Territory Grand Lodge Representative Sean Ryan, who has been in and out of Pittsburgh to assist get-out-the-vote efforts.

    IAM Political and Legislative Assistant Ty Richardson has also been on the ground speaking with union members in the battleground state of Pennsylvania.

    “We’re talking to union members to make sure they know how this election will directly affect their lives and livelihoods,” said Richardson.

    IAM members are working with members of the other affiliate unions like the Ironworkers, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, American Federation of Teachers, Association of Federal Government Employees, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, and United Steelworkers.

    The AFL-CIO’s political program has focused efforts on the seven “swing” states considered to be the states that will decide this election: Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina, Michigan, Wisconsin, Nevada and Arizona.

    In Pittsburgh, the AFL-CIO affiliate unions are advocating for the Kamala Harris and Tim Walz presidential ticket, Bob Casey for re-election in the U.S. Senate, and Summer Lee for Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

    For information on the union-endorsed candidates, go to betterinaunion.org.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Security Federal Corporation Announces Third Quarter Income

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    AIKEN, S.C., Oct. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Security Federal Corporation (the “Company”) (OTCBB: SFDL), the holding company for Security Federal Bank (the “Bank”), today announced earnings and financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024.

    The Company reported net income available to common shareholders of $2.0 million, or $0.62 per share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, compared to $2.1 million, or $0.65 per share, for the third quarter of 2023. Year-to-date net income available to common shareholders was $5.9 million, or $1.83 per common share, for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared to $6.6 million, or $2.02 per common share, during the nine months ended September 30, 2023. Both the quarterly and year-to-date decreases in net income available to common shareholders were primarily due to increases in the provision for credit losses and non-interest expense, as well as the payment of preferred stock dividends during 2024, which were partially offset by increases in net interest income and non-interest income.

    Third Quarter Comparative Financial Highlights

    • Net interest income increased $964,000, or 10.2%, to $10.4 million during the quarter ended September 30, 2024, compared to $9.4 million during the third quarter of 2023.
    • Total interest income increased $2.7 million, or 16.1%, to $19.5 million while total interest expense increased $1.7 million, or 23.7%, to $9.1 million during the quarter ended September 30, 2024 compared to the same quarter the prior year. The increase in interest income and interest expense was the result of higher market interest rates and increased average interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities.
    • Non-interest income increased $457,000, or 21.1%, to $2.6 million during the quarter ended September 30, 2024 compared to the same quarter in the prior year primarily due to $263,000 and $74,000 increases in trust income and gain on sale of loans, respectively.
    • Non-interest expense increased $389,000, or 4.4%, to $9.3 million during the quarter ended September 30, 2024 compared to the same quarter in the prior year primarily due to an increase in salaries and employee benefits expense.
         
        Quarter Ended
    (Dollars in Thousands, except for Earnings per Share)   9/30/2024   9/30/2023
    Total interest income   $ 19,531   $ 16,822
    Total interest expense     9,121     7,376
    Net interest income     10,410     9,446
    Provision for credit losses     580     –
    Net interest income after provision for credit losses     9,830     9,446
    Non-interest income     2,625     2,168
    Non-interest expense     9,313     8,924
    Income before income taxes     3,142     2,690
    Provision for income taxes     732     568
    Net income     2,410     2,122
    Preferred stock dividends     415     –
    Net income available to common shareholders   $ 1,995   $ 2,122
    Earnings per common share (basic)   $ 0.62   $ 0.65
                 
                 

    Year to Date (Nine Months) Comparative Financial Highlights

    • Net interest income increased $1.8 million, or 6.1%, to $30.6 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 compared to the same period in the prior year.
    • Total interest income increased $10.5 million, or 22.5%, to $57.1 million while total interest expense increased $8.7 million, or 49.0%, to $26.5 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 compared to the same period in the prior year.
    • Non-interest income increased $780,000, or 11.8%, to $7.4 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 compared to the same period in the prior year primarily due to a $480,000 increase in trust income.
    • Non-interest expense increased $1.8 million, or 6.5%, to $28.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.
         
        Nine Months Ended
    (Dollars in Thousands, except for Earnings per Share)   9/30/2024   9/30/2023
    Total interest income   $ 57,071   $ 46,593
    Total interest expense     26,497     17,780
    Net interest income     30,574     28,813
    Provision for credit losses     1,090     221
    Net interest income after provision for credit losses     29,484     28,592
    Non-interest income     7,400     6,620
    Non-interest expense     28,617     26,863
    Income before income taxes     8,267     8,349
    Provision for income taxes     1,878     1,775
    Net income     6,389     6,574
    Preferred stock dividends     512     –
    Net income available to common shareholders   $ 5,877   $ 6,574
    Earnings per common share (basic)   $ 1.83   $ 2.02
                 
                 

    Credit Quality

    • The Bank recorded a $1.2 million provision for credit losses on loans and a $110,000 reversal of provision for credit losses on unfunded commitments, resulting in a total provision for credit losses of $1.1 million for the first nine months of 2024, compared to $376,000 in provision for credit losses on loans and a $155,000 reversal of provision for credit losses on unfunded commitments, resulting in a total provision for credit losses of $221,000 for the first nine months of 2023.
    • Non-performing assets were $6.8 million at both September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, compared to $6.3 million at September 30, 2023.
    • The allowance for credit losses to gross loans was 1.95%, 1.98% and 2.03% at September 30, 2024, December 31, 2023, and September 30, 2023, respectively.
           
    At Period End (dollars in thousands): 9/30/2024 12/31/2023 9/30/2023
    Non-performing assets $ 6,770   $ 6,825   $ 6,339  
    Non-performing assets to total assets   0.43 %   0.44 %   0.43 %
    Allowance for credit losses $ 13,604   $ 12,569   $ 12,348  
    Allowance for credit losses to gross loans   1.95 %   1.98 %   2.03 %
                       
                       

    Balance Sheet Highlights and Capital Management

    • Total assets were $1.6 billion at September 30, 2024, a year-over-year increase of $99.0 million, or 6.7%.
    • Total loans receivable, net were $686.7 million at September 30, 2024, an increase of $64.2 million during the first nine months of 2024 and a year-over-year increase of $88.7 million.
    • Investment securities decreased $28.7 million during the first nine months of 2024 to $672.1 million at September 30, 2024, as maturities and principal paydowns of investment securities exceeded purchases during the nine-month period.
    • Deposits were $1.3 billion at September 30, 2024, an increase of $62.3 million, or 5.2% during the nine months ended September 30, 2024, and a year-over-year increase of $71.3 million, or 6.0%.
    • Borrowings decreased $49.1 million, or 28.9%, during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 to $121.0 million due to the repayment of borrowings with the Federal Reserve Bank Term Funding Program.
           
    Dollars in thousands (except per share amounts) 9/30/2024 12/31/2023 9/30/2023
    Total assets $ 1,576,326   $ 1,549,671   $ 1,477,330  
    Cash and cash equivalents   132,376     128,284     84,224  
    Total loans receivable, net   686,708     622,529     598,029  
    Investment securities   672,054     700,712     705,558  
    Deposits   1,257,313     1,194,997     1,186,053  
    Borrowings   120,978     170,035     119,898  
    Total shareholders’ equity   185,081     172,362     158,996  
    Common shareholders’ equity   102,132     89,413     76,047  
    Common equity book value per share $ 31.97   $ 27.69   $ 23.46  
    Total risk-based capital to risk weighted assets (1)   19.21 %   19.49 %   19.33 %
    CET1 capital to risk weighted assets (1)   17.96 %   18.24 %   18.08 %
    Tier 1 leverage capital ratio (1)   10.27 %   9.83 %   10.11 %
    (1) – Ratio is calculated using Bank only information and not consolidated information      
           
           

    Security Federal Bank has 19 full-service branches located in Aiken, Ballentine, Clearwater, Columbia, Graniteville, Langley, Lexington, North Augusta, Ridge Spring, Wagener and West Columbia, South Carolina and Augusta and Evans, Georgia. A full range of financial services, including trust and investments, are provided by the Bank and insurance services are provided by the Bank’s wholly owned subsidiary, Security Federal Insurance, Inc.

    Forward-looking statements:

    Certain matters discussed in this press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, expectations of the business environment in which the Company operates, projections of future performance, perceived opportunities in the market, potential future credit experience, and statements regarding the Company’s mission and vision. These forward-looking statements are based upon current management expectations and may, therefore, involve risks and uncertainties. The Company’s actual results, performance, or achievements may differ materially from those suggested, expressed, or implied by forward-looking statements as a result of a wide variety or range of factors including, but not limited to: potential adverse impacts to economic conditions in our local market area or other aspects of the Company’s business, operations or financial markets, including, without limitation, as a result of employment levels, labor shortages and the effects of inflation, a potential recession or slowed economic growth; economic conditions in the Company’s primary market area; demand for residential, commercial business and commercial real estate, consumer, and other types of loans; success of new products; competitive conditions between banks and non-bank financial service providers; changes in management’s business strategies, including expectations regarding key growth initiatives and strategic priorities; legislative or regulatory changes that adversely affect the Company’s business, including the interpretation of regulatory capital or other rules; the ability to attract and retain deposits; the availability of resources to address changes in laws, rules, or regulations or to respond to regulatory actions; adverse changes in the securities markets; changes in accounting policies and practices, as may be adopted by the financial institution regulatory agencies or the Financial Accounting Standards Board, including additional guidance and interpretation on accounting issues and details of the implementation of new accounting methods; technology factors affecting operations, including disruptions, security breaches, or other adverse events, failures or interruptions in, or attacks on, our information technology systems or on the third-party vendors who perform critical processing functions for us; pricing of products and services; environmental, social and governance goals and targets; the effects of climate change, severe weather events, natural disasters, pandemics, epidemics and other public health crises, acts of war or terrorism, and other external events on our business; and other risks detailed in the Company’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. These factors should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. The Company does not undertake any responsibility to update or revise any forward-looking statement.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FEMA Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Laurens County

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: FEMA Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Laurens County

    FEMA Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Laurens County

    ATLANTA – FEMA opened an additional Disaster Recovery Center in Laurens County to provide one-on-one help for Georgians affected by Hurricane Helene. The center is open Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.Center location: Laurens CountyOld West Laurens Middle School338 West Laurens School RoadDublin, GA 31021Additional centers are open in Appling, Chatham, Coffee, Liberty, Lowndes, McDuffie, Richmond, Toombs and Washington counties. Additionally, Mobile Disaster Assistance Centers are open in Berrien, Telfair and Ware counties for a limited time. Mobile centers give survivors another option to get help with their application and find other resources.Open Monday – Saturday from 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Sunday 1 – 6 p.m.Appling CountyAppling County Agricultural Center2761 Blackshear Highway, Baxley, GA 31513Chatham CountySavannah Technical CollegeStudent Enrichment Center Building5717 White Bluff Road, Savannah, GA 31405Coffee CountyThe Atrium 114 N. Peterson Avenue, Douglas, GA 31533Liberty CountyMiller Park/HQ Fire Station 6944 E. Oglethorpe Highway, Midway, GA 31320Lowndes CountyCity of Valdosta4434 North Forrest Street Extension, Valdosta, GA 31605McDuffie CountyThomson Depot           111 Railroad Street, Thomson, GA 30824Richmond CountyHub for Community Innovation631 Chafee Avenue Augusta, GA 30904Toombs CountyGeorgia Department of Human Services 162 Oxley Drive, Lyons, GA 30436 Washington CountySandersville School Building Authority514 North Harris Street, Sandersville, GA 31082 FEMA Mobile Registration Center location and hoursBerrien County Carrie Dorsey Library315 W. Marion Ave., Nashville, GA 31639Wednesday, Oct. 30, through Friday, Nov. 1 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.  Telfair CountyPiggly Wiggly Parking Lot 48 East Oak Street, McRae-Helena, GA 31055 Monday, Oct. 28 through Saturday, Nov. 2 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.Ware County Courthouse Annex 305 Oak Street, Waycross, Georgia, 31501Monday, Oct. 28 through Saturday, Nov. 2 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.    For the latest information about Georgia’s recovery, visit fema.gov/helene/georgia and fema.gov/disaster/4821. Follow FEMA on X at x.com/femaregion4 or follow FEMA on social media at: FEMA Blog on fema.gov, @FEMA or @FEMAEspanol on X, FEMA or FEMA Espanol on Facebook, @FEMA on Instagram, and via FEMA YouTube channel. Also, follow Administrator Deanne Criswell on Twitter @FEMA_Deanne.
    larissa.hale
    Wed, 10/30/2024 – 18:31

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: SUM Renews Traditions: The University Hosted the D.S. Lvov National Economic Forum

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

    On October 30, 2024, the National Economic Forum named after D.S. Lvov was held at the Information Technology Center of the State University of Management, within the framework of which a new master’s educational program of the Eurasian Network University “Economics of Integration Processes in the Eurasian Economic Union” was opened.

    The plenary session was attended by: Vice-Rector of the State University of Management Maria Karelina, Co-Chair of the Forum, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Head of the Department of Institutional Economics of the State University of Management Georgy Kleiner, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Director of the Central Economics and Mathematics Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences Albert Bakhtizin, Head of the Scientific Direction “Macroeconomics and Institutional Theory” of the Central Economics and Mathematics Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences Viktor Dementyev, Director of the Department of Support of New Businesses of the State Corporation “Rosatom” Dmitry Baidarov, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Head of the Department of Economic Policy and Economic Measurements of the Institute of Economics and Finance of the State University of Management Sergey Glazyev. The moderator was Director of the IEF of the State University of Management Galina Sorokina.

    The renewal of the tradition of holding the Forum will allow the State University of Management to advance in economic science. This was stated by the Vice-Rector of the State University of Management Maria Karelina. Addressing all participants, students of Academician Dmitry Lvov and future economists, she also noted that this decision will contribute to interdisciplinary research, which is especially relevant today.

    It should be noted that this year marks the 70th anniversary of Dmitry Lvov’s graduation from the Moscow Ordzhonikidze Engineering and Economics Institute (now the State University of Management). The head of the Department of Institutional Economics at our university, Georgy Kleiner, delivered a report to the audience. Georgy Borisovich drew attention to the fact that not many economists offered their economic paradigm to the world. Academician Lvov saw the essence of economics in the fusion of material factors, spiritual quests, emotions and institutional influences. It is thanks to this science that we are a society. A person is not only the main resource of the economy, but also a beneficiary, a source of progress. He should not be a hostage to the economic system, but a part of it. Dmitry Lvov’s key idea was that the economy should be a link between man and humanity. It was to study such global issues that Academician Lvov created the first Department of Institutional Economics in Russia at the State University of Management.

    During the active work of Dmitry Lvov, the Internet had not yet penetrated into all spheres of life, but today the academician’s speeches would be constantly on everyone’s lips, because he outraged the space with uncomfortable questions. This was very subtly noted by the director of the Central Economics and Mathematics Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Albert Bakhtizin. Back in 2004, he drew attention to the depopulation of Russia, the unfair division of resources, noted the importance of contacts with China, described the instruments of pressure of the USA on other countries, that is, he saw the contours of the future world order. The speaker analyzed modern economic problems in detail, in particular, he noted that even experts in the USA understand how harmful excessive dollarization is for the world economy.

    Viktor Dementyev, head of the Macroeconomics and Institutional Theory research department at the Central Economics and Mathematics Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, gave a report on the topic of “The Resilience of Russian Regional Economies under Different Shocks.” According to him, the modern economy has experienced four shocks: the Great Recession of 2009, the sanctions wave of 2015, the pandemic, and, of course, the second wave of sanctions, which is still ongoing. Research has shown that entities that are resilient to one shock are also resilient to others. But at the same time, methods for successfully overcoming one crisis do not always work under another.

    Dmitry Baidarov, Director of the Department for Support of New Businesses at the Rosatom State Corporation, expressed the opinion that economic challenges facing Russia did not appear after the start of the SVO or during the pandemic – they have always been there, it’s just that the attitude towards them was different before. The history of Rosatom shows that if you pay attention to a gap in the economy in time, you can quickly and effectively fill it. For example, the corporation currently fulfills 88% of global orders for the construction of nuclear power facilities. Dmitry Baidarov regretfully noted that the paradigm of a competitive rather than a partnership economy, imported from outside, still prevails in Russia. The speaker said that Rosatom only realized two years ago how much engineers and economists are needed in production, and there are almost none left on the labor market, so the focus of the State University of Management on training just such specialists is very timely.

    Sergey Glazyev, Head of the Department of Economic Policy and Economic Measurements at the Institute of Economics and Finance at the State University of Management, said that Dmitry Lvov was his academic advisor, with whom they substantiated the priorities of Russia’s new economic development and discussed the need to create state corporations as opposed to the fragmentation of production cycles. China has followed this path and achieved a lot, and we are facing dynamic catch-up, which is also impossible without the creation of state corporations. For an economic breakthrough, we need not just a sharp increase in investment, but targeted investment lines. The experience of Asian economies shows that this is the only way it works. If we followed the ideas of Lvov, who claimed that money cannot be a moral value and the core of the economy, we would already be world leaders along with India and China, where this is carefully monitored.

    The second part of the plenary session was no less interesting and productive. It was dedicated to the opening of the educational program of the Eurasian Network University “Economics of Integration Processes in the Eurasian Economic Union”.

    The program was presented by the Vice-Rector of the State University of Management Dmitry Bryukhanov, who noted that questions about the “fifth freedom”, freedom of knowledge, are becoming increasingly loud today, so the opening of the new program is fully supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation and Rossotrudnichestvo. The Vice-Rector reported that the program was developed with the assistance of the Eurasian Economic Commission and about 20 master’s students have already been enrolled, and training will start this week. The process will be hybrid, for which a special information environment has been developed.

    One of the developers of the program, Deputy Director of the Department of Macroeconomic Policy of the Eurasian Economic Commission Kanybek Azhekbarov wished all applicants good studies and drew the attention of those gathered to the fact that the program was created on the basis of additional professional education, which has already trained 40 specialists.

    The head of the program, Sergey Glazyev, thanked the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, the government of Kyrgyzstan and the State University of Management for their support. He shared plans to expand the program and noted that the Eurasian Economic Union and its labor market cannot effectively exist without a common educational space, and the State University of Management is an excellent platform to begin forming it.

    At the end of the new program, students were presented with a symbolic pass to the State University of Management. After the break, the Forum continued in sections and round tables.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 10/30/2024

    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: Buckle Up: NASA-Funded Study Explores Turbulence in Molecular Clouds

    Source: NASA

    3 min read

    On an airplane, motions of the air on both small and large scales contribute to turbulence, which may result in a bumpy flight. Turbulence on a much larger scale is important to how stars form in giant molecular clouds that permeate the Milky Way.

    In a new NASA-funded study in the journal Science Advances, scientists created simulations to explore how turbulence interacts with the density of the cloud. Lumps, or pockets of density, are the places where new stars will be born. Our Sun, for example, formed 4.6 billion years ago in a lumpy portion of a cloud that collapsed.

    “We know that the main process that determines when and how quickly stars are made is turbulence, because it gives rise to the structures that create stars,” said Evan Scannapieco, professor of astrophysics at Arizona State University and lead author of the study. “Our study uncovers how those structures are formed.”

    Giant molecular clouds are full of random, turbulent motions, which are caused by gravity, stirring by the galactic arms and winds, jets, and explosions from young stars. This turbulence is so strong that it creates shocks that drive the density changes in the cloud.

    The simulations used dots called tracer particles to traverse a molecular cloud and travel along with the material. As the particles travel, they record the density of the part of the cloud they encounter, building up a history of how pockets of density change over time. The researchers, who also included Liubin Pan from Sun Yat Sen University in China, Marcus Brüggen from the University of Hamburg in Germany, and Ed Buie II from Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York, simulated eight scenarios, each with a different set of realistic cloud properties.  

    [embedded content]

    This animation shows the distribution of density in a simulation of a turbulent molecular cloud. The colors represent density, with dark blue indicating the least dense regions and red indicating the densest regions. Credit: NASA/E. Scannapieco et al (2024)

    The team found that the speeding up and slowing down of shocks plays an essential role in the path of the particles.  Shocks slow down as they go into high-density gas and speed up as they go into low-density gas. This is akin to how an ocean wave strengthens when it hits shallow water by the shore.   

    When a particle hits a shock, the area around it becomes more dense. But because shocks slow down in dense regions, once lumps become dense enough, the turbulent motions can’t make them any denser.  These lumpiest high-density regions are where stars are most likely to form.

    While other studies have explored molecular cloud density structures, this simulation allows scientists to see how those structures form over time. This informs scientists’ understanding of how and where stars are likely to be born.

    “Now we can understand better why those structures look the way they do because we’re able to track their histories,” said Scannapieco.

    This image shows part of a simulation of a molecular cloud. The colors represent density, with dark blue indicating the least dense regions and red indicating the densest regions. Tracer particles, represented by black dots, traverse the simulated cloud. By examining how they interact with shocks and pockets of density, scientists can better understand the structures in molecular clouds that lead to star formation.
    NASA/E. Scannapieco et al (2024)

    NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope is exploring the structure of molecular clouds. It is also exploring the chemistry of molecular clouds, which depends on the history of the gas modeled in the simulations. New measurements like these will inform our understanding of star formation.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FEMA Officials Meet Local Officials as Helene, Milton Recovery Progresses

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: FEMA Officials Meet Local Officials as Helene, Milton Recovery Progresses

    FEMA Officials Meet Local Officials as Helene, Milton Recovery Progresses

    WASHINGTON – More than a month after Helene made landfall, FEMA officials remain on the ground coordinating with local officials in affected states to help guide their recovery.   Visits included Victoria Salinas, Senior Official Performing the Duties of Deputy Administrator, meeting with officials over several days in North Carolina and Florida. There Salinas and other FEMA officials discussed how the communities were progressing in their recovery and surveyed the effectiveness of modern building codes in minimizing storm-related damage.FEMA has approved more than $1.3 billion in direct assistance to Hurricanes Helene and Milton survivors. These funds help survivors with housing repairs, personal property replacement and other essential recovery efforts. Additionally, over $1.1 billion has been approved for debris removal and emergency protective measures, which are necessary to save lives, protect public health and prevent further damage to public and private property. More than 1,400 FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance team members are in affected neighborhoods across affected states helping survivors apply for assistance and connecting them with additional state, local, federal and voluntary agency resources. Also, FEMA now has 76 Disaster Recovery Centers open throughout the hurricane affected communities. Center locations can be found at FEMA.gov/DRC. Centers can provide survivors in-person help with their applications and answer questions they have about available resources to help with their recovery.The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced Operation Blue Roof which is a free service to homeowners for 25 counties in Florida impacted by Hurricane Milton. Residents can sign-up at www.blueroof.gov or by calling 888-ROOF-BLU (888-766-3258).  The sign-up period deadline is Nov. 5.FEMA encourages Helene and Milton survivors to apply for disaster assistance online as this remains the quickest way to start your recovery. Individuals can apply for federal assistance by: Applying online at disasterassistance.govUsing the FEMA AppCalling 800-621-3362, Staffed daily from 7 a.m.-10 p.m. local timeVisiting a Disaster Recovery Center to talk with FEMA and state agency officials and apply for assistancePresident Joseph R. Biden has approved major disaster declarations in six states–Florida, Georgia North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia–affected by Helene. He has also approved a major disaster declaration for Florida following Hurricane Milton.These photos highlight response and recovery efforts across states affected by hurricanes Helene and Milton. 

    SWANNANOA, North Carolina – FEMA sets up a mobile Disaster Recovery Center in an affected North Carolina community. Helene survivors in Swannanoa and nearby areas can visit this center to apply for federal disaster assistance and ask questions about available state and federal resources for their recovery. 

    SAVANNAH, Georgia – FEMA staff and FEMA Corps members help survivors of Hurricane Helene at the Disaster Recovery Center in Savannah.

    CORTEZ, Florida – Victoria Salinas, FEMA Senior Official Performing the Duties of Deputy Administrator, and other FEMA personnel join Manatee County officials in the Hunters Point Neighborhood in Cortez. There they spoke with an owner of a property development to talk about how building codes helped the community following the recent hurricanes. 

    COLLETSVILLE, North Carolina – Victoria Salinas, FEMA Senior Official Performing the Duties of Deputy Administrator, surveys the flood damage from Wilson Creek along Brown Mountain Road with members of the Collettsville Fire Department. Salinas also talked with the owners of the Brown Mountain Resort as they shared their story of surviving the flood from Hurricane Helene. 

    FEMA’s Disaster Recovery Toolkit provides graphics, social media copy and sample text in multiple languages. In addition, FEMA has set up a rumor control web page to reduce confusion about its role in the Helene and Milton response and recovery. 
    annie.bond
    Wed, 10/30/2024 – 17:58

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: First Highland-wide virtual jobs fair to coincide with Scottish Careers Week

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    The Highland Council’s Employability team has announced details of the first Highland-wide virtual jobs fair to highlight new job opportunities that will run from the 11 to the 15 November during Scottish Careers Week 2024. 

    The week-long virtual event is being delivered by the Local Employability Partnership for the West – The Highland Council, Skills Development Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Department for Work and Pensions , Developing the Young Workforce and UHI North West and Hebrides.

    Anyone interested in finding out more about career opportunities, looking to change careers or to return to work after a break will be able to log onto sessions hosted by a number of businesses from the comfort of their own home. 

    Employers taking part include Torbhaig Distillary, Carr Gomm, Dounreay, CalMac, Sheil Buses, BEAR Scotland, Balfour Beatty and The Highland Council.

    They will host sessions to provide information about the full-time and part-time opportunities their businesses have, along with apprenticeship schemes and initiatives to attract seasonal and year-round workers

    Chair of Highland Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Cllr Ken Gowans, said: “This Highland-wide virtual jobs fair will provide a fantastic platform to showcase the wide range of opportunities there are for people to develop and learn new skills while in employment. Employers taking part will be on hand to answer questions and explain what opportunities they have for training and up-skilling people.

    “We hope that by being held online people can be flexible and attend without the need for travelling. The sessions are designed for people to drop in and out of throughout the week. It will be accessible to everyone no matter their location or circumstances and will directly connect potential employees with the businesses providing information about work opportunities.

    He added: “The Highland Council’s Employability team will be on hand throughout the week to provide support to attendees.”

    Gilliam Unger, Skills Development Scotland Team Leader said: “SDS are excited to collaborate with partners of the West Highland Local Employability Partnership to put together this event. As it is a virtual event it is accessible for everyone across Highland and is a great opportunity for the people of Highland to find out more about employers and career opportunities locally and further afield.”

    If you would like to attend the event, please email employ.ability@highland.gov.uk to register your interest and receive further information.  

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Financial news: 10/30/2024 Changes in the parameters of the fourth deposit auction of the Federal Treasury

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –

    Application selection parameters. The date of selection of applications is 10.30.2024. Unique application selection identifier 22024560. Deposit currency is rubles. Type of funds in the single treasury account. The maximum amount of funds placed on bank deposits, million monetary units 645,000. Placement period, in days 2. Date of depositing funds 10/30/2024. Refund date 11/01/2024. Interest rate for placing funds (fixed or floating) FIXED. Minimum fixed interest rate for placing funds, % per annum 20.05. Basic floating interest rate for placement of funds – Minimum spread, % per annum – Conditions for concluding a bank deposit agreement (term, replenishable or special) Term. Minimum amount of funds placed for one application, million monetary units 1,000. Maximum number of applications from one credit institution, pcs.5. Application selection form (open or closed)Open. Application selection schedule (Moscow time). Place of application selection PJSC Moscow Exchange Acceptance of applications: from 18:30 to 18:40. Applications in advance mode: from 18:30 to 18:35. Applications in competition mode: from 18:35 to 18:40. Formation of a consolidated register of applications: from 18:40 to 18:50. Establishment of the cut-off percentage rate and (or) recognition of the selection of applications as failed: from 18:40 to 18:50. Sending an offer to credit institutions to conclude a bank deposit agreement: from 18:50 to 19:30. Receiving acceptance of an offer from credit institutions to conclude a bank deposit agreement: from 18:50 to 19:30. Time of deposit transfer In accordance with the requirements of clause 63 and clause 64 of Order of the Federal Treasury dated April 27, 2023 No. 10n.

    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/n74437

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Financial news: List of changes made to the Main directions of the unified state monetary policy for 2025 and the period 2026 and 2027

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Central Bank of Russia (2) –

    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.

    Category24-7, Central Bank of Russia, MIL-AXIS, Russian Banks, Russians Savings, Russian Finance, Russians Language, Russian economy, Russian banks

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Teenager convicted of murdering woman in Hackney

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    A teenager has been convicted of the murder of Lianne Gordon in Hackney.

    Lianne Gordon was sheltering behind her front door at home when she was shot and killed on 5 December 2023. While she might not have been the intended target, we know that her needless death was a consequence of a gang dispute.

    A 17-year-old boy [A] appeared at the Old Bailey where, following trial, he was convicted on Wednesday, 30 October, of the murder of Lianne Gordon.

    He was also found guilty of affray, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, possession of a bladed article and two counts of attempted murder, He had earlier pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply class A drugs.

    He will be sentenced at the same court on Monday, 2 December.

    The court heard that police were called at 18:28hrs on Tuesday, 5 December 2023, to reports of a shooting outside an address in Vine Close, E5. Officers and paramedics from the London Ambulance Service attended and found three people with gunshot wounds.

    Despite the efforts of the emergency services to save her, Lianne Gordon, 42, sadly died at the scene.

    Two other people, a 20-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy, were taken to hospital for treatment to injuries that were not life threatening.

    The defendant was arrested at his home address on 8 December 2023.

    Officers searched his home address and recovered Class A drugs, a machete, a ‘burner phone’ and drug paraphernalia.

    A search of his IT equipment showed that, after he returned home from the shooting, he conducted 65 searches on news sites and social media relating to a ‘fatal shooting in Hackney’ and ‘Lianne Gordon’. He was charged with murder on 9 December 2023 and remanded in custody.

    Footage seized by officers also showed the defendant approaching the two male victims as they stood outside Lianne Gordon’s home on Vine Close. He fired shots at them both as they attempted to hide behind parked cars.

    It was at this point that Lianne, realising she was in danger, attempted to close the door, but the teenager was able to shoot her before she could do so. That single shot ended her life and a post-mortem examination confirmed that Lianne had died from a gunshot wound to the head.

    Forensic officers recovered shell casings from the scene and ballistic scientific testing confirmed that the gun that was used in Lianne’s murder was also used in an incident on 2 December 2023 where shots were fired close to the entrance to Vine Close. On that occasion there were no reported injuries.

    A glove was found in a search of the 17-year-old’s home address. This had his DNA and firearm residue on it, linking him to the fatal shooting.

    Officers would later seize song lyrics, composed by the defendant in his cell, that were a self-congratulating outline of the murder and the shootings.

    Detective Chief Inspector Joanna Yorke who led the investigation said: “The defendant was a known gang member with previous involvement in drugs and violence. Lianne Gordon was a mother of two who was shot dead for reasons we may never know or fathom.

    “I am pleased that the murderer will face the consequences of his actions, but also that he will spend years of his life in a place where he can no longer pose a threat to the community.

    “While nothing can bring Lianne back, I sincerely hope that today’s verdict brings some comfort to her loved ones.”

    A/Ch Supt Brigid Beehag-Fisher, responsible for policing in Hackney and Tower Hamlets said: “I welcome today’s result which has brought justice to the family of Lianne Gordon. Whilst this verdict will not bring back a mother to her family, it does bring some closure to her family, friends and the local community who have been impacted by this tragic event.

    “We are committed to tackling gun crime and serious violence across London and today’s verdict is testament to the hard work of the team taking violent and dangerous individuals off the streets and protecting our local communities.

    “If you know someone who is carrying a weapon or involved with serious violence, I ask you to come forward to the police or via the independent charity Crimestoppers to prevent another tragedy like this from happening again.”

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Cammack Joins Rep. Bean, Florida Colleagues In Calling On USPS To Investigate Mail Delays

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Kat Cammack (R-FL-03)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — In response to resident and industry complaints regarding late or lost mail, Rep. Kat Cammack joined Congressman Aaron Bean (FL-04) in demanding USPS Inspector General Tammy Hull and the Office of Inspector General (OIG) audit and investigate the Regional Processing and Distribution Center (RPDC) in Jacksonville, FL.

    Reps. Buddy Carter (GA-01), Mike Waltz (FL-06), and John Rutherford (FL-05) also joined the effort in requesting specific answers and solutions to the months-long delays and mail delivery inconsistencies families, seniors, and businesses continue to face in Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia.

    In the letter, the lawmakers wrote: “As members of Congress, it is our responsibility to conduct oversight and ensure the USPS is serving the people effectively. Therefore, we request the USPS Office of Inspector General to thoroughly audit and investigate the postal situation in Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia. Specifically, we request to know the reason for the delays, how the transition to the Jacksonville RPDC has been implemented, and actions that can be taken to restore confidence in the postal services in Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia.”

    Read the full letter to USPS Inspector General Hull HERE.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Scaling-back of human trafficking – E-002231/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    23.10.2024

    Question for written answer  E-002231/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Gabriela Firea (S&D)

    Human trafficking is a social phenomenon that takes many forms, involving the buying and selling and exploitation of adults and children. Traffickers take advantage of people’s vulnerabilities and their unstable circumstances arising from poverty, discrimination, violence against women, lack of access to education, ethnic conflict and natural disasters. In recent years, several Member States have reported an increase (to 21 % of all trafficking victims) in trafficking with a view to labour exploitation, including an increase in the number of men being pressed into agricultural work. Traffickers are taking advantage of loopholes in the laws relating to work permits, visas, workers’ rights and working conditions.

    On top of this, the increase in child trafficking has been exacerbated by the current migration crisis, during which time the number of children arriving in the EU has increased exponentially.

    • 1.To what extent is the Commission intervening and working with the Member States to improve the collection of statistics on these phenomena and to pinpoint solutions for gearing EU legislation to help combat human trafficking?
    • 2.What arrangements does the Commission have in mind for information campaigns, particularly in rural areas, aimed at raising awareness of human trafficking among low-income families, which are those most often targeted by traffickers?

    Submitted: 23.10.2024

    Last updated: 30 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Security-related concerns regarding current EU customs scanning equipment and the Customs Control Equipment Instrument funds – E-002220/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    22.10.2024

    Question for written answer  E-002220/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Radan Kanev (PPE), Wouter Beke (PPE), Stefan Berger (PPE), Markéta Gregorová (Verts/ALE), Bernard Guetta (Renew), Miriam Lexmann (PPE), Nicolás Pascual De La Parte (PPE), António Tânger Corrêa (PfE), Sebastian Tynkkynen (ECR), Axel Voss (PPE), Lucia Yar (Renew)

    Both the Draghi report on Europe’s global competitiveness and the new European defence industrial strategy[1] have uncovered significant gaps in Europe’s industrial capacity. These gaps have led to Europe being economically dependent on high-risk non-EU countries. This poses credible threats to the security of the EU and the wider Schengen area. One such threat is Chinese cyber warfare, including espionage and alleged data theft through China-produced scanning equipment at the EU’s external borders.

    • 1.Will the Commission support the development of European ‘champions’ and EU-based partnerships with trusted allies to provide border scanning equipment and services that are controlled and inspected by the EU?
    • 2.Is it the Commission’s view that the Customs Control Equipment Instrument funds could be extended to include defence products, for instance by classifying border scanning equipment as defence-related, and achieving this through transparent award procedures?
    • 3.Will the Commission take steps to ensure that border and customs control scanning equipment is procured solely through transparent public tenders, restricted to EU companies and EU-based partnerships, thereby guaranteeing the security of EU and Schengen area borders as well as cybersecurity?

    Submitted: 22.10.2024

    • [1] https://defence-industry-space.ec.europa.eu/eu-defence-industry/edis-our-common-defence-industrial-strategy_en.
    Last updated: 30 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Erasmus+ programme, speculation-driven rent hikes and the need to increase the number of student halls of residence – E-002214/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    22.10.2024

    Question for written answer  E-002214/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    João Oliveira (The Left)

    At a time of rampant speculation in the housing market, we have been alerted to a possible connection between the Erasmus+ programme and speculation-driven hikes in rent prices.

    In countries such as Portugal, which traditionally host more Erasmus+ students than they send, the scant supply of student halls of residence and dearth of affordable accommodation have, alongside speculation, sent rent prices sky-rocketing in recent years.

    The EUR 7.5 million in support for students announced by the Portuguese Government does nothing to address the underlying problem and may even have the undesirable effect of using public money to fuel speculation.

    Instead, resources should go towards investing in increasing the supply of publicly owned student accommodation, which should also be available to Erasmus+ students.

    In light of the above:

    • 1.Has the Commission carried out an assessment of the impact of the Erasmus+ programme on rent prices?
    • 2.Is the Commission considering measures to lessen the impact by providing specific support to the hardest hit countries?
    • 3.What resources have been provided by the Portuguese State under the 2021-2027 MFF or the RRF to build affordable student halls of residence and what resources are still available and could be used?

    Submitted: 22.10.2024

    Last updated: 30 October 2024

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: EIB Group showcases progress of European Tech Champions Initiative boosting European scale-ups at event in Madrid

    Source: European Investment Bank

    • Since its launch in 2023, the European Tech Champions Initiative has closed fund deals worth €2 billion and mobilising five times this amount, totalling €10 billion in public and private sector resources.
    • Investments have been made in 16 technology scale-ups, two of which are Spanish.
    • In Spain, the European Tech Champions Initiative has invested in a mega fund specialising in deep tech and climate, and an investment in a second mega fund is expected by 2025.
    • As an ETCI participant country, Spain has announced an additional contribution of €300 million to the initiative by the Ministry of Digital Transformation that is soon to be approved by the Spanish cabinet.

    The EIB Group outlined the progress of the European Tech Champions Initiative (ETCI) – the fund of funds promoted by the European Union and participating EU Member States to foster the growth of cutting-edge technology startups with high growth potential (scale-ups) – today in Madrid. This initiative is led by the European Investment Fund (EIF), the EIB Group’s specialist provider of investment capital to benefit small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and mid-caps.

    The presentation took place during the Tech Champions Made in Europe day, which brought together representatives of the Spanish investment and technological innovation ecosystem and was attended by EIB Group President Nadia Calviño, Spanish Minister of Economy, Trade and Business Carlos Cuerpo, EIF Chief Executive Marjut Falkstedt and Instituto de Crédito Oficial (ICO) Chairman Manuel Illueca Muñoz.

    Opening the day, President Calviño had the opportunity to detail the ongoing work to bolster the European capital market, including the expansion of the ETCI and opening it up to private investors. New financial instruments are also being developed to facilitate investor exits via acquisition or listing of the technology startups on European markets.

    “Thanks to EIB Group support, Spain now has a top-tier European investment mega fund. We are already working on the second phase of this initiative, in which Spain is expected to retain its key role,” said EIB Group President Nadia Calviño.

    The event was closed by Spanish Minister of Economy, Trade and Business Carlos Cuerpo, who said: “Spain has already provided €400 million to the ETCI, and today we are announcing an additional contribution of €300 million from the Ministry of Digital Transformation that is soon to be approved by the Spanish cabinet.”

    Since its launch in 2023, the ETCI has been fostering a positive environment in the European venture capital fund market and in the technology ecosystem. It has already closed fund deals worth €2 billion and mobilising five times this amount, totalling €10 billion in public and private sector resources for investment in growth-stage technology companies. ETCI-backed funds have so far invested in 16 European companies, two of which are Spanish.

    In Spain, the ETCI has already made an initial investment in the Kembara Fund I FCR mega fund, a deep tech and climate-focused venture capital fund operating across Europe and managed by Alma Mundi Ventures SGEIC (Mundi Ventures). An investment in a second mega fund is expected by 2025. ETCI-backed funds have in turn invested in two Spanish high-tech companies in their advanced growth phase: Inke, which specialises in respiratory disease treatments, and Factorial, which develops and sells human resources software.

    EIF Chief Executive Marjut Falkstedt said: “We are very happy with the ETCI’s progress to date, and are working on expanding it to increase its impact on the European venture capital and technological innovation ecosystems even further. We are exploring initiatives including structures where the private sector can play a greater role in this fund of funds, which is vital for ensuring European technological autonomy.”

    During his speech, ICO Chairman Manuel Illueca Muñoz said: “The ETCI is helping to strengthen the EU innovation ecosystem. ICO Group aims to support Spanish startups and scale-ups throughout their lifecycle, until they reach sufficient maturity for the ETCI to turn them into European champions.”

    Background information

    The European Investment Bank Group (EIB Group), consisting of the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Investment Fund (EIF), reported total financing signatures in Spain of €11.4 billion in 2023, approximately €6.8 billion of which went to climate action and environmental sustainability projects. Overall, the EIB Group signed €88 billion in new financing in 2023.

    The European Tech Champions Initiative (ETCI) is an EU programme managed by the EIF and backed by the European Commission and participating EU Member States. It helps to cover the financing needs of European technology scale-ups, preventing them from relocating and strengthening Europe’s strategic autonomy and competitiveness. Sectors benefiting from the initiative include cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, deep tech, green technologies, biotechnology and digital technologies. The ETCI is also making a major contribution to the European financial markets and is an example of how the EIB Group can act as a pioneering instrument for the capital markets union.

    Discurso completo de la presidenta Nadia Calviño durante la apertura de la jornada

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Dismantling cohesion policy – E-002240/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    23.10.2024

    Question for written answer  E-002240/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Jadwiga Wiśniewska (ECR)

    In an unofficial internal presentation, the Commission proposed replacing 530 ongoing programmes with 27 national operational programmes. This proposal would lead to the removal of regions’ competences and is in fact a way of acting outside the Treaties to boost the centralisation of Brussels’ power.

    The changes the Commission is planning would increase red tape and reduce flexibility in responding to local needs. They would restrict regional authorities’ participation in the decision-making process and contribute to a greater disparity between the regions.

    Under the guise of streamlining cohesion policy, the Commission’s ideas are dismantling EU regional policy, as other EU institutions – the European Committee of the Regions, the European Parliament’s Committee on Budgetary Control and the European Court of Auditors – have also pointed out.

    In light of the above:

    • 1.Could the Commission please confirm whether it is considering a model for the centralisation of EU funds which would deprive the regions of their autonomy and which is at odds with Articles 174–178 TFEU on the establishment, implementation and management of cohesion policy?
    • 2.Is the Commission aware that centralising EU power over the regions breaches the subsidiarity principle, which is one of the pillars of the European Union?

    Submitted: 23.10.2024

    Last updated: 30 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Sierra del Escudo peatlands affected by wind farm construction – E-002250/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    24.10.2024

    Question for written answer  E-002250/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Isabel Serra Sánchez (The Left)

    The Sierra del Escudo peatlands (special area of conservation (SAC) ES1300016) are the largest group of peatlands in southern Europe. Just a few metres away, a wind farm is being built.

    The development’s environmental assessment recognises that the swept area of some of the turbines, plus the internal power cabling and access roads, all encroach on the SAC. The environmental assessment also establishes protection perimeters of at least 50 m around each peatland.

    After construction work started, local groups reported that machines were working on the peatlands, violating the conditions imposed by the environmental impact statement and harming the largest group of peatlands and feeder microbasins in southern Europe. This can be confirmed by visiting the site or reading the local press.

    • 1.Is the Commission in any way monitoring the work affecting SAC ES1300016?
    • 2.Given that the competent Spanish authorities are failing to ensure that the integrity of Natura 2000 sites is not adversely affected by activities in or around them, will the Commission be taking any action in this matter?

    Submitted: 24.10.2024

    Last updated: 30 October 2024

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Investment decisions by pharmaceutical companies and their influence on health policies in the Member States – E-002237/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    23.10.2024

    Question for written answer  E-002237/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Christine Anderson (ESN)

    According to recent media reports[1], the US pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly & Co. has allegedly made its investment of EUR 2.3 billion in Germany contingent upon a change in national legislation on the confidentiality of medicinal product prices. This practice could hamper competition in the internal market and lead to unequal market access conditions for pharmaceutical product manufacturers.

    • 1.To what extent is the Commission aware of similar cases in which pharmaceutical companies have linked their investment decisions to regulatory concessions in individual Member States, and what is its assessment of this in terms of a level playing field in the internal market?
    • 2.To what extent does the Commission see a risk of market distortion to the detriment of smaller pharmaceutical companies and certain Member States in the event that national rules on the confidentiality of pharmaceutical prices were to be introduced?
    • 3.Does the Commission intend, within the limits of its existing competences, to take measures to safeguard transparency of pharmaceutical prices in the internal market and to ensure a level playing field?

    Submitted: 23.10.2024

    • [1] https://www.tagesschau.de/investigativ/ndr-wdr/gesundheitssystem-medikamente-pharmaunternehmen-104.html
    Last updated: 30 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Threats to data protection and sovereignty owing to surveillance through the ‘EU Digital Travel App’, the Commission’s Trojan horse – E-002238/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    23.10.2024

    Question for written answer  E-002238/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Christine Anderson (ESN), Mary Khan (ESN)

    The planned roll-out of the ‘EU Digital Travel App’ and the associated digitalisation of travel documents raises significant concerns regarding the protection of citizens’ rights and national sovereignty.

    Firstly, the planned storage of sensitive information on mobile devices and the central administration via the app could lead to data breaches, especially in light of past cyber incidents.

    Secondly, state pressure or organisational disadvantages could in future force citizens to use the app, even though it is formally considered voluntary.

    Thirdly, the centralised management of these digital IDs could erode national sovereignty in sensitive security areas.

    • 1.How will the Commission guarantee the full protection of personal data against misuse or hacking?
    • 2.How will it be ensured that the supposedly voluntary use of digital travel documents does not become a de facto obligation in the long term?
    • 3.What measures is the Commission taking to ensure that Member States’ competences in relation to border controls and security are not further restricted?

    Submitted: 23.10.2024

    Last updated: 30 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Electricity prices in Cyprus – E-002232/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    23.10.2024

    Question for written answer  E-002232/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Giorgos Georgiou (The Left)

    Cyprus is the only Member State that remains condemned to energy isolation as it is cut off from all EU energy networks and cannot fulfil the objectives of the green transition. As a result, electricity prices in Cyprus are constantly rising, leaving much of the population mired in energy poverty. According to data from the European statistics service, Cyprus has the second highest electricity prices in Europe. Of those in the EU who are at risk of poverty or social exclusion, 35 % said they live in accommodation that is not comfortably warm in the winter.

    In view of the above:

    • 1.What measures does the Commission plan to put forward so that the problem of high electricity prices across the EU can be resolved?
    • 2.What short-term measures will it take to address the problem, in Cyprus in particular (e.g. VAT reduction)?
    • 3.Will it support the proposal for the establishment of an emergency mechanism for recovering the excessive profits of energy producers and suppliers?

    Submitted: 23.10.2024

    Last updated: 30 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Harmonisation of gluten-free labelling – E-002229/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    23.10.2024

    Question for written answer  E-002229/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Katri Kulmuni (Renew)

    The only effective treatment for coeliac disease is a gluten-free diet. Coeliac disease is thought to affect around 1.4 % of people worldwide, and in some countries, the prevalence is significantly higher.

    The composition and labelling of gluten-free foods is governed by an EU regulation.

    The practical experience of many tourists, for example, is that restaurants in different EU countries have very different practices with regard to content labelling. In some cases, there is no labelling at all.

    In view of the above:

    • 1.Is it possible to harmonise gluten-free labelling within the EU, for example by requiring restaurants to clearly state whether or not there is gluten in the dishes they serve?
    • 2.Is reporting on gluten and gluten-free labelling sufficiently supervised within the EU?

    Submitted: 23.10.2024

    Last updated: 30 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Risk management by the Commission in connection with dangerous chemical substances – E-002241/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    23.10.2024

    Question for written answer  E-002241/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    César Luena (S&D)

    Following an own-initiative inquiry into how the Commission takes decisions on applications by firms for authorisation of specific uses of particularly dangerous chemical substances, the Ombudsman has found that there is a lack of transparency and public information about the REACH Committee’s deliberations and has come to the conclusion that systemic delays on the part of the Commission and its failure to comply with statutory time-limits in the decision-making process constitute maladministration.

    According to the REACH Regulation, firms wishing to use chemical substances that are of ‘very high concern’ must apply for authorisation to the Commission, which, on average, takes 14 1/2 months to prepare draft decisions, though the statutory time-limit is three months. That delay represents ‘a threat to human health and the environment’ because firms can continue to use those substances during the authorisation process.

    Accordingly:

    • 1.What action will the Commission take as regards the transparency of REACH Committee meetings and the Commission’s internal mechanisms, which are the main causes of the delays?
    • 2.How will the Commission ensure that any action to tackle delays guarantees a high level of protection of human health and the environment, which is the purpose of REACH?

    Submitted: 23.10.2024

    Last updated: 30 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Protection of seals and cormorants – E-002230/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    23.10.2024

    Question for written answer  E-002230/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    César Luena (S&D)

    Following the recent decision of the Council[1] to adopt the European Commission’s proposal to lower the protection status of wolves uner the Bern Convention, a number of Member States’ ministers for agriculture, notably from the Baltic and Scandinavian region, expressed concerns about the impact of cormorants and seals on fisheries and food security, calling for a relaxation of EU regulations limiting their control.

    Against this background:

    • 1.Does the Commission intend to propose additional amendments to the Bern Convention that would include reducing the protection of other species in addition to the wolf?
    • 2.With regard to the Habitats Directive, does the Commission plan to review the protection status of key species currently covered by this legislation, such as wolves, seals and cormorants?
    • 3.Given the impact of these potential reforms, what measures is the Commission considering to ensure that potential decisions related to the reduction of species protection continue to be based on sound technical and scientific evidence, as required by Article 19 of the Habitats Directive, and aligned with the EU’s commitments on biodiversity and sustainability?

    Submitted: 23.10.2024

    • [1] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/es/press/press-releases/2024/09/26/bern-convention-eu-will-propose-changing-the-conservation-status-of-wolves/.
    Last updated: 30 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Commission adopts 2024 Enlargement Package

    Source: European Commission

    European Commission Press release Brussels, 30 Oct 2024 Today, the European Commission adopted its annual Enlargement Package, providing a detailed assessment of the state of play and the progress made by Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine and Türkiye

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Making EU budgetary disbursements contingent on matters of ideology – E-002147/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    17.10.2024

    Question for written answer  E-002147/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Jadwiga Wiśniewska (ECR)

    A Commission staff working document on the EU financial framework for 2028-2034 sets out plans to introduce strict conditions that Member States must meet to access funds from the EU budget.

    The document suggests that a method will be introduced to make the receipt of funds for social housing and farm subsidies conditional on a country’s adoption of rules on organic farming and gender equality policies.

    The Commission’s tying of the receipt of EU funds to matters of philosophy and ideology is a step towards centralising power in the EU and an encroachment on national sovereignty.

    Making countries subject to conditions of this nature is tantamount to blackmail.

    In light of the above:

    • 1.Is the Commission aware that imposing further bureaucratic criteria on access to EU farm subsidies will deepen the economic crisis in the sector?
    • 2.What grounds justify linking the disbursement of agricultural funds to the promotion of gender equality?
    • 3.Is the Commission planning on making EU budgetary disbursements in 2028-2034 contingent on any other ideological or philosophical criteria?

    Submitted: 17.10.2024

    Last updated: 30 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –