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Category: Europe

  • MIL-OSI Security: More Indicted in Nationwide Business E-Mail Compromise Scheme

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

    HOUSTON – A total of seven people in multiple states have been charged in a superseding indictment related to a large business email compromise (BEC) scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

    Authorities have now arrested Houston resident Amber Bush, 29. She is expected to make her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christina A. Bryan Oct. 15 at 2 p.m.

    The three-count superseding indictment also charges Houston residents Bolaji Okunnu, 30, and Philip Ogbeide Jr., 34, along with Ayodeji Okunnu, 25, Austin; Victor Rubio Jr., 27, and Bougar Robert Linares Soto, 42, both of Los Angeles, California.

    Another Houston resident – Destini Godfrey, 30 – is considered a fugitive and a warrant remains outstanding for his arrest. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to contact the FBI at 713-693-5000.

    All are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering.

    The BEC scheme involved deceiving victims into sending money to others and causing millions in losses, according to the charges.

    Conspirators allegedly posed as legitimate businesses and fraudulently diverted money from victim bank accounts into accounts they controlled. According to the allegations, they gained access to business email accounts and spoofed email addresses to deceive victims into believing they were making legitimate payments.  

    The superseding indictment indicates fraudulently diverted payments from numerous victims throughout the United States, including a financial services company from Oregon, a township in New Jersey, a demolition company in Texas, a healthcare liability insurance company in Georgia and a nutrition products manufacturer outside Texas.

    Conspirators allegedly used email accounts to request payment for services to be sent to new bank accounts that did not belong to the vendor, according to the charges.

    They allegedly deceived victims into wiring millions to fraudulent bank accounts the conspirators opened instead of actually paying the vendor. The charges further allege conspirators laundered the funds in a manner designed to conceal the source, ownership and control of the funds by quickly transferring the money from the receiving account to other bank accounts they controlled.

    They then withdrew the fraud proceeds incrementally in cash, according to the charges.  

    If convicted, they face up to 20 years in prison on the conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy charges as well as five years for the money laundering and illegal money transmitting charge. Each charge carries a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

    The FBI-Bryan Resident Agency and IRS-Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation with valuable assistance from the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office and the Edison Police Department in New Jersey and other law enforcement agencies and U.S. Attorney’s Offices throughout the United States. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Belinda Beek and James Hu are prosecuting the case.

    An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Met detectives charge man with murder following death of man in Canning Town stabbing

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Met detectives charge man with murder following death of man in Canning Town stabbing

    Met detectives from the Specialist Crime Command unit have charged a man with murder following the death of a man that was stabbed at a house in Canning Town just over a week ago.

    Daniel Whybrow, 46 (03.10.78), of Hartington Road, E16, was originally charged with attempted murder on Sunday, 6 October, but the charge has now been reviewed and changed to murder following the death of 50-year-old Mr Raish Ahmed.

    Two other people were also injured in the assault.

    Police were called to the property on Hartington Road shortly after 16:30hrs on Saturday, 5 October, after reports of a stabbing and attended with paramedics from the London Ambulance Service where they found Mr Ahmed with stab wounds.

    A teenage boy was also found with a slash injury, whilst a third male, aged 41, was also assaulted. Both injuries were assessed as not life-threatening.

    Mr Ahmed was taken to hospital for treatment but despite the best efforts of emergency services sadly died in hospital on Monday, 7 October. His next of kin are being supported by specialist officers.

    Mr Whybrow was also charged with grievous bodily harm against the teenage boy and threats to kill, plus racially aggravated assault by beating against the 41-year-old male, as well as possession of an offensive weapon.

    He will appear at Central Criminal Court on Monday, 6 January 2025.

    Anyone with information is asked to contact the police incident room on 0208 721 4961 or 101, quoting CAD 4781/05OCT or visit here.

    Alternatively, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Canada lists Samidoun as a terrorist entity

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    News release

    October 15, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario

    Today, the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs, announced that the Government of Canada has listed Samidoun, also known as the Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network, as a terrorist entity under the Criminal Code. The listing is in concert with U.S. Department of the Treasury’s announcement of the designation of Samidoun as a specially designated global terrorist (SDGT) though its Executive Order (E.O.) 13224.

    Samidoun has been listed as a terrorist entity by Germany. Samidoun has close links with and advances the interests of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), which is a listed terrorist entity in Canada, the United States and the European Union.

    As a now-listed entity, the Samidoun meets the definition of a “terrorist group” under Canada’s Criminal Code. The Criminal Code prohibits certain actions in relation to terrorist groups, including those related to terrorist financing, travel and recruitment.  It means, for example, that it is a criminal offence for anyone in Canada and Canadians abroad to knowingly deal with property owned or controlled by a terrorist group, and that it is also an offence to directly or indirectly provide property knowing that it will be used by or benefit a terrorist group.

    Listing can also assist Canadian security, intelligence and law enforcement agencies to combat terrorism. The terrorist listings mechanism plays a key role in countering terrorist financing. 

    Quotes

    “Violent extremism, acts of terrorism or terrorist financing have no place in Canadian society or abroad. The listing of Samidoun as a terrorist entity under the Criminal Code sends a strong message that Canada will not tolerate this type of activity, and will do everything in its power to counter the ongoing threat to Canada’s national security and all people in Canada.”

    – The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs

    Quick facts

    • There are several offences in the Criminal Code that address conduct in connection with terrorist groups. For example, the Criminal Code prohibits dealing in any property (including money) owned or controlled by terrorist groups or to provide any financial services (such as services offered by banks and money services business) for the benefit of or at the direction of a terrorist group.

    • With the addition of Samidoun, there are now 78 terrorist entities listed under the Criminal Code.

    • As Canada’s national police service, the RCMP is responsible for preventing, detecting and investigating terrorism-related criminal activities in Canada while respecting personal rights and freedoms. The RCMP investigates criminal activities by those who threaten the safety and security of Canadians. Listing is an important tool that supports criminal investigations and strengthens the RCMP’s ability to prevent and disrupt terrorist activity.

    Associated links

    Contacts

    Gabriel Brunet
    Press Secretary
    Office of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs
    819-665-6527
    gabriel.brunet@iga-aig.gc.ca

    Media Relations
    Public Safety Canada
    613-991-0657
    media@ps-sp.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: All welcome at Whitstable Harbour Annual Forum

    Source: City of Canterbury

    Home  »  Latest News   »   All welcome at Whitstable Harbour Annual Forum

    The first Whitstable Harbour Annual Forum will take place at the harbour’s South Quay Shed next month.

    All are welcome to attend the event on Tuesday 7 November between 6pm and 7.30pm. No booking is required.

    It’s a new approach to keeping the town’s residents, business and others with an interest in the harbour updated on developments and activities on the site and on progress with the harbour board’s 10 year strategy.

    There will be presentations followed by opportunities to provide feedback on future policy and strategy for the management of the harbour.

    And there’s a particular focus on the development of a dedicated online presence for the harbour and the production of a destination marketing strategy.

    Chairman of Whitstable Harbour Board, Cllr Chris Cornell, said: “We know how much everyone in Whitstable loves their harbour and have a keen interest in how it develops in the years to come.

    “Our new annual forum offers an update on all facets of life at the harbour and we are genuinely interested to hear the public’s views.

    “It should be a really interesting and engaging 90 minutes or so and we look forward to a strong turnout.”

    Published: 15 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Strengthening dialogue and action to address the needs of Ukrainian Roma impacted by war focus of ODIHR event

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

    Headline: Strengthening dialogue and action to address the needs of Ukrainian Roma impacted by war focus of ODIHR event

    Mykhailo Bilyavskyi, a Lawyer and Roma mediator from the Roma Women’s Fund “Chiricli,” speaks at an event related to Ukrainian Roma impacted by the war in Ukraine, organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) during the Warsaw Human Dimension Conference. (OSCE/Piotr Dziubak) Photo details

    Greater efforts are required to address inequalities and the needs of Ukrainian Roma impacted by the war in Ukraine, agreed participants at an event organized this week by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) during the Warsaw Human Dimension Conference.
    “The human rights challenges experienced by Ukrainian Roma remain a matter of importance for ODIHR,” said Tea Jaliashvili, ODIHR Director’s Alternate/First Deputy Director. “We continue to make significant efforts to support both states and civil society in assisting Roma communities from Ukraine.”
    ODIHR is continuing its work to provide a platform for discussion between the Ukrainian government, Roma civil society, and the international community, on the challenges facing the Roma community since 24 February 2022.
    “The war has brought so much harm to the civilian population, including Roma, who were already suffering from unequal treatment and hardship. The Ukrainian Government continues to implement tailored policies to protect the rights of Roma despite the difficult circumstances,” emphasised Ihor Lossovskyi, Deputy Head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Affairs and Freedom of Conscience.
    Participants in the event, which was organised under the auspices of ODIHR’s Advancing the Human Dimension of Security in Ukraine project, emphasised that forcibly displaced Roma often face prejudice and discrimination, while women suffer particularly from intersectional discrimination and exploitation. To address these concerns, Roma civil society, the international community and the Ukrainian authorities need to join efforts to ensure that the rights of Roma are respected without discrimination and with dignity.
    “Promoting and protecting Roma rights is not only an act of justice for Roma, but an indicator of equality in society overall,” said Janush Panchenko, a Roma human rights advocate from Ukraine. “The war has worsened already existing inequalities and forced Roma into profound exclusion. It is a collective duty to prevent further marginalisation.”
    ODIHR provides a forum for dialogue between OSCE states and civil society to ensure the protection of Roma communities at risk. The Office has continued to provide a platform for discussion between the Ukrainian government, Roma civil society, and the international community on challenges facing Roma since the war began, and ODIHR has also carried out human rights monitoring of displaced Roma, including women, in Ukraine as well as neighbouring countries.
    The Office’s mandate to improve the situation of Roma and Sinti also includes promoting dialogue between OSCE states and civil society to ensure the protection of Roma communities, in line with the 2003 Action Plan on Improving the Situation of Roma and Sinti within the OSCE Area. In December 2023, ODIHR published its five-yearly report on progress made by OSCE states towards Roma inclusion and the many challenges that remain.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Cardinal Marengo: mission is a mystery

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Photo: Arlindo Guterres

    by Cardinal Giorgio Marengo IMCRome (Agenzia Fides) – We are pleased to publish the Prolusion made today by Cardinal Giorgio Marengo, Consolata missionary and Apostolic Prefect of Ulaanbaatar, on the occasion of the opening day of the academic year at the Pontifical Urbaniana University. The speech, entitled “Missionary Church and the missionary nature of the Church: a perspective from Asia”, focused on the mystery of grace and gratitude that feed every authentic missionary dynamism. Cardinal Marengo’s conference was preceded by an introductory speech by Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization (Section for First Evangelization and the New Particular Churches) and Grand Chancellor of the Urbaniana University. After the speech by Sister Lourdes Fabiola Martinez Sandate, who spoke on behalf of the university’s students, Professor Vincenzo Buonomo, Pontifical Delegate and Grand Rector of the Pontifical Urbaniana University, gave an outlook on the study and research perspectives for the new academic year.Dear Grand Chancellor,Most Reverend Eminences and Excellencies,Dear Pontifical Delegate and Grand Rector,Academic Authorities,Esteemed Professors and Dear Students,It is with great joy that I take the floor today for the first time after having attended this university myself as a student for a long time. I feel very honored to be here at the opening of this new academic year, which will once again bring teachers, researchers, students and administrative staff to this hill every day to give their best in the service of the Church.The mission as a sighOn May 26 last year, Father Stephan Kim Seong-hyeon, a Korean priest from Daejeon with whom I had been doing missionary work in Mongolia, suddenly died. It was a great loss for everyone. Like me, he had also studied at this university and I remember him talking about his studies at Urbaniana University. As a priest preparing to return to his homeland to begin his ministry in the diocese, he wondered what benefit he would get from studying at this university. He received the answer from a missionary who had lived for years in Muslim-majority countries and in areas with Arab culture. When asked about the theories of the moment, this missionary had not given a theoretical answer but let out a long sigh: “Ah, the mission!” A mixture of joy and melancholy, perhaps even frustration; the missionary’s eyes shone, pointing to something moving and sacred that had now completely marked his life. This sigh deeply touched Father Stephan Kim and opened his eyes to the mystery of mission as a horizon that embraces life, including that of the diocesan priest. It was this sigh that led him to interpret his entire ministry in a missionary sense. And then he received the gift of being able to go to Mongolia.A biblical icon: the meeting at Emmaus“Ah, the mission!” This sigh makes us reflect even today. Let us look, for example, at the episode in which the sad disciples leave Jerusalem “on the first day of the week”. We are in chapter 24 of the Gospel of Luke. “Are you the only visitor?” (cf. Lk 24:18), as if to say: “Do you not know?” It is an outburst of disappointment and anger. “But we had hoped…” (cf. Lk 24:21). Sometimes we too are seized by a sigh of disappointment; things are not as we would have liked them to be and we walk with our eyes downcast, unable to recognize the mysterious wanderer who is with us. We need him to shake us up with his strong words: “You are foolish and slow of heart” (Lk 24:25). It quickly becomes clear that this is not a sterile rebuke, but an invitation to make a leap in quality, in depth. “Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the scriptures” (Lk 24:27). Indeed, the object of research, teaching and study is not the opinion of this or that thinker, but “everything that is written about him”, on the Lord and Saviour who, by revealing the face of the Father, changed the destiny of humanity and sparked the dynamism of mission. Little by little, the disciples’ hearts open to the point of an unprecedented sigh: ” “Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?” (Lk 24:32).It is the Eucharist and the Word that convert our hearts. The academic work carried out in this prestigious university should always be accompanied by worship and the meditated study in a spirit of prayer, and not parallel to the spiritual life, almost as if they were threads held together with difficulty. This is where the proclamation comes from, not from anything else: “Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread” (Lk 24:35). Until Jesus himself, “while they were still speaking about this” (Lk 24:36), came among them and announced to them the fullness that awaits the whole of history: “Peace be with you” (Lk 24:36). The mission aims precisely to make this encounter possible in a concrete way; indeed, where the disciples gather to bear witness to Christ, he enters into their midst in a new, unprecedented way, drawing everyone into his love. It is He, the Risen One, who reveals to us the profound meaning of Sacred Scripture and expressly sends us out into the world: “You are witnesses of these things” (Lk 24:48). And we can only be so in the power of his Spirit: “And behold I am sending the promise of my Father upon you” (Lk 24:49).A vocation that is still valid: the Mission “ad gentes”If this dynamism aimed at proclaiming the overwhelming newness of the Gospel applies to every baptized person as a missionary disciple – as the Holy Father often reminds us – we must remember that there is also a specific dimension of missionary activity that we call first evangelization or mission “ad gentes”. This refers to the gift of grace to proclaim the Gospel in contexts where it is not yet known and where there are simply no others who can bear witness to it. It is true that every action of the Church is permeated by mission because it represents its goal and its horizon; but it is one thing to put it into practice in situations where the possibility of an explicit encounter with Christ is offered in a variety of forms, made possible by communities of faith already formed and endowed with a variety of charisms and ministries; it is something else – or at least something special – to dedicate oneself to the witness of the Gospel where there are no other ecclesial subjects, because the community is not yet constituted and structured. It is undoubtedly true that the mobility of people today creates situations in which other people are very close and one no longer has to cross the seas to meet them. In many parts of the world there is already a local part of the Church and it is the task of the particular Church in that territory to face the challenges posed by increasingly multicultural and interreligious societies. In the regions more marked by phenomena such as secularization and the decline of priestly vocations, we will probably have to act differently than in the past, but the fact remains that the Church is already present in these areas. We often overlook the fact that instead there are entire regions of our planet where the Church is not yet established or is in the initial phase of its local rooting.In Mongolia, for example, the visible Church has only existed for 32 years and is made up of a small flock of about 1,500 local believers accompanied by a group of missionaries, only one of whom is a local priest. The complete translation of the Bible into the local language is still in progress; some liturgical texts still need to be approved by the Vatican. In Catholic communities, a path of initiation into the faith is offered that lasts about two years and requires a lot of commitment from the catechists and catechumens, since they are choosing a faith that is in some way at odds with the society in which they live, which traditionally has other points of reference. Everything is new and has a revolutionary impact that requires depth, firmness in doctrine and quality of witness.Living and working in such situations is what is commonly called mission “ad gentes”, which continues to have its own specific value because it is a specific vocation. Most of these situations, where the proclamation of the Gospel and the life connected to it are still in their infancy, are in Asia, a continent where about 61% of the world’s population live, but less than 13.1% of them identify with Christianity. A series of historical failures? Procedural errors? It is difficult to say. Especially since the criterion cannot be success or failure as the world understands it. The reference point remains the words of Jesus on the Kingdom of God and its appearance in the world, characterized by an obvious disproportion: little in much, leaven in the mass, fertile marginality. In any case, it is important to remember that this specific type of missionary service exists, even within a fully missionary Church.A specific formationThe mission “ad gentes” therefore requires a specific formation. 397 years ago, shortly after the foundation of the Congregation “De Propaganda Fide”, the “Collegio Urbano” was founded, the first nucleus of this prestigious academic institution. Can one “learn” the mission? Yes, just as the disciples of Emmaus had to listen to the Risen One who “explained to them what is written about him in the Scriptures”. It is above all a matter of continually exploring the mystery of Christ and the Church, his Bride, from every possible angle. The mission needs philosophy, but also the social sciences, linguistics, canon law and, above all, theology. Zeal alone may not be enough. Blessed Giuseppe Allamano, founder of the Consolata Missionaries, who will be canonized in St. Peter’s Square in a few days, used to say: “Holiness alone is not enough for a missionary, science is also needed, depending on our goal. Piety can form a good hermit, but only science combined with piety can form a good missionary.” And he continued: “The need for science also derives from tradition. Popes, Councils, and Fathers of the Church have always and everywhere declared the need for science for priests. On this point, the Church has always insisted, with explicit instructions to the superiors of seminaries, not to admit to ordination those who do not have the necessary knowledge. This explains why in some religious orders only the most learned are sent on missions.” And he concluded: “Believe me: you will do much or little good, or even evil, depending on whether you have studied or not. A missionary without knowledge is a lamp that has gone out”.We study not only because “it is our duty”, because we have been sent by our superiors, or even to nurture career ambitions: in the Church there is no career; it would be mean indeed if such a unique academic institution were considered a breeding ground for mere “employees” of diocesan structures that do not stand out for zeal and scholarship specifically oriented towards mission. We study out of love for Christ, the Church and the people to whom we are sent as missionaries. It is precisely this particular kind of mission that requires adequate preparation. It is a matter of respect for the mystery of the Incarnation of the Word, which resonates in the Church sent by Him, not as a megaphone of an ideological message, but as the mystical Body and People of God, at home in all cultures and fertilizing them with the Gospel. It is a matter of taking the encounter between the Gospel and cultures seriously.Rufina Chamyngerel, also a former student of this university and now head of the Pastoral Office of the Apostolic Prefecture of Ulaanbaatar, said it in a disarming way. On the occasion of the prayer vigil in St. Peter’s for the Extraordinary Missionary Month 2019 proclaimed by Pope Francis, she recalled that when the Church decided in 1992 to resume its mission in Mongolia – interrupted by 70 years of strict pro-Soviet rule – it did not send packages of books, but physical people who would fit in and give a living, physical witness to the Gospel. Yes, the encounter with Christ can take place in the most diverse ways, mostly unknown to us; but it usually requires human mediation, concrete people who embody the words of Jesus and invite us to the banquet of the Kingdom of God. Saint Paul VI reminded us of this in his Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi, and it is worth quoting his words again today: “People can be saved by the mercy of God in other ways, even if we do not preach the Gospel to them; but how can we save ourselves if we fail to preach it out of negligence, fear, shame – what Saint Paul calls ‘ashamed of the Gospel’ – or because of false ideas?” This school of discipleship and mission opens up ever new paths of learning, because by tiptoeing into homes in every latitude, we discover fascinating worlds to love and to get to know in depth.Thanks to passionate study, serious scientific research and investigation, even four centuries after the founding of our University, we are able to express the infinite depths of Christ’s message and to decipher cultural languages that allow us to reach the hearts of peoples and peoples.How many sighs have been uttered here! Distance from home and a language that one does not yet master can make one sigh; but even a trace of research that seems to get lost among the pages read in the library or historical truths that are difficult to accept can become sighs. But everything becomes a desire, because in the awareness of lack, one opens oneself more to God and to one’s neighbour.From sighing to whisperingFinally, the sigh becomes a whisper. Finally, allow me to repeat the expression of Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil, which I do not want to withhold from you, to briefly describe the mission: whispering the Gospel into the heart of cultures. The mission is a mystery that makes us sigh with true love above all for Him, the Risen One, who unites us to Himself in order to make Himself present to others. Christ and his Gospel are the heart and the only content of the missionary impulse that animates the Church, today as it has always been. “Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel,” Saint Paul reminds us (1 Cor 9:16). The world needs this good news and has a right to receive it. In a time of general distrust of grand narratives, of post-colonial historical revisionism, of fear of any thought that is not weak (because it is seen as potentially offensive and threatening), the Church continues to proclaim the Gospel, faithful to the mandate she received from her Lord, which is written in large letters on the outside of the main building of this university: Euntes docete. More than just a message, it is a word of salvation and fullness, embodied in life and addressed to the heart, that is, to the deepest fibers of man and of the culture in which he lives and understands himself. It is the evangelization of the heart that requires a commitment to deciphering, studying and deepening the wonderful interweaving of culture, religious tradition, language, literature, art, music, but also territories, symbols and trends. When one finds oneself in this relationship of deep knowledge, appreciation and friendship, one will spontaneously pass on, whispering delicately and discreetly what is most dear to one’s heart.Whispering also speaks of a prayerful attitude, a contemplative dimension, as in the very ancient religious traditions that arose in Asia, where the register of the meditated, repeated word, recited in chorus predominates. And of silence. Pope Francis recalled this last year in Mongolia, addressing the small local Church: “Yes, He is the good news intended for all peoples, the proclamation that the Church must always bring, making it concrete in life and ‘whispering’ it in the hearts of individuals and cultures.” The language of God is often a slow whisper that takes its time; this is how he speaks. This experience of the love of God in Christ is pure light that transfigures the face and in turn makes it shine. Brothers and sisters, the Christian life is born from the contemplation of this face, it is a matter of love, of the daily encounter with the Lord in the word and in the bread of life, in the face of the other and in the needy in whom Jesus is present”. May this new academic year at the Urbaniana University bring us all closer to this face and make us ever more radiant and shining, reflecting it around us. (Agenzia Fides, 15/10/2024)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: World Future Economy Digital Leaders Summit debuts at GITEX GLOBAL, shaping the future global tech and policy landscape

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

    DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, October 15, 2024/APO Group/ —

    Government officials, global industry leaders and experts gathered in Dubai for the opening day of the World Future Economy Digital Leaders Summit on Monday as conversations began about charting a course for AI Compute-Driven economic transformation.

    GITEX GLOBAL, the world’s largest tech event, got underway at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), as topics on ‘Tech Investment Day’ centred around the next-gen semi-conductors market, which is expected to be valued USD $1 trillion by 2030, and the future of data governance. The mega event is under the theme of ‘Global Collaboration to Forge a Future AI Economy’.

    The World Future Economy Digital Leaders Summit comes at a time where UAE is accelerating its efforts in adopting AI in different sectors. Last year, the country’s AI market was valued (https://apo-opa.co/3zPf3HZ) at USD $3.47 billion. H.E. Abdullah Bin Touq Al Marri, Cabinet Member & Minister of Economy at UAE’s Ministry of Economy, explained the importance of AI and how it is central to the country’s economic future.

    Addressing the audience, he highlighted AI is a major driver for the future and is already impacting our everyday lives whether it is transportation or ordering food but to propel growth even further across different sectors, people and companies need to learn how to enable AI effectively.

    This year’s GITEX GLOBAL has attracted its largest international participation with 40% growth, welcoming new nations to the 44th edition of the showpiece event. Europe has a major presence this week, the biggest in the event’s history with the region’s tech industry projected to grow by 12% by the end of this year.

    Stephane Ouaki, Head of Department at European Innovation Council outlined how the continent is accelerating its tech ecosystem. He said the Council is supporting game-changing innovations, giving entrepreneurs access to opportunities to enhance their knowledge, and learn from other professionals to boost the growth of their businesses which benefits not only economies nationally but also regionally.

    Ignacy Niemczycki, Undersecretary of State Ministry of Economic Development and Technology of Poland, delivered a presentation on how the country is embracing technology. He said: “Our culture is a key pillar in our journey of being a tech leader and we have a stable economy which has been very resilient for the last 30 years.

    “More importantly, there is a real interest in the STEM field – if you ask most people in Poland, their choice would be to become an software engineer and this has created a situation where we have one of the best IT programmers in the world with some great tech entrepreneurs already from Poland.”

    Attendees also heard from Dr. Jaroslaw Kutylowski, the founder and CEO of DeepL a German-leading global language AI company, on how his business utilises large language models (LLMs). He said: “The models that we have been building have all stayed true to our products which has brought us success so far. As the company has been growing, we have been able to invest more into compute technologies and have built a data centre facility in Sweden. However, we need to keep innovating and see what the next step is. If we do not think ahead, we would be in the same position as we are today.”

    Meanwhile, Heman Bekele, who was named TIME’s 2024 Kid of the Year for inventing a potential treatment for skin cancer, shared his inspiring story. He explained how the failures that he experienced in life in producing his innovative soap product has made him a stronger individual and passion has a been a key attribute to his career success so far.

    Taking place at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) until 18 October, GITEX GLOBAL presents its biggest, most international edition in its 44th year, welcoming over 6,500 exhibitors, 1,800 startups, 1,200 investors alongside governments from more than 180 countries.

    GITEX GLOBAL is seamlessly connecting with world’s largest network of tech events with its stellar list including GITEX EUROPE Berlin, GITEX ASIA Singapore, GITEX AFRICA Morocco, and GITEX NIGERIA. These events are fostering collaboration and driving innovation to shape the tech landscape of tomorrow.

    For more information on GITEX GLOBAL 2024 and to secure your passes, please visit http://www.GITEX.com.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Stauber Introduces Legislation to Award Congressional Gold Medals to the “Miracle on Ice” Olympic Hockey Team

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08) introduced the Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act, which would award 3 Congressional Gold Medals to the members of the 1980 United States Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team for their historic victory over the Soviet Union in the 1980 Winter Olympics. One of the Congressional Gold Medals will be placed on display in Minnesota’s Eighth Congressional District at the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in Eveleth, Minnesota. Joining Congressman Stauber in its introduction are Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (NY-21), Congressman Mike Quigley (IL-5), and Congressman Bill Keating (MA-9). Congressman Stauber released the following statement:

    “The Miracle on Ice team unified our nation during a time of deep political tension. These young men fearlessly defeated the Soviet Union, which was at the time one of the greatest hockey teams to ever play. Their grit, determination, and pure patriotism inspired the world.

    I am honored to introduce this legislation because 12 players on this team and their legendary coach were Minnesotans. Minnesotans played an integral role in defeating the Soviet Union, and these men should forever be remembered as American hockey heroes.”

    “It is an honor to represent Lake Placid where our 1980 United States Olympic Hockey Team taught our nation how to believe in miracles when they defeated the dominant Soviet Union hockey team during the Cold War. Our North Country community is proud to be home of this historic and inspiring event and as we work to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the “Miracle on Ice,” this legislation honors our Olympic victors for their legendary achievement,” saidCongresswoman Elise Stefanik.

    “As a lifelong hockey fan, I remember watching the “Miracle on Ice” game and the wave of inspiration experienced across the country. With that win, our team and our nation showed the world that democracy will always prevail over tyranny – on and off the ice. These medals are yet another chance to show the world where we stand in the fight for freedom. Despite the immense pressure they faced, their determination was more powerful. Now, their historic win can be honored and celebrated for decades to come.” SaidCongressman Mike Quigley.

    “The 1980 U.S. Men’s Hockey Team showed the world that hard work and determination can overcome even the greatest odds, and their triumph at Lake Placid inspired our nation,” said Congressman Bill Keating. “Their victory remains a timeless symbol of teamwork and unity in the face of adversity, and the Congressional Gold Medal will serve to both recognize their great achievement and inspire the next generation of hockey greats.”

    “We applaud the introduction of the Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act and appreciate the work done by Representatives Stauber, Stefanik, Quigley and Keating,” said Pat Kelleher, executive director of USA Hockey. “The 1980 U.S. Olympic Men’s Hockey Team is most deserving of receiving the Congressional Gold Medal. Their unlikely run to the gold medal in Lake Placid, which included a historic win over the Soviet Union, inspired our nation at what was a very trying time. We encourage fans to contact their congressional representatives in support of this bill and its passage.”

    “The most special moments in sports actually transcend the playing surface. Truly rare are those that captivate an entire nation and still resound nearly half a century later. The 1980 U.S. Olympic Men’s Hockey Team’s stunning victory over the Soviets in Lake Placid, N.Y., and its gold medal-clinching triumph over Finland two days later comprise perhaps the most memorable and impactful achievement in the history of athletics. We at the National Hockey League enthusiastically support the introduction of the Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act and look forward to its passage in Congress and eventual signing by the President.” Said NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman.

    Background – On February 22, 1980, the U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team defeated the Soviet Union in Lake Placid, New York. This game is now known as the “Miricle on Ice.” The United States team was comprised of amateur college athletes, while the Soviet Union’s team was comprised of some of the best players to ever play the game. Prior to this game, the Soviet Union had not lost an Olympic game since 1968. The United States had only one returning Olympic athlete.

    Eight years after this game, Congressman Stauber and the Lake Superior State University Division 1 hockey team won the National Championship at the same rink in Lake Placid, New York.

    Congressman Stauber and Congressman Quigley are co-chairs of the Congressional Hockey Caucus.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: ASML reports €7.5 billion total net sales and €2.1 billion net income in Q3 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ASML reports €7.5 billion total net sales and €2.1 billion net income in Q3 2024
    ASML expects total net sales for 2024 of around €28 billion

    VELDHOVEN, the Netherlands, October 15, 2024 – Today, ASML Holding NV (ASML) has published its 2024 third-quarter results.

    • Q3 total net sales of €7.5 billion, gross margin of 50.8%, net income of €2.1 billion
    • Quarterly net bookings in Q3 of €2.6 billion2 of which €1.4 billion is EUV
    • ASML expects Q4 2024 total net sales between €8.8 billion and €9.2 billion, and a gross margin between 49% and 50%
    • ASML expects 2024 total net sales of around €28 billion
    • ASML expects 2025 total net sales to be between €30 billion and €35 billion, with a gross margin between 51% and 53%
    (Figures in millions of euros unless otherwise indicated) Q2 2024   Q3 2024  
    Total net sales 6,243   7,467  
    …of which Installed Base Management sales1 1,482   1,541  
             
    New lithography systems sold (units) 89   106  
    Used lithography systems sold (units) 11   10  
             
    Net bookings2 5,567   2,633  
             
    Gross profit 3,212   3,793  
    Gross margin (%) 51.5   50.8  
             
    Net income 1,578   2,077  
    EPS (basic; in euros) 4.01   5.28  
             
    End-quarter cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments 5,019   4,985  

    (1) Installed Base Management sales equals our net service and field option sales
    (2) Net bookings include all system sales orders and inflation-related adjustments, for which written authorizations have been accepted.

    Numbers have been rounded for readers’ convenience. A complete summary of US GAAP Consolidated Statements of Operations is published on http://www.asml.com

    CEO statement and outlook
    “Our third-quarter total net sales came in at €7.5 billion, above our guidance, driven by more DUV and Installed Base Management1 sales. The gross margin came in at 50.8%, within guidance.

    “While there continue to be strong developments and upside potential in AI, other market segments are taking longer to recover. It now appears the recovery is more gradual than previously expected. This is expected to continue in 2025, which is leading to customer cautiousness. Regarding Logic, the competitive foundry dynamics have resulted in a slower ramp of new nodes at certain customers, leading to several fab push outs and resulting changes in litho demand timing, in particular EUV. In Memory, we see limited capacity additions, with the focus still on technology transitions supporting the HBM and DDR5 AI-related demand.

    “We expect fourth-quarter total net sales between €8.8 billion and €9.2 billion with a gross margin between 49% and 50% which includes the recognition of the first two High NA systems upon customer acceptance, reflecting progress on imaging, overlay and contrast. ASML expects R&D costs of around €1.1 billion and SG&A costs of around €300 million. We expect full-year 2024 total net sales of around €28 billion. Based on the recent market dynamics as mentioned above, we expect our 2025 total net sales to grow to a range between €30 billion and €35 billion, which is the lower half of the range that we provided at our 2022 Investor Day. We expect a gross margin between 51% and 53%, which is below the range we then provided, mainly related to the delayed timing of EUV demand,” said ASML President and Chief Executive Officer Christophe Fouquet.

       
    Update dividend and share buyback program
    An interim dividend of €1.52 per ordinary share will be made payable on November 7, 2024.

    In the third quarter, we did not purchase any shares under the current 2022-2025 share buyback program.

    Details of the share buyback program as well as transactions pursuant thereto, and details of the dividend are published on ASML’s website (www.asml.com/investors).

    Media Relations contacts Investor Relations contacts
    Monique Mols +31 6 5284 4418 Skip Miller +1 480 235 0934
    Sarah de Crescenzo +1 925 899 8985 Marcel Kemp +31 40 268 6494
    Karen Lo +886 939788635 Peter Cheang +886 3 659 6771

    Quarterly video interview and investor call
    With this press release, ASML has published a video interview in which CFO Roger Dassen discusses the 2024 third-quarter results and outlook for 2024 and 2025. This video and the transcript can be viewed on http://www.asml.com.

    An investor call for both investors and the media will be hosted by CEO Christophe Fouquet and CFO Roger Dassen on October 16, 2024 at 15:00 Central European Time / 09:00 US Eastern Time. Details can be found on our website.

    About ASML
    ASML is a leading supplier to the semiconductor industry. The company provides chipmakers with hardware, software and services to mass produce the patterns of integrated circuits (microchips). Together with its partners, ASML drives the advancement of more affordable, more powerful, more energy-efficient microchips. ASML enables groundbreaking technology to solve some of humanity’s toughest challenges, such as in healthcare, energy use and conservation, mobility and agriculture. ASML is a multinational company headquartered in Veldhoven, the Netherlands, with offices across EMEA, the US and Asia. Every day, ASML’s more than 43,700 employees (FTE) challenge the status quo and push technology to new limits. ASML is traded on Euronext Amsterdam and NASDAQ under the symbol ASML. Discover ASML – our products, technology and career opportunities – at http://www.asml.com.

    US GAAP Financial Reporting
    ASML’s primary accounting standard for quarterly earnings releases and annual reports is US GAAP, the accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Quarterly Summary US GAAP consolidated statements of operations, consolidated statements of cash flows and consolidated balance sheets are available on http://www.asml.com.

    The consolidated balance sheets of ASML Holding N.V. as of September 29, 2024, the related consolidated statements of operations and consolidated statements of cash flows for the quarter and nine months ended September 29, 2024 as presented in this press release are unaudited. 

    Regulated information
    This press release contains inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.

    Forward Looking Statements
    This document and related discussions contain statements that are forward-looking within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements with respect to plans, strategies, expected trends, including trends in the semiconductor industry and end markets and business environment trends, expected demand, bookings, backlog, expected recovery in the semiconductor industry and expected timing thereof including expected industry recovery continuing in 2025, plans to continue to build capacity, outlook and expected financial results, outlook of market segments, including expected results for Q4 2024, including net sales, IBM sales, gross margin, R&D costs, SG&A costs, outlook for full year 2024, including expected full year 2024 total net sales, gross margin and estimated annualized effective tax rate, expectations and modelling with respect to 2025 revenue and gross margin, statements made at our 2022 Investor Day, including revenue and gross margin opportunity for 2025 and 2030, statements with respect to execution of ESG sustainability strategy, our expectation to continue to return significant amounts of cash to shareholders through growing dividends and share buybacks, statements with respect to our share buyback program, including the amount of shares that may be repurchased thereunder and statements with respect to dividends, statements with respect to expected performance and capabilities of our systems and customer plans and other non-historical statements. You can generally identify these statements by the use of words like “may”, “will”, “could”, “should”, “project”, “believe”, “anticipate”, “expect”, “plan”, “estimate”, “forecast”, “potential”, “intend”, “continue”, “target”, “future”, “progress”, “goal”, “model”, “opportunity” and variations of these words or comparable words. These statements are not historical facts, but rather are based on current expectations, estimates, assumptions, plans and projections about our business and our future financial results and readers should not place undue reliance on them. Forward-looking statements do not guarantee future performance and involve a number of substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, customer demand, semiconductor equipment industry capacity, worldwide demand for semiconductors and semiconductor manufacturing capacity, lithography tool utilization and semiconductor inventory levels, general trends and consumer confidence in the semiconductor industry, the impact of general economic conditions, including the impact of the current macroeconomic environment on the semiconductor industry, uncertainty around a market recovery including the timing thereof, the impact of inflation, interest rates, wars and geopolitical developments, the impact of pandemics, the performance of our systems, the success of technology advances and the pace of new product development and customer acceptance of and demand for new products, our production capacity and ability to adjust capacity to meet demand, supply chain capacity, timely availability of parts and components, raw materials, critical manufacturing equipment and qualified employees, our ability to produce systems to meet demand, the number and timing of systems ordered, shipped and recognized in revenue, risks relating to fluctuations in net bookings and our ability to convert bookings into sales, the risk of order cancellation or push outs and restrictions on shipments of ordered systems under export controls, risks relating to the trade environment, import/export and national security regulations and orders and their impact on us, including the impact of changes in export regulations and the impact of such regulations on our ability to obtain necessary licenses and to sell our systems and provide services to certain customers, exchange rate fluctuations, changes in tax rates, available liquidity and free cash flow and liquidity requirements, our ability to refinance our indebtedness, available cash and distributable reserves for, and other factors impacting, dividend payments and share repurchases, the number of shares that we repurchase under our share repurchase programs, our ability to enforce patents and protect intellectual property rights and the outcome of intellectual property disputes and litigation, our ability to meet ESG goals and execute our ESG strategy, other factors that may impact ASML’s business or financial results, and other risks indicated in the risk factors included in ASML’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2023 and other filings with and submissions to the US Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this document. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements after the date of this report or to conform such statements to actual results or revised expectations, except as required by law.

    Attachments

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: ‘People-powered archaeology’ boosts residents’ wellbeing

    Source: City of York

    A partnership between City of York Council and York Archaeology is helping residents uncover the hidden history of Walmgate, while improving their wellbeing, making connections and gaining skills.

    The award-winning Archaeology on Prescription project is one of the first in the world to apply the social prescribing model to archaeology and heritage.

    Social prescribing connects people to activities, groups and services in their local community and has been shown to benefit those with long-term medical conditions, who need support with mental health, or who are socially isolated.

    The project is taking place on the site of Willow House, a former care home, which sits a stone’s throw from the city’s historic walls.

    Speaking in a new video about the project, Archaeology on Prescription participant, Jean, said:

    “I’d never really thought about archaeology or history before, but having got here, I was hooked and I’ve kept going since.”

    Explaining the personal impact of the programme, Jean explained:

    “When I’m here, I’m concentrating on something, so I haven’t got all sorts of other thoughts going round – I’ve got that little bit of ground.

    “I’ve found something new that I really enjoy doing. It’s no pressure, but we’re doing archaeology.”

    Participants often have never taken part in an archaeological project before but have been referred to the project by local GPs and charities such as Converge, The Hut and Blueberry Academy.

    Once onsite, they can get involved in all aspects of the archaeological process, from carrying out pre-excavation research through maps and census data, to excavating trenches and cataloguing finds.

    Another participant, Jane, speaking as she helped uncover the cellar of a Victorian terraced house, said that the programme had helped her regain her confidence after a period of illness:

    “I was looking for something to do with my time and to meet new people, because I was new to York.

    “Since doing the dig, I’ve found that my confidence that I had while I was here, that I’ve rediscovered, has stayed with me, even when I haven’t been digging.”

    Reflecting on the project, Arran Johnson, Assistant Community Project Manager, said:

    “Alongside the benefits gained through taking part, participants are also carrying out meaningful research, discovering evidence of the area’s development from as far back as prehistory to as recently as the 1970s.

    “The most exciting part for me is that our participants’ discoveries are even beginning to call some accepted theories into question, such as the extent of Roman activity in this area, which seems to be greater than previously thought. 

    “We will continue this project in 2025, continuing to provide social prescribing, alongside broadening access to wider community involvement as part of our mission to make archaeology more accessible and allow everyone to experience the wonder of uncovering the past.”

    Cllr Pete Kilbane, Executive Member for Economy and Culture at City of York Council, said:

    “The rich tapestry of York’s long history is something that belongs to all of us.

    It is truly inspiring to see how this project is empowering residents to take an active role in learning more about the people who’ve shaped the city over centuries.

    “The results have been transformative for many of the participants, who have had the opportunity not only to discover a new passion for archaeology, but to make social connections, gain new skills and build their confidence.”

    As well as providing permission to dig on the site, the council has provided £85,000 of financial support to the project through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and has previously provided £120,0000 through the Community Renewal Fund.

    Find out more about the project and its impact by watching the full case study video.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Innovative Essex health projects get cash boost

    Source: Anglia Ruskin University

    Published: 15 October 2024 at 14:30

    Funding from Anglia Ruskin University is helping small firms’ cutting-edge initiatives

    Virtual reality therapy for people suffering from mental health disorders, using AI to manage demand on NHS services, and technology that listens to a child’s cough to assist early diagnoses are among the Essex innovations that have received thousands of pounds of funding from Arise Innovation Hubs – part of Anglia Ruskin University (ARU).

    The ABOVE (Arise Beyond Open Innovation for Value and Entrepreneurship) innovation support grants are aimed at assisting small and medium-sized enterprises in Essex working on healthcare solutions through medical technology. Not-for-profit, charitable organisations, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and start-ups are all eligible for support.

    The following eight businesses have been awarded grants of up to £5,000:

    • Aerial Icon Limited, which is pioneering the production of ultra-high-quality aerial 360 videos to deliver innovative virtual reality (VR) therapeutic health interventions for mental health disorders such as anxiety, fear of heights, and seasonal affective disorder (SAD). The initiative has also received funding from Innovate UK.

    • Elixir AI is working on a project to determine if listening to a child’s cough at the time of GP referral can lead to early diagnosis, and received funding to enhance their software for a larger study with Colchester and Ipswich Hospitals.

    • Japeto, a software agency in Harlow, used their grant to build a dedicated computer rig capable of running Large Language Models (LLMs) at sufficient speed. This project, named ‘The Blue Fairy,’ aims to establish the viability of different LLMs in healthcare chatbot applications.

    • C-Prio Ltd, focusing on automation and AI to meet the growing demand on NHS histopathology services, used its ABOVE grant in the clinical validation phase of their AI models, specifically for acquiring real digital images of colorectal biopsies, enabling rigorous testing and refinement.

    • Tech Balance Limited received grant funding to support the development of a wellbeing app using behavioural science to guide UK university students towards better wellbeing.

    • Guardpack Ltd, a manufacturer of sachets and wipes, used its funding to help develop more environmentally friendly options for its customers.

    • eScent is developing a wearable, context-driven scent intervention to address increasing levels of anxiety and stress. The funding will be used to secure the company’s intellectual property in the USA and commission a design.

    • Southend-based Surgical Holdings will use its grant to complete ecodesign work, leading to patent protection of new products which are sold worldwide.

    The funding for the ABOVE programme has been provided by Essex County Council as part of its 10-year sector strategy to grow life science, digitech, advanced manufacturing and engineering sectors, leading to more opportunities, jobs and growth across Essex.

    Arise Innovation Hubs are also working closely with partners Medilink Midlands, a specialist provider of support to the life science sector, to help SMEs overcome barriers to growth.

    Dr Beverley Vaughan, Director of Arise Innovation Hubs, said:

    “We were delighted to receive so many applications for the first round of ABOVE funding from healthcare innovators across the county.

    “The enterprises that have been supported by these grants are working on projects that have potential to make a real difference to people’s lives.

    “The ABOVE funding has been a vital cog in the development of some of these projects, assisting these small firms with job creation, testing and product design.”

    Melanie Davidson, CEO at Medilink Midlands, added:

    “Developing the partnership with Arise Innovation Hubs, our innovation focused business support programmes have gone from strength to strength, and the ABOVE funding grants allow the eight awarded innovators to further develop and grow their health care solutions within the medtech sector.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The Houthis must not drag Yemen into a regional war by attacking Israel: UK statement at the UN Security Council

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Yemen.

    Location:
    United Nations, New York
    Delivered on:
    (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

    I’ll make three points.

    I want to start by highlighting the pressing humanitarian need across all of Yemen as our briefers have already done. Unimpeded humanitarian access is vital to deliver critical, lifesaving assistance to Yemenis. It is crucial that all humanitarian, UN, and diplomatic staff are free from intimidation and threats in order to operate safely and securely.

    The detention of aid workers by the Houthis has continued for 130 days, and we now understand these detainees may now face a so-called judicial process.

    The use of special political courts will not result in fair outcomes for the detainees. So we call again on the Houthis to immediately and unconditionally release those detained and provide an adequate operating environment for humanitarians.

    We call on the international community to stand united in calling for the immediate release of those detained.

    Second, as an import dependent country, commercial imports are critical to the livelihoods of the Yemeni population.

    The import of weapons by the Houthis, in violation of the arms embargo, risks undermining the ability of humanitarian and commercial entities to import goods. This once again demonstrates the Houthis’ clear disregard for the wellbeing of the Yemeni people.

    UNVIM is key to facilitating these vital imports. We urge international donors to work together to provide adequate and predictable funding to strengthen UNVIM’s inspection capacity and ability to prevent the flow of weapons.

    Finally, we call upon the Houthis to avoid dragging Yemen into a regional conflict through its continued attacks against Israel.

    It is vital that we bring an end to this cycle of violence and that the Houthis prioritise the needs of the Yemeni people. I reiterate the UK’s call for urgent regional de-escalation and progress towards sustainable peace in Yemen.

    Updates to this page

    Published 15 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Experts to identify underground objects on Millbay development site

    Source: City of Plymouth

    Plans to carry out investigative works at a patch of unused land between Bath Street and Martin Street in Millbay will be carried out on 18 November 2024 to understand what two unknown metal objects underground are.  

    The Council-owned land is in the early stages of development to transform the entire site into new Plymouth Community Homes affordable housing. 

    As part of the ground investigation works, two metal objects have been identified underground. These could be a number of things e.g. reinforced concrete or pieces of track from the old railway station nearby.  

    So that experts can determine what the objects are, all work has stopped within the compound. Whilst the items remain underground, the experts have provided reassurance that the area is very safe.    

    As the items do need to be removed in order for the development work to continue, on the 18 November, experts plan to carry out an ‘uncovering’ to establish what the objects are. During this work there will be no need to evacuate. 

    Whilst it is thought that in all likelihood the items will be old, abandoned equipment, the Council has to prepare for all eventualities. Should the experts find that one or both items are not simply pieces of metal, they will need to assess the objects and determine how best to dispose of them. To do that, there is a small percentage chance that a cordon would need to be put in place. Details of how large the cordon would be, or how long it would be in place, would be determined by experts’ assessment of the items. 

    The clear message to local residents and businesses at the moment is that the area is safe and there is currently no need to avoid the area. We will provide regular updates on the day through the Council website, social media or the Council’s new What’s App channel.  

    Councillor Sally Haydon, Plymouth City Council Cabinet Member for Community Safety, said: “The first thing to make clear is that we do not know what is under the ground in Millbay. Bear in mind that this site has previously had commercial premise on it, a brewery, a builder’s yard, a night club, a garage and a car park and there have never been any problems.  

    “All we know is that there are two metal objects and our experts have told us that there is a very strong likelihood that they are probably nothing to worry about.  

    “However, we do need to be prepared for all possibilities. So, we are letting people know in advance so when our experts do further exploratory works – if they find anything ominous they we will need to move quickly.   

    “There will never be a right time to do this work and we know that businesses in the area will have a lot of questions, and Council officers are available to offer support to help them prepare and make any necessary decisions.  

    “We will update residents and businesses throughout this process. But for now, our advice is you are safe and you do not need to do anything or evacuate.”   

    Plymouth Police Commander, Temporary Chief Superintendent Scott Bradley, said: “We have been preparing for this investigative work with the Council and have a clear plan to deal with any eventuality once more is known as to what the objects are. 

    “We have a very close working relationship with the Council and other partners to ensure the matter is dealt with safely and swiftly with as little impact as possible on businesses and residents in the area.” 

    If you are a local business or hotel/bed and breakfast and would like to discuss this further, please contact CommercialSupport@plymouth.gov.uk.  

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: EU funding available for European literary translation

    Source: European Union 2

    Apply before 11 February 2025 to get funding for the translation, publication, distribution, and promotion of European literary works of fiction. With a budget of €5 million, Creative Europe finances about 40 projects this call.

    The call Circulation of European Literary Works supports the transnational circulation and the diversity of European literary works through the translation, publication, distribution, and promotion of European literary works of fiction .

    With a budget of €5 million, about 40 projects will be selected for funding.

    The deadline for applications is 11 February 2025.

    Eligibility

    Interested organisations can apply individually or as a consortium of at least 2 eligible organisations. Each project must have a sound editorial, distribution and promotion strategy and propose a minimum of 5 eligible works of fiction written by authors who are nationals of, or residents in, or recognised as part of the literary heritage of an eligible country.

    Applicants can apply with projects of different sizes:

    • Small scale: projects proposing at least 5 translations of eligible works 
    • Medium scale: projects proposing at least 11 translations of eligible works
    • Large scale: projects proposing at least 21 translations of eligible work

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI: Ress Life Investments A/S: Ress Life Investments A/S publishes Net Asset Value (NAV)

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Ress Life Investments
    Nybrogade 12
    DK-1203 Copenhagen K
    Denmark
    CVR nr. 33593163
    http://www.resslifeinvestments.com

    To: Nasdaq Copenhagen
    Date: 30 September 2024

    Corporate Announcement 32/2024

    Ress Life Investments A/S publishes Net Asset Value (NAV).

    Ress Life Investments A/S publishes the Net Asset Value (NAV) per share as of 30 September 2024.

    NAV per share in USD: 2536.65
    NAV per share in EUR: 2265.68

    The performance during September is 0.82% in USD. The year-to-date net performance is 4.08% in USD.

    Assets under management (AUM) was 305.2 million USD.    

    The NAV per share in EUR, 2265.68, is calculated as the USD NAV divided by the EUR/USD exchange rate as of 30 September 2024 which was 1.1196.

    To calculate the present EUR NAV, divide the most recent USD NAV with the current EUR/USD exchange rate.

    Questions related to this announcement can be made to the company’s AIF-manager, Resscapital AB.

    Contact person:
    Gustaf Hagerud
    gustaf.hagerud@resscapital.com
    Tel + 46 8 545 282 27

    Note: The terms for subscription of shares, minimum subscription amount and redemption of shares are provided in the Articles of Association, Information Brochure and in the Key Information Document available on the Company’s website, http://www.resslifeinvestments.com.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Appointments to the Judicial Compensation and Benefits Commission

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    The Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the appointments of Graham Flack, Douglas Hodson, and Anne Giardini, to the Judicial Compensation and Benefits Commission.

    October 15, 2024 – Ottawa – Department of Justice Canada

    The Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the appointments of Graham Flack, Douglas Hodson, and Anne Giardini, to the Judicial Compensation and Benefits Commission.

    The Judicial Compensation and Benefits Commission, also known as the Quadrennial Commission, is established under the Judges Act (the Act) to examine the adequacy of the salaries and benefits of the federally appointed judiciary. Additional information on the Judicial Compensation and Benefits Commission is available at quadcom.gc.ca.

    Biographies

    Graham Flack of Ottawa is appointed as the member nominated by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada. Mr. Flack received degrees in political science and economics from Dalhousie and Oxford University where he was a Rhodes Scholar. He is a former law clerk of the Supreme Court of Canada and graduated with an LL.B. from Dalhousie University and an LL.M. from Harvard University. Mr. Flack began his career in the Privy Council Office and worked on the Quebec referendum campaign, the Quebec Secession Reference and Clarity Act. Following 9/11 he became Director of Operations and led work on the Canada-US Smart Borders Declaration, as well as Canada’s first National Security Policy. He held senior executive roles at Natural Resources Canada and the Department of Finance where he was Assistant Deputy Minister, International Trade and Finance and worked on the G7 and G20 response to the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. From 2010-2013, he was Associate Deputy Minister then-Acting Deputy Minister at Public Safety Canada. From 2013-14, he was Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet at the Privy Council Office. From 2014-18, he was Deputy Minister of Canadian Heritage. From 2018-2022, he was Deputy Minister of Employment and Social Development Canada. From 2022-2024, he was Secretary of the Treasury Board. Mr. Flack is the founding chair of the Deputy Minister Committee on Innovation and Deputy Minister Champion for the Federal Youth Network and for Dalhousie University.

    Douglas Hodson, K.C., of Saskatoon is appointed as the member nominated by the judiciary. Mr. Hodson attended the University of Saskatchewan and earned a B.Comm. (with honours) in 1981 and a LL.B. (with distinction) in 1984. He was admitted to the Saskatchewan bar in 1985. Mr. Hodson is a partner at MLT Aikins LLP in Saskatoon since 1984. He focuses on commercial litigation and has significant experience in complex arbitrations, transportation law, and shareholder disputes. He has argued significant cases before all levels of court in Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario and before the Federal Courts and the Supreme Court of Canada. He was appointed King’s Counsel in 2007. Mr. Hodson is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America. He is one of the most distinguished community leaders in Saskatoon. His volunteer portfolio is diverse and extensive, and includes active involvement with a number of professional, business and social organizations. His significant contributions to his profession and community have been recognized on numerous occasions.

    Anne Giardini, K.C., of Toronto is appointed Chair following her nomination by the other two members of the Judicial Compensation and Benefits Commission. Ms. Giardini is a Canadian business executive, journalist, lawyer, and writer. She earned a B.A. from Simon Fraser University and a LL.B. from the University of British Columbia. She also holds an LL.M. from Cambridge University. She was admitted to practise in Ontario, British Columbia, and Washington State. From 1985 to 2020, Ms. Giardini clerked at the Court of Appeal for British Columbia, articled at Bull Housser & Tupper (now Norton Rose), practised at Mawhinney & Kellough (now Dentons) in Vancouver, before moving to Italy to work for a US law firm. In 1994, she joined Weyerhaeuser Company Limited, Canadian subsidiary of Weyerhaeuser Company, an international forest products company with a head office in Washington. She was Canadian vice-president and general counsel from 2006 to 2008 and president from 2008 to 2015. Since 2015, she is a sole corporate director. She was appointed King’s Counsel in 2009. Ms. Giardini is an active volunteer and has served as Chair of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, Vancouver International Writers Festival, UniverCity at SFU, and Simon Fraser University as deputy chair. She is also a supporter of Plan Canada and volunteer for Vancouver YWCA’s Women of Distinction Awards and Young Women in Business. She served as the 11th chancellor of Simon Fraser University from 2014 to 2020. She has been on the boards of Hydro One, mining companies, the Sustainable Forestry Initiative Inc. and other companies. Ms. Giardini was awarded a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in January 2013 for her fundraising efforts for Plan Canada’s Because I’m a Girl campaign. She was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2016 and was appointed an Officer of British Columbia in 2018.

    Chantalle Aubertin
    Deputy Director, Communications
    Office of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General
    613-992-6568
    Chantalle.Aubertin@justice.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Health Care Manager Sentenced to Prison for Embezzlement Scheme

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

    MACON, Ga. – The former office manager of a Middle Georgia chiropractic office was sentenced to serve more than five years in prison after a federal jury found her guilty of committing bank fraud and other federal crimes in an embezzlement scheme that cost an established spinal center more than $200,000 in losses and resulted in its closure.

    Emiliya Radford, 33, of Warner Robins, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 66 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell on Oct. 9. In addition, Radford will pay $298,042.72 in restitution to Dr. James C. Smith on behalf of Smith Spinal Care Center. Radford was found guilty of one count each of bank fraud, wire fraud and federal program theft following approximately one hour of deliberations by a federal jury on June 27. There is no parole in the federal system.

    “Financial crime can be life-changing for its victims; here, it forced a business’s closure and burdened innocent people with debt and other troubles,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “FBI and our other federal, state and local law enforcement partners will work to protect small businesses from financial crimes and hold fraudsters accountable.”

    “Radford violated the trust of the company that hired her and elevated her to a position of leadership,” said Robert Gibbs, Senior Supervisory Senior Resident Agent of FBI Atlanta’s Macon office. “Because of her selfishness and greed, she has not only thrown away her career, but crippled a business and took away jobs from numerous victims. She will now serve a well-deserved prison sentence.”

    According to court documents and evidence submitted at trial, Radford’s company, Cyber Pinecone, was hired in Sept. 2019 under a one-year contract to perform marketing work for Smith Spinal Care Center (SSCC) in Warner Robins. In May 2020, Radford was hired as Office Manager at the business, and her new salary included marketing work. Radford was given signatory authority over the SSCC bank account and was responsible for issuing and signing all biweekly payroll checks, including her own.

    Radford collected her salary as office manager and, without authorization of SSCC, continued to write and endorse checks to her business, Cyber Pinecone, for extensive marketing work totaling more than $200,000. In addition, she gave herself an unauthorized pay raise and used money from the SSCC bank account to purchase $11,015.67 worth of items from the Apple store that she shipped to her residence. When Radford quit on Dec. 19, 2022, none of the Apple items could be located at SSCC, but some were found inside her home when federal agents executed a search warrant on May 4, 2023. A portion of the embezzled funds came from COVID-19 Federal Economic Disaster Loans (EIDL) directed to aid the business.

    The case was investigated by FBI.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Howard prosecuted the case for the Government.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Swaminathan J: Central banks and financial stability

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    Distinguished panellists – Prof. Randall S. Kroszner, Professor, University of Chicago and Former Governor, Federal Reserve Board; Ms. Emmanuelle Assouan, Director General, Financial Stability and Operations, Banque de France; Ms. Sarah Breeden, Deputy Governor for Financial Stability, Bank of England; Dr. Sajjid Chinoy, Managing Director and Chief Economist India, JP Morgan; esteemed delegates and colleagues from the Reserve Bank. A very good afternoon to all of you.

    It is an honour to open this discussion on this very important and pertinent topic in today’s financial world – “Central Banks and Financial Stability: Assessing Risks and Building Resilience.”

    The financial sector is the backbone of the economy, enabling efficient allocation of resources, managing risks through various instruments, and ensuring smooth payments and settlements. It performs crucial functions that support investments and drives economic growth. Therefore, the financial sector becomes the cornerstone of a well-functioning economy.

    The financial sector is vulnerable to risks-especially systemic ones that, which if left unchecked, can have far-reaching consequences. As you are aware these systemic risks manifest across two dimensions: time and interconnectedness. On the one hand, financial risks can build up over time, especially in periods of economic euphoria. On the other, the growing interconnections between financial institutions, markets, and the broader economy make the system more open to shocks.

    In today’s world, challenges are more complex and unpredictable than ever. Traditional risks, like credit and liquidity risks, now have new and faster drivers. For example, bank runs that once unfolded over days, giving regulators time to respond, can now occur within hours due to the speed of internet and mobile banking. The increasing reliance on technology also introduces vulnerabilities, such as dependence on third-party service providers and heightened cybersecurity threats, all while customers expect uninterrupted services. Additionally, we face emerging risks, such as climate risk.

    In this increasingly volatile environment, building resilience is crucial to maintaining financial stability. However, resilience is a balancing act-too much emphasis on safeguarding can stifle innovation and growth, while too little can expose the system to significant vulnerabilities. Finding that right balance so that we can have a robust financial system that can weather crises without constraining economic progress is one of the key challenges that we face today.

    Indeed, central banks are much like wicketkeepers in cricket or goalkeepers in football-often unnoticed in success but always in the spotlight during failure. When everything works seamlessly, their efforts remain behind the scenes, often taken for granted. However, when a crisis occurs, they are asked as to how they could allow the ball to slip through their fingers! In addition, Central Bankers are also tasked with preventing further damage and restoring stability quickly.

    Let me offer an analogy: imagine a person teetering on the edge of a cliff, seemingly about to fall, only to be pulled back just in time by a watchful observer. When central banks intervene in such a manner to prevent a potential crisis, those they protect may claim they didn’t need saving at all. This highlights a common paradox-while regulators work tirelessly to maintain stability and avert disasters, their successes often go unnoticed, and their actions are sometimes viewed as unnecessary, intrusive or excessive by those unaware of the risks. Yet it is precisely this proactive oversight that ensures the safety and soundness of the financial system, allowing it to function smoothly even in times of uncertainty.

    Over the years, the role of central banks has significantly evolved. Initially seen as the lender of last resort, today, central banks are equipped with a broad range of tools-regulatory, supervisory, and monetary-to ensure the stability of the financial system. In some countries, central banks do not have supervisory roles, with the supervision being carried out by a separate agency, but a coordinated approach is essential. Governments, central banks, financial regulators, and the industry must all work together to ensure appropriate and timely action is taken to safeguard financial stability.

    In India, the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC), chaired by the Union Finance Minister, along with its sub-committee led by the Governor of the Reserve Bank, has been effectively facilitating discussions and enhanced understanding of risks across the financial sector. Biannually, Reserve Bank publishes Financial Stability Reports that deliver a thorough risk assessment of India’s financial landscape. These reports utilise macro stress tests, sensitivity analyses, network and contagion assessments, and systemic risk surveys to provide valuable insights into potential vulnerabilities that affect the financial sector. Apart from inter-regulatory coordination, RBI also actively engages with the industry through regular engagements/ interactions including conferences with the Boards of supervised entities, periodic meetings with the MDs & CEOs, Heads of Assurance functions as well as interactions with auditors.

    Having discussed the importance of domestic coordination, I would also like to emphasise the significance of global supervisory cooperation. Historically, crises have acted as catalysts for bringing supervisors together to address shared challenges. For instance, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision was formed in the aftermath of the Herstatt Bank failure, highlighting the necessity for a coordinated response to systemic risks. However, we should not wait for crises to play out before strengthening international collaboration. Greater engagement for proactive horizon scanning of potential risks and vulnerabilities, along with discussions on strategies to mitigate and address these challenges, can enhance our collective resilience and crisis preparedness.

    Indeed, as a part of our agenda for the next decade, RBI@100, the Reserve Bank intends to engage more with the central banks of the global south. The Reserve Bank also aims to establish a global model of risk-focused supervision by fostering a strong risk discovery and compliance culture, building a “through-the-cycle” risk assessment framework. Reserve Bank is working to create a comprehensive data analytics ecosystem to support its supervisory functions.

    With these thoughts in mind, I look forward to a rich and insightful panel discussion on how central banks can continue to enhance financial stability and build a resilient global financial system. Thank you!

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: “The Charm of the Eyes” in Library No. 238

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Library No. 238 invites you to a themed event “The Charm of the Eyes” dedicated to autumn. Young guests will read poems by Afanasy Fet, Alexey Pleshcheyev, Apollon Maikov, and also answer riddles about the signs of autumn and the behavior of wild animals from September to November. In conclusion, children will take part in a master class “Autumn-themed paper craft”.

    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.

    http://vvv.mos.ru/poster/event/320785257/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: An AUKUS First, Seven Royal Australian Navy Enlisted Sailors Graduate Nuclear Power School

    Source: United States Navy

    GOOSE CREEK, South Carolina – Demonstrating another significant milestone for the Australia, United Kingdom, United States (AUKUS) trilateral security partnership, 12 Royal Australian Navy uniformed personnel, including the first seven enlisted sailors, graduated from the U.S. Navy’s Nuclear Power School at Joint Base Charleston-Naval Weapons Station, Oct. 11.

    The enlisted Royal Australian Navy sailors, who trained alongside U.S. sailors, began the naval nuclear power training pipeline in October 2023. Since then, they have been learning their specific rates, as well as the fundamentals of design, operation and maintenance of naval nuclear propulsion plans. These sailors are the vanguard of Australia establishing a sovereign conventionally armed, nuclear-powered, submarine (SSN) fleet in the early 2030s.

    “Naval Nuclear Power training is exceptionally rigorous and to have seven Australian sailors and five officers complete the program and move on to the Nuclear Power Training Unit takes us one step closer to operating our own SSNs,” said Chief of the Royal Australian Navy Vice Adm. Mark Hammond.

    “Two days after assuming command of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, I presided over the graduation of the first three Royal Australian Navy officers from Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit Charleston,” shared Adm. Bill Houston, Director, Naval Reactors. “I have been nothing but impressed by the quality of Australian sailors and officers in our training pipeline and serving aboard our nuclear-powered submarine.”

    Following graduation, the Royal Australian Navy sailors will report to the Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit Charleston for training focused on shipboard nuclear power plant operation and maintenance of the U.S. Navy’s nuclear fleet.

    Making Australia Sovereign-Ready

    Training and education opportunities are critical to ensure Australia is ready to operate its sovereign Virginia-class SSNs early next decade.

    “The Australian sailors are receiving the same training as their American counterparts,” shared Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy James Honea. “They are held to the same high standards required to operate nuclear-powered attack submarines so that when they report to their boat, they’re ready to put their training to the test, integrate with the crew, and become Australia’s future front-line warriors aboard their own sovereign SSNs.”

    Currently, there are six Royal Australian Navy officers serving aboard or assigned to U.S. Navy Virginia-class submarines, 12 officers and 28 enlisted sailors within the naval nuclear power training pipeline with an additional 19 enlisted sailors completing Basic Enlisted Submarine School in Groton, Connecticut. Additionally, 39 personnel from ASC Pty Ltd. (formerly known as the Australian Submarine Corporation) are training at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, to prepare them for future roles in maintaining nuclear-powered submarines for the Royal Australian Navy.

    Full Speed Ahead, ‘Well on our Way’

    The first three Australian-flagged SSNs will be Virginia-class submarines that are typically crewed by 15 officers and 117 enlisted submariners. Australian submariners will be joining U.S. SSN crews to gain practical experience and build their crews ahead of taking possession of their first sovereign SSN in the early 2030s.

    “The training at Goose Creek and Groton are preparing our Australian allies to operate Virginia-class submarines,” said Rear Adm. Lincoln Reifsteck, Director, AUKUS Integration and Acquisition. “Over the coming months, we will see that number grow significantly across both the uniformed and civilian training pipelines so we can make sure, come 2032, Australia can fully crew its first, sovereign, conventionally armed nuclear-powered submarine.”

    The AUKUS partnership is a strategic endeavor aimed at strengthening the security and defense capabilities of each partner nation. The U.S. remains committed to peace and prosperity in order to secure a free and open Indo-Pacific. This alliance helps sustain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, benefits each country’s national security and prosperity, and uplifts all three industrial bases.

    “Thirty-seven months after AUKUS’ inception, we are well on our way to developing Australia’s SSN capability,” said Vice Adm. Jonathan Mead, Director General of the Australian Submarine Agency. “Last month, Australian sailors conducted the first maintenance period on a U.S. SSN in Australia. Today we graduate the first enlisted personnel from an exceptionally rigorous school, already we have Australian officers serving aboard both U.S. and UK SSNs.”

    AUKUS Pillar 1 will deliver a conventionally armed SSN capability to the Royal Australian Navy by the early 2030s. The Department of the Navy’s AUKUS Integration and Acquisition Program Office is the U.S. lead responsible for executing the trilateral partnership for Australia to acquire conventionally armed, nuclear-powered attack submarines at the earliest possible date while maintaining the highest nuclear stewardship standards and setting the highest standards for nuclear non-proliferation.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Awarding of Nuclear Test Medals marked at City Hall

    Source: City of Norwich

    A veteran of the UK’s nuclear testing programme in the 1950s received recognition for his participation in the tests in the Pacific with a presentation at Norwich City Hall today.

    David Freeman, 85, of Thorpe St Andrews, was presented with the medal by Lord Mayor Cllr Vivien Thomas.

    He was joined by the family of the late Robert (Bob) Carman, 84, from Norwich, who are recipients of the Nuclear Test Medal on Mr Carman’s behalf. Widow Pam Carman, daughters Sally Williams, Alison Carman and Sonia Billing, with grand-daughter and great grand-daughter Kasey and Lorena Williams, joined with Mr Freeman for the presentations and tea in the Lord Mayor’s parlour.

    Both Mr Freeman and Mr Carman, alongside thousands of services personnel, were at Christmas Island for the nuclear tests in 1957. Mr Freeman, who was a regular in the RAF for 12 years working with safety equipment, took part in the first test on November 8, 1957. Mr Carman, who passed away at the age of 88 in 2018, was in the Royal Engineers and was also present on that day and then took part in a second test.

    Mr Freeman, who was 18 at the time of the tests, said: “They kept everything very secret. There were rumours but we didn’t know what was about to happen. It’s something you never forget – the heat, the blast, tremendous winds. You could see the shock waves building up across the sky, and then there was torrential rain bringing down all the rubbish out of the cloud. Some of the sand turned to glass crystals. It’s a miracle that any humans were left standing.”

    Mr Freeman said there was no after care following the tests. “We were just sent home. About 6 to 7 weeks afterwards my gums started to bleed. I was told to take aspirin. Not long afterwards, I started losing my teeth. Even now I have to blend a lot of my food due to that. I still can’t get access to my medical records from that time.”

    Mr Freeman has also suffered other debilitating health issues with a long-running cough and lung problem, bowel and blood cancers, an aneurysm and he has suffered a heart attack. He also lost the sight in one eye. “But I feel I am one of the lucky ones – I am still here.”

    Mr Carman’s daughters said their father also felt he was lucky and whilst he had health issues, including prostate cancer, he “didn’t want to make a big deal of it”.

    The Carman family met with Mr Freeman after hearing him talk on Chatterbox about the Nuclear Test Medal.

    Alison Carman said: “David wanted more veterans to come forward as a lot of people are unaware of being able to receive the medal.”

    She said: “My dad used to tell us stories about the big piles of driftwood which after the bomb had exploded just turned to ash. He also said they held their hands up in front of their faces during the blast and could see all the bones in their hands. Today’s event has been lovely. It’s just a shame Dad couldn’t be here for it.”

    Mr Carman wrote down his recollection of the events on Christmas Island for his family. He said:

    “There was this huge bright flash. My goggles went white, then there was a searing blast of heat which we all felt pass through our backs and neck, and then the tremendous blast, the huge thunderclap and the island shook.

    “I turned around and it was awesome, like a giant golden ball of curling flames above the palm trees as it turned into the mushroom shape. We were allowed back to camp and our tents and belongings were thrown everywhere.”

    For the second test, he said: “The tremendous blast did not rock the island quite so much, but the heat felt like a razor cutting through my neck. I remember the Bay of Wrecks where we went a short time after the explosion. There was not a piece of driftwood to be seen. It had been evaporated by the heat. There was not a sound to be heard. The birds were all gone.”

    Lord Mayor Cllr Vivien Thomas said: “Sadly, there are lots of families whose fathers have passed away who wouldn’t know about these medals.”

    She said: “It’s been a pleasure to welcome you here, to hear your stories and to pass on the medals on behalf of all of us in gratitude for what you experienced. The events which happened all those years ago should be recognised as part of our history, as should the suffering they generated.”

    The Nuclear Test Medal was released in 2023. Around 40,000 British personnel took part in the testing of atomic and hydrogen bombs in the 1950s and 1960s, and around 2,000 are believed to be still alive. 22,000 veterans are expected to be eligible for the new honour, marking their service and contribution to the United Kingdom’s nuclear test programme. The medal can be awarded posthumously to a veteran’s legal next of kin.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Angling brothers prosecuted for 3 counts of illegal fishing

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Two brothers from Redditch pleaded guilty at Northampton Magistrates Court to fishing illegally.

    An Environment Agency fisheries enforcement officer checking rod licences.

    • Fishing in the close season, without a licence and using an illegal bait has led to prosecutions for two brothers.

    • Fisheries enforcement officers clamp down on illegal angling to protect fish stocks and make fishing sustainable .

    Two brothers from Redditch have pleaded guilty at Northampton Magistrates Court to three counts of illegal fishing in cases brought by the Environment Agency on Monday 23 September 2024. 

    Liam Astley Morris, 19 and Joseph Astley Morris, 21, of Kingsley Avenue pleaded guilty to fishing in the close season, fishing without a licence and using an illegal bait at Cleeve Prior, River Avon, Evesham on 21 April 2024.

    The fines

    Joseph Astley Morris received a fine of £87 as well as costs of £65 and a victim surcharge of £34.  His brother, Liam received a fine of £40, costs of £65 and a victim surcharge of £16.

    The annual close season (from 15 March – 15 June) prevents fishing for coarse fish in rivers and streams across England. This helps to protect fish when they are spawning and supporting vulnerable stocks.

    A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: 

    These two brothers were not only fishing in the close season, but they were also fishing without a licence and using an illegal bait.  We hope their prosecutions will act as a deterrent to anyone who is thinking of breaking the laws and byelaws we have in place across England. 

    We urge anglers to respect the close season to help reduce pressures on our fisheries, benefitting fish and the wider environment.

    Illegal fishing undermines the Environment Agency’s efforts to protect fish stocks and make fishing sustainable.  Money raised from fishing licence sales is used to protect and improve fish stocks and fisheries for the benefit of legal anglers.

    We inspect rod licences 24/7, seven days a week to check on cases of illegal fishing and for those caught cheating the system, we will always prosecute. 

    Fishing licences

    Any angler aged 13 or over, fishing on a river, canal or still water needs a licence to fish. A 1-day licence costs from just £7.10, and an annual licence costs from £35.80 (concessions available). Junior licences are free for 13 – 16-year-olds.  

    Licences are available from http://www.gov.uk/get-a-fishing-licence or by calling the Environment Agency on 0344 800 5386 between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday. 

    Fisheries enforcement

    The Environment Agency carries out enforcement work all year round and is supported by partners including the police and the Angling Trust. Fisheries enforcement work is intelligence-led, targeting known hot-spots and where illegal fishing is reported. 

    Anyone with information about illegal fishing activities can contact the Environment Agency incident hotline 24/7 on 0800 807060 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.  

    The charges

    Joseph Astley Morris and Liam Astley Morris were both charged with the following offences: 

    On the 21st day of April 2024 at Cleeve Prior – River Avon, Evesham fished for freshwater fish in the close season contrary National Byelaw 2 of the Environment Agency Byelaws made on the 12th July 2010 and contrary to National Byelaw 6 confirmed 23rd March 2010 made pursuant to sections 210 and 211 Schedule 25 of the Water Resources Act 1991.

    On the 21st day of April 2024 at Cleeve Prior – River Avon, Evesham in a place where fishing is regulated, fished for freshwater fish or eels by means of an unlicensed fishing instrument, namely rod and line.  Contrary to Section 27(1)(a) of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975. 

    On the 21st day of April 2024 at Cleeve Prior – River Avon, Evesham used an illegal bait in connection with fishing with rod and line. Contrary to Byelaw 5 of the Environment Agency Byelaws which were confirmed on 11 May 2001 and made pursuant to Section 210 and Schedule 25 of the Water Resources Act 1991 and Contrary to Section 211 of the said Act.

    Updates to this page

    Published 15 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senate Study Committee on Artificial Intelligence to Hold Sixth Meeting

    Source: US State of Georgia

    ATLANTA (October 15, 2024) — On Wednesday, October 23rd,2024, at 10:00 a.m., the Senate Study Committee on Artificial Intelligence, chaired by Sen. John Albers (R–Roswell), will hold its sixth hearing, in conjunction with the House Technology and Infrastructure Innovation Subcommittee on AI.

    EVENT DETAILS:                      

    • Date: Wednesday, October 23rd, 2024
    • Time: 10:00 a.m.
    • Location: UGA Iron Horse Plant Sciences Farm, Watkinsville, GA 30677
    • This event is open to the public and will be live-streamed on the Georgia General Assembly website here.

    ABOUT THE MEETING:         

    The committee is tasked with promoting responsible innovation, competition, and collaboration in public and private sectors will allow Georgia to be a leader in ensuring that such technology will advance in a way that enforces the existing consumer protection laws and principles for its citizens while enacting any additional appropriate safeguards against, fraud, unintended bias, discrimination, infringements on privacy, and other potential harms from AI.

    MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES:

    We kindly request that members of the media confirm their attendance in advance by contacting Jantz Womack at senatepressinquiries@senate.ga.gov. 

    # # # #

    Sen. John Albers serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Safety. He represents the 56th Senate District, which includes portions of Cherokee, Cobb, and North Fulton counties. He may be reached at his office at 404.463.8055 or by email at john.albers@senate.ga.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: “Our system allows us to prevent data center failures”

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –

    Photo: hackathon “Digital Breakthrough” / VKontakte

    First year student of the Master’s program “Product approach and data analytics in HR management» Konstantin Balcat and his team of like-minded people have developed a system for predicting hard drive failures based on machine learning. With this project, they are among the best at the Digital Breakthrough hackathon for the second year in a row. Vyshka.Glavnoe talked to Konstantin about developing innovations and studying at the university.

    About the project

    — The system we propose allows companies providing cloud services and using their own hard drives to promptly manage stocks and equipment in data centers, as well as effectively plan purchases and optimize the warehouse. At the same time, the possibility of warranty service for purchased batches of equipment is preserved. All this is especially important for large cloud providers.

    The idea for this solution arose from a case and problem proposed by the company “Sila”, which our project helps within the framework of the hackathon “Digital Breakthrough”. Based on historical data on the use and failure of disks, we can predict the moment of failure of a new disk in the future. At the same time, our system takes into account the features of each specific batch of equipment. This allows for more competent management of resources and prevention of failures in the operation of data centers.

    About the team

    — Our team won the regional hackathon “Digital Breakthrough” in Omsk last year with this project. In 2024, in the same hackathon, but at the federal level, we again entered the top, taking 4th place. We are currently negotiating with the company “Sila” about further development and implementation of our solution in the industry.

    The team also includes Daniil Galimov, Alexander Serov, Alexander Kharlamov and Artem Tarasov. We met two years ago at the educational forums “I am a professional” in IT and specialized programs at Sirius. Since then, we have taken part in dozens of competitions, in some of which we won or took prizes. Now, under the grant “Code-AI” of the Foundation for Assistance to Innovations, we are developing a system for identifying marine mammals using aerial photographs. All participants work as IT specialists in Russian bigtech companies: Daniil Galimov and Alexander Kharlamov are specialists in backend and Python, Alexander Serov and I are machine learning engineers and project managers.

    About HSE and studies

    – This year I entered the Higher School of Economics Faculty of Computer Science. My program, “Product Approach and Data Analytics in HR Management,” is being implemented jointly with Alfa-Bank. Having a technical education, I considered it important to delve into the field of management and people management. At the same time, I did not want to stray too far from the technical side and artificial intelligence engineering. It was in the FCN program that I saw such an opportunity. Now I am developing a solution for analyzing interpersonal communications using large language models. It was important for me to have the opportunity to discuss, collaborate with Alfa-Bank, and receive feedback on my project during classes.

    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.

    http://vvv.hse.ru/nevs/edu/974825227.html

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: DAPN and DAPO Contract Changes

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Updated draft contract documentation published to support Domestic Abuse Protection Notice (DAPN) and Domestic Abuse Protection Order (DAPO) pilots.

    The Government intends to launch the Domestic Abuse Protection Notice (DAPN) and Domestic Abuse Protection Order (DAPO) pilot in November 2024.

    The pilot will operate in Greater Manchester, Croydon, Sutton, Bromley and with the British Transport Police.

    The LAA has published updated draft contract documentation to support the pilot and to give providers at least 4 weeks’ notice of the pilot commencement.

    The 2024 Standard Civil Contract can be found here: Standard civil contract 2024 – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

    The 2022 Standard Crime Contract can be found here: Standard Crime Contract 2022 – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

    Further guidance will be published prior to the commencement of the pilot. We have published a draft version of the Criminal Bills Assessment Manual (Legal aid guidance – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk))

    Updates to this page

    Published 15 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: The Villers-Cotterêts Call for an honest, trustworthy digital space in the Francophone world (4 Oct. 2024)

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

    A free, open and safe Internet is an essential tool for promoting exchanges, inclusion and development. As digital platforms form a significant part of the Internet, their social responsibility must not be ignored.

    The Francophonie is a community of language and values, of women and men whose common language is French, and of the 88 member countries of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) which promote the same values: democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as a constant commitment to cultural and linguistic diversity.

    While a source of progress and opportunities, the digital transformation also raises multiple challenges for OIF member countries: fighting the digital divide, promoting inclusion, protecting fundamental rights, promoting pluralism of currents of thought and opinion, maintaining the integrity of electoral processes and promoting and protecting the right to reliable, high-quality information, and to be protected from fraudulent, malicious and hate content, as well as all forms of discrimination.

    This Call is intended to help address these challenges by inviting digital platforms to step up their commitment to a safer and more honest digital space.

    To this end, We, the Heads of State and Government of countries which have a shared relationship with French, meeting on 4 and 5 October 2024 for the 19th Francophonie Summit in the French Republic,

    Intending to work to develop, within the Francophonie and beyond, a digital space which is inclusive, respectful of democracy and human rights and encourages cultural and linguistic diversity, in accordance with our commitments in the Bamako Declaration (2000), the Saint-Boniface Declaration (2006), the 2022-2026 Strategy for Digital Francophonie, the Declaration on the French Language in the linguistic diversity of Francophonie (2022) and the Declaration of the 18th Francophonie Summit in Djerba (2022);

    Drawing on the guidelines applicable to digital cooperation and the governance of artificial intelligence (AI) provided by international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, but also the specific instruments of the acquis of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), incorporated in the Geneva Declaration of Principles and the Geneva Plan of Action, as well as in the Tunis Agenda for the Information Society, the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, the NETmundial+10 Multistakeholder Statement, the UNESCO Guidelines for the Governance of Digital Platforms and the Global Digital Compact;

    Continue to pay special attention to the specific needs of all people in the Francophone space, in all their diversity.

    Call on digital platforms to step up their efforts and commitments to an inclusive, pluralistic, high-quality and trustworthy digital space, especially by implementing the following actions and measures:

    Providing greater transparency, diversity and proximity

    1. Guarantee access, in French and in the largest possible number of national and official local languages of OIF member countries, in clear and understandable language, to the terms of service, as well as their policies and content moderation methods;

    2. Implement simple mechanisms which are easily accessible to all, in French and in the largest possible number of local languages of OIF member countries, in order to highlight content which is considered illegal or runs contrary to the terms of service;

    3. Report to the relevant stakeholders, including the users, public authorities and regulatory authorities, on the implementation of their terms of service and content-related policies;

    4. Facilitate Francophone researchers’ and academics’ access to application interfaces and data, under conditions which appropriately protect legitimate rights and interests, including compliance with and protection of users’ personal data and the confidentiality of algorithmic processes protected by trade secrets;

    5. Provide protection for personal data based on transparent, accessible procedures which are understandable by all, in French and in the languages of the countries providing a service, and ensure that there are sufficient human capacities to undertake this role.

    Taking greater responsibility in terms of content moderation

    6. Appoint single regional and subregional contact points with sufficient capabilities to ensure direct communication with the public authorities of OIF member countries, and effective processing of user requests, in French and local languages;

    7. Forge deeper ties with the relevant regulatory authorities, based on the model of commitments made with the Francophone Network of Media Regulators (REFRAM) at the Abidjan Conference on 23 and 24 April 2024;

    8. Set up moderation policies and methods for online content, scaled according to needs and capable of taking account of diverse cultures and national and regional languages, whether they be carried out automatically or are supervised by humans;

    9. Acknowledge the key role of associations, action groups, non-governmental organizations, and more generally, recognized bodies in Francophone civil societies as trusted flaggers, which can produce well-founded, reasoned requests to facilitate priority processing by digital platforms.

    Helping better protect Francophone societies and information spaces from risks linked to the use of their services

    Under all circumstances:

    10. Assess, within public reports, the risks of large-scale dissemination in OIF member countries of content which could channel hate speech or lead to violence on any discriminatory grounds; propose, in collaboration with the relevant stakeholders, preventive measures aimed at reducing such discrimination;

    11. Strengthen the legal and normative frameworks which organize the protection of the rights of the child in the digital space, in accordance with international human rights law and in particular the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

    12. Set up measures to provide high levels of confidentiality, safety and security for minors using their services;

    13. Collaborate, in accordance with the 2019 Christchurch Call, on quickly and effectively eliminating illegal terrorist and violent extremist content online;

    14. Take special care to prevent risks relating to misinformation and foreign interference; to this end, support independent fact-checking initiatives, including by backing the work of the OIF in this area, such as its ODIL platform;

    15. Use recommendations systems which provide a wide variety of information sources, as well as the free expression of pluralism of currents of thought and opinion, including by identifying and promoting content which is labelled by independent professionals, such as the Journalism Trust Initiative, all in compliance with national legislation;

    16. Help develop ethical and responsible artificial intelligence, which respects human rights, development and peace, as well as the Sustainable Development Goals;

    In election periods:

    17. While strictly observing countries’ sovereignty and complying with their legislation, help strengthen democratic institutions by maintaining the integrity of electoral processes, including by setting up public assessment and risk-reduction protocols specifically dealing with the integrity of elections or referendums in OIF member countries, before, during and after each process;

    18. Transparently identify public policies, particularly during electoral cycles; monitor the monetization of publications by political parties and their representatives and store these ads and all information enabling them to be analysed in a library with exhaustive content, which is accessible online and regularly updated;

    In crisis periods:

    19. In emergency or crisis situations such as armed conflict, environmental or public health crises, analyse the impact of operations, products, services and advertising systems of companies on fundamental rights and the dynamics of said situations.

    Contributing to cultural and linguistic diversity and fair remuneration for content creation

    20. Actively and tangibly promote cultural and linguistic diversity in creating, producing, distributing, disseminating, accessing and using cultural goods and services online, including in developing artificial intelligence;

    21. Help develop artificial intelligence which encourages cultural and linguistic diversity to combat the risk of homogenous, culturally-poor content;

    22. Help promote the use of various languages in this area, particularly in order to incorporate this cultural and linguistic plurality/diversity into the training for generative artificial intelligence models;

    23. Help with the discoverability of Francophone cultural and scientific content and in national and local languages spoken within the Francophone space as well as making available and promoting digital content which is representative of the cultural and linguistic diversity of the Francophonie, including by (i) presenting collected data to create models without prejudice to applicable intellectual property rules and (ii) promoting algorithmic explainability in the interests of users;

    24. Provide effective protection for works protected by copyright and related rights without depriving users of the effective benefit of exceptions to copyright and related rights;

    25. Guarantee fair and equal remuneration for creators in all countries in the Francophone space and for rights holders when they have consented to their work being used on digital platforms through licensing agreements.

    Contributing to digital inclusion and the training of users to create Francophone digital citizens

    26. Actively contribute to strengthening digital literacy and training in digital careers for people from OIF member countries, particularly young people and women, by supporting and collaborating with the “D-Clic, Formez-vous au numérique” project, thus improving the digital literacy of all Francophone users regarding products, services, processes and risks associated with the platforms in their design, operations and uses;

    27. Help implement media and information education programmes to give users more autonomy and develop their critical thinking with regard to information with which they interact online, in French and in the local languages of OIF member countries, including by supporting OIF action in the areas like the ODIL platform, and by collaborating with the relevant public authorities, universities, civil society organizations which work with groups in vulnerable situations, researchers, librarians, teachers, special educators, IT and media professionals, journalists, artists and cultural professionals;

    28. Contribute to cooperation between OIF member countries in the area of education on the media, IT and digital citizenship, encouraging shared experiences, best practice and resources.

    We continue to work towards the objectives set out in this Call and to support the actions enabling us to meet them;

    To this end, we ask the International Organisation of La Francophonie to regularly monitor this Call, in conjunction with the relevant stakeholders within the framework of the Strategy for Digital Francophonie and work already underway in this area;

    We call on digital platforms to hear this Call and help achieve its objectives, in particular by cooperating with the relevant stakeholders.

    Source: Press Service, Presidency of the French Republic

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI: Baltic Horizon Fund publishes its NAV for September 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    The net asset value (NAV) per unit of the Baltic Horizon Fund (the Fund) amounted to EUR 0.7099 at the end of September 2024 (0.8011 as of 31 August 2024). The month-end total net asset value of the Fund was EUR 101.9 million (EUR 95.8 million as of 31 August 2024). The EPRA NRV as of 30 September 2024 stood at EUR 0.7510 per unit.

    In September 2024, the Baltic Horizon Fund successfully completed the private placement and issued 23,927,085 new units corresponding to a gross value of EUR 6.29 million.

    In September 2024, the consolidated net rental income of the Fund remained at the level of EUR 1.0 million (EUR 1.0 million in August 2024).

    At the end of September 2024, the Fund’s consolidated cash and cash equivalents amounted to EUR 10.0 million (31 August 2024: EUR 3.9 million). As of 30 September 2024, the total consolidated assets of the Fund were EUR 256.8 million (31 August 2024: EUR 249.8 million).

    For additional information, please contact:

    Tarmo Karotam
    Baltic Horizon Fund manager
    E-mail tarmo.karotam@nh-cap.com
    http://www.baltichorizon.com

    Baltic Horizon Fund is a registered contractual public closed-end real estate fund managed by Alternative Investment Fund Manager license holder Northern Horizon Capital AS. Both the Fund and the Management Company are supervised by the Estonian Financial Supervision Authority.

    Distribution: Nasdaq, GlobeNewswire, http://www.baltichorizon.com

    To receive Nasdaq announcements and news from Baltic Horizon Fund about its projects, plans and more, register on http://www.baltichorizon.com. You can also follow Baltic Horizon Fund on http://www.baltichorizon.com and on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and YouTube.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Minister MacAulay announces research funding for an innovative, sustainable poultry sector

    Source: Government of Canada News

    News release

    October 15, 2024 – Guelph, Ontario – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

    Today, the Honorable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, toured the University of Guelph’s research facilities to meet with researchers and learn about their innovative work in support of a sustainable poultry sector. As part of his visit, Minister MacAulay highlighted that the Government of Canada is delivering an investment of $5,155,608 to the Canadian Poultry Research Council (CPRC) through the AgriScience Program – Clusters Component, an initiative under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

    This funding will allow the CPRC to partner on research that will ensure poultry welfare at all levels of the production chain, meeting the consumer demand for healthy and safe poultry products, and decreasing the environmental impacts of poultry farms—including ambient air quality, emissions, and the effect on humans and birds in the surrounding area.

    Some examples of Cluster activities include upcycling Canadian fruit waste to develop novel feed ingredients, managing environmental conditions to reduce the risk of avian influenza, researching alternatives to antimicrobials, and optimizing feed to reduce particulate matter emissions.

    Research funding in the poultry sector is crucial for the continued development of sustainable practices and improved animal welfare.

    Quotes

    “Investments in research are vitally important to the future of our agricultural sector. By making sure our hardworking poultry farmers are using best practices and adopting innovative solutions, we’re not only strengthening our economy, we’re building a resilient industry that meets the needs of consumers, while protecting our environment for generations to come.”

    – The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

    “This new injection of funding from AAFC will ensure continued innovation and excellence in research that benefits the entire Canadian poultry supply chain. Research will focus on three main areas – environment and climate change, economic growth, and sector resilience – looking for ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, find innovative approaches to disease management, and improve the overall strength of the poultry sector.”

    – Caroline Wilson, Executive Director of the Canadian Poultry Research Council

    Quick facts

    • The Canadian poultry industry contributed about $5.5 billion in farm cash receipts in 2021, with over 2,800 chicken producers, 1,200 egg producers, 513 turkey producers, and 232 hatching egg producers across the country.

    • The CPRC leads the industry in its national research endeavours and seeks to address national poultry and egg research priorities, driven by the National Research Strategy for Canada’s Poultry Sector.

    • The CPRC has delivered the 3 previous poultry clusters and is made up of five members: the Canadian Hatching Egg Producers, the Egg Farmers of Canada, the Turkey Farmers of Canada, the Chicken Farmers of Canada, and the Canadian Poultry and Egg Processors.

    • The Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) is a $3.5-billion, 5-year agreement (2023 to 2028), between the federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen the competitiveness, innovation, and resiliency of the agriculture, agri‐food and agri‐based products sector.

    • The AgriScience Program, under the Sustainable CAP, aims to accelerate innovation by providing funding and support for pre-commercial science activities and research that benefits the agriculture and agri-food sector, and Canadians.

    • The AgriScience Program – Clusters Component supports projects intended to mobilize industry, government and academia through partnerships, and address priority national themes and horizontal issues.

    Associated links

    Contacts

    For media:

    Annie Cullinan
    Director of Communications
    Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
    annie.cullinan@agr.gc.ca

    Media Relations
    Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
    Ottawa, Ontario
    613-773-7972
    1-866-345-7972
    aafc.mediarelations-relationsmedias.aac@agr.gc.ca
    Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn
    Web: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: IMF Staff Completes 2024 Article IV Consultation Mission to Chad

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    October 15, 2024

    End-of-Mission press releases include statements of IMF staff teams that convey preliminary findings after a visit to a country. The views expressed in this statement are those of the IMF staff and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF’s Executive Board. Based on the preliminary findings of this mission, staff will prepare a report that, subject to management approval, will be presented to the IMF’s Executive Board for discussion and decision.

    • After increasing to 4.9 percent in 2023, growth is expected to moderate this year, reflecting a slight decline in oil production and the impact of floods.
    • Following a decline in 2023, inflation is expected to increase significantly in 2024 on account of higher fuel and food prices before moderating over the medium term.
    • The authorities are encouraged to pursue ongoing efforts to enhance sustainability of public finances and increase their contribution to development objectives.
    • As the authorities are finalizing their National Development Plan for the next five years, the IMF staff team discussed with them a number of medium-term macroeconomic challenges Chad is facing. The team made recommendations aimed at increasing resilience against climate change, improving the business climate, strengthening governance, and reducing gender disparities.

    Washington, DC: An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team, led by Mr. Édouard Martin, Mission Chief for Chad, visited N’Djamena to hold discussions on the 2024 Article IV consultation from October 3–15, 2024. Mr. Vitaliy Kramarenko, Deputy Director of the IMF African department, joined the mission for policy discussions. The Article IV discussions will continue in the coming days.

    At the conclusion of the discussions, Mr. Martin issued the following statement:

    “Chad’s economic activity grew by 4.9 percent in 2023, driven by a rebound in agricultural production, an increase in public investment, and higher oil production. After declining in 2023 (to 4.2 percent from 8.3 percent at end-2022) owing to a slowdown in food prices, year-over-year inflation went back up to 8.7 percent at end-August 2024, reflecting a rebalancing in domestic fuel prices and a rebound in food prices during a particularly difficult lean season.

    “The overall fiscal balance deteriorated substantially in 2023—to -2.7 percent of non-oil GDP from +4.9 percent in 2022. Non-oil revenue increased steadily as a result of tax administration reforms while current expenditures remained elevated, reflecting in part spending pressures related to the arrival of refugees from Sudan and the large use of emergency spending procedures (Dépenses avant ordonnancement, DAOs).

    “The banking sector remains undercapitalized. At end-December 2023, the sector’s capital adequacy ratio was below the regulatory minimum, while non-performing loans amounted to 31.5 percent of total loans. The mission emphasized the need to promptly finalize and start implementing restructuring plans for the two systemic public banks.

    “Looking ahead, the outlook for 2024-25 remains broadly favorable but subject to significant risks. The economy is expected to decelerate this year owing to a slight decline in oil production and the impact of floods. Despite a further decline in oil production, growth would increase to 3.4 percent in 2025 owing to better agricultural crops and livestock activity. Reflecting substantial increases in food and fuel prices, inflation would increase to 8.8 percent year-over-year at end- 2024 before gradually declining over the medium term. Risks include a possible intensification of regional conflicts, large fluctuations in oil prices, and an increase in climate-change related events, such as the recent floods.

    “Despite a further decline in oil revenue, the overall fiscal balance would somewhat recover in 2024. Non-oil revenue would increase significantly, reflecting further tax administration reforms, the increase in domestic fuel prices, and the renewal of telecommunications licenses. Current spending would decline, reflecting the phasing out of one-off spending related to the political transition and the election and the progress in reducing the use of emergency spending procedures.

    “With oil revenue expected to further decline over the medium term, discussions focused on measures to further improve domestic non-oil revenue mobilization, including through digitalization, and contain current expenditure, including the wage bill and transfers to the energy sector. The mission also encouraged the authorities to ensure that budget allocations for social spending (e.g., health, education, women, and environment) are actually spent and to reform public procurement to increase the efficiency of public investment.

    “The authorities are finalizing their National Development Plan, which will articulate the policies and reforms the government intends to implement over  the next five years to meet its development objectives. In this context, the mission discussed the key medium-term macroeconomic challenges that Chad is facing. It stressed the importance of ensuring a sustainable and inclusive development, which will notably require mobilizing concessional financing and grants to finance investment in key areas and taking measures to promote the development of the private sector and the diversification of the economy. It also made recommendations aimed at increasing resilience against climate change, improving the business climate, strengthening governance, and reducing gender disparities.

    “The IMF team would like to thank the Chadian authorities and other counterparts for their hospitality, excellent cooperation, and candid and constructive discussions.”

    The mission met with Mr. Mahamat Idriss Déby Into, President of the Republic of Chad; Mr. Tahir Hamid Nguilin, Minister of State for Finance, Budget, Economy and Planning; Ms. Ndolenodji Alixe Naïmbaye, Minister of Hydrocarbons, Mines, and Geology; Mr. Patalet Kanabe Marcelin, Minister of Water and Energy]; Mr. Idriss Ahmat Idriss, National Director of the regional central bank (BEAC); and other senior officials, as well as representatives of the private sector, civil society and international development partners.

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Julie Ziegler

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

    @IMFSpokesperson

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2024/10/15/pr-370-chad-imf-staff-completes-2024-article-iv-consultation-mission

    MIL OSI

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: OEP report “another damning indictment of the Stormont Executive” – Cllr Smyth

    Source: The Green Party in Northern Ireland

    OEP report “another damning indictment of the Stormont Executive” – Cllr Smyth
    Green Party Councillor for Lisnasharragh, Brian Smyth has stated that today’s report by the Office for Environmental Protection on biodiversity in Northern Ireland is another damning indictment of the Stormont Executive.
    Cllr Smyth said “The report finds that agri-industry in its current form is making unsustainable demands on the environment. Our current land use is out of control and poisoning our land, rivers and air. It has spelt out in stark terms how we need to reduce pollution by nutrients from farming and sewage, as well as an urgent need to restore natural habitats and move towards more regenerative farming practices. Yet only a number of months ago, the DAERA Minister Andrew Muir delivered a weak action plan for Lough Neagh. I have little faith that the minister, his department or the Executive can meet the challenges head on.”
    “Beyond the photo ops and bland press statements the Stormont Executive shows no leadership or political will to tackle our biodiversity crisis. They continue to be held in the grip of the Agri Food sector, for whom some put profit above human health and our precious environment.”
    “It’s no accident how we have gotten here. Northern Ireland has been ranked 12th worst in the world for biodiversity loss.”
    Cllr Smyth concluded “The Stormont Executive is a public health risk to us all.”
    ENDS
    Press enquiries – Brian Smyth 07823 668431

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –