NewzIntel.com

Category: Machine Learning

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: DGCA attends Asia-Pacific aviation heads conference in Philippines (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    DGCA attends Asia-Pacific aviation heads conference in Philippines (with photos)
    DGCA attends Asia-Pacific aviation heads conference in Philippines (with photos)
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         The Director-General of Civil Aviation, Mr Victor Liu, led a Hong Kong delegation comprising representatives from the Civil Aviation Department (CAD) and the Hong Kong International Aviation Academy (HKIAA), to attend the 59th Conference of Directors General of Civil Aviation, Asia and Pacific Regions, organised by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), in Cebu, the Philippines.     The theme for this year’s Conference was “Shaping the Future of Aviation: Sustainable, Resilient, and Inclusive”. The five-day Conference, with over 320 participants from 44 member states, administrations and international organisations, concluded on a high note today (October 18). Discussion and information papers covering a wide range of subjects, including aviation safety, air navigation, aviation security, aviation and the environment, aviation technologies, as well as regional co-operation, were submitted by aviation authorities and industry organisations to the Conference.     During the Conference, Mr Liu moderated the discussion of an agenda item on aviation safety. The discussion covered a wide range of subjects, including safety management, safety culture and promotion, and applications of various artificial intelligence and innovation technologies.     The CAD submitted four papers to the Conference in response to the theme topic. Among them, the paper titled “Operationalisation of Autonomous Vehicles at the Hong Kong International Airport: A Regulatory Perspective” shared the successful experience of the application of autonomous vehicle technology to enhance safety and efficiency of airport operations in Hong Kong. The other three papers discussed the opportunities and challenges of applying artificial intelligence across various aspects of aviation, shared the CAD’s experience in utilising advanced technologies to enhance weather-related collaborative decision making in air traffic management, and shared information on the successful hosting of the Asia Pacific Region Innovation & Capacity Building Symposium 2023 under the theme “Uniting the Strength of Innovation for Building a Seamless Sky”, jointly organised by the Civil Aviation Administration of China, the CAD and the HKIAA in December 2023. The papers received recognition and support from delegates.     This year, the HKIAA set up an exhibition booth during the Conference to showcase its multidisciplinary training opportunities for aviation professionals. The HKIAA also submitted a paper to the Conference to share Hong Kong’s initiatives in addressing the training needs of the Asia Pacific region.     During their stay in Cebu, the CAD delegation attended side meetings with representatives from different aviation authorities and industry organisations such as the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the International Air Transport Association. Views on matters of mutual interest were shared, and ways to strengthen co-operation were explored with the aim of facilitating aviation developments.     ???The CAD will continue to maintain close co-operation with its aviation partners and continue to support the ICAO’s global aviation development initiatives.

     
    Ends/Friday, October 18, 2024Issued at HKT 15:30

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: GITEX GLOBAL puts 5G and Artificial Intelligence (AI) at the forefront of discussions to connect and empower tomorrow’s world

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

    DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, October 18, 2024/APO Group/ —

    5G emerged as a focal point at GITEX GLOBAL 2024 (www.GITEX.com), the world largest tech and startup event, with visitors getting a glimpse of the possibilities of the wireless technology with AI and its role to powering a hyperconnected future through groundbreaking innovations and insightful discussions.

    The ‘Intelligent Connectivity’ event saw a combination of thought-provoking conversations and exhibitors displaying their powerful products and services that will revolutionise the world in the coming years. It comes at a time where GSMA projects a seismic shift in connectivity with 1.4 billion devices set to be linked with 5G by 2025, further fueling a USD $1.1 trillion IoT market within a USD $3.9 trillion mobile economy.

    The expertly curated programme brought together some of the most influential voices from global enterprises and organisations including Khalid Murshed, Chief Technology & Information Officer at e&, Wang Hui, President, NCE Data Communication Domain at Huawei China and Thomas Lamanauskas, Deputy Secretary General at ITU Switzerland. They were also joined by Roque Lozano, SVP, Network Infrastructure MEA at Nokia, Kazuhiro Gomi, President and CEO of NTT Research and SG Chung, Chief AI Global Officer at SK Telecom.

    Away from the stage, the showcase featured a diverse range of impressive technologies from leading exhibitors, Huawei, e&, Nokia, China Telecom, Ericsson, Cisco, and Beyon among them. These industry giants presented cutting-edge solutions, highlighting next-generation 5G applications with their participation underscoring GITEX GLOBAL’s role as a key platform for exploring the future of connectivity and digital transformation.

    A glimpse into a 5G-advanced powered AI future

    With 5G and AI on a verge to catalyse a paradigm shift in the telecommunications landscape, Khalid Murshed Chief Technology & Information Officer of e&, one of the largest telecommunications operators in the Middle East and North Africa region, explained the transformative impact of network capabilities.

    He said: “5G and 5G advanced serve as a platform for everyone to come in to innovate with applications that can drive demand for the network to be enhanced further and further.”

    “We have to build a network with the capabilities and then fit in the AI applications and this is what we’re doing hand-in-hand. We’re not just building a network for the sake of technology leadership. It’s a bilateral game by all means and we are building them to enable new cases while today we have live networks and private 5G.”

    Another leading global provider of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart devices, Huawei identifies several key technologies as the backbone of its solutions towards facilitating an intelligent future. 5G-Advanced (5G-A) remains vital to supporting rapid and low-latency communication – critical for building advanced applications, in addition to big, unified data, AI, and cloud computing.

    AI and 5G fuelling the future of autonomous vehicles

    The future of mobility and how autonomous vehicles can benefit from 5G was another highlight. Speaking in a panel, Siyuan Liu, Head of IoT Partnership & Strategy, Greater China, at China Unicom Global, said the company is accelerating its efforts into the AI and vehicle connectivity industries with 5G playing a central role.

    She highlighted that 5G is vital for the growth of autonomous vehicles, reshaping society and helping make accurate decisions – all of which can enhance the efficiency of transportation and safety.

    Large Language Models (LLMs) are disrupting industries all over the world and the telecommunications sector is no different. Wang Hui, President of Huawei NCE Data Communication Domain, highlighted that AI applications are being leveraged extensively in China’s autonomous vehicles and in AI health services.

    Unleashing powerful innovations – superpower agent and all-electric supercar

    Thousands of visitors were introduced to the most disruptive products and services powered by 5G in the most anticipated exhibition which attracted the leading tech enterprises and solution providers in telecoms, networks, and infrastructure. Attendees were not short of innovation options with game-changing partnerships and launches unveiled during the event.

    e& announced a collaboration with Vodafone Business IoT to use the company’s Global SIM+ eSIM solution to provide in-vehicle connectivity and enhanced digital services for Mercedes-Benz AG drivers in the UAE. The service will be commercially available in the first half of 2025.

    The company also displayed the Nissan Hyper-Force, an all-electric high-performance supercar, connected through e& UAE 5G SIM cards delivering the ultimate in-driving experience, and launched their new human-digital advisors, combining hologram technology and AI to cater to the diverse cultural nuances of Telecom customers in the UAE.

    At Avaya’s stand, visitors saw how the company is creating superpower agents, powered by AI, showcasing new capabilities which can assist individuals to make scalable decisions that help businesses grow.

    GITEX GLOBAL is seamlessly connecting the world’s largest network of tech events with GITEX EUROPE Berlin, GITEX ASIA Singapore, GITEX AFRICA Morocco, and GITEX Nigeria, all part of its portfolio. These events are fostering collaboration and driving innovation to shape the tech landscape of tomorrow.

    More information on GITEX GLOBAL, please visit http://www.GITEX.com

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: GITEX GLOBAL hosts Middle East’s largest data centre gathering to propel the future of hyperscale, modular, and edge infrastructure

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

    DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, October 18, 2024/APO Group/ —

    GITEX GLOBAL 2024 (www.GITEX.com), the world’s largest tech and startup event, hosted the Middle East’s largest data centre gathering on Thursday at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), showcasing the region’s commitment to becoming a global leader in the rapidly evolving data centre market.

    The conference programme underscored the far-reaching implications of AI in data infrastructure, a driving force behind the rapidly expanding billion-dollar global market., while leading enterprises captivated the audience with their innovative solutions, showcasing the future of hyperscale, modular, and edge data centres.

    As businesses increasingly turn to AI, the global data centre market is projected to reach USD $256 billion by the end of this year and will rise to USD $775 billion by 2034.

    GITEX GLOBAL serves as a critical platform for industry leaders to engage in discussions that highlight the urgent need for enhanced and scalable data centres, essential for supporting the burgeoning AI-driven demand.

    Driving Job Opportunities And Benefiting Society

    On “Data Centres Universe”, conversations focused on how hyperscale, edge, and modular data centres can contribute to the growth in the presence of the sector’s biggest names. Major players, including Khazna, Legrand, Vertiv, Alibaba Cloud, AWS, DELL, Google Cloud, IBM, and Lenovo, convened to share their perspectives on the evolving trajectory of the industry, explore potential avenues for accelerated growth, and underscore the critical role of expansion in catalyzing global ambitions for AI-driven innovation.

    Hassan Al Naqbi, CEO of Khazna Data Centers, the MENA region’s largest hyperscale wholesale data centre provider, explained during a panel discussion that more data centres not only boost the market’s growth but also build capacity, supporting talent development, and fostering employment to meet the increasing demand.

    He said: “A lot of people think that data centres are not a job creation machine. However, data centres are vital for economies and have different roles involved. If you look at all the hyperscales, their data centres are having a huge impact on the economy as people can secure jobs which are vital for the day-to-day operations.”

    As the conversation shifted toward the future of data centres, industry experts emphasized the importance of sustainable practices in their development as the industry’s advancements enable the next-generation of tech solutions and services.

    Marc Marazzi, Vice President of Legrand Data Center Solutions, shared his perspective on the need for careful planning and environmental responsibility in this rapidly expanding market. He believes the industry will go from strength to strength but organisations must exercise caution in their decision-making when building data centres taking into account long-term considerations of how the world will evolve over the next decade.

    He said: “It’s great to see many taking the green initiative very seriously and looking at the way they are building and cooling data centres. Today, they are bigger than ever before and being built faster but we must not lose sight of the importance of how we manufacture, what we are installing and how they are managed. Data Centres are built with 15 years in mind and we have to think what they would look like in a specific time and get it right from the beginning.”

    What Next at GITEX GLOBAL 2024?

    As GITEX GLOBAL comes to a close on Friday, ‘Futuristic Friday’ promises to feature groundbreaking technologies such as quantum computing, advanced robotics, and space tech, all poised to redefine the boundaries of possibility in the tech landscape.

    Taking place from 14-18 October at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), GITEX GLOBAL is recognized as the world’s largest and best-rated tech event. This year presents a record-breaking 44th edition – welcoming over 6,500 exhibitors, 1,800 startups, 1,200 investors alongside governments from more than 180 countries.

    GITEX GLOBAL in Dubai is seamlessly connecting the world’s largest network of tech events with its stellar list including GITEX EUROPE Berlin, GITEX ASIA Singapore, GITEX AFRICA Morocco, and GITEX NIGERIA. These events are fostering collaboration and driving innovation to shape the tech landscape of tomorrow.

    More information is available at: http://www.GITEX.com

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI: Fanhua Announces Change of Ticker Symbol From “FANH” to “AIFU”

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    GUANGZHOU, China, Oct. 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Fanhua Inc. (Nasdaq: FANH) (the “Company” or “Fanhua”), a leading independent technology-driven financial services provider in China, today announced the change of its ticker symbol from “FANH” to “AIFU”. Effective on October 23, 2024, the Company’s American Depository Shares will begin trading on Nasdaq under the new ticker symbol “AIFU”.

    The change aligns with the Company’s proposed change of Company’s English name from “Fanhua Inc.” to “AIX Inc.” and Chinese name from “泛华控股集团”to“智能未来有限公司”with effect from November 1, 2024, pending approval by the Company’s shareholders at the extraordinary general meeting scheduled on October 31, 2024.

    About Fanhua Inc.

    Driven by its digital technologies and professional expertise in the insurance industry, Fanhua Inc. is the leading independent financial service provider in China, focusing on providing insurance-oriented family asset allocation services that covers customers’ full lifecycle and a one-stop service platform for individual sales agents and independent insurance intermediaries.

    With strategic focus on long-term life insurance products, we offer a broad range of insurance products, claims adjusting services and various value-added services to meet customers’ diverse needs, through an extensive network of digitally empowered sales agents and professional claims adjustors. We also operate Baowang (www.baoxian.com), an online insurance platform that provides customers with a one-stop insurance shopping experience.

    For more information about Fanhua Inc., please visit https://ir.fanhgroup.com

    Forward-looking Statements

    This press release contains statements of a forward-looking nature. These statements, including the statements relating to the Company’s future financial and operating results, are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these forward-looking statements by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “estimates” and similar statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about Fanhua and the industry. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those relating to its ability to attract and retain productive agents, especially entrepreneurial agents, its ability to maintain existing and develop new business relationships with insurance companies, its ability to execute its growth strategy, its ability to adapt to the evolving regulatory environment in the Chinese insurance industry, its ability to compete effectively against its competitors, quarterly variations in its operating results caused by factors beyond its control including macroeconomic conditions in China. Except as otherwise indicated, all information provided in this press release speaks as of the date hereof, and Fanhua undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although Fanhua believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that its expectations will turn out to be correct, and investors are cautioned that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results. Further information regarding risks and uncertainties faced by Fanhua is included in Fanhua’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual report on Form 20-F.

    For more information, please contact:

    Fanhua Inc.

    Investor Relations
    Tel: +86 (20) 8388-3191
    Email: ir@fanhgroup.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Simpsonhaugh Architects Embraces Digital Transformation with VDI And AI, Leveraging ControlUp’s DEX Platform for Real-Time Performance Analytics and Remediation

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LONDON, Oct. 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ControlUp, at the forefront of Digital Employee Experience (DEX) management, today announced that SimpsonHaugh Architects, a UK-based, award-winning and respected practice, is utilising the ControlUp DEX platform to monitor and optimise its new VDI environment in real-time.

    SimpsonHaugh is making a £1.21 million investment over several years to digitally transform by introducing VDI and AI technology to underpin the future development and operations of the business. Industry leading solutions have been installed including Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktop, Citrix NetScaler, VMware vSphere Hypervisor, Dell Servers with vSAN storage, NVIDIA vGPU and ControlUp’s DEX platform which is providing VDI performance analytics and remediation.

    Adopting VDI was driven by a strategic decision to centralise IT on-premise at SimpsonHaugh’s headquarters in Manchester, improve remote-working, support a work-life balance for staff and boost project collaboration by not being constrained by physical workstations.

    The IT team also wanted to avoid the complexity, time and expense of managing systems over three locations given the practice also has offices in London and Birmingham. Furthermore, many workstations – high end PCs each costing up to £6,500 – were becoming end of life, unreliable, consuming a lot of power and needed to be upgraded.

    The new VDI platform supports agile working yet is optimised to run GPU-intensive architectural applications like Revit, Rhino, Enscape and SketchUp – crucial to delivering customer projects on time, in what is an ever-demanding industry.

    “Architecture is a heavy user of graphics-based IT. Building Information Modelling is now adopted pervasively, producing large volumes of data and consuming substantial compute. Clients recognise the technology improvements so the expectations about the visuals and data provided are growing,” says Dave Moyes, partner, information and digital systems, SimpsonHaugh. “Ten years ago, we might have created 500 drawings for a project. Today, it’s at least double. Projects are increasingly complex and time scales are tight. The pressure to be quick and agile while creating quality design proposals which optimise a client’s brief is therefore considerable. It is no exaggeration to say that ICT to support this is indispensable.”

    SimpsonHaugh’s ICT strategy involves keeping technology simple for staff to use. The business is project delivery and ‘time charge’ based. ICT system availability is paramount given downtime has material impact on this.

    UK managed service provider and digital workspace consultancy, ebb3, was selected to support with the roll out and have been instrumental in the design, implementation and management of the VDI environment. ebb3 also provides SimpsonHaugh technical 2nd and 3rd line support.

    “The transition to VDI is being phased. SimpsonHaugh is running a hybrid environment – both virtual desktops and physical desktops – so as to capitalise on its existing investment in expensive workstations,” explains Jav Fiaz, ebb3’s Technical Architect & Senior Platform Engineer. “A key project goal was to keep the compute and data as close as possible to minimise latency which we’ve delivered.”

    Moyes adds, “If virtual desktops aren’t resourced properly – and applications freeze or suffer from latency – staff will blame the “new system”. Guaranteeing the end-user experience is vital. Monitoring in real-time using ControlUp’s DEX platform identifies which applications are hogging resources so that remedies can be considered like adding RAM, GPU or ‘throttling down’ software which is compute intensive.”

    SimpsonHaugh is experiencing significant benefits through the combination of VDI and ControlUp’s DEX platform:

    1. Potentially £1.79 million lost earnings saved. VDI has resulted in a huge reduction in IT downtime equating to approximately 17% of SimpsonHaugh’s 2023 turnover. This is based on 15% gain in hours per week multiplied by 80 architectural staff over the course of a 38-week year using an average hourly rate of £105. Time savings result from less break-fix, fewer hardware and software issues with files and applications opening faster.
    2. Annual overall ICT investment maintained through the VDI implementation – no significant spikes in hardware cost, with VDI giving certainty that systems are guaranteed to work.
    3. Huge productivity gains for staff, with superior work-life balance realised. Architecture is a vocation. SimpsonHaugh’s employees are passionate about what they do. Citrix enables people to work easily from home – just as if they were in the office – while juggling their personal lives more advantageously.
    4. Staff cannot tell if they are working on a physical machine or via VDI – a testament to the quality and ease of use of Citrix and careful management by ebb3.
    5. VDI has improved collaboration with trusted third parties such as specialist consultants by opening up part of the environment when required.
    6. Potentially £35,000 saved not hiring an additional employee to support VDI by leveraging the ControlUp DEX platform.
    7. Problem solving time has drastically reduced using ControlUp information as real-time data about what is happening within the IT environment is provided, thereby pinpointing issues faster. VDI can now be fully optimised to cater for the peaks and troughs of project workflow, without the ‘over spec’ing‘ of IT hardware required which reduces ICT costs.

    Project next steps

    SimpsonHaugh is currently working to expand its VDI environment to cover the whole business. This will take 3-5 years to complete. The strategy is to replace workstations as they approach end of life rather than waste perfectly good IT equipment.

    In addition, SimpsonHaugh is upgrading its corporate network to a 25 Gigabit Ethernet backbone to further support the end-user experience. The practice is also purchasing higher resolution 2k and 4k screens for staff and introducing Nutanix data storage to manage the virtual server environment.

    SimpsonHaugh is also working on other ICT innovation projects such as introducing privately hosted AI using private data across the practice (where powerful networking and compute is paramount) – a key priority given the impact AI is making on the architecture profession.

    Private AI is the only option because of client project confidentiality issues – where strict NDAs are signed – with SimpsonHaugh using three types of AI engine:

    • Word AI. This is an expanding area and involves the automation of tasks such as minutes of meetings, site reports and schedules.
    • Image AI. This is a new area and will involve using AI to create detailed images of early-stage design proposals based on sketches and LLM text inputted into an AI system. This will take into account a range of parameters like site orientation, type of cladding material (brick, render, glass etc), with the AI tools generating options in a SimpsonHaugh ‘style’ to facilitate communication of ideas. The practice is reviewing using ComfyUI and Microsoft Copilot as possible solutions.
    • Generative AI. This branch of AI is well established and used to support work such as the production of parametric designs. The planning of space layouts in a building is an excellent example. Using generative AI, you can stretch a grid in any given direction to change the number and types of spaces within a given architectural form.

    “The project to introduce VDI and our DEX platform has boosted operational performance at SimpsonHaugh and put in place infrastructure to support the practice’s needs in the future,” says Robert Ellis, UK Sales Director at ControlUp. “End-users cannot tell whether they are using a physical workstation or desktop served by VDI – the implementation has been that well managed – and the speed of roll out was fast and disruption minimal because of extensive pre-implementation design and planning work carried out by ebb3.”

    About SimpsonHaugh

    SimpsonHaugh Architects is well known for projects which elegantly shape and revitalise urban areas. The practice has a diverse portfolio including commercial offices, hotels, cultural, education, purpose-built student accommodation, residential and mixed-use neighbourhood developments.

    Key award-winning schemes include: Deansgate Square, One Blackfriars, The Engineering Innovation Centre (University of Central Lancashire), Circus West Village (Battersea Power Station Phase 1) and 4 Angel Square, part of the 20-acre NOMA area in Manchester.

    Founded in 1987, the practice employs 100 staff across studios in Manchester, London and Birmingham – a new office which opened in 2023 demonstrating the ongoing success of the business. For further information, visit https://www.simpsonhaugh.com

    About ebb3

    ebb3 accelerates business transformation through its expertise in enterprise AI and VDI digital workspaces. Offering award-winning end-to-end services for private AI and VDI platforms, ebb3 delivers secure, high-performance infrastructure tailored to the unique needs of enterprise clients. ebb3 is NVIDIA Preferred Partner certified and has VMware’s Master Services Competency. For more information, visit https://www.ebb3.com

    About ControlUp

    ControlUp reimagines Digital Employee Experience (DEX) management with true real-time visibility, enabling 20X faster issue resolution on any desktop, any application, anywhere. ControlUp empowers IT to focus on elevation, not escalation, by equipping them with actionable, true AI-driven insights and proactive remediation tools to drive unbounded productivity for IT teams and employees. Nearly 2,000 customers across the globe trust ControlUp, including more than one-third of the Fortune 100. Learn more at https://www.controlup.com

    For media inquiries:
    ControlUp PR
    media@controlup.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Financial news: Silver rubles to the mint (18.10.2024)

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Central Bank of Russia –

    On October 18, 2024, the Bank of Russia will issue into circulation commemorative silver coins in denominations of 3 and 200 rubles “300th Anniversary of the St. Petersburg Mint” of the “Historical Events” series.

    The Saint Petersburg Mint is one of the largest in the world. It was founded by decree of Peter I and is located in the most protected place of the Northern capital – on the territory of the Peter and Paul Fortress. Commemorative and investment coins made of precious metals, state awards, commemorative medals, and various tokens are minted here. The hallmark of the Saint Petersburg Mint is on the largest gold and silver commemorative coins of the Bank of Russia weighing 5 kilograms.

    Silver coins of 3 rubles (pure precious metal content – 31.1 g, alloy fineness – 925) and 200 rubles (pure precious metal content – 3000.0 g, alloy fineness – 925) have a round shape with a diameter of 39.0 and 130.0 mm, respectively.

    There is a raised edge along the circumference of both the obverse and reverse sides of the coins.

    On the obverse of the coins there is a relief image of the State Emblem of the Russian Federation, there are inscriptions: “RUSSIAN FEDERATION”, “BANK OF RUSSIA”, coin denomination “3 RUBLES”, “200 RUBLES”, date “2024”, designation of the metal according to the Periodic Table of Elements of D.I. Mendeleyev, alloy fineness, trademark of the St. Petersburg Mint and pure mass of precious metal.

     
     

    On the reverse side:

    — the 3-ruble coin (catalogue number 5111-0512) features relief images of a screw press for minting coins, the obverse of a 1724 ruble and the reverse of a 1924 fifty-kopeck coin, and an image of the St. Petersburg Mint building, made using laser matting; the background areas around the press are made using laser matting, the background above the image of the mint building is made using microrelief with a light interference effect; there are relief inscriptions: along the rim — “SAINT PETERSBURG MINT”, at the bottom in two lines — “300 YEARS”.

     

    The side surface of the coin is ribbed.

    The coin is made in proof quality.

    The mintage of the coin is 3.0 thousand pieces;

    — the 200-ruble coin (catalog No. 5119-0008) features relief images of the mint’s founder, Peter I, a medal-copying machine, the reverse of a chervonets of 1923, the reverse of the “St. George the Victorious” investment coin, the reverse of a ruble minted in 1724, reverses and obverses of change coins of different periods, a coin die, an image of the St. Petersburg Mint building bounded by a circle against a background of geometric images made using laser matting; there are inscriptions: “300 YEARS” at the top, and “ST. PETERSBURG MINT” in three lines at the bottom.

     

    The side surface of the coin is ribbed.

    The coin is made in proof-like quality.

    The mintage of the coin is 0.05 thousand pieces.

    The issued coins are legal tender in the Russian Federation and must be accepted at face value for all types of payments without restrictions.

    When using the material, a link to the Press Service of the Bank of Russia is required.

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

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

    http://vvv.kbr.ru/press/PR/?file=638648419322157504COINS.htm

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: InvestHK and media partner South China Morning Post take deep dive into Hong Kong’s innovation ecosystem at InnoTech Forum 2024 (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Organised by Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) along with media partner South China Morning Post, the InnoTech Forum 2024 took place today (October 18) at the Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott Hotel and was attended by over 200 guests. Through keynote addresses, in-depth panel discussions and presentations, the full-day forum provided audience members with an engaging discussion on the development of Hong Kong’s innovation ecosystem, long-term strategic plans and the practical applications of artificial intelligence (AI) and new energy technologies in reshaping the city and the economy. 

         During his keynote address at the forum, the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, said, “AI remains a key driver of I&T and business development. The Government has invested billions of dollars in cultivating an all-round AI ecosystem here in Hong Kong. Cyberport will soon put into operation its AI Supercomputing Centre (AISC) to support the strong computing demand from universities, research institutes and the industry. To support the commissioning of the AISC, the Government has allocated $3 billion to launch a three-year AI Subsidy Scheme. The Policy Address announced that the Government will pilot the use of a generative AI document processing copilot application, developed on the basis of a locally trained large language model, within the Government. In fact, a number of the hundred digital government and smart city initiatives that the Government presses ahead for rollout this year and next will make use of AI technology. Hong Kong stands on the cusp of making ground-breaking strides by capitalising on the vast potential of AI and other cutting-edge technologies. We are partners in this journey to seize the opportunities that lie ahead.”

         The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, said, “In pursuit of carbon neutrality, green transformation is becoming a global trend and this will continue in the coming decades, triggering tremendous demands for green energy and various low-carbon technologies. Hydrogen is a secondary carrier of energy and is highly energy-efficient with less polluting potential. The Government published the Strategy of Hydrogen Development in Hong Kong in June this year. The Strategy puts forward four major strategies, namely improving legislations, establishing standards, aligning with the market, and advancing with prudence, with a view to getting the laws, standards and the basic infrastructure ready so as to create an environment conducive to the development of hydrogen energy in a prudent and orderly manner. By leveraging our advantage as an international hub, backed by our motherland and with innovation and devotion of the city, we can position Hong Kong as a key driver of hydrogen economy, towards carbon neutrality as well as a sustainable and prosperous future.”

         The discussion at the forum explored the importance of AI and new energy in integrating sustainability and resilience into modern cities, with panel discussions on the following topics:
     

    developing the AI ecosystem for long-term success with a focus on recent advancements in Hong Kong, including the development of cutting-edge infrastructure, talent cultivation, commercialisation of research, and financial incentives, and how a robust and sustainable AI ecosystem can benefit Hong Kong;
    real-life applications of AI in Hong Kong and beyond highlighting the latest trends and developments of AI innovations and how the city’s connected innovation system supports their growth on a global scale;
    How hydrogen is emerging as a core new energy priority, in line with the Hong Kong Government’s recently published hydrogen development strategy; and
    imagining Hong Kong’s future with innovative energy projects and how the city will evolve as these technologies mature and scale.

         The Director-General of Investment Promotion at InvestHK, Ms Alpha Lau, said, “This Forum has fostered meaningful dialogue, inspired new ideas and catalysed further collaboration between the Government, industry, academia and relevant stakeholders. As indicated in “The Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address” a couple of days ago, the Government has always spearheaded and enhanced the development of Hong Kong’s I&T industries and will continue to do so. Working together, we believe Hong Kong can remain at the forefront of innovation, harnessing the power of both AI and energy technologies to build a prosperous and sustainable future.”

         The Head of Innovation and Technology at InvestHK, Mr Andy Wong, said, “AI is one of the strategic pillars in our Government’s agenda to drive digital economy. To accelerate its development, the Government is establishing the AI Supercomputing Centre (AISC) and has set aside $3 billion to support the use of AISC financially. On the hydrogen front, legislation and standards shall be optimised to align with technology and market development, as well as enabling the trial of different hydrogen-related projects. All these will further propel Hong Kong to be a top-notch international innovation and technology hub, as well as a ‘living lab’ for technology to be adopted in other markets.”      

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: What does China want from the next US president?

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Chee Meng Tan, Assistant Professor of Business Economics, University of Nottingham

    During a Taiwan National Day speech on October 10, Taiwanese president Lai Ching-te said that Taipei was determined to defend Taiwan’s sovereignty against “annexation and encroachment”, and emphasised that “China has no right to represent Taiwan”.

    China’s response was swift. Less than a week after Lai’s provocative speech, a record 153 Chinese war planes swarmed and surrounded Taiwan during a Chinese military exercise over 24 hours. Beijing’s intention was simple: issue Taipei a “stern warning” for what China considers a “separatist act”.

    Beijing sees the island as a “sacred and inseparable part of China’s territory” that must return to the fold. The Taiwanese president sees things differently. Currently, the self-governing island has a different political system, and few Taiwanese are in favour of reunification with China.

    Though Washington doesn’t have diplomatic relations with Taipei officially, it does have regular communication through back channels and a strong economic relationship. The island is a key US trading partner and is a major supplier of semiconductors which are critical to the production of computers and other technologies. It also sells arms to Taiwan, although this has reduced significantly under Joe Biden.

    China has not ruled out taking Taiwan by force, and if it does, the US might come to the self-ruling island’s defence as indicated by Washington in the past.

    China holds extensive military exercises around the island of Taiwan in October 2024.

    But Xi will be hoping the outcome of the 2024 US presidential election might bring a leader that would have a different attitude to Taiwan as well as helping China resolve its economic storm, which has resulted in a rising number of protests. So, between an outspoken Donald Trump and a seemingly even-tempered Kamala Harris, does Beijing have a favourite? And do either of them offer Xi anything new?

    Taiwan and Xi’s legitimacy

    Aside from Mao Zedong, the founder of the People’s Republic of China, Xi is the only sitting Chinese head of state without term limits and whose political ideology is enshrined in the Chinese constitution.

    Xi could potentially prove his place in history by resolving China’s economic crisis. However, Beijing’s increasing isolation from the west due to its support of Russia’s Ukraine conquest makes this doubly hard.



    Read more:
    Biden on Taiwan: Did he really commit US forces to stopping any invasion by China? An expert explains why, on balance, probably not

    Like it or not, Xi might have to ramp up whatever agenda Beijing has for Taiwan. If he could make sufficient progress towards unification, he may be hailed as one of the greats of the Chinese Communist Party, which would consolidate his status within the party, and distract from the nation’s economic woes.

    Unlike Harris, who appears to take take alliances and partnerships seriously, Trump questions the benefits of many alliances forged by the US. In fact, the few times that he spoke about Taiwan centres on how the island state has taken America’s semiconductor business, and should pay more to the US for its defence.

    So, would Trump come to Taiwan’s aid if China does invade Taiwan? Given the importance of semiconductors to electronics and AI, he just might. But Trump also has a reputation as a “dealmaker-in-chief”, so he might just cut a deal with Beijing, which erodes Taiwan’s independence. And that is likely to worry Taipei.

    The Russia dilemma

    As Russia’s “partner of no limits”, China has been supplying Russia with technology that fuels Russia’s war machinery against Ukraine. But this has strained Sino-western relations and earned Beijing trade and import restrictions, which hampers China’s economic recovery.

    China could halt its aid to Russia to avoid western scrutiny, but that is not likely. Beijing needs a strong Russia to be a viable ally in its battle against a US-led world order, and to avoid being the focus of the west if Russia falters amid its conquest in Ukraine.

    While Harris backs Kyiv and sees the war as a strategic and moral issue, Trump has criticised US aid to Ukraine. He also believes that Kyiv should provide concessions to Russia to end the war that Putin started in February 2022.

    A future Trump administration might strengthen Russia by withdrawing support for Ukraine and lifting sanctions against Russia. And a more robust Russia is good news for Beijing.

    US economic hostility

    So, at first glance, Trump and Harris’s approaches towards China are different. Trump’s return to the White House could also intensify the trade war that he started in 2018, as tariffs on Chinese goods could go to as high as 60%. This might hasten the economic decoupling between the US and China.

    Harris, on the other hand, wishes to “de-risk” China. This approach seeks to maintain US global interest while engaging with the east Asian economic behemoth. In such a scenario, Beijing might prefer a Harris presidency as it leaves room for negotiation.

    However, Harris has relatively little foreign policy experience, and is expected to pick up where Joe Biden left off. This means the tariffs and technological restrictions that China faced under a Biden administration could stay under her presidency.

    Another factor is Tesla founder Elon Musk, who is an ardent supporter of Trump, and may take a top job within a Trump administration.

    How much influence the tech multi-billionaire actually has over Trump is uncertain. However, it’s worth noting that Musk has substantial business dealings in China, and might seek to lean on Trump if the former president’s policies harms Tesla’s interests.

    With many of these factors unclear at the moment, Beijing will be hoping for a US leader who is more interested in economic wins than protecting Taiwan, and one that Xi can negotiate with to warm up relations between the two countries.

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

    – ref. What does China want from the next US president? – https://theconversation.com/what-does-china-want-from-the-next-us-president-240516

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Facade works have begun on the second stage of the modern NSU campus

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    At the second stage of the modern NSU campus — in the buildings of the educational and scientific center of the Institute of Medicine and Medical Technologies (UNC IMMT) and the scientific research center (SRC) — work has begun on installing ventilated facades. Work is also underway to install translucent enclosing structures (stained glass). The construction readiness of the facilities is 18.2% and 15.4%, respectively. The construction of the facilities is carried out within the framework of national project “Science and Universities”.

    According to the adopted architectural solution, in the buildings of the UNC and NIC, not standard windows are installed, but stained glass ones, which assume a larger glazing area. Their size is 3-4 times larger than a regular window.

    The buildings of the UNC and NIC, as well as the building of the flow auditoriums, have an atrium, but only of a smaller size. This is a central distribution space, illuminated through a zenith skylight located in the ceiling, the installation of which began this week in both buildings. Work is also continuing on the installation of an external storm and domestic sewage system, and work on laying the external block of “Sibit”. Work on installing temporary heat supply to the UNC has been completed.

    — The construction of the second stage of the NSU campus will create the latest infrastructure for educational and research activities in the region. A pilot pharmaceutical production facility will be created on the site of a modern research center, and laboratories for training students in a wide range of areas will be located in the equipped premises of the educational and scientific center of the NSU Institute of Medicine. This will bring the educational process to a new level and implement the goals and objectives that will be laid down in the new national project “Youth and Children”, created on behalf of President Vladimir Putin, — commented Deputy Governor of the Novosibirsk Region Irina Manuilova.

    — We are planning to launch new network educational programs — Medical Cybernetics and Pharmacy, an agreement on the implementation of this project was signed with the Moscow State University Engineering School within the framework of the Technoprom forum. The research center will be used to develop advanced areas in which NSU occupies a leading position — space instrumentation, synchrotron-neutron research, artificial intelligence and others, — noted NSU Rector, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Mikhail Fedoruk.

    In the building of continuous auditoriums, which also belongs to the second stage facilities, finishing works are being completed, commissioning works of engineering systems are underway. The construction readiness of the facility is 86%. In parallel, documents are being prepared for obtaining acts of admission in Rostekhnadzor and permission for commissioning. The construction of the building of continuous auditoriums is planned to be completed by the end of 2024.

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

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

    http://vvv.nsu.ru/n/media/nevs/campus-construction/façade-work has begun on the second-stage-facilities of the modern-nsu-campus/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: ITUWTSA 2024 Champions Gender Equality in Telecommunication Standards with Historic Milestone in Women’s Leadership Participation

    Source: Government of India

    ITUWTSA 2024 Champions Gender Equality in Telecommunication Standards with Historic Milestone in Women’s Leadership Participation

    Witnessed highest ever female participation in the history of ITUWTSA events, marking a significant step toward gender-balanced delegations and leadership roles

    Boosting women’s participation in standards development is not just about numbers—it’s about ensuring that women’s voices are heard, empowering future leaders, and fostering inclusion: Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary General of the ITU

    Posted On: 18 OCT 2024 11:44AM by PIB Delhi

    The ITU-WTSA 24 which is being held in Delhi in collaboration with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Government of India, saw a landmark event yesterday, focused on promoting gender diversity in the field of telecommunication standardization. The special event, The Network of Womenin Standards (NoW), led by the Telecommunication Standardization Sector of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU-T), underscored the commitment to advancing women’s leadership roles in STEM and standardisation.This topic is particularly significant for India as the government is implementing various measures to create an inclusive technology sector and empower women through technology platforms, in line with the vision of the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, who advocates for women-led development. India is making progress in this area, with an increasing number of women co-founders in startups and over 40% of participants in STEM education being women. Initiatives such as Namo Drone Didi, Bank Sakhi, and Mahila E-Haat are empowering women to take on leadership roles in technology.

     

    The Network of Women (NoW) in ITU-T, aligned with WTSA Resolution 55 (Rev. Geneva, 2022), is dedicated to fostering active female participation in standardization activities and ensuring a gender-inclusive approach across all ITU-T processes. This initiative is critical as the global push for digital inclusion accelerates, with women playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of technology.

     

    In her opening remarks, Ms. Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary General of the ITU, emphasized the importance of addressing gender imbalances in the field. She stated, “We can, and we must, increase the number of women in leadership roles, especially in our standards study groups. It’s crucial for women to step up, take the floor, and make their voices heard. This is what the Network of Women stands for—creating an environment where women feel empowered and supported. Mentorship plays a vital role in this transformation. It’s through mentoring, creating opportunities, and sharing our knowledge that we can truly progress. If there is no seat at the table, we must bring our own chair—and bring one more for those who will follow. Let’s continue pushing forward, lifting each other up, and ensuring that the digital future is shaped by all of humanity. Together, we can and will make real progress toward digital inclusion.”

    Dr. Rim Belhassine-Cherif, Chair of NoW, ITU-T, and Chief Innovation and Strategy Officer responsible for Digital Transformation at Tunisie Télécom, highlighted the progress made in achieving gender balance at ITU-WTSA 2024. She noted, “One of the key objectives of ITU-WTSA 2024 was to promote gender-balanced delegations and increase the number of women in leadership roles, particularly as heads of delegations. Through various initiatives such as panel discussions, training sessions, tutorials, and the support of regional preparatory groups, we have achieved the highest-ever participation rate of women in ITU-WTSAhistory.”

    The increasing involvement of women in ICT standardization is crucial as disruptive technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) emerge. Women’s contributions can help ensure the development of inclusive, equitable, and sustainable standards that will drive technological progress for the benefit of all humanity.

    The event featured a dynamic fireside chat, moderated by Doreen Bogdan-Martin, with Dr. Aminata Zerbo/Sabane, Minister of Digital Transition, Posts and Electronic Communications, Burkina Faso, and Neha Satak, Founder & CEO of Astrome. The discussion focused on closing the gender gap in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and in standardization. Panelists stressed the importance of a supportive environment and early capacity building to encourage more girls to pursue careers in tech.

    Expert panelists examined and discussed the challenges surrounding gender equality in AI and shed light on incentives and opportunities for technical standards to support inclusive AI during panel discussion on “Standards for inclusive AI”.  Also discussed were the ways to explore how standards could help address gender bias and ensure an equitable future. The session was  moderated by Ms Susan Ferguson, UN Women India Representative and panelists were Prof Sandra Maximiano, Chair of the Board, Autoridade Nacional de Comunicações (Portugal’s national regulatory authority for the communications sector), Mr Vishnu Ram, AI expert, Vice Chair of ITU Focus Group on Autonomous Networks, Dr Alessandra Sala, Sr. Director of Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, Shutterstock, Global President of Women in AI, Dr Ebtesam Almazrouei, Founder and CEO of AIE3, Expert AI Executive and Tech Visionary Leader and MsPico Velazquez, founder & CEO at VIIRA, Computational Architect & Multiverse Thought Leader.

    The session also recognised the leading women in ITU Standardisation. Mr. Seizo Onoe, Director, Telecommunication Standardization Bureau and Ms. Madhu Arora, Member, Technology/Digital Communication Commission, Department of Telecommunication, Ministry of Communications, Government of India felicitated Dr. Rim Belhassine-Cherif, Chief Innovation and Strategy Officer, TunisieTélécom, Tunisia; Dr. Hyoung Jun Kim, Vice Chair, NoW, Chair of ITU-T;Ms. Rebecca MukiteNoW in ITU-T Regional Representatives, Africa; Ms. Tania Villa, Federal Institute of Telecommunications (IFT), Mexico; Ms Basma Tawfik, International Organizations Manager National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA), Egypt​; Ms Miho Naganuma, TSAG Vice Chair, Senior Executive professional, NEC Corporation, Japan; Ms Maria Bolshakova, Acting Deputy Director General, Regional Commonwealth in the field of Communications (RCC), Russia; Ms Izabela Iglewska, Minister Advisor, Ministry of Digital Affairs, Poland; Additionally, member states from Cameroon, the Dominican Republic, Ghana and Europe were also felicitated for their high female participation rates in delegations.

     

    ITU-WTSA 2024 continues to drive pivotal conversations on gender equality in telecommunications, addressing both statistical and stereotypical biases, mitigating biases, and promoting active participation of women in the telecom and tech sector.

    WTSA 2024, organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), serves as a platform for the development and implementation of global telecommunications standards, uniting regulators, industry leaders, and policymakers to shape the future of communications worldwide.

     

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: First-ever International Conference of All India Institute of Ayurveda- Advancements of Research & Global Opportunities for Holistic Ayurveda (AROHA-2024) inaugurated today in New Delhi

    Source: Government of India

    First-ever International Conference of All India Institute of Ayurveda- Advancements of Research & Global Opportunities for Holistic Ayurveda (AROHA-2024) inaugurated today in New Delhi

    Truly delighted to see how AIIA has made remarkable progress in just eight years; Rooted in generational family wisdom, Ayurveda offers valuable insights into integrated well-being: Dr. Justice Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chandrachud, Hon’ble Chief Justice of India

    Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, we are strengthening Ayurveda’s global recognition today: Shri Prataprao Jadhav, Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Ayush

    Posted On: 17 OCT 2024 10:00PM by PIB Delhi

    The first-ever International conference of All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA)- Advancements of Research & Global Opportunities for Holistic Ayurveda – AROHA-2024 was inaugurated today by Dr. Justice Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chandrachud, Hon’ble Chief Justice of India in the august presence of Shri Prataprao Jadhav, Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Ayush and Health & Family Welfare.

     

    Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush; Dr. Shyama Kuruvilla, Director, Global Traditional Medicine Centre, WHO, Jamnagar, Gujarat was also present on the occasion. Additionally, Lt. Gen. Madhuri Kanitkar, Vice Chancellor, Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS); Padma Bhushan Prof. Shiv Kumar Sarin, Director, ILBS; and AIIA Director Prof (Dr) Tanuja Nesari also graced the event.

    The three-day International conference – Advancements of Research & Global Opportunities for Holistic Ayurveda – AROHA-2024 is scheduled to be held from today 17th October to 19th October 2024.

     

    Hon’ble Chief Justice of India Dr. Justice Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chandrachud during his inaugural address said “ I am privileged to be a part of AROHA 2024; the day also marks the 8th foundation day of All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA). I am truly delighted to see how AIIA has made remarkable progress in just eight years, founded with a mandate to foster research based Ayurveda. The institute focuses on three key pillars tertiary care, research and academics. I am an ardent follower of Ayurveda. Beyond addressing specific ailments, Ayurveda promotes holistic wellness through medicine, nutrition, meditation, yoga and lifestyle balance. Rooted in generational family wisdom, Ayurveda offers valuable insights into integrated well-being. The launch of the Ayush Research Portal marks a significant advancement for Ayurvedic research and education,”

     

    Speaking at this event, the Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Ayush and Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav said “As we gather to explore the vast potential of Ayurveda, I applaud your dedication to integrating traditional wisdom with modern science, which is the need of the hour. This conference represents a significant step forward in our pursuit of holistic healthcare solutions. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, we are strengthening Ayurveda’s global recognition today. His encouragement has led to Ayurveda being adopted more than any other medical practice. After the Prime Minister’s efforts, Ayurveda’s credibility has also increased, and I am deeply grateful to him for entrusting me with the Ministry of Ayurveda to serve millions. I am fully committed to fulfilling all the aspirations related to the Ministry of Ayurveda under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision.’ The Ministry of Ayush remains committed to promoting and supporting research, innovation, and the integration of Ayurveda into mainstream healthcare.”

    Speaking at the occasion Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush said “The Ministry of Ayush is committed to developing 5 key botanicals of Ayurveda in the next five years. We are developing a benchmark at par with globally accepted traditional medicine for these botanicals. so we have already started working on it, and this is something very new and it is, we are committed to the effort”.

    “We really want to thank the Government of India, Ministry of Ayush, for the extreme generosity, the leadership and the vision to make traditional medicine a global good that can benefit all people in the world. Already, this leadership is having global impact. We have seen the leadership at the G20 at the BRICS and other regional conferences. Note traditional medicine and its contribution for the health and well being of all people. It’s also having a technical impact with the research collaborations, with the advancements of methods and guidelines.” Said Dr. Shyama Kuruvilla, Director, Global Traditional Medicine Centre, WHO, Jamnagar, Gujarat.

    AROHA-2024 will feature both in-person and virtual participation, offering an unparalleled opportunity for participants. The discourse will be centered on the theme- Advancements in Research and Global Opportunities for Holistic Ayurveda” in this global event. The conference agenda covers a wide range of topics, including Ayurveda, ethnomedicine, quality control, standardization, diagnosis, drug delivery, evidence-based understanding, and globalization. It also features an exhibition showcasing stalls from leading brands and institutions, offering insights into herbal products, wellness solutions, Ayurvedic treatments, research innovations, and educational opportunities.

    The conference features three-day workshops and 15 scientific sessions, with over 400 research papers presented. The All India Institute of Ayurveda has a global presence in over 74 countries through academic and scientific collaborations with prominent organizations like the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, FIGZ Germany, AIST Japan, Western Sydney University Australia, UHN Canada, and national institutions like IGIB, AIIMS, CSIR, IIT, and others.

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: TRAI releases the Consultation Paper on ‘Regulatory framework for Ground-based Broadcasters’

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 18 OCT 2024 2:58PM by PIB Delhi

    Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has today issued the Consultation Paper on ‘Regulatory framework for Ground-based Broadcasters’.

    The Guidelines issued by MIB from time to time for Uplinking and Down linking of Satellite Television channels in India, containing the terms and conditions for TV broadcasting services, make it mandatory for the broadcasters to use satellite medium i.e. uplinking and down linking of television channels through satellite, for providing their channels to the Distribution Platform Operators (DPOs).

    The advancement of technology has made it feasible for the broadcasters to provide their television channels to DPOs terrestrially also i.e. using ground-based technologies. Like traditional TV channels, which are uplinked and downlinked through satellite, the terrestrially transmitted channels may also be carried on multiple DPO networks simultaneously and the DPOs can retransmit them on commercial terms to the subscribers. Therefore, there is a need to have a regulatory framework enabling use of ground-based technologies.

    TRAI had forwarded its recommendations on Regulatory Framework for Platform Services to MIB on 19.11.2014, which included certain recommendations related to ‘Regulatory framework for Ground-based broadcasters’.

    In this regard, vide its letter dated 22.5.2024, MIB has, inter-alia stated that the recommendations in relation to regulation of platform services have been examined and the guidelines for the same have been issued with the approval of the Competent Authority on 30.11.2022. MIB has further mentioned that during the course of the examination of the recommendations of TRAI for the Ground Based Broadcasters in the Ministry, it was felt that the context in which the recommendations were made by TRAI may have changed since the year 2014 and there may be a need to look into the matter afresh. Vide the aforesaid letter, MIB has requested TRAI for fresh review and recommendations on “Regulatory Framework for Ground Based Broadcasters” under Section 11(1)(a) of TRAI Act, 1997.

    Accordingly, the Consultation Paper on ‘Regulatory framework for Ground-based Broadcasters ‘is being released for seeking comments from stakeholders. The consultation paper may be accessed on TRAI’s website, http://www.trai.gov. Written comments on the consultation paper are invited from the stakeholders by 15.11.2024. Counter comments, if any, may be submitted by 29.11.2024. The stakeholders are requested to submit their comments and counter-comments, preferably in electronic form, on the email- IDadvbcs-2@trai.gov.in and jtadv-bcs@trai.gov.in.

    For any clarification/information, Shri Deepak Sharma, Advisor (B&CS) may be contacted at Tel. No.: +91-11-20907774.

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Govt to provide full support to the private sector in taking lead in the field of defence & making India an innovation & technology hub: Raksha Mantri

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Govt to provide full support to the private sector in taking lead in the field of defence & making India an innovation & technology hub: Raksha Mantri

    Shri Rajnath Singh launches ‘Dare to Dream 5.0’ for innovators to come forward with transformative ideas for defence applications

    Deep-Tech challenges unveiled to drive major advancements in areas critical to defence infrastructure

    “Need to achieve advancements in both incremental and disruptive tech through out-of-the-box thinking & latest innovations”

    Cutting-edge indigenous technologies developed under TDF scheme handed over to users

    Posted On: 18 OCT 2024 3:00PM by PIB Delhi

    Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh has called upon the private sector to move forward from ‘participation’ to ‘taking lead’ in the defence sector, assuring the Government’s full support to make India an innovation & technology hub and one of the strongest countries in the world. He was addressing scientists, industry leaders, academia, start-ups, MSMEs and young entrepreneurs during Twaral, a DRDO-Industry Workshop on Defence Technology Acceleration organised at DRDO Bhawan in New Delhi on October 18, 2024.

    Sharing insights on the transformation of the defence sector in the recent past, Raksha Mantri stated that, today, technology has transformed conventional warfare into unconventional warfare. “New dimensions have been added to modern-day warfare such as drones, cyber warfare, bio-weapons and space defence. In this transformative phase, R&D in defence will definitely make the defence sector stronger. It is heartening to witness our scientists, industrialists, academia, start-ups, MSMEs and young entrepreneurs working together in this endeavour. It is time for the private sector to take lead as it has the ability to absorb rapid changes and create new innovations,” he said.

    Shri Rajnath Singh termed the adoption of unconventional ideas, not yet known to the world, as the only way to progress in unconventional warfare. Acknowledging it as a tough task, he stated that the Government, led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, will continue providing all necessary support to the youth, scientists, industrialists and MSMEs in this endeavour.

    Raksha Mantri reiterated the Government’s commitment to make the defence sector more innovative and technology-oriented. Highlighting the consistent efforts being made by DRDO to strengthen the R&D environment and promote scientific temperament, he said: “Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme is providing up to 90% of the total project cost as grant support to eligible industries. The total support is up to Rs 50 crore, a good amount for any MSME and start-up to invest in defence R&D. Since its launch six years ago, 79 projects have been sanctioned, of which, technology has successfully been developed in 18 projects.”

    As part of the event, Shri Rajnath Singh launched ‘Dare to Dream 5.0’ to encourage next generation of innovators & start-ups to come forward with transformative ideas for defence applications. The fifth edition of DRDO’s innovation contest aims to generate cutting-edge solutions for India to progress further in its pursuit to achieve ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in defence technologies.

    Raksha Mantri also felicitated the winners of ‘Dare to Dream 4.0’, recognising individual innovators, start-ups and MSMEs for disruptive solutions and innovations in the fields of countermeasures for drones and swarm of drones; advanced acoustic system to locate gunfire, directed energy technologies, cognitive listening device, target seeking & proximity sensing, free-space laser communication system, multi-terrain multi-utility robot among others.

    Shri Rajnath Singh described the challenges as a testament to the commitment of the industrial ecosystem of the country to protect the future of the defence sector. “Like our brave soldiers, scientists, industry leaders, academia, start-ups, MSMEs and entrepreneurs too are the warriors of the country, prepared to complete every assigned task,” he said.

    Raksha Mantri laid emphasis on the need to achieve advancements in both incremental and disruptive technologies within the defence sector. The solutions to challenges obtained through initiatives such as ‘Dare to Dream’ bridge the critical gap between the two types of technologies, he said. He called upon the scientists, start-ups & young entrepreneurs to think out-of-the-box and come out with latest innovations as if it were their habit to accept & overcome challenges.

    Shri Rajnath Singh exhorted the private sector to move in line with the unprecedented speed with which the technological changes are taking place across the globe. He urged them to ensure, through timely assessment, that a technology does not become outdated when it is rolled out. He also called for development of projects, under TDF, based on cutting edge tech, and devising a system of comprehensive scan within the scheme to avoid duplication of technologies.

    Deep-Tech Challenges

                Several challenges on Disruptive, Emerging, Enabling and Pioneering Technologies (Deep-Tech) were also launched to drive major advancements in areas critical to the country’s defence infrastructure. The focus on Deep-Tech emphasises the need for India to develop and harness breakthrough technologies to stay at the forefront of defence innovation. The challenges are:

    • Compact Electromechanical Actuators;
    • Development of indigenous thrusters for Yard Craft (Indian Navy);
    • Development of High Purity Silicon Carbide source powder for the bulk growth of SiC single crystal;
    • Deep-Tech for HPM Counter Measures and Protection;
    • Development of a Digital Twin Framework for Aero Gas Turbine Engine Health & Usage Monitoring.

    Tech handed over to end-users

    Several cutting-edge indigenous technologies developed under the TDF scheme were also handed over to the users, including DRDO and Armed Forces, in the presence of Shri Rajnath Singh. These innovations, created by startups and MSMEs with DRDO, mark a significant step in the country’s journey towards self-reliance, enhancing national security. The technologies are:

    • Autonomous Drone as first responder for search and report mission in enclosed/indoor environment by NewSpace Research and Technology Pvt Ltd.  to CAIR, DRDO.
    • Simulator for Unmanned Ground, Marine (Sea Surface and Underwater) and Aerial Vehicles by Combat Robotics India Pvt Ltd to CAIR, DRDO.
    • Data Assessment Active Learning and Believability for Visual Data to CAIR, DRDO & Aero Gas Turbine Engine Health Monitoring System by Chistats Labs Pvt Ltd to GTRE, DRDO.
    • Design and Development of Water Tight/Gas Tight and Fire Class EMI/EMC compliant doors and hatches for Naval Ships by Valdel Advanced Technologies Pvt Ltd. to Indian Navy.
    • Fuel System Temperature Transducer for Aircraft Application by Tejase Aeroscience Private Ltd Mumbai to ADA.

    Twaral

    The DRDO-Industry Workshop on Defence Technology Acceleration brought together all the stakeholders of the innovation ecosystem to explore strategies for expediting the development of critical defence technologies. The discussions were centered on bridging the gap between research efforts and real-world application, with a strong focus on collaboration across sectors. Setting the foundation for future innovations, the workshop underscored the critical role of DeepTech (R&D) in advancing national security capabilities.

    The Amended Standard Operating Procedures for TDF, aimed at simplifying the process for start-ups and MSMEs to collaborate with DRDO, was also released. These updated procedures are designed to foster a more transparent and streamlined approach for innovators, enabling easier access to opportunities for contributing to national defense projects.

    Two in-depth panel discussions were also held. The first, on Critical and Emerging Tech Collaboration, explored the potential for international R&D partnerships and the sharing of Intellectual Property in military technology. The second discussion addressed the theme of self-reliance in defence technology and manufacturing, focusing on the need for innovation and strong R&D to build a sustainable and robust domestic ecosystem.

    Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr Samir V Kamat praised the winners of ‘Dare to Dream 4.0’, emphasising the importance of fostering homegrown talent in building a stronger and self-reliant defence sector. The winners’ contributions serve as a testament to India’s burgeoning innovation ecosystem, he said.

    Secretary (Defence Production) Shri Sanjeev Kumar, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff Lt Gen JP Mathew and other senior civil & military officials of Ministry of Defence were present on the occasion.

    ******

    VK/SR/Savvy

    (Release ID: 2066036) Visitor Counter : 25

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Fighting fraud together

    Source: European Anti-Fraud Offfice

    Press release no 18/2024
    PDF version

    The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) hosted the joint conference of the national Anti-Fraud Coordination Services (AFCOS) from the EU Member States and their counterparts in candidate countries and potential candidate. Around 100 representatives met in Brussels on 15 – 16 October 2024 to exchange best practices, learn about the latest anti-fraud investigative techniques and work towards stronger cooperation.

    OLAF and the AFCOS work together towards the same objectives of protecting the financial interests of the EU and ensuring that citizens can fully benefit from the opportunities provided by EU funds, in Europe and beyond. 

    OLAF Director-General Ville Itälä stressed the importance of a strong and effective cooperation for the success of all partners in the anti-fraud architecture. “It remains crucial that we work together like never before to protect the financial interests of the EU. Fraudsters use new technologies without any legislative or ethical limitations, they do not respect borders and their criminal activities exploit any loopholes they discover in multiple jurisdictions. That is why we, in the anti-fraud community, need to make sure that we have procedures in place to respond quickly, collectively and as efficiently as possible.” 

    The conference, which focussed on the theme of ‘Fighting fraud together’, offered participants valuable insights into the legal and operational framework that OLAF operates in. The programme addressed the shift in perspective and design needed to fight fraud in performance-based financial instruments, such as the Recovery and Resilience Fund (RRF) and the Ukraine facility. These new instruments represent huge amounts of funds and require innovative approaches to financial controls and investigations. Nothing proves the abuse of EU funds more tangibly than bank accounts transfers. This is why the recently acquired power of OLAF to access banking data in Member States and cooperating countries is so important and has already led to success stories on how to follow the movement of money across borders.  

    The discussion on Artificial Intelligence illustrated concrete examples where the use of AI to generate profiles for monitoring purposes, support language processing and machine learning played a key role in complex, transnational investigations. Fraudsters use AI recklessly, free from any legislative or ethical limitations, and it is the role of anti-fraud actors to think out of the box and develop joint, fast and creative countermeasures in a challenging regulatory environment.

    The conference highlighted the central role that AFCOS play in key areas such as the recovery of funds, thanks to their specific insight on debtors located in their territories. Discussions on the PIF report and its new features and the need of Irregularity Management System (IMS) reporting to fully exploit the potential of data mining and risk scoring, also emphasised the added value that AFCOS bring in the wider fight against fraud. 

    During the two days, participants from Member States, as well as candidate countries and potential candidate had the unique opportunity to reflect and report on their experiences within the EU anti-fraud community, for example on investigations into double funding and conflict of interest or practical difficulties with the confidentiality of data. From this perspective, the conference confirmed once again that OLAF is stronger when it works with others and that much of the success of the fight against fraud depends on a sustained, strong and efficient cooperation with AFCOS.

    Background

    EU Member States are required to designate an anti-fraud coordination service (AFCOS) in accordance with Article 12a of Regulation 883/2013 to facilitate effective cooperation and exchange of information, including information of an operational nature, with OLAF.

    Member States are autonomous in deciding where to best place the AFCOS within their national administrative structure. The placement of AFCOS should provide for its visibility and importance in relation to other relevant authorities in the field of protection of the EU’s financial interests. Some Member States placed their AFCOS either within the Ministry of Finance or the Ministry of Interior; others established it as an independent Government’s service.

    More information is available on OLAF’s website.

    OLAF mission, mandate and competences:
    OLAF’s mission is to detect, investigate and stop fraud with EU funds.    

    OLAF fulfils its mission by:
    •    carrying out independent investigations into fraud and corruption involving EU funds, so as to ensure that all EU taxpayers’ money reaches projects that can create jobs and growth in Europe;
    •    contributing to strengthening citizens’ trust in the EU Institutions by investigating serious misconduct by EU staff and members of the EU Institutions;
    •    developing a sound EU anti-fraud policy.

    In its independent investigative function, OLAF can investigate matters relating to fraud, corruption and other offences affecting the EU financial interests concerning:
    •    all EU expenditure: the main spending categories are Structural Funds, agricultural policy and rural development funds, direct expenditure and external aid;
    •    some areas of EU revenue, mainly customs duties;
    •    suspicions of serious misconduct by EU staff and members of the EU institutions.

    Once OLAF has completed its investigation, it is for the competent EU and national authorities to examine and decide on the follow-up of OLAF’s recommendations. All persons concerned are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a competent national or EU court of law.

    For further details:

    Pierluigi CATERINO
    Spokesperson
    European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)
    Phone: +32(0)2 29-52335  
    Email: olaf-media ec [dot] europa [dot] eu (olaf-media[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)
    https://anti-fraud.ec.europa.eu
    X: @EUAntiFraud
    LinkedIn: European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)

    Theresa ZAHRA
    Deputy Spokesperson
    European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)
    Phone: +32 (0)2 29-57270   
    Email: olaf-media ec [dot] europa [dot] eu (olaf-media[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)
    https://anti-fraud.ec.europa.eu
    X: @EUAntiFraud
    LinkedIn: European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)

    If you’re a journalist and you wish to receive our press releases in your inbox, pleaseleave us your contact data.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI: DNA Fund Acquires Coral Capital; To Manage $50 Million AUM In Web3, AI & Emerging Tech

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • With this acquisition, DNA Fund, known for its big-ticket investments in web3, aims to expand into new verticals, including a Bitcoin & Ether Yield Fund.
    • Coral Capital previously managed the funds of DNA’s principals.

    Puerto Rico, Oct. 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — — DNA Fund, the Financial Institution of the future in high-ticket emerging tech and web3 investments, has announced its acquisition of Coral Capital Holdings LLC, an established investment management firm that has previously managed millions in the DNA founders’ personal funds. 

    As early-stage investors in established Web3 brands and founders of some of the sector’s most notable projects, DNA and its founders have invested in or founded projects such as Tether, EOS, Mastercoin, Bancor, and Hedera Hashgraph. The acquisition will see the DNA Fund manage an additional AUM of over $50 million, which includes Coral’s high-yield hedge funds and venture funds focused on DeFi, AI, blockchain, and other emerging technology sectors. Some of Coral’s top-performing investments include Near Protocol and Atmos Labs.

    Thomas L. McLaughlin, Coral’s Chief Investment Officer, will continue in his role, managing the funds with a unique focus and strategy aimed at maximizing investor returns.

    Regarding the acquisition, Christopher Miglino, CEO of DNA Fund, said, “By bringing Coral Capital under our umbrella, we are not only expanding our investment capabilities but also enhancing our ability to offer unique, high-growth opportunities to our clients. Our combined expertise allows us to navigate the complexities of the digital asset landscape and continue delivering value to our investors.”

    Thomas L. McLaughlin, CIO of Coral Capital Holdings, added, “Joining forces with DNA Fund is an exciting new chapter for Coral. Our shared vision for leveraging technology to drive financial growth is perfectly aligned. Together, we are set to redefine what’s possible in digital asset investments and deliver superior results for our investors.”

    Since its inception in 2021, Coral has delivered consistent returns with innovative strategies, delivering high multiples on the benchmark of the overall market cap of digital assets. Coral’s Flagship fund, initially started as a market-neutral vehicle, was rebranded in 2023 as a discretionary liquid token, surviving a number of high-volatility events, including FTX and Terra.

    With a 61.6% return (net of fees) and a maximum annual drawdown of only 11.6% in FY 2022, these funds have outperformed the broader digital asset market. Over a similar period, Bitcoin returned 36.7%. 

    Through this acquisition, DNA Fund also aims to capitalize on the growing interest from institutional investors and expand into several new verticals over the coming year, including a Bitcoin & Ether Yield Fund, as well as more speculative funds focused on AI, memecoins and microcaps.

    -END-

    About DNA Holdings Venture Inc.(DNA Fund):
    Since 2013, DNA Holdings Venture Inc. has been a leader in the digital asset investment space and at the forefront of the next global financial ecosystem. Co-founded by Brock Pierce, a pioneering innovator and investor in the blockchain industry, and Scott Walker, a key figure in early crypto adoption and one of the most successful investors in the history of the space, DNA Fund leverages its deep industry knowledge to drive innovation and provide value to investors worldwide.

    About Coral Capital Holdings LLC
    Founded in 2021, Coral Capital Holdings LLC has been a trusted name in crypto fund management, with a focus on delivering innovative strategies and strong returns for its investors. Under DNA’s leadership, Coral continues to build on its legacy of excellence with a renewed focus on emerging opportunities in digital assets and technology.

    Investor Relations
    DNA Holdings Venture Inc.  
    investors@dna.holdings  

    Media Contact
    Jonny Hesketh
    Luna PR, jonny@lunapr.io, +971 555 496776

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: 17/10/2024 Meeting with the South Korean delegation

    MIL ASI Translation. Region: Polish/Europe –

    Fuente: Gobierno de Polonia en poleco.

    Meeting with the South Korean delegation17.10.2024On October 17, 2024, at the Ministry of National Defense, Deputy Minister Paweł Bejda hosted a South Korean delegation led by Deputy Minister of the Defense Procurement Agency (DAPA) Hyunki Cho. The delegation also included South Korean Ambassador Hoonmin Lim and President and CEO of Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) Gooyoung Kang.

    The main topic of the talks was the development of bilateral cooperation in the field of defense. One of the topics was issues related to the cooperation of industries and Polonization. The Korean guests emphasized the potential of Poland, in which they see the location of the FA-50 service center in Europe based on the WZL-2 plants. The possibility of expanding technological and industrial cooperation was also discussed, including the transfer of technology and joint research and development projects. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the cooperation to date and the desire to further develop the partnership, which is of key importance for strengthening the security of both Poland and South Korea.

    Photos (4)

    MILES AXIS

    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: Army launches pilot to explore generative AI for acquisition activities

    Source: United States Army

    WASHINGTON – Ms. Jennifer Swanson, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Data, Engineering and Software, announced today the launch of a pilot, #CalibrateAI, that will explore innovative applications of generative artificial intelligence for Army acquisition activities.

    #CalibrateAI will use a cutting-edge generative AI tool – developed by one of the Army’s many industry partners, at no cost to the Army – that harnesses the power of advanced technology, data analytics, machine learning and natural language processing. This AI tool is designed to deliver tailored responses that are highly relevant to specific topics, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of information retrieval and analysis.

    “By using off-the-shelf AI tools and leveraging cross-service authority-to-operate reciprocity granted by DoD CIO, #CalibrateAI will explore how we increase productivity while enhancing the accuracy of information,” said Swanson. “The ability to query curated document sets for generating new content, along with providing citations, will ensure that our outputs are not only accurate but also easily fact-checked.”

    #CalibrateAI is aligned with the Army CIO’s generative AI initiative and serves as an opportunity for AI experimentation and feedback by allowing participants to simplify repetitive and time-consuming tasks. Deployed in an Impact Level 5 secure cloud environment, the AI tool can handle controlled unclassified information data, ensuring that sensitive information is managed with the highest level of security.

    The AI tool includes customizable user-access controls to protect “need to know” information, ensuring that data security and confidentiality are paramount. #CalibrateAI will focus on identifying and calling out potential “hallucinations” or erroneous outputs, thereby increasing the reliability of AI-generated content.

    #CalibrateAI aims to:

    • Increase productivity by using AI tools to collate, curate and generate critical information relevant to acquisition activities.

    • Improve accuracy by implementing mechanisms to provide citations, ensuring the integrity and verifiability of generated content.

    • Promote innovation by encouraging the exploration of novel applications of AI in acquisition.

    • Inform the Army CIO’s pilot, which includes other generative AI tools, to scope a cost-effective path for the Army’s broader adoption of these capabilities.

    The Army’s Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology is committed to leveraging advanced technologies to improve efficiency and support the U.S. Army’s mission. #CalibrateAI represents a significant opportunity to shape the future of acquisition activities through the transformative power of generative AI in a measured and thoughtful way.

    For more information about #CalibrateAI, please contact Mr. Jamal Beck at jamal.b.beck.civ@army.mil.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Cyber A.I. Group and ThinkEquity Execute Agreement for Investment Banking Services

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MIAMI, Oct. 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Cyber A.I. Group, Inc., an emerging growth Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence and IT services company engaged in the acquisition of a broad spectrum of Cybersecurity service providers on an international basis, and New York-based ThinkEquity LLC, an investment bank specializing in public and private capital raises, as well as M&A transactions, today announced they have entered into a definitive engagement agreement to provide investment banking services, with an emphasis on secured debt and convertible debt offerings in support of Cyber A.I. Group’s acquisition strategy.

    The engagement with ThinkEquity represents a crucial step for Cyber A.I. Group as it seeks to expand its footprint as part of its stated mission of reaching $100M in revenue as part of its Buy & Build approach. ThinkEquity will be focused on identifying debt providers to support Cyber A.I. Group’s long-term vision for innovation and market leadership.

    “The team at ThinkEquity are proven leaders in the capital markets, having completed billions of dollars of public and private capital raises over the years,” said A.J. Cervantes, Jr., Executive Chairman of Cyber A.I. Group. “We look forward to working with ThinkEquity as they leverage their expertise to accelerate Cyber A.I. Group’s expansion efforts while supporting the Company’s mission of enhancing Cybersecurity through our Buy & Build strategy and A.I.-driven solutions.”

    ThinkEquity’s capabilities include full-service investment banking, equity research, institutional sales, trading, debt placements and mergers and acquisitions. In particular, ThinkEquity’s Debt Capital Markets group, has structured over $1 billion of debt financing for companies, with a strong focus on the technology, healthcare, industrials, cleantech, fintech, specialty finance, entertainment and cybersecurity sectors.

    “Cyber A.I. Group is poised for significant growth through the execution of their expansion initiatives in the technology and Artificial Intelligence verticals,” said Jeff Singer, Head of Debt Capital Markets at ThinkEquity. “To support this growth, we will leverage our capital markets expertise and longstanding relationships across regional banks, hedge funds and family offices. Our team at ThinkEquity is looking forward to helping Cyber A.I. Group achieve their long-term growth objectives.”

    This engagement with Cyber A.I. Group comes at a time of accelerating interest in A.I.-driven technologies, with the global A.I. market projected to grow by leaps and bounds in the coming years.

    About ThinkEquity LLC

    ThinkEquity is a boutique investment bank created by experienced professionals collectively financing over $50 billion of public and private capital raises, restructurings, and mergers and acquisitions. For more information, please visit: http://www.think-equity.com.

    About Cyber A.I. Group

    Cyber A.I. Group, Inc. is an international company engaged in the acquisition and management of worldwide Cybersecurity and IT services firms. Cyber A.I. is pursuing a highly proactive “Buy & Build” strategy to rapidly expand operations internationally by acquiring a broad spectrum of IT services companies and repositioning them to address fast-growing market needs for Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) markets. The Company has developed an active pipeline of 100+ perspective acquisitions which are in various stages of analysis. The Company’s initial target is to acquire multiple companies representing aggregate revenues annualizing $100 million. Cyber A.I.’s business model is focused on the acquisition and consolidation of IT services companies with proven ability in broad conventional technology services with strong cash flow and enhance performance through A.I.-driven Cybersecurity initiatives. This emphasis on conventional companies with strong revenues and EBITDA distinguishes Cyber A.I. from the explosion of A.I. startups that may be pinning their future on a single technological breakthrough which may never materialize. This “Buy &Build” strategy provides Cyber A.I. with the maximum flexibility for diversification and risk management for moving into new fields and addressing fast moving market opportunities. For additional information, please visit: cyberaigroup.io.

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/be89e923-4b5f-4b1f-808a-e52448bffc77

    ttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3fb0fbf5-f39d-47e5-bbb1-5fc9ff95acd1

    A video accompanying this announcement is available at

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a0aca919-7375-4379-892d-b2eb2235d986

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: To make nuclear fusion a reliable energy source one day, scientists will first need to design heat- and radiation-resilient materials

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Sophie Blondel, Research Assistant Professor of Nuclear Engineering, University of Tennessee

    A fusion experiment ran so hot that the wall materials facing the plasma retained defects. Christophe Roux/CEA IRFM, CC BY

    Fusion energy has the potential to be an effective clean energy source, as its reactions generate incredibly large amounts of energy. Fusion reactors aim to reproduce on Earth what happens in the core of the Sun, where very light elements merge and release energy in the process. Engineers can harness this energy to heat water and generate electricity through a steam turbine, but the path to fusion isn’t completely straightforward.

    Controlled nuclear fusion has several advantages over other power sources for generating electricity. For one, the fusion reaction itself doesn’t produce any carbon dioxide. There is no risk of meltdown, and the reaction doesn’t generate any long-lived radioactive waste.

    I’m a nuclear engineer who studies materials that scientists could use in fusion reactors. Fusion takes place at incredibly high temperatures. So to one day make fusion a feasible energy source, reactors will need to be built with materials that can survive the heat and irradiation generated by fusion reactions.

    Fusion material challenges

    Several types of elements can merge during a fusion reaction. The one most scientists prefer is deuterium plus tritium. These two elements have the highest likelihood of fusing at temperatures that a reactor can maintain. This reaction generates a helium atom and a neutron, which carries most of the energy from the reaction.

    Humans have successfully generated fusion reactions on Earth since 1952 – some even in their garage. But the trick now is to make it worth it. You need to get more energy out of the process than you put in to initiate the reaction.

    Fusion reactions happen in a very hot plasma, which is a state of matter similar to gas but made of charged particles. The plasma needs to stay extremely hot – over 100 million degrees Celsius – and condensed for the duration of the reaction.

    To keep the plasma hot and condensed and create a reaction that can keep going, you need special materials making up the reactor walls. You also need a cheap and reliable source of fuel.

    While deuterium is very common and obtained from water, tritium is very rare. A 1-gigawatt fusion reactor is expected to burn 56 kilograms of tritium annually. But the world has only about 25 kilograms of tritium commercially available.

    Researchers need to find alternative sources for tritium before fusion energy can get off the ground. One option is to have each reactor generating its own tritium through a system called the breeding blanket.

    The breeding blanket makes up the first layer of the plasma chamber walls and contains lithium that reacts with the neutrons generated in the fusion reaction to produce tritium. The blanket also converts the energy carried by these neutrons to heat.

    The fusion reaction chamber at ITER will electrify the plasma.

    Fusion devices also need a divertor, which extracts the heat and ash produced in the reaction. The divertor helps keep the reactions going for longer.

    These materials will be exposed to unprecedented levels of heat and particle bombardment. And there aren’t currently any experimental facilities to reproduce these conditions and test materials in a real-world scenario. So, the focus of my research is to bridge this gap using models and computer simulations.

    From the atom to full device

    My colleagues and I work on producing tools that can predict how the materials in a fusion reactor erode, and how their properties change when they are exposed to extreme heat and lots of particle radiation.

    As they get irradiated, defects can form and grow in these materials, which affect how well they react to heat and stress. In the future, we hope that government agencies and private companies can use these tools to design fusion power plants.

    Our approach, called multiscale modeling, consists of looking at the physics in these materials over different time and length scales with a range of computational models.

    We first study the phenomena happening in these materials at the atomic scale through accurate but expensive simulations. For instance, one simulation might examine how hydrogen moves within a material during irradiation.

    From these simulations, we look at properties such as diffusivity, which tells us how much the hydrogen can spread throughout the material.

    We can integrate the information from these atomic level simulations into less expensive simulations, which look at how the materials react at a larger scale. These larger-scale simulations are less expensive because they model the materials as a continuum instead of considering every single atom.

    The atomic-scale simulations could take weeks to run on a supercomputer, while the continuum one will take only a few hours.

    All this modeling work happening on computers is then compared with experimental results obtained in laboratories.

    For example, if one side of the material has hydrogen gas, we want to know how much hydrogen leaks to the other side of the material. If the model and the experimental results match, we can have confidence in the model and use it to predict the behavior of the same material under the conditions we would expect in a fusion device.

    If they don’t match, we go back to the atomic-scale simulations to investigate what we missed.

    Additionally, we can couple the larger-scale material model to plasma models. These models can tell us which parts of a fusion reactor will be the hottest or have the most particle bombardment. From there, we can evaluate more scenarios.

    For instance, if too much hydrogen leaks through the material during the operation of the fusion reactor, we could recommend making the material thicker in certain places, or adding something to trap the hydrogen.

    Designing new materials

    As the quest for commercial fusion energy continues, scientists will need to engineer more resilient materials. The field of possibilities is daunting – engineers can manufacture multiple elements together in many ways.

    You could combine two elements to create a new material, but how do you know what the right proportion is of each element? And what if you want to try mixing five or more elements together? It would take way too long to try to run our simulations for all of these possibilities.

    Thankfully, artificial intelligence is here to assist. By combining experimental and simulation results, analytical AI can recommend combinations that are most likely to have the properties we’re looking for, such as heat and stress resistance.

    The aim is to reduce the number of materials that an engineer would have to produce and test experimentally to save time and money.

    Sophie Blondel receives funding from the US Department of Energy.

    – ref. To make nuclear fusion a reliable energy source one day, scientists will first need to design heat- and radiation-resilient materials – https://theconversation.com/to-make-nuclear-fusion-a-reliable-energy-source-one-day-scientists-will-first-need-to-design-heat-and-radiation-resilient-materials-238489

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: AI, cryptocurrencies and data privacy: Comparing the Trump and Harris records on technology regulation

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Anjana Susarla, Professor of Information Systems, Michigan State University

    The Federal Trade Commission is one of the main venues for government regulation of big tech and its wares. Alpha Photo/Flickr, CC BY-NC

    It’s not surprising that technology regulation is an important issue in the 2024 U.S. presidential campaign.

    The past decade has seen advanced technologies, from social media algorithms to large language model artificial intelligence systems, profoundly affect society. These changes, which spanned the Trump and Biden-Harris administrations, spurred calls for the federal government to regulate the technologies and the powerful corporations that wield them.

    As a researcher of information systems and AI, I examined both candidates’ records on technology regulation. Here are the important differences.

    Algorithmic harms

    With artificial intelligence now widespread, governments worldwide are grappling with how to regulate various aspects of the technology. The candidates offer different visions for U.S. AI policy. One area where there is a stark difference is in recognizing and addressing algorithmic harms from the widespread use of AI technology.

    AI affects your life in ways that might escape your notice. Biases in algorithms used for lending and hiring decisions could end up reinforcing a vicious cycle of discrimination. For example, a student who can’t get a loan for college would then be less likely to get the education needed to pull herself out of poverty.

    At the AI Safety Summit in the U.K. in November 2023, Harris spoke of the promise of AI but also the perils from algorithmic bias, deepfakes and wrongful arrests. Biden signed an executive order on AI on Oct. 30, 2023, that recognized AI systems can pose unacceptable risks of harm to civil and human rights and individual well-being. In parallel, federal agencies such as the Federal Trade Commission have carried out enforcement actions to guard against algorithmic harms.

    President Joe Biden signs an executive order addressing the risks of artificial intelligence on Oct. 30, 2023, with Vice President Kamala Harris at his side.
    AP Photo/Evan Vucci

    By contrast, the Trump administration did not take a public stance on mitigation of algorithmic harms. Trump has said he wants to repeal President Biden’s AI executive order. In recent interviews, however, Trump noted the dangers from technologies such as deepfakes and challenges posed to security from AI systems, suggesting a willingness to engage with the growing risks from AI.

    Technological standards

    The Trump administration signed the American AI Initiative executive order on Feb. 11, 2019. The order pledged to double AI research investment and established the first set of national AI research institutes. The order also included a plan for AI technical standards and established guidance for the federal government’s use of AI. Trump also signed an executive order on Dec. 3, 2020, promoting the use of trustworthy AI in the federal government.

    The Biden-Harris administration has tried to go further. Harris convened the heads of Google, Microsoft and other tech companies at the White House on May 4, 2023, to undertake a set of voluntary commitments to safeguard individual rights. The Biden administration’s executive order contains an important initiative to probe the vulnerablity of very large-scale, general-purpose AI models trained on massive amounts of data. The goal is to determine the risks hackers pose to these models, including the ones that power OpenAI’s popular ChatGPT and DALL-E.

    Donald Trump departs from Washington D.C., on Feb. 11, 2019, shortly after signing an executive order on artificial intelligence that included setting technical standards.
    Nicholas Kamm/AFP via Getty Images

    Antitrust

    Antitrust law enforcement – restricting or conditioning mergers and acquisitions – is another way the federal government regulates the technology industry.

    The Trump administration’s antitrust dossier includes its attempt to block AT&T’s acquisition of Time Warner. The merger was eventually allowed by a federal judge after the FTC under the Trump administration filed a suit to block the deal. The Trump administration also filed an antitrust case against Google focused on its dominance in internet search.

    Biden signed an executive order on July 9, 2021, to enforce antitrust laws arising from the anticompetitive effects of dominant internet platforms. The order also targeted the acquisition of nascent competitors, the aggregation of data, unfair competition in attention markets and the surveillance of users. The Biden-Harris administration has filed antitrust cases against Apple and Google.

    The Biden-Harris administration’s merger guidelines in 2023 outlined rules to determine when mergers can be considered anticompetitive. While both administrations filed antitrust cases, the Biden administration’s antitrust push appears stronger in terms of its impact in potentially reorganizing or even orchestrating a breakup of dominant companies such as Google.

    Cryptocurrency

    The candidates have different approaches to cryptocurrency regulation. Late in his administration, Trump tweeted in support of cryptocurrency regulation. Also late in Trump’s administration, the federal Financial Crimes Enforcement Network proposed regulations that would have required financial firms to collect the identity of any cryptocurrency wallet to which a user sent funds. The regulations were not enacted.

    Trump has since shifted his position on cryptocurrencies. He has criticized existing U.S. laws and called for the United States to be a Bitcoin superpower. The Trump campaign is the first presidential campaign to accept payments in cryptocurrencies.

    The Biden-Harris administration, by contrast, has laid out regulatory restrictions on cryptocurrencies with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which brought about a series of enforcement actions. The White House vetoed the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act that aimed to clarify accounting for cryptocurrencies, a bill favored by the cryptocurrency industry.

    Data privacy

    Biden’s AI executive order calls on Congress to adopt privacy legislation, but it does not provide a legislative framework to do so. The Trump White House’s American AI Initiative executive order mentions privacy only in broad terms, calling for AI technologies to uphold “civil liberties, privacy, and American values.” The order did not mention how existing privacy protections would be enforced.

    Across the U.S., several states have tried to pass legislation addressing aspects of data privacy. At present, there is a patchwork of statewide initiatives and a lack of comprehensive data privacy legislation at the federal level.

    The paucity of federal data privacy protections is a stark reminder that while the candidates are addressing some of the challenges posed by developments in AI and technology more broadly, a lot still remains to be done to regulate technology in the public interest.

    Overall, the Biden administration’s efforts at antitrust and technology regulation seem broadly aligned with the goal of reining in technology companies and protecting consumers. It’s also reimagining monopoly protections for the 21st century. This seems to be the chief difference between the two administrations.

    Anjana Susarla receives funding from the National Institute of Health

    – ref. AI, cryptocurrencies and data privacy: Comparing the Trump and Harris records on technology regulation – https://theconversation.com/ai-cryptocurrencies-and-data-privacy-comparing-the-trump-and-harris-records-on-technology-regulation-239676

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: NPS Salutes Outgoing Dean of Students, SEAL “Bull Frog” Takes Over

    Source: United States Navy

    Martinsen, a Fulbright scholar and NPS Department of Applied Mathematics associate professor, was asked to step-in as Dean of Students over the last year to fill a critical gap. He will now return to teaching, in addition to his new duties as Associate Provost for Academic Affairs.

    NPS President retired Vice Adm. Ann Rondeau commended Martinsen for ably leading his team and the NPS student body through four graduations, incoming classes and the implementation of an initiative to vastly increase the number of newly commissioned ensigns coming directly from the U.S. Naval Academy and other commissioning programs.

    “Our students are the mission at NPS, and Capt. Martinsen has always put their success at the forefront of his work,” said Rondeau. “He did not hesitate to say yes when asked to take the Dean of Students role, and like the true leader he is, Martinsen set the bar even higher for his team, and inspired us all by his personal commitment to the institution.”

    For his accomplishments and exceptionally meritorious performance, Rondeau presented Martinsen with the Legion of Merit. He then spoke to the audience, offering his gratitude for the unique opportunity to lead NPS students, especially noting the hard work of his student services team who process graduating and incoming resident students, which in June alone totaled more than 800.

    “Student Services is not just an outstanding team, it’s a family into which I was welcomed and am proud to have been a part of during my time as Dean of Students,” Martinsen remarked. “For me, it is hard to put into words just how rewarding it is to see our warrior scholar students grow academically. If ever there was a doubt as to how this country will respond to the myriad of challenges we currently face, one need only look to the skill, strength, and motivation of these young leaders to know that we will be alright.”

    Rondeau also commented on NPS’ extraordinary good fortune to have a leader of Skalski’s caliber as incoming Dean of Students.  “He is a warrior’s leader,” Rondeau said, noting Skalski’s career as a Navy SEAL who comes to NPS directly from Commander, Task Force 66, part of U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa / U.S. Sixth Fleet.

    Skalski’s achievements as a Navy SEAL and commander through multiple conflicts over his near 40-year career bring a distinct operational focus to his tenure as NPS Dean of Students. In addition, Skalski’s time in service makes him the 19th “Bull Frog” in the SEAL community, a moniker given to their to longest serving active-duty member, and is a measure of leadership that makes him ideally suited to command the student military element at NPS.

    Martinsen and Skalski then read their orders. As is the time-honored tradition for a change of command, Martinsen turned to Skalski and said, “I am ready to be relieved,” to which Skalski then replied, “I relieve you.” He then took to the podium to offer his thoughts to the assembled audience as NPS’ new Dean of Students.

    “The opportunity to serve here at Naval Postgraduate School is truly a gift and an opportunity,” he said. “There are many challenges ahead. While I saw technology advances in artificial intelligence, and the integration of robotics and autonomous systems change the fabric of the battlefield in real-time, the human element will always be the decisive difference. This is where our asymmetric advantage, the warfighter or in this case, the NPS graduate student, comes in.”

    “I’ve seen the power of teamwork and resilience during my career,” he continued. “I know that with the talent and dedication in this room and across the NPS campus, we can turn these challenges into opportunities.”

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Robot developers keep making it seem like housebots are imminent when they’re decades away

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Carl Strathearn, Research Fellow, Computing, Edinburgh Napier University

    Threepio schmeepio. Tesla

    The walking, talking, dancing Optimus robots at the recent Tesla demonstration generated huge excitement. But this turned to disappointment as it became apparent that much of what was happening was actually being controlled remotely by humans.

    As much as this might still be a fascinating glimpse of the future, it’s not the first time that robots have turned out to be a little too good to be true.

    Take Sophia, for instance, the robot created by Texas-based Hanson Robotics back in 2016. She was presented by the company as essentially an intelligent being, prompting numerous tech specialists to call this out as well beyond our capabilities at the time.

    Similarly we’ve seen carefully choreographed videos of pre-scripted action sequences like Boston Dynamics’ Atlas gymnastics, the English-made Ameca robot “waking up”, and most recently Tesla’s Optimus in the factory. Obviously these are still impressive in different ways, but they’re nowhere near the complete sentient package. Let Optimus or Atlas loose in a random home and you’d see something very different.

    A humanoid robot capable of working in our homes needs to be capable of doing many different tasks, using our tools, navigating our environments and communicating with us like a human. If you thought this was just a year or two away, you’re going to be disappointed.

    Building robots able to interact and carry out complex tasks in our homes and streets is still a huge challenge. Designing them even to do one specific task well, such as opening a door, is phenomenally difficult.

    There are so many door handles with different shapes, weights and materials, not to mention the complexity of dealing with unforeseen circumstances such as a locked door or objects blocking the way. Developers have actually now created a door-opening robot, but robots that can deal with hundreds of everyday tasks are still some way off.

    Behind the curtain

    The Tesla demonstration’s “Wizard of Oz” remote operation technique is a commonly used control method in this field, giving researchers a benchmark against which to test their real advances. Known as telemetric control, this has been around for some time, and is becoming more advanced.

    One of the authors of this article, Carl Strathearn, was at a conference in Japan earlier this year, where a keynote speaker from one of the top robotics labs demonstrated an advanced telemetrics system. It allowed a single human to simultaneously operate many humanoid robots semi-autonomously, using pre-scripted movements, conversation prompts and computerised speech.

    Clearly, this is very useful technology. Telemetric systems are used to control robots working in dangerous environments, disability healthcare and even in outer space. But the reason why a human is still at the helm is because even the most advanced humanoid robots, such as Atlas, are not yet reliable enough to operate completely independently in the real world.

    Another major problem is what we can call social AI. Leading generative AI programs such as DeepMind’s Gemini and OpenAI’s GPT-4 Vision may be a foundation for creative autonomous AI systems for humanoid robots in the future. But we should not be misled into believing that such models mean that a robot is now capable of functioning well in the real world.

    Interpreting information and problem solving like a human requires much more than just recognising words, classifying objects and generating speech. It requires a deeper contextual understanding of people, objects and environments – in other words, common sense.

    To explore what is currently possible, we recently completed a research project called Common Sense Enhanced Language and Vision (CiViL). We equipped a robot called Euclid with commonsense knowledge as part of a generative AI vision and language system to assist people in preparing recipes. To do this, we had to create commonsense knowledge databases using real-world problem-solving examples enacted by students.

    Euclid could explain complicated steps in recipes, give suggestions when things went wrong, and even point people to locations in the kitchen where utensils and tools might typically be found. Yet there were still issues, such as what to do if someone has a bad allergic reaction while cooking. The problem is that it’s almost impossible to handle every possible scenario, yet that’s what true common sense entails.

    This fundamental aspect of AI has got somewhat lost in humanoid robots over the years. Generated speech, realistic facial expressions, telemetric controls, even the ability to play games such as “rock paper scissors” are all impressive. But the novelty soon wears off if the robots are not actually capable of doing anything useful on their own.

    This isn’t to say that significant progress isn’t being made toward autonomous humanoid robots. There’s impressive work going on into robotic nervous systems to give robots more senses for learning, for instance. It’s just not usually given the same amount of press attention as the big unveilings.

    The data deficit

    Another key challenge is the lack of real-world data to train AI systems, since online data doesn’t always accurately represent the real-world conditions necessary for training our robots well enough. We have yet to find an effective way of collecting this real-world data in large enough quantities to get good results. However, this may change soon if we can access it from technologies such as Alexa and Meta Ray-Bans.

    Nonetheless, the reality is that we’re still perhaps decades away from developing multimodal humanoid robots with advanced social AI that are capable of helping around the house. Maybe in the meantime we’ll be offered robots controlled remotely from a command centre. Will we want them, though?

    In the meantime, it’s also more important that we focus our efforts on creating robots for roles that can support people who urgently need help now. Examples would include healthcare, where there are long waiting lists and understaffed hospitals; and education, to offer a way for overanxious or severely ill children to participate in classrooms remotely. We also need better transparency, legislation and publicly available testing, so that everyone can tell fact from fiction and help build public trust for when the robots eventually do arrive.

    Dimitra Gkatzia receives funding from EPSRC.

    Carl Strathearn 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. Robot developers keep making it seem like housebots are imminent when they’re decades away – https://theconversation.com/robot-developers-keep-making-it-seem-like-housebots-are-imminent-when-theyre-decades-away-241638

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Vaccinating care home residents reduced deaths, but the effect was small – new study

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By David Paton, Chair of Industrial Economics, Nottingham University Business School, University of Nottingham

    Vaccinating older people probably did avert some deaths in 2021, but the effects were small. And even those small effects on mortality seem to have dissipated during the booster programme. That’s the conclusion of our new study, published in the European Economic Review.

    COVID-related deaths decreased significantly in most of Europe and the US from the middle of 2021. Although this reduction coincided with the rollout of COVID vaccines, it has proved surprisingly difficult to identify the extent to which vaccination contributed to the drop in deaths.

    Randomised controlled trials (the gold standard for testing new treatments) suggest COVID vaccination can provide significant protection against serious illness and death relative to unvaccinated people who have not previously been infected with COVID. But there are reasons the effect of vaccination on mortality may be lower when viewed outside of trials.

    Early in the programme, there were hopes that vaccination would also prove highly effective in preventing the spread of COVID but it has since become clear that vaccination provides only limited and short-term protection against infection and transmission.

    It is also well established that a previous infection provides protection both against reinfection and against serious illness and death in the event of reinfection that is at least as effective as vaccination. Having a previous infection significantly reduces the likelihood of being vaccinated meaning the vaccinated population will include a relatively high proportion of people without protection from prior infection. So even if vaccination provides protection at an individual level, we may still observe population-level mortality rates that are similar for vaccinated and unvaccinated groups.

    The effectiveness of vaccination programmes may also be limited by people’s behaviour. For example, there is evidence that vaccinated people who get infected are more likely to have mild symptoms and this may cause them to take fewer precautions than others against spreading infection. As a result, vaccination may sometimes be associated with more rather than less transmission.

    Taken together, even if vaccination reduces the risk on an individual basis, it does not necessarily follow that it will reduce deaths at a population level. Existing research reflects this ambiguity with some research finding very significant effects of vaccination on death while other findings conclude there was little or no effect at all.

    Our new study attempts to improve our knowledge about the effect of COVID vaccination programmes by estimating the effect of vaccination take up on deaths in care homes. This is a particularly important group to examine. Given that the vast majority of COVID-related deaths occur in the elderly, any effect on deaths is highly likely to be seen in care homes.

    Machine learning used to analyse the data

    We examined deaths from COVID in care homes across nearly 150 local authorities in England from the start of the vaccine rollout in December 2020 until after the second booster dose in summer 2022. We tested whether higher rates of vaccination of staff and elderly residents led to fewer deaths both in total and from COVID.

    One feature of our research is the use of machine learning (a type of artificial intelligence) to isolate the effect of vaccination from other factors that may also have affected mortality including levels of prior infection as well as demographic, economic and health differences among local authorities.

    Machine learning is particularly adept at separating out the effects of a high number of potential explanatory variables, providing much better evidence of when associations represent true causal relationships. In contrast to some other research, we also use a measure of vaccination that takes account of the fact that effectiveness wanes over time.

    We found that higher vaccination rates of residents (but not of staff) did indeed lead to fewer deaths, but the effect was relatively small. For example, an increase in the resident vaccination take-up rate of 10% in a local authority caused, on average, a reduction of 1% in the total care home mortality rate. That is equivalent to about 22 fewer deaths per week nationwide.

    Of course, any reduction in deaths is welcome. But vaccination does not appear to be the key factor in reducing care home deaths from COVID. We also found that the reduction in deaths was restricted to the initial vaccination rollout.

    From September 2021, when the booster vaccination programme started in England, higher vaccination rates of elderly residents do not seem to have led to any reduction in deaths. Based on these results, vaccination is unlikely to have been responsible for the sustained fall in COVID-related deaths.

    Why then did Europe and the US experience large reductions in COVID deaths since 2021, even during times when infection rates have soared?

    There are two explanations. The first is the growth of variants such as omicron that, although highly infectious, are less deadly than variants responsible for the early waves.

    Second, is the rise in the cumulative number of people who gained protection from having had previous infections.

    These explanations are consistent with the experience of places such as Hong Kong, New Zealand and Taiwan. All saw relatively low COVID infections and deaths in 2020, meaning only limited levels of natural immunity had been built up. All then experienced high mortality rates during 2022, well after most people in those places had been vaccinated.

    For example, the seven-day average mortality rate in Hong Kong reached 40 deaths per million in March 2022, a rate far above the highest peak seen in the US during the whole pandemic despite cumulative vaccination rates at that time being similar.

    Even though vaccination probably reduced care home deaths by a small amount in the early rollout period, there is little evidence that the booster programme had any significant effect on COVID-related deaths.

    David Paton is a member of HART (Health Advisory and Recovery Team).

    Sourafel Girma 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. Vaccinating care home residents reduced deaths, but the effect was small – new study – https://theconversation.com/vaccinating-care-home-residents-reduced-deaths-but-the-effect-was-small-new-study-241300

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Local Tech and Lifestyle Journalists Praise Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold6 and Z Flip6

    Source: Samsung

    In recent weeks, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 and Z Flip6 have garnered enthusiastic praise from South African tech and lifestyle journalists, who are lauding these innovative devices for their cutting-edge features and transformative potential in the mobile industry.
     
    The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 has been described as a remarkable advancement in foldable technology, with some pointing out its versatility, enhanced performance, impressive build quality and seamless user experience. The improved hinge design and more durable screen of the Z Fold6 have been particularly well-received.
     
    Another key highlight from local reviews is the device’s multitasking capabilities from its expansive display which allows users to effortlessly juggle multiple tasks, making it an ideal tool for professionals.
     
    On the flip side, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6 has also captured the imagination of South African journalists and mobile tech enthusiasts with its stylish design and innovative features. The compact form factor and customisation options of the Z Flip6 have been particularly praised. Its ability to fold into a compact, pocket-sized form makes it incredibly convenient, while the customisable cover screen allows users to personalise their experience.
     
    Here’s a look at some of the glowing reviews;
     
    Cody Nery – Tech Journalist, New Age Gaming
    As much as the sub-display (Galaxy Z Fold6’s cover screen) exists for quick and easy tasks, if I‘m really going to spend a good hour editing a reel for Instagram or even more time improving my KDA while gaming, I’m going to open the fold up, revealing its true nature. For one, the larger display allows me to have multiple apps open, which I find makes editing much simpler than having to switch between apps if I need to find a cool song from another app or quickly move files around. It‘s not surprising at all that it’s also amazing to game on the much larger screen.
     

     
    Wesley Diphoko – Editor-in-Chief: Fast Company SA
    In 2024, Apple and Samsung entered the Al hardware race. So far, it seems Samsung is leading the race. Earlier this year, Samsung launched their AI phone, now the South Korean tech-giant has launched a suite of AI-powered products. Last week, Samsung launched its first AI-powered foldable phones, the Galaxy Z Fold6 and Z Flip6. The AI functionality which stands out about the devices is the interpreter mode, which can be used when translating a conversation. The translating functionality has conversation mode and listening mode. The functionality lets the user run the microphone as someone talks in another language, and the user is able to see their speech translated as text on the screen.
     

     
    Thobeka Phanyeko – Lifestyle Editor: Glamour
    Samsung has truly positioned itself as a digital disruptor and innovator, bringing cutting-edge technology that keeps up with the fast-paced demands of modern journalism. Having a trusted companion by my side as the media landscape continues to evolve, is a game-changer! I can’t wait to see what’s next!
     

     
     

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI: Sustain SoCal to Host 15th Annual Energy Event (‘AE15’) on October 24

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Oct. 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — via InvestorWire — Sustain Southern California (“Sustain SoCal”), proudly announces today that it will host the 15th Annual Energy Event on Thursday, October 24, 2024. The acclaimed event will be held in person at The Cove at UCI Beall Applied Innovation 5270 California Avenue, Irvine, CA, United States.

    With over a decade-and-a-half of experience, Sustain SoCal is renowned for accelerating cleantech economic growth and sustainability initiatives through innovation, collaboration and education throughout Southern California and the surrounding region. The upcoming event is the latest in the highly-regarded Annual Energy series which focuses on exploring the status of decarbonization solutions across major pillars of the economy including industrial, commercial and governmental sectors.

    Drawing on their considerable experience and expertise, invited speakers, senior decision makers and industry veterans will share their unique perspectives on several pressing concerns such as engineering technology, incentive structures, policy tools, and the legislative ecosystem’s role in mainstreaming the decarbonization of energy supplies.  

    Speakers at Sustain SoCal events represent a cross-section of real world initiatives from local government and other public agencies, utilities, technology companies, large corporate adopters, hospitals, hotels, schools, seasoned investors, and non-profit agencies.

    To address the region’s sustainability goals, and highlight the challenges of the evolving energy-scape, discussions will encompass a wide spectrum of topics including electrification, hydrogen, Inflation Reduction Act, renewables, built environment, agriculture, grant incentives, investor trends, ESG and innovation policy. During these galvanizing conversations, attendees will experience world-class educational content and build a deeper understanding of pragmatic solutions that support sustainable decarbonization.

    While showcasing the latest advancements from local energy innovators, the event series has always focused on being a launchpad for exciting new partnerships and high-powered networking to drive sustainable economic development and progress towards wider sustainability goals.

    At the Innovation Showcase, senior company officials and pioneering developers will interact directly with attendees to explore and discuss the latest technology developments and breakthroughs.

    Scott Kitcher, President, and CEO of Sustain SoCal, said, “Global energy networks are central to modern civilization and our economic model. However, rigorous scientific research and advanced environmental surveys have conclusively shown that the energy-scape is precariously positioned due to the weight of our legacy systems. The combination of lasting environmental damage, accelerating climate change effects, power shortages and frequent disruptions, changing demographic profiles, and geopolitical challenges that impact economic prospects via growth trajectories and inflation, has necessitated a rapid transition in humanity’s relationship with energy. The most urgent concern is to accelerate decarbonization to stave off the potential for cataclysmic effects in the decades to come. We, at Sustain SoCal, are proud to have supported local innovators, energy thinkers and policy pioneers in their quest to usher in an age of responsible energy systems, and in building a new and robust ecosystem in Southern California and beyond. Our October conference is a must-attend event for anyone interested in the lasting, sustainable prosperity of our communities, and shall also offer an eye-opening experience into state-of-the-art technologies and revolutionary policy initiatives.”   

    BioLargo, Inc., and Caltrol, Inc., are Platinum Sponsors for this event.

    The Orange County Power Authority (OCPA) is a Gold Sponsor.

    For registration details, or for information on speaking and sponsorship opportunities, visit:
    https://sustainsocal.org/event/15th-annual-energy-event/

    About Sustain SoCal:
    Sustain SoCal, a non-profit organization, accelerates sustainability and economic growth through innovation, collaboration, and education in Southern California. The organization has a ten-year history in exploring and implementing pragmatic, real-world solutions to the challenges created by growth, change and inefficiency. It conducts conferences, workshops and networking events that lead to initiatives that positively impact our region’s economic progress and sustainability. For more information, please visit http://www.sustainsocal.org.

    About IBN

    IBN is a cutting-edge communications and digital engagement platform providing tailored Platform Solutions for select private and public companies. Over the course of 18+ years, IBN has introduced over 65+ investor facing brands to the investment public and amassed a collective audience of millions of social media followers. These distinctive investor brands amplify recognition and reach as well as help fulfill the unique needs of our rapidly growing and diverse base of client-partners. IBN will continue to expand our branded network of influential properties as well as leverage the energy and experience of our team of professionals to best serve our clients.

    IBN’s Platform Solutions provide access to: (1) our Dynamic Brand Portfolio (DBP) through 65+ investor facing brands; (2) article and editorial syndication to 5,000+ news outlets; (3) full-scale distribution to a growing social media audience; (4) a network of wire solutions via InvestorWire to effectively reach target markets and demographics; (5) Press Release Enhancement to ensure accuracy and impact; (6) a full array of corporate communications solutions; and (7) total news coverage solutions.

    For more information, please visit https://www.InvestorBrandNetwork.com

    Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the InvestorBrandNetwork website applicable to all content provided by IBN, wherever published or re-published: http://IBN.fm/Disclaimer.

    Corporate Communications

    IBN
    Los Angeles, California
    http://www.InvestorBrandNetwork.com
    310.299.1717 Office
    Editor@InvestorBrandNetwork.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Matchain Hits Major Milestone: Over 9 Million Wallets And Counting

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LISBON, Portugal, Oct. 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Matchain, a leading AI blockchain platform, is excited to share the milestones achieved since its mainnet launch on August 28th, recapping all the important metrics of the ecosystem. The platform has reached significant milestones in user adoption, transaction volume, and strategic partnerships, solidifying its position as a frontrunner in the AI & Decentralized Identity space.

    Explosive Growth in User Base and Transactions

    Unlike traditional platforms where data is harvested and monetized without consent, Matchain’s vision is that user data should only be shared with explicit permission. This data, when shared, can be leveraged for training AI models, with users receiving a share of the revenue generated. By enabling individuals to decide how their data is used, Matchain not only fosters greater transparency but also gives users an active role in the growing AI economy, ensuring they benefit from the value of their own contributions.

    To achieve this goal, Matchain has been focused on onboarding Web2 users into the Web3 space, providing a smooth transition to decentralized platforms. At the core of the strategy is leveraging Telegram’s massive web2 reach as a familiar gateway, allowing millions to explore blockchain technology without friction.

    Matchain’s strategy lies in driving real, authentic interactions within its ecosystem. All initiatives were focused on encouraging users to explore and experience the dApps firsthand, of which, LoL, the first AI memecoin on Matchain, quickly gained momentum and sparked engagement within the community.

    The strong and enthusiastic response not only highlighted the community’s support but also served as a powerful driver for increasing Matchain’s visibility and accelerating its growth.

    A Recap of the most important numbers:

    Successful Transition from Testnet to Mainnet

    Matchain’s journey to its current success began with a carefully planned transition from testnet to mainnet. While the testnet was used to validate our core offering and vision, mainnet opened up the doors for the public to join and build on Match.

    How’s it going so far:

    Onchain Activity: The testnet phase lasted a year and saw over 180 million transactions processed, demonstrating the network’s capability to handle high volumes, while the mainnet saw a total of 32 million transactions within less than a month of being launched.

    Community Engagement: With a total user outreach of over 12 million across all channels, Matchain’s mini-app has attracted 3 million+ daily active users, creating strong momentum. This success is amplified by hyper-successful Megadrop campaigns in collaboration with exchange partners, fueled by the enthusiastic support of the Matchain community.

    Ecosystem Growth: We’ve built a network of over 50+ strategic partners across sectors like DEXs, DeFi platforms, games, and AI, creating a solid foundation for seamless building on Matchain. MatchID partners are integrating our identity solution to drive real-world use, while infrastructure partners ensure builders can engage with Matchain easily and securely. With a focus on the future, we’ve also aligned with AI leaders across industries to empower individual sovereignty.

    Get Involved With Matchain

    Matchain’s growth has taken off thanks to strategic partnerships and community-driven efforts led by our Business Development team. Here are some of the key initiatives that are still going strong—and there’s plenty of room for you to jump in and be part of the journey.

    Megadrop Program: A multi-phase reward program designed to incentivize user participation and ecosystem growth in collaboration with industry leaders like OKX, Bitget, and Bybit, expanding Matchain’s integration on leading web3 platforms.

    Mini-App Quests: Over 7 million users engaged through Matchain’s mini-app games, earning Match Points in real time.

    Match Hub: If you share the same vision as Matchain, let’s build something great together! Our BD team’s got your back—offering technical and marketing support to help grow your projects!

    Looking Ahead

    Matchain is set to continue to focus on strengthening its infrastructure, expanding partnerships, and developing AI and Decentralized Identity (DID) solutions to meet the evolving demands of the blockchain community.

    With its rapid momentum, Matchain is poised for significant growth and is on track to expand its user base to over 40 million users in the coming months.

    But that’s just the beginning—stay on the lookout for Matchain. With so much happening behind the scenes, you won’t want to miss out. A lot of exciting updates and insights will be shared at ETH Sofia, where our CEO, Petrix, will join Par from Paris Saint-Germain F.C. (PSG) for a fireside chat.

    Keep an ear for subtle clues about what’s next for Matchain.

    About Matchain
    Matchain is a blockchain platform that offers advanced AI-driven decentralized identity solutions. It ensures privacy, security, and control over personal data, allowing users to own and monetize their digital information within a secure ecosystem.

    For more details, visit Matchain’s website or contact Anastasia Drinevskaya, Chief Marketing Officer, for inquiries and updates.

    Contact:
    Anastasia Drinevskaya
    ana@matchain.org

    Disclaimer: This content is provided by Matchain. The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the content provider. The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities. Please conduct your own research and invest at your own risk.

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/210903ee-4dc4-43fb-a29c-f0863f1b42b3
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e8fbba70-bbe2-4487-9ff3-8f78cec5bebd

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Council tenants urged to share views on how their rent should be spent

    Source: Scotland – City of Edinburgh

    The City of Edinburgh Council is asking tenants to give their feedback on how it invests in Council homes, neighbourhoods, and services.

    With just six weeks to go until this year’s consultation closes on Friday 29 November, tenants across the capital are being reminded to share their views on how they’d like their rent to be spent.

    In February this year, councillors agreed to increase rent by 7% every year, for five years, starting in April 2024. The longer-term strategy gives tenants more certainty about the rent they pay and helps the Council better plan spending to improve homes and services.

    The Council also introduced the Tenant Hardship Fund which offers financial assistance for tenants struggling to make rent payments. This year, the fund was increased to a maximum award of two fortnightly rent charges per tenant per year.

    Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener Jane Meagher said:

    We’re determined to provide a better service to our tenants, improve their homes, and build more places for people to live because everyone deserves a suitable and affordable place to call home.

    That’s why we want to make sure as many people as possible have the opportunity to share their views on how we spend and invest in their homes, neighbourhoods, and services. I’d urge every tenant to visit our website and share their priorities for how they’d like their rent to be spent.

    I also want tenants and residents’ groups to know that they can come to us if they’re worried about being able to pay their rent or have already missed payments.

    Find out more and share your views here at the consultation hub. Tenants who are struggling to pay rent can speak to their housing officer or contact tenanthardshipfund@edinburgh.gov.uk.

    Published: October 18th 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Veeco Announces Date for Third Quarter Financial Results and Conference Call

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PLAINVIEW, N.Y., Oct. 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Veeco Instruments Inc. (NASDAQ: VECO) plans to release its third quarter 2024 financial results after the market closes on Wednesday, November 6, 2024. The company will host a conference call to review these results starting at 5:00 PM ET that day.

    To join the call, dial 1-877-407-8029 (toll free) or 1-201-689-8029. Participants may also access a live webcast of the call by visiting the investor relations section of Veeco’s website at ir.veeco.com. A replay of the webcast will be made available on the Veeco website beginning at 8:00 PM ET that same evening.

    About Veeco
    Veeco (NASDAQ: VECO) is an innovative manufacturer of semiconductor process equipment. Our laser annealing, ion beam, chemical vapor deposition (CVD), metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD), single wafer etch & clean and lithography technologies play an integral role in the fabrication and packaging of advanced semiconductor devices. With equipment designed to optimize performance, yield and cost of ownership, Veeco holds leading technology positions in the markets we serve. To learn more about Veeco’s systems and service offerings, visit http://www.veeco.com.

    To the extent that this news release discusses expectations or otherwise makes statements about the future, such statements are forward-looking and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made. These factors include the risks discussed in the Business Description and Management’s Discussion and Analysis sections of Veeco’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and in our subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and press releases. Veeco does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances after the date of such statements.

    Veeco Contacts:
    Investors: Anthony Pappone | (516) 500-8798 | apappone@veeco.com
    Media: Brenden Wright | (516) 714-1202 | bwright@veeco.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Sunderland Festival of Light – everything you need to know

    Source: City of Sunderland

    Stunning light projections created by international visual artists, a spectacular starscape and a giant glitterball are among the dazzling lighting installations visitors can enjoy when Sunderland Festival of Light opens next Friday.

    New lighting features introduced for 2024 include ‘The Mirror’ created by Poland based award-winning visual artist Ari Dykier and ‘Hypha’ by French award-winning multidisciplinary artist Sebastien Labrunie.

    Other new features for 2024 include Starscape which will create the illusion of a brilliant white starfield, Cosmic Oasis which will see trees lit up with UV light, a laser garden and a giant glitter ball in the park’s historic Victorian bandstand which will act as the focal point of the nightly silent disco.

    The sparkling light tunnel over the bridge linking the two sections of the park also make a return after proving popular with visitors last year.

    Councillor Beth Jones, Sunderland City Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Tourism, said: “I’m really excited about this year’s Festival of Light.

    “It’s always a really popular event and we’ve got some fantastic new light installations this year together with favourites like selfie lane, the sparkling light tunnel over the bridge and our famous Sunderland sign.

    “I can’t wait to see the two new light projections created especially for the festival. I think they’ll be real showstoppers and I’m also really looking forward to seeing the giant glitterball in the bandstand and the Starscape star field.”

    Visitors to this year’s festival can also take advantage of 20 per cent off tickets for select performances of this year’s Jack and the Beanstalk panto at the Sunderland Empire.

    The offer will apply to price bands A – C for the following performances only: Fri 13 Dec – 7pm, Sat 14 Dec – 5.30pm, Sun 15 Dec – 5.30pm, Tue 17 Dec – 7pm & Thu 19 Dec – 7pm. To redeem the offer, make sure to opt in to hear from Sunderland City Council events when buying your tickets.

    Sunderland City Council has also partnered with Nation Radio North East as media partner for this year’s Festival of Light.

    Nation Radio North East’s Simon Grundy said: “As a partner this year, I’m so pleased Sunderland City Council are doing the Festival of Light again in Mowbray Park. It brings some brightness into our lives on these dark, cold evenings. There’s something for everyone, and seeing the bairns face’s light up, always brings a smile to my face.”

    For all those planning a visit to this year’s Festival of Light, here’s everything you need to know before you go:

    When and where is the Festival of Light?

    The Festival of Light begins on Friday 25 October and will then take place from 4.30pm – 10pm every day during half term Friday 25 October to Sunday 3 November and then 4.40 to 10pm every Thursday to Sunday until Sunday 24 November with the exception of Remembrance Sunday on 10 November. Last admission will be at 8.30pm, and the event will close at 10pm each night. This year’s event is being held in Mowbray Park, Burdon Road, SR1 1PP in Sunderland city centre.  

    What can I expect?

    A sparkling mix of new lighting installations including two new stunning light projections, Starscape, Cosmic Oasis, a  giant glitter ball in the Victorian Bandstand as well as a ‘selfie lane’ and a twinkling tunnel over the bridge connecting the two sections of the park.

    Do I need to buy a ticket to visit and how much are they?

    All visitors must have a ticket to enter the Festival of Light.  Tickets cost £5 each and must be bought online in advance. They can’t be bought at the gate. Children under two are free.

    Do I have to attend at the time shown on my tickets?

    Yes. When buying your ticket online, you will be asked to select an entry time. All visitors must attend at the time shown on their ticket. 

    Can I change the date and/or time or cancel my ticket once purchased?

    No. Festival of Light tickets are strictly non-transferable and non-refundable. Changes cannot be made to your booking once it is confirmed. 

    Can I leave the Festival of Light and return the same evening with my ticket?

    No. Your ticket is only valid for the entry time stated on the ticket. If you leave you will be unable to return at a later time that evening. Once you have entered the Festival of Light there is no limit on how long you can stay at the event. 

    Is the Festival of Light accessible to pushchairs and wheelchairs?

    Yes. The Festival of Light is fully accessible to pushchair and wheelchair users. 

    Will there be new lighting features and activities at this year’s Festival of Light?

    Yes there will be brand new lighting features combined with some classic favourites. You can expect some very exciting special additions this year. 

    Will there be food and drinks available on site? 

    Yes. There’ll be a great range of food and drinks available to buy in Mowbray Park. Visitors are also welcome to bring their own food and drinks however alcohol is strictly prohibited. 

    Will there be toilets and baby changing facilities available at the event? 

    Yes. Toilets and baby changing facilities will be available. 

    Will Mowbray Park be free to access during the day? 

    Yes. Access to the park will remain as usual until approximately 3pm every event day at which point the park will be closed for preparation of event visitors entering at 4pm. 

    Which roads will be closed during the event? 

    Due to Mowbray Park’s city centre location, no roads will be closed during the event.  

    Where can visitors to the event park?

    Parking is free Monday – Friday after 3pm at the following car parks:

    • Gorse Road
    • West Wear Street
    • Charles Street
    • Tatham Street
    • Nile Street

    On street pay and display parking bays are  chargeable all days between 8am-6pm at the hourly tariff including Sundays
    Riverside, St Marys and Sunniside car parks are chargeable at all times.
    All City Centre car parks are chargeable all day on a Sunday at a flat rate of £3
    You can find out more about where to park and parking fees by clicking the links below:
    Car parks – Sunderland City Council
    On street parking places – Sunderland City Council

    Can I use public transport to get to the event? 

    Visitors can get to the site using both bus and Metro services. Please visit http://www.nexus.org.uk/bus/timetables for the latest information.

    Who do I contact if I have a query about my tickets?

    Please complete the form at http://www.seetickets.com/customerservice and a member of the team will contact you to discuss your booking.

    Who do I contact if I have a question about the Festival of Light?

    Please email events@sunderland.gov.uk and a member of our team will be happy to help.

    Quiet Hour

    A ‘quiet hour’ is available to book on selected dates for visitors looking for a quieter or calmer experience. During this time, music in the park will be turned down. Quiet hours are on from 4.30pm – 5.30pm every Thursday.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: MEDIA ADVISORY: Majority Leader Steve Gooch to Host School Safety Roundtable at University of North Georgia

    Source: US State of Georgia

    ATLANTA (October 18, 2024) — On Wednesday, October 23rd,2024, at 9:00 a.m., Senate Majority Leader Steve Gooch (R–Dahlonega) will host a school safety roundtable at the University of North Georgia.

    EVENT DETAILS:                      

    • Date: Wednesday, October 23, 2024
    • Time: 9:00 a.m.
    • Location: University of North Georgia Convocation Center, 180 Alumni Dr, Dahlonega, GA 30533

    ABOUT THE MEETING:         

    The roundtable will discuss state and local efforts and opportunities for school safety and child and adolescent mental health and well-being. Attendees will include school superintendents, school board chairs, sheriffs, and other school safety officials from the district. Commissioners Kevin Tanner and Russel Carlson (DBHDD and DCH) will attend, as will Director Chris Stallings (GEMA). This event will focus on Dawson, Fannin, Gilmer, Lumpkin, Pickens, Union and White counties.

    MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES:

    We kindly request that members of the media confirm their attendance in advance by contacting Jantz Womack at senatepressinquiries@senate.ga.gov. 

    # # # #

    Sen. Steve Gooch serves as Senate Majority Leader. He represents the 51st Senate District which includes Dawson, Fannin, Gilmer, Lumpkin, Union and Pickens counties and a portion of White County. He may be reached at 404.656.7872 or via email at steve.gooch@senate.ga.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –