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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Registration is now open for DBS Virtual Conference 2024

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Registration is open for DBS Virtual Conference 2024. The free conference will provide essential insight into the current and future safeguarding landscape.

    The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) has opened registration for the annual free-of-charge conference which open to all with an interest in safeguarding. Taking place on Tuesday 15, Wednesday 16 and Thursday 17 October, the virtual conference will cover a different safeguarding theme each day and will welcome an exciting variety of keynote speakers, workshops, panel and round table discussions.

    DBS supports employers to make safer recruitment decisions by processing and issuing criminal record checks and by maintaining the Adults’ and Children’s Barred Lists. Led by subject experts, the 3-day conference will stream a series of informative webinars and live panel discussions to support safeguarding professionals with best practice knowledge and guidance, and will feature question-and-answer opportunities with a range of speakers.

    The themes of this year’s conference will include:

    • Tuesday 15: Technology and Innovation and the future of safeguarding

    • Wednesday 16: Information Sharing and the importance in safeguarding
    • Thursday 17: Rehabilitation of Offenders (ROA) – balancing safeguarding with individuals rights to rehabilitation

    As the conference is set to be hosted online, recordings will be made available afterwards. If delegates are interested in the event but are unable to attend on the day, it is recommended to still register to access any recordings.

    Register for the conference here and follow DBS’ LinkedIn

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 September 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: AUKUS meeting announces progress on nuclear reactor training

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    AUKUS nations will work closely together to boost global security, following the conclusion of a landmark meeting in London.

    Defence Secretary John Healey with his US and Australian counterparts at the Old Royal Naval College.

    Hundreds of Australian defence and civilian personnel will be upskilled in nuclear reactor expertise in 2025 by specialist Royal Navy engineers. The first such course concluded earlier this month, with 250 personnel learning the skills necessary to own, operate, maintain, sustain and regulate a nuclear-powered submarine.

    The UK Defence Secretary committed to more UK-delivered training courses as the trilateral Defence Ministers AUKUS meeting concluded in London. John Healey hosted his Australian and US counterparts at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich – the site of the Royal Navy’s initial nuclear reactor training more than 60 years ago.

    The United Kingdom and the United States are strengthening superiority in the maritime domain by integrating Sting Ray torpedoes onto P-8A submarine-hunting aircraft. The Sting Ray counters deep diving and conventional submarines, and this move has the potential to boost lethality and stockpile resilience across the AUKUS nations.  

    UK Defence Secretary John Healey said:

    “These are serious times, with threats increasing across the globe. Our defence partnerships have never been more important. I am pleased to confirm further skills and capability agreements with our AUKUS partners today.

    “Our government will stand shoulder to shoulder with our Australian and the US partners, with new UK leadership in AUKUS and a commitment to boost jobs and growth.

    “It has been an honour to host my counterparts in London for this landmark meeting.”

    The progress by Australia to build their own nuclear-powered submarine workforce was furthered by Australian personnel last month when they participated in the maintenance of a nuclear-powered attack submarine – the USS Hawaii – for the first time in Australia.

    A trilateral statement issued following today’s meeting underlined the security partnership’s continued commitment to supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific, that is secure and stable. It said the countries will continue to work to uphold the rules-based international order where human rights and the rule of law are respected, and states can make sovereign choices free from coercion.

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 September 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ernst Works to Secure Support for Renewable Fuel Infrastructure, Expand Access to Biofuels

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)
    WASHINGTON – As the deadline to extend the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) rapidly approaches, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) is demanding certainty for consumers, biofuel producers, and retail store owners by requesting the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) keep the program operational.
    She partnered with Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and led three of their colleagues in urging the USDA to extend the HBIIP with Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) funds. The senators emphasized the program has been an essential tool for helping retail store owners purchase the infrastructure necessary to provide higher blends of biofuels at the pump, which will only become more critical as year-round, permanent sales of E15 are expanded across the nation.
    “Since its inception in 2020, HBIIP has been vital in expanding access to higher blends of biofuels like E15, E85, and B20 for customers. Through a cost-share approach, HBIIP has helped fuel retailers invest over $77.8 million in biofuel-related infrastructure projects, leading to an estimated 1.2 billion-gallon increase in annual biofuel sales,” wrote the senators. “However, access to these higher blends of renewable fuel can only occur if the proper infrastructure is in place at our gas stations, truck stops, and heating fuel facilities, a gap HBIIP has and will continue to help bridge. As the final quarter ends on September 30, 2024, we strongly encourage the USDA to allocate CCC funds to sustain this essential program.”
    “By continuing to invest in renewable fuel infrastructure, we can drive further adoption of higher blends of biofuels, which boosts skilled job opportunities in rural communities, protects the environment by reducing emissions, and adds value to the crops grown by producers across the country,” concluded the senators.
    Read the full letter here.
    Background:
    Ernst was instrumental in creating and maintaining HBIIP as part of her commitment to invest in renewable fuel infrastructure, rural job opportunities, and hardworking farmers. She introduced the Biofuel Infrastructure and Agricultural Production Market Expansion Act, which would provide resources to retailers for purchasing more compatible biofuel infrastructure.
    More broadly, Ernst has also been a strong advocate for homegrown, Iowa biofuels, including by calling on the White House to make E15 available year-round and country-wide, adhere to the GREET model to provide domestic producers with a seat at the table, amend its harmful decision to set the Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) levels well below industry production capacity, raise Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volumes for biomass-based diesel and advanced biofuels, and issue timely guidance on the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: CORRECTION: The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) and Union of Comoros Strengthen Partnership with New EUR 330 Million Framework Agreement and Food Security Facility

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

    JEDDAH, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, September 26, 2024/APO Group/ —

    The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) (www.ITFC-idb.org), a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, and the Union of Comoros have signed a new EUR 330 Million Framework Agreement, reinforcing their strong partnership. The agreement was signed by ITFC’s CEO, Eng. Hani Salem Sonbol, Comoros’ Minister of Finance, Budget, and Banking Sector, and IsDB Governor, H.E. Mr. Mohamed Ibrahim Abdourazak, during his visit to ITFC’s headquarters in Jeddah.

    The new 3-year Framework Agreement builds on the success of the previous EUR 330 million agreement, which achieved 83% of its target. It will focus on key sectors such as energy, agriculture, and SME support, aiming to mobilize trade financing and enhance economic development in Comoros. Since 2008, ITFC has approved over US$ 712 million in financing for Comoros, demonstrating a long-standing commitment to the country’s growth.

    Commenting on the signing, Eng. Hani Salem Sonbol, CEO of ITFC said, “We are proud to strengthen our partnership with the Union of Comoros through this new framework agreement, which reflects our shared commitment to fostering sustainable economic development. By focusing on key sectors such as energy, agriculture, and SME development, we aim to support the country in achieving its long-term goals under the Emerging Comoros Plan. Our efforts, including the newly signed Food Security Facility, demonstrate our dedication to addressing critical needs such as food security while empowering key industries to drive growth.”

    The Minister of Finance, Budget and Banking of the Union of Comoros, Mr. Mohamed Ibrahim Abdourazak, also commented: “I am proud and optimistic to sign today this framework agreement between the Union of Comoros and the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC). This agreement marks a key milestone for the development of vital sectors such as energy, agriculture, and SMEs, the driving forces of our economy. In addition, ITFC signed a EUR 20 Million Food Security Facility in favor of the Union of Comoros and with two local banks, BDC and AFG Bank, as Executing Agencies, to support the continuous supply of essential foodstuffs at affordable prices to address food security challenges in the country. The Government of Comoros remains firmly committed to the priority programs and projects of the “Plan Comores Émergents”. Finally, on behalf of the Comorian Government and on my behalf, I would like to warmly thank ITFC for its ongoing support and look forward to strengthening our collaboration.” 

    ITFC’s broader support for Comoros includes capacity-building initiatives, such as the Reverse Linkage Project with Morocco for the sustainable tourism sector, and the equipment of the Central Vanilla Buying and Marketing Center under the Aid for Trade Initiative for the Arab States (AfTIAS 2.0) program. These efforts underline ITFC’s commitment to fostering sustainable development through integrated trade solutions.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Chief Mountain Entry Point Closes for the Season

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – MIL OSI Regional News in French

    September 26, 2024 Calgary, Alberta Canada Border Services Agency

    The Chief Mountain entry point will close for the season on September 30th at 6:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time (MST). It will reopen in spring 2025.

    Due to its high elevation and harsh winters, Chief Mountain is only open from May to September. Travelers can use the entry points of Carway, of From Bonita or of Coutts during the seasonal closure.

    Chief Mountain is located along Alberta Highway 6, on the edge of Waterton Lakes National Park. At over 1,722 metres above sea level, Chief Mountain is the highest of all Canadian border crossings and has long been considered one of the most scenic in the country.

    For more information, contact the border information service online or call 1-800-461-9999.

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pioneer of Change: America Reyes Wang Makes NASA Space Biology More Open

    Source: NASA

    4 min read

    America Reyes Wang, the lead of the the Space Biology Biospecimen Sharing Program at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley, stands beside a spacesuit display.
    Photo courtesy of America Reyes Wang

    As humans return to the Moon and push on toward Mars, scientists are ramping up research into the effects of space on the body to make sure astronauts stay healthy on longer missions. This research often involves spaceflight studies of rodents, insects, and other models in orbiting laboratories such as the International Space Station. However, space-related biological samples are difficult to get, meaning that researchers who want to study space biology are frequently out of luck.

    America Reyes Wang, a KBR employee and the lead of the Space Biology Biospecimen Sharing Program at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley, oversees the team that has changed that. Birthed from an initiative first pioneered in the 1960s, the Biospecimen Sharing Program collects samples and data from NASA non-human space biology studies and makes them available in the public, open NASA Open Science Data Repository (OSDR). 

    To derive the most benefit from the precious few biology studies taking place in space, Reyes Wang arranges collaborations on space biology dissections with NASA-funded researchers so that her team can collect and preserve unutilized biospecimens for others to use. Outside researchers can request the samples to study in person by writing and submitting proposals. Once analyzed, researchers share their data back with the NASA OSDR for other investigators to access and study.

    The ethos of open science is central to Reyes Wang’s approach to her work. “The samples that we work with are so precious,” she said. “To me, it’s a no-brainer — why not share what we can share?”

    America Reyes Wang wears personal protective equipment (PPE) while working on an activity for NASA’s Biospecimen Sharing Program.
    Photo courtesy of America Reyes Wang

    Reyes Wang aspired to work in the scientific or medical field from a young age, driven by her desire to help people. Her father, who was born in El Salvador and dreamed of being an astronaut after watching the 1969 Moon landing, inspired Reyes Wang to fall in love with space. She also credited her Salvadoran and Mexican family with teaching her the value of understanding different experiences. 

    “To me, being Hispanic, especially as a Latina in STEM, means recognizing and building upon the hard work and sacrifices of those who came before me, as well as extending a helping hand to those around me for the betterment of us all,” Reyes Wang said. “It also means enjoying and sharing our vibrant cultures.” 

    As a student at Stanford University, Reyes Wang conducted neurobiology research with rodents, but assumed she would have to choose her love of biology over her love of space. The field of space biology allowed her to combine those interests. Having quietly dreamed of working for NASA for years, she was also thrilled to find that she could work on NASA missions as a space biologist.

    If we want to keep up with the pace of humanity’s aspirations to travel further and for longer … open science is one of the best tools we have for achieving those dreams.

    America Reyes Wang
    Biospecimen Sharing Program Lead

    Reyes Wang first found a role supporting NASA as an experiment support scientist for the agency’s Rodent Research Program. While she no longer facilitates research on the International Space Station in her current position, she uses her scientific expertise and collaborative outlook to guide the Biospecimen Sharing Program in a direction that will most help advance science. 

    Despite space biology’s status as a relatively niche field, Reyes Wang has noted its tremendous impact on the biological sciences, medicine, and technology as a whole. For example, spaceflown biological samples are often used to investigate diseases that affect people on Earth. Reyes Wang’s involvement in accelerating these studies captures her long-held desire to help people.

    “Open science gives the world an opportunity to get these important answers much more quickly,” Reyes Wang said. “If we want to keep up with the pace of humanity’s aspirations to travel further and for longer, we need to pick up the pace when it comes to getting the answers, and I think open science is one of the best tools we have for achieving those dreams.”

    By Lauren Leese Web Content Strategist for the Office of the Chief Science Data Officer

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Canadian Armed Forces establishes new Cyber Command

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French

    Press release

    September 26, 2024 – Ottawa – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

    Today, Minister of National Defence Bill Blair and Chief of the Defence Staff General Jennie Carignan officially announced the creation of Canadian Armed Forces Command (CAFCYCOM).

    The creation of CAFCYCOM represents a significant milestone for the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). A dedicated and unified cyber command reflects the critical role of cyber in modern operations and demonstrates Canada’s commitment to operating in the cyber domain.

    This new command will be led by Major General Dave Yarker, who will be responsible for cyber operations and sustainment, management and development of the cyber force. Since 2010, Major General Yarker has held key staff and liaison positions with allies and partner agencies, as well as unit and formation level command positions. Major General Yarker was appointed Commander, Joint Force Cyber Component in 2022.

    The CAF, through CAF Cyber Command, continues to develop and enhance its capabilities in offensive and defensive cyber operations in close collaboration with the Communications Security Establishment Canada (CSE). The CAF and CSE have a long-standing partnership in the development of advanced technical and specialized capabilities to provide intelligence in support of military operations. Over the past decade, this partnership has evolved to include collaboration in the areas of cyber security and defensive and offensive cyber operations.

    The creation of the CAF Command is also part of similar investments made by Canada’s key partners and allies in NORAD, the GP5 alliance, and NATO. By strengthening its cyber capabilities, Canada is ensuring greater interoperability with its allies, is better equipped to counter the full range of cyber threats, and advances NATO mission goals and objectives.

    Quotes

    “The new Canadian Armed Forces Cyber Command demonstrates to our allies, partners and adversaries Canada’s continued commitment to operating in a challenging cyber domain. By strengthening our resilience, defence and response capabilities in the cyber domain, and working closely with our partners and allies, we can detect, denounce and defend against cyber threats and cyber actors targeting Canada and our interests.”

    The Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence

    “Through CAF Command, the Department of Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces will continue to develop and scale offensive and defensive cyber operations capabilities in close collaboration with the Communications Security Establishment. This initiative supports cyber operations at the tactical and strategic levels. The new organization will focus resources to advance existing cyber activities in terms of operations, personnel, policy and capabilities.”

    General Jennie Carignan, Chief of the Defence Staff

    “I would like to congratulate MGen Yarker on assuming his role as Commander of the newly established Canadian Armed Forces Cyber Command. He brings considerable knowledge, experience and leadership demonstrated throughout his military career to the benefit of CAFCYCOM, the Defence Team and all Canadians.”

    Stephanie Beck, Deputy Minister of National Defence.

    “Creating a decisive advantage in the cyber domain requires speed, trust, agility and unity of action, and I am proud to have been appointed to lead the organization that will strive to deliver these decisive advantages.”

    Major-General Dave Yarker, CAF Cyber Commander

    “CSE has been a vital partner of the CAF since its inception. Working together is a natural for us, and it will be no different for CAF Cyber Command. That is why we are combining our already world-class foreign cyber operations capabilities to protect Canada in a complex world. At a time when we face cyber warfare even in peacetime, this partnership will benefit Canadians and Canada’s allies, and give us all greater visibility into the evolving threats we navigate every day.”

    Caroline Xavier, Chief of the Communications Security Establishment Canada

    Quick Facts

    COMCYBERFAC will be the single authority of the DND/CAF for cyber operations, responsible for the maintenance, management and development of the cyber force.

    COMCYBERFAC consists of cyber forces, including signals intelligence and joint electronic warfare, and will be capable of conducting and supporting a range of cyber tasks.

    In addition to being an integral part of Canada’s defence and serving our interests, the creation of CYBERCOMFAC will help the CAF achieve the previous commitments to NATO and the cyber and defence components of Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy.

    CYBERCOMFAC will support the CAF’s transition to a pan-domain battlespace for greater agility and responsiveness to malicious cyber activities.

    Since 2010, Major General Yarker has held a variety of key staff and liaison positions with partner and allied agencies, as well as unit and formation level command positions. He was appointed Commander, Joint Force Cyber Component in 2022.

    Related links

    Contact persons

    Simon Lafortune Press Attaché and Communications Advisor Office of the Minister of National Defence Email: Simon.Lafortune2@forces.gc.ca

    Media Relations Department of National Defence Telephone: 613-904-3333 Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Stennis Completes Key Test Complex Water System Upgrade

    Source: NASA

    For almost 60 years, NASA’s Stennis Space Center has tested rocket systems and engines to help power the nation’s human space exploration dreams. Completion of a critical water system infrastructure project helps ensure the site can continue that frontline work moving forward.
    “The infrastructure at NASA Stennis is absolutely critical for rocket engine testing for the agency and commercial companies,” said NASA project manager Casey Wheeler. “Without our high pressure industrial water system, testing does not happen. Installing new underground piping renews the lifespan and gives the center a system that can be operated for the foreseeable future, so NASA Stennis can add to its nearly six decades of contributions to space exploration efforts.”
    The high pressure industrial water system delivers hundreds of thousands of gallons of water per minute through underground pipes to cool rocket engine exhaust and provide fire suppression capabilities during testing. Without the water flow, the engine exhaust, reaching as hot as 6,000 degrees Fahrenheit, could melt the test stand’s steel flame deflector.
    Each test stand also features a FIREX system that holds water in reserve for use in the event of a mishap or fire. During SLS (Space Launch System) core stage testing, water also was used to create a “curtain” around the test hardware, dampening the high levels of noise generated during hot fire and lessening the video-acoustic impact that can cause damage to infrastructure and the test hardware.
    Prior to the system upgrade, the water flow was delivered by the site’s original piping infrastructure built in the 1960s. However, that infrastructure had well exceeded its expected 30-year lifespan.
    Scope of the Project
    The subsequent water system upgrade was planned across multiple phases over a 10-year span. Crews worked around ever-changing test schedules to complete three major projects representing more than $50 million in infrastructure investment.
    “Many people working the construction jobs for these projects are from the Gulf Coast area, so it has created jobs and work for the people doing the construction,” Wheeler said. “Some of the specialty work has had people coming in from all over the country, as well as vendors and suppliers that are supplying the materials, so that has an economic impact here too.”
    Crews started by replacing large sections of piping, including a 96-inch line, from the 66-million-gallon onsite reservoir to the Thad Cochran (B-1/B-2) Test Stand. This phase also included the installation of a new 25,000-gallon electric pump at the High Pressure Industrial Water Facility to increase water flow capacity. The upgrades were critical for NASA Stennis to conduct Green Run testing of the SLS core stage in 2020-21 ahead of the successful Artemis I launch.
    Work in the A Test Complex followed with crews replacing sections of 75-inch piping from the water plant and installing several new 66-inch gate valves. 
    In the final phase, crews used an innovative approach to install new steel liners within existing pipes leading to the Fred Haise Test Stand (formerly A-1 Test Stand). The work followed NASA’s completion of a successful RS-25 engine test campaign last April for future Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond. The stand now is being prepared to begin testing of new RS-25 flight engines.
    Overall, the piping project represents a significant upgrade in design and materials. The new piping is made from carbon steel, with protective linings to prevent corrosion and gate valves designed to be more durable.
    Importance of WaterIt is hard to overstate the importance of the work to ensure ongoing water flow. For a typical 500-second RS-25 engine test on the Fred Haise Test Stand, around 5 million gallons of water is delivered from the NASA Stennis reservoir through a quarter-of-a-mile of pipe before entering the stand to supply the deflector and cool engine exhaust.
    “Without water to cool the deflector and the critical parts of the test stand that will get hot from the hot fire itself, the test stand would need frequent corrective maintenance,” Wheeler said. “This system ensures the test stands remain in a condition where continuous testing can happen.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Coons, Kennedy introduce National Wildlife Refuge Week resolution celebrating wildlife refuges’ value to local communities

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and John Kennedy (R-La.) introduced a resolution yesterday designating the week of October 13-19 2024, as National Wildlife Refuge Week. 

    The resolution celebrates the diversity of ecosystems and wildlife found in our national wildlife refuges and the many recreational activities that they support, including hunting, fishing, and wildlife observation. Since President Theodore Roosevelt created the first U.S. national wildlife refuge in 1903, the National Wildlife Refuge System has served a critical role in wildlife conservation. The national wildlife refuges have been strong drivers of economic growth for local communities across the country, generating billions of dollars each year. 

    “For more than 100 years, the National Wildlife Refuge System has protected our wildlife and ecosystems in Delaware and across the nation while strengthening local economies,” said Senator Coons. “Wildlife refuges like Bombay Hook and Prime Hook, which collectively cover more than 10,000 acres, maintain a healthy ecosystem, local aesthetics, and recreational opportunities in the First State. I am proud to lead the bipartisan National Wildlife Refuge Week resolution alongside Senator Kennedy as we continue to support and conserve biodiversity.”

    “Louisiana is home to more than 23 refuges that help protect our state’s unique species and make us the sportsman’s paradise,” said Senator Kennedy. “This Wildlife Refuge Week, I am grateful for the opportunity to promote America’s natural environment as we preserve these ecosystems for future generations to revel in and enjoy.”

    With more than 572 refuges, 38 wetland management districts, and five marine national monuments – located in every state and territory of the United States – the National Wildlife Refuge System contributes more than $3.2 billion to local economies annually and supports more than 41,000 jobs.

    In addition to Senators Coons and Kennedy, the resolution is cosponsored by Senators Tom Carper (D-Del.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.), and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.).

    The text of the resolution is available here.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CS co-ordinates Golden Week plans

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki today chaired an inter-departmental working group meeting to instruct various departments to better prepare for receiving visitors during the Mainland’s National Day Golden Week from October 1 to 7.

    According to the Immigration Department’s (ImmD) estimate, around 7.01 million passengers will pass through Hong Kong’s sea, land and air control points during Golden Week this year, among which 5.98 million are expected to pass through land control points.

    In terms of Mainland inbound visitors, it is estimated that about 1.23 million passengers will visit Hong Kong during Golden Week.

    The number of outbound and inbound passengers using land boundary control points will peak on October 1.

    The Chief Secretary urged various departments to actively co-ordinate and consolidate supporting services of boundary control points (BCPs), traffic and public transport, promptly respond to various emergency situations and strengthen information dissemination.

    The Inter-departmental Joint Command Centre set up by Customs, Police, the ImmD and other departments will be activated from September 28 to October 7 to monitor the real-time situation at various control points.

    The command centre will maintain close liaison with the Mainland port authorities and take timely contingency actions to flexibly deploy manpower at the BCPs to ensure the smooth operation of the land control points.

    The Security Bureau will also activate the Emergency Monitoring & Support Centre in a timely manner to closely monitor and co-ordinate the public order situation at various BCPs and facilitate inter-departmental follow-up action where necessary to respond promptly to various kinds of emergencies.

    Police will arrange sufficient manpower to implement corresponding crowd management measures and special traffic arrangements to ensure that all celebrations will be conducted in a safe and orderly manner. 

    The Transport Department’s Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre will operate 24 hours to closely monitor the traffic condition and public transport services of different districts, including various BCPs and major stations.

    Deputy Chief Secretary Cheuk Wing-hing, Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Kevin Yeung, Under Secretary for Security Michael Cheuk and representatives of relevant bureaus attended the meeting.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth Applauds Biden-Harris Administration’s Expansion of IVF Coverage for Federal Employees

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    September 25, 2024

    For years, the Senator has led the charge to ensure IVF treatment is covered for more Americans Duckworth’s Right to IVF Act, which Republicans blocked just last week, would enshrine this expansion in law

    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—author of the Right to IVF Act and the bipartisan Family Building FEHB Fairness Act—applauded the Biden-Harris Administration’s announcement that the Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) Program will, for the first time ever, offer multiple plans with comprehensive IVF coverage to the entire federal workforce and their families, no matter their zip code. The FEHB is the largest employer-sponsored group health insurance program in the world, covering more than 8 million employees, retirees, family members and others.

    “I applaud the Biden-Harris Administration for taking this decisive action that I’ve called for to ensure all federal employees have access to IVF coverage—because everyone deserves the ability to access the fertility treatment they need to build their families, no matter where they live.

    “While this is welcome news, any future President could reverse this decision—so it’s critical we permanently protect and expand access to IVF nationwide and ensure no patient or doctor is criminalized simply for trying to start or grow their family. Last week, the Senate had the opportunity to do just that. But when it came time for Senate Republicans to put their votes where their mouths are and help pass my Right to IVF Act, the same Republicans claiming to ‘support IVF’ blocked it and made sure this expansion—and the other common sense IVF protections in the bill—would not be enshrined in federal law.

    “Struggling with infertility is painful enough without the GOP’s hypocrisy, and I won’t stop working until every American in every state can access IVF and experience the joys of parenthood if, when and how they want to.”

    In April, Senator Duckworth—along with U.S. Representative Gerry Connolly (D-VA-11)—led 176 of their colleagues in urging OPM to help ensure all insurance carriers in FEHB program to cover IVF medical treatments and medications in plan year 2025.

    Last week, Senator Duckworth—along with U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ)—led Senate Democrats in trying to pass the Right to IVF Act for the second time, comprehensive legislation led by Duckworth that would require all health insurers to cover IVF. This renewed effort by Senate Democrats came after Donald Trump claimed he wanted IVF to be covered and represented a second chance for Senate Republicans to actually do something that would make it easier for Americans struggling with infertility to access IVF. Despite claiming to support IVF, Senate Republicans blocked the legislation for the second time in just a few months.

    Senator Duckworth’s Right to IVF Act also includes the bipartisan Family Building FEHB Fairness Act, legislation the Senator has led for years that would require carriers to cover IVF and ART and would give the OPM one year to implement its requirements from the date of enactment.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rubio, Moolenaar Introduce Bill to Revoke Capital Gains Rate for Investments in Communist China

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Florida Marco Rubio

    Rubio, Moolenaar Introduce Bill to Revoke Capital Gains Rate for Investments in Communist China

    Sep 26, 2024 | Press Releases

    Many Wall Street financial firms choose to invest in Communist China, pouring hundreds of billions of dollars into enterprises that maintain Communist China’s military, rely on slave labor, and violate trade rules to dismantle American businesses and jobs. This benefits neither the American people nor the American economy, and threatens U.S. national security. 

    Nonetheless, the U.S. tax code rewards these investments with a generously low capital gains tax rate.

    U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and U.S. Representative John Moolenaar (R-MI) introduced the bicameral Patriotic Investment Act to prevent the U.S. tax code from rewarding investments in Communist China.

    • “The Capital gains tax rate was meant to encourage investment in American innovation, not fund an oppressive communist regime, but Wall Street continues to give money to our adversaries and reap rewards from the American tax system. Enough is enough. My Patriotic Investment Act will level the playing field and ensure that our tax code no longer encourages investments that undercut American businesses and workers.” – Senator Rubio
    • “For too long, Americans investing in China’s military-industrial complex have been given unfair tax breaks that allow them to profit from funding our adversary. That’s wrong and Senator Rubio and I are introducing this legislation to put a stop to this special treatment. Our nation’s tax code should be incentivizing investment in the United States, not collaboration with the CCP.” – Congressman Moolenaar

    Specifically, this bill would encourage divestment from Chinese securities by removing  the beneficial capital gains tax rate for these investments. Chinese investments would instead be taxed at the highest income rate. This increased rate would only apply to financial gains that accrue in the future, not gains that have already accrued. Companies and individuals would have six months to divest after passage of the Patriotic Investment Act, and they would be given the ability to spread tax payments over three years.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth Statement on Senate Passage of Continuing Resolution

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    September 25, 2024

    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after the Senate passed a continuing resolution to fund the federal government through December 20, 2024, keeping our government open and sparing working families the pain of a shutdown:

    “Today’s vote is good for working families, our economy and our entire nation because it prevents another damaging, needless MAGA shutdown that only hurts our servicemembers, Veterans and taxpayers.

    “The House GOP’s efforts to include partisan poison pills and bring our nation to the brink of a shutdown have failed, proving once again that bipartisanship is the only way to move forward. I look forward to continuing to work in a bipartisan manner ahead of the December funding deadline to pass the critical appropriations bills that our nation needs to keep our government fully funded and working for working families.”

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth, Moran, Boozman, Klobuchar Launch Senate Sustainable Aviation Caucus

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    September 25, 2024

    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—Chair of the U.S. Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation—U.S. Senator and Subcommittee Ranking Member Jerry Moran (R-KS), John Boozman (R-AR) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) recently launched the Senate Sustainable Aviation Caucus to promote the longevity of the aviation industry and renewable fuels.

    “As we continue our work to reduce emissions and foster energy independence, one of the most important things we can do is make aviation more sustainable by increasing the use and supply of American-grown, American-made sustainable aviation fuel,” said Senator Duckworth. “To help us do just that, I’m proud to join Senators Moran, Klobuchar and Boozman in launching the Senate’s first-ever Sustainable Aviation Caucus. With this new caucus, I look forward to continuing our work to protect and grow American SAF production for use around the world, while also reducing our carbon footprint and supporting our domestic farmers and economy.”

    “As the aviation industry strives for lower emissions and cleaner energy sources, the development and utilization of sustainable aviation fuel will be a critical element,” said Senator Moran. “To help spur development, I am launching the Senate Sustainable Aviation Caucus. The caucus will work together to find ways to promote technologically innovative solutions to create a sustainable aviation industry and increase our nation’s competitiveness in the domestic production of sustainable aviation fuel.”

    “I’m pleased to join this initiative to promote education and policies that support sustainable industry practices,” said Senator Boozman. “I look forward to working with leaders of the caucus and stakeholders to advance measures that continue to advance aviation in an environmentally sound manner.”

    “Airlines across the country are committed to developing technologies to reduce carbon emissions from air travel,” said Senator Klobuchar. “The expanded use of sustainable aviation fuel will create jobs in rural areas, bolster our national security, and slash carbon emissions. This caucus aims to promote data, research, and innovation in sustainable aviation to ensure that the U.S. maintains its leadership in this field.”

    Duckworth has been a leader in supporting biofuels, including expansion of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Earlier this year, she helped introduce the Farm to Fly Act which would help accelerate the production and development of SAF through existing U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs to allow further growth for alternative fuels to be used in the aviation sector and create new markets for American farmers.

    Last year, Duckworth introduced the bipartisan Sustainable Aviation Fuels Accuracy Act of 2023 which would identify the standards required to meet the definition of SAF at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Additionally, the Senator created a pilot project in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to promote the use of SAF at military installations and will continue to increase these efforts to expand the use on biofuels whenever possible.

    Congresswoman Sharice Davids (D-KS-03) and Congressman Dusty Johnson (R-SD-AL) also created the Congressional Sustainable Aviation Caucus for members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Ukraine war: Vladimir Putin ups the ante on his nuclear blackmail – the big question is how the west will respond

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Christoph Bluth, Professor of International Relations and Security, University of Bradford

    Vladimir Putin has announced what appears to be a dramatic strengthening of Russia’s nuclear doctrine. The Russian president was responding to speculation that the west may relax its restrictions on Ukraine’s use of its weapons to attack targets inside Russia.

    He told his security council that Russia would consider using nuclear weapons if it was attacked by any state with conventional weapons. The trigger for the launch of nuclear missiles against Ukraine or any of its allies, he said, would be “reliable information about a massive launch of aerospace attack means and their crossing of our state border”.

    Whether this will affect the thinking of Ukraine’s western allies about the use of its long-range missiles has yet to be seen. But one of the major features of the public discourse about the Ukraine war has been the risk of the use of nuclear weapons.

    Nuclear threats have been a standard tactic for the Russian leadership. Whenever Ukraine receives new weapons from the west or is allowed to use western arms to target Russian territory Moscow has responded by either referring to the devastation it could wreak with its nuclear arsenal or by holding a drill to remind the west of its existence.

    But there have recently been reports of a growing realisation among Putin’s close advisers that these threats are beginning to wear thin, as one after another of Moscow’s “red lines” are ignored.

    Nevertheless, despite providing Ukraine with the most advanced air defence systems and offensive missiles that could strike targets deep within Russia – and perhaps even influence the course of the war – Nato countries are maintaining a strict limit on their use. It’s an indication that despite scepticism about Putin’s willingness to use nuclear weapons, deterrence remains robust – in western minds anyway.

    Nuclear deterrence is based on the threat to inflict “unacceptable damage” on an enemy. It is credible only if the adversary believes that the threat is accompanied by the capability and will to follow through.

    Nuclear powers have generally conducted nuclear messaging by publicising guidelines for the use of their arsenals. Nato’s current strategic concept was adopted by heads of state and government at the alliance’s summit in Madrid in June 2022. It states: “The circumstances in which Nato might have to use nuclear weapons are extremely remote.”

    But the document stresses that if nuclear weapons were used against any Nato member state it would “fundamentally alter” any conflict in which Nato was engaged. It goes on to warn that: “The Alliance has the capabilities and resolve to impose costs on an adversary that would be unacceptable and far outweigh the benefits that any adversary could hope to achieve.”

    Russia, meanwhile, is reportedly updating its nuclear doctrine in response to what it says is “western escalation” in the war in Ukraine. The current doctrine, established by a decree in 2020, says Russia can use nuclear weapons to respond to a nuclear attack by an enemy, or to a conventional attack that “threatens the existence of the state”.

    The latest statement by Putin is apparently the “draft” of a reworked nuclear doctrine. It certainly appears to lower the bar on resorting to the use of nuclear weapons.

    Sabre rattling

    The Russian leader made his first overt threat to use nuclear weapons in the conflict in Ukraine in September 2022. He was overseeing the annexation of four occupied Ukrainian provinces after hastily arranged plebiscites, which were generally regarded in the west as being rigged.

    He stated that “the US is the only country in the world that twice used nuclear weapons, destroying the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Incidentally, they created a precedent.”

    He went on to assert that during the second world war the US and Britain had deliberately bombed several German cities to rubble. This, he insisted, had the “sole goal, just like in the case of nuclear bombardments in Japan, to scare our country and the entire world”.

    But CIA director William Burns recently said the west should not take Putin’s threats seriously: “Putin’s a bully. He’s going to continue to sabre rattle from time to time.”

    CIA director Wiliam Burns and MI6 chief Richatrd Moore in conversation at an FT conference, September 2024.

    Burns told a festival organised by the Financial Times on September 7 that: “There was a moment in the fall of 2022 when I think there was a genuine risk of potential use of tactical nuclear weapons … I never thought … we should be unnecessarily intimidated by that.”

    He said he had subsequently passed on a message from US president Joe Biden to Sergey Naryshkin, the head of the Russian foreign intelligence service at a meeting in Turkey in November 2022 “to make very clear what the consequences of that kind of escalation would be”.

    US satellite networks and other intelligence sources have shown no evidence of any preparations for the employment of nuclear weapons. This is despite Russian claims that the alert status of Russian forces has been raised.

    But Putin’s proxies have been busily putting out propaganda messages to reinforce their leader’s threats. According to the Washington Post, Alexander Mikhailov, the director of the Bureau of Military Political Analysis, recently called for Russia to bomb plywood mock-ups of London and Washington to simulate a nuclear attack, so that that would “burn so beautifully that it will horrify the world”.

    The speaker of the lower house, Vyacheslav Volodin, warned that strikes on Russia would lead to war with nuclear weapons and warned that the European parliament in Strasbourg was only a three-minute flight for a Russian nuclear missile.

    So far Putin’s threats have been sufficient to limit the scope of western involvement. Whether the Russian president’s latest threat will be effective is now the question.

    Christoph Bluth received funding from the Volkswagen Stiftung and the AHRC

    – ref. Ukraine war: Vladimir Putin ups the ante on his nuclear blackmail – the big question is how the west will respond – https://theconversation.com/ukraine-war-vladimir-putin-ups-the-ante-on-his-nuclear-blackmail-the-big-question-is-how-the-west-will-respond-239660

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gallego, Governor Lewis Announce $107 Million is Coming to Gila River Indian Community for Colorado River Conservation

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Ruben Gallego (AZ-07)

    September 25, 2024

    WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-03) and Gila River Indian Community (GRIC) Governor Stephen Roe Lewis announced that $107 million in funding from the Inflation Reduction Act is coming to GRIC for three Colorado River conservation projects.

    “Arizona’s tribes are critical partners in securing our water future,” said Rep. Gallego. “That’s why I’m proud to announce this funding, which I helped secure, to support the Gila River Indian Community and conserve Colorado River water.”

    “We are very excited to be finalizing our agreements for these three major infrastructure improvements, which will have major benefits not just for the Community, but for the entire region,” said Gov. Lewis. “Each one of these projects will allow us to use our water more efficiently on our farms, with annual savings in water of over 7,400 acre-feet per year.  Because we are the largest entitlement holder of Colorado River water delivered through the CAP canal, our savings can readily translate into major reductions in our use of Colorado River water, which will add to the 1 million acre-feet of our water that we have already left in Lake Mead for the benefit of the system.”

    The funding announced today is expected to conserve of over 73,000 acre-feet of water over the next 10 years. The funding will be split among the following three projects:

    • $64 million to replace and upgrade irrigation systems on Gila River Farms.

    • $26 million to concrete line over 7.5 miles of earthen canals in the Blackwater area.

    • $17 million to construct a regulating reservoir to capture flows that are currently being spilled from the Santan Canal when too much water is accidentally ordered or delivered into the system.

    Gov. Lewis added that the projects are ready to go, reaffirming to the significance of today’s announcement.

    “We will begin construction on two of these projects in early October and on the third in early November,” he explained. “ All the projects will be completed prior to the Post-2026 Guidelines, which will undoubtedly hit the State of Arizona very hard. These savings will help us all weather those anticipated cuts, and also put us in a position of ensuring we use every drop of our water most efficiently.

    The entire Gila River Indian Community is appreciative of the role that Cong. Gallego and the Arizona delegation played in ensuring that drought and water conservation funding were included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act.”

    You can learn more about Rep. Gallego’s work on water in his report: Securing Arizona’s Water Future.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Ukraine war: Zelensky’s pleas for help are getting drowned out in the clamour from the Middle East

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Stefan Wolff, Professor of International Security, University of Birmingham

    While Russia continues its nuclear sabre rattling, with renewed threats to use its arsenal if attacked, fighting on the frontlines in Ukraine and in Russia’s Kursk region remains intense. But the diplomatic centre of gravity of the war recently shifted to New York and Washington.

    Discussions at the UN and meetings scheduled between the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, the US president Joe Biden and vice-president Kamala Harris are by no means unimportant for the outcomes of the conflict. But it is unlikely that they will constitute the pivotal moment in accelerating the pace towards a Ukrainian victory that Zelensky might envisage.

    At meetings at the UN general assembly and security council, Zelensky appealed to world leaders to support his country and force Russia to make peace with Ukraine. His vision to achieve this is via a second global peace summit. This time he wants Russia to participate after the first effort in Switzerland in June achieved very little.



    Read more:
    Ukraine summit fails to provide a path to peace for Kyiv and its allies

    But with Zelensky continuing to push his ten-point peace plan and Putin insisting on Ukraine recognising Russia’s annexation of Crimea and four regions on the mainland, the two sides are as far apart as ever. So prospects of any meaningful negotiations virtually non-existent.

    This has not deterred Zelensky from promoting to Ukraine’s allies what he is calling his “victory plan”.

    The plan “envisages quick and concrete steps by our strategic partners … from now until the end of December”. These concrete steps are likely to include more western military support and the permission to use longer-range western weapons against targets deeper inside Russia.

    This latter point is something on which the western alliance is divided – and the US sceptical on its strategic value. Putin’s insistence that Russia will respond by using its nuclear arsenal if it detects any western missiles crossing its border will have added to this uncertainty.

    Even if more decisive western support were suddenly forthcoming, it is unlikely that it would offset other disadvantages that Ukraine and its allies are facing on the battlefield and beyond. Russia has consolidated its alliances with Iran, North Korea and China. All of these countries have supplied mission-critical ammunition and equipment that has enabled the Kremlin to sustain its war effort in Ukraine.

    Russia, so far, has also maintained its advantage in numbers. It appears to be determined to push this even harder following Putin’s order to increase the number of combat troops of the Russian army by another 180,000 soldiers.

    Meanwhile, a relentless Russian air campaign against Ukrainian infrastructure has also caused lasting damage, especially to the country’s energy supply network. This is likely to have a particularly adverse effect on Ukraine’s civilian population. It is likely to seriously dent morale during the coming winter.

    Other plans (and priorities)

    As discussions at the UN this week have underlined, there is also some diplomatic momentum building up behind a joint proposal by Brazil and China that was initially launched in May. Brazil’s president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, pushed the plan during his speech at the UN general assembly on September 24, as did China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi.

    Like previous proposals from China and Brazil individually, as well as from Indonesia, a group of African states and Saudi Arabia, the joint Brazilian-Chinese plan calls for a ceasefire along the current frontlines. Negotiations would then follow.

    Ukraine fears, rightly, that this would entrench the status quo and effectively amount to Kyiv giving up territory illegally annexed by Russia. It would not guarantee any fruitful negotiations but give Russia time and space to regroup and rebuild its armed forces for a likely future escalation. None of this is acceptable to Ukraine and its allies as Zelensky made clear in his speech at the UN.

    Volodymr Zelensky criticises the Brazil-China plan at the UN general assembly.

    China’s previous effort to promote this joint initiative with Brazil just before the peace summit in Switzerland last June, did not go very far. It may not go much further this time either.

    But attention and resources are now much more focused on the Middle East and – to a lesser extent – the civil war in Sudan. So the very fact of this plan’s resurrection may be enough for Russia and its allies to prevent the rest of the world from uniting behind the western-backed Ukrainian proposal for a second global peace summit.

    This is clearly a concern for Ukraine. Zelensky, with a clear eye on countries in the global south, not only rejected the proposal but also argued that forcing Ukraine to make territorial concessions to Russia would be akin to reimposing a version of the brutal colonial past of the Soviet era on his country.

    Will Zelensky be Trumped in November?

    While the stars are thus hardly aligning in Ukraine’s favour at the UN in New York, things did not go much better as far as US domestic politics is concerned ahead of presidential elections in November. Questioning whether Donald Trump really has a credible plan to end the war, Zelensky triggered the notoriously short-fused Republican contender into lashing out at him at campaign rallies.

    Donald Trump takes aim at Volodymr Zelensky.

    Trump is both accusing Zelensky of refusing to make a deal and expressing doubts about Ukraine’s ability to win the war. Meanwhile, a recent opinion piece penned by Robert F. Kennedy Jnr and Donald Trump Jnr for The Hill, an influential political newspaper, urges that Ukraine be pushed to make a deal with Russia to prevent nuclear escalation.

    And Trump’s running-mate J.D. Vance has made clear his opposition to the US continuing to supply aid to Ukraine if elected in November. So it’s pretty clear that there is a very real prospect that Washington may soon cease to be Kyiv’s most important global ally.

    All of this explains the urgency behind Zelensky’s push for more and more decisive western support in the coming months, and his pleas to the wider international community to back efforts for a just peace for Ukraine. But it also indicates that Russia and its allies have, for now, done enough to further frustrate any progress towards a Ukrainian victory both on the battlefield and at the negotiation table.

    Stefan Wolff is a past recipient of grant funding from the Natural Environment Research Council of the UK, the United States Institute of Peace, the Economic and Social Research Council of the UK, the British Academy, the NATO Science for Peace Programme, the EU Framework Programmes 6 and 7 and Horizon 2020, as well as the EU’s Jean Monnet Programme. He is a Trustee and Honorary Treasurer of the Political Studies Association of the UK and a Senior Research Fellow at the Foreign Policy Centre in London.

    – ref. Ukraine war: Zelensky’s pleas for help are getting drowned out in the clamour from the Middle East – https://theconversation.com/ukraine-war-zelenskys-pleas-for-help-are-getting-drowned-out-in-the-clamour-from-the-middle-east-239752

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How history can teach us to prevent deaths at sea

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Guy Collender, Post Doctoral Senior Research Associate, Centre for Port Cities and Maritime Cultures, University of Portsmouth

    AndriiKoval/Shutterstock

    The rapid sinking of the Bayesian superyacht and the loss of seven lives, including tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, in August 2024 cruelly emphasised the potentially lethal perils of the sea. This tragedy, although much publicised, is far from unusual. Globally, accidents at sea lead to thousands of deaths every year – but the true scale of the problem is unknown.

    Undoubtedly, life at sea remains hard and dangerous in the 21st century, but this is difficult to quantify. There were 215 shipping industry related deaths at sea recorded in 2022. However, due to a lack of standardised data and under-reporting this figure is likely to be an underestimate.

    Efforts to raise awareness and improve safety at sea today have much to learn from historic and successful safety initiatives in the UK’s docks. My research on early 20th century docks shows that proper data is a prerequisite to understanding a problem and identifying trends. Such an assessment can then lead to the allocation of resources, targeted safety measures – and life-saving change.

    These steps all apply to improving safety at sea, but the lack of accurate data is a real stumbling block.

    Life and death at sea

    Fishing is widely recognised as the “most dangerous occupation globally”, but estimates of deaths among the fishing community vary enormously from 32,000 to more than 100,000 deaths per year. Of course, such deaths also occur inland in lakes and rivers, as well as at sea.

    Twenty-six vessels of over 100 gross tonnes were recorded lost in 2023, with 13 sinking beneath the waves. This is low when compared with the loss of more than 200 vessels a year in the 1990s, but there have also been recent worrying trends such as attacks on shipping in the Red Sea. So far in 2024, four Red Sea seafarers have been killed by Houthi rebels from Yemem, with others injured and held hostage.

    Desperation and war are also leading to deaths and risks elsewhere. A total of 3,155 migrants crossing the Mediterranean were recorded as missing or dead in 2023.

    Nevertheless, such challenges and risks to life are increasingly being recognised and efforts are underway to address them. Importantly, better data collection and monitoring is in the pipeline.

    An amendment to the 2006 international maritime labour convention is expected to come into force in December 2024. It will require countries that have agreed to the convention to report deaths of seafarers on an annual basis to the UN’s International Labour Office.

    These will be published in a global register, and they will be investigated. It remains to be seen how such reporting will operate in practice and how deaths will be categorised – but it will be a good start.

    History lessons

    This is where it is helpful to learn from the past. I have researched the historic reduction of the dangers of dock work in the UK for Hindsight Perspectives for a Safer World – a collaboration between History and Policy and Lloyd’s Register Foundation.

    My study shows how progress was linked to gathering better data, and recognising the risks of loading and unloading cargo. The counting and scrupulous categorisation of accidents helped identify the problems and appropriate safety measures.

    In 1900, factory inspectors identified five causes of dock accidents, including falls (into the ship’s hold, or into the water), and shunting accidents involving trains. The docks were classified as one of the “dangerous trades” in the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901.

    Under the dock regulations of 1904, “life-saving appliances” – chains or floats – were introduced to prevent drownings. Lifting machinery was also subject to stringent checks to prevent deaths from falling loads.

    And more and more proactive inspections took place as the number of inspectors rose from 137 in 1900 to 320 by 1939. All these safety measures and others contributed to dock deaths falling from 115 a year in 1899 to 69 a year in 1939.

    Today’s safety initiatives at sea often echo the work of those safety pioneers in the early 20th century. Together in Safety, a consortium of companies dedicated to improving safety in the maritime sector, suggests a three-step safety process – assess the situation, act to improve, appraise the progress – which replicates the work of those early legislators and inspectors.

    Together in Safety’s clear and succinct golden safety rules show how to mitigate the risks of maritime work, including working over water and entering enclosed spaces.

    What’s more, Lloyd’s Register Foundation – a charity that helps to protect life and property at sea, on land, and in the air – is undertaking work to “assure the safety of people as the ocean economy grows” as part of its Global Maritime Trends 2050 Research Programme.

    Two million seafarers face daily dangers to keep the global supply chain operating smoothly. Doing more to highlight their safety will hopefully lead to a better understanding of the challenges they face. This, in turn, should lead to better safety procedures and practices to save lives at sea.

    Guy Collender was commissioned and paid to research the history of dock safety in the UK for Hindsight Perspectives for a Safer World – a collaboration between History and Policy and Lloyd’s Register Foundation. He is currently employed by the University of Portsmouth on the ‘Sail to Steam, Carbon to Green’ research project, which is funded by Lloyd’s Register Foundation.

    – ref. How history can teach us to prevent deaths at sea – https://theconversation.com/how-history-can-teach-us-to-prevent-deaths-at-sea-237432

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The world isn’t taking Putin’s nuclear threats seriously – the history of propaganda suggests it should

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Colin Alexander, Senior Lecturer in Political Communications, Nottingham Trent University

    Vladimir Putin has spoken several times about using nuclear weapons since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. However, the initial attention and concern that global news media gave to Putin when he first spoke on the issue in September 2022 seemed to have largely dissipated over the past two years of conflict, perhaps because of the frequency with which he has threatened to resort to use of Russia’s nuclear arsenal.

    Now Putin has issued his strongest threat yet, saying that Russia would use nuclear weapons against any country attacking it, even with conventional weapons. This statement appears to be intended to influence the debate happening at the United Nations, where Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky is trying to persuade his country’s western allies to allow Ukraine to use the weapons they have provided against targets deep within Russia itself.

    This has been a “red line” hitherto that Ukraine’s allies have been unwilling to cross. That may be about to change though and Russia’s reaction has been to reiterate a nuclear response.

    For those interested in the study of propaganda, Putin’s threats appear to have moved from what American media scholar Dan Hallin called the “sphere of legitimate controversy”, where the validity of an utterance is urgently debated by journalists, politicians and academics, into the “sphere of consensus”, where there is broad agreement about the meaning of the message. This generally results in it receiving less attention.

    To believe that Putin is not serious about using nuclear weapons is a dangerous assumption to make. But it provides a good opportunity to examine the political and public relationship with nuclear weapons in more detail.

    The psychology of nuclear threat

    Most adults know of the existence of nuclear weapons and understand the consequences of their use. Very few are simply ignorant of them or their immense power. But global annihilation is too overwhelming to think about other than fleetingly. As a result we tend to focus on less drastic futures.

    These regular denials and self-deceptions affect political outlooks though. Every so often the leader of a nuclear-armed country is asked by a journalist or another politician about their readiness to press the nuclear button. They always say “yes”. When this question is asked in front of an audience there is usually enthusiastic applause.

    This response – applauding an individual politician’s willingness to bring about the end of the world – is perhaps the most compelling evidence of the duality that the threat of nuclear war exists within. Rather than perceiving such a response as the worrying sign that a maniac has somehow manoeuvred their way into high office and should be immediately removed, the voter perceives the utterance as a signifier of leadership strength.

    Psychologically, it can be argued that the applause actually represents an outpouring of relief that this mass self-deception can continue.

    ‘Fear propaganda’ and confirmation bias

    During the cold war, official propaganda placed great emphasis upon threat and preparedness for nuclear attack. The BBC film Threads first aired 40 years ago in September 1984 and depicted the aftermath of a nuclear strike. It was responsible for great alarm among the British public at a time when news media, movies and even official literature were also focused upon the threat of nuclear war.

    Between 1974 and 1980, the UK government issued a booklet entitled Protect and Survive, accompanied by short films. The BBC, in its public service role, also ran documentary programming including a 1980 edition of Panorama called If The Bomb Drops. While US secretary of state Henry Kissinger’s 1957 study Nuclear War and Foreign Policy caused alarm for arguing that small-scale nuclear war using “battlefield” weapons might be possible.

    Cold war communications like these served to focus the public mind towards the threat of nuclear attack above all other fears. And perhaps, at that time, they were right to do so. But more than 30 years have now passed since the end of the cold war and the emphasis within what is known as “fear propaganda” now focuses on other threats, such as extremism, pandemics and migration.

    As such, Putin’s nuclear threats provide propaganda analysts like myself with a case study about the important role played by fear propaganda in determining what people are scared of. If taken within the wider history of the fear of nuclear holocaust, it is clear that political leaders cannot rely on their words alone to be taken seriously. They require a wider supportive propaganda environment – like the atmosphere created at the height of the cold war.

    Putin the ‘madman’

    Questions around how to understand Putin’s nuclear attack threats ought to be positioned as the latest in a long(ish) line of world leaders who have tried to convince global publics of their readiness to commit nuclear genocide.

    Richard Nixon, for example, used what was referred to as “madman” tactics when trying to convince people of his readiness to push the button. Interestingly, the more recent depictions of Putin, Kim Jong-un and other authoritarian leaders as madmen by western tabloids can actually helps them by playing down the fact of their inferior military capabilities when compared to those of the Nato allies.

    Don’t think for a moment though that any of this discussion of propaganda increases or decreases the actual threat posed by nuclear weapons. Indeed, there exists a degree of confirmation bias among politicians, journalists and other public commentators that because nuclear war did not happen during the cold war, it is unlikely to happen now. But this can’t be guaranteed. It may be that these conclusions are mistakenly based upon the intensity of the propaganda environment – not the actuality of the threat posed.

    To this end, it ought to be remembered that the ability to press the button sits well within the capacity of the sane human mind. US president Harry S. Truman pushed the button in 1945. He was then given detailed reports of the death and destruction that his decision caused to Hiroshima. Then he pushed the button again to annihilate Nagasaki.

    Colin Alexander 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. The world isn’t taking Putin’s nuclear threats seriously – the history of propaganda suggests it should – https://theconversation.com/the-world-isnt-taking-putins-nuclear-threats-seriously-the-history-of-propaganda-suggests-it-should-239942

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: New ADB–IFFEd Partnership to Unlock $500 Million in Concessional Education Financing in Asia and Pacific

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    MANILA, PHILIPPINES (26 September 2024) — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed an agreement with the International Finance Facility for Education (IFFEd) that will enable at least $500 million in new concessional education funding for lower middle-income countries (LMICs) in Asia and the Pacific.

    Under the financing partnership, IFFEd—a sovereign-backed Swiss foundation established in 2023 to invest in education and skills in LMICs—will guarantee $125 million of ADB’s sovereign loan exposure across all sectors, known as a synthetic portfolio, and provide an initial $50 million in grants.

    By blending IFFEd’s guarantees to ADB with grants that will comprise 10% of every loan, the first-of-its-kind arrangement facilitates a four times leverage ratio of the guarantee, boosting the amount of capital ADB can lend while lowering borrowing costs for the bank’s developing member countries (DMCs).

    “Education is the cornerstone of modern, prosperous, and inclusive societies, and we are pleased to announce this partnership with IFFEd,” said ADB Vice-President for Sectors and Themes Fatima Yasmin. “By pooling catalytic and concessional financing, this initiative means our lower middle-income DMCs can scale up their investments in education and skills—vital to building knowledge-based economies—along with other sectors at the same time.”

    LMICs face an education crisis. More than 50% of students in these countries are not able to read simple text by age 10 despite attending school, and graduates do not have the skills to find jobs, leaving employers unable to fill vacancies.

    As countries move from lower to lower middle-income status, they tend to get caught in a financing “missing middle” where they are no longer eligible to receive grants but cannot afford nonconcessional financing—forcing a difficult decision of where to invest, exacerbated by limited domestic financing.

    By bringing concessional or grant resources to developing countries seeking to strengthen their education systems, the ADB–IFFEd partnership’s key innovation lies in the fact that—at a time of rapid change—it will help ADB’s DMCs prepare for a future characterized by digital transformation, climate change, demographic transitions, and rapid urbanization.

    IFFEd’s sovereign donors include Canada, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, while the Atlassian Foundation, Jacobs Foundation, Porticus, Rockefeller Foundation, and the Soros Economic Development Fund (the investment arm of Open Society Foundations) have provided seed capital. IFFEd, which benefits from a strong credit rating, will initially focus on Asia and the Pacific, and Africa, in collaboration with multilateral development banks (MDBs).

    “Investing in education and skills in LMICs—home to nearly half of the world’s children and youth—is key to powering long-term economic growth and making progress on global health, climate, and equity goals,” said IFFEd Founding Chief Executive Officer Karthik Krishnan.

    “IFFEd has been recognized by the G20 MDB Capital Adequacy Framework Review as one of the most significant development finance innovations in the past decade and delivers seven times more impact than traditional grants. ADB played a key role in shaping the IFFEd instrument and as our first founding MDB partner, ADB is showcasing its unwavering commitment to alleviating poverty and powering economic growth in Asia and the Pacific,” added Mr. Krishnan.

    The following ADB DMCs are currently eligible for IFFEd funding: Bangladesh, India, Mongolia, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste, Uzbekistan, and Viet Nam.

    IFFEd-funded education projects can support ADB programs at any level of the education system—from early childhood development and school education to technical and vocational training, skills development and tertiary education.

    ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members—49 from the region.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Galaxy S24 Series Expands With S24 FE: A Premium Experience That Makes Full Galaxy AI Capabilities Attainable for More Users

    Source: Samsung

    Samsung Electronics today unveiled the Galaxy S24 FE, the latest addition to the Galaxy AI ecosystem, delivering premium mobile experiences to more users.
    Powered by the AI-based ProVisual Engine and Galaxy AI’s Photo Assist features, Galaxy S24 FE showcases an enhanced camera setup that empowers users to be more creative. It’s the perfect device for gaming on the go with a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, a long-lasting 4,700mAh battery,1 and a powerful Exynos 2400 series chipset. The Galaxy S24 FE offers premium Galaxy AI2 tools and ecosystem connectivity to enhance communication, productivity, and creativity — all housed in an iconic design and protected by robust Samsung Knox security.

    “We want everyone to enjoy all the benefits of our latest mobile innovations,” said SeaYoung Lee, Corporate EVP and Head of the Smartphone Research and Development team at Samsung Electronics. “Galaxy AI opens so many new experiences for users, helping them communicate, and be more creative and productive. Galaxy S24 FE makes the powerful performance and premium Galaxy AI capabilities of the S24 series available to even more people.”
    Unlock Creativity With AI-enhanced Camera and Editing
    Galaxy S24 FE makes it easy for anyone to shoot stunning photos and videos. Its premium camera setup features a 50MP wide lens and 8MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom — both supported by optical image stabilization (OIS) — plus a 12MP ultra-wide lens and a 10MP selfie camera.

    The camera system’s capabilities are further elevated by Samsung’s dynamic ProVisual Engine, an AI-driven camera engine that takes photo quality to incredible heights. Making its debut in the FE series, the ProVisual Engine features innovative technology that leverages advanced AI algorithms to deliver breathtaking detail and remarkably subtle textures:
    Nightography with AI image signal processing (ISP) to improve low light performance, enabling beautiful night portraits
    The wide camera’s 50MP Adaptive Pixel Sensor helps enable optical-quality performance at 2x and 3x zoom. AI zoom also provides enhanced image quality for distances between digital zoom lengths
    Object-Aware Engine to recognize scenes and optimize colors in Super High Dynamic Range (HDR), ensuring vibrant and lifelike photos and videos

    When it is time to edit, Photo Assist features help users turn their ideas into reality. Since its introduction on Galaxy S24 series devices, Galaxy AI has become invaluable for editing images and expressing creativity:
    Generative Edit3 reassembles the world through object moving and removal capabilities, allowing more creative freedom
    Portrait Studio4 reimagines selfies as cartoons, comics, watercolor paintings, or sketches to add flair to online profiles
    Edit Suggestions quickly remove pesky flaws, such as reflections, with the press of a button
    Instant Slow-mo5 immortalizes every second of life’s important moments in a snap
    Game On With Powerful Performance

    The powerful Exynos 2400 series chipset enables an uncompromised gaming experience compatible with cutting-edge features such as Ray Tracing. When every bit of speed and efficiency counts, the Galaxy S24 FE utilizes several key features to stay ahead of the competition:
    A 1x larger vapor chamber6 improves cooling to maintain peak performance for longer durations.
    A higher-capacity 4,700mAh battery7 allows for long, worry-free gaming sessions.
    A 7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display — the largest display ever used in the FE series — with a up to 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, provides a smooth and stunning viewing experience.
    Vision Booster optimizes color and contrast for clear and comfortable gaming even in sunlight.
    Seamless Galaxy AI Experiences
    The Galaxy S24 FE incorporates the same advanced AI experience as the Galaxy S24 series. Designed to enhance work, simplify communication, and increase connectivity, Galaxy AI on the S24 FE offers tools that unlock new possibilities.

    Circle to Search with Google8 satisfies curiosity with unprecedented ease by offering instant search results with just a long press of the home button and circle
    Interpreter9 instantly translates in-person conversations, lectures, or any other type of presentation, even when offline
    Live Translate10 breaks down communication barriers on phone calls, and is now being extended to a selection of popular third-party apps
    Composer from Samsung keyboard generates suggested text based on simple keywords for email and supported social media apps
    Note Assist11 streamlines the note-taking process and automates formatting and translation. In Samsung Notes you can directly get transcription, translation, and summarization of voice recordings. Text in PDF files can also be translated and overlaid through PDF overlay translation

    Connecting and Securing the Samsung Galaxy Ecosystem
    Every Galaxy AI-enhanced experience becomes even more useful when the Galaxy S24 FE is connected to Samsung’s expansive mobile ecosystem. It seamlessly transfers files, quickly sets up extended displays, and effortlessly executes complex creative ideas through intuitive inputs. In this hyper-connected Samsung Galaxy ecosystem, Galaxy S24 FE enables experiences that increase productivity, creativity, and efficiency.
    Building on the innovative legacy of the S series, the Galaxy S24 FE is fortified with strong security. Samsung Knox, Galaxy’s multi-layer security platform that safeguards critical information and protects against vulnerabilities with end-to-end secure hardware, real-time threat detection, and collaborative protection.
    As a continuation of the S24 series tradition of sustainable design, the Galaxy S24 FE  has been made to do more with less when it comes to the planet’s resources . It features a wide variety of recycled materials, including recycled plastics, aluminum, glass, and rare earth elements in both internal and external components.12 It also features seven generations of OS upgrades and seven years of security updates,13 and comes in a packaging box made from 100% recycled paper material.14
    Enhanced Experiences With Watch FE LTE
    In June, Samsung advanced the legacy of FE devices by offering key health and wellness tools to even more users with Galaxy Watch FE. That continues with the upcoming release of Galaxy Watch FE LTE, which allows users to take advantage of their Galaxy Watch from anywhere, by taking calls, tracking their wellness progress, and so much more — all without needing a connection to a phone.

    Availability & Offers
    The Galaxy S24 FE and Galaxy Watch FE LTE are both available for pre-order on Samsung.com beginning today.
    Pricing for Galaxy S24 FE starts at $649.99 and comes in four colors: Blue, Graphite, Gray, and Mint,15 available on Samsung.com and major carriers and retailers nationwide beginning October 3.
    Pricing for Galaxy Watch FE LTE starts at $249.99, with availability at Samsung.com and major carriers and retailers beginning October 3.
    Those who pre-order Galaxy Watch FE LTE will receive a free light-weight fabric watch band.

    Samsung Galaxy S24 FE Specifications

    Display  6.7-inch FHD+
    Dynamic AMOLED 2X
    120Hz Adaptive refresh rate (60/120Hz)
    Vision Booster
    *Measured diagonally, Galaxy S24 FE’s screen is 6.7-inch in the full rectangle and 6.5-inch accounting for the rounded corners; actual viewable area is less due to the rounded corners and camera hole.
    Dimensions & Weight77.3 X 162.0 X 8.0mm, 213g
    *Device weight may vary by market.
    Camera12MP Ultra-Wide Camera
    • F2.2, FOV 123˚ 
    50MP Wide Camera
    • OIS F1.8, FOV 84˚ 
    8MP Telephoto Camera
    • 3x Optical Zoom, OIS F2.4, FOV 32˚ 
    10MP Front Camera 
    • F2.4, FOV 80˚ 
    ProcessorExynos 2400e (4nm)
    Memory + Storage8 + 128 GB
    8 + 256 GB
    8 + 512 GB
    *Storage options and availability may vary by carrier, country or region. Actual storage availability may vary depending on pre-installed software.
    Battery4,700 mAh
    * Typical value tested under third-party laboratory condition. Typical value is the estimated average value considering the deviation in battery capacity among the battery samples tested under IEC 61960 standard. Rated (minimum) capacity is 4,565mAh. Actual battery life may vary depending on network environment, usage patterns and other factors.
    Charging*Wired charging*: Up to 50% charge in around 30 mins with 25W Adapter** and 3A USB-C cable***
    Fast Wireless Charging****
    Wireless PowerShare*****
    *Wired charging compatible with QC2.0 and PD.
    **25W Power Adapter sold separately. Use only Samsung-approved chargers and cables.
    *** Results from internal Samsung lab tests, conducted with 25W Travel Adapter connected to newly pre-released version of Galaxy S23 Ultra while device had 0% of power remaining, with all services, features and screen turned off. Actual charging speed may vary depending on the actual usage, charging conditions and other factors.
    ****Wireless charging compatible with WPC.
    *****Limited to Samsung or other brand smartphones with Qi wireless charging, such as Galaxy Z Fold 6, Z Flip6, S24 Ultra, S24+, S24, Z Fold5, Z Flip5, S23 Ultra, S23+, S23, S23 FE, Z Fold4, Z Flip4,, S22 Ultra, S22+, S22, Z Fold3, Z Flip3, S21 Ultra, S21+, S21, S21 FE, Z Fold2, Note20 Ultra, Note20, S20+, S20, S20 FE, Z Flip 5G, Z Flip, Note10+, Note10, S10 5G, S10+, S10, S10e, S10 Lite, Fold, S9, S9+, S8, S8+, S8 Active, S7, S7 edge, S7 Active, S6, S6 edge, S6 Active, S6 edge+, Note9, Note8, Note FE and Note5. Only available with certain Samsung Galaxy wearables such as Galaxy Buds3, Buds3 Pro, Buds FE, Buds2 Pro, Buds2, Buds Pro, Buds Live, Galaxy Watch Ultra, Watch6, Watch5, Watch 5 Pro, Watch4, Watch4 Classic, Watch3, Watch Active2, Watch Active, Gear Sport, Gear S3, Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Buds. If battery power is lower than 30% Wireless PowerShare may not function. May not work with certain accessories, covers, other brand devices or some Samsung wearables. During PowerShare, it may affect call reception or data services, depending on your network environment.
    OSAndroid 14
    One UI 6.1
    Network and Connectivity 5G*, LTE**, Wi-Fi 6E,*** Wi-Fi Direct Bluetooth® v 5.3
    *Requires optimal 5G network connection, available in select markets. Check with carrier for availability and details. Download and streaming speeds may vary based on content provider, server connection and other factors.
    **Availability of LTE model varies by market and carrier. Actual speed may vary depending on market, carrier, and user environment.
    ***Wi-Fi 6E network availability may vary by market, network provider and user environment. Requires optimal connection.Will require a Wi-Fi 6E router.
    SecurityAuto Blocker, Samsung Knox, Samsung Knox Vault, Samsung Knox Matrix, Passkey
    Water ResistanceIP68
    * IP68 Rating: Conducted under lab test conditions. Water resistant in up to 1.5 meters of fresh water for up to 30 minutes and protected from dust, dirt, and sand. Rinse residue/dry after wet. Not advised for beach or pool use. Water and dust resistance of device is not permanent and may diminish over time.
    1 Charger not included. Use only Samsung-approved chargers and cables. Do not use worn or damaged chargers or cables. An incompatible charger or cable can cause damage to your device and/or serious injuries.
    2 Galaxy AI features by Samsung will be provided for free until the end of 2025 on supported Samsung Galaxy devices.
    3 Generative Edit requires a network connection and Samsung Account login. Editing with Generative Edit results in a resized photo up to 12MP. A visible watermark is overlaid on the image output upon saving in order to indicate that the image is generated by AI. The accuracy and reliability of the generated output is not guaranteed.
    4 Portrait Studio requires a network connection and Samsung Account login. Supports JPG, HEIC (HEIF), BMP and PNG files. The background must not be transparent. Editing with Generative Portrait results in a resized photo up to 12MP. A visible watermark is overlaid on the image output upon saving in order to indicate that the image is generated by AI. The accuracy and reliability of the generated output is not guaranteed.
    5 Instant Slow-Mo available only with videos saved in the Samsung Gallery app, recorded at up to 4K@60fps (not available with HDR10+ videos)
    6 Compared Galaxy S24 FE to Galaxy S23 FE.
    7 Compared Galaxy S24 FE to Galaxy S23 FE (4,500mAh).
    8 Requires internet connection; results may vary by uniqueness, clarity and framing of circled image and related factors.
    9 Requires Samsung account login and language preset (English and Spanish pre-installed; other languages require free download) Results may vary.
    10 Requires compatible Galaxy device. Samsung account login and language preset (English and Spanish pre-installed; other languages require free download). Results may vary.
    11 For text in Samsung Notes only (200 – 4,000 characters); requires Samsung account login and internet connection.
    12 It features a wide variety of recycled materials, including recycled plastics, aluminum, glass, and rare earth elements in both internal and external components.
    13 Availability and timing of Android OS upgrades and security updates may vary by device model and market.
    14 100% recycled paper is used in the following packaging components: the Product Packaging Unit Box, Cover Protector, Manual Box, Manual Pad, and DLC Band.
    15 Availability of colors may vary by market and carriers.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Anti-Slavery Day Lunch and Learn Sessions

    Source: City of Coventry

    Coventry City Council is thrilled to be launching the a timetable of lunch and learn sessions to mark National Anti-Slavery Day in October.

    To mark National Anti-Slavery Day on the 18 of October 2024, Coventry City Council will be hosting a series of free Lunch & Learn Sessions highlighting different elements of modern slavery and exploitation.

    These sessions are aimed at professionals in Coventry who may encounter modern slavery in their roles, both operationally and strategically. The sessions will be provided by a range of agencies, covering different topics. Every session will run from 12 to 12:30pm over Teams.

    The Council would like to thank all the agencies that are delivering sessions, this is a true partnership effort which highlights the collaborative approach our city is taking to tackle exploitation.

    Please book onto as many sessions as you like. If you have any questions regarding the sessions, do not hesitate to contact the Council’s Modern Slavery Lead at modernslavery@coventry.gov.uk

    The events:

    Download a timetable of the events.

    Thursday, 26th September 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Galaxy Tab S10 Series is Samsung’s AI-Ready Tablet

    Source: Samsung

    Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today unveiled the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra and Galaxy Tab S10+, Samsung’s first tablets purpose-built for AI. Premium hardware includes 14.6-inch1 and 12.4-inch2 Dynamic AMOLED 2X displays — the ideal canvas for the intuitive S Pen bundled with both models. Performance upgrades for the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra3 include an 18% increase in CPU, 28% increase in GPU, and 14% increase in NPU compared to the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra.
    This improved processing power enables faster and more responsive AI features, which are now easily accessible with written prompts using the new Galaxy AI Key on the compatible Book Cover Keyboards, helping users customize their AI assistant.4 Cutting-edge software includes features such as Note Assist5 and Drawing Assist6 optimized for the tablet form factor. The Galaxy Tab S10 series also acts as a home AI device, with a 3D Map View that provides a visual overview of the home and connected devices to streamline device management across the SmartThings ecosystem.7 Robust Samsung Knox security provides data privacy and control, keeping users’ information safe.
    “The Galaxy Tab S10 series is packed with AI enhancements right out of the box, joining our portfolio of innovative Galaxy AI enabled devices,”8 said MC Lee, VP, Head of Galaxy Ecosystems Business Team, Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics. “We’re proud to add to our seamless ecosystem of connected devices, bringing versatile experiences that only an AI tablet can offer through the Galaxy Tab S10 series’ blend of power and portability.”

    Peak Performance on the Go
    Built on Samsung’s legacy of providing powerful experiences, Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra and Galaxy Tab S10+ harness significant leaps in AI processing power to deliver a supercharged, lag-free experience. Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra includes a more than 18% increase in CPU, 28% increase in GPU, and 14% increase in NPU compared to Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra. Coupled with long-lasting battery life and Super-Fast Charging,9 the Galaxy Tab S10 series allows the device to be used for long periods of time  without needing a charge.
    Elegant Build Quality, Mesmerizing Display

    Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra’s 14.6-inch display and Galaxy Tab S10+’s 12.4-inch display both feature cutting-edge Dynamic AMOLED 2X technology and offer a vibrant yet natural viewing experience, even outdoors. Every detail remains clear from any angle and in any environment with advanced anti-reflective technology, minimizing distracting glare and reducing reflection rate. The series’ quad speaker setup is further enhanced with AI-powered Dialogue Boost, which amplifies voices over unwanted noise to create ultra-clear audio. And for use on the go, the Galaxy Tab S10 series offers uncompromised durability with an IP68 rating10 further protected by enhanced Armor Aluminium — built to use anytime, anywhere.
    Work Smarter, Achieve True Creativity
    The Galaxy Tab S10 series offers an efficient experience — enhancing productivity — and serves as the ideal canvas to let out your creative side.

    With Note Assist and the intuitive S Pen, notetaking is a breeze on the tablet’s large display. Schoolwork, note-taking, and personal journaling become more efficient with automated transcriptions and summaries provided by AI. With PDF Overlay Translation, the Galaxy Tab S10 series can also seamlessly translate PDFs via an on-screen overlay. Handwriting Help cleans up untidy handwritten notes, too.
    Galaxy AI’s Sketch to Image11 makes the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra perfect for turning imagination into reality, acting as the ideal creative assistant for overcoming mental roadblocks.
    With Circle to Search12 with Google on the Galaxy Tab S10 series you can learn about almost anything without switching apps. Instantly translate anything you see on your tablet with Google, including any image, video, or text in two taps — allowing you to quickly get the info you need, then get right back to what you were doing. Circle to Search can even recognize and outline steps for solving physics and math problems.
    The Galaxy S Pen’s Air Command with AI provides instant access to Galaxy AI Assistant features without toggling between menus. AI Assistant apps can also be easily launched by the Galaxy AI Key on the Book Cover Keyboards with written prompts, making it easier for users to access Galaxy AI. Users can even choose between Samsung’s Bixby and Google’s Gemini for a customized AI experience.13
    Intelligent Home Device

    The Galaxy Tab S10 series doubles as a Galaxy home AI device, simplifying device management. With large screen optimized features such as 3D Map View, it’s easy to see and take control of SmartThings enabled devices via the SmartThings widget. That means switching off the TV and lowering the lights from the table when it’s dinner time, turning up the air conditioning without getting off the couch, or getting notified when someone leaves the refrigerator door open — all on one powerful device. Users can also enable SmartThings Energy and AI Energy Mode to easily monitor their devices’ energy consumption. Galaxy AI doesn’t just enhance life on the go, it also takes the stress out of home life.
    Expanded Third-Party App Ecosystem

    The Galaxy Tab S10 series expands Galaxy’s unique connected experience and third-party app ecosystem, offering new and enhanced apps. The Tab S10 series provides access to leading third-party apps including Goodnotes,14 LumaFusion,15 Noteshelf3,16 Clip Studio Paint,17 PicsArt, and Sketchbook. Users can easily control speeds and add dramatic visual effects when editing videos on LumaFusion, or share their creative edits and re-created content with friends via PicsArt. With the Galaxy Tab S10 series’ extensive third-party app ecosystem, there’s something for everyone.
    Secure Experiences, Powered by Samsung Knox
    Samsung is committed to providing users with choice and control over their devices and their data. With Advanced Intelligence settings, users can choose to disable online data processing to ensure their data remains on-device. Samsung Knox’s real-time threat detection and collaborative protection keeps users safe, so they can live life to the fullest.
    Availability & Offers
    The Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra and Galaxy Tab S10+ are available for preorder starting today, with general availability beginning October 3 at Samsung.com and national retailers.
    Galaxy Tab S10+ will also be available in a 5G model at major carriers such as AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon.
    For those who pre-order Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra or Galaxy Tab S10+ at Samsung.com or Best Buy, Samsung is offering enhanced trade-in value up to $800 off either device.
    Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra starts at $1,199.99, with 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage options.
    Galaxy Tab S10+ starts at $999.99, with 256GB and 512GB storage options.
    Both devices are available in Moonstone Gray and Platinum Silver.
    For more information about the Galaxy Tab S10 series, please visit: https://www.samsung.com/us/tablets/galaxy-tab-s10/

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Change to health board status

    Source: Scottish Government

    NHS Forth Valley move to stage 3

    NHS Forth Valley will move to stage 3 of the NHS Scotland Support and Intervention Framework following improvements in leadership, culture and governance at the Health Board.

    The move will apply from 1 October 2024 and will mean NHS Forth Valley no longer requires direct formal oversight from the Assurance Board, in place since 23 November 2022, which will now be stood down.

    Health Secretary Neil Gray said:

    “Following considerable progress against measures outlined in their improvement plan, it is encouraging the Scottish Government are now able to move NHS Forth Valley to stage 3 on the Support and Intervention Framework.

    “The Board has provided evidence of tangible and sustainable improvements across the three areas they were escalated for: leadership, culture, and governance.

    “This is a step forward, however it is vital improvements made are sustained and the Board continues to prioritise delivery of actions now being monitored as business as usual.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Confirmed Government funding sets the scene for two cultural projects

    Source: City of Derby

    Government funding for two leading cultural projects in Derby has been secured, paving the way for the restoration of the historic Guildhall Theatre, and Derby Theatre’s redevelopment project.

    Sign-off of £20 million of UK Government funding, which was put on hold when the General Election was called, has now been confirmed by the Ministry of Communities, Housing and Local Government (MCHLG).

    Partners Derby City Council, the University of Derby and Derby Theatre will now work to develop their plans for the two buildings.

    Half of the funding, £10 million, will go towards bringing the Grade II listed Guildhall Theatre back into use. Further funding has been allocated from the Council’s capital budget, and opportunities for match funding are being explored.

    Councillor Nadine Peatfield, Leader of Derby City Council and Cabinet Member for City Centre, Regeneration, Strategy and Policy, said:

    It is fantastic news that this much-needed funding has been secured for our city. Now we can look towards restoring one of our historic buildings and create more space for community-led arts groups to perform right in the city’s cultural heart.

    The other half of the funding will go towards a new accessible and flexible studio theatre adjoining the current building at Derby Theatre. In addition, a new Learning and Research Hub will develop further the undergraduate and postgraduate offer to study theatre in a professional setting and give more space to Derby Theatre’s expanding community programme.

    Professor Kathryn Mitchell CBE DL, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Derby, said:

    We are delighted that plans to develop Derby Theatre are progressing forwards. 

    The Theatre plays a vital role in the creative and cultural ecology of our city and is a key part of our university. As a professional, producing and learning theatre, it provides our students with a unique and valuable opportunity to study alongside professionals.

    We are fully committed to supporting Derby Theatre and the regeneration of our city and look forward to continuing to work with partners on this project.

    Sarah Brigham, CEO and Artistic Director of Derby Theatre said:

    These new facilities will enable us to expand and embed our community programmes into the heart of the theatre, become a hot house for artistic talent in the city and develop work which suits a more intimate setting. At a difficult time for artists and cultural venues, we are delighted by this vote of confidence in Derby Theatre.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Secretary of State visits farm amidst bluetongue outbreaks

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Secretary of State Steve Reed visited an Essex farm this week to hear from NFU representatives and a famer who recently had animals tested for bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3).

    Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Steve Reed

    Secretary of State Steve Reed visited an Essex farm this week (Wednesday 25th September) to hear from NFU representatives and a famer who recently had animals tested for bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3).

    The Secretary of State, accompanied by Animal Plant Health Agency staff, including APHA’s Veterinary Head of Outbreaks for England Sascha Van Helvoort, heard about the impact this disease has been having on the industry and the importance of reporting livestock suspected of having the disease.

    Bluetongue virus is primarily transmitted by midge bites and affects cattle, goats, sheep, deer and camelids, with case numbers now increasing dramatically in northern Europe. Symptoms include fever, lethargy, ulcers or sores in the mouth or nose, and reduced milk yield.

    Disease control zones were put in place to control the movement of potentially affected animals as soon as bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) was detected. These zones have been under constant review and adjustment as the disease situation has developed, such as when evidence of local transmission of disease emerged. A single Restricted Zone is now in place covering the east of England from Lincolnshire to West Sussex.

    Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Steve Reed, said:

    I have heard first-hand the experiences of farmers battling this disease and we are working hard to prevent its spread into other areas of England and Great Britain.

    We understand restrictions can have an impact but stress the importance of everyone adhering to these. We are committed to working with everyone affected and urge people to report livestock they suspect have the disease.

    Sascha Van Helvoort, APHA Veterinary Head of Field Delivery and Veterinary Head of Outbreaks for England, said:

    The increasing number of bluetongue virus (BTV-3) cases demonstrate the importance of vigilance from all livestock keepers and farmers.

    We have field teams, vets and scientists across the country who are working hard to help tackle bluetongue virus and ensure farmers are being supported.

    If you have any suspicions of disease, you must report this to the Animal Plant Health Agency immediately so we can provide assistance.

    Defra has permitted use of the currently available unauthorised BTV-3 vaccines, subject to licence. We recommend animal keepers work with their veterinarians to decide if vaccination is right for their animals. To prioritise initial supplies, a general licence allows those in high-risk counties of England to use the vaccine. Specific licences can be applied for through APHA by animal keepers elsewhere in England who wish to use the vaccine

    BTV is a notifiable disease. Suspicion of BTV in animals in England must be reported to the Animal and Plant Health Agency on 03000 200 301, 03003 038 268 in Wales or your local Field Services Office in Scotland. 

    View more information about bluetongue. Check the list of all bluetongue cases and control zones and view the bluetongue interactive map.

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 September 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Flooding impacts across the country

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Heavy rainfall forecast over the next 24 hours across the country means significant river and surface water flooding is possible across central England.

    Heavy rainfall forecast over the next 24 hours across the country means significant river and surface water flooding is possible across central England

    Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, Worcestershire, Bedfordshire and Gloucestershire, amongst others, are likely to be affected with minor impacts expected in other parts of Southern England and the North with river flooding is also possible on Friday in the north-east of England.

    At 1pm on Thursday there were 27 flood warnings, showing flooding is expected, and 73 flood alerts, showing flooding is possible.

    Heavy rain and thunderstorms earlier in the week has led to around 385 properties flooded Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Kent and the Home Counties.

    With further rain coming, Environment Agency teams are out on the ground putting up flood defences, clearing blockages and supporting local authorities in their response work.

    We continue to urge people to keep an eye on the weather, check their flood risk, and take care planning their journeys.

    Kate Marks, Flood Duty Manager at the Environment Agency, said:

    Heavy rainfall across the country means that significant river and surface water flooding impacts are possible in parts of central England today and into Friday. Minor river flooding impacts are also possible in parts of north-east England today and Friday.

    Environment Agency teams continue to be out on the ground, supporting local authorities in responding to surface water flooding. We urge people to plan their journeys carefully, follow the advice of local emergency services on the roads and not to drive through flood water – it is often deeper than it looks and just 30cm of flowing water is enough to float your car.

    People should check their flood risk, sign up for free flood warnings and keep up to date with the latest situation as well as following @EnvAgency on X for the latest flood updates.

    The Flooding Minister has today visited communities in Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard to hear more about the impacts earlier this week. On Wednesday, Environment Secretary visited Northamptonshire on Wednesday to receive a briefing on their response and the actions taken to protect communities locally.

    Updates to this page

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: 20 rescued, 144 arrested in major child abuse operation across South America

    Source: Interpol (news and events)

    26 September 2024

     

    LYON, France – An international operation targeting child sex offenders has led to 144 arrests and enabled the safeguarding of 20 victims across South America.

    During Operation Orion International, 12 South American countries joined forces to combat the production, distribution and possession of online child sexual abuse and exploitation material, focusing particularly on victim identification and rescue.

    As a result of the operation, undertaken with the coordination and support of INTERPOL, 18 direct abusers were caught and 111 people were charged with possession and distribution of abuse material. Seven individuals wanted internationally for child sex offenses, who were the subjects of INTERPOL Red Notices, were also arrested as part of the crackdown.

    The arrested individuals, predominantly men, were aged between 14 and 86 and came from diverse backgrounds. Their occupations included: professor, graphic designer, security guard, mechanic, musician, journalist, psychologist and taxi driver.

    Case studies: child victims safeguarded after years of abuse

    In Argentina, local authorities had identified abuse material circulating on messaging applications.  With the support of INTERPOL and its additional data, authorities were able to identify and safeguard a nine-year-old victim who had suffered at least six years of abuse.

    In a separate case in Chile, police identified an offender sharing child sexual exploitation material in messaging groups. Following his arrest, investigators analysed the seized information and established that the same person had also produced child sexual abuse material at the arrest location. This made it possible to identify and safeguard a 14-year-old girl, the daughter of the perpetrator’s partner.

    As part of Operation Orion International, participating countries were also asked to assess existing Red Notices for child sexual offenders believed to be living within their borders.

    In one such case, Korean authorities had provided information about the manager of a website which shared child exploitation material. Thanks to the collaboration between Korea and Ecuador, with coordination from INTERPOL, the individual was apprehended.

     

    Chile: Targeting the production and distribution of online child sexual abuse material

    Hardware seized in Argentina has opened new avenues for investigation

    Paraguay: 144 arrests were made during the international operation

    Venezuela was one of 12 participating countries in the operation

    Arrests in Colombia as part of Operation Orion International

    International cooperation throughout South America

    The region-wide initiative, which ran from May to September 2024, was launched by INTERPOL following information provided by Chile’s cybercrime unit and the Buenos Aires’ prosecutor’s office, concerning investigations into the transnational distribution of child sexual abuse material on instant messaging applications.

    INTERPOL’s Crimes Against Children unit analysed and consolidated this information, along with its existing data, and then shared this intelligence with participating countries. A preoperational meeting with prosecutors and investigators, supported by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, laid out the roadmap for cross-border collaboration.

    INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock said:

    “This operation, and the harrowing cases it exposed, is yet another reminder that child abusers are from all walks of life. Thanks to this international effort, children who have known a lifetime of abuse have been protected from further exploitation.

    “INTERPOL will continue to work with all member countries in our continued, and vital, efforts to protect the most vulnerable members of society.”

    As well as joint international action, the operation required cooperation at a national level, across multiple states. It resulted in arrests and victim identification in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela.

    The hardware seizures and evidence gathered during Operation Orion International have opened new avenues for investigation, with further results to follow.

    Participating countries: Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: DHS Statement on Safety and Enforcement During Hurricane Helene

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    During emergency events, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) works with its federal, state, local, and non-governmental partners to support the needs of the people in the areas that may be impacted.

    In such circumstances, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) remind the public that sites that provide emergency response and relief are considered protected areas. To the fullest extent possible, ICE and CBP do not conduct immigration enforcement activities at protected areas such as along evacuation routes, sites used for sheltering or the distribution of emergency supplies, food or water, or registration sites for disaster-related assistance or the reunification of families and loved ones.

    At the request of FEMA or local and state authorities, ICE and CBP may help conduct search and rescue, air traffic de-confliction and public safety missions. ICE and CBP provide emergency assistance to individuals regardless of their immigration status. DHS officials do not and will not pose as individuals providing emergency-related information as part of any enforcement activities.

    DHS is committed to ensuring that every individual who seeks shelter, aid, or other assistance as a result of a natural disaster or emergency event is able to do so regardless of their immigration status.

    DHS carries out its mission without discrimination on the basis of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or gender identity, ethnicity, disability or political associations, and in compliance with law and policy.

    For information about filing a complaint with the DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties about these matters, please visit our Make a Civil Rights Complaint page.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Glenwilliam — PEI RCMP Police Dog helps arrest a St. Mary’s Road man for outstanding arrest warrant

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    September 26th 2024, Glenwilliam, Prince Edward Island – PEI RCMP used a police dog to help arrested a 31-year-old St. Mary’s Road man. He is facing 20 charges including driving, property and resist arrest offences.

    On September 24th, 2024, RCMP Provincial General Investigation Section executed a warrant at a residence in Glenwilliam, Prince Edward Island with the goal of arresting an accused who had an outstanding warrant of arrest, and was charged in multiple investigations. During the execution of the search warrant the accused fled on foot from the property. RCMP officers pursued the man and the RCMP police dog was instrumental in his safe apprehension. The man received minor injuries and was held in custody to appear before provincial court on September 26th, 2024.

    31-year-old Morgan Daniel Dixon will answer to 20 charges in relation to 6 separate investigations into driving, property, failing to appear in court and resist arrest offences.

    This investigation was completed by the PEI RCMP Provincial General Investigation Section with the assistance from the Kings District RCMP, and the PEI RCMP Police Dog Service.

    “Arrest warrants don’t go away, in cases where an individual has an outstanding arrest warrant, RCMP remain diligent in their efforts to investigate and bring that person to justice,” said Cpl Gavin Moore, Media Relations Officer for the Prince Edward Island RCMP.

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

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