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  • MIL-OSI: Commercial Drone Industry Has Expanded Significantly as Billion Dollar Market is Awarding Lucrative Opportunities for Manufacturers

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PALM BEACH, Fla., Oct. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FN Media Group News Commentary – The business use cases of commercial drones have expanded significantly over the past few years and the commercial drone market is growing to interior uses in warehouses/facilities in additions to all of the well know exterior used. They are also being increasingly adopted in the construction and real estate sectors due to their ability to survey the property, offer constant and exact project alerts, increase safety, and prevent harmful accidents on construction sites. Moreover, their conventional applications, such as monitoring, surveillance, and security, have instigated the product demand for search and rescue operations, identifying unstable roofs in dangerous and inaccessible positions, tracking out elevated infrastructure that might have damaged electrical cables, etc. A recent report issued by Grand View Research, discussed the segments on the market, saying: “Product Insights: The rotary blade segment held the largest revenue share of over 78.9% in 2024. The demand for rotary blade drones is anticipated to surge for inspection activities owing to its ability to hover and execute agile maneuvering while maintaining a visual on a particular target for prolonged periods. These drones are often seen as a suitable alternative for various business applications such as surveillance, filmmaking, photography, and monitoring. In addition, they are easier to control than hybrid and fixed-wing counterparts. The hybrid segment is expected to attain a CAGR of over 18% over the forecast period owing to the advantages associated with these commercial drones. These drones enhance their efficiency and power by integrating the capabilities of batteries and fuel. Moreover, these drones can fly for long periods with heavier payloads, even in severe weather conditions. Tech giants like Facebook and Amazon use hybrid drones to transport packages effectively and quickly while enabling internet access in remote locations.” Active Tech Companies in the markets today include ZenaTech, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZENA), Red Cat Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: RCAT), Joby Aviation, Inc. (NYSE: JOBY), EHang Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: EH), AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV).

    Grand View Research continued: “Application Insights: The commercial application segment accounted for a revenue share of over 74.02% in 2024. – End Use Insights; The media & entertainment segment accounted for a revenue share of over 21.4% in 2024 and is expected to record a notable growth from 2025 to 2030. – Range Insights: The visual line of sight (VLOS) segment accounted for the largest revenue share of over 69% in 2024 and the beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR of over 11.2% over the forecast period. – Operating Mode Insights: The remotely piloted segment accounted for the largest revenue share of over 59% in 2024 and the fully autonomous segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR of 12.4% over the forecast period. The electric propulsion type segment accounted for the largest revenue share of over 72% in 2024. The segment dominance is attributed to the popularity of electric drones using rechargeable batteries. These drones have gained widespread adoption due to numerous advantages such as quiet operations, flight efficiency, longer flight times, and easy maintenance, among others. This, in turn, is expected further to drive the segment demand over the forecast period.”

    ZenaTech Inc.’s (NASDAQ:ZENA) ZenaDrone Team Begins US Flight Testing of ZenaDrone 1000 Drone in the Arizona Desert – ZenaTech, Inc. (“ZenaTech”), a technology company specializing in AI (Artificial Intelligence) drone solutions and enterprise SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) solutions, announced today that its subsidiary, ZenaDrone, has begun the first US flight testing of the ZenaDrone 1000 drone, including new hardware and software configurations, in the desert near Phoenix, Arizona. The company has also been concurrently working towards setting up offices, operations and partnerships in the state.

    “After years of development work and recently achieving US FAA approval, it is gratifying to be able to conduct live test flights and further build our company base in Arizona. This is the first of many test flights and demonstrations that will help us refine and build the reliability of the ZenaDrone 1000 solutions for agriculture, defense, security, land surveying and other applications where we see demand,” said CEO Shaun Passley, Ph.D. One of the company’s longstanding collaboration partners is the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA), the State of Arizona’s economic development organization.

    “We are thrilled that ZenaDrone has further grown and strengthened its Arizona presence by choosing Arizona as its base of U.S. operations. And we are now delighted that they have chosen Arizona’s skies to begin live testing of the ZenaDrone 1000 product. We look forward to continued work with ZenaDrone to grow their business in Arizona and throughout the world, including via participation at international trade shows and on international trade missions,” said Kevin O’Shea, Senior Vice President of International Trade for the ACA. Read the full press release and more for ZenaTech at:  https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-zena/

    Additional Groundbreaking ZenaTech Inc. Developments include:

    ZenaTech recently announced that its subsidiary, ZenaDrone, has begun the first US trial of the IQ Nano product solution for inventory management, beginning with a multinational auto part and components customer. The drone will be reading the bar codes and collecting inventory information as part of a paid trial. The IQ Nano indoor drone is designed for customers with warehouse, logistics and distribution operations to help them save costs and improve productivity by managing various tasks such as taking inventory, turning a weeklong activity into one day.

    “After two years of product development work, the initiation of the first IQ Nano drone trial inside a customer’s warehouse is an important milestone. We believe the technology will help innovate and improve their inventory management process. Further, receiving feedback from our first paying customer will be extremely valuable as we continue to fine tune our IQ series solutions, enabling us to expand our offerings with this and additional new customers,” said CEO Shaun Passley, Ph.D.

    ZenaTech also recently announced that its subsidiary, ZenaDrone, is launching its IQ Nano product, part of the IQ series of indoor/outdoor drones. The IQ Nano is designed for customers in sectors such as warehousing and logistics to save costs and improve productivity while performing indoor inspection, monitoring and tracking processes including inventory management.

    The ZenaDrone IQ Nano is a 10×10-inch drone designed to perform regular and frequent inspections for applications such as bar code or RFID scanning, facility maintenance inspections, security monitoring, and 3D mapping specific to the needs of companies with warehouse, distribution, plants and industrial facilities. It is designed for autonomous use featuring integrated sensors, high-quality cameras and data collection. Weighing 1.5kg and with a flight time of up to 20 minutes before utilizing the automatic battery charging station, it is designed for hovering stability and for safety with obstacle avoidance capabilities.

    And finally, ZenaTech recently announced that its subsidiary, ZenaDrone, has commenced aerial operations to launch commercial drone services in the US. This was made possible due to recently achieving Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) exemption approval.

    Other recent developments in the Drone and/or Technology industry include:

    Red Cat Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: RCAT) recently announced it secured a $1 million contract for its Edge 130 Blue drones from the United States Army Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM). The contract was secured through Noble, a leading provider of global sustainment and operations support for the U.S. Military and civilian government agencies, and was coordinated for procurement by the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) on behalf of CECOM.

    FlightWave, an industry-leading provider of VTOL drone, sensor and software solutions was acquired by Red Cat in September 2024. The acquisition brings FlightWave’s flagship drone, the Edge 130 Blue into its family of low-cost, portable unmanned reconnaissance and precision lethal strike systems. FlightWave’s size, weight and vertical take off capabilities makes it ideal for maritime operations and littoral environments. FlightWave’s recent TACFI award will accelerate advanced enhancements to the Edge 130 Blue.

    Toyota Motor Corporation (TM) and Joby Aviation, Inc. (NYSE: JOBY), a company developing electric air taxis for commercial passenger service, recently announced that Toyota will invest an additional $500 million to support the certification and commercial production of Joby’s electric air taxi, with the aim of realizing the two companies’ shared vision of air mobility.

    The investment, which will be made in two equal tranches, is subject to standard regulatory approvals and certain other conditions, finalization of collaborative and commercial agreements and, with respect to the second tranche, the finalization of terms related to a strategic alliance focused on commercial manufacturing and certain other conditions. The investment, which will bring Toyota Motor Corporation’s total investment in Joby to $894 million, will be made in the form of cash for common stock, with the first tranche targeted to close later this year and the second in 2025. Further details of the investment are available via the companies’ regulatory filings with the SEC.

    EHang Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: EH), the world’s leading Urban Air Mobility (“UAM”) technology platform company, recently announced a major milestone with the successful completion of the first flight of its EH216-S pilotless eVTOL in Brazil.

    EHang’s first trial flight in Brazil took place in Quadra, located in the São Paulo region, in partnership with its local operator, Gohobby Future Technologies (“Gohobby). This achievement holds significant importance for the future development of UAM solutions in Brazil, a country known as the birthplace of Latin American aviation, home of one of the world’s leading aeronautical industries, and one of the world’s largest eVTOL markets. As for now, EHang and its local partners have carried out over 50,000 safe flights in 17 countries across Asia, Europe, North America, and Latin America.

    AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV) recently showcased the maritime prowess of its combat-proven JUMP® 20 uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) during the NATO REPMUS 2024 (Robotic Experimentation and Prototyping using Maritime Uncrewed Systems) exercise off the coast of Portugal. This dynamic demonstration reinforced JUMP 20’s advanced Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, autonomously launching and landing on a moving vessel in rough seas, with conditions reaching sea state level 5 and winds over 20 kts.

    The JUMP 20 also highlighted its multi-sensor mission versatility, seamlessly executing wide-area search and detection tasks. Its advanced Electro Optical and Mid-Wave Infrared (MWIR) turret automatically slewed to investigate identified targets without repositioning the platform, ensuring constant operational focus. Full-motion video was captured and later analyzed using AV’s cutting-edge computer vision technology, SPOTR-Edge™, enabling perception analysis using its robust library of object classifications, including persons, vehicles, and maritime vessels. Additionally, video from this event will further enhance the solution, making the JUMP 20 even more capable for future deployments by refining its object recognition and situational response capabilities.

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    SOURCE: FN Media Group

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: DHS Offers Protections for Lebanese Nationals Currently in the United States

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    Certain Lebanese nationals will be eligible for DED and TPS, allowing them to work and temporarily remain in the United States

    WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is announcing new actions to provide temporary immigration reprieve to eligible Lebanese nationals currently in the United States and allowing them the opportunity to request work authorization. Included in today’s announcement are details related to the Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for Lebanese nationals as previously announced in July, and a planned new Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for Lebanon.

    After consultation with interagency partners, Secretary Mayorkas is announcing a new TPS designation for Lebanon for 18 months due to ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions in Lebanon that prevent nationals of Lebanon from returning in safety. Those approved for TPS will be able to remain in the country while the United States is in discussions to achieve a diplomatic resolution for lasting stability and security across the Israel-Lebanon border. The designation of Lebanon for TPS will allow Lebanese nationals (and individuals having no nationality who last habitually resided in Lebanon) who have been continuously residing in the United States since October 16, 2024 to file initial applications for TPS, if they are otherwise eligible. Lebanese nationals who entered the United States after October 16, 2024 will not be eligible for TPS. More information about TPS, including how to apply for employment authorization, will be included in a forthcoming Federal Register Notice which DHS intends to publish in the next few weeks. Individuals should not apply for TPS under this designation until this Federal Register Notice publishes.

    Today, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)also posted a Federal Register Notice establishing procedures for those Lebanese nationals covered by President Biden’s July 26, 2024 grant of Deferred Enforced Departure to apply for Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) that will be valid through January 25, 2026. As described in the Federal Register Notice, eligible Lebanese nationals can apply for an EAD by filing Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization. USCIS adjudicates each EAD application on a case-by-case basis to determine if an applicant meets all standards and eligibility criteria. More information about DED-based EADs is available on the USCIS website.

    DHS is also publishing a Special Student Relief Notice for F-1 nonimmigrant students whose country of citizenship is Lebanon, or individuals having no nationality who last habitually resided in Lebanon, so that eligible students may request employment authorization, work an increased number of hours while school is in session, and reduce their course load while continuing to maintain F-1 status through the DED designation period.

    In total, approximately 11,000 Lebanese nationals will likely be eligible for DED and TPS pursuant to these actions. There are also approximately 1,740 F-1 nonimmigrant students from Lebanon in the United States who may be eligible for Special Student Relief. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Statement from Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas on the Independent Review Panel Report of the July 13, 2024 Assassination Attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    WASHINGTON – Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas issued the following statement on the Independent Review Panel report released today regarding the July 13, 2024 assassination attempt against former President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania.

    “We are grateful to the members of the bipartisan Independent Review Panel and their staff for their in-depth examination of the security failures that led to the July 13, 2024 assassination attempt on the former President and the loss of life and casualties suffered.  The members of the Independent Review Panel are highly accomplished individuals with extensive security and law enforcement backgrounds, and the U.S. Secret Service’s protection mission will benefit greatly from their recommendations.

    “I have reviewed the Independent Review Panel’s report and have met with the Panel members. We will fully consider the Panel’s recommendations and are taking the actions needed to advance the Secret Service’s protection mission.  These actions will be responsive not only to the security failures that led to the July 13, 2024 assassination attempt, but, importantly, to what the Independent Review Panel describes as systemic and foundational issues that underlie those failures.  I commend Acting Director Rowe for his leadership and for proactively undertaking security enhancements, including those informed by the Secret Service’s internal Mission Assurance Review.

    “I have the utmost confidence in the men and women of the United States Secret Service.  We are operating in a heightened and dynamic threat environment, and it is their talent, unwavering dedication, and tireless service that ensures the safety and security of their protectees and our nation.”

    Following the events of July 13 President Joe Biden directed DHS to conduct an independent security review. On July 21, 2024 Secretary Mayorkas named a bipartisan panel with extensive law enforcement and security experience to conduct a 45-day independent review. The independent review panel of experts from outside of government was comprised of former DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano; the Hon. Mark Filip, a former federal judge and Deputy Attorney General to President George W. Bush; Ms. Frances Townsend, former Homeland Security Advisor to President George W. Bush; and Chief David Mitchell, the former superintendent of Maryland State Police and former Secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Homeland Security for the State of Delaware.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Chernyshenko: Bashkortostan has passed the baton of the International Sports Forum “Russia – a Sports Power” to the Samara Region

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

    Dmitry Chernyshenko: Bashkortostan has passed the baton of the International Sports Forum “Russia – a Sports Power” to the Samara Region

    October 17, 2024

    The launch of the sports project “The Path of the Future Games 2.0 Trophy”. In the center are Dmitry Chernyshenko, Minister of Sports Mikhail Degtyarev and bloggers Mahyoub Haitham from Yemen and Han Xueying from China

    October 17, 2024

    Dmitry Chernyshenko and Mikhail Degtyarev inspected the stand of the State Sports Museum

    October 17, 2024

    Acting Prime Minister of Bashkortostan Andrey Nazarov solemnly handed over to the Governor of the Samara Region Vyacheslav Fedorishchev a symbolic baton – the right to host the forum “Russia – a Sports Power” in 2025

    October 17, 2024

    Launch of the sports project “The Path of the Future Games Trophy 2.0”

    October 17, 2024

    Dmitry Chernyshenko and Mikhail Degtyarev at the exhibition of the forum “Russia – a Sports Power”

    October 17, 2024

    Dmitry Chernyshenko and Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev inspected the exposition of the international forum “Russia – a Sports Power” and launched the sports project “The Path of the Future Games Trophy 2.0”. Ceremony of handing over the symbol of the forum and the right to host the event in 2025 to Samara

    October 17, 2024

    Previous news Next news

    Dmitry Chernyshenko: Bashkortostan has passed the baton of the International Sports Forum “Russia – a Sports Power” to the Samara Region

    Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko and Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev inspected the exposition of the international forum “Russia – a Sports Power” and launched the sports project “The Path of the Future Games Trophy 2.0”. During the inspection, a ceremony was held to transfer the forum symbol and the right to host the event in 2025 to Samara.

    “It is extremely important that the forum “Russia – a Sports Power” will host panel discussions on issues that are relevant to everyone, related to the development and future of international sports. Such sports that are not subject to political circumstances and are not used as a weapon against other countries. The attempts of the unfriendly West to ban everything Russian, including our culture, language and sports, have truly failed. This year we held the largest international, open competitions – the Games of the Future, “Children of Asia”, the BRICS Games. And their number will only increase. Russia is open to the whole world, and this is being stated today from the rostrum of the forum “Russia – a Sports Power”, – the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized.

    Dmitry Chernyshenko drew attention to the symbolism of holding the forum in the year of the 450th anniversary of Ufa and spoke about the region’s achievements in the field of sports development: Bashkortostan has one of the highest levels of provision of sports infrastructure and involvement of residents in regular sports.

    The Deputy Prime Minister noted that in the conditions in which our country finds itself, its unification around President Vladimir Putin is especially noticeable, including in the field of sports. The head of state set the task of increasing the number of people systematically involved in sports to 70% by 2030. According to the Deputy Prime Minister, the Republic of Bashkortostan is an excellent platform and example.

    “We plan that the goal of 70% of citizens regularly involved in sports will be achieved by 2030. Today, about 60% of Russians are actively involved in sports. The components of success here are our coaches, athletes, infrastructure, which, by decision of the President, has been developing at a very rapid pace in recent years. The head of state instructed us to additionally introduce 350 sports facilities per year. Money has been allocated for these purposes,” said Mikhail Degtyarev.

    The Minister of Sports also noted the joint work with the Government: “We take into account all the instructions of the President, federal programs, process events and work with the regions. Plus the comprehensive state program, which President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin supported at the suggestion of Dmitry Nikolaevich Chernyshenko. We are currently working on it. It will take into account the federal budget, and regional funds that go to sports, and extra-budgetary sources. Large companies spend a lot on sports, we thank them for this. Now these funds will be taken into account when planning expenses.”

    Dmitry Chernyshenko, together with Mikhail Degtyarev and Acting Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Bashkortostan Andrey Nazarov, visited the stands of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia, the State Sports Museum, SMP Racing, the Republic of Belarus, the Samara, Sakhalin and Tula regions, and Bashkortostan.

    The Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia presented developments of domestic manufacturers and showed their products. A unique collection of Olympic torches from different years was presented at the stand of the State Sports Museum.

    At the Samara Region stand, Acting Prime Minister of Bashkortostan Andrey Nazarov solemnly handed over a symbolic baton to the Governor of the Samara Region Vyacheslav Fedorishchev – the right to host the Russia – Sports Power forum in 2025.

    “We are grateful to President Vladimir Putin for the trust he has shown in holding the international forum in the capital of our republic. We approached this issue with special responsibility. We have done truly large-scale work. We are handing over the symbol of the country’s main sporting event to our esteemed neighbors – the Samara Region,” Andrey Nazarov emphasized.

    Also, Dmitry Chernyshenko, together with Mikhail Degtyarev, the President of the Russian Phygital Sports Federation Nikita Nagorny and the head of the Future Games project Igor Stolyarov, launched the sports project “The Path of the Future Games Trophy 2.0” – an international motor rally with the main trophy of the Games.

    The Deputy Prime Minister recalled that in February of this year, at the initiative of President Vladimir Putin, the Games of the Future were held for the first time in human history. They were a huge success: 116 countries, 2,000 athletes, more than 3.5 billion views.

    The International Phygital Sports Federation has already been organized. The next Games will be held in 2025 in the United Arab Emirates, and the third in Kazakhstan.

    “The trophy’s route will pass through eight countries, including the countries that will host the Games of the future. The importance of this journey is difficult to overestimate, as it will popularize the phygital movement – a sports movement that unites science, technology and sports, creating new stars who are equally developed in both the virtual and physical worlds. It is they who are the effective future of our world. We are very pleased that our partners continue to support this format,” the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized.

    Mikhail Degtyarev noted that the Games trophy even went to space, and spoke about the creation of phygital centers: “Also, on the instructions of Dmitry Nikolaevich Chernyshenko, with the support of our President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, we will build at least 300 phygital centers across the country by 2030. The funds are included in our budget, and are currently being approved. We have done this work, and this is the future – physical activity plus eSports give a healthy modern person of the future.”

    The international Future Games Trophy Route 2.0 rally aims to take phygital to an even bigger scale. It will run from October 17 to November 22, 2024, through Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Iran and Qatar.

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

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    http://government.ru/nevs/53028/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: International appeal for humanitarian demining in Ukraine adopted in Lausanne

    Source: Switzerland – Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport

    Bern, 17.10.2024 – The first day of the Ukraine Mine Action Conference 2024 ended today with the presentation of the Lausanne Call for Action, which reaffirms the support of the majority of the countries present for humanitarian demining in Ukraine and around the world. The appeal calls for the needs of victims and disabled people to be addressed and promoting partnership and innovation to increase effectiveness in mine action. The conference, held in Lausanne at the EHL Hospitality Business School, brings together representatives of states, international organisations and partners in humanitarian demining.

    61 delegations met on 17 and 18 October 2024 in Lausanne for the Ukraine Mine Action Conference 2024 (UMAC2024). At the end of the first high-level day, the Lausanne Call for Action was adopted, calling for concrete action by states on humanitarian demining in Ukraine. This includes, for example, the swift and safe rehabilitation of agricultural areas, the economic and social reintegration of victims with disabilities, the promotion of international cooperation between the various partners active on the ground, and the exchange of experience and knowledge to foster innovative methods and technologies that increase the effectiveness of mine action at a global level. The text was presented by Switzerland and Ukraine, together with Croatia, which hosted the last mine action conference, and Japan, which will host the 2025 edition.

    Civil population, partnerships and innovation at centre of debate

    The event, hosted jointly by Switzerland and Ukraine, features debates and discussions based on three pillars – people, partners and progress – with the aim of highlighting the crucial importance of humanitarian demining as an integral part of the country’s economic and social reconstruction. The conference was opened by the Swiss president, Viola Amherd and the Ukrainian prime minister, Denys Shmyhal. The Swiss president emphasised in her speech that humanitarian demining is a priority for Switzerland: “Humanitarian demining is not only a security issue, but also a prerequisite for recovery, especially for the restoration of agricultural production and children’s education.”

    Also speaking at UMAC2024 will be figures from the scientific community and civil society, such as British photographer Giles Duley, a landmine survivor and UN Global Advocate for persons with disabilities in conflict situations and peacebuilding situations, and philanthropist Howard G. Buffett, chairman and CEO of the Howard G. Buffett foundation.

    Switzerland’s concrete support for humanitarian demining

    During the conference, the head of the FDFA, Ignazio Cassis, reiterated the importance of international cooperation in humanitarian demining and reaffirmed Switzerland’s commitment to the reconstruction of Ukraine, based on the Lugano Principles adopted in 2022. He also pointed out that the Federal Council decided last week to grant an additional CHF 30 million to the Fondation suisse de déminage (FSD) to extend its activities in the Kharkiv and Kherson regions until 2027. “Thanks to partners such as FSD and the International Centre for Humanitarian Demining, Switzerland is providing direct, effective support in Ukraine,” said Cassis. Since February 2022, the Swiss federal government has implemented various measures to support those affected by the war and allocated around CHF 3.7 billion. Last year the Federal Council approved CHF 100 million in support over four years, earmarked exclusively for mine action in Ukraine.

    Switzerland reiterates solidarity with Ukraine

    At the UMAC2024, a delegation from the Federal Council, led by President Viola Amherd, met with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. The meeting was dedicated to possible steps towards peace, reconstruction and solidarity with Ukraine in the face of the energy shortage in the upcoming winter months. The Swiss delegation, which included Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, emphasised Switzerland’s continued and long-term solidarity with Ukraine.

    Following the Summit on Peace in Ukraine at the Bürgenstock resort in June, the two sides discussed further possible substantive steps towards a lasting and just peace in Ukraine. For Switzerland, it is clear that any solution must respect international law and the UN Charter. Switzerland remains ready to offer its good offices with the aim of supporting firm steps towards the inclusion of both parties. The thematic follow-up conference scheduled to be held in Montreal at the end of October on the human dimension, the fate of prisoners of war, arbitrarily detained civilians and abducted children was also discussed. A further important topic of discussion was Switzerland’s support for Ukraine and the reconstruction effort, to which the Federal Council attaches strategic importance.

    The Vaud cantonal police are implementing the necessary security measures for the UMAC2024, adapted to the assessment of the situation and in close cooperation with the Federal Office of Police (fedpol). The Swiss Armed Forces provide them with support, in particular in the areas of personnel transport, logistics, air surveillance and air transport.

    Address for enquiries

    FDFA Communication
    Federal Palace West Wing
    CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland
    Tel. Press service: +41 58 460 55 55
    E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch
    Twitter: @SwissMFA

    Publisher

    Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
    https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Report of the Acting Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo: UK statement, October 2024

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Ambassador Holland welcomes the Report by the Acting Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, and underlines appreciation for the Mission’s work on monitoring and early warning functions in light of continued tensions in the north of Kosovo.

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

    Thank you, Madam Chair.

    Firstly, I would like to welcome the Acting Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo to the Permanent Council for the first time. Thank you for the written report on the activities of the Mission over the last six months, and for the comprehensive presentation this morning.

    Madam Chair, the United Kingdom shares the assessment in the Report of the concerning lack of progress towards Kosovo-Serbia normalisation, which continues to have negative implications for the daily lives of ordinary citizens and for wider stability in the Western Balkans. In this context we welcome the Government of Kosovo’s recent decision to lift its ban on access for Serbian goods as a positive step towards enabling free trade across the Western Balkans, and giving citizens across the region the opportunity to reap the economic benefit of closer alignment with their European neighbours.

    We continue to call on both Kosovo and Serbia to engage constructively in the EU-facilitated Dialogue and to deliver on their respective obligations, including establishing an Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities.

    The UK will continue to encourage Kosovo to ensure that non-majority communities can play a full and equal role in the country’s future. We have been clear with all interlocutors that any actions which impact the wellbeing of Kosovo-Serbs and other non-majority communities require careful consultation with Kosovo’s friends and security partners, to avoid fuelling tensions and disadvantaging the most vulnerable. All non-majority communities should be free to exercise their democratic rights and further integrate into Kosovan society. We continue to encourage Kosovo Serbs to participate in the democratic process, take up roles in the public service and serve their communities.

    The UK reiterates the importance of ensuring justice and accountability for all acts of violence. We continue to call on Serbia to co-operate fully with efforts to hold to account those responsible for the shocking attack in Banjska in September 2023, and on NATO KFOR troops in May 2023, and to act to tackle cross-border arms smuggling.

    The UK commends the work of the OSCE Mission during the last six months across the three core pillars of its mandate. In particular, we appreciate the Mission’s continued prioritisation of monitoring and early warning functions in light of continuing tensions in the north of Kosovo.

    We value the Mission’s ongoing support to government institutions on human rights and inter-community relations, including addressing concerns about the property rights of non-majority communities. We welcome the Mission’s continued work to address challenges to the right to freedom of religion or belief and the preservation of cultural heritage. We also appreciate the Mission’s support to the Central Election Commission in modernising Kosovo’s electoral processes, which will be particularly important ahead of the February 2025 Assembly elections.

    Madam Chair, the United Kingdom remains a long-standing and strong supporter of Kosovo as an independent and sovereign state. We are committed to supporting an inclusive, diverse and multi-ethnic democracy in Kosovo, and its full participation in the international system.

    As we mark the 25th anniversary of the OSCE Mission’s mandate and constructive engagement in Kosovo, I wanted to again thank you, Acting Head of Mission, for taking on the leadership of the Mission at this critical time. I also want to thank your team for their continued expertise, engagement and hard work under pressure and uncertainty – it really is much appreciated.

    Thank you, Madam Chair.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Waterville — Missing 54-year-old man

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    The Western Valley Region RCMP is asking for the public’s help locating a missing 54-year-old man from Millville, N.B.

    Andrew Irvine was last seen at approximately 4:30 p.m. on October 15, 2024, near 11300 Route 130, in Waterville. He was reported missing to police the same day. Police have followed up on several leads to try and locate him, but have so far been unsuccessful. Police and his family are concerned for his wellbeing.

    Andrew Irvine is described as being approximately five feet ten inches (178 centimetres) tall, and weighing approximately 270 pounds (122 kilograms). He has brown eyes, and brown hair. He was last seen wearing a camouflage jacket. A picture of him is not available at this time.

    Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact the Western Valley Region RCMP at 506-325-3000.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Norwich Remembers: Council sets out its plans for Remembrance Sunday

    Source: City of Norwich

    Published on Thursday, 17th October 2024

    With less than a month to go until Remembrance Sunday, Norwich City Council has set out its plans for how the city will come together to honour those who have made sacrifices in times of conflict.

    The commemorations will begin at 10am at the War Memorial outside City Hall on St Peters Gate, with the assembling of current and ex service personnel, civic dignitaries, emergency service representatives and members of the public.

    Reverend Canon Edward Carter, of St Peter Mancroft, will lead the service of remembrance, which will include laying wreaths at Norwich War Memorial and prayers, followed by The Last Post (the traditional final salute to the fallen) to mark the start of the national two-minute silence at 11am.

    After a blessing, the parade will march off at around 11:05am, from St Peters Street, down Gaol Hill, along London Street, Opie Street, Castle Meadow, Agriculture Hall Plain, Upper King Street, Tombland to Norwich Cathedral.

    Following a salute on Cathedral Close, everyone is invited to enter Norwich Cathedral for a service from 11:40am.

    All are welcome to attend, as well as lay any wreaths or tributes after the service has concluded.

    The Lord Mayor of Norwich, Councillor Vivien Thomas said: “As a council we remain deeply honoured to play a leading role in planning our city’s remembrance commemorations every year.

    “The period of remembrance is a sacred time for us all with our community coming together from all walks of life in gratitude, solidarity, and respect to remember all those who have served and died in conflict for our country.”

    Road closures:

    The following roads will be closed from 7am until 12pm.

    • St Peters Street.
    • Bethel Street (access maintained to The Forum Car Park).
    • St Giles Street at its junction to St Peters Street (access will be maintained to St Giles Car Park) all vehicles will be directed down Upper Goat Lane.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Brighton soldier killed at Passendale finally laid to rest

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    A World War One soldier who was injured and sent home, but then returned to the front where he was killed, has finally been buried close to where he fell.

    Rifleman Callum Phillips plays the Last Post in honour of Rifleman Adams.

    A World War One soldier who was injured and sent home, but then returned to the front where he was killed, has finally been buried close to where he fell; just weeks before Remembrance Sunday.

    The burial service for Rifleman (Rfn) Frederick Thomas Adams which was organised by the MOD’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC) , also known as the War Detectives, took place at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s (CWGC) Passchendaele New British Cemetery, in Belgium yesterday (Wednesday 16 October 24).

    Bob Adams, Rfn Adams’ first cousin twice removed, who aided JCCC by providing the DNA sample used to identify him was there.  

    Bob said: 

    I was intrigued to receive an e-mail last year asking me to carry out DNA testing in connection with Frederick, and once a positive result had been established, I had no hesitation in accepting the invitation to attend the burial service. 

    We are very proud to be related to someone with such a distinguished service record, and we want to give him the respect that he truly deserves. We are honoured to be invited to attend the burial service today, to commemorate his life that was sacrificed in the service of his country.

    Bob Adams, the first cousin twice removed of Rifleman Adams, with the party from 3rd Battalion The Rifles.

    Rfn Adams, who hailed from Brighton, was a career soldier who arrived on the Western Front immediately after the outbreak of hostilities. Having been wounded near Armentieres, on 25 October 1914, he was sent home and did not return to the fighting until 1917, when he was sent back into action as part of a citizen Army. He was killed in Passendale on 19 November 1917. As he was missing Rfn Adams was commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium. 

    In 2018, the remains of a soldier of The Rifle Brigade were discovered during roadworks in Passendale. He was found with two chevrons, indicating that he may have either have held the rank of corporal or that he may have been wearing or in possession of two Good Conduct Stripes. After extensive research and DNA testing, the soldier was identified as Rfn Adams.  

    JCCC Caseworker, Rosie Barron said: 

    It has been an honour to work with The Rifles to give Rfn Adams the full military funeral that he deserves and to have conducted the research which led to his identification. It has also been a priviledge to meet Bob and to have shared this experience with him and his family. Rfn Adams was a career soldier, and I am sure when he returned to the Western Front in 1917, his knowledge and experience would have been invaluable to the men around him. May he now rest in peace alongside his comrades.

    Lieutenant Henry Waterson gives a reading at Rifleman Adams’ graveside.

    The service was conducted by the Reverend Huw Ryden CF, Chaplain to 3rd Battalion The Rifles and was supported by a bearer party from that battalion. 

    Reverend Ryden said: 

    As we preside at the burial service of Rifleman Adams who had been missing for so long; we, by proxy, represent the generations who so deeply wanted to be here. Those past generations are the loved ones who hoped and prayed for the miracle of a safe return. If not a safe a return, then a funeral service to afford some closure and an opportunity to say their last goodbyes. We now stand for those loved ones, and with such a realisation, we stand here deeply moved by the weight and depth of meaning that this service carries.

    The coffin of Rifleman Adams is carried to his grave by serving soldiers of 3rd Battalion The Rifles.

    The graves will now be cared for in perpetuity by CWGC. 

     Director for Central and Southern Europe at the CWGC, Geert Bekaert, said:  

    As we move closer to the period of Remembrance, we are honoured to be able to commemorate Rifleman Adams from Brighton, who made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms we enjoy today. 

    We will care for his grave, and those of his comrades, in perpetuity.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Apple celebrates 10 years of Apple Pay

    Source: Apple

    Headline: Apple celebrates 10 years of Apple Pay

    October 17, 2024

    UPDATE

    Apple celebrates 10 years of Apple Pay

    Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet, reflects on a decade of Apple Pay enriching users’ lives, and shares new ways to pay with Apple Pay, including rewards and installments

    When we started our journey with Apple Pay 10 years ago, we saw a unique opportunity to leverage Apple’s hardware and software to make a meaningful impact on the financial health and lives of our customers. From the outset, we envisioned a world where you could use your iPhone to seamlessly pay for everything — from groceries to train tickets, in person and online, across the globe — all while keeping your personal and financial information safe and private.

    Today, Apple Pay is used by hundreds of millions of consumers in 78 markets, at checkout on millions of websites and apps, in tens of millions of stores worldwide, and is supported by more than 11,000 bank and network partners. We hear from customers every day about how much they love the ease, security, and privacy protections Apple Pay provides in their daily lives, and how much they enjoy using it across their devices — including iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, and Mac.

    One of my earliest memories of realizing how Apple Pay was positively impacting consumers’ lives was when we rolled out Apple Pay for transit in Tokyo, which is used by millions of travelers every day. I watched in awe as people quickly tapped their iPhone or Apple Watch to pay while passing through the turnstiles — no need to fish out any cash, cards, or coins from their wallets, or even unlock or wake their device. It’s a great example of how Apple Pay’s seamless and secure customer experience delivers convenience and peace of mind to consumers around the world, whether they’re commuting to work, shopping online, or picking up their morning coffee.

    We know how important it is for customers to feel secure and trust that their financial transactions are private when making a payment. That’s why we’re always working to safeguard consumers, while also enabling banks to have industry-low levels of fraud for Apple Pay transactions. And it’s also why Apple Pay was designed to protect users’ highly sensitive personal and financial information, like their card number, which is never shared with merchants. Our customers trust that when they use Apple Pay anywhere, they can have the peace of mind that their payments are protected.

    Looking ahead at what’s next for Apple Pay, we are excited to now bring our users more ways to pay, including the option to redeem rewards and access installment loans from Apple Pay-enabled issuers and lenders right at checkout with Apple Pay online and in-app on iPhone and iPad. This gives consumers greater flexibility in how they pay with the easy and trusted Apple Pay experience they already know and love. It also provides Apple Pay-enabled issuers and lenders with new ways to connect with their customers, and make their rewards and installment offerings even more accessible.

    Beyond payments, we’re also advancing our broader vision of replacing users’ physical wallets with an easy, secure, and private digital wallet — Apple Wallet. Today, users can seamlessly and securely add and access eligible event tickets, transit cards, keys, government IDs, and more all from Apple Wallet. And we’re always looking for new ways to make using Apple Wallet convenient while delivering unparalleled security and peace of mind.

    The last decade was an incredible journey, and we’re thrilled that so many people around the world are enjoying the experience that Apple Pay and Apple Wallet provide. I can’t wait to see what the next 10 years have in store.

    — Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet

    More Ways to Pay with Apple Pay

    With iOS 18, eligible users can now access installment loan options from Affirm in the U.S. and from Monzo Flex in the U.K. when checking out with Apple Pay online and in-app on iPhone and iPad.1 And starting today, eligible users in the U.S. and U.K. will also have the option to access Klarna’s flexible payment options right at checkout online and in-app with Apple Pay on iPhone and iPad.

    In the future, users will also be able to access installment payment options from eligible credit or debit cards when making online purchases with Apple Pay in the U.S. with Citi, Synchrony, and across eligible, participating Apple Pay issuers with Fiserv; in Australia with ANZ; in Singapore with DBS; in Spain with CaixaBank; and in the U.K. with HSBC, NewDay, and Zilch, with more issuers to follow. Users in Canada will also have access to Klarna’s flexible payment options at checkout with Apple Pay online and in-app on iPhone and iPad in the future.

    Additionally, with iOS 18, Apple Pay users in the U.S. can now redeem rewards with eligible Discover credit cards2 when they check out with Apple Pay online and in-app on iPhone and iPad. In the future, users will also be able to redeem rewards for purchases with Apple Pay in the U.S. with Synchrony and across eligible, participating Apple Pay issuers with Fiserv and FIS, and in Singapore with DBS, with more issuers to follow.

    Users can now also access Apple Pay on third-party web browsers and computers.3 At checkout, users will be prompted to use their iPhone or iPad to scan a code, and will then be able to securely complete the payment with Apple Pay on iPhone or iPad. And with Tap to Provision, it’s even easier for users to add a credit or debit card to Apple Wallet by simply tapping their eligible card to the back of their iPhone.4

    Next year, customers in the U.S. will also be able to see their PayPal balance when using their PayPal debit card in Apple Wallet, giving them greater visibility and confidence when shopping.

    1. This feature is offered by a card’s issuer, and is subject to issuer eligibility requirements and other issuer terms. This feature is not available in all markets, and may not be available for all types of purchases, such as subscriptions and recurring transactions. The full amount of the transaction will be charged to the user’s card at the time of their purchase, and a statement credit for the redeemed reward amount will be applied to the user’s account.
    2. Redemptions used with Discover credit cards will be reflected as a statement credit on a customer’s account.
    3. iOS 18 or iPadOS 18 or later required. Available with participating merchants on compatible browsers. Compatible browsers require WebSocket support. This feature is not available in all markets.
    4. Must have an eligible and supported card. Not available in all markets. To use this feature, a card’s NFC technology must be activated, and the user may need to enter their card’s security code during setup. Software requirements apply. To ensure a user has all features of this product, their iPhone must be updated to the latest software version.

    In the U.S., Apple Pay is a service provided by Apple Payments Services LLC, a subsidiary of Apple Inc. In other countries and regions, Apple Pay is a service provided by certain Apple affiliates, as designated by the Apple Pay privacy notice. Neither Apple Inc., nor Apple Payments Services LLC, nor its affiliates are a bank. Any card used in Apple Pay is offered by the card issuer.

    The survey was commissioned by Apple and conducted by Morning Consult between September 10-13, 2024, among a sample of 3,014 adults in the U.S. ages 18-64.

    Press Contacts

    Heather Norton

    Apple

    heather_norton@apple.com

    Kimberly Mai

    Apple

    k_mai@apple.com

    Apple Media Helpline

    media.help@apple.com

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI: Pineapple Energy Announces Lease Termination for Former Minnesota Headquarters – Move Expected to Produce Total Savings of Approximately $480,000

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    RONKONKOMA, N.Y., Oct. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Pineapple Energy Inc. (the “Company”) (NASDAQ: PEGY), a leading provider of sustainable solar energy and backup power to households, businesses, municipalities, and for servicing existing systems, announced today that it has terminated the operating lease for its former corporate office in Minnetonka, Minnesota.

    The termination of the lease, which was set to expire in 2027, is expected to save the Company approximately $17,500 per month or $210,000 a year in associated rent. There was a one-time buyout fee associated with the lease termination agreement, and the Company will spread payment of that fee over the next 14-months.

    Taking into account the remaining years on the now terminated lease, other related costs, and the effect of the buyout fee, total savings are estimated at approximately $480,000.

    “The termination of this lease is another positive step in our ongoing cost reduction initiatives and reflects our efforts to centralize the Company’s operations in our current primary markets of Long Island, NY and Hawaii,” said Scott Maskin, Interim Chief Executive Officer. “We are authoring a new future for the Company, an important part of which is properly aligning our cost structure to help us deliver long-term value to our shareholders.”

    About Pineapple Energy

    Pineapple is focused on growing leading local and regional solar, storage, and energy services companies nationwide. Our vision is to power the energy transition through grass-roots growth of solar electricity paired with battery storage. Our portfolio of brands (SUNation, Hawaii Energy Connection, E-Gear) provide homeowners and businesses of all sizes with an end-to-end product offering spanning solar, battery storage, and grid services.

    Forward Looking Statements

    This press release includes certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on the Company’s current expectations or beliefs and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances, including the Company’s expectations regarding its ability to effect the reverse stock split and regain compliance with Nasdaq’s continued listing standards. While the Company believes its plans, intentions, and expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, these plans, intentions, or expectations may not be achieved. For information about the factors that could cause such differences, please refer to the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, the statements made under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and in subsequent filings. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, except as required by law.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    Our prospects here at Pineapple Energy Inc. are subject to uncertainties and risks. This news release (video statement) contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934. The Company intends that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbor provided by the foregoing Sections. These forward-looking statements are based largely on the expectations or forecasts of future events, can be affected by inaccurate assumptions, and are subject to various business risks and known and unknown uncertainties, a number of which are beyond the control of management. Therefore, actual results could differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this presentation. The Company cannot predict or determine after the fact what factors would cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements or other statements. The reader should consider statements that include the words “believes”, “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “estimates”, “plans”, “projects”, “should”, or other expressions that are predictions of or indicate future events or trends, to be uncertain and forward-looking. We caution readers not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional information respecting factors that could materially affect the Company and its operations are contained in the Company’s filings with the SEC which can be found on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

    Contacts:
    Scott Maskin
    Interim Chief Executive Officer
    +1 (631) 823-7131
    scott.maskin@pineappleenergy.com

    Pineapple Investor Relations
    +1 (952) 996-1674
    IR@pineappleenergy.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Global Commercial Drone Market Size Estimated at $30 Billion as Technological Advancements are Booming

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PALM BEACH, Fla., Oct. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FN Media Group News Commentary – Experts and investors see continued growth in the global commercial drone market size. The market growth is attributed to the increasing enterprise application of drones across various industry verticals. Several drone manufacturers are continually testing, inventing, and upgrading solutions for diverse markets used for various applications, including filming and emergency response. Besides, the integration of modern technologies in commercial drones to deliver enhanced solutions is opening new growth opportunities for the commercial drone market. According to a report from Grand View Research said that the global commercial drone market size, which was estimated at USD 30.02 billion in 2024 is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.6% from 2025 to 2030. The report said: “Technological advances allow companies to design and construct measurement and annotation tools for estimating area, volume, and distance. As a result, organizations are constantly adopting Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) solutions to retrieve accurate findings from large volumes of data. Integration of these modern technologies provides the industry with ample opportunities as they facilitate real-time, data-driven decision-making through high-speed data capture, processing, and transfer. AI-powered drones also allow users to interact and observe footage captured by other drones in real-time and track their flight paths.” Active Tech Companies in the markets today include ZenaTech, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZENA), AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc. (NYSE: UAVS), RTX Corporation (NYSE: RTX), Draganfly Inc. (NASDAQ: DPRO), Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: KTOS).

    Grand View Research continued: “The delivery & logistics segment is expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 14.3% from 2025 to 2030 with the expansion of the e-commerce sector across the globe. With the increased demand for quick delivery of goods, drones are being increasingly used in e-commerce warehouses for product warehousing and delivery. Warehouses worldwide are making significant investments to enhance the level of automation. In this regard, drones find an important usage in operations, such as barcode scanning, that require more person-hours. The U.S. commercial drone market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of above 8% from 2025 to 2030. The region is expected to witness steady growth considering the developments in UAV technology, favorable government initiatives, and growing demand from enterprises across industries. Furthermore, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued new regulations to facilitate more coherent and consistent standards for the legal and safe operation of UAVs in commercial spaces. These rules and regulations are anticipated to mitigate entry barriers and encourage product usage.”

    ZenaTech Inc.’s (NASDAQ: ZENA) ZenaDrone Team Begins US Flight Testing of ZenaDrone 1000 Drone in the Arizona Desert – ZenaTech, Inc. (“ZenaTech”), a technology company specializing in AI (Artificial Intelligence) drone solutions and enterprise SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) solutions, announced today that its subsidiary, ZenaDrone, has begun the first US flight testing of the ZenaDrone 1000 drone, including new hardware and software configurations, in the desert near Phoenix, Arizona. The company has also been concurrently working towards setting up offices, operations and partnerships in the state.

    “After years of development work and recently achieving US FAA approval, it is gratifying to be able to conduct live test flights and further build our company base in Arizona. This is the first of many test flights and demonstrations that will help us refine and build the reliability of the ZenaDrone 1000 solutions for agriculture, defense, security, land surveying and other applications where we see demand,” said CEO Shaun Passley, Ph.D. One of the company’s longstanding collaboration partners is the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA), the State of Arizona’s economic development organization.

    “We are thrilled that ZenaDrone has further grown and strengthened its Arizona presence by choosing Arizona as its base of U.S. operations. And we are now delighted that they have chosen Arizona’s skies to begin live testing of the ZenaDrone 1000 product. We look forward to continued work with ZenaDrone to grow their business in Arizona and throughout the world, including via participation at international trade shows and on international trade missions,” said Kevin O’Shea, Senior Vice President of International Trade for the ACA. Read the full press release and more for ZenaTech at: https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-zena/

    Additional Groundbreaking ZenaTech Inc. Developments include:

    ZenaTech recently announced that its subsidiary, ZenaDrone, has begun the first US trial of the IQ Nano product solution for inventory management, beginning with a multinational auto part and components customer. The drone will be reading the bar codes and collecting inventory information as part of a paid trial. The IQ Nano indoor drone is designed for customers with warehouse, logistics and distribution operations to help them save costs and improve productivity by managing various tasks such as taking inventory, turning a week-long activity into one day.

    “After two years of product development work, the initiation of the first IQ Nano drone trial inside a customer’s warehouse is an important milestone. We believe the technology will help innovate and improve their inventory management process. Further, receiving feedback from our first paying customer will be extremely valuable as we continue to fine tune our IQ series solutions, enabling us to expand our offerings with this and additional new customers,” said CEO Shaun Passley, Ph.D.

    ZenaTech also recently announced that its subsidiary, ZenaDrone, is launching its IQ Nano product, part of the IQ series of indoor/outdoor drones. The IQ Nano is designed for customers in sectors such as warehousing and logistics to save costs and improve productivity while performing indoor inspection, monitoring and tracking processes including inventory management.

    The ZenaDrone IQ Nano is a 10×10-inch drone designed to perform regular and frequent inspections for applications such as bar code or RFID scanning, facility maintenance inspections, security monitoring, and 3D mapping specific to the needs of companies with warehouse, distribution, plants and industrial facilities. It is designed for autonomous use featuring integrated sensors, high-quality cameras and data collection. Weighing 1.5kg and with a flight time of up to 20 minutes before utilizing the automatic battery charging station, it is designed for hovering stability and for safety with obstacle avoidance capabilities.

    And finally, ZenaTech recently announced that its subsidiary, ZenaDrone, has commenced aerial operations to launch commercial drone services in the US. This was made possible due to recently achieving Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) exemption approval.

    Other recent developments in the technology industry include:

    AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc. (NYSE: UAVS) recently announced the Company was selected to participate in the REPMUS 2024 Exercise co-hosted by NATO. Exercises and demonstrations took place September 9-27, 2024 in Troia, Portugal.

    REPMUS (Robotic Experimentation and Prototyping augmented by Maritime Unmanned Systems) is an annual Portuguese Navy (PN)-led, NATO co-hosted exercise, focusing on maritime unmanned system (MUS) capability development. The objective of REPMUS 2024 is to conduct large-scale operational experimentation. The exercise facilitated the engagement of operational communities with the industry and academia, integrating the latest commercial off-the-shelf systems for trials. It also focused on validating experimental tactics, upgraded vehicles, software updates, integrated payloads, and command and control on Maritime Unmanned Systems (MUS) to address key operational issues. The last REPMUS exercise, which took place in September 2023, was attended by more than 25 Navies, 8 NATO entities and more than 30 companies and universities dedicated to research and development in this area.

    Raytheon, an RTX Corporation (NYSE: RTX) business, recently announced that it has entered full-rate production for Standard Missile-3 Block IIA, validating the program’s design maturity amid increased demand for the product from the United States and allied partners. The SM-3 Block IIA production milestone cleared the way for a $1.9 billion award from the U.S. Missile Defense Agency in July 2024 to produce rounds for both the U.S. government and Japan Ministry of Defense.

    Full-rate production signals that there is no elevated design or manufacturing risk in the missile and validates its reliability and performance.  “SM-3 Block IIA is a testament to the continuing partnership with Japanese industry to mature ballistic missile defense capabilities for the defense of our nation and our allies around the globe,” said Barbara Borgonovi, president of Naval Power at Raytheon. “This milestone indicates that the team has achieved full maturity in the missile’s design which leads to greater efficiencies throughout the program.”

    Draganfly Inc. (NASDAQ: DPRO), an award-winning, industry-leading drone solutions and systems developer, recently announced updates to its Board of Directors and Advisory Board. Olen Aasen is stepping down from the Draganfly Board, and Kim Moody has been appointed as the new Audit Chair. Additionally, Draganfly is welcoming back Andy Card, former White House Chief of Staff, to the Advisory Board.

    Andy Card, who previously served on Draganfly’s Board of Directors, is rejoining the Company as a member of its Advisory Board, brings decades of leadership experience. He served as White House Chief of Staff under President George W. Bush from 2000 to 2006, managing the Executive Office of the President and shaping U.S. policy during critical moments, including the September 11th attacks. Andy’s career also includes roles as U.S. Secretary of Transportation and Vice President of Government Relations for General Motors.

    “We are thrilled to welcome Andy back to the Draganfly team in this advisory capacity,” commented Cameron Chell, Draganfly CEO. “His leadership experience and trusted counsel have been critical to the Company’s growth, and we look forward to his continued insights as we drive innovation and expand our presence in the UAV industry.”

    Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: KTOS) recently announced that it has recently received a new, sole source, approximate $45 million single award contract related to a new satellite system. Work under this new satellite system contract award will be performed at secure Kratos engineering, production and integration facilities. Due to customer related, competitive and other considerations, no additional information will be provided regarding the new contract award at this time.

    Phil Carrai, President of Kratos Satellite Business Unit, said, “The Kratos team is laser focused on rapidly developing and delivering leading technology products, software and systems to our National Security related customers in support of Mission Critical Space and Satellite system requirements. We are excited about this new space system program opportunity.”

    About FN Media Group:

    At FN Media Group, via our top-rated online news portal at http://www.financialnewsmedia.com, we are one of the very few select firms providing top tier one syndicated news distribution, targeted ticker tag press releases and stock market news coverage for today’s emerging companies. #tickertagpressreleases #pressreleases

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warren Celebrates Milestone of Over One Million Public Service Workers Receiving Student Debt Cancellation

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    October 17, 2024
    Public Service Loan Forgiveness program has canceled debt for more than 22,210 borrowers in Massachusetts
    Sen. Warren leads charge to deliver student debt relief for borrowers in Massachusetts and across the country
    Boston, MA — Today, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) celebrated new federal student debt relief, bringing the total number of Americans who have had their debt canceled under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program during the Biden-Harris Administration to a historic 1 million people and counting. The Biden-Harris Administration has canceled student loan debt for 22,210 borrowers in Massachusetts under PSLF. Senator Warren has led the charge to deliver student debt relief for a record number of people in Massachusetts and across the country, including by introducing bills to cancel debt and improve the PSLF program.
    “President Biden and Vice President Harris fixed this broken program. Thanks to this new relief, over one million public servants will have the weight of crushing student debt lifted off of their shoulders — when this same program delivered relief to only 7,000 workers before President Biden took office. We promised dedicated public servants that they wouldn’t be saddled by decades of debt, and we’re making good on that promise,” said Senator Warren. “I worked hard every day in office to fix this broken program, and now more than 20,000 Massachusetts public service workers are done with student debt forever.”
    “Before President Biden and Vice President Harris entered the White House, the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program was so riddled by dysfunction that just 7,000 Americans ever qualified and countless public servants were trapped making payments on debts that should have been forgiven,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “From Day One, the Biden-Harris administration made fixing this broken program a top priority, and today, I’m tremendously proud that over one million teachers, nurses, social workers, veterans, and other public servants have received lifechanging loan forgiveness. As Secretary of Education, I want to send a message to college students across America that pursuing a career in public service is not only a noble calling but a reliable pathway to becoming debt-free within a decade.”
    The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program supports public servants — including teachers, nurses, social workers, first responders, and servicemembers — by forgiving the remaining student loan balance for those who make the required 120 qualifying monthly payments. This relief includes both borrowers who benefitted from the Biden-Harris Administration’s limited PSLF waiver, a temporary opportunity that ended in October 2022, as well as from regulatory improvements made to the program during this Administration.
    Senator Warren has led the fight to reform our higher education system, cancel student loan debt, and hold student loan servicers accountable:
    In September 2024, Senators Warren (D-Mass.) and Merkley (D-Ore.) released a new report examining the impact of the Biden-Harris administration’s new Higher Education Act rule, finding that low- and middle-income borrowers, seniors, women, and Black borrowers will receive enormous benefits from the new rule.
    In August 2024, Senator Warren joined Senators Jeff Merkley, Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) to launch an investigation into the reported mishandling of student loan transfers by MOHELA, Nelnet and credit reporting agencies.
    In August 2024, Senator Warren (D-Mass.) and Representative Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.) led over 30 lawmakers in a letter urging student loan servicer Navient to reform its flawed process to cancel the private student loans of borrowers who attended fraudulent, for-profit colleges.
    In July 2024, Senators Warren, Ron Wyden, Chris Van Hollen, and Bernie Sanders, sent a letter to Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, cautioning the Department of Education on Federal Student Aid’s transition to the Unified Servicing and Data Solution system.
    In July 2024, Senators Warren, Schumer, and Sanders released a joint statement on the American Federation of Teachers’ lawsuit against MOHELA for allegedly overcharging and misleading student loan borrowers.
    In May 2024, Senators Warren and King led their colleagues in a letter to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, urging them to provide guidance and communication to borrowers as the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program transfers from MOHELA to the Department of Education. 
    In May 2024, Senator Warren led a growing coalition of senators in urging the Department of Education to hold student loan servicer MOHELA accountable for its failures.
    In May 2024, Senator Warren and 24 members of the U.S. Senate sent a letter to Senator Tammy Baldwin, Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, and Senator Shelley Moore Capito, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee, encouraging them to provide $2.7 billion in funding to the Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) in fiscal year (FY) 2025.
    In May 2024, Senators Warren, Carper, Kaine, and Representative Don Davis (D-N.C.) called on the Department of Defense (DoD) to release data on the Postsecondary Education Complaint System (PECS), a centralized database to track complaints against schools who participate in the Tuition Assistance (TA) and My Career Advancement Account Scholarship (MyCAA) program.
    In April 2024, Senator Warren led eight of her colleagues in sending a letter to David L. Yowan, President and Chief Executive Officer of student loan servicer Navient, urging the servicer to cancel decades-old private student loans pushed onto borrowers attending fraudulent, for-profit colleges.
    In April 2024, Senators Warren, Blumenthal, Markey, and Van Hollen released a new report: Servicing Scandals: Student Loan Servicers’ Failures During Return to Repayment, which reveals a decades-long pattern of student loan servicer incompetence and misconduct that has affected millions of borrowers nationwide.
    In April 2024, Senator Elizabeth Warren led a hearing on student loan servicer Higher Education Loan Authority of the State of Missouri (MOHELA) and its failures during borrowers’ return to repayment, including MOHELA’s mismanagement of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. 
    In March 2024, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, along with U.S. Representatives Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.), and John Larson (D-Conn.), led their colleagues in calling on the Social Security Administration (SSA), the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury), and the U.S. Department of Education to end the practice of offsetting Social Security benefits to pay off defaulted student loans. 
    In February 2024, Senator Warren, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) released a statement calling for an investigation into student loan mismanagement by MOHELA.
    In January 2024, Senators Warren, Schumer, Sanders, Senator Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), and Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), along with Representative Ayanna Pressley, Assistant Democratic Leader Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), Representative Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.), and Representative Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), led their colleagues in calling on the Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona to host a fourth session of the student debt negotiated rulemaking to consider relief for borrowers experiencing financial hardship.
    In December 2023, U.S. Senators Warren, Richard Blumenthal, Ed Markey,, and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) sent follow-up letters to student loan servicers – MOHELA, EdFinancial, Nelnet, and Maximus – raising concerns about borrowers’ problems with return to repayment, requesting information about the borrower experience, and pushing back on the servicers’ claim that budget shortfalls limit their ability provide quality customer service to millions of borrowers.
    In December 2023, Senators Warren, Schumer, Sanders, Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Representatives Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), and Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.) sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, urging him to leverage his existing and full authority under the Higher Education Act to provide expanded student debt relief to working and middle-class borrowers.
    In August 2023, Senator Warren, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senators Alex Padilla and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) and U.S. Representatives Ilhan Omar, Jim Clyburn, and Frederica Wilson led 79 other lawmakers in a letter to President Joe Biden, urging him to swiftly deliver on his promise to deliver student debt cancellation to working and middle class families by early 2024.
    In October 2022, Senator Warren and Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) visited communities across Massachusetts to celebrate the Biden administration’s student debt cancellation plan and help residents sign up for student loan relief. 
    In October 2022, Senator Warren called on the Department of Education to hold for-profit colleges executives accountable for scamming students out of a quality education and loading them up with student debt.
    In March 2022, Senator Warren, along with Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Senator Brown and Representatives Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) and Mark Takano (D-Calif.), urged Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona to swiftly discharge the loans of borrowers defrauded by predatory for-profit colleges and universities, including those operated by Corinthian College. 
    In January 2022, Senator Warren, along with Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Representatives Jayapal, Pressley, Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), and Katie Porter (D-Calif.) led more than 80 colleagues in a bicameral letter to the Department of Education calling for it to release the memo outlining the Biden administration’s legal authority to cancel federal student loan debt and immediately cancel up to $50,000 of debt for Federal student loan borrowers.
    In October 2021, Senator Warren, along with Senator Markey and Representative Pressley, released a report that detailed the ongoing failures of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program for public servants in Massachusetts. 
    In April 2021, Senators Warren and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) led a group of colleagues in a letter to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona urging the Department of Education to take swift action to automatically remove all federally-held student loan borrowers from default.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Beijing reports reduced water use relative to GDP since 2013: ministry

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

    BEIJING, Oct. 17 — Beijing has seen a significant reduction in water use relative to GDP generated by the city over the past decade, the Ministry of Water Resources said Thursday.

    Water use per 10,000 yuan (1,404 U.S. dollars) of GDP generated in Beijing dropped 32.6 percent since 2013 to 9.3 cubic meters in 2023, vice minister of water resources Wang Bao’en told a press conference.

    The consumption of recycled water reached 1.28 billion cubic meters last year, accounting for 31.4 percent of the city’s total water use, said Wang.

    The achievements were made due to Beijing’s continuous efforts to restore the glamour of its rivers and lakes under the guidance of the ministry, which has released a guideline and an action plan on reviving the eco-environment of rivers and lakes nationwide, according to the vice minister.

    The Chinese capital has channeled water to replenish its major rivers since 2018, with 10.42 billion cubic meters of water delivered to the city’s rivers and lakes, official data shows.

    Meanwhile, with continuous efforts to curb groundwater overexploitation, Beijing’s groundwater resources have been recovering since 2015.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: U.S., UAE Forces Begin Exercise Iron Defender in Arabian Gulf

    Source: United States Navy

    The combined bilateral exercise is designed to broaden levels of cooperation, support long term regional security, and enhance interoperability. Scenarios included: visit, board, search and seizure, unmanned system integration, harbor defense, diving, medical training, and training at sea.

    This is one of many exercises in which the U.S. military participates with partner nations in the Middle East intended to enhance partnerships and interoperability.

    The U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations encompasses nearly 2.5 million square miles of water area and includes the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea, parts of the Indian Ocean and three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, Suez Canal and Bab al-Mandeb.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: SURFLANT Ships Participate in Historic Sleep Study

    Source: United States Navy

    Sleep is critically important to the overall health and wellness of Sailors. In 2017, based in part on extensive research from the Naval Postgraduate School’s (NPS) Crew Endurance Team, the Surface Navy mandated the use of circadian-based watch rotations. To monitor the success of such policy changes, researchers are using wearable technologies and self-report questionnaires to collect data on the sleep and mental health of Sailors. One such effort currently underway by the NPS team shows great progress in this area.

    For the first time, crew members of three warships assigned to the same Carrier Strike Group are participating in a one- to two-year longitudinal study to examine the sleep habits, health, and wellness both while deployed and in port. Outfitted with nearly 100 Oura rings per crew, the three warships assigned to the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group will deploy to the 5th and 6th Fleet areas, likely participating in combat operations as they relieve the USS Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group on station. “We have already learned a lot about resilience from the IKESG ships, but having wearable monitors on a large percentage of the crews will take it to the next level” said Dr. John Cordle, Human Factors Engineer for Commander Naval Surface Force Atlantic. “We are excited to participate in this important study,” said Commander Mathew Rechkemmer, Commanding Officer of USS The Sullivans (DDG 68). “Our Sailors lined up to volunteer, exceeding the goal of 75 by leaps and bounds!” In addition to the warships headed out on deployment, the NPS team also enrolled nearly 100 Sailors on USS James E. Williams (DDG 95), currently in a 2-year midlife maintenance availability. “Sleep is critically important to both Sailor well-being and operational readiness, and the shipyard environment can be especially challenging,” said Dr. Chris McClernon, a senior researcher for the study. “This is the first time to collect data on a crew executing import maintenance duties over such a long period of time; we will be able to compare the results to their counterparts executing strike group missions downrange – the results will have a lasting impact.”

    “We are serious about this commitment to better sleep,” said Admiral Joe Cahill, the Commander of Naval Surface Forces Atlantic, “This is the future, with the ability for the Commanding Officer to make data-informed decisions about the readiness of their crew in real time.” It is also about personal responsibility, noted Cahill. “This is leadership saying we care about you, and we want to provide tools to improve your personal performance and well-being”. Cahill praised all four crews for the level of participation. “The team made this happen in the space of four months from me asking if it can be done.” Sailors on the four warships will wear Õura rings, receive sleep enhancement kits as part of a separate effort to help Sailors with eye masks, ear plugs, and a Sleep Hygiene card with tips for healthy sleep, and answer periodic questionnaires on their watch and work schedules. In addition to The Sullivans and USS James E. Williams, the USS Stout and USS Jason Dunham and about 30 members of the Destroyer Squadron Twenty Eight staff are also participating in the longitudinal study. This study is part of a much larger longitudinal study funded by the Defense Suicide Prevention Office (DSPO) that is tracking the sleep and mental health of over 1,000 active duty service members. The results will inform future research and policy concerning sleep, fatigue, and mental health.

    “The study was designed by Dr. Nita Shattuck, a professor of Operations Research at the Naval Postgraduate School, who has been leading this foundational research for decades. Her work has enabled effective policy changes in crew rest and operations across the Department of the Navy. It was fitting that in this major study involving an entire Carrier Strike Group, the study builds on Dr. Shattuck’s work, adding to her team’s legacy of fleet impact and crew safety,” said Dr. Cordle, “Their work over the years has changed the way the Navy stands watch at sea and is beyond measure.”

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI China: Nearly 70 pct of autumn grains harvested in China

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

    BEIJING, Oct. 17 — The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said Thursday that 69.5 percent of the autumn grain harvest had been reaped across China, 2 percentage points faster than that of the previous year.

    Over 70 percent of corn, more than 69 percent of the middle-season rice, and around 83 percent of soybeans have been reaped so far, said the ministry.

    At the same time, autumn sowing has been steadily advanced. Over 27 percent of winter wheat and over 42 percent of winter rape have been sown across the country.

    More efforts should be made to support the autumn harvest as well as a bumper harvest for whole year, and consolidate the foundation of grain and oil production next summer, according to the ministry. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: NAS Pensacola CO Signs Proclamation for Domestic Violence Awareness Month

    Source: United States Navy

    The signing took place to bring attention to the resources available to military families impacted by domestic violence and to show solidarity with survivors of domestic abuse and continue a culture where they can feel safe seeking help.

    “Domestic violence impacts not only the victims directly involved, but also undermines unit cohesion, morale and overall operational readiness,” said Shashaty. “By addressing domestic violence proactively, we strengthen our teams and enhance the resilience of our service members.”

    The event, hosted in collaboration with the NAS Pensacola Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC), aimed to raise awareness and provide support for survivors of domestic violence. FFSC representatives emphasized the importance of addressing domestic violence within the military and offering the necessary services to prevent and respond to incidents.

    “It’s vital that we break the silence around domestic violence and offer resources to those affected,” said FFSC Family Advocate Program Victim Advocate Brittany Oehrle. “Knowing the signs of domestic violence is key and speaking up against it is what we need to do to create safe and healthy spaces for people to come forward.”

    Emergency resources are available for military personnel and their families who experience domestic violence. The National Domestic Violence Hotline provides 24/7 confidential support at 1-800-799-7233. Active-duty service members, their families and reservists on active duty can also access assistance through the Fleet and Family Support Center and the DoD Safe Helpline at 877-995-5247.

    NAS Pensacola, referred to as the ‘Cradle of Naval Aviation,’ is designed to support operational and training missions of tenant commands, including the Naval Aviation Technical Training Center, Naval Aviation Schools Command, the Center for Information Warfare Training, Marine Aviation Training Support Groups 21 and 23 and serves as the headquarters for Naval Education and Training Command.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Subdivided units’ renaming necessary

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    (To watch the full press conference with sign language interpretation, click here.)

    Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong said that it is necessary to rename compliant subdivided units (SDUs) as Basic Housing Units (BHUs) to highlight the compliance.

    Mr Wong, who heads the Task Force on Tackling the Issue of Subdivided Units, made the statement today during a press conference to elaborate on key initiatives in the Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address.

    A new housing policy, which seeks to categorise SDUs that meet required standards as BHUs, has been proposed in the Policy Address unveiled yesterday. SDUs that meet the required standards will be named BHUs, and owners of substandard SDUs that are upgraded to meet these standards can apply for BHU recognition.

    Mr Wong noted that it is never the Government’s intention to try to resolve housing issues just by coining another name for the SDUs, but renaming such units is a necessary step.

    He explained that under the new policy, the meaning of SDUs will become unclear because while there will be SDUs that have complied with the new requirements, some other incompliant SDUs may still exist in the meantime.

    “Basic Housing Units is very clear – they are all in compliance with the applicable requirements.”

    Separately, Mr Wong said it is unlikely that the new housing policy will lead to a drastic drop in the supply of subdivided flats.

    “Our survey has shown that about 70% of the currently existing SDUs will be able to comply with our requirements with minimal alterations, if any.”

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI China: World’s smallest dinosaur egg fossils discovered in China

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Chinese researchers have discovered a new type of dinosaur egg fossils in east China’s Jiangxi Province, with one measuring just 29 mm in length, the smallest ever found globally.
    Following a three-year study, the team comprising researchers from the Jiangxi Geological Survey and Exploration Institute (JGSEI), China University of Geosciences (Wuhan) and the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences confirmed the six egg fossils dating back to the Late Cretaceous period, over 80 million years ago, as dinosaur eggs.
    The relatively complete, irregularly arranged egg fossils were found in a well-preserved nest at a construction site in Meilin Township in Ganxian District in the city of Ganzhou in 2021.
    Using scanning electron microscopy and electron backscatter diffraction, the team of researchers analyzed the microstructure of the eggshells, and determined that their morphology and microstructure suggest they belong to a non-avian theropod, said Lou Fasheng, chief engineer at the JGSEI.
    The most complete egg has a maximum length of only 29 mm, setting a new record for the smallest dinosaur egg fossil, Lou said. The previously known smallest dinosaur egg fossil was found in China’s Zhejiang Province, measuring approximately 45.5 mm X 40.4 mm X 34.4 mm in dimensions.
    This latest discovery expands the diversity of dinosaur eggs from the Late Cretaceous and offers valuable insights into the evolution of theropods during that period, according to Lou.
    The findings were published online on Monday in the journal Historical Biology.
    Lou said the research team will use micro-CT scanning to reconstruct the burial state of the egg fossils, study their formation process and further pinpoint the dinosaur type that laid these eggs as well as the reproductive methods of the species.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese scientists develop technology for sustainable production of industrial chemicals

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Chinese scientists have developed a technology for sustainable production of bio-based ethylene glycol (EG), an important bulk energy chemical, with a production capacity of 1,000 tonnes annually, marking a significant step in the green transformation of China’s chemical industry chain.
    This breakthrough will also support China’s sustainable economic development and the realization of the nation’s “dual carbon” goal, which refers to peaking its carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060, according to Zheng Mingyuan, a researcher with the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
    A research team from DICP and SinoSci Bio-EG (Zhengzhou) New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. successfully completed pilot testing of the biomass-to-bio-EG catalytic conversion technology at a scale of 1,000 tonnes annually, which passed evaluation by the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation on Thursday.
    EG, mainly used in the synthesis of polyester fibers, polyester bottles, antifreeze, coatings and pharmaceuticals, has an annual global consumption of over 30 million tonnes. China is a major producer and consumer of EG, with an annual consumption exceeding 20 million tonnes.
    However, EG is primarily produced from petroleum or coal, which has disadvantages such as reliance on non-renewable resources, high carbon dioxide emissions, and high energy consumption. Therefore, the development of green and efficient EG production technologies is urgently needed, Zheng noted.
    In 2008, the research team led by Zhang Tao, an academician at the CAS, pioneered the direct catalytic conversion of cellulose into EG at DICP, establishing a novel pathway for producing bio-based EG.
    In the subsequent years, the team conducted systematic research focusing on fundamental understanding and industrial applications. They achieved significant progress in developing low-cost catalysts, investigating reaction mechanisms, converting raw materials and creating high-efficiency reaction systems.
    In 2022, the team of researchers, in collaboration with SinoSci Bio-EG and other partners, built the world’s first pilot facility for 1,000-tonne bio-EG production through catalysis in Puyang in central China’s Henan Province. The team later carried out technological improvements for the project.
    Zheng explained that the pilot facility employs the biomass feedstock of sugars derived from starch and corn stalks to produce EG through a highly selective catalytic reaction system, combined with an efficient product separation process. The entire process follows a green, low-carbon route.
    With over 40 authorized invention patents, this technology boasts a comprehensive portfolio of independent intellectual property rights, according to Zheng.
    The pilot operation has laid the foundation for the industrial application of the technology at a scale of 10,000 tonnes annually, Zheng said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Beijing issues blue alert for cold wave

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Beijing released a blue alert for cold wave on Thursday afternoon as the city is expected to embrace a cold wave from Friday to Sunday, with the lowest temperature dropping by over 10 degrees Celsius, according to the municipal meteorological service.
    Zhai Liang, chief forecaster of the municipal meteorological service, said that due to the influence of cold air, Beijing will experience rain, strong winds and significant temperature drops from Thursday to Sunday. The city’s mountainous areas with high altitude are likely to see sleet.
    Starting from Friday night, temperatures in Beijing will decrease by 8 to 10 degrees Celsius. It is forecast that on Sunday, the maximum temperature during the daytime will fall to around 10 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature at night will drop to about 3 degrees Celsius, and in mountainous areas, the minimum temperature will fall below 0 degree Celsius.
    The city’s temperatures will rise slowly starting from Oct. 21, Zhai added.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Beijing’s 12345 hotline: Helping citizens and businesses

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    The Beijing 12345 Citizen Hotline Service Center, Oct.11, 2024. [Photo by Liao Jiaxin/China.org.cn]
    On Oct. 11, the Beijing 12345 Citizen Hotline Service Center was buzzing with energy. The rhythmic tapping of keyboards echoed through the room, as hundreds of operators were focused on addressing callers’ concerns and crafting tailored solutions for a wide range of needs.
    Each operator works with a “dual-screen” setup: one screen displaying the call management system, the other featuring a knowledge base search interface. “The knowledge base now contains tens of thousands of policies covering all aspects of daily life,” operator Yang Junyao explained.

    The dual-screen setup for operators in the Beijing 12345 Citizen Hotline Service Center, Oct.11, 2024. [Photo by Liao Jiaxin/China.org.cn]
    The center is equipped with a sophisticated real-time data analytics system, presented on a large screen that visually highlights the most common issues reported by the public. Official data reveals that over the past five years, the hotline has processed over 140 million inquiries from citizens and businesses, with a resolution rate of 96.5% and a satisfaction rate of 96.9%.
    In 2019, multiple departmental hotlines in Beijing were streamlined into the unified 12345 service hotline, significantly enhancing the city’s ability to respond swiftly and effectively to the concerns of both citizens and businesses. This initiative is part of a broader effort to refine Beijing’s urban management system in response to the city’s rapid socioeconomic development, incorporating advanced urban management and emergency service practices from around the world.

    A screen presents real-time analytics data at the Beijing 12345 Citizen Hotline Service Center, Oct.11, 2024. [Photo by Liao Jiaxin/China.org.cn]
    Liu Huan, a hotline supervisor with a decade of experience, has observed a shift in the types of issues being reported. “In the past, most calls were about individual problems like power outages or leaks. Nowadays, people also bring up public concerns, such as the need for timely garbage removal in residential compounds,” she said. This shift reflects the growing public expectations for higher standards in urban management and governance.
    Moreover, the 12345 hotline offers streamlined and specialized support services for businesses, such as one-touch direct calling and professional online consultations.
    To enhance its international service capabilities, the hotline began offering support in eight languages in 2008, meeting the diverse needs of the community and better assisting foreign residents, according to Yang.
    The Beijing 12345 service hotline has become a vital conduit for efficient communication between citizens, businesses and the government. The saying, “When in doubt, call 12345 — it works!” has become a common expression among Beijing’s residents, cementing the hotline’s status as a prestigious emblem of the city.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: ATF Arrests Armed Robbery Crew After Attempting to Rob Temecula Pharmacy and Fleeing from Law Enforcement

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

    TEMECULA, Ca. – ATF arrested several multi-times convicted felons and a Menifee woman earlier this week while attempting an armed robbery following a six-week southern California armed robbery spree.

    Aaron Carter, 39, of Fontana, Calif., Diamond Lucious, 25, of Victorville, Calif., Isaac Penaldoza, 35, of San Bernardino, Calif., and Kamaria Kendrick, 25, of Menifee, Calif., are charged federally with attempted interference with commerce by robbery. The defendants are expected to make their initial court appearances this afternoon in Santa Ana.

    Carter is a multi-convicted felon who was on post release community supervision and was wearing an ankle monitor at the time of arrest – having been recently released from a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) facility. Lucious, a multi- convicted felon, was on federal probation after being released from federal prison for assault with a deadly weapon, while also on CDCR parole for assault with a deadly weapon. Penaldoza, a multi-convicted felon, was also on post release community supervision for firearm violations.

    Since August, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Orange County Violent Crime Task Force (OCVCTF) has been investigating a series of armed robberies of pharmacies across Southern California.

    The pharmacy robberies included Delight Pharmacy Robbery, 21230 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills, Calif. on Aug. after 28, 2024; Apollo Pharmacy Robbery, 29645 Rancho California Road, Temecula, on Sept. 13, 2024; Mariners Pharmacy Robbery, 320 Superior Ave., #120, Newport Beach, Calif., on Sept. 25, 2024; and Fullerton Express Pharmacy, 105 W. Bastanchury Road, Unit #D, Fullerton, Calif. on Sept. 30, 2024.

    The task force reviewed local police reports related to the pharmacy robberies, surveillance footage, conducted follow up surveillance, and collaborated with other involved law enforcement investigators to identify suspects believed to be responsible for the robberies. The similarities of the robberies included three male suspects entering the businesses wearing hooded sweatshirts and face masks. Two of the suspects were always armed with handguns and would force employees to the ground. The third suspect would grab a trash can from inside the business and put the stolen medications inside. The two suspects, armed with handguns, would steal cash from the registers and violently drag employees around the store, according to the federal affidavit.

    On Monday at about 4 p.m., OCVCTF was conducting surveillance when they observed an attempted armed robbery occurring at Apollo Pharmacy, 29645 Rancho California Road, Temecula.

    Kendrick was observed wearing a medical mask and hat scouting the Apollo Pharmacy by walking around the pharmacy building while on her phone and then driving around the building several times.

    Carter, Lucious, and Penaldoza entered the pharmacy wearing hooded clothing, gloves, and masks while Kendrick waited in the vehicle. All three were observed by ATF running back to the vehicle to flee. The task force attempted to arrest the suspects when Kendrick tried to evade them and struck one of the unmarked law enforcement vehicles. While OCVCTF personnel immobilized the getaway vehicle, a 9 mm pistol was thrown from the car. All four were arrested at the scene without further incident.

    According to the federal affidavit, three of the four arrested had lengthy criminal histories. Carter was first arrested in 2003 for weapons violations. Since then, he has had multiple felony convictions for robbery, burglary and felon in possession of a firearm. Carter was also arrested in Los Angeles County in September, for felony evasion from police while armed with a pistol. At the end of the pursuit, Carter barricaded himself in the vehicle for more than an hour before surrendering to law enforcement. Carter was booked into the Los Angeles County jail where he was released on bail after nine days. The following day, the Newport Beach pharmacy robbery occurred.

    Lucious was released from federal prison a year ago. Lucious was first arrested in 2014, and since has been convicted of carjacking, assault with a deadly weapon, and various firearms offenses.

    Penaldoza was first arrested in 1999. Since then, he has been convicted of sales of narcotics, felon in possession of a firearm, and participating in a criminal street gang.

    The ATF OCVCTF was formed to investigate violent crime, with a focus on serial robberies throughout Southern California. The ATF-led task force is comprised of personnel from the Brea Police Department, the Fullerton Police Department, the Santa Ana Police Department and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

    Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin J. Butler and Jena A. MacCabe, of the Central District of California, the Violent and Organized Crime Section, are prosecuting this case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Osceola Man Sentenced to 84 Months in Prison

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

    SOUTH BEND – Randolph Ramey, 33 years old, of Osceola, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.

    Ramey was sentenced to 84 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.

    According to documents in the case, in August 2023, Ramey broke into a business in Mishawaka and was detained while inside. When police arrived and arrested Ramey, they recovered a loaded 9mm firearm from his pocket along with several knives, a rope, bolt cutters, a lock pick kit, and a second loaded magazine for the firearm. Ramey had previously been convicted of a felony offense, and as such, was prohibited from possessing the firearm or ammunition in this case.

    This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Mishawaka Police Department, the South Bend Police Department, and the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lydia T. Lucius.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI China: 15 jailed for building collapse in central China

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    A total of 15 people were sentenced to prison in central China’s Hunan Province on Thursday for their roles in a deadly building collapse that claimed 54 lives in 2022.
    The defendants, including the owner of the illegally built and extended building and officials who were found of dereliction of duty, received jail terms ranging from two years and nine months to 12 years, according to their first-instance verdicts by local courts.
    The incident occurred in Wangcheng District in the provincial capital of Changsha on April 29, 2022, leaving 54 dead and nine wounded. The State Council set up an investigation team to look into the incident shortly after it occurred.
    Wu Zhiyong, the owner of the building, was sentenced to 11 years in prison for negligence leading to the incident. He had hired unqualified construction workers to illegally construct and extend the building, which he then leased as an accommodation and catering venue, according to the verdict.
    Despite clear signs of the building’s imminent collapse, Wu failed to organize emergency evacuations, resulting in heavy casualties. He was also convicted of conspiring with others to repeatedly destroy other people’s property, the verdict showed.
    Zhou Zhengmao, former deputy head of Wangcheng District, was handed a jail term of 12 years for dereliction of duty and accepting bribes.
    Others convicted include inspectors from urban management and market regulation departments, as well as shareholders and testing personnel from a company that issued fake documents for the building project.
    The company, Hunan Xiangda Engineering Testing Co., Ltd., was fined 1 million yuan (about $140,400).
    Lawmakers, political advisors and relatives of the victims and defendants attended the sentencing.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Check Your Voting Status, IAM!

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    We’re less than three weeks away from Election Day!

    Now is the time to make sure you’re ready to cast your vote this November and connect with your friends, family, IAM siblings and neighbors to ensure they are prepared to participate in the democratic process. 

    Check your voting status today!

    Knowing your status is an important step in making your voice heard in local and national elections. You can find more information about your state’s voting laws and deadlines through Ballot Ready.

    And don’t forget, early voting has already started in some states. Click here to find the early voting schedule in your state.

    Let’s make sure we’re well prepared this election cycle to cast our votes!

    Share and Follow:

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Stratford — Stratford RCMP urges public to secure vehicles to prevent theft

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Stratford RCMP have received reports of thefts from vehicles in recent days, all happening within town limits.

    On October 12th, 2024, at approximately 3:50 p.m. a Stratford resident reported valuables stolen from their vehicle parked on Ducks Landing. Stratford RCMP attended and observed parts of the steering column had also been damaged. On October 15th, 2024, at approximately 8:17 a.m. Stratford RCMP were contacted again, by another resident, who discovered their vehicle was broken into on Harland View Drive. Stratford RCMP learned that tools were stolen from the vehicle. Stratford RCMP make routine patrols in an effort to deter property crime; however, PEI RCMP wish to remind residents to avoid leaving valuables in plain sight, and ask that vehicles are secured as best as possible.

    “Property crime impacts a victim’s sense of security and can create financial hardship when people have to replace items,” says Acting Media Relations Officer Cst. Kevin Mackay. “We encourage residents to report any suspicious activity to your local police, and in some instances this may be a requirement of any insurance claims,” adds Cst. Mackay.

    If you have information about crimes in your community please contact your local police or call anonymously to Crime Stoppers 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Big changes underway for multi-use Cape Breton facility

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Government of Canada support for upgrades to Canada Games Complex will increase usage, attract premiere events

    October 17, 2024 · Sydney, Nova Scotia · Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)

    Atlantic Canadian communities flourish when they have vibrant, welcoming public spaces and infrastructure that benefit visitors and residents alike. The Government of Canada is investing to help upgrade and modernize an important community venue in Cape Breton.

    Creation of convention space  

    Today, Mike Kelloway, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard and Member of Parliament for Cape Breton–Canso, announced a non-repayable contribution of $1,500,000 to Cape Breton University (CBU) to revitalize the Canada Games Complex. The announcement was made on behalf of the Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for ACOA.

    This investment will help CBU purchase equipment to establish a multi-functional event and conference space, including electric vehicle chargers; audiovisual, digital and sound equipment; stage lighting; floor covering; mobile television screen units; and catering equipment for serving large events. Theupgrades will help the Canada Games Complex attract more national and international events, including academic conferences, bringing in more year-round visitors and boosting the regional economy.

    This announcement further demonstrates the Government of Canada’s commitment to help communities seize new and exciting economic opportunities. 

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper Leads 124 Members of Congress in Letter Urging Preservation of Governors’ National Guard Authority

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Colorado John Hickenlooper
    Letter encourages the inclusion of language amending the proposal to shift Air National Guard personnel to the Space Force in upcoming defense budget
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper led 86 representatives and 38 senators, including Senator Michael Bennet and Representatives Jason Crow, Yadira Caraveo, Diana DeGette, Doug Lamborn, Greg Lopez, Brittany Pettersen, Joe Neguse, and Joe Wilson, in a bipartisan letter urging the House and Senate Armed Services Committees to adopt language in the fiscal year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would preserve the authority of governors to oversee National Guard forces within their states. 
    “Should Congress strip governors of the ability to manage National Guard units within their states, it would risk fundamentally altering the Guard’s mission and identity, as well as set a concerning precedent whose impacts may be broader than anticipated,” wrote the lawmakers.
    Title 32 of U.S. Code gives governors authority over National Guard personnel in their states. Legislative Proposal 480 (LP 480) would move Air National Guard units with space missions into the U.S. Space Force without obtaining a governor’s consent prior to the transfer. The House NDAA, however, included amendment language that would allow this transfer only if the governor signs off,  protecting the Guard’s Title 32 mission and maintaining over a century of precedent.
    For 120 years, National Guard forces have served under governors’ command in all 50 states and territories. These service members fulfill important functions in the national defense, as well as Title 32 missions in their communities. The U.S. Air Force proposal disregards this longstanding tradition of the National Guard, as well as the choice by members of the Guard to serve in the branch and state of their choosing. 
    National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS) and Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States (EANGUS) oppose LP 480, as do all 55 of the nation’s state and territorial governors, including Colorado Governor Jared Polis. Hickenlooper, Bennet, Crow, Polis, Colorado Lieutenant Governor Dianne Primavera, and Major General Laura Clellan of the Colorado National Guard joined in support of the National Governors Association Council of Governors calling on the Department of Defense to retract LP 480.
    Today’s letter comes after Hickenlooper led a letter with 85 other members of Congress opposing the inclusion of LP 480 in the NDAA and joined in support of the National Governors Association Council of Governors calling on the Department of Defense to retract LP 480. He also led 31 of his colleagues in submitting an amendment to the NDAA to permit the transfer only with gubernatorial approval. However, the amendment was not included in the final package for the Senate bill and did not have the opportunity for floor consideration.
    Colorado is home to a robust Space Force presence and the most National Guard members performing space missions of any state.
    The letter can be found HERE, or below:
    Dear Chairman Reed, Ranking Member Wicker, Chairman Rogers, and Ranking Member Smith,
    As you begin conference negotiations for the FY2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), we urge you to retain the House-passed language regarding the U.S. Air Force’s Legislative Proposal 480 (LP 480) in the final bill. This straightforward and commonsense amendment preserves the statutory authority of governors to oversee National Guard forces under Title 32, while permitting the one-time personnel transfer that the U.S. Air Force requested.
    LP 480 seeks to transfer National Guard members performing space missions into the U.S. Space Force without gubernatorial approval. Such a change would undermine Sections 104 of Title 32 and 18238 of Title 10, which ensure that adjustments to the structure, organization, or mission of National Guard units have the consent of the state’s governor. For over a century, this authority has helped the National Guard fulfill the role of a flexible fighting force, able to respond swiftly to both domestic emergencies and national security needs. Should Congress strip governors of the ability to manage National Guard units within their states, it would risk fundamentally altering the Guard’s mission and identity, as well as set a concerning precedent whose impacts may be broader than anticipated.
    We recognize the urgency of the future threats facing our national security, and we support the Department of the Air Force’s efforts to prepare. We also believe that the desired end can be achieved through dialogue with affected states, without undermining the foundational principles that have guided the National Guard for over a century. This goal is shared by all 55 governors, who voiced their opposition to LP 480 in April letters to Secretary Austin. As this year’s NDAA process did not allow for amendment floor votes in the Senate, a companion measure with 32 bipartisan cosponsors was not able to be considered before the full chamber. To that end, we strongly urge the Senate and House Armed Services Committees to preserve the House-passed protections for governor oversight in the FY2025 NDAA.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –