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Category: MIL-OSI

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Minister Ng promotes trade and investment ties at Association of Southeast Asian Nations Economic Ministers Meeting in Lao People’s Democratic Republic

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French

    Over the weekend, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, concluded her participation in the 13th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-Canada Economic Ministers’ Consultation in Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR).

    September 23, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

    Over the weekend, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, concluded her participation in the 13th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-Canada Economic Ministers’ Consultation in Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR).

    During the consultation, Minister Ng highlighted the progress made by Canada and ASEAN Member States towards an ASEAN-Canada Free Trade Agreement and stressed the importance of intensifying efforts to achieve the goal of concluding negotiations for the agreement in 2025.

    At the meeting, Minister Ng and ASEAN partners discussed the trade and economic cooperation that has grown since the launch of the Canada-ASEAN Strategic Partnership a year ago, including advancing initiatives under Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy in key areas such as inclusive trade, digital trade, agriculture and agri-food, and sustainability.

    The Minister also welcomed the participation of the Canada-ASEAN Business Council in the consultations and acknowledged its support for Canada’s commitment to creating new opportunities for Canadian businesses and investors.

    On the sidelines of the consultations, Minister Ng also met with several international partners to advance discussions on trade priorities of mutual interest.

    She met in particular:

    Malaithong Kommasith, Minister of Industry and Commerce, Lao PDR Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Malaysia Filipus Nino Pereira, Minister of Trade and Industry, Timor-Leste Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN Cham Nimul, Minister of Commerce, Cambodia Helene Budliger Artieda, State Secretary for Economic Affairs, Switzerland Tim Ayres, Deputy Minister for Trade, Australia Douglas Alexander, Minister of State (Minister for Trade Policy and Economic Security), United Kingdom

    “These face-to-face exchanges in Lao PDR provided us with an excellent opportunity to continue to strengthen the ASEAN-Canada bilateral trade relationship and contribute to the economic prosperity and growth of both our countries. Canada will continue to work with our ASEAN partners to deepen commercial ties that will benefit Canadian businesses and workers, create good jobs, and generate strong, inclusive and sustainable economic growth from coast to coast to coast.”

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

    Huzaif QaisarPress SecretaryOffice of the Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development343-575-8816Huzaif.Qaisar@international.gc.ca

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Rural Counties Emphasize the Dangers of Republican Scheme to Funnel Millions of Taxpayer Dollars to Private School Vouchers

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: ICYMI: Rural Counties Emphasize the Dangers of Republican Scheme to Funnel Millions of Taxpayer Dollars to Private School Vouchers

    ICYMI: Rural Counties Emphasize the Dangers of Republican Scheme to Funnel Millions of Taxpayer Dollars to Private School Vouchers
    mseets

    Legislative Republicans’ plan to spend $625 million this year on taxpayer funded private school vouchers instead of public schools will hurt rural communities the most. And school boards and leaders in rural North Carolina are speaking out. Voucher expansion would disproportionately impact rural North Carolina counties, where access to private education is limited and public schools serve as the backbone of communities. Recently, local papers have highlighted this attack on public education in North Carolina.

    Read how communities will be affected below:

    N&O: Private school voucher expansion is looming in NC. Why Wake schools say that’s bad

    T. Keung Hui, September 18, 2024

    Wake County school leaders charge that North Carolina’s historic expansion of private school voucher funding will leave public schools underfunded.

    State lawmakers have passed a bill that provides an additional $463 million for private school vouchers but less than half of the $200 million requested for public school enrollment growth. During Tuesday’s review of House Bill 10, most Wake school board members said the legislation should be rejected.

    Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper is expected to veto the bill. But Republicans have a large enough legislative majority to override Cooper to pass the bill into law.

    “Not only is it bad for us here in Wake County, It’s bad statewide,” said school board chair Chris Heagarty. “It’s bad because so many of our small school districts don’t even have private school options yet the public schools which are there to serve in those communities are underfunded.”

    Read the article here.

    Martin County Enterprise: Governor: Voucher program hurts MCS

    John Foley, September 18, 2024

    Martin County public schools, already suffering from tight budget restraints, could lose substantial funding if the N.C. General Assembly’s move to direct substantial tax dollars towards private school vouchers is successful.

    That’s the message from N.C. Governor Roy Cooper.

    The action would extend the program to 55,000 students.

    “If the General Assembly’s private school voucher plan moves forward, Martin County could lose more than $65,000 in public education funding in just the first year of the expanded program,” Gov. Cooper told The Enterprise last week. “Statewide, the General Assembly could spend nearly $625 million in new funding of taxpayer money for private school vouchers just this year.”

    Gov. Cooper was referring to the GOP-controlled Legislature’s vote to approve the increased voucher funding.

    “They’re coming back to take hundreds of millions of taxpayer money out of the public schools to give it to private school vouchers for the wealthiest North Carolinians,” the Governor said. “This is devastating for education across the board and we have evidence from other states to prove it.”

    Public schools are funded based on how many students are enrolled. For each enrolled student, public schools receive an average of $7,500 in state funding to cover various expenses, such as teacher salaries, instructional materials or transportation, explained Cooper.

    Under the voucher program, if a public-school student uses a voucher to attend a private school, the public schools lose that funding. If the General Assembly fully expands the taxpayer-funded private school voucher program, private schools could siphon nearly $100 million in state funding from public schools.

    The program will cost the state more than $270 million just in the first year, according to statistics provided by Gov. Cooper.

    “Despite the lack of funding, our public schools continue to shine. More than 84 percent of North Carolina’s school-aged children still attend public schools and parents are overwhelmingly satisfied with that choice,” noted Gov. Cooper. “And for good reason. Our public schools are doing amazing things.

    “Last year, public school students earned 325,000 workforce credentials, and our public schools have more nationally board certified teachers than any other state in the country,” he continued. “The success of our families and our workforce relies on strong public schools. Private school vouchers will destroy that goal.”

    Studies show private school vouchers do not improve student performance. North Carolina private schools also operate under a less regulated educational umbrella. Private schools are not required to hire licensed teachers, they are not required to report on how students are performing, nor are they required to teach a curriculum based on the state’s academic standards or provide services for students with disabilities.

    “Vouchers directly undermine strong public education. They take scarce funding from public schools, which serve 90 percent of students nationwide — and give it to private schools. These private schools have no accountability to tax payers for their service and are held to no standards for curriculum, student learning, nor ethical practice,” Martin County Schools Superintendent Dr. Michelle White said. “In addition, private schools choose what students they will accept to educate. Public tax dollars should not be used for chosen students, it should be used for all students.

    “Martin County Schools, like all public schools, proudly serve all children. In addition, public school teachers are severely underpaid and often work multiple jobs to make ends meet,” Dr. White continued. “If our legislators would have taken the $463 million dollars they put in vouchers, and invested it in teacher pay, North Carolina teachers would have seen a 2.6 percent pay increase.”

    Read the article here.

    The Yadkin Ripple: Expanded private school vouchers could hurt local school funding

    Kitsey Burns Harrison, September 18, 2024

    There are no private schools located in Yadkin County, yet an expanded private school voucher program recently passed in the state legislature could lead to lost funding for public education.

    Part of House Bill 10, passed by Republican legislators in the N.C. General Assembly last week, aimed at providing “school choice” for students includes an increase in funds for the next 15 years to the Opportunity Scholarship Grant Fund Reserve. A total of $625 million in new funding would be directed to taxpayer-funded private school vouchers in the first year of this expanded program.

    According to information from Governor Roy Cooper’s office, “Yadkin County could lose more than $106,000 in public education funding in just the first year of the expanded voucher program, despite having zero private schools participating in the Opportunity Scholarship Program.”

    Cooper spoke directly with The Yadkin Ripple to express his concern over how this program could particularly affect public education funding for rural counties such as Yadkin.

    “The Legislature wants to take money out of the public schools and give it to private school vouchers, even to the wealthiest of North Carolinians,” Cooper said. “We’re talking about a total amount of $625 million dollars this year. That will be devastating for education across the board. We have strong evidence from other states to prove it. Studies show that private school vouchers do not improve student performance, it’ll only rob public schools of badly needed funding.”

    Funding locally for public schools continues to be an issue and something that educators are concerned about. Yadkin County Schools Superintendent Anthony Davis said he was concerned about how this expanded voucher program could negatively affect Yadkin County Schools.

    “I understand that the General Assembly has a monumental responsibility to ensure that they are good stewards of taxpayer dollars and that the needs are met across several state-funded agencies and programs. However, I do not agree with utilizing public money to fund private schools,” Davis said. “There are so many needs we have in the public school system that go unrealized due to lack of funding. It has become increasingly difficult to hire quality staff with salary being a major mitigating factor. Chronic absenteeism, mental health support, and behavior concerns continue to be a post-pandemic issue that requires the attention of additional specialized staff like school social workers, school counselors, nurses, and behavior support staff.”

    “Our Exceptional Children’s program is only funded at 13% of our population when our actual service numbers well exceed that,” Davis continued. “If the General Assembly would use a fraction of the proposed $825 million they plan to use for vouchers by 2032-2033, all of these programs and staffing needs could be fully funded which would allow us to offer families and staff the support they deserve.”

    Read the article here.

    Rocky Mount Telegram: Cooper intends to veto voucher bill upon arrival

    Eugene L. Tinklepaugh, September 14, 2024

    Gov. Roy Cooper stands ready to veto legislation fully funding a Republican-backed voucher program that currently has a waitlist of about 55,000 students.

    The Opportunity Scholarships are state-funded vouchers available to families with children attending private schools.

    Cooper said Friday in a phone interview with the Telegram that the legislature’s recently approved spending plan will take about $625 million away from the state’s public schools to pay for the program.

    “I’m going to veto this legislation, and it’s important for that veto to be sustained, so that we don’t put these private school vouchers permanently in our system with the very wealthiest getting the money,” Cooper said.

    “This would be devastating to public schools.,” he said.

    The N.C. House voted 67-43 following debate Wednesday to accept the legislation worked out by Republican legislative leaders. The N.C. Senate approved the measure separately Monday during a scheduled session this week.

    In the House, three Democrats joined Republicans in approving the measure. N.C. Rep. Shelly Willingham, D-23rd District, was one of the three Democrats siding with the GOP majority on the bill. Attempts to reach Willingham on Friday were unsuccessful. Willingham represents Bertie, Martin and Edgecombe counties.

    Cooper noted that rural areas would be hurt the most by this bill, which Republicans have touted as clearing the way for a true universal school choice program.

    “Edgecombe County would lose more than $171,000 in public education funding,” Cooper said. He noted that there are no private schools in the county that accept these Opportunity Scholarships.

    Nash County stands to lose even more public education funding if the bill becomes law.

    “Nash County could lose $811,000,” Cooper said. The two-term governor is a Nash County native whose daughters attended Nash County public schools.

    Read the article here.

    The Daily Advance: School voucher expansion ‘devastating’ for public education in NC

    Chris Day, September 13, 2024

    Rural North Carolina’s public schools will suffer because of the state Legislature’s decision this week to spend more tax dollars extending private school vouchers to an additional 55,000 students, Gov. Roy Cooper said this week.

    “The Legislature wants to take hundreds of millions of dollars out of the public schools and give it to private school vouchers, even for the wealthiest North Carolinians,” Cooper said Wednesday during a phone interview with The Daily Advance. “That’s going to be devastating for education across the board.”

    Cooper was referring to the Republican-led General Assembly’s approval this week to add up to $625 million in new funding this year to support Opportunity Scholarships, otherwise known as school vouchers.

    Cooper, who is reaching out to media outlets in rural areas of the state, said he wants residents, particularly those in rural North Carolina, to understand the potential downsides of the state spending even more money for families to send their children to private schools that accept vouchers. That’s because 28 rural North Carolina counties have one or no private school participating in the voucher program.

    “We’ve got evidence from other states that have done this (expand private school vouchers) to prove that studies show that private school vouchers do not improve student performance,” Cooper said. “We also know and we’ve seen it in other states that rural counties will be hurt the most. Most of the private schools getting this taxpayer money are in the urban areas” of the state.

    Read the article here.

    The Taylorsville Times: An interview with Gov. Cooper about School Voucher Expansion legislation

    Angela Farr King, September 18, 2024

    North Carolina House Bill 10, also known as the Private School Voucher Expansion Bill, recently passed in the NC Senate on September 9 and the NC House of Representatives on September 11.

    According to The Opportunity Scholarship Impact Analysis sent to The Taylorsville Times by the Governor’s office and created by the Office of State Budget Management (OSBM), “the Opportunity Scholarship Program (also known as the Private School Voucher Program) was created by the NC General Assembly in 2013. Scholarships are awarded based on a family’s household income and can be used to pay the required tuition and fees to attend an eligible K-12 private school.”

    The OSBM also states that “The 2023 Appropriations Act SL 2023-134 expanded program eligibility and funding leading to nearly 70,000 new applications for the 2024-25 academic year, a more than 100% increase over 2023-24. 15,805 of new eligible applicants were funded, leaving 54,000 on the waitlist. Additional appropriations proposed in the Fiscal Year 2024-25 NC House and Senate budget bills would fund all remaining 2024-25 eligible applicants.”

    According to the Impact Analysis, if the proposed House 10 Bill passes, the current number of new students receiving scholarships to attend private schools of 15,805 will possibly increase by a number of 53,706 for a total of 69,511.

    Read the article here.

    Jacksonville Daily News: Gov. Cooper urging residents in ENC, to speak up against private school voucher funding

    Morgan Starling, September 18, 2024

    North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper is urging residents, specifically those in rural counties like Onslow, Craven, and Lenoir, to contact their legislators in opposition to a program that Cooper says could take around $625 million away from public schools in just the first year.

    The General Assembly returned to session last week, passing a supplemental spending bill that approves hundreds of millions more taxpayer dollars for private school vouchers through the Opportunity Scholarship Program.

    The House voted 67-43, according to reporting by the Associated Press, adopting the plan that Cooper says will see the legislature spend more than $4 billion in taxpayer funding over the next decade.

    “This is devastating for education across the board, and we have evidence from other states to prove it,” Cooper told The Daily News. “Studies show that private school vouchers do not improve student performance. Instead, they rob public schools of badly needed funding. Of course, in North Carolina, we wouldn’t know, because they have provided no accountability for these hundreds of millions of dollars that they’re sending to the private schools.”

    Expanding private school vouchers would especially impact rural North Carolina counties, where access to private education is limited, and public schools serve as the backbone of communities, according to Cooper’s office.

    In fact, 28 of North Carolina’s 100 counties have no, or just one, private school participating in the voucher program.

    Onslow County itself could lose around $1.7 million in public education funding in just the first year of the expanded voucher program, with 12 private schools eligible to participate.

    Craven County could lose around $1.5 million with only nine schools participating, Lenoir could lose more than $553,000 with just five schools participating, and Jones could lose more than $102,000 despite having zero schools participating.

    Read the article here.

    ###

    Sep 19, 2024

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: AI for Global Good

    Source: World Economic Forum (video statements)

    Generative AI holds the potential to transform a broad range of economic activities and to help address the world’s most pressing development challenges. However, the benefits of this technological revolution are not yet shared by all globally.

    What actions can policy-makers and innovators take now to realize AI’s promise while ensuring that its benefits lead to shared prosperity for all?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GK5X6B_sQ3M

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI China: China vows to strengthen elderly care services

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

    BEIJING, Sept. 23 — China’s Ministry of Civil Affairs has pledged to further strengthen the country’s elderly care services to cope with the aging population.

    Minister Lu Zhiyuan told a press conference on Monday that the ministry will work to put in place a three-tiered facility network for elderly care services that connects counties (districts), townships (subdistricts), and villages (communities).

