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Category: housing

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Building climate resilience

    Source: Scottish Government

    Plan to help communities understand how climate change impacts their lives.  

    Communities and businesses across Scotland will be given support and tools to help tackle the unavoidable impacts of climate change as part of the Scottish Government’s new National Adaptation Plan.

    The Scottish National Adaptation Plan 2024-2029 (SNAP3) sets out a comprehensive suite of more than 200 actions and proposals for managing the current and future impacts of climate change in Scotland.

    Climate change means Scotland will experience more extreme weather. Flooding, water scarcity and hot weather can damage our environment, disrupt public transport and affect our supply of foods, vital goods and services. This means that households, communities, businesses and organisations across Scotland are having to consider the impacts of climate change more than ever. 

    It includes how sectors including agriculture, transport and health as well as businesses and communities will prepare for more extreme weather events, such as flooding, water scarcity and extreme periods of heat. These include:

    • £5.5 million of funding this year to complete a national network of Community Climate Action Hubs to drive locally-led climate action across Scotland
    • investing £400million investment to Scotland’s railway infrastructure to reduce weather-related disruption
    • facilitating peer-to-peer support to local governments and public services to prepare for the impacts of climate change for local populations
    • providing advice and support to businesses on how they can future proof their workplaces through practical check-lists on how to prepare for the impacts of climate change
    • ensuring the NHS Scotland estate is prepared and equipped to deal with extreme heat and flooding

    Launching the plan at a visit to the Restoring the River Leven project, First Minister John Swinney said: 

    “While we must ensure Scotland continues to play its part in addressing the causes of climate change, we must also be ready to deal with the impacts that are already locked in giving us wetter winters, drier summers and more weather-related disruption.

    “Our new Adaptation Plan is our most comprehensive response to protecting people’s lives and livelihoods against the risks of climate change – with over 200 actions to build climate resilience in our communities, businesses, public services and natural environment. 

    “I am proud to lead a Scotland that is driving forward the race to net zero, whilst ensuring that our country is ready for the impacts of climate change that we are already experiencing. This can be demonstrated through the Leven River Restoration Project, which has adapted the local landscape to help reduce the amount of flooding in the area, whilst restoring and encouraging wildlife and nature to flourish. It is a fantastic example of how collaborative working can use nature to adapt to the challenges we face at the same time as delivering benefit for the local community.” 

    Nicole Paterson, Chief Executive of the Scottish Environment protection Agency (SEPA), said:

    “Scotland’s natural environment is globally renowned and our water environment, as we can see in Leven today, is central to our environmental, economic and social success. Scotland’s water quality is at its highest level ever, with more than 87% of our water environment achieving good or high classification for water quality, with an ambition to go further.

    “Our climate is already changing and as Scotland’s environment agency, we’re at the forefront of working with partners to respond and adapt. The Water Environment Fund, including The Leven Project, is a very visible story for change and a great example of how public, private and community sector partners can successfully collaborate to improve water environments, boost flood resilience and deliver community benefits.

    “In Scotland’s Climate Week, it’s fitting that we hear directly from young people and community partner’s who’ve worked so hard locally and who’s future depends on the work that together we do today.”

    Fife Council Leader Councillor David Ross said:

    “Fife Council welcomes the Scottish Government’s new Climate Change Adaptation Plan, which marks an important step forward in the collective fight against climate change.

    “Much has changed since Fife Council declared a Climate Emergency in 2019 and, although we have made significant progress on a number of fronts, we are committed to helping our communities prepare for, and respond to, the effects of climate change.

    “The First Minister’s visit to the Restoring the River Leven project highlights the remarkable progress that can be achieved through strong partnership working, in this instance between Fife Council, SEPA, Fife Coast and Countryside Trust and local communities.

    “This close collaboration has also led to – and will lead to – additional benefits through the Levenmouth Connectivity Project, the Active Travel Network and River Park Routes as well as The River Park Project that sit alongside the restoration project as part of the wider Leven Programme.

    “Fife Council remains fully committed to leading the way in tackling climate change and we are proud to be part of initiatives that not only restore our natural environment but also build resilience for the future.”

    Jeremy Harris, CEO at Fife Coast and Countryside Trust, said: 

    “This project to restore the River Leven is a working example of different organisations coming together to deliver something that directly contributes to the outcomes laid out in the new Scottish National Adaptation Plan. The carefully considered interventions already under way will return the river to its more natural flowing state ensuring that nature connects through the Leven catchment and delivers direct benefits to the local communities.

    “Improved infrastructure with the river at its centre will serve the surrounding communities and enrich the lives of those who make use of it. At Fife Coast and Countryside Trust our mission is to connect environment and people and this river restoration project, running through the heart of Levenmouth, is a wonderful example of how to do just that. I look forward to seeing the natural world and local communities flourish thanks to this work for years to come.”

    Background  

    Scottish National Adaptation Plan 2024-2029 – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    September 29, 2024
  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: World Rivers Day 2024: Removing fish barriers across South West

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Fish have been moving more freely thanks to joint efforts to remove manmade barriers blocking them from going home to spawn or reach vital habitats.

    Before and after a weir was removed from the River Camel Credit: Westcountry Rivers Trust

    World Rivers Day, which happens on the fourth Sunday of September, is a global event which celebrates rivers around the world – including the River Camel in Cornwall and River Tarrant in Dorset where the Environment Agency and partner organisations have worked hard to remove weirs in the past year.  Staff have also been investigating the River Teign to draw up a detailed map of 59 manmade structures and a further 79 obstacles to inform future action. 

    An Environment Agency spokesperson said:

    World Rivers Day is an excellent reminder to celebrate what we have and the vital work that is being undertaken to protect and improve our rivers   

    The cost of removing these legacy structures when demands on rivers were different are prohibitive. But thanks to partnership help from bodies like Westcountry Rivers Trust and Wessex Rivers Trust, we are overcoming these obstacles.  

    There are many pressures on fish including the iconic salmon which is seeing a global decline in numbers. Removing historic obstacles is one way to improve their future and enhance the environment that they live in.

    This weir on the River Camel was causing issues for fish Credit: Westcountry Rivers Trust

    How the River Camel looks now the weir has been removed Credit: Westcountry Rivers Trust

    Alongside removing obstacles in the river, initiatives like reducing the canopy of forested areas to let more light into habitats and slowing the flow of water with leaky dams have improved the environment for the wildlife dependent on both rivers.  

    Laurence Couldrick, Chief Executive Officer for Westcountry Rivers Trust, said:

    The two barrier removals on the upper River Camel have contributed to safeguarding this beautiful Cornish river and many of the protected species that rely on free-flowing rivers.   

    As well as removing barriers to fish passage this also provides numerous ecological benefits such as restoring natural flow regimes, improving sediment transport, improved water quality, enhanced biodiversity and improving climate resilience.

    A spokesperson for the National Trust said:

    Partnerships are a powerful tool to unlock benefits for our catchments and maximise the positive impacts of any project.   

    In priority rivers for Atlantic Salmon in the South West such as the Teign, Lemon and Plym we are working closely with the Environment Agency, Rivers Trusts and other partners to undertake monitoring, enhance habitats and remove or provide solutions to the presence of barriers, with wider benefits to local wildlife and communities.

    Background

    Read our World Rivers Day 2024 blog by our director of water about the biggest causes of river pollution.

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    Updates to this page

    Published 25 September 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    September 29, 2024
  • MIL-OSI Russia: Over six thousand Muscovites will begin resettlement under the renovation program in September and October

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    In September, residents of 12 buildings began moving into apartments under the renovation program. In the near future, city residents from another 13 old buildings will begin moving into new buildings. This was reported by the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Urban Development Policy and Construction Vladimir Efimov.

    In September, 11 buildings built under the renovation program will be handed over for occupancy in the capital. More than six thousand Muscovites will move into them.

    “New buildings erected under the renovation program are located in six administrative districts. Thus, four residential complexes are located in the Eastern District, two new buildings are in the South-Eastern and Western Districts, and one building is in the Central, Southern and Northern administrative districts. More than 2.8 thousand apartments have been prepared for those moving,” Vladimir Efimov noted.

    Playgrounds, sports grounds and recreation areas are located near the houses. All residential complexes are designed taking into account the principle of a barrier-free environment, i.e. they are convenient for people with limited mobility and parents with baby carriages.

    The ground floors are non-residential premises. They are intended for commercial use – service facilities and other necessary infrastructure can be located there.

    “As part of the renovation program, 25 old houses will be resettled. City residents are moving within the boundaries of their district. For some, transport accessibility is improving. For example, future new residents in the Nagorny District are moving to a house in Elektrolitny Proyezd. It is located a three-minute walk from the Nagornaya metro station,” added the Minister of the Moscow Government, Head of the Department of Urban Development Policy

    Vladislav Ovchinsky.

    The move is being carried out in stages. The resettlement of residents of four old houses in the Nagorny district has now begun, two buildings are being vacated in the Voykovsky, Lyublino and Fili-Davydkovo districts. In addition, residents of one house in the Presnensky district and one in the Vostochny district are moving.

    As reported by the Minister of the Moscow Government, Head of the Department of City Property Maxim Gaman, offers of equivalent apartments have been sent to 1.9 thousand residents of old houses in six districts of the capital. They have already started to inspect the new housing. In addition, the mos.ru portal has a super service “Assistance with moving within the framework of the renovation program”Muscovites with a full account can choose the date and time for viewing the apartment online.

    Earlier Sergei Sobyanin reportedthat in September 11 houses will be handed over for settlement under the renovation program.

    Almost 20 thousand Muscovites have signed contracts for new apartments under the renovation program since the beginning of the year

    Renovation program housing was approved in August 2017. It concerns about a million Muscovites and provides for the resettlement of 5,176 houses. In 2023 alone, 59 new buildings in the capital were handed over for settlement and the resettlement of over 47 thousand people was ensured. Earlier, Sergei Sobyanin ordered to increase the pace of implementation of the renovation program has doubled.

    Moscow is one of the leaders among regions in terms of speed and volume of construction. Over the past few years, within the framework of the federal project “Housing” of the national project “Housing and Urban Environment” the volume of construction and commissioning of residential buildings in the capital has doubled – from three million to five to seven million square meters per year. More information about this and other national projects being implemented in Moscow can be found Here.

    Since the start of the renovation program, the number of launch pads has tripled

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

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

    http://vvv.mos.ru/nevs/item/144420073/

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    September 29, 2024
  • MIL-OSI: Keiretsu Forum Investor Capital Expo: A Must-Attend Event for Angel Investors, Family Offices, and Venture Capital Professionals

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The upcoming Investor Capital Expo, hosted by Keiretsu Forum in Philadelphia, offers a rare opportunity for accredited investors to engage directly with early-stage companies that have undergone Keiretsu Forum’s rigorous due diligence process. Scheduled for October 31, 2024, at Convene City View in Philadelphia, this event provides a platform for investors to explore diverse high-growth opportunities while building relationships with fellow investors and company founders.

    This year’s twelve presenting companies represent a wide range of sectors, each poised to make a significant impact in their respective industries. Among them are Relavo Medical, Seneca Therapeutics, and Iris Dynamics Limited:

    Relavo Medical is revolutionizing kidney failure treatment with its innovative device, the PeritoneX, which addresses a critical barrier to peritoneal dialysis (PD) adoption by reducing the risk of peritonitis. With only 12% of kidney failure patients currently choosing PD, the PeritoneX’s in-line disinfection system significantly reduces microbial contamination and integrates with existing setups, offering a safer, more accessible option for patients to receive treatment at home. Investors will find a compelling opportunity in Relavo Medical’s mission to improve patient outcomes while reducing healthcare costs.

    Seneca Therapeutics is advancing cancer treatment with its oncolytic immunotherapy, SVV-001. This innovative approach targets solid tumors that express the TEM8 receptor, enhancing the immune response and offering hope for patients with drug-resistant cancers. Having demonstrated safety and potential efficacy in preclinical and clinical trials, Seneca Therapeutics is actively seeking funding to push its promising cancer therapy into later-stage trials.

    Iris Dynamics Ltd., based in Victoria, British Columbia, specializes in advanced motion control systems designed for applications ranging from aerospace to virtual reality simulation. Their Orca Series motors and IO SmartHub are transforming industrial automation with high-precision control and simplified integration. Investors interested in cutting-edge technology will find Iris Dynamics’ expansion plans to be an exciting opportunity in intelligent motion control.

    These companies, along with the other presenters, have comprehensive investment packages and are actively raising capital. Attendees at the Investor Capital Expo will have the chance to engage with these companies’ leadership teams, gaining deeper insights into their growth strategies and potential returns on investment.

    “We’re proud to present such a strong lineup of companies that are actively shaping the future of their industries,” said Howard Lubert, Regional President of Keiretsu Forum. “This Expo is a valuable chance for investors to collaborate with other seasoned professionals and explore opportunities backed by our extensive due diligence process.”

    Networking and Collaboration: The Key to Successful Investing

    In addition to company presentations, the Investor Capital Expo offers unparalleled networking opportunities for investors to connect with peers from across the angel investing and early-stage company landscape. Whether attending in person or virtually, participants will have the chance to build relationships and discover new investment opportunities.

    Event Details:

    Date: October 31, 2024, 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM EDT

    Location: Convene City View, 30 S 17th St, Philadelphia, PA

    Registration: Accredited angel investors can register HERE

    Don’t miss this chance to engage with high-potential companies and collaborate with top investors. Join us in Philadelphia for a day of learning, networking, and discovery.

    For media inquiries, please contact:
    Cindi Sutera
    CindiS@AMSCommunications.net
    610-613-2773

    About Keiretsu Forum

    Keiretsu Forum is the world’s largest private equity angel investment network with 2000+ accredited investors in 35 North American and 23 International chapters, who have invested more than $1B in early-stage companies in the last 23 years.

    The Keiretsu Forum portfolio features Entrepreneurs and Companies from Technology-(Internet, Software, Cyber Security, SaaS, Mobile Systems, IoT, etc.), Life Sciences-(Pharma, Medical Devices, Health IT, etc.), FinServ/FinTech, Consumer Products, Clean-Green Energy, Consumer Products, & more!

    The MIL Network –

    September 29, 2024
  • MIL-OSI Europe: Statement by Antonio Tajani, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy in his capacity as Chair of the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting at the High-Level Week of the UN General Assembly (23 September 2024)

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

    1. Introduction

    In today’s meeting in New York, in the wake of the Summit of the Future, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and the High Representative of the European Union reiterated their commitment to upholding the rule of law, humanitarian principles and international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, and to protecting human rights and dignity for all individuals.

    They re-emphasized their determination to foster collective action in order to preserve peace and stability to address global challenges, such as the climate crisis and to advance the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    In doing so, the G7 members renewed their commitment to the promotion of free societies and democratic principles, where all persons can freely exercise their rights and freedoms.

    2. Summit for the Future

    In the spirit of the renewed determination to strengthen the multilateral system based on the UN Charter’s principles, as reflected in the Pact for the Future adopted at the Summit of the Future by world Leaders, the G7 members committed to continue working with countries and all relevant stakeholders within the UN system through dialogue, mutual understanding and respect in the pursuit of common solutions, with the aim of upholding and reforming the multilateral system so that it better reflects today’s world and is fit to respond to the complex global challenges of the future. They reaffirmed their commitment to work with all UN member states to strengthen the roles of the UNSG as well as the UNGA. They also recommitted to the reform of the UNSC.

    3. Steadfast Support to Ukraine

    The G7 members reaffirmed their unwavering support to Ukraine as it defends its freedom, sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, against Russia’s brutal and unjustifiable war of aggression. The G7 members strongly condemned Russia’s blatant breach of international law, including the UN Charter, and of the basic principles that underpin the international order. They strongly condemned the serious violations of international humanitarian law perpetrated by Russia’s forces in Ukraine, which have caused a devastating impact on the civilian population. Violence against civilians, including women, children, and prisoners of war is unacceptable.

    They expressed their outrage at Russia’s repeated attacks against critical infrastructure and they condemned in the strongest possible terms any targeting of civilian buildings and even hospitals. Ensuring the protection and resilience of Ukraine’s energy grid and its power generation capacity remains a fundamental and urgent priority as winter approaches. They welcomed the international conference on energy security held on August 22. .as well as the ongoing coordination of the G7 energy group. They reiterated their commitment to help Ukraine meet its urgent short-term financing needs, as well as support its long-term recovery and reconstruction priorities.

    Russia must end its war of aggression and pay for the damage it has caused to Ukraine. The G7 members reiterated their commitment to explore and use all possible lawful avenues by which Russia is made to meet those obligations.

    The launch of the Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) Loans for Ukraine, as mandated by G7 leaders, will make available approximately USD 50 billion in additional funding to Ukraine that will be serviced and repaid by future flows of extraordinary revenues stemming from the immobilization of Russian sovereign assets held in the European Union and other relevant jurisdictions.

    The G7 Foreign Ministers and the High Representative are working, together with Finance Ministers, to operationalize the G7 Leaders’ commitment by the end of the year. They will maintain solidarity in this commitment to providing this support to Ukraine. The G7 members confirmed that, consistent with all applicable laws and their respective legal systems, Russia’s sovereign assets in their jurisdictions will remain immobilized until Russia ends its aggression and pays for the damage it has caused to Ukraine.

    They also committed to strengthening the Ukraine Donor Platform to help coordinate the disbursal of funds and ensure they align with Ukraine’s highest priority needs at a pace it can effectively absorb. This will play a key role in advancing Ukraine’s reforms in line with its European path and in contributing to a successful Ukraine Recovery Conference to be held in Italy in 2025.

    Any use of nuclear weapons by Russia in the context of its war of aggression against Ukraine would be inadmissible. They therefore condemned in the strongest possible terms Russia’s irresponsible and threatening nuclear rhetoric, as well as its posture of strategic intimidation. They also expressed their deepest concern about the reported use of chemical weapons as well as riot control agents as a method of warfare by Russia in Ukraine.

    The G7 members remained committed to holding those responsible accountable for atrocities in Ukraine, in line with international law. They also condemned the seizures of foreign companies and called on Russia to reverse these measures and seek acceptable solutions with the companies targeted by them.

    They condemned Russia’s seizure and continued control and militarization of Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which poses severe risks for nuclear safety and security, potentially affecting the entire international community. They reiterated their support to the International Atomic Energy Agency’s efforts directed at mitigating such risks.

    They underlined once again their support for Ukraine’s right of self-defense and reiterated their commitment to Ukraine’s long-term security, recalling the launch of the Ukraine Compact in Washington on 11 July 2024. They re-affirmed the intention to increasing industrial production and delivery capabilities to assist Ukraine’s self-defense. They highlighted their support to Ukraine in its efforts to modernize its armed forces and strengthen its own defense industry. They expressed their resolve to bolster Ukraine’s air defense capabilities to save lives and protect critical infrastructure.

    They remained committed to raising the costs of Russia’s war of aggression by building on the comprehensive package of sanctions and economic measures already in place. Though existing measures have had a significant impact on Russia’s war machine and ability to fund its invasion, its military is still posing a threat not just to Ukraine but also to international security.

    The G7 members expressed the intention to continue taking appropriate measures, consistent with their legal systems, against actors in China and in third countries that materially support Russia’s war machine, including financial institutions, and other entities that facilitate Russia’s acquisition of items for its defense industrial base.

    They expressed their intention to continue to apply significant pressure on Russian revenues from energy and other commodities. This will include improving the efficacy of the oil price cap policy by taking further steps to tighten compliance and enforcement, including against Russia’s shadow fleet, while working to maintain market stability.

    They especially emphasized the urgency to support Ukraine’s energy security, including by coordinating international assistance through the G7+Ukraine Energy Coordination Group. They underscored the importance to continue working with the Ukrainian authorities and International Financial Institutions through the Ukraine Donor Platform, and by mobilizing private investments and fostering participation of civil society.

    They highlighted the reality of millions of internally displaced Ukrainians and the importance of an inclusive rights-based, gender-responsive recovery, including the reintegration of veterans and civilians with disabilities, and to address the needs of women, children as well as other population groups who have been disproportionately affected by Russia’s war of aggression. They reiterated their condemnation of Russia’s unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children and welcomed coordinated efforts to secure their safe return. They called on Russia to release all persons it has unjustly detained and safely return all civilians it has illegally transferred or deported, starting with children. They welcomed the Ministerial Conference on the Human Dimension of Ukraine’s 10 point peace formula that will be hosted by Canada on October 30-31.

    They reiterated the need to support Ukraine’s agriculture sector, which is critical for global food supply, particularly for the most vulnerable nations, and called for unimpeded exports of grain, foodstuffs, fertilizers and inputs from Ukraine.

    They acknowledged the importance to involve the private sector in the sustainable economic recovery of Ukraine. They welcomed and underscored the significance of Ukraine itself continuing to implement domestic reform efforts, especially in the fields of anti-corruption, justice system reform, decentralization, and promotion of the rule of law. These endeavors are in line with the Euro-Atlantic path Ukraine has embraced. The G7 members were unanimous on the need to continue to support efforts of the Ukrainian government and people in these endeavors.

    They resolutely condemned Russia’s holding of illegitimate ‘elections’ in the occupied Ukrainian Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol. Russia’s actions once again demonstrate its blatant disregard for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence, and the UN Charter. They called on all members of the international community to refrain from recognizing Russia’s illegitimate actions.

    They welcomed the Summit on Peace in Ukraine that took place in Switzerland on June 15-16 and its focus on the key priorities needed to achieve a framework for peace based on international law, including the UN Charter and its principles, and respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. They remained committed to follow up on the Conference through constructive engagement with all international partners to reach a comprehensive, just and lasting peace.

    The G7 members acknowledged that Russia continues to expand its campaigns of foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI). They condemned Russia’s use of FIMI to support its war of aggression against Ukraine. They reiterated their determination to bolster the G7 Rapid Response Mechanism by developing a collective response framework to counter foreign threats to democracies.

    4. Situation in the Middle East

    The G7 members reiterated their condemnation of Hamas’ horrendous attacks on October 7, 2023. 101 hostages are still in the hands of Hamas. They noted with deep concern the trend of escalatory violence in the Middle East and its repercussions on regional stability and on the lives of civilians shattered by this conflict, from the Gaza Strip to the Israeli-Lebanese Blue Line. Actions and counter-reactions risk magnifying this dangerous spiral of violence and dragging the entire Middle East into a broader regional conflict with unimaginable consequences. They called for a stop to the current destructive cycle, while emphasizing that no country stands to gain from a further escalation in the Middle East.

    They expressed their deep concern about the situation along the Blue Line. They recognized the essential stabilizing role played by the Lebanese Armed Forces and the UN Interim Force in Lebanon in mitigating that risk. They demanded the full implementation of UNSCR 1701 (2006) and urged that all relevant actors implement immediate measures towards de-escalation.

    The G7 members reaffirmed their strong support for the ongoing mediation efforts undertaken by the United States, Egypt and Qatar to reach a resolution between the parties to the conflict in Gaza. They reiterated their full commitment for the implementation of the UNSC Resolution 2735 (2024) and the comprehensive deal outlined by President Biden in May that would lead to an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, a significant and sustained increase in the flow of humanitarian assistance throughout Gaza, and an enduring end to the crisis, to secure a pathway to a two-state solution with a safe Israel alongside a sovereign Palestinian state. They urged the parties to the conflict to unequivocally accept the ceasefire proposal, stressing the need for countries in a position to directly influence the parties to cooperate in strengthening mediation efforts. They called for the full implementation of the terms of the ceasefire proposal without delay and without conditions.

    They called on all parties to fully comply with international law, including international humanitarian law. They expressed their deep alarm for the heavy toll this conflict has taken on civilians, deploring all losses of civilian lives equally and noting with great concern that, after nearly a year of hostilities and regional instability, it is mostly civilians, including women and children, who are paying the highest price. Protection of civilians must be an absolute priority for all parties at all times.

    The G7 members expressed concern at the unprecedented level of food insecurity affecting most of the population in the Gaza Strip. Securing full, rapid, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access in all its forms and through all relevant crossing points remains an absolute priority. They urged all parties to allow the unimpeded delivery of aid and ensure protection of humanitarian workers by properly implementing de-confliction measures. They recognized the crucial role played by UN agencies and other humanitarian actors in delivering assistance especially health care for the most vulnerable persons, including the polio vaccination campaign. They expressed their support for UNRWA to effectively uphold its mandate, emphasizing the vital role that the UN Agency plays.

    The G7 members reaffirmed their unwavering commitment, through reinvigorated efforts in the Middle East Peace Process, to the vision of a two-state solution where two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, live side by side in peace within secure and recognized borders, consistent with international law and relevant UN resolutions, and in this regard stress the importance of unifying the Gaza strip with the West Bank under Palestinian Authority. We note that mutual recognition, to include the recognition of a Palestinian state, at the appropriate time, would be a crucial component of that political process. They expressed their concern about the risk of weakening the Palestinian Authority and underlined the importance of maintaining economic stability in the West Bank. They welcomed the EU’s 400 million Euro emergency package for the Palestinian Authority. All parties must refrain from unilateral actions and from divisive statements that may undermine the prospect of a two-state solution, including the Israeli expansion of settlements and the “legalization” of settlement outposts. They condemned the rise in extremist settler violence committed against Palestinians, which undermines security and stability in the West Bank and threatens prospects for a lasting peace. They expressed their deep concern regarding the deteriorating security situation in the West Bank.

    They reiterated their commitment to working together – and with other international partners – to closely coordinate and institutionalize their support for civil society peacebuilding efforts, ensuring that they are part of a larger strategy to build the foundation necessary for a negotiated and lasting Israeli-Palestinian peace. The G7 members called on Iran to contribute to de-escalation of tensions in the region. They demanded that Iran cease its destabilizing actions in the Middle East. They underlined that they stand ready to adopt further sanctions or take other measures in response to further destabilizing initiatives.

    They reiterated their determination that Iran must never develop or acquire a nuclear weapon and that the G7 will continue working together, and with other international partners, to address Iran’s nuclear escalation. A diplomatic solution remains the best way to resolve this issue. As the IAEA remains unable to verify that Iran’s nuclear program is exclusively peaceful, they urged Iran’s leadership to cease and reverse nuclear activities that have no credible civilian justification and to cooperate with the IAEA without further delay to fully implement their legally binding safeguards agreement and their commitments under UNSCR 2231(2015).

    They condemned in the strongest possible terms Iran’s export and Russia’s procurement of Iranian ballistic missiles. Evidence that Iran has continued to transfer weaponry to Russia despite repeated international calls to stop represents a further escalation of Iran’s military support to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Russia has used Iranian weaponry such as UAVs to kill Ukrainian civilians and strike their critical infrastructure.

    They reiterated that Iran must immediately cease all support to Russia’s illegal and unjustifiable war against Ukraine and halt such transfers of ballistic missiles, UAVs and related technology, which constitute a direct threat to the Ukrainian people as well as European and international security more broadly.

    They reaffirmed their steadfast commitment to hold Iran to account for its unacceptable support for Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine that further undermines global security. In line with their previous statements on the matter, they underscored that they are already responding with new and significant measures.

    They also reiterated their deep concern about Iran’s human rights violations, especially against women and minority groups. They reiterated their call on Iran to allow access to the country to relevant UN Human Rights Council Special Procedures mandate holders.

    De-escalation efforts in the region must also include the immediate and unconditional termination of any attack by the Houthis against international and commercial vessels transiting the Gulf of Aden, the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea. The G7 members reiterated their strong condemnation of these attacks and the right of countries to defend their vessels from attacks. They called for the immediate release by the Houthis of the Galaxy Leader and its crew. They expressed their strong concern about the August 21 attack on the merchant vessel Sounion and the ongoing risk of an environmental catastrophe as salvage operations continue. They welcomed the efforts by the EU maritime operation Aspides and by the US-led Operation Prosperity Guardian to protect vital sea lanes. They appreciated the efforts of those countries that are committed to protect freedom of navigation and trade, as well as maritime security, in line with UNSCR 2722 (2024) and in accordance with international law.

    5. Fostering partnerships with African Countries

    The G7 members reaffirmed their commitment to support African nations in the pursuit of sustainable development as well as the creation of jobs and growth. The focus remains on fostering fair partnerships, built on shared principles, democratic values, local leadership, and practical initiatives.

    They reiterated their intention to align actions with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the specific needs of African countries, including plans to improve local and regional food security, infrastructure, trade, and agricultural productivity. They expressed their support for the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area, a crucial factor for Africa’s growth in the next decade.

    The G7 members emphasized the need to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation with African countries and regional organizations. In addition to maintaining financial support for African nations, they expressed their determination to improve the coordination and effectiveness of G7 resources, mobilizing domestic resources and encouraging increased private investments.

    They welcomed the African Union’s permanent membership in the G20, and the creation of an additional Chair for Sub-Saharan Africa on the IMF Executive Board in November.

    They reaffirmed their commitment to the G20 Compact with Africa, a tool aimed at enhancing private investment, driving structural reforms, supporting local entrepreneurship, and fostering cooperation, particularly in the energy sector. The G7 Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII), and initiatives like the EU’s Global Gateway can contribute to promote sustainable, resilient, and economically viable infrastructure in Africa, ensuring transparency in project selection, procurement, and financing. In this framework, they welcomed Italy’s Mattei Plan for Africa.

    They recognized that sustainable development, peace and security and democracy go hand in hand, reaffirming their commitment to help African governments in strengthening democratic governance and respect for human rights, while addressing conditions conducive to terrorism, violent extremism, and instability.

    They expressed their deep concern about the destabilizing activities of the Kremlin-backed Wagner Group and other Russia-supported entities. They called for accountability for all those responsible for human rights violations and abuses.

    6. Indo-Pacific

    The G7 members reiterated their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, based on the rule of law, which is inclusive, prosperous and secure, grounded on sovereignty, territorial integrity, peaceful resolution of disputes, fundamental freedoms and human rights. They reaffirmed the importance of working together with regional partners and organizations, notably the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). They reaffirmed their thorough support for ASEAN centrality and unity. They reaffirmed their intention to work to support Pacific Island Countries’ priorities, as articulated through the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.

    As they seek constructive and stable relations with China, they recognized the importance of direct and candid engagement to express concerns and manage differences. They reaffirmed their readiness to cooperate with China to address global challenges. They expressed their deep concern at the China’s support to Russia. They called on China to step up efforts to promote international peace and security, and to press Russia to stop its military aggression and immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw its troops from Ukraine. They encouraged China to support a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on territorial integrity and the principles and purposes of the UN Charter, including through its direct dialogue with Ukraine. They also expressed their deep concern at China’s ongoing support for Russia’s defense industrial base, which is enabling Russia to maintain its illegal war in Ukraine and has significant and broad-based security implications. They called on China to cease the transfer of dual-use materials, including weapons components and equipment, that are inputs for Russia’s defense sector.

    They recognized the importance of China in global trade. However, they expressed their concerns about China’s persistent industrial targeting and comprehensive non-market policies and practices that are leading to global spillovers, market distortions and harmful overcapacity in a growing range of sectors, undermining our workers, industries and economic resilience and security, as well as impacting on currencies. The G7 members are not decoupling or turning inwards. They are de-risking and diversifying supply chains where necessary and appropriate and fostering resilience to economic coercion. They called on China to refrain from adopting export control measures, particularly on critical minerals, that could lead to significant supply chain disruptions. Together with partners, the G7 members will invest in building their respective industrial capacities, promote diversified and resilient supply chains, and reduce critical dependencies and vulnerabilities.

    They remained seriously concerned about the situation in the East and South China Seas and reiterated their strong opposition to any unilateral attempt to change the status quo by force or coercion. They reaffirmed that there is no legal basis for China’s expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea, and they reiterated their opposition to China’s militarization and coercive and intimidation activities in the South China Sea. They re-emphasized the universal and unified character of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and reaffirmed UNCLOS’s important role in setting out the legal framework that governs all activities in the oceans and the seas. They reiterated that the award rendered by the Arbitral Tribunal on 12 July 2016 is a significant milestone, which is legally binding upon the parties to those proceedings and a useful basis for peacefully resolving disputes between the parties. They reiterated their strong opposition to China’s dangerous use of coast guard and maritime militia in the South China Sea and its repeated obstruction of countries’ high seas freedom of navigation. They expressed deep concern about the dangerous and obstructive maneuvers, including water cannons and ramming, by the China Coast Guard and maritime militia against Philippines vessels.

    The G7 members reaffirmed that maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is indispensable to international security and prosperity, and called for the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues. There is no change in the basic position of the G7 members on Taiwan, including stated One-China policies. They supported Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations as a member where statehood is not a prerequisite and as an observer or guest where it is.

    They remained concerned by the human rights situation in China, including in Xinjiang and Tibet. They are also worried about the crackdown on Hong Kong’s autonomy and independent institutions, and ongoing erosion of rights and freedoms. They urged China and the Hong Kong authorities to act in accordance with their international commitments and applicable legal obligations.

    The G7 members strongly condemned North Korea’s continuing expansion of its unlawful nuclear and ballistic missile programs in violation of multiple UNSC resolutions and its continuous destabilizing activities. They reiterated their call for the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and demanded that North Korea abandons all its nuclear weapons, existing nuclear programs, and any other WMD and ballistic missile programs in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner, in accordance with all relevant UNSC resolutions. They called on North Korea to return to dialogue to promote peace and stability in the Korean peninsula. They urged all UN Member States to fully implement all relevant UN Security Council resolutions. They reiterated their deep disappointment with Russia’s veto last March on the mandate renewal of the UNSC 1718 Committee Panel of Experts.

    They condemned in the strongest possible terms the increasing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, including North Korea’s export and Russia’s procurement of North Korean ballistic missiles and munitions in direct violation of relevant UNSCRs, as well as Russia’s use of these missiles and munitions against Ukraine. They are also deeply concerned about the potential for any transfer of nuclear or ballistic missiles-related technology to North Korea, in violation of the relevant UNSCRs. They urged Russia and North Korea to immediately cease all such activities and abide by relevant UNSCRs. They urged North Korea to respect human rights, facilitate access for international humanitarian organizations, and resolve the abductions issue immediately.

    They called on China not to conduct or condone activities aimed at undermining the security and safety of our communities and the integrity of our democratic institutions, and to act in strict accordance with its obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.

    7. Regional Issues

    Venezuela

    The G7 members reiterated their deep concern about the situation in Venezuela, following the vote on July 28.

    They emphasized that the announced victory of Maduro lacks credibility and democratic legitimacy, as indicated by reports of the UN Panel of Experts and independent international observers as well as data published by the opposition. They underscored that it is essential for electoral results to be complete and independently verified to ensure respect for the will of the Venezuelan people.

    They expressed their outrage for the arrest warrant and constant threats to the security of Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who decided to seek refuge in Spain. According to the above-mentioned independent reports, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia appears to have won the most votes.

    They urged Venezuelan representatives to cease all human rights violations and abuses, arbitrary detentions and widespread restrictions on fundamental freedoms, particularly affecting the political opposition, human rights defenders, and representatives of independent media and civil society. They called for the release of all political prisoners and for a path to freedom and democracy for the people of Venezuela.

    They urged the international community to keep Venezuela high on the diplomatic agenda and they expressed their support for efforts by regional partners to facilitate the Venezuelan-led democratic and peaceful transition that the people of Venezuela have clearly chosen in the polls.

    Haiti

    The G7 members expressed their determination to continue supporting Haitian institutions – including the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT) and the Government of Prime Minister Conille – in their commitment to create the necessary conditions of general security and stability for the convening, by February 2026, of free and fair elections. The expression of popular will would set the foundation for the full restoration of democracy and the rule of law in Haiti.

    They also expressed full support to the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, which is providing critical support to the Haitian National Police as they counter criminal gangs engaged in illicit trafficking and inflicting brutal violence upon the population.

    The G7 members emphasized the importance of continued support to the MSS mission through financial contributions to the UN Trust Fund as well as contributions in kind. They expressed their strong appreciation for the commitment of the Government of Kenya – which has already deployed 380 personnel on the ground – to support the Haitian National Police in restoring peace and security.

    They called on all countries that have committed to deploy their contingents to the MSS mission to do so as soon as possible, to consolidate the mission and its fundamental role in the Country. They called on Haiti’s partners to continue their humanitarian assistance to the Haitian people and to expedite their financial and in-kind contributions to the MSS mission to help ensure that the mission is resourced for success.

    They called also on the United Nations Security Council to consider a UN Peace Operation to maintain the security gains of the Haiti National Police and the MSS mission for holding free and fair elections and called on the Secretary-General accordingly to provide support.

    The G7 members welcomed the work of the G7 Working Group on Haiti in monitoring institutional, political, social and security developments in Haiti, with a view to supporting the stabilization of the country and the restoration of full democratic governance.

    Libya

    The G7 members reiterated their unwavering commitment to Libyan stability, sovereignty, independence and unity. They expressed deep concern about recent developments in the country, in particular those involving the leadership of the Central Bank of Libya and the High Council of State, which show the fragility and unsustainability of the present status quo. They urged relevant Libyan parties to rapidly reach the necessary compromises to begin to restore the institutional integrity of the Central Bank of Libya and its standing with the international financial community. They called on Libyan political actors to refrain from taking harmful unilateral actions that create further political tension and fragmentation and make the country vulnerable to harmful foreign interference.

    They noted advances made in the organization of local elections and they called for a free, fair and inclusive participation of all Libyans. It is now imperative to relaunch a Libyan-led and Libyan-owned political process facilitated by the UN towards free and fair presidential and parliamentary elections.

    They expressed their support and commended the efforts made by UNSMIL officer in charge Stephanie Koury in support of the stabilization of Libya. They called on the Secretary General to appoint a new Special Representative without delay.

    Sudan

    The G7 members reiterated their grave concern over the ongoing fighting, mass-displacement and famine in Sudan.

    They condemned the serious human rights violations and abuses against the civilian population, including widespread sexual and gender-based violence, as well as international humanitarian law violations by both sides to the conflict. They called for an immediate end to the escalating violence, which is creating further displacement, and urged the warring parties to ensure the protection of civilians. They reiterated their commitment to holding accountable all those responsible for violations of international law in Sudan.

    They condemned the emergence of famine in Sudan as a direct consequence of efforts to restrict access of humanitarian actors. They noted recent progress in relation to the re-opening of the Chad-Sudan Adre border crossing, in the wake of the Paris Conference and of the Geneva talks. They called for full, rapid, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access both into Sudan and across lines of conflict so aid can reach all those in need.

    They urged all parties to cease hostilities immediately and to engage in serious negotiations aimed at achieving a lasting ceasefire, humanitarian access and protection of civilians without pre-conditions.

    They called on external actors to refrain from fueling the conflict, to respect the UN arms embargo on Darfur, and to play a responsible role in resolving the crisis.

    They welcomed mediation efforts by regional and international actors and organizations to facilitate a durable peace for the country.

    Inclusive, national dialogue, aimed at restoring democracy, re-establishing and strengthening the civilian and representative institutions after the end of the conflict, is a prerequisite for lasting peace. The G7 Members emphasized that it is necessary for representatives of Sudanese civil society, including women, to be fully engaged in the reflection on the political future of the country.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    September 29, 2024
  • MIL-OSI USA: Understanding Mosquito-Borne Diseases in Connecticut

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Despite the gradual arrival of fall, mosquitos are still active in our state. Paulo Verardi, professor of virology and vaccinology and head of the Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, shares information that can keep Connecticut residents safe from mosquito-borne diseases.

    What types of mosquito-borne diseases are we seeing in Connecticut?

    Mosquito-borne diseases are spread by the bite of infected mosquitoes. In Connecticut, one would immediately think of West Nile virus, by far the most common mosquito-borne virus in the region. However, we have

    additional viruses transmitted by mosquitoes, such as Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) virus, Jamestown Canyon virus, and Cache Valley virus, that luckily are less common. Sometimes Connecticut has imported cases of additional mosquito-borne diseases, such as dengue fever and Zika virus disease. These are acquired when people travel to areas where the virus is circulating, get bitten by an infected mosquito, and then travel back to Connecticut. If you are traveling outside the country in areas like the Caribbean and Central or South America, you should also be aware of chikungunya virus, yellow fever virus, and Oropouche virus, to name a few.

    Why are these diseases appearing more frequently in the state?

    Cases are linked to the proliferation of mosquitoes, which is driven by several factors including precipitation and temperature patterns, as well as alterations in these patterns. Climatic changes seem to also be impacting the distribution of these diseases, especially because warmer temperatures can promote a wider geographical range of disease-transmitting mosquitoes.

    West Nile virus has been in Connecticut since 1999, when it was introduced in New York City, so it is relatively new. On the other hand, evidence of EEE in Massachusetts dates back almost 200 years, and thus it is considered a local disease. West Nile cases in people are not uncommon during every mosquito season, but EEE seems to be impactful only every few years, such as in 2019 when a larger outbreak last occurred.

    West Nile and EEE viruses are actually maintained in nature in reservoir hosts, typically birds, and therefore these are considered zoonotic diseases. This means that the interplay amongst people, animals, plants, and the environment is a major factor determining the prevalence and transmission of these diseases, in what we call the One Health concept.

    What times of year do we need to be concerned about mosquito-borne diseases?

    We ought to be concerned any time of the year when mosquitoes are up and about. Generally, we think of the hot summer months, but transmission can start in the spring and last well into the fall season. A good example is EEE, as cases typically peak in late summer, but transmission can occur as late as October.

    What are the symptoms of these diseases?

    Diseases like West Nile and EEE are caused by viruses, so flu-like symptoms are typical:  fever, headache, fatigue, and in some instances rashes. Most people may not even feel sick at all, while a few others may end up developing inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) or of the membranes around the brain and the spinal cord (meningitis), leading to severe disease symptoms.

    What should someone do if they are sick?

    First, never assume that you may just have a cold, and pay attention to the severity of your symptoms. Consult a health care provider if symptoms do not improve, particularly if you have high fever and headache. Go immediately to an emergency room if symptoms become severe and you suspect any neurological involvement. The key is to be vigilant and proactive.

    It is noteworthy that horses with EEE are severely affected with up to 95% mortality (about half that rate for West Nile fever), and routine vaccination of horses for both diseases is recommended.

    How dangerous/deadly are these diseases?

    Fortunately, for most of us infections are self-contained. Our immune system can keep the invading viruses in check, and all you may experience are mild flu-like symptoms, if any. But symptoms can be more severe and can worsen very quickly. Pay attention to any rashes or severe symptoms, such as high fever, intense headache, stiffness of the neck, and other neurological problems. Encephalitis and meningitis are dangerous and life-threating complications, so a visit to the emergency room is necessary at the onset of neurological signs.

    What actions are state and local governments taking to help?

    Connecticut’s Department of Public Health (DPH) and Department of Agriculture (DoAg) are monitoring the situation in Connecticut and surrounding states closely. The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) is doing surveillance of mosquitoes, and the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (CVMDL) at UConn is monitoring wild and domestic animals (mammals and birds). In some cases, agencies may decide to curtail outdoor activities in certain areas at dusk, as Connecticut did in 2019 when we had high activity of EEE in Eastern Connecticut CT and neighboring states, and mosquito spraying may be recommended in limited areas by the Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).

    How can Connecticut residents protect themselves and help stop the spread of these diseases?

    By preventing mosquito bites:

    • Avoid outdoor activities during dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active
    • Use approved insect repellents
    • Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants when outside
    • Keep mosquitoes out of your house with the appropriate use of window and door screens.

    One can also treat clothing and gear with permethrin, which will help repel both mosquitoes and ticks. Vaccines against some mosquito-borne illnesses such as dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya, and Japanese encephalitis are available for people traveling to high-risk areas. Visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Traveler’s Health site for further information.

    This work relates to CAHNR’s Strategic Vision area focused on Enhancing Health and Well-Being Locally, Nationally, and Globally.

    Follow UConn CAHNR on social media

    MIL OSI USA News –

    September 29, 2024
  • MIL-OSI Translation: The Confederation closes its Mastodon instance

    MIL OSI Translation. Government of the Republic of France statements from French to English –

    Source: Switzerland – Department of Foreign Affairs in French

    Federal Chancellery

    Bern, 25.09.2024 – The Federal Chancellery has been operating a Mastodon instance for the federal administration since September 2023. The pilot project, which was limited to one year, ends today as the conditions for its continuation have not been met.

    As part of their legal information mandate, the Federal Council and the federal administration have also been communicating on social networks for many years and are constantly examining whether previously unused platforms are relevant.

    In September 2023, the Conference of Federal Information Services decided to launch a pilot project on the decentralised Mastodon platform. The Federal Chancellery then opened the social.admin.ch instance, on which members of the Federal Council and departments could manage official accounts. The pilot project was limited to one year.

    Mastodon has useful features for government communication. Thanks to its decentralized organization, the platform escapes the control of a single company and any state censorship. Its source code is open, it respects data protection and is not driven by algorithms.

    Too few active users

    On the social.admin.ch instance, three departments administered five accounts, and the Federal Chancellery administered one account for the entire Federal Council. The six accounts of the Confederation had around 3,500 subscribers in total.

    On platforms such as X or Instagram, the Federal Council and the Federal Administration reach significantly more subscribers with comparable accounts. In addition, the contributions of the Mastodon accounts of the Federal Council and the Federal Administration have rather low engagement rates (likes, shares, comments). Finally, the number of active Mastodon users worldwide is once again declining.

    The Conference of Information Services of the Confederation therefore considers that the conditions for continuing the pilot project have not been met, and activities on the Mastodon accounts of the Federal Council and the federal administration are suspended as of today. The social.admin.ch instance will be closed at the end of the month.

    Address for sending questions

    Urs BrudererHead of Communication Section058 483 99 69urs.bruderer@bk.admin.ch

    Author

    Federal Chancelleryhttps://www.bk.admin.ch/bk/fr/home.html

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

    MIL Translation OSI

    September 29, 2024
  • MIL-OSI Economics: BaFin warns consumers about the website coinaimex.net

    Source: Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht – In English

    The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) warns consumers about the website coinaimex.net. According to information available to BaFin, Coinaimex Ltd, London, United Kingdom, offers financial and investment services there without authorization.

    BaFin has warned consumers about several almost identical websites that have come to its attention recently. The homepage of each website begins with the following sentence: “Step Into the Trading Arena With Confidence & [name of website]”.

    Anyone providing financial or investment services in Germany may do so only with authorisation from BaFin. However, some companies offer these services without the necessary authorisation. Information on whether a particular company has been granted authorisation by BaFin can be found in BaFin’s database of companies.

    The information provided by BaFin is based on section 37 (4) of the German Banking Act (Kreditwesengesetz – KWG).

    Please be aware:

    BaFin, the German Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt – BKA) and the German state criminal police offices (Landeskriminalämter) recommend that consumers seeking to invest money online should exercise the utmost caution and do the necessary research beforehand in order to identify fraud attempts at an early stage.

    MIL OSI Economics –

    September 29, 2024
  • MIL-OSI Global: Historic racism still negatively affects the way paintings of black people are perceived – as our study shows

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Tobiasz Trawinski, Lecturer in psychology, Liverpool Hope University

    There is little doubt that historic racism has influenced the content and composition of several famous figurative paintings. In March 2024, this could be seen in the debate around the exhibition of the Rex Whistler mural, The Expedition in Pursuit of Rare Meats (1927), at the Tate Britain. Critics asked whether such artworks should remain on public display.

    There are several shocking elements of Rex Whistler’s mural, originally commissioned by the Tate as “decoration for the new refreshment room”, including the image of a black child chained to a horse and cart as it moves at speed. The debate raises the question – does the ongoing presence of artworks like this in public spaces serve to confront or maintain historic racist views?

    In some instances, the racist attitudes behind such paintings have been explicitly expressed by artists or painting owners, making them well-documented. Take, for example, John Trumbull (1715–1787), a painter who had several enslaved people living in his household. Another example is Gilbert Winter Moss (1828–1899), a banker who owned Richard Ansdell’s painting The Hunted Slaves (1861). According to the UCL Legacies of Slavery database, Moss’s family was deeply involved in the slave trade. In other cases, things aren’t so clear-cut.

    But even if not explicitly expressed, racist attitudes may have been implicitly held, to an extent that they were able to influence the creative process. Implicitly held racial attitudes are mental associations that, when triggered by race, can guide people’s judgment and actions. As a researcher in psychology, I wanted to explore if implicitly held racial attitudes affect the viewing of paintings when the images themselves make no suggestion of racial inequality.

    Alongside my colleagues, I have explored this question in a series of recent studies of portraits of black and white people. In one study, we used gaze-mapping technology to measure the eye movements made by visitors to the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool.

    The measurement of when and where our eyes move, and how long they focus on specific objects, provides a time-sensitive index on what is important to viewers. We measured the eye movements of the visitors to the gallery who agreed to take part in our study as they looked at a set of five portraits of black sitters (including Two Jamaican Girls by Augustus John, 1937) and five portraits of white sitters (including Interior at Paddington by Lucian Freud, 1951).

    Their task was to say how much pleasure they experienced when looking at each painting. We also assessed the visitors to the gallery on their implicit racial attitudes and actual contact with different racial communities.

    Our results

    Our study showed that visitors to the gallery who reported little contact with black people and who held negative implicit racial attitudes reported experiencing little pleasure when viewing paintings showing black sitters.

    Perhaps more surprisingly, though they reported little pleasure, these visitors focused their attention more on the faces of the black sitters than others did. The results suggest that little contact with black people, combined with holding negative implicit racial attitudes, can be associated with an undue focus on black faces when viewing these paintings.

    We believe our findings suggest that negative implicit racial attitudes have not only influenced the historic content and composition of some paintings, but continue to exert an influence on the viewing of paintings in the present day. Moreover, the influence of negative implicit racial attitudes on the viewing of paintings exerts its effect even when the images themselves are quite neutral.

    Whether or not racist paintings are removed from public spaces, our results show that implicit racial attitudes will, for some viewers, continue to exert an influence on their perception of paintings representing black people and culture.



    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.


    Tobiasz Trawinski does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Historic racism still negatively affects the way paintings of black people are perceived – as our study shows – https://theconversation.com/historic-racism-still-negatively-affects-the-way-paintings-of-black-people-are-perceived-as-our-study-shows-227007

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    September 29, 2024
  • MIL-OSI Global: Did COVID come from an animal market? Here’s what the new evidence really tells us

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Mark Woolhouse, Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, The University of Edinburgh

    The argument about the origins of COVID has always been heated, and nowadays it feels more like a brawl than a scientific debate.

    Some say that ground zero for the pandemic was a live animal market in Wuhan, China. Others argue that SARS-CoV-2 (the coronavirus that causes COVID) leaked from a nearby laboratory that was studying similar viruses. Both are plausible scenarios.

    Proponents of the market hypothesis have been aggressively vocal in recent weeks. In August, an anonymous editorial in a leading medical journal talked about the “hubris needed to underpin alternative hypotheses” and “fanciful ideas … more in keeping with popular movies”.

    A commentary in another journal lamented that scientists were being harassed for rejecting the lab leak hypothesis. With breathtaking hypocrisy, the same commentary then attacked a junior researcher who favours that hypothesis, dismissing her work as “conjecture, correlation and anecdote”.

    We can at least agree that the virus was present in the Wuhan market. Samples collected from market stalls and drains in early January 2020 contain SARS-CoV-2 genetic material. A recent analysis of this material, published in the journal Cell, claimed to show that the common ancestor of the viruses at the market was the common ancestor of the whole pandemic.

    That sounds compelling, until you realise that all of these samples were collected weeks after the pandemic began and none came from a live animal. Unaccountably, no samples were collected before the market was closed and the animals destroyed. Primarily for this reason, most commentators – including me – consider these latest results suggestive but not definitive.

    The lack of samples from animals is a problem. No one believes that this virus originated in Wuhan. The natural reservoirs of SARS-like coronaviruses are horseshoe bats, and no infected colonies have been found within 1,500km of the city.

    So it must have been brought into the market from somewhere. Yet no SARS-CoV-2 has been found along the supply chains for the animals sold there.

    Could a person rather than an animal have brought SARS-CoV-2 into the market in late 2019? That’s entirely possible. Many of the viruses near the base of the SARS-CoV-2 ancestral tree came from people with no links to the market. Several, including a cluster from Guangdong Province, were not even from Wuhan.

    Despite the many uncertainties and unanswered questions, it would be much easier to accept the market hypothesis if the pandemic had begun in one of the hundreds (or possibly thousands – no one seems to know for sure) of other Chinese cities that had similar markets in 2020.

    After all, the 2002 outbreak of the original SARS coronavirus (a very close relative of SARS-CoV-2) began in a market selling civet cats and other animals in, as it happens, Guangdong.

    Yet the epicentre of the COVID pandemic was less than 20 kilometres from China’s pre-eminent coronavirus research lab, the Wuhan Institute of Virology. That is an extraordinary coincidence, and you’d need compelling evidence that the market was the source (or that the lab wasn’t) to dismiss it. The evidence we have simply isn’t that strong.

    That said, there is no evidence – at least, not that the Chinese authorities have shared – that SARS-CoV-2 was present in the Wuhan Institute of Virology, though some closely related viruses were. I cannot know if it was or wasn’t, but it didn’t have to be.

    Scientists from the institute went on coronavirus-hunting expeditions to places such as Guangdong. Scientists from the Wuhan Center for Disease Control and Prevention – just a five-minute walk from the market – were making their own expeditions, too. There’s an obvious and plausible alternative route to the first human case.

    Dismissed as a conspiracy theory

    Yet as far back as March 2020, on a bare minimum of evidence, the idea that a lab was involved in any way was already being dismissed as a conspiracy theory.

    Two years ago, one of the most strident proponents of the market hypothesis claimed that his latest research “lays to rest the idea that the virus escaped from a laboratory”. An author of the new analysis in Cell says alternative explanations are “fanciful” and “absurd”.

    Who is all this bombast supposed to win over? Not scientists who can read the research papers, take note of the caveats and make their own judgments. Not politicians who have taken an ideological stance on the issue, particularly in the US. And not the intelligence agencies who many believe are our best hope for getting at the truth.

    I have studied the origins of human viruses for 25 years but, having examined the evidence, I still don’t know how the COVID pandemic began. I do know that the question is important and that debating it should be encouraged, not stifled.

    Mark Woolhouse receives funding from the European Union and the Wellcome Trust. He is a member of the Scottish Government’s Standing Committee on Pandemic Preparedness and has advised the Scottish and UK governments, and the WHO, on pandemic preparedness and response.

    – ref. Did COVID come from an animal market? Here’s what the new evidence really tells us – https://theconversation.com/did-covid-come-from-an-animal-market-heres-what-the-new-evidence-really-tells-us-239533

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    September 29, 2024
  • MIL-OSI Global: Why building new towns isn’t the answer to the UK’s housing crisis

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Amrita Kulka, Assistant Professor, Political Economy and Public Economics, University of Warwick

    The UK is aiming to build 1.5 million homes over five years. Nick Beer/Shutterstock

    The UK’s new government is intent on building 1.5 million homes over the next five years. It’s all part of the plan to address the housing supply and affordability crisis.

    Many of these homes are to be built in the form of large communities or new towns of more than 10,000 housing units each. Some English new towns built after the second world war, such as Milton Keynes, Harlow and Basildon, have been successful economically. But the building of new towns has ground to a halt since the 1990s.

    The importance of large developments for housing supply in the UK has increased dramatically in the last 25 years. We have put together new evidence that reveals a significant shift in the source of housing supply. These days, an increasing share of new homes are coming from large developments.

    At the turn of the century, very large developments of at least 500 units made up only single digits of the total percentage of potential housing supply. Today, such developments represent 38% of permitted housing units. These very large projects only made up 0.2% of applications over the 25 years, but make up a disproportionately large chunk of new housing supply.

    This graphic shows the share of permitted new homes from 2000 to 2023 for applications of different development sizes across the UK.

    Proportion of new homes by development size

    Our research, undertaken with the support of our research assistant Alex Gallagher, explores the barriers that developments face in terms of paperwork and waiting time for a decision. We show that the amount of paperwork increases dramatically with the size of the project, going from one application for projects involving one unit, to more than eight applications for projects involving 500 or more units.

    The additional paperwork is generated by things like environmental surveys, infrastructure needs and public utilities.

    Northstowe in Cambridgeshire, which was planned to be the largest new town since Milton Keynes was built in the 1960s, also required funding for local infrastructure. Developers were obliged to contribute more than £120 million, most of which went to the construction of local schools. The development was left in limbo for around four years due to a delay to the expansion of the A14 trunk road, upon which the new town was entirely dependent. It is still not complete, with residents frustrated at the lack of infrastructure.

    In the case of Buckshaw Village, a new Lancashire development built on a former munitions factory, developers had to decontaminate the site. This required a £10.5 million contract to decontaminate more than 850 buildings.

    Of course many of these requirements are necessary, and beneficial for long-term planning. But it demonstrates that building a new town goes far beyond constructing houses.

    Decade-long delays

    In our research we also find that the time taken to reach a planning decision rises dramatically from projects involving one unit to projects involving two to nine units, and keeps rising for larger projects. The average time from the first application to the last decision is just over four years and four months for projects with more than 500 units. But even projects involving just one unit can expect to wait nearly a year.

    For bigger projects, waiting times for a decision are over 11 years in some cases (the most delayed 10%). One example is Ebbsfleet Valley – another newly planned town near London with large potential – which has seen only 4,000 of 43,000 planned homes built since planning began in 1996.

    The time taken for a planning decision plays a role in this delay. The borough councils resolved to grant outline planning permission (which lets a developer know if its plans are acceptable in principle) in 1998, two years after the application was submitted. But outline planning permission was not actually granted until November 2002. And then the need to supply more plans caused further delays, which meant building did not start until 2006 – 10 years after the original outline was filed.

    The long wait times for decisions, added to the fact that bigger developments must file additional applications, mean that housing supply from large projects is slow to be realised.

    These barriers have important implications for developers, which have to weigh the cost savings of large developments against the increased chance of obstacles that these larger developments are likely to throw up. So are new towns the most effective way to build a large amount of housing units in a short space of time?

    New towns are most comparable to the large-scale developments that represent an increasing share of residential units in the UK since the early 2000s.

    While these development schemes can deliver large amounts of housing alongside local infrastructure (at the developer’s expense rather than local government), they are unlikely to do so in the short term as they also face the toughest barriers under planning regulations.

    Therefore, so-called infill developments (that is, new buildings on unused or under-used land) as well as smaller and medium-sized developments, should not be neglected.

    Urban extensions and new neighbourhoods in the sites we’re already living in may provide ways to keep costs and uncertainties of new infrastructure to a minimum – even while planning larger developments or the new towns of the future.

    Amrita Kulka receives funding from Research England.

    Nikhil Datta receives funding from the British Academy, Leverhulme Trust, Economic and Social Research Council, and Research England.

    – ref. Why building new towns isn’t the answer to the UK’s housing crisis – https://theconversation.com/why-building-new-towns-isnt-the-answer-to-the-uks-housing-crisis-238635

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    September 29, 2024
  • MIL-OSI Europe: AMERICA/HAITI – Father Massimo Miraglio: “With courage and determination, we continue our commitment so that people will one day have a decent standard of living”

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Wednesday, 25 September 2024

    MM

    by Antonella PrennaPourcine (Agenzia Fides) – “Although the international spotlight on Haiti has long since faded, newspapers and media no longer report on it, the situation has not changed or improved in any way”. This is what the Italian Camillian Father Massimo Miraglio complains to Fides about the reality he found upon his return to Haiti after a long forced break in Italy.”Despite the intervention of the UN units led by the Kenyan force, which arrived on the island on June 25 and which have been reinforced in recent days by additional soldiers from Jamaica and Belize, the situation is still disastrous. It can be said that the presence of these troops in Haiti is almost ineffective. They complain of a lack of material, fear of loss of life and restrictive rules of engagement”, says the missionary. “In fact, the capital, Port au Prince, remains in the hands of armed gangs that spread terror among the population. All activities remain almost paralyzed. The entrances to the south and north of the capital are completely blocked, with various groups demanding bribes from people who stop them on the way. But this only applies to public transport and trucks, which in many cases are confiscated instead of letting them through. The exit to Jeremie, 200 km south of the capital, is also closed; it is practically impossible to get there by land. In this sad situation for the majority of the Haitian population, the new school year begins on October 1,” explains Father Massimo, who has lived on the island for almost twenty years.”We cannot hide the fact that the start of the school year will be accompanied by great fears and many difficulties. Many children will not go to school and many schools will be closed, especially in Port-au-Prince, due to the presence of armed gangs. Many children will not be able to go to school because they do not have the money to buy the minimum school supplies. Consider that 80 percent of schools in Haiti are private and costs are rising every year, while families are plunged further into poverty,” the missionary says. In Jeremie – where the Camillians have a parish – the situation is also dramatic and many children are unlikely to be able to start the school year on time on October 1st. “Books, like all school materials, are prohibitively expensive and difficult to get from the capital. The same goes for uniforms and school bags for students. Finding a decent pair of shoes to send them to school has become very difficult and expensive. In short, it promises to be a very difficult school year for children in Haiti,” adds Father Miraglio.”In our parish in Pourcine, in the mountainous hinterland of Jeremie, 250 students will be enrolled in primary and kindergarten this year,” explains Father Massimo, who is the parish priest (see Fides, 28/9/2023). “We have managed to build two very simple small buildings out of local wood, tents and sheet metal, which will accommodate six elementary school classes and two kindergarten classes. With just as much effort, we have managed to complete the teaching staff. They are all very young and the only ones who are prepared to teach in such a distant place despite the prospect of a salary. This will be the second school year in which the school will open here in the Pic Makaya mountains.”Among the various projects that the missionaries want to implement on the Caribbean island, the Camillians’ top priority is the establishment of a medical clinic on site. “We would like to set up a small outpatient clinic in the parish to save the sick from having to travel long distances; our “Foyer Saint Camille” in Port au Prince is far away. In addition, this week we will organize a mobile clinic with a group of Cuban doctors and the support of a local organization, with which we can provide first aid to the sick in a mountain region and bring people from two neighboring valleys. This is also a difficult undertaking, because to reach the place where we want to set up the clinic, we need more than four hours on foot and the same time to return to the paths along the slopes, which are very dangerous, especially in this rainy season.”“Following the charism of our founder, Saint Camillus, we want to work in this area with groups of chronically ill people, children with nutritional problems and the elderly who are often abandoned and alone in their homes. We hope to be able to set up an outpatient clinic by 2025, we are very grateful to the “Madian Orizzonti” organization of the Camillian Missionaries of Turin, who have supported us with great affection and we trust in the support of many other people who will meet us on our way,” stresses the missionary. “At the moment, unfortunately, the province is not free of problems due to the enormous difficulties in communication with the capital. It is very complicated to receive all kinds of goods from Port au Prince because Haiti is a country where everything is very centralized and everything comes from the capital. Recently, transport from the province to the capital, Jeremie, has also been difficult due to the rising prices of diesel and gasoline,” he reports.”In Pourcine Pic-Makaya, in our community, work is continuing on the aqueduct, we bring the water from the source to the center of the village. This is very important, not only because it shortens the distance between the source and the valley where most people live, but above all because it allows us to purify the water and avoid/limit the constant and frequent epidemics of cholera and intestinal diseases. In addition to the aqueduct, work to support agriculture is also continuing. We hope to create a coffee nursery in the coming months in the area that in the past provided some prosperity. But we do not give up hope and we continue to fight for better living conditions,” said Father Miraglio. “The aqueduct, the schools, the kindergarten, the mobile clinics, all these are important aspects to revive the hope of the population and ensure that their living conditions improve and prevent people from leaving these rural towns to concentrate in the metropolis or in the provincial towns that, like Jeremie, are already overcrowded and where there is no possibility of giving work and hope to these people who leave the countryside to come to the city. With courage and determination we continue our commitment alongside these rural populations, we try to support them in their faith, to accompany them so that one day they can have a decent standard of living,” he concludes. (Agenzia Fides, 25/9/2024)
    MM

    Share:

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    September 29, 2024
  • MIL-OSI Translation: Confederation closes its Mastodon case

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Italy –

    Source: Switzerland – Federal Chancellery

    Federal ChancelleryBern, 25.09.2024 – The Mastodon instance that the Federal Chancellery has been managing for the Federal Administration for a year will be closed. Its duration was limited to one year. The conditions for its continuation have not been met.The Federal Chancellery and the Federal Administration have been using social media for their communication for many years, in accordance with their statutory information mandate. To fulfill this mandate, they are constantly reviewing whether other platforms that have not yet been used would be suitable for their communication.In September 2023, the Conference of Intelligence Services (CSI) decided to launch a pilot experiment on the decentralized Mastodon platform. The Federal Chancellery therefore opened the «social.admin.ch» instance on which members of the Federal Council and the departments could manage their official accounts. The duration of the experiment was limited to one year.Mastodon has some of the characteristics for government-level communication. Thanks to its decentralized organization, the platform is not subject to the control of a single company or state censorship authorities. Its source code is publicly accessible, complies with data protection and is not controlled by algorithms. Few active usersA total of five accounts were operated by three departments on the «social.admin.ch» instance, and an additional account was operated by the Federal Chancellery for the entire Federal Council. The six accounts of the Confederation had around 3,500 followers. On platforms such as X or Instagram, the Federal Council and the Federal Administration have significantly more followers for the same number of accounts. In addition, the contributions from the Mastodon accounts of the Federal Council and the Administration had a rather low interaction rate (likes, shares, comments). And last but not least, the number of active users on Mastodon is once again decreasing worldwide. The CSI therefore believes that the conditions for a continuation of the pilot are not met. The Mastodon accounts of the Federal Council and the Federal Administration are closed from today, while the «social.admin.ch» instance will be closed at the end of the month.Address for enquiriesUrs BrudererHead of the Communications Section058 483 99 69urs.bruderer@bk.admin.chPublished byFederal Chancelleryhttps://www.bk.admin.ch/bk/it/home.html

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

    MIL Translation OSI

    September 29, 2024
  • MIL-OSI: FactSet’s GHG Emissions Commitment Validated by Science Based Targets Initiative

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NORWALK, Conn., Sept. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FactSet, a global financial digital platform and enterprise solutions provider, today announced that the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has validated its near-term, company-wide sustainability initiative to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to combat the global climate crisis.

    This validation follows FactSet’s 2022 near-term emission reduction commitment, confirming the company’s goals have been reviewed by corporate climate experts and are inline and attainable according to SBTi’s guidelines. These goals include reducing scope 1, direct and owned company emissions; scope 2, indirect and off-site company emissions; and scope 3, indirect value chain emissions.

    FactSet’s commitment involves:

    • FactSet Research Systems Inc. commits to reduce absolute scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 45% by its 2030 fiscal year from its fiscal 2023 base year levels.
    • FactSet Research Systems Inc. commits to reduce absolute scope 3 GHG emissions by 25% by its 2030 fiscal year from its fiscal 2023 base year levels.

    As outlined in FactSet’s 2023 Sustainability Report, FactSet commits to measuring and disclosing its GHG emissions to drive business goals and reach a net zero future. As FactSet progresses towards its decarbonization targets, FactSet will be researching and implementing alternate strategies to adapt its operations to decrease its scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions.

    “At FactSet, we are committed to upholding the highest standards to achieve our sustainability goals,” said Bénédicte Godet Crochet, Chair of the Sustainability Committee at FactSet. “As we receive this validation from the Science Based Targets initiative, we continue to progress our efforts towards making a meaningful impact on our planet and community. This achievement marks a significant milestone in our sustainability journey, and we are proud to be a player in reaching a net-zero future.”

    This validation is in accordance with FactSet’s sustainability plan, which is reinforced by the company’s executive-sponsored Sustainability Committee, a group that supports and executes sustainability goals and initiatives, as well as previous pledges with the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) and Principles for Responsible Investing (PRI).

    To learn more about FactSet’s sustainability program, please visit: https://www.factset.com/our-company/sustainability.

    About FactSet
    FactSet (NYSE:FDS | NASDAQ:FDS) helps the financial community to see more, think bigger, and work better. Our digital platform and enterprise solutions deliver financial data, analytics, and open technology to more than 8,200 global clients, including over 216,000 individual users. Clients across the buy-side and sell-side as well as wealth managers, private equity firms, and corporations achieve more every day with our comprehensive and connected content, flexible next-generation workflow solutions, and client-centric specialized support. As a member of the S&P 500, we are committed to sustainable growth and have been recognized amongst the Best Places to Work in 2023 by Glassdoor as a Glassdoor Employees’ Choice Award winner. Learn more at www.factset.com and follow us on X and LinkedIn.

    FactSet
    Investor Relations Contact:
    Ali van Nes
    +1.203.810.2273
    Avannes@factset.com

    Media Contact:
    Megan Kovach
    +1.512.736.2795
    megan.kovach@factset.com

    The MIL Network –

    September 29, 2024
  • MIL-OSI: Tactile Medical Announces Positive Clinical Trial Results in Lymphedema Patients Using Advanced Pneumatic Compression Device Therapy

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Tactile Systems Technology, Inc. (“Tactile Medical”; the “Company”) (Nasdaq: TCMD), a medical technology company providing therapies for people with chronic disorders, today announced the publication of a new clinical study in the Journal of Vascular Surgery, Venous and Lymphatic Disorders. This study assessed outcomes associated with use of the Company’s Flexitouch advanced pneumatic compression device (APCD) in Veterans with lower extremity lymphedema. Notably, this 52-week study represents the largest peer-reviewed, prospective, clinical trial investigating PCDs and lymphedema ever published in the United States.

    The prospective, longitudinal, pragmatic study publication, titled “Longitudinal assessment of health-related quality of life and clinical outcomes with at home advanced pneumatic compression treatment of lower extremity lymphedema”, was authored by Padberg et al. and included 179 Veterans across four participating VA medical centers. The primary outcome measures included disease-specific health-related quality of life (QoL) endpoints obtained at baseline and again at each of 12, 24, and 52 weeks. The secondary outcome measures assessed limb circumference, cellulitis events, skin quality, and therapy compliance over the course of 52 weeks. Among the patients included in the study, chronic venous insufficiency was the most common etiology of lymphedema (phlebolymphedema), presenting in approximately 63% of study participants. Further, mild lymphedema was the most common disease stage, presenting in 68% of patients.

    The secondary endpoint results demonstrated several statistically significant improvements, baseline to 52 weeks, with reductions in limb girth, cellulitis events, and skin hyperpigmentation. Among these results, the following were observed:

    • Limb girth decreased by 1.4 cm
    • Cellulitis events decreased from 21.4% to 6.1%
    • Skin hyperpigmentation decreased from 75% of patients to 40% 

    There were additional improvements also noted in compliance and limb girth reduction which included:

    • 92% patient compliance (defined as used for 5 to 7 days per week) with Flexitouch at 8 weeks and 72% patient compliance at 52 weeks
    • 74% patient compliance with compression garments at 52 weeks, compared to 64% at baseline
    • 6% limb girth reduction at 12 weeks in patients with moderate (stage 2) and severe (stage 3) lymphedema.

    “We sincerely thank the clinical researchers, patients, and VA Medical Centers for advancing peer-reviewed evidence that supports clinical and patient benefits of our Flexitouch therapy,” said Sheri Dodd, President and Chief Executive Officer of Tactile Medical. “Achieving these impressive study results, including outstanding compliance over a 1-year timeframe, validates the importance of APCD therapy outcomes and demonstrates a patient experience that supports strong adherence to therapy. We are proud to provide Veterans the at-home tools they need to improve their clinical symptoms and quality of life.”

    Full text of the study may be found online at: https://www.jvsvenous.org/article/S2213-333X(24)00208-7/fulltext.

    About Tactile Systems Technology, Inc. (DBA Tactile Medical)

    Tactile Medical is a leader in developing and marketing at-home therapies for people suffering from underserved, chronic conditions including lymphedema, lipedema, chronic venous insufficiency and chronic pulmonary disease by helping them live better and care for themselves at home. Tactile Medical collaborates with clinicians to expand clinical evidence, raise awareness, increase access to care, reduce overall healthcare costs and improve the quality of life for tens of thousands of patients each year.

    Investor Inquiries:
    Sam Bentzinger
    Gilmartin Group
    investorrelations@tactilemedical.com

    The MIL Network –

    September 29, 2024
  • MIL-OSI: E Ink Announces Collaboration with Delvaux for Handbag Capsule at Paris Fashion Week Using E Ink Prism™ 3

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BILLERICA, Mass., Sept. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — E Ink (8069.TW) the originator, pioneer, and global commercial leader in ePaper technology, today announced their collaboration with Delvaux at Paris Fashion Week. Delvaux’s Helios capsule showcases four designs using E Ink Prism 3 which merge traditional textiles with innovative technologies.

    Inspired by E Ink’s color-changing Prism film—dynamic electronic ink technology defined by its fully programable, reflective, and low power consumption—Delvaux imagined redefining what luxury can be. Over the past two years E Ink and Delvaux have worked closely together to push the boundaries of technology – ultimately creating a product that weaves material innovation and leather mastery together to create a completely unique and personalized experience.

    “Our Helios project unifies extreme tradition with extreme innovation. Once more, it’s the fruit of an encounter and truly collaborative work which started more than two years ago between E Ink’s and Delvaux’s teams,” said Jean-Marc Loubier, Delvaux’s CEO. “The start, in January 2022, is the discovery of E Ink’s innovative technology with new materials, light, and colours at CES in Las Vegas. Our project demonstrates the drive to mix this extraordinary tech with our leather mastery and create outstanding bags, for real, daily use. Commitment and collaboration pushed our two companies well beyond their comfort zones to reach a historic result.”

    “E Ink has explored how to integrate our films into textiles for a number of years,” said Tim O’Malley, Associate Vice President of E Ink’s US Business Unit. “In Delvaux we found a partner that had the vision to imagine new possibilities in how the two materials could work together harmoniously. The resulting designs highlight how innovative materials like E Ink Prism can be seamlessly woven into a traditional material, honoring both history and the future.”

    le Caprice and le Pin mark the first implementation of E Ink’s unique technology in any luxury maison. The two companies are working together to bring the collection to market.

    Founded in 1829, Delvaux has remained at the forefront of luxury leather goods for nearly two centuries because of its savoir-faire, uncompromising craftsmanship, and the outstanding quality of its creations. The visionary and pragmatic Brussels-based luggage maker foresaw the travel revolution approaching and filed its first world patent for a woman’s leather handbag in 1908 with ‘le Princesse’, becoming the inventor of the modern handbag.

    As a global leader in ePaper technology, E Ink is not only committed to delivering innovative technology via advanced manufacturing processes but is also prioritizing sustainability. The company is actively focused on reducing carbon emissions throughout the product design and manufacturing processes by conducting carbon footprint verification and providing customers with a sustainable framework for the design and integration of ePaper products.

    About E Ink

    E Ink Holdings Inc. (8069.TWO), based on technology from MIT’s Media Lab, provides an ideal display medium for applications spanning eReaders and eNotes, retail, home, hospital, transportation, logistics, and more, enabling customers to put displays in locations previously impossible. E Ink’s electrophoretic display products make it the worldwide leader for ePaper. Its low power displays enable customers to reach their sustainability goals, and E Ink has pledged using 100% renewable energy in 2030 and reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2040. E Ink has been recognized for their efforts by receiving, validation from Science-Based Targets (SBTi) and is listed in both the DJSI World and DJSI Emerging Indexes. Listed in Taiwan’s Taipei Exchange (TPEx) and the Luxembourg market, E Ink Holdings is now the world’s largest supplier of ePaper displays. For more information please visit www.eink.com. E Ink. We Make Surfaces Smart and Green.

    Contact:

    V2 Communications on behalf of E Ink

    eink@v2comms.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d50c2242-b107-44e4-a86d-63328d86f1ac

    The MIL Network –

    September 29, 2024
  • MIL-OSI: Heliene Closes $50M 45X Investment Tax Credit Transfer Sale, facilitated by Basis Climate

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MOUNTAIN IRON, Minn., Sept. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Heliene Inc., a customer-first provider of North American-made solar PV modules, today announced the sale of approximately $50M Section 45X Advanced Manufacturing Production Tax Credit (45X credits). The transaction was facilitated by Basis Climate, a leading facilitator of clean energy tax credit transfers.

    Heliene is able to claim eligibility for these tax credits under the guidelines of the Inflation Reduction Act’s Section 45X credits. Heliene manufactures high-quality, U.S.-made solar modules that feature a high volume of domestically-sourced components at its existing factory in Mountain Iron, Minnesota. The company is now building a new module factory in the Minneapolis-St. Paul Metro-area, with a planned start up of May 2025.

    “Monetising our 45X tax credits through this sale is instrumental in continuing the growth of Heliene’s domestic manufacturing capacity,” said Martin Pochtaruk, CEO of Heliene, Inc. “This transaction provides long term sustainability, hence enabling us to expand our commitment to offering developers reliable, quality modules that feature the highest possible volume of domestic content. We’re grateful to the team at Basis Climate for facilitating this important deal. Together we’re building a stronger, bankable U.S. solar supply chain.”

    This deal is believed to be among the first within the solar manufacturing industry. Heliene will use funds from this sale to reduce debt and support ongoing efforts to expand its U.S. cell and module manufacturing footprint and grow its domestic, clean energy workforce.

    “Congrats to Heliene and Basis Climate for closing this transaction, which we believe is a testament to the strength of the Heliene business and the resiliency of the 45x manufacturing tax credit framework,” said Ethan Shoemaker, Partner and head of the Infrastructure Credit platform at OIC, who led an investment into Heliene in Spring 2023. “We continue to be impressed by Martin and his team, who are leading the charge for the domestic solar industry through consistent execution, innovation, and creativity.”

    “We are proud to have participated in this landmark deal for Heliene and the domestic solar industry more broadly. Basis supported Heliene in the sale of their 45X credits to a profitable domestic manufacturer. This was an all-American transaction,” noted Erik Underwood, Basis Climate’s CEO. He continued, “we used visual language models to help review thousands of supporting documents to substantiate these tax credits. We look forward to applying learnings to many more deals to come.”

    This tax credit transfer sale follows several months of strategic dealflow completed by Heliene, which is focused on bolstering its domestic manufacturing footprint and shoring up the U.S. solar supply chain. This included a strategic sourcing agreement with cell manufacturer Suniva, a partnership and multi-year contract with Norsun for the supply of U.S.-made wafers, and a joint venture with Premier Energies to jointly build a U.S.-based solar cell manufacturing facility.

    About Heliene

    Heliene is one of North America’s fastest-growing domestic module manufacturers serving the utility-scale, commercial, and residential markets. With an in-house logistics team and remarkably responsive support staff, Heliene delivers competitively priced, high performance solar modules precisely when and where customers need them to accelerate North America’s clean energy transition. Founded in 2010, Heliene consistently ranks as a highly bankable module manufacturer and has production facilities located in Canada, and the USA. For more information, visit www.heliene.com.

    Media inquiries:
    Carly Ross
    FischTank PR
    heliene@fischtankpr.com  

    About Basis Climate

    Basis Climate is a leading facilitator of clean energy tax credit transfers, providing a seamless and efficient platform for businesses and individuals to monetize their tax credits generated from renewable energy projects. The company’s mission is to unlock the full potential of clean energy tax credits by connecting credit generators with motivated buyers, ultimately accelerating the transition to a clean and sustainable future. By leveraging technology and standardized diligence and transaction processes, Basis is able to support the full range of clean energy tax credits established by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.

    The MIL Network –

    September 29, 2024
  • MIL-OSI: Calling All Paw-ty Animals: Trupanion to Connect Families & Shelter Pets for a Frightfully Howling Halloween

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SEATTLE, Sept. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Do you have a Cleocatra? Perhaps a Vampug or Terri-fido. Because whether they’re spooky, sweet or somewhere in between—it’s time to break out the costume box for Trupanion’s Tricked Out for Treats Pet-tacular, a pet costume contest to run throughout October.

    Starting October 1, Trupanion invites pet parents to share photos of their furry friends in (pet safe!) costumes for a chance to win a custom pet portrait, pet-tacular swag, global spotlight opportunities, and ultimate bragging rights. And with eight tricked-out categories like ‘Solo Stunner’ for pet close ups and ‘Clinic Charmer’ spotlighting pets and veterinary team members, there’s something for everyone. Including ‘Adorably Adoptable’, a great way for Trupanion to team up with shelter and rescue organizations nationwide in order to find adoptable pets new homes.

    “When developing this initiative, we knew we wanted to create something fun and lighthearted, but with a deeper purpose,” said Margi Tooth, CEO & President of Trupanion. “That’s why we chose to shine a spotlight on shelter and rescue pets with the Adorably Adoptable category to connect these pets with potential families.”

    Submissions for the Adorably Adoptable category will receive extra attention on the campaign’s showcase page, where visitors will be able to see available pets. They’ll also have the opportunity to learn more about each pet’s shelter/rescue organization and connect with the team directly — whether they’re interested in adopting or want to explore ways to support their mission.

    “We’re looking forward to celebrating the fun, laughter, and love our pets bring into our lives each and every day with this campaign,” added Tooth. “It will be wonderful to share these joyful moments with the world and we are so excited for the opportunity to connect pets available for adoption with their forever homes.”

    Here’s How It Works

    Say Cheese: Starting October 1, trick out your pet in their finest and snap some pics.

    Tag, Brag & Vote: Submit your photos to trickedout.trupanion.com, tag one of the categories that best fits your pet’s paw-some personality, then share one social media to get as many votes as possible.

    Tune In: Don’t miss our virtual pet-tacular, streamed at trickedout.trupanion.com on October 30 at 12pm PST/3pm EST. Come meet the best-dressed pets, have lots of laughs, and find out who’s the “pick of the patch” in select categories.

    Visit trickedout.trupanion.com for more information and to submit your pet’s photo.

    Know a shelter or rescue interested in showcasing adoptable pets? Encourage them to pre-register for the campaign via email at shelterlove@trupanion.com before October 1.

    About Trupanion

    Trupanion is a leader in medical insurance for cats and dogs throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Puerto Rico and Australia with over 1,000,000 pets enrolled. For over two decades, Trupanion has given pet owners peace of mind so they can focus on their pet’s recovery, not financial stress. Trupanion is committed to providing pet owners with the highest value in pet medical insurance with unlimited payouts for the life of their pets. With its patented process, Trupanion is the only North American provider with the technology to pay veterinarians directly in seconds at the time of checkout. Trupanion is listed on NASDAQ under the symbol “TRUP”. The company was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Seattle, WA. Trupanion policies are issued, in the United States, by its wholly-owned insurance entity American Pet Insurance Company and, in Canada, by Accelerant Insurance Company of Canada. Trupanion Australia is a partnership between Trupanion and Hollard Insurance Company. Policies are sold and administered by Trupanion Managers USA, Inc. (CA license No. 0G22803, NPN 9588590). For more information, please visit trupanion.com.

    Contacts:
    Media: Trupanion Corporate Communications
    Corporate.communications@trupanion.com

    Images accompanying this press release are available for use. Pictures are of various pets in their Halloween costumes.

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ea20e913-f4ec-47b5-a39f-8c691c689f7c

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/afb1fff5-3942-49b2-bf5c-082f346ed877

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/742b0d6c-1791-49b4-a200-68e784bf8e76

    The MIL Network –

    September 29, 2024
  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Derry gets set to host the Carnival of the Dead this Halloween

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Derry gets set to host the Carnival of the Dead this Halloween

    25 September 2024

    As the nights draw in it’s a busy time in the home of Halloween as the final preparations are put in place for the Carnival parade that is the centrepiece of Derry’s world-famous festivities.

    Around 650 performers are expected to take part in the Carnival of the Dead, which will weave its magic through the streets of Derry’s city centre from 7pm on Halloween night, October 31st.

    The participants are drawn from all corners of the community – schools, sports clubs, arts groups and local organisations – brought together by the North West Carnival Initiative (NWCI) who are tasked with delivering this mammoth showcase by Derry City and Strabane District Council.

    The NWCI team are currently out and about helping groups create the spooky costumes and props that really bring the creepy characters of Samhain folklore to life.

    Today, Council’s Festival and Events Manager, Jacqueline Whoriskey, joined NWCI Project Manager Jim Collins, to officially launch the parade in the terrifying tunnels of the Tower Museum. It’s just one of the major highlights in a packed four day programme at Europe’s biggest Halloween celebration, as Jacqueline explained. “Derry Halloween attracts thousands of visitors from all over the world to the city, but it has always been a community-oriented event, and an opportunity to showcase local talent on an international stage,” she said.

    “It’s a fantastic chance for groups from all parts of the community – regardless of age, culture or ethnicity – to display their creativity and talents, alongside some of the fabulous show stopping international acts who feature throughout the festival. It’s an inclusive cross-community celebration, with something for everyone to enjoy and I love seeing so many groups bring some extra magic to Derry Halloween.”

    Workshops are already underway and a number of new groups are getting into the spirit of the event, as Jim explained. “It’s all go at the NWCI workshop and our facilitators will be working closely with the groups across the City and District to develop their own bespoke element of the parade,” he explained

    “It’s a big undertaking but I think that community involvement is so important in the success of the event, and it’s fantastic to see that continuing to grow and develop. It sets it apart from other festivals and gives people here ownership of the event. We always have great fun and it’s a chance to learn new skills and bring new ideas to the carnival parade.”

    Derry Halloween is delivered by Derry City and Strabane District Council and funded by Tourism Northern Ireland and The Executive Office, with support from Ulster University.

    This year the core festival programme will run Monday October 28th – Thursday October 31st with the Awakening the Walled City Trail transforming the town centre from Monday – Wednesday, from 6pm – 9pm, and plenty of festivities taking place throughout Halloween day, October 31st, culminating in the dazzling Halloween Carnival of the Dead Parade at 7pm and fireworks over the Foyle at 8.15pm.

    The parade will weave its way through the City Centre beginning at the Queen’s Quay carpark beside the Council offices, heading up Strand Rd, past the City Hotel then along Queens Quay before returning to the starting point.

    If you would like to take part or volunteer with North West Carnival Initiative, email Jim at [email protected]

    Find out more about the full Derry Halloween programme at derryhalloween.com

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    September 29, 2024
  • MIL-OSI Russia: Sergei Sobyanin congratulated Valentina Matviyenko on her re-election

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Sergei Sobyanin congratulated Valentina Matviyenko on her re-election as Chairperson of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation. He wrote about this inon your telegram channel.

    “The unanimous support of the senators is not at all surprising. Valentina Ivanovna is a patriot of Russia and, what is important, a true professional in her field and a person of action. I am confident that under the leadership of Valentina Ivanovna, the Federation Council will implement many more useful initiatives for the benefit of our people and the country, and the cooperation between the upper house of parliament and Moscow will remain successful and fruitful,” wrote Sergei Sobyanin.

    Source: Sergei Sobyanin’s Telegram channel @mos_sobyanin

    The Mayor of Moscow wished Valentina Matvienko the achievement of all her intended goals.

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

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

    https://vvv.mos.ru/major/themes/11822050/

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    September 29, 2024
  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Saudi Arabia strengthens WFP’s efforts to treat and prevent malnutrition in Somalia

    Source: World Food Programme

    NEW YORK – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have signed an agreement to boost nutrition support for the treatment and prevention of malnutrition among thousands of mothers and young children in Somalia.

    Cindy McCain, WFP’s Executive Director and Dr Abdullah Al Rabeeah, Adviser to the Royal Court and Supervisor General of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief), signed an agreement in New York for a contribution of US$4.5 million from KSrelief to enable WFP to provide specialised nutritious foods to more than 57,300 malnourished pregnant and breastfeeding women as well as around 122,850 children under the age of two.  

    While the 2024 rainy season (April–June) improved pasture and water availability in pastoral areas, it also triggered flash floods which forced people from their homes, damaged crops and critical infrastructure, and shattered the livelihoods of thousands of people still struggling to recover from the country’s longest recorded drought.

    “Recurring climate extremes such as droughts and floods are devastating the livelihoods of thousands of people and driving up the price of essential food commodities beyond the reach of many,” said El-Khidir Daloum, WFP’s Country Director in Somalia. “This generous contribution from KSrelief will enable WFP to continue supporting the nutrition needs of thousands of vulnerable mothers and children in Somalia.”

    In Somalia, an estimated 1.6 million children are expected to face acute malnutrition until July 2025, with 403,000 of them at risk of severe malnutrition, according to the latest analysis by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC).

    A funding shortfall of US$200 million has forced WFP in Somalia to make difficult decisions about who receives food assistance and who goes without. In June, WFP supported 1.2 million people – only 35 per cent of those then facing crisis-levels of hunger (IPC3+). 

    Without additional resources to address both the emergency and long-term needs of those affected by the climate crisis, millions of people could be forced to take desperate measures to survive.

    #                 #                   #

    The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

    Follow us on Twitter @WFP_Media @WFPSomalia @WFP_Africa @GccWfp

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

    September 29, 2024
  • MIL-OSI: FinWise Bancorp Announces Strategic Lending Program with PowerPay to Offer Transparent and Affordable Monthly Payments for Home Improvement and Elective Healthcare Purchases

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MURRAY, Utah, Sept. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FinWise Bancorp (NASDAQ: FINW) (“FinWise” or the “Company”), parent company of FinWise Bank (the “Bank”), today announced the launch of a new strategic lending program with PowerPay, LLC (“PowerPay”). PowerPay is a leading fintech company specializing in simple and affordable real-time lending and payment solutions to the Home Improvement and Elective HealthCare segments. With over 200 employees, the Company has processed over $8 billion across all 50 states since its inception in 2020.

    The FinWise loan product, in partnership with PowerPay offers consumers nationwide, fair and affordable monthly payments through a network of quality contractors and medical providers. Each of the Company’s 12,000+ onboarded Service Providers uses the data driven platform to quickly process credit at the point-of-sale. PowerPay has partnered with leading national home remodelers and physician networks, enabling consumers to obtain financing options from trusted professionals. Through this new partnership, borrowers can expect to receive the same level of care and support, from application to loan payoff, via PowerPay’s highly-rated Customer Concierge team and technology platform.

    “PowerPay remains relentless in our pursuit of responsive and responsible solutions to meet the growing needs of homeowners and patients who seek financing,” said Mike Petrakis, PowerPay Founder & CEO. “Our dedication to merchant service and low monthly payment financing for consumers has led to a significant increase in demand for our loans. Partnership with FinWise Bank allows us to increase the number of borrowers we can effectively support while also ensuring deep regulatory expertise and focus as we continue to scale the business and our technologies.”

    Kent Landvatter, CEO of FinWise commented, “We are thrilled to partner with PowerPay on this innovative approach to offer consumers a transparent and affordable lending product with a simple monthly payment structure for Home Improvement and Elective HealthCare purchases. This agreement is a testament to the meaningful benefits that FinWise’s lending and payments solutions provide its strategic partners. It also underscores how the FinWise model enables strategic partner scaling while providing regulatory oversight through an intensive due-diligence process and compliance assessment.”

    About PowerPay
    Launched in 2020, PowerPay is a financial technology company providing seamless consumer financing solutions to over 12,000+ national providers. The Company helps contractors and physicians convert homeowner and patient purchases into simple monthly payments through its point-of-sale lending platform. Since its inception, PowerPay has funded over $8B. www.getpowerpay.com.

    About FinWise Bancorp

    FinWise provides Banking and Payments solutions to fintech brands. 2024 is a key expansion year for the Company, as it expands and diversifies its business model by launching and incorporating Payments (MoneyRails™) and BIN Sponsorship offerings. Its existing Strategic Program business, done through scalable API-driven infrastructure, powers deposit, lending and payments programs for leading fintech brands. In addition, FinWise manages other Lending programs such as SBA 7(a), Owner Occupied RE, and Leasing, which provide flexibility for disciplined balance sheet growth.

    Through its compliance oversight and risk management-first culture, the Company is also well positioned to guide fintechs through a rigorous process to facilitate regulatory compliance.

    Contacts

    investors@finwisebank.com
    media@finwisebank.com
    bennett.andelman@getpowerpay.com

    The MIL Network –

    September 29, 2024
  • MIL-OSI Video: Secretary Blinken hosts a Ministerial on the Los Angeles Declaration – 9:00 AM

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

    Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken hosts a Ministerial on the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection in New York City, New York, on September 25, 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 www.state.gov and on social media!
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/statedept
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/StateDept
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/statedept
    Flickr: https://flickr.com/photos/statephotos/

    Subscribe to the State Department Blog: https://www.state.gov/blogs
    Watch on-demand State Department videos: https://video.state.gov/
    Subscribe to The Week at State e-newsletter: http://ow.ly/diiN30ro7Cw

    State Department website: https://www.state.gov/
    Careers website: https://careers.state.gov/
    White House website: https://www.whitehouse.gov/
    Terms of Use: https://state.gov/tou

    #StateDepartment #DepartmentofState #Diplomacy

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KATQApQXvc4

    MIL OSI Video –

    September 29, 2024
  • MIL-OSI Russia: Moscow Unveils New Tram Line on Sergey Radonezhsky Street

    Source: Moscow Transport

    The opening of a new tram line on Sergey Radonezhsky Street took place yesterday in the capital, which was a significant step forward in the development of the city’s public transport network. A new route – tram No. 2 – appeared on the line, connecting six districts of Moscow and becoming a convenient alternative for residents of the south-eastern, eastern and central districts of the city.

    Important benefits of opening a new tram line:

    • Faster, More Efficient Travel for Hundreds of Thousands:

    The newly launched Tram No. 2 route spans from 3rd Vladimirskaya Street to Kursky Train Station, offering a smooth and efficient journey in just 30 minutes. Previously, the same trip required approximately 40 minutes with two transfers. The new line is expected to benefit nearly 700,000 residents, providing them with convenient and direct access to key transportation hubs and social amenities.

    • Enhanced Connectivity and Accessibility:

    The tram line seamlessly integrates with the city’s existing transportation infrastructure, providing convenient transfers to 15 different stations, including Kursky Train Station, Moscow Central Diameter lines 2 and 4 (MCD-2, MCD-4), and metro stations Ploshchad Iliicha, Rimskaya, and others. Future plans include integrating the line with the Serp i Molot Moscow City Railway Station.

    • Modern Tram for a Modern City:

    The line is served by seven state-of-the-art Vityaz-Moskva trams, equipped with modern features including a low floor for easy accessibility, climate control, and charging stations. These trams operate on a 10-minute interval, ensuring frequent and efficient service.

    • Improved Urban Design:

    The introduction of the new tram line has also revitalized Sergey Radonezhsky Street. The even-numbered side now features a dedicated pedestrian walkway, providing a comfortable route for residents from their homes to the metro station and public transport stops. The roadway and sidewalks have been modernized, and the street is adorned with new lighting, navigation signs, and elevated tram stops.

    • Quiet and Efficient Travel:

    The construction of the new tram line incorporates innovative technology, featuring seamless track laying, rubber seals, and specialized vibration-damping mats. These design elements ensure quiet and smooth operation, enhancing the passenger experience. The 3.9-kilometer track is also separated from the roadway, further promoting safety and efficiency.

    • Investing in the Future of Public Transportation:

    This new tram line represents a significant investment in Moscow’s public transportation infrastructure and demonstrates the city’s commitment to providing efficient and accessible transport options for its residents. As the city celebrates the 125th anniversary of the Moscow tram, this new addition solidifies the tram’s role as an integral part of the city’s transport system

    The opening of the new tram line and the launch of Tram No. 2 provide residents with new, convenient routes for their daily commutes. The new line connects nine different railway lines, including metro, MCD, and MCC, and integrates over 200 social amenities, including schools, hospitals, and shopping centers, further enhancing accessibility for residents,- said Maksim Liksutov, Moscow’s Deputy Mayor for Transport and Industry.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    September 29, 2024
  • MIL-OSI Translation: ASIA/LEBANON – Appeal from the Maronite Patriarch: the UN Security Council should intervene to impose negotiations between the parties in conflict

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Italy –

    Source: The Holy See in Italian

    Wednesday, September 25, 2024

    Beirut (Agenzia Fides) – Faced with the “national disaster” affecting Lebanon, Maronite Patriarch Boutros Bechara Rai appeals to the UN Security Council to “intervene effectively” to force the parties in conflict to “stop the war and begin negotiations”. The appeal, broadcast through the official communication networks of the Maronite Patriarchate, calls for unity of “the entire Lebanese family” and expresses gratitude for all those who open their homes and schools to the displaced and work in hospitals to help the wounded. The Lebanese cardinal also calls on the Lebanese Parliament to urgently elect a new President of the Republic and put an end to the political-institutional crisis that has lasted for years. And let us pray to God “concludes the Patriarch in his brief appeal” so that He may inspire everyone on the path to achieving a just and inclusive peace”. (GV) (Agenzia Fides 25/9/2024) Share:

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

    MIL Translation OSI

    September 29, 2024
  • MIL-OSI Russia: A new tram line has opened in Moscow on Sergius of Radonezh Street

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Transport

    Yesterday, the capital saw the opening of a new tram line on Sergius of Radonezh Street, which was a significant step forward in the development of the city’s public transport network. A new route appeared on the line – tram No. 2, which connected six districts of Moscow and became a convenient alternative for residents of the south-eastern, eastern and central districts of the city.

    Moscow Transport.

    Important advantages of opening the new tram line:

    Faster, more efficient travel for hundreds of thousands of people:

    The newly launched tram route #2 runs from 3rd Vladimirskaya Street to Kursky Station, providing a smooth and efficient journey in just 30 minutes. Previously, the same journey took around 40 minutes with two transfers. The new line is expected to benefit around 700,000 residents, providing them with convenient and direct access to key transport hubs and social infrastructure.

    Improved connectivity and accessibility:

    The tram line fits seamlessly into the city’s existing transport infrastructure, providing convenient transfers to 15 different stations, including Kursky Station, lines 2 and 4 of the Moscow Central Diameter (MCD-2, MCD-4), the metro stations “Ploshchad Ilyicha”, “Rimskaya” and others. Future plans include integrating the line with the Moscow City Railway Station “Serp i Molot”.

    A modern tram for a modern city:

    The line is served by seven modern Vityaz-Moskva trams, equipped with modern features including low floors for passenger comfort, climate control and charging stations. Trams run at 10-minute intervals, providing frequent and efficient service.

    Improving urban design:

    The introduction of the new tram line also enlivened Sergius of Radonezh Street. A dedicated pedestrian path appeared on the even side, providing residents with a convenient route from their home to the metro station and public transport stops. The roadway and sidewalks have been modernized, the street is decorated with new lighting, navigation signs and overground tram stops.

    Quiet and efficient travel:

    The new tram line uses innovative technologies: seamless rail laying, rubber seals and special vibration-damping mats. These design elements ensure a quiet and smooth ride, improving the passenger experience. In addition, the 3.9-kilometer track is separated from the roadway, which further improves safety and efficiency.

    Investing in the future of public transport:

    The new tram line represents a significant investment in Moscow’s public transport infrastructure and demonstrates the city’s commitment to providing residents with efficient and affordable transportation options. As the city celebrates the 125th anniversary of the Moscow tram, this new addition cements the tram’s role as an integral part of the city’s transportation system.

    With the opening of the new tram line and the launch of tram No. 2, residents now have new convenient routes for daily travel. The new line connects nine different railway lines, including the metro, MCD and MCC, and unites more than 200 social infrastructure facilities, including schools, hospitals and shopping centers, which further increases accessibility for residents, said Maxim Liksutov, Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Transport and Industry.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    September 29, 2024
  • MIL-OSI USA: Meet New Head of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Elizabeth Jockusch

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    How has the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology changed since you joined in 1999?

    The crises we address in our work, like global change and the biodiversity crisis, are getting much more attention. These issues are now at the forefront of many people’s minds. In the department, that means that more people have incorporated applied components into their work.  

    For example, my work with slender salamanders, specifically those in the genus Batrachoseps, has shifted from just understanding their evolutionary history and population structure to providing crucial information for decision-makers. Several of these salamanders are candidates for endangered species listing, making my research suddenly very relevant.  

    We’re also seeing more collaborative, team-oriented work in the department and in the field as a whole. The scale at which we can conduct research has grown significantly, partly due to larger teams and advancements in technology. For example, genomic technology allows us to learn much more, even from single specimens. These changes have contributed to the increasingly computational and quantitative nature of the field. 

    Do you have goals for the department?

    Yes, I definitely want to maintain our commitment to undergraduate teaching. If you survey our grad students or even many undergrads, you’ll find that we teach the kind of courses that ignite a passion for organismal biology. We offer hands-on engagement and experiences that can set students on new trajectories or introduce them to career paths they hadn’t considered. This is true not just for biology majors, but for students across different fields like natural resources. 

    I also want to ensure that we provide top-notch graduate training. One piece of this is continuing to do research at the forefront of ecology, evolution and systematics. Another piece is helping graduate students build the kinds of diverse skillsets they will need to tackle big challenges, such as the biodiversity and global change crises.  

    What are some of the exciting research areas emerging in your department?

    The power of genomics to help us answer our questions is incredibly exciting. We can now understand how evolution works not just on a gene-by-gene basis or in a test tube, but in real-world, complex environments. It also has practical applications. For example, the ability to sequence and compare whole genomes allows us to identify novel targets for conservation in forest trees facing new diseases. This approach helps us understand the past and shape the future. 

    Another major area of interest is the intersection of ecology and evolution, especially understanding how evolution can happen rapidly enough to affect interaction patterns. This is critical for making accurate predictions about the future of biodiversity. Finally, we still have a lot to learn about organisms. Organisms have all sorts of tricks that humans haven’t fully figured out yet. New tools help us figure out how and why they do what they do. 

    What makes the UConn EEB department unique?

    The living plant collection–the EEB Botanical Conservatory, or the Greenhouses–is a premier collection that offers tremendous opportunities to students. It has living plants representing about 1% of all the world’s plants, which is pretty amazing.  It’s not just used by biology students, but also by art students, archaeology students, and many others. If you’re having a bad day in the winter, you should just go in there. There’s always something amazing to be seen. 

    The biodiversity collections are also a valuable record of biodiversity that traditionally has been used by taxonomists and systematists but has many additional uses. They’re a repository of ecological data, genetic data, and environmental data that allows us to track how the world has changed, such as how plant and animal ranges have shifted, flowering times have changed, and body sizes have changed. For example, we know that plants are flowering earlier and salamanders are getting smaller. We can also track the spread of diseases and look at contaminant levels in the environment. 

    Is there still a place for traditional naturalist approaches, like finding and naming organisms?

    Yes, taxonomy and systematics are foundational. While naming organisms might seem like service work, it’s crucial for anyone studying or quantifying biodiversity. These areas of study are built on the work of those who catalog and classify organisms. 

    But now we can look at organisms in whole new ways–not just through their morphology, but their genomes. And we can look at morphology and function in much greater detail than we could before because some of the imaging techniques that are out there now, like micro-CT scanning, are unbelievable. 

    Why is it useful for non-majors to take your classes?

    All life is touched by aspects of biology in very direct ways. Everyone is going to be facing decisions for their personal health and that of their family members that depend on making decisions about biology or understanding biology.  

    Cancer is an evolutionary process.  It’s an evolutionary disease.  Understanding how evolution works can inform how we think about it. We’ve all been witnessing evolution in action with COVID over the last four years. We’ve seen how that has seriously disrupted society in all kinds of ways, and how the evolutionary process has kept that going. 

    We’re also seeing huge changes in our environment. Lots of people think, “When I was younger, I used to see a lot more monarchs,” or songbirds, or fireflies, or whatever. Being aware of that is important; the decisions we, as a society, make will affect what the world’s going to look like in the future. 

    Tell us a little about your research.

    I’m an evolutionary biologist. I’m interested in understanding the diversity of life, and specifically, how an organism’s development over its lifespan can influence its evolution. In my lab, we primarily study arthropods, tardigrades, and salamanders.  

    We conduct some research in the UConn Forest. One of my graduate students is particularly interested in the evolution of development in salamanders, and several species in the area are useful for this study. A couple of undergraduate students have worked on the red-backed salamander, which has a color polymorphism. Some salamanders we study in California have declined and are close to becoming endangered. I wasn’t planning to become the world’s expert on an obscure group of salamanders that has a bunch of endangered species, but that’s how it panned out! When people need the most current scientific information on them, it’s usually coming from my lab.  

    What do you think are the biggest upcoming developments in your field over the next 10 years?

    I believe AI is going to have a significant impact on our field. We don’t fully understand its potential yet. We’re keen on predicting how natural systems will change in the future, such as shifts in geographic range, alterations in physical characteristics, and changes in interaction patterns. This is a complex area, but I think AI will be a valuable tool in making more accurate predictions. The increasing availability of large datasets, including those from natural history collections, will also be crucial for our research. You don’t have to use only data that you’ve collected to ask questions anymore.  

    What’s your favorite spot on campus?

    Mirror Lake!  It is such a hotbed of biological activity.  There’s so much going on there. There are things to be observed every day. Beavers came through this year and settled in temporarily and started chewing down the trees. Birds fish there every day. There’s incredible dragonfly diversity. I’ve even seen the fish mob a snapping turtle! 

    And I have to include the Fenton Meadow off Gurleyville Road for the same reasons, just a lot of diversity.  If you’re at the Fenton Meadow during one of those nights when the frogs have just come out and started to call…it’s deafening. Wood frogs and peepers and green frogs, bullfrogs, pickerel frogs, gray tree frogs, American toads, all those things breed there.  It’s just great.   

    This Q&A is part of CLAS Visionary Voices, a series highlighting the College’s new academic leaders and their innovative visions for education, research, and outreach at UConn. 

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

    September 29, 2024
  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Marking Climate Week, DEP Presents Our Water’s Worth It Award to Lambertville for Exemplary Stormwater Management Efforts

    Source: US State of New Jersey

    Climate Resilience Planning

    In addition to being proactive on stormwater management, the city has been active with the DEP’s Office of Climate Resilience in developing a Climate Resilience Action Plan. Last year the DEP awarded Lambertville a grant of more than $150,000 through its Resilient NJ: Municipal Assistance Program to work with a qualified consultant team to develop, and begin to implement, a municipal climate resilience action plan. This plan works to evaluate vulnerability to current and future hazards including rising temperatures, flooding, and hurricanes, among others.

    “Lambertville has continually demonstrated their commitment to building a climate-resilient community by taking on a wide array of local-led efforts,” said Nick Angarone, New Jersey’s Chief Resilience Officer. “These actions reflect a broad definition of climate resilience, encompassing stormwater management and green infrastructure, proactive policy changes, and effective community outreach and engagement. This diverse array of efforts has made Lambertville a model community for local-led resilience action in the state.”

    Our Water’s Worth It Campaign

    The DEP launched the Our Water’s Worth It campaign earlier this year to raise public awareness about the fundamental importance of our water supplies, the threats they face, and the steps DEP is taking to ensure all New Jerseyans have access to clean drinking water and healthy waterways.

    As part of the campaign, the DEP is recognizing those who have shown exemplary commitment to protecting the state’s water resources. This past July, the DEP presented the first Our Water’s Worth It award to Ridgewood Water for its efforts over the years to conserve water and to protect public health by addressing PFAS contamination.

    In the coming months, DEP will select additional awardees highlighting local contributions to protecting water supplies and public health, improving the health of waterways, and water conservation. For more information about Our Water’s Worth It, visit dep.nj.gov/ourwatersworthit.

    Safe and Reliable Water as an Administration Priority

    Providing New Jersey residents with safe and reliable water supplies is a top priority of the Murphy Administration and Commissioner LaTourette. Earlier this year the administration celebrated a record-setting, billion-dollar investment in water infrastructure throughout the state as project funding in FY24 surpassed $1 billion for the first time.

    Furthering the goal to protect the state’s water resources, the administration earmarked $54.6 million in the FY25 state budget for drinking and clean water infrastructure improvements across the Garden State. The budget appropriation provides a match for larger federal funds.

    The DEP oversees programs that reduce lead exposure in homes and businesses, protect the long-term viability of water supplies such as reservoirs and groundwater sources, monitor for drought conditions, educate the public about the importance of testing wells and reducing lead exposure, and manage stormwater to better protect surface water sources.

    In 2022, the Administration launched the innovative Water Infrastructure Investment Plan (WIIP) to assess and address high priority water infrastructure needs throughout the state. Through WIIP, the state is spurring record investments in clean water and drinking water infrastructure that are creating good-paying jobs while providing safe and reliable drinking water, reducing flooding, and improving the quality of New Jersey’s waterways. For more information on WIIP, visit dep.nj.gov/wiip/.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    September 29, 2024
  • MIL-OSI Global: Continuing crackdown on churches and NGOs moves Nicaragua further from democracy to authoritarianism

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Richard Wood, President of the Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

    A man prays at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Managua, the capital of Nicaragua, in August 2022. Oswaldo Rivas/AFP via Getty Images

    The Nicaraguan government recently shut down more than 1,500 nonprofits – many of them civic and religious groups doing humanitarian work in a country long mired in political violence, economic upheaval and social strife.

    The August 2024 closures were the latest in a long-running crackdown on civil society, including religious groups – some of the last influential, independent organizations in the country. That same month, the government revoked churches’ tax-exempt status. Over the past few years, many houses of worship have been closed or had their bank accounts frozen.

    As a sociologist, I have worked with Central American scholars to research the role of religion in public life in Central America, including Nicaragua. Several hundred Catholic figures have been detained in an ongoing crackdown under President Daniel Ortega, now 78, who leads the Sandinista National Liberation Front.

    Sweeping suppression

    Ortega’s FSLN party, as it is known in Spanish, is the authoritarian remnant of the group that led a broad national movement against Anastasio Somoza Debayle’s dictatorship in the 1970s. After overthrowing Somoza in 1979, Ortega and the Sandinistas governed until losing the 1990 election.

    Since Ortega returned to power in the 2006 elections, moderates have fled the FSLN, which since then has used oppression and violence for political and social control. In 2013, the National Assembly removed presidential term limits set by the Nicaraguan constitution.

    In April 2018, Ortega’s regime began targeting student protesters. Since then, hundreds of citizens — religious leaders, university students, academics, journalists and doctors — have been killed or arrested, gone into hiding or been forced to flee the country.

    Ortega’s crackdown has been broad. Universities had their assets confiscated and funding cut, and some have been shut down as the government took control of higher education. Media outlets have been shuttered, and international aid organizations have been expelled.

    Paramilitary police officers and prison guards have been accused of engaging in arbitrary killings and torture. Meanwhile, a record number of refugees are fleeing the country.

    Parishioners attend Mass at St. Agatha Catholic Church in Miami, which has become the spiritual home of the growing Nicaraguan diaspora.
    AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell

    Silencing churches

    Among the nearly 5,500 nonprofits that closed in Nicaragua between 2018 and 2024 are Catholic, evangelical Christian and historical Protestant organizations, as well as secular humanitarian ones. Of those, 1,650 organizations and churches were shuttered in August 2024, with government officials claiming their closure was due to ties to private enterprises or a lack of financial records.

    Catholic media and radio stations, missionary orders and humanitarian groups have been shuttered, too, as Ortega and the vice president – his wife, Rosario Murillo – have sought to eliminate settings where ideas and information freely flow, and people act independently of the government.

    The highest-profile religious leader caught up in the clampdown is Rolando Álvarez, a popular bishop, critic of Ortega, and a prominent Catholic voice of protest. Álvarez was detained in August 2022, accused of “conspiracy and spreading false news,” stripped of his citizenship and sentenced to 26 years in prison.

    Police officers and riot police block the main entrance of a church building in Matagalpa, Nicaragua, in August 2022 to prevent Bishop Rolando Álvarez from leaving.
    STR/AFP via Getty Images

    With international pressure mounting, Alvarez and a group of fellow detained Catholic clergy were released in January 2024 and exiled to the Vatican – where the regime had previously expelled the apostolic nuncio, the pope’s top diplomat in Nicaragua. They are among 245 Catholic figures the country has expelled in recent years. An additional 135 people, including Catholics and evangelicals, were expelled and stripped of their citizenship in September 2024.

    Today, 43% of Nicaraguan citizens identity as Catholics. But that percentage used to be much higher, and the country has deep cultural roots in Catholicism.

    In Nicaragua, as in much of Latin America, the Catholic Church is the most powerful source of social authority and the largest independent institution for public debate. It represents a key channel through which democratic values may take root, grow and thrive – an obstacle, in the regime’s eyes.

    For many years, the church was the only organization to escape Ortega’s grip – but no longer.

    Dangerous path

    I have witnessed firsthand Nicaragua’s shift from a country with promising seeds of democracy to violent autocracy. As civil war raged between the original Sandinista regime and U.S.-backed Contras in the 1980s, I led travel seminars to Nicaragua for faith groups, journalists, congressional aides and university students. I once personally encountered Ortega, serving as translator during a meeting with American journalists when his official translator failed to show up.

    Today, as Ortega continues to consolidate power by crushing opposition, Nicaragua has deteriorated into an oppressive state ruled with an iron fist. This reality reflects broader dynamics globally, from autocratic movements in the U.S. and Western Europe to current regimes in Russia, India, Turkey, Hungary and China.

    Nicaraguan citizens wave from a bus after being released from a Nicaraguan jail and landing in Guatemala City on Sept. 5, 2024.
    AP Photo/Moises Castillo

    Closer to home, Ortega poses a regional threat as a model for other potential autocrats. This is especially the case for neighbors like El Salvador, where President Nayib Bukele – the popular, self-described “coolest dictator” – is going down a similar path of turning the nation into an authoritarian state.

    I have seen Nicaraguans’ generosity and courage in the long fight for liberty and justice. The closure of democratic spaces, civic institutions and humanitarian organizations, along with the suppression of religious freedom, is a glaring sign that the country is being marched toward more oppression and violence – and, as history shows, risks becoming ripe for revolution.

    Only a gradual rebuilding of civil society, I believe, may save Nicaragua from that fate. The tragedy is what Nicaragua could have been: a thriving democratic society, with a commitment to empowering the poor.

    From 1983-1987 and part-time from 1987-1992, Richard Wood worked running travel seminars in Mexico and Central America. From 2010-2012, he received funding from the Center on Religion and Civic Culture at the University of Southern California and The John Templeton Foundation for research collaboration with Central American researchers.

    – ref. Continuing crackdown on churches and NGOs moves Nicaragua further from democracy to authoritarianism – https://theconversation.com/continuing-crackdown-on-churches-and-ngos-moves-nicaragua-further-from-democracy-to-authoritarianism-238178

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    September 29, 2024
  • MIL-OSI Global: What America’s history can teach us about debates on religious freedom and its importance for democracy

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Corey D. B. Walker, Dean and Wake Forest Professor of the Humanities, Wake Forest University

    The decline in church attendance has not resulted in a diminished Christian presence in American public life. selimaksan/E+ via Getty images.

    Supporters of both major U.S. political parties tend to claim their presidential candidate is the “real” Christian or the “better” Christian or just the “true” Christian.

    For a majority of white evangelical protestants, Trump is the good Christian. Christians for Kamala, a newly created group of self-identified Christians who support the Democratic nominee, say that her campaign embodies the “compassionate heart of Jesus and his teachings.”

    Yet, most American adults agree that religion should be separate from government. This widely shared belief is a cornerstone of religious freedom. As a scholar of religious freedom, I have studied the complex and ever-evolving role of religion in American politics. I argue that this election year, while the Christian character of each candidate is discussed everywhere, religious freedom, one of the core freedoms of American democracy, is not.

    The case of Ezra Stiles Ely

    America’s history of religious freedom is filled with stories that are instructive for our current moment. One such instructive lesson comes from the early 19th century.

    The Second Great Awakening was an intense period of religious revival. Evangelical Christians sought to reform American law and politics to reflect what they considered to be true Christianity. According to legal scholar Geoffrey R. Stone, it was at this time the claim that the “United States is a ‘Christian nation’ first seriously took root.”

    Ezra Stiles Ely.
    The New York Public Library digital collections

    A striking figure from the period is the Philadelphia Presbyterian minister Ezra Stiles Ely. On July 4, 1827, the Yale-educated minister delivered his infamous call for “a Christian political party” in the run-up to the 1828 presidential election.

    Ely’s oration, The Duty of Christian Freemen to Elect Christian Rulers, is a 19th-century version of what is today called “Christian nationalism.” In it, Ely lays out his view of a distinctly Christian vision of who should serve as political leaders and how they should govern.

    Before an Independence Day audience in Philadelphia’s Seventh Presbyterian Church, Ely declared, “Every ruler should be an avowed and sincere friend of Christianity. He should know and believe the doctrines of our holy religion, and act in conformity to its precepts.” Ely also advocated for “a new sort of union, or, if you will, a Christian party in politics.”

    Ely closed his sermon by exhorting Christians to “awake … to our sacred duty to our Divine Master; and let us have no rulers, without our consent and cooperation, who are not known to be avowedly Christians.”

    Critiques in defense of religious freedom

    While Ely sought to wed Christianity and American politics, others voices responded against this move. Religious freedom was new for the young nation. Yet, its supporters recognized its importance for American democracy.

    On Feb. 7, 1828, a pamphlet titled Sunday School Union, or Union of Church and State was placed on the desk of each member of the Pennsylvania Senate. The pamphlet contained excerpts of Ely’s speech that advocated the union of Christianity and politics. Ely’s speech was also the subject of debate in several 19th-century newspapers, including the Harrisburg Chronicle and The Pennsylvania Reporter.

    Notable among these voices was Massachusetts-born and Harvard-educated Supreme Court Justice Joseph Story.

    In an 1828 speech delivered in Salem, Massachusetts, Story boldly declared his support for religious freedom. He stated: “Religious freedom is the birthright of man; that governments have no authority to inflict punishment for conscientious differences of opinion; and that to worship God according to our own belief is not only our privilege, but is our duty, our absolute duty, from which no human tribunal can absolve us.”

    “Wherever religious liberty exist,” he argued, “it will, first or last, bring in, and establish political liberty.”

    Politics and American democracy

    America is not the same as at the time of the Second Great Awakening. Yet, the role of Christianity in political life is seemingly as alive as ever.

    The steady decline in church attendance has not resulted in a diminished Christian presence in American public life. The public square still contains powerful appeals to Christianity rather than a shared democratic heritage.

    Former president and Republican nominee Donald Trump recently stated, “We have to bring back our religion. We have to bring back Christianity in this country.”

    Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has commended the religious convictions of citizens, stating, “People with deep religious convictions may be less likely to succumb to dominating ideologies or trends, and more likely to act in accordance with what they see as true and right. Civil society can count on them as engines of reform.”

    A 2023 survey, in which the nonprofit, nonpartisan research and education organization PRRI interviewed more than 22,000 adults, found that approximately 3 in 10 Americans either supported or held Christian nationalist views. Christian nationalists tend “to see political struggles through the apocalyptic lens of revolution and to support political violence.”

    In my opinion, the linkage of Christianity and politics in the United States undermines American democracy. Amanda Tyler, executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, a prominent public voice, explains how Christian nationalism undermines both Christianity and American democracy. In her 2024 book “How to End Christian Nationalism,” Tyler writes, “Christian nationalism is the greatest threat to religious liberty in the U.S. today, as well as a clear and present danger to our constitutional republic.”

    While debates over the Christian virtues of the candidates may be important for Christian communities, religious freedom is important for American democracy. The response to Christianity and politics is not more Christianity but more democracy. And religious freedom is key.

    Corey D. B. Walker does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. What America’s history can teach us about debates on religious freedom and its importance for democracy – https://theconversation.com/what-americas-history-can-teach-us-about-debates-on-religious-freedom-and-its-importance-for-democracy-238174

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    September 29, 2024
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