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  • MIL-OSI Translation: 21.09.2024 Evacuation, strengthening of embankments, cleaning of the area, construction of crossings, medical assistance are the main tasks of soldiers in flood areas

    MIL ASI Translation. Region: Polish/Europe –

    Fuente: Gobierno de Polonia en poleco.

    Evacuation, strengthening of embankments, cleaning of the area, construction of crossings, medical assistance are the main tasks of soldiers in flood areas 21.09.2024 We are also in towns that have already been affected by the effects of great water. Here in Szprotawa, water overflowed, and the effects affect about 60 residential buildings, including some companies. We are currently talking to the crisis management team about the actions that have been taken. I would like to thank everyone very much. Volunteer firefighters, firefighters from the State Fire Service, policemen, soldiers, residents are working. I would like to thank everyone very much for this good organization, for managing this flood action together with the local government, for protecting Szprotawa from greater effects than those we have today – said Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz in Wrocław.

    On Saturday, the head of the Ministry of National Defense took part in the crisis headquarters in Wrocław, as well as in the headquarters operating in Wołów and Szprotawa. In the afternoon, the deputy prime minister took part in a briefing in Głogów. At the crisis headquarters, we talked to all the communes that are at risk and those that are expecting the wave to arrive. There is a huge commitment of residents, all uniformed services and there is cooperation. We thank you for this once again very much. More units have been activated, such as cadets from firefighting schools, who also joined the help in the Wołów district, to lay sandbags. Soldiers have been present from the very beginning, of course. They carried out the mission on the embankments until it was possible. Now, another line of the barrier against the water is being laid there – informed the deputy prime minister. As the head of the Ministry of National Defense pointed out, soldiers of the Polish Army are helping in many directions. Where the flood wave has passed, the areas need to be cleaned up. The areas approaching the flood wave must be monitored, and where necessary, the flood embankments must be reinforced. We have dispatched more dehumidifiers, which are needed in places affected by the flood. Providing the dehumidifiers is one of the main tasks. Pumps are still needed. Soldiers are directly involved in flood control operations today. Para bromear evacuation, protection of life and health, strengthening the embankments, tidying up the area, clearing communication routes. There is also great cooperation between the army and the Ministry of Infrastructure related to the construction and repair of road and rail connections. Reconstruction also means strengthening the embankments. For example, yesterday, the embankments were reinforced using Police helicopters in Lewin Brzeski – Deputy Prime Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz noted. The Minister of National Defense informed about attempts to extort money on the Internet. So far, over 80 false collections have been identified and blocked by the services appointed for this purpose. The fight against disinformation is also ongoing. There are many collections in cyberspace that are dishonest. We have also engaged in the fight against this those troops related to the protection of cyberspace. The component of the Cyberspace Protection Troops is involved in the process of fighting fraudsters on the Internet. We will fight this (…) we will actively counteract these attacks – said the head of the Ministry of National Defense.

    MILES AXIS

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Translation: 21.09.2024 Report from Saturday’s headquarters in Wrocław

    MIL ASI Translation. Region: Polish/Europe –

    Fuente: Gobierno de Polonia en poleco.

    Report from Saturday’s headquarters in Wrocław21.09.2024El prime minister Donald Tusk met once again in Wrocław with services and local government officials to discuss the situation in places that are still threatened by the great flood. During Saturday’s headquarters in Wrocław, he assured that the state will provide housing for all those affected by the flood.

    Preventive action

    The great flood continues to move through Poland. The services remain on full alert and monitor the situation, and where necessary, secure the area.

    In some places we are still in the middle of flood prevention and rescue operations.

    – the Prime Minister emphasized during the opening of the crisis headquarters. The head of government asked for information about places at risk to be provided as soon as possible, along with appropriate support, including sandbags.

    Post-flood reconstruction

    Yesterday, a decision was made to appoint a government plenipotentiary for the reconstruction of flood-affected areas, Marcin Kierwiński. Today at 1:00 PM, a meeting will be held with the voivodes to estimate the losses in flood-affected areas.

    This data does not have to be complete yet, but the data you provide, I would like it to be reliable, to be true. Para bromear is the most important thing at the moment.

    – said Donald Tusk. Voivodes’ reports are to take into account the losses that occurred in a given voivodeship due to the flood wave, including those resulting from rising groundwater.

    Replacement apartments for flood victims

    Due to the flood that swept through Poland, many people lost their homes and apartments. Some will only be able to return to their homes after some time, which is why the state provides flood victims with safe shelter.

    From the first days I have heard from people who have lost their apartments and houses – “where will we live?” We will provide housing for everyone, without exception.

    – the Prime Minister reported from Wrocław. During the headquarters meeting, the Prime Minister stressed that the state would make every effort to ensure that those affected by the flood would feel the consequences as little as possible.

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    MILES AXIS

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Translation: 21.09.2024 Prime Minister: We will not save on the reconstruction of flooded areas

    MIL ASI Translation. Region: Polish/Europe –

    Fuente: Gobierno de Polonia en poleco.

    A meeting between Prime Minister Donald Tusk and the voivodes took place at the Lower Silesian Voivodship Office. It concerned the initial estimate of losses due to the flood. The voivodes presented data that had been obtained from some local governments. They will enable work on the reconstruction program. The current situation has shown that it is also necessary to create new flood protection infrastructure. Losses after the flood

    In some places it is still not possible to estimate losses, including those related to standing water, which is why the voivodes have only presented preliminary estimates of flood damage.

    We are meeting for the first briefing dedicated to the preliminary lists of losses and damages suffered by residents, local governments and state institutions in flooded areas. I emphasize that this is a provisional list. The fight against the flood is not over

    – the Prime Minister began the meeting with the voivodes. The head of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, Minister Jan Grabiec, presented a summary of the reports prepared by the voivodes. It shows that a state of natural disaster affected a total of 749 localities, inhabited by 2.39 million people. The number of residents who were actually affected by the flood is 57 thousand. Over 6,544 people were evacuated. Initially, 11,502 residential buildings were damaged, i.e. single-family houses, as well as multi-family buildings. 6,033 farm buildings were affected by the flood. 724 public utility buildings were damaged, including schools, kindergartens and sports facilities.

    Only in Lower Silesia, 54 schools, 10 playgrounds, 39 sports fields, 20 nurseries and 20 kindergartens have been damaged at the moment. We know that this is not complete

    – mentioned Donald Tusk. The Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration drew attention to the need to inform about the priority needs in terms of critical infrastructure when estimating losses.

    We will try to release the money for the first tranche very quickly, so as to clear the bridges in various places.

    – emphasized Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration Tomasz Siemoniak. He also expressed understanding that the most affected localities were not yet able to provide preliminary estimates of losses.

    reconstruction program

    In local government units, the assessment of losses after the passage of the great water is underway. Bromea con necessary to be able to start the reconstruction of post-flood areas.

    We must prepare this great reconstruction plan, which is our commitment and national ambition, so that first of all we know what has been destroyed and who should receive help first, and then we can set off on a grand scale to this huge reconstruction

    – said Donald Tusk. The main challenge is still to protect endangered areas, as well as to help residents who have lost their property. This will be possible thanks to the Reconstruction plan.

    I think that the Prime Minister has outlined very clearly the task that faces all of us. […] We will have to work so that the restoration of these areas to usability is as effective and as fast as possible.

    – said Marcin Kierwiński during the meeting. At the same time, he thanked the voivodes for the collected data and the reports sent, which will enable the commencement of reconstruction work.

    Investments in post-flood reconstruction

    Thanks to government and European funds, it will be possible to help people affected by the flood and rebuild the destroyed infrastructure. On Thursday, the head of the European Commission announced that we will be able to use PLN 20 billion for this purpose.

    Para bromear sobre me something obvious, that in a situation where we will have to release billions of złoty and euros to rebuild flood areas, the situation after the flood must also be better than the situation before the flood. We are not only talking about security, but also about the entire destroyed infrastructure

    – emphasized the Prime Minister. He added that there will be no shortage of funds for the reconstruction of areas affected by the flood.

    Flood infrastructure

    The current situation has shown that it is necessary to expand and modernize flood infrastructure. The idea is to adapt it to current meteorological and hydrological conditions.

    Rational, wise – and I know that they are expensive and there will be no shortage of money for them – decisions regarding reservoirs and other infrastructure that must help us […] reduce the risk of damage in the future

    – Prime Minister said. It is crucial to protect people and their property against flooding as much as possible in the future.

    Green schools

    The Ministers of National Education are working on the “Green Schools” program, which will enable children from flood-affected areas to participate in recreation and activities in a safe place.

    Tomorrow, I hope, we will present a fairly good map of where and from where children can go immediately, with full care and food, a roof over their heads and school activities, so that we can quickly make necessary repairs in schools

    – announced the head of government. The “Green Schools” program will guarantee children the continuation of their education, and parents the possibility of eliminating the effects of the flood. In the meantime, the state will take care of the reconstruction of the school.

    Current flood risk

    The Prime Minister announced a visit to Głogów due to the continuing flood threat.

    It was very important to me that there was nothing missing there at that moment to save the city from the wave.

    – emphasized the head of government. He added that Głogów is the absolute priority today.

    MILES AXIS

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Council’s One Coventry approach with partners and residents is reshaping the city

    Source: City of Coventry

    Councillors will meet next month to discuss the progress being made to reshape the way it delivers services and helps residents through its One Coventry approach.

    The One Coventry Plan is shaping the way the Council works with its partners to improve the city and the lives of residents.

    The Plan covers the years from 2022-2030 and recognises that the role of the Council is changing. It aims to help it work with partners and residents in new, different ways to combat continued underfunding and benefit individuals, communities, organisations and the city.

    The One Coventry Plan focuses on three main areas:

    • Economy and skills – growing the local economy and ensuring everyone benefits
    • Continuing to work to reduce the inequalities that exist between people living in the richest and poorest communities
    • Tacking the causes and consequences of climate change

    The latest report measures progress against 62 challenging target areas. The Council is shown to have improved in 37 areas and remained the same in six.

    In its aim to increase the economic prosperity of the city and region, the Council has been involved in work that has seen:

    • A 69.1% year on year increase in city centre footfall
    • 91% of school leavers aged 16+ going on to sustained education, apprenticeships or employment
    • 818 Job Shop customers securing work

    Schemes underway in the city include City Centre South and the Palmer Lane redevelopment and work to create a City Centre Cultural gateway at the former IKEA building. Work has also seen the Job Shop move to a high-profile new city centre location where it can help even more residents into work.

    Work to improve outcomes and tackle inequalities within communities has seen successes including:

    • 91.1% of children attending a good or outstanding primary school
    • Over 3,600 people receiving adult social care support
    • 1,164 homeless cases prevented or relieved

    There has been progress in driving down incidents of fly-tipping through increased prosecution and education, along with work with partners in communities to help those in need through food banks and Family Hubs.

    Other successes included the Holiday and Food Activity programme that is run during school holidays and sees children across the city able to take part in positive activities and receive a meal; more people have been supported to live independently in their own homes; there has been an improvement in reading and writing levels for children in Key Stage 2; and obesity levels have fallen for youngsters in Year 6.

    In tackling the causes and consequences of climate change, the Council has worked with partners to:

    • increase the number and use of electric charging points
    • cut carbon dioxide emissions from its operations
    • cut the number of pedestrians injured on city roads

    There has also been a rise in the amount of household waste recycled and composted and the quality of pavements has improved.

    Cllr George Duggins, Leader of the Council, said:

    “Our One Coventry Plan focuses on enabling people to live their best lives in a vibrant and prosperous city. This can only be achieved by listening to, and collaborating with, those who live, work, visit, and do business in our city, by having different conversations and building on the great things that are already happening.

    “This latest report shows great progress in many areas and I am delighted with the way we are working together as a city to find new solutions. The Plan is helping us to give help to those in the most need, while developing the city and preparing it for the future in areas from the environment to retail, leisure and wellbeing.

    “There is still a long way to go, but we will continue to work with others to build on these early successes. Thank you to everyone who has been involved in the work so far, and I look forward to working with more partners and residents as we continue to reshape and build our city together.”

    In its work improve as an organisation, the Council has also seen greater diversity of its workforce to better reflect the city it serves, and more residents able to be helped through self-service channels.

    There has also been an increase in the number of households with access to full fibre to improve connectivity, with thousands of devices donated to community groups and good causes.

    Read more about the One Coventry plan.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: £1million research project to improve understanding and reduce risks from deadly landslides Images of landslides devastating communities, destroying homes and infrastructure and claiming lives have become a more familiar sight as the impacts of climate change are felt around the world.

    Source: University of Aberdeen

    Images of landslides devastating communities, destroying homes and infrastructure and claiming lives have become a more familiar sight as the impacts of climate change are felt around the world.
    New research led by the University of Aberdeen (UK) is aiming to improve understanding of the risks of landslides and to mitigate the impact – felt across generations – on those caught in their muddy wake.
    The project, which will see experts from the University collaborate with counterparts in India to focus on the Central Himalayan region, has been awarded combined funding of more than £1million.
    The UK researchers are supported by a grant from the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), part of UK Research and Innovation, and specialists in India are funded by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, India (MoES).
    Rapid population growth and infrastructure development in the Indian Himalayan states – together with the increasing frequency of extreme precipitation events and the presence of glacial lakes – has increased the region’s vulnerability to landslides.
    Three-quarters of annual rain in the Himalayas arrives in the monsoon season from June to September. Within this rainy period are sudden and extremely intense cloudbursts, often concentrated on small areas.
    Precipitation-triggered landslides are already happening extensively across the Himalayas and are predicted to get worse.
    When a huge flank of a Himalayan mountain close to the study area failed and fell into the valley below in 2021, it was described as hitting the valley floor ‘like 15 atomic bombs’.
    The cascade of debris claimed more than 200 lives and destroyed hydro-electric infrastructure worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
    More recently, 41 Indian mine workers spent 17 days trapped underground following a tunnel collapse in the study area in Uttarakhand state in November, further underlining the need for greater understanding of ground stability and risks in these areas.
    The project will bring together geoscientists, experts in remote sensing and geotechnical analysis, social scientists and community engagement specialists to conduct mapping, monitoring, reconstruction, and analysis of landslides using satellite, drone, geotechnical, and tree-ring data.
    The team will also investigate community perceptions of hazards and develop socially acceptable mitigation guidelines.
    Participating scientists from The University of Aberdeen and India (from Birbal Sahni Institute of Paleosciences, Borehole Geophysics Research Laboratory, Jawaharlal Nehru University, GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment, and University of Jammu) have previously led pilot studies on landslides and cascading glacial hazards. The new funding will enable the integration of various datasets and perspectives to develop robust methods to assess landslide risks in high-mountain regions and to mitigate the impacts on communities.
    Project Lead Dr Anshuman Bhardwaj, senior lecturer in Geosciences at the University of Aberdeen, said: “Geohazards such as landslides cause extensive damage to essential infrastructure and local economies, leading to mass displacements. Understanding of these processes and their long-term impacts needs substantial research.
    “Our project will fill existing gaps in untangling the nexus between hazards, humans and infrastructure and aims to develop effective methods for monitoring and mitigating landslides in high mountains such as the Himalaya. By providing accurate hazard assessments, risk analyses, and community-based mitigation guidelines, our research will enhance resilience to geohazards and facilitate preparedness and increased awareness in high-mountain communities.
    “Considering that the UK is also facing increasing coastal erosion and landslides, the easily adaptable methodological framework of this project can be useful to implement locally.”
    The research will provide improved understanding of the relationship between slope failure mechanisms and slope materials, analyse and reconstruct past landslide events using tree-ring records, and model potentially destructive future glacial landslide events.
    The ground-breaking project integrates multiple disciplines to cover all aspects of landslides in a high-mountain catchment and will serve as a benchmark for similar research in other landslide-prone high-mountain regions, contributing to effective monitoring and mitigation of geohazards.
    Project Co-Lead Dr Lydia Sam, lecturer in Geosciences at the University of Aberdeen, added: “There is a lack of comprehensive hazard assessment models that consider both, the environmental as well as social aspects and our project is a much-needed step in that direction.”
    Indian Project Lead Dr S. Nawaz Ali explained: “The project will inform policymakers about landslide-prone regions, ensuring sustainable development of critical infrastructure. Mitigation strategies, such as identifying optimal shelter locations, alternative routes for food supply, trade and migration routes, slope stabilisation strategies, drainage and vegetation management, and adaptable land use planning will enhance resilience to geohazards.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Unlock your future: Plymouth’s biggest careers fair is here!

    Source: City of Plymouth

    Some of the city’s biggest and best-known employers are returning to take part in this year’s Launchpad Live, a two-day future careers event offering a unique glimpse into the city’s fastest-growing industries.

    Hosted at the Plymouth Life Centre, Launchpad Live will run on Thursday 26 and Friday 27 September 2024 and aims to inspire and raise aspirations of local young people and improve awareness of career choices and future progression pathways.

    Who are the employers attending?

    The event will feature a powerhouse of over 50 employers and organisations such as:

    • Babcock
    • University Hospital Plymouth NHS Trust
    • Plymouth City Council
    • Princess Yachts
    • Plymouth Community Homes
    • Kier BAM
    • Willmott Dixon
    • Vistry Group
    • Rowe IT
    • Theatre Royal Plymouth
    • Vospers
    • PFK Francis Clarke
    • Greenlight Safety and Training
    • Duchy College
    • HM Armed Forces
    • National Marine Park
    • City College Plymouth
    • Skills Group
    • Discovery College
    • Plymouth Manufacturers Group
    • Skills Launchpad Plymouth’s Youth Hub and the city’s sector skills partnerships –
    • Building Plymouth (promoting construction and the built environment)
    • Caring Plymouth (promoting health and social care)
    • Welcoming Plymouth (promoting hospitality, tourism and retail).

    These organisations are not just looking for employees, they’re looking for the future leaders of their industries.

    A hands-on experience

    With all Plymouth schools bringing along groups of students, more than 2,200 pupils will experience interactive zones, complete with the latest immersive technologies. Those attending will explore, learn, and engage directly with industry experts across Plymouth’s core sectors, including:

    • Marine, Engineering and Manufacturing
    • Health and Social Care
    • Construction and the Built Environment
    • Technology, Business, Legal and Creative Services
    • Armed Forces and Government Services
    • Tourism, Hospitality, Entertainment and Retail
    • Green and Sustainable Careers

    Launchpad Live is where opportunity meets innovation, offering unparalleled exposure to both traditional and emerging career paths. Whether you’re a student curious about your future or a business leader looking to inspire the next generation, this event is for you.

    The event is being organised by Plymouth City Council in partnership with YMCA Plymouth, Discovery College and City College Plymouth.

    Councillor Sally Cresswell, Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Apprenticeships said: “This fantastic event will give thousands of young people the chance to meet employers, to learn about the exciting career opportunities available and better understand the investment and growth sectors that present future ambitious employment in Plymouth. It’s really important that we help employers and training providers, including further and higher education institutions, to showcase these opportunities directly with our young people, helping them to make better informed choices for their post-16 next steps.”

    Jonathan Keable, Chair of the Plymouth Employment and Skills Board and Leader of FSB Plymouth, said:
    “I’m incredibly proud to see over 50 of our city’s leading employers come together to not only showcase incredible opportunities but to actively inspire the next generation. This event is a testament to the commitment of our businesses and organisations in investing in Plymouth’s future workforce. Together, we are giving our young people the confidence and tools to dream bigger, reach higher, and shape their own destinies. A huge thank you to the organisers for delivering this transformative event. The line-up is outstanding, and I encourage anyone looking to take the next step to join us to explore your options and take action, because this is your chance to make it happen.”

    Tom Lavis, CEO of YMCA Plymouth said:

    “As a Plymouth charity that has supported young people’s aspirations in the city for 175 years, YMCA is delighted to bring this exciting careers event to life in partnership with Plymouth City Council. We believe it’s vital to showcase what fantastic opportunities are out there to young people and their parents. We’re very proud of how we have been able to make this event truly accessible for young people and the wide scope of employers and trainers, which has now made this an annual landmark event for the city.”

    Open to the Public!

    Launchpad Live will be open to the public on Thursday, 26 September, from 4pm to 6pm. Don’t miss this chance to meet employers, explore career options, and discover pathways that could change your life. All other times on both days are reserved for school bookings only.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Landmarks lit for NHS Organ Donor Registration Week

    Source: City of Sunderland

    Landmarks across the city are being lit pink to mark this important reminder to register as an organ donor.

    This year is the 30th anniversary of the NHS Organ Donor Register and the city landmark light up is in line with calls from campaigners to talk about organ donation and getting more people registered as donors.

    Landmarks including the Northern Spire Bridge, Penshaw Monument, Hylton Castle, Fulwell Mill, the White Lighthouse at Seaburn, Keel Square and High Street West, will be lit in pink for five nights starting from dusk on Monday 23 September until dawn on Saturday 28 September.

    Leader of Sunderland City Council, Councillor Michael Mordey; Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Safer Communities, Councillor Kelly Chequer and Mayor Councillor Allison Chisnall have backed calls for more people to become and register as organ donors.

    The calls came as they met and supported North East organ donation campaigners, including Beatrix Archbold, who had a heart transplant when she was a toddler.

    The Archbolds have been lobbying the Government to make organ donation awareness in schools compulsory.

    Cllr Chequer said: “Beatrix is a very engaging and charming little girl with bags of energy and fun. She had suffered heart failure when she was a toddler, spent a year in hospital, and it was the brave decision of a donor family that has helped give Beatrix a new lease of life with a heart transplant.

    “Because the donor family had made a difficult decision on organ donation, their sad loss but selfless decision helped saved Beatrix’s life. Within a month of receiving her heart transplant, Beatrix was able to return home.

    “An organ donor can save and help improve up to nine lives and so putting your name onto the NHS Organ Donor Register really is a life-saving registration. If more people join and register, then more lives can be saved.”

    It is quick and easy to register your decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register. Call 0300 123 23 23 or visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Old School House highly commended at Building Excellence Awards

    Source: City of Sunderland

    Sunderland City Council’s project to transform a former school building into specialist homes has been highly commended at the regional LABC Building Excellence Awards.

    The awards are the largest business to business awards in the building control sector in the UK, and the Old School House in Washington was highly commended in the Best Small Social Housing Development category. 

    The awards recognised the scheme, which restored and extended the former Biddick School to create 15 specialist apartments for vulnerable adults.

    The new apartments were completed by JDDK Architects and Brims Construction after being developed by the council’s Housing Development Team as part of plans to deliver more homes for the residents most at need in the city. Under these plans, the city council is providing much-needed homes and one-storey accommodation for people living with disabilities as well as older residents.

    All apartments at the Old School House benefit from a high-quality specification developed with the end user in mind and the development boasts a landscaped courtyard for residents to enjoy, including seating designed by a local artist. 

    Councillor Kevin Johnston, Sunderland City Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, Regeneration and Business, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to have been highly commended for the housing scheme at Washington Old School.  

    “These homes have been specially designed to meet the needs of vulnerable adults, so we’re delighted that the Old School House is making such a positive difference to residents’ lives and that this has been recognised.

    “This scheme sits beautifully alongside a community of homes that we developed as a local authority in 2021. It is just the latest project we have carried out to ensure the city benefits from a wider range of properties to support the needs of vulnerable residents and those living with disabilities.”

    JDDK Architects put the project forward for the award. Speaking about the work that went into the scheme, JDDK’s Associate Director Matthew Holmes said: “Working on this scheme was a challenge but the results speak for themselves, and this is down to the great team that worked together throughout the project.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Signing Day Sports Identifies Synergies from Acquisition of Swifty Global, Expected to Drive Accelerated Revenue Growth, Cost Savings, and Global Expansion

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SCOTTSDALE, Arizona, Sept. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Signing Day Sports, Inc. (“Signing Day Sports” or the “Company”) (NYSE American: SGN), the developer of the Signing Day Sports app and platform to aid high school athletes in the recruitment process, today provided an update regarding its financial position and its plans to acquire Dear Cashmere Group Holding Company (OTC:DRCR), doing business as Swifty Global (“Swifty”), highlighting the strategic and financial synergies that are expected to drive accelerated growth and operational efficiency for both companies.

    Extinguishment of Convertible Notes

    As of September 23, 2024, the outstanding convertible senior secured promissory notes of the Company, with an original balance of more than $0.6 million, had been fully extinguished, primarily from conversion into shares of common stock.

    The improved financial position strengthens the Company’s prospects for growth and future capital raising.

    Key Highlights from the Acquisition

    As previously announced, Signing Day Sports entered into a binding term sheet to acquire 95-99% of the issued and outstanding shares of Swifty, a global online sports and casino technologies company. Swifty is debt-free with a proven track record of growth, revenue generation and profitability. The acquisition is expected to significantly enhance Signing Day Sports’ revenue generation, technical capabilities and profitability from the expansion of both companies.

    • Strong Financial Performance: Swifty achieved revenues of over $128 million and a net profit of approximately $2.44 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, despite significant investments of nearly $3.1 million in software development and licensing.
    • Global Expansion: Swifty is expanding internationally. Swifty recently acquired licenses to offer a full integrated suite of products in Ireland and South Africa, which are expected to have significant online sports and casino markets with limited competition.
    • Fast Development of Revenue Generating Technology: Swifty plans to offer data feed services for the online sports gambling industry in the near future. Swifty has determined that data feed services are expensive and limited in choice, which creates an opportunity for Swifty, and that many sports, like boxing, have limited or no live data feed available to allow real-time betting. The Signing Day Sports team has significant experience working with critical sports datapoints and creating sports measurement technologies, which could assist Swifty in developing this revenue stream.

    Strategic Synergies

    The integration of Swifty is expected to bring several operational advantages and new revenue opportunities for Signing Day Sports:

    • Cost Efficiency: Swifty’s in-house engineering team is expected to reduce Signing Day Sports’ operating costs by over 50%, enabling the company to reinvest those savings into growth initiatives. It is also expected to increase the speed at which Signing Day Sports can roll out new products and technological enhancements to its current offering and optimize monetization of the product and user base.
    • Revenue Growth in SaaS: At their core, both Signing Day Sports and Swifty are SaaS model businesses. Swifty’s scalability, technological resources, and technology initiatives are expected to bolster the growth of Signing Day Sports’ app user base, enhance user retention and provide additional opportunities to monetize renewing subscribers with additional revenue streams.
    • New Revenue Streams: Swifty is expected to further expand Signing Day Sports’ current product offering while also broadening the Company’s exposure to new sports and athletes outside the U.S. Signing Day Sports has accumulated more than 10,000 registered users, which it plans to increase at an accelerated rate in the fourth quarter of 2024 and 2025. The Company’s focus is to develop new strategic revenue streams, and improve revenue metrics per user, with the same aim of fully monetizing this growing user base.
    • New Market Exposure: Since its beginning as a football student-athlete recruitment platform provider, Signing Day Sports has expanded its platform to support baseball, softball, and men’s and women’s soccer. Swifty is expected to bring exposure to new markets in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, as well as exposure to emerging sports without established recruitment models. The Company anticipates that early adopters in these emerging sports markets are a significant market and plans to broaden its platform to capitalize on these prospective revenue streams.
    • Enhanced User Engagement: Swifty’s team is expected to introduce exciting new features to Signing Day Sports, including gamification elements such as live scoreboards, top competitor leaderboards, fantasy leagues and real-time performance tracking, which are designed to boost engagement, organic user acquisition and user retention.

    “With Swifty expected to join the Signing Day Sports family, we anticipate being better positioned than ever to deliver an enhanced user experience while accelerating our expansion into new markets,” said Daniel Nelson, CEO of Signing Day Sports. “This acquisition represents a pivotal moment in our growth journey, and we are confident in the significant value it will bring to our platform, collaborators, student-athletes, and stockholders.”

    James Gibbons, CEO of Swifty, added, “Swifty is excited to bring our technological capabilities and global reach to the Signing Day Sports platform. Together, we will create new opportunities for student-athletes and coaches worldwide while driving operational efficiencies that will further our mutual goals. We look forward to working with Signing Day Sports as we scale into new markets and continue to innovate for the benefit of our users.”

    For further information about Signing Day Sports and Swifty, please see their communication channels listed below:

    Website: https://swifty.global
    X: @swiftyglobal
    Telegram: @swiftyglobal
    Email: hello@swifty.global

    Website: https://signingdaysports.com
    Ecommerce Website: https://signingdayshop.com
    Investor Relations Website: https://ir.signingdaysports.com
    X: @sdsports
    Email: support@signingdaysports.com

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains “forward-looking statements” that are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release may be identified by the use of words such as “may,” “could,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “expect,” “plan,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “project” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These statements are only predictions. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including without limitation, the Company’s ability to complete the acquisition of Swifty and integrate its business, the ability of the Company, the sellers and Swifty to enter into definitive stock purchase agreement(s), obtain all necessary consents and approvals in connection with the acquisition, obtain NYSE American clearance of a new initial listing application in connection with the acquisition, obtain shareholder approval of the matters to be voted on at the shareholders’ meeting described in the press release, obtain sufficient funding to maintain operations and develop additional services and offerings, market acceptance of the Company’s current products and services and planned offerings, competition from existing online and retail offerings or new offerings that may emerge, impacts from strategic changes to the Company’s business on its net sales, revenues, income from continuing operations, or other results of operations, the Company’s ability to attract new users and customers, increase the rate of subscription renewals, and slow the rate of user attrition, the Company’s ability to retain or obtain intellectual property rights, the Company’s ability to adequately support future growth, the Company’s ability to comply with user data privacy laws and other current or anticipated legal requirements, and the Company’s ability to attract and retain key personnel to manage its business effectively. These risks, uncertainties and other factors are described more fully in the section titled “Risk Factors” in the Company’s periodic reports which are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These risks, uncertainties and other factors are, in some cases, beyond our control and could materially affect results. If one or more of these risks, uncertainties or other factors become applicable, or if our underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual events or results may vary significantly from those implied or projected by the forward-looking statements. No forward-looking statement is a guarantee of future performance. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date, and the Company undertakes no duty to update such information except as required under applicable law.

    Investor Contact:
    Crescendo Communications, LLC
    212-671-1020
    SGN@crescendo-ir.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: LVT Launches New Command Center to Drive Immediate Informed Action for Security Teams

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ORLANDO, Fla., Sept. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — (GSX, Booth #1815)LVT (LiveView Technologies, Inc.), the leader of customizable mobile security and cloud-native software solutions, today unveiled its next-generation Command Center—the culmination 100s of hours spent shadowing and collaborating with security operations teams—designed to give security operators unrivaled control over their video security systems. The 8-year-old proven VSaaS solution, now available in beta, was rebuilt from the ground up to empower personnel with unparalleled efficiency and effective incident management capabilities, including a new user experience that reduces the time needed to make informed response decisions.

    “For nearly a decade, LVT’s Command Center has given security leaders who want to leverage the power of cloud-native software services unmatched situational awareness. Our new Command Center experience provides an even more seamless, reliable, and highly effective system built to stay ahead of the evolving security landscape while leveraging the globally scalable, lower cost of ownership, and dynamic power of cloud compute,” said Steve Lindsey, LVT CTO. “Security teams are often hampered by solutions that restrict them from taking real-time action; failing to deliver timely alerts and provide the essential information to inform an effective response at any moment, day or night.”

    The LVT Command Center was designed using extensive market research and customer feedback, which highlighted the acute need for sophisticated, AI-integrated security management solutions. New and enhanced features that provide customizations to manage complex enterprise environments at scale include:

    • Instant video playback: Access and stream recorded videos with no delay, improving decision-making processes and enabling more accurate and effective responses.
    • View and manage multiple camera views: Watch cameras from multiple units for a more comprehensive and detailed understanding of incidents.
    • Intelligent prioritization: Configure the Command Center to prioritize alerts and decide what notifications they receive, such as marking potential assaults as high priority and animals as low priority.
    • In-depth analytics: Classify incidents and quickly review incidents within a category classification to understand how those situations were resolved.
    • Incident history: Review responses, find training opportunities, and optimize future responses through a new timeline view that shows exactly what happened during an incident across LVT Units, including security personnel actions.

    Customers can access the beta Command Center today, with general availability in Q4 2024. Future enhancements will include new AI capabilities and intuitive automatic alerts. Customers can contact their LVT representative in order to join the Command Center beta.

    Visit LVT at GSX Booth #1815, and learn more at www.lvt.com.

    About LVT
    LVT (LiveView Technologies, Inc.) is a leader in life safety and security and the premier developer and manufacturer of mobile, solar powered and cellular-connected surveillance solutions and software. Headquartered in American Fork, UT, LVT’s enterprise software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution is used by retailers, critical infrastructure and utilities, construction projects, warehouse and distribution centers, and more. LVT is proud to be made in the USA and manufactured in Utah. For more information, visit www.lvt.com.

    Media Contacts:
    Matthew Deighton
    LiveView Technologies
    media@lvt.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitfarms and Riot Announce Settlement

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    – Andrés Finkielsztain Steps Down from Board –
    – Bitfarms Appoints Amy Freedman to Board of Directors –
    – Board to Nominate an Independent Director for Election at Special Meeting –
    – Standstill Agreement Through 2026 Annual Meeting –

    This news release constitutes a “designated news release” for the purposes of the Company’s prospectus supplement dated March 8, 2024, to its short form base shelf prospectus dated November 10, 2023.

    TORONTO, Ontario and BROSSARD, Québec and CASTLE ROCK, Colo., Sept. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitfarms Ltd. (NASDAQ/TSX: BITF) (“Bitfarms” or the “Company”), a global leader in vertically integrated Bitcoin data center operations, and Riot Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ: RIOT) (“Riot”), an industry leader in vertically integrated Bitcoin (“BTC”) mining, today announced that Bitfarms and Riot have entered into a settlement agreement (the “Agreement”) in advance of the Special Meeting of Bitfarms Shareholders (the “Special Meeting”) currently scheduled for November 6, 2024, which will now be held virtually.

    Under the terms of the Agreement:

    • Andrés Finkielsztain has stepped down from Bitfarms’ Board of Directors (the “Board”).
    • Bitfarms has appointed Amy Freedman to its Board and the Governance and Nominating Committee and Compensation Committee of the Board, effective immediately.
    • Riot has agreed to withdraw its June 24, 2024 requisition, as amended, and to accept customary standstill provisions through the Bitfarms 2026 Annual Meeting, with certain exceptions.
    • At the Special Meeting, shareholders will be asked to approve an expansion of the Board from five members to six members, to elect an independent director nominated by the Board to serve as the sixth member of the Board, and to ratify the Company’s July 24, 2024, shareholder rights plan. Riot has agreed to vote in favour of these matters.
    • The Company has provided Riot with certain rights (subject to certain exceptions) to purchase shares of the Company provided Riot holds 15% or more of the outstanding common shares of the Company.

    As a result of the agreement to nominate an additional director for election at the Special Meeting, the Special Meeting may be delayed, but in no event will it be held later than November 20, 2024. The Company will update its shareholders on the timing of the Special Meeting as soon as it can.

    Brian Howlett, Independent Chairman of the Board, said “The Bitfarms Board is committed to effectively overseeing the execution of the Company’s strategic plan as we work to position Bitfarms to capitalize on the opportunities ahead. Additionally, we recognize the importance of refreshment and having the right mix of skills, experience and diversity, and we are always open to adding qualified candidates with valuable insights and perspectives to strengthen our Board. We are pleased to reach this agreement with Riot, which we believe is in the best interests of all Bitfarms shareholders.”

    Mr. Howlett continued, “On behalf of the Board and the entire company, I thank Andrés for his invaluable contributions to Bitfarms over the last four years. He brought great insights to the boardroom with his extensive knowledge of the financial and crypto industry. We wish him well in his future endeavors. We look forward to leveraging Amy’s extensive experience advising public companies as the Board works together to enhance shareholder value.”

    Ben Gagnon, Chief Executive Officer of Bitfarms, said, “We are pleased to reach this agreement with Riot and look forward to turning our full attention to executing our growth strategy. We remain focused on diversifying the business beyond Bitcoin mining into exciting and synergistic new areas like energy generation, energy trading, heat recycling and other high value revenue streams like HPC/AI.”

    Jason Les, Chief Executive Officer of Riot, said, “This agreement represents a significant step to advance shareholder value creation at our respective companies and we are pleased to have reached this constructive resolution with Bitfarms. As Bitfarms’ largest shareholder, we look forward to supporting a reconstituted Bitfarms Board and continued engagement with management.”

    A copy of the Agreement will be filed on Form 6-K with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and will be posted to the Company’s SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

    About Amy Freedman

    Amy is a corporate governance and public capital markets expert with over 25 years of experience. She is currently an advisor to Ewing Morris and Co. Investment Partners, an alternative asset manager with both equity and credit strategies. In her role, Amy spearheads the fund’s engagement investment opportunities. Previously, she was CEO of Kingsdale Advisors, a leading shareholder services and advisory firm specializing in strategic and defensive advisory, governance advisory, proxy and voting analytics and investor communications. Ms. Freedman has spent over 15 years in capital markets as an investment banker with global firms including Stifel Financial Corp. and Morgan Stanley.

    Ms. Freedman is currently a director on the boards of Mandalay Resources Corporation (TSX: MND, OTCQB: MNDJF), Irish Residential Properties REIT plc (ISE: IRES) and American Hotel Income Properties REIT (TSX: HOT.UN, HOT.U). She holds an MBA and a JD from the University of Toronto.

    About Bitfarms Ltd.

    Founded in 2017, Bitfarms is a global vertically integrated Bitcoin mining data center company that contributes its computational power to one or more mining pools from which it receives payment in Bitcoin. Bitfarms develops, owns, and operates vertically integrated mining facilities with in-house management and company-owned electrical engineering, installation service, and multiple onsite technical repair centers. The Company’s proprietary data analytics system delivers best-in-class operational performance and uptime.

    Bitfarms currently has 12 operating Bitcoin data centers and two under development situated in four countries: Canada, the United States, Paraguay, and Argentina. Powered predominantly by environmentally friendly hydro-electric and long-term power contracts, Bitfarms is committed to using sustainable and often underutilized energy infrastructure.

    To learn more about Bitfarms’ events, developments, and online communities:

    www.bitfarms.com
    https://www.facebook.com/bitfarms/
    https://twitter.com/Bitfarms_io
    https://www.instagram.com/bitfarms/
    https://www.linkedin.com/company/bitfarms/

    About Riot Platforms, Inc.

    Riot’s (NASDAQ: RIOT) vision is to be the world’s leading Bitcoin-driven infrastructure platform. Our mission is to positively impact the sectors, networks and communities that we touch. We believe that the combination of an innovative spirit and strong community partnership allows Riot to achieve best-in-class execution and create successful outcomes.

    Riot, a Nevada corporation, is a Bitcoin mining and digital infrastructure company focused on a vertically integrated strategy. Riot has Bitcoin mining operations in central Texas and electrical switchgear engineering and fabrication operations in Denver, Colorado.

    For more information, visit www.riotplatforms.com.

    Cautionary Statement 

    Trading in the securities of the Company should be considered highly speculative. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange, Nasdaq, or any other securities exchange or regulatory authority accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

    Forward-Looking Statements 

    This news release contains certain “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” (collectively, “forward-looking information”) that are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release and are covered by safe harbors under Canadian and United States securities laws. The statements and information in this release regarding the strength and positive outcome of board of director renewal, the date of the Special Meeting, the merits and potential of the Company’s growth plan and diversification strategy, other growth opportunities and prospects, statements regarding future growth, plans and objectives of the Company and the maximization of shareholder value, are forward-looking information. Any statements that involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as “expects”, or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, “plans”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “forecasts”, “estimates”, “prospects”, “believes” or “intends” or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results “may” or “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking information.

    This forward-looking information is based on assumptions and estimates of management of the Company and Riot, as applicable, at the time they were made, and involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others, various risks relating to the operations and business of the Company, the future performance, liquidity and financial position of the Company and Riot, and uncertainties as to timing of the Special Meeting or the outcome. For further information concerning these and other risks and uncertainties, refer to (i) the Company’s filings on www.sedarplus.ca (which are also available on the website of the SEC at www.sec.gov), including the MD&A for the year-ended December 31, 2023, filed on March 7, 2024 and the MD&A for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 filed on August 8, 2024, and (ii) Riot’s filings with the SEC, including the risks, uncertainties and other factors discussed under the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” of Riot’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on February 23, 2024, and the other filings Riot has made or will make with the SEC after such date, copies of which may be obtained from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Although the Company and Riot have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, including factors that are currently unknown to or deemed immaterial by the Company. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking information other than as required by law.

    Investor Relations Contacts:

    For Bitfarms:

    Bitfarms
    Tracy Krumme
    SVP, Head of IR & Corp. Comms.
    +1 786-671-5638
    tkrumme@bitfarms.com

    Innisfree M&A Incorporated
    Gabrielle Wolf / Scott Winter
    +1 212-750-5833

    Laurel Hill Advisory Group
    1-877-452-7184
    +1 416-304-0211
    assistance@laurelhill.com

    For Riot:

    Phil McPherson
    303-794-2000 ext. 110
    IR@Riot.Inc

    Media Contacts:

    For Bitfarms:

    U.S.: Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher
    Dan Katcher or Joseph Sala
    +1 212-355-4449

    Québec: Tact
    Louis-Martin Leclerc
    +1 418-693-2425
    lmleclerc@tactconseil.ca

    For Riot:

    Longacre Square Partners
    Joe Germani / Dan Zacchei
    jgermani@longacresquare.com / dzacchei@longacresquare.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: LVT Releases API To Bring Video Security Intelligence To Any Software Ecosystem

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ORLANDO, Fla., Sept. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — (GSX, Booth #1815) — LVT (LiveView Technologies, Inc.), the leader of customizable mobile security solutions, today released its new application programming interface (API) that allows security teams to integrate LVT Unit video security insights with any existing security platform. The API allows integrations with in-house systems, leading to a single pane of glass for security operations center (SOC) operators to take control of situations rapidly utilizing LVT’s physical security platform from their preferred software environment.

    “LVT provides a stellar end-to-end solution for managing our mobile security solutions, but we know customers also have other software within their security ecosystem. Our open integration platform empowers teams to access our video intelligence in any environment they prefer,” said Steve Lindsey, LVT CTO. “Customers can now choose between the LVT video management software, our integrations with partners like Immix and Fusus by Axon, or our API to access the security insights they need to maximize safety and control.”

    The API provides customers with more ways to access LVT’s intelligence, including recently announced integrations with Immix, and Fusus by Axon, along with additional partnerships coming in the future. LVT’s new API also integrates well with proprietary software developed in-house for video and alert management, providing support for customers’ customized solutions.

    LVT’s API allows SOC operators to monitor and access situations from a single dashboard:

    • Two-way integration with control of all deterrence capabilities such as strobe lights, floodlights, pre-recorded sounds, and live speaker talk-down
    • Other features include video streaming, alert generation, and camera control, including pan/tilt/zoom, streaming, talk down, and general camera management.

    As the security market continues to value open platforms that enable customers to build their strategy across multiple vendors, LVT’s open platform solution leads the way with a diverse set of leading camera partners, edge intelligence and analytics partners, and cloud software partners.

    Please email integrations@LVT.com for all API integration requests and questions.

    Visit LVT at GSX Booth #1815, and learn more at www.lvt.com.

    About LVT
    LVT (LiveView Technologies, Inc.) is a leader in life safety and security and the premier developer and manufacturer of mobile, solar powered and cellular-connected surveillance solutions and software. Headquartered in American Fork, UT, LVT’s enterprise software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution is used by retailers, critical infrastructure and utilities, construction projects, warehouse and distribution centers, and more. LVT is proud to be made in the USA and manufactured in Utah. For more information, visit www.lvt.com.

    Media Contacts:
    Matthew Deighton
    LiveView Technologies
    media@lvt.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Outbrain announces repurchase of remaining 2.95% Convertible Senior Notes due 2026

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Outbrain Inc. (NASDAQ: OB), a leading technology platform that drives business results by engaging people across the Open Internet, announced today that it has repurchased all of the remaining $118 million in aggregate principal amount of the 2.95% Convertible Senior Notes due 2026 (the “Convertible Notes”) via a privately negotiated repurchase agreement with Baupost Group Securities, L.L.C., the sole holder of the Convertible Notes. The Company paid, including accrued interest, $109.7 million in cash representing a discount to par value of approximately 7.5%. As a result, Outbrain will record a pre-tax gain of approximately $8.8 million in the third quarter of 2024.

    Following the closing of the transaction, Outbrain has repurchased the entire principal balance of $236 million of the Convertible Notes, with no remaining debt on the balance sheet and approximately $128 million of cash, cash equivalents and investments in marketable securities, when adjusting the balance as of August 31, 2024 for the repayment. Outbrain repurchased the initial $118 million principal amount of the Convertible Notes in April 2023.

    “Our ability to generate cash and our strong balance sheet has enabled the opportunistic repurchase of the remaining balance of Convertible Notes, which is also in anticipation of the expected closing of the Teads acquisition. We believe this transaction strengthens our balance sheet, increasing our net cash balance as we maintain ample liquidity to support our future growth,” said Jason Kiviat, Outbrain’s CFO.

    This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any of the Convertible Notes described herein or any securities of the Company, nor shall there be any offer, solicitation, or sale of the Convertible Notes or any securities of the Company in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, which statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements generally relating to possible or assumed future results of our business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, plans and objectives and statements relating to the transaction to acquire Teads (“Transaction”). You can generally identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “could,” “intends,” “guidance,” “outlook,” “target,” “projects,” “contemplates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “foresee,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions that concern our expectations, strategy, plans or intentions or are not statements of historical fact. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our expectations and projections regarding future events and trends that we believe may affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations. The outcome of the events described in these forward-looking statements is subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors including, but not limited to: overall advertising demand and traffic generated by our media partners; factors that affect advertising demand and spending, such as the continuation or worsening of unfavorable economic or business conditions or downturns, instability or volatility in financial markets, and other events or factors outside of our control, such as U.S. and global recession concerns, geopolitical concerns, including the ongoing war between Ukraine-Russia and conditions in Israel, supply chain issues, inflationary pressures, labor market volatility, bank closures or disruptions, and the impact of challenging economic conditions, political and policy uncertainties with the approach of the U.S. presidential election, and other factors that have and may further impact advertisers’ ability to pay; our ability to continue to innovate, and adoption by our advertisers and media partners of our expanding solutions; the success of our sales and marketing investments, which may require significant investments and may involve long sales cycles; our ability to grow our business and manage growth effectively; our ability to compete effectively against current and future competitors; the loss or decline of one or more of our large media partners, and our ability to expand our advertiser and media partner relationships; conditions in Israel, including the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas and other terrorist organizations, may limit our ability to market, support and innovate on our products due to the impact on our employees as well as our advertisers and their advertising markets, our ability to maintain our revenues or profitability despite quarterly fluctuations in our results, whether due to seasonality, large cyclical events, or other causes; the risk that our research and development efforts may not meet the demands of a rapidly evolving technology market; any failure of our recommendation engine to accurately predict attention or engagement, any deterioration in the quality of our recommendations or failure to present interesting content to users or other factors which may cause us to experience a decline in user engagement or loss of media partners; limits on our ability to collect, use and disclose data to deliver advertisements; our ability to extend our reach into evolving digital media platforms; our ability to maintain and scale our technology platform; our ability to meet demands on our infrastructure and resources due to future growth or otherwise; our failure or the failure of third parties to protect our sites, networks and systems against security breaches, or otherwise to protect the confidential information of us or our partners; outages or disruptions that impact us or our service providers, resulting from cyber incidents, or failures or loss of our infrastructure; significant fluctuations in currency exchange rates; political and regulatory risks in the various markets in which we operate; the challenges of compliance with differing and changing regulatory requirements; the timing and execution of any cost-saving measures and the impact on our business or strategy; our ability and the time required to consummate the Transaction; our ability to successfully integrate Teads’s operations, technologies and employees and to recognize the anticipated benefits and synergies of the Transaction, including the expectation of enhancements to our services, greater revenue or growth opportunities, operating efficiencies and cost savings; the potential impact of the announcement or pendency of the Transaction on ongoing business operations and relationships, including our ability to maintain relationships with employees, customers, suppliers and others with whom we do business; the amount of costs, fees, expenses and charges relating to the Transaction; the initiation or outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted following the announcement of the Transaction; and the risks described in the section entitled “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed for the year ended December 31, 2023 and in subsequent reports filed with the SEC. Accordingly, you should not rely upon forward-looking statements as an indication of future performance. We cannot assure you that the results, events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or will occur, and actual results, events, or circumstances could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements made in this press release relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation and do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events or otherwise, except as required by law.

    About Outbrain

    Outbrain (Nasdaq: OB) is a leading technology platform that drives business results by engaging people across the Open Internet. Outbrain predicts moments of engagement to drive measurable outcomes for advertisers and publishers using AI and machine learning across more than 8,000 online properties globally. Founded in 2006, Outbrain is headquartered in New York with offices in Israel and across the United States, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and South America.

    For more information, visit https://www.outbrain.com.

    Media Contact

    press@outbrain.com

    Investor Relations Contact

    IR@outbrain.com

    (332) 205-8999

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Vancity Investment Management Report Highlights Significant Gains in Shareholder Advocacy

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TERRITORIES OF MUSQUEAM, SQUAMISH AND TSLEIL-WAUTUTH NATIONS / VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Vancity Investment Management, a Canadian leader in socially responsible investing, issued its annual Shareholder Engagement Report today highlighting a year of shareholder advocacy.

    Vancity Investment Management’s commitment to shareholder engagement is grounded in the belief that investors hold the power to drive companies towards a more equitable and sustainable future—a belief that is underscored by the successes detailed in this year’s report. When investing on behalf of clients, Vancity Investment Management assumes an active role rather than merely observing. By leveraging its influence as a responsible shareholder, Vancity Investment Management ensures that the companies within its portfolio not only align with its clients’ values and objectives but also take significant actions to address their broader societal and environmental impacts.

    Vancity Investment Management’s engagement efforts encompass a wide array of areas, including climate, energy, governance, and labour practices. Over the past year, the company has been highly proactive, notably encouraging Starbucks® to commit to comprehensive reporting on biodiversity risks and impacts within its coffee supply chain and successfully advocating for enhanced climate reporting among major Canadian banks.

    “Investing in a company comes with responsibility,” said Wellington Holbrook, President and CEO of Vancity Group. “As shareholders, we can use our influence to promote positive societal and environmental impacts alongside financial returns. By engaging with the companies we recommend, we drive meaningful improvements that contribute to a more equitable economy and create sustainable, long-term value.”

    Snapshot of shareholder engagement in 2024:

    Starbucks: Vancity Investment Management challenged the supply chain sustainability practices of the world’s largest coffeehouse chain, Starbucks, noting that the Arabica coffee bean is considered a biodiversity risk and climate sensitive species. Starbucks has since committed to publicly report on its Arabica coffee bean supply chain in accordance with the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) framework. More details here.

    RBC, TD and Scotiabank: Vancity Investment Management submitted shareholder proposals to these Canadian banks to press for improved climate risk management and disclosure in line with their commitments as signatories to the Net Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA). As a result of our engagement, Scotiabank committed to disclose its framework for assessing clients’ climate transition plans. Both RBC and Scotiabank committed to disclose portfolio-level client performance against these frameworks. In recognition of these commitments, the proposals were withdrawn. More details here.

    CN Rail and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (formerly CP): In support of employee and public safety, Vancity Investment Management engaged with both rail companies to encourage negotiation for paid sick leave policies with all unions that represent their American workforce. CN Rail and CPKC have come to paid sick leave agreements with select unions, and Vancity Investment Management continues to press for additional progress. More details here.

    “The choices businesses make have a huge influence on people’s lives,” said Kelly Hirsch, Vancity Investment Management’s Head of ESG. “When we invest for our clients, we don’t merely watch from afar; we actively engage with companies to enhance their practices, advocate for responsible environmental stewardship, and ensure social responsibility,” added Kelly.

    Vancity Investment Management continues to lead the way in working to create an inclusive economy in Canada, putting people and the planet at the centre of its engagement work.

    To learn more about how Vancity Investment Management focuses on investments that deliver competitive returns while making a positive impact, read the full Shareholder Engagement Report.

    About Vancity Investment Management

    Vancity Investment Management provides management services to individuals, foundations and institutions across Canada that wish to generate wealth through sustainable, profitable and responsible investments. Established in 1995, it was one of the first wealth management firms in Canada to provide investments that deliver competitive returns while making a positive impact on the world. Vancity Investment Management is part of the Vancity Group that includes Vancity, a values-based financial co-operative serving the needs of its more than 560,000 member owners and their communities. With $34 billion in assets, plus assets under administration, Vancity is Canada’s largest community credit union. Vancity Investment Management and Vancity operate primarily within the territories of the Coast Salish and Kwakwaka’wakw people in British Columbia.

    Media Relations

    mediarelations@vancity.com
    T: 778-837-0394

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Africa50 investment platform gets thumbs up for its innovative financing, strategic partnerships and performance

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

    ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar, September 23, 2024/APO Group/ —

    Presidents of Madagascar and Tanzania praise Africa50’s critical role in addressing the continent’s infrastructure challenges; Africa50 has mobilized over $1.1 billion in capital commitments and catalyzed an additional $4.4 billion in external financing in just seven years, Adesina.

    Africa50 (www.Africa50.com), the investment platform established by African governments and the African Development Bank, is exceeding expectations and closing critical infrastructure funding gaps through innovative financing mechanisms and strategic partnerships, stakeholders heard on Thursday.

    Speaking at Africa50’s 2024 annual General Shareholders Meeting held in Antananarivo, the President of Madagascar, Andry Rajoelina, and his Tanzanian counterpart,  Samia Suluhu Hassan, acknowledged the institution’s pivotal role in addressing the continent’s infrastructure and economic challenges, creating a foundation for sustainable development and prosperity.  

    President Rajoelina highlighted how Africa50 is driving transformational change by mobilizing financing for large-scale infrastructure projects in his country and across the continent.

    He said Madagascar, with its abundant natural and renewable resources, has become a model for energy transition, and added that the country needs the support of international partners such as Africa50.

     “To realise our vision, we need the support of international partners, and this is where the role of Africa50 members is crucial. We need to work together to secure funding for ambitious projects and enable Madagascar to make the transition to green, sustainable energy. This is a challenge for the whole of Africa,” the president said.

    He remarked that the continent has a unique opportunity to reaffirm itself as a global leader in the climate change challenge by supporting innovative and sustainable projects. “Africa is not the problem, Africa is a solution.”

    President Samia Suluhu Hassan, in a speech read by the  Minister of Finance and Planning, Mwigulu Lameck Nchemba Madelu, described clean cooking as an international agenda and a business that must be treated as such.

    According to the International Energy Agency, nearly one billion people in Africa cook with polluting fuels, which has a direct impact on health and leads to half a million premature deaths every year. Yet, the cost of solving the clean energy problem is relatively low.

    The Tanzanian leader encouraged the use of clean cooking microfinance by providing low-interest loans to households to purchase clean cookstoves, allowing for a more manageable transition to clean cooking solutions… “It is crucial to make clean cooking affordable, especially in low-income areas. Governments can introduce effective incentives for producers and consumers to reduce the cost of cooking materials,” the Tanzanian president said.

    The meeting brought together global leaders, policymakers, investors, and infrastructure experts to strategize and collaborate on the actions needed to mobilize investment in a sustainable future for Africa.

    “The fact that Africa50 is exceeding expectations and bridging the funding gap by tackling today’s challenges through innovative financing mechanisms and strategic partnerships is good news for Africa and the world,” President and Chairman of the Boards of Directors of the African Development Bank Group Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina said in a keynote speech at the event.

    Adesina, who is also Chairman of the Africa50 Board of Directors, told the meeting that Africa50 has mobilized over $1.1 billion in capital commitments and catalyzed an additional $4.4 billion in external financing In just seven years of operation. “Its portfolio includes 25 transformative projects in 28 countries, with a total value exceeding $8 billion across energy, transport, digital infrastructure, education, and healthcare sectors.”

    In December 2023, the Africa50 Infrastructure Acceleration Fund (IAF) secured $222.5 million at first close from predominantly African investors, a first for the continent.

    Africa50’s vision for Africa’s future

    With Africa’s population projected to reach 2.5 billion by 2050 and a booming consumer market, the continent will be one of the most sought-after investment destinations in the world, Adesina told the meeting, “We are determined to continue mobilizing capital, overcoming barriers to investment, and delivering transformative projects.”

    In his remarks, Africa50 CEO Alain Ebobissé said over the past year, the institution had invested in key infrastructure projects, guided by the need for speed and scale in implementation for the continent. “Investors manage more than $2.3 trillion in Africa. Africa50 aims to mobilise and catalyse some of this capital to finance infrastructure in Africa,” he said.

    He highlighted Africa50’s Infrastructure Acceleration Fund as an achievement that is the first of its kind in Africa.

    “This fund is a significant step forward in mobilising African capital to bridge Africa’s infrastructure gap,” Ebobissé added.

    In 2023, Africa50 demonstrated its potential by facilitating significant foreign direct investment in clean energy, even as global FDI declined by 3%.

    With over 60% of the world’s solar energy potential, Africa has a golden opportunity to pursue a low-carbon energy trajectory, expand its electricity supply, and decarbonize its economies.

    Madagascar, the world’s fourth-largest island nation, was cited as an example of how infrastructure development can stimulate economic growth.

    The African Development Bank’s commitments in Madagascar total more than 1 billion dollars, with transport, energy, and agriculture accounting for more than 97% of the portfolio.

    The flagship Sahofika project, which will be the benchmark for green baseload in the country’s energy mix, will reduce the share of thermal power generation to less than of thermal generation to less than 10%, cutting the country’s generation costs by more than 30%.

    Transport infrastructure

    The African Development Bank remains committed to supporting Madagascar in its efforts to improve connectivity and promote trade across the continent through sustainable transport infrastructure projects, Adesina said.

    “Thanks to the corridor development and trade facilitation project, 165 km of roads, including the Analamisampy-Manja section, along with four bridges on the RN9, have been constructed, reducing travel time from 48 hours to just 5 hours,” Adesina said.

    “Transport infrastructure improvements are also revolutionizing trade and travel, reducing travel times along key corridors from 48 hours to just five hours,” he added.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Repackaging Seafood Waste as Plastic Alternatives

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Seafood is a major industry in New England. It generates a lot of revenue for coastal communities, but with that productivity can come a lot of waste.

    Right now, that waste – things like crab and lobster shells – is just dumped into landfills where it decomposes slowly and releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

    Researchers in New England have been looking at how that waste could be used to help rather than harm the environment.

    Mingyu Qiao, assistant professor of innovation and entrepreneurship in the Department of Nutritional Sciences, and Yangchao Luo, associate professor of nutritional sciences, are two researchers in the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources investigating how seafood waste and algae can be used to produce plastic-free, biodegradable packaging.

    They recently published four articles on the topic, in Foods, Food Hydrocolloids, and two in International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 1 and 2.

    “That’s the motivation,” Qiao says. “We’re looking for ways we can better use that seafood waste to create a value-added product.”

    Plastic packaging is also a major source of waste in the world. Single-use plastics often make their ways into our waters where they pose a danger to sea life.

    Microplastics, pieces of plastic broken down to nearly undetectable sizes, affect humans too, as they have shown up in human brains and reproductive organs.

    Plastics are harmful to human health in another way – PFAS. PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) also known as “forever chemicals” are found in plastics and plastic coatings on paper food wrappers. They leech into our food, and we then consume these harmful chemicals.

    Qiao and Luo are looking for a solution that tackles waste from both directions.

    “Each type of seafood waste has different (chemical) components, and they might have different properties, so it can be good for different applications,” Qiao says. “The challenge is how to identify those molecules, their properties, and the best use.”

    Natural polymers like the ones with which Qiao and Luo work are safer for human, animal, and environmental health, aligning this work with the College’s investment in One Health approaches.

    These polymers do not contain synthetic chemicals which are linked to a host of poor health outcomes, and they can be easily degraded in the ocean, given that is where they originated.

    “Nature already has a mechanism to biodegrade those polymers that is millions of years old,” Qiao says.

    Luo works on turning a compound found in crab and lobster shells into packaging using an extraction process that does not generate toxic waste.

    “Even though the polymer is green, the process is not,” Qiao says. “That’s why we’re developing what we call a green biorefinery method using microorganisms that produce enzymes to break down those tissues and then we can extract the polymers sustainably.”

    In partnership with UConn’s Technology Commercialization Services (TCS), Luo and Qiao have forged a strategic alliance with a leading lobster processing company in Massachusetts to implement this innovative green extraction method on seafood waste. Together, they are pursuing a Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant to accelerate the development and commercialization of this groundbreaking technology.

    Amit Kumar, senior director of licensing at UConn, says “The seafood processing industry produces valuable waste that is rich in components like chitin and alginate, which have significant potential for diverse applications, from food and medical technologies to sustainable packaging alternatives. These projects aim to harness these materials to create high-impact, eco-friendly solutions across various industries by replacing petroleum-based materials.”

    Qiao works with alginate, a compound found in algae, as an edible coating on food. He is looking at how spraying produce, like strawberries, with an alginate coating can help increase their shelf-life without the need for plastic packaging.

    Alginate is an attractive option for this application because it is completely edible, calorie-free, and not a common allergen, which is a concern for seafood-derived polymers.

    The researchers are also working with local seaweed farmers, collaborating with them as they move toward commercializing this technology.

    A postdoctoral researcher working in Qiao’s lab, Anuj Purohit, has established a company called Atlantic Sea Solutions to develop and commercialize this technology. The company was selected to receive funding from the Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, or CCEI over the summer. Atlantic Sea Solutions was selected as one of five teams to compete in the School of Business’ Wolff New Venture Competition in October.

    “This research is not staying on the paper,” Qiao says. “There is commercial interest right now.”

    Qiao and Luo have disclosed three inventions and filed two provisional patents in this area.

    “We extend our heartfelt thanks to the CAHNR leadership for their continued investment in applied research like ours. These projects were initially supported by the CAHNR Exploratory Research Grant and the Strategic Vision Implementation Committees (SVIC) Funding, and we’re now beginning to see the fruits of that investment.”

    This work relates to CAHNR’s Strategic Vision area focused on Ensuring a Vibrant and Sustainable Agricultural Industry and Food Supply, Advancing Adaptation and Resilience in a Changing Climate and Enhancing Health and Well-Being Locally, Nationally, and Globally.

    Follow UConn CAHNR on social media

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Confronting the Problem of Suicide

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    In 2022, nearly 50,000 Americans died by suicide, making it the 11th leading cause of death in the country – and the second leading cause of death among people aged 10-14 and 25-34. September is National Suicide Prevention month, when health care providers, advocates, survivors, educators and others work to change public perception on the topic and offer hope for people struggling with suicidal thoughts. Dr. Neha Jain, Associate Professor of Psychiatry at UConn Health, recently spoke with UConn Today about common misconceptions on suicide, what warning signs to look out for, and how to find help.

     

    Q: What has been the effect, if any, of the pandemic on what we’ve seen in terms of the problem of suicide?

    As mental health providers, we were all very concerned that the pandemic would lead to an increase in rates of suicide. But what we found, interestingly, is that, during the initial period of the pandemic, suicide actually decreased. And this was attributed to people coming together during a moment of crisis: a lot of people moved back home; there were a lot of campaigns about mental health awareness; there was a push to increase access to mental health services. People were spending more time with their families, so there was less social isolation. We did not see an increase in suicide. If anything, the rates reduced a little bit, though I will say that reduction was driven mostly by white persons and less so amongst populations of color. But by 2022 the rates increased again, and reverted back to the trend we had been observing before the pandemic.


     Q: In general, what kind of factors might make the risk of suicide higher for someone?

    I think of suicide risk factors as falling into two broad categories: first, factors that we cannot change, and then factors that are modifiable, that we can change. For example, male gender has always been a  risk factor for suicide. People who are single,divorced or widowed, certain age groups like adolescents and young adults, and  adults over the age of 65, are  at high risk. In our profession, we tend to focus more on modifiable factors; things like a history of suicide attempts, a history of mental illness or substance use, social isolation, loneliness, limited economic means or economic insecurity, chronic pain and physical illness. Those are all risk factors for suicide that can be modified or treated.


     Q: One thing we hear from students is they want to know what warning signs are. They want to know when it’s appropriate to intervene. But there seems to be a lot of, especially on social media, a lot of contrasting information about that, or misinformation, as it might be. So, what are some warning signs that people should look for?

    Dr. Neha Jain is a psychiatrist at UConn Health. (Tina Encarnacion/UConn Health photo)

    For students, I would say really any marked change in behavior is a potential warning sign. It can be a big change in eating or sleeping patterns. It can be somebody just talking about wanting to die, feeling hopeless, feeling more depressed, talking about feeling shame or guilt, talking about being a burden to others. It can be completely withdrawing and not interacting with people anymore. Also, an increase in anxiety, increase in anger or agitation can be a clue. If a person is describing a lot of emotional or physical pain that they cannot bear, that can be a warning sign. And then there are things that you might notice in terms of behavior, for example, if somebody is doing anything that could be considered research about methods of suicide or making preparations for death. Some of those preparations might include giving away important things, writing “goodbye” letters, doing dangerous things like driving fast, drinking heavily, or substance use. All of those can be warning signs. That being said, sometimes suicides can happen with no warning signs at all. So, it is also important to realize that a person may look and act just fine, but they may be feeling something that is not visible on the outside.

    Q: Younger people seem more willing in general to talk about their mental wellness, certainly more so than people of my generation. But is there still a stigma around the topic of suicide? Are people still reluctant to discuss it, for fear they might upset or even trigger someone?

    Absolutely. I think there are lots of different things that play into that, in addition to the stigma in general around suicide. Some people are just too worried to ask – you know, “What if I ask if this person is thinking about suicide, and they say yes. What am I going to do then?” There is also this concern that somehow asking about suicide may actually make a person more likely to commit suicide, and I want to emphasize that isn’t true. So, you should not feel afraid to ask about suicide if you’re worried about it.


     Q: Can you talk about what “suicide contagion” is and how it can be prevented?

    Suicide contagion is exactly what it sounds like, where the suicidal behavior or suicide of one person then influences others to commit or attempt suicide. That effect does seem to be stronger in adolescents and young people, and there have been a lot of well-publicized clusters, particularly if there is a celebrity who commits suicide or attempts suicide. It will often lead to a contagion cluster, and not necessarily in the same geographical area, obviously, because the news can be read anywhere. It’s important to realize that people will talk about suicide if there is a suicide. It will be reported in the media. It doesn’t help to brush away or hide a suicide, but suicide contagion is real, and it’s not so much the actual suicide as how it is portrayed that can affect the contagion behavior. So, if a suicide is presented in a sensationalistic way, there can be a kind of excitement around it. In a 24-hour non-stop news cycle, there will be a lot of description, a lot of drama and, and it may  be presented as  a strategy: “This person was so unhappy, this was their only way out.” Sensational reports can downplay the person’s struggles, downplay the stress or the substance abuse, or other negative experiences they were dealing with. Suicide can and should be reported on, but doing it in a fact-based manner, understanding that it is often a lot more complicated picture than it seems on the surface, is the responsible way to do it.


     Q: What are some common misconceptions people have about suicide?

    The big one that I see is, again, the idea that talking about it or asking somebody about it will make them more likely to attempt suicide. I do not think that is true. I think there is also this idea that, “Oh, this person looks just fine. How could they end their life?” But a person may be able to hide a lot of depression, a lot of conflict, a lot of stress. If you’re worried about your friend, asking them about it and talking about it can be very helpful, so we shouldn’t hesitate.

    Q: That segues perfectly into what might be the most important question: if someone is concerned that a family member, friend, or loved one might be contemplating suicide, what should they do?

    Don’t hesitate to talk, even if you’re not completely sure about what they are planning or contemplating. You can always offer them the crisis lifeline information. The phone number for the suicide crisis Lifeline is 988. They can call that number to talk to a crisis worker. They can also contact the crisis text line, which is often preferable to people, and for that you text TALK to 741741. Don’t hesitate to offer this information to anybody that you think is struggling. Don’t be afraid to put this information out there where everybody can access it. If you feel that there is a life-threatening situation, you can always call either 911 or 211, which is the mental health helpline in Connecticut. The CT suicide advisory board has some useful resources at https://www.preventsuicidect.org/  Finally, I think it is always better to reach out and offer help, or ask for help.

    If you are struggling with severe depression or suicidal thoughts, UConn Health and its psychiatry experts urge you to alert your psychiatric provider immediately. If you do not have a provider, get help by calling:  9-1-1, 2-1-1, or the national Suicide & Crisis Hotline 988, or visit your nearest Emergency Department where health care providers are always standing by to help you stay safe.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China sees rising urbanization rate over past 75 years

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    China’s urbanization rate, which measures the ratio of permanent urban residents relative to the total population, rose by 55.52 percentage points from the end of 1949 to 66.16 percent by the end of 2023, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed Monday.
    Over the past 75 years since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the country has undergone the largest and fastest urbanization process in world history, the NBS said in a report.
    There were just 129 cities in China at the end of 1949, with a combined population of 39.49 million. The number of cities reached 694 at the end of 2023, while prefecture-level and larger cities were home to 673.13 million people. Among them, there were 29 cities each with a population exceeding 5 million and 11 cities each with a population of over 10 million.
    Remarkably, China’s less-developed western region is rising, representing a more balanced urbanization process. Among the 11 prefecture-level cities that have been added since 2011, nine of them are located in the western region.
    As urbanization advances, China has lifted almost all limits on household registration in cities each with less than 3 million permanent residents, making it more convenient for those from rural areas to permanently settle down in cities.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China makes notable progress via equipment, consumer goods renewal program: official

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

    China makes notable progress via equipment, consumer goods renewal program: official

    BEIJING, Sept. 23 — China has made noteworthy progress in promoting large-scale equipment upgrades and consumer goods trade-ins this year, an official said on Monday.

    China unveiled an action plan to implement the renewal program in March 2024 in an effort to expand domestic demand and shore up the economy, and stepped up policy support in July with an extra funds injection of 300 billion yuan (about 42.53 billion U.S. dollars) via ultra-long special treasury bonds.

    Zhao Chenxin, deputy head of the National Development and Reform Commission, cited a string of positive results achieved by the program, highlighting increased equipment manufacturing investment and robust sales of automobiles and home appliances, when addressing a press conference on Monday.

    In the first eight months of 2024, China’s investment in equipment and tool purchases had increased by 16.8 percent year on year — well above the 3.4 percent increase in total fixed-asset investment.

    Retail sales of passenger vehicles in August rose by 10.8 percent compared with the previous month, while new energy vehicle (NEVs) sales increased by 17 percent month on month in August. The market share of NEVs remained above 50 percent for a second consecutive month. Sales of home appliances and audio and video products returned to growth last month, up 3.4 percent year on year.

    Thanks to the renewal program, many enterprises are optimistic about the prospects of sectors related to equipment and consumer goods, leading to brisk investment, Zhao said.

    The program, riding on the great potential of green and digital transition, will provide more impetus to economic sustainability and transformation efforts, Zhao added.

    China’s drive to promote equipment upgrades covers a wide range of areas including industrial equipment, environmental infrastructure, operating vessels, new energy buses and agricultural machinery, while consumer goods trade-ins involve products ranging from automobiles to home appliances and electric bicycles.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Colonialism and apartheid stripped black South Africans of land and labour rights – the effects are still felt today

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Marthinus van Staden, Associate Professor of Labour Law, University of the Witwatersrand

    Land dispossession among South Africa’s majority black population remains a thorny issue 30 years into democracy. Labour law scholar Marthinus van Staden’s new research examines the historical relationship between land dispossession and labour control in South Africa. It explores how the systematic seizure of indigenous people’s land during colonisation and apartheid reduced them from landowners to labourers, under exploitative conditions, and how the effects continue to linger. We asked him to explain.

    What is the history of land dispossession and labour control in South Africa?

    The history spans several centuries, beginning with Dutch colonisation in the mid-17th century. It intensified under British rule from the late 18th century. Early colonial policies were inconsistent, but gradually evolved into more systematic land grabs and labour regulations.

    The discovery of minerals – primarily gold and diamonds – in the 1880s heightened the demand for cheap black labour.

    The 19th century saw other significant developments, including the abolition of slavery and the introduction of pass laws. Pass laws required black people to carry identity documents that restricted their movement, employment and settlement.

    The 1913 Natives Land Act severely restricted black land ownership. It prevented black people from owning or renting land in 93% of South Africa, which was reserved for white ownership. Many black farmers who had previously owned or rented land in what had been designated “white areas” were forced to become labourers on white-owned farms. Or they had to move to “reserves” the state had set aside.

    This was followed by a series of laws implementing urban segregation and expanding “native reserves”.

    The apartheid era of formalised racial segregation, from 1948 to 1994, saw the most extreme measures of land dispossession and labour control. The creation of the homeland system relegated black South Africans to 10 economically unviable areas, along ethnic lines. Black people in homelands were mostly forced to work in “white” South Africa, where they lacked legal rights as workers.

    It wasn’t until 1979 that black trade unions were allowed to register. This allowed them to operate openly and bargain with employers and the government for improved wages and working conditions.

    Trade unions served as important political actors. They increased black workers’ political voice and influence. In fact, all labour legislation before 1981 had the distinguishing feature of excluding black workers from its ambit of protection.

    Only after apartheid ended in 1994 did efforts begin to address the legacy of land dispossession and unfair labour practices through restitution and reforms. Land reform processes have been criticised for being ineffectual.

    What effect did dispossession have?

    Dispossession created a large pool of cheap labour for white-owned farms and industries. Without access to land for subsistence or commercial farming, black South Africans had little choice but to work for low wages in the capitalist economy. The employment contract, transplanted from colonial law, became a tool for exerting control over these workers. It reinforced their subordinate status.

    The common law contract of employment, with its inherent element of employer control, was applied to the formerly independent indigenous people now forced into wage labour.

    The homelands ensured a continuous supply of cheap black migrant labour. This system of land deprivation and labour control not only served the economic interests of the white minority. It also reinforced racial hierarchies.

    The socio-economic consequences continue. Black workers are still more likely to be unemployed – or in precarious work – than whites.

    Why does this matter today?

    The legacy of land dispossession and labour control continues to shape South Africa’s social, economic and political landscape. It’s a critical consideration in efforts to build a more just and equitable society.

    This history has created deep-rooted economic disparities. The concentration of land ownership and wealth in the hands of the white minority remains largely intact, perpetuating socio-economic inequality.

    The ongoing struggle for land restitution and reform is directly linked to this history. Addressing the legacy of dispossession is crucial for economic justice and social stability.

    Understanding this history is essential for developing effective policies to address poverty, unemployment and uneven development.

    It is also vital for national reconciliation and building a more equitable society. It underpins current debates about social justice, reparations and the transformation of economic structures.

    Which practical, remedial policies must be carried out?

    The historical link between land loss and subjugation by means of the controls inherent to the contract of employment makes land reform a necessary first step to reversing this process.

    The government has put in place formal mechanisms to halt racialised land ownership. However, land restitution and reform programmes need to be enhanced and accelerated.

    They should include restoring land rights where possible, and providing support for sustainable land use. This would address both the economic and emotional aspects of historical dispossession.

    Legislation such as the Labour Relations Act and the Employment Equity Act have done much to strengthen protections for workers’ rights, particularly for those in precarious employment situations. However, the ways in which these laws continue to endorse a global north conception of the employment relationship, which emphasises control, must be rethought.

    They must be reformed to promote equality, dignity and fair labour practices. Reforms should involve more collaborative models and addressing the socio-economic impacts to redress historical injustices.

    Targeted economic development initiatives are needed in historically disadvantaged areas, including former homelands. These could include infrastructure development, skills training programmes, and support for small businesses to create economic opportunities.

    These remedial policies should be part of an all-encompassing strategy to address historical injustices, and create a more equitable South African society.

    – Colonialism and apartheid stripped black South Africans of land and labour rights – the effects are still felt today
    – https://theconversation.com/colonialism-and-apartheid-stripped-black-south-africans-of-land-and-labour-rights-the-effects-are-still-felt-today-238243

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: World’s top 1% own more wealth than 95% of humanity, as “the shadow of global oligarchy hangs over UN General Assembly,” says Oxfam

    Source: Oxfam –

    • Over a third of world’s biggest 50 corporations —worth $13.3 trillion— now run by a billionaire or has a billionaire as a principal shareholder.
    • Global South countries own just 31 percent of global wealth, despite being home to 79 percent of global population.
    • Oxfam urges multilateral action to advance new global framework on tax, cancel debts and rewrite intellectual property rules for pandemics.

    The richest 1 percent have more wealth than the bottom 95 percent of the world’s population put together, new Oxfam analysis of UBS data reveals today ahead of the annual UN High-Level General Debate.

    Billionaires are exerting new levels of control over economies, with a billionaire either running or the principal shareholder of more than a third of the world’s top 50 corporations. The combined market capitalization of these corporations is $13.3 trillion.

    Oxfam’s briefing paper “Multilateralism in an Era of Global Oligarchy” warns that multilateral efforts to respond to critical global challenges, including the climate crisis and persistent poverty and inequality, are being undermined by the ultra-wealthy and mega-corporations fueling inequality within and between countries.

    Despite being home to 79 percent of the world’s population, Global South countries own just 31 percent of global wealth.

    “The shadow of global oligarchy hangs over this year’s UN General Assembly. The ultra-wealthy and the mega-corporations they control are shaping global rules to serve their interests at the expense of people everywhere. The iconic UN podium is increasingly feeling diminished in a world in which billionaires are calling the shots,” said Amitabh Behar, Oxfam International’s Executive Director.

    The paper describes a “movement toward a global oligarchy,” where the ultra-rich, often through their increasingly monopolistic corporations, shape global political decision-making and rules to enrich themselves while thwarting vital global progress.

    The top 1 percent own 43 percent of all global financial assets. Just two corporations control 40 percent of the global seed market. The “big three” US-based asset managers —BlackRock, State Street, and Vanguard— hold $20 trillion in assets, close to one-fifth of all investable assets in the world.

    “While we often hear about great power rivalries undermining multilateralism —it is clear that extreme inequality is playing a massive role. In recent years the ultra-wealthy and powerful corporations have used their vast influence to undermine efforts to solve major global problems such as tackling tax dodging, making Covid-19 vaccines available to the world and canceling the albatross of sovereign debt,” said Behar.

    Oxfam details three recent examples of extreme inequality eroding multilateral efforts —and where civil society and Global South leaders have offered inequality-busting solutions:

    • Powerful corporations undermining tax cooperation. The OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Sharing (BEPS) fell short of realizing its potential, with new rules for profit allocation that will deliver only tiny extra revenues for lower-income countries of as little as 0.026 percent of their GDP. The exclusion of financial services from OECD rules is a carve-out attributed to lobbying from countries with large banking and financial sectors. Global South countries, led by African countries, are instead advancing negotiations for a fairer tax convention at the UN that, along with Brazil’s leadership at the G20, offer a pathway for fairly taxing the super-rich and mega-corporations.
       
    • Big Pharma resisting efforts to break up their monopolies over Covid-19 vaccine technologies to unlock supply. Monopoly control over vaccine production was highly profitable during the pandemic. In 2021 alone, the seven largest manufacturers generated an estimated $50 billion in net profit from the sale of Covid-19 vaccines, resulting in huge payouts to rich shareholders and the emergence of new vaccine billionaires. The CEO of Pfizer Albert Bourla described the call to share Covid-19 vaccine technologies as “dangerous nonsense.” The failure to equitably share vaccines contributed to as many as 1.3 million excess deaths worldwide. A new pandemic treaty with strong provisions to suspend patents and allow for easier transfers of technology offers promise.
       
    • Private creditors exacerbating the global debt crisis. Low-income countries spend nearly 40 percent of their annual budgets on debt service, over 60 percent more than they spend on education, health, and social protection combined. Over half of low- and middle-income countries’ external debt is owed to private lenders like banks and hedge funds. Some of these creditors are “vulture funds,” which purchase distressed debt on the cheap and exploit legal mechanisms to be repaid in full, reaping outsized profits.

    “Only a solidarity-based multilateralism can reverse the movement toward global oligarchy. Some world leaders are showing they recognize this and are stepping up to fight inequality —but we need many more to demonstrate this courage,” said Behar.

    “Ultimately, a fairer world and international order —where corporations pay their fair share, global public health is prioritized, and where all countries can invest in their own people— benefits us all. This is not new, and it’s long what leaders especially from the Global South have called for.”  
     

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Colonialism and apartheid stripped black South Africans of land and labour rights – the effects are still felt today

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Marthinus van Staden, Associate Professor of Labour Law, University of the Witwatersrand

    Land dispossession among South Africa’s majority black population remains a thorny issue 30 years into democracy. Labour law scholar Marthinus van Staden’s new research examines the historical relationship between land dispossession and labour control in South Africa. It explores how the systematic seizure of indigenous people’s land during colonisation and apartheid reduced them from landowners to labourers, under exploitative conditions, and how the effects continue to linger. We asked him to explain.

    What is the history of land dispossession and labour control in South Africa?

    The history spans several centuries, beginning with Dutch colonisation in the mid-17th century. It intensified under British rule from the late 18th century. Early colonial policies were inconsistent, but gradually evolved into more systematic land grabs and labour regulations.

    The discovery of minerals – primarily gold and diamonds – in the 1880s heightened the demand for cheap black labour.

    The 19th century saw other significant developments, including the abolition of slavery and the introduction of pass laws. Pass laws required black people to carry identity documents that restricted their movement, employment and settlement.

    The 1913 Natives Land Act severely restricted black land ownership. It prevented black people from owning or renting land in 93% of South Africa, which was reserved for white ownership. Many black farmers who had previously owned or rented land in what had been designated “white areas” were forced to become labourers on white-owned farms. Or they had to move to “reserves” the state had set aside.

    This was followed by a series of laws implementing urban segregation and expanding “native reserves”.

    The apartheid era of formalised racial segregation, from 1948 to 1994, saw the most extreme measures of land dispossession and labour control. The creation of the homeland system relegated black South Africans to 10 economically unviable areas, along ethnic lines. Black people in homelands were mostly forced to work in “white” South Africa, where they lacked legal rights as workers.

    It wasn’t until 1979 that black trade unions were allowed to register. This allowed them to operate openly and bargain with employers and the government for improved wages and working conditions.

    Trade unions served as important political actors. They increased black workers’ political voice and influence. In fact, all labour legislation before 1981 had the distinguishing feature of excluding black workers from its ambit of protection.

    Only after apartheid ended in 1994 did efforts begin to address the legacy of land dispossession and unfair labour practices through restitution and reforms. Land reform processes have been criticised for being ineffectual.

    What effect did dispossession have?

    Dispossession created a large pool of cheap labour for white-owned farms and industries. Without access to land for subsistence or commercial farming, black South Africans had little choice but to work for low wages in the capitalist economy. The employment contract, transplanted from colonial law, became a tool for exerting control over these workers. It reinforced their subordinate status.

    The common law contract of employment, with its inherent element of employer control, was applied to the formerly independent indigenous people now forced into wage labour.

    The homelands ensured a continuous supply of cheap black migrant labour. This system of land deprivation and labour control not only served the economic interests of the white minority. It also reinforced racial hierarchies.

    The socio-economic consequences continue. Black workers are still more likely to be unemployed – or in precarious work – than whites.

    Why does this matter today?

    The legacy of land dispossession and labour control continues to shape South Africa’s social, economic and political landscape. It’s a critical consideration in efforts to build a more just and equitable society.

    This history has created deep-rooted economic disparities. The concentration of land ownership and wealth in the hands of the white minority remains largely intact, perpetuating socio-economic inequality.

    The ongoing struggle for land restitution and reform is directly linked to this history. Addressing the legacy of dispossession is crucial for economic justice and social stability.

    Understanding this history is essential for developing effective policies to address poverty, unemployment and uneven development.

    It is also vital for national reconciliation and building a more equitable society. It underpins current debates about social justice, reparations and the transformation of economic structures.

    Which practical, remedial policies must be carried out?

    The historical link between land loss and subjugation by means of the controls inherent to the contract of employment makes land reform a necessary first step to reversing this process.

    The government has put in place formal mechanisms to halt racialised land ownership. However, land restitution and reform programmes need to be enhanced and accelerated.

    They should include restoring land rights where possible, and providing support for sustainable land use. This would address both the economic and emotional aspects of historical dispossession.

    Legislation such as the Labour Relations Act and the Employment Equity Act have done much to strengthen protections for workers’ rights, particularly for those in precarious employment situations. However, the ways in which these laws continue to endorse a global north conception of the employment relationship, which emphasises control, must be rethought.

    They must be reformed to promote equality, dignity and fair labour practices.
    Reforms should involve more collaborative models and addressing the socio-economic impacts to redress historical injustices.

    Targeted economic development initiatives are needed in historically disadvantaged areas, including former homelands. These could include infrastructure development, skills training programmes, and support for small businesses to create economic opportunities.

    These remedial policies should be part of an all-encompassing strategy to address historical injustices, and create a more equitable South African society.

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

    – ref. Colonialism and apartheid stripped black South Africans of land and labour rights – the effects are still felt today – https://theconversation.com/colonialism-and-apartheid-stripped-black-south-africans-of-land-and-labour-rights-the-effects-are-still-felt-today-238243

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Britain is finally abolishing hereditary peers from the House of Lords – a constitutional expert on the historical reforms that built up to this moment

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Meg Russell, Professor of British and Comparative Politics and Director of the Constitution Unit, UCL

    Flickr/House of Lords, CC BY-NC-ND

    Having made a pre-election pledge to do so, the government is moving forward with the House of Lords (hereditary peers) bill, a piece of legislation that will remove the remaining hereditary peers from the House of Lords.

    The bill is almost certain to pass through parliament, ending a centuries-old tradition of hereditary membership in the House of Lords. But who are these hereditary peers, and how did they come to sit in parliament in the first place? Some of the answers may be surprising.

    The House of Lords has ancient roots – though it has changed very fundamentally over the years. The original precursor of the English (and subsequently UK) parliament was a single-chamber body, bringing together the powerful in the land to advise the monarch. It is difficult to put a date on when this began but it included representatives of the nobility and the church.

    Initially, there was no presumption that those invited to participate in one session of parliament would be invited to the next, but gradually arrangements became more fixed. The “temporal” (as opposed to “spiritual”) members of parliament became the holders of hereditary titles, which would be passed down through their family line. Over time, the members of what became the House of Commons split off, with the two chambers regularly sitting separately from the 14th century.

    Pitt The Younger, a big fan of handing out peerages.
    Wikipedia/Bonhams

    Some modern preoccupations about the House of Lords can be traced back centuries. By the time of Charles I, there were already concerns that too many new peerages were being created and that the chamber was growing too large. There was even talk of money changing hands in some cases. As early as 1719, a bill was proposed to cap the size of the House of Lords, and allow new peerage creations only when existing lines died out. That bill was, however, unsuccessful.

    By the late 18th century, the monarch was following prime ministerial advice in creating peerages. William Pitt the Younger became a prolific distributor of titles, roughly doubling the number of Lords temporal from 212 to 314. In the mid-19th century, the House of Lords stood at around 450 members, and by the early 20th century, it exceeded 600 members. Immediately before it was reformed by Tony Blair’s government in 1999, its size was double that.

    The reforms begin

    In the late 19th century, under prime ministers William Gladstone and Lord Salisbury, there were deliberate moves to broaden the peerage and move it away from landed interests. Titles were awarded to industrialists, former diplomats, military personnel and civil servants. Notable appointees in this period included the artist Frederic Leighton, the surgeon Joseph Lister, and the former House of Commons clerk Thomas Erskine May. This helped to boost the “crossbenches” in the Lords, and build the chamber’s reputation for expertise.

    Nonetheless, in another pattern familiar today, around two-thirds of those appointed were former MPs. Prominent among them were those who had held high office – routinely including former prime ministers and speakers of the House of Commons.

    The hereditary nature of titles created an obvious difficulty with size – that a seat created for a person did not die with them, but was passed to their (exclusively male) successors. Every peerage awarded (with a small exception for those with legal expertise under the Appellate Jurisdictions Act 1876) was a hereditary peerage, and large numbers continued to be created.

    While some lines died out due to lack of male successors, pressure grew for the creation of life peerages rather than allowing members to pass their seat in the Lords on. The first bill to allow such appointments was introduced in 1849, but it was not until the Life Peerages Act 1958 that change finally occurred.

    By 1957, the year before the act, half of members (who by now exceeded 800) owed their hereditary peerages to 20th-century creations. Among them were the descendants of Asquith, Lloyd George, Stanley Baldwin and Field Marshal Montgomery. Even Labour’s Clement Attlee (who, upon assuming office in 1945, faced a House of Lords containing just 16 Labour members) was given a hereditary peerage in 1955. His grandson still serves in the House of Lords.

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    After 1958, the creation of new hereditary peerages became much rarer. It was, notably, only at this point that women entered the chamber for the first time – and only in 1963 that women inheriting the few hereditary titles not travelling purely down the male line were allowed to take seats in the chamber. An interesting anomaly was Margaret Thatcher’s bestowal of a hereditary peerage on her former home secretary and de facto deputy prime minister, Willie Whitelaw, in 1983 – the first such awarded for 18 years. Having only daughters, Whitelaw did not pass his peerage on.

    The reform implemented by the Blair government in 1999 was originally intended to sweep away all of the hereditary peers. But while over 650 departed, a deal between the parties allowed 92 to remain – with replacements when these peers died or retired largely filled by a bizarre system of byelections, where the only eligible candidates were hereditary peers.

    These byelections were recently halted in expectation of the bill, leaving 88 hereditary peers currently serving in the chamber. All of them are men, 45 are Conservative (and only four Labour), while 43 (49%) hold peerages created only in the 20th century.

    This group is anomalous, and long overdue reform. It is also less historic in certain respects than many might assume.

    Meg Russell has in the past received funding from the ESRC for her research on the House of Lords.

    – ref. Britain is finally abolishing hereditary peers from the House of Lords – a constitutional expert on the historical reforms that built up to this moment – https://theconversation.com/britain-is-finally-abolishing-hereditary-peers-from-the-house-of-lords-a-constitutional-expert-on-the-historical-reforms-that-built-up-to-this-moment-239073

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Grangemouth job losses are a stark reminder of the cost of a greener industrial future

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Phil Tomlinson, Professor of Industrial Strategy, Co-Director Centre for Governance, Regulation and Industrial Strategy (CGR&IS), University of Bath

    Grangemouth refinery has been in operation for more than 100 years. dvlcom – www.dvlcom.co.uk/Shuttershotck

    The recent announcement that Grangemouth oil refinery in central Scotland will close next year marks a notable moment in the energy transition towards net zero.

    As countries strive to meet climate targets and reduce their use of fossil fuels, the tensions between preserving jobs in “dirty” industries and creating new “green” jobs are becoming increasingly stark.

    Grangemouth, operated by Petroineos (a joint venture between PetroChina and INEOS), has been producing oil and chemical products for more than a century. It is Scotland’s only oil refinery and a major supplier of fuel to domestic and international markets.

    Its closure marks an abrupt end of an era for the local economy, which until now has been heavily dependent on the refinery. Around 400 jobs are thought to be at risk – although trade unions have warned that nearly 3,000 jobs could be affected in the wider local economy and supply chains.

    The closure reflects broader trends in the fossil fuel sector, with falling demand and governments prioritising climate action. The UK government is committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

    To achieve this, there must be dramatic reductions in fossil fuel consumption such as in transport and heating. Many energy-intensive industries (including steel and ceramics) are also shifting towards renewable energy sources, leading to the gradual phasing out of refineries such as Grangemouth.

    Green jobs: a path to the future?

    The growth of renewable sectors offers new job creation opportunities. Green jobs in renewable energy, energy efficiency and environmental conservation are seen as critical in developing a sustainable economy. But as yet, they are not always available in the regions where jobs in long-established industries are being lost.

    The new government hopes to create 650,000 jobs in the UK by 2030, working with business through a combination of its Green Prosperity Plan and proposed National Wealth Fund. These jobs will be critical in sectors such as offshore wind, hydrogen production and electric vehicle manufacturing.

    The closure of fossil fuel-dependent sites such as Grangemouth highlights the importance of a “just transition”. This is a framework pushed by trade unions where workers in polluting industries are offered clear pathways to secure jobs in a post-carbon economy.

    Governments, business and unions need to cooperate to ensure these new green jobs are not only available to workers facing redundancy, but also provide similar levels of pay and working conditions as the jobs being lost.

    Despite the promise of new green jobs, the immediate reality for workers in “dirty industries” is much more uncertain. For those employed in refining, oil drilling, or making internal combustion engine cars, the idea of transitioning to green jobs in some regions can seem remote.

    Production may disappear or require far fewer workers. Also, the skills of displaced workers do not always match those required for new green jobs. And retraining programmes are not always available or accessible.

    For communities such as Grangemouth, with a population of 17,000, the economic shock of losing a major employer can be catastrophic. Jobs in oil refineries are relatively well paid and once offered long-term stability. Replacing these with green jobs offering the same benefits is challenging.

    Renewable industries can take years to take root. Yet, in the here and now, displaced workers face the prospect of unemployment. There is a tension between the urgent need to address the climate emergency and the impetus to protect jobs and livelihoods.

    Policies for a just transition

    To address these tensions, governments need industrial policies to support a “just transition” to ensure that no one is left behind, as economies shift away from fossil fuels.

    This includes programmes to allow displaced oil workers to retrain and become equipped with the skills for new green jobs. Governments, businesses and unions will need to collaborate to deliver on this – with a focus on local needs. Several local authorities are already being proactive – using national and local funding and working with training providers to retrain workers in roles ranging from heat pump installers to electric vehicle technicians.

    For Grangemouth, new targeted investment will be needed to help diversify the local economy. Government funding for renewable energy projects, infrastructure development and support for small businesses and startups could and should help.

    Workers facing redundancy from polluting industries should be helped to retrain in greener sectors like heat pump installation.
    Virrage Images/Shutterstock

    On this, the UK and Scottish governments have provided £100 million of joint funding for Project Willow, a feasibility study looking at the Grangemouth plant’s next steps.

    Local supply chains will also need to diversify into new markets. For instance, elsewhere some auto sector firms are diversifying into making wind turbines and heat pumps as they adjust to the challenges of net zero.

    In the short term, displaced workers facing unemployment will need more generous social security. Better unemployment benefits, healthcare and housing support – perhaps repackaged as part of a lifetime learning allowance – will be essential. They could safeguard workers (and their families) as they retrain for the new green jobs.

    The closure of the Grangemouth refinery is an abrupt reminder of the complexities of transitioning to a green economy. While green jobs represent the future, they cannot simply replace traditional jobs overnight. There is an urgent need for a proactive industrial strategy to facilitate industry and regional diversification, alongside new investment in training and infrastructure.

    For Grangemouth (and communities facing similar challenges, such as at Port Talbot in south Wales), the road ahead may be uncertain. But with innovative approaches – like that of Gamesa in Spain, which has recruited staff from the car industry and used their expertise to streamline its wind turbine production – a “just transition” will be possible.

    Phil Tomlinson receives funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) for Made Smarter Innovation: Centre for People-Led Digitalisation.

    David Bailey receives funding from the ESRC’s UK in a Changing Europe programme.

    – ref. Grangemouth job losses are a stark reminder of the cost of a greener industrial future – https://theconversation.com/grangemouth-job-losses-are-a-stark-reminder-of-the-cost-of-a-greener-industrial-future-239132

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The Taliban suspends polio vaccine campaign in Afghanistan – here’s the likely impact

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Lee Sherry, Postdoctoral Research Associate, School of Infection and Immunity, University of Glasgow

    The Taliban recently announced that they are suspending its polio vaccination campaign in Afghanistan. The announcement was made shortly before the campaign was due to start.

    The suspension is temporary, according to the Taliban, and is due to security fears and the fact that women are involved in administering the vaccine.

    Poliovirus is a highly infectious virus that mainly affects children under the age of five, but anyone who is unvaccinated can be infected. The virus spreads from person to person mainly through traces of contaminated faeces on people’s hands getting into their mouths or, less commonly, through contaminated food or water.

    It initially infects the intestines, leading to symptoms such as fever, fatigue, headache and vomiting in the early stages of the disease. But, as the infection progresses, the virus can invade the nervous system, often leading to paralysis. In the worst cases, affected children will die as the paralysis spreads to the muscles that control breathing.

    Polio was a major global childhood health concern in the 19th and 20th centuries. However, the development of polio vaccines has given us the ability to prevent polio-induced paralysis. There are two main types of polio vaccine: live-attenuated oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV), made from weakened poliovirus, and inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV).

    Following the introduction of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in 1988, OPV and IPV have nearly eliminated the disease. Yet polio remains a global threat, as was seen recently with the emergence of polio in the Gaza Strip.

    Afghanistan is one of only two countries, alongside neighbouring Pakistan, where polio has continued to spread. So the news that the Taliban have suspended polio vaccination will probably have major consequences for the control of the disease in Afghanistan and the surrounding region.

    Earlier in 2024, Afghanistan had used a house-to-house vaccination strategy, recommended by the WHO, for the first time in five years. This tactic ensures that most children have access to the vaccine. However, in the southern Kandahar province, the Taliban used a mosque-to-mosque vaccination campaign, which has been proven to be less effective. So Kandahar is believed to have a large number of unvaccinated children who are now susceptible to infection.

    Locally, this setback in vaccination not only poses a risk to the children of Afghanistan, but also poses a risk to children in bordering Pakistan. This is due to the high levels of movement across the borders between the two countries.

    “Afghanistan is the only neighbour from where Afghan people in large numbers come to Pakistan and then go back,” Anwarul Haq, the coordinator at the National Emergency Operation Centre for Polio Eradication, told Associated Press.

    Much wider spread

    Afghanistan has already seen an increase in paralytic polio cases in 2024, rising from six in 2023 to 14 confirmed cases in 2024 so far. Paralysis occurs in about one in 200 infections, so this increase in paralytic polio suggests a much wider spread of infection in the region. This includes Pakistan, which has reported 13 cases so far this year.

    With the reduced number of vaccinations and an increasing number of children vulnerable to polio infection, we are likely to see an increased number of paralytic polio cases in the near future. This potential increase in viral spread coupled with the number of people travelling in and out of the region may lead to the spread of polio beyond Afghanistan and Pakistan and into areas such as India and Iran.

    Unfortunately, those who are not vaccinated will also be susceptible to vaccine-derived poliovirus. This is where the OPV vaccine, which contains a weakened version of the virus, has been able to spread in areas with low vaccination coverage, allowing the virus to return to virulence.

    This has seen new vaccine-derived outbreaks seeded across several countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, which now accounts for most paralytic polio cases worldwide.

    Lee Sherry has previously worked on a WHO-funded project to develop new vaccines for poliovirus.

    – ref. The Taliban suspends polio vaccine campaign in Afghanistan – here’s the likely impact – https://theconversation.com/the-taliban-suspends-polio-vaccine-campaign-in-afghanistan-heres-the-likely-impact-239316

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Secretary Blinken delivers remarks at the Advancing Sustainable Development – 2:10 PM

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

    Secretary Blinken delivers remarks at the Advancing Sustainable Development through Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy AI event in New York City, New York., on September 23, 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!
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    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJlzUU4ySd0

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Secretary Blinken delivers remarks at the Freedom Online Coalition Ministerial Event – 11:00 AM

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

    Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken delivers remarks at the Freedom Online Coalition Ministerial Event on AI for Humanity: Charting the Global Course for Human Rights-Based Governance in New York City, New York, on September 23, 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!
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    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRobgVHr19w

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Secretary Blinken hosts a G7+ Ministerial Meeting on Ukraine Energy Sector Support – 9:45 AM

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

    Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken hosts a G7+ Ministerial Meeting on Ukraine Energy Sector Support in New York City, New York, on September 23, 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.

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    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aL4tTyzS4gU

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Secretary Blinken participates at the High-Level Meeting – 4:00 PM

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

    Secretary Blinken participates at the High-Level Meeting to Launch the Friends of Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty in New York City, New York, on September 23, 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.

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    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MN8-gnA1-Xc

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: This Week in NJ – September 20th, 2024

    Source: US State of New Jersey

    Governor Murphy Announces $180 Million Awarded to Nonprofit Groups and Local Governments Through Lead Remediation and Abatement Program

    At the Governor’s Conference on Housing and Economic Development, Governor Murphy announced that his Administration will soon commit $180 million to nonprofit organizations and local governments across the state through the Department of Community Affairs’ (DCA) Lead Remediation and Abatement Program (LRAP). These funds help grantees conduct lead-safe repairs in homes where adults and children are exposed to lead-based paint. Once DCA obligates the final $40 million this month, it will have awarded all of the Murphy Administration’s historic investment made in the State Fiscal Year 2022 and 2023 budgets to address the threat of childhood lead poisoning.

    “We are providing grants to communities up and down our state — from Paterson to Vineland — so we can ensure that every one of our children is protected from the dangers of lead-based paint,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “This funding will directly benefit thousands of households and is a perfect example of how safe housing is at the heart of our Administration’s vision for making New Jersey the best place, anywhere in America, to raise a family.”

    “DCA is incredibly proud to administer a grant program that is protecting New Jersey’s families and children from the detrimental effects of lead poisoning,” said DCA Commissioner Jacquelyn A. Suárez. “By collaborating with nonprofit groups and local governments, we are providing residents with the information and financial assistance they need to live free of lead-based paint in their homes.”

    READ MORE

    Murphy Administration Announces Opening of Income-Based Charge Up+ EV Incentive

    Governor Phil Murphy and the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU)  announced the opening of Charge Up+, an additional income-based incentive of $2,000 available through the State’s Charge Up New Jersey electric vehicle (EV) incentive program. The announcement follows the launch of Year Five of Charge Up New Jersey in July 2024.

    “I’m thrilled to announce this additional step toward ensuring every New Jerseyan can choose clean transportation, regardless of their income,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “My administration continues to prioritize lowering emissions and improving air quality in our communities, no matter the zip code, by making EVs more affordable and accessible to all.”

    “Through the introduction of Charge Up+, the Murphy Administration is once again building upon the success of its highly popular EV incentive program,” said NJBPU President Christine Guhl-Sadovy. “Combined with the Charge Up base incentive and federal EV tax credit, this additional incentive will further expand the number of New Jersey families who can reap the environmental and economic benefits of clean transportation.”

    Through Year Five of the Charge Up New Jersey program, all eligible vehicles up to a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $55,000 can receive a $2,000 base incentive. Residents can take advantage of this incentive directly at the car dealership or showroom and apply the incentive instantly to their purchase or lease at the point of sale. Charge Up New Jersey also offers a $250 rebate for the purchase and installation of a qualifying Level 2 charger through the In-Home EV Charger Incentive.

    The additional income-based incentive of $2,000 will be available to prequalified income-eligible applicants for a total of $4,000. Customers who are eligible for the Charge Up+ incentive must prequalify before visiting the dealership to ensure that the full $4,000 can be applied to their purchase or lease.

    READ MORE

    DCF Awards Funding to Expand Universal Home Visiting Initiative in New Jersey

    As part of the State’s efforts to expand Family Connects NJ — New Jersey’s universal nurse home visitation program — the Department of Children and Families (NJDCF) has awarded contracts to two partner-agencies to make free nurse visits available to every family with a newborn in an additional six counties. Beginning January 2025, this lifesaving program will continue in Cumberland, Essex, Gloucester, Mercer, and Middlesex Counties, and expand to Somerset, Sussex, Passaic, Hudson, Bergen, and Ocean Counties. 

    The law establishing a universal nurse home visitation program was signed by Governor Murphy in July 2021, making New Jersey the second state in the nation to advance a universal home visitation program specifically designed to support parents and families welcoming a newborn through childbirth, adoption, or foster care placement, as well as families that have experienced the tragedy of stillbirth or neonatal loss. Family Connects NJ is a key component to First Lady Tammy Murphy’s Nurture NJ initiative, which aims to make New Jersey the safest, most equitable state in the nation to deliver and raise a baby.

    Hypertensive pregnancy disorders are a leading cause of preventable pregnancy-related deaths in New Jersey, and the New Jersey Maternal Mortality Review Committee has found that the majority of pregnancy-related deaths occur postpartum. In fact, in March of this year, a total of 14% of nurse home visits—more than 1 in 10—resulted in a referral of a mother or an infant to the emergency room for follow-up on something that couldn’t wait for the regular checkup, with the most common reason being post-partum hypertension. This is critical since post-partum hypertension is a life-threatening complication commonly associated with stroke, heart failure, and kidney failure.

    In January, the program launched in five counties — Cumberland, Essex, Gloucester, Mercer and Middlesex.

    “Having a strong support system during the early days of parenthood is crucial. When new parents bring their baby home for the first time, it can be overwhelming. It takes a village to raise a child, and through Family Connects NJ, the State of New Jersey is committing to be part of that village while families adjust to life with a newborn,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “This innovative home visitation program raises the bar for postpartum care by ensuring both new mothers and their babies can access the care and resources they need. I’m pleased to see this successful, life-saving program expand into more New Jersey counties, enabling more families to benefit from critical support.”

    “Family Connects NJ is the most robust universal nurse home visitation program in the nation, providing the support new mothers need to ensure they and their families are healthy and thriving in the crucial weeks post birth,” said First Lady Tammy Murphy. “I am thrilled to continue our planned expansion of this vital program as we enter six additional counties starting in January.  Family Connects NJ will help cement New Jersey as the gold standard and the safest, most equitable place in the nation to deliver and raise a baby.”

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