    Lu said that in order to optimize the service supply structure, community-based elderly care institutions will be strengthened and nurtured. These institutions will provide meal assistance, medical assistance and emergency assistance, as part of their home-based aged care programs, thus solidifying the foundational role of home-based elderly care.

    Community-based elderly care services such as senior dining halls and rehabilitation care will also be improved, said Lu. He also added that the ministry will strengthen the professional support role of institutional elderly care by promoting innovation in elderly care institutions, and providing training in service skills.

    To strengthen the elderly care industry, Lu said efforts will be made to support and cultivate professional, branded and chain-operated elderly care market entities, expand elderly care service consumption, and further develop the silver economy.

    The ministry will also step up the oversight of elderly care services, Lu added, highlighting efforts to improve rules and regulations and formulate standards.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Murder investigation launched in Woolwich

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Statement from Detective Chief Superintendent Trevor Lawry, who is in charge of policing for Greenwich, following the fatal stabbing of a 15-year-old boy.

    “I’m very sad to say that we have launched a murder investigation following the stabbing of a teenager last night, Sunday 22 September, in Greenwich.

    “Police were called at about 6.35pm to reports of a disturbance on Eglinton Road in the Woolwich area.

    “Our officers attended and found a 15-year-old boy with a stab injury. Despite the efforts of officers and paramedics from the London Ambulance Service, sadly he died a short time later.

    “His family have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers from the Met.

    “Once again we have had to tell a child’s family that their loved one has been killed in an act of violence using a knife. Our thoughts are with them as they struggle to comprehend what has happened.

    “The fact that a 15-year-old teenager, who had his whole life ahead of him, has been taken from his family in this way, is a stark and sobering reminder of the danger of ‘zombie-style’ knives. We are committed to doing everything in our power to taking these weapons off our streets.

    “We know that this murder will also send shockwaves throughout the community and I understand the genuine concern this will create. We share those concerns.

    “You can expect to see your local officers in the area over the coming days. Please speak with them if you have any questions or need any support or advice.

    “Local teams are working closely with the specialist homicide detectives so that we can establish exactly what happened as quickly as possible. Enquiries continue at pace today.

    “We need your help to find answers the victim’s family desperately needs. Do you have any information that might help our detectives? Even the smallest detail might prove vital.

    “Were you in the area of Eglinton Road on Sunday evening around 6.30pm? Did you see anyone running from the area?

    “If you live in the area do you have any CCTV, doorbell cameras or dash cam footage? We have an online portal where you can upload images or video footage.

    “If you have useful information, please call us on 020 8721 4005 quoting Operation Baghaze.

    “Alternatively, if you are not comfortable speaking to the police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. They will not share your personal details with the police.”

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI China: Innovations at int’l manufacturing convention pave way for future industries

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

    HEFEI, Sept. 23 — The 2024 World Manufacturing Convention concluded Monday with a showcase of cutting-edge technologies and pivotal agreements that are set to drive the evolution of future industries.

    The convention, which brought together industry leaders, innovators, and policymakers from across the globe, highlighted the critical role of innovation in shaping the next generation of manufacturing.

    Throughout the four-day convention held in Hefei, capital of east China’s Anhui Province, a total of 718 investment projects worth 369.2 billion yuan (about 52 billion U.S. dollars) have been signed, underscoring strong collaboration in fields such as artificial intelligence, green technology and advanced manufacturing.

    Among the most notable was a partnership agreement between Hefei and Chinese drone maker EHang, which focused on the operations and sales of the company’s passenger-carrying autonomous aerial vehicles in east China.

    In addition, a cooperation agreement on the production of high efficiency cadmium telluride thin film solar cells was also inked at the convention.

    This type of cell has a much lower production cost compared to crystalline silicon and other solar cells. Additionally, their spectrum is the most consistent with sunlight, allowing them to absorb some 95 percent of sunlight.

    A highlight of the event was the display of several groundbreaking products and technologies that are poised to reshape the manufacturing landscape. Humanoid robots that can mimic human movements with remarkable precision were prominently featured.

    One of the standout presentations came from the Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Humanoid Robots, which introduced the Qijiang-2 humanoid robot capable of performing delicate tasks such as folding clothes, opening bottles, wiping dishes and navigating uneven terrain.

    “In the future, these humanoid robots will be able to adapt to both industrial production and elderly care scenarios, serving as robot workers and caregivers,” said Liu Houde, director of the laboratory.

    The convention not only served as a platform for technological advancements but also offered an immersive experience.

    At the convention’s outdoor exhibition area, visitors were enthralled by an unmanned sightseeing bus equipped with Shine Auto’s self-developed autonomous driving technology.

    They can either scan a QR code to board or reserve a ride through a WeChat mini program, with the option to disembark at multiple sightseeing stops.

    “The future of automobiles will undoubtedly enter the era of autonomous driving. Cars are no longer just a means of transportation, they have also become intelligent mobile terminals, transforming into mobile spaces that make life better,” said Zhou Ji, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China sees sound fundamentals to reap another bumper grain harvest

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

    China sees sound fundamentals to reap another bumper grain harvest

    Updated: September 23, 2024 21:25 Xinhua

    China celebrated its 7th farmers’ harvest festival on Sunday. The country is on course for another bumper grain harvest this year, as various measures have been implemented to improve grain output.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI: Top KingWin Announces Update to Supply Chain Business – Tuoxun Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. Signs A Letter of Intent with Top KingWin’s Subsidiary, Guji Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    GuangZhou, China, Sept. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Top Kingwin Ltd (the “Company”) (NASDAQ – TCJH) announced today that its subsidiary, Guji Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (“Guji Technology”) signed a nonbinding letter of intent (“LOI”) with Tuoxun Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (“Tuoxun Technology”), for the potential sale of 1,000 units of Lenovo Think System SR588/860 servers to Tuoxun Technology. The term of the LOI is one year from September 30, 2024 to September 29, 2025, and the parties may not enter into any definitive purchase agreement. The final purchase price will be decided based on the listed market price and the minimum market price for the product to be set forth in a definitive purchase agreement.

    Guji Technology’s hardware supply chain business continues to expand, covering areas such as servers, integrated circuits and tablet computers. By continuously growing its market share in supply chain products, Guji Technology plans to enhance its reputation in the market.

    Guji Technology CEO Wei Dai commented: “With the rising demand for data processing, providing robust servers has become a key part of our supply chain business. By supplying these servers to Tuoxun Technology, we are expanding our market share in supply chain products.”

    Guji Technology remains committed to providing hardware supply to its customers to meet the growing demands. Looking ahead, Guji Technology plans to continue to deepen its partnerships within the industry and further expand its market presence in hardware supply chain.

    About Top KingWin Ltd

    Top KingWin’s main clients are entrepreneurs and executives in small and medium-sized enterprises in China. Services provided by Top KingWin to its clients including (i) corporate business training services, which mainly focus on providing training services of advanced knowledge and new perspectives on the capital markets, (ii) corporate consulting services, which mainly focus on providing a combination of customized corporate consulting services to fulfill client’s unique financial needs, and (iii) advisory and transaction services, which mainly focus on connecting entrepreneurs and businesses with diversified sources of capital. Its mission is to provide comprehensive services to address clients’ needs throughout all phases of their development and growth.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact in this press release are forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, the use of proceeds from the Company’s offering, the intent, belief or current expectations of Top KingWin and members of its management, as well as the assumptions on which such statements are based. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “potential,” “continue,” “is/are likely to” or other similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company’s registration statement and in its other filings with the SEC.

    For more information, please contact:

    Bonnie

    Email: IR@tcjhgw.cn

    SOURCE: Top Kingwin Ltd

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: 38/2024・Trifork Group AG – Financial Calendar 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Company announcement no. 38 / 2024
    Schindellegi, Switzerland – 23 September 2024


    Trifork Group – Financial Calendar 2025

    Trifork today publishes its financial calendar for 2025.

    Q4 and Annual Report 2024 28 February 2025
    Annual General Meeting 2025 15 April 2025
    Q1 Report 2025 6 May 2025
    Q2 & Half-Year Report 2025 19 August 2025
    Q3 Report 2025 31 October 2025

    Contact
    Frederik Svanholm, Group Investment Director & Head of IR
    frsv@trifork.com, +41 79 357 7317


    About Trifork Group      
    Trifork is a globally pioneering technology partner to its enterprise and public sector customers. The group has 1,273 employees across 74 business units in 15 countries. Trifork works in six business areas: Digital Health, FinTech, Smart Building, Smart Enterprise, Cloud Operations, and Cyber Protection. Trifork’s research and development takes place in Trifork Labs, where Trifork continuously invests in and develops technology companies. Trifork owns and operates the software conference brands GOTO and YOW! and the global GOTO tech community with more than one million online subscribers and 72 million video views. Trifork Group AG is a publicly listed company on Nasdaq Copenhagen. Learn more at trifork.com.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Travelling by bus just got easier with launch of SolentGo ‘travel anywhere’ ticket

    Source: City of Portsmouth

    Bus passengers in Portsmouth have reason to celebrate as bus operators and local authorities join forces to launch a new bus ticket that promises to make bus travel more convenient, affordable and accessible to all.

    The new SolentGo ticket, the Greater Portsmouth Travelcard, is now available to purchase online, or direct from the driver. This ticket allows interchangeable and unlimited travel on both First and Stagecoach buses in Portsmouth and beyond. These tickets have been developed in partnership with local bus companies, First Solent and Stagecoach South, and local authorities Portsmouth City Council and Hampshire County Council as well as the Solent Transport Partnership.

    Passengers can now travel for work or leisure to Emsworth, Horndean, Bishops Waltham, Botley, Fareham, Gosport, Hayling Island and Portsmouth. Daily and weekly tickets are available, which cost £7.50 and £30 respectively and are designed to take people where they need to go, with convenience in mind. These travelcards allow unlimited travel within the extended area, and you can tap on, tap off with your ticket, or use your mobile phone app.

    Cllr Peter Candlish, Cabinet Member for Transport at Portsmouth City Council said:

    “The new SolentGo Greater Portsmouth Travelcard is a great step towards making bus travel easier, more affordable and more convenient. Passengers can now travel seamlessly across different bus operators, both within the city and to nearby areas. This launch is the result of strong collaboration between local councils and bus companies, and this initiative comes from consultation with the public, all with the aim of improving public transport for everyone.”

    Cllr Lulu Bowerman, Cabinet Member for Highways at Hampshire County Council said:

    “This is a good example of how, by working collectively to bring about bus service improvements, through the Bus Service Improvement Plan, we can make travel easier and, in this case, the cost of travel more affordable. We know many bus users who live in the areas outside the City, travel in regularly for work, shopping and leisure. If they use the services of more than one bus operator, they can now buy one ticket for the whole of their daily travel needs.”

    Marc Reddy, Managing Director of Stagecoach South said:

    “We are delighted to announce the arrival of this newest addition to the SolentGo range of travelcards which give customers the chance to travel between the services of different operators on a single ticket. They are easy to buy on your phone, or – if you just want a day travelcard – from the driver.”

    Simon Goff, Managing Director of First Solent said:

    “We are very keen to make travel by bus as easy as possible, and SolentGo is one of the ways we do this. Over 200,000 journeys are made each year in south Hampshire on SolentGo travelcards by customers who use the services of more than one operator, and we are sure this new Greater Portsmouth ticket will be a popular addition to the range”

    Find out more about public transport in Portsmouth and the improvements to bus services and tickets: travel.portsmouth.gov.uk/public-transport/

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: 5 Google TV Streamer features to try

    Source: Google

    Google TV Streamer: 5 helpful features to try

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    Sep 23, 2024

    [[read-time]] min read

    Google TV Streamer is on shelves tomorrow. Try out new features that help you do everything from finding shows to watch to finding your lost remote.

    Mia East

    Keyword Contributor

    The Google TV Streamer is officially on shelves tomorrow for $99.99. Our all-new, 4K media streaming device is designed for you to enjoy your favorite movies and TV shows and control your compatible smart home devices. Here’s a look at five of its helpful features that let you easily find the content you want to watch, set the scene for your ideal at-home viewing experience and personalize your TV streamer to do more — like helping you find your missing TV remote yet again.

    Find what to watch next, without the stress

    Gone are the days of spending more time searching for a show than actually watching one, especially when you’re trying to get the whole family to agree! Thanks to Gemini technology, the latest Google TV features bring you full summaries, reviews and season-by-season breakdowns of some of the top movies and TV shows — which makes finding your next marathon watch that much easier.

    Google TV Streamer also uses Google AI and your personal preferences to curate content suggestions across all of your subscriptions, so you’ll always have something to watch that interests you.

    Manage your smart home with home panel

    Google TV Streamer doubles as a smart home hub, so controlling your Matter- and Thread-compatible devices from one place is effortless. You can check in on your smart home devices with the new home panel on the TV, so you can see what’s happening at the front door, dim the lights and adjust the thermostat — all from the comfort of the couch.

    You can also cast content from your phone, add it to speaker groups, control music and more directly from your TV.

    Program your remote with the new customizable button

    Know exactly what you’re looking for? The new customizable button on Google TV Streamer’s remote lets you jump in right where you left off. You can program it to switch to the home panel to control your smart home device, favorite app or another input. You’ll be able to access your preferred streaming service, gaming console or smart lighting with just one click.

    Lost your remote again? Try Find My Remote!

    If the couch cushions tend to swallow your remote, we’ve got you covered. With Google TV Streamer, we’ve added “Find my remote” for a quick and easy way to locate your remote when it seems to be hiding.

    • Simply press the button on the back of the Google TV Streamer for less than five seconds and the remote will make a beeping sound.
    • You can also ask any connected Google Assistant device, like a speaker or Pixel phone, “Hey Google, find my remote,” and the remote will then chime so you can find it.
    • Too comfortable to get off the couch? Easily access the Find My Remote feature on the Google Home app. Your remote will sound and you can get back to streaming.

    Turn your screen into art with Ambient Screensaver

    With the new Ambient Screensaver, Google TV Streamer turns your TV into bespoke art. Display family memories and favorite photos from Google Photos albums. Or to create a one-of-a-kind image, use your voice to describe what you want to generate with the help of Google AI or pick from a selection of prompts.

    Try all of these features and more with your new Google TV Streamer — available for purchase tomorrow for $99.99 from the Google Store and other third-party retailers.

    POSTED IN:

    Let’s stay in touch. Get the latest news from Google in your inbox.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Google at the 79th United Nations General Assembly

    Source: Google

    This week, global leaders are gathering in New York City for the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and the first “Summit of the Future.” Front and center is how to dramatically accelerate progress on the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    To help, the UN took a significant step forward yesterday in adopting the Global Digital Compact, a UN initiative to design a global framework to overcome digital, data and innovation divides. It outlines principles, objectives and actions for advancing an open, free, secure and human-centered digital future that enables the realization of the SDGs.

    We believe that linking the SDGs with digital progress is a great step, as we’ve seen first-hand how digital tools and access to technology can benefit education, healthcare, entrepreneurship and economic growth. We’ve long been inspired by the alignment between Google’s mission — to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful — and the SDGs. They’re similarly audacious goals that seek to benefit humanity.

    Most excitingly, AI may now bring them all into reach.

    As our CEO Sundar Pichai said in his keynote address at the UN’s Summit of the Future this weekend, “Just as the internet and mobile devices expanded opportunities for people around the world, now AI is poised to accelerate progress at unprecedented scale.”

    He also shared some of the ways Google develops technology in an effort to improve the lives of as many people as possible. From investments in infrastructure to digital skills training to innovating new products, we’re focused on making sure the digital divide does not become an AI divide.

    Our partnerships to address the SDGs

    We know from experience that expanding access to opportunity through technology requires strong public-private partnerships — with bold investments supported by the right policy frameworks. That’s why to address the SDGs and prevent an AI divide we are working across sectors, in concert with the UN and others. Today I’m excited to share a few updates on that work, including ongoing partnerships with UN agencies and a broad array of global stakeholders.

    Supporting AI skilling and education through a Global AI Opportunity Fund

    As Sundar shared in his keynote address, we’re proudly committing $120 million to make AI education and training available throughout the world. We’re partnering with nonprofit and civil society organizations to provide training in local languages based on foundational AI courses designed by Google and others. This is in addition to $275 million in Google.org funding already committed to support the responsible use of AI in society, funding both NGOs using AI to accelerate their social impact as well as organizations helping to build an ethical, safe and robust AI ecosystem. This also covers support for the development of AI solutions to achieve the SDGs such as flood forecasting in more than 80 countries, wildfire detection, and AlphaFold which is being used by over 2 million scientists in more than 190 countries doing protein-folding research.

    Enhancing the “Data Commons” to measure SDG progress

    After a successful year since the launch of UN Data Commons for the SDGs, Google has worked with the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) Statistics Division to expand Data Commons integration into major organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labor Organization (ILO). Data Commons acts as a central hub, providing an AI interface to access insights and visualizations on SDG progress, ultimately facilitating data-driven strategies and decisions in support of the SDGs. This helps with data equity — eliminating data as a primary barrier to implementing the SDGs — and ensures more communities have the resources they need to benefit from AI advances.

    Using AI to map the world’s buildings

    With the global population growing by more than 80 million a year, mapping the ever-changing built environment is difficult. But comprehensive urban data is critical to help global decision-makers and partners like UN Habitat support effective urban planning and address SDG 11. Just last week, we launched the Open Buildings 2.5D Temporal dataset, which uses AI to extract building footprints and heights from satellite imagery that is too blurry for the human eye, and provides critical information about how the world’s cities are changing over time with unprecedented detail.

    Using AI to enhance humanitarian disaster response

    In collaboration with Google.org, UN Global Pulse’s DISHA initiative, and the United Nations Satellite Center (UNOSAT), Google Research delivered an AI-powered solution to assist UNOSAT experts in assessing building damage, significantly enhancing the United Nations’ capacity to respond to global natural disasters. The tool allows UNOSAT analysts to expand their coverage by a factor of seven, allowing them to assess much larger regions in disaster zones, and it speeds up the production of initial damage reports by a factor of six, facilitating faster support to humanitarian agencies.

    Leveraging Google Cloud

    Google Cloud collaborated with the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the UN International Computing Centre (UNICC), and the Italian and Ethiopian governments to co-host an event to address the mounting challenges associated with the upcoming EU Deforestation Regulations. Google Cloud offers modern technology solutions to empower coffee farmers with what we call “first mile data ownership,” providing control of the data to the farmers on the ground and allowing for greater transparency and supply chain efficiency. We also signed a Joint Declaration with UNIDO to leverage innovation to advance inclusive and sustainable industrial development.

    Working to enhance education for all

    As part of our commitment to learning for all, we’re working with UNICEF to support SDG4 (Quality Education), including deploying Chromebooks and using Google Classroom and Read Along to support literacy development. We are also proud to be a member of UNESCO’s Global Education Coalition, which yesterday launched the Six Pillars for Digital Transformation of Education, a common framework to shape sustainable and human-centered digital transformation of education systems. We know that by safely connecting young people to high-quality learning experiences, we can support skilling, economic development and societal contribution. Our aim is to use the power of technology, including advances in AI, and apply it to help close the equity gap and solve for the global learning crisis.

    Looking ahead

    We’re proud of our ongoing work with the UN. This year, in particular, we were deeply inspired by the first-ever “Summit of the Future,” which reflected an understanding of the urgent issues facing our world, as well as the role technology can play if we work together.

    We already know that future generations are watching, and focused on the urgent need for progress. In fact, this year a group of YouTube Creators from around the world joined UNGA and the summit to amplify these vital conversations with their more than 52 million subscribers. This, in addition to livestreaming UNGA sessions on YouTube, is one more way that people are signaling support for progress on the SDGs.

    As Sundar put it, “The opportunities are too great…the challenges too urgent…. and this technology too transformational, to do anything less.”

    So let’s do this!

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Grigorenko: The government is transferring the procedure for preparing regulations and bills to digital format

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

    Dmitry Grigorenko held a meeting of the commission on legislative activity

    September 23, 2024

    Dmitry Grigorenko held a meeting of the commission on legislative activity

    September 23, 2024

    Dmitry Grigorenko held a meeting of the commission on legislative activity

    September 23, 2024

    Dmitry Grigorenko held a meeting of the commission on legislative activity

    September 23, 2024

    Previous news Next news

    Dmitry Grigorenko held a meeting of the commission on legislative activity

    The government is gradually transferring the procedure for preparing regulations and draft laws to digital format. This was announced by Deputy Prime Minister – Head of the Government Staff Dmitry Grigorenko during a meeting of the commission on legislative activity.

    The Deputy Prime Minister reminded the state secretaries and other participants in the rule-making process that the Government Resolution on the launch of the state information system (GIS) “Rule-making” had been signed. This was an important step towards modernizing the process of developing legislation.

    By the end of 2024, it is planned to deploy the system in five federal executive bodies: the Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Natural Resources, and the Ministry of Justice. And starting next year, it will be introduced into the legislative activities of all federal ministries and departments under the leadership of the Government.

    The GIS “Norm-making” is designed for joint work on draft federal laws and regulations online. This eliminates the need to send documents and provides access to the current version and preparation status.

    In addition, the system automates technical functions such as the formation of tables of disagreements and holding meetings. It also includes common standards and document templates, which allows departments to focus on content without being distracted by edits from the point of view of technical and legal execution of acts.

    Finally, the system provides a single document flow route, which guarantees traceability and control over the timing of preparation of draft federal laws, regulations, orders, decrees and other legal acts at all stages of their development and approval.

    The implementation of the GIS “Norm-making” does not provide for a regulatory reduction in the terms of document preparation. But it is assumed that the system will reduce the number of errors in the preparation of acts and legislative initiatives, and will also significantly affect the actual terms of their development and improve the quality of documents.

    In particular, the system provides for the use of artificial intelligence. In the future, the technology will be used to automate the procedure for correcting legal and technical errors, and automatically check the completeness of documents and their completeness.

    “We are creating a single digital space where ministries and departments will be able to work collectively on legal documents in real time. Thus, the preparation procedure will be 100% transparent. This is a new stage in improving the quality of legislative activity. The system allows you to control the entire process of document development online and promptly make the necessary changes. At the moment, it is being launched in test mode in five ministries, we will implement the system in stages,” said Dmitry Grigorenko.

    It was also noted that the GIS “Norm-making” has been piloted in the Ministry of Economic Development for over a year. The Ministry is the operator of the system and is responsible for its development and commissioning. To date, more than 100 draft acts have been prepared using the system.

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

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

    http://government.ru/nevs/52774/

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Statement by Minister Qualtrough to mark Concussion Awareness Week

    Source: Government of Canada News

    The Government of Canada is committed to improving safety and ensuring that sport, recreation and physical activity are safer for everyone

    GATINEAU, September 23, 2024

    Did you know that thousands of Canadians are diagnosed with a concussion every year, making it the most common form of traumatic brain injury?

    Many concussions also go undetected or undiagnosed, leaving Canadians vulnerable to longer-term effects. These injuries can result from impacts to the head, neck, face or body, leading to both short- and long-term effects on brain health. We all have a responsibility to do everything we can to protect Canadians from these injuries and make sure that sport, recreation and physical activity are as safe and welcoming as possible.

    The Government of Canada has made safety in sport a top priority. We’ve partnered with Parachute Canada to update the Canadian Guideline on Concussion in Sport and create tools for awareness, prevention and detection. These resources will help reduce the time lost in school, work and play for those affected.

    Additionally, all federally funded national sport organizations are required to have a concussion policy as a condition of their funding. The Government of Canada will continue to work with partners, including the provinces and territories, to push our efforts on concussion prevention and management even further.

    The Government of Canada also invests in cutting-edge concussion research through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). In just the past two years alone, CIHR has funded 30 studies on concussions and post-concussion syndrome. This research is improving how we diagnose and treat concussions, especially in young athletes. It’s helping shape national and international protocols.

    During this Concussion Awareness Week, let’s learn the facts, explore the resources available, and work toward safer sport experiences for all Canadians.

    Resources

    Erik Nosaluk
    Director of Communications
    Office of the Honourable Carla Qualtrough
    Minister of Sport and Physical Activity
    613-790-0373

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General’s video message at the SDG Media Zone

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    Download the video:  https://s3.amazonaws.com/downloads2.unmultimedia.org/public/video/evergreen/MSG+SG+/SG+16+Aug+24/3246504_MSG+SG+SDG+MEDIA+ZONE+16+AUG+24.mp4

    Welcome to the 79th General Assembly, which opens with the Summit of the Future.

    This unique gathering is aimed at reforming the multilateral system so that it corresponds to today’s world and can respond to today’s challenges.

    Because global problems are moving faster than the institutions designed to solve them.

    Conflicts rage, polarization deepens, and poverty and hunger persist. The climate crisis is accelerating; complex new technologies are emerging; the SDGs are falling behind.  

    The Summit of the Future will consider steps to re-invigorate multilateral solutions for the world of today and tomorrow.

    It will look at ways to tackle today’s emerging security challenges;

    Bridge the financing gap and turbocharge the SDGs;

    And harness the opportunities of digital technologies for all.

    The interviews and discussions held in the SDG media zone help to inform people everywhere about issues that matter to everyone.

    Thank you for being part of the conversation.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: New updates to help you do more with Google TV

    Source: Google

    New updates are coming to all Google TV devices starting today — including the new Google TV Streamer, available on September 24. From new ways to find what to watch to new ways to control your smart home, here’s a look at everything we’re launching.

    Control your smart home with Google TV

    With the new home panel on Google TV, you can control all of your compatible smart home devices — including lights, thermostats and cameras — without leaving the couch. The new doorbell notifications also allow you to see who’s at the front door without pausing what you’re watching. And, if you can’t find the remote, you can control your devices using your voice and the Google Assistant.

    Turn your TV into a personal masterpiece

    When you’re not watching your TV, you can turn your idle screen into a personalized work of art. An improved Ambient screensaver lets you create AI-generated designs or relive your favorite moments with Google Photos. To create a screensaver, simply describe your vision or go through a series of suggested prompts, then generