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  • MIL-OSI Video: Secretary Blinken hosts a Ministerial on Addressing the Urgent Situation in Venezuela – 9:00 AM

    Source: United States of America – Department of State (video statements)

    Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken hosts a Ministerial on Addressing the Urgent Situation in Venezuela in New York City, New York, on September 26, 2024.
    ———-
    Under the leadership of the President and Secretary of State, the U.S. Department of State leads America’s foreign policy through diplomacy, advocacy, and assistance by advancing the interests of the American people, their safety and economic prosperity. On behalf of the American people we promote and demonstrate democratic values and advance a free, peaceful, and prosperous world.

    The Secretary of State, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the President’s chief foreign affairs adviser. The Secretary carries out the President’s foreign policies through the State Department, which includes the Foreign Service, Civil Service and U.S. Agency for International Development.

    Get updates from the U.S. Department of State at http://www.state.gov and on social media!
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    #StateDepartment #DepartmentofState #Diplomacy

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

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Egypt: Ensure Alaa Abdel Fattah is not detained after completing length of unjust prison term

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Egyptian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release Egyptian-British activist Aala Abdel Fattah who will have completed the length of his unjust five-year prison sentence in three days on 29 September, said Amnesty International today.

    In reprisal for his activism, Egyptian authorities last arrested Alaa Abdel Fattah on 29 September 2019, and subsequently, following a grossly unfair trial, sentenced him to five years in prison on charges including “spreading false news.” There is a risk that the authorities will refuse to release the prominent political activist, despite having served the full five years in prison, by refusing to count time spent in pre-trial detention as part of his prison sentence already served.

    “Alaa Abdel Fattah has spent most of the last decade being repeatedly arrested and unjustly imprisoned simply for peacefully exercising his human rights. He is a prisoner of conscience – he should never have been forced to spend a single minute behind bars. The prospect that the authorities could further extend his unlawful imprisonment instead of releasing him is appalling,” said Mahmoud Shalaby, Amnesty International’s Egypt Researcher. 

    “Egyptian authorities have a dreadful track record of indefinitely detaining political dissidents by concocting new reasons to keep them locked up. If the authorities fail to release Alaa Abdel Fattah this would further compound the cruelty and injustice he has already suffered in custody. The Egyptian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release him and allow him to reunite with his loved ones at long last.”

    The authorities may also seek to extend his arbitrary detention by bringing fresh charges against him – Egyptian authorities have a track record of indefinitely detaining individuals imprisoned for political reasons by bringing new bogus identical or similar charges, even after a court has ordered their release or they have completed their sentence; an abusive practice known as “rotation”.

    For years Alaa Abdel Fattah was detained in deplorable conditions and security officials subjected him to torture and other ill-treatment in custody. Following a public outcry, he was transferred to Wadi al-Natroun Prison in May 2022 where his health and detention conditions improved. It was only recently that authorities finally allowed him access to reading material as well as television and written correspondence.

    However, prison authorities have continued to deny him access to fresh air and sunlight for the past five years,  only allowing him to exercise in an indoor hall. Authorities also continue to deny him access to his lawyer as well as to consular visits from the British authorities.

    On 20 December 2021, an Emergency State Security Court (ESSC) convicted Alaa Abdel Fattah on charges including “spreading false news” and sentenced him to five years in prison following a grossly unfair trial in reprisal for his activism. Human rights lawyer Mohamed Baker and blogger Mohamed Radwan “Oxygen” were also convicted on similar charges and sentenced to four years in prison. On 19 July 2023, following sustained campaigning for his release, Mohamed Baker received a presidential pardon after nearly four years of arbitrary detention.

    Background

    Alaa Abdel Fattah is a prominent political activist and government critic who has been targeted for his role in the 2011 uprising. He is among thousands of individuals who continue to be arbitrarily detained without legal basis in Egypt solely for exercising their human rights and/ or following proceedings violating fair trial rights. 

    Since President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s reactivation of the Presidential Pardons Committee (PPC) in April 2022, the Egyptian authorities released hundreds of individuals held for political reasons, including prominent activists, but Alaa Abdel Fattah was excluded from this process. Egyptian authorities continued to carry out arrests of actual or perceived critics amid an unrelenting crackdown on dissent.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI China: Recycled water becomes Beijing’s stable second water source

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, Sept. 26 — Water reclaimed from treated residential sewage and collected rainwater has become the second most important urban water supply source for the Chinese capital of Beijing, according to the municipal water authority.

    In the year 2023, the city recycled 1.28 billion cubic meters of water, of which 1.18 billion cubic meters was used for ecological and environmental purposes to replenish the city’s natural water resources, according to the department’s data.

    “The amount of recycled water accounted for nearly 30 percent of the city’s total water consumption last year, a record high, making it the stable second water source in Beijing,” said Fu Chaochen, Beijing Water Authority director of sewage treatment and reclaimed water management.

    Since the beginning of 2023, Beijing has extended its sewage collection pipe network by 729 km and renovated 50 km long rainwater drainage pipelines. The city’s sewage treatment capacity has reached 7.85 million cubic meters per day, said Fu.

    Six water recycling plants are currently under construction in Beijing. Meanwhile, the water authority has launched a massive cleaning work of rainwater drainage ditches and outlets for better rainwater collection.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: The Government of Canada recognizes the national historic significance of the Amos Indian Residential School, commemorated under the Residential School System National Historic Event

    Source: Government of Canada News

    The Government of Canada recognizes the national historic significance of the Amos Indian Residential School, commemorated under the Residential School System National Historic Event

    September 26, 2024          Saint-Marc-de-Figuery, Quebec                   Parks Canada

    Parks Canada and the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada will participate in the unveiling ceremony of two commemorative plaques highlighting the national historic significance of the Amos Indian Residential School, which is commemorated under the Residential School System National Historic Event.

    Open from 1955 to 1973, the Amos Indian Residential School was part of the residential school system for Aboriginal children that was formally established by the federal government during the 19th and 20th centuries.

     

    Please note that this advisory is subject to change without notice.

     

    The details are as follows:

     

    Date:                Monday, September 30, 2024

     

    Time:               Ceremony begins at 10 a.m. (EDT)
                             Media are requested to arrive by 9:45 a.m. (EDT)          

    Location:         Saint-Marc-de-Figuery, Quebec

    The exact location of the press conference will be given to accredited media only. Media representatives wishing to participate in the media availability should register with pc.media@pc.gc.ca.

                                                                                                              -30-

    Information and RSVP:
     Media Relations
    Parks Canada Agency
    855-862-1812
    pc.media@pc.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: David Olusoga’s new book joins the struggle to make Black history mainstream

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jenny Woodley, Senior Lecturer in Modern American History, Nottingham Trent University

    For decades, Black history in the UK has been siloed from the mainstream, as if incidental to the nation’s history. Black History Month in October is dedicated to celebrating Black heritage, but the rest of the year, it feels largely neglected and ignored. Public historian and broadcaster David Olusoga, is at the forefront of efforts to integrate Black history into our national story.

    His latest book, Black History for Every Day of the Year, co-created with two of his siblings, Yinka and Kemi, is another contribution to that work. This attractive and substantial book has an entry for each calendar day detailing an event, person, place, or theme associated with black history.

    There are biographies of artists, musicians, activists, politicians, filmmakers, writers, and scientists. We learn about legal cases, such as Brown v Board of Education, when racial segregation in US schools was ruled unconstitutional, and the Mansfield Judgment, a 1772 British ruling which decided the fate of enslaved African James Somerset, and was used by abolitionists in their campaign to end slavery.

    We get to see important objects, like the Benin Bronzes, a collection of sculptures created by skilled artisans in the Kingdom of Benin – now part of Nigeria – which were looted by British forces in 1897. They were then given to institutions like the British Museum, where some are still on display.

    The book narrates histories of violence and injustice, from centuries of enslavement and brutal colonial rule, to South Africa’s Sharpeville massacre when, in March 1960, 69 people protesting apartheid laws were killed by the police.

    The tragedy of the 1981 New Cross fire in south London, where 14 young Black people were killed in a suspected arson attack on a house party, is recounted as is the racist murder of teenager Stephen Lawrence, also in south London in 1993.

    It tells stories of resistance and resilience, such as the uprising of enslaved people in Jamaica in 1760, known as Tacky’s revolt, and the 1961 Freedom Rides, when Black and white students challenged racial segregation on American buses and were met with violence.

    In Britain it examines the Bristol bus boycott of 1963, a four-month-long protest against the bus company’s refusal to hire Black or Asian drivers. Many of the events and names will be familiar to some readers but there is likely to be plenty that is new and novel.

    It is not a book which invites intensive reading, but rather the joy is to dip in and out, finding connections between entries, dates and themes. The popularity of social media “On This Day” posts suggests many readers will enjoy connecting past with present.

    At the end of the volume, as well as a glossary of terms, are 12 timelines which place some of the entries into a more cohesive – though potentially more limiting – narrative.

    For example, they outline Black resistance to slavery, abolitionist movements, and histories of imperialism and colonialism. Both here and throughout the book readers are pointed to connections between the entries. The text is enhanced by beautiful illustrations at the beginning of each month, which explore objects, places and themes associated with the entries, and the timelines are likewise creatively illustrated.

    Black History for Every Day is educational and informative, but it is written with a deft touch and its format, along with the illustrations and inclusion of photographs, mean it is also engaging and accessible.

    The scope of the histories included is global and many are transnational, showing the connections between the struggles and stories of people of African descent across the world. However, the majority of entries are associated with British and US history. This is not surprising given the authors’ research interests and the likely market for the book.

    While it is apparent that an attempt has been made to be geographically and chronologically diverse, around a third of the 366 entries deal with US history, suggesting that our understanding of Black history is still often dominated by its American iterations.

    The book is not attempting to break new ground. The timeline of the US civil rights movement, for example, begins with the Supreme Court ruling to desegregate education in 1954 and includes the acts of nonviolent direct action which have dominated the widely accepted “master narrative” of the era.

    However, the book does at least go slightly beyond the usual cut-off point to include the Black Panther Party’s breakfast program, which addressed poverty and hunger in the Black community between 1969 and 1980, and the murder of Black Panther deputy chairman Fred Hampton, who was killed in 1969 at the age of 21.

    The entry for Martin Luther King Jr. claims he organised the Montgomery bus boycott, ignoring the contributions of black women who were the driving force behind the movement. This is somewhat modified by the entry for activist Rosa Parks, which acknowledges the work of the Women’s Political Council in Montgomery.

    The book’s purpose is not to be comprehensive; it cannot be, given its breadth. Rather, each entry is intended to serve as an introduction. The authors explain they hope people will be inspired to find out more after reading it.

    Taken together, the daily entries narrate centuries of discrimination, violence and injustice against people of African descent. But they also tell stories of Black resilience, innovation, talent and achievement. The Olusogas’ book is published in time for Black History month in the UK, but it makes the case for engaging with black history beyond a single month every year.


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    Jenny Woodley has received funding from the British Academy and the Leverhulme Trust.

    – ref. David Olusoga’s new book joins the struggle to make Black history mainstream – https://theconversation.com/david-olusogas-new-book-joins-the-struggle-to-make-black-history-mainstream-238825

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Starmer promises ‘homes for heroes’ – here’s what we know about veteran homelessness in England

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Lisa O’Malley, Senior lecturer, social policy, University of York

    Clare Louise Jackson/Shutterstock

    In a surprise announcement, Keir Starmer told Labour party conference that his government would end homelessness for veterans. “Homes will be there for heroes,” the prime minister said.

    Labour has promised to build 1.5 million new homes as part of its manifesto. In his speech, Starmer also said that care leavers and victims of domestic abuse will have a “guaranteed roof over their head”.

    I’ve been involved in research about veteran homelessness for ten years. While Starmer’s promise is welcome, it will be hard to achieve. Government data reported that there were 2,110 homeless families with an armed forces veteran in England in 2022-23, a 14% increase from the previous year.

    But that figure is likely to underestimate overall levels of housing insecurity among veterans. Many people who leave military service could be considered “hidden homeless”, particularly female veterans who are unlikely to engage with formal services and young service leavers who easily slip through the cracks of existing provision.

    Those who have been lucky enough to find the right service at the right time may live in veteran-specific housing, including supported accommodation. Others may have found help through Operation Fortitude. This government-run referral scheme for veterans at risk of homelessness has housed over 400 people since it began in September 2023. But these services aren’t enough to ensure stable and secure housing for all veterans.

    The scale of the housing crisis has widened the gap between military and civilian life. Service leavers now need to save more and for longer than they did in the past to have any hope of closing the gap between their entitlements in military accommodation and the cost and availability of civilian housing.

    While in the military, service members’ accommodation is deeply subsidised. Today, a service family with two children could be entitled to a three-bedroom house, paying around £320 a month. For single personnel, it could be as little as £106 per month. In 2013 (the most recent available data), most personnel paid less than 12% of their salary for accommodation charges. The civilian population at the time paid between 20% and 40% for housing.

    However, many service members do not consider what they might do once that support ends. The people most vulnerable to homelessness after military service are those who are discharged quickly, for example for medical or disciplinary reasons. They might be required to leave military accommodation within weeks (or sometimes hours), and haven’t had chance to plan for life after the military.

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    Many of the veterans and service members my colleagues and I interviewed for our research spoke of the lack of planning and ability to save. One told us: “When you join at 18 and get a salary at the same time as all my mates’ student loans, you think you’re a multi-millionaire.”

    Our research suggests that home ownership at the point of discharge is out of reach for many. Social housing is not an option for many veterans, who do not qualify if they are single or have available savings.

    Social housing allocation rules require applicants to have a local connection to qualify. The government said it will bring in changes to fully exempt veterans, care leavers and domestic abuse survivors. Veterans are currently exempt from this for five years. But the exemption is irrelevant if there are no suitable properties available, and veterans are consequently likely to be in temporary accommodation.

    Housing in the private rented sector is expensive to secure and costly to maintain. Many service leavers find themselves returning to the parental home, sometimes after many years of successful service.

    Transitioning to civilian life

    The move from military to civilian life is hard to navigate. While it is certainly true that many service leavers thrive in civilian life, others struggle to find the right support and resources. They may not have the financial literacy and planning to know how to navigate the housing system. One veteran described feelings of “abandonment” after leaving service:

    I joined at 16. I did 15 years. I left at 31. The Royal Navy were my parents. … I didn’t know where to go or what to do.

    Many service leavers are affected by trauma and PTSD, as well as other mental health or substance abuse problems. Like civilians suffering from these conditions, these interconnected issues can exacerbate housing insecurity. And long wait times for mental health services can reduce the chances of finding long-term housing as they struggle to maintain tenancies, pay bills on time and keep stable employment.

    How then, can the government and military best help veterans at risk?

    The first 12 months after leaving service are critical to help the transition to civilian life and ensure service leavers have accommodation. In that time, service leavers should be given an automatic referral to a time-limited housing support scheme if they have nowhere to go.

    They could also be given the option to remain in military accommodation with support to give them time to transition. Another direct solution would be to give service leavers money for private rented sector or mortgage deposits.

    These solutions can’t just start when people leave service. Better mental health support and improving financial literacy while still in service is critical.

    And any solutions can’t be short-term. The homeless veterans I have met over the years were often discharged many years before they experienced homelessness. Evidence suggests that within five years post-discharge is a critical time for rough sleeping to be established. Support for those who left service some years ago also needs to be part of the offer.

    Lisa O’Malley receives funding from Forces in Mind Trust.

    – ref. Starmer promises ‘homes for heroes’ – here’s what we know about veteran homelessness in England – https://theconversation.com/starmer-promises-homes-for-heroes-heres-what-we-know-about-veteran-homelessness-in-england-239782

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Himpathy: the psychology of why some people side with perpetrators of sexual misconduct – podcast

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Gemma Ware, Host, The Conversation Weekly Podcast, The Conversation

    In 2018, the Australian philosopher Kate Manne coined the word “himpathy” to describe what she called “the inappropriate and disproportionate sympathy powerful men often enjoy in cases of sexual assault, intimate partner violence, homicide and other misogynistic behavior”.

    This happened to former US President Donald Trump who was found liable for sexually abusing the writer E. Jean Carroll in 2023. Carroll faced abuse from online trolls, she received death threats and was driven from her home.

    What makes somebody more likely to feel himpathetic, either to somebody facing accusations in the public eye, or in their own workplace?

    In this episode of The Conversation Weekly podcast, we speak to a human behaviour expert whose research seeks to understand what makes some people more inclined to support perpetrators of sexual misconduct than the victims.

    Samantha Dodson is an assistant professor of organisational behaviour and human resources at the University of Calgary in Canada. She first started researching the ways people react to accusations of sexual misconduct around the time of the #MeToo movement, as women came forward with accusations of sexual harassment in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein case.

    Dodson and her colleagues wanted to understand why some people are predisposed to express sympathy towards male perpetrators of sexual misconduct, or himpathy. Over a series of five studies, both analysing public comments on X related to the #MeToo movement and through lab-based psychology experiments. Her team used moral foundations theory to build a profile of the kinds of people more likely to be himpathetic.

    Moral foundations theory argues that there are innate moral concerns that everybody holds to different levels. These concerns include respect for authority, loyalty, staying pure, being fair and being caring toward other people.

    Don’t rock the boat

    What we found is that when people strongly value things like loyalty, respect for authority and purity, they’re more likely to feel sympathy toward the man accused of sexual misconduct and feel anger toward the women who made that allegation.

    Dodson says people who hold these moral values very strongly are more likely to see allegations as a threat to the stability of a company, or institution. And, as a result, they’re also less likely to believe a victim.

    It also leads to people being more likely to seek punishment for the women who made the accusations and less likely to seek punishment for the men who have been accused.

    Overall, Dodson found the vast majority of people in their studies were “not himpathetic” and it’s just a small subset of people who react this way.

    The challenge is if those people are in positions of authority, or … if you have one person that you work with who’s himpathetic and you’re a victim you might experience some iciness from them or ostracism.

    Their work also looks at how managers can better deal with accusations of sexual harassment in the workplace as a result of their findings.

    Listen to Samantha Dodson talk about her research and the recommendations from it on The Conversation Weekly podcast, which also features an introduction from Eleni Vlahiotis, business and economy editor at The Conversation in Canada.

    A transcript of this episode is available on Apple Podcasts.

    This episode of The Conversation Weekly was written and produced by Katie Flood with assistance from Mend Mariwany. Sound design was by Michelle Macklem, and our theme music is by Neeta Sarl. Gemma Ware is the executive producer.

    Newsclips in this episode from ABC News,
    PBS News Hour and NBC News.

    You can find us on Instagram at theconversationdotcom or via email. You can also subscribe to The Conversation’s free daily email here.

    Listen to The Conversation Weekly via any of the apps listed above, download it directly via our RSS feed or find out how else to listen here.

    Samantha Dodson receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC).

    – ref. Himpathy: the psychology of why some people side with perpetrators of sexual misconduct – podcast – https://theconversation.com/himpathy-the-psychology-of-why-some-people-side-with-perpetrators-of-sexual-misconduct-podcast-239860

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Get your haul from the Hall as artisan market returns

    Source: City of Liverpool

    Around 70 of the best independent traders will be heading to St George’s Hall next month to showcase a vast array of stunning and unique products.

    The artisan market, which has FREE entry, returns on Sunday 6 October, after the huge success of the inaugural event back in June. Running from 10am to 4.30pm expect stalls filled with beautiful artwork, jewellery, candles and one-off homeware pieces.

    There will also be a whole host of goodies ranging from chocolates, to cheeses and chutneys, right through to a large selection of crafted pieces.

    Outside the Hall, the food zone will be the perfect place to take a break from browsing, with a variety of hot food vendors offering light bites or more substantial meals. And why not sit back and relax inside with a drink and enjoy the live music performances which will be taking place throughout the day.

    The first market took place on 16 June and attracted more than 3,000 visitors. There are already plans for a winter instalment of the market, which will take place on Sunday 3 November.

    Liverpool is home to a well-established markets offer, from the weekly Great Homer Street Market (Greatie Market) – to a regular programme of farmers’ and craft markets. Please visit the Council’s markets webpages for more information.

    Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Health and Wellbeing, Councillor Harry Doyle, said: “There is already an autumnal nip in the air and this artisan market is the perfect, family-friendly way to while away an October day.

    “We were delighted with the numbers who came out in June to support local traders, so we knew it couldn’t be just a one-off event. We know that markets, done right, can be hugely popular and we have never been shy about our ambition to grow our markets and make them a key part of our destination offer which will not only appeal to residents, but will also bring in visitors from outside of the city.   

    “I’m sure this next instalment will prove to be popular once again, and that we can make this a permanent, seasonal offer at the Hall.”

    Local trader and textile designer specialising in unique, bespoke city landscapes, Sandra Hepworth, said: “The market was a big hit in June, and I’m so pleased we’re returning to St George’s Hall again. It’s a place where visitors can enjoy a vast array of high-quality products created by local traders, and get that personal, friendly interaction that makes artisan markets like this really stand out from the crowd.

    “And of course being located in such amazing surroundings really gives this venue the edge. I know so many people who are excited to come along in October – not only to check out the unique pieces for sale, but also to enjoy this incredible heritage gem, which many will be visiting for the first time.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Monarch Private Capital Closes on Tax Equity Financing for Affordable Housing and Historic Rehabilitation of 1904 Farnam in Omaha, Nebraska

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ATLANTA, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Monarch Private Capital (Monarch), a nationally recognized impact investment firm that develops, finances and manages a diversified portfolio of projects generating both federal and state tax credits, is pleased to announce the closing of tax equity financing for the historic preservation and adaptive reuse of 1904 Farnam, a major redevelopment project located in downtown Omaha, Nebraska. The $25 million development, spearheaded by Clarity Development, will transform the historic building into 54 studio and one-bedroom units, providing much-needed affordable housing for the community. The financing includes Nebraska Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTCs) as well as State Historic Tax Credits (HTCs), making it a powerful tool for community revitalization.

    The 1904 Farnam project will offer affordable housing options to tenants earning 40%, 50%, and 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI). All units will be located in a seven-story, elevator-serviced building with ground-floor commercial space, designed to support the local economy and meet community needs. The development is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.

    Originally constructed in 1927 as The Union State Bank building, 1904 Farnam is a significant part of Omaha’s architectural and economic history. The building, which exemplifies early Art Deco design, reflects the spirit of modernity that characterized the 1920s and 1930s. Situated in the heart of Omaha, it has long been a landmark of the city’s growth and development. Of note, the building is located directly across the street from Omaha’s City Hall and the District Courthouse; furthermore, Omaha’s streetcar main route from Downtown to Midtown Omaha will run down Farnam Street.

    “Being part of a development that benefits the community in such a meaningful way is a privilege,” said Rick Chukas, Partner and Managing Director of Historic Tax Credits at Monarch Private Capital. “This project not only preserves a piece of Omaha’s history but also addresses the critical need for affordable housing in the downtown area. We are proud to support developments that have a positive impact on communities.”

    “The 1904 Farnam project is a great example of how LIHTC financing can be used to create affordable housing in areas that need it most,” said Steve LeClere, Partner, LIHTC at Monarch Private Capital. “With the help of Nebraska LIHTCs, we’re able to transform a historic building into modern, affordable housing while preserving the character and history of Omaha.”

    The redevelopment of the Farnam Building continues its legacy as an integral part of the downtown business community, while providing much-needed affordable housing in Omaha. Monarch Private Capital’s involvement underscores its commitment to community impact and sustainable development.

    For more information about Monarch Private Capital and its investment initiatives, please visit http://www.monarchprivate.com.

    About Monarch Private Capital

    Monarch Private Capital manages impact investment funds that positively impact communities by creating clean power, jobs and homes. The funds provide predictable returns through the generation of federal and state tax credits. The Company offers innovative tax credit equity investments for affordable housing, historic rehabilitations, renewable energy, film and other qualified projects. Monarch Private Capital has long-term relationships with institutional and individual investors, developers, and lenders participating in these federal and state programs. Headquartered in Atlanta, Monarch has offices and professionals located throughout the United States.

    CONTACT
    Jane Rafeedie
    Monarch Private Capital
    jrafeedie@monarchprivate.com
    470-283-8431

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4b1343b0-2a34-4a27-ad7b-64b884c626ef

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/SUDAN – El Fasher: humanitarian situation out of control

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Khartoum (Agenzia Fides) – Five months of siege and fighting have worn down the population of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur. The city is considered the last remaining stronghold of the Sudanese armed forces in a region (see Fides, 5/5/2024) that is now almost entirely controlled by the rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of General Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo.More than 1.5 million people are at risk in the city, which has been under siege since April-May, and in the nearby Zamzam refugee camp, 15 km south of El Fasher, where about 260,000 children live and where the humanitarian situation is increasingly deteriorating.Soldiers from a division of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and militiamen from several local armed groups fighting the RSF have barricaded themselves in the city. A coalition of heterogeneous forces united only by their common opposition to the RSF, which has so far managed to hold out against Dagalo’s forces.Last week, the town was hit by a fierce Rapid Support Forces offensive that was narrowly repelled, with heavy casualties on both sides, as shown by satellite photos showing recently dug mounds of earth likely to indicate the creation of mass graves.Faced with the deteriorating humanitarian situation in El Fasher, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (a body set up in 1987 by the then African Union Organization, now the African Union) has issued a call for a cessation of fighting. “The African Commission condemns in the strongest terms the atrocities being committed against the civilian population in the context of the ongoing fighting in El Fasher, which seriously endanger the hundreds of thousands of refugees who have found refuge in the town,” it said in a statement on September 21. “The African Commission on Human Rights urges the parties to the conflict to cease all acts of violence against civilians and to fully respect the principles of discrimination, necessity and proportionality under international humanitarian law.”The “Forum of International Non-Governmental Organizations in Sudan” (Sudan INGO Forum) has, for its part, appealed to the international community at the UN General Assembly to intervene to end the conflict in Sudan that broke out in April 2023. “Sudan is experiencing a man-made food crisis of historic proportions, largely caused by the actions and decisions of the parties to the conflict in violation of international humanitarian law,” the non-governmental organizations said. “As of August 2024, more than 25 million people in Sudan are at risk of acute food insecurity and at least 755,000 people could die of catastrophic famine in the coming months if the international community does not act urgently and decisively,” it said.More than 10 million people have fled their homes since the conflict began in April 2023, making Sudan the world’s largest internal displacement crisis, affecting more than 5 million children and over 2 million people who have fled across borders to neighboring countries. Some health facilities report five child deaths per day. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 26/9/2024)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Samsung Expands Energy-Saving Innovations to Help Customers Get Ahead of Peak Energy Season

    Source: Samsung

     

     
    LONDON, UK – SEPTEMBER 26, 2024 – Today, Samsung Electronics UK announced innovations that provide users with smarter and more efficient ways to control their energy. The company unveiled new technology and partnerships to optimise energy usage throughout the home.
     
    Ahead of Winter, Samsung UK revealed a host of advancements powered by SmartThings Energy: eco-tech provider Hive’s thermostats will be integrated into SmartThings from the middle of October, so customers will benefit from an extension of the British Gas PeakSave program, and Tesla technology will also be compatible with the SmartThings App.

    Increased SmartThings Connectivity with Hive Integration
    To further simplify how users manage their energy usage at home, SmartThings Energy is integrating Hive’s thermostats, so that households can control their home’s temperature directly through the SmartThings app.
     
    The integration of Hive thermostats allows consumers to check their home’s current temperature and set new temperature targets as well as setting at home temperatures when customers are on the move. Installing a Hive Thermostat can save customers up to £172 per year on their heating bill[1]
     

     
    Maximising Energy Savings through Leading Partnerships
    In partnership with British Gas, Samsung UK is also helping households better manage their energy use and make savings when it comes to their energy bills. The expansion of the collaboration between Samsung and British Gas allows SmartThings Energy users to automate appliances, and other connected products, as part of British Gas PeakSave.
     
    The PeakSave program rewards customers for reducing their electricity usage during peak hours, to times when there is more renewable energy readily available. SmartThings Energy users can automate appliances’ operating modes during these times, allowing them to easily take advantage of periods when electricity is half-price due to there being lots of renewable energy available, and rewards users for shifting their electricity to when there is less demand. So far, British Gas has paid over £13 million to 650,000 customers taking part in the scheme.
     
    Boosted Home Energy Experience with Tesla Energy API for UK users
    Energy-saving starts within the home, but it doesn’t need to stop there. Earlier this year at CES Samsung announced its collaboration with Tesla for SmartThings Energy and now UK users can benefit from this increased connectivity, allowing users to easily access information relating to users’ energy production, storage and usage via SmartThings Energy.
     
    Made possible through Tesla’s open APIs, the expansion of SmartThings Energy allows users to connect with their Tesla Powerwall, and Solar Inverter for a more streamlined smart home experience.
     
    In addition to making it easier to manage energy consumption, this integration allows for better preparations for power disruptions and outages. SmartThings syncs up with the Tesla app’s Powerwall ‘Storm Watch’ function – meaning in the case of extreme weather events users can be alerted through SmartThings on their connected Samsung TV’s and mobile.
     
    Deborah Honig, Chief Customer Officer, Samsung UK and Ireland, comments: “We know that controlling energy consumption is a top priority for our customers, and as we head into winter this becomes an even bigger priority.
     
    “We are continually evolving our SmartThings energy management features and extending our partnerships with British Gas and Tesla, to make it even easier and more intuitive for customers to manage their home energy usage.
     
    “By providing new automated tech solutions that help our customers save time, money and energy, we are seeing even more people do that ‘little bit extra’ every day to take of their home and the planet.”
     
    Dan Rosenfield, Managing Director of Hive, added: “We are delighted to be extending our partnership with Samsung to energise a greener, fairer future for our customers. As we head into Winter, we are making it easier for our customers to save money on their energy bills and cut carbon through integrating our market-leading propositions into the SmartThings app.”
     
    SmartThings is the only place where Tesla Powerwalls, British Gas PeakSave, Samsung Smart Home appliances, and Smart Meters can be managed in one place to optimise the use of energy across the home. These new partnerships and innovations are part of Samsung’s drive to enhance the multi-device experience of SmartThings users.
     
    [1] Saving of £172.17 based on a Ofgem typical annual gas consumption of 11,500 kWh at the October 2024 UK average unit price of 6.238 pence per kWh including VAT. Emissions saved per year: 508 kg CO2 (0.184kg per kWh). Actual savings will vary depending on individual circumstances./span>
     

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI: BNB Chain and UXUY Telegram Wallet Join Forces to Integrate 1,000 DApps into Social Scenarios

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Singapore, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BNB Chain, home to the world’s most active on-chain ecosystem, and UXUY, the first decentralized multi-chain wallet on Telegram, have announced a partnership. This collaboration will integrate BNB Chain with Telegram through UXUY Wallet, leveraging its excellent compatibility and scalability, marking a critical step towards the mass adoption of Web3.

    The focus of this partnership is to make Web3 more accessible, ensuring users can seamlessly manage BNB through UXUY Wallet and enabling the integration of 1,000 DApps into social scenarios. As of September 26, popular DApps like PancakeSwap and Four.Meme have already been integrated, significantly enhancing BNB Chain’s accessibility and influence.

    Kevin, founder of UXUY, stated, “As a product incubated and invested in by Binance Labs, UXUY is excited to collaborate with BNB Chain and contribute to the integration of BNB Chain with Telegram. This positions UXUY as a vital gateway linking Web3 with social scenarios. Future collaborations will expand across areas such as social trading, Meme ecosystems, DApp integration incentives, and the organization of Hackathons.”

    About BNB Chain

    BNB Chain is a leading blockchain ecosystem designed to support the growing demands of the decentralized web (Web3). Offering a unique combination of speed, scalability, and affordability, BNB Chain has become a popular choice for developers building decentralized applications (DApps) and for users seeking to participate in the world of decentralized finance (DeFi).

    About UXUY

    UXUY is a next-generation multichain infrastructure incubated and invested in by Binance Labs. UXUY creates the first decentralized multi-chain wallet and DApp application center based on Telegram. Bringing 900 million users into the multi-chain crypto ecosystem.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Publicly Traded Tritent International Corp. and Burst Technologies, Inc. Sign MOU to Outline Strategic Merger Plans

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LAS VEGAS, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Tritent International Corp. (“Tritent”), a US public company (US OTC: TICJ), and Burst Technologies, Inc. (“Burst Technologies”), a Delaware corporation, are pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) that outlines the key terms and conditions for a proposed strategic merger. The MOU was officially executed on September 24, 2024.

    In a groundbreaking move to enhance healthcare billing efficiency, Burst Technologies and Tritent are excited to announce their potential merger, which introduces the build out of an AI-accelerated billing solution designed to recover Medicare Part B costs for nursing homes across the United States where in most cases currently goes unrecovered. This innovative technology aims to streamline billing processes, reduce administrative burdens, and ensure that nursing homes receive maximum reimbursement for these products and services.

    Key Benefits of Burst’s AI-Accelerated Healthcare Solution

    Maximized Reimbursement: Nursing homes can achieve direct recovery of Medicare Part B costs, significantly improving their bottom line.

    Efficiency Boost: Automated processes reduce the time and effort required for billing, freeing up staff and resources to focus more on patient care.

    Enhanced Accuracy: Technology and AI-driven algorithms minimize errors and optimize claim submissions and help ensure compliance with Medicare and insurance regulations.

    Key Points of the MOU

    This proposed merger is designed to enhance the capabilities and market presence of both organizations by integrating Burst Technologies as a wholly owned subsidiary of Tritent.

    Merger Structure: Under the proposed terms, Tritent will become the primary entity, and Burst Technologies will be integrated as a wholly owned subsidiary, ensuring operational continuity and strategic alignment between the companies.

    Governance and Management: Post-merger, key management and operational roles within Tritent will be filled by executives from Burst Technologies. Additionally, Burst Technologies will appoint a majority of the Board of Directors of the merged entity, ensuring a cohesive leadership team.

    Share Exchange: As part of the merger, Tritent will issue common restricted shares in accordance with the Definitive Share Exchange Agreement, facilitating the acquisition of Burst Technologies.

    Good Standing and Compliance: Both companies have committed to maintaining good standing with relevant regulatory bodies and ensuring compliance with all applicable laws, including those set forth by the OTC Markets, FINRA, and the State.

    Mutual Responsibilities: The MOU emphasizes the spirit of cooperation, transparency, and mutual respect between the parties. Both Tritent and Burst Technologies will work together diligently to finalize the Definitive Share Exchange Agreement and ensure the success of the merger.

    Market Size: Burst Technologies has developed a multi-year financial plan, focusing on expanding its client base and boosting revenue inside the Nursing Care Facilities and Continuing Care Retirement Communities representing 4%, or $180 billion, of the $4.5 trillion National Healthcare Expenditure (NHE) marketplace1.

    “This MOU represents an exciting opportunity for both companies to leverage each other’s strengths and drive growth in our respective markets,” said Reno J. Calabrigo, CEO of Tritent International Corp. “We are confident that this merger will create significant value for our shareholders and position us for long-term success.”

    Eric Hansen, CEO of Burst Technologies, added, “This partnership marks the first step toward making the nursing home industry a leader in technology. We’ll start by building the first AI-driven billing solution specifically for nursing homes. From there, we’ll continue pushing boundaries to bring fresh innovation to an industry ready for transformation. Our goal is not just to modernize long-term care, but to set a new tech standard for the entire sector, and we’re confident this merger offers an exciting path for our shareholders.”

    The MOU sets the framework for the negotiation and execution of a Definitive Share Exchange Agreement, which both parties expect to finalize in the coming weeks.

    About Burst Technologies, Inc.

    Burst is building out an AI-accelerated healthcare billing solution designed for America’s nursing homes, addressing a critical gap where many Medicare Part B supply costs currently go unrecovered. Currently, Burst supports 30 nursing homes and over 3,000 residents, ensuring they receive the healthcare returns they deserve. With a market size serving 1.6 million elderly residents across 16,700 facilities, Burst can ensure that essential Medicare reimbursements are accessible, transforming the way nursing homes manage healthcare billing. With a focus on healthcare inclusion, Burst’s success-based model allows any nursing home to sign up at no upfront cost, delivering reimbursements directly to their bank accounts. For more information please visit, http://www.burstmedicalbilling.com.

    About Tritent International Corp.

    Tritent International Corp. (US OTC: TICJ) is focused on the acquisition of controlling equity interests in disruptive companies by taking an active role to improve their growth, provide capital and management expertise.

    For more information, please contact:

    Tritent International Corp.
    Reno Calabrigo, Director
    Email: info@tritentintlcorp.com

    Burst Technologies, Inc.
    Eric Hansen, Director
    Email: Eric@Burstbilling.com

    Safe Harbor Statement

    This Press Release may contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company has tried, whenever possible, to identify these forward-looking statements using words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “plans,” “intends,” “potential” and similar expressions. These statements reflect the Company’s current beliefs and are based upon information currently available to it. Accordingly, such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by such statements, as well as other risks discussed from time to time in our filings with OTC Markets, including, without limitation, our latest Quarterly Report filed on August 13th, 2024. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or advise in the event of any change, addition or alteration to the information catered in this Press Release, including such forward-looking statements.

    Footnote

    1: references Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Office of the Actuary, “National Health Expenditures 2022 Highlights” https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/national-health-expenditures-2022-highlights

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/65b45d29-324a-4e7c-8687-64bd4f854a51

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: 25/09/2024 Varsovia | Sejm Government information in the Sejm regarding actions taken in connection with the flood

    MIL ASI Translation. Region: Polish/Europe –

    Fuente: Gobierno de Polonia en poleco.

    El primer ministro Donald Tusk presented to the Sejm information on the government’s work so far in connection with the flood that is sweeping through Poland. Ministers involved in aid activities also presented their reports. The last few days have seen numerous crisis teams, meetings with injured residents of flooded areas, and work on solutions that will make it easier to deal with the effects of flooding. One thing is certain – thanks to the actions of the services, residents and volunteers, a larger disaster was avoided. Thanks to the “silent heroes” The head of government began his speech by thanking the inhabitants of the areas affected by the state of natural disaster, the services, and everyone involved in providing help. “Without this, the gigantic effort of tens of thousands of people there and hundreds of thousands of people who in various ways show solidarity and practical help to those fighting the flood, we would not have had it with this greatest downpour in history,” said the Prime Minister from the parliamentary rostrum. Much damage was done during the flood. houses and apartments as well as roads, bridges, schools, clinics, the hospital in Nysa was also flooded. However, thanks to people’s efforts, the damage will be much less than during the flood in 1997. “According to preliminary assessments, the destroyed and flooded residential premises this year, despite this great flood, the largest in history, will probably be 10 times less than in 1997″ – Donald Tusk informed. Thanks to the efforts of residents and state services, many towns were saved. We also protected large cities such as Wrocław and Opole. “When another staff briefing was held in Wrocław this morning, I saw the relief of the Lower Silesian Voivode and the President of Wrocław when they could confirm the forecast from the last hours that the state of alarm on the Oder in Cław was a thing of the past ”- noted the Prime Minister. From the very beginning, the Prime Minister and the Ministers monitored the situation in places that were threatened by high water, including: Kłodzko, Głuchołazy, Nysa, Jelenia Góra, Wrocław, Głogów, Nowa Sól and Szczecin. Pre-emptive actionsThe state acted from the first hours, when alarming forecasts from the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management regarding upcoming heavy rainfall appeared. Local crisis meetings, as well as those with the participation of the Government Center for Security, the Ministry of Interior and Administration and the services, were held from Wednesday, September 11. “On September 11, the RCB sent a message informing about the threat. Immediately after receiving this information, I ordered a briefing to be organized with the services and voivodes of the voivodeships that were at risk, recommending that all actions be taken to prepare for the flood,” emphasized the Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration, Tomasz Siemoniak. Another crisis meeting was held on September 12, this time under the leadership of Minister T. Siemoniak. The next one is on Friday, September 13, in Wrocław, with the participation of the head of government. “On Friday 13, the morning forecast was: the rainfall would not be as heavy as we forecast the day before. On Friday evening, the forecasts deteriorated again,” explained Donald Tusk. From the very first moments, the government did not ignore forecasts and warnings and took action to secure endangered places. “From the first day, we called on all residents and repeated it every day, many times: do not ignore the fire brigade’s recommendations. and the police about the need to evacuate. From the first hours, the fire brigade, police and army reached places that were not yet flooded but at risk,” noted the Prime Minister. Soldiers from the Territorial Defense Forces were also involved in the activities from the very beginning. “The Polish Army has been involved in the activities from the very beginning. actions to protect the life and health of the population and in all activities related to the fight against floods,” said the Deputy Prime Minister and head of the Ministry of National Defense, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, in the Sejm. and the police were on standby even before the high waters arrived. The services secured crisis places and ensured the safety of residents. “The first hours were devoted primarily to rescue. […] First of all, it was necessary to save human life, health and property and belongings of these people. This was the first, most difficult phase,” noted Donald Tusk. The second phase of assistance is ad hoc support. The government has secured funds to fight the effects of the flood. Each injured party can receive PLN 10,000 in emergency support. “Currently, over PLN 30,000 of these benefits have been paid within a few days. […] There will certainly be no shortage of funds,” the head of government emphasized. Flood victims can also receive up to PLN 100,000 in non-refundable support for the renovation or reconstruction of farm buildings. In the case of residential buildings, they can apply for up to PLN 200,000 in non-refundable support. “Wherever it is necessary to rebuild from the foundations or relocate residents from clearly flooded areas, or reconstruction will not make sense – the state will take on the organizational and financial effort,” he assured. Primer Ministro. Yesterday, the Council of Ministers adopted a draft bill containing provisions that are intended to facilitate the fight against the effects of the flood and help those affected. We will not leave people alone. The government has secured funds in the state budget to help those affected by the flood. We will also receive financial support of PLN 20 billion from the European Commission. Ministries also organize aid from their own budgets. “On Saturday we will amend the draft budget. Currently, we will have approximately PLN 23 billion at our disposal for eliminating the effects of the flood, emergency and financial assistance, repairs and reconstruction of infrastructure, as well as for Reconstruction Plus,” said the Prime Minister. Every person who has been left without a roof over their head can count on for state aid. No one will be left without a safe shelter. “We need to provide temporary places of residence, it may be a modular house, a container or, in the short term, a hotel for which we will pay,” said Donald Tusk. The Prime Minister assured that the fire brigade and army will continue to help in removing the effects of the flood. “We will have the forces of the army and fire brigade on site until this action of cleaning, drying and adapting these places to life again ends,” the head of government emphasized. The Reconstruction Plus program will lead to new infrastructure will be built in places affected by the flood, which will guarantee greater security in the future. Transparency of state activities. Crisis meetings held in southern and western Poland were broadcast by the media. Thanks to this, everyone could listen to the current report on the activities of the government, local government and services, as well as get acquainted with the current meteorological and hydrological situation. “I have consistently tried to make information on the flood situation available to all interested parties at least twice a day. This was necessary because there was a huge wave of disinformation that could impede the work of the services,” noted the Prime Minister. The Internal Security Agency was also involved in work for information security, which, among others, detained a person spreading false information about blowing up the embankments. Social media accounts were also detected that spread disinformation related to the flood in Poland. Commitment and dedication of the services. The great heroes of recent days are firefighters, soldiers and policemen who ensure the safety of residents in flood areas around the clock. “At the moment, 25 units are still assigned to the operation. thousand soldiers, 20 thousand are involved in direct operations. At the peak, there were over 25,000 soldiers engaged in the fight against the flood and removing its effects,” informed the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense. As part of the activities of the Polish Army, over 1,300 units of military equipment were deployed. Additionally, engineering troops were involved in the activities, clearing 129 km of roads and making 27 reconnaissances of damaged bridges. 125 Patrol and Transport flights were also carried out. 4,539 people were evacuated, including 98 people by helicopter. “The army operates in all domains, it also takes care of serving meals. Since the beginning of the campaign, 18,000 have been spent. meals for civilians and 27,000 meals were distributed. liters of bottled water. So far, 48 military tankers have delivered approximately 1.4 million de litros de madera to various towns affected by the flood,” said Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz. All services cooperated together for a very important purpose. The services’ action is still ongoing and will continue as long as necessary. The entire government was involved in anti-flood activities and those related to the effects of the flood. A total of 14 Ministers presented reports on the activities of their ministries to the Sejm.

    MILES AXIS

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Translation: 26/09/2024 Deputy Prime Minister W. Kosiniak-Kamysz in the Sejm: The Polish Army has been involved in all activities related to the fight against the flood from the very first hours

    MIL ASI Translation. Region: Polish/Europe –

    Fuente: Gobierno de Polonia en poleco.

    From the very first hours, the Polish Army has been involved in actions protecting the life and health of the population, helping citizens, and in all state activities related to the fight against flooding. (…) At this moment, over 25,000 are still assigned to the operation. soldiers. 20 tips. soldiers of the Polish Army are taking part in the action directly at this moment. At a key moment, at the peak of involvement, there were over 25,000. soldiers involved in the fight against the flood and removing its effects – said Deputy Prime Minister W. Kosiniak-Kamysz during his speech in the Sejm. On September 25, in the Sejm, the Government presented information on the involvement of the services in the fight against the flood and removing its effects. All types of armed forces were used in fighting the flood. All these actions that we carried out were fully coordinated with the activities of the State Fire Service and Police under the leadership of the crisis staff – noted the head of the Ministry of National Defense at the beginning of his speech. In his speech, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that the military’s actions began immediately after the end of the meeting of the Government Security Center on 11 September. On September 11, the Territorial Defense Forces recognize it. On September 12, the formation of military task groups begins. The command of this action is entrusted to the commander of the Territorial Defense Forces, General Krzysztof Stańczyk, who from that moment on commands the entire operation – not only the territorial defense troops, but also the operational troops assigned to the operation. From that moment, four military task groups are formed: in Lesser Poland, Greater Poland, Silesia and Lower Silesia… (…) From September 12, engineering task groups separated from operational troops are created with eight green helicopters, self-propelled transporters, sailing with sappers’ boats, with troops engineering. On September 12, commanders of WOT brigades establish close cooperation with services and territorial administration bodies. As a result, they direct liaison officers to 6 provincial crisis management centers and 4 district and 11 municipal centers. September 13, when the headquarters is held in Wrocław under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister. Oh dios. 14 at the General Staff in Warsaw, with the participation of the most important commanders, I receive a report from the Chief of the General Staff, the Commander of the Territorial Defense Forces and the General Commander of the Armed Forces about the readiness of 4 task teams, task groups and 5 engineering teams. They are going into action, they are the first to be launched on September 13 in the Opole Voivodeship in Głuchołazy, said the head of the Ministry of National Defense, informing about the army’s activities. The head of the Ministry of National Defense informed that direct actions were directed, among others, to: over 1,300 units of military equipment, including 758 passenger vehicles and trucks, 17 sanitary vehicles, 43 bulldozer-loaders, 59 dump trucks, 19 PTS, 40 sappers’ boats. Further actions that were taken concerned the engineering component. (…) Engineering troops have been present in operations from the very beginning. Now they are carrying out activities analyzing the places where the bridges broke. Special teams have been identified. Engineering troops carried out operations to unblock 129 kilometers of roads. They reconnoitred 27 damaged bridges in four locations: Głuchołazy, Krapkowice, Stronie Śląskie, Lądek, Zdrój. Corrective actions are already underway. The crossing is being carried out. The engineering forces will again build temporary bridges using the DMS-65 structure obtained from the Government Agency of Strategic Reserves. The reconstruction of temporary road infrastructure is being carried out in most towns, said Vice Prime Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz. One of the important tasks carried out by the army was air support. 125 air missions were completed. And there are patrol and transport flights, those that dropped 744 big bags. 4,539 people were evacuated, including 98 people using helicopters. The army also provides water and food to residents of the affected areas. It also supports their Distribution. Since the beginning of the campaign, 18,000 meals have been served to civilians and 27,000 liters of bottled water have been distributed. 48 cisternas have so far delivered 1.4 millones de litros de agua to various towns affected by the flood. The Polish Army also provides medical assistance in post-flood areas. A military hospital was established in Nysa, which has so far admitted about 400 patients. The couple shows how much involvement was needed in this operation as well. Seven mobile clinics have been established, not only outpatient clinics, but also specialized clinics. The military sanitary inspection has been involved, informed the Deputy Prime Minister. The next steps include the operation of the chemical forces component. There are 8 teams working to disinfect rooms. Disinfection is underway in schools, kindergartens, public places, as well as, if necessary, in households and farms where water has reached and a full return to functioning and normality is needed – said the Deputy Prime Minister of the Ministry of National Defense to the Sejm. The Head of the Ministry of National Defense informed about Operation “Feniks”, launched on September 23, aims to support the activities of residents and local governments in cleaning up and rebuilding post-flood areas. We have activated a multi-wave, multi-month Operation Feniks, aimed at rebuilding, tidying up and returning not only to the state before the flooding and damage, but as the Prime Minister indicated the direction at his staff, to raise the quality of these places, the usability of these places to the best possible standard. The bromear couple is very important to us that the quality of life and normality return there as soon as possible – said the head of the Ministry of National Defense. At the end of the speech, the head of the Ministry of National Defense thanked all the soldiers of the Polish Army, commanders, their subordinates, officers, non-commissioned officers, all of them for their boundless dedication. Bromear loves one of you proud. All those who benefit from your help are grateful to you. To Minister Siemoniak, I would like to thank the firefighters of the State Fire Service, the Police, all uniformed services subordinated to the Ministry of Interior and Administration and all the firefighters of the volunteer fire brigades, all those who showed up to fight the flood in extraordinary numbers. Minister Klimczak is responsible for all services related to the unblocking of communication routes – railways, road workers, transport workers. But most of all, on behalf of not only myself, but also all of us, I would like to thank the solidarity and brotherhood of Poles, which always wins, said the head of the Ministry of National Defense.

    MILES AXIS

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Translation: ASIA/BANGLADESH – The trials of Bangladeshi Christians and the support for the Rohingya (with the help of the Pope): interview with the Apostolic Nuncio

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Italy –

    Source: The Holy See in Italian

    Thursday, September 26, 2024

    by Fabio BerettaDacca (Agenzia Fides) – “The situation in Bangladesh”, where Christians represent just 0.30% of the population, “is very delicate. In general, Christians live peacefully, but there have been cases in which they have suffered abuse and bullying from their neighbors.” This was told by Archbishop Kevin Randall, Apostolic Nuncio in Bangladesh since 2023, who, when asked by Fides about the recent meeting he had with the Chief Advisor of the transitional government, outlines a cross-section of society and the commitment and support of the local Church and the Pope Francis in support of the Rohingya. After the protests and social tensions, what is the situation in Bangladesh? The situation in Bangladesh is very delicate. With an interim government some are wondering when there will be elections. Others want to rewrite the Constitution. Others say an interim government has no authority to rewrite the Constitution. In the meantime, mob violence dominates the country and the rule of law is reduced. How are Christian communities experiencing this historical moment? In general, Christians live peacefully, but there have been cases in which they have suffered abuse and bullying by of their neighbors. The police are helpless. After Sheik Hasina left the country, many officers became afraid and went into hiding. They left their uniforms to wear civilian clothes and no longer went to work. Do the Christian communities have specific expectations or feelings compared to the rest of the population? Yes, the Christian community hopes that the provisional government will protect the minorities in this transition period. Christian villages are under threat because there are those who aim to take over their land, even if they come from the same ethnic group as them. Many citizens, whether Christian, Buddhist or Hindu, are treated as unwelcome people, “as if they were foreigners”, when they are not. The Constitution declares that Bangladesh is a secular state with an official religion: Islam. But there are those who confuse the expression “official religion of the State” with the idea that “minorities do not belong to this land” and that this is “an Islamic State”. During the meeting with Muhammad Yunus, Chief Advisor to leadership of the provisional government, the need to “protect” minorities emerged. Where does this concern come from? According to the 2022 census, Christians in Bangladesh represent 0.30% (about 500,000 believers) of the national population. There have been cases of threats against villages, homes and especially schools. In many Catholic schools there have been intimidations leading to several teachers being fired. Some Muslims told school leaders that their children would dress in a certain way, especially if they were girls. But wearing the burqa is against our uniform regulations. With Dr. Yunus I discussed issues that concern Christians, as well as Buddhists and Hindus. It must be remembered that the Hindu minority is around 8%. They had many temples destroyed, their shops were burned. Dr. Yunus agreed that all minorities need protection and is trying to establish a law that would bring order. Recently, the creation of an interreligious dialogue body between the Holy See and scholars of Islam in Bangladesh has been suggested. How was this idea received? The idea of ​​having an interreligious dialogue is not mine. The Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, through a letter, asked for it but already years ago, when Cardinal Jean Louis Tauran was head of the then Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. Tauran himself, during his trip here to Bangladesh, spoke about it with former prime minister Sheik Hasina. I raised this idea with Sheik Hasina and, more recently, asked Dr. Yunus and his team to think concretely about this possibility. The concept was well received, but I think they have other concerns. With respect to this project, are there already concrete steps for its realization? No, but they can be proposed. We can’t force it. Unlike the United Arab Emirates, where Pope Francis signed the document on fraternity, or Indonesia, where the same Pontiff signed a new document on tolerance praising the “friendship tunnel” that connects the cathedral to the mosque in Jakarta, In Bangladesh, interreligious dialogue does not find much support, even when it is practiced at the level of academic discussions. On humanitarian assistance to Rohingya refugees, the Chief Councilor asked for the support of the Vatican. How can this request be taken into consideration? The Chief Councilor did not ask me for help from the Holy See, as reported by various media. He has asked for the Holy See’s support in the reforms he and his team are carrying out but not in terms of financial help, including with regards to the Rohingya. It was I who asked the Chief Adviser, on behalf of the Pope, to continue to help and protect the Rohingya. I explained that the Catholic Church’s Caritas organization has been helping displaced people continuously since 2017, but that funding is dwindling. Before my departure for Bangladesh, Pope Francis asked me not to forget the Rohingya. These migrants were experiencing violence in their own country and came here for help. But unfortunately, the Rohingya are perceived by the Burmese as an ethnic and religious group that belongs to “this country”, Bangladesh. Cardinal Patrick D’Rozario and I paid an official visit. The living conditions are very difficult. Children and young people are not given any education. Additionally, by law, 25% of our assistance must go back to the local community. I am happy to announce that the Pope is sending further financial aid. This gesture of his will help many. (Agenzia Fides 26/9/2024)Share:

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Celebrating the Launch of Mockingbird in the D2N2 Region

    Source: City of Derby

    Local authorities across the D2N2 region are proud to announce the launch of Mockingbird, a pioneering and award-winning programme led by The Fostering Network, which transforms the delivery of foster care.

    This innovative model has been successfully implemented across fostering services in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Derby, and Nottingham (D2N2), creating a strong, resilient, and supportive network for children, young people, and foster families.

    Mockingbird constellations have been established in every local authority fostering service across D2N2. Each constellation consists of up to ten satellite families (fostering households) supported by a Hub Home Carer and a liaison worker. The Hub Home Carer plays a key role by offering both planned and unplanned sleepovers, emotional and practical support, and organising monthly social events to strengthen the bond between families. These events will range from movie nights to picnics and BBQs, creating opportunities for carers and young people to form lasting relationships.

    The Mockingbird programme is funded through the Department for Education’s Fostering Recruitment and Retention grant, which also supports the Foster for East Midlands fostering recruitment hub. With continued success and subject to future funding, the goal is to expand the Mockingbird model even further across the D2N2 region, enabling more foster families to benefit from the programme.

    The official launch event was held in August at the Woodland Adventure Zone, Portland College in Mansfield. Attended by fostering families, key stakeholders, and special guests, the event marked an exciting milestone for the fostering community. Heads of service from each local authority, including Andy Smith, – Derby City Council’s Strategic Director of People Services, Rachel Miller, Nottinghamshire County Council’s Service Director for Children’s Commissioning and Resources, and representatives from The Fostering Network, joined local councillors and colleagues from the Department for Education (DfE) to celebrate this achievement. The Cabinet Members for children from Derby City Council and Nottingham City Council were in also in attendance.

    Mockingbird has been running successfully in England since 2015, with constellations established throughout the country. In recognition of its impact, the programme was awarded the Big Impact Award at last year’s Third Sector Awards, with judges praising it as “a fantastic and innovative project, bringing real change and with demonstrable impact”. They described it as “a sea-change in the way foster care is delivered.”

    Andrea Dore, Mockingbird Team Manager said,

    This event marked the coming together of our fostering families across the D2N2 region to celebrate friendships, having fun, making memories, and building a strong sense of community. I am so proud of what we have all collectively achieved in a few short months.

    This community-based model of fostering is working, and we are already seeing really positive outcomes. Our foster carers feel better supported, and our young people are making friends, enjoying sleepovers, and building relationships with safe, trusted adults outside their immediate fostering families.

    What I love most is that everyone in our fostering families is included in the activities and events we offer, and the support provided by our Hub Home Carers is invaluable.

    Sarah Olowo, Mockingbird Coach from the Fostering Network said,

    I am extremely proud to be part of the Mockingbird launch for D2N2, a lot of hard work and effort went into the implementation phase and launching. It was wonderful to see the Mockingbird model come to life; you can see the foster carers and young people forming their micro communities of support with one another supported by their fantastic hub home carers and liaison workers.

    A truly heartwarming experience seeing the young people of all different ages bonding with their hub home carers and building friendships with one another.  Each constellation is unique, but you can see they share many of the Mockingbird core values as that sense of family, having fun and building safe communities shone throughout the day.

    Andy Smith, Derby City Council’s People Service Director said,

    As the Strategic Director for People Services in Derby I was delighted to represent the four Directors of Children’s Services across Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire at the official launch of our Mockingbird programme. It was inspiring to speak to carers and hear first hand what a difference being part of a constellation is making to the lives of children and carers, which is even more impressive given that constellations have only been in place for a relatively short space of time. 

    It was clear to see and hear that young people and foster carers are forming friendships and building relationships, with some lovely examples of young people accessing sleepovers for the first time.

    Overall, foster carers told me they are feeling more supported with hubs becoming more self-sufficient. It was a great launch event with a real buzz around the park. Well done and thank you all!

    For information on Mockingbird visit the Fostering Network Mockingbird website or for more information about fostering visit the Foster for East Midlands website or call 03033 132950.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Homes England visit promotes strength of partnership work in hitting housing targets Sheffield welcomed Homes England to the city so development partners could come together and see progress on the latest projects and discuss future opportunities. 26 September 2024

    Source: City of Sheffield

    Sheffield welcomed Homes England to the city so development partners could come together and see progress on the latest projects and discuss future opportunities.

    Homes England Chief Executive Officer Peter Denton visited five sites across Sheffield alongside senior Sheffield City Council representatives and other development partners. The visit was arranged to see first-hand some of the developments that either have recently been completed or are ongoing and has been achieved by those multiple partners.

    The visit was born from the ongoing work of the Sheffield Together Housing Growth Board, which is chaired by the Chief Executive Officer of Sheffield City Council and includes Homes England, the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, the Sheffield Property Association and the South Yorkshire Housing Partnership.

    This partnership is key for the area in bringing housing experts together to find ways of hitting housing targets and making sure the demand for good quality, safe, affordable homes across Sheffield is met.

    The group visited three different housing sites last Monday (16th September) as well as the newly opened largest purpose-built food hall in Europe, Cambridge Street Collective – which has recently been crowned British Food Hall of the Year 2024 at the British Street Food Awards.

    The trip culminated in a stay at Sheffield city centre’s latest hotel development at the Radisson Blu – part of the ongoing Heart of the City II development.

    The first visit of the day was at the Capital & Centric-developed Eye Witness Works, the former cutlery factory in the city centre’s Devonshire Quarter.

    Here, Sheffield City Council Chief Executive Kate Josephs joined Mr Denton and representatives of Homes England and Capital & Centric to tour the development of apartments and town houses and see some of the new properties available to rent for families and professionals in the city centre.

    After a walk across Sheffield city centre which took in the Pound’s Park development, the visit stopped at Cambridge Street Collective to see the thriving food hall up and running that has recently been crowned British Food Hall of the Year 2024 at the British Street Food Awards.

    WATCH: Homes England visit highlights the benefits of partnership working in hitting targets

    From here, the next stop was the Together Housing development on Meadowsweet Close and Sorrel Way, just off Ferrars Road in Tinsley.

    Here, Council leader, Cllr Tom Hunt, ward councillors, local MP Clive Betts and Homes England representatives were shown around the development by Together Housing Chief Executive Kevin Ruth and other members of the housing association to see how partnerships such as this can build affordable housing for those in Sheffield that need it.

    Finally, Cllr Hunt and the Council’s Chair of the Housing Committee, Cllr Douglas Johnson, met the visit at the Citu-built Little Kelham affordable housing site off Alma Street in Kelham Island to see a range of new affordable homes being built in partnership with Great Places for city residents near to the city centre.

    The visit was a chance to show how, together, partnerships can help regeneration and development projects deliver, increase the number of affordable homes and bring housing and economic growth opportunities to Sheffield.

    Cllr Douglas Johnson, Chair of Sheffield City Council’s Housing Committee, said:

    “The range of partners is really important because the truth is that no single body can produce the amount of new housing that we need in this country right now.

    “We need councils, housing associations, Homes England and private developers to all contribute towards this bigger goal of good quality and imaginative housing for the future so that everyone can have a home they can afford.”

    Kate Josephs, Sheffield City Council’s Chief Executive Officer, said:

    “We’re really proud of the partnership work we’ve led through the Council, with Homes England, with the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, with housing associations and the Sheffield Property Association.

    “The Sheffield Together Housing Growth Board is all about delivering the homes we need in our city. Together with all our partners, we are pushing ahead to meet our housing targets and provide great new places for people to live in our city.”

    Cllr Tom Hunt, Leader of Sheffield City Council, said:

    “Across the city we are working hard to increase the number of new homes in our city. Everyone should have a safe, secure and affordable place to call home. Good quality homes are fundamental for enabling everyone to live happy, healthy lives.

    “It is great to see new housing developments being completed across our city. I am excited to see more homes being developed in the coming months and years ahead.”

    Kevin Ruth, Chief Executive Officer of Together Housing, said:

    “It was great to be part of Homes England’s tour of Sheffield and to meet so many people who are as passionate about driving support and investment into the city as we are at Together Housing.

    “The growing need for affordable housing is affecting so many in the region, which is why we were thrilled to have Peter Denton and Sheffield City Council members visit our newest housing community in Sheffield to see first-hand the impact of investment. We welcome the prospect of more opportunities for developing communities in the region and hope to see the steps that are being taken to do so, continue.”

    Sheffield City Council is in the midst of agreeing its new Housing Strategy for the next 10 years, which is in its draft stage having gone through two rounds of public consultation this year. The final Strategy is planned to be brought before the Council’s Strategy & Resources committee meeting this autumn for full approval and ratification.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Architectural competition winner crowned for Wolverhampton’s St George’s neighbourhood

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    This summer saw City of Wolverhampton Council join forces with social impact developer Capital&Centric and the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) to challenge competing teams of renowned architects to put forward their ideas to turn the 5 acre former Sainsbury’s site and historic St George’s Church into a new neighbourhood for the city.

    The team made up of Mikhail Riches and Periscope practices has been crowned the winner.

    Locals flocked to a Dragon’s Den style public consultation event at the University of Wolverhampton at The Halls in July, where each of the 4 teams (made up of 12 collaborating architect practices) pitched their ideas, with people able to give their opinions on their favourite. The competition was overseen by Angela Brady, a former RIBA President.  

    Angela Brady OBE said: “This was a fantastic opportunity for architects to be in competition together, working as a team with other architects to reinvent this disused part of Wolverhampton. All teams came up with vibrant ideas, which made it really hard to pick a winner. 

    “The Mikhail Riches and Periscope team had the edge with their vision, particularly with its retrofitting of the Sainsbury’s building in such an imaginative way. Also the 3 distinct zones they pitched could really create a great future for the area. 

    “This sort of collaboration between Council, developer, RIBA competitions office and architects I think allows a more joined up end result and is a model that other areas should follow.”

    The winning submission proposed a vibrant and varied neighbourhood of sustainable new homes, as well as lush outdoors spaces; boulevards and green streets; shops, cafes and bars; and community spaces.

    They proposed to retain and repurpose parts of the former Sainsbury’s building – in turn saving embodied carbon. The practices have also put the St George’s Church at the heart of the community, surrounding it with new public squares for pop up cultural events, intimate courtyards and social spaces for people to come together.

    The winning design will form the basis of the evolving St George’s masterplan, with a pre planning application submission to follow later this year.

    The announcement comes as part of Wolverhampton’s annual Business Week, that this year explores the power to boost economic growth through housing. St George’s also features as one of the major opportunities in the council’s Wolverhampton Investment Prospectus.

    Councillor Chris Burden, City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Development, Jobs and Skills, said: “St George’s is a fantastic opportunity to create a game changing neighbourhood of which the city can be proud. It’s a critical part of our citywide plan to unlock investment in considered development that delivers much needed homes and new opportunities for our communities.

    “The architects teams all produced outstanding design proposals and we are relishing the opportunity to work with the winners, Mikhail Riches and Periscope, to further develop their ideas.

    “It is fitting that this news comes during Wolverhampton’s Business Week, with its flagship event, the Business Breakfast, focusing on economic growth through housing, and we believe St George’s provides the opportunity to set a new design benchmark for brownfield regeneration in the city.”

    Developers Capital&Centric are leading delivery of the St George’s site, drawing on their experience of repurposing historic spaces and building standout new neighbourhoods across the UK, all with an acute focus on social impact. With a competition winner now selected, their next step will be to draw up more detailed designs.

    John Moffat, joint managing director at Capital&Centric, said: “From start to finish the St George’s architectural competition has been inspiring, from the variety of designs the architect teams put forward, to the people that came out to have their say on the options. The decision was a tough one, but the design by Mikhail Riches and Periscope is a deserved winner. 

    “St George’s is a standout opportunity to take a redundant city site and turn it into something special for the community – retaining some of the existing buildings whilst creating interesting and welcoming new spaces where people want to spend time. We’ll be spending the next few weeks looking over the winning design with the team of architects and the council to fine tune the plans, so it’s primed for us to submit a phenomenal pre-planning application submission.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Status of Digital Financial Literacy in Lakshadweep Islands: Bottlenecks and Way Forward

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    Today the Reserve Bank of India placed on its website a research study titled “Status of Digital Financial Literacy in Lakshadweep Islands: Bottlenecks and Way Forward” under the Project Research Study1. The study is based on the primary data collected from all the ten inhabited islands in Lakshadweep – Agatti, Amini, Andrott, Bitra, Chetlat, Kadmat, Kalpeni, Kavaratti, Kiltan and Minicoy – to analyse the present status of digital financial literacy and digital financial inclusion. While households were the primary unit of enumeration of the survey, SHG members, bank employees, school authorities, students and business-persons in the islands were also interviewed.

    The major findings of the study are the following:

    • All individual respondents in the surveyed islands reported access to bank deposit accounts. Not just access but the usage of deposit accounts was higher with about 90 per cent of the respondents reporting an operation of their accounts for the purposes of savings.

    • Though there was no gender gap in the access to bank deposit accounts, there was a considerable difference between men and women with regard to banking habits in general, usage of deposit accounts in particular. While about 91 per cent of the men operated their accounts by themselves, the corresponding figure among women was 71 per cent.

    • Not just basic literacy but also digital literacy, assessed in terms of possession as well as competency to use mobile phones and computers, was found to be high among the survey respondents.

    • Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) were the most popularly used means of digital banking in the islands. About 90 per cent of the respondents in the islands had ATM cards, while 80 per cent reported an actual usage of these cards. Internet banking was not widely prevalent in the islands and only about 38 per cent of the respondents used mobile banking.

    • Despite a high degree of financial inclusion and digital literacy, a major barrier towards digital financial inclusion in the islands was the poor Internet connectivity; respondents reported apprehensions about digital transaction failures, which often discouraged them from using Internet and mobile banking.

    • Only about 30 per cent of the survey respondents were familiar with digital hygiene habits assessed in terms of usage of public Internet connections, which can be risky; closing of digital payment apps after transactions; and usage of secure passwords.

    In sum, despite being secluded geographically and with limited economic activity primarily surrounding fisheries and tourism, the financial sector in the Lakshadweep islands is well-entrenched primarily on account of banks. Banks have played an important role in the financial inclusion of the islands. Going forward, strengthening of Internet and mobile network connectivity can be a key to expanding digital financial inclusion in the islands.

    (Puneet Pancholy)  
    Chief General Manager

    Press Release: 2024-2025/1162

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Newsom requests Presidential Major Disaster Declaration to support communities recovering from Park and Borel fires

    Source: US State of California 2

    Sep 25, 2024

    SACRAMENTO – Moving to support the ongoing recovery from July wildfires in Kern, Butte and Tehama counties, Governor Gavin Newsom has requested a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration to further assist recovery efforts in communities impacted by the Park and Borel fires.  

    These wildfires both ignited on July 24, 2024, in connection with an extreme heat event in California. The Park Fire burned 429,603 acres, destroyed 709 structures and became the fourth largest wildfire in California history. The Borel Fire burned 59,288 acres and destroyed 223 structures, including the town of Havilah.

    The Major Disaster Declaration request includes FEMA Individual Assistance and Hazard Mitigation programs, as well as U.S. Small Business Administration Disaster Loans and U.S. Department of Agriculture Emergency Loans for residents and businesses affected in Butte, Tehama and Kern counties. 

    A copy of the Major Disaster Declaration request can be found here. 

    “Many Californians are still feeling the impacts of the devastating Park and Borel fires, and this additional federal assistance would help further their ongoing recovery efforts. I thank the Biden-Harris Administration for their consideration and continued partnership and support for our state.”

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    “These communities impacted by the Park and Borel fires have been hit particularly hard. Butte County has seen multiple disasters including the 2018 Camp Fire which became the deadliest and most destructive fire in our state’s history,” said Cal OES Director Nancy Ward.   

    California previously secured federal Fire Management Assistance Grants to support the response to the Borel Fire as well as the response to the Park Fire in Tehama County and in Butte County. Governor Newsom visited and was briefed by federal, state and local officials at the Borel Fire Incident Command Post and the Park Fire Incident Command Post in July. He proclaimed a state of emergency in Butte and Tehama counties due to the Park Fire and in Kern County to support the response to the Borel Fire.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Newsom issues legislative update 9.25.24

    Source: US State of California 2

    Sep 25, 2024

    SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced that he has signed the following bills:

    • AB 1785 by Assemblymember Blanca Pacheco (D-Downey) – California Public Records Act.
    • AB 1864 by Assemblymember Damon Connolly (D-San Rafael) – Pesticides: agricultural use near schoolsites: notification and reporting.
    • AB 1868 by Assemblymember Laura Friedman (D-Glendale) – Property taxation: assessments: affordable housing.
    • AB 1874 by Assemblymember Kate Sanchez (R-Rancho Santa Margarita) – Crimes: disorderly conduct.
    • AB 1904 by Assemblymember Christopher Ward (D-San Diego) – Transit buses: yield right-of-way sign.
    • AB 1921 by Assemblymember Diane Papan (D-San Mateo) – Energy: renewable electrical generation facilities: definition.
    • AB 1979 by Assemblymember Christopher Ward (D-San Diego) – Doxing Victims Recourse Act.
    • AB 2005 by Assemblymember Christopher Ward (D-San Diego) – California State University: faculty and employee housing.
    • AB 2143 by Assemblymember Damon Connolly (D-San Rafael) – Fairs.
    • AB 2251 by Assemblymember Damon Connolly (D-San Rafael) – Graduation requirements: local requirements: exemptions.
    • AB 2257 by Assemblymember Lori Wilson (D-Suisun City) – Local government: property-related water and sewer fees and assessments: remedies.
    • AB 2300 by Assemblymember Lori Wilson (D-Suisun City) – Medical devices: Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP).
    • AB 2317 by Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen (D-Elk Grove) – Child day care facilities: anaphylactic policy.
    • AB 2340 by Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D-Oakland) – Medi-Cal: EPSDT services: informational materials.
    • AB 2350 by Assemblymember Josh Hoover (R-Folsom) – Open meetings: school boards: emergencies: notifications by email.
    • AB 2353 by Assemblymember Christopher Ward (D-San Diego) – Property taxation: welfare exemption: delinquent payments: interest and penalties.
    • AB 2427 by Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento) – Electric vehicle charging stations: permitting: curbside charging.
    • AB 2455 by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino) – Whistleblower protection: state and local government procedures.
    • AB 2462 by Assemblymember Lisa Calderon (D-Whittier) – Public Utilities Commission: written reports: energy.
    • AB 2534 by Assemblymember Heath Flora (R-Modesto) – Certificated employees: disclosures: egregious misconduct.
    • AB 2552 by Assemblymember Laura Friedman (D-Glendale) – Pesticides: anticoagulant rodenticides.
    • AB 2597 by Assemblymember Christopher Ward (D-San Diego) – Planning and zoning: revision of housing element: regional housing need allocation appeals: Southern California Association of Governments.
    • AB 2661 by Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria (D-Fresno) – Electricity: Westlands Water District.
    • AB 2698 by Assemblymember Tri Ta (R-Westminster) – Route 405: Little Saigon Freeway.
    • AB 2750 by Assemblymember James Gallagher (R-Yuba City) – Electricity: procurement: generation from biomass.
    • AB 2803 by Assemblymember Avelino Valencia (D-Anaheim) – Campaign expenditures: criminal convictions: fees and costs.
    • AB 2832 by Assemblymember Christopher Ward (D-San Diego) – Economic development: international trade and investment.
    • AB 2847 by Assemblymember Dawn Addis (D-Morro Bay) – Electrical and gas corporations: capital expenditures: request for authorization or recovery.
    • AB 2875 by Assemblymember Laura Friedman (D-Glendale) – Wetlands: state policy.
    • AB 2897 by Assemblymember Damon Connolly (D-San Rafael) – Property tax: welfare exemption: community land trusts.
    • AB 2922 by Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella) – Economic development: capital investment incentive programs.
    • AB 2968 by Assemblymember Damon Connolly (D-San Rafael) – School safety and fire prevention: fire hazard severity zones: comprehensive school safety plans: communication and evacuation plans.
    • AB 3007 by Assemblymember Josh Hoover (R-Folsom) – California Environmental Quality Act: record of environmental documents: format.
    • AB 3024 by Assemblymember Christopher Ward (D-San Diego) – Civil rights.
    • AB 3198 by Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella) – Joint powers agreements: retail electric services.
    • AB 3251 by Assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park) – Accountancy.
    • AB 3252 by Assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park) – Shorthand court reporters: sunset: certification.
    • AB 3253 by Assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park) – Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists: licensees: professional land surveyors: surveying practices: monuments and corner accessories.
    • AB 3254 by Assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park) – Endowment care cemeteries: reporting.
    • AB 3255 by Assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park) – Vocational nursing and psychiatric technicians: sunset: licensure.
    • SB 347 by Senator Josh Newman (D-Fullerton) – Subdivision Map Act: exemption: hydrogen fueling stations and electric vehicle charging stations.
    • SB 632 by Senator Anna Caballero (D-Merced) – Vehicles: off-highway recreation: Red Rock Canyon State Park.
    • SB 739 by Senator Angelique Ashby (D-Sacramento) – Construction manager at-risk construction contracts: City of Elk Grove: zoo project.
    • SB 909 by Senator Thomas Umberg (D-Santa Ana) – Steven M. Thompson Physician Corps Loan Repayment Program.
    • SB 941 by Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) – California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006: scoping plan: industrial sources of emissions.
    • SB 974 by Senator Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) – Lithium Extraction Tax: fund distribution.
    • SB 1006 by Senator Steve Padilla (D-San Diego) – Electricity: transmission capacity: reconductoring and grid-enhancing technologies.
    • SB 1099 by Senator Janet Nguyen (R-Huntington Beach) – Newborn screening: genetic diseases: blood samples collected.
    • SB 1140 by Senator Anna Caballero (D-Merced) – Enhanced infrastructure financing district.
    • SB 1142 by Senator Caroline Menjivar (D-San Fernando Valley/Burbank) – Electrical and gas corporations: restoration and termination of services.
    • SB 1146 by Senator Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita) – Mortgages.
    • SB 1221 by Senator Dave Min (D-Irvine) – Gas corporations: ceasing service: priority neighborhood decarbonization zones.
    • SB 1270 by Senator Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) – Department of Food and Agriculture: farm products: licenses and complaints: fees.
    • SB 1313 by Senator Angelique Ashby (D-Sacramento) – Vehicle equipment: driver monitoring defeat devices.
    • SB 1328 by Senator Steven Bradford (D-Gardena) – Elections.
    • SB 1371 by Senator Steven Bradford (D-Gardena) – Alcoholic beverage control: proof of age.
    • SB 1418 by Senator Bob Archuleta (D-Pico Rivera) – Hydrogen-fueling stations: expedited review.
    • SB 1420 by Senator Anna Caballero (D-Merced) – Hydrogen production facilities: certification and environmental review.
    • SB 1425 by Senator Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) – Oil revenue: Oil Trust Fund.

    The Governor also announced that he has vetoed the following bills:

    • AB 99 by Assemblymember Damon Connolly (D-San Rafael) – Department of Transportation: state roads and highways: integrated pest management. A veto message can be found here.
    • AB 718 by Assemblymember Tri Ta (R-Westminster) – Veterans: mental health. A veto message can be found here.
    • AB 828 by Assemblymember Damon Connolly (D-San Rafael) – Sustainable groundwater management: managed wetlands. A veto message can be found here.
    • AB 1975 by Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D-Oakland) – Medi-Cal: medically supportive food and nutrition interventions. A veto message can be found here.
    • AB 2734 by Assemblymember Damon Connolly (D-San Rafael) – Agriculture: Cannella Environmental Farming Act of 1995. A veto message can be found here.
    • AB 2757 by Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella) – Southeast California Economic Region. A veto message can be found here.
    • AB 2899 by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino) – General acute care hospitals: licensed nurse-to-patient ratios. A veto message can be found here.
    • AB 2903 by Assemblymember Josh Hoover (R-Folsom) – Homelessness. A veto message can be found here.
    • AB 3263 by Assemblymember Lisa Calderon (D-Whittier) – Electrical corporations: financing orders. A veto message can be found here.
    • SB 26 by Senator Thomas Umberg (D-Santa Ana) – Mental health professions: CARE Scholarship Program. A veto message can be found here.
    • SB 37 by Senator Anna Caballero (D-Merced) – Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities Housing Stability Act. A veto message can be found here.
    • SB 366 by Senator Anna Caballero (D-Merced) – The California Water Plan: long-term supply targets. A veto message can be found here.
    • SB 954 by Senator Caroline Menjivar (D-San Fernando Valley/Burbank) – Sexual health. A veto message can be found here.
    • SB 1020 by Senator Steven Bradford (D-Gardena) – Law enforcement agency regulations: shooting range targets. A veto message can be found here.
    • SB 1050 by Senator Steven Bradford (D-Gardena) – California American Freedmen Affairs Agency: racially motivated eminent domain. A veto message can be found here.
    • SB 1058 by Senator Angelique Ashby (D-Sacramento) – Peace officers: injury or illness: leaves of absence. A veto message can be found here.
    • SB 1337 by Senator Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) – Elections: form of petitions. A veto message can be found here.

    For full text of the bills, visit: http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.

    Recent news

    Sep 25, 2024

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:Fidencio Guzman, of Imperial, has been appointed Warden at Centinela State Prison, where he has served as Acting Warden since 2023, was Chief Deputy Warden from 2021 to 2023 and was…

    Sep 25, 2024

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    Sep 25, 2024

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Newsom announces appointments 9.25.24

    Source: US State of California 2

    Sep 25, 2024

    SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:

    Fidencio Guzman, of Imperial, has been appointed Warden at Centinela State Prison, where he has served as Acting Warden since 2023, was Chief Deputy Warden from 2021 to 2023 and was Correctional Administrator from 2018 to 2021. Guzman held several positions at Chuckawalla Valley State Prison from 2009 to 2018, including Correctional Administrator, Captain, Correctional Counselor II Specialist and Lieutenant. He was a Sergeant at Centinela State Prison from 2006 to 2009. Guzman served as a First Lieutenant in the California Army National Guard from 2002 to 2009. He was a Correctional Counselor I at Calipatria State Prison from 2003 to 2004, where he was a Correctional Officer from 1999 to 2003 and 2004 to 2006. Guzman earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from California State University, San Diego. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $193,524. Guzman is a Republican. 

    Edward Borla, of Paso Robles, has been appointed Warden at the Correctional Training Facility, where he has served as Acting Warden since 2023. Borla was Correctional Administrator at Salinas Valley State Prison from 2015 to 2023. He was a Captain at the Correctional Training Facility from 2012 to 2015. Borla was a Correctional Lieutenant at Avenal State Prison from 2008 to 2012. He held multiple positions at California Men’s Colony from 1997 to 2008, including Correctional Sergeant, Correctional Lieutenant and Correctional Officer. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $193,524. Borla is a Republican.

    Allison Ganter, of Davis, has been appointed In-Custody Death Review Director at the Board of State and Community Corrections, where she has been Deputy Director since 2014 and was Field Representative and Compliance Monitor from 2000 to 2014. Ganter was a Correctional Facility Specialist at the New York Commission of Correction from 1999 to 2000 and Assistant to the Chairman there from 1997 to 1999. She was a Staff Training Assistant and Legislative Aide in the New York State Assembly from 1995 to 1997. Ganter earned a Master of Arts degree in Criminal Justice and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University at Albany, State University of New York. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $186,876. Ganter is a Democrat. 

    Jennifer Branning, of Susanville, has been appointed to the Board of State and Community Corrections. Branning has been Chief Probation Officer of Lassen County since 2013. She was President of the Chief Probation Officers of California in 2023 and is a member of Lassen Crime Stoppers. Branning earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Studies from California State University, Dominguez Hills. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Branning is registered without party preference.

    Karen Lai, of Berkeley, has been appointed to the Board of State and Community Corrections. Lai has been a Physician at Traditions Behavioral Health since 2019. She was a Resident and Fellow Physician at the University of California, Los Angeles from 2014 to 2019. Lai was a Doris Duke Clinical Research Fellow at the University of California, San Francisco from 2010 to 2011. She was a Sal Romano Research Fellow at Rutgers University from 2007 to 2008. Lai was a Stanford Public Interest Network Fellow at MetroPlus Health Plan Inc. from 2006 to 2007. She is a member of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and the California Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Lai earned a Doctor of Medicine degree from Duke University, a Master of Public Health degree from the University of California, Los Angeles and Master of Science and Bachelor of Science degrees in Biomechanical Engineering from Stanford University. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Lai is a Democrat.

    Recent news

    Sep 25, 2024

    News SACRAMENTO – Moving to support the ongoing recovery from July wildfires in Kern, Butte and Tehama counties, Governor Gavin Newsom has requested a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration to further assist recovery efforts in communities impacted by the Park and…

    Sep 25, 2024

    News What you need to know: New laws will give local communities more authority to protect their neighborhoods from oil and gas operations and drive faster plugging of old oil and gas wells.  INGLEWOOD, CA – Governor Gavin Newsom today signed three bills into law…

    Sep 24, 2024

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:Steve Juarez, of Truckee, has been appointed to the California State Teachers’ Retirement Board. Juarez served as a Deputy State Treasurer at the California State Treasurer’s Office…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 2024-41 ATTORNEY GENERAL LOPEZ APPLAUDS HAWAIʻI SUPREME COURT DECISION UPHOLDING PROHIBITION OF SHORT-TERM VACATION RENTALS ON AGRICULTURAL LANDS

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    2024-41 ATTORNEY GENERAL LOPEZ APPLAUDS HAWAIʻI SUPREME COURT DECISION UPHOLDING PROHIBITION OF SHORT-TERM VACATION RENTALS ON AGRICULTURAL LANDS

    Posted on Sep 25, 2024 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

    DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

    KA ʻOIHANA O KA LOIO KUHINA

    JOSH GREEN, M.D.

    GOVERNOR

    KE KIAʻĀINA

    ANNE LOPEZ

    ATTORNEY GENERAL

    LOIO KUHINA

    News Release 2024-41

     

    ATTORNEY GENERAL LOPEZ APPLAUDS HAWAIʻI SUPREME COURT DECISION UPHOLDING PROHIBITION OF SHORT-TERM VACATION RENTALS ON AGRICULTURAL LANDS

     

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    September 25, 2024

     

    HONOLULU – Attorney General Anne Lopez applauds the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court’s unanimous decision of Rosehill v. State of Hawaiʻi, Land Use Commission, where the court held that farm dwellings in the agricultural district cannot be used as short-term vacation rentals under Hawaiʻi law. In making its decision, the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court further held that courts must generally defer to agencies when interpreting ambiguous laws, expressly disagreeing with a controversial 2024 U.S. Supreme Court case that overruled the 40-year-old case of Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc.

     

    The County of Hawaiʻi has an ordinance that generally prohibits short-term vacation rentals in the agricultural district. In 2020, both the County of Hawaiʻi and certain owners of land in the agricultural district of the County of Hawaiʻi petitioned the state Land Use Commission (LUC) for declaratory orders regarding the legality of this prohibition under state law. The LUC held that a short-term vacation rental is not a permitted use of a farm dwelling in the agricultural district.

     

    On appeal, the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court agreed with the LUC, holding that a farm dwelling may not be used as short-term vacation rentals because “short-term vacation rentals undermine” agricultural purposes.

     

    In making this decision, the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court expressly deferred to the LUC’s interpretation of ambiguous Hawaiʻi law, stating: “In Hawaiʻi, we defer to those agencies with the naʻauao (knowledge/wisdom) on particular subject matters to get complex issues right.” In making this decision, the court expressly disagreed with the reasoning of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2024 decision of Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, which overruled longstanding principles of federal judicial deference to agency interpretation of statutes.

     

    State leaders praised the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court’s decision.

     

    “Using agricultural lands for genuine agricultural purposes and ensuring that housing is allocated for our residents are two of the most crucial issues facing our state today,” said Governor Josh Green, M.D. “I commend that Hawaiʻi Supreme Court for making the right decision for the people of Hawaiʻi.”

     

    “Today’s decision makes clear that deference to administrative agencies is a principle with continued vitality in Hawaiʻi,” said Attorney General Lopez. “This decision reaffirms the importance of agency expertise under Hawaiʻi law.”

     

    “This was a win for preserving agricultural lands in Hawaiʻi. Short-term vacation rentals are transient accommodations effectively for vacation or tourist use and do not belong in the agricultural district. That was the LUC’s finding when a dozen Hawaiʻi island landowners applied to rent out their farm dwellings as short-term vacation rentals,” said Special Deputy Attorney General Doug Chin, a former Attorney General of Hawaiʻi and current partner at Starn O’Toole Marcus & Fisher who argued the case before the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court. “The Hawaiʻi Supreme Court unanimously upheld the LUC’s thoughtful and well-reasoned decision.”

     

    ###

     

    Media Contacts:

    Dave Day

    Special Assistant to the Attorney General

    Office: 808-586-1284                                                  

    Email: [email protected]        

    Web: http://ag.hawaii.gov

     

    Toni Schwartz
    Public Information Officer
    Hawai‘i Department of the Attorney General
    Office: 808-586-1252
    Cell: 808-379-9249
    Email:     [email protected] 

    Web: http://ag.hawaii.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: DCR News Release – Dedication ceremony for the Women’s Community Correctional Center Expansion Project

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    DCR News Release – Dedication ceremony for the Women’s Community Correctional Center Expansion Project

    Posted on Sep 25, 2024 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

    DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND REHABILITATION

    KA ‘OIHANA HOʻOMALU KALAIMA A HOʻOPONOPONO OLA

     

    JOSH GREEN, M.D.

    GOVERNOR

    KE KIAʻĀINA

     

     

    TOMMY JOHNSON

    DIRECTOR

    KA LUNA HO‘OKELE

     

     

     

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    Sept. 25, 2024

     

    Dedication ceremony for the Women’s Community Correctional Center Expansion Project

     

    HONOLULU — Dozens of guests attended a dedication ceremony at the Women’s Community Correctional Center (WCCC) Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, to commemorate the facility’s expansion project.

     

    The $63 million project that broke ground in July 2021, comprises three new buildings —Administration, Housing and Intake/Visitation — and is the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s (DCR) largest capital improvement project to date.

     

    WCCC also hosted the ceremony to celebrate the newly renovated Ho‘okipa Cottage, a $6 million project that include a new multi-purpose building and a renovated structure with a bed capacity of 58 beds for work furlough inmates.

     

    All three new structures and Hoʻokipa are slated to be operational by the end of the year.

     

    Distinguished guests that attended the event include Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DCR) Director Tommy Johnson, Deputy Director Pamela Sturz of the Correctional Institutions Division, Deputy Director Sanna Muñoz of the Rehabilitation Services and Programs Division and Deputy Director Melanie Martin of the Administration Division.

     

    Wardens, administrators, lawmakers, stakeholders, community organizations and more also attended.

     

    Contractors, architects and consultants involved in the expansion project were recognized for their dedication and hard work.

     

    Lt. Gov. Luke, ceremony guest speaker and staunch supporter of criminal justice reform for female inmates, said, “It takes a commitment from the individuals here and it also takes a commitment from the outside community, the community as a whole, to support these women who have gone through many troubles in their lives.”

     

    DCR Director Tommy Johnson, who also addressed attendees at the ceremony, said the changes to WCCC represent “our sincere efforts to provide a positive rehabilitative environment, hope and return dignity to the women housed here while simultaneously improving the working conditions of our staff.”

     

    Johnson also thanked the Women’s Prison Project and many community groups for their unwavering support to better the lives of inmates and prepare them for reentry into the community.

     

    Kahu Pohālelo Loko‘olu Quintero and ‘Ihilani Chu of the Hawaiian Church of Hawaiʻi Nei and Chaplain Tammy Turcios conducted the blessing. Seven inmates of the facility’s hula halau, Halau Hulu Kamaluokukui, also performed.

     

    Providing space for programs and easing overcrowding at the Oʻahu Community Correctional Center (OCCC) were among DCR’s goals for this expansion project. WCCC, the only correctional facility for women in Hawaiʻi, will serve as a hybrid prison and jail facility for female inmates on Oʻahu.

     

    The prison population will be in the new Housing building which has a 176-bed capacity — 64 in each of the two dorm units and 48 in the restrictive housing unit. Pre-trial detainees, sentenced misdemeanants, sentenced felons, sentenced felony probationers and parole violators will be housed at other existing buildings at WCCC.

     

    WCCC Warden Ione “Noni” Guillonta said, “Our aim is not merely to house individuals but to offer them an opportunity for transformation. The facility will be a place where the focus extends beyond punishment to encompass education vocational training, mental health support and reentry preparation.”

     

    “We are dedicated to addressing the unique needs of women who face different challenges and required tailored support to rebuild their lives and reintegrate into society successfully,” Guillonta added.

     

    The ceremony itself served as training for seven inmates who have been training with staff from ‘Ōlelo Community Media and given the opportunity to film and conduct interviews at the event under the guidance of ‘Ōlelo.

     

    WCCC is preparing to transfer approximately 120 female inmates from the Oʻahu Community Correctional Center (OCCC) in Kalihi to the women’s facility in Kailua. The transfer is expected to take up to eight weeks to complete with approximately 10 to 15 inmates to be transferred at a time. The current population at WCCC is nearly 200 as of Sept. 16, 2024.

     

    The newly renovated Ho‘okipa Cottage and construction of an adjacent multi-purpose building will provide a new living environment that will emphasize rehabilitation and provide life skills for a successful transition into the community. Work furlough inmates eligible to be released within one to two years will be housed at Hoʻokipa.

     

    A fact sheet on the WCCC expansion project is attached. Ceremony photos are also available at the following link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1R7wqRNMByyAAfKbjmT8i-v9k7rhWPFb1?usp=sharing.

     

     

    ###

     

     

    Media Contact:

    Rosemarie Bernardo

    Public Information Officer

    Hawai‘i Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

    Office: 808-587-1358

    Cell: 808-683-5507

    Email: [email protected]

    Website: https://dcr.hawaii.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 2024-42 AG NEWS RELEASE – STATE OF HAWAIʻI FILES LEGAL ACTION AGAINST NORTH SHORE HOMEOWNER AFTER PART OF HOME COLLAPSES INTO THE OCEAN

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    2024-42 AG NEWS RELEASE – STATE OF HAWAIʻI FILES LEGAL ACTION AGAINST NORTH SHORE HOMEOWNER AFTER PART OF HOME COLLAPSES INTO THE OCEAN

    Posted on Sep 25, 2024 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

    DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

    KA ʻOIHANA O KA LOIO KUHINA

     

    JOSH GREEN, M.D.

    GOVERNOR

    KE KIAʻĀINA

     

    ANNE LOPEZ

    ATTORNEY GENERAL

    LOIO KUHINA

    News Release 2024-42

    STATE OF HAWAIʻI FILES LEGAL ACTION AGAINST NORTH SHORE HOMEOWNER AFTER PART OF HOME COLLAPSES INTO THE OCEAN

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    September 25, 2024

     

    HONOLULU – The state of Hawaiʻi filed a complaint for declaratory and injunctive relief in the Circuit Court of the First Circuit on O‘ahu and is pursuing a temporary restraining order against a North Shore property owner after part of a beachfront home collapsed onto state land and into the ocean.

     

    According to the complaint, on or about September 24, 2024, the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ (DLNR) Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands (OCCL) received reports that a dwelling located in Hale‘iwa was being destroyed by the ocean swell and solid material fell from the property onto the state land. DLNR’s Division of Conservation and Resource Enforcement officers responded and observed large parts of the structure on state land, as well as debris washing into the ocean.

    The DLNR has jurisdiction over land makai of the shoreline. The subject property is located in the state conservation district. The state owns the land up to the highest wash of the waves.

     

    The complaint details the state’s request for injunctive relief to have all unauthorized solid materials including unauthorized erosion control devices and debris removed from the state land. It also requests an order from the Court that provides the state owns the land clear of interest or claim by the defendant and requests a permanent injunction preventing the defendant from allowing any structures, solid materials, or debris of any kind on state property. The complaint also asks that the Court award damages to the state for repairing the natural resources affected by the defendants’ illegal actions.

     

    “The state has a duty to protect the environment, prevent further degradation of state conservation land, and ensure shoreline and beach preservation for future generations,” said Attorney General Anne Lopez.

     

    “Private landowners take a risk when they allow structures to be so close to the shoreline,” said Deputy Attorney General Danica Swenson, who is the lead attorney for the state on the case. “The people of Hawai‘i are now confronted with the consequences of property owners’ failures to take heed of the ocean’s warning signs of erosion.”

     

    DLNR’s OCCL Administrator Michael Cain says, “The Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands is coordinating with the City and County Department of Parks and Recreation to remove the debris from the shoreline.”

     

    A copy of Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief can be found here.

     

    ###

     

    Media Contacts:

    Dave Day

    Special Assistant to the Attorney General

    Office: 808-586-1284                                                  

    Email: [email protected]        

    Web: http://ag.hawaii.gov

     

    Toni Schwartz
    Public Information Officer
     Hawai‘i Department of the Attorney General
    Office:     808-586-1252
    Cell:     808-379-9249
     Email: [email protected] 

    Web: http://ag.hawaii.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Administrator Samantha Power at the Democracy Delivers Event

    Source: USAID

    ADMINISTRATOR SAMANTHA POWER: Thank you. It is wonderful to be here with so many friends and co-conspirators and people who stand for dignity and democracy every day. I feel incredibly privileged, honestly, to be a part of this initiative. 

    I could have no better partner in Darren Walker, our incomparable anchor partner in the Democracy Delivers Initiative – the co-host for the second year in a row. Some of you know that Darren will be departing from his leadership role at Ford [Foundation]. None of us can imagine the thought of him not performing this role. He is such a giant in supporting civil society, in supporting human dignity, individual dignity around the world. But, we were thrilled, Darren, to think of what you will do next and the difference you will make in whatever walk of life you pursue. You are a walking catalyst for change, and we feel incredibly grateful to you and to the Ford Foundation for all that you do everyday. So, thank you. 

    Thanks to everybody here who’s joining, as well as all of those online. This is a club that we wish more people wanted to be a member of – a gathering of nations who are pursuing really tough political reforms and who are doing so in the face of even tougher economic headwinds often.

    Two years ago, we first brought this group together amidst a wave of very familiar pessimism, talk of authoritarians emboldened, and democracies under attack. And, honestly, in looking back, too often this pessimism over recent years has overshadowed the bright spots of democratic progress springing up in many places around the world. And, they will always spring up because citizens will never relent when their dignity is denied and when they lack agency over their futures. So, we have seen it: citizens standing up, demanding change, and electing leaders who they were trusting to deliver on that promise. 

    Of course, if we did not focus on these movements – as I think traditionally, we really had not sufficiently – we weren’t focusing on them as movements and as reform engines. Then, it was also very unlikely we were going to focus our support on them in an intentional way. And, that, as we have seen, is a critical mistake. Because often democratic reformers come into office facing really, really significant challenges: entrenched corruption, weak institutions, often debt burdens that prevent them from making the investments that their people need and that their people expect. For reformers to have a fighting chance of delivering on the change that their people demand, they need allies. And, that is fundamentally what this network is about. 

    So, Secretary [Antony] Blinken and I, on behalf of President [Joe] Biden, launched the Democracy Delivers Initiative to help provide the support these reformers need. Secretary Blinken today, unfortunately, just got pulled into an urgent obligation with President Biden and is sorry to be missing us today. But, he – and we – take note of the fact that since 2022, in the short time this Democracy Delivers Initiative has been underway, USAID alone has increased our funding for the original cohort of nine Democracy Delivers countries by over $300 million. That is an increase of over 38 percent.

    At the same time, we knew all along that the true power of this initiative would be bringing others on board to surge support to these democratic bright spots as well. Because the beauty of democratic progress is that it creates opportunity for all. So, at this event, back in 2022, we rallied companies to invest in countries experiencing democratic openings, knowing that improvements in the rule of law, increased transparency, and unleashed innovation make democracies ideal places for private investment.  

    At this event, then a year later and a year ago, in 2023, we rallied philanthropies, many represented here today, to focus their giving, their investments in these places as well, knowing that democratic openings create opportunities to drive change that endures – in partnership with leaders who are not standing in the way of progress they see as somehow threatening, but instead championing and seeking to scale good ideas. 

    This year, the third of these meetings, we are pleased to be joined by other bilateral government partners who, like us, see the opportunity that democratic openings create and are committed to supporting them in their own foreign policy and in their own assistance. I am pleased to announce that today we are releasing a joint statement endorsed by 12 countries so far: Australia, Estonia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Finland, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Most of these partners are here with us today, committing all of us in this statement to elevating attention to democratic renewal around the world, and committing to look at the ways in which they can increase support across sectors as we work together to make these openings not just moments but movements. 

    This approach is particularly important now as we continue to see new, promising democratic bright spots emerge. 

    And so, just this past June, we welcomed Fiji to the Democracy Delivers Initiative, following on the heels of the first peaceful transfer of power in Fiji’s history which occurred nearly two years ago. And, today, I’m thrilled as well now to announce that Guatemala will be the newest country joining the cohort. 

    Earlier this year, I traveled to Guatemala for the inauguration of President [Bernardo] Arévalo who’s joining us here today. The anti-democratic forces who had been working for months to prevent the president-elect from taking power tried every procedural maneuver that they could to deny the will of the Guatemalan people, delaying the inauguration for nearly ten hours – was it ten hours? But who was counting? And casting into doubt – genuinely casting into doubt – the peaceful transfer of power. But, the people of Guatemala insisted that their will be respected, and they prevailed. After midnight, technically, the day after the inauguration was supposed to occur, President Arévalo finally took the oath of office to an electric crowd chanting, “sí se pudo” – yes, we did.

    Now, as president Arévalo attempts to overcome those same undemocratic forces to deliver on the change that he promised, many of our partners are already surging support. Just to name a few – and you’ll get to hear from others later on – the Inter-American Foundation is helping Guatemala invest in providing the economic opportunities and security that citizens need to build their futures at home. The Tinker Foundation is investing in Guatemala’s education system. The Rockefeller Brothers Fund and Focus Central America are each investing in Guatemalan civil society organizations advancing democracy and justice. 

    Today, we are going to hear from President Arévalo and other leaders who are taking on extraordinary odds to deliver change for their people. And, we are going to hear commitments that partners around the world are making to support this progress. We have many partners with us. So, to make sure we stay on time and can hear from everyone, our timekeeper, Jacob, will help us stay on track – including helping me stay on track. 

    And, to kick us off, I am pleased to announce that USAID will commit an additional $73 million to support democratic development in Democracy Delivers partner countries. This is on top of our programming that we are doing across sectors that many of you are familiar with. But, this new funding is going to support priorities like energy security in Armenia; job growth in Guatemala and Tanzania; public service delivery in Ecuador, Malawi, and Zambia; and democratic governance and anti-corruption efforts in the Dominican Republic, the Maldives, Moldova, and Nepal. And, in recent months, we’ve announced nearly $6 million to support inclusive democratic systems, sustainable local food production, and climate adaptation in Fiji.

    And now, I would like to introduce the President of Fiji, President [Wiliame] Katonivere. Last year, I had the chance, sir, to visit Fiji and to officially establish USAID’s Mission there on the ground. Next week, USAID Deputy Administrator Isabel Coleman, will be leading an interagency delegation to Fiji and other Pacific Islands to continue strengthening our collaboration.

    Let me officially welcome you and the people of Fiji to this Democracy Delivers Initiative. The floor is yours.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Joint Statement on the situation between Lebanon and Israel

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Joint Statement by the United States, Australia, Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and Qatar.

    The situation between Lebanon and Israel since October 8th, 2023 is intolerable and presents an unacceptable risk of a broader regional escalation. This is in nobody’s interest, neither of the people of Israel nor of the people of Lebanon.  

    It is time to conclude a diplomatic settlement that enables civilians on both sides of the border to return to their homes in safety.

    Diplomacy however cannot succeed amid an escalation of this conflict.  

    Thus we call for an immediate 21 day ceasefire across the Lebanon-Israel border to provide space for diplomacy towards the conclusion of a diplomatic settlement consistent with UNSCR 1701, and the implementation of UNSCR 2735 regarding a ceasefire in Gaza

    We call on all parties, including the Governments of Israel and Lebanon, to endorse the temporary ceasefire immediately consistent with UNSCR 1701 during this period, and to give a real chance to a diplomatic settlement.  

    We are then prepared to fully support all diplomatic efforts to conclude an agreement between Lebanon and Israel within this period, building on efforts over the last months, that ends this crisis altogether.

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 September 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New Interim Director of Housing Transformation

    Source: City of Salford

    Salford City Council has announced the appointment of Alan Caddick to the post of Interim Director of Housing Transformation. 

    Alan joins the council having held a similar role at a local authority in the North East. Previously in his career, he served as the Director of Housing for two of the London authorities and was the Director of Housing and Residential Growth at Manchester City Council. It is also a welcome return for Alan who worked for the council some years ago in the role of Lead Officer for the Charlestown and Lower Kersal New Deal for Communities. 

    Councillor Tracy Kelly, Deputy City Mayor and Lead Member for Housing and Anti-Poverty said “Alan brings with him an incredible wealth of knowledge and experience of the housing sector, within local authorities, so I’m looking forward to working with him to deliver the quality affordable housing our residents and communities deserve.

    Alan said “I am really pleased to be rejoining Salford City Council. Salford is a vibrant and dynamic place to live, work and visit, so I am looking forward to being a part of the team that helps to transform our communities and provide a range of housing opportunities for all of our residents”.

    “Across the city the demand for suitable housing remains one of our main priorities and I am looking forward to the challenges, and the opportunities that we will encounter as the renaissance of our communities continues.”

    Share this

    Date published
    Thursday 26 September 2024

    Press and media enquiries

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Monetary developments in the euro area: August 2024

    Source: European Central Bank

    26 September 2024

    Components of the broad monetary aggregate M3

    The annual growth rate of the broad monetary aggregate M3 increased to 2.9% in August 2024 from 2.3% in July, averaging 2.5% in the three months up to August. The components of M3 showed the following developments. The annual growth rate of the narrower aggregate M1, which comprises currency in circulation and overnight deposits, was -2.1% in August, compared with -3.1% in July. The annual growth rate of short-term deposits other than overnight deposits (M2-M1) decreased to 10.6% in August from 11.4% in July. The annual growth rate of marketable instruments (M3-M2) increased to 22.0% in August from 21.4% in July.

    Chart 1

    Monetary aggregates

    (annual growth rates)

    Data for monetary aggregates

    Looking at the components’ contributions to the annual growth rate of M3, the narrower aggregate M1 contributed -1.4 percentage points (up from -2.1 percentage points in July), short-term deposits other than overnight deposits (M2-M1) contributed 3.0 percentage points (down from 3.2 percentage points) and marketable instruments (M3-M2) contributed 1.3 percentage points (up from 1.2 percentage points).

    Among the holding sectors of deposits in M3, the annual growth rate of deposits placed by households increased to 2.3% in August from 2.1% in July, while the annual growth rate of deposits placed by non-financial corporations stood at 1.8% in August, compared with 1.7% in July. Finally, the annual growth rate of deposits placed by investment funds other than money market funds increased to 11.7% in August from 6.3% in July.

    Counterparts of the broad monetary aggregate M3

    The annual growth rate of M3 in August 2024, as a reflection of changes in the items on the monetary financial institution (MFI) consolidated balance sheet other than M3 (counterparts of M3), can be broken down as follows: net external assets contributed 4.0 percentage points (up from 3.8 percentage points in July), claims on the private sector contributed 1.2 percentage points (up from 0.9 percentage points), claims on general government contributed -0.4 percentage points (as in the previous month), longer-term liabilities contributed -1.8 percentage points (up from -1.9 percentage points), and the remaining counterparts of M3 contributed 0.0 percentage points (up from -0.1 percentage points).

    Chart 2

    Contribution of the M3 counterparts to the annual growth rate of M3

    (percentage points)

    Data for contribution of the M3 counterparts to the annual growth rate of M3

    Claims on euro area residents

    The annual growth rate of total claims on euro area residents increased to 0.6% in August 2024 from 0.3% in the previous month. The annual growth rate of claims on general government stood at -1.1% in August, unchanged from the previous month, while the annual growth rate of claims on the private sector increased to 1.2% in August from 0.9% in July.

    The annual growth rate of adjusted loans to the private sector (i.e. adjusted for loan transfers and notional cash pooling) increased to 1.6% in August from 1.3% in July. Among the borrowing sectors, the annual growth rate of adjusted loans to households stood at 0.6% in August, compared with 0.5% in July, while the annual growth rate of adjusted loans to non-financial corporations increased to 0.8% in August from 0.6% in July.

    Chart 3

    Adjusted loans to the private sector

    (annual growth rates)

    Data for adjusted loans to the private sector

    Notes:

    • Data in this press release are adjusted for seasonal and end-of-month calendar effects, unless stated otherwise.
    • “Private sector” refers to euro area non-MFIs excluding general government.
    • Hyperlinks lead to data that may change with subsequent releases as a result of revisions. Figures shown in annex tables are a snapshot of the data as at the time of the current release.

    MIL OSI Economics –