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Category: KB

  • MIL-OSI Global: What is it like to be a prison officer in the UK?

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Kaigan Carrie, PhD Candidate in Criminology, University of Westminster

    When prison officers are in the news, it’s rarely for a positive reason. Recent headlines have included officers smuggling contraband into prisons, or having inappropriate relationships with prisoners. It’s little wonder that the many prison officers who only want to do a good job feel undervalued. We don’t often hear about the ones saving lives on the wings.

    Prison officers get a bad reputation. Research suggests that the public think they are power-hungry disciplinarians with questionable morals. It doesn’t help that a record high 165 staff in England and Wales were dismissed for misconduct in the past year.

    But what is it like to be a prison officer in the UK today? I talk to prison officers in Scotland and Finland for my own PhD research and I regularly interview prison officers around the world for my podcast, Evolving Prisons.

    Prison officers wear many hats. They’re mentors, firefighters and first-aiders. Officers themselves have likened their job to that of a parent. Sometimes they’re teaching a prisoner how to read, helping with job applications and sometimes they’re just having a conversation which might help someone change their thinking. Prison officers are the cornerstone of the prison system.

    This is why it is so concerning that prisons in England and Wales are chronically understaffed. More than 13% of prison officers left His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service in the 12 months prior to June 30 2024. And 32% of the remaining officers have less than two years’ service, which puts them at risk due to their inexperience.

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    This understaffing means that prisoners spend longer in their cells, as there are fewer opportunities for them during the day. This, coupled with unprecedented overcrowding, creates a “pressure cooker” environment which results in higher rates of violence and an increase in staff assaults.

    One officer, who has worked in UK prisons for three decades, said it’s like going through a meat grinder and living each day in fear.

    A 2023 study by the House of Commons justice committee surveyed 5,113 prison officers (about 25% of the total officer workforce). The results found a staggering 50% of them do not feel safe in the prison they work in.

    The Ministry of Justice revealed that, in the 12 months to March 2024, the rate of assaults on staff in prisons in England and Wales increased by 24% from the year before, totalling 9,847 assaults. Working in a job where you are exposed to violence regularly has a negative impact on your physical and mental health.

    Physical and mental health toll

    Prison officers are in constant contact with people deemed too dangerous to be in society. As a result of this and the lack of resources available to them to do their job, they’re found to experience elevated rates of stress and burnout. They are also at heightened risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke.

    In addition to the stress-related risks, working in a prison carries other environmental hazards that have both physical and mental effects.

    For example, the use of the synthetic drug “spice”, a psychoactive substance, is prevalent in prisons around the UK and prison officers are at risk from inhaling the fumes. The symptoms are wide-ranging from one officer telling me it made her believe she had six fingers, to another being hospitalised and left with long-term health problems. Earlier this year, five prison officers were taken to hospital after a curry made for them by prisoners was suspected to have been spiked with spice.

    Hypervigilance is common in prison officers and manifests as a way to keep themselves safe. However, research found it can negatively affect their sleep and their relationships, and it can psychologically fatigue officers. Some research suggests that some officers may help prisoners commit crime as a result of burnout, due to feeling a lack of motivation and dedication to the job.

    Prison officers can also experience “moral injury”, a form of psychological trauma that can occur when someone acts against deeply held beliefs, as they find themselves going against their internal beliefs in their work. One officer told me, when working with female prisoners who had previously been victims of domestic abuse, that she felt she had replaced their perpetrator and was further traumatising them by telling them when they could shower, eat and leave their cell.

    Prison officers witness a lot of trauma such as self-harm, suicide attempts and violence. Little research exists into rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among serving prison officers in the UK. However, a 2018 study in the US found prison officers have PTSD rates six times higher than the general population.

    It’s clear that UK prison officers have been struggling with their mental health. One in eight took sick days for mental health reasons in 2022.

    A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said recently that the department will “get a grip on the situation … and make our prisons safer for hard-working staff.”

    But until that happens, the country’s prisons remain in a state of disarray. And prison officers are the people being asked to hold them together, while putting their own health and wellbeing on the line.

    Kaigan Carrie 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. What is it like to be a prison officer in the UK? – https://theconversation.com/what-is-it-like-to-be-a-prison-officer-in-the-uk-241596

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: WISDOMTREE MULTI ASSET ISSUER PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY (the “ISSUER”) (a public company incorporated with limited liability in Ireland)  NOTICE IN RESPECT OF PROPOSED CHANGE TO THE ISSUING AND PAYING AGENT

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    21 October 2024

    LEI: 2138003QW2ZAYZODBU23

    WISDOMTREE MULTI ASSET ISSUER PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY
    (the “ISSUER”)
    (a public company incorporated with limited liability in Ireland) 

    NOTICE IN RESPECT OF PROPOSED CHANGE TO THE ISSUING AND PAYING AGENT

    The Issuer refers to a notice issued by it on 27 September 2024 (the “Preliminary Notice”).

    The Issuer hereby notifies ETP Securityholders that the Issuer, the Trustee, the Registrar, Apex IFS, Apex Fund Services and the Manager have entered into a novation agreement to effect the IPA Change (the “Novation Agreement”). The Novation Agreement is effective as at the date of this notice.

    The Issuer further notifies ETP Securityholders that:

    • on and from the date of this notice, Apex Fund Services shall act as the Issuing and Paying Agent under the Programme; and
    • as at the date of this notice, the sub-delegation agreement entered into between Apex IFS and BCMGlobal ASI Limited in relation to certain issuing and paying agency services, has terminated.

    Terms used in this notice but not otherwise defined shall have the same meaning ascribed to them in the base prospectus of the Issuer dated 5 September 2024 or the Preliminary Notice.

    For further information, please contact: europesupport@wisdomtree.com  

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why does Donald Trump tell such blatant lies?

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Geoff Beattie, Professor of Psychology, Edge Hill University

    When it comes to lying in politics, Donald Trump is in a class of his own. According to the Washington Post, he made 30,573 false or misleading claims in his four years as president, increasing year-on-year from six per day in his first year to 39 per day in his fourth.

    Although other presidents have lied to the public, none have lied like this. Some of Trump’s lies are trivial, and many are self-aggrandising (“Nobody builds better walls than me”). Then there are his more egregious lies, like the one about the 2020 presidential election being “stolen” – demonstrably and dangerously contrary to the facts, with serious consequences for the nation and public trust.

    And these lies can cut through. Research by political scientists Kevin Arceneaux and Roy Truex found that this “big lie” about the stolen election was very “sticky”. Around 50% of Republican voters believed it, regardless of any emerging contrary evidence. The researchers also found that belief in this lie boosted Republican supporters’ self-esteem – as they weren’t “losers” after all.

    Politicians who lie can gain a strategic advantage. If you can successfully embellish the truth or construct a new reality, this often tends to be more interesting and engaging than the complicated truth. The truth may be a bit dull and uninspiring; the lie can be whatever you want it to be. You know what your audience wants to hear.

    Politicians know that lying is part of our everyday lives. Research in psychology using lie diaries tells us that people lie on average twice a day. Many are harmless “white” lies told for the benefit of others, but some are not so harmless and told for the benefit of the liar themselves.

    Some people get significant pleasure from telling such self-centred lies. Psychologists call this “duping delight”. It confuses the recipient of the lie, who expects to detect signs of guilt or anxiety. Instead, all they see is a faint smile of satisfaction. The liar gets away with it – that smile could mean anything.

    Who likes lying?

    Certain types of personality are drawn to telling these sorts of lies, including those with little empathy, such as narcissists and psychopaths. They don’t care about the consequences for the recipient; it’s all about them.

    People typically start lying early in life – between two and three years of age. Charles Darwin observed this in his own son.

    And the ability to lie improves as our cognitive abilities develop. Like any skill, we get better at it with practice. While many adults still feel guilt when they don’t tell the truth, some politicians don’t appear to feel any guilt, shame or sadness at telling a lie.

    Donald Trump claimed falsely that immigrants in Ohio were eating cats and dogs.

    Telling a big lie

    Politics was once thought of as an art. It was political philosopher Nicolo Machiavelli who, in 1532, wrote: “Those princes who have done great things … have known how to circumvent the intellect of men by craft.” Part of that craft was lying. Machiavelli argued that rulers should do whatever it takes to retain power, and this could include “being a great dissembler”.

    Politicians can lie by omission and by exaggeration – but sometimes, like Trump, they tell outright “big lies”. This term was introduced by Adolf Hitler in Mein Kampf, and the concept of the big lie was used by the Nazis to justify persecution of the Jews.

    A big lie is often defined as “a deliberate gross distortion of the truth used especially as a propaganda tactic”. These have, it is argued, the power to disrupt society.

    Political historian Timothy Snyder accused Trump of using the big lie technique in his denial of the 2020 election result.

    To work, according to Hitler, big lies must also be able “to awaken the imagination of the public through an appeal to their feelings”. They are not aimed at our rational selves, but our unconscious and emotional selves.

    Trump saying that immigrants are eating the dogs and cats in Springfield, Ohio, is not appealing to our rational system. It’s providing us with a vivid image, and trying to affect our emotional and unconscious system.

    As the sociobiologist Robert Trivers has pointed out, lying can give you a clear evolutionary advantage. Status, wealth and achievements are important in that great evolutionary battle, the survival of the genes – that’s why people (including Trump) lie about them. But Trivers says self-deceit can also be evolutionarily advantageous, because if you can convince yourself then it makes you more convincing to others, and therefore more effective.

    Perhaps Trump managed to convince himself that they really were eating the dogs and cats in Springfield. Or perhaps he thought to himself: “Plant the emotional image, that’s all you need for the faithful.”

    Attractive fictions might well engage us and sweep us along but, as Shakespeare suggested in the Merchant of Venice, many people hope the “truth will out” eventually. The last few months of the US election campaign suggest this may not always be true.

    Geoff Beattie 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. Why does Donald Trump tell such blatant lies? – https://theconversation.com/why-does-donald-trump-tell-such-blatant-lies-241192

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UN Secretary-General’s remarks for the inauguration of the renovated Africa Hall

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    Dear Prime Minister Abiy, dear Chairperson Moussa Faki, dear friends and colleagues,

    It is an enormous pleasure to join all of you for this moment of history – in this house of history. 

    I thank all our partners – particularly the Government of Ethiopia, along with our own United Nations Economic Commission for Africa for the tremendous work.

    This hall is where Africa came together to give life to the Organization of African Unity, now the African Union. 

    Times were very different. 

    In 1961, when this Hall was inaugurated by Emperor Haile Selassie, only 26 African nations had achieved independence – many of them just months before.

    Today, Africa is a transformed continent.

    And to my mind, this renewed building symbolizes renewed hope and unity for Africa.

    This Hall is a bridge between Africa’s past and future – honouring shared struggles and achievements, while embracing common aspirations.  It is ubuntu.

    A state of the art 21st century facility that preserves the grandeur and history of this great continent.

    I also see it as an invitation for everyone to cooperate in pursuit of a better future, for Africa and for the world.

    Dear friends,

    As we celebrate this new beginning, we must also acknowledge the challenges ahead of us.

    Africa is a continent of hope. 

    But it faces challenges that are deeply rooted in history and are exacerbated by climate change, conflict and persistent poverty.

    And African women often bear the brunt of these hardships.

    Addressing these issues requires resolute action and renewed solidarity.

    Our global institutions were built at a time when most of Africa was under colonial rule.  

    But unlike this Hall with its 21st century innovations, many of these global institutions are stuck in those times, unable to respond to the aspirations and rights of the African people.

    Africa still has no permanent seat at the Security Council. And let’s hope it will be corrected soon.

    And international financial institutions often cannot provide African countries with the response they need – whether it is protection from strangling debt or from climate catastrophe they did not cause.

    We can only move forward if we also renew and update global institutions – by making them more effective, fair and inclusive.

    Last month, world leaders adopted the Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact and the Declaration on Future Generations.

    The Pact recognizes the need to reform the Security Council to make it representative, transparent, efficient, democratic and accountable.

    It also calls for groundbreaking reforms of the international financial architecture – including to massively scale-up affordable development and climate finance.

    And the Global Digital Compact includes the first truly universal agreement on the governance of Artificial Intelligence – giving every country a seat at the table, while supporting partnerships to bridge the digital divide and build AI capacity in developing countries and namely in Africa.

    We must now move forward together in implementing these historic agreements without delay.

    And we must include young people at every step of the way.

    Dear friends,

    For more than sixty years, the Africa Hall has been a symbol of the continent’s collective aspirations, a testament to its resilience, and a beacon of hope for entire generations.

    Today, as we step into this renewed space, let us also renew our pledge to work for the people of Africa and the world we need.

    May the debates and discussions here continue to lead towards greater peace, unity and prosperity for all on the African continent.

    And I thank you.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Canadian Grain Commission compensates producers at 75% for unpaid deliveries to Global Food and Ingredients Inc.

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    Winnipeg, Manitoba (October 10, 2024) – Producers who were not paid for grain delivered to Global Food and Ingredients Inc. will be compensated for their eligible claims through the Canadian Grain Commission’s Safeguards for Grain Farmers Program.

    Winnipeg, Manitoba (October 21, 2024) – Producers who were not paid for grain delivered to Global Food and Ingredients Inc. will be compensated for their eligible claims through the Canadian Grain Commission’s Safeguards for Grain Farmers Program.

    Following a review of individual producer claims, the Canadian Grain Commission determined that there were 29 eligible claims totalling $2.661 million for unpaid deliveries to Global Food and Ingredients Inc. The company had $2 million in security available so individual payments will be prorated. As a result, producers will receive 75% compensation for their eligible claims. Cheques have been mailed to producers.

    In addition to this compensation, the Canadian Grain Commission is working with the receiver, Richter LLP, to realize on proceeds from the sale of the company’s grain inventory. Holders of outstanding primary elevator receipts may receive a portion of these funds through the Canadian Grain Commission at a later date, once the receivership has been concluded.

    Christianne Hacault

    Head of communications

    Canadian Grain Commission

    204-229-0128

    christianne.hacault@grainscanada.gc.ca

    Canadian Grain Commission

    The Canadian Grain Commission is the federal agency responsible for establishing and maintaining Canada’s grain quality standards. Its programs result in shipments of grain that consistently meet contract specifications for quality, safety and quantity. The Canadian Grain Commission regulates the grain industry to protect producers’ rights and ensure the integrity of grain transactions.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI: Quadient Secures New c.$1 Million Contract with U.S. Federal Agency for Mail Modernization Project

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Quadient (Euronext Paris: QDT), a global automation platform powering secure and sustainable business connections, announced today that a large U.S. federal government agency has awarded Quadient a contract worth nearly $1 million for a comprehensive mail modernization project. This opportunity, secured through one of Quadient’s business partners, highlights Quadient’s commitment to fostering long-term customer relationships and developing strategic partnerships to better serve customers while reaching new businesses in need of process automation platforms.

    By maintaining close relationships with customers and regularly assessing their operations, Quadient identifies operational efficiencies and growth opportunities for its clients that it can meet with a wide array of solutions. The U.S. federal agency, which already operates nearly 60 Quadient mailing systems nationwide, recognized the potential to enhance its inbound mail process efficiency. Quadient, its partner and the federal agency were able to jointly identify additional needs leading to the proposal of a new mail processing solution for the organization.

    “We are thrilled to deepen our relationship with the U.S. administration through this modernization project,” said Alain Fairise, Chief Solution Officer, Mail Automation for Quadient. “This contract results from the excellent relationships our government team maintains with customers throughout their entire lifecycle, understanding their needs, and building trust through consistent performance and innovation. We continue to be laser-focused on providing innovative solutions that address our customers’ unique challenges, establishing and nurturing high-value partnerships to deliver exceptional results.”

    Quadient’s mail automation solutions have a proven track record of helping public organizations streamline their communications and improve service delivery. Quadient solutions enable these organizations to manage both traditional and electronic communications efficiently while ensuring compliance and full tracking of every interaction. This approach not only reduces operational costs but also enhances accuracy and speed, which are critical in highly regulated sectors like government services. Quadient’s close collaboration with its customers allows them to identify new opportunities for innovation and provide tailored solutions that support long-term growth and improved service outcomes.

    Quadient’s continued success with large public entities underscores the company’s strategic vision of offering integrated, innovative and compliant solutions that evolve with customer needs. By combining digital platforms with advanced mail automation systems, Quadient not only modernizes processes but also delivers comprehensive support to its clients. The company’s unique ability to cross-sell and up-sell multiple applications to new and existing customers, alongside trusted partner solutions, boosts lifetime value and is expected to drive about 70% of its growth by 2030.

    About Quadient®
    Quadient is a global automation platform powering secure and sustainable business connections through digital and physical channels. Quadient supports businesses of all sizes in their digital transformation and growth journey, unlocking operational efficiency and creating meaningful customer experiences. Listed in compartment B of Euronext Paris (QDT) and part of the CAC® Mid & Small and EnterNext® Tech 40 indices, Quadient shares are eligible for PEA-PME investing. For more information about Quadient, visit http://www.quadient.com.

    Contacts

    Sandy Armstrong, Sterling Kilgore Joe Scolaro, Quadient         
    Director of Media & Communications Global Press Relations Manager
    +1-630-699-8979 +1 203-301-3673
    sarmstrong@sterlingkilgore.com j.scolaro@quadient.com
       

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Canada to launch Changing Narratives Fund

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    The Fund will support diverse communities and organizations in telling their stories and help them promote a diversity of voices in the media and cultural industries

    GATINEAU, October 21, 2024

    We all have a role to play in fighting discrimination and working toward a fairer, safer and more inclusive Canada. The Government of Canada is committed to empowering diverse voices in the media and cultural industries to ensure their experiences and perspectives are better represented.

    Today, the Honourable Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Canadian Heritage, announced the launch of the new Changing Narratives Fund, which will support incentives and initiatives to encourage greater participation by diverse communities in the media and cultural industries. It will also support the objectives of Canada’s Action Plan on Combatting Hate.

    As announced in Budget 2024, the Government of Canada is investing $10 million over three years ($3 million in 2024-25 and 2025-26, and $4 million in 2026-27) on this initiative. The funds, which will focus on Canada’s screen, media and journalism industries, will be made available through the Department of Canadian Heritage’s Changing Narratives Fund. This initiative is aimed at supporting diverse communities and organizations, including Indigenous, Black, racialized, ethno-religious minorities, 2SLGBTQI+ and persons with disabilities, have their stories, experiences and perspectives better represented in the media and cultural industries, which will allow Canadians to appreciate and understand Canada’s diversity.

    The Fund will support mentorship, training and professional development opportunities for diverse communities at all career stages, to encourage better participation in the media and cultural industries. It will also support internships and work placements to provide on-the-job training and experience.

    The Fund will be administered by three existing programs that will focus on the following industries:

    • Canada Media Fund for television, digital media, screen industry and cinematic production;
    • Canada Periodical Fund’s Collective Initiatives component and Local Journalism Initiative for magazines and community newspapers, written press, community radio, community television and online news services.

    Visit the Changing Narratives Fund webpage  regularly for details on the upcoming funding opportunities as programs prepare to launch their application processes.

    Visit the Canada Media Fund website to see details of its programming component, set to launch in November.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park expansion project

    Source: Government of Canada News

    The St. Lawrence Estuary is a collective gem, both culturally and naturally. The project involves expanding the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park to help protect a larger part of its estuary. Some 400 km long and up to 350 m deep, it is one of the largest and deepest estuaries in the world.

    The proposed expansion would thus bring the Marine Park’s total surface area to 4,487 km2, i.e. 3.6 times its current size. It is proposed to expand the park’s boundaries to the river’s south shore, reaching the administrative regions of Chaudière-Appalaches and Bas-Saint-Laurent, from the municipality of Saint-Jean-Port-Joli to Bic National Park. On the river’s north shore, according to this proposal, the Marine Park would extend within the two administrative regions already bordering the park in its current configuration, i.e. Capitale-Nationale and Côte-Nord. The proposed expansion extends from the municipality of Petite-Rivière-Saint-François to Boisvert Point in the municipality of Longue-Rive.

    The expansion project involves 4 administrative regions, 8 RCMs and 27 coastal municipalities. The Wolastoqiyik Wahsipekuk First Nation community would border the enlarged Marine Park, in the same way that the Essipit Innu First Nation community does under the park’s current boundaries. When combined with the current Marine Park, the expanded park would concern a total of 37 municipalities and 2 adjacent Indigenous communities. The number of citizens residing in a municipality bordering the Marine Park would rise from 19,000 to over 125,500.

    As is the case for the current Marine Park, the planned expansion includes the water column and the seabeds. The area extends to the normal high-water marks, i.e. the maritime boundary delimitation of Quebec public lands. Islands, private property and maritime infrastructure (ports and marinas) are excluded from the proposal. For maritime facilities that do not have a submerged shore lot, a 25 m radius exclusion around infrastructure is planned.

    Elements of Ecological Interest

    In the estuary, the salt waters of the Atlantic mix with the fresh waters of the St. Lawrence, giving rise to a mosaic of habitats that support a wide array of fauna and flora. The territory proposed for the enlargement represents a tremendous ecological treasure. Although a number of elements are of ecological interest, the project would especially help strengthen protection for belugas, rorquals and coastal herbaceous areas. The targeted expansion area includes:

    ·        The beluga’s entire critical summer habitat;

    ·        Important feeding grounds for rorquals; and

    ·        Fragile coastal habitats such as salt marshes and eelgrass beds.

                                                                                                                         -30-

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Day 38 – Strike Update October 20, 2024

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    It’s so important to base your decisions on facts rather than rumors or speculation, especially when it comes to something as crucial as voting for your future. Whether you choose to accept or reject the contract, your Union is committed to making sure you have the correct information to make a decision that best serves you and your family. Please take the time to review the details of the entire proposal thoroughly – the September 12th and October 18th offers combined – and reach out to your Union officials, Stewards, or financial advisors if you have questions. Your decision matters and it’s essential that it’s made with clear, accurate information. The power is in your hands; make it count.

    Prepared by an economist, the document linked below offers a clear breakdown of how your earnings can grow over the life of this agreement. It includes examples of wage increases for each Labor Grade at max pay, covering both base pay and the guaranteed 4% AMPP. This guide is meant to help members understand the impact of compounding wages.

    Our goal is to combat some of the misinformation circulating on social media and in the press. Please use this resource to make an informed decision based on facts, not rumors.

    If you cannot access this document, you can find it on the website at https://www.ourfutureourfight2024.com/contract-2024 along with other one-pagers explaining what’s being offered in the 2024 IAM/Boeing contract proposal we are voting on Wednesday, October 23, 2024.

    Wages and Guaranteed AMPP Payments Over the Life of the Agreement by Labor Grade at Max Pay

    In Unity, Your Union Negotiating Committee

    Share and Follow:

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Quigley Statement on Tenth Anniversary of Laquan McDonald Shooting

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05)

    U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05) released the following statement in recognition of the 10th anniversary of the Laquan McDonald police shooting:

    “Ten years ago today, 17-year-old Laquan McDonald was shot and killed by a Chicago police officer. Laquan’s death shocked our city and led to Chicagoans demanding change from law enforcement and accountability from Chicago’s leaders. Today, I join all those still mourning Laquan’s death and still demanding change.

    “Laquan’s murder is part of a long history of Black men being senselessly killed by police officers. His name is now uttered along with Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Adam Toledo, Eric Garner, George Floyd, and too many more.

    “Going for a jog, a walk, a drive, or simply existing in your own home should never be a death sentence. The only remedy is to enact transformative changes to government and law enforcement systems that have failed Black communities for too long.

    “To that end, after ten years, it is simply unacceptable that the Chicago Police Department has achieved only seven percent compliance with the Justice Department’s consent decree. The residents of Chicago have demanded – and deserve – better. I firmly believe that most police officers seek to do right by their communities but too many bad apples continue to color communities’ relationships with law enforcement. When bad officers erode public trust, they harm the reputation of their fellow good officers.

    “Unconscious bias and systemic racism must be rooted out. Bad officers must be held accountable for their actions. We owe it to Laquan to build a future that reflects our founding belief in equal justice under the law.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Strengthening support for access to justice services in both official languages in Quebec

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    October 21, 2024—Montréal, Quebec—Department of Justice Canada

    Access to justice is key to increasing Canadians’ confidence in their justice system. By improving the ability of organizations to offer legal services in French and English across the country, the Government of Canada continues to fulfill its commitment to support official language minority communities.

    Today, the Honourable Marc Miller, Member of Parliament for Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Sœurs, on behalf of the Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, announced the allocation of $2,340,855 over five years (2023–2028) through the Access to Justice in Both Official Languages Support Fund to support Éducaloi in the delivery of services to English-speaking Quebecers.

    The funding announced today supports the “Access to Justice for English-speaking Quebecers: A Capacity Building and Collective Impact Approach” project. These funds help Éducaloi improve services to English-speaking citizens, including vulnerable and hard-to-reach clienteles. Through the development of plain-language legal information tools and educational resources in English, this project addresses the needs of Quebec’s official language minority community. Website accessibility, more active communication on social media, informative workshops, and an advertising campaign will help increase access to justice in both official languages. The funds will also enable Éducaloi—through its network of partners—to strengthen the capacity of other organizations to offer legal information services in English.

    Founded in 2000, Éducaloi develops and provides legal information in all formats and in a way that is easily understood by all audiences. Its mission is to inform Quebec citizens about the law, their rights, and their obligations.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to study looking at a home-based transcranial direct current stimulation treatment (tDCS) and major depressive disorder

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    A study published in Nature Medicine looks at home-based brain stimulation as a possible treatment for major depressive disorder. 

    Dr Julian Mutz, King’s Prize Research Fellow, King’s College London, said:

    “Depression is a common mental health condition that carries a significant disease burden.  While medication and psychotherapy are effective, they do not work for every patient and sometimes cause unwanted side effects.  Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques, such as transcranial magnetic or electrical stimulation, offer alternative treatment options.  A barrier to more widespread use is the need for frequent visits to the clinic, usually five times a week for several weeks.  There is considerable interest in transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) due to its potential for home-based use.  However, data from randomised clinical trials are limited.  Prior studies have supported its feasibility but more data are needed to establish efficacy, an important gap that this study addresses.  In this phase II trial of 174 patients, the authors show that tDCS was efficacious over a ten-week period, a longer duration than prior home-based trials.  Nearly half of the patients receiving tDCS achieved clinical remission, compared to just over 20% in the control group.  The treatment also showed a good safety profile, which will provide reassurance to both clinicians and patients.  Given that two of the largest randomised controlled trials of tDCS yielded negative results, this trial will undoubtedly contribute to the ongoing discussions about tDCS as a treatment option for depression.

    “This is a well-designed trial of tDCS, with sample sizes comparable to those of the largest tDCS trials in the clinic.  The trial had appropriate procedures in place to mitigate potential risks of bias and the authors carefully monitored and reported on adverse events and safety.  The assessment of efficacy was not limited to clinician ratings but also included patient reported outcomes.

    “tDCS is different from electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).  ECT involves inducing a seizure and is applied under general anaesthesia.  ECT is generally reserved for the most difficult-to-treat patients when other treatment approaches have been unsuccessful.  tDCS applies mild electrical stimulation to the scalp while the patient is fully awake.”

    Prof Jonathan Roiser, Professor of Neuroscience & Mental Health, UCL, said:

    “This paper reports on a moderately large clinical trial of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for depression.  tDCS is a non-invasive brain stimulation method that has been tested in many previous depression trials – with mixed success – and involves delivering a mild electric current to a specific brain region (often, as in this study, to the prefrontal cortex, with electrodes placed on the forehead).  tDCS was delivered several times per week for 10 weeks, for half an hour each time.  In the “sham” (i.e. placebo) group, patients received only very brief stimulation to mimic the sensation of the active tDCS on the skin, in an attempt to introduce blinding.  What was relatively new in this study was the use of a commercially available device patients could use at home by themselves, with remote support from the study team.  Patients were told to use the machine five times each week for the first three weeks, reduced to three times each week for the remaining seven weeks.  Around two-thirds of the patients were taking antidepressant medication.  Some of the study investigators had a financial interest in the company that makes the tDCS device.

    “On average, both groups had quite substantial reductions in depressive symptoms (rated by the research team using a standard clinical interview) over 10 weeks.  However, there was a greater reduction in the active stimulation group, around half of whom got completely better.  This improvement was statistically better than in the sham group, around one-quarter of whom got completely better.  The size of the difference was in the small-to-moderate range, which is quite similar to trials of antidepressant medication.  The major challenge in interpreting this otherwise promising finding relates to problems with blinding: around three-quarters of the active stimulation group correctly guessed their treatment allocation, while less than half did so in the sham stimulation group.  This was probably due to minor side effects caused by the stimulation device; mostly skin redness, which occurred in nearly two-thirds of those receiving active stimulation, but also skin irritation and cognitive problems (trouble concentrating) in a small number of patients.  If there was clear skin redness on the forehead, it is possible that the researchers conducting the clinical interviews might also have also guessed the treatment allocation.  It is worth noting that a couple of the patients had more serious side effects, specifically skin burns which may have been caused by incorrect use of the device.”

    ‘Home-based transcranial direct current stimulation treatment for major depressive disorder: a fully remote phase 2 randomized sham-controlled trial’ by Rachel D. Woodham et al. was published in Nature Medicine at 16:00 UK time on Monday 21 October 2024.

    DOI: 10.1038/s41591-024-03305-y

    Declared interests

    Dr Julian Mutz: “I do not have any COIs to report.  I have co-authored publications with the senior author in the past, but have not been involved in any collaboration recently.”

    Prof Jonathan Roiser: “No interests to declare.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: QUIGLEY, DURBIN, DUCKWORTH ANNOUNCE MORE THAN $81 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THE CREATE PROGRAM

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05)

    U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (D-IL-05) and U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) announced $81,301,065 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) INFRA (Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight & Highway Projects) Program for the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) Program, which aims to reduce traffic delays, increase rail junction safety, and improve mobility throughout Chicago.

    DOT’s INFRA Grant Program provides federal funding for large projects of regional significance and is funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that the lawmakers worked to pass in 2021.

    Last month, Quigley, Durbin, and Duckworth announced $209 million in federal funding for the CREATE Program through DOT’s Mega Grant Program, bringing the total with today’s announced funding to $291,179,049.

    “The CREATE Program is fundamentally changing rail operations in Chicago for both commuters and freight. Last month, we secured $209 million in funding for this program. Today’s announcement marks another significant step toward fulfilling CREATE’s mission to improve safety, alleviate congestion, and boost mobility throughout our city,” said Quigley.

    “Today’s additional funding announcement is a major investment in the future of our transportation infrastructure. Chicagoans will be better connected because of the CREATE Program, which will improve the safety and quality of our rail system and roadways,” said Durbin. “Senator Duckworth, members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation, and I have long supported these investments, and I’m glad to see these federal dollars go toward improving safety and alleviating congestion in a region that desperately needs it.”

    “Investing in our transportation infrastructure is about growing our economy and making it easier, faster, safer and more efficient so people and goods can get where they need to go,” Duckworth said. “This significant federal investment in the CREATE Program—which Senator Durbin, members of the Illinois Delegation and I have been championing for years—will help us modernize our rail system for all Chicagoans while supporting good-paying South Side jobs and strengthening our region’s economy.”

    The CREATE Program brings together the City of Chicago, the State of Illinois, the U.S. Department of Transportation, Metra, Amtrak, and the nation’s freight railroads in a partnership to eliminate transit bottlenecks, boost the economy, and improve overall safety of the Chicagoland area.

    Today’s announced funding will advance the 75th Street Corridor Improvement Project, a three-mile elevated rail corridor on Chicago’s South Side, which approximately 90 freight trains and 30 Metra commuter trains use daily. The project will reconfigure track segments and signals at Belt Junction, add a third track to the Norfolk Southern line, replace and restore 14 aging bridge and viaduct structures, and implement mobility improvements on surface streets throughout the corridor.

    Quigely, Durbin, and Duckworth have long championed rail improvements, having helped secure $132 million in federal funding to begin this project in 2018.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Celebrating rural success: Minister Sigurdson

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    “Small Business Week allows us to celebrate small business and community success in rural Alberta. Rural communities have long played a crucial role in Alberta’s growth and economy. To support them, we continue to implement our Economic Development in Rural Alberta Plan, a five-year commitment to foster rural economic growth in Alberta with a focus on rural business supports and entrepreneurship.

    “One of the plan’s key initiatives is the Small Community Opportunity Program. Through this program, we pledged $6 million to provide financial backing for Indigenous and small communities to tackle challenges and tap into opportunities to grow their local economic footprint.

    “Through the first round of program funding in 2023-24, we awarded up to $3 million for 43 projects across the province that are on track to develop their local economies by building capacity in the agriculture and small business sectors. Of these projects, 29 were awarded to small communities, three to Indigenous communities and 11 to the non-profit sector.

    “Through the plan’s Capacity Building Grant Project, rural economic development organizations like Young Agrarians and Alberta Women Entrepreneurs also received funding to help teach business skills and offer training and mentorship opportunities.

    “I encourage all Albertans to join me in celebrating our rural businesses, agricultural societies and the hard-working rural residents who strengthen Alberta’s agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products sector. When our rural communities succeed, Alberta is made stronger.”

    Related information

    • Alberta’s Rural Economic Development
    • Small Community Opportunity Program 2023-24 Grant Recipients

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: InForm: Updates from the Government Property Agency, October 2024

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    InForm keeps you informed of news, views and updates from across the Government Property Agency.

    Welcome to InForm, October 2024

    Dom Brankin, Property Services Director

    Welcome to this edition of InForm.

    At the Government Property Agency (GPA) it is our mission to provide great places to work for civil servants and through our property and commercial expertise we continue to transform the government’s estate.

    In this issue, you’ll find key updates on our key priority areas and we hope this not only keeps you informed but also gives you an insight into the activities we have underway.

    Since our last publication, we’ve had a change in Government with a commitment to economic growth and this remains a key priority for us, at the GPA. Our new Government is keen to uphold the important role regions play throughout the four nations, with many Ministers visiting our government hubs while offering us the opportunity to showcase our interoperability, quality of buildings, services and our people.

    Through our Government Hubs Programme we have seen a huge growth in our property portfolio with 605 desks across 227 buildings, 94 of them occupied by multiple Civil Service departments. And we have reinvested back into the sector through realising significant financial benefits.

    Our commitment to enabling civil servants to work productively in modern and interoperable work spaces is supported by our strategic partners.

    We said farewell to Clive Anderson, Director of Capital Projects when he retired in August. Clive joined the GPA in 2022 and played a pivotal role in the delivery of the Government Hubs and Whitehall Campus Programmes, as well as, leading its design standards to deliver a smaller, better and greener Public Estate. We wish Clive all the very best as he settles into his new way of life.

    We also welcomed Georgina Dunn, who joined us as Interim Director of Capital Projects. Georgina joins on secondment from Turner and Townsend, where she has worked on large scale infrastructure and construction programmes, and has extensive experience on strategic estates projects having managed complex client side workstreams in public and private sector.

    In this issue:

                                                         

    Update to recruitment screening policy

    We’d like to share the updated UK Government Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) in particular with our commercial partners. The update has been made following an extensive review of the policy to ensure it’s clearer to understand.

    As a GPA supplier, you are contractually required to have your staff (who work on GPA contracts) BPSS screened as a minimum. The changes in this update, as outlined below, should have a limited impact on your current operating procedures as the BPSS requirements have not materially changed. If BPSS screening applies to your contract with us you must ensure your recruitment practices follow this updated policy by 31 August 2024. 

    What is BPSS?

    BPSS is a pre-employment check, used by government, industry and third parties (suppliers), to protect the security of the government estate and its assets. It provides a basis for national security vetting (NSV).  BPSS comprises of four main checks:

    • Identity; 
    • Right to work (RTW) in the UK; 
    • Three year employment history;
    • Criminal record (unspent convictions).

    If the BPSS cannot be completed, or the checks identify an adverse concern, organisations must either: 

    • Risk-manage and onboard the individual, for example this may occur when the individual has limited UK residency. 
    • Not employ the individual, for example if they do not pass RTW checks

    How to correctly apply, make decisions, and document the BPSS process is explained in the linked policy document. 

    What are the key changes:

    • The BPSS policy and guidance is clearer to understand. The language aligns with the Functional Standards and Government Digital Service Style Guide to provide a consistent experience for readers.
    • Outdated references and guidance have been removed.
    • A criminal record check (unspent) must be conducted by organisations at BPSS. The National Security Vetting (NSV) criminal check can no longer be used in BPSS.

    If you need further advice on this updated policy and how it applies to you as a supplier to the GPA please email: contactsecurity@gpa.gov.uk

    Back to top

    Sign up to InForm to receive future issues direct to your inbox

                                                         

    Find out more about the Government Property Agency here

    Updates to this page

    Published 21 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Coast Guard rescues 5 from tug after loss of steering off the coast of Washington State.

    Source: US Coast Guard (video statements)

    Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound watchstanders communicate with a vessel in distress during a search and rescue case off the coast of La Push, Washington, October 18, 2024. The Coast Guard rescued five people from the 130-foot commercial tug Luther after it lost steering 10 miles from shore while towing a cement barge. (U.S. Coast Guard video by Petty Officer 2nd Class Briana Carter)

    Read the entire press release here: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3940244/coast-guard-rescues-5-from-tug-after-loss-of-steering-off-the-coast-of-washingt/

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYiddkDwD4o

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: McGovern, 64 House Democrats Write to Biden Administration Urging Unimpeded Media Access to Gaza

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA)

    WASHINGTON, D.C.—Representative James P. McGovern (D-MA), Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee and Co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Committee, has led 64 of his colleagues in a letter to President Joseph Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken calling for the United States to push for Israel to allow unimpeded access for U.S. and international journalists. The constantly shifting dynamics on the ground inside Gaza make unimpeded press access more urgent than ever. 

    “The restrictions on media reporting have created significant challenges in obtaining accurate, verifiable information from Gaza, leading to increased skepticism about the limited reports that do emerge. At a time when reliable information is more critical than ever, the restrictions on foreign reporting undermine the very foundation of press freedom and democratic accountability,” wrote the members.

    In July, over 70 media and civil society organizations signed an open letter calling on Israel to grant journalists access to Gaza. Yet foreign media remains largely prohibited from entering the region, except for a few controlled trips arranged by the Israeli military. This effective ban on foreign reporting has placed an overwhelming burden on local journalists who are documenting the war they are living through. Tragically, at least 130 journalists have lost their lives since the start of the war, and those who remain face conditions of extreme hardship and danger.

    The International Federation of Journalists has reported that the mortality rate for media workers in Gaza is over 10%. Seventy-five percent of all reporters killed worldwide in 2023 lost their lives between October 7 and the end of the year.4 In December 2023, just two months into the conflict, the Committee to Protect Journalists declared Gaza the “most dangerous ever” war zone for reporters. These staggering statistics underscore the critical importance of allowing independent journalists to document and report from the ground.

    “We urge the administration to take immediate action to advocate for unrestricted, independent media access to Gaza. A free press is essential to ensuring that the world can bear witness to the realities on the ground and hold all parties accountable,” conclude the members.

    In addition to McGovern, the letter was signed by Representatives Lloyd Doggett (TX-35), André Carson (IN-07), Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07), Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-03), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Barbara Lee (CA-12), Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-00), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Maxine Waters (CA-43), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Stephen F. Lynch (MA-08), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Seth Magaziner (RI-02), Jamaal Bowman, Ed.D. (NY-16), Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12), Greg Casar (TX-35), John Garamendi (CA-08), Gerald E. Connolly (VA-11), J. Luis Correa (CA-46), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Sean Casten (IL-06), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (IL-04), Cori Bush (MO-01), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Linda T. Sánchez (CA-38), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Emanuel Cleaver, II (MO-05), Daniel T. Kildee (MI-08), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Jonathan L. Jackson (IL-01), Donald S. Beyer Jr. (VA-08), Maxwell Alejandro Frost (FL-10), Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-03), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Paul D. Tonko (NY-20), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Al Green (TX-09), Summer L. Lee (PA-12), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Becca Balint (VT-AL), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Eric Swalwell (CA-15), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Andy Kim (NJ-03), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Mark Takano (CA-39), Jason Crow (CO-06), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Lauren Underwood (IL-14), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Gabe Amo (RI-01), John B. Larson (CT-01), Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29), Nikema Williams (GA-05), and Dwight Evans (PA-03).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: New report reveals that targets to save 30% of the ocean by 2030 aren’t being met

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Callum Roberts, Professor of Marine Conservation, University of Exeter

    Qasimphotographer/Shutterstock

    The world is gathering in Colombia for the UN biodiversity conference known as Cop16, a biannual pulse-taking of the living planet where actions to protect the natural world are agreed. At its last meeting in 2022, an ambitious roadmap for nature protection was put in place. As part of that Kunming-Montreal global biodiversity framework, the UN set a bold goal to protect 30% of the world’s land and ocean by 2030 – known as “30×30” – which was agreed by 196 countries and bodies such as the European Commission.

    A key task in Colombia will be to measure progress, and the ocean is in the spotlight. A new report reveals that growth in marine protected areas – designated nature conservation zones that are protected from one or more harmful or damaging human activities – is far too slow to achieve this target. Analysis by conservation experts shows that protected areas are too scattered and unrepresentative.

    Efforts to protect marine life lag far behind conservation on land. When 30×30 was agreed, the world had protected roughly 17% of land and 7.8% of the sea. The sea element was already behind previous targets, set in 2010 by the UN’s Convention on Biological Diversity to reach 17% and 10% protection of land and sea by 2020.

    The 30×30 target is based on what scientists say is required to protect marine diversity, unlike the arbitrary 10% target it replaces. This would give a decent chance of meeting basic conservation goals like representing the full spectrum of habitats and species, or sustaining ecosystem services, such as the provision of seafood to eat and clean water for people. The 30×30 target was designed to turbo-charge conservation, end biodiversity loss and begin nature’s recovery. It hasn’t quite worked out that way, at least not yet.

    The new report, commissioned by philanthropic initiative the Bloomberg Ocean Fund and developed in partnership with environmental organisations Campaign for Nature, the Marine Conservation Institute and SkyTruth, is sobering. Since 2022, the global ocean protected area network has grown by only 0.5 percentage points to 8.3%, still nearly 2% short of the 10% target that 30×30 replaced. On this trajectory, the world is set to crawl towards just 9.7% by 2030. The world is failing badly and there seems little urgency in the pace of progress.

    Some marine protected area designations set fishing restrictions.
    Tamil Selvam/Shutterstock

    Most marine protected areas (MPA) fail the quality test too. Assessed against a global framework of effectiveness, called the MPA guide, most marine protected areas are insufficiently protected or managed to deliver positive benefits to nature. The report calculates that only 2.8% of the world’s ocean is protected “effectively” according to MPA guide criteria. They include tiny protected areas like the South Arran MPA in Scotland, which was set up in 2014 and monitored by the local community, and the vast and still wild Ascension Island protected area that encloses 172,000 square miles (445,000km²) of the tropical Atlantic.

    Even this low figure could overestimate current effectiveness. Reporting against MPA guide criteria is not yet mandatory for countries, so inconsistent definitions of protected areas complicate measurement of progress. And while some countries have declared MPAs as either “highly” or “fully” protected, the report suggests some of these areas aren’t sufficiently funded by governmental or other means to deliver effective management.

    Country protected-area networks – that’s the the total composition of all protected areas – are badly imbalanced. In the global north, countries like the US, UK and France have declared large highly and fully protected areas in their overseas territories to boost the coverage of effective MPAs. Meanwhile, in home waters, most MPAs remain subject to destructive and extractive industrial activities such as bottom-trawl fishing or offshore energy. Their headline percentage protection numbers therefore “blue-wash” the reality of ongoing damage and biodiversity loss.

    This October, Australia expanded the sub-Antarctic Heard and MacDonald Islands MPA, leading its environment minister to declare that with 52% of Australia’s waters protected, it had far exceeded 30×30. This and other huge offshore protected areas hide the fact that only 15% of coastal seas around the main Australian landmass are protected. Much of it is still open to industrial fishing and oil and gas production.

    The 30×30 goal will also be an impossible dream until the world ratifies the UN’s high seas treaty. This was agreed in 2022 to manage and protect the colossal 61% of the ocean (43% of the Earth’s surface) that lies beyond the sovereign waters of any nation. Until that treaty comes into force, there is no agreed legal mechanism to create MPAs there. At present, just 1.4% of international waters are protected, much of them in Antarctica.

    The Bloomberg report recommends governments speed up the creation of more marine protected areas. Another new study suggests a further 190,000 MPAs will be needed to reach 30×30, equivalent to 85 new protected areas daily for the rest of this decade.

    While numbers and size matter, the world must also stop paying lip service to conservation and deliver real protection for nature, matched with sufficient and durable finance to ensure they work. And the high seas treaty needs urgently ratified, since there otherwise remains a near half-planet sized hole in ambitions for 30×30.


    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get our award-winning weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 40,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    Callum Roberts receives funding from Convex Insurance, EU H2020, and EU Synergy. He is a board member of Nekton and Maldives Coral Institute, and advisor to Minderoo Foundation, Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy and CORDAP, and is a Pew Marine Fellow and WWF Fellow.

    – ref. New report reveals that targets to save 30% of the ocean by 2030 aren’t being met – https://theconversation.com/new-report-reveals-that-targets-to-save-30-of-the-ocean-by-2030-arent-being-met-241584

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Supporting Jasper residents’ return home

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    [embedded content]

    Alberta’s government is committed to ensuring Jasper residents are supported as the community recovers from the summer’s wildfire. To support rebuilding efforts in Jasper, government is committing $112 million to build interim housing for displaced Jasper residents and residents of Pine Grove Senior Citizens Manor.

    Work on the sites in Jasper has already begun, and the first residents are expected to begin moving in as early as January 2025. Homes in Jasper will be available for essential service workers and support service workers, and other eligible Jasper residents who lost their homes and are employed in the area. Alberta’s government will ensure that interim homes are ready for eligible residents as quickly and efficiently as possible.

    “Our entire country grieved when wildfire ravaged Jasper this past summer. We know the rebuilding process takes time, and we’re doing all we can to support Jasper’s recovery. Most of all, people want to return home, and the funding we have approved will speed up that process so folks can rebuild their lives and move forward sooner.”

    Danielle Smith, Premier of Alberta

    “We know that Jasper residents are eager to get back home and Alberta’s government is committed to ensuring they have the supports they need throughout this rebuilding effort. When ready, these interim homes will address the immediate housing need in Jasper and provide a short-term housing option for those who are working in the town doing the critical work needed to support this rebuild.”

    Jason Nixon, Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services

    To support the interim housing needs of Jasperites, the government is supporting the construction of modular homes. It is estimated that this portion of the provincial funding will build 250 modular homes for eligible displaced Jasper residents. Modular homes are constructed off-site, in a controlled environment, to allow for all-season construction and accelerated schedules. They are installed using permanent foundations that ensure the safety and comfort of the occupants.

    Interim housing units in Jasper will be provided at market rent, and applications and eligibility details will be released in the future. Units in Jasper will be sold at market value when they are no longer required for interim housing for Jasper recovery.

    “This interim housing is a much-needed step forward in getting the community of Jasper back on track and getting people into homes. Alberta’s government will continue to work with the town and our partners to restore Jasper as quickly as possible.”

    Martin Long, MLA for West Yellowhead

    “On behalf of the people of Jasper, I extend our sincere gratitude to the Government of Alberta for their critical support in funding interim housing as we work to rebuild Jasper. This housing isn’t just about the buildings, it’s directly linked to our social and economic recovery including the mental well-being of the community as a whole.”

    Richard Ireland, mayor, Town of Jasper

    Alberta’s government is also supporting the residents of Pine Grove Manor with interim housing in Hinton. Pine Grove Manor was destroyed by the fire and this interim housing will keep residents close to their community while the seniors home is rebuilt. Up to 25 units of modular housing will be built for seniors in Hinton on a site that was given to the project by the Town of Hinton. These units in Hinton will later be used as affordable housing for the community. Work on these sites is expected to begin in January and the first seniors are expected to begin moving in as early as April 2025.

    “The Evergreens Foundation is proud to work together with the province to move forward on this project with haste. We continue to keep the needs of the seniors who built our province in the forefront as we work through the Jasper recovery.”

    Kristin Chambers, chief administrative officer, The Evergreens Foundation

    A request for proposals will be released on both of these projects as the next steps in this process. Funding from Alberta’s government will be contributed to these projects over two fiscal years.

    Quick facts

    • The 2024 Jasper wildfire complex destroyed or damaged around 30 per cent of structures in Jasper, including the Pine Grove Seniors Citizens Manor, a government-owned building.
    • Wildfire is an insurable event and insurance can cover costs for interim housing for insured individuals.

    Related news

    • Supporting recovery in Jasper (Sept.19, 2024)
    • Progress on Jasper recovery: Premier Smith and Minister McIver Joint Statement (Oct.10, 2024)

    Multimedia

    • Watch the news conference

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How Black music record stores shaped the sound of the UK

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Amit Dinesh Patel, Senior Lecturer in Music and Sound, University of Greenwich

    Black music record stores have always been more than just places to buy records. These spaces became lifelines for communities, cultural hubs where people gathered, shared stories and connected over a shared passion for music.

    From the early days of the Windrush generation to the present, these stores have been a vital part of the Black cultural experience. For many, they were crucial in shaping not just their musical tastes, but their sense of identity and belonging.

    I am part of a new research project, The Record Store and Black Music: A UK History, which is aiming to shine a spotlight on this legacy by documenting the untold stories of Black record stores across the UK to preserve them for future generations. Through oral histories, films and photos, we are capturing the vibrant world that flourished within these stores.

    Trailer for an upcoming documentary created as part of the project.

    “I don’t know how, especially as Black Caribbean people, we’d have survived in England if we hadn’t had music,” Claude Hendrickson, founder of the Chapeltown Youth Association Leeds, told us. His words emphasised how deeply intertwined these spaces are with the community’s survival and cultural resistance.

    For many Black people, these stores transcended their commercial nature to offer a sense of belonging, a space where you could learn about new artists, hear the latest sounds and connect with kindred spirits. As British DJ and presenter Trevor Nelson told us: “the first community I had in music was in a record shop”. He remembered how important those early interactions with his first music community were, building connections that would shape his career.

    What made these stores even more unique was their ability to foster a network of collaboration. Record shops weren’t just about selling music; they were about creating it, too. Artists, DJs, promoters, radio stations and music journalists used these spaces as meeting points to exchange ideas, feedback and be inspired.

    As David Rodigan, a legendary figure in UK radio and reggae aficionado, explained to us: “The whole business of going to a record shop was very much an advent of gathering like-minded souls.”

    The original taste-makers

    Before the age of streaming, record stores were an essential part of how music moved and evolved. Long before algorithms suggested new tracks, the person behind the counter was the original taste-maker – someone who knew their music and their community and could help shape what you listened to next.

    In this way record stores didn’t just reflect musical trends – they helped create them. For example, shops that catered to soul, R&B, reggae, jungle, drum ‘n’ bass, UK garage, dub, hip-hop, and other Black music genres played an instrumental role in shaping the UK’s music charts. They guided the preferences of their customers and, by extension, the nation.

    In an era when mainstream radio and major record labels often ignored Black music, these stores provided a crucial alternative. They were the places where artists got their start and where word of mouth helped build careers.

    In doing so, these stores became the heart of a cottage industry that supported independent artists and labels, allowing Black people to thrive in an industry that wasn’t always welcoming or accessible.

    Our project doesn’t just celebrate the past – it also asks what these spaces mean in today’s world. Although record shops aren’t as ubiquitous as they once were, their impact on the cultural landscape remains undeniable. By documenting these stories, we ensure that the contribution of Black music stores isn’t forgotten but rather remains an integral part of the UK’s cultural heritage.

    As we continue to explore and document their history, we are reminded of their immense contribution – not only to the music industry but to the very fabric of British cultural life.


    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.

    Developed by 2Funky Arts, this research project was made possible by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and will include the release of a documentary, book, educational resource, podcast and website. Visit https://theblackmusicrecordshop.co.uk/ to learn more.

    – ref. How Black music record stores shaped the sound of the UK – https://theconversation.com/how-black-music-record-stores-shaped-the-sound-of-the-uk-241321

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Russia’s ‘meat grinder’ tactics in Ukraine have proved effective in past wars – but at terrible cost

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Becky Alexis-Martin, Peace Studies and International Development, University of Bradford

    Reports have emerged in recent months of particularly savage casualties among Russian troops fighting in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, as the Russian military bids to capture as much territory as it can, possibly with one eye on a potential ceasefire deal. Much will depend on the outcome of the US election. Donald Trump has said he will end military aid to Ukraine if elected, bringing the war to an end in “one day”.

    This could mean that Kyiv will be forced to cede Ukrainian territory along current lines of occupation. Analysts have commented that this was one of the motivations for Ukraine’s Kursk offensive inside Russia in August, since territory captured by Ukraine would be a valuable bargaining chip in negotiations.

    But meanwhile Russia’s offensive in eastern Ukraine has been particularly bloody, with US intelligence reports of casualty numbers of up to 1,000 per day, dead and wounded. This calls to mind the “meat grinder” tactics of previous Russian and Soviet military campaigns.

    The “meat grinder” is a collective battlefield approach that values high troop density and intensity to overwhelm the enemy. It is a uniquely Russian approach nine decades in the making, consisting of a combination two much older strategies, namely attrition and mass mobilisation.

    At the heart of attrition is the notion of abundance. The opponent is physically and psychologically exhausted by the sheer force of numbers, as wave after wave of cannon fodder are relentlessly deployed. Mass mobilisation is the large-scale movement of troops to a particular location with the intention of overpowering the adversary. Neither approach recognises the intrinsic value of individual lives.

    Despite being outmatched in organisation and tactics, the Russian military successfully undertook a war of attrition against Napoleon’s invasion in 1812. A century later, the Russian empire generated enormous casualties but successfully launch large-scale counterattacks during the first world war.

    The “meat grinder” became embedded in Soviet military tactics. The phrase “quantity has a quality of its own” has apocryphal roots in Stalin’s leadership during the second world war. Key battles such as Stalingrad and Kursk involved the deployment of millions of soldiers, and the Soviet army eventually crushed the Nazi blitzkrieg through sheer weight of numbers on the eastern front.

    Past victories do not guarantee future success. But – for the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, and his military planners – it seems the dead and disabled bodies of their own soldiers are necessary collateral damage. It is estimated that more than 70,000 Russian troops have died since 2022. But it has been reported that Russian casualty rates are now rising more rapidly due to its military’s increased reliance on inexperienced fighters.

    The state of the war in Ukraine, October 20 2024.
    Institute for the Study of War

    Civilian recruits now make up the greatest proportion of deaths since the invasion began. This increase is partially their lack of military knowledge in a challenging fighting environment against a highly motivated enemy. But inadequate medical care and poor quality protective kit are also important factors. The Russian state media shares carefully curated images and stories of the deceased but morale is still crashing, and military wives and mothers are rebelling.

    Ultimate sacrifice

    Putin’s meat grinder continues to expand, however. The Russian government announced plans to spend £133.8 billion on national security and defence in 2025, equivalent to 41% of annual government expenditure. All healthy men aged 18 to 30 can now be conscripted, and Russia has recently ordered a third increase in Russian troops. The recruitment of a further 180,000 soldiers will make Russia’s army the second largest in the world, with nearly 2.4 million members. Yet this army is unqualified and offers little protection for the individual soldier.

    Ukraine does not view its soldiers’ lives as disposable in the same way – and they are comparatively well trained and resourced. But the dynamic in Ukraine may be changing. The country’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, signed new conscription laws in April 2024 that lowered the age of conscription to 25, and it has reached the point where eligible men are now being dragged away from restaurants and nightclubs by army recruiters.

    Russia’s meat-grinder tactics are not infallible and will eventually collapse. Large formations can quickly become large targets in an age of remote reconnaissance. While Russia can coerce military participation through the carrot of high wages and the stick of forced conscription, a large and unmotivated army is not well-equipped for modern warfare and will eventually produce diminishing returns.

    Even declaration of martial law in the whole of Russia – Putin introduced martial law in occupied part of Ukraine in September 2022 – would not overcome the deeply embedded structural issues Russia faces. Poor care of soldiers and veterans will generate long-term challenges in the form of disability and treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder.

    The social and cultural harms of a poor culture of care are already manifesting in Russia. Approximately 190 serious crimes have been committed by veterans upon returning home. With Putin showing no interest in peace, we can only hope that the Russian war machine burns itself out – and that the long-term consequences are not terminal.

    Becky Alexis-Martin is affiliated with the British American Security Information Council.

    – ref. Russia’s ‘meat grinder’ tactics in Ukraine have proved effective in past wars – but at terrible cost – https://theconversation.com/russias-meat-grinder-tactics-in-ukraine-have-proved-effective-in-past-wars-but-at-terrible-cost-241688

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin, Duckworth, Quigley Announce More Than $81 Million In Additional Federal Funding For the CREATE Program

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin

    10.18.24

    CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (D-IL-05) today announced $81,301,065 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) INFRA (Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight & Highway Projects) Program for the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) Program, which aims to reduce traffic delays, increase rail junction safety, and improve mobility throughout Chicago.

    DOT’s INFRA Grant Program provides federal funding for large projects of regional significance and is funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that the lawmakers worked to pass in 2021.

    Last month, Durbin, Duckworth, and Quigley announced $209 million in federal funding for the CREATE Program through DOT’s Mega Grant Program, bringing the total with today’s announced funding to $291,179,049.

    “Today’s additional funding announcement is a major investment in the future of our transportation infrastructure. Chicagoans will be better connected because of the CREATE Program, which will improve the safety and quality of our rail system and roadways,” said Durbin. “Senator Duckworth, members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation, and I have long supported these investments, and I’m glad to see these federal dollars go toward improving safety and alleviating congestion in a region that desperately needs it.”

    “Investing in our transportation infrastructure is about growing our economy and making it easier, faster, safer and more efficient so people and goods can get where they need to go,” Duckworth said. “This significant federal investment in the CREATE Program—which Senator Durbin, members of the Illinois Delegation and I have been championing for years—will help us modernize our rail system for all Chicagoans while supporting good-paying South Side jobs and strengthening our region’s economy.”

    “The CREATE Program is fundamentally changing rail operations in Chicago for both commuters and freight. Last month, we secured $209 million in funding for this program. Today’s announcement marks another significant step toward fulfilling CREATE’s mission to improve safety, alleviate congestion, and boost mobility throughout our city,” said Quigley.

    The CREATE Program brings together the City of Chicago, the State of Illinois, the U.S. Department of Transportation, Metra, Amtrak, and the nation’s freight railroads in a partnership to eliminate transit bottlenecks, boost the economy, and improve overall safety of the Chicagoland area.

    Today’s announced funding will advance the 75th Street Corridor Improvement Project, a three-mile elevated rail corridor on Chicago’s South Side, which approximately 90 freight trains and 30 Metra commuter trains use daily. The project will reconfigure track segments and signals at Belt Junction, add a third track to the Norfolk Southern line, replace and restore 14 aging bridge and viaduct structures, and implement mobility improvements on surface streets throughout the corridor.

    Durbin and Duckworth have long championed rail improvements, having helped secure $132 million in federal funding to begin this project in 2018.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Arctic Circle Assembly: Minister Doughty Plenary Speech

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    UK Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories outlines the UK’s commitment to the Arctic in the face of rising global challenges.

    Location:
    Reykjavik
    Delivered on:
    (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

    Thank you very much. It is a genuine pleasure to be here, President Grímsson and all of you at the Arctic Circle, distinguished guests and friends across the room.

    It’s a pleasure to be here representing the new government in the United Kingdom, and it has been fantastic to be part of some fascinating discussions – yesterday following my visit with my ministerial colleague in Tromsø, at the Framsenteret in Norway, and in Oslo, and then here in Reykjavik, and meeting with many colleagues from across the Arctic region.

    I am glad of the opportunity to be able to say a few words to you about the UK’s valuable work with all of you as fellow friends of the Arctic.

    I reflect on many of my own personal relationships with people and communities across this incredible region. I have friends from Iqaluit to Nuuk, from Tromsø to Tórshavn, and here in Reykjavik too.

    I reflect back on a moment I spent as a 19-year-old in Finnish Lapland, in the Millenium New Year’s Eve, in a little cabin in the snow, in minus 25, enjoying the sauna and some skiing. 

    But like many that night, I thought a lot about the world, the future of the world in this century, my place in it and what the future might hold.

    And as I sat there amid the incredible beauty and peace, little could I have imagined how the world would look nearly a quarter of a century on.

    With Putin’s war raging on the European continent, and all of the implications that brings for regional and global security.

    And with climate change and biodiversity loss advancing at such a frightening pace, wrecking precious ecosystems and destroying livelihoods.

    And with me as the British minister responsible for Europe, North America and indeed our relations in the Polar regions, I am very conscious that I have to work with all of you to address those challenges.

    And of course that is a daunting responsibility.

    But it is also an immense privilege to hold this role and to be here with you all, united in concern and care for the Arctic, and indeed both polar regions, and determined to navigate the challenges ahead in a spirit of co-operation and respect.

    So there are three areas I wanted to focus on briefly with you today – firstly, our relationships, secondly, our shared security, and thirdly, our efforts to tackle the climate and nature crises.

    Firstly, let me confirm to you that the new UK government is putting internationalism and multilateralism at the heart of all that we do. 

    We are resetting and deepening relationships with friends in Europe and beyond – many here in this room – to better face global challenges. 

    The UK’s Arctic Policy Framework continues to guide our approach, and we continue to update and develop that, guided by science and indeed the strategic challenges that we face.

    And, as it makes clear, we are committed to the Arctic Council in our role as a State Observer, recognising that it has been at the heart of a stable and peaceful region for much of the past three decades. 

    And indeed, the Council has an important role to play in articulating a strong voice and delivering effective governance.

    It has potential to act as a multilateral ‘glue’, with the strength to bind together a fragmented world.

    So, our objectives for the Council are characterised by strong co-operation and constructive dialogue – objectives I think we all share in this room.

    And I commend Norway’s work as Chair of the Council to re-start the technical engagement in the face of the very significant geopolitical challenges.

    We will do what we can to further those efforts, as part of our commitments to the multilateral system.

    But we are of course not naïve. The security of the Arctic is clearly at risk – the impacts of Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine cannot be underestimated, let alone the wider geopolitical cooperation and competition landscape, and that will impact on all of us in this important region.

    So alongside our resolute support for Ukraine, we are working tirelessly with partners for peace, security and stability, particularly for all of those areas of Europe on what I call the flanks – including the Western Balkans, the Nordic states and beyond.

    We recognise Russia’s rights and role as an Arctic state.

    But we will not tolerate attempts to wreck regional stability, disrupt critical infrastructure or restrict freedom of navigation. 

    There is no global security without Arctic security. So, we are ready to protect and – if necessary – assert our rights.

    And on Wednesday, I was privileged to take a tour with the Norwegian Coastguard in Tromsø, to see how security threats and environmental changes are monitored in the High North.

    They have a tough job in tough conditions – and all credit to them.

    And as someone who’s participated alongside our training with Royal Marines in Northern Norway, I have huge respect for all of those who regularly brave the Arctic wilderness to ensure we are ready to protect it.

    And let me be clear that the UK’s commitment to NATO, to the Joint Expeditionary Force, the Northern Group, and the Arctic Security Forces Roundtable is ironclad, including of course our close partnership with our hosts, Iceland.

    And the NATO alliance is of particular significance to me personally. Many members of my family have served in NATO operations over many years, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with allies.

    Of course, beyond Putin’s menace, climate change and the global marine biodiversity loss that we are tragically seeing is the other immense threat that we are all discussing here looming over the Arctic.

    We are witnessing devastating impacts – on glaciers, fish stocks and weather patterns – with implications for us all.

    And we are painfully aware that global warming is driving geopolitical competition over resources beneath the ice too.

    And so that’s why my colleague, the Foreign Secretary David Lammy, made clear in his first major policy speech last month that efforts to address the climate and nature crisis are central to our new government’s work. 

    So at COP29 we will press the global community to accelerate ambition to reduce our emissions and push for an agreement on an ambitious new climate finance goal.

    And we have also seen how research to understand and assess climate change – including through the Arctic Council – has been an important basis to build collaboration. We will continue to back this.

    But we have already invested over one hundred and thirty-five million pounds in Arctic research over the last decade, including through UK centres of expertise.

    Our Royal Research Ship, Sir David Attenborough, paid its first visit to Greenland over the summer, and I was delighted to hear about their work here last night.

    That data gathered will help us understand crucial changes and their impacts on the Arctic Ocean and beyond.

    Now, our Advanced Research and Invention Agency has launched an eighty-one-million-pound call for proposals for further research around Greenland. 

    This new programme will develop an early warning system for ‘tipping points’, providing climate data of local and global importance.

    And we are committing further funds to collaborations with Arctic Council Working Groups, helping to enhance understanding of climate impacts on the livelihoods of Arctic indigenous people, including many other things.

    And I think it’s important to say here that, while we tend to focus on modern science for solutions, indigenous knowledge often holds the key to understanding and responding to the climate and nature crises, on top of the absolute necessity of working in respect and partnership with all of those communities and peoples who live in these wonderful lands, understand these lands, and steward their resources, and indeed their beauty.

    So further research will be key, and will build on our programmes, for example with Canada and the Inuit Nunangat, which is looking into climate-driven changes in that Arctic homeland, as well as impacts on health and wellbeing. I have been delighted to meet representatives of communities from across the Arctic at this fantastic conference.

    So this is just a brief flavour of our work, of our partnerships, of our hope for the future.

    But let me say in conclusion that the future of the Arctic depends on every one of us, working together, in a spirit of strong collaboration and co-operation.

    I hope that when we look back, 25 years from now, it’ll be from the perspective of a more secure, peaceful and indeed sustainable era. Not least here in the Arctic, but also globally.

    Thank you very much.

    Updates to this page

    Published 21 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Manitoba Government Announces Plans for New Playground in Thompson

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    October 21, 2024

    Manitoba Government Announces Plans for New Playground in Thompson

    – – –
    Consultation Will Ensure Planned Playground Meets Needs of Community: Smith

    The Manitoba government is inviting Thompson residents of Manitoba Housing to provide feedback on designs for a new playground in the community by participating in consultations beginning later this month, Housing, Addictions and Homelessness Minister Bernadette Smith announced today.

    “Our government recognizes that play is a crucial part of child development that teaches kids about the world around them and helps them cultivate social skills they will carry forward for the rest of their lives,” said Smith. “I’m pleased to announce our government is investing in the future of children in Thompson by building a new playground at the housing complex. I encourage residents to share their feedback on the proposed plans to ensure they address community needs now and into the future.”

    Manitoba Housing is considering three design options for a new playground at 539 Princeton Dr., and a companion swing set and benches nearby at 8 Brandon Cres. The playground will be accessible and will feature Indigenous cultural elements. Community consultations on the new playground will begin in the coming weeks, the minister noted.

    “Thompson families want the same thing all Manitobans want, the freedom to raise a healthy family in a safe community,” said Kathy Valentino, deputy mayor, City of Thompson. The new playground reflects the values of our community and build relationships between youth and their families.”

    These in-person consultations will also be an opportunity for Manitoba Housing residents to connect with staff to ask questions and share ideas. A playground-themed colouring and drawing station will be available for children at the session, the minister added.

    Manitoba Housing owns and operates 95 rental units in Thompson. Of those, 55 units are townhouse properties designated for families, and 40 units in two apartment blocks are designated for families or tenants aged 50 and over.

    – 30 –

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Principality of Liechtenstein Becomes IMF’s 191st Member

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    October 21, 2024

    Washington, D.C. – October 21, 2024: The Principality of Liechtenstein became a member of the IMF today when Prime Minister Daniel Risch signed the Fund’s Articles of Agreement during a ceremony in Washington D.C.

    Liechtenstein applied for IMF membership in May 2023 (See Press Release 23/190). Subsequently, an IMF team visited Vaduz during November 27-December 8, 2023 (See Press Release 23/430). The principality’s decision to join the IMF was confirmed by a majority in a national referendum conducted on September 22, 2024. The initial quota[1] for Liechtenstein is SDR 100 million (about US$134.7 million). 

    After the signing ceremony, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva met with Prime Minister Daniel Risch at IMF headquarters and issued the following statement:

    “I am delighted to welcome Liechtenstein as the 191st member of our global IMF community. This membership signifies Liechtenstein’s commitment to upholding the highest standards of economic policy and cooperation on the international stage. The IMF will work closely with the authorities to support Liechtenstein’s efforts toward sustainable growth and further integration into the global economy.” 

    “Liechtenstein is joining the IMF at a time when our members and the global economy are navigating greater uncertainty and long-term challenges such as economic fragmentation and climate change. This accession reaffirms the important role entrusted to the IMF in fostering global economic cooperation and stability. Together, we will build a more inclusive and sustainable economic future for all members.”

    Prime Minister Daniel Risch added: “The Government is very pleased that Liechtenstein was able to join the IMF as the 191st member, this Monday, October 21. As a small country with limited administrative resources, we reflect carefully before joining international organizations, evaluating not only the consequences and benefits of what the organization can bring us – but also what we can bring to the organization ourselves. Liechtenstein will be a committed and dedicated member of the Fund. We’re looking forward to engaging constructively to advance international economic resilience and stability.”

    [1] A member’s quota in the IMF determines its capital subscription, voting power, access to IMF financing, and allocation of SDRs.

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Eva-Maria Graf

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    @IMFSpokesperson

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2024/10/21/pr-24387-liechtenstein-principality-of-liechtenstein-becomes-imfs-191st-member

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Liechtenstein: Five Things You May Not Know About the IMF’s Newest Member

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    By Rodgers Chawani and Kazuko Shirono

    October 21, 2024

    Liechtenstein is a winter sports destination and the only doubly-landlocked country in Europe. Find out more about the IMF’s 191st member

    The IMF welcomed the Principality of Liechtenstein as its 191st member. Prime Minister Daniel Risch signed the IMF’s Articles of Agreement in a ceremony in Washington, D.C at the beginning of the 2024 Annual Meetings, which the country now attends as a full member.

    Five Facts about Liechtenstein

    1. Liechtenstein is one of only two doubly landlocked countries worldwide, along with Uzbekistan.

      Among six smallest European states—Andorra, Malta, Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City—Liechtenstein has the third-largest total area at 160 sq. km, comparable to the size of the city of Washington D.C. Liechtenstein is located between Austria and Switzerland in the Alps and is a winter sports destination. About 40,000 people call it home, half of the population of Andorra. Although Liechtenstein’s capital, Vaduz, is the best-known city in the principality, it’s not the largest; next-door Schaan has a larger population.

    2. Liechtenstein is a parliamentary constitutional principality with a small civil service.

      The 1921 constitution combines monarchy and democratic principles, defining the principality as “a constitutional, hereditary monarchy on a democratic and parliamentary basis.” The government consists of a five-member cabinet nominated by parliament and appointed by the prince for a four-year term. Liechtenstein has 1,500 civil servants, less than 4 percent of the population, significantly lower than the EU average of about 17 percent. Twenty-five members of parliament serve a four-year term.

    3. Liechtenstein has the second highest per capita income in Europe, behind Monaco.

      Liechtenstein’s per capita income of US$197K/year is substantially higher than that of most other small states and other European countries. High investment in research and development (6.2 percent of GDP) supports a globally-competitive and export-oriented manufacturing sector, which includes machine and tool engineering, plant construction, and precision and dental instruments, contributing to high incomes. The share of industry is high at 42 percent of gross value added, well above the EU average (about 15 percent). The financial sector, mostly based on private banking, wealth management, insurance, and trust services, accounts for about 20 percent of GDP.

    4. The number of persons employed in Liechtenstein exceeds its population.

      A distinctive feature of Liechtenstein’s economy is the large number of inward, cross-border commuters—from Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. Compared to a population of approximately 40,000, the workforce was 42,500 in 2022. About half of the workforce commutes daily from Switzerland (59 percent of commuters) or Austria (37 percent). Labor force participation is high (76.1 percent, vis-à-vis 74.9 percent in the EU), and the unemployment rate is below 2 percent.

    5. Despite its small size, Liechtenstein is globally integrated.

      The US, Germany, and Switzerland are among its most important export destinations. As part of the European Economic Area, Liechtenstein has full access to the EU’s single market, including financial markets, under the rules for free movement of services and capital. Building on access to the EU’s financial market and oversight by the European Banking Authority, Liechtenstein’s financial institutions have extended private wealth management networks outside the EU to Asia and the Middle East. Strong economic ties with Switzerland—including use of the Swiss franc—have also fostered trade and labor market integration. 

    ****

    Rodgers Chawani is a senior economist and Kazuko Shirono is a deputy chief. Both are in the IMF’s European Department.

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2024/10/21/cf-five-things-you-may-not-know-about-liechtenstein

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Climate futures for lizards and snakes

    Source: US Geological Survey

    Have you found your niche? 

    For us humans that usually means we’ve found a job or hobby that is perfectly suited to our interests and skills. A climate niche is similar—it’s the combination of temperature and precipitation that is perfectly suited to a species’ needs. Climate is particularly important for lizards and snakes because they are ectotherms, commonly referred to as “cold-blooded.”  That means they depend on the environment for warmth since their bodies don’t generate heat on their own. 

    It’s no surprise then that the southwestern U.S. and Mexico are home to the most lizard and snake species in western North America. However, as the climate warms and water availability becomes more variable, the locations of species’ climate niches could change. Parts of the continent that were previously suitable for a species could become too warm, while areas farther north or higher in elevation that were previously too cold for reptiles could become “just right.” 

    This classic Goldilocks story was the focus of a recent study by U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Forest Service researchers. Where will those ideal climate conditions be as climate change unfolds across the West? Answering that question could help us predict where species will live in the future, providing valuable information for those working today to sustain biodiversity tomorrow.

    Scientists gathered data on the recent distributions of 130 lizard and snake species found from Mexico to western Canada. 

    The climate in each species’ current range defined its “climate-niche distribution” or the area where the temperature and precipitation have been suitable for survival and reproduction over the last 30 years or so. 

    Then, the team looked at where those same climate conditions may occur later in the century based on multiple climate change scenarios. 

    Overall, future climate-niche distributions are predicted to shift northward and towards higher elevations. 

    By the end of the century, 68% of the 130 species are predicted to have an expanded climate-niche distribution, potentially resulting in new species arriving across state and international borders if there are no barriers to dispersal. 

    Idaho and Colorado are the states predicted to have the most species knocking at their door. Both states border vast deserts to the south and have remarkable elevation gradients.

    Dede Olson, research ecologist with the U.S. Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station says:

    “As species migrate northward, they could cross jurisdictional boundaries, such as private lands, state lines, or even international borders. Natural resource agencies might find themselves managing species that were not previously within their regions.”

    On the map to the right, areas shaded in yellow have suitable climate for a larger number of reptile species. The maximum number of species is 68 in the recent time period and 69 in the future scenario. Areas in purple are suitable for fewer species. 

    Although most species are predicted to enjoy an expanded climate niche, 8.5% of species—mostly in the southwest United States and Mexico—could lose climate-niche space as parts of their current ranges become too warm and dry for survival. The states of Chihuahua and Sonora in Mexico are predicted to lose climate-niche space for the most species.

    The researchers behind the study released the full data set to the public and developed a data visualization tool to make it easy to explore the results and learn more about how climate change could impact local species. The data release includes downloadable data, including full-page illustrations of climate-niche predictions for each species. 

    Anyone from scientists and resource managers to local residents interested in the wildlife in their own backyard can use the tool. The interactive figures display the results by species, state, or elevation.

    Michelle Jeffries, a biologist with the USGS Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center says:

    “We created this data visualization tool so resource managers will be able to quickly identify which species may need attention as the climate changes. The tool brings the figures from the paper to life. It allows users to interact with the data, filter it, and create their own figures tailored to their specific needs or interests.”  

    Whether those reptile species can actually move towards cooler climates and survive in new habitats depends on many factors. Human-created barriers like cities or roads could block the way, or natural obstacles like rivers and canyons could halt progress. 

    On the map to the right, areas shaded in brown are predicted to lose climate-niche space for reptile species in the future. Areas in teal are predicted to gain species. These simulated dispersal scenarios are on opposite ends of the spectrum. Actual changes in climate-niche species richness will likely fall somewhere in between: some species will be able to disperse and others will not.

    There could be other habitat suitability considerations as well, like food availability or predators. It’s also possible that some species will adapt to the changing climate of their current range and stay put. Populations with enough genetic variation could evolve tolerance to warmer temperatures over generations. In other words, a shift in climate-niche doesn’t necessarily mean a species’ distribution will shift accordingly.

    David Pilliod, research ecologist with the USGS and lead author of the publication said:

    “Researchers around the world are looking at links between genetics and climate adaptation, temperature and reproduction, the timing of life history events and migrations…it’s a long list. Reptiles are a very diverse but understudied group, and we know they’re particularly sensitive to changes in environmental temperature. We wanted to try and focus attention on species and habitats that could be impacted by climate change relatively soon.”

    This early warning that climate-niche distributions could change, and reptile species could be gained or lost, gives wildlife managers a chance to prepare. The results of this study are relevant to managers across 47 states and provinces from Mexico to western Canada with responsibilities for species conservation and habitat management. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: UN Secretary-General’s remarks for the inauguration of the renovated Africa Hall

    Source: United Nations – English

    ear Prime Minister Abiy, dear Chairperson Moussa Faki, dear friends and colleagues,

    It is an enormous pleasure to join all of you for this moment of history – in this house of history. 

    I thank all our partners – particularly the Government of Ethiopia, along with our own United Nations Economic Commission for Africa for the tremendous work.

    This hall is where Africa came together to give life to the Organization of African Unity, now the African Union. 

    Times were very different. 

    In 1961, when this Hall was inaugurated by Emperor Haile Selassie, only 26 African nations had achieved independence – many of them just months before.

    Today, Africa is a transformed continent.

    And to my mind, this renewed building symbolizes renewed hope and unity for Africa.

    This Hall is a bridge between Africa’s past and future – honouring shared struggles and achievements, while embracing common aspirations.  It is ubuntu.

    A state of the art 21st century facility that preserves the grandeur and history of this great continent.

    I also see it as an invitation for everyone to cooperate in pursuit of a better future, for Africa and for the world.

    Dear friends,

    As we celebrate this new beginning, we must also acknowledge the challenges ahead of us.

    Africa is a continent of hope. 

    But it faces challenges that are deeply rooted in history and are exacerbated by climate change, conflict and persistent poverty.

    And African women often bear the brunt of these hardships.

    Addressing these issues requires resolute action and renewed solidarity.

    Our global institutions were built at a time when most of Africa was under colonial rule.  

    But unlike this Hall with its 21st century innovations, many of these global institutions are stuck in those times, unable to respond to the aspirations and rights of the African people.

    Africa still has no permanent seat at the Security Council. And let’s hope it will be corrected soon.

    And international financial institutions often cannot provide African countries with the response they need – whether it is protection from strangling debt or from climate catastrophe they did not cause.

    We can only move forward if we also renew and update global institutions – by making them more effective, fair and inclusive.

    Last month, world leaders adopted the Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact and the Declaration on Future Generations.

    The Pact recognizes the need to reform the Security Council to make it representative, transparent, efficient, democratic and accountable.

    It also calls for groundbreaking reforms of the international financial architecture – including to massively scale-up affordable development and climate finance.

    And the Global Digital Compact includes the first truly universal agreement on the governance of Artificial Intelligence – giving every country a seat at the table, while supporting partnerships to bridge the digital divide and build AI capacity in developing countries and namely in Africa.

    We must now move forward together in implementing these historic agreements without delay.

    And we must include young people at every step of the way.

    Dear friends,

    For more than sixty years, the Africa Hall has been a symbol of the continent’s collective aspirations, a testament to its resilience, and a beacon of hope for entire generations.

    Today, as we step into this renewed space, let us also renew our pledge to work for the people of Africa and the world we need.

    May the debates and discussions here continue to lead towards greater peace, unity and prosperity for all on the African continent.

    And I thank you.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 2024 American Women Quarters Rolls and Bags™ Honoring Zitkala-Ša on Sale October 28

    Source: United States Mint

    WASHINGTON – The United States Mint (Mint) 2024 American Women Quarters rolls and bags honoring Zitkala-Ša will be available for purchase on October 28 at noon EDT. The Zitkala-Ša quarter is the 15th coin in the American Women Quarters™ Program, a four-year program that celebrates the accomplishments and contributions made by women who have shaped our Nation’s history and helped pave the way for generations that followed.

    The rolls and bags product options include:

    • Priced at $45.00, a bag of 100 circulating quality quarters minted in Philadelphia (product code 24WBJ)
    • Priced at $45.00, a bag of 100 circulating quality quarters minted in Denver (product code 24WBK)
    • Priced at $40.00, a two-roll set containing a total of 80 circulating quality quarters minted in Philadelphia and Denver (product code 24WRJ)
    • Priced at $60.00, a three-roll set containing a total of 120 circulating quality quarters minted in Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco (product code 24WRK)

    Orders for the 100-coin bags are limited to 10 per household on the first day, while orders for the two-roll and three-roll sets are limited to three per household on the first day.

    Sign up to receive “Remind Me” alerts by visiting the official product listing page.

    Because of overwhelming demand, much of the production of the three-roll sets is accounted for through subscription. A limited quantity will be available for purchase on October 28 at noon EDT.

    The American Women Quarters rolls and bags are available for purchase through the Mint’s Product Subscription Program. These subscriptions work like a magazine subscription. After you sign up, you will receive the next product released in the series and continue to receive products until you end your subscription. Visit our subscriptions page to learn more.

    The American Women Quarters will also be available at the Mint’s sales centers at the Philadelphia Mint, 151 N. Independence Mall East, Philadelphia, PA 19106 (on 5th Street between Arch Street and Race Street); the Denver Mint, 320 West Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO 80204 (on Cherokee Street, between West Colfax Avenue and West 14th Avenue); and the Mint Headquarters Coin Store in Washington, D.C., 801 9th St. NW, Washington, DC 20220.

    The reverse (tails) depicts Zitkala-Ša in traditional Yankton Sioux dress. She is holding a book, which represents her work as an author as well as her successful activism for Native American rights. Behind her, a stylized sun represents her work on The Sun Dance Opera, while a cardinal symbolizes her name, which translates to “Red Bird.” A Yankton Sioux-inspired diamond pattern sits underneath the sun. Inscriptions are “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,” “E PLURIBUS UNUM,” “AUTHOR,” “ACTIVIST,” “COMPOSER,” “25 CENTS,” and “ZITKALA-ŠA.” Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) Designer Don Everhart created the design, which Mint Medallic Artist Renata Gordon sculpted.

    Each coin in this series features a common obverse (heads) design depicting a portrait of George Washington. This design was originally composed and sculpted by Laura Gardin Fraser as a candidate entry for the 1932 quarter, which honored the bicentennial of George Washington’s birth. The inscriptions are “LIBERTY,” “IN GOD WE TRUST,” and “2024.”

    Launched in 2022, and continuing through 2025, the Mint is issuing five new quarter dollar reverse designs each year. The American Women Quarters Program is authorized by the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020 (Public Law 116-330).

    Inspire women everywhere. Shop the American Women Quarters Program today and start collecting this historic series honoring extraordinary women whose achievements, triumphs, and legacies reflect the strength and resilience of our Nation.

    The groundbreaking American Women Quarters Program is an excellent way to remind future generations what can be accomplished with vision, determination, and a desire to improve opportunities for all. Subscribe to the program today to ensure fulfillment of your favorite product through 2025.

    Please use the United States Mint catalog site at https://catalog.usmint.gov/ as your primary source of the most current information on product and service status or call 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). Hearing and speech impaired customers with TTY equipment may order by calling 1-888-321-MINT (6468).

    About the United States Mint
    Congress created the United States Mint in 1792, and the Mint became part of the Department of the Treasury in 1873. As the Nation’s sole manufacturer of legal tender coinage, the Mint is responsible for producing circulating coinage for the Nation to conduct its trade and commerce. The Mint also produces numismatic products, including proof, uncirculated, and commemorative coins; Congressional Gold Medals; silver and bronze medals; and silver and gold bullion coins. Its numismatic programs are self-sustaining and operate at no cost to taxpayers.

    Note: To ensure that all members of the public have fair and equal access to United States Mint products, the United States Mint will not accept, nor honor orders placed prior to the official on-sale date of October 28, 2024, at noon EDT. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sen. John Albers Named 2024 TAG Legislator of the Year

    Source: US State of Georgia

    ATLANTA (October 21, 2024) —The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) recently named Sen. John Albers (R–Roswell) as the 2024 Legislator of the Year for his continued commitment to fostering Georgia’s technology ecosystem. TAG, the state’s largest technology trade association, awards this honor annually to elected officials who demonstrate leadership in advancing Georgia’s tech sector.

    “I’m deeply honored to be recognized by TAG as the 2024 Legislator of the Year,” said Sen. Albers. “As technology continues to shape our future, it is essential that Georgia remains at the forefront of innovation. I will continue to work closely with industry experts and my colleagues to address the opportunities and challenges technology poses. I am committed to ensuring that our state’s regulatory framework remains competitive and conducive to growth as we continue positioning Georgia as a global technological leader.”

    TAG represents more than 30,000 members across Georgia, driving innovation within Georgia’s technology sector, inspiring industry leaders and fostering inclusivity by utilizing four key principles: connect, promote, influence and educate.

    “We are pleased to honor Senator John Albers with the 2024 TAG Legislator of the Year Award,” said Larry K. Williams, President and CEO of TAG. “Senator Albers is a technology champion, and we look forward to our ongoing partnership to ensure Georgia is the #1 place to do business and a global hub of innovation.”

    More information on TAG can be found here.

    # # # #

    Sen. John Albers serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Safety. He represents the 56th Senate District which includes portions of Cherokee, Cobb and North Fulton counties. He may be reached at his office at 404.463.8055 or by email at john.albers@senate.ga.gov.

    For all media inquiries, please reach out to SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –