NewzIntel.com

Category: KB

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: SECNAV Del Toro As-Written Remarks at the Forum at Newport

    Source: United States Navy

    Introduction

    Good afternoon, everyone!

    It is wonderful to be back here again in beautiful Newport, Rhode Island and a privilege to address this group of future-focused leaders from Salve Regina University and the Naval War College.

    I truly appreciate Salve Regina University’s partnership and commitment to providing educational opportunities for our Navy and Marine Corps Officers.

    And I am honored to be a part of this important conference centered on an issue which affects us all, and critically affects the national security of our great Nation.

    To the faculty and staff of Salve Regina University and the Naval War College, distinguished guests and visitors: welcome, and thank you for joining us today.

    World Today

    As I am certain you are all well aware, we face existential threats and challenges in every corner of the globe.

    Across the Atlantic, Russia is well into the third year of its full-scale and illegal invasion of Ukraine.

    The United States proudly stands by the Ukrainian people as they fight for their freedom and sovereignty, and defend democracy for all free nations.

    To the South of Ukraine, in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, we are working alongside our NATO allies and Middle East partners to protect innocent, civilian mariners and commercial shipping against Iranian-aligned Houthi attacks.

    Immediately following the October 7th attacks in Israel, our Navy and Marine Corps Team—represented by the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group—was on station, the ready integrated force capable of responding to any threat.

    Today, our personnel onboard the Wasp ARG are on station in the Mediterranean Sea, while the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group and Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group are operating in the Middle East.

    In addition to our surface presence, USS Georgia (SSGN 729) provides a powerful deterrence message from below the ocean’s waves.

    And for the first time since World War II, we face a comprehensive maritime power in the Indo-Pacific.

    The People’s Republic of China continues to exert its excessive maritime claims through their navy, coast guard, and maritime militia.

    From the Line of Actual Control high in the Himalayas, to disputed reefs barely peeking above the waves in the South China Sea, recent actions reveal the PRC’s willingness to execute “gray-zone tactics”—types of assault which are below the threshold of armed attack but beyond normal diplomatic actions.

    And the PRC is observing lessons from the ongoing conflicts in Europe and the Red Sea.

    And so, now, more than ever, it is imperative that we have a climate-ready force able to deter aggression and function decisively in every environment so that, if necessary, we will prevail in conflict.

    Three Enduring Priorities

    When I entered office as Secretary of the Navy, I laid out Three Enduring Priorities which are the foundation for all we do in the Department of the Navy.

    They are:

    Strengthening Maritime Dominance,

    Building a Culture of Warfighting Excellence, and

    Enhancing Strategic Partnerships.

    My priority of Strengthening Maritime Dominance centers on ensuring our Sailors and Marines have the best ships, aircraft, and technology available, so that if we are called, we may fight and decisively win our Nation’s wars.

    And to maintain our warfighting edge, we cannot rely simply on maintaining our seapower.

    External threats continue to mount and change.

    To remain the world’s dominant maritime force, the Department of the Navy must rapidly adapt and effectively counter existential threats such as climate change.

    Today, climate change is one of the most destabilizing forces of our time, exacerbating national security concerns and posing serious readiness challenges for our Fleet and Force.

    There exist numerous tangible examples of the impact of climate change on Navy and Marine Corps operations all over the world.

    And the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events has only increased as time has passed. 

    At sea and on shore, changing climate and rising sea levels crucially affect the day-to-day life of our Sailors and Marines.

    Rising temperatures, too, stress and impact the systems within our buildings and installations, greatly decreasing their overall durability.

    Along both our Pacific and Atlantic Coasts, sorties—or, deploying our ships due to threat of extreme weather in port—have become more commonplace.

    And extreme weather events caused by climate change have displaced millions of people, creating climate refugees.

    Our maritime forces have witnessed a substantial rise in the number and scope of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions.

    Simply put, weather impacts normal Navy and Marine Corps operations.

    Weather impacts where our ships can sail, where our amphibious craft can land, and when we can conduct flight operations.

    However, while our world today faces increasingly unpredictable and devasting weather phenomenon, the Department of the Navy is strengthening our climate resilience and reducing our climate impacts to remain the world’s most powerful maritime force.

    Building a Climate-Ready Force

    Computer scientist pioneer, mathematician, visionary, and United States Rear Admiral Grace Hopper once said, “The most dangerous phrase in the language is, ‘We’ve always done it this way.’”

    I implore all of you to assume Admiral Hopper’s mindset when approaching the challenge of climate change.

    The Department of the Navy is actively adapting and innovating for the changing landscape of the world and indeed of warfare.

    We refuse stagnation and have set out ambitious climate goals through the Department of the Navy Climate Action 2030 strategy, in line with Executive Order 14008, Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad.

    To build a climate-ready force, we must meet two Performance Goals.

    The first goal is building climate resilience.

    We build climate resilience through installation resilience—by ensuring that our forces, systems, and facilities can continue to operate effectively and accomplish our mission in the face of changing climate conditions and worsening climate impacts.

    Many of our military bases, including our Navy’s largest, Naval Station Norfolk, are fighting a constant battle against rising sea levels, often flooding after even light rain.

    Less than two years ago, we broke ground on the first project to safeguard the Naval Academy from rising sea levels.

    And just last week, we held a ribbon-cutting to mark the end of our work on the Farragut Seawall project—the first of many projects to fortify and protect the institution from extreme weather events.

    Our goal, as outlined by our Naval Academy Installation Resiliency Plan, is for the institution to remain resilient through the 21st Century and beyond.

    We are also developing solutions to climate issues through the Center for Energy Security and Infrastructure Resilience, or “CESIR.”

    Established earlier this year, CESIR will equip our future Navy and Marine Corps Officers with the knowledge and skills to address complex climate challenges throughout their naval careers.

    What’s more, the Department of the Navy is investing in climate resiliency through our facilities, including the renovation of Bancroft Hall—the largest academic dormitory in the United States and home to the entire Brigade of forty-four hundred Midshipmen.

    Severe weather events have impacted the longevity of our buildings both inside and out, along with integral systems such as Bancroft Hall’s HVAC.

    Given the criticality of our facilities to the mission of the United States Navy and Marine Corps and in developing our future warfighters, we must continue to invest in maintenance and improvement of our infrastructure.

    And partnerships outside of the Department of the Navy are crucial to creating climate solutions.

    In 2022, the Naval Postgraduate School partnered with the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability to address the urgent challenges of climate change, energy security, and sustainability.

    Together, NPS and the Doerr School established an Education Partnership Agreement, combining the expertise of two globally recognized hubs of research and innovation to create practical solutions that our Navy and Nation can implement both now and in the future.

    And the Department of the Navy is preparing for extreme weather events through integrated tabletop exercises and training events.

    Two years ago, the Department of the Navy held our first Climate Action tabletop exercise at Marine Barracks Washington and have since held annual exercises dedicated to drive and share climate best practices.

    In June of this year, we conducted Climate Action III with our Caribbean partners in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

    This two-day event marked the third iteration in a series of exercises designed to validate our Climate Action 2030 strategy and highlight the value of partnerships to build shared resilience in a critical region.

    Our Department, together with the DOD, other federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, and our Caribbean partners, shared expertise and solutions to the destabilizing threats which know no borders.

    The second goal of our Climate Action strategy is reducing climate threat.

    This includes reducing greenhouse gas emissions and drawing greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere, stabilizing ecosystems, and achieving the Nation’s commitment to net-zero emissions.

    And throughout the country, the Department of the Navy is leading Department of Defense efforts in reducing climate threats.

    In 2022, Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany became an electrically “Net Zero” base, crucially becoming the first Department of Defense installation to attain this significant milestone.

    Achieving this “Net Zero” breakthrough not only combats climate change by alleviating energy security concerns, but it also improves the base’s overall resilience and saves taxpayer dollars.

    We cannot tackle the climate threat alone. The Department of the Navy has facilitated strategic partnerships to tackle energy resilience issues.

    Marine Corps Air Station Miramar partnered with the city of San Diego to use biogas generated from an on-base landfill as a renewable energy source.

    This initiative provided over three megawatts of energy to the installation, reducing reliance on the city’s electric grid by a whopping 45% and reducing overall emissions.

    The Department is also leveraging public and private innovation in the climate and energy resilience sectors through NavalX Tech Bridges and business accelerators.

    Tech Bridges attract small and medium businesses using innovation challenges, and recent challenges are supporting maritime supply chain and “blue tech” opportunities.

    These partnerships between the Department of the Navy and outside business foster innovation and encourage the development of new technologies for climate adaptation.

    To remain competitive in today’s age of conflict, we must leverage every advantage available to us—and that especially includes our partners in business and industry.

    Closing

    The future of climate resilience is here.

    We know the future impacts of climate change and it is both within our capabilities and incumbent upon us to act—and we have.

    Climate resilience is force resilience. We must look beyond normal operations and approach solutions to climate change through the lens of innovation.

    As Admiral Hopper said, “Our young people are the future. We must provide for them.”

    To do so, we must continue innovating and modernizing for the threats of today and of tomorrow.

    I thank all of you for being here today, to gather, discuss, and create solutions for a more climate resilient future.

    Although climate change is already impacting our world in significant ways, I am heartened by the discussions today, the important work all of you have begun, and the innovation that will come from our collaboration.

    Thank you for tackling this challenge—we need our best and brightest involved in the search for climate solutions.

    May God bless our service men and women and all who support them. Thank you.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi’s speech at event commending role models for ethnic unity, progress published

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    A speech delivered by Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, at a national conference held on Sept. 27 to commend role models for ethnic unity and progress, has been published as a booklet.
    The booklet, published by the People’s Publishing House, is available at Xinhua Bookstore outlets across China. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Cole Harbour — RCMP arrests two impaired drivers following a hit and run

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment arrests two impaired drivers following a hit and run in Cole Harbour.

    On September 25, at approximately 11:48 p.m., RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment responded to a hit and run that occurred in a parking lot on Merrimac Dr. While at the scene RCMP officers observed the vehicle of interest return to the scene and collide with a dumpster.

    RCMP officers completed a traffic stop on the Hyundai Elantra. The driver, a 25-year-old Dartmouth woman, exhibited signs of impairment and provided roadside breath samples into an approved screening device (ASD), which resulted in a “fail”. The driver was arrested for impaired driving.

    From the information and evidence gathered at the scene, it was determined that the rear passenger of the vehicle, a 28-year-old Cole Harbour woman, was the driver at the time of the hit and run. She also showed signs of impairment, and provided a breath sample into an ASD resulting in a “fail”. The woman was arrested for impaired driving.

    Both individuals were transported to the Cole Harbour RCMP Detachment and provided breath samples. The 28-year-old woman provided breath samples of 300 mg% and 280 mg%. and the 25-year-old woman, who struck the dumpster, provided breath samples of 200 mg% and 220 mg%.

    They were both later released and will appear in court at a later date.

    File # 24-132068

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NIST Awards Up to $1.5 Million to Support Development of Regenerative Medicine Standards Curricula

    Source: US Government research organizations

    Credit: Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock

    GAITHERSBURG, Md. — The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has awarded two organizations cooperative agreements of up to $1.5 million to create curricula and programs for training the current and future regenerative medicine workforce in standards implementation. The award recipients were selected following an open, competitive process announced earlier this year.

    Regenerative medicine, which includes cell therapy, gene therapy and therapeutic tissue engineering, aims to harness the body’s innate ability to heal for regenerating and replacing damaged or diseased cells, tissues and organs. The field provides unprecedented potential to treat previously intractable diseases, such as cancer and genetic disorders.

    In 2023, Congress tasked NIST with supporting the development of the regenerative medicine workforce as part of the agency’s Regenerative Medicine program.

    The awardees will create training programs on the standards, protocols and measurements underpinning the field. 

     “We are thrilled to announce our new partnerships to develop an innovative standards education program, paving the way for flexible and immersive learning experiences that support advanced biomanufacturing,” said Sheng Lin-Gibson, chief of NIST’s Biosystems and Biomaterials Division. “These educational programs will facilitate the adoption of standards and best practices to increase quality and consistency of advanced therapies and ultimately bring down costs.”

    The two cooperative agreements are for $250,000 each per year with the option to renew for up to three years.

    The organizations receiving the awards are Brammer Bio, a part of Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Patheon Pharma Services, and the Standards Coordinating Body (SCB) for Gene, Cell and Regenerative Medicines and Cell-Based Drug Discovery, a nonprofit organization based in Gaithersburg, Maryland. 

    These organizations will produce a wide range of training opportunities including traditional classroom and hands-on teaching, self-paced e-learning and use of digital tools, multimedia resources and immersive augmented reality. 

    Training will be provided to current and future members of the regenerative medicine workforce through continuing education and college- and graduate-level programs. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Join Us on 10/29 for a Foreign and Comparative Law Webinar on What’s in a Legal Gender? A Guide to European Gender Determination Laws

    Source: US Global Legal Monitor

    Earlier this year, a new self-identification act for transgender, intersex, and nonbinary persons was enacted in Germany. The law adds to the growing number of European jurisdictions that have recently enacted self-identification laws for legal gender purposes, including Sweden. The legal landscape is not uniform, however. Other European jurisdictions are curbing the right to change one’s gender, most recently Georgia, which has forbidden the reassignment of one’s gender, and Bulgaria, where the courts have determined that a person cannot change his or her legal gender from that assigned at birth.

    Please join us on October 29, 2024, at 2 p.m. EDT for our next foreign, comparative, and international law webinar titled, “What’s in a Legal Gender? A Guide to European Gender Determination Laws.“ This webinar is the latest installment in the Law Library’s Foreign and Comparative Law Webinar Series.

    This webinar will describe and discuss the regulation of gender self-determination in select jurisdictions in Europe. In particular, the webinar will focus on the existence of gender self-determination laws, the possibility of identifying as a third gender, the rules for changing legal gender, and the use of “X” as a gender marker in passports, among other topics. Similarities and differences in the countries’ approaches will be highlighted.

    Please register here.

    Please request ADA accommodations at least five business days in advance by contacting (202) 707-6362 or [email protected].

    The webinar will be presented by Jenny Gesley and Elin Hofverberg, foreign law specialists in the Global Legal Research Directorate of the Law Library of Congress. Jenny holds a Master of Laws from the University of Minnesota Law School, a Juris Doctor equivalent from the Goethe University of Frankfurt, Germany, and a doctorate in law. Her doctoral dissertation on “Financial Market Supervision in the United States: National Developments and International Standards” (in German) was awarded the Baker & McKenzie Award in 2015. Dr. Gesley is admitted to the New York State Bar and is qualified to practice law in Germany. Elin holds a Master of Laws in international and comparative law from The George Washington University Law School and a Juris Doctor equivalent (Jur. kand.) from Uppsala University Law School. Elin is a member of the New York State Bar and is qualified to practice law in Sweden.

    Subscribe to In Custodia Legis – it’s free! – to receive interesting posts drawn from the Law Library of Congress’s vast collections and our staff’s expertise in U.S., foreign, and international law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Golden Week attracts 1.38m visitors

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Mainland’s seven-day National Day Golden Week ended yesterday, and the Government today announced that the Immigration Department recorded a total of around 1.38 million visitors coming to Hong Kong through various sea, land and air control points during the week.

    The overall number of inbound visitors aligned with earlier estimates, while the number recorded on October 1 reached a daily record high since the post-pandemic full opening of the borders, the Government added.

    Among all visitors coming to Hong Kong, those from the Mainland accounted for about 1.22 million, representing 88% of the total arrivals.

    The daily average of Mainland visitors was around 170,000, exceeding that of the 2023 National Day Golden Week and the 2024 Labour Day Golden Week at around 27% and 13% respectively.

    Mainland inbound visitor arrivals peaked on October 1 with around 220,000 visitors arriving in Hong Kong, marking a daily record high since the post-pandemic opening of the borders and setting a corresponding record for the overall number of visitors to Hong Kong in a single day.

    During the National Day Golden Week, the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line and the Express Rail Link West Kowloon were the two ports with the highest daily average number of Mainland visitors, and operations at various control points and transport services ran smoothly.

    Regarding large-scale events, the National Day Fireworks Display over Victoria Harbour on October 1 attracted over 330,000 spectators and concluded with effective crowd control arrangements.

    According to the information provided by the hotel industry, the overall hotel occupancy rate during October 1 to 4 reached 90%. 

    Based on the Travel Industry Authority’s information, around 1,050 Mainland inbound tour groups visited Hong Kong during the National Day Golden Week, with around 80% engaged in overnight itineraries.

    These tour groups involved around 36,000 visitors, accounting for around 3% of all Mainland visitors.

    The interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements, led by Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki, is pleased to note that the rich array of National Day special offers from the Government and various sectors of society were well-received by the public.

    Among them, the “1st October Movie Fiesta: Half-Price Spectacular 2024” subsidised by the Government recorded cumulative admissions reaching 189,000, breaking last year’s record of 155,000. 

    Mr Chan said the concerted efforts of relevant government departments, organisations and industries in making preparations and responses enabled smooth arrangements for receiving visitors, and allowed both locals and visitors to celebrate National Day together.

    “The Government will draw on this experience and further enhance various arrangements in future to provide an even better experience for visitors to Hong Kong during festive periods.”

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Ambulance transfer drill carried out

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, in collaboration with the Macao Special Administrative Region Government, completed a drill today for the Pilot Scheme for Direct Cross-boundary Ambulance Transfer in the Greater Bay Area.

    The Health Bureau of the Hong Kong SAR explained that the drill was aimed at testing the routing of the cross-boundary ambulance between Macau’s Conde S. Januario Hospital (CHCSJ) and Hong Kong’s Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH), as well as the immigration arrangements.

    After departure from CHCSJ, the ambulance headed to PMH and returned to CHCSJ by making use of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge for both journeys.

    Further to the successful completion of the drill conducted by the Hong Kong SAR Government with the Guangdong Provincial Government and the Shenzhen Municipal Government on August 23, today’s drill was also carried out smoothly in general, the bureau said.

    It added that relevant departments of the two SAR Governments will review the cross-boundary ambulance arrangement, with a view to launching the pilot scheme within 2024.

    Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau noted that the pilot scheme will start with a direct ambulance transfer of patients from designated hospitals in Shenzhen and Macau to designated public hospitals in Hong Kong.

    He said: “I am glad that the Hong Kong SAR Government and the Macao SAR Government have also made today’s drill a success through concerted efforts, further streamlining the flow of a direct cross-boundary ambulance transfer to get better prepared for the launch of the pilot scheme.”

    In addition to the entry arrangement of vehicles into Hong Kong, the Health Bureau is in discussion with Macau authorities on the implementation details regarding the entry of medical items and personnel on the direct cross-boundary ambulance into Hong Kong.

    In particular, as CHCSJ will deploy healthcare personnel to escort patients with clinical needs on the ambulance, the Hong Kong SAR Government will ensure compliance by the doctors concerned with Hong Kong laws, such that they can continue to carry out the necessary medical procedures on board the ambulance upon entry into Hong Kong.

    In this connection, the Hong Kong Medical Council has issued a promulgation regarding limited registration in accordance with the Medical Registration Ordinance.

    Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Hospital Authority is making limited registration applications for the Macau doctors who will provide support aboard the direct cross-boundary ambulances.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Measures adopted following the 19th International Francophonie Summit (5 October 2024)

    Source: Republic of France in English
    The Republic of France has issued the following statement:

    Following the 19th international summit of La Francophonie [OIF – international Francophone organization], which was held in France for the first time in 33 years, Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, and Thani Mohamed-Soilihi, Minister of State for Francophonie and International Partnerships, are announcing a series of measures furthering France’s contribution to raising the international profile of La Francophonie.

    In line with President Macron’s announcements and to reaffirm France’s commitment to raising La Francophonie’s international profile, Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, and Thani Mohamed-Soilihi, Minister of State for Francophonie and International Partnerships, are announcing a series of measures.

    Firstly, because the OIF is a space for exchanges fostering the economic prosperity of Francophone peoples, the Minister of State is announcing the creation of an International Francophone Mobility and Employability Programme (PIMEF). The PIMEF is aimed at young people:

    • It networks 1,100 universities and research centres that are members of the Agence universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF) in 120 countries (students, teaching staff, researchers, administrative staff) from all over the world. The AUF, one of the OIF’s four operators, will work throughout this year so that it is gradually rolled out from the start of the academic year 2025-2026. France supports the AUF alongside the OIF.
    • Young French-speaking people from these universities will be able to benefit from mobility programmes geared to professionalization and/or employability.
    • The programme will operate on a principle of reciprocity. Universities and institutions will decide on the number of students to be sent to partner structures, which will be identical to the number of students received.

    Secondly, the Minister of State is announcing the creation of the Volontaires unis pour la Francophonie [volunteers united for La Francophonie] programme. The Francophone world is also a space for cultural and educational development. To promote its attractiveness, the programme will enable 100 young volunteers, nationals from OIF member States, to take part in missions lasting several months in another country of the Francophone world, attached to civil-society organizations and public bodies active as regards educational cooperation, social entrepreneurship and the upholding of La Francophonie’s values.

    As regards the cultural aspect, the Minister of State is next announcing exceptional financial support for the TV5 Monde Maghreb group’s television channel for young people “Tivi 5” making widely accessible an offer of varied, good quality Francophone content for young people in that region and encouraging locally produced content in French for young people, showcasing the diversity of Francophone cultural heritage.

    The Minister of State wishes to reiterate his commitment to promoting the French language as a force for transforming society. France supports the feminist organizations whose activities have a transforming effect on society and public policy. In this respect, two projects have been created to help promote gender equality and the progression of women’s rights.

    • The Alliance féministe francophone [Francophone Feminist Alliance]: to ensure that the French language cannot be an obstacle to the participation, influence and networking of feminist organizations in conveying messages promoting gender equality at the highest level, France is launching the Alliance féministe francophone, in addition to the OIF women’s empowerment programme La Francophonie avec elles. Under this alliance, a consortium of voluntary organizations will be supported to coordinate and finance the participation of feminist organizations at major events and international summits, increase their technical capabilities for representation and negotiation, support their plea for greater funding for the international feminist ecosystem.
    • Alongside Martine Biron, Quebec’s Minister of International Relations and La Francophonie and Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, and Salima Saa, Minister of State for Gender Equality, France is launching a Francophone network for women’s equality and rights.

      This initiative will allow us to offer a space for consultation and coordination, bringing together representatives of States that are members and observers to the OIF – Francophone and non-Francophone – and Francophone States that are not members or observers, with a shared interest in and shared commitment to the promotion of women’s and girls’ rights and gender equality, and advisory bodies for equality between men and women. This network will bring together representatives of civil-society organizations. The initiative will gradually take shape, firstly with a limited number of States at the launch, and will have to take account of the Francophone world’s geographical diversity in its composition.

    Minister of State Thani Mohamed-Soilihi says:

    “This 19th summit has shown us that the Francophone world is resolutely forward-looking.

    “This series of measures is another step forward for an OIF that takes action on the educational, economic and cultural fronts and in terms of gender equality and furthering opportunities for our young people.

    “In a world in crisis, La Francophonie provides a remarkable space for multilateral cooperation, allowing its members to coordinate their vision of the world and be a force for progress and for transforming the world.”

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Canada unlocks 14 more federal properties for housing

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    October 8, 2024 Ottawa, Ontario Public Services and Procurement Canada Everyone deserves a place to call home. However, for many across the country, home ownership and renting is out of reach due to the unprecedented housing crisis Canada is facing. We need to build more homes, faster, to get Canadians into homes that meet their needs, at prices they can afford. That is why in Budget 2024 and Canada’s Housing Plan, the federal government announced the most ambitious housing plan in Canadian history—a plan to build 4 million more homes.

    October 8, 2024              Ottawa, Ontario                            Public Services and Procurement Canada

    Everyone deserves a place to call home. However, for many across the country, home ownership and renting is out of reach due to the unprecedented housing crisis Canada is facing. We need to build more homes, faster, to get Canadians into homes that meet their needs, at prices they can afford. That’s why in Budget 2024 and Canada’s Housing Plan, the federal government announced the most ambitious housing plan in Canadian history: a plan to build 4 million more homes.

    As part of this plan, the Government of Canada is identifying properties within its portfolio that have the potential for housing, and is actively adding them to the Canada Public Land Bank. Wherever possible, the government will turn these properties into housing through a long-term lease, not a one-time sale, to support affordable housing and ensure public land stays public.

    Today, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and Procurement, joined by the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, and the Honourable Terry Beech, Minister of Citizens’ Services, announced that 14 new properties have been added to the Canada Public Land Bank.

    A total of 70 federal properties have now been identified as being suitable to support housing. This list will continue to grow in the coming months, with further details on listed properties available soon.

    As part of the initial launch of the Canada Public Land Bank in August 2024, the Canada Lands Company, in partnership with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, issued a call for proposals for 5 properties located in Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary, Ottawa and Montréal. The call for proposals for the properties in Toronto and Montréal closed on October 1, 2024, and evaluations have begun. The call for proposals for the Edmonton, Calgary and Ottawa properties will close on November 1, 2024.

    To provide feedback on the land bank and its properties, the Government of Canada launched a call for housing solutions for communities: a secure online platform.

    To date, the Government of Canada has already received interest and feedback from provinces, territories and municipalities, as well as developers, housing advocates and Indigenous groups. This information will be used to develop and bring more properties to market starting this fall.

    To solve Canada’s housing crisis, the federal government is using every tool at its disposal. The Government of Canada is accelerating its real property disposal process to match the speed of builders and the urgency of getting affordable homes built for Canada. 

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Six ways to holiday like an old-school travel journalist – without using the internet

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Masood Khodadadi, Reader (Associate Professor) in Tourism, Culture and Society, University of the West of Scotland

    The Travelling Companions by Augustus Leopold Egg (1862). Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery

    We all want to get the most out of our holidays, which is why we so often turn to online “top things to see” lists, or TikTok recommendations of a destination’s best sights and eateries.

    But as useful as these strategies can be, using the internet to plan every detail of your travel omits the essence of discovery – the very thing that made pre-internet travel journalism so thrilling to read.

    These six tips explain how you can explore a new place like an old-school travel journalist or an explorer from a bygone era. They’ll enable you to look up from your phone, and discover your destination with intuition and curiosity.

    No one’s 20s and 30s look the same. You might be saving for a mortgage or just struggling to pay rent. You could be swiping dating apps, or trying to understand childcare. No matter your current challenges, our Quarter Life series has articles to share in the group chat, or just to remind you that you’re not alone.

    Read more from Quarter Life:

    1. Discard the itinerary and trust your gut

    Freya Madeline Stark by Herbert Arnould Olivier (1923).
    National Portrait Gallery

    Before smartphones, travel journalists such as Freya Stark and Bruce Chatwin depended on serendipity. They didn’t have TripAdvisor or Google Maps to guide them. Rather, they listened to their instincts and locals’ advice about how to shape their journey.

    A famous example is Chatwin walking through Patagonia after conversations with locals advised him of his next stop.

    Try this on your next adventure: walk without a plan. Follow your instincts towards any of the local cafes, quiet parks, or bustling markets. And if all else fails and you are not quite sure where to start, just stop and ask someone near you what it is that they love about the area. Many times, people’s stories will take you to places you would never have found online.

    2. Use analogue maps and guides

    Before GPS, maps weren’t just functional – they were part of the adventure. Travel writers like Jan Morris and Paul Theroux (father of documentary presenter, Louis) wrote about how their unfolding maps forced them to interact with the landscape in a tactile way.

    Pick up a local map in a bookshop or visitor centre and unfold it in a cafe. Mark where you have been and circle the areas you are curious about.

    In their early editions, guidebooks like The Rough Guide and Lonely Planet didn’t give a thorough list, but instead pushed cultural immersion travel, which is concerned with authentic activities. Think local traditions, history, language and customs of the place you’re visiting. Cultural immersion travel involves mingling with the residents to get an in-depth feel of how they live.

    Although carrying a printed guidebook seems vintage, this act plunges you back to the time when the discovery of hidden corners of a city was about turning pages, not scrolling.

    Chatting with locals is a great way to discover gems in a new place. English Tourists in Campagna by Carl Spitzweg (1845).
    Alte Nationalgalerie

    3. Speak to local people

    Pre-smartphone travellers had one irreplaceable resource at their disposal – people. On his long walks across Europe, for example, travel writer Patrick Leigh Fermor relied on the people he met for insight into local customs, history and hidden gems.

    Do exactly the same thing. Go to a typical bar, a bazaar, a local event, or attend a course on the language or the cooking of the place. Engage a bartender, shop owner, or street vendor in a chat. These tips will steer you off the beaten path of algorithms.

    4. Immerse yourself in slow travel

    Travel journalists of the past were in no hurry. Rather than zipping from one attraction to the next, they stayed put for long enough to pull back the layers of a place. Writer Rebecca West’s trek through the Balkans (which she described in her 1941 book, Black Lamb and Grey Falcon) took months. Her long stays in villages allowed her to really get to know the place and its complexities.

    You should slow down on your next trip, too. Stay on in a small town or neighbourhood a little longer than you planned to. Stroll its streets and soak in the rhythms of daily life.

    5. Read travel literature

    The writers of travel history books, be it Robert Byron’s travels among the architecture and culture of Persia, or Isabella Bird entering unknown 19th-century Japan, articulate how their predecessors perceived the lands they visited.

    Read books written by local authors to get deeper into the cultural context of the place you’re visiting. You’ll find their reflections on their hometown or region often give you a more insightful, nuanced perspective than any modern day “top ten” list could.

    6. Research the history of every place you visit

    Writers like Colin Thubron included historical and cultural details to make their travel stories richer and more meaningful.

    Whether you find yourself at a local museum, reading up on the past of a place, or simply walking its streets with an eye for historical markers, learning the background of where you are can infuse your visit with added meaning.


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

    Masood Khodadadi does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Six ways to holiday like an old-school travel journalist – without using the internet – https://theconversation.com/six-ways-to-holiday-like-an-old-school-travel-journalist-without-using-the-internet-240384

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Scottish Greens hail private jet tax review

    Source: Scottish Greens

    08 Oct 2024 Transport Climate Action

    A private jet tax can fund our transition to a greener future.

    More in Transport

    The Scottish Greens have welcomed an announcement that the Scottish Government will be reviewing air departure tax rates, including for private jets specifically.

    Answering a question at the Finance and Public Administration Committee this morning, the Cabinet Secretary said the rates and bands, including the rates on private jet flights, would be reviewed to ensure they align with net zero ambitions.

    There were 12,911 recorded private flights to and from Scotland’s airports in 2023. A recent Oxfam study suggested a tax on these flights could raise up to £21.5 million. Private jets have estimated climate emissions of up to 14 times that of commercial flights.

    The Scottish Greens transport spokesperson, Mark Ruskell MSP, said: “Private jets have a huge environmental impact, and while their super-rich occupants pinball between their golf courses and yachts, it’s taxpayers who are left paying for the damage.

    “We all know that we urgently need to reduce aviation emissions, and one of the easiest ways to do that is to reduce private jet use. Taxing them fairly would deter such reckless flights, help move people to more sustainable modes of transport, and raise the funds to help us to mitigate the destructive impact they have on the rest of us.

    “We all know Labour cuts at Westminster mean money is tight in Scotland. But it isn’t enough to point this out, we must use every lever at our disposal to raise the funds we need for essential services and climate action. I can think of no better way of raising these funds than taxing super-rich polluters.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How discovering the power of allusion enabled me to write better rap music

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Paul Stephen Adey, Rap Lyricist and Lecturer in Music Performance at Confetti Institute of Creative Technology, Nottingham Trent University

    For the first half of my music career, I never fully considered the technical aspects of the art form I practised. Up until my mid-30s, I’d been driven to pen lyrics by a compelling sense of advancement and peer recognition – to achieve some form of artistic acclaim in the UK rap genre.

    When thinking back to this earlier time, I imagine myself as being completely immersed in a darkness of my own ignorance, scrabbling around for passages and phrases without any real understanding of how and why these elements of the craft meant so much to me.

    As a mature student – during the final stages of a masters degree in creative writing – a seed of self-discovery began to germinate. I decided to combine my newly acquired passion for creative writing, critical analysis and literary techniques with my 20 years’ plus career as a rapper, music producer and live performer and embark on a PhD.

    On beginning my research, it became apparent that a technical element of my craft I desperately coveted was called “allusion”. Allusion is an implied reference, perhaps to another work of literature, art, person or event that forms a kind of appeal to the reader or listener. It’s a means of reaching out and sharing an experience with them.

    When using allusion, a writer draws upon common knowledge shared with their audience to find links between cultural understandings or traditions. Most importantly for me, some forms of allusion can be more specialised, even deliberately difficult to grasp. Almost immediately, a realisation hit me: I had practised, been inspired by, adapted and searched for, this technique in rap since my earliest memories of the art form.

    Allusion, as with the more contested literary concept of intertextuality (a term coined in the late 1960s by French philosopher and critic Julia Kristeva to recognise the multiplicity of meaning within a text) has been used in rap and hip-hop culture since its beginnings. In fact, as musicologist Justin Williams points out in his book Rhymin’ and Stealin’ (2013), intertextuality serves as an integral part of the culture’s function. To “borrow” from a wide variety of artistic mediums is key to how hip-hop works, and is partly responsible for how it has thrived for half a century.

    I discovered multiple forms of intertextual engagement in rap while researching my PhD, but one technique stuck out to me the most. Rappers would draw on the words of authors to clarify their points, or further emphasise emotional impact in their work.

    For example, Nas and Kendrick Lamar have used the power of novelist Alice Walker’s writing to enhance their lyrics (both have “borrowed” from The Colour Purple). Lamar also employed the writing of Maya Angelou to add depth and complexity to his early conceptual material.

    Even borrowing a mere two words can have huge intellectual implications for a rap song. Just listen to Earl Sweatshirt’s Shattered Dreams (2018), and his use of James Baldwin’s voice from his inspirational 1962 lecture The Artist’s Struggle for Integrity. It’s a prime example of how this technique manifests itself in the genre.

    When thinking about how rappers engage with allusion and intertextuality, activist and rap artist Yasiin Bey, aka Mos Def, sums it up well:

    Hip Hop is a medium where you can get a lot of information into a very small space. And make it hold fast to people’s memory. It’s just a very radical form of information transferal.

    A ‘sonic-literary journey’

    With a clearer understanding of how deeply allusion and intertextuality runs through hip-hop, I began to craft a new body of work. This material eventually translated (after almost a decade) into a trilogy of LPs, the first of the three being titled S.T.A.R.V.E..

    I wanted to make S.T.A.R.V.E. part of a literary and musical tradition that has long attempted to decipher the feeling of isolation, and its links to mental illness or psychological downfall.

    To do so, I alluded to (and intertextually engaged with) various texts that have historically served as investigations into the sense of disconnectedness, or loneliness within a crowd, that I believe we have all felt at some point in our lives. In my opinion, S.T.A.R.V.E. is more of a novella than an album. It is a narrative as old as the hills, retold in my own image. It just so happens that my preferred medium is music, and my preferred practice is rap.

    Strongbow, the leading track on the author’s album, S.T.A.R.V.E.

    S.T.A.R.V.E. is a highly intertextual project. Poetic quotes on the album span from Charles Bukowski to Robert Frost, while borrowed themes stretch from Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly (2015) to Knut Hamsun’s Hunger (1890).

    Previously conceived conceptual frameworks are also built upon, such as the nihilistic sentiment captured in Nas’s early work on Illmatic (1994), and Mark Fisher’s ideas on capitalism and “depressive anhedonia” in Ghosts of my Life (2014). This is all set against a backdrop of purgatorial imagery prominent in the work of figurative painter Francis Bacon and depicted by film director Adrian Lyne in his groundbreaking psychological horror film, Jacob’s Ladder (1990).

    Of all artistic mediums, I believe music is most open for interpretation. This means that what is taken from the music can often seem a million miles from authorial intentions. But this might be the point.

    When S.T.A.R.V.E. is heard, it will ultimately be down to the ear of the beholder as to which connections and meanings are drawn from the recording. At the end of the day, as Ethan Hawke states on Strongbow, a leading track taken from S.T.A.R.V.E. that quotes Paul Schrader’s 2017 film, First Reformed: “It’s about you.”


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

    I dedicate this article to Mark Fisher, whose writing on themes that run close to S.T.A.R.V.E.’s heart serves as another intertextual source of power for the LP. In 2014, Fisher wrote: “The pandemic of mental anguish that afflicts our time cannot be properly understood, or healed, if viewed as a private problem suffered by damaged individuals.”

    – ref. How discovering the power of allusion enabled me to write better rap music – https://theconversation.com/how-discovering-the-power-of-allusion-enabled-me-to-write-better-rap-music-238286

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Can visiting genocide memorials make you more empathic?

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Magnus Linden, Associate professor of psychology, Lund University

    National memorial to the victims of the Rwandan genocide in Kigali. Oscar Espinosa/Shutterstock

    Each year, people visit museums and memorial sites as part of educational interventions organised around the remembrance of a genocide or an atrocity. Many schools visit a concentration camp as part of Holocaust education, such as Auschwitz-Birkenau. Others travel to memorial sites associated with other genocides, such as the massacre of Muslim men fleeing Srebrenica in Bosnia or the Tuol Sleng genocide museum in Cambodia.

    Two important goals for such education are to foster empathy towards the victims and to increase students’ personal identification with them as a group. In this context, empathy is the ability to feel with the victims and to be able to take their perspective .

    But what does science say about the effect of visiting genocidal memorial sites on empathy and identification with a victim group? Our study, published in Holocaust Studies in July, sheds some light on the question.

    The science of empathy

    While we may justly think of empathy as a personality feature, it is also a capacity that can be activated through social experiences. When we identify with a group of victims we perceive a “we” connecting us with the members of the group.

    We do know that both empathy and identification with another group have been shown to foster positive relations with others.

    They are also important qualities that can protect people threatened by genocide. Empathy was an important factor among those who helped persecuted people to survive during the Holocaust and the genocide in Rwanda, for example.

    Evidence suggests that Israeli high-school students visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau may increase their empathy towards Palestinians. That’s if they initially are already somewhat positive towards Palestinians in principle and if they are prepared to see suffering in universal rather than national terms.

    Auschwitz-Birkenau.
    wikipedia, CC BY-SA

    It has also been shown that groups of Polish students visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau increased their identification with Jews as a group before and after visiting the concentration camp.

    Clear evidence

    In our recent study, we investigated 143 high-school students from Malmö in Sweden, of which 46 took a short course on the Holocaust, including a trip to Auschwitz-Birkenau.

    We collected data both before and after the trip. We measured two facets of empathy in the students, “empathic concern” (such as “I often have tender, concerned feelings for people less fortunate than me”) and “perspective taking” (such as “Before criticising somebody, I try to imagine how I would feel if I were in their place”).

    We also measured to what extent they identified with Jews as a group by ratings of how close they felt.

    The results for this group were then compared with responses from a control group of students who did not participate in the course or trip to Auschwitz.

    We found that the Holocaust education and trip increased the students’ preparedness to identify with and take the perspective of Jews compared to those who didn’t go. However, both groups showed similar amount of empathic concern.

    Looking more closely at the change registered among students after the trip, we also found that a feeling of increased closeness to Jews as a group was related to increased perspective taking.

    Our work suggests a role of genocide education in fostering a broad empathic understanding of a victim group’s life and culture. This can provide important stimulation for students to put themselves in the shoes of an often “otherised” group, whose experience of hate and violence can be appreciated as if it is known from the inside.

    This is clearly important at a time when both Holocaust denial and Islamophobia are rising.

    Remaining mysteries

    There is a great need for more research on moral education interventions that involves a site or museum visit. Evaluating how this education works, and which aspects that have the intended effects, is of key importance. Cutting edge scientific methods, such as virtual reality, are now just beginning to make a difference to education in this area.

    We will next be working to pinpoint how trips to sites of atrocity affect students’ moral values, attitudes or behaviour.

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

    – ref. Can visiting genocide memorials make you more empathic? – https://theconversation.com/can-visiting-genocide-memorials-make-you-more-empathic-239854

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: UN extends Kenyan policing mission in Haiti in futile attempt to tackle gangs

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Amalendu Misra, Professor of International Politics, Lancaster University

    Haiti is being choked to death by its 200 or so violent criminal gangs. The latest figures to be released by the UN suggest that more than 3,600 people have been killed in the country since January, including over 100 children, while more than 500,000 Haitians have been displaced.

    The situation prompted the country’s unelected prime minister, Ariel Henry, to resign in April. And, two months later, a Kenyan-led policing mission tasked with establishing order was deployed to the Caribbean nation. But the operation has so far struggled to rein in the gangs.

    So, the UN security council unanimously adopted a resolution on September 30 to extend the mandate of the mission for another year. There was consensus that the law-and-order situation in Haiti is still deteriorating by the day.

    The move to extend the mission is, in my opinion, hollow and fails to address the real challenges on the ground. It doesn’t tackle the rampant arms trafficking that is fuelling the violence in Haiti, nor does it secure the funding that will allow the mission to operate effectively.



    Read more:
    How Haiti became a failed state

    Haiti has no firearms or ammunition manufacturing capabilities. Yet the country’s gangs are brutalising the masses with all sorts of sophisticated small arms, including sniper rifles, pump-action shotguns and automatic weapons of every kind.

    All of these weapons originate outside of the island, primarily from the US, but also from neighbouring Dominican Republic and Jamaica. Experts say lax firearm laws in the US states of Arizona, Florida and Georgia have created a sophisticated arms peddling racket into Haiti.

    There is no exact number for how many trafficked firearms are currently in Haiti. But Haiti’s disarmament commission estimated in 2020 that there could be as many as 500,000 small arms in Haiti illegally – a number that is now likely to be even higher. This figure dwarfs the 38,000 registered firearms in the country.

    The effectiveness of the Kenyan operation is also being undermined by gross resource limitations. While the mission was approved by the UN security council, it is not a UN operation and relies on voluntary financial contributions. It was originally promised US$600 million (£458 million) by UN member nations, but it has received only a fraction of that fund.

    According to Human Rights Watch, the mission has so far received a mere US$85 million in contributions through a trust fund set up by the UN. Haiti’s former colonial master, France, and several other G7 countries have not been so forthcoming.

    Inadequate funding has hindered the procurement of advanced weaponry, delayed the payment of police officers’ salaries and has prevented the deployment of more forces on the ground.

    Just 400 Kenyan officers and two dozen policemen from Jamaica have arrived in Haiti so far. This is significantly less than the 2,500 officers pledged initially by various countries including Chad, Benin, Bangladesh and Barbados.

    This financial woe has had a negative impact not only on the morale of Kenyan police officers, but it has also made Haitians despondent. Haitians are increasingly expressing impatience and disappointment with the Kenyan force in the media and online.

    Some critics have accused the officers of being “tourists”, and have pointed out that the gangs have tightened their grip on large swathes of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, since the mission began.

    The pessimism within Haiti was eloquently highlighted by the country’s interim prime minister, Garry Conille, on September 25. Speaking on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meet in New York, he confessed: “We are nowhere near winning this, and the simple reality is that we won’t without your help.”

    Advantage gangs

    Finding the Kenyan-led operation a mere irritant, and not a worthy adversary, the gangs have only stepped up the ante. According to a spokesperson for Volker Türk, the UN’s human rights chief, the country’s armed gangs are now doing “everything they can” to maintain control. This has included using sexual assault to instil fear on local populations and expand their influence.

    Some UN member nations, such as the US and Ecuador, have requested that a formal UN peacekeeping mission takes place. And, despite previous peacekeeping operations in the country being marred in controversy, Haiti has asked the UN to consider turning the current operation into a peacekeeping mission.



    Read more:
    Haiti: first Kenyan police arrive to help tackle gang violence – but the prospects for success are slim

    This mission, which would probably include a larger contingent of troops, should not face the same financial constraints as the current operation. It would have greater visibility on the ground, and more fire power and authority to tackle the gangs.

    Past evidence also demonstrates that UN peackeeping missions significantly reduce civilian casualties, shorten conflicts and help make peace agreements stick.

    However, the recent push for a peacekeeping mission was thwarted because of opposition by China and Russia, two of the five permanent veto-wielding members of the UN security council.

    Beijing and Moscow have consistently argued that political conditions in Haiti are “not conducive” to a new UN peacekeeping operation. They have maintained that the current operation “should reach its full operational capacity before discussing such a transformation”.

    Meanwhile, the gangs continue tightening their vice-like grip on the country, with accounts emerging of rampant sexual violence against civilians, the closure of humanitarian corridors, the extension of their territorial control and – of course – even more killings.

    Amalendu Misra is a recipient of Nuffield Foundation and British Academy research grants.

    – ref. UN extends Kenyan policing mission in Haiti in futile attempt to tackle gangs – https://theconversation.com/un-extends-kenyan-policing-mission-in-haiti-in-futile-attempt-to-tackle-gangs-240234

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Turkey’s plan to recycle more has made life hard for its informal waste pickers

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Tulin Dzhengiz, Lecturer in Sustainability, Manchester Metropolitan University

    A waste picker towing his cart through a street in Antalya, Turkey. Evgeny Haritonov/Shutterstock

    Turkey’s 500,000 or so informal waste pickers carry out around 80% of the recycling in the country. These workers, who are also known as çekçekçi, are essential for separating out waste in a country where this is rarely done at source.

    But their lives are precarious. Most of them are unregistered, lack social security, and have no access to basic services such as healthcare. And now they find themselves affected by efforts that formalise Turkey’s waste management system.

    Many of the workers are migrants. But large-scale immigration over recent years, particularly from conflict zones such as Afghanistan and Syria, has contributed to a rise in nationalistic sentiment throughout the country.

    This has seen immigrants – and particularly waste pickers – portrayed in a negative fashion. Waste pickers have, for instance, been labelled “şehir eşkıyası” (urban bandits) by the media. And many people have argued that Turkiye’s informal waste-picking practices should come to an end.

    Yavuz Eroğlu, the president of a non-profit organisation called PAGÇEV that promotes plastic recycling in Turkey, pointed out recently that the country’s “real problem” is its informal waste collection system. In Eroğlu’s view, informal waste picking impedes the effective scaling of recycling initiatives and prevents Turkey from improving its position in the global recycling market.

    Recycling facilities in Turkey require a steady and substantial supply of raw waste materials to function efficiently. But, according to the Turkish Statistics Institution, a mere 12% of the country’s municipal waste was recovered in 2018 – and it is not clear how much of this was actually recycled. This is not nearly enough to keep recycling companies afloat.

    So, in an effort to improve Turkey’s domestic waste management, the Turkish government launched an initiative in 2022 to regulate and formalise waste collection. The legislation requires that local authorities work exclusively with licensed recyclers and registered pickers to sort through and sell waste.

    Resistance movements have subsequently emerged within the çekçekçi community that advocate for the rights and recognition of informal waste pickers in Turkey. These movements have either reinforced the importance of existing waste picker collectives, or led to the creation of new non-profit organisations and cooperatives.

    In Istanbul, for example, the Şişli municipality launched an environmental waste collectors cooperative in 2023 in an attempt to formally integrate informal waste pickers into the municipal waste management system.

    This has involved registering waste pickers, issuing official identification cards, and providing them with access to designated waste collection zones. Similar models have also emerged in different parts of the country. But many of Turkey’s waste pickers remain locked out of the new formal system.

    The framing of informality as the problem is not new, nor is it limited to representatives of Turkey’s plastic recycling industry. In August 2021, the governor of Istanbul’s office ordered a crackdown on informal waste collection activities.

    Police carried out raids on nearly 100 waste collection depots and seized 650 collection carts. More than 200 people were detained in the raids, including 145 Afghan migrants who were sent to a deportation centre.

    The governor’s office justified the action by citing environmental and public health concerns, as well as the unregulated nature of employment in informal waste picking. In a statement, the office argued that unauthorised waste collection leads to unfair profits and announced that inspections would continue.

    Waste workers responded by criticising the governor’s claims and expressed frustration over being labelled as benefiting from unfair profits while living in precarious conditions without social security or a stable income.

    Importing more waste

    In fieldwork carried out between March and April 2024, I spoke with representatives of waste collectors, junk shop owners and waste traders in Istanbul.

    Some reported that there had been a decline in waste-picking rates since the crackdown of 2021. Waste collectors and their representatives expressed concerns that this decline could lead to a further reduction in domestic recycling rates and increase the reliance of recycling facilities on imported waste.

    Turkey is already one of the largest importers of waste from Europe. In 2022, for example, Turkey accounted for 39% of Europe’s waste exports, which included around 400,000 tonnes of plastic.

    Turkiye is a major importer of waste from Europe.
    Sahan Nuhoglu / Shutterstock

    This waste has serious consequences for the environment and human health. A Greenpeace report published in 2022 found that toxins released from Turkey’s plastic waste end up in the fruit and vegetables produced in the Çukurova valley, one of the most fertile valleys in the world.

    A continued decline in domestic waste collection in Turkey would create a vicious cycle. The value of Turkey’s own waste will decrease, further impoverishing informal waste pickers, all while the country’s reliance on imported waste grows to sustain its recycling infrastructure.

    The future of informal waste picking in Turkey remains uncertain. But as the country continues to formalise its waste management system, the challenges facing the sector’s informal workers must not be ignored.

    Tulin Dzhengiz receives funding from Manchester Metropolitan University’s Research Accelarator Grant to carry out this research.

    – ref. Turkey’s plan to recycle more has made life hard for its informal waste pickers – https://theconversation.com/turkeys-plan-to-recycle-more-has-made-life-hard-for-its-informal-waste-pickers-238661

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Mounjaro will soon be available as a weight loss treatment on the NHS – here’s what that means for patients

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Zoe Edwards, Research Lead/Advanced Clinical Practitioner/Senior Research Fellow, University of Bradford

    Mounjaro will soon be available for prescription on the NHS. Cynthia A Jackson/ Shutterstock

    The weight loss jab Mounjaro will soon be made available to nearly a quarter of a million NHS patients, according to proposals made by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice). Previously, it was only available on the NHS for patients with diabetes.

    Under Nice’s proposals, the drug will gradually be rolled out over the next three years. Access to it will first be prioritised to patients who are severely obese and have at least three weight-related health problems – for example, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, high cholesterol and sleep apnoea.

    There are plans to increase NHS access to more patients after the initial three-year period. It will also remain available for patients with diabetes.

    This recent approval provides new treatment options for people with obesity – but how effective it is will depend on whether supplies can keep up with anticipated demand.

    What is Mounjaro?

    Mounjaro is the UK brand name of the drug tirzepatide, which, until now, has only been prescribed on the NHS for patients with diabetes to help control blood sugar and encourage weight loss.

    In the US, Mounjaro is used for diabetes treatment. Another version of tirzepatide, sold under the brand name Zepbound, is used for weight loss treatment. Zepbound is not licensed as a weight loss product in the UK.

    Tirzepatide works for weight loss by mimicking hormones in the body that tell our brain we feel full. A weekly injection is needed, which may be increased in strength each month, depending on the patient.

    Clinical studies have found tirzepatide is even more effective than semaglutide (Ozempic and Wegovy) for weight loss. In some studies, patients have lost up to 20% of their body weight.

    Supporting weight loss

    Until now, Wegovy was the only weight loss injection authorised for NHS use under the care of specialised weight loss services. These services offer patients clinical treatment, mental health support, access to a dietitian and physiotherapy.

    But the availability of such services is patchy and recently access to many local services has even been paused or stopped. This means many patients who need effective weight loss treatments may not have access to them. Among the reasons for these services being suspended is there was greater demand than availability of services in some areas, as well as attempts to control prescriptions of crucial drugs due to ongoing shortages.

    Mounjaro needs to be injected weekly.
    Mohammed_Al_Ali/ Shutterstock

    Initially, it was thought that Mounjaro, would not need to be prescribed by specialists, but Nice have confirmed it will only be prescribed with specialist weight loss services to maximise its benefits and prevent complications.

    Now that Mounjaro has been authorised for use on the NHS, it will be key that access to specialist weight loss services is improved throughout the country so that people who need weight loss support are able to get it. NHS England are in the process of developing a range of community and digital services to address this.

    Is there enough Mounjaro for everyone?

    The change in guidance may lead to a rush in demand for referrals to weight loss services when the drug becomes available. This could add more pressure to an already challenged system.

    This uptick in demand may also affect access to Mounjaro for patients who use the drug for diabetes. This was the case with Ozempic (semaglutide) in 2023 – despite it only being licensed for the treatment of diabetes. Demand for the drug by those who wanted to use it to lose weight led to a surge in private prescribing of the drug off-label – leading to global stock shortages of semaglutide.



    Read more:
    Ozempic shortages in the UK may last until 2024 – here’s why

    Many patients using the semaglutide for diabetes were unable to source the product. Semaglutide’s manufacturers did not foresee this hike in demand and were not prepared to maintain supplies for people with diabetes.

    Since it was introduced on the market, Mounjaro has proved to be a popular product, with sales making its manufacturer, Eli Lilly, greater profits than expected. Stock shortages have already been experienced in Australia and the US. Due to ongoing demand and previous shortages of similar products (such as semaglutide) one would hope that Eli Lilly has anticipated increased demand for Mounjaro in the UK and will have adequate supplies from the outset.

    But with British pharmacies reportedly planning to reduce the private price of weight loss products (including Wegovy and Mounjaro), this could increase demand further – which may subsequently affect the availability of supplies for NHS patients.

    Given the successes of semaglutide and tirzepatide, it’s expected that further similar drugs will be developed. Many of these alternative products are already showing promise in clinical trials – such as an oral weight loss pill. Having alternative products available will ease strain on the supplies of current weight loss products.

    Will Mounjaro help with the obesity crisis?

    It’s thought that up to 25% of adults in the UK are obese. Obesity is linked to many health problems – including heart disease, diabetes and arthritis. Obesity-related healthcare is estimated to cost the NHS billions of pounds every year. Improvements in diet and lifestyle are recommended to tackle obesity, but, understandably, many patients find sustained change difficult.

    Greater access to weight loss drugs could help patients lose weight and prevent the associated health problems. This could also save the NHS money and improve long-term health. Weight loss drugs, such as Mounjaro, could be an important solution to a growing problem – but only if access to these treatments is available to those who need them most.

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

    – ref. Mounjaro will soon be available as a weight loss treatment on the NHS – here’s what that means for patients – https://theconversation.com/mounjaro-will-soon-be-available-as-a-weight-loss-treatment-on-the-nhs-heres-what-that-means-for-patients-239777

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: CallRevu Integrates with Reynolds FOCUS to Elevate Dealership Communication

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BALTIMORE, Oct. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CallRevu, a leading innovator in communication intelligence solutions for automotive dealerships, is excited to share it has integrated CallRevu’s latest communication product – their hosted phone system formerly known as TotalCX/Interactive Tel, with Reynolds FOCUS CRM.

    This strategic collaboration is set to reshape how dealerships manage customer interactions, empowering teams with real-time communication insights and streamlined data integration.
    The effort facilitates seamless data exchange between the two platforms, offering dealerships streamlined connectivity.

    “Our mission has always been to drive the next wave of innovation in automotive communications,” said Ben Chodor, CEO of CallRevu. “With this integration, we’re giving dealerships the tools to enhance customer engagement and operational performance. By uniting the power of CallRevu with Reynolds renowned CRM, FOCUS, we’re taking a significant step forward in how automotive retailers interact with their customers.”

    Key Features of the Integration:

    • Automatically sync incoming call data, helping ensure complete records of customer interactions.
    • Click-to-Call enables dealers to initiate outbound calls from FOCUS, streamlining follow-ups and improving response times.

    This integration will be available to dealerships utilizing both CallRevu communication products and Reynolds FOCUS CRM, creating a comprehensive solution that bridges communication and customer relationship management. Both companies are committed to delivering ongoing support and future enhancements to further optimize dealership operations.

    For more information, visit http://www.callrevu.com

    About CallRevu 
    Originating from within a dealership, we offer a unified solution designed specifically for the automotive industry. Our capabilities start from the origin with a comprehensive hosted phone system, call monitoring, performance training, and reputation management, all driven by real-time data and analytics to provide actionable, scalable insights.

    By transforming each interaction into valuable analytics and actionable insights, we empower our partners to make informed decisions, streamline operations, accelerate revenue growth, and cultivate customer excellence.

    Media Contact:  
    corp.comms@callrevu.com  
       
    For more information visit http://www.callrevu.com.  

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Ship and Rail Compensation Canada becomes new hub for compensation

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    OTTAWA, Ontario, Oct. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In a forward-thinking move to increase awareness and strengthen access to justice, the Ship-source Oil Pollution Fund and the Fund for Railway Accidents Involving Designated Goods have merged into a single federal office.

    Ship and Rail Compensation Canada is now Canada’s central hub for anyone affected by oil spills from ships or boats or major railway accidents involving crude oil.

    For years, a lack of awareness of available compensation has prevented many from accessing the support they need. Recent outreach efforts, however, were made to address this issue resulting in increased diversity among claimants and a broader geographic reach.

    Building on this progress, Ship and Rail Compensation Canada will aim to ensure that Canadians know where to turn to for help. This includes collaborating with our partners on how to integrate cost-recovery measures into emergency protocols. With greater access to compensation, those responsible for damages will bear more of the financial burden, not the victims.

    A cornerstone of this initiative is the launch of the new website, designed to be the central point of contact and information for claimants and key stakeholders: http://www.ship-rail.gc.ca.

    Quotes

    “With millions of litres of oil used or transported across Canada by ship, boat, and rail, it’s crucial that Canadians are financially protected from the risks of spills and accidents. We are here to help victims, responders, and anyone else affected receive the financial compensation they need.

    “Our new brand will reach more people than ever before and mitigate the impacts of oil pollution on our cities, towns, oceans, lakes, rivers, and livelihoods. It will significantly boost our outreach and awareness efforts, which are essential to fulfilling our mission of providing compensation and improving emergency preparedness.”

    Mark A.M. Gauthier, Administrator of Ship and Rail Compensation Canada

    About Ship and Rail Compensation Canada

    Ship and Rail Compensation Canada is Canada’s compensation hub for anyone affected by oil spills from ships or boats and by major rail accidents involving crude oil. Its mission is to help victims, responders, and anyone else affected get financial compensation and to hold polluters responsible for damages, losses, and response costs. Ship and Rail Compensation Canada is an independent federal office managing two funds: the Ship Fund and the Rail Fund. It is managed by an Administrator, with each Fund also having a Deputy Administrator.

    For more information or to file a claim, visit ship-rail.gc.ca.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Apple’s Swift Student Challenge to open in February 2025

    Source: Apple

    Headline: Apple’s Swift Student Challenge to open in February 2025

    QUICK READ October 8, 2024

    Apple’s Swift Student Challenge has given thousands of students around the world the opportunity to showcase their creativity and build real-world skills. The challenge empowers students to join a worldwide community of developers using Swift — the same programming language used by professionals — to create the next wave of groundbreaking apps.
    Submissions for the 2025 Swift Student Challenge will open in February for three weeks. Students, educators, and their advocates can find out how to prepare for the challenge and sign up to be notified when applications open at developer.apple.com. Apple will recognize a total of 350 Swift Student Challenge winners whose submissions demonstrate excellence in innovation, creativity, social impact, or inclusivity. From this esteemed group, 50 Distinguished Winners will receive additional recognition and be invited to Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino next summer.

    “At Apple, we are committed to supporting and nurturing the next generation of coders. Every year, we’re incredibly impressed by the ingenuity of the apps students are creating, and we’re excited to see what the next round of the challenge will bring,” said Susan Prescott, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations.

    Apple is also unveiling updated Swift Coding Club resources to help students prepare for the Swift Student Challenge, while building community and developing skills for a future career. The Swift Coding Club starter kit provides activities to empower students with a passion for app development to further explore Swift and SwiftUI and spread the word among their peers.
    In addition, new Develop in Swift Tutorials offer students a great first step toward a career in app development using Swift, SwiftUI, and Xcode — Apple’s integrated development environment — as they build innovative apps for all Apple platforms.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI: MoneyHero Enhances Car Insurance Vertical via Strategic Partnership with bolttech

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MoneyHero to leverage bolttech’s cutting-edge insurance exchange technology to power the Company’s new car insurance platform

    New digital marketplace enhances MoneyHero’s insurance brokerage and conversion expertise, offering a streamlined end-to-end consumer journey across Hong Kong, Singapore and the Philippines

    SINGAPORE, Oct. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MoneyHero Limited (NASDAQ: MNY) (“MoneyHero” or the “Company”), a leading personal finance and digital insurance brokerage platform in Greater Southeast Asia, today announced the launch of its brand-new car insurance platform through a strategic partnership with bolttech, a global leader in insurtech. This collaboration will transform MoneyHero’s consumer experience for car insurance by integrating bolttech’s cutting-edge insurance exchange technology into the MoneyHero platform. The enhanced marketplace is now live in Hong Kong, with rollouts planned for Singapore by Q4 2024 and the Philippines by the end of Q1 2025.

    Through this strategic partnership, MoneyHero is strengthening its position as a digital insurance leader in the region, combining its expertise in financial product comparison and conversion optimization with bolttech’s innovative insurance capabilities. The new car insurance platform will empower consumers with better insights, broader options, and a more seamless purchase process, setting a new standard for the car insurance industry.

    Rohith Murthy, CEO of MoneyHero, said: “This launch marks a significant milestone for MoneyHero as we expand our car insurance offerings and enhance our capabilities as a leading digital insurance brokerage. By partnering with bolttech, we are not only elevating the user experience but also taking full ownership of the entire car insurance purchase journey—from comparison to conversion—within our ecosystem. This enhanced platform is aligned with our strategic pillars of brokerage excellence and conversion expertise, and it further underscores our commitment to making personal finance and insurance decisions easier for consumers across Greater Southeast Asia.

    “With bolttech’s expertise, we are offering an unmatched level of insight and simplicity that will reshape how consumers choose their car insurance. This partnership strengthens our position as a market leader, and together, we’re setting the stage for the future of digital insurance.”

    Enhanced Platform Benefits and Strategic Alignment

    Leveraging bolttech’s cutting-edge insurance exchange technology, MoneyHero’s car insurance platform offers users a best-in-class experience, including comprehensive comparison tools, accurate pricing references, and a streamlined end-to-end user journey. These features will allow consumers to make more informed and confident decisions about their car insurance, all within a seamless, fully integrated platform.

    Philip Weiner, CEO – Asia & Middle East, bolttech said, “We are thrilled to partner with MoneyHero to create an enhanced customer experience for car insurance across Southeast Asia. By digitally integrating with our insurance exchange platform, we are empowering MoneyHero to offer a seamless and transparent user experience, giving customers greater control and clarity in their car insurance decisions. Together, we look forward to delivering more value-added services to MoneyHero’s customers and driving further innovation in the insurtech space.”

    bolttech, with over 230 insurers and 6,000 products on its platform globally, brings unmatched expertise and market access to this partnership, ensuring that MoneyHero’s customers have access to a wide array of insurance options tailored to their needs.

    Revenue Growth and Strategic Expansion

    MoneyHero’s insurance vertical has been a key driver of growth, contributing 7% to total revenue in 2023 and has grown 89% year-over-over in Q2 2024, contributing to 11% of Group revenues in Q2 2024. The launch of the new car insurance platform is expected to significantly accelerate this growth, as it capitalizes on the increasing demand for digital insurance solutions in Greater Southeast Asia.

    Mr. Murthy added: “Our vertically integrated approach to brokerage, combined with this partnership, positions us to capture a larger share of the car insurance market. Insurance will continue to be a key contributor to our bottom line, driving new customer acquisition across our broader personal finance platform.”

    For more information about MoneyHero, including information for investors and learning about career opportunities, please visit http://www.MoneyHeroGroup.com.

    About MoneyHero Group
    MoneyHero Limited (NASDAQ: MNY) is a market leader in the online personal finance and digital insurance aggregation and comparison sector in Greater Southeast Asia. The Company operates in Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and the Philippines.  Its brand portfolio includes B2C platforms MoneyHero, SingSaver, Money101, Moneymax and Seedly, as well as the B2B platform Creatory.  The Company also retains an equity stake in Malaysian fintech company, Jirnexu Pte. Ltd., parent company of Jirnexu Sdn. Bhd., the operator of RinggitPlus, Malaysia’s largest operating B2C platform. MoneyHero currently manages 279 commercial partner relationships and services 8.1 million Monthly Unique Users across its platform for the six months ended June 30, 2024. The Company’s backers include Peter Thiel—co-founder of PayPal, Palantir Technologies, and the Founders Fund—and Hong Kong businessman, Richard Li, the founder and chairman of Pacific Century Group. To learn more about MoneyHero and how the innovative fintech company is driving Greater Southeast Asia’s digital economy, please visit http://www.MoneyHeroGroup.com.

    About bolttech
    bolttech is a global insurtech with a mission to build the world’s leading, technology-enabled ecosystem for protection and insurance. bolttech serves customers in more than 35+ markets across four continents, North America, Asia, Europe, and Africa. With a full suite of digital and data-driven capabilities, bolttech powers connections between insurers, distributors, and customers to make it easier and more efficient to buy and sell insurance and protection products.

    For more information, please visit http://www.bolttech.io.

    For MoneyHero inquiries, please contact:

    Investors:
    MoneyHero IR Team
    IR@MoneyHeroGroup.com

    Media:
    Gaffney Bennett PR
    MoneyHero@gbpr.com

    For bolttech inquiries, please contact:
    bolttech Group Communications
    enquiries@bolttech.io

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Awangarda-Marketing Announces Global Live Lead Generation Solutions for Finance, Real Estate, and More – New Offers until End of 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PIOTRKOWSKA, POLAND, Oct. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Awangarda-Marketing, a global leader in live lead generation, is redefining how businesses acquire high-quality leads across multiple industries, including finance, investments, insurance, real estate, and cosmetics. With an innovative online service that allows advertisers to buy leads directly in CPA (Cost Per Acquisition) and CPL (Cost Per Lead) models, Awangarda-Marketing ensures that every lead meets strict qualification criteria, providing clients with optimal results and a higher conversion rate.

    Their new offer, available until the end of 2024, includes only live leads that have been pre-qualified through direct calls, guaranteeing high engagement and superior answer rates. To further enhance their commitment to quality, the company is offering up to 10% money back for any invalid numbers, making it a risk-free investment for advertisers worldwide.

    “We prioritize quality and transparency. Our team uses AI smart funnels to ensure lead optimization and the highest possible conversion rates,” said a spokesperson for Awangarda-Marketing. “By leveraging platforms like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Taboola, Outbrain, MSN, Bing, and Native, we provide advertisers with the best traffic sources, ensuring that all leads are current, engaged, and ready to convert.”

    As part of its expansion plans, Awangarda-Marketing is continually optimizing its AI-driven lead funnels, offering a suite of tools to track and analyze lead engagement. Their approach combines the latest technological advancements with deep industry knowledge, ensuring that every lead is not only captured but also converted into a valuable customer. For more information on their services and new offers, visit their official website.

    Awangarda-Marketing specializes in live lead generation services for multiple industries, with a focus on delivering high-quality, qualified leads that drive business growth. Their global network and expertise in platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and others make them the go-to partner for businesses seeking reliable lead generation solutions for insurance and finance sectors, for instance, they implement advanced programmatic marketing strategies that allow for precise targeting, ensuring that leads are not only plentiful but also aligned with specific demographic and psychographic profiles. This targeted approach significantly boosts conversion rates, turning prospects into loyal customers.

    In the real estate market, Awangarda-Marketing employs long warm-up funnels, nurturing leads through personalized content and engagement strategies over time. This method creates a strong rapport with potential buyers, leading to increased trust and a higher likelihood of conversion. Similarly, in the cosmetics industry, the focus is on engaging with leads through tailored campaigns that resonate with their beauty preferences and lifestyle choices. By utilizing data-driven insights and effective segmentation, Awangarda-Marketing helps businesses connect meaningfully with their audience, driving higher sales and customer loyalty.

    With a commitment to innovation and results, Awangarda-Marketing continues to set the standard for lead generation across various sectors, making it a strategic partner for businesses aiming to thrive in a competitive landscape.

    Media Contact

    Brand: Awangarda-Marketing

    Contact: George Andris

    Email:  georgea@awangarda-marketing.com

    Website: https://awangarda-marketing.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: SECNAV Del Toro As-Written Remarks at the DOT Ship Christening

    Source: United States Navy

    Remarks

    Good afternoon, everyone! It’s wonderful to be here with you today.

    Secretary Buttigieg, thank you for your partnership in strengthening our maritime efforts, and most importantly, for your service to our Nation as a Naval Officer.

    Congresswoman Scanlon, thank you for your partnership and support of our maritime services.

    Administrator Phillips, I appreciate your partnership not only now, but also all those years ago when we were commissioning commanding officers of guided-missile destroyers. I’m proud to serve alongside you once again.

    President Nerbovik, Philly and its shipyard has had a centuries long relationship with the Navy, and is excelling at building the Nation’s first MARAD vessels in over 60 years.

    Admiral McDonald, you and your Cadets at Massachusetts Maritime are receiving a great ship to train the merchant mariners our Nation critically needs.

    To all of our distinguished guests and visitors, thank you for being here for the christening of the National Security Multi-Mission Vessel PATRIOT STATE.

    Securing America’s maritime prosperity is not a new mission—it is our founding mission.

    Last fall, I announced a call for a new National Maritime Statecraft to prevail in an era of intense strategic competition.

    Maritime Statecraft encompasses a whole-of-government effort to restore the maritime capabilities of the United States.

    Last year, Secretary Buttigieg, Administrator Phillips, and I met at DOT headquarters to begin laying key groundwork for interagency collaboration, and our collective efforts have catapulted the importance of restoring America’s comprehensive maritime power to the top of the national agenda.

    The innovative construction and management techniques that have driven the success of the N-S-M-V acquisition program provide valuable lessons for the Federal Government Shipbuilding Council that Administrator Phillips and I inaugurated last year. 

    These advances will benefit the at-sea training of the future leaders of our United States Merchant Marine including the Cadets at Massachusetts Maritime Academy.

    I thank all those who answered the Nation’s call to service to ensure we remain the most dominant maritime force in the world.

    Your contributions to our shipbuilding industry and maritime training are vital to our Maritime Statecraft.

    Thank you, Secretary Buttigieg, for having me today.

    May God bless our Sailors, Marines, civilian Mariners, our shipbuilders, and all those who support them.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: SECNAV Del Toro As-Written Remarks at the Navy League Sea Service Award – Rep Calvert

    Source: United States Navy

    Remarks

    Good evening, everyone! It is an honor to be here with you today to celebrate the Congressional Sea Services Award and Representative Calvert’s tremendous contributions to our maritime services.

    Mr. Callender, thank you for that kind introduction and for your work with the National Capital Council of the Navy League of the United States.

    Representative Calvert, thank you for your service as Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense and for your unwavering support of our men and women who proudly wear our Nation’s uniform.

    And thank you for your service to California’s 41st District—which I must mention includes Naval Surface Warfare Center Corona Division and is part of the Inland Empire Tech Bridge!

    Thank you to our Congressional leadership here tonight for your partnership and support of our Navy and Marine Corps.

    Admiral Kilby, Admiral Lunday, and Lieutenant General Adams, thank you for your leadership of our sea services.

    I also thank the Navy League of the United States for all that they do, but especially for their advocacy on the issues we face as a maritime nation.

    From the very origins of our country’s founding, Americans from all walks of life answered the call to service and swore an oath to the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

    And service is, of course, a privilege—a chance to be a part of something much greater than ourselves and to uphold the values which define us as a nation.

    Service to our country and service in the armed forces are not merely jobs or careers—they are fundamental facets of our democracy.

    Our Sailors, Marines, Soldiers, Airmen, Guardians, and Coast Guardsmen are deployed and serving around the world every single day.

    In the Red Sea, since October 7th, our ships and aircraft have shot down hundreds of missiles and conducted multiple strikes into Houthi-controlled territory to protect innocent merchant shipping.

    Our service men and women are deterring Iran’s actions and preventing the Israel-Hamas conflict from escalating into a broader regional conflict.

    Our service members form the vanguard of our national defense.

    But our warfighters cannot accomplish their mission without the critical partnership between the Department of Navy and Congress.

    So I thank Representative Calvert for championing the members of our United States Armed Services and especially our Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen and women who are stationed around the world.

    The work you accomplish every day serves a crucial role in shaping our Nation’s military capabilities and priorities.

    And the investments we make in our uniformed services go beyond just platforms, technology, and weapons systems.

    Our investments also include those in our people—improving quality of service for our service members and their families.

    Our people provide the foundational strength of our armed services, and force resilience and readiness begin and end with them.

    We cannot be the most capable, lethal, and agile warfighting force in the world without recruiting, retaining, and investing in every American who volunteers to serve both in and out of uniform.

    Representative Calvert, thank you for your support of our service members and their families.

    I sincerely congratulate you on this very deserving Congressional Sea Services Award.

    Thank you, to all of you here tonight, for your support of the men and women of our armed forces.

    May God bless our service men and women stationed around the world and in harm’s way.

    Thank you.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: North Battleford  — Battlefords RCMP investigating serious assault

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    On October 6, 2024 at approximately 12:15 p.m., Battlefords RCMP were conducting proactive patrols and observed an adult male who was seriously injured, running on the 900th block of 106th street in North Battleford, SK. The man entered the hospital before officers could approach him. Due to the severity of the man’s injuries, officers followed and ultimately assisted medical staff with initial life-saving efforts. The man remains in hospital.

    As a result of continued investigation, 33-year-old Adam Wright is charged with:

    • one count, aggravated assault, Section 268(2), Criminal Code;
    • two counts, fail to comply with probation order, Section 733.1(1), Criminal Code; and
    • one count, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, Section 88(1), Criminal Code.

    A warrant has been issued for Adam Wright’s arrest. Battlefords RCMP continue work to locate and arrest Adam Wright and ask members of the public to report all sightings and information about his whereabouts.

    Adam Wright is described as 5’11” tall and 192 lbs. He has brown eyes and is believed to have long black and blonde hair. He has a scar on his left elbow. A photo of him is attached (his hair may not be as it appears in the photo).

    Battlefords RCMP continue to investigate.

    If you see Adam Wright, do not approach him. Report all sightings and information about his whereabouts to Battlefords RCMP at 310-RCMP (7267). Information can also be submitted anonymously by contacting Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or http://www.saskcrimestoppers.com.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: SECNAV Del Toro As-Written Remarks at the USS Richard McCool Commissioning

    Source: United States Navy

    Thank You/Introduction

    Good morning, everyone! It is an absolute honor to be here with you today in Pensacola, Florida—“The Cradle of Naval Aviation”—to commission our fleet’s newest warship, the USS Richard M. McCool, Jr. (LPD 29), the first ship named in honor of Medal of Honor recipient Captain Richard M. McCool, Jr, United States Navy.

    Congressman Gaetz, thank you for your partnership and collaboration in supporting the thousands of Sailors, Marines, civilians, and their families who are stationed and train here in Pensacola to defend our nation across all domains in which we operate.

    Mayor Reeves, thank you for joining us today and for your support of our service men and women in this great city.

    Admiral Franchetti and General Mahoney, thank you both for your presence here today, and for your leadership of our Navy-Marine Corps team.

    This warship before us represents the combined power of our two naval services, and so it is fitting to have leaders from both services here today to welcome it into our Fleet and our Force.

    To the crew of USS McCool, the rest of our Navy team, and our partners in industry: thank you for your unwavering support—this commissioning was made possible only by your tireless efforts.

    Multi-Ship Procurement Announcement

    As 78th Secretary of the Navy, my mission is to provide combat ready forces and capabilities to the President of the United States, Secretary of Defense, and our Combatant Commanders.

    And it is inherent within my duties as Secretary to identity and rectify delays within our shipbuilding efforts.

    Last fall, I announced my vision for a new National Maritime Statecraft to prevail in an era of intense strategic competition.

    Maritime Statecraft encompasses a national, whole-of-government effort to restore the maritime capabilities of the United States.

    I have forcefully advocated to revive our Nation’s shipbuilding capabilities and capacity.

    And so, today I am proud to publicly announce that the Department of the Navy is pursuing the award of the Amphibious Multi-Ship Procurement Contract for a total of three San Antonio Class amphibious ships—just like USS Richard M. McCool Jr.—along with an America Class amphibious assault ship.

    I meet often with industry leaders to discuss the challenges that prevent us from moving forward faster in shipbuilding.

    They respond that fluctuations in demand make it difficult to maintain a stable production schedule.

    This agreement sends still yet another steady demand signal to our shipbuilding industrial base.

    And this agreement also demonstrates the Navy’s commitment to maintaining 31 Amphibious warfare ships and our prudent measures taken with taxpayer funds.

    I am proud to make this announcement today, as we—just as CNO says—welcome another “player to the field,” manned by an all-volunteer force of Sailors and Marines, who have dedicated their careers and their lives in service to our nation, much like this ship’s namesake.

    Captain Richard M. McCool, Jr.

    Like myself and several in the audience today, Captain McCool began his naval service as a Midshipman at the United States Naval Academy, though he joined in 1941, right at the outset of World War II.

    While his dream was to be a naval aviator, shortly after his graduation from USNA in 1944, he found himself as the commanding officer of USS LCS 122, a landing craft support ship, leading 65 officers and sailors.

    And in the spring of 1945, McCool and his crew found themselves sailing throughout the Pacific Theater, supporting Marines ashore during the Battle of Okinawa.

    LCS 122 and her sister ships were charged with guarding the radar picket destroyers stationed off the coast of Okinawa against Japanese kamikaze attacks, armed with rocket launchers and 40mm guns to repel threats from the sky.

    But on June 10th, 1945, a kamikaze struck LCS 122 below the conning tower where then-Lieutenant McCool was manning his battle station, knocking him unconscious.

    When he came to, he took charge of the situation, coordinating damage control efforts and the evacuation of his crew.

    Despite his severe wounds from the blast, including a collapsed lung, he endeavored to rescue as many of his crew as he could who were trapped in blazing compartments.

    His actions saved LCS 122—which was returned to service after repairs—as well as a majority of his crew.

    For his actions, President Truman presented McCool with the Medal of Honor.

    After World War II, Captain McCool continued to serve in our Navy during the Korean and Vietnam Wars, retiring in 1974 after 30 years of honorable service as both a Surface Warfare Officer and Public Affairs Officer.

    Even after his retirement from the Navy, Captain McCool continued to serve the Seattle community through volunteer work, as well as serving two terms as a Kitsap County Party chairman.

    And while Captain McCool is no longer with us, we take solace in knowing that he is watching over our next generation of naval leaders from his final resting place at the Naval Academy cemetery, and that his strength, his courage—his spirit—lives on through his family present here today.

    Ship Sponsor

    Shana, on behalf of this crew and our Navy, thank you for serving as ship sponsor for the USS Richard M. McCool, Jr.

    In this role, you will forever be the connection between this warship, her crew, and your grandfather’s legacy of service.

    It is my hope that you will continue to share your stories and memories of your grandfather with the crew, giving them a deep appreciation for the man whose name adorns their uniforms.

    Closing

    Captain McCool’s leadership in the face of grave danger and his acts of heroism to save the crew and the ship our nation entrusted to him are indeed an example for all throughout our Navy and Marine Corps to follow.

    To the Sailors and Marines of the USS Richard M. McCool, Jr. and your families, you are about to embark on a great adventure as you bring this ship to life.

    On behalf of a grateful nation, thank you all for the work and sacrifices you have already made, and for everything you will do in the coming days to as you work towards your maiden deployment.

    May God continue to watch over this ship, her crew, and grant them with fair winds and following seas wherever they may sail.

    Thank you.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: National Basketball Association (NBA) Africa and Opportunity International to Build Basketball Courts and Conduct Youth Clinics in Kenya and Rwanda

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

    NAIROBI, Kenya, October 8, 2024/APO Group/ —

    NBA Africa (https://Africa.NBA.com/) and Opportunity International, a global nonprofit organization that develops innovative programs that use financial services, training and support to address some of the greatest challenges facing those living in poverty around the world, today announced a collaboration to build outdoor basketball courts and conduct youth clinics in Nairobi, Kenya and Kigali, Rwanda next year.  The collaboration will support NBA Africa’s commitment to build 1,000 courts in Africa over the next decade, including 100 in Kenya.

    As part of the collaboration, NBA Africa and Opportunity International will also hold a development program for coaches and teachers in both cities aimed at providing them with skills and best practices in coaching, refereeing, game operations, event management, program administration, and more.

    The announcement was made today by NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum, Opportunity International CEO Atul Tandon and five-time NBA champion Derek Fisher at a press conference in Nairobi.

    “Our collaboration with Opportunity International reflects our commitment to investing in local basketball ecosystems across Africa and providing youth with the resources and opportunities to develop their leadership and basketball skills,” said Tatum.  “We look forward to working together to create safe spaces where Kenyan and Rwandan youth can play the game and participate in programs that help develop the next generation of coaches and mentors.”

    “We are absolutely thrilled to work with NBA Africa to bring world-class basketball courts and coaches to Africa,” said Tandon.  “This initiative is key to our longstanding commitment to bring more education and more opportunities to the youth of Africa, and we are grateful to NBA Africa, NBA Deputy Commissioner Tatum, and our longtime friend and partner Sam Garvin for coming together to help build a rising Africa.”

    The Jr. NBA, the league’s global youth basketball participation program for boys and girls, teaches the fundamental skills as well as the core values of the game at the grassroots level in an effort to help grow and improve the youth basketball experience for players, coaches and parents.  Last year, Jr. NBA programming directly reached more than 170,000 youth across Africa.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NLCD’s Path from Early Landscape Snapshot to Decades of Change

    Source: US Geological Survey

    Work on the next version, NLCD 2001, represented a new generation. It used a database approach of interlinked data layers. Development for NLCD 2001, with imagery targeted for that year, began in 1999 and overhauled the methods used to make it and the land cover classes it yielded.

    NLCD 2001 also added Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Alaska—the last being a significant achievement, considering Alaska is a fifth the size of the conterminous United States.

    Using both Landsat 5 and Landsat 7 gave NLCD 2001 a distinct advantage over NLCD 92.  Having twice the available imagery meant a better chance of getting cloud-free imagery showing phenology, or vegetation at about the same time of year, which was essential for NLCD 2001 to use more advanced and automated interpretation techniques.

    The satellite imagery was used in collaboration with aerial photos to which map attributes had been added. These photos provided training data for certain types of land cover, such as developed urban areas and forest, that could easily be identified. A significant amount of other training data required scoping out areas of land cover in person.

    Alaska was another matter. With a relatively short growing season, and very active cloud layers throughout the growing season, cloud-free Landsat imagery was very rare, let alone large areas of the landscape with matched phenology. With its vast remote areas, Alaska also lacked aerial imagery for the majority of the state.  Given both of these factors, training data for the algorithms required large amounts of on-the-ground field data collection paired with extensive modeling and imagery combinations for accurate classification.  

    NLCD 2001 reduced the number of land cover classes to 16 (with four additional classes in Alaska only) and retooled class definitions to align with satellite-detected land cover conditions and put less emphasis on interpreting land usage. The NLCD 2001 classes simplified the agricultural and barren categories, but also changed to four classes of developed area representing the percentage of developed impervious surfaces that water cannot penetrate, such as pavement or roads or roofs. 

    EROS also developed a separate percent tree canopy data layer that categorized the different densities of forest around the nation. Used in combination with land cover and percent developed impervious surface data, this allowed users to understand, for example, the density of forest over developed areas, or low density forest encroachment into rangeland areas.  

    Other federal agencies and several states helped with NLCD 2001 mapping as well. For example, NOAA and USGS’ GAP mapped the majority of the coastal regions, and Kentucky mapped the state’s impervious surfaces.

    Left: The current NLCD classes, with 16 across the United States and Puerto Rico and an additional 4 for Alaska only.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Opens Business Recovery Center in Jonesborough, Tennessee

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced today that it will open a Business Recovery Center (BRCs) on Tuesday, Oct. 8, at the Old Jonesborough Elementary Library, in Jonesborough. The SBA is opening the Center to assist businesses and residents who were affected by Hurricane Helene.  

    SBA’s Customer Service Representatives are available at the Centers to answer questions, assist business owners complete their disaster loan application, accept documents, and provide updates on an application’s status. Walk-ins are accepted, but you can schedule an in-person appointment at an SBA Business Recovery Center in advance. The Centers will operate as listed below.

    Business Recovery Center (BRC)

    Washington County

    Old Jonesborough Elementary Library  

    306 Forrest Drive  

    Jonesborough, TN 37659

    Opens:        Tuesday, Oct. 8, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

    Hours:          Monday – Sunday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

    The disaster declaration covers Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Johnson, Unicoi and Washington counties, which are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the SBA. Small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs): Grainger, Hancock, Jefferson, Sevier and Sullivan in Tennessee; Ashe, Avery, Haywood, Madison, Mitchell, Watauga and Yancey in North Carolina; Grayson, Scott and Washington in Virginia.  

    With the changes to FEMA’s Sequence of Delivery, survivors are now encouraged to simultaneously apply for FEMA grants and the SBA low-interest disaster loan assistance to fully recover.  FEMA grants are intended to cover necessary expenses and serious needs not paid by insurance or other sources. The SBA disaster loan program is designed for your long-term recovery, to make you whole and get you back to your pre-disaster condition.  Do not wait on the decision for a FEMA grant; apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at sba.gov/disaster.  

    Applicants may also call the SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or send an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Dec. 2, 2024. The deadline to return economic injury applications is July 2, 2025.

    ###

    About the U.S. Small Business Administration  

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit http://www.sba.gov. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Deputy Prime Minister announces new actions to build secondary suites and unlock vacant lands to build more homes

    Source: Government of Canada News

    News release

    October 8, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Department of Finance Canada

    Across Canada, too many properties are underused or vacant—from unused basements, to empty office towers, to vacant lots—and could be used to build more homes. By making it easier for homeowners to add secondary suites to their existing homes, and unlocking vacant lands and underused federal properties for housing, we can build the supply of homes Canada needs to make housing more affordable for every generation.

    Today, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, alongside the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and Procurement, and the Honourable Terry Beech, Minister of Citizens’ Services, announced significant progress in the federal government’s work to unlock more land in our communities for housing.    

    First, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance announced technical guidance for lenders and insurers to offer mortgage refinancing for homeowners looking to add secondary suites to their homes, starting January 15, 2025. These mortgage insurance reforms, as well as the forthcoming Canada Secondary Suite Loan Program, will make it easier for homeowners to convert an unused basement into a rental apartment or a garage into a laneway home to increase density in our communities. Secondary suites can help homeowners pay their mortgage with a new rental apartment and bring families closer together. For example, a retired couple may wish to downsize into a new laneway home or in-law suite, so their children could raise their young family in the property’s existing home. More specifically, these changes will:

    • Allow refinancing of insured mortgages for secondary suites, to let homeowners access the equity in their homes to finance the construction of secondary suites. Borrowers will be able to access financing of up to 90 per cent of the home value, including the value added by the secondary suite(s), and amortize the refinanced mortgage over a period of up to 30 years.
    • Increase the mortgage insurance home price limit to $2 million for those refinancing to build a secondary suite, to ensure homeowners can access this refinancing in all housing markets across the country.

    Second, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance launched consultations on the taxation of vacant land. The federal government is seeking feedback from provinces, territories, and municipalities that are interested in implementing their own vacant land taxes. By taxing vacant lands, landowners would be incentivized to maximize the full potential of their land—building homes.

    Third, the Minister of Public Services and Procurement announced that an additional 14 underused federal properties have been identified as suitable for building new homes. With these additional federal properties added to the Canada Public Land Bank, a total of 70 federal properties have now been unlocked and are available to homebuilders as of today. This is part of the federal government’s work—as Canada’s largest landowner—to turn unused and underused federal properties into 250,000 new homes.

    The federal government is delivering on its ambitious plan to build 4 million homes by using all tools at its disposal. The actions announced today are about maximizing the use of available land in our communities—turning unused basements, empty lots, and underused federal offices into homes—to build a country where everyone has access to a home they can afford. 

    Quotes

    “We must use every possible tool to build more homes and make housing affordable for every generation of Canadians. That is why we announced the most ambitious housing plan in Canada’s history—a plan to build 4 million new homes. Today, we are taking bold action to deliver on key parts of that plan which will build new homes by making it easier to add a secondary suite to your existing home and making full use of available land in our communities.”

    – The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance

    “Safe, accessible, and affordable housing options are out of reach for far too many Canadians. The launch of the Canada Public Land Bank in August 2024 laid the foundation for our efforts to unlock public lands for housing at a pace and scale not seen in generations. We are delivering on our promise to continue to add more properties to the land bank and meet the deliverables outlined in Budget 2024 to support a new, ambitious Public Lands for Homes Plan. In doing so, we can build strong communities and more affordable housing across the country.”

    – The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and Procurement 

    “Our government is unlocking new opportunities for homeownership by building homes on underused public lands, retrofitting federal buildings, and empowering homeowners to construct additional units. Young British Columbians and Canadians across the country face a tougher housing market than the generations before them and our plan will help create more housing options for them and their families.”

    – The Honourable Terry Beech, Minister of Citizens’ Services

    “The measures announced today are another step forward in our work to tackle the housing crisis, build more homes, and ensure that everyone has a safe and affordable place to call their own.”

     

    – The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

    Quick facts

    • Today’s mortgage reforms to make it easier for homeowners to add secondary suites, such as basement apartments, in-law suites, and laneway homes, build on the federal government’s recent announcement of the boldest mortgage reforms in decades to unlock homeownership for every generation of Canadians. Starting December 15, 2024, Canadians will be able to apply for reformed mortgages and benefit from lower monthly payments. These reforms include:

      • Increasing the $1 million price cap for insured mortgages to $1.5 million, to reflect current housing market realities and help more Canadians qualify for a mortgage with a downpayment below 20 per cent. Increasing the insured-mortgage cap—which has not been adjusted since 2012—to $1.5 million will help more Canadians buy a home.
      • Expanding eligibility for 30 year mortgage amortizations to all first-time homebuyers and to all buyers of new builds, to reduce the cost of monthly mortgage payments and help more Canadians buy a home. By helping Canadians buy new builds, including condos, the government is announcing yet another measure to incentivize more new housing construction and tackle the housing shortage. This builds on the Budget 2024 commitment, which came into effect on August 1, 2024, permitting 30 year mortgage amortizations for first-time homebuyers purchasing new builds, including condos.

    • In addition to reforming mortgage insurance rules to make it easier to add secondary suites, the federal government is:

      • Helping families afford to have a grandparent or a family member with a disability move back in if they want to with a new, refundable Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit of up to $7,500, available as of January 1, 2023; and,
      • Launching a new Canada Secondary Suite Loan Program to enable homeowners to access low-interest loans to help with the cost of renovations. More details will be announced before the end of the year.

    • In Budget 2024 and Canada’s Housing Plan, the federal government announced the most ambitious housing plan—a plan which will build nearly 4 million homes by 2031. This plan takes a whole-of-government approach to addressing the housing crisis by building more homes, making it easier to rent or own a home, and helping Canadians who cannot afford a home.

      • A key component of Canada’s Housing Plan is the Public Lands for Homes Plan, which will build 250,000 new homes by partnering with all order of government, homebuilders, and housing providers to build homes on surplus and underused public lands, such as unused federal offices, across the country.
      • Budget 2024 provided $500 million to launch the new Public Lands Acquisition Fund, which will buy land from other orders of government to allow the federal government to acquire more land to be used for housing to help build middle-class homes. Work on the fund is already underway, and more details will be released in the coming weeks. 

    • The 14 federal properties added today to the Canada Public Land Bank are located in:

      • Vernon, British Columbia;
      • Ottawa, Ontario;
      • Gatineau, Quebec;
      • Québec City, Quebec;
      • Cape Breton, Nova Scotia; and,
      • St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.

    • Provinces, territories, and municipalities that choose to implement vacant land taxes would be incentivized to design these taxes around a core tax base of land that is:

      • Vacant;
      • Residentially (or mixed-use) zoned;
      • Serviceable by municipal infrastructure (e.g., roads, water, sewage, and electricity); and,
      • Physically developable (e.g., appropriate lot size, no site contamination).

    • Applying specialized taxes on vacant land would be intended to:

      • Encourage the development of land into housing rather than leaving it idle;
      • Discourage speculative holding of land by making it more costly to keep land undeveloped; and,
      • Provide a source of revenue, which could potentially be used to fund further investments to build more homes.

    Associated links

    Contacts

    Media may contact:

    Katherine Cuplinskas
    Deputy Director of Communications
    Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
    Katherine.Cuplinskas@fin.gc.ca

    Media Relations
    Department of Finance Canada
    mediare@fin.gc.ca
    613-369-4000

    General enquiries:

    Phone: 1-833-712-2292
    TTY: 613-369-3230
    E-mail: financepublic-financepublique@fin.gc.ca

    Stay Connected

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Mortgage Insurance Rule Changes to Enable Homeowners to Add Secondary Suites 

    Source: Government of Canada News

    October 8, 2024

    Many homeowners have extra space they may want to convert into rental suites, such as an unused basement, or a garage that could be converted into a laneway home. Historically, the cost of renovating, combined with municipal red tape, has made this both difficult and expensive.

    Recent municipal zoning reforms in Canada’s major cities, made possible through Housing Accelerator Fund agreements, are creating new opportunities for homeowners to add additional suites and increase density. New rental suites would provide more homes for Canadians and could provide an important source of income for seniors continuing to age at home.

    In Budget 2024, the federal government announced its intention to make targeted changes to mortgage insurance rules to encourage densification and enable homeowners to add more units to their homes.

    Today, the government is releasing details for lenders and insurers to offer this new insured mortgage refinancing product, effective January 15, 2025.

    Parameters

    • This measure will apply to all borrowers seeking to access mortgage insurance in Canada to add more units (secondary suites). These borrowers must satisfy the following requirements:
      • Already own their properties;
      • The borrower or a close relative are occupying one of the current units;
      • Intend to construct additional units; and,
      • The additional unit(s) must not be used as a short-term rental.
    • Refinancing: Insured refinancing will be allowed for the purpose of building additional unit(s).
    • Legal units: The new units must be fully self-contained units (e.g., basement suites with separate entrances, laneway homes) and meet municipal zoning requirements.
    • Number of units: Maximum of four dwelling units including the existing unit.
    • Maximum Property Value Limit: The “as improved” value of the eligible residential property against which the loan is secured must be less than $2 million.
    • Maximum Loan-to-Value limit: Up to 90 per cent of the property value, including the value added by the secondary suite(s), in combination with any other outstanding loans secured by the property.
    • Maximum amortization: 30 years.
    • Additional financing must not exceed the project costs.

    Other Parameters

    • Effective date: These measures will be available for mortgage insurance applications that lenders submit to mortgage insurers on or after January 15, 2025.
    • All other eligibility criteria for government-guaranteed mortgage insurance will continue to apply.

    MIL OSI Canada News –