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  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Stennis Takes Key Step in Expanding its Range Operations Work

    Source: NASA

    NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, has entered into an agreement with Skydweller Aero Inc. for the company to operate its solar-powered autonomous aircraft in the site’s restricted airspace, a key step towards achieving a strategic center goal.
    The Reimbursable Space Act agreement marks the first between NASA Stennis and a commercial company to utilize the south Mississippi center’s unique capabilities to support testing and operation of uncrewed systems.
    “There are few locations like NASA Stennis that offer a secure location, restricted airspace and the infrastructure to support testing and operation of various uncrewed systems,” said NASA Stennis Director John Bailey. “Range operations is a critical area of focus as we adapt to the changing aerospace and technology landscape to grow into the future.”
    NASA Stennis and Skydweller Aero finalized the agreement in late August, paving the way for the company to begin area test flights of its autonomous, uncrewed solar-powered aircraft, which features a wingspan greater than a 747 jetliner and is designed for long-duration flights. The company announced Oct. 1 it had completed an initial test flight campaign of the aircraft, including two test excursions totaling 16 and 22.5 hours.
    NASA Stennis and Skydweller Aero began talks in the summer of 2023 when the company expressed interest in utilizing NASA Stennis airspace for its all-carbon fiber aircraft. The NASA Stennis area fits the company’s needs well since it provides ready access from Stennis International Airport to the Gulf of Mexico area. NASA Stennis airspace also provides a level of privacy for aircraft testing and operation.
    “Access to the restricted airspace above NASA Stennis has been tremendously helpful to our uncrewed, autonomous flight operations,” said Barry Matsumori, president and chief operating officer of Skydweller Aero. “The opportunity to use the controlled environment above Stennis helps accelerate our efforts, allowing us to transition the aircraft in and out of civil airspace, while demonstrating its reliability and unblemished safety record to the FAA.”
    Companies must be conducting public aircraft operations to use any restricted airspace. In this instance, Skydweller Aero is flying its aircraft in association with the U.S. Department of Defense, allowing for the Reimbursable Space Act agreement with NASA Stennis.
    The agreement provides the company Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authorization for future test flights in designated areas of the NASA Stennis buffer zone. It also represents a key step in the center’s effort to grow its range operations presence.
    “This really opens the door for others to come here,” said Jason Peterson, NASA Stennis range officer. “There are requirements that must be met, but for those who meet them, NASA Stennis is an ideal location for test and flight operations.”
    The FAA established restricted airspace at NASA Stennis in 1966 and approved its expansion in 2016. The expansion was necessary to conduct propulsion testing safely, accommodate U.S. Department of Defense missions, and support unmanned aerial systems activities.
    Restricted airspace at NASA Stennis allows qualifying organizations to conduct various uncrewed flight activities. NASA Stennis personnel provide scheduling and range operation support, including reviews and evaluations to ensure safe flight operations. Processes are in place to ensure communication between aircraft operators, FAA air traffic controllers, and range safety personnel.
    Peterson said he hopes the agreement with Skydweller Aero will clear the way for future collaborations as NASA Stennis continues to expand its customer-based operations. For instance, although Skydweller Aero is not located onsite, NASA Stennis is able to support ground operations for a variety of unmanned aircraft system takeoffs and landings.
    Beyond that, the center also hopes to expand its operational capabilities to include marine and ground activities. In addition to a large geographic footprint, the center features a secure 7.5-mile waterway canal system for testing unmanned underwater or surface vehicles.
    For information about range operations at NASA’s Stennis Space Center, visit:
    Range and Airspace Operations – NASA

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta: We Must Protect EMTALA and Ensure Access to Emergency Care for All Americans

    Source: US State of California

    OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today co-led a coalition of 24 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief before the en banc court of the Ninth Circuit, supporting the Biden administration’s challenge to Idaho’s near-total ban on abortion. In an amicus brief filed in United States of America v. Idaho, the multistate coalition supports the U.S. government’s argument that the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), a federal law, requires hospitals to provide necessary abortion care to pregnant people experiencing medical emergencies. The coalition further argues that Idaho’s ban not only endangers the lives and health of pregnant individuals in the state but would have serious repercussions on the health systems of other states, and urges the Court to uphold the lower court’s preliminary order prohibiting enforcement of Idaho’s ban to the extent it conflicts with EMTALA.

    “EMTALA ensures that no one is denied access to emergency medical care, including abortion care, and this federal law is more imperative than ever following the overturn of Roe v. Wade,” said Attorney General Bonta. “That’s why I, alongside attorneys general nationwide, are reaffirming our unwavering commitment to safeguarding access to emergency medical care for all Americans with today’s amicus brief. Abortion care is healthcare, and at the California Department of Justice, we will pursue every legal avenue to protect EMTALA and ensure that medical decisions remain between patients and their doctors.” 

    Every hospital in the United States that operates an emergency department and participates in Medicare is subject to EMTALA. Under the law, emergency departments are required to provide all patients who have an emergency medical condition with the treatment required to stabilize their condition. EMTALA’s requirement extends to abortion care, which is sometimes necessary to stabilize a pregnant individual experiencing an emergency medical condition. Under Idaho’s radical abortion ban, which came into effect after the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 2022 decision overturning Roe v. Wade, healthcare providers face criminal prosecution and loss of their license for providing this medically necessary care. 

    In today’s amicus brief, the multistate coalition supports the federal government’s case arguing that:

    • Decades of federal guidance and court precedent have held that stabilizing treatment under EMTALA includes emergency abortion care, and states have relied on that determination to protect their residents’ health and safety.
    • Preventing medical providers from performing abortions needed to treat emergency medical conditions threatens the health and lives of pregnant patients. Many pregnancy and miscarriage complications are emergency medical conditions requiring time-sensitive stabilizing treatment that can include abortion. In an emergency, any failure to provide, or delays in providing, necessary abortion care can put at risk the pregnant patient’s life or health.
    • If Idaho hospitals do not provide the emergency abortion care required by EMTALA, patients, if they have time, will be forced to turn to out-of-state hospitals and providers, adding strain to other states’ emergency departments that are already struggling with overcrowding, long wait times, and staff shortages. The added strain will cause more delays and threaten the safety and health of all patients who need emergency care.

    Last month, California sued Providence St. Joseph Hospital, enforcing the crucial right to emergency abortion care under California state law, while the scope of federal protections for such care under EMTALA is litigated in the federal courts.  As litigation about EMTALA proceeds, states like California rely on their own state laws to protect pregnant patients.

    Today’s amicus brief was led by the attorneys general of California and New York, who were joined by the attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawai’i, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.

    A copy of the brief is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Surfshark introduces a free data leak-checking tool during Cybersecurity Awareness Month

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Surfshark is launching a new, free online Data Leak Checker, offering users an easy way to monitor the safety of their personal information in recognition of Cybersecurity Awareness Month this October. Powered by Surfshark Alert, this tool allows users to check if their personal data has been compromised in a data leak by simply entering their email address. It is designed to ensure that the entered email is not used for any marketing purposes.

    The new Data Leak Checker features comprehensive scanning capabilities, allowing users to enter their email addresses to examine multiple sources for potential database and malware-related leaks. This tool continuously monitors the web to proactively ensure the security of users’ personal information across various platforms and detects instances where their data might have been compromised. 

    Upon completion of the scan, users receive a report divided into two key areas: database breaches and malware attacks. The database breaches section identifies large breached domains and compromised databases that may have included the user’s information. Meanwhile, the malware attacks section highlights potential vulnerabilities of the user’s email address due to malware activities on their device. 

    The database breach report shows the largest breached domains and compromised databases that user information was part of. For security reasons, some data may be hidden. However, complete and detailed information about the leak will be visible in Surfshark Alert.

    “Globally, approximately 18 billion user accounts have been leaked over the last 20 years, according to Surfshark’s Global Data Breach Statistics. As we launch the Data Leak Checker, we stress the importance of knowing exactly where and how your data may have been compromised. Understanding breach details can empower individuals to take informed actions to protect their personal information and prevent further damage. This tool is simple and accessible for everyone, regardless of their level of technical expertise,” said Kornelija Vanage, Alert Product Owner at Surfshark. 

    If users discover that their data has been leaked online, it’s crucial to act quickly to mitigate potential damage. First, they should change the passwords for all affected accounts, ensuring each new password is strong and unique. They might consider using a password manager to help generate and store passwords securely. Additionally, enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) on all accounts that offer it can add an extra layer of security.

    Users should then monitor their accounts for suspicious activity, such as unauthorized transactions or login attempts, and report any anomalies to the respective service providers. It’s important for users to be vigilant about phishing attempts, as attackers may use leaked information to craft convincing scams. Investing in tools that monitor data safety is also advised.

    NOTES TO EDITORS Surfshark is a cybersecurity company focused on developing humanized privacy and security solutions. The Surfshark One suite includes one of the very few VPNs audited by independent security experts, an officially certified antivirus, a private search tool, and a data leak alert system. Surfshark ranks 47th in the Financial Times 1000: Europe’s Fastest Growing Companies list and is recognized as the Tech Advisor’s Editor’s Choice for 2024. For a closer look at Surfshark in 2023, visit our annual wrap-up.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Epsilon Energy Ltd. Schedules Third Quarter 2024 Earnings Release and Conference Call

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HOUSTON, Oct. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Epsilon Energy Ltd. (“Epsilon” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: EPSN) today announced that it will issue its third quarter 2024 earnings release on Wednesday, November 06, 2024 after the market close and host a conference call to discuss its financial and operating results on Thursday, November 7, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. Central Time (3:00 p.m. Eastern Time).

    Interested parties in the United States and Canada may participate toll-free by dialing (833) 816-1385. International parties may participate by dialing (412) 317-0478. Participants should ask to be joined to the “Epsilon Energy Third Quarter 2024 Earnings Conference Call.”

    A webcast can be viewed at: : https://event.choruscall.com/mediaframe/webcast.html?webcastid=S0pmngFY. A webcast replay will be available on the Company’s website (www.epsilonenergyltd.com) following the call.

    About Epsilon

    Epsilon Energy Ltd. is a North American onshore natural gas and oil production and gathering company with assets in Pennsylvania, Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.

    Contact Information:

    281-670-0002

    Jason Stabell
    Chief Executive Officer
    Jason.Stabell@EpsilonEnergyLTD.com

    Andrew Williamson
    Chief Financial Officer
    Andrew.Williamson@EpsilonEnergyLTD.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Change happens – and why central banks care

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    It is a great pleasure for me to join you today. Many thanks to the staff at the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia for the invitation. 1

    BIS Innovation Hub

    Today I want to talk about change and central banks. But before I begin, allow me to briefly introduce the BIS Innovation Hub. The Bank for International Settlements supports central banks in their pursuit of monetary and financial stability by fostering international cooperation. The Innovation Hub was created five years ago and can be described as a joint venture between the BIS and the central banks who host our seven centres. The Innovation Hub has almost 100 people working together across the world. Our mandate is to follow and explore new technology and, when suitable, develop public goods. And to do that we research technologies and challenges that matter to central banks by building proofs of concept or prototypes. In more than 30 projects to date, we have collaborated with central banks and other partners to demonstrate the art of the possible. Currently, tokenisation and artificial intelligence are important areas for us, where we have multiple projects under way. Another crucial area is ensuring the integrity and safety in the financial system by exploring possible improvements to services like payments. Again, we aim to demonstrate the art of the possible. Adopting some of the technologies or implementing the outcomes of our projects is not up to us. Ultimately, countries’ authorities decide what becomes reality in their jurisdictions.

    So why am I here? Well, when I was asked to join you here at the Philadelphia Fed, I immediately said yes. Maybe too fast, because the organisers kept asking me what I wanted to announce. I had to disappoint them. This is not a public service announcement. I am not trying to sell you anything. What I want to do in the next 10 minutes is explain why central banks care about change and innovation – and why that matters to us all.  

    Technology and change

    Let me start with innovation and change, for which I will look to Adam Smith. Who better? The Wealth of Nations was published about 250 years ago. And Adam Smith uses the example of moving goods by road or by ship. Canal companies were the big techs of the day. They could move things faster and cheaper, and only the most niche products chose the horse and cart. Yet 100 years later, the transport network and – by extension the industrial capacity of Britain – was totally unrecognisable.

    What changed? In that time, railways happened. Or more accurately, innovation changed how railways were used. There were railways when Adam Smith was writing. But they were small, private and horse-drawn. He did not even mention them as a contender to roads and ships. But 50 years of innovation in steam engines – to make them smaller, faster and more efficient – would make railways far superior to canals. Following some smaller private railways, the first public railway – from Liverpool to Manchester – opened in 1830. At that time, there were about 125 miles of railways in England. Over the next 40 years, this grew to 13,000 miles. Canals were dead in the water.

    Was the change smooth, clearly predictable and always rational and obvious? No. Was it just the technology advantages that catalysed the change? No. It was many things. Financial innovations meant that investments in railways were easier. Yet this also created a financial bubble. Early safety regulations reassured a sceptical public – but not before some terrible accidents. Competition drove further innovation but resulted in a grossly inefficient network. When agreement on a standardised width of railway gauge was eventually brokered, network effects could be enhanced. The standard adopted was George Stephenson’s 4 feet, 8 1⁄2 inches, which spread across England and internationally. I have been told the United States uses it too.

    But why am I telling you a story about something that happened in England hundreds of years ago? Well first, I enjoy history. But second, because it is a great example of how technologies change. Do you see any parallels with today? Railways did not just “win” overnight. They were initially less efficient than canals. Canal owners saw the threat and organised resistance. Yet railways improved faster than canals could – at least once steam engines became technologically and commercially viable. Investment played a significant role in this. So, at times, did safety regulations and politics. There were battles about which standards should be used. And importantly, change driven by technology and innovation is not an elegant dance. It is a race and a tussle and sometimes a mess.

    To really make the point, allow me one more historical example closer to home. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York recently published an article about when securities markets scrapped paper in the 1960s and ’70s. At that time, IBM and Honeywell were in a race to develop more powerful computers. And stockbrokers were racing one another to use them for competitive advantage. The winners of that race went on to dominate securities markets for decades because they bought out the failing houses that could not operate their computers as effectively. And the digital infrastructures they created, based on the paper processes before them, are the ones we use now. And they are the same infrastructures now experimenting with tokenisation and are maybe on the cusp of another change.

    Understanding change

    How do industries and society manage these huge changes? Almost all industries have regulations of various kinds to ensure safety, competition and transparency – standards with a large or small “s” that are adhered to. Yet finance has something that planes, trains and automobiles do not. Finance has central banks. And why do they care about innovation and change?

    First, for monetary analysis. For central banks to set interest rates to stabilise prices they have to understand the economy. The data collection and analysis of credit, demand, output, supply, costs, prices and labour markets all roll up to into determining monetary policy. And innovation can have a huge impact. AI is an obvious example. But digitalisation more broadly has had and will continue to have a fundamental impact on the global economy. For effective policymaking, central banks need to understand where things are heading. So they must follow and explore innovation and its implications. 

    Second, central banks care about innovation because of their oversight role. For prudential supervision of banks and market infrastructure, it is necessary to understand how technology is being used and the effect of any large changes. Financial stability analyses are increasingly concerned with how financial and operational risks interact. Technology is a significant variable in that analysis.

    Third, central banks do not just think; within their mandate, they act. To deliver on their monetary policy objectives, they decide where interest rates need to be. And then they act through their market operations to make that happen. Central banks want safe settlement and so they offer it – by operating payment systems to safely and reliably move substantial amounts of money every day. And they provide banknotes.

    It is because central banks act that they are really part of any change – not on the sidelines or just observing, but really involved. As part of the financial ecosystem, central banks offer settlement in central bank money, which is the safest settlement asset possible and a pillar of a stable and robust financial system. And this is what makes them so different from a regulator in any other space. To put it very simply, if central banks think technology is changing, they need to consider and adapt as well. And they need to change operations and systems that require the highest possible resilience from cyber threats and operational risk. That puts a very different slant on any decision and perhaps adds some caution. It might also add some practicality. And importantly for an economist, it gives central banks skin in the technology game – and the right incentives.

    Incentives matter. Trust in money is grounded on two things. The first is the central bank’s monetary policy framework and operational independence. The second is the competence to carry out its role. And that competence increasingly means the ability to use technology better. To do that we experiment. We collaborate. We get involved. But our role is not to win or to profit or to tell the private sector how to run their business. The private sector will always know what customers need and want better than the public sector. But it is also important to have the public sector involved, with public policy objectives such as stability, safety, interoperability and compliance.

    BIS and international cooperation

    To close I want to talk about how these themes of technology, change and incentives play out internationally. Central banks are different from one another. But I have spoken for almost 10 minutes about their interests and incentives as a homogeneous group. And if I can do that, they must be similar enough to cooperate.

    The BIS’s job is to help and guide central bank cooperation. Given what I have said, that should be easy. But collaboration is not always simple. Yet, with the right governance and communications, building knowledge by running projects together could reap great rewards for central banks.

    Our projects are “just” a first look at what is possible. Projects are not a commitment. Some of the questions like whether there is a need for central bank digital currency or digital identity can only be answered politically. The central bank is one of many advisers on a decision that should be made with other players in our societies. That is right and that is normal. Yet the fact remains, for good policymaking on any subject, you need understanding. And with technology, you need to experiment and collaborate to obtain that understanding. 

    So, I thank you again for the invitation and attention. I will close with a quote from Adam Smith: “I have never known much good done, by those who affected to trade for the public good.” Eerily, he foresaw a version of what US president Ronald Reagan famously highlighted as the nine most terrifying words: “I’m from the government and I’m here to help.” The BIS Innovation Hub has a mandate to explore technology and to develop public goods. But others ultimately decide what could be changed. Our job is to learn and advise them so that when change happens, it can happen for the better.

    Thank you for listening.  

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: IMF isn’t doing enough to support Africa: billions could be made available through special drawing rights

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Kevin P. Gallagher, Professor of Global Development Policy and Director, Global Development Policy Center, Boston University

    At the 2021 UN Climate Summit, Barbados prime minister Mia Mottley called for more and better use of special drawing rights (SDRs), the International Monetary Fund’s reserve asset.

    The special drawing right is an international reserve asset created by the IMF. It is not a currency – its value is based on a basket of five currencies, the biggest chunk of which is the US dollar, followed by the euro. It is a potential claim on the freely usable currencies of IMF members. Special drawing rights can provide a country with liquidity.

    Countries can use their special drawing rights to pay back IMF loans, or they can exchange them for foreign currencies.

    As Mottley is the newest president of the Climate Vulnerable Forum and Vulnerable Group of 20 (V20) finance ministers, which represents 68 climate-vulnerable countries that are among those with the most dire liquidity needs, including 32 African countries, her call would be directly beneficial to African countries.

    In August 2021, as the shock from the COVID-19 pandemic battered their economies, African countries received a lifeline of US$33 billion from special drawing rights. This amounts to more than all the climate finance Africa receives each year, and more than half of all annual official development assistance to Africa.

    This US$33 billion did not add to African countries’ debt burden, it did not come with any conditions, and it did not cost donors a single cent to provide.

    IMF members can vote to create new issuances of special drawing rights. They are then distributed to countries in proportion to their quotas in the IMF. Quotas are denominated in special drawing rights, the IMF’s unit of account.

    Quotas are the building blocks of the IMF’s financial and governance structure. An individual member country’s quota broadly reflects its relative position in the world economy. Thus, by design, the poorest and most vulnerable countries receive the least when it comes to quotas and voting shares.

    Special drawing rights cannot solve all of Africa’s economic challenges. And their highly technical nature means they are not always well understood. But at a time when African countries are facing chronic liquidity challenges – most countries in the region are spending more on debt service payments than they are on health, education, or climate change – our new research shows that special drawing rights can play an important role in establishing financial stability and enabling investments for development.

    Financial stability includes macroeconomic stability (such as low inflation, healthy balance of payments, sufficient foreign reserves), a strong financial system and resilience to shocks.

    African leaders are approaching a critical year-long opportunity: in November, the first Group of 20 (G20) summit will convene (with the African Union in attendance as a member for the first time). Then in December South Africa assumes the G20 presidency.

    Read more: South Africa will be president of the G20 in 2025: two much-needed reforms it should drive

    As African leaders advocate for reforms to the international financial architecture, maximising the potential of special drawing rights should be a central component of their agenda.

    The problem

    African countries’ finances are facing tough times. External debt in sub-Saharan Africa has tripled since 2008. The average government is now spending 12% of its revenue on external debt service. The COVID-19 pandemic, Russia’s war in Ukraine, and rises in interest rates and the prices of commodities, like food and fertiliser, have all contributed to this trend.

    Debt restructuring mechanisms have also proved inadequate. Countries like Zambia and Ghana got stuck in lengthy restructurings. Weak institutional capacity and poor governance also impede efficient use of public resources.

    At the same time, African economies need to increase investment to advance development, support a young and growing population, develop climate resilience and take advantage of the opportunity presented by the energy transition.

    To meet the resources for a just energy transition and the attainment of the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, investment in climate and development will have to increase from around 24% of GDP (the average for Africa in 2022) to 37%.

    Special drawing rights have proved to be an important tool in addressing these challenges. Research by the IMF and others shows that African countries significantly benefited from the special drawing rights they received in 2021 to stabilise their economies. And this happened without worsening debt burdens or costing advanced economies any money, particularly as they cut development aid.

    However, advanced economies exercise significant control over the availability of special drawing rights. The IMF’s quota system determines both voting power and their distribution. Advanced economies control most of the IMF’s quotas.

    The advanced economies made the right decision in 2021 and in 2009 to issue new special drawing rights and the time has come again.

    The solution

    African and other global south leaders need to make a strong case for another issuance of special drawing rights at the IMF and World Bank meetings in Washington.

    In addition to a new issuance of special drawing rights, advanced economies still need to be pressured to re-channel the hundreds of billions of special drawing rights sitting idle on their balance sheets into productive purposes.

    The 2021 allocation of special drawing rights amounted to US$650 billion in total. But only US$33 billion went to African countries due to the IMF’s unequal quota distribution. Meanwhile advanced economies with powerful currencies and no need for special drawing rights received the lion’s share.

    The African Development Bank has spearheaded one such proposal alongside the Inter-American Development Bank. Under this plan, countries with unused special drawing rights could re-channel them to the African Development Bank as hybrid capital, allowing the bank to lend around $4 for each $1 of special drawing rights it receives.

    The IMF approved the use of special drawing rights as hybrid capital for multilateral development banks in May. But it set an excessively low limit of 15 billion special drawing rights across all multilateral development banks.

    Even so, advanced economies have been slow to re-channel special drawing rights. The close to $100 billion that have been re-channelled – mostly to IMF trust funds – is meaningful.

    But it still falls short of what should have been re-channelled.

    In the long term, IMF governance reforms are needed to avoid a repeat of the inefficient distribution of special drawing rights.

    Read more: The World Bank and the IMF need to keep reforming to become fit for purpose

    As African countries rightly push to change shortcomings of the international financial architecture, new special drawing rights issuances should be at the centre of such a strategy. The IMF’s 2021 special drawing rights issuance showed the tool’s scale and importance. And special drawing rights re-channelling has had positive effects in easing debt burdens and freeing up financing to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

    With 2030 approaching and the window shrinking for climate action, global leaders should be using all the tools at their disposal, including special drawing rights, to build a more resilient future.

    – IMF isn’t doing enough to support Africa: billions could be made available through special drawing rights
    – https://theconversation.com/imf-isnt-doing-enough-to-support-africa-billions-could-be-made-available-through-special-drawing-rights-241428

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: How to stay safe in cyberspace: 5 essential reads

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Natasha Joseph, Commissioning Editor

    Whether we’re socialising, shopping, banking, studying or working, billions of people around the world spend hours each day online.

    This digital immersion has many benefits – and plenty of pitfalls, too. Here are just a few of the articles we’ve published by academics who specialise in various aspects of online safety. They’re packed full of cautionary tales and expert advice for keeping your digital spaces safe.

    Identifying online scams

    Think it’s only the digitally unsophisticated who get trapped by online scammers? Think again. Cybersecurity expert Thembekile Olivia Mayayise warns that even some of the most seasoned internet users she knows have fallen prey to phishing scams. They hand over sensitive information like login credentials and credit card details to “seasoned and cunning scammers who have honed their skills in the world of phishing over an extended period. Some work alone; others belong to syndicates.”

    Read more: Phishing scams: 7 safety tips from a cybersecurity expert

    ‘Academies’ for would-be cybercriminals

    Given that some people make a career out of running online scams, it shouldn’t be a surprise that there’s a market for training aspirant cyber crooks. Cybercrime scholars Suleman Lazarus and Mark Button shine a spotlight on west Africa’s “hustle kingdoms”, which are becoming common in Ghana and Nigeria. At these informal academies, people are taught to carry out digital scams. Sextortion – coercing victims into sharing sexually explicit content and threatening to make it public if the scammer is not paid – is one such strategy.

    Read more: Hustle academies: west Africa’s online scammers are training others in fraud and sextortion

    The psychology of scammers

    Luckily, researchers are developing new ways to understand the psychology of online scammers. Rennie Naidoo, a professor of information systems, explains how behavioural science and data science could join forces to combat cybercrime. While data science can be used to identify patterns that indicate potential cyber threats, he points out, it cannot recognise the human factors that drive cybercriminal behaviour. That’s where behavioural science comes in.

    Read more: Catching online scammers: our model combines data and behavioural science to map the psychological games cybercriminals play

    Truth and lies on the internet

    Disinformation and misinformation have become depressingly common in online spaces. Misinformation arises from people unwittingly spreading falsehoods; disinformation involves the deliberate, planned dissemination of lies. Fabrice Lollia’s experience as a disinformation expert means he’s well placed to offer handy tips for sorting lies from truth.

    Read more: Social media: Disinformation expert offers 3 safety tips in a time of fake news and dodgy influencers

    Keeping kids safe online

    It’s not just adults who are at risk online. Children are, in many respects, more vulnerable than their parents and caregivers even though they tend to have a better practical grasp of internet technology than previous generations. Lucy Jamieson, Heidi Matisonn and Wakithi Mabaso have researched various aspects of the ethics of new and emerging technologies, with a focus on how children are affected. The trio provide practical, simple advice for helping children navigate the risks, identify the ethical pitfalls and enjoy the benefits of social media platforms.

    Read more: Children and the internet: helping kids navigate this modern minefield

    – How to stay safe in cyberspace: 5 essential reads
    – https://theconversation.com/how-to-stay-safe-in-cyberspace-5-essential-reads-240561

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Global: California’s governor blocked landmark AI safety laws. Here’s why it’s such a key ruling for the future of AI worldwide

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Irfan Mehmood, Associate Professor in Business Analytics and AI, University of Bradford

    Anggalih Prasetya / Shutterstock

    In a world where artificial intelligence is rapidly shaping the future, California has found itself at a critical juncture. The US state’s governor, Gavin Newsom, recently blocked a key AI safety bill aimed at tightening regulations on generative AI development.

    The Safe and Secure Innovation for Frontier Artificial Intelligence Models Act (SB 1047) was seen by many as a necessary safeguard on the technology’s development. Generative AI covers systems that produce new content in text, video, images and music – often in response to questions, or “prompts”, by a user.

    But Newsom said the bill risked “curtailing the very innovation
    that fuels advancement in favour of the public good”. While agreeing the public needs to be protected from threats posed by the technology, he argued that SB 1047 was not “the best approach”.

    What happens in California is so important because it is the home of Silicon Valley. Of the world’s top 50 AI companies, 32 are currently headquartered within the state. California’s legislature therefore has a unique role in efforts to ensure the safety of AI-based technology.

    But Newsom’s decision also reflects a deeper question: can innovation and safety truly coexist, or do we have to sacrifice one to advance the other?

    California’s tech industry contributes billions of dollars to the state’s economy and generates thousands of jobs. Newsom, along with prominent tech investors such as Marc Andreessen, believes too many regulations could slow down AI’s growth. Andreessen praised the veto, saying it supports “economic growth and freedom” over excessive caution.

    However, rapidly advancing AI technologies could bring serious risks, from spreading disinformation to enabling sophisticated cyberattacks that could harm society.
    One of the significant challenges is understanding just how powerful today’s AI systems have become.

    Generative AI models, like OpenAI’s GPT-4, are capable of complex reasoning and can produce human-like text. AI can also create incredibly realistic fake images and videos, known as deepfakes, which have the potential to undermine trust in the media and disrupt elections. For example, deepfake videos of public figures could be used to spread disinformation, leading to confusion and mistrust.

    AI-generated misinformation could also be used to manipulate financial markets or incite social unrest. The unsettling part is that no one knows exactly what’s coming next. These technologies open doors for innovation – but without proper regulation, AI tools could be misused in ways that are difficult to predict or control.

    Gavin Newsom said the bill could stifle innovation.
    Sheila Fitzgerald / Shutterstock

    Traditional methods of testing and regulating software fall short when it comes to generative AI tools that can create artificial images or video. These systems evolve in ways that even their creators can’t fully anticipate, especially after being trained on vast amounts of data from interactions with millions of people, such as ChatGPT.

    SB 1047 sought to address this concern by requiring companies to implement “kill switches” in their AI software that can deactivate the technology in the even of a problem. The law would also have required them to create detailed safety plans for any AI project with a budget over US$100 million (£77.2m).

    Critics said the bill was too broad, meaning it could affect even lower-risk projects. But its main goal was to set up basic protections in an industry that’s arguably moving faster than lawmakers can keep up with.

    California as a global leader

    What California decides could affect the world. As a global tech leader, the state’s approach to regulating AI could set a standard for other countries, as it has done in the past. For example, California’s leadership in setting stringent vehicle emissions standards through the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), and its early regulation of self-driving cars, have influenced other states and countries to adopt similar measures.

    But by vetoing SB 1047, California may have sent a message that it’s not ready to lead the way in AI regulation. This could leave room for other countries to step in – countries that may not care as much as the US about ethics and public safety.

    Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk, had cautiously supported the bill, acknowledging that while it was a “tough call”, it was probably a good idea. His stance shows that even tech insiders recognise the risks AI poses. This might be a sign the industry is ready to work with policymakers on how best to regulate this new breed of technology.

    The notion that regulation automatically stifles innovation is misleading. Effective laws can create a framework that not only protects people, but allows AI to grow sustainably. For example, regulations can help ensure that AI systems are developed responsibly, with considerations for privacy, fairness and transparency. This can build public trust, which is essential for the widespread adoption of AI technologies.

    The future of AI doesn’t have to be a choice between innovation and safety. By implementing reasonable safeguards, we can unlock the full potential of AI while keeping society safe. Public engagement is crucial in this process. People need to be informed about AI’s capabilities and risks to participate in shaping policies that reflect society’s values.

    The stakes are high and AI is advancing rapidly. It’s time for proactive action to ensure we reap the benefits of AI without compromising our safety. But California’s killing of the AI bill also raises a wider question on the increasing power and influence of tech companies, given they raised objections that subsequently led to its veto.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. California’s governor blocked landmark AI safety laws. Here’s why it’s such a key ruling for the future of AI worldwide – https://theconversation.com/californias-governor-blocked-landmark-ai-safety-laws-heres-why-its-such-a-key-ruling-for-the-future-of-ai-worldwide-240182

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: From a salty breeze to the stench of sewage, here’s how smell affects our ocean experience and reflects changing seas

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jieling Xiao, Reader in Architecture and Sensory Environments, School of Architecture and Design, Birmingham City University

    Happy Together/Shutterstock

    Apart from the breathtaking sight of vast blue waters or the rhythmic sound of crashing waves, the vivid smell of the sea ties us to the rhythms of nature and the ebb and flow of the tides. The salty freshness of a coastal breeze or the distinctive scent of seaweed can transport us back to memories of seaside holidays, fishing trips, or childhood adventures.

    A “smellscape” is the perceived smell environment which can be fleeting or may build over time, depending on our past experiences and backgrounds.

    My research investigates how smells trigger feelings, imaginations and memories in places. As geographer Paul W. Rodaway noted 30 years ago, “olfaction gives us not just a sensuous geography of places and spatial relationships, but also an emotional one of love and hate, pain and joy, attachment and alienation”.

    There’s no single ocean smell. Smellscapes of the sea are multi-layered; they are shaped by interactions between water, marine life and environmental conditions. Every time we breathe in sea air, we receive information from the marine environment – the chemicals generated from the ecological processes or contaminants produced by human activities.

    Swimming, sailing, even just building a sandcastle – the ocean benefits our physical and mental wellbeing. Curious about how a strong coastal connection helps drive marine conservation, scientists are diving in to investigate the power of blue health.

    This article is part of a series, Vitamin Sea, exploring how the ocean can be enhanced by our interaction with it.

    The main chemical that contributes to that distinctive sea smell is dimethyl sulphide. This volatile organic compound containing sulphur that’s present in air and water in all marine areas.

    Dimethyl sulphide, along with the evaporation of salty sea spray, creates that sharp, tangy smell that’s synonymous with the coastal experience. The concentration of dimethyl sulphide depends on many biological processes in the ocean. Marine algae produce a chemical called dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) which helps regulate their internal conditions during times of environmental stress. When algae die, that DMSP is released into the surrounding water where bacteria and enzymes convert it into dimethyl sulphide.

    The Moon also affects the smell of the sea because the growth of algae changes with the tides. American marine biologist Rachel Carson described the impact of moon cycle on the ocean smell in her book The Sea Around Us (1951):

    …for a time each spring, the waters may become blotched with brown, jellylike masses, and the fishermen’s nets come up dripping a brown slime and containing no fish, for the herring have turned away from these waters as though in loathing of the viscid, foul-smelling algae. But in less time than passes between the full moon and the new, the spring flowering of Phaeocystis is past and the waters have cleared again.

    Changing smells reflect the changes in dynamics between marine life, water, the atmosphere and human activities. The foul smell from algae indicates decomposition and anaerobic activity in the water. The smell of decay often accompanies oxygen-deprived environments where organic matter breaks down. Monitoring the olfactory signals of ecosystems, such as the concentration of dimethyl sulphide or the smell of decaying algae, can provide insights into the health of marine environments and signal potential problems like low oxygen levels or contamination.

    Scientists have started to explore the impact of climate change on the sea smells. Recent research by Matthew Salter, a marine biogeochemist at Stockholm University, investigates the volatile organic compounds (gaseous chemicals) emitted by cyanobacteria and other plankton that inhabit coastlines of the Baltic Sea. His team studies how these chemicals contribute to the formation of aerosols leading to climate change.

    Researchers at Stockholm University explain how the smell of the sea is linked to the climate.

    Saving healthy smellscapes

    Preserving the natural scents of the sea requires concerted efforts to reduce sewage pollution and plastic waste reaching the sea. That involves promoting sustainable fishing practices and urban development, and mitigating climate change that causes extreme weather and rising sea levels that threaten marine habitats and coastal landscapes. Oceans are becoming more acidic as more carbon dioxide enters the atmosphere.

    New findings suggest that ocean acidification may affect how sea creatures detect smells, which, in turn, affects their ability to detect predators, find food and track mates.



    Read more:
    Oceans may become too acidic for animals to smell their way around

    Melting ice caps and thawing permafrost are also releasing bacteria and other microbes that have been dormant for thousands or even millions of years. So how the sea smellscapes might change over the coming decades and centuries is unpredictable.

    Meanwhile, creatives are pioneering ways to document ocean smellscapes. In the tidalectics project, Norwegian chemist Sissel Tolaas collected oceanic smells from the Caribbean and the Pacific coasts of Costa Rica, analysed the key chemicals and reproduced them. At her exhibition, she presented smells from waves to pollution to alert people about ecological change through their noses.

    Researcher and artist Kate Mclean creates maps to illustrate smellscapes. In Newport, a seaside city on Rhode Island in the US, she documented the ocean-based smells to build a visual-olfactory catalogue. Different colour codes represent different collective responses to smells from people who joined Mclean on a smell walk. Blue lines show ocean smells spreading across the island as they are encountered frequently by residents and visitors.

    As the environment changes, documenting smellscapes of the ocean could provide insight into the state of our seas and our relationship with coastal waters. So next time you take a breath of fresh air, by the sea or otherwise, take a moment to think about scent ecology. Our relationships with smells play a crucial role in connecting us to nature and telling us more about the health of our oceans.

    Jieling Xiao 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. From a salty breeze to the stench of sewage, here’s how smell affects our ocean experience and reflects changing seas – https://theconversation.com/from-a-salty-breeze-to-the-stench-of-sewage-heres-how-smell-affects-our-ocean-experience-and-reflects-changing-seas-239022

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Research shows our understanding of ‘posh’ words is all wrong

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Natalie Braber, Professor, Linguistics, School of Arts and Humanities, Nottingham Trent University

    Language use complicates the already-complex nature of class identity. Diane Bondareff/Shutterstock

    If you live in the UK or are familiar with its wide range of accents and dialects, you can probably tell the difference between a posh or upper-class accent, (think the “King’s English”) and one more associated with the working class (such as Cockney).

    Besides accents, it is a popular view, reinforced in media and pop culture, that certain words are used specifically by people of certain classes. For example, in the book Watching the English, social anthropologist Kate Fox comments that the word “sofa” is used by upper-middle-class speakers or above.

    In the 1950s, Alan Ross, a professor of linguistics at the University of Birmingham, claimed to identify behaviour that distinguished England’s upper classes from the rest of society. These included, among other things, not playing tennis in braces and an aversion to high tea.

    He also identified features of pronunciation, grammar and use of specific words which he thought differed. This was not based on empirical research, but solely on his own perceptions (“armchair linguistics”). While Ross’s claims are often referenced in the media, there has not been much research to see if these views hold up today.

    Through two studies carried out with our colleagues George Bailey and Eddie O’Hara Brown, we tried to find out. We investigated the use of words that Ross and others have identified as indicators of class: the supposedly upper-class words loo, napkin and sofa, with their supposedly non-upper-class counterparts, toilet, serviette and settee.

    In the first study, we used spot-the-difference tasks to prompt 80 participants of different ages, genders and social classes to say these words. For example, “the sofa is a different colour in that picture” or “the toilet is green in the left picture and white in the right one”. This meant that participants were focused more on the task than the actual words, so we were able to examine their natural usage.



    Read more:
    When did class stop predicting who people vote for in Britain? Know Your Place podcast

    While the supposedly upper-class napkin and sofa were more common than serviette or settee, the supposedly non-upper-class toilet was more common than loo. For example, where napkin was used by 72 participants, only 18 used serviette (some speakers used multiple words). This challenges Ross’s claims that words distinguish the upper class from the rest of society. If most people use a word, that word cannot be a reliable indicator of upper classness.

    In terms of social variation, we found that the usage of these words varied, but not in a way associated with social class. For example, there were some interesting results relating to age. While, on the one hand, the reportedly upper-class loo is used more by older speakers, the supposedly non-upper-class serviette and settee are also more commonly used by older speakers.

    Perception of words and class

    We also wanted to examine the perception of these words, as in whether people think certain words are associated with social characteristics, such as education level, professionalism, formality and poshness, which are traits associated with class.

    So, in a second experiment, we asked 100 participants to evaluate several social media posts, asking them to judge the writers. Half of the participants read the “upper-class word” and half read the “non-upper-class” word within an otherwise identical phrase, adapted from genuine posts on social media.

    For example, one message was: “My flatmate went to a wedding and I brought takeaway, was almost done eating before I saw something that looks like a fried egg, put it in my mouth and it was a napkin/serviette. God why me!?”

    From this experiment, we found that the perception of these words is not uniform across social groups. For example, the higher socioeconomic group thought sofa to be more posh, while the lower socioeconomic group perceived settee as more posh.

    There were no perceptual differences between toilet/loo. And serviette was perceived as more posh than napkin, despite being identified by Ross and others as the non-upper-class form.

    Napkin or serviette?
    Shutterstock

    Both of our studies, as well as complementary analysis of the spoken British National Corpus (a 10 million word database of spoken English), show that there is little consistency in the way that each of the investigated variables are used and perceived.

    Of course, this is not to say that there are no class-based vocabulary markers in contemporary British English, or that the effects of such perceptions do not have an effect. As much other linguistic research shows, class-based accent and dialect discrimination are unfortunately still alive and well.

    While the view that some words are posher than others has endured, our findings show that the claims popularised by Ross in the 1950s are not reflected in the reality of England today.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Research shows our understanding of ‘posh’ words is all wrong – https://theconversation.com/research-shows-our-understanding-of-posh-words-is-all-wrong-240362

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: BFI London Film Festival 2024 – a cinema academic’s look at the year ahead on the big screen

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Louis Bayman, Associate Professor in Department of Film Studies, University of Southampton

    This year’s London Film Festival boasted 254 feature and short films, with an all-time high of 44% of the films screened by female and non-binary directors. But the festival’s most newsworthy event concerned a film that wasn’t screened at all.

    To the dismay of its director, Havana Marking, the documentary Undercover: Exposing the Far Right was cancelled at the last minute with festival staff citing safety concerns in the wake of the summer riots. The documentary seeks to expose the political influence of a shadowy US-UK network that promotes racist scientific views. Although it missed out on its opportunity for a theatrical showing, the film is now airing on Channel 4 and is receiving good reviews.

    Like all festivals, there were prizes to be won and the festival jury awarded best feature film to Memoir of a Snail. This is the first time that a stop-motion animation has won the award. Directed by Adam Elliot and featuring the voice of Succession star Sarah Snook, the jury praised it as “emotionally resonant and constantly surprising”, adding that it “tackles pertinent issues such as bullying, loneliness and grief head-on.”



    Read more:
    Overtly handmade and so very moving: Adam Elliot’s Memoir of A Snail is a stop motion triumph

    This may turn out to be an unpopular decision with critics, given how many of them complained about the emotional nature of the festival’s opening night gala film, Steve McQueen’s wartime drama Blitz. McQueen’s genius for realising the restrictive nature of particular historical moments is always achieved with a special intensity, whether with Irish political prisoners in Hunger or the pre-emancipation US of 12 Years a Slave.

    Blitz takes as its setting three days in London in 1940, featuring a child who manages to flee evacuation and has to find his way through a bombed-out London back home to his mother. The film even alludes to Charles Dickens as the boy tries to dodge the ne’er-do-wells of the city streets.

    The boy is bi-racial and the film’s representation of the Black life of the city is a corrective to more commonplace images of a monocultural wartime Britain. But its family drama conjures more pathos than is usual for McQueen. The film thus revises, if not destroys, the myth of national unity that has grown up around the blitz. It incorporates racial and class divisions but the critical consensus seemed to be that its sentimentality let the film down.

    Alternatively, The Apprentice, the true story of the rise of Donald Trump under the tutelage of cutthroat lawyer Roy Cohn, showed considerable restraint depicting its uniquely polarising protagonist. The film finds Trump dodging lawsuits in the crisis-ridden New York of the 1970s, only to prosper in the greed-is-good real estate boom of the 1980s.

    Sebastian Stan’s Trump avoids caricature, almost garnering affection before eventually becoming the babbling fountain of profound vacuity that we recognise today. With excellent performances from Jeremy Strong as Cohn and Maria Bakalova as Ivana Trump the film succeeds most as a revisitation of the iconic images of New York’s modern history through the prism of Trump. This revisitation occurs first in its retro imitation of early Martin Scorsese films and then with the grain of a boardroom melodrama shot on VHS.

    The festival also included some righteously powerful political denunciations.

    The Seed of the Sacred Fig deserves special mention as an acutely powerful portrait of a family undergoing the increasingly suspenseful stirrings of rebellion amid the “women, life, freedom” protests in Iran.

    I’m Still Here, a return to directing from City of God’s Walter Salles, presents the intersection of the personal and the political in a very different way. The film tells the true story of the leftwing congressman Rubens Paiva’s disappearance by the Brazilian military dictatorship in 1971 and the heartbreaking tension of his family’s life-long search for answers.

    Other notable returns from veteran directors included Mike Leigh’s depiction of the struggles of mental illness in Hard Truths, a blend of social realism and fairytale set in Gravesend, and Pedro Almodóvar’s first English-language film The Room Next Door. Two films that achieved a particular buzz among festival attendees and that are set to achieve a wide general release are Anora, Sean Baker’s comedy drama about a mismatched marriage between a lapdancer and a Russian oligarch’s son, and Conclave, set around the choosing of a new Pope starring Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci.

    I had some personal favourites of the films that garnered fewer headlines. The first is All We Imagine As Light, an allusive portrait of the dislocating effects of modern city life among three female friends in Mumbai. Another is Four Mothers, a remake of the Italian comedy Mid-August Lunch transposed to Ireland. Featuring an aspiring writer whose friends go on holiday and leave their elderly mothers for him to look after, its blend of humour and sensitivity achieves exquisite delicacy.

    And finally, The Surfer wins my award for the cinema’s potential for delirious incoherence. Set entirely in a car park overlooking a beach, this comedy-thriller-folk horror explores suburban aspirational masculinity through a characteristically demented star turn by Nicolas Cage.


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

    Louis Bayman 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. BFI London Film Festival 2024 – a cinema academic’s look at the year ahead on the big screen – https://theconversation.com/bfi-london-film-festival-2024-a-cinema-academics-look-at-the-year-ahead-on-the-big-screen-242049

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: IMF isn’t doing enough to support Africa: billions could be made available through special drawing rights

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Kevin P. Gallagher, Professor of Global Development Policy and Director, Global Development Policy Center, Boston University

    At the 2021 UN Climate Summit, Barbados prime minister Mia Mottley called for more and better use of special drawing rights (SDRs), the International Monetary Fund’s reserve asset.

    The special drawing right is an international reserve asset created by the IMF. It is not a currency – its value is based on a basket of five currencies, the biggest chunk of which is the US dollar, followed by the euro. It is a potential claim on the freely usable currencies of IMF members. Special drawing rights can provide a country with liquidity.

    Countries can use their special drawing rights to pay back IMF loans, or they can exchange them for foreign currencies.

    As Mottley is the newest president of the Climate Vulnerable Forum and Vulnerable Group of 20 (V20) finance ministers, which represents 68 climate-vulnerable countries that are among those with the most dire liquidity needs, including 32 African countries, her call would be directly beneficial to African countries.

    In August 2021, as the shock from the COVID-19 pandemic battered their economies, African countries received a lifeline of US$33 billion from special drawing rights. This amounts to more than all the climate finance Africa receives each year, and more than half of all annual official development assistance to Africa.

    This US$33 billion did not add to African countries’ debt burden, it did not come with any conditions, and it did not cost donors a single cent to provide.

    IMF members can vote to create new issuances of special drawing rights. They are then distributed to countries in proportion to their quotas in the IMF. Quotas are denominated in special drawing rights, the IMF’s unit of account.

    Quotas are the building blocks of the IMF’s financial and governance structure. An individual member country’s quota broadly reflects its relative position in the world economy. Thus, by design, the poorest and most vulnerable countries receive the least when it comes to quotas and voting shares.

    Special drawing rights cannot solve all of Africa’s economic challenges. And their highly technical nature means they are not always well understood. But at a time when African countries are facing chronic liquidity challenges – most countries in the region are spending more on debt service payments than they are on health, education, or climate change – our new research shows that special drawing rights can play an important role in establishing financial stability and enabling investments for development.

    Financial stability includes macroeconomic stability (such as low inflation, healthy balance of payments, sufficient foreign reserves), a strong financial system and resilience to shocks.

    African leaders are approaching a critical year-long opportunity: in November, the first Group of 20 (G20) summit will convene (with the African Union in attendance as a member for the first time). Then in December South Africa assumes the G20 presidency.



    Read more:
    South Africa will be president of the G20 in 2025: two much-needed reforms it should drive

    As African leaders advocate for reforms to the international financial architecture, maximising the potential of special drawing rights should be a central component of their agenda.

    The problem

    African countries’ finances are facing tough times. External debt in sub-Saharan Africa has tripled since 2008. The average government is now spending 12% of its revenue on external debt service. The COVID-19 pandemic, Russia’s war in Ukraine, and rises in interest rates and the prices of commodities, like food and fertiliser, have all contributed to this trend.

    Debt restructuring mechanisms have also proved inadequate. Countries like Zambia and Ghana got stuck in lengthy restructurings. Weak institutional capacity and poor governance also impede efficient use of public resources.

    At the same time, African economies need to increase investment to advance development, support a young and growing population, develop climate resilience and take advantage of the opportunity presented by the energy transition.

    To meet the resources for a just energy transition and the attainment of the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, investment in climate and development will have to increase from around 24% of GDP (the average for Africa in 2022) to 37%.

    Special drawing rights have proved to be an important tool in addressing these challenges. Research by the IMF and others shows that African countries significantly benefited from the special drawing rights they received in 2021 to stabilise their economies. And this happened without worsening debt burdens or costing advanced economies any money, particularly as they cut development aid.

    However, advanced economies exercise significant control over the availability of special drawing rights. The IMF’s quota system determines both voting power and their distribution. Advanced economies control most of the IMF’s quotas.

    The advanced economies made the right decision in 2021 and in 2009 to issue new special drawing rights and the time has come again.

    The solution

    African and other global south leaders need to make a strong case for another issuance of special drawing rights at the IMF and World Bank meetings in Washington.

    In addition to a new issuance of special drawing rights, advanced economies still need to be pressured to re-channel the hundreds of billions of special drawing rights sitting idle on their balance sheets into productive purposes.

    The 2021 allocation of special drawing rights amounted to US$650 billion in total. But only US$33 billion went to African countries due to the IMF’s unequal quota distribution. Meanwhile advanced economies with powerful currencies and no need for special drawing rights received the lion’s share.

    The African Development Bank has spearheaded one such proposal alongside the Inter-American Development Bank. Under this plan, countries with unused special drawing rights could re-channel them to the African Development Bank as hybrid capital, allowing the bank to lend around $4 for each $1 of special drawing rights it receives.

    The IMF approved the use of special drawing rights as hybrid capital for multilateral development banks in May. But it set an excessively low limit of 15 billion special drawing rights across all multilateral development banks.

    Even so, advanced economies have been slow to re-channel special drawing rights. The close to $100 billion that have been re-channelled – mostly to IMF trust funds – is meaningful.

    But it still falls short of what should have been re-channelled.

    In the long term, IMF governance reforms are needed to avoid a repeat of the inefficient distribution of special drawing rights.



    Read more:
    The World Bank and the IMF need to keep reforming to become fit for purpose

    As African countries rightly push to change shortcomings of the international financial architecture, new special drawing rights issuances should be at the centre of such a strategy. The IMF’s 2021 special drawing rights issuance showed the tool’s scale and importance. And special drawing rights re-channelling has had positive effects in easing debt burdens and freeing up financing to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

    With 2030 approaching and the window shrinking for climate action, global leaders should be using all the tools at their disposal, including special drawing rights, to build a more resilient future.

    Abebe Shimeles received funding from African Economic Research Consortium. He is affiliated with Institute of Labor Studies, IZA

    Kevin P. Gallagher 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. IMF isn’t doing enough to support Africa: billions could be made available through special drawing rights – https://theconversation.com/imf-isnt-doing-enough-to-support-africa-billions-could-be-made-available-through-special-drawing-rights-241428

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How to stay safe in cyberspace: 5 essential reads

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Natasha Joseph, Commissioning Editor

    We spend a lot of our time online, making us vulnerable to scammers. Media Lens King

    Whether we’re socialising, shopping, banking, studying or working, billions of people around the world spend hours each day online.

    This digital immersion has many benefits – and plenty of pitfalls, too. Here are just a few of the articles we’ve published by academics who specialise in various aspects of online safety. They’re packed full of cautionary tales and expert advice for keeping your digital spaces safe.

    Identifying online scams

    Think it’s only the digitally unsophisticated who get trapped by online scammers? Think again. Cybersecurity expert Thembekile Olivia Mayayise warns that even some of the most seasoned internet users she knows have fallen prey to phishing scams. They hand over sensitive information like login credentials and credit card details to “seasoned and cunning scammers who have honed their skills in the world of phishing over an extended period. Some work alone; others belong to syndicates.”



    Read more:
    Phishing scams: 7 safety tips from a cybersecurity expert

    ‘Academies’ for would-be cybercriminals

    Given that some people make a career out of running online scams, it shouldn’t be a surprise that there’s a market for training aspirant cyber crooks. Cybercrime scholars Suleman Lazarus and Mark Button shine a spotlight on west Africa’s “hustle kingdoms”, which are becoming common in Ghana and Nigeria. At these informal academies, people are taught to carry out digital scams. Sextortion – coercing victims into sharing sexually explicit content and threatening to make it public if the scammer is not paid – is one such strategy.



    Read more:
    Hustle academies: west Africa’s online scammers are training others in fraud and sextortion

    The psychology of scammers

    Luckily, researchers are developing new ways to understand the psychology of online scammers. Rennie Naidoo, a professor of information systems, explains how behavioural science and data science could join forces to combat cybercrime. While data science can be used to identify patterns that indicate potential cyber threats, he points out, it cannot recognise the human factors that drive cybercriminal behaviour. That’s where behavioural science comes in.



    Read more:
    Catching online scammers: our model combines data and behavioural science to map the psychological games cybercriminals play

    Truth and lies on the internet

    Disinformation and misinformation have become depressingly common in online spaces. Misinformation arises from people unwittingly spreading falsehoods; disinformation involves the deliberate, planned dissemination of lies. Fabrice Lollia’s experience as a disinformation expert means he’s well placed to offer handy tips for sorting lies from truth.



    Read more:
    Social media: Disinformation expert offers 3 safety tips in a time of fake news and dodgy influencers

    Keeping kids safe online

    It’s not just adults who are at risk online. Children are, in many respects, more vulnerable than their parents and caregivers even though they tend to have a better practical grasp of internet technology than previous generations. Lucy Jamieson, Heidi Matisonn and Wakithi Mabaso have researched various aspects of the ethics of new and emerging technologies, with a focus on how children are affected. The trio provide practical, simple advice for helping children navigate the risks, identify the ethical pitfalls and enjoy the benefits of social media platforms.



    Read more:
    Children and the internet: helping kids navigate this modern minefield

    – ref. How to stay safe in cyberspace: 5 essential reads – https://theconversation.com/how-to-stay-safe-in-cyberspace-5-essential-reads-240561

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: Navy’s Third Operational F-35C Lightning II Squadron Achieves Safe For Flight Certification

    Source: United States Navy

    The F-35C enhances the carrier strike group’s ability to project power, supporting U.S. national security and integrating seamlessly with other carrier air wing assets.

    “I couldn’t be more proud of the Winder Team for this achievement,” said Cmdr. Nathan Staples, VFA-86 Commanding Officer. “Our team has excelled since the transition began in February 2023, and I look forward to our future achievements and the standards we set for the Lightning II community.”

    The squadron’s transition from the F/A-18E Super Hornet, flown for 36 years, began in September 2023. Nearly 200 personnel completed training at Eglin AFB, Fla., and NAS Lemoore, while nine pilots finished their flight syllabus with VFA-125, the Navy’s F-35C Fleet Replacement Squadron, while simultaneously executing tactical training events with Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center and TOPGUN.

    After achieving several key milestones, including a perfect score on the Conventional Weapons Technical Proficiency Inspection and the highest Maintenance Program Assist inspection score, VFA-86 earned Interim Safe for Flight certification in June 2024. In July, they conducted their first embarked operations aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68), culminating in Full Safe for Flight certification.

    “Our success is due to proactive management, engaged leadership, and a can-do attitude,” said AFCM Rich Brickey, VFA-86 Maintenance Master Chief. “Our Sailors have excelled in every metric and will continue to do so whenever called upon.”

    Established in 1951, VFA-86 has flown nine different aircraft and supported combat operations in Vietnam, Bosnia, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria. As the Navy’s newest F-35C squadron, the Sidewinders remain committed to their motto: “When diplomacy fails… 86 ’em!”

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper Applauds $162 Million in Inflation Reduction Act Funding for Colorado’s LongPath to Help Stop Methane Leaks

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Colorado John Hickenlooper

    Today’s news finalizes the initial agreement announced in January

    Funding comes thanks the Inflation Reduction Act Hickenlooper helped pass into law

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper celebrated the news that Colorado-based LongPath Technologies received a $162.3 million loan guarantee from the Department of Energy (DOE) to finance the construction and installation of more than 1,000 remote real-time methane monitoring towers in oil and gas production basins across the West. In January, DOE had announced the initial agreement with LongPath Technologies. The funding comes from the Inflation Reduction Act, which Hickenlooper helped pass into law.

    As governor, Hickenlooper brought together environmentalists and the oil industry to create the world’s first methane regulations. Those regulations were used by President Obama as a model for national standards which in turn were used as a basis for the international methane pledge in 2021.

    “As governor, we made sure Colorado led the country with the first methane regulations of their kind,” said Hickenlooper. “We’re building on that leadership to create real-time methane emissions monitoring for the rest of the country thanks to these Inflation Reduction Act investments and our homegrown innovators like LongPath.”

    “Preventing harmful greenhouse emissions from entering our atmosphere is a key pillar of President Biden and Vice President’s Harris’ Investing in America agenda to improve public health while combatting climate change,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “Today’s announcement underscores the Biden-Harris Administration continued efforts to create environmentally resilient communities and ensure the United States leads the world in deploying next-generation clean energy solutions.”

    The financing from DOE’s Loan Programs Office (LPO) will support LongPath in the installation and deployment of up to 24,000 square miles of monitoring coverage. If finalized, the network is expected to prevent methane emissions equivalent to at least six million tons of carbon dioxide annually – equivalent to 1.3 million gasoline powered vehicles – by enabling subscribers to identify and respond to methane leaks quickly. At its peak, the project is anticipated to create an estimated 35 construction jobs and 266 operations jobs for regional workers, including trained experts to install and maintain the equipment, and provide competitive benefits. LongPath also provides internship opportunities with the University of Colorado to engage the future generation in technology-based climate solutions.

    Emissions of methane, a greenhouse gas up to 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide, occur across the oil and gas sector. Leaks during oil and gas production and compression, which are difficult to identify across vast production areas, are a major source of U.S. methane emissions. The longer leaks go undetected, the more planet-warming greenhouse gas enters the atmosphere.

    Today, methane leak monitoring is typically conducted via flyovers or using methods such as optical gas imaging cameras, which can leave major gaps in emissions monitoring over time and space. LongPath’s technology continuously identifies, localizes, and quantifies methane emissions more rapidly and at lower detection levels than conventional methods, allowing operators to mitigate leaks earlier and more often. This is particularly true because emissions are intermittent – only continuous monitoring can reliably detect these kinds of emission sources.

    LongPath technology was developed at the University of Colorado and the National Institutes of Standards and Technology (NIST).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects: new advice page on Good Design

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The Planning Inspectorate has published a brand-new advice page on Good Design.

    This advice explains why good design is important, what success might look like and how it might be delivered in applications for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects. It is aimed mainly at applicants but will benefit all participants in the Planning Act 2008 process.

    Advice on Good Design is available under the heading Advice on design and technical matters within our advice collection.

    Our phased approach to advice updates

    As previously communicated, we are updating our advice collection in three phases. The first set of updated advice (phase one) was published in August 2024. The second set of updated advice (phase two) was published in September 2024.

    Our new advice on Good Design is published in advance of the third set of updated advice (phase 3) which is now expected to follow next year.

    The Planning Inspectorate will issue further news on the progress of this work in due course.

    Updates to this page

    Published 23 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Call for evidence: An inspection of General Maritime

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration invites anyone with knowledge and experience of General Maritime to submit evidence for the inspection.

    The Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration has begun an inspection of General Maritime, with the aim of identifying what improvements Border Force is able to make in the short-term (18-24 months) within existing resources, including through efficiencies, reorganisation, and reprioritisation. 

    For the purposes of this inspection, ‘General Maritime’ is understood to include: 

    • (a) all non-scheduled (not on a regular route) international maritime traffic arriving at an un-canalised location (one with no customs or immigration controls or no port approval, for example small harbours, marinas, beaches) 

    • (b) scheduled un-canalised international non-passenger services, whether commercial or pleasure 

    and encompasses yachts, tugs, rigid-hull inflatable boats (RHIBs), motorboats and small fishing vessels, as well as larger vessels where (a) or (b) apply. 

    This inspection will focus on: 

    • the levels of General Maritime-related operational activity nationally and regionally  

    • Border Force’s resourcing of General Maritime operational activity  

    • the outcomes from operational activity  

    • stakeholder engagement  

    • the ‘Submit a Pleasure Craft Report’ (sPCR) process  

    • a review of the previous ICIBI recommendations for Project Kraken 

    This call for evidence will remain open until Thursday 7 November 2024. 

    The Independent Chief Inspector invites anyone with knowledge and experience of General Maritime to submit evidence to inform this inspection and would be pleased to hear both what is working well and what could be improved. Submissions touching on any and all areas of interest, including those that may not be mentioned above, are therefore welcome. 

    Please note that the ICIBI’s statutory remit does not extend to investigating or making decisions about individual cases. This remains a Home Office responsibility. However, the Independent Chief Inspector can take an interest in individual cases to the extent that they illustrate or point to systemic problems. 

    Please also note that the information you submit may be quoted in the final inspection report. However, it is the ICIBI’s practice not to name sources and to anonymise as much as possible any examples or case studies. 

    Please click here to email your submission to the Independent Chief Inspector. 

    Data Protection 

    Information on how we process personal data submitted in response to a call for evidence can be found in the ICIBI privacy information notice available on the ICIBI website. 

    David Bolt, Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration 

    23 October 2024

    Updates to this page

    Published 23 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Travelling Cabinet to visit South Ayrshire

    Source: Scottish Government

    Ayr to host public discussion with Cabinet.

    Residents of South Ayrshire will have the chance to put questions to First Minister John Swinney and his Cabinet on Monday 4 November when the 53rd Travelling Cabinet arrives in Ayr.

    The Cabinet will meet at Ayr Town Hall to discuss local issues and hear opinions from the community. Residents are invited to book their place for the meeting in advance.

    Ahead of the public discussion, the First Minister and Cabinet Secretaries will visit local businesses and community projects to highlight the Scottish Government’s four key priorities:

    • eradicating child poverty
    • building prosperity
    • protecting the planet
    • improving public services

    First Minister John Swinney said:

    “I am looking forward to visiting South Ayrshire and hearing directly from the community about the issues that matter most and how we can improve its future.

    “We will see first-hand the multitude of commendable projects that have made a positive impact on people’s lives in the area and match this Government’s key priorities.

    “I would encourage residents to get involved, ask questions, and share their insights. This is a moment for their voices to be heard.

    “Connecting with communities across the country enables us to make informed decisions as we strive to create a wealthier, fairer and greener Scotland.”

    Background

    Registration details for the public discussion can be found on Eventbrite (Ministers Touring Scotland – Ayr Tickets, Mon, Nov 4, 2024 at 2:30 PM | Eventbrite)

    52 Travelling Cabinets have been held since 2008.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: City service for children in care and care leavers funds vital opportunities through music

    Source: City of Stoke-on-Trent

    Published: Wednesday, 23rd October 2024

    A Stoke-on-Trent service which supports looked after children has funded vital music opportunities for children in care.

    Stoke-on-Trent’s Virtual School helps children and young people in care and previously in care to do as well as they possibly can in their education. They offer information and advice to parents, carers and schools for children previously in care who attend schools in the city.

    The lessons are for children in care are for school years 4, 5, 6 to receive vocal or instrumental lessons through the city council run City Music Service. 

    Councillor Sarah Hill, cabinet member for children’s services said: “This is an amazing offer from our Virtual School. For many pupils this is more than just a music lesson, it’s targeted early intervention.

    “Both the Virtual School and the City Music Service have done some fantastic work supporting children in the city through this scheme. This is a chance for these pupils to shine and have fun alongside building their confidence and communication skills. The lessons involve fun alongside lessons and we’ve had some great feedback from schools where pupils have developed their confidence as a result of these lessons.”

    The City Music Service was established in 2002 to give children and young people the chance to learn songs and musical skills in a fun environment and to perform together at public concerts. Songbirds progress to the City Youth Choir which promotes singing for 11 to 19-year-olds. The City Music Service works in partnership with Stoke-on-Trent schools to offer a wide variety of musical opportunities for over 8000 young people aged 2–18 each week.

    Councillor Sarah Jane Colclough, cabinet member for education: “I’d like to thank the Virtual School and the City Music Service for all their hard work supporting children in the city.”

    “The City Music Service is always very popular and it’s a great way to celebrate the fantastic musical talent of young people in our city. These music lessons funded by the Virtual School will be incredibly beneficial to our children in care, giving them opportunities they might otherwise not have.”

    For more information on the Virtual School, residents can visit www.stoke.gov.uk/virtualschool. Anyone who wants to find out more about the City Music Service can go to https://stokecms.org.uk/

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Cremyll ferry service not running this Thursday

    Source: City of Plymouth

    During a review of the slipway at Mount Edgcumbe, Plymouth City Council surveyors identified cracks that needed to be repaired. Whilst plans were being put in place to carry out the works, a further survey was carried out following the recent bad weather. The surveyors found that the storms have caused further deterioration beneath the slipway and repairs now need to be carried out more urgently.

    Whilst we determine the scope of the additional damage and understand what repairs are necessary, it does mean that from tomorrow the slipway will be closed. We are currently working with the operator of the Cremyll Ferry to identify an alternative landing location and we are hopeful that this will be in place in the coming days.  

    However tomorrow, Thursday 24 October, the Ferry service will be suspended. We will provide further updates when we know more.

    Ferry passengers are encouraged to check the operator’s website for more information: www.plymouthboattrips.co.uk

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Forum for Regeneration revived

    Source: City of Plymouth

    Plymouth Regeneration Forum has been re-formed and revitalised after a hiatus of five years to help the city work together to face development challenges and opportunities.

    The forum was set up in the early 2000s off the back of the Mackay Vision and in recognition of the role partners play in turning that vision for the city into a reality.

    The forum has been revived by the Council and legal firm Womble Bond Dickinson as a way to catch up with key investors, landowners and other development stakeholders and to discuss planning issues affecting the city.  It comprises architects, surveyors, developers, funders and planners active in and committed to Plymouth.

    The intent is to facilitate better relationships between the Council and the development industry through genuine partnership and collaborative approaches to deliver service excellence within the city.

    The last meeting was in 2019 and in the intervening years there has been a pandemic, lockdowns, Brexit, several prime ministers, a change of government as well as huge and enduring pressures on developers due to massive increases in construction costs and a skills shortage.

    The forum is about a two-way exchange of ideas and information. It is a chance to discuss relevant planning issues affecting the city and to act as an opportunity to be kept informed of the work that the Council is doing as well as hearing from the development industry about issues that are relevant to the Council.

    Councillor Mark Coker, Cabinet Member with responsibility for planning said: “So much has happened in the last few years and there are so many bold, exciting and taunting challenges for councils and developers with the new Government setting out its intentions to speed up the delivery of much needed homes

    “This can only be a good thing for the city. We are all committed to a better Plymouth and this will help strengthen relationships to provide a better business and investment climate in Plymouth.”

    The knowledge and know-how of forum members will help the Council develop workable planning, regeneration, design, transport and net zero policies that will help deliver the much-needed increase in pace of development activity in Plymouth, but ensuring quality is also at the heart of progress.

    At the first revived meeting, Paul Barnard, Service Director for Strategic Planning and Infrastructure at the Council, gave progress updates on public realm and transport projects, Plan for Homes 4 and planning application trends and performance. Paul said: “With the massive pressure for new homes, further planning reforms on the horizon and acute challenges in development capacity and viability, the need for collaboration has never been greater. I think is a great move for the city.”

    Christopher Stephens, Managing Associate at Womble Bond Dickinson said: “We are thrilled to have been able to support the Council in bringing the highly regarded Regeneration Forum back to the Plymouth business landscape.

    “This provides the Council with an opportunity to present their vision of, and priorities for, the city and for the delegates there is an opportunity to stress test those principles and to talk about possible constraints to delivery. I felt we had a very good first session with excellent content delivery and robust discussion. We look forward to supporting Plymouth City Council in future and on a regular basis.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Visitors advised to plan ahead for Derry Halloween

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Visitors advised to plan ahead for Derry Halloween

    23 October 2024

    With just a week to go until Europe’s biggest Halloween Festival, Derry City and Strabane District Council has released the latest traffic and travel information to ensure visitors avoid any unnecessary delays or diversions.

    Over 100,000 visitors attend the annual festival, which runs from Monday October 28th – Thursday 31st, and a range of measures will be introduced to keep traffic flowing and disruption to a minimum for everyone. These include road closures, parking restrictions and some diversions, so it’s best to plan ahead to ensure easy access to all the events.

    These arrangements will also assist with the safe delivery of the event, and everyone is asked to follow the directions of stewards and police.

    People are advised to use public transport where possible, with additional services being operated by Translink on Halloween night, both to and from the city and local services.

    Motorists are advised to expect some delays and diversions in the City Centre during the four nights of the event. From Monday October 28th – Wednesday October 30th Road Closures will operate from 2pm until 10pm in the following areas to accommodate the Awakening the Walled City Trail. All times are approximate, but road closures and diversions will be kept to the minimum length necessary to ensure safety.

    Road Closures:

    Bank Place, Union Hall Street, Magazine Street, Magazine Street Upper, Butcher Street, Shipquay Street, Ferryquay Street, Bishop Street within, Palace Street, Pump Street, The Diamond, London Street, Artillery Street, Fountain Street. No City Centre on-Street parking with exception of Shipquay Street until 11am.

    Please note that public realm works are currently underway around the front of the Guildhall, pedestrians are asked to please follow the signage in this area.

    Car Park Closures 28th October – 1st November:

    • Bishop Street Car Park will close to general parking to accommodate motorhome parking 
    • Ebrington Car Park

    Monday October 28th, Tuesday 29th and Wednesday 30th

    • Society Street Car Park
    • Victoria Market Car Park (limited accessible only Car parking)

    Thursday October 31st

    • Queens Quay and Strand Road Car Park will be closed on the 31st October.
    • Strand Road Car Park will offer accessible parking only
    • Victoria Market Car Park – limited accessible parking only

    Car Parking availability

    Drivers are reminded that normal on street parking restrictions will be in place and people should avoid parking anywhere they may be blocking entrances to residences or businesses or where they may be obstructing emergency access.

    Parking is available at a number of locations throughout the City:

    Cityside carparks – Foyleside Shopping Centre Car Park East, Foyleside West and Quayside Shopping Centre, Foyle Road, Magee Campus (Lawrence Hill), Carlisle Road and William Street.

    Waterside carparks – Foyle Arena, Spencer Road, Oakgrove School, Duke Street and Former Waterside Health Centre Car Parks.

    From October 28-30 the Council Car Park on Strand Road will be open to the public.

    Fort George Car Park will be open to the public on October 31st only for event car parking.

    Victoria Market will be an accessible car park only from 28th – 31st October and will operate on a first come, first served basis. 

    Strand Road car park will be an accessible car park only on the 31st October also operating on a first come, first served basis.

    On Halloween night itself the annual Carnival Parade will leave the Council carpark at 7pm. The parade is followed by the Halloween Fireworks Finale over the River Foyle at 8.15pm. 

    Please note that in the interests of health and safety, the Peace Bridge will be closed from 7pm in advance of the display, reopening at 8.45pm.

    A quiet space will be available in the Guildhall each day from 12noon – 9pm (10pm 31st), and parents and carers can also pick up ID Me safety wrist bands at the Guildhall information point.

    For anyone with accessibility requirements, a full guide to available support is available here – https://derryhalloween.com/about/accessibility/

    Translink will run additional services to the city centre throughout the event. For information on Translink bus and rail services to and from the city go to https://www.translink.co.uk/

    Festival and Events Manager with Derry City and Strabane District Council, Jacqueline Whoriskey, said regular updates will be provided on social media. “With the numbers expected this year I would advise that visitors check out all the traffic and travel information so they can prepare ahead. Regular updates will be posted on the Derry Halloween and Council social media platforms throughout the festival.

    “I would recommend downloading our Whats On Derry Strabane app – this will give you the lowdown on all that’s going on and all the information you need to plan your journey.

    “I would also appeal to everyone to follow the guidance of our stewards and the PSNI – they are there to keep the event running smoothly and everyone safe. We are so looking forward to the event this year but we need everyone to play their part and help us deliver a safe and enjoyable celebration.”

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

    You can find all the details about traffic and travel and the full programme on derryhalloween.com

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: State Electricity Profiles updated with 2023 data

    Source: US Energy Information Administration

    Petroleum & Other Liquids

    Crude oil, gasoline, heating oil, diesel, propane, and other liquids including biofuels and natural gas liquids.

    Natural Gas

    Exploration and reserves, storage, imports and exports, production, prices, sales.

    Electricity

    Sales, revenue and prices, power plants, fuel use, stocks, generation, trade, demand & emissions.

    Coal

    Reserves, production, prices, employment and productivity, distribution, stocks, imports and exports.

    Total Energy

    Comprehensive data summaries, comparisons, analysis, and projections integrated across all energy sources.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: City Plan 2030 nearing adoption

    Source: Scotland – City of Edinburgh

    Our bold plan for sustainable development in the Capital has passed another milestone after the Planning Committee agreed it today (Wednesday, 23 October).

    This follows Scottish Ministers giving Council the go ahead to adopt the plan with minor changes. It will now be considered for final approval at Council on Thursday 7 November.  

    Cllr James Dalgleish Planning Convener said:

    “I’m delighted that Committee has agreed our bold and ambitious City Plan 2030.  It will allow us to guide sustainable development across Edinburgh after being considered by all councillors in a couple of weeks.

    “When approved, it will help us meet the very real challenges of climate change and population growth. The plan will help us use brownfield land where we can rather than using precious greenfield field sites and after declaring a housing emergency last year it is very important it proposes to increase the affordable housing requirement for new development to 35%.”

    Published: October 23rd 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Vermonters Have One Month to Apply for Federal Assistance Following July Storms

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Vermonters Have One Month to Apply for Federal Assistance Following July Storms

    Vermonters Have One Month to Apply for Federal Assistance Following July Storms

    Vermonters impacted by July’s severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides have one more month to apply for federal disaster assistance, which may include housing repair grants from FEMA or low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration. The application deadline is November 25, 2024.For the July 9-11 disaster, individuals and households in the designated areas of Addison, Caledonia, Chittenden, Essex, Lamoille, Orleans, and Washington counties should apply by the deadline.For the July 29-31 disaster, individuals and households in the designated areas of Caledonia, Essex, and Orleans counties, are also encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Vermonters affected by both July storms should submit separate applications for each event. Survivors who had loss or damage should apply with FEMA even if they don’t have repair estimates or insurance settlements yet. To be considered, people in the impacted areas need to register with FEMA to begin the process. FEMA will work with survivors to identify what information is needed to determine eligibility.“FEMA remains committed to working with our federal, state, and local partners to support Vermont’s immediate and long-term recovery needs and ensure that everyone who is eligible for assistance receives it,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Will Roy.So far, more than $10.2 million total federal assistance has been approved for survivors of the July storms. This includes: $2 million in U.S. Small Business Administration disaster loans approved. Both individuals and businesses are eligible to apply for low-interest disaster loans from SBA. These loans are designed to help long-term recovery, getting survivors back to pre-disaster condition.  For those who would like to speak to a FEMA specialist about applying or have questions about their application and would like to speak to someone face-to-face, three Disaster Recovery Centers are open in Vermont. For information on DRC locations in your area, visit www.fema.gov/drc.There are also three other ways to apply for FEMA: Go online to DisasterAssistance.gov.Call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362. Phone lines operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (in your time zone), seven days a week. Help is available in most languages. If you use video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA your number for that service. For an accessible video on how to apply for assistance go to, youtube.com/watch?v= WZGpWI2RCNw..Download FEMA’s Mobile AppTo Apply to SBA:Apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at sba.gov/disasterCall the SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 from 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or send an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.On October 15, 2024, it was announced that funds for the SBA Disaster Loan Program have been fully expended. While no new SBA Disaster loans can be issued until Congress appropriates additional funding, SBA remains committed to supporting disaster survivors. Applications will continue to be accepted and processed to ensure individuals and businesses are prepared to receive assistance once funding becomes available.
    adrien.urbani
    Wed, 10/23/2024 – 13:45

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Donation sparks TIG welding instruction for high school

    Source: US International Brotherhood of Boilermakers

    We’re incredibly excited and grateful for this donation. The TIG machine gives our students valuable hands-on experience with advanced welding techniques that are in high demand. It’s a game-changer for our program.

    Terry Flowers, FCHS welding instructor

    Southeast Area recruiter Lee Aurand-Hosey and a Lincoln Electric representative worked together to secure a significant donation for the welding program at Fannin County High School in Blue Ridge, Georgia. After Aurand-Hosey brought the issue to the attention of Lincoln Electric, the company donated a state-of-the-art, multi-process welding machine to the high school’s welding program.

    This donation will improve the school’s welding curriculum, giving students access to advanced technology that will enhance their practical skills. The TIG or Tungsten Inert Gas machine allows students to perform precision welding, expanding their career opportunities.

    Aurand-Hosey said the contribution from Lincoln Electric is more than just a machine; it’s a commitment to the future of skilled trades. The equipment will ensure students are prepared with the knowledge and tools they need for success in the welding industry.

    FCHS welding instructor Terry Flowers said this donation will improve the program. “We’re incredibly excited and grateful for this donation,” said Flowers. “The TIG machine gives our students valuable hands-on experience with advanced welding techniques that are in high demand. It’s a game-changer for our program.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NHTSA Announces Model Year 2025 Vehicles for 5-Star Safety Ratings Testing

    Source: US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

    The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced its list of model year 2025 vehicles selected for testing as part of the agency’s 5-Star Safety Ratings under its New Car Assessment Program.  

    The listed vehicles, combined with previously tested models with no significant changes in the new model year, will represent safety ratings for approximately 87% of the new vehicle fleet. This broad cross section will help consumers make purchasing decisions about the vehicles that best fit their needs.  

    Thirty-seven vehicles have been selected for testing this year, including eight electric and hybrid models. The vehicles will be evaluated in a variety of crash scenarios, including frontal, side and rollover crashes. NHTSA also announced the five vehicles it will test to verify the performance of certain advanced driver assistance systems. The technologies for evaluation are lane departure warning, forward collision warning, crash imminent braking and dynamic brake support.  

    “NHTSA is committed to providing the public with the most reliable and up-to-date safety information so they can choose the vehicle that’s right for them,” NHTSA Deputy Administrator Sophie Shulman said. “The 5-Star Safety Ratings program motivates automakers to integrate advanced safety technologies into a wider range of vehicles, helping to save lives and reduce injuries on our nation’s roads.”  

    The vehicle safety ratings, with one star being the lowest and five stars being the highest, will be available at NHTSA.gov/Ratings as well as on the window stickers of new cars when testing is complete. NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program aligns with the Department’s National Roadway Safety Strategy, a comprehensive approach to significantly reducing serious injuries and deaths on our nation’s highways, roads and streets.

    Key: SUV – Sport Utility Vehicle, PU – Pickup, CC – Crew Cab, EC – Extended Cab, PV – Passenger Van, 4 DR – Four Door

    Key: SUV – Sport Utility Vehicle, 4 DR – Four Door

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General James Secures $9.5 Million Judgment Against Unlicensed Cannabis Store Owner in Ontario County

    Source: US State of New York

    NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today secured a $9.5 million judgment against the owner of an unlicensed cannabis dispensary in Ontario County. George West, the owner of the unlicensed dispensary Jaydega 7.0, ignored a June 2023 notice and order from the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) to stop operating without a license. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) and OCM obtained a judicial closing order that shut down Jaydega 7.0 in November 2023. The money judgment secured today requires West to disgorge more than $1 million of illegal profits he got from selling cannabis without a license and pay $8.4 million in penalties for continuing to sell cannabis after being ordered by OCM to stop.

    “The owner of Jaydega 7.0 refused to follow the law and ignored repeated warnings to stop selling cannabis without a license,” said Attorney General James. “Today, George West must pay $9.5 million for violating our laws and hurting local communities. Stores that sell cannabis must abide by rules and regulations just like any other business in New York.”

    New York’s Cannabis Law requires any person who cultivates, processes, or sells any cannabis product to be registered and licensed by the New York State Cannabis Control Board (Cannabis Board). The law imposes a $10,000 penalty for each day an individual sells cannabis without a license, and a $20,000 penalty for each day an individual continues to sell cannabis after receiving an order to cease operating from OCM. Additional revenue-based civil penalties may also be imposed based on the amount of the unlicensed sales. The $9.5 million judgment against West resulted from a combination of disgorgement, administrative fines, daily penalties, and revenue-based penalties for West’s unlicensed activities. 

    George West operated his cannabis store on Main Street in Canandaigua and was selling cannabis without a license since at least September 2022. On June 28, 2023, OCM conducted an administrative inspection of Jaydega 7.0, confirmed West was selling cannabis without a license, and seized more than 200 pounds of cannabis and cannabis products. Following the inspection, OCM sent West a notice and order to stop operating and requested West provide an accounting and full financial disclosure of his operations at Jaydega 7.0. Although West refused to provide this information, OCM obtained financial records showing that West recorded nearly $2.4 million in sales revenue from June 2022 through October 2023. West continued to sell cannabis without a license until OCM and OAG obtained a court order mandating the closure of the Jaydega 7.0 store in November 2023.

    Cannabis products sold by unlicensed businesses are not lab tested by OCM facilities, can be unsafe, and are not taxed. The OAG is authorized upon request by OCM to bring a proceeding against any person who violates the Cannabis Law.

    Attorney General James thanks OCM for their collaboration.

    Attorney General James has always held all those who violate New York’s Cannabis Law accountable. In May 2024, Attorney General James secured a $15.2 million judgment against the owner of seven unlicensed cannabis dispensaries in upstate New York. In December 2023, Attorney General James, Governor Hochul, and OCM shut down a cannabis store in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, Big Chief Smoke Shop, for operating without a license.

    This matter was handled by Assistant Attorneys General Soo-young Chang and Joel J. Terragnoli under the supervision of Assistant Attorney General in Charge of the Buffalo Regional Office Christopher Boyd. The Buffalo Regional Office is part of the Division of Regional Affairs which is led by Deputy Attorney General Michael Russo and Chief Deputy Attorney General Jill Faber and overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Federal Grand Jury Indicts Louisville Man for Possession of a Machine Gun

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky, returned an indictment on October 16, 2024, charging a local man with illegal possession of a machine gun.  

    U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Chief Paul Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.

    According to the indictment, Dashawn Sublett, 18, was charged with possessing a Glock Switch Device (machine gun conversion device) on June 26, 2024.  A Glock Switch device allows a semi-automatic handgun to function as an automatic and is defined as a machine gun under federal law.

    Sublett made an initial court appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky on October 21, 2024.  If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of ten years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

    There is no parole in the federal system.

    This case is being investigated by the LMPD and the ATF.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua R. Porter is prosecuting this case.

    This case is part of the Prohibited Firearm Possessor Initiative (PFP), a collaborative partnership between all levels of law enforcement and prosecutors to reduce violent crime and firearm offenses. On January 23, 2024, Louisville Metro initiated a gun crime reduction initiative focused on investigating and prosecuting illegal firearm possession. The PFP partners include the Louisville Metro Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Jefferson County Attorney’s Office, the Jefferson County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky.

    An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Federal Jury Finds Princeton, Kentucky Man Guilty of Methamphetamine Distribution

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Paducah, KY – Last week, following a three-day trial, a federal jury convicted a Princeton, Kentucky man of three counts of distribution of methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

    U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Acting Special Agent in Charge Erek G. Davodowich of the DEA Louisville Field Division, Chief Chris King of the Princeton Police Department, and Director David Thompson of the Pennyrile Narcotics Task Force made the announcement.

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on August 26 and 27, 2021, Micah Gray, 44, distributed quantities of methamphetamine on three occasions. On August 27, 2021, investigators searched Gray’s apartment and located approximately one and one-half pounds of methamphetamine and items related to methamphetamine distribution.  

    Gray is scheduled for sentencing on February 21, 2025, before a United States District Judge for the Western District of Kentucky. Gray remains in federal custody pending sentencing, and he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

    There is no parole in the federal system.

    The DEA, the Pennyrile Narcotics Task Force, and the Princeton Police Department investigated the case, with assistance from the Kentucky State Police and the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office for the 56th Judicial Circuit of Kentucky.

    Assistant United States Attorney Seth A. Hancock, Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, is prosecuting the case with assistance from paralegal Cristy Crockett.

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    MIL Security OSI –