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Category: KB

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Calvert Statement on the Elimination of Yahya Sinwar

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-42)

    Today, Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-41) issued the following statement regarding the elimination of the leader of Hamas, Yahya Sinwar, by the Israeli Defense Force:

    “I welcome the news that Israel Defense Forces served justice to Yahya Sinwar, who was responsible for the death, murder, rape, torture and kidnapping of Israelis and Americans. His elimination is another reminder that there is no bunker deep enough, tunnel long enough, or safehouse remote enough to protect the enemies of a free and civilized world. The U.S. will continue to stand with Israel to hold those accountable who perpetuate violence.”

     

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: The AI opportunity: Updates to our Gemini and Knowledge & Information teams

    Source: Google

    Editor’s note: Today, Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai shared the following note to employees.

    Hi Googlers, 

    It’s been an exciting few days for AI across our products. We saw NotebookLM with Audio Overviews go viral, added more ways to find information in Search and Lens, and launched a revamped Google Shopping for the AI era. We also just shared a big milestone in our work to help doctors use AI to detect diabetic retinopathy: 600,000 screenings and counting, and we’re expanding access to more people across India and Thailand. There’s a lot more to come.

    AI moves faster than any technology before it. To keep increasing the pace of progress, we’ve been making shifts to simplify our structures along the way, including the creation of Google DeepMind and the joining of the Platforms & Devices teams. As a next step, Prabhakar and I have been thinking through how to structure our Knowledge & Information team for the Gemini era, and today we shared the following changes:

    • The Gemini app team led by Sissie will join Google DeepMind under Demis. As the name suggests, the Gemini app is the direct consumer interface to the latest and greatest Gemini models. Bringing the teams closer together will improve feedback loops, enable fast deployment of our new models in the Gemini app, make our post-training work proceed more efficiently and build on our great product momentum. 
    • The Assistant teams focused on devices and home experiences will move to Platforms & Devices so they can sit closer to the product surfaces they’re building for and bring our AI-powered home initiatives into one team and focus on improving user experience.

    In parallel to this, Prabhakar has decided it’s time to make a big leap in his own career. After 12 years leading teams across Google, he’ll return to his computer science roots and take on the role of Chief Technologist, Google. In this role, he’ll partner closely with me and Google leads to provide technical direction and leadership and grow our culture of tech excellence. Nick Fox, a longtime Googler and member of Prabhakar’s leadership team, will be stepping up to lead K&I, which includes our Search, Ads, Geo, and Commerce products.

    Prabhakar’s leadership journey at Google has been remarkable, spanning Research, Workspace, Ads, and K&I. He led the Gmail team in launching Smart Reply and Smart Compose as early examples of using AI to improve products, and took Gmail and Drive past 1 billion users. Across K&I, Prabhakar and team have achieved significant growth and innovation: from launching AI Overviews, a groundbreaking advancement in Search that benefits hundreds of millions of users worldwide to introducing new search modalities like Circle to Search, video understanding, and “shop what you see” in Lens — all while improving core Search functionality. Maps and Shopping have transformed with AI-driven features like immersive view and virtual try-on. And in Ads, we’ve made real progress with AI-powered ad formats and streamlined campaign management, while continuing to innovate with Performance Max to empower millions of businesses. 

    I’m so grateful to Prabhakar for the strong foundation and leadership bench he’s built across K&I. That includes his incredible senior leaders and Nick who is ready to hit the ground running in his new role as SVP of K&I!

    Over the past few years, Nick has been instrumental in shaping Google’s AI product roadmap and collaborating closely with Prabhakar and his leadership team on K&I’s strategy. And throughout his career, Nick has demonstrated leadership across nearly every facet of K&I, from Product and Design in Search and Assistant, to our Shopping, Travel, and Payments products. He was also a pioneering leader in Ads, where he helped establish a rigorous quality and user-focused approach that remains key to our success. Nick has launched innovative consumer products like Google Fi and spearheaded complex initiatives such as RCS messaging. I frequently turn to Nick to tackle our most challenging product questions and he consistently delivers progress with tenacity, speed, and optimism.

    Congratulations to Nick, and a heartfelt thank you to Prabhakar for his leadership through numerous technology shifts and for building a strong foundation for the future.

    – Sundar

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: A golden age for research: broader scope, faster cycles, greater impact

    Source: Google

    We live in a golden age for research.

    Never before have we had the opportunity to make such rapid advances in computer science, and apply them so quickly to global-scale challenges, in a way that can help people in their daily lives. Since the start of my career, I’ve been excited by the “magic cycle” of research, where real-world challenges motivate new foundational and applied research, which in turn has a positive impact in the real world. Today, with the right infrastructure, talent and approach, we’re able not only to make rapid breakthroughs in everything from AI to algorithms to computing infrastructure, but to put those technologies to work to improve people’s daily lives and have societal impact faster than ever before, sometimes in a matter of months.

    I’m seeing this firsthand as I’ve recently stepped up to lead Google Research, so I wanted to share a perspective on the incredible progress we’re seeing — and how important research is in driving helpful innovation.

    Our approach: impact-driven curiosity

    Google itself in fact began with research. “The anatomy of a large-scale hypertextual Web search engine,” published in 1998, explored how PageRank could provide a fundamentally better way to find info on the web, But it didn’t stop with a research paper — it was applying that research that produced Google. Over the past 26 years, that approach to implementing research — quickly — has transformed not only our company, but also how people can interact with the world’s information. Indeed, much of the rapid progress in AI we see all around us today grew from Google Research’s invention of the Transformer.

    In all of our research, we ask ourselves: How can we make a step change, not just incremental? What’s impossible today, that we could make possible? And what is the greatest impact we can have — how can this make a real difference in the world?

    Google Research today includes fundamental and applied work in foundational machine learning and algorithms, computing systems and quantum AI, and science, AI & societal impact. And across all these domains, we run initiatives on efficiency in machine learning, factuality & grounding in AI systems, and new data techniques.

    Breakthroughs for the benefit of people and the planet

    We motivate our research by going after the biggest questions that matter to advance science and make a difference to people and to communities globally. What are the most effective ways to mitigate climate change? How can we help make billions of people healthier? How can we enable new experiences? And to do all this, can we break through limitations in computing and AI systems? Each of those becomes an inspiring research challenge — and in so many cases we’ve already translated research into solutions.

    For example, to address climate change, in a trial with American Airlines we used AI to help reduce contrails by 54%, demonstrating that airlines can verifiably avoid contrails and thereby reduce their climate impact. To help address the growing wildfire crisis, we partnered with leading wildfire authorities to develop FireSat, an upcoming AI-powered global satellite constellation to detect and track wildfires the size of a classroom — within 20 minutes. And consider flood forecasting — when our team at Google Research began the project in 2018, experts I met with said it was likely impossible to forecast riverine floods. But by developing AI that can build a global hydrologic model, we’ve not only proven it’s possible, but applied it to provide communities accurate early warnings and help save lives.

    Meanwhile, to support health and wellbeing, we’ve developed AI that can help screen for breast cancer and colorectal cancer, help prevent blindness at scale, spot potential skin conditions and detect diseases based on the sound of coughs. We’re still in the earliest days of AI breakthroughs and genomics research, and yet we’ve made progress with Large Language Models for the medical domain and we’re already poised to improve the health care for hundreds of millions of people.

    But perhaps one of the biggest undertakings involves advancing computing itself, and how it can fundamentally alter the scope of problem-solving. We’ve developed state-of-the-art attention models and use graph mining to improve retrieval quality. We’re also working on approaches to grounding large language models, such as by training models to rely on source documents for summarization and evaluating factual consistency. This research has led to improvements like the double-check feature in the Gemini app. We’ve made AI more efficient with research on speculative decoding, efficient inference techniques, and cascades, and we’ve helped improve privacy with federated learning and differential privacy. And our quantum computing team just published new results in Nature affirming that as we reduce the error rate in our quantum processors, we reach levels of computation that can’t be matched by even the world’s most powerful classical computers — putting us on track to crack open an entirely new computational capability for the world.

    These are just a few examples of the type of work done across Google Research.

    Why partnership is crucial for turning research into impact

    Of course, as we turn research towards impact, we’re acutely aware that technology is not automatically beneficial — you can’t “invent it and forget it,” simply releasing powerful technologies on the naive assumption that they will be helpful. It requires careful stewardship, partnership and a fundamentally human-centric view of how to design and guide emerging technologies. That’s one reason we do our research in partnership with a multitude of researchers in academia and many others, while creating tools and best practices that support a truly global research ecosystem with the aim of steering new technologies towards beneficial outcomes. We actively engage in advancing socio-technical research to bolster our AI principles — including on equitable datasets, interpretability, and algorithmic fairness — and there’s important work ahead to make our AI models even more efficient, factual, robust and safe.

    We have the greatest impact when we’re working with research partners. Since 2005, Google has worked with more than 1,000 research institutions and invested over $400 million dollars in academic research worldwide, much of this led by Google Research. We find experts across disciplines, roll up our sleeves, dive into the research, and make scientific advances together. In our connectomics research, we’ve partnered with Harvard to use AI to make the most detailed mapping yet of neurons in the human brain, revealing newly discovered structures — all towards helping scientists understand fundamental processes such as thought, learning and memory. Google Research also engaged in a first-of-its-kind collaboration with Howard University and other HBCUs to build a high-quality African-American English (AAE) speech dataset that Google — and others — will use to improve speech products. This is related to our overall effort to reduce barriers and better serve communities by enabling technology to work in many more languages.

    With our partners, and through Google’s own products, we use our research advances to benefit billions of people. For example, as populations swell and shift in the Global South, millions of people’s buildings aren’t represented on any map, and they risk missing out on essentials like electricity, healthcare and mail delivery. So Google Research in Africa has used AI to make big improvements to the Open Buildings dataset — transforming blurry, low-res satellite imagery into useful, high-res building outlines so partners like the World Bank, the World Resources Institute, UN Habitat, WorldPop and Sunbird AI can use it to ensure global development includes everyone. Along with our SKAI effort, this has helped our partnership with the UN to boost damage assessment.

    In another sphere, our Operations Research team recently showed how cargo shippers could double their profit, deliver 13% more containers and use 15% fewer ships. This is not only helpful for businesses, but good for supply chains globally.

    Finally, we of course partner extensively with product teams to drive innovation across Google — and our responsibility also includes keeping an eye on the horizon, exploring the art of the possible, and imagining how we can apply our breakthrough technologies for maximum benefit in years to come.

    Towards the future

    We feel great urgency given the scope of problems facing humanity — but also great optimism because of what we’ve been able to do already. Our multi-decade track record shows that Google Research is second-to-none in delivering helpful advances. We’ve delivered breakthroughs that have shaped Google’s identity as a company, helped inaugurate new fields in computer science, and advanced the frontiers of innovation and technology with thousands of publications. The advances we’ve shared are already assisting people – from their everyday tasks, to their most ambitious and imaginative endeavors — and addressing society’s most pressing challenges, from healthcare to education to climate change and climate science.

    We’ll keep sharing our breakthroughs on our Google Research blog, at conferences and at other events. We’re eager to explore — and invent — the future alongside all the partners and communities we work with.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: How gen AI can help doctors and nurses ease their administrative workloads

    Source: Google

    Did you know doctors and nurses spend more than a third of their work week on paperwork? This includes maintaining detailed patient records, completing insurance forms and referrals, documenting procedures performed, organizing documentation for claims and inputting claim information into the system. A study published today by Google Cloud and The Harris Poll sheds light on the extent of this burden — and it also highlights how generative AI (gen AI) can help.

    Clinicians, including doctors and nurses in the United States, report that nearly 28 hours of each week are lost to administrative tasks, leaving less time for what truly matters: patient care. It’s no wonder that 82% of clinicians report feeling burned out. This isn’t just a doctor problem: Insurance staff face an even bigger mountain of paperwork, spending 36 hours a week on administrative duties, such as maintaining member records and compiling documentation for claims.

    Burnout, errors and less time with patients

    This administrative overload is contributing to many of healthcare’s biggest challenges:

    • Burnout and staffing shortages: 82% of clinicians, 81% of medical staff and 77% of claims staff agree that administrative work contributes to feelings of burnout. Furthermore, 85% of provider executives and 78% of insurance company (payor) executives report that excessive administrative work has led to staffing shortages.
    • Reduced time with patients: 8 in 10 providers say administrative tasks detract from time spent with patients, and 68% believe this negatively impacts the quality of care. This sentiment is echoed by 93% of clinicians, 88% of medical staff, and 94% of claims staff, who believe they could dedicate more time to patient care if their administrative burden was lessened.
    • Increased risk of human error: Two-thirds of providers and 89% of payors express significant concern about human error in administrative tasks, with 22% and 49%, respectively, being “extremely” concerned.

    Generative AI solutions

    However, there is a promising solution to help with many of these tasks: gen AI. The study found that healthcare professionals are open to using generative AI, with 91% of providers and 97% of payors saying they feel positively about AI’s potential to ease administrative burdens. The general public feels the same, with 72% of respondents saying using AI is a worthwhile way to allow their healthcare providers more time to talk to them. Here are a few ways gen AI can help:

    • Making it easier to search patient documents and medical records
    • Creating clinical documents, like discharge summaries, progress notes and referral letters, giving clinicians more time to focus on reviewing and finalizing the documents
    • Getting prior authorizations approved faster by pre-populating forms, flagging potential issues and suggesting relevant clinical guidelines
    • Speeding up turnaround times in medical imaging by creating initial drafts of reports, allowing radiologists to prioritize complex cases and collaborate more effectively

    While AI can’t replace human compassion and expertise in healthcare, it can support healthcare professionals, allowing them to focus more on people, not paperwork. By easing administrative burdens, AI can pave the way to a more efficient, accurate, and human-centered system where the needs of patients are always at the forefront.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Continues the Fight Against Organized Retail Crime with a New Law Enforcement Bulletin

    Source: US State of California

    Thursday, October 17, 2024

    Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov

    SACRAMENTO – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today unveiled a new law enforcement bulletin highlighting 10 new California Organized Retail Crime (ORC) bills that were signed into law by the Governor on August 16, 2024. These laws are essential tools to help law enforcement address organized retail crime in California. These laws will take effect on January 1, 2025, except for AB 1972, which took effect immediately on August 16, 2024. 

    “The only way we can take these criminals down is by beating them at their own game,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta.  “We need to be equally nimble, coordinated, organized—and then some. I am thankful for great partners like CHP, local law enforcement and district attorneys. We must be a united front that spans law enforcement, prosecutors, retailers, and online marketplaces. This bulletin summarizes the new laws that can be used as tools to fight organized retail crime head on.”

    “The CHP’s organized retail theft investigation teams are making significant progress, dismantling criminal networks that target our retailer,” said California Highway Patrol Commissioner Sean Duryee. “Their relentless efforts, strong partnerships with local businesses, and focus on community safety show that we are actively tackling organized theft head-on.”

    The new laws summarized in the bulletin represent a comprehensive approach to addressing criminal behavior by focusing on the aggregation of related offenses. This means that when multiple offenses are committed that are connected in some way, they can be treated as a single, more serious violation. This provision aims to ensure that individuals who engage in a pattern of criminal activity are held accountable for the full extent of their actions. 

    Additionally, the new laws include different provisions that allow for arrests to be made under suitable conditions. This empowers law enforcement to take decisive action when they encounter situations that warrant an arrest. Furthermore, the legislation seeks to enhance penalties for significant thefts, reflecting a zero-tolerance stance on property crimes that have a substantial impact on victims and communities. By increasing the consequences for these serious offenses, the laws aim to deter individuals from engaging in such criminal behavior and to ensure that those who do are met with appropriate repercussions.
     
    Overall, this legislation is a proactive measure that guarantees that individuals who violate the law will face suitable consequences for their actions. It underscores a commitment to maintaining order and protecting the rights and safety of citizens, while also addressing the complexities of criminal behavior in a more nuanced and effective manner.

    A copy of the bulletin can be found here. 

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Dental Students Honor Hispanic Heritage

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Students in the UConn Chapter of the Student National Dental Association/Hispanic Student Dental Association (SNDA/HSDA) have been celebrating the vibrant culture and significant contributions of the Hispanic community during Hispanic Heritage Month.

    “I believe recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month is essential to celebrating the rich cultural contributions of the Hispanic and Latinx communities,” said co-president and third-year student Jaelon Blandburg. “It’s a time to honor the diverse traditions that have shaped our society and to promote greater understanding and inclusion. By acknowledging this heritage, we not only recognize past achievements but also inspire future generations to continue making an impact in fields like health care and education.”

    Princess Stark prepares empanadas for the empanada sale.

    Hispanic Heritage Month is from Sept.15 through Oct.15 annually. This year, students packed the month with several cultural activities, such as a salsa dance night, a “Wear Your Colors” day, and an empanada sale in the dental student lounge. The students also hosted educational workshops on medical Spanish and alebrijes, which are colorful Mexican folk art sculptures.

    Co-president and third-year student Princess Stark said, “I was really happy with how both our Empanada Sale and Salsa Night turned out! They were great ways to celebrate Hispanic culture and bring people together. Whether people were enjoying the food or learning new dance moves, it was all about appreciating the traditions that make our campus more inclusive.”

    To honor Hispanic Heritage Month, the students also got involved in the community with several service opportunities. In Windsor, the students partnered with the Hispanic Dental Association and local hygienists for Colgate’s Bright Smiles Bright Future education program to deliver oral health screenings and education.

    Volunteering at Bright Smiles, Bright Futures in Windsor.

    “As an SNDA/HSDA member, I had the opportunity to work alongside Colgate to screen, educate and interact with young children about the benefits of maintaining good oral health hygiene practices. By actively volunteering in the community we can increase the awareness and prevention of oral health diseases,” said first-year student Ted Pasquette.

    In Norwich, the students performed head and neck cancer screenings at the Healthy Living Festival.

    “SNDA/HSDA provides wonderful opportunities to use the knowledge and skills that we cultivate at the School of Dental Medicine to benefit the community,” said Bryson Christian, a second-year student. “At the Healthy Living Festival, I got the chance to provide head, neck, and oral screenings. We caught some suspicious skin changes and many oral health concerns and were able to point these patients to resources to address their issues before they develop more dangerous complications.”

    Dr. Sarita Arteaga, associate dean for students, reflected on the importance of students participating in Hispanic Heritage Month.

    “Hispanic Heritage Month is vital for dental and medical students because it highlights the cultural richness and diversity that shape patient care,” said Arteaga. “By celebrating this heritage, future health care professionals gain deeper insight into the unique challenges and strengths within Hispanic communities, empowering them to provide more compassionate, culturally competent care. Through all of these various events over the month, we have been able to continue learning outside of the classroom.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Budd Statement on Death of Hamas Leader Sinwar

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ted Budd (R-North Carolina)
    Washington, D.C. — Today, Senator Ted Budd (R-NC) released a statement after the Israeli Defense Forces killed Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas and the mastermind behind the October 7, 2023 attacks.
    Senator Budd said:
    “Israel has killed Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind behind the massacre that took place last year on October 7th. He was a terrorist leader who had American blood on his hands. To the remaining Hamas leaders: release the hostages, renounce terrorism, and recognize Israel’s right to exist. There is no future for Hamas or its ideology.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rubio Urges Domestic Terrorism Investigation of Pro-Hamas Group

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Florida Marco Rubio

    Rubio Urges Domestic Terrorism Investigation of Pro-Hamas Group
    Oct 17, 2024 | Press Releases

    Unity of Fields, a self-proclaimed pro-Hamas, anti-American “direct action network,” promotes acts of militant violence and propaganda against supporters of Israel. The pro-terrorist beliefs and actions of this group, including encouraging attacks on buildings and individuals, prompt a thorough investigation.    
    U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Justice Attorney General Merrick Garland urging a full investigation into Unity of Fields for acts of domestic terrorism before additional harm or actions jeopardize the United States or its citizens.
    “Unity of Fields runs counter to any of the beliefs and rights which underpin our country’s constitutional system and endangers citizens. As such, I look forward to your prompt investigation into Unity of Fields as you hold them accountable to the fullest extent under the law.”
    The full text of the letter is below. 
    Dear Attorney General Garland:
    I write with concern about the increasing violence promoted by groups such as Unity of Fields, formerly Palestine Action U.S., which explicitly support Palestinian terrorism and other anti-Israel, anti-American, and antisemitic terrorist organizations. I request that you immediately open a domestic terrorism investigation into Unity of Fields and utilize all resources available to hold this group accountable under the law.
    As you may know, Unity of Fields is an “anti-Zionist ‘direct action network’” focused on promoting acts of violence and protest against individuals or organizations that the group considers supportive of Israel, Zionism, or American imperialism. Prior to August 2024, the organization was called Palestine Action U.S. and served as a chapter for the United Kingdom-based Palestine Action. In an article originally published in May 2024, Unity of Fields highlighted several beliefs that underpin their movement. Specifically, the group calls for increased escalation in its activities, including no longer disavowing any action in pursuit of its Marxist, anti-Zionist, anti-American agenda, building up militancy infrastructure, and adherence to the belief that the “revolution will come within our lifetimes” as they “will make sure of it.”
    Further, the group encourages the study of revolutionary material in preparation for continued action against the United States and Israel. Specifically, Unity of Fields promotes the writings of Palestinian revolutionary and suspected terrorist Bassel Al-Araj, Mao Zedong’s On Guerilla Warfare, the United States Army Counterinsurgency Manuel as well as numerous other works focused around promoting and conducting insurgencies. The ultimate purpose of the group and its readings is “to open a new front against the US Empire [and] to build the international popular cradle of resistance.”
    Unsurprisingly, Unity of Fields’ efforts have contributed to a recent trend in increasing violence and vandalism against private property and individuals. On their X account, Unity of Fields promoted and encouraged violence in the name of Palestine and anti-Zionism, including a recent attack on the CCNY Advanced Science Research Center and individuals adhering to the belief that “Zionists don’t deserve to live,” even while claiming their organization “doesn’t do actions.”
    Under 18 U.S. Code § 2331, “domestic terrorism” is defined as any activity which “involves acts dangerous to human life that are in violation of the criminal laws” and includes the intent “to intimidate or coerce a civilian population” or “to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion.” Further, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) developed various terms and methodologies for investigating domestic terrorism threats and plots. Specifically, the FBI views a domestic terrorism plot “as a combination of criminal activity and planning that collectively reflect steps toward criminal action in furtherance of a domestic ideological goal.” A historical view of the Palestinian Resistance Movement demonstrates that violence has become a crucial element of the movement, especially between 1970 and 1973. This is seen among various terrorist spokes of the movement: Hamas, the PLFP, and the Islamic Jihad. Unity of Fields have been outspoken in transitioning into a militant propaganda organization and have cited Houthi Ansar Allah saying, “[t]he meaning of the unity of the fields is that we are all one hand, one leadership, one direction, one goal, and one approach, and any attack on any of the components of the Axis [including Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Houthis, and various Shi’ite groups in Iraq and Syria] is considered a direct attack on us.”
    When comparing Unity of Fields’ own statements and actions to existing government standards for investigating these threats, I believe Unity of Fields should be investigated for any violations of the law before additional harm or actions jeopardizes the United States or its citizens. By rejecting nonviolent means and fully embracing revolutionary and insurgent related tactics as a means of pursuing its hateful beliefs, Unity of Fields runs counter to any of the beliefs and rights which underpin our country’s constitutional system, and endangers citizens. As such, I look forward to your prompt investigation into Unity of Fields as you hold them accountable to the fullest extent under the law.
    Thank you for your prompt attention to this important matter. 
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: 16 Defendants Charged in Superseding Indictment Alleging Bulk Shipments of Cocaine to Canada, Four Murders

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LOS ANGELES – A Canadian former Olympic snowboarder and 15 other defendants have been charged in a 16-count superseding indictment for allegedly running and participating in a transnational drug trafficking operation that routinely shipped hundreds of kilograms of cocaine, from Colombia, through Mexico and Southern California, to Canada and other locations in the United States, and whose leaders orchestrated multiple murders in furtherance of these drug crimes.

    Ryan James Wedding, 43, a Canadian citizen residing in Mexico, and Andrew Clark, 34, a Canadian citizen also residing in Mexico, were previously charged in the original indictment with running a continuing criminal enterprise, murder, and conspiring to possess, distribute, and export cocaine. Clark was arrested October 8 by Mexican law enforcement and is detained. Wedding is a fugitive.

    The first superseding indictment, unsealed today, names 14 additional co-defendants. The superseding indictment alleges that Wedding, Clark, and others conspired to ship bulk quantities of cocaine – weighing hundreds of kilograms – from Southern California to Canada through a Canada-based drug transportation network run by Hardeep Ratte, 45, of Ontario, Canada, and Gurpreet Singh, 30, of Ontario, Canada, from approximately January 2024 to August 2024. The cocaine shipments were transported from Mexico to the Los Angeles area, where the cocaine trafficking organization’s operatives would store the cocaine in stash houses, before delivering it to the transportation network couriers for transportation to Canada using long-haul semi-trucks. 

              As alleged in the superseding indictment, the organization resorted to violence – including multiple murders – to achieve its aims. Wedding and Clark allegedly directed the November 20, 2023, murders of two members of a family in Ontario, Canada, in retaliation for a stolen drug shipment that passed through Southern California. Another member of that family survived the shooting but was left with serious physical injuries. Wedding and Clark allegedly also ordered the murder of another victim on May 18, 2024, over a drug debt. Clark and Malik Damion Cunningham, 23, a resident of Canada, are charged with the April 1, 2024, murder of another victim in Ontario, Canada.

    Wedding, whose aliases include “El Jefe,” “Giant,” and “Public Enemy,” and who competed for Canada in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, is the superseding indictment’s lead defendant. Wedding is charged with eight felonies: two counts of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, one count of conspiracy to export cocaine, one count of leading a continuing criminal enterprise, three counts of murder in connection with a continuing criminal enterprise and drug crime, and one count of attempt to commit murder in connection with a continuing criminal enterprise and drug crime. Clark, whose aliases include “The Dictator,” is charged with the same eight felonies, plus an additional count of murder in connection with a continuing criminal enterprise and drug crime.

    “As alleged in the indictment, an Olympic athlete-turned-drug lord is now charged with leading a transnational organized crime group that engaged in cocaine trafficking and murder, including of innocent civilians,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “My office’s mandate is to protect the public and stopping sophisticated and violent organized crime groups goes to the heart of that mission.  We will continue to collaborate with our federal, local, and international law enforcement partners to bring these groups to justice.”

    “The FBI remains steadfast in its mission to identify, target, and dismantle violent transnational organized crime syndicates in our communities. Today, in collaboration with several local, federal, and international partners, we reaffirm our commitment to the American people by dismantling a violent organized crime network trafficking large quantities of drugs into the United States and orchestrating multiple homicides to eliminate the competition,” said Akil Davis, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “The organization, led by former Olympian Ryan Wedding, cultivated a violent transnational drug trafficking empire that extended from Canada to the United States, Mexico, and Colombia. While key members of Wedding’s criminal enterprise were successfully apprehended this week, he remains at large. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for any information leading to his arrest.”

    “Organized Crime groups create immense harm in all our communities, not just with the poisons they ship, but through the tragic violence that inevitably comes with it,” said Liam Price, Director General, International Special Services, Royal Canadian Mounted Police. “This network presented a threat to communities in Canada, the United States and overseas. That is why we, as Canada’s national police force, worked closely with the FBI and others to disrupt it. This operation demonstrates the value and the impact of close collaboration with amongst international partners to combat transnational organized crime, helping keep our communities safe. We will always look beyond our borders to where these threats originate and try to stop them at source.”

    “The Wedding Drug Trafficking Organization and its unremitting, callous and greed-driven crimes has been operating for far too long, spanning several countries, from Colombia through Mexico, the U.S. and to Canada,” said Matthew Allen, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Los Angeles. “They have triggered an avalanche of violent crimes, including brutal murders. Wedding, the Olympian snowboarder, went from navigating slopes to contouring a life of incessant crimes. DEA and our partners stand firmly in our resolve to dismantle his operation. I want to thank our DEA investigators and all our partners, including the FBI, LAPD, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police International for their collaboration, experience and tremendous value that help embolden our mission.”

    “Thank you to the dedicated men and women of the Los Angeles Police Department for the countless hours you have invested traveling, authoring warrants, seizing narcotics and gathering evidence to bring the members of this criminal enterprise to justice,” said LAPD Chief, Dominic Choi. “Our work on this case is ongoing, and the LAPD remains committed to combating the pervasive issue of drug trafficking and its associated crimes through ongoing collaboration with various agencies and jurisdictions. Together, when we share intelligence, resources, and strategies we are able to dismantle trafficking networks like the violent ring led by Ryan Wedding.”

    “This complex investigation spans multiple jurisdictions and agencies, with an alleged retaliation over stolen drugs tragically impacting an innocent family in Ontario, Canada,” said Marty Kearns, the Deputy Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police.  “Today’s announcement reflects the tireless months of work undertaken by agencies in both Canada and the United States, as well as support from law enforcement in Mexico and Colombia. This is a testament to how collaboration and investigative diligence cross borders to identify perpetrators and bring crucial answers to victims and their families.”

    “Today’s investigative outcomes stand as a powerful testament to the tireless dedication and collaboration of law enforcement agencies across Canada, the U.S., Mexico, and Colombia. These investigative outcomes are important for the families who have endured tragic loss, casualties of criminal greed and a drug trafficking war. Peel Regional Police remains unwavering in its commitment to working alongside our global partners to bring those responsible for violent acts and homicides-both within Peel and beyond-to justice.”

              During the investigation, law enforcement has seized more than one ton of cocaine, three firearms, dozens of rounds of ammunition, $255,400 in United States currency, and more than $3.2 million in cryptocurrency. According to the superseding indictment, in March 2024, the organization delivered a total of approximately 293 kilograms (646 pounds) of cocaine to representatives of Ratte and Singh for eventual shipment to and distribution in Canada. The following month, the organization attempted to deliver approximately 375.1 kilograms (827 pounds) of cocaine to representatives of Ratte and Singh for eventual transportation to Canada, but investigators interrupted the delivery and seized the cocaine. In total, several defendants possessed a total of approximately 1,800 kilograms (1.8 metric tons) of cocaine, according to the superseding indictment. One-thousand eight hundred kilograms of cocaine carries a street value between $23.4 and $25.2 million dollars in Los Angeles.

    Several of the defendants arrested are expected to make their court appearances within the coming week in Los Angeles, Michigan, and Miami.

              An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

              If convicted, Wedding, Clark, and Cunningham would face a mandatory minimum penalty of life in federal prison on the murder and attempted murder charges. The continuing criminal enterprise charges also carry a mandatory minimum penalty of life in federal prison. The drug trafficking charges carry mandatory minimum penalties between 10 and 15 years in prison. 

              The FBI investigated this matter with the Los Angeles Police Department, the DEA Los Angeles, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police – Federal Policing. In addition, significant assistance was provided by U.S. law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations – Detroit and United States Customs and Border Protection – Buffalo; Canadian law enforcement partners, including Niagara Regional Police Service, Ontario Provincial Police, Toronto Police Service, and Peel Regional Police; Mexican law enforcement partners, including the Attorney General’s Office (Fiscalía General de la República) and the Criminal Investigation Agency (Agencia de Investigación Criminal); and Colombian law enforcement partners, including Colombian National Police – Directorate of Criminal Investigation and Interpol, Special Interagency Investigation Group (Policía Nacional de Colombia – Dirección de Investigación Criminal e Interpol, Grupo Especial de Investigación Interagenciales).

              Assistant United States Attorneys Lyndsi Allsop and Maria Jhai of the Violent and Organized Crime Section and Ryan Waters of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section are prosecuting this case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance.  

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Man Sentenced to 37 Years in Prison for Violent Robberies

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CLEVELAND – David Johnson, 37, of Euclid, has been sentenced to 37 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Dan Polster after pleading guilty to multiple charges of armed robbery at places of business. Additionally, Johnson pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm due to his previous convictions for involuntary manslaughter and aggravated robbery.

    According to court documents, between November 2019 and January 2020, Johnson entered several businesses in Northeast Ohio and threatened employees with a loaded firearm to commit the robberies. The affected business locations were:

    • Sunoco gas station, Euclid, Nov. 27, 2019
    • BP gas station, Parkman, Jan. 18, 2020
    • Dollar General, Chardon, Jan. 18, 2020
    • Gas Mart gas station, Euclid, Jan. 25, 2020

    During the investigation, law enforcement officials located a stolen vehicle used in the robberies at Johnson’s residence. Clothing and a firearm observed in surveillance videos were recovered during a search warrant execution of his residence.

    This case was investigated by the FBI, ATF, Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Geauga County Sheriff’s Office, Geauga County Prosecutor’s Office, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, Euclid Police Department, Willoughby Police Department, and the Cleveland Division of Police.

    This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Margaret Kane and Joseph Dangelo for the Northern District of Ohio.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Mauritania: IMF Staff Concludes 2024 Article IV Consultation Mission and Reaches Staff-Level Agreement on Third Review of Extended Fund and Extended Credit Facilities and the Second Review of Resilience and Sustainability Facility

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    October 17, 2024

    • Despite its resilience, the Mauritanian economy is expected to slow down in 2024 and in the medium term, in a context marked by the persistence of downside risks linked to an escalation of geopolitical tensions in the region, delays in the start of operation of the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) gas project, and weather shocks.
    • A prudent rule-based fiscal policy would help preserve debt sustainability. Developing the banking sector and sustaining the implementation of the national governance action plan and the new investment code would foster the role of the private sector and enhance prospects for inclusive growth.
    • IMF and Mauritania reached staff-level agreement on the Third Review of Mauritania’s economic program under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and Extended Credit Facility (ECF) and the Second Review of the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF)”

    Washington, DC: An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team, led by Felix Fischer, visited Nouakchott during October 3–16, 2024 to conduct the 2024 Article IV consultation and to hold discussions on the Third Review of Mauritania’s ECF/EFF and the Second Review of the RSF arrangement, and at the end of the mission, Mr. Fischer issued the following statement:

    “The Mauritanian economy is expected to slowdown in 2024 with a growth rate estimated at 4.6 percent (compared to 6.5 percent in 2023) reflecting sluggish extractive sector. The economic growth in 2025 is projected at 4.2 percent, reflecting a slowdown in the mining sector, moderated by the expected start of the GTA gas project. The growth outlook is subject to significant risks, including an escalation of geopolitical tensions in the region, additional delays in the start of operation of the GTA gas project, and the occurrence of weather shocks.

    “Anchoring fiscal policy to the non-extractive primary balance would reduce the impact of fluctuations in commodity prices on the economy and maintain debt sustainability. After a tightening since 2022, conditions are favorable to shift towards monetary policy easing. The mission encourages the ongoing reforms aimed at financial sector development and stability, which would enhance financial sector contribution to economic development. The timely adoption and implementation of the new investment code will contribute to level the playing field among all market participants and foster private sector-led inclusive growth.

    “IMF staff and Mauritanian authorities have reached a staff level agreement on policies to complete the Third Review of Mauritania’s blended ECF/EFF and the Second review of the RSF. Subject to approval by the IMF Executive Board, Mauritania will receive a disbursement of SDR 6.4 million (about $ 8.6 million) under the ECF and EFF arrangements and SDR 29.72 million (about $ 39.7 million) under the RSF arrangement, bringing the total disbursement under the EFF/ECF and the RST to SDR 89.7 million (about $ 119.7 million).

    “Performance under the program is robust — all quantitative targets for end-June 2024 have been met. Fiscal consolidation is proceeding in line with the fiscal rule aimed at converging in the medium term towards the fiscal anchor (defined by the non-extractive primary deficit) of 3.5 percent of GDP. Capitalizing on Mauritania’s substantial tax potential, better domestic revenue mobilization will help create fiscal space to meet Mauritania’s significant development needs while preserving the medium-term budgetary framework credibility.

    “The structural reform program, integrating climate considerations, is advancing well. The mission noted the progress made in finalizing the draft laws on SOEs, asset declaration, and conflicts of interest, and encourages the authorities to finalize these important reforms in line with their Governance Action Plan.”

    “The team met with His Excellency the President of the National Assembly Mohamed Ould Megett, His Excellency, the Prime Minister Moctar Ould Diay, the Governor of the Central Bank Mohamed Lemine Dhehby, the Minister of Economy and Finance Sid’Ahmed Bouh, and the Minister Delegate in charge of the Budget Codioro N’Guenor. The team held also meetings with the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Energy and Oil, the Minister of Mining and Industry, the Minister of Hydraulics and Sanitation, the Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, , other senior government officials, the civil society, the banking association and other representatives of the private sector, and donor community.

    “The IMF team would like to thank the Mauritanian authorities and various stakeholders for the excellent hospitality and cooperation and candid discussions during the mission.”

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Mayada Ghazala

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

    @IMFSpokesperson

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2024/10/17/pr-24379-mauritania-imf-concl-art-iv-consult-mission-and-3rd-rev-ef-and-ecf-and-2nd-rev-rsf

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Forest fires are shifting north and intensifying – here’s what that means for the planet

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Matthew William Jones, NERC Independent Research Fellow in Climate Science, University of East Anglia

    Fires have long been a natural part of forest ecosystems, but something is changing. Our new study shows that forest fires have become more widespread and severe amid global heating, particularly in the high northern latitudes such as Canada and Siberia where fires are most sensitive to hotter, drier conditions.

    The implications of this are alarming, not just for the ecosystems affected or the cities engulfed by smoke downwind, but for the planet’s ability to store carbon and regulate the climate. The trend we discovered contrasts with declining fire extent in savannah grasslands, which may reflect the expansion of farming and changing rainfall patterns.

    We established the leading causes of forest fires in different parts of the world using an AI algorithm. It grouped forest regions into distinct zones with similar fire patterns and underlying causes, uncovering the worrying extent to which climate change is fuelling the expansion of forest fires in Earth’s high northern latitudes.

    More fires in ‘extratropical’ forests

    Since 2001, emissions from fires in forests outside of the tropics, like parts of the boreal forest in the far north of North America and Eurasia, have nearly tripled. This rise is largely the result of hotter, drier weather occurring more frequently, combined with forests growing more efficiently in places where the cold once stunted their growth.

    Climate change is creating ideal conditions for larger, more intense fires, which accelerate climate change in turn by releasing more carbon to the atmosphere. In fact, we found that global carbon emissions from forest fires have increased by 60% over the past two decades. The largest contributions come from fires in Siberia and western North America.

    A conifer forest in north-western Canada after the 2023 fire season in which more than 6,000 fires burned through 15 million hectares.
    Stefan Doerr

    This trend shifts the focus of forest fire emissions from tropical forests, where fires set to make room for farmland have long contributed carbon to the atmosphere. Conservation policies have reduced deforestation rates since the early 2000s in some regions, particularly Amazonia. By contrast, increasing fires in northern forests, such as the taiga – the forest of the cold sub-arctic region – are driven by changing climate conditions and generally started by lightning, which makes them harder to prevent.

    Not only is the area affected by fires expanding but the fires themselves are growing more severe and releasing more carbon, according to our new findings. This corresponds with an earlier study that found fires are doing more damage to ecosystems globally than in the past. Fires are burning through drier and more flammable vegetation as global temperatures rise and droughts become more frequent.

    In northern forests, more severe fires can burn deep into the soil and release carbon that has accumulated over centuries. Forests can remain net carbon emitters for decades after burning and the more severe fires become, the longer it takes forests to rebound and recapture carbon lost during the fire.

    What does this mean for the planet?

    The steep rise in fire emissions from forests outside the tropics is a clear signal that the capacity of Earth’s forest to store carbon is at increasing risk.

    Forests, particularly in northern regions, absorb and store CO₂ from the atmosphere. But as fires expand and become more severe, these vital carbon sinks are weakened. This undermines the global effort to tackle climate change as forests offset emissions from human activities that burn fossil fuels.

    Forest fires, long considered part of the natural carbon cycle, are increasingly driven by human-caused climate change. Yet, international reporting standards don’t differentiate between “natural” levels of forest fire emissions and the higher emissions we’re seeing due to climate change.

    This allows excess fire emissions caused by humans to fall outside the scope of national carbon budgets tracked by organisations like the United Nations. Gaps emerge between the carbon emissions we think we’re managing and the actual amount that’s passing between the land and the atmosphere.

    What drives fires in different regions varies, so addressing this growing threat requires tailored approaches. Outside of the tropics, proactive forest management is essential. Carefully managed fires and thinning out vegetation can mean fires ultimately cause less damage when they do ignite. Monitoring vegetation growth, alongside fire-favourable weather conditions, can help identify and prioritise areas for intervention.

    In tropical forests, reducing ignitions (especially during droughts) and preventing forest fragmentation is key to protecting these ecosystems and their carbon stocks. This may help prevent the more extreme fires that turn tropical forests from carbon sinks into sources.

    Increasing fires are a symptom of climate change

    Limiting the burning of fossil fuels is central to minimising future fire risk. Without drastic cuts to greenhouse gas emissions, more severe and widespread forest fires are likely, with increasing damage to ecosystems, biodiversity and the climate.

    Our study also highlighted the importance of updating international reporting standards on carbon emissions. As forest fires become more closely linked to human-driven climate change, it’s crucial that fire emissions be included in national carbon budgets to provide a more accurate picture of the planet’s carbon fluxes.

    There is also a risk of overestimating how much carbon is stored by reforesting areas, especially outside the tropics. Many carbon offset schemes rely on planting new trees or delaying the harvest of existing ones to absorb CO₂, but if the growing threat of forest fires isn’t properly accounted for, these projects could fail to deliver the carbon savings they promise.

    Forest fires are no longer just a natural occurrence. As they shift north and intensify, these fires are a clear symptom of human-caused climate change.

    It’s essential to recognise the growing role that fires play in the carbon cycle. By doing so, we can better manage fire risks, safeguard forests and ensure a more resilient future for the planet.


    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 35,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    Matthew William Jones receives funding from the UK Natural Environment Research Council (NERC).

    Stefan H Doerr receives funding from the UK Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and the FirEUrisk project funded via the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme under grant agreement no. 101003890.

    Crystal A. Kolden 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. Forest fires are shifting north and intensifying – here’s what that means for the planet – https://theconversation.com/forest-fires-are-shifting-north-and-intensifying-heres-what-that-means-for-the-planet-241337

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Díaz-Balart and Wasserman Schultz in the Miami Herald: Latino-Jewish Communities Working Toward a Better Future

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (25th District of FLORIDA)

    Miami Herald

    Op-ed: Mario Díaz-Balart, Debbie Wasserman Schultz

    October 17, 2024

    Read the full op-ed here:

    As co-chairs of the Congressional Latino-Jewish Caucus, we write to highlight the vital role that the Jewish and Latino communities both play in our nation and South Florida, which we have the honor of representing, but also to the American identity as a whole. Within the framework of Hispanic Heritage Month, we celebrate the close partnership that exists between both of our communities and urge cooperation to address the common challenges that make this partnership so crucial.

    Immigration has played a pivotal role in America’s social fabric. Our families and many of our constituents escaped repressive regimes, whether in Cuba, Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union, or Venezuela, to pursue life in a land with freedom and opportunity. Latinos and Jews have contributed greatly to American business, culture, science, sports, public service enhancing every aspect of our diverse society.

    And while we’re proud of the success we’ve achieved as Americans, we haven’t forgotten our roots, including those still struggling for freedom and opportunity. We are proud diaspora communities with strong ties to our ancestral lands. Shared values of family, faith, and respect for human rights have united our communities and animated Jewish and Latino leadership from the civil rights movement to the fight for a fair and lawful immigration system. These close bonds to our nations of origin position our communities to play a crucial role in driving the United States’ pursuit of justice at home and abroad.

    We still have work to do.

    Here in the U.S., we are committed to working to ensure that our communities are safe from anti-Jewish and anti-Latino hate. As members of Congress, we’ve worked on bipartisan legislation to combat such hate, including the Khalid Jabara and Heather Heyer NO HATE Act, which became law in 2021. This important legislation provides grants to state and local governments to enforce hate laws, and to keep more accurate records on hate crimes.

    According to surveys, 87% of American Jews have observed increased antisemitism in the U.S. since the Oct. 7 attacks. Both antisemitic and anti-Latino/Hispanic hate crimes reached record highs in 2023. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) 2023 Hate Crimes Statistics Report found that hate crimes against Jews increased a staggering 63% year over year, while those targeting Latinos surged by 10.7% last year as well. We’ve seen the horrific damage that can be inflicted by individuals radicalized by hateful conspiracy theories, from the murderous rampage that killed eleven Jews at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh to the vicious attack against Latinos at an El Paso Walmart that killed 23 people.

    Additionally, we must work together to bring home the hostages held by the foreign terrorist organization Hamas, a proxy of the terrorist state of Iran. It is unconscionable that a year later, nearly 100 hostages remain in brutal Hamas captivity. Some of these hostages are both Israeli and Latino— holding dual citizenship from countries like Argentina and Colombia. We call on Hamas to release them now.

    In Latin America, the democratic opposition movements in Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua continue to be persecuted by brutal, authoritarian regimes.

    In Cuba, courageous activists demand human rights and democratic change, but many of the July 11, 2021 protesters remain imprisoned.

    In Venezuela, despite all available evidence pointing to the election victory by the opposition, Maduro refuses to face the truth. We strongly condemn the Maduro regime’s actions to subvert Venezuela’s once-democratic institutions, which has resulted in nearly eight million Venezuelans being forced into exile—many of whom have resettled in our communities.

    In Nicaragua, religious freedom has been quashed, with clergy forced into exile in unprecedented numbers, including the forced exit of the entirety of Mother Theresa’s order in Nicaragua.

    We also roundly denounce these regimes’ shameful persecution, antisemitism, and delegitimization of their small Jewish communities, sentiments that are unfortunately reflected by other leftist governments in the region like Colombia.

    Additionally, Russia and Iran, which support transnational repression and amplify racist and antisemitic extremism to sew divisions, have made our world a more dangerous place.

    That’s why our communities must continue working in partnership and solidarity to combat hate, promote freedom and oppose dictators and violent organizations that defy our values. We’ll keep building bridges between Jewish and Latino Americans because we believe they can help guide our nation toward a just future.

    Within the framework of Hispanic Heritage Month, let’s celebrate our common bonds while continuing to look out for one another.

    Mario Díaz-Balart is a U.S. representative for Florida’s 26th Congressional District, a senior member of the House Committee on Appropriations and chairman of the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Subcommittee. Debbie Wasserman Schultz represents Florida’s 25th Congressional District and is ranking member on the House Appropriations Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: World Update: how the Middle East conflict could escalate

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jonathan Este, Senior International Affairs Editor, Associate Editor

    Hamara/Shutterstock

    This article was first published in our World Update newsletter. To receive a weekly briefing on global affairs and international relations direct to your inbox, please subscribe to the newsletter.

    Vladimir Putin’s regular threats about his nuclear arsenal have focused minds on the existential threat his nuclear weapons still represent. But it’s the volatility of the situation in the Middle East that has added a worrying degree of uncertainty to the international situation.

    A year after the brutal Hamas attack on Israel – and after months of tit-for-tat missile attacks between Israel and Iran – Israel has commenced a ground invasion of Lebanon which pits the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) directly against Iranian proxy Hezbollah.

    At the same time, the government of Benjamin Netanyahu is pursuing an ever more drastic campaign against Hamas in Gaza. It is now reportedly planning to expel all residents from the north of the enclave in order to establish a military zone there. Meanwhile it has ramped up its attacks on the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen and against Iranian proxies in Syria.

    All-out war between Israel and Iran remains unthinkable, even as questions are raised about Iran’s nuclear ambitions. And yet, as any historian will tell you, the wrong combination of miscalculation, errors of strategic judgement and failures of diplomacy to cause things to escalate with alarming rapidity.

    In 1997, Austrian economist Friedrich Glasl published a model of conflict escalation which is generally accepted as the best study of how disagreements can develop into disastrous warfare. It maps, in nine stages, how a conflict can develop from tension between antagonists to a situation into which the warring parties plunge “together into the abyss”.

    Nine stages of confict escalation.
    Graphic by Swinnall, original from Sampi. Derived from: Konflikteskalation nach Glasl.svg, CC BY-NC-SA

    Matthew Powell, a historian of warfare, compares Glasl’s model to the situation between Israel and Iran. He assesses the two antagonists have have reached stage seven, “where they are launching limited blows against each other while avoiding direct confrontation. Both want to make their adversary consider whether the cost of continuing is worth the potential rewards that can be gained”.

    Powell believes that both sides presently seem keen to remain at arms length for fear that a direct conflict could plunge them – and their allies – into the aforementioned abyss.



    Read more:
    Israel-Iran and the nine stages of how conflicts can escalate and get out of control

    Now, more than ever, it’s vital to be informed about the important issues affecting global stability. Sign up to receive our weekly World Update newsletter. Every Thursday we’ll you expert analysis of the big stories making international headlines.

    For longtime Middle East analyst Paul Rogers, one of the key issues governing the likely future of the conflict is likely to be the domestic politics of Israel. He has watched the country move steadily to the right over more than 50 years, to the extent that the Netanyahu government is now heavily influenced by religious nationalists. Netanyahu has depended for two years on the support of some of the more extreme elements on Israel’s political fringe in order to stay in power.

    These hardliners, Rogers writes, are willing to subvert Israeli democracy itself in order to realise their dream of “Messianic Judaism”. A byproduct of this dream would be to push the Palestinian population out of Gaza, which would be a disaster for regional stability. The irony is that by making war on Lebanon, Netanyahu has managed to improve his standing with the Israeli people and is no longer as dependent on political hawks.



    Read more:
    Israel: what hardliners in Netanyahu’s government want from the war

    Campaign in Lebanon

    Of course, what may be good for Netanyahu is a disaster for Lebanon, where the death toll is rising daily and more than one-quarter of the population has been displaced.

    While Israel’s air force has launched 140 airstrikes across the country, most of the activity has focused on the border areas in the south of the country, where the IDF is reported to be clearing villages, perhaps in anticipation for setting up a buffer zone there.

    Israeli ground operation in southern Lebanon as at October 16 2024.
    Institute for the Study of War

    Over the past fortnight there have been repeated incidents where the IDF have – apparently deliberately – targeted units of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil). This peacekeeping force was set up in 1978 and has the mandate to enforce the UN’s resolution to prevent clashes between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. Netanyahu has demanded that Unifil move its peacekeepers out of the conflict zone, but so far the UN troops, led by France and Spain, have refused to leave their posts.

    Vanessa Newby and Chiara Ruffa, with input and advice from former senior Unifil political and civil affairs officer John Molloy, (formerly of the Irish Defence Forces) have been tracking the incidents. Most recently they involved an IDF tank firing on a Unifil watchtower and has resulted in a growing number of casualties among the peacekeepers.

    Newby and Ruffa believe that Israel wants to remove Unifil from southern Lebanon because it wants to carry out its operations without the scrutiny of an international observer. They also speculate that the sheer number of forces being moved by the IDF into south Lebanon indicates that Israel may be planning to occupy a swath of territory beyond what its military has described as a “limited, localised, and targeted” operation.



    Read more:
    IDF actions against UN peacekeepers suggest Israel may be considering occupying part of southern Lebanon

    Meanwhile tensions are rising between Hezbollah and other sections of Lebanese society. We’ve seen this before, and it has never gone well, writes Mohamad El Kari, who has witnessed the challenges to security in Lebanon firsthand as a translator.

    He fears that Israel’s assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah will kick off a bout of factional infighting that could seriously destabilise a country that is already showing signs of serious social and political instability. In some areas, Kari writes, people were dancing in the streets at the news of Nasrallah’s death. Not a good sign for Lebanon’s fragile stability.



    Read more:
    Lebanon: assassinating sectarian leaders has always led to instability – this time will be no different

    90 seconds to midnight

    All this talk of escalation had me reflecting on history. I grew up during the cold war under the shadow of the nuclear threat. As a schoolboy in the 1970s, I was taken to a nuclear bunker where, in the event of a nuclear attack on the UK, key personnel would have sheltered as they ran secure communications.

    As a student in the 1980s, I shared a house with several women who would spend weekends at Greenham Common airbase where they protested against the presence of nuclear weapons there. I remember the gallows humour with which we greeted the government’s Protect and Survive campaign, which encouraged building makeshift nuclear shelters under the stairs.

    The peace movement of the day adapted the campaign into the slogan “protest and survive” and the Raymond Briggs graphic novel When the Wind Blows darkly lampooned the government’s advice with its portrayal of an elderly couple following the government’s instructions with predictably tragic results.

    In 1984, Britain was horrified by the BBC film, Threads, a docudrama based on the idea of a nuclear attack on Sheffield. The premise called for a confrontation between Nato and the Warsaw Pact after a US-sponsored coup in Iran. It showed how quickly an international crisis could degenerate into global nuclear conflict and, in turn, how quickly societal collapse was likely to follow.

    Then in the 1990s the nuclear threat seemed to diminish. The collapse of the Soviet Union and treaties to limit the spread of nuclear weapons and decommission existing stockpiles meant that, for most of us anyway, the idea of a nuclear holocaust receded to almost nothing.

    The BBC recently screened the film again, to mark its 40th anniversary, and has made it available for streaming on iPlayer. The Independent’s preview of the screening noted that the Doomsday Clock, which atomic scientists use to indicate how close the world is to nuclear disaster, is set at 90 seconds to midnight, the closest it has ever been. The scientists said that conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, with the prospect the latter might spread across the Middle East had made the world a much more dangerous place in 2024. And so it has come to pass.

    Philosopher Mark Lacy was shown the film as a schoolboy and doesn’t intend to watch it again. But he’s an expert in the changing nature of warfare and he has seen how conflicts can explode out of “accidents, miscalculations and errors of strategic judgement”.

    He is concerned that, unlike in the cold war where events were largely controlled by “rational actors” who were all too aware of the potential for “mutually assured destruction” and made their calculations accordingly, today’s leaders may not act with the same circumspection. And this is what makes the world a much more dangerous place.



    Read more:
    Threads: the harrowing 1984 BBC docudrama is back on our screens – scary but appropriate viewing for our uncertain times

    The latest edition of our podcast, The Conversation Weekly, focuses on the the Middle East question. Podcast host Gemma Ware speaks with two academic experts in Middle East politics, Amnon Aran and Mireille Rebeiz, to get a sense of what’s at stake for the region.



    Read more:
    What Israel and its neighbours want now as all-out war looms in the Middle East – podcast

    World Update is available as a weekly email newsletter. Click here to get our updates directly in your inbox.

    – ref. World Update: how the Middle East conflict could escalate – https://theconversation.com/world-update-how-the-middle-east-conflict-could-escalate-241603

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Trading Standards warning about UK Government Living Allowance scam text

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    Highland Council Trading Standards are warning residents to be on their guard following reports of an unsolicited text message claiming to be from the UK Government Living Allowance Office.

    The text reads:

    “UK Government Living Allowance Office Last Time Reminder: Due to the reduction of winter heating subsidy, you can no longer receive it, and the uk government has decided to advance the living subsidy to allow you to survive the winter.

    We will reopen applications. Please apply for your living subsidy in the link as soon as possible after receiving the information. If you do not submit an application before 2024/10/15, we will cancel your qualification and reallocate the funds.”

    Mark McGinty Trading Standards Team Leader states: “Please be careful when you receive a text message from a Government Body, it’s not usually something that Government Bodies do, and if you think the text means something to you please go to your original source and check things out that way”
    He also offered this advice to anyone receiving such a text message:

    • Never click on any links in the text
    • Be suspicious
    • Beware of pressure selling tactics. These can include being told time is of the essence
    • Always check with the Government Body in another way, the .gov website is a good starting point.
    • Do not rely on a number provided in the text
    • Do not provide any personal information
    • Report the text by using 7726

    Mr McGinty adds, “Scam texts are designed to get your interest and mislead you into thinking you are doing the right thing by responding.  Responding will only give the scammers what they need to exploit you, usually financially, by emptying your bank account.  Please take a minute to think and if in doubt do not engage.”

    If you have a complaint or wish to report a scam text you can contact Trading Standards partner agency Advice Direct Scotland on telephone 0808 164 6000 or at http://www.consumeradvice.scot

    The National Cyber Crime Agency provide further information on scam texts and how you can help protect yourself.  This can be found at https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/phishing-scams/report-scam-text-message

    If you are concerned about your safety or wish to report any suspicious behaviour you can contact Police Scotland on 101 or 999 in an emergency.

    17 Oct 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Moolenaar: Death of Hamas Leader is Justice for His Victims

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Moolenaar (4th District of Michigan)

    Headline: Moolenaar: Death of Hamas Leader is Justice for His Victims

    Today, Hamas leader and architect of the October 7th attacks on Israel, Yahya Sinwar, was killed in a targeted military operation conducted by Israel, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed. 

    “The world is safer today thanks to the Israeli military operation that eliminated Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. American citizens have been killed by Sinwar and his terrorists, and his death today is justice for the families of his victims. I will continue to stand with Israel as it fights to free the remaining hostages and defeat Hamas,” said Congressman John Moolenaar.

    Sinwar organized the attacks against Israeli civilians on October 7, 2023, where Hamas brutalized communities in southern Israel. Hamas killed more than 1,200 innocent civilians, and took 254 people, including 12 American citizens as hostage on October 7. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Frankel Announces Medicare Open Enrollment for 2025

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-21)

    Washington, DC – Earlier this week, Representative Lois Frankel (FL-22) announced the start of Medicare Open Enrollment for 2025. There are currently 67.5 million Medicare enrollees nationwide, including over 350,000 in Palm Beach County. Every year, Medicare enrollees have the opportunity to review their coverage and select a plan that best meets their needs. Recent changes to Medicare could save seniors thousands of dollars.

    “This week we marked the start of an important time of year for the over 350,000 Medicare beneficiaries in Palm Beach County,” said Rep. Frankel. “Medicare plans change every year, so seniors should check all coverage options to select the best plan for them. If you are satisfied with your current plan, no action on your part is needed.”

    Under the leadership of President Biden and Vice President Harris, as well as Democrats in Congress, we are lowering health care costs. The price of insulin is now capped at $35 per month, recommended vaccines—including the shingles vaccine—are available at no cost, and starting next year, there will be a $2,000 out-of-pocket cap for prescription drugs.

    Open enrollment runs through December 7, 2024, for coverage beginning January 1, 2025. Enrollees can visit Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE to compare plans.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: New school funding to provide successful career pathways for Piikani Nation youth

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    News release

    October 17, 2024 – Calgary, Treaty 7 Territory, Alberta – Indigenous Services Canada (ISC)

    Schools are often the cornerstone of First Nations communities, providing students with a safe place to learn and grow and acting as a gathering place for community events and cultural activities. Chief Troy Knowlton, Piikani Nation leadership, along with Indigenous Services Canada Minister, the Honourable Patty Hajdu and the Peigan Board of Education Society announced today the new and enhanced education facilities at Piikani Nation so that youth have the tools they need to learn.

    Minister Hajdu and community leaders announced funding today for the new school to be built in the First Nation. This new school will be a place for 600 students from kindergarten to grade 12 to learn, grow and form connections. 

    The existing school was initially constructed over 60 years ago, and parts of the aging facility are no longer suitable for repair. This project reaffirms the ongoing work of the Government of Canada to support essential infrastructure in Indigenous communities and to ensure that all children on reserve have access to high-quality, culturally appropriate education.

    With an investment from Indigenous Services Canada, the new school will allow students who attend school off reserve to access education that is culturally appropriate, with distinctly Blackfoot programs, and provides spaces that better meet the needs of the community and its youth.

    Quotes

    “This project represents the Piikani Nation’s commitment to their youth and future generations. Investing in education is investing in each child’s potential. I look forward to seeing the completion of the school and the student success to follow.”

    The Honourable Patty Hajdu
    Minister of Indigenous Services

    “Today is a monumental day in the history of our Piikani Nation. The announcement of our new school build is a result of the cumulative efforts by dedicated people who had a dream, and determination to make it a reality. I am honoured to have been able to play a part in this process. This project will stimulate the economy of the Peigan Nation, creating jobs and opportunities for all my peoples. This school will also create great learning opportunities for our students in a modern facility with all the amenities for a bright future ahead.”

    Troy Knowlton
    Chief of Piikani Nation

    “We, the Peigan Board of Education Society Board Trustees (PBOES), are elated for the future generations of Piikani Nation children and all students who attend Piikani Nation Schools on campus. Special acknowledgements to the PBOES technical working group for their hard work in making this dream possible. I also wish to extend the utmost gratitude to the community ff supporting this initiative, as well as past and present Peigan Board of Education Society trustees and Piikani Nation Chief and Council.

    Dr. Beatrice Little Mustache
    Chair, Peigan Board of Education Society (PBOES)

    “Education has always been important to the Piikani way of life, in the past and the present, as well as the future. This new school will provide opportunities to educate our children and our community. It will also provide opportunities for the people we serve, with short-term construction jobs and long-term employment positions in the field of education delivery, for those who wish to seek careers as educators and or support staff.

    “We had a vision that started with a feasibility study being carried out many years ago, knowing our community wished for a new modern school. Through hard work, dedication and perseverance in both our educational and political efforts, this is a dream come true. It is an achievement we can celebrate together.

    “The design and concept of the new school will be the focal point for both education and the community for years to come. It will also serve as a significant role in the foundation of the Piikani Nation. This is a win for the Piikani Nation, but most of all, a win for the children and future generations. We always say: Our children are our future.”

    Wesley Crow Shoe
    Piikani Nation councillor and Peigan Board of Education Society trustee

    Quick facts

    • Piikani Nation is located 60 KM west of the City of Lethbridge and a part of Treaty 7.

    • There are approximately 3,800 registered members with about 60% living on reserve.

    • Planning for the new school began in 2017.

    • Since 2016 and as of June 30, 2024, ISC has invested $2.18 billion of targeted funds to support 320 school-related infrastructure projects. These projects will result in the construction or renovation of 232 schools, benefitting approximately 38,000 students, 150 of which are complete.

    Associated links

    Contacts

    For more information, media may contact:

    Jennifer Kozelj
    Press Secretary
    Office of the Honourable Patty Hajdu
    Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for FedNor
    Jennifer.Kozelj@sac-isc.gc.ca

    Media Relations
    Indigenous Services Canada
    819-953-1160
    media@sac-isc.gc.ca

    Stay connected 

    Join the conversation about Indigenous Peoples in Canada:

    X: @GCIndigenous
    Facebook: @GCIndigenous
    Instagram: @gcindigenous

    Facebook: @GCIndigenousHealth

    You can subscribe to receive our news releases and speeches via RSS feeds. For more information or to subscribe, visit http://www.isc.gc.ca/RSS.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Electric Power Annual 2023

    Source: US Energy Information Administration

    Skip to sub-navigation

    Data Tables

    Expand all Collapse all

    National Summary Data

    Electricity Sales

    Net Generation

    Generation Capacity

    Consumption of Fossil Fuels

    Fossil Fuel Stocks for Electricity Generation

    Receipts, Cost, and Quality of Fossil Fuels

    Electric Power System Characteristics and Performance

    Environmental Data

    Energy Efficiency, Demand Response and Advanced Meters

    Distribution System Reliability

    U.S. Territories

    Appendices

    • Technical notes
    • Available formats: PDF

    • State Maps of Customers, Sales, & Revenue

    • Related Data

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Minister Boissonnault hosts Twenty first Century Workforce Summit in Montreal

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    This week, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, Randy Boissonnault, convened businesses, non-profits, industry, labour and communities organizations from across the country, to build the 21st century Canadian workforce.

    October 17, 2024              Montréal, Quebec              Employment and Social Development Canada

    Canadian workers are talented, driven and among the most highly educated in the world. As Canada’s economy continues to grow and change, the Government of Canada is focused on creating meaningful and rewarding jobs that provide a good quality of life.

    This week, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, Randy Boissonnault, convened businesses, non-profits, industry, labour and communities organizations from across the country, to build the 21st century Canadian workforce.

    Nearly 200 leaders from various sectors of the labour market came together to discuss fresh ideas and innovative approaches to tackle pressing labour market issues and put forward a vision to support the needs of a modern Canadian economy and Canadian workers.   

    At the Summit, Minister Boissonnault delivered a keynote address identifying some of the challenges facing the Canadian economy including critical labour shortages in key sectors, an aging population set to retire, and more frequent economic disruptions felt around the world.

    The Minister highlighted the need to offer the right supports to help the untapped pool of Canadians from under-represented groups including Indigenous people, women, and persons with disabilities, find good jobs.  He stressed the importance of attracting more young people to rewarding careers in the skilled trades as well as finding new ways to provide training, retraining and upskilling to meet the needs of workers no matter what point they are at in their working lives.

    The Minister noted the important role that provinces and territories play in education and skills training and was disappointed that they chose not to participate in this year’s Workforce Summit.

    The Minister also announced the launch of a new call for proposals for $30 million over two years for the Canada Retraining and Opportunities Initiative that will fund community-based workforce retraining projects in situations of mass layoffs.

    To support the Summit, an online engagement to collect Canadians’ views on the most pressing issues impacting Canada’s labour market is open until October 31, 2024. An update on findings will be accessible and will inform priorities and future directions for workforce development in Canada and further engagement with employers, unions as well as provinces, territories and Indigenous partners.

    Canada is home to the smartest minds, the most talented workers, and a strong education, training, and employment system. By working together, we can better equip the workforce of today and tomorrow, and build a more innovative, productive, and competitive labour force for generations to come.”

    –Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, Randy Boissonnault

    Alice Hansen
    Director of Communications
    Office of the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages
    alice.hansen@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Japan boosts African Development Fund with Japanese yen (JPY) 51.67 billion concessional loan

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

    TOKYO, Japan, October 17, 2024/APO Group/ —

    The African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have signed a landmark 51.67 billion Japanese yen (US$421 million) concessional donor loan (CDL) agreement towards the African Development Fund.  

    The loan, pledged by the Japanese government at the 16th general replenishment of the resources of the African Development Fund in December 2022, will support much-needed development in Africa’s least developed and fragile countries. The country is a top donor to the African Development Fund, having contributed the largest loans to the 14th, 15th and 16th replenishments of the Fund.  

    Present at the signing ceremony on Tuesday 15 October, Deputy Vice Minister Daiho Fujii of the Finance Ministry expressed optimism that Japan’s concessional donor loan, together with grant contributions, would support African countries to address various challenges relating to climate change, lack of infrastructure, fragility, regional integration, private sector development, and debt management and transparency. 

    “Through fruitful discussions, we reaffirmed that the African Development Fund has been playing a significant role in supporting low-income countries in Africa through its concessional loans and grants. We commit to working together toward a successful ADF-17 replenishment discussion next year,” Fujii said. 

    Japan and other donor countries met in Cotonou last week to review the progress made against operational priorities and policy commitments at the midpoint of the ADF-16 period that ran from 2023 to 2025. Fujii congratulated the African Development Bank Group on the successful mid-term review of the 16th cycle of ADF. 

    African Development Bank Group President Dr Akinwumi Adesina, who is marking his fifth visit to the Asian nation, commended Japan’s government for its unwavering support.  He expressed the Bank Group’s appreciation for Japan’s broader partnership, particularly through JICA’s Enhanced Private Sector Assistance for Africa initiative – an innovative multi-component framework for resource mobilisation and development. 

    Adesina said:  “We wouldn’t have had a successful ADF-16 replenishment without Japan’s continued support for concessional donor lending.  It is important to sign these agreements, but it is the lives we touch that matter.  We deliver what we promise. We keep our word”. 

    He highlighted the significant impact of projects completed under the African Development Fund. “This year alone, 500,000 people have been connected to electricity, one million provided with water and sanitation, 2.5 million to improved transport, and 2.7 million to health services.” 

    In her speech, JICA Executive Senior Vice President Katsura Miyazaki described the signing ceremony as symbolic. 

    She said: “African countries are facing multiple crises. Rising energy and food prices, supply chain disruptions, and worsening debt sustainability are having a serious impact on African countries. The African Development Fund is critical to addressing these challenges. 

    Japan’s journey with the African Development Fund  

    The African Development Fund (ADF), the concessional lending window of the Bank Group was established in 1972 and became operational in 1974.  

    Japan joined the Fund in June 1973 and has contributed to all its replenishments, significantly increasing its contributions over time.  

    Over the past 50 years, the ADF has played a pivotal role in providing concessional resources and knowledge services to low-income African countries, consistently demonstrating clear value for money. The ADF delivers transformative ideas and catalytic financing to these countries, including those in fragile situations. As a major source of financing, the ADF’s operations are efficient and deliver a strong development impact, cementing its reputation as a trusted and strategic partner for its stakeholders. 

    Japan’s critical role in supporting the ADF was underscored by its extension of the largest concessional donor loan contributions to both ADF-15 and ADF-16, as well as the largest bridge loan provided to ADF-14. The Mid-Term Review (MTR) of ADF-16, successfully concluded in Cotonou in October 2024, highlighted several key achievements. 

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Minister Ng announces launch of public consultations on Canada’s ban on import of goods produced by forced labour

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    News release

    October 16, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

    Today, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, announced the launch of public consultations on potential new measures to strengthen the enforcement, under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) and in alignment with the United States and Mexico, of Canada’s ban on the import of goods produced by forced labour.

    These consultations will complement the public consultations held in October 2023 on the eradication of forced labour from the country’s supply chains. 

    Canadians can begin sharing their views on the potential new measures on October 16, 2024.

    Quotes

    “Our government is committed to eliminating forced labour from, and tackling exploitation in, global supply chains. These consultations will help inform us on how to shape the effective enforcement of Canada’s ban on the import of goods produced by forced labour. They will also help us work in collaboration with our CUSMA partners and strengthen the protection of workers’ labour rights around the globe.”

    – Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development

    Quick facts

    • In July 2020, Canada implemented an import ban under the Customs Tariff, making it illegal to import goods wholly or in part produced by forced labour. This ban implemented Canada’s commitments under CUSMA.

    • The government introduced further amendments to Canadian law in January 2024, expanding this prohibition to include goods made using child labour.

    Related products

    Associated links

    Contacts

    Huzaif Qaisar
    Press Secretary
    Office of the Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development
    343-575-8816
    Huzaif.Qaisar@international.gc.ca

    Media Relations Office
    Global Affairs Canada
    media@international.gc.ca
    Follow us on X (Twitter): @CanadaTrade
    Like us on Facebook: Canada’s international trade – Global Affairs Canada

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Statement from President Joe  Biden on the Death of Yahya  Sinwar

    Source: The White House

    Early this morning, Israeli authorities informed my national security team that a mission they conducted in Gaza likely killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.  DNA tests have now confirmed that Sinwar is dead.  This is a good day for Israel, for the United States, and for the world. 

    As the leader of the terrorist group Hamas, Sinwar was responsible for the deaths of thousands of Israelis, Palestinians, Americans, and citizens from over 30 countries.  He was the mastermind of the October 7th massacres, rapes, and kidnappings.  It was on his orders that Hamas terrorists invaded Israel to intentionally – and with unspeakable savagery – kill and massacre civilians, a Holocaust survivor, children in front of their parents, and parents in front of their children. 

    Over 1,200 people were killed on that day, the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust, including 46 Americans.  More than 250 were taken hostage, with 101 still missing. That number includes seven Americans, four of whom are believed to still be alive and held by Hamas terrorists.  Sinwar is the man most responsible for this, and for so much of what followed.  

    Shortly after the October 7 massacres, I directed Special Operations personnel and our intelligence professionals to work side-by-side with their Israeli counterparts to help locate and track Sinwar and other Hamas leaders hiding in Gaza. 

    With our intelligence help, the IDF relentlessly pursued Hamas’s leaders, flushing them out of their hiding places and forcing them onto the run.  There has rarely been a military campaign like this, with Hamas leaders living and moving through hundreds of miles of tunnels, organized in multiple stories underground, determined to protect themselves with no care for the civilians suffering above ground.  Today, however, proves once again that no terrorists anywhere in the world can escape justice, no matter how long it takes.

    To my Israeli friends, this is no doubt a day of relief and reminiscence, similar to the scenes witnessed throughout the United States after President Obama ordered the raid to kill Osama Bin Laden in 2011.

    Israel has had every right to eliminate the leadership and military structure of Hamas. Hamas is no longer capable of carrying out another October 7.

    I will be speaking soon with Prime Minister Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders to congratulate them, to discuss the pathway for bringing the hostages home to their families, and for ending this war once and for all, which has caused so much devastation to innocent people.  

    There is now the opportunity for a “day after” in Gaza without Hamas in power, and for a political settlement that provides a better future for Israelis and Palestinians alike.  Yahya Sinwar was an insurmountable obstacle to achieving all of those goals. That obstacle no longer exists. But much work remains before us.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Every announcement and trailer from Xbox partners at Oct. 17 event

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Every announcement and trailer from Xbox partners at Oct. 17 event

    We got our first look at gameplay from The Lake House, the second expansion coming for Alan Wake 2 – and it looks like the Remedy Connected Universe is getting more connected than ever. Putting us in the shoes of an agent from the Federal Bureau of Control, we’ll be exploring an Overlap in the titular Lake House, filled with mysteries, a mysterious living painting, and the horrors it’s birthing. It’ll be fascinating to see how this bridges the gaps between Alan’s story and the events of Control.

    The doors of the Lake House will open on Xbox Series X|S from October 22 – and you can find out more about how this expansion takes us in an even darker direction than the main game on Xbox Wire.

    Animal Well Reveals Its Mysteries on Xbox Today

    Xbox Series X|S

    [embedded content]

    This gorgeous mystery-platformer is rightfully seen as one of the biggest surprises of the year, blending pixel-perfect traversal with a gorgeous, inscrutable world packed with secrets. Taking elements from classic Metroidvanias and blowing them out into a world packed with unique puzzles, Animal Well gets deeper the closer you look. We’re delighted to say that it arrives on Xbox today.

    Blindfire Is a First-Person Shooter Set Entirely in the Dark – and It’s Available in Game Preview Today

    Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC (through Xbox Game Preview)

    [embedded content]

    The most important tool in an FPS isn’t your gun – it’s your eyes. So what happens in an FPS set entirely in inky-black arenas? Blindfire is here to answer that question. This fascinating new idea from Double Eleven got a world premiere and shadow drop during Partner Preview, showing off how you’ll need to use tools, traps, and echolocation to seek out your targets in this fast-paced shooter.

    You don’t need to wait to find out how it all works – Blindfire is available today on Xbox Series X|S and PC through the Xbox Game Preview program. Find out how the team came up with such a unique idea, exclusively on Xbox Wire.

    Cronos: The New Dawn Is a Mind-Bending Survival Horror from Bloober Team

    Xbox Series X|S

    [embedded content]

    Bloober Team (The Medium, Blair Witch, Layers of Fear) brought us this world premiere of a fascinating new game that takes us in a new direction for the studio. A third-person survival horror set across two distinct time periods, Cronos: The New Dawn introduced itself with an enticingly strange trailer involving a game of chess, a very big spacesuit, and some horrifying creatures.

    The game itself will place us in both 1980s Communist Poland, and a futuristic wasteland following a pandemic known only as The Change. A glimpse of gameplay showed us quite how spooky this is going to get – we can’t wait to see more before it arrives in 2025.

    Edens Zero Brings Anime Action to Xbox in 2025

    Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC

    [embedded content]

    Based on the Hiro Mashima manga and the anime series of the same name, Edens Zero is a third-person action game that saw its world premiere during the show. Set in the unique sci-fi universe of the manga, you’ll take hero Shiki Granbell across the universe in search of the cosmic entity, Mother – gathering new characters, each with their own abilities, as you go. Edens Zero will be released in 2025.

    Eternal Strands Casts Its Unique Magic on Game Pass

    Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, or play it day one with Game Pass

    [embedded content]

    This systemic action-RPG from a team of developers who’ve worked on Dragon Age, Assassin’s Creed and more already had our attention. With a unique magic system that allows you to combine spells (freezing a flying dragon’s wings so it falls to the ground, anyone?), in-depth crafting systems, and titanic, climbable bosses, it’s a beautiful combination already. But add to that mix that it’s coming to Game Pass on day one? It just makes the wait for its release in early 2025 so much harder.

    FBC: Firebreak – the Co-op Control Spin-off – Gets a Gameplay Reveal

    Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, or play it day one with Game Pass

    [embedded content]

    Remedy is known for its single-player masterpieces, but it’s going in a different direction with FBC: Firebreak. We brought you a world-first look at this spin-off from the beloved Control – a first-person, multiplayer, PvE game, placing you in the ranks of the Federal Bureau of Control’s agents. Take on the horrors of the Oldest House, using a variety of appropriately weird weaponry, in this exciting co-op experience. FBC: Firebreak arrives in 2025, and it’s coming day one to Game Pass. Find out more about how Remedy made its first ever multiplayer game on Xbox Wire.

    The Legend of Baboo Is a Brutal Action-Adventure (With an Adorable Dog)

    Xbox Series X|S

    [embedded content]

    In a world premiere, we were introduced to The Legend of Baboo, an action-adventure set across a magical island, sending a child hero,Sepehr into the fray with only their wits, weapons, and an absolutely gorgeous dog called Baboo to protect them. And yes, you did see the dog being used as a mount.

    Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii Shows Off Its Naval Battles, and Gets a New Release Date

    Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC

    [embedded content]

    Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii was an unexpected surprise from Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio – and we’re delighted to say it’s arriving even earlier than expected, on February 21, 2025. Featuring ex-yakuza Goro Majima getting wrapped up in an adventure on the high seas, it’s a truly over-the-top follow-up to this year’s Infinite Wealth.

    In a new trailer, we got to see the game’s exhilarating naval battles for the first time, with you taking the helm of a ship in pirate-ridden waters, before boarding to take on treasure-seeking rivals in all-out brawls. We even got a glimpse of battles in the Pirate Coliseum of a secret island hideout, Madlantis. Learn more about the naval battles, exclusively on Xbox Wire.

    Mistfall Hunter Mixes Soulslikes and Extraction Games

    Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC

    [embedded content]

    A fascinating mixture of Soulslike combat and extraction-action mechanics, Mistfall Hunter got a world premiere in today’s show. Showing off a wealth of approaches – from beefy warriors to spell-packed mages, this will pit you against monsters and men in a mysterious new fantasy world. Coming to Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC, you can apply for an upcoming closed beta now – and you can find out more about this unique proposition in an exclusive article on Xbox Wire.

    Mouse: P.I. For Hire Brings Cartoon Chaos to Xbox

    Xbox Series X|S

    [embedded content]

    Blending old-school FPS gameplay with even older-school cartoon looks, Mouse: P.I. For Hire is a truly unique proposition. You’ll be investigating crimes in a world of cartoon animals, and taking down criminals with a variety of adorable-but-deadly weaponry, all set amid a noir-inspired, jazz-infused world. We’re delighted to say that Mouse: P.I. For Hire is coming in 2025.

    Phasmophobia Introduces Co-op Terror to Xbox This Month

    Xbox Series X|S

    [embedded content]

    Regarded as one of the scariest games of recent years, we’re excited to announce that Phasmophobia makes its Xbox debut on October 29. Casting you and a group of friends as ghost hunters, you’ll set off on missions to haunted locations to investigate, draw out, and survive ghostly encounters. Use a variety of tools to discover exactly what it is you’re dealing with, then get out alive. But be warned, not only can your team hear you over comms, so can the ghosts…

    Subnautica 2 Enters Early Access in 2025 – Explore the Deep in Optional Co-Op

    Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC (through Xbox Game Preview), or play it day one with Game Pass

    [embedded content]

    The acclaimed underwater survival-crafting game Subnautica taught us to love, fear, and explore the deep oceans of an alien world, and its sequel will get an -Early Access release on Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC through the Game Preview program. This world premiere trailer gave us a sense of how beautiful and terrifying this will be – and also confirmed that a much-requested co-op mode is coming in the sequel. Subnautica 2 will launch into Xbox Game Preview on Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC in 2025. Find out more, exclusively on Xbox Wire.

    Wheel World Is Pedalling Onto Game Pass

    Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, or play it day one with Game Pass

    [embedded content]

    Previously known as Ghost Bike, we got a new trailer and a new name for this beautiful, relaxing, bike-loving exploration-racing game. Wheel World sees you retrieving and fixing the last of the Ghost Bikes, which can travel between the worlds of the living and the dead. Mixing open world exploration as you repair and upgrade your bike with the treasures you find, and races set across the map, it’s a game designed to be taken at your own pace – all set to an original soundtrack from artists on the Italians Do It Better music label. Wheel World will arrive day one on Game Pass when it launches in early 2025.

    Wuchang: Fallen Feathers Offers a Fresh Look at Its Story and Bosses

    Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, or play it day one with Game Pass

    [embedded content]

    After a reveal at Xbox Games Showcase earlier this year, we got a new look at Wuchang: Fallen Feathers. Offering new hints to its dark fantasy storyline set in the late Ming Dynasty, the new trailer showed us a lot of action, including against multiple bosses – from a horrifying, centipede-like monster, to a woman who can transform into what appears to be a living scarf made from the skin of an arctic fox. It’s shaping up to be quite the journey. Wuchang: Fallen Feathers arrives in 2025.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General’s solidarity message to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) [scroll down for French and Spanish versions]

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    Dear colleagues of UNIFIL,

    Earlier this week, I had the privilege of speaking with representatives of your countries here in New York.

    Today I want to speak to you directly.
     
    I want to say to you what I said to them: 

    I am full of admiration and gratitude to the men and women of UNIFIL. 

    I am so proud of you — and I know your countries are proud of you, too.

    You should know that here in New York, we are all very aware of your bravery during some of the most challenging moments in the history of UNIFIL.

    I have been crystal clear:  the safety of United Nations personnel is our highest priority.

    And all parties have an obligation to ensure the safety of our personnel.

    The inviolability of UN premises must be respected, at all times.

    Attacks against UN peacekeepers are completely unacceptable.

    They are in breach of international law, against international humanitarian law and may constitute a war crime.

    Despite all the challenges, UNIFIL remains in its positions.

    Every day you keep the blue flag flying — and ensure the primacy of international law. 

    I am in constant contact with General Lázaro – assessing the latest developments. 

    Our path forward is clear.

    We need an immediate ceasefire and the full implementation of resolution 1701.

    The men and women of UNIFIL are tirelessly working to give our diplomatic efforts a fighting chance.

    You are not just on the Blue Line in Lebanon, you are literally on the front line of peace.

    Thank you for your service.

    *****

    Chères et chers collègues de la FINUL,

    En début de semaine, j’ai eu le privilège de m’entretenir avec des représentants de vos pays respectifs ici, à New York.

    Aujourd’hui, je tiens à m’adresser directement à vous.

    Je tiens à vous dire ce que je leur ai dit : 

    Je suis empli d’admiration et de gratitude pour les femmes et les hommes qui composent la FINUL.

    Je suis fier de vous – et je sais que vos pays le sont également.

    Sachez qu’ici, à New York, nous sommes tous très conscients de la bravoure dont vous faites preuve dans l’un des moments les plus difficiles de l’histoire de la FINUL.

    J’ai été très clair à ce sujet : la sécurité du personnel de l’ONU est notre priorité absolue.

    Toutes les parties ont l’obligation de garantir la sécurité de notre personnel.

    L’inviolabilité des locaux des Nations Unies doit être respectée à tout moment.

    Les attaques visant les Casques bleus sont totalement inacceptables.

    Elles sont contraires au droit international et au droit international humanitaire et peuvent constituer un crime de guerre.

    Malgré toutes ces difficultés, la FINUL tient ses positions.

    Chaque jour, vous faites flotter le drapeau bleu – et garantissez la primauté du droit international.

    Je suis en contact permanent avec le général Lázaro pour suivre l’évolution de la situation.

    Notre voie à suivre est claire.

    Nous avons besoin d’un cessez-le-feu immédiat et d’une mise en œuvre intégrale de la résolution 1701.

    Les hommes et les femmes de la FINUL travaillent sans relâche pour donner à nos efforts diplomatiques une chance d’aboutir.

    Vous n’êtes pas seulement sur la ligne bleue au Liban, vous êtes littéralement sur la ligne de front de la paix.

    Merci pour votre service.

    *****

    Estimadas y estimados colegas de la FPNUL:

    A principios de esta semana, tuve el privilegio de hablar con representantes de sus países, aquí en Nueva York.

    Hoy quiero hablar con ustedes directamente.
     
    Quiero decirles lo mismo que les dije a ellos: 

    Siento gran admiración y gratitud hacia los hombres y mujeres de la FPNUL. 

    Estoy muy orgulloso de ustedes, y sé que sus países también lo están.

    Deben saber que aquí, en Nueva York, todos somos muy conscientes del valor que han tenido durante algunos de los momentos más complicados de la historia de la FPNUL.

    Me he expresado con total claridad: la seguridad del personal de las Naciones Unidas es nuestra prioridad máxima.

    Y todas las partes tienen la obligación de garantizar la seguridad de nuestro personal. 

    La inviolabilidad de los locales de las Naciones Unidas debe respetarse, en todo momento.

    Los ataques contra el personal de mantenimiento de la paz de las Naciones Unidas son completamente inaceptables.

    Infringen el derecho internacional y el derecho internacional humanitario y pueden constituir un crimen de guerra. 

    A pesar de todas las dificultades, la FPNUL permanece en sus posiciones.

    Cada día, ustedes mantienen la bandera azul ondeando y garantizan la primacía del derecho internacional.

    Estoy en contacto constante con el general Lázaro, evaluando los últimos acontecimientos. 

    Nuestro camino para avanzar está claro.

    Necesitamos un alto el fuego inmediato y la aplicación plena de la resolución 1701.

    Los hombres y las mujeres de la FPNUL trabajan incansablemente para dar una oportunidad a nuestros esfuerzos diplomáticos.
     
    Ustedes no están solamente en la línea azul del Líbano; están literalmente en primera línea de la paz.

    Gracias por su servicio.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Study: Microsoft 365 Copilot drove up to 353% ROI for small and medium businesses

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Study: Microsoft 365 Copilot drove up to 353% ROI for small and medium businesses

    As a small or medium-sized business (SMB) leader, you’ve likely heard a lot about generative AI and how it’s transforming businesses of all sizes. To better understand how AI is helping businesses grow and compete, Microsoft commissioned Forrester Consulting to study the potential return on investment (ROI) of Microsoft 365 Copilot for SMBs.

    The results of the study are eye-opening. Forrester’s New Technology: Projected Total Economic Impact Of Microsoft 365 Copilot for SMB1 projects that over a three-year period, businesses can experience a return on investment (ROI) ranging from 132% to 353%.2

    Moreover, the study reports that businesses are already experiencing the transformational impact of AI for their organizations in the following areas:

    • Faster time to market
    • Increased productivity
    • Improved employee satisfaction

    Let’s take a closer look at how early adopters of Copilot have used the power of AI to transform their businesses, while keeping their data secure with enterprise data protection.

    Microsoft 365 Copilot

    Focus on what matters most with Microsoft 365 Copilot and the power of AI.

    Investing in Copilot delivers substantial returns for SMBs

    The Forrester study demonstrates the transformative results that AI can help bring to businesses—making Copilot not just a productivity tool but a strategic investment for long-term growth:

    • 6% increase in net revenue
    • 20% reduction in operating costs
    • 25% acceleration in new-hire onboarding

    “Upskilling on AI now is absolutely critical to being prepared for its capabilities in a few years. In five years, running a business without Copilot would be like trying to run a company today using typewriters instead of computers.”

    —Forrester Study: Head Vice President of Technology Services, IT Services and Business Consulting

    Turning innovation into action with faster time to market

    Bringing new products to market faster and promptly meeting customer demands are critical for business success. Forrester’s study highlights how Copilot can help accelerate revenue growth and open doors to additional business opportunities.

    The study found that 24% of businesses experienced a 16% to 20% reduction in time to market for new products, and 27% of businesses saw improvements in time to market ranging from 11% to 15%. These improvements can help you enhance your agility and increase competitiveness in the market.

    “With Copilot, we have faster turnarounds…with the ability to turn things around more quickly, clients can come to us with more work. It can be 15% more business.”

    —Forrester Study: Head Vice President of Technology Services, Managed Technology Solutions

    You can optimize your business processes by working with Copilot to map out your workflow and ask Copilot for recommendations to eliminate inefficiencies. Then you can share the list of recommendations with your team for feedback before deciding how to move forward. Copilot can help ensure projects move forward without delays—ask Copilot to provide updates on your team’s progress to quickly identify where support is needed.

    Increasing productivity across your business

    Employees at small and medium-sized businesses often wear multiple hats, doing jobs across different departments, and sometimes having less time to spend on their own projects. Copilot can help address this challenge by taking on routine, repetitive tasks, helping teams to focus on more strategic work.

    Forrester’s study shows that 51% of businesses using Copilot reported a 1% to 10% reduction in supply chain costs, while 59% saw operating costs decrease by 1% to 20%. This can help you to shift resources toward growth-focused initiatives without overwhelming your team.

    “In terms of getting the information to the various departments and having my legal assistants then redo it, so they can enter that data and answer questions from other departments more easily. My guess is on contract review we’ll save at least 50% of time in the coming years.” 

    —Forrester study: General Counsel, Chief Diversity Officer at the Staffing, IT, and Business Solutions Firm

    With Copilot, your team can quickly find critical details from client contracts or vendor agreements and have emails from key clients prioritized, helping to ensure that the most urgent emails are addressed first. Copilot can also gather data from spreadsheets and text documents, analyze it, and create easy-to-understand charts and tables for faster decision-making.

    Enhancing employee satisfaction and retention

    The study also highlights Copilot’s impact on employee satisfaction. By freeing up time for employees to collaborate more effectively and take on more fulfilling tasks, SMBs have experienced or anticipated, on average, an 18% increase in employee satisfaction, with a corresponding 11% to 20% reduction in employee churn.

    “People have a lot of anxiety [about going] on vacation because of what they’re going to miss. Well, the ability to ramp up fast with summarization on a lot of those key meetings doesn’t just save the person the time, but it also is going to save the other leaders in the organization the time to have to ramp them up.”
    —Forrester study: President, Staffing, IT, and Business Solutions

    Use Copilot to help pull together training materials and build presentations so you quickly bring new team members up to speed. Copilot’s meeting and email summaries also allow your employees to stay on top of work, even when they miss a meeting. This can help reduce stress and help create smoother transitions between projects, fostering a more inclusive and productive work environment.

    Now is the right time to invest in AI. We are here to help.

    With potential benefits like increased revenue, faster time to market, and significant ROI, Microsoft 365 Copilot can be a valuable investment for SMBs looking to thrive in a competitive market.

    To find out more about the Forrester findings and learn how you can best implement Copilot for your business, please join our webinar on October 31, 2024, 9 AM PST to 10 AM PST.

    To use Copilot across all your Microsoft 365 apps and work data, you can purchase Microsoft 365 Copilot as an add-on to your Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Microsoft 365 Standard, or Microsoft 365 Business Premium subscriptions. If you do not already have these core productivity offerings, you can purchase them now.

    Find out more about Microsoft 365 Copilot or reach out to a Microsoft Cloud Solution Partner to learn more.

    You can also learn how to make Copilot part of your everyday business activities by exploring the new Copilot Success Kit for Small and Medium-Sized Business, which provides resources on licensing, technical requirements, and AI capabilities.

    Sources:

    1. “New Technology: The Projected Total Economic Impact : Of Microsoft 365 Copilot for SMB,” a commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Microsoft. Results are based on Microsoft 365 Copilot customer interviews and surveys of over 200 companies with up to 300 employees across various industries, from retail to financial services.
    2. Forrester modeled a range of projected low-, medium-, and high-impact outcomes based on evaluated risk. This financial analysis projects that the composite organization accrues the following three-year net present value (NPV) for each scenario by enabling Microsoft 365 Copilot: 
      • Projected high impact of a $955,000 NPV and projected ROI of 353%. 
      • Projected medium impact of a $658,000 NPV and projected ROI of 243%. 
      • Projected low impact of a $358,000 NPV and projected ROI of 132%.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI: Duck Creek Technologies Named a Leader in Gartner® 2024 Magic Quadrant™ for SaaS P&C Insurance Core Platforms, North America

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BOSTON, Oct. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Duck Creek Technologies, a leading and innovative provider of solutions in the SaaS P&C insurance core platforms market, today announced Duck Creek Technologies has been positioned by Gartner as a Leader in the 2024 Gartner® “Magic Quadrant™ for SaaS P&C Core Platforms, North America”. The evaluation was based on specific criteria that analyzed the company’s overall Completeness of Vision and Ability to Execute.

    Magic Quadrant reports are a culmination of rigorous, fact-based research in specific markets, providing a wide-angle view of the relative positions of providers in markets where growth is high, and provider differentiation is distinct. Providers are positioned into four quadrants: Leaders, Challengers, Visionaries and Niche Players. The research enables you to get the most from market analysis in alignment with your unique business and technology needs.

    “Our low-code, configurable SaaS platform helps insurance carriers stand out in today’s competitive market. We continue to enhance our platform through AI, machine learning and by bringing new solutions to carriers, including Payments Facilitator, to grow their business with speed, efficiency and an excellent customer experience,” said Michael Jackowski, CEO of Duck Creek Technologies. “We are proud to be recognized again this year by Gartner as a Leader in the P&C insurance technology space. As we look ahead, we will continue to enrich our platform by providing more for carriers to stay ahead of their competition including eliminating upgrades through Active Delivery and increasing efficiency and scalability with multi-tenancy.”

    View a complimentary copy of the Magic Quadrant report to learn more about Duck Creek’s strengths and cautions, among other provider offerings, here

    Source: Gartner Reports: Gartner, Magic Quadrant for SaaS P&C Insurance Core Platforms, North America, Sham Gill, James Ingham October 2024

    Gartner Disclaimer:
    Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

    GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved. 
    Magic Quadrant is a registered trademark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved. 

    About Duck Creek Technologies

    Duck Creek Technologies is the intelligent solutions provider defining the future of the property and casualty (P&C) and general insurance industry. We are the platform upon which modern insurance systems are built, enabling the industry to capitalize on the power of the cloud to run agile, intelligent, and evergreen operations. Authenticity, purpose, and transparency are core to Duck Creek, and we believe insurance should be there for individuals and businesses when, where, and how they need it most. Our market-leading solutions are available on a standalone basis or as a full suite, and all are available via Duck Creek OnDemand. Visit http://www.duckcreek.com to learn more. Follow Duck Creek on our social channels for the latest information – LinkedIn and X.

    Media Contacts:
    Tara Stred/Marianne Dempsey
    Duckcreek@threeringsinc.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Ninepoint Partners Announces Final Close After Reaching Maximum Deal Size on 2024 Short Duration Flow-Through Limited Partnership II Capital Raise

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, Oct. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ninepoint Partners LP (“Ninepoint”) is pleased to announce that the Ninepoint 2024 Short Duration Flow-Through Limited Partnership II (the “Partnership”) has completed the second and final closing in connection with its offering of Class A and Class F limited partnership units (the “Units”) pursuant to a prospectus dated September 18, 2024. The Partnership raised $12,290,500 on the sale of an additional 491,620 Units for aggregate gross proceeds of $24,997,900. The Units are being offered at a price per Unit of $25.00 with a minimum subscription of 100 Units ($2,500).

    Ninepoint is a leading manager of Flow-Through Funds in Canada. Since its inception in 2017, Ninepoint has successfully raised more Flow-Through Fund capital than any other asset manager in Canada.

    The Partnership intends to provide liquidity to limited partners through a roll-over to the Ninepoint Resource Fund Class in the period between January 15, 2026 to February 28, 2026.

    Investment Objective of the Partnership
    The Partnership’s investment objective is to achieve capital appreciation and significant tax benefits for limited partners by investing in a diversified portfolio of Flow-Through Shares (as defined in the Prospectus) and other securities, if any, of Resource Issuers (as defined in the Prospectus).

    Attractive Tax-Reduction Benefits
    Flow-through partnerships are one of the most effective tax reduction strategies available to Canadians. Ninepoint anticipates that investors participating in the Partnership will be eligible to receive a tax deduction of approximately 100% of the amount invested.

    Resource Expertise
    The Partnership will be sub-advised by Sprott Asset Management LP (“Sprott”), one of Canada’s leading investment advisors in small and mid-cap resource companies. Over its long history of investing in the resource sector, Sprott has developed relationships with hundreds of companies. Its experienced team of portfolio managers is supported by a team of technical experts with extensive backgrounds in mining and geology.

    Portfolio manager Jason Mayer will manage the portfolio of the Partnership and will be supported by Sprott’s broader team of experienced resource investment professionals.

    Agents
    The offering is being made through a syndicate of agents led by RBC Dominion Securities Inc. which includes
    CIBC World Markets Inc., TD Securities Inc., National Bank Financial Inc., Scotia Capital Inc., BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc., Manulife Wealth Inc., iA Private Wealth Inc., Raymond James Ltd., Richardson Wealth Limited, Canaccord Genuity Corp., Desjardins Securities Inc., Ventum Financial Corp. and Wellington-Altus Private Wealth Inc.

    About Ninepoint Partners LP
    Based in Toronto, Ninepoint Partners LP is one of Canada’s leading alternative investment management firms overseeing approximately $7 billion in assets under management and institutional contracts. Committed to helping investors explore innovative investment solutions that have the potential to enhance returns and manage portfolio risk, Ninepoint offers a diverse set of alternative strategies spanning Equities, Fixed Income, Alternative Income, Real Assets, F/X and Digital Assets.

    For more information on Ninepoint Partners LP, please visit http://www.ninepoint.com or for inquiries regarding the offering, please contact us at (416) 943-6707 or (866) 299-9906 or invest@ninepoint.com.

    Certain statements included in this news release constitute forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, those identified by the expressions “expects”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “will” and similar expressions to the extent that they relate to the Partnership. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts but reflect the Partnership’s, Ninepoint’s and Sprott’s current expectations regarding future results or events. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations. Although the Partnership, Ninepoint and Sprott believe the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and, accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. Neither the Partnership, nor Ninepoint or Sprott undertake any obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statement or information whether as a result of new information, future events or other such factors which affect this information, except as required by law.

    This offering is only made by prospectus. The Partnership’s prospectus contains important detailed information about the securities being offered. Copies of the prospectus may be obtained from one of the dealers noted above. Investors should read the prospectus before making an investment decision.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: IronSight Accelerates Innovation in Field Operations with Strategic Support

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    EDMONTON, Alberta, Oct. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — IronSight (Pack Energy Services Ltd.), a leader in real-time field service management solutions, is excited to announce that it is receiving advisory services and up to $2.64 million in funding from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP). This vital support will accelerate IronSight’s research and development (R&D) initiatives, helping the company introduce new technologies, expand its workforce, and further position itself as a global leader in field operations software.

    The advisory services and funding from NRC IRAP will enable IronSight to create new job opportunities in R&D and product development, contributing to the growth of the local economy. As IronSight expands, it is poised to add skilled professionals to its team, driving innovation and supporting the growing need for enhanced efficiency and sustainability in sectors such as energy production, utilities, and logistics.

    In addition to job creation, IronSight will integrate advanced Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and machine learning capabilities into its platform. These technologies will provide real-time predictive analytics, resource optimization, and compliance automation, enabling clients to achieve unprecedented efficiency and safety in field operations. These innovations will help companies meet sustainability targets, reduce operational downtime, and minimize their environmental footprint.

    “The support from NRC IRAP is instrumental not only in helping us accelerate technological advancements but also in creating new jobs and contributing to the economic growth of Alberta and Canada,” said Shawn Martens, President and Co-Founder of IronSight. “This support will allow us to accelerate the development of cutting-edge solutions, helping industries streamline operations, improve safety, and enhance profitability. We are excited to push the boundaries of what’s possible in field operations.”

    IronSight’s enhanced platform, already equipped with real-time tracking, mobile access, and digital documentation, will now incorporate predictive maintenance, automated compliance tracking, and AI-powered operational insights. These advancements are expected to create a significant impact for clients, reducing energy consumption, optimizing resource use, and driving operational excellence across critical industries.

    “This support helps us advance our development of innovative technologies in industrial field services, driving digital transformation and operational excellence,” Martens added. “We’re committed to driving innovation that improves operational efficiency while helping our clients achieve their sustainability goals. Our solutions empower industries to perform better, safer, and more sustainably.”

    About IronSight

    IronSight is a real-time field operations platform designed to enhance operational performance, streamline workflows, and improve collaboration for industrial service providers, energy producers, and mining operations.

    Founded by Shawn Martens and Adam Jessome, IronSight connects people, processes, and technology to create more efficient, intelligent workflows. By leveraging advanced technology and real-time data, IronSight empowers organizations to achieve operational excellence while promoting safety, sustainability, and productivity.

    For more information, visit [http://www.ironsight.com].

    Media Contact:

    Taylor Loader

    Marketing

    IronSight

    Taylor.loader@ironsight.app

    http://www.ironsight.app

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Picton Mahoney Asset Management Announces Monthly Distribution for Picton Mahoney Fortified Income Alternative Fund Exchange Traded Fund Units, Picton Mahoney Fortified Special Situations Alternative Fund Exchange Traded Fund Units, Picton Mahoney Fortified Core Bond Fund Exchange Traded Fund Units and Picton Mahoney Fortified Alpha Alternative Fund Exchange Traded Fund Units

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, Oct. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — (TSX: PFIA, PFSS, PFCB, PFAA) Picton Mahoney Asset Management announced today that it has declared the October 2024 monthly cash distribution of $0.0367 per unit for the ETF units (“ETF Units”) of the Picton Mahoney Fortified Income Alternative Fund.

    Picton Mahoney Asset Management announced today that it has declared the October 2024 monthly cash distribution of $0.0341 per unit for the ETF Units of the Picton Mahoney Fortified Special Situations Alternative Fund.

    Picton Mahoney Asset Management announced today that it has declared the October 2024 monthly cash distribution of $0.0333 per unit for the ETF Units of the Picton Mahoney Fortified Core Bond Fund.

    Picton Mahoney Asset Management announced today that it has declared the October 2024 monthly cash distribution of $0.0001 per unit for the ETF Units of the Picton Mahoney Fortified Alpha Alternative Fund.

    Unitholders of record of the ETF Units, at the close of business on October 24, 2024, will receive a per-unit cash distribution payable on October 31, 2024.

    About Picton Mahoney Asset Management

    Picton Mahoney Asset Management specializes in differentiated investment solutions and rules-based volatility management. Picton Mahoney helps its clients fortify their portfolios based on experience honed over the years through different market cycles and investing environments.

    Founded in 2004 and 100% employee-owned, Picton Mahoney is a portfolio management boutique entrusted with over $11.3 billion (as at September 30, 2024) in assets under management. Pioneers of Authentic Hedge® investment principles and practices in Canada, the firm offers a full suite of investment solutions, including mutual and alternative funds, to institutional and retail investors across the country.

    Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees, performance fees and expenses all may be associated with mutual fund investments. Please read the prospectus before investing. Mutual funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently, and past performance may not be repeated. Alternative funds can only be purchased through a registered dealer and are available only in those jurisdictions where they may be lawfully offered for sale.

    For further information please contact:

    Arthur Galloway
    Picton Mahoney Asset Management
    Tel: (416) 955-4108
    Web site: http://www.pictonmahoney.com
    Email: service@pictonmahoney.com

    The MIL Network –