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Category: KB

  • MIL-OSI Security: Federal Judge Finds Milwaukee Man Guilty of Sex Trafficking and Arson

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    United States Attorney Gregory J. Haanstad announced that on October 28, 2024, United States District Court Judge Lynn Adelman found Bobby McNeil (age 45) guilty of all five counts with which he was charged, which were Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud, or Coercion; Arson in Furtherance of a Federal Felony; Arson of a Building/Rental Property; Interstate Transportation for the Purpose of Prostitution; and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon. Judge Adelman announced the verdict after a two-day bench trial that concluded on October 16, 2024.

    The evidence presented at trial established that between 2021 and 2022, McNeil used force, threats of force, fraud, and coercion to compel an adult female victim to engage in commercial sex acts on the south side of Milwaukee.  He also induced the victim to travel from Florida back to Wisconsin to engage in further commercial sex acts. McNeil also committed a retaliatory act of arson by throwing a Molotov cocktail into the home of another adult who attempted to help the female victim get away from McNeil.  In rendering his verdict, Judge Adelman pointed to numerous text messages, Facebook messages, and recorded messages the defendant made and sent that corroborated the trafficking victim’s testimony and reflected the defendant’s intentions and violence.

    McNeil’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for February 4, 2025, before Judge Adelman.  McNeil faces a maximum life term of imprisonment and a mandatory minimum of 25 years of imprisonment.

    The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case, with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Milwaukee Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorneys Abbey M. Marzick and Porchia S. Lewand prosecuted the case.

    # # #

    For Additional Information Contact:

    Public Information Officer

    Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov

    414-297-1700

    Follow us on Twitter

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Midaxo named a Leader in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Mergers and Acquisitions Software 2024 Vendor Assessment

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BOSTON, Oct. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Midaxo, the leading provider of software solutions for corporate development, today announced it has been named a Leader in the first IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Mergers and Acquisitions Software 2024 Vendor Assessment. According to the IDC MarketScape report, “The platform enhances collaboration with role-based access, supports real-time analytics and AI-driven insights, and integrates with existing productivity tools, serving industries such as healthcare, financial services, and IT. Midaxo aims to increase deal velocity and visibility, helping organizations manage complex transactions more efficiently and achieve consistent inorganic growth.”  

    “Midaxo is the cloud for corporate development to drive inorganic growth for their businesses.” said Jude McColgan, CEO Midaxo. Large and mid-sized companies rely on us to find, manage and close more deals.  We are pleased to be named a Leader by the IDC MarketScape.”  

    Midaxo strengths: 

    • Capabilities: Midaxo offers an impressive number of capabilities for a full end-to-end M&A process. 
    • Road map: Midaxo has a robust road map that includes more capabilities on the horizon for a more thorough financial valuation and analysis but also AI-enhanced capabilities to help with automation and guidance. 
    • Customer support: Customers noted customer support and service as being excellent. 

    “We have been using Midaxo since 2021 for the full M&A lifecycle: sourcing, closing and implementing deals,” said Joerg  Windbichler, Executive Vice President of Acquisitions and Integrations at SoftwareOne, a leading global software and cloud solutions provider. “We have seen an impressive development of features over that time.  We look forward to our continued collaboration and seeing even more capabilities supporting our M&A process”. 

    SOURCE: IDC MarketScape Worldwide Mergers and Acquisitions Software 
    Vendor Assessment, by Heather Herbst Kevin Permenter, September 2024, IDC #US51053324  

    About the IDC MarketScape: 
    IDC MarketScape vendor assessment model is designed to provide an overview of the competitive fitness of technology and service suppliers in a given market. The research methodology utilizes a rigorous scoring methodology based on both qualitative and quantitative criteria that results in a single graphical illustration of each vendor’s position within a given market. IDC MarketScape provides a clear framework in which the product and service offerings, capabilities and strategies, and current and future market success factors of IT and telecommunications vendors can be meaningfully compared. The framework also provides technology buyers with a 360-degree assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of current and prospective vendors. 

    About Midaxo 
    Midaxo provides the most widely used work management solution for corporate development. Digitally transforming the transaction process, Midaxo Cloud leverages automation, AI, and machine learning to deliver accelerated inorganic growth while decreasing deal risk. The platform can be customized to fit the needs of each company to enable corporate development and M&A leaders to find, evaluate, and deliver inorganic growth with unprecedented speed and accuracy. Users of the M&A capabilities report identifying and managing 5x more targets, reducing diligence time by 50%, and accelerating time to value realization up to 40%. More than 500 Midaxo customers, including Banner Health, Daimler AG, Professional Services Co., and United Site Services, have closed over 5,000 transactions valued in excess of $1 trillion. 

    Contact: 
    Neil Lieberman 
    Midaxo 
    neil.lieberman@midaxo.com 

    All product and company names herein may be trademarks of their registered owners. 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: 1300 Clients and Accelerating Growth: European Tech Scaleflex Unveils Visual Experience Platform to Disrupt $4.5B DAM Market

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Since 2020, the company has reached 1300 clients. The release of the Visual Experience Platform is set to reshape the $4.5B market of Digital Asset Management (DAM) and AI Visual Enhancement markets solutions. The DAM market is expected to reach $16.2B dollars by 2032.1

    PARIS, Oct. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — With €2.5M in funding, France-founded solution provider Scaleflex introduces its new Visual Experience Platform (VXP).

    Analysts expect the DAM market to reach a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) surpassing 17%2. Key drivers include increased adoption of cloud-based architecture and the integration of AI and machine learning for asset management.

    “VXP answers our clients’ call for a single platform that goes beyond traditional DAM — facilitating content optimization, enrichment, and distribution. Our work with L-Commerce, an E. Leclerc subsidiary, France’s leading grocery retailer, is proof. We helped them process assets faster, at lower costs, boosting both scalability and web performance. Both are critical for eCommerce success,” says Emil Novakov, co-founder and CEO of Scaleflex.

    VXP is a first-of-its-kind software in the DAM market, offering integrated functions tailored to marketing, digital, and IT teams :

    • Digital Asset Management, a single source of truth to reference and distribute visual assets (images, videos…)
    • Visual AI-enhancement to automate tasks like Not safe for work moderation, enrichment, tagging and visual search (vector search)
    • Web Portals to collaborate and share assets such as brand guidelines, marketing campaigns…
    • Dynamic Media Optimization transforming visuals to increase web performance

    The composable VXP helps IT & business teams from enterprise & midmarket companies optimize billions of visual assets. Over 1300 clients benefit from the VXP modules, including Michelin, Hyundai, Rakuten, Grupo Piñero, SeLoger, or the European Space Agency.

    The VXP’s intuitive interface can be used by marketing, digital, and communications teams. In addition, IT departments can leverage a full headless approach thanks to scalable APIs that easily integrate into existing systems, driving faster innovation.

    “With a cloud-agnostic architecture built to scale and provide blazing-fast performance for our customers, our platform easily integrates with any system, including MACH-based architectures, providing businesses the agility to adapt and scale their visual stack,” says Julian De Maestri, co-founder and CTO of Scaleflex. “VXP is a next-gen composable solution.”

    About Scaleflex:

    A fast-growing European Tech SaaS, Scaleflex provides comprehensive visual content management solutions. The company’s portfolio includes state-of-the-art tools that help business and IT teams maximize the value of their media assets, optimize content delivery, and improve digital experiences across the board. With a focus on performance, scalability, and innovation, Scaleflex is trusted by more than 1300 customers.
    For more information, please visit www.scaleflex.com.

    Media Contact:
    Jonathan Britel
    Phone: +33 6 77 91 18 49
    Email: jonathan.britel@scaleflex.com
    Side topics : Interview enquiries about IT & technology innovation in Retail, Real Estate, Tourism and Online Media

    1 Fortune Business Insights. (2024, September). Digital Asset Management (DAM) Market Size, Share & Regional Forecast, 2024-2032. Report ID: FBI104914. https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/digital-asset-management-dam-market-104914

    2 FNFR. (2024). Digital Asset Management (DAM) Market Size, Share, Growth Analysis Report 2020-2026. https://www.fnfresearch.com/digital-asset-management-dam-market

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/487a4984-c96d-4880-a2b3-2f7ae6c5f405

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: The notes redeemed by Municipality Finance have been removed from trading at Nasdaq Helsinki

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Municipality Finance Plc
    Stock exchange release
    29 October 2024 at 10:00 am (EET)

    The notes redeemed by Municipality Finance have been removed from trading at Nasdaq Helsinki

    On 14 October 2024 Municipality Finance Plc announced that it is exercising its right to redeem in whole its USD 150 million notes (XS2548900146). Nasdaq Helsinki has approved MuniFin’s application to remove the notes from trading. The last day of trading was 28 October 2024.

    MUNICIPALITY FINANCE PLC

    Further information:

    Joakim Holmström
    Executive Vice President, Capital Markets and Sustainability
    tel. +358 50 444 3638

    MuniFin (Municipality Finance Plc) is one of Finland’s largest credit institutions. The company is owned by Finnish municipalities, the public sector pension fund Keva and the Republic of Finland. The Group’s balance sheet totals over to EUR 50 billion.

    MuniFin’s customers include municipalities, joint municipal authorities, wellbeing services counties, corporate entities under their control, and non-profit organisations nominated by the Housing Finance and Development Centre of Finland (ARA). Lending is used for environmentally and socially responsible investment targets such as public transportation, sustainable buildings, hospitals and healthcare centres, schools and day care centres, and homes for people with special needs.

    MuniFin’s customers are domestic, but the company operates in a completely global business environment. The company is an active Finnish bond issuer in international capital markets and the first Finnish green and social bond issuer. The funding is exclusively guaranteed by the Municipal Guarantee Board.

    Read more: www.kuntarahoitus.fi/en

    Important Information

    The information contained herein is not for release, publication or distribution, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, in or into any such country or jurisdiction or otherwise in such circumstances in which the release, publication or distribution would be unlawful. The information contained herein does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of, any securities or other financial instruments in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration, exemption from registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

    This communication does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States. The notes have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) or under the applicable securities laws of any state of the United States and may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons except pursuant to an applicable exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Navy Reserve Officer Sentenced for Bribery Scheme Involving Department of State’s Approval Process for Special Immigrant Visas

    Source: United States Attorneys General 7

    A U.S. Navy Reserve Commander from Florida was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for his role in a years-long bribery scheme involving Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for Afghan nationals.

    According to court documents and evidence submitted at trial, Jeromy Pittmann, 53, of Pensacola, accepted bribe payments from Afghan nationals in exchange for drafting, submitting, and verifying fraudulent letters of recommendation for Afghan nationals who applied for SIVs with the U.S. Department of State. Since 2009, Congress has authorized the State Department to offer a limited number of SIVs to enter the United States for Afghan nationals who were employed as translators for U.S. military personnel. Pittmann signed over 20 letters in which he fraudulently represented that he personally knew and had supervised the Afghan national visa applicants while they worked as translators in support of the U.S. military and NATO; that the applicants’ lives were in jeopardy because the Taliban considered them to be traitors; and that, based on his personal knowledge of the applicants, he believed they did not pose any threat to the national security of the United States. In truth, Pittmann did not know the applicants and had no basis for recommending them for SIVs. In exchange for the fraudulent letters, Pittmann received several thousands of dollars in bribes. To avoid detection, Pittmann received the bribe money through an intermediary and created false invoices purporting to show that Pittmann was receiving the money for legitimate work unrelated to his military service.

    On July 12, Pittmann was convicted by a jury in the District of New Hampshire after a four-day trial of conspiracy to commit bribery, bribery, making a materially false writing, and conspiring to commit money laundering.

    “By protecting Afghan nationals who risk their personal safety to help the U.S. government, the SIV program is essential for the security of U.S. military and diplomatic personnel in Afghanistan,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Jeromy Pittmann, however, used his position of authority over the program to benefit foreign nationals who paid him bribes, falsely asserting that they had served the United States. Today’s sentence demonstrates that the Justice Department has zero tolerance for those who place their self-interest ahead of our national security.”

    “This case shows how someone betrayed his sacred oath of office to commit crimes for personal gain, with no regard for how his actions could threaten U.S. homeland security and harm Afghans, who risked their lives to help the United States,” said Inspector General John F. Sopko of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR). “It also shows how a U.S. Government investigation — from initial tip to prosecution to conviction — can hold individuals accountable for their crimes. I’m proud of SIGAR special agents and our investigative partners who brought Pittmann to justice, and I hope their hard work will deter others from pursuing similar acts.”

    “Pittmann’s participation in this bribery scheme not only jeopardized the integrity of the SIV program, which protects our allies, but also introduced significant security risks to our nation,” said Special Agent in Charge Greg Gross of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Economic Crimes Field Office. “NCIS and our partners will continue to hold accountable those who exploit government processes for personal gain, ensuring that the safety of the public and our warfighters is preserved.”

    “Pittmann deliberately chose self-enrichment over service when he violated federal law in his lengthy bribery scheme. He also compromised the integrity of the Afghan SIV system which is intended for those who faithfully performed activities while working for, or on behalf of, the U.S. government in Afghanistan,” said Inspector General Robert P. Storch of the Department of Defense. “The Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), in collaboration with its law enforcement partners, is resolved to help bring to justice those who abuse their public office for personal gain.”

    “The Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) is firmly committed to protecting the integrity of all U.S. visas and travel documents,” said Deputy Assistant Director Greg Batman of DSS. “This case is the result of a strong partnership among federal law enforcement agencies and DSS’ global network of special agents working together to stop visa and passport crimes, and to stop criminals from earning illegal income by exploiting U.S. visas, passports, and foreign nationals.”

    SIGAR, NCIS, DCIS, and DSS investigated the case.

    Trial Attorneys Matt Kahn and Theodore M. Kneller of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: MSF outraged by killing of our colleague in north Gaza

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –

    Médecins Sans Frontières is outraged by the repeated killings of our staff in Gaza, Palestine, and calls for an immediate halt on attacks against medical personnel, humanitarian workers, and civilians. 

    Israeli forces killed Hasan Suboh on the night of 24 October after an airstrike hit his relative’s house, where he was staying in Khan Younis, northern Gaza. According to the Ministry of Health, this attack hit several houses and killed 38 people, including 14 children and four members of Hasan’s family.

    Hasan joined MSF as a skilled labourer in April 2019. He was 41 years old and is survived by his wife and seven children.  In this tragic moment, our thoughts are with his family and all colleagues mourning his death. 
     

    Hasan Suboh, skilled labourer for MSF, in an MSF vehicle in Gaza.

    Hasan’s tattered MSF vest, which he wore all the time, was found under the rubble. This vest symbolises Hasan’s commitment to helping people in distress, but more globally it also symbolises healthcare and humanitarian assistance. To see it destroyed is representative of how in this war, Israel, the US government, and the rest of Israel’s allies, have disregarded the protection of healthcare workers, and ripped the rules of war to shreds. The claim that humanitarian workers are protected, that civilian lives are protected, has once again been exposed as a lie for all the world to see. 

    Hasan Suboh’s tattered MSF vest, which he wore all the time, was found under the rubble. Palestine, October 2024.

    This attack happened only two weeks after the killing of our colleague  Nasser Hamdi Abdelatif Al Shalfouh on October 10, who died after being injured by shrapnel following relentless attacks by Israeli forces in Jabalia, northern Gaza. Eight of our colleagues have been killed in Gaza since the beginning of the war. 

    We denounce these killings in the strongest possible terms and are revolted by the fact that in over one year of war, Israel has acted with total impunity. Israel’s repeated direct attacks, which do not distinguish between military objectives and civilians, must be investigated independently. 

    All over Gaza, people continue to be killed and injured by relentless fighting and bombings. Israel’s all-out war on the people of Gaza and its complete disregard of civilian lives must stop now.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Film Archive to screen 17 Hong Kong films inspired by literary works (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Hong Kong Film Archive (HKFA) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will present screening programme “Dancing Between Words and Images – Hong Kong Film and Literature” from December 1 to February 23, 2025, screening 17 Hong Kong films adapted from or inspired by literary works at the Cinema of the HKFA to show the intricate ties between film arts and literature.
     
         The screening programme is divided into five sections. The first section, “Adaptations from Classic Literature”, consists of five films adapted from literary classics, namely “A Reborn Romantic” (1948), which reinterprets the plots in literary giant Leo Tolstoy’s final novel “Resurrection”, highlighting the struggles that women face in a traditional society; “Modern ‘Red Chamber Dream’” (1952), which transposes the story of Chinese classical novel “Dream of the Red Chamber” to the 1940s; “A Beautiful Corpse Comes to Life” (1956), adapted from “The Peony Pavilion” from the Ming dynasty, with Cheung Wood-yau and Pak Yin in lead roles; “Sunrise” (1956), which is adapted from a play of the same title by modern Chinese playwright Cao Yu; and “Red Rose White Rose” (1994), adapted from a short story by Eileen Chang, directed by Stanley Kwan and scripted by Edward Lam.
     
         The second section, “Her Stories in the City”, covers three films focusing on the psychological journeys of women in an urban setting. “The Rich House” (1942) is a tragic love story between a handsome writer, played by Cheung Wood-yau, and a waitress. “The Tender Age” (1957) reveals the hypocrisy of the upper class through the story of a young girl being ensnared into a life of prostitution. “Her Tender Heart” (1959) depicts the suppression and suffering of a woman, who has given up her family for love and dreams.
     
    　　In the third section, “Reflections of Time”, there are three films that explore the changes in social values from the perspective of humanistic concerns. In order to give her husband a male heir, a wife in “The Long Lane” (1956) is burdened by guilt in her deathbed for abandoning her own daughter and adopting a son, played by King Hu, who has grown up to be a disappointment. In “A Widow’s Tears” (1956), a recently widowed woman, played by Hsia Moon, after being blamed by her mother-in-law for accepting comforts from her best male friend, decides to leave her husband’s family. Through the story, the film illustrates the idea that women should take courage to pursue their own autonomy. “The Seaman and the Dancing Girl” (1961) highlights the darker side of a bustling city with the protagonist working as a nightclub hostess to provide for her family.
     
         The fourth section, “Tales of Love and Romance”, features three tender and passionate stories from different periods of time. Renowned actor Patrick Tse played a suave thief targeting wealthy women in “The Heart-Stealer” (1958), who decides to reform himself after falling for a mysterious woman. The story of “Diary of Monita” (1968) begins with the abrupt end of the romance between a rich girl and a poor student. As the girl’s family plunges into poverty, the girl’s life becomes a series of misadventures. Adapted by Erica Li from her novel, “77 Heartbreaks” (2017) skilfully depicts a romantic relationship from passionate love to its unravelling and how people nowadays navigate their love lives.
     
         Three films adapted from literary works from the period around the turn of the millennium comprise the fifth section, “Made in Hong Kong”, which showcases the continuing local creative prowess. The films are “Reincarnation of Golden Lotus” (1989), which is a story of lust and desire told from a woman’s perspective and adapted from a novel by the author Lilian Lee herself; “The Mad Phoenix” (1997), adapted from a critically acclaimed stage play by its playwright Raymond To; and “The Midnight After” (2014), which is based on an online serial sci-fi novel written by Kong Ho-yan under the pseudonym “Mr. Pizza” and directed by Fruit Chan.
     
         Most of the screenings will be accompanied by post-screening talks, hosted by scholars Professor Yung Sai-shing, Professor Mary Wong, Professor Wong Nim-yan, Dr Lo Wai-luk, and Dr Kenny Ng; directors Yim Ho and Fruit Chan; screenwriters Raymond To, Kong Ho-yan, and Chan Fai-hung; writer Peter Dunn; film critics Sam Ho, Shu Kei, Eric Tsang and more. The post-screening talk for “Red Rose White Rose” will be attended by director Stanley Kwan and screenwriter Edward Lam, and the talk will be livestreamed online simultaneously. For details, please refer to the programme webpage mentioned below.
     
         “Modern ‘Red Chamber Dream’”, “Her Tender Heart”, “The Long Lane”, “The Seaman and the Dancing Girl”, and “Diary of Monita” are in Mandarin, while the others are in Cantonese or dubbed in Cantonese.
     
         Tickets priced at $55 will be available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk) from Friday (November 1). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. For programme details, please visit the HKFA website (www.filmarchive.gov.hk/en/web/hkfa/2024/literature/pe-event-2024-literature.html) or call 2739 2139.                                                

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. Navy Reserve Officer Sentenced for Bribery Scheme Involving Department of State’s Approval Process for Special Immigrant Visas

    Source: US State of California

    A U.S. Navy Reserve Commander from Florida was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for his role in a years-long bribery scheme involving Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for Afghan nationals.

    According to court documents and evidence submitted at trial, Jeromy Pittmann, 53, of Pensacola, accepted bribe payments from Afghan nationals in exchange for drafting, submitting, and verifying fraudulent letters of recommendation for Afghan nationals who applied for SIVs with the U.S. Department of State. Since 2009, Congress has authorized the State Department to offer a limited number of SIVs to enter the United States for Afghan nationals who were employed as translators for U.S. military personnel. Pittmann signed over 20 letters in which he fraudulently represented that he personally knew and had supervised the Afghan national visa applicants while they worked as translators in support of the U.S. military and NATO; that the applicants’ lives were in jeopardy because the Taliban considered them to be traitors; and that, based on his personal knowledge of the applicants, he believed they did not pose any threat to the national security of the United States. In truth, Pittmann did not know the applicants and had no basis for recommending them for SIVs. In exchange for the fraudulent letters, Pittmann received several thousands of dollars in bribes. To avoid detection, Pittmann received the bribe money through an intermediary and created false invoices purporting to show that Pittmann was receiving the money for legitimate work unrelated to his military service.

    On July 12, Pittmann was convicted by a jury in the District of New Hampshire after a four-day trial of conspiracy to commit bribery, bribery, making a materially false writing, and conspiring to commit money laundering.

    “By protecting Afghan nationals who risk their personal safety to help the U.S. government, the SIV program is essential for the security of U.S. military and diplomatic personnel in Afghanistan,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Jeromy Pittmann, however, used his position of authority over the program to benefit foreign nationals who paid him bribes, falsely asserting that they had served the United States. Today’s sentence demonstrates that the Justice Department has zero tolerance for those who place their self-interest ahead of our national security.”

    “This case shows how someone betrayed his sacred oath of office to commit crimes for personal gain, with no regard for how his actions could threaten U.S. homeland security and harm Afghans, who risked their lives to help the United States,” said Inspector General John F. Sopko of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR). “It also shows how a U.S. Government investigation — from initial tip to prosecution to conviction — can hold individuals accountable for their crimes. I’m proud of SIGAR special agents and our investigative partners who brought Pittmann to justice, and I hope their hard work will deter others from pursuing similar acts.”

    “Pittmann’s participation in this bribery scheme not only jeopardized the integrity of the SIV program, which protects our allies, but also introduced significant security risks to our nation,” said Special Agent in Charge Greg Gross of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Economic Crimes Field Office. “NCIS and our partners will continue to hold accountable those who exploit government processes for personal gain, ensuring that the safety of the public and our warfighters is preserved.”

    “Pittmann deliberately chose self-enrichment over service when he violated federal law in his lengthy bribery scheme. He also compromised the integrity of the Afghan SIV system which is intended for those who faithfully performed activities while working for, or on behalf of, the U.S. government in Afghanistan,” said Inspector General Robert P. Storch of the Department of Defense. “The Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), in collaboration with its law enforcement partners, is resolved to help bring to justice those who abuse their public office for personal gain.”

    “The Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) is firmly committed to protecting the integrity of all U.S. visas and travel documents,” said Deputy Assistant Director Greg Batman of DSS. “This case is the result of a strong partnership among federal law enforcement agencies and DSS’ global network of special agents working together to stop visa and passport crimes, and to stop criminals from earning illegal income by exploiting U.S. visas, passports, and foreign nationals.”

    SIGAR, NCIS, DCIS, and DSS investigated the case.

    Trial Attorneys Matt Kahn and Theodore M. Kneller of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Syracuse Man Sentenced to Over 21 Years for Receiving Child Pornography from Multiple Minors via Snapchat

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – William Futrell, age 31, of Syracuse, was sentenced today to serve over 21 years (262 months) in federal prison following his previous conviction for ten counts of receipt of child pornography. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations, Buffalo Field Office, and New York State Police (NYSP) Superintendent Steven G. James made the announcement.

    As part of his previous guilty plea, Futrell admitted that he used Snapchat to communicate with minors from across the country. In some instances, Futrell would offer to pay the minor children to entice them to send explicit images to him, but with no intention of ever paying them. On at least the 10 occasions charged, Futrell obtained, directly from minor children, images depicting the children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Futrell is a registered sex offender with a previous conviction for possession of child pornography in New York.

    Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes also ordered that Futrell serve a 15-year term of post-incarceration supervised release. Futrell will be required to register as a sex offender after his release from prison.

    United States Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) led the investigation with the assistance of the NYSP Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the NYSP Troop D Computer Crime Unit. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Tuck prosecuted Futrell as part of Project Safe Childhood. 

    Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS).  Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI China: Int’l horticultural expo attracts over 10 million visitors

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

    Int’l horticultural expo attracts over 10 million visitors

    Updated: October 29, 2024 16:32 Xinhua

    The International Horticultural Exhibition 2024 Chengdu closed on Monday in Chengdu, southwest China’s Sichuan Province. The 186-day event attracted over 10 million visitors.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The results of the 10th All-Russian Prize “For Loyalty to Science” have been summed up

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

    On October 28, 2024, the Zaryadye Concert Hall hosted the award ceremony of the 10th All-Russian Prize “For Loyalty to Science”.

    The All-Russian Prize “For Loyalty to Science” is one of the key events of the Decade of Science and Technology and the country’s main industry prize, which has been awarded for outstanding achievements in the field of scientific communication and popularization of science since 2015. This year, about 2 thousand applications from 80 regions of Russia were submitted for the prize.

    The International Festival SCIENCE 0 won in the nomination “Russian Science to the World” (nomination named after Konstantin Eduardovich Tsiolkovsky). The award was presented to its initiator, the rector of the Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov Viktor Sadovnichy by the press secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov.

    “It is probably our country’s duty to contribute to the development of world science… We have opened up many new areas where our scientists find new opportunities for interaction and cooperation… Our scientists continue to remain open to the entire world. There is a circulation that provides the necessary energy for the development of science. No science can develop under a glass dome. It must be open, especially such a great science of such a great country,” Dmitry Peskov noted.

    Let us recall that young scientists from the State University of Management took part in the All-Russian campaign “Education in Schools”, held as part of the SCIENCE 0 festival.

    In the nomination “Author of Digital Content”, the award was received by the CEO of OOO “Technologies and Creativity”, co-author of the show “Revuzor” Vadim Bakin. The award was presented to him by Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation Dmitry Chernyshenko.

    “You are doing a great job, one of the most important ones that President Vladimir Putin has ordered to be carried out within the framework of the Decade of Science and Technology – you are popularizing the high title of scientist. We see a good result. This year, the number of applications for the All-Russian Prize “For Loyalty to Science” has increased by 1.5 times – to almost 2 thousand. According to VTsIOM polls, more than half of Russians called the professions of scientist and engineer prestigious,” said Dmitry Chernyshenko.

    The victory in the nomination “Work with experience: protection of historical truth” went to the historiographic study of the activities of scientific and legal centers of Russia and foreign countries over the past 100 years “Chronicle of Russian legal science in five volumes”. The prize was presented to the authors of the project by the Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, a lawyer by education Valery Falkov.

    “We consciously cultivate a special attitude towards history. Because history is not a set of events, but a valuable experience that is passed down from generation to generation. It forms national consciousness, strengthens spiritual and cultural ties both within the state and at the international level,” said Valery Filkov.

    List of winners of the 10th All-Russian Prize “For Loyalty to Science”:

    Russian: Russian Science to the World Nomination (Konstantin Eduardovich Tsiolkovsky Nomination) — SCIENCE 0 International Festival; Recognition Nomination — Soviet and Russian zoologist and biogeographer, host of the Animal World program Nikolai Drozdov; Scientific Press Service of the Year Nomination — press service of the Russian Science Foundation; Science Journalist of the Year Nomination — author and host of the scientific travel show Hitchhiker’s Guide to Science Alexander Prudnikov; Special Prize named after Daniil Granin Nomination — FANK Scientific Film Laboratory; Digital Content Author Nomination — CEO of Technologies and Creativity LLC, co-author of the Revuzor show Vadim Bakin; Working with Experience: Protecting Historical Truth Nomination — The Chronicle of Russian Legal Science in Five Volumes; Nomination “Special Prize named after Khristopher Ledentsov” (State Corporation “Rosatom”) — TASS special project “Atomic Age”; Nomination “Special Prize named after Khristopher Ledentsov” (State Corporation “Roscosmos”) — rocket-building championship “Jet Propulsion”; Nomination “Special Prize named after Khristopher Ledentsov” (State Corporation “Rostec”) — information portal “SPbGU in Action”; Nomination “Special Prize named after Khristopher Ledentsov” (PJSC “Gazprom”) — a series of career guidance quests “I am a future oil and gas chemistry engineer!”; Nomination “Science for Children” — competition “Scientific Universe”.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 10/29/2024

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Legends of Russian Science: Evgeny Antonovich Gailish

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    The next issue of the special project “Legends of Russian Science” of the SPbPU Public Relations Department and the Polytechnic History Museum is dedicated to Evgeny Antonovich Gailish, the organizer of the production of high-quality radio equipment, Hero of Socialist Labor.

    Evgeny Gailish was born on September 27, 1914 in Petrograd, into a peasant family. In 1931, he graduated from high school, then entered the physics and mechanics department of the Leningrad Polytechnic Institute.

    During his student years, Evgeny Antonovich worked in a radio materials laboratory. There he created a method for calculating antenna insulators, which later found its practical application. After graduating from the university, the polytechnic student was a laboratory assistant, designer, and head of the laboratory at Research Institute-34 of the State Committee of the Council of Ministers of the USSR for Radio Electronics. In 1942, he got a job as a chief engineer at the Radio Engineering Semi-Finished Goods Plant No. 436. There, Evgeny Antonovich supervised the creation of elements for the portable transceiver “Sever”, which was widely used during the Great Patriotic War. During the siege of Leningrad, the transmitter was manufactured at the Kozitsky Plant. In 1945, E. A. Gailish joined the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks).

    After the war, Evgeny Antonovich worked as chief engineer and deputy general director for science at NPO Positron in Leningrad. He was engaged in theoretical research that was of great importance for the development of domestic instrument-making. The results of his work in this area were highly recognized with many state awards.

    Since 1975, Evgeny Aleksandrovich headed the Department of Design and Manufacturing Technology of Radio Components at the V. I. Lenin Electrotechnical University of Leningrad (LETI), and defended his doctoral dissertation.

    In 1949, E. A. Gailish received the Stalin Prize for organizing the production of high-quality radio equipment. On June 17, 1961, he was awarded the title Hero of Socialist Labor for outstanding achievements in the creation of rocket technology models and ensuring the successful flight of man into outer space. Among his awards are the Order of Lenin, the Order of the October Revolution, the Order of the Red Banner of Labor, and the Badge of Honor.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Hong Kong Customs detects two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected drugs worth about $10 million (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Hong Kong Customs detects two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected drugs worth about $10 million (with photos)
    Hong Kong Customs detects two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected drugs worth about $10 million (with photos)
    ******************************************************************************************

         Hong Kong Customs detected two dangerous drugs cases in Hong Kong International Airport, Fanling and Tai Po on October 27 and yesterday (October 28) and seized a total of about 8 kilograms of suspected cocaine and about 20kg of suspected cannabis buds with a total estimated market value of about $10 million. Three persons suspected to be connected with the cases were arrested.     The first case involved one male passenger and one female passenger, aged 64 and 59, who arrived in Hong Kong from Paris, France, on October 27. During customs clearance, Customs officers seized a total of about 8kg of suspected cocaine concealed in their check-in suitcases. The two persons were subsequently arrested.     In the second case, during an anti-narcotics operation conducted in the vicinity of Fanling yesterday afternoon, Customs intercepted a 28-year-old man and found about 1.5kg of suspected cannabis buds inside two recycle bags carried by him. He was then arrested. Customs officers later further seized about 15kg of suspected cannabis buds from his private vehicle parked nearby. Upon a follow-up investigation, the man was brought to a village house rented by him in Tai Po for a search, and about 3.5kg of suspected cannabis buds and a batch of drug packaging paraphernalia were uncovered. About 20kg of suspected cannabis buds in total were seized in the operation.     All arrestees in the two cases claimed to be unemployed. The arrested man and woman in the first case have been jointly charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug and will appear at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (October 30), while the man arrested in the second case has been charged with three counts of trafficking in a dangerous drug and will appear at the Fanling Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow.     Customs reminds members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong.      Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.     Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.     Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 1828080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

     
    Ends/Tuesday, October 29, 2024Issued at HKT 16:45

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Stolen car parts worth millions of euros recovered

    Source: Europol

    German investigators had an initial breakthrough with the arrest and detention of two Romanian nationals following a series of break-ins in bakeries in Wallersdorf. Over the course of the investigation conducted by the Landshut Criminal Investigation Department, evidence emerged that one of the suspects, with the help of one other accomplice, was involved in the break-in at the Wallersdorf logistics…

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-Evening Report: View from The Hill: ‘identity politics’ has challenged the Labor Party to define its identity

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

    Saturday’s Queensland result provides the latest evidence of the dual tugs on the modern Labor Party, coming from its different constituencies.

    The smallest swing against the Miles government was in inner Brisbane; the swing became bigger in the outer suburbs, and larger again in the regions. The broad state figures were: south-east Queensland 6.3%; rural/regional Queensland 9.2%. The awings in the city were: inner Brisbane 5.0%; outer Brisbane 7.7%.

    This sort of divide reflects a challenge, first recognised decades ago, that’s highlighted by former Labor senator and minister Kim Carr, in his just-published A Long March. In a scathing critique of Labor’s problems, Carr calls this a “cultural crisis.”

    “The Labor ship has struck the rock of identity politics,” Carr writes, “with too many of its spokespeople adopting a censorious tone to those who fail to embrace their particular social policy agendas”.

    From the left, old school and former factional heavyweight, Carr argues Labor has sought to build a new constituency without paying sufficient attention to its traditional support base.

    Over decades, the once-working class party has taken up causes that appeal to the wealthier, better-educated middle- class voters, and these people have moved their support to it. The cost has been an erosion of outer suburban votes, the people now being aggressively targeted by opposition leader Peter Dutton.

    Meanwhile, in inner urban areas Labor has come under increasing pressure from the Greens. The danger for the ALP, Carr believes, is by trying to compete with the Greens on identity politics it will inevitably be outmanoeuvred.

    “The profound challenge for the Labor Party in the 2020s is to find a way to bind together its more affluent and educated support base in the inner and middle suburbs of the big cities with its less well-off and less formally educated supporters in the outer suburbs and regional cities,” Carr says.

    Political historian Paul Strangio, however, warns that while obviously Labor has to straddle constituencies, “there is no returning to an imagined ‘heartland’. The outer suburbs Carr seems to want Labor to focus upon are themselves radically changing. They are not a repository of old-fashioned working class values and priorities, and nor on their own are they sufficient to provide a basis for the party to hold government.”

    Carr says the issue is how to build Labor’s primary vote in its heartland communities.

    On what we’ve seen in recent politics, this appears a formidable, if not insurmountable, hope for any time soon.

    Voters don’t trust parties, let alone join them. The popularity of “community candidates” has seen a record-sized crossbench in the House of Representatives, with an expanded Greens presence and disillusionment with the Liberals making a strong contribution to the number in 2022. Next year’s election will test whether this trend is entrenched.

    Carr points out that Labor has a party membership that’s wealthier and older than the general community. Its membership is “thin” in the outer suburbs and the regions compared with the inner areas.

    Among the consequences is that the messages coming up through the party may not gell with the preoccupations of the broader community, he says.

    Over the years the ALP rank and file has not just shrunk numerically but been deprived of most of the not-inconsiderable power it once had within the party.

    In terms of clout, Labor’s national conference, which sets the platform, is a diminished beast, though massively swollen numerically. The party membership’s power over preselections has been greatly reduced, thanks to factional deal-making and frequent intervention by the party’s national executive. In just one significant way has the rank and file gained power: it now has a 50% voice in electing the party’s leader, so far exercised once, in 2013, when Bill Shorten and Anthony Albanese faced off.

    Given the shrinkage and balkanisation of the party, there is currently not the interest in internal party reform that erupted periodically and often heatedly in earlier years.

    Labor veteran Race Mathews’ career, documented by his wife Iola in Race Mathews: A Life in Politics, has an extraordinarily broad political CV: a staffer for federal and state leaders, MP for the federal seat of Casey (elected on the 1972 Whitlam wave and defeated in the 1975 post-dismissal rout), and a Victorian state minister. An enduring preoccupation for Mathews, who was part of an influx of young, well-educated middle-class activists attracted to Labor in the 1960s and early 1970s, was fighting to make the Labor Party fit for purpose and more internally democratic.

    Serving on Gough Whitlam’s staff in the late 1960s, Mathews was in the thick of the then-opposition leader’s tumultuous battle with the troglodytes of the Victorian party, who preferred political impotence to the power of government. Whitlam knew that unless the ALP organisation was reformed, Labor’s road to office would be obstructed.

    Way back when, the party’s organisation, in which the left flexed a lot of muscle, liked to signal that the MPs were under its thumb. In 1963, then-opposition leader Arthur Calwell and Whitlam, his deputy, were embarrassed when photographed outside a Canberra hotel waiting for the party’s special national conference (to which they were not delegates) to decide Labor’s attitude to the North West Cape joint facility. The ultimate decision was not the problem – the line it was made by “36 faceless men” was.

    Mathews later highlighted the significance of the 1970 federal intervention in Victoria, saying it had led to important reforms in that state and elsewhere. “Good people were brought into parliament and membership was a rewarding experience.” But then factionalism “ossified” the party and “if you weren’t part of the factions, you were marginalised”.

    In his 70s Mathews (who is now aged 89 and suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease) was still fighting for democratisation of Labor’s organisation, which he described as “archaic and decrepit”. While party leaders and others were supportive in principle, the quest for a new wave of change ultimately brought only limited outcomes.

    Iola Mathews quotes her husband’s Facebook answer to those who wondered why he, at 80, he was still in these trenches.

    He wrote: “The fact is that nobody ever changed the party other than from inside it, or ever will. And shaping it closer to our heart’s desire is the only game in town.”

    The truth is, however, it’s a game those who run the Labor Party these days have no serious interest in pursuing. As Strangio observes, “the age of the mass party has passed”.

    Michelle Grattan 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. View from The Hill: ‘identity politics’ has challenged the Labor Party to define its identity – https://theconversation.com/view-from-the-hill-identity-politics-has-challenged-the-labor-party-to-define-its-identity-242215

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: VA delivered all-time record care and benefits to Veterans in fiscal year 2024

    Source: US Department of Veterans Affairs

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    WASHINGTON —Today, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced it delivered more care and more benefits to more Veterans than ever before in fiscal year 2024 — exceeding last year’s record totals.

    These outcomes for the nation’s Veterans build on continued efforts by VA and the Biden-Harris Administration’s Unity Agenda to expand and improve care and benefits for those who served, much of which has been made possible by the PACT Act — the largest expansion of VA health care and benefits in generations.

    VA encourages all Veterans, family members, caregivers, and survivors to learn more about VA and apply for their world-class health care and earned benefits today.

    “Veterans deserve the very best from VA and our nation, and we will never settle for anything less,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough. “We’re honored that more Veterans are getting their earned health care and benefits from VA than ever before, but make no mistake: there is still work to do. We will continue to work each and every day to earn the trust of those we serve — and ensure that all Veterans, their families, and their survivors get the care and benefits they so rightly deserve.”

    Key outcomes for Veterans and their families, caregivers, and survivors from this fiscal year include:

    • Providing more world-class health care to Veterans: VA delivered more than 127.5 million health care appointments, representing a 6% increase over last year’s record. During this fiscal year, wait times decreased and VA health care outperformed non-VA care on independent reviews for patient satisfaction and care quality.
    • Delivering more earned benefits to more Veterans: VA delivered $187 billion in benefits (including $173 billion in compensation and pension benefits) to 6.7 million Veterans and survivors this year — all of which are all time records. VA also processed 2,517,519 disability benefit claims, a 27% increase over last year’s all-time record.
    • Earning Veteran Trust: Veteran trust in VA reached 80.4% this year, an all-time record and an increase of 25% since 2016. Veteran trust in VA health care also reached 92%, another record.
    • Encouraging Veterans to apply for health care and benefits under the PACT Act: Thanks to the largest outreach campaign in VA history under the PACT Act, more than 796,000 Veterans have enrolled in VA health care since the PACT Act was signed into law — a nearly 37% increase over the previous equivalent period; VA has received 4,414,334 claims for disability compensation benefits over the past two fiscal years — a 29.8% increase over the two years prior; and 913,459 Veterans have upgraded their priority groups, making them eligible for care with fewer copays.
    • Supporting Veterans in crisis: VA provided no-cost emergency health care to more than 50,000 Veterans in acute suicidal crises. Additionally, the Veterans Crisis Line is supporting more Veterans than ever, receiving 1,123,591 million calls, texts, and chats — surpassing last year by 12%.
    • Supporting Veterans experiencing or at risk for homelessness: VA housed 47,925 Veterans experiencing homelessness in FY 2024 and ensured that 96% of the Veterans housed during this time did not return to homelessness.
    • Supporting a record number of survivors of Veterans: 519,453 spouses and dependents received survivor benefits from VA, representing a 4.5% increase over last year’s record and totaling an estimated $10.6 billion in earned benefits.
    • Supporting a record number of Veteran caregivers: VA provided services, resources, and assistance to a record 88,095 Veteran family caregivers, representing an 18.6% increase over last year’s record.
    • Supporting a record number of women Veterans: A record 741,259 women Veterans received compensation payments from VA this year, representing an 8.2% increase over last year and totaling an estimated $20.4 billion in earned benefits. Additionally, 52,130 women Veterans enrolled in VA health care in FY 2024. VA now has more women Veterans enrolled in its health care system than ever before.
    • Providing record dental care to Veterans: VA dental clinics provided over 6 million procedures to more than 630,000 Veterans, representing 9% and 12.5% increases over last year’s records, respectively. Through community care, VA delivered a record additional 3.4 million procedures to more than 330,000 Veterans.
    • Providing life insurance to Veterans, service members, and spouses: VA provided $1.5 trillion in life insurance coverage to 5.6 million policyholders, matching last year’s record.
    • Helping Veterans, service members, and spouses become and remain homeowners: VA guaranteed over 416,300 home loans, saved over 158,000 borrowers from foreclosure, and approved 2,439 Specially Adapted Housing grants.
    • Processing record numbers of Veterans’ appeals: VA processed 116,192 Veteran appeals, representing a 12.5% increase over last year’s record.
    • Commemorating more Veterans on the Veterans Legacy Memorial: Nearly 10 million of the nation’s heroes now have individual commemorative pages in the Veterans Legacy Memorial — the nation’s largest digital platform dedicated to the memory of Veterans and service members. This is an all-time annual record, reflecting an increase of more than 5,055,400 Veterans over the past year alone.
    • Giving Veterans final resting places in VA National Cemeteries: A record 5,572,495 million people — including 3,981,362 million Veterans — are now buried in VA national cemeteries.

    Throughout this year, VA took action to expand and improve care and benefits for Veterans. Key actions from this year include: expanding eligibility for VA health care to all toxic exposed Veterans years earlier than called for by the PACT Act; housing nearly 48,000 Veterans and awarding over $800 million in grants to help Veterans experiencing homelessness; expanding access to care across the nation through VA’s Access Sprints, adding night and weekend clinics, and increasing the number of Veterans scheduled into daily clinic schedules; decreasing new appointment wait times for primary and mental health care by 11% and 7%, respectively; removing copays for the first three outpatient mental health care and substance use disorder visits of each calendar year through 2027; expanding access to VA cancer care through establishing new cancer presumptive conditions, expanding access to genetic, lung, and colorectal cancer screening, and expanding the Close to Me cancer care program; expanding access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) for eligible unmarried Veterans and eligible Veterans in same-sex marriages; calling for the implementation of a targeted moratorium on foreclosures for Veterans with VA-guaranteed loans through 2024; expanding access to VA care and benefits for some former service members discharged under other than honorable conditions; launching tele-emergency care for Veterans nationwide; and launching VSAFE.gov, a new government-wide website and associated call center to protect Veterans from fraud and scams.

    Moving forward, VA will continue to aggressively reach out to and engage Veterans to encourage them to come to VA for the care and benefits they have earned.  

    Reporters and media outlets with questions or comments should contact the Office of Media Relations at vapublicaffairs@va.gov

    Veterans with questions about their health care and benefits (including GI Bill). Questions, updates and documents can be submitted online.

    Contact us online through Ask VA

    Veterans can also use our chatbot to get information about VA benefits and services. The chatbot won’t connect you with a person, but it can show you where to go on VA.gov to find answers to some common questions.

    Learn about our chatbot and ask a question

    Subscribe today to receive these news releases in your inbox.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: AI Knocks on the Door of FinTech – Industry Experts Gather for the Eleventh Year of FinTech Connect 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LONDON, Oct. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Fintech Connect, Europe’s only dedicated fintech event for the entire ecosystem, returns this December to the ExCel exhibition centre in London.  

    Over the course of two days, 4th and 5th December 2024, more than 2000 attendees will meet and network with industry leaders and innovators from across the fintech sector. More than 100 speakers will take to the stage on a range of topics that are expected to define the course of the fintech ecosystem, including the role of AI in financial services and the innovation vs regulation debate.  

    With over 80 sessions, engaging workshops, start-up showcases and an extensive exhibition floor, attendees will have the opportunity to experience cutting-edge tech demos that highlight the most innovative solutions driving the transformation of the global payments landscape.  

    This event, comprising two focused topic streams – Innovation and Implementation – boasts an exceptional line-up of renowned experts and leading figures from across the fintech ecosystem including speakers from HSBC, Starling Bank, Lloyds Banking Group, Bank of Ireland, TUI GROUP, Asos.com, Jaguar Land Rover, Uber and Bumble. With voices from regulators, investors, technology innovators, traditional banks, merchants and challenger banks, the latest trends propelling fintech forward will be discussed, including: 

    AI and ML  

    • Exploring the use of advanced AI to enhance banking products for the consumer  
    • Partnering AI with fintech successfully and core lessons learned  
    • Customer-facing generative AI, and how to use enhanced tools without impacting consumer experience  
    • Ensuring trust, transparency, and safety while incorporating new AI technologies across the business 

    Open Banking 

    • Uncovering the key to a successful fintech partnership  
    • Identifying considerations of a third-party company for successful onboarding and implementation  
    • Operationalising fintech at scale throughout the business 

    Innovation VS Regulation 

    • Understanding how to keep your payments fraud-proof 
    • Ensuring payment leaders work to update their security features 
    • Using digital identity verification to keep your payments secure 

    Laurence Coldicott, Senior Content Director at FinTech Connect, said: “With the recent growth and transformation of the fintech ecosystem, events such as FinTech Connect are important to help you stay on top of all the action through the wealth of resources we have to offer.” 

    “This year’s event is a testament to our commitment to bring together global fintech thought leaders, innovators, and key stakeholders to reflect on and define the industry. Year after year, we remain true to our original mission: to connect, collaborate, and explore the future of finance.” 

    FinTech Connect 2024’s media attendees get free entry and will be able to conduct interviews, briefings and meetings in the event’s interactive media room. Media can register to attend here.

    The full agenda, list of speakers, keynote panel and content themes can be found here.

    Register your interest in attending or exhibiting: 

    Merchants interested in attending can register for free access to ‘All Area Pass’.  

    Those interested in having their company represented as a sponsor or exhibitor can get in touch here for more information.

    Start-ups are also encouraged to participate- FinTech Connect offers special rates for start-up companies to take part as exhibitors, find out how to get involved here.

    About Fintech Connect 

    FinTech Connect is where large teams from major financial institutions go to assess the latest innovations on the market, and where FinTechs come to accelerate dialogues with digital buyers with responsibility across digital transformation, payments, financial security, RegTech and blockchain. 

    The 2024 event will bring together 2,000+ of the fintech community to share best practice, showcase new products and solutions and shape financial services of the future. The two-day conference and exhibition offer a comprehensive program of interactive workshops, multiple fireside chats, innovative tech demos, and multiple networking opportunities. 

    Contacts

    FinTech Connect

    info@fintechconnect.com

    SkyParlour

    Deborah@skyparlour.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Life on the levee South Sudan

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –

    South Sudan is currently facing one of its worst floods in recent decades. In Old Fangak, where teams from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) are working, only mud dykes protect the town’s thousands of inhabitants from submersion.

    South Sudan is currently facing one of its worst floods of recent decades. In Old Fangak, where teams from Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) are working, only mud dykes protect the town’s thousands of inhabitants from submersion.
    MSF

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Decarbonizing Value Chains in the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Economies

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    The brief explores how CAREC members could collaborate to support the movement of goods and people in the region in ways that contribute toward climate objectives. Actions could include digitalizing trade processes, promoting climate-smart transportation, improving governance and decarbonization in the mining sector, harmonizing policies and green standards, and developing a regional approach to climate financing.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Handbook on Energy Efficiency in Buildings

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    Explaining how energy efficient construction can help reduce costs, lower emissions, and improve affordability, the handbook offers practical guidance and tools, covers key project cycle stages, and delves into sustainable heating and cooling strategies. It details ways to improve procurement, supervise, and rate energy efficiency for the emissions intensive industry while underscoring the need for governments and the private sector to work together to help transition toward a zero-carbon building stock.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: To the participants and organizers of the 30th International Industrial Exhibition “Metal-Expo”

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    The exhibition will be held from October 29 to November 1 in Moscow.

    Dear colleagues!

    I am pleased to welcome the participants and organizers of the 30th anniversary International Industrial Exhibition “Metal-Expo”.

    Over three decades, it has become an important platform for exchanging experience and holding negotiations between leading steel companies and consumers of their products, equipment manufacturers and technological innovators. This year, about a thousand enterprises from the CIS and far abroad countries, including China, India, Iran, Turkey and the European Union, are represented here.

    Today, the domestic metallurgical industry, having successfully adapted to the sanctions pressure, is implementing large-scale plans and is actively developing. According to the results of last year, its growth exceeded 3 percent. High demand for products is largely due to housing and road construction, modernization of public infrastructure and utility networks. This year, the Moscow-St. Petersburg high-speed railway project was launched, the expansion of the BAM and the Trans-Siberian Railway, the federal highway M-12 “East” continues, dozens of river and sea vessels for various purposes are being built at shipyards across the country. The restoration of automobile production is gaining momentum – from January to June, the output of trucks increased by 21 percent, cars – three times more. And this is an additional hundreds of thousands of tons of various types of rolled and cast products.

    In many ways, these results were facilitated by the implementation of the Strategy for the Development of the Metallurgical Industry until 2030, prepared on the instructions of the head of state. Work is being carried out in three main areas – deepening processing and mastering high value added processes, providing critical raw materials and stimulating domestic demand, as well as reorienting exports to the markets of friendly countries.

    The President emphasized that the industry is becoming more and more high-tech year after year. Advanced engineering and production solutions are being actively implemented, and unique alloys are being developed that allow for the creation of materials with special properties. All this opens up new and broad opportunities in various fields – from aviation and cosmonautics to electronics and medicine.

    I am confident that the exhibition and the professional competitions, conferences and seminars planned within its framework will allow us to find answers to the most difficult questions, discuss new challenges and opening prospects.

    I wish all participants and organizers constructive discussions and success.

    M. Mishustin

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Another free Wi-Fi network has become available to students of the State University of Management

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

    Great news for students living in dormitories No. 2 and No. 6 of the State University of Management – a new Wi-Fi hotspot has opened.

    For the additional free opportunity to access the Internet, we would like to thank the Department of Information Technology of the City of Moscow and the digital solutions operator NAUKA.

    Connection instructions:

    Select the Moscow_WiFi_Free network in the list of available networks; Open the browser and log in using your mos.ru account by entering your login and password, or by phone number. The access code will be sent via SMS.

    Stay in touch with your family and friends, follow the news of the State University of Management on all available platforms, study and have fun.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 10/29/2024

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: FACT SHEET: President Joe  Biden Announces $3 Billion to Strengthen Port Infrastructure, Create Good-Paying and Union Jobs, Bring Cleaner Air to  Communities

    Source: The White House

    President Biden will travel to the Port of Baltimore to announce $147 million in awards, which will support up to 2,000 good-paying and union jobs at the Port

    Today, President Biden will travel to the Port of Baltimore to announce a $3 billion investment from his Inflation Reduction Act to improve and electrify port infrastructure, support an estimated 40,000 good-paying and union jobs, reduce pollution, and combat the climate crisis.  The announcement includes $147 million in awards for the Maryland Port Administration, which will support over 2,000 good-paying and union jobs by enabling the purchase and installation of zero-emission port equipment, charging infrastructure, and power improvements. During the visit, President Biden will highlight how his Investing in America agenda is making an historic impact on communities and workers in Baltimore and across the country.

    $3 Billion Investment to Strengthen Port Infrastructure

    Today, President Biden is announcing $3 billion in Environmental Protection Agency Clean Ports grants, funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, to 55 selectees across 27 states and territories, including $147 million in implementation and planning grants for the Maryland Port Administration. The nation’s ports are the lynchpin of our nation’s supply chains and employ over 100,000 union workers across the United States.

    This funding will protect and create good-paying and union jobs and better working conditions by upgrading port operations and infrastructure to cleaner equipment, while ensuring cleaner air for port workers and nearby communities. The Clean Ports program will support an estimated 40,000 jobs across the economy, including over 6,500 manufacturing jobs, and is expected to increase demand for American manufactured electric cargo handling equipment at least six-fold over the life of the program.

    While a major economic driver, our nation’s ports are a major source of pollution for workers and surrounding communities. Communities living near ports and other transportation corridors are exposed to toxic pollution which can cause respiratory and cardiovascular harm, especially in children. The Clean Ports program will improve air quality at ports across the country by installing clean, zero-emission freight and ferry technologies along with associated infrastructure, eliminating more than 3 million metric tons of carbon pollution over the first ten years of implementation, equivalent to 391,220 homes’ energy use for one year. The funds announced today will support the purchase of battery-electric and hydrogen-powered human-operated and human-maintained equipment, including over 1,500 units of cargo handling equipment, 1,000 drayage trucks, 10 locomotives, and 20 vessels, as well as shore power systems for ocean-going vessels, battery-electric and hydrogen vehicle charging and fueling infrastructure, and solar power generation. The Clean Ports program advances the President’s Justice40 Initiative and aligns with the Biden-Harris Administration’s goal for a zero-emission freight sector.

    Investing in the Port of Baltimore

    President Biden will announce the funding at the Port of Baltimore in Maryland. The Port of Baltimore is one of the busiest ports on the East Coast and is a major hub for the import and export of vehicles. More than 20,000 workers support daily Port operations, including unionized longshoreman and truckers. Each day the Port’s economic impact represents $192 million or more than $70 billion a year, representing 13% of Maryland’s gross domestic product.

    The Maryland Port Administration’s Equipment Electrification and Terminal Decarbonization project has been selected to receive over $145 million to purchase zero-emission cargo handling equipment and drayage trucks and facilitate the transition of the port to a zero-emission facility, as well as a nearly $2 million planning grant to help the port chart a path to greater emissions reductions in the future, delivering cleaner air for the port and neighboring communities. The port is a major economic engine for the region, providing thousands of jobs and contributing billions of dollars to the local economy—and this new investment will support over 2,000 jobs, including more than 350 manufacturing jobs.

    Creating Good Paying, Union Jobs in Baltimore and Across the Country

    President Biden is the most pro-union president in history. He’s the first and only president to walk a picket line, and under his Administration, unions have secured historic labor wins. Last month, President Biden signed an Executive Order that calls on agencies to promote strong labor standards such as family-sustaining wages, workplace safety, and the free and fair choice to join a union, and encourages agencies to implement these standards through their Investing in America programs. This builds on a record of pro-worker accomplishments throughout the Biden-Harris Administration. For example:

    • Workers are filing for union representation at twice the rate they were at the start of the Biden-Harris Administration—the first Administration in five decades to have an increase in union petitions. In Maryland, union petitions increased by 55% percent. The National Labor Relations Board has met this historic moment by reducing unnecessary delays in union representation elections and by expanding remedies available to workers when their employers engage in unionbusting.
    • The vast majority of Investing in America programs require grantees to pay Davis-Bacon prevailing wages for workers. The Administration also published the first update to Davis-Bacon prevailing wages in nearly 40 years, which will increase pay for one million construction workers over time.
    • The Department of the Treasury finalized a rule implementing prevailing wage and apprenticeship bonus credits for certain clean energy projects funded by the President’s Inflation Reduction Act to ensure clean energy workers are paid good wages and that these projects create equitable pipelines to these good jobs.

    Building on Historic Investments in Maryland’s Infrastructure and Economy

    Today’s announcement builds on a historic investment in the state of Maryland under the Biden-Harris Administration. To date, the Investing in America agenda has delivered over $13 billion for over 970 projects in Maryland, spurring over $3 billion in private sector investments.

    This includes a number of projects in Baltimore, for example:

    • $4.7 billion for Amtrak’s Frederick Douglass Tunnel—which will replace the 150-year-old Baltimore and Potomac tunnel that is currently one of the largest rail bottlenecks on the Northeast Corridor;
    • $213 million to replace the Maryland Transit Administration’s entire fleet of 52 aging light rail vehicles with new, modern rail cars;
    • $80 million for interchange improvements at the I-895 Baltimore Harbor Tunnel;
    • $68 million for upgrades at Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall airport;
    • $43 million to identify and replace toxic lead pipes across Maryland;
    • $31 million to rehabilitate a section of the Dundalk Marine Terminal at the Port; and
    • $9 million to Baltimore City Public Schools for clean school buses.

    Baltimore was also named an Investing in America Workforce Hub, where the Administration is bringing together industry, government, educators, non-profits and unions to help workers in Maryland access good jobs created by private and public sector investments in the state. In November 2023, Hub partners announced new efforts to train and hire local residents to support major infrastructure projects. These commitments include one from the State of Maryland to incorporate a Project Labor Agreement in the bidding process for nine projects covering $9 billion in investment and 11,000 jobs—including 7,000 construction jobs. One of these commitments includes Amtrak promising to invest at least $5 million in funding received through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to create recruitment and training programs for new jobs for Baltimore residents as part of the Frederick Douglass Tunnel Program.

    The Department of Commerce also awarded the Maryland Department of Labor $23 million through the Economic Development Administration’s Good Jobs Challenge to create a new apprenticeship model for the growing offshore wind industry in Maryland, working with leading employers and local unions to develop a training model focused on underserved populations. The Maritime Administration is further supporting the Maryland offshore wind industry through a $47 million grant to Sparrows Point Steel to retool, a former Bethlehem Steel mill in Baltimore, to establish an offshore wind logistics and manufacturing hub in partnership with the United Steelworkers.

    The Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda has also unleashed $3 billion in private sector manufacturing and clean energy investments in Maryland, including:

    • A $350 million investment by United Safety Technology in Baltimore to produce critical medical supplies, including personal protective equipment.
    • A $300 million investment by AstraZeneca in a state-of-the-art facility in Rockville to launch life-saving cell therapy platforms for cancer trials.
    • A $230 million investment by Catalent to expand its advanced gene therapy manufacturing campus in Harmans.

    The Administration’s Investing in America agenda continues to make critical investments that will improve the lives and futures of all Marylanders.

    The Biden-Harris Administration’s Ongoing Support for Baltimore

    President Biden was last in Baltimore in the immediate aftermath of the tragic collapse of the Francis Scott Key bridge, which claimed the lives of six construction workers and closed ship traffic in and out of the Port of Baltimore. There, he said his Administration would move heaven and earth to reopen the Port of Baltimore as quickly as possible to support Maryland’s workers and economy. A Unified Command led by the United States Coast Guard and the Army Corps of Engineers cleared 50,000 tons of wreckage from the channel, allowing the Port to fully reopen 78 days after the bridge collapse. The Department of Labor and Small Business Administration mobilized quickly to support workers and small businesses impacted by the port closure, including thousands of Longshoremen and Teamsters who rely on the port for their livelihood. And the Department of Transportation and the Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force worked to limit supply chain disruptions, keep costs down, and ensure cargo quickly returned to the Port once it reopened. Today, port workers are back on the job, once again moving more than 100,000 tons of cargo per day.

    The President also committed to rebuilding the bridge as quickly as possible. Thanks to close collaboration with the Department of Transportation, Maryland is on the fast track to rebuild the bridge. In July, the Federal Highway Administration issued a Categorical Exclusion, allowing the project to clear a critical permitting milestone. And in August, Maryland selected a contractor to design and build the new bridge.  Immediately following the bridge collapse, President Biden called on Congress to fully fund the replacement bridge and his Administration reiterated this request in July.

    The Biden-Harris Administration also committed to holding the owners of the DALI cargo ship accountable for the disaster. Just last week, the Department of Justice announced a settlement of over $100 million with the owners of the DALI to cover federal government costs incurred in responding to the collapse. While the State of Maryland continues to pursue a separate lawsuit for damages incurred to the local economy, community, and families impacted by the collapse, the Biden-Harris Administration remains committed to working with Baltimore and the State of Maryland to ensure the city’s long-term recovery and success.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Special traffic arrangements for Halloween at Lan Kwai Fong

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Special traffic arrangements for Halloween at Lan Kwai Fong
    Special traffic arrangements for Halloween at Lan Kwai Fong
    ***********************************************************

         Police will implement special traffic arrangements at Lan Kwai Fong, Central from October 31 (Thursday) to November 1 (Friday) to facilitate the public celebrating Halloween.Road closure————–      The following roads will be closed from 2pm on October 31 to 5am on November 1:- D’Aguilar Street between Wyndham Street and Wellington Street;- Lan Kwai Fong;- Wing Wah Lane;- Wo On Lane;- Wellington Street between Wyndham Street and D’Aguilar Street; and- On Lan Street.     Depending on the crowd situation, the following roads may be closed:- Stanley Street between D’Aguilar Street and Cochrane Street;- Wyndham Street between Glenealy and Queen’s Road Central;- D’Aguilar Street between Queen’s Road Central and Wellington Street;- Wellington Street between D’Aguilar Street and Cochrane Street;- Cochrane Street between Wellington Street and Stanley Street;- Lyndhurst Terrace; and- Queen’s Road Central between Pedder Street and Pottinger Street.     After completion of traffic diversion, crowds will be directed to queue up along Queen’s Road Central, D’Aguilar Street, Stanley Street, Cochrane Street and Wellington Street. The whole section of D’Aguilar Street will be closed.Suspension of parking spaces——————————-     All parking spaces and motorcycle parking spaces on the following streets will be suspended from 1pm on October 31 to 5am on November 1:- Stanley Street near D’Aguilar Street;- On Lan Street; and- Wyndham Street between Arbuthnot Road and D’Aguilar Street.     All vehicles parked illegally during the implementation of the above special traffic arrangements will be towed away without prior warning, and may be subject to multiple ticketing.       Actual implementation of traffic arrangements will be made depending on traffic and crowd conditions in the areas. Members of the public are advised to exercise tolerance and patience and take heed of instructions of the Police on site.

     
    Ends/Tuesday, October 29, 2024Issued at HKT 17:19

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: African countries push for $25 billion replenishment of the African Development Fund as Sudan tops up its pledge

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

    ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, October 29, 2024/APO Group/ —

    Sudan has increased its pledged contribution to the replenishment of the African Development Fund to $3 million, its Minister for Finance and Economic Planning Dr Gebreil Ibrahim Mohamed Fediel announced.

    Fediel made the announcement during a meeting with his Sierra Leonean counterpart, Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura, Gambian Finance Minister Seedy Keita, Liberian Minister for Agriculture, Dr Alexander Nuatah and African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina. The ministers and Adesina met on the sidelines of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund’s annual meetings in Washington DC.

    The governments of the Gambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Sudan are supporting efforts by the African Development Bank Group to push for a $25 billion replenishment of the African Development Fund, its concessional window.

    The four countries, together with Ghana, last year pledged to contribute a minimum of $1 million each to the African Development Fund’s 17th replenishment scheduled for 2025.

    Adesina praised Sudan’s “incredible show of solidarity for increasing its contribution to the Fund and for continuing to honour its financial commitments to the Bank despite facing difficult challenges.”

    The current $8.9 billion three-year financing cycle or the 16th replenishment, which ends in 2025, was the largest ever in the history of the African Development Fund.

    The Bank Group president spoke about the African Development Fund’s impressive record as the largest financier of regional transport infrastructure corridors and regional energy connectivity and power pools across its 37 member countries.

    Adesina said the Fund beneficiaries need “concessional resources more than just grants and that is why our goal is to triple ADF to $25 billion. That is the reason I fought for ADF, from the first day of my leadership of the Bank, to be allowed to go to the capital markets to raise additional resources.”

    “ADF going to capital markets will help generate up to $27 billion additional resources starting from ADF 17th Replenishment,” said Adesina.

    Sudan’s decision to top up its contribution to the African Development Fund comes a fortnight after Benin announced a $2 million pledge to the next replenishment.

    The African Development Bank Group’s Executive Director for The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Sudan, Rufus Darkortey termed the increase by Sudan a powerful demonstration of their steadfast commitment to a bigger ADF-17 Replenishment.

    “I commend President Adesina and the leadership of our governors and heads of state for championing the call for a bold $25 billion ADF-17 Replenishment. This unified effort reflects Africa’s determination to lead its transformation,” Dakortey said.

    Last May, Kenya’s President William Ruto pledged $20 million to the Fund.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: BP results: Labour must properly tax obscene profits and reverse Winter Fuel Payment cut

    Source: Scottish Greens

    29 Oct 2024 Climate Climate Breakdown

    Labour must crackdown on anti-climate profiteering and fund our green transition.

    More in Climate

    The UK Government must close the loopholes in the windfall tax and use it to end the cruel cuts they have made to Winter Fuel Payments, say the Scottish Greens.

    The call, from party Co-leader, Patrick Harvie, comes as oil giant BP has published results that show eye-watering profits of $2.3 billion for Q3 2024 alone.

    Mr Harvie said:

    “All over our country there are households and families dreading a long, cold winter while fossil fuel giants and polluters are making a killing.

    “Shamefully, the Labour government has chosen to cut the Winter Fuel Allowance, plunging hundreds of thousands of pensioners into fuel poverty while companies like BP are celebrating obscene levels of profit.

    “We can’t continue with business as usual if we are to have any kind of liveable future.

    “It is time to tax that wealth properly and use it to lift people out of poverty, make the transformative investment we need in green energy and finally break the link between fossil fuel prices and household bills.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Social landlords continue to build new homes, according to RSH statistics

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Today (29 October 2024) the Regulator of Social Housing published statistics about the social housing sector.

    Today the Regulator of Social Housing published statistics about the social housing sector, including stock ownership and rents as of 31 March 2024. 

    Returns from all private and local authority registered providers show that the sector provides around 4.5 million homes across England, with a net increase of nearly 43,000 social homes since 2023. 

    This overall increase has been driven by approximately 24,800 more Affordable Rent homes and 17,300 more low cost home ownership homes. There was also a small increase of roughly 700 social rent homes. 

    Private registered providers had a net gain of around 5,200 social rent homes, although this was partially offset by a decrease of around 4,500 social rent homes for local authorities (likely to be driven by right to buy sales and other schemes). 

    Private registered providers built, purchased or acquired the majority of new homes in the sector, accounting for 85% of the total increase in Affordable Rent and 96% for low cost home ownership properties. 

    The statistics show that 82% of social homes in England are general needs (social rent and Affordable Rent), while supported housing makes up 11% and Low Cost Home Ownership 6%. 

    Private registered providers also reported that 71% of homes had an energy efficiency certificate rating of EPC-C or above, and a further 22% had a rating of EPC-D.   

    Just over 511,000 homes were surveyed by landlords during the year. Over the year, these surveys and other provider activity identified nearly 42,000 homes which did not meet the Decent Homes Standard; 37,500 properties were remediated to bring them up to the DHS and 1,800 were sold or demolished.  

    A further 5,200 buildings were excluded from having to meet DHS requirements due to circumstances which prevent or limit remediation works. 

    As expected, rents increased over the year. The average increase in general needs (social rent) average weekly net rents was 7.2% between 31 March 2023 and 31 March 2024 (in line with the limit set for 2023/24 ). The average weekly general needs rent in England was £105.22, though this varied across  the country. Average rents were lowest in the North East (£88.11) and highest in London (£129.83). 

    Rents for local authorities are lower on average than for housing associations.  

    Will Perry, Director of Strategy at RSH, said: 

    It is reassuring to see the sector continuing to build and acquire much-needed new social homes across the country, despite a challenging economic environment.  

    This data provides a rich source of insight into the sector as a whole, helping us understand the challenges facing both landlords and tenants.   

    Landlords should ensure they hold accurate, up-to-date data to inform strategic decisions, especially around rents and the condition of homes. 

    Notes to editors 

    1. Local authority social housing data was formerly collected through the Local Authority Housing Survey. Since 1 April 2020 it has been collected by RSH through the Local Authority Data Return, when RSH took on the responsibility for regulating local authority rents. Private registered provider data has been collected by RSH though the Statistical Data Return since 2012. 

    2. Both local authority and private registered provider stock and rents statistics are designated as Accredited Official Statistics by the UK Statistics Authority. 

    3. There were 1,592 providers on RSH’s register on 31 March 2024. Of these, 226 were local authorities and 1,366 were private registered providers. 

    4. Homes include self-contained units such as houses and flats and non-self-contained bed spaces, referred to collectively as units in the data. 

    5. Of the c. 4.5 million units of social housing stock owner by registered providers, private registered providers own 2.9m homes while local authority registered providers own 1.6m homes. 

    6. The limit on annual general needs rent increases between 2023 and 2024 was 7.0%. Additions to stock, units with exceptions and PRPs setting set rents in line with the prevailing formula rent rate when re-letting units can lead to the average year-on-year change being higher. 

    7. The Regulator of Social Housing promotes a viable, efficient and well-governed social housing sector able to deliver and maintain homes of appropriate quality that meet a range of needs. It does this by undertaking robust economic regulation focusing on governance, financial viability and value for money that maintains lender confidence and protects the taxpayer. It also sets consumer standards and may take action if these standards are breached and there is a significant risk of serious detriment to tenants or potential tenants.

    Updates to this page

    Published 29 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Supporting food and drink businesses

    Source: Scottish Government

    New funding to promote regional products.

    Projects from across Scotland are being awarded grants of up to £5,000 to help to promote regional food and drink products and open up new markets.

    Food festivals, workshops and markets celebrating produce from shellfish to whisky are among the 17 local and collaborative projects to receive support from the latest round of the Scotland Food & Drink Partnership’s Regional Food Fund.

    The Fund, managed by Scotland Food & Drink, supports regional growth by backing projects to promote and sell produce from their areas.

    Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said:

    “We have some of the best food and drink in the world – the industry is worth £15 billion to our economy, supports thousands of jobs and businesses and is a success story at home and internationally. The Regional Food Fund is providing much-needed support to local businesses, producers and community groups to showcase the best products that their regions have to offer.

    “Through this fund we have seen more than £750,000 awarded from the available funding to successful projects across Scotland. This round of funding celebrates some incredible produce at some wonderful locations that mean people will benefit from it all across the country, whether taking part in cookery events on Arran, learning about wild food in Glasgow or improving their culinary skills at Fife’s Cambo Snowdrop Festival.

    “I look forward to hearing how each of these exciting projects develops.”

    Scotland Food & Drink Head of Regional Food Fiona Richmond said:

    “It’s truly exciting to support 17 more collaborative food and drink projects through this latest round of the Regional Food Fund. The quality of the applications reflects the passion and commitment to enhancing local food and drink initiatives, which are vital to the continued growth of Scotland’s food, drink, and tourism sectors.

    “We congratulate all this year’s recipients and are eager to watch these projects unfold in the coming months, knowing they will leave a lasting and positive impact on communities across the country.”

    Background

    Regional Food Fund | Scotland Food & Drink (foodanddrink.scot)

    In 2018, the Connect Local Regional Food Fund was launched consisting of 4 funding rounds, which saw more than £350,000 awarded across 78 projects. In 2021, the Scotland Food & Drink Partnership’s Regional Food Fund was launched in place of the previous Connect Local Regional Food Fund. This will be the fifth round of the fund under Scotland Food & Drink which has seen more than £400,000 awarded across 87 projects to date.

    The successful applicants in this round are:

    Bellevue Farm, Arran. Development of Eating Facility          £5,000

    In collaboration with Arran’s Food Journey regional food group, project will create a catering facility within Bellevue Barn which can be used to showcase local produce & offer unique eating experiences.

    Cambo Heritage Trust, Fife. Made in Fife at the Cambo Snowdrop Festival £4,989

    Project builds on success of the café, snowdrop festival and Green Market programme to host market events with cookery workshops featuring ‘root to stalk’ methods and provide a space for other regional food and drink traders with the opportunity to showcase their products in a range of markets called ‘Made in Fife’ at Cambo Gardens.

    Clyde Fishermen’s Trust/Clyde Fishermen’s Association, Glasgow. Festival of the Sea £5,000

    Winter festival of the Sea, building on track record of delivering seafood festivals. Event will provide a collaborative showcase that brings together West Coast fishermen, seafood producers, and culinary experts to celebrate Scotland’s rich fishing heritage and exceptional produce.

    Dornoch BID, Highlands. Food on the Firth £1,300

    Series of out of season, food-focused weeks in Dornoch covering different sectors such as meat and shellfish.

    East Lothian Food and Drink, East Lothian. East Lothian Food and Drink Recipe Book £5,000

    East Lothian  Project will create a recipe book that features East Lothian Food and Drink members. From cocktails from Buck & Birch to non- alcoholic mocktails featuring Brose Oats. From our East coast seas to our rolling hills and farmland.

    Essential Edinburgh, Edinburgh. Eat Out Edinburgh £5,000

    Eat Out Edinburgh will be celebrating all things food and drink at a quieter time of the year, encouraging locals to eat out in the city centre supporting their local producers, suppliers, hospitality businesses and the local economy. Funds will support a promotional campaign to achieve this.

    Falkirk Delivers, Falkirk. Falkirk Producers Market Growth Initiative       £4,725

    Project aims to expand the reach and impact of the market by attracting new food and drink vendors and enhancing their promotional capabilities. Fund will support free stalls for 15 producers and digital campaign.

    Fife Whisky Festival Ltd, Fife. Fife Whisky Festival £4,985

    New Sunday event to showcase smaller, local food and drink producers under the festival umbrella. Event will provide cross-selling and marketing opportunities.

    Food Lochaber (part of Lochaber Environmental Group), Highlands. Food Lochaber £5,000

    Project aims to encourage Lochaber producers to work together to sell to local customers and, where appropriate, increase their production of food by giving them access to an online market place run by the producers.

    Forth Valley Food & Drink. Flavours of Forth Valley £5,000

    Forth Valley  Development project to support growth & sustainability of the group. Activities include strategic review; member showcase and local food film screening events.       

    Galloway Food Hub CIC, Dumfries and Galloway. Galloway Food Hub PR Campaign £5,000

    PR & digital campaign to promote this online marketplace for local producers.  

    Granton Project CIC, Edinburgh. The Pitt Market £5,000

    Creation of first collaborative market with local producers, street food traders and the community. This event will showcase the best of regional produce and local entrepreneurs and startups.       

    Great Perthshire. Perth & Kinross Farmers Markets          £5,000

    Project will bring the existing four Perth & Kinross farmers’ markets together to present a shared proposition to their customers & shoppers, collaborate on good practice & common objectives. Working group, shared information strategy & forum are amongst some of the activities planned.     

    Rosemains Steading CIC, Midlothian. Rosemains Steadings Markets £5,000

    Creation of regular markets at this collaborative hub for entrepreneurs, featuring new stalls, tastings & demonstrations.  

    Scottish Food & Drink Histories Partnership Lab (University of Glasgow), Glasgow. Scottish Food Heritage Symposium: Tea £5,000

    In partnership with Mackintosh at the Willow, project will debut a one-day symposium of history talks, live demonstrations, tasting sessions & panel discussions.     

    Scottish Maritime Museum, Ayrshire. Christmas Market £5,000

    Expansion of Christmas market to include food and drink producers in collaboration with Ayrshire Food An’ A’ That regional food group

    Scottish Wild Food Festival, Glasgow. Wild Food Producers Showcase, £5,000

    Various initiatives to increase promotion & sales of wild food products/wild food tourism experiences such as wild food directory; digital activities & market stalls at events     

    TOTAL         17 Applicants                   TOTAL GRANT CLAIM FUNDING   £80,999

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Short Term Lets Licensing Statistics, to 30 June 2024

    Source: Scottish Government

    An Official Statistics Publication for Scotland.

    • There were at least 30,299 applications for a short-term licence as of end June 2024. 82% (24,810) of these applications were validated. Not all authorities report applications still to be validated to the Scottish Government as they are not required to.
    • The majority (82%; 24,913) of these applications were received before the 1 October 2023 cut off for existing hosts and operators to apply for a provisional licence to continue operating whilst waiting for a full licence confirmation.
    • The majority (18,965 or 76%) of validated applications relate to secondary letting (i.e. where a non-primary residence is let out), with 2,575 (10%) being for home sharing, 1,937 (8%) for home letting, and 1,333 (5%) for a mixture of home sharing and letting.  Similar proportions are reported for licences granted.
    • 21,075 licences or exemptions were in operation as of 30 June 2024. Full licences accounted for over three quarters (76% or 16,052) of this number and 22% (4,560) were provisional licences pending a final decision. There were 461 temporary licences and exemptions.

    Background

    The full publication is available at Short Term Lets Licensing Statistics, Scotland, to 30 June 2024.

    This statistical publication reports on the operation of the short term lets licensing scheme under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Short-term Lets) Order 2022.

    Official statistics are produced in accordance with the Code of Practice for Statistics.

    As advised in our May publication, there was likely to be a revision to the number of validated applications reported in the quarter before the October 2023 cut off for existing operators to apply and continue operation provisionally. As local authorities worked to validate large numbers of applications received. As expected, we report a large revision upwards (from 7,989 to 14,116) for July to September 2023, with smaller revisions in other quarters.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Housing Options (PREVENT1) statistics in Scotland, 2023-24

    Source: Scottish Government

    An Official Statistics in Development Publication for Scotland.

    An annual update on Housing Options (PREVENT1) Statistics covering 2023-24 has been released today.

    Findings for that period show:

    • There were 44,952 Housing Options approaches (from 42,161 unique households). This is an increase of 5% compared to 2022-23.
    • The number of open Housing Options cases has been increasing over time, although the latest figure of 29,900 as at 31 March 2024 is 1% lower compared to 2023 (30,075).
    • General housing options advice (20% of all approaches), asked to leave (17% of all approaches) and risk of losing accommodation (11% of all approaches) are the most common reasons for approach.
    • Over a fifth (21%) of approaches are from parental / family home or relatives; 18% are from a private rented tenancy.
    • The most common prevention activity is general housing advice (43%), informing clients of their rights under homelessness legislation (28%) and rent, repairs, referrals and negotiations with landlords (12%).
    • Just under half of Housing Options approaches resulted in a homelessness application (49%). This is less than 52% in 2022-23 and 57% in 2021-22. However, this is a numerical increase in the last year from 21,390 to 22,105 (3%).
    • Across Scotland it took an average of 180 days to close a Housing Options cases (that did not result in a homelessness application). This has increased from 137 days in 2022-23.

    Background

    The full statistical publication is available on our website.

    The Housing Options (PREVENT1) 2023-24 publication presents information on Housing Options Services in Scotland from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024. The statistics are based on administrative data collected by local authorities in the course of providing Housing Options services that are available when households seek assistance for housing-related issues.

    The bulletin includes information on the number of approaches made, details on the reasons for the approaches made, the activities undertaken, and the outcomes achieved.

    Official statistics are produced by professionally independent statistical staff – more information on the standards of official statistics in Scotland is on the Scottish Government website.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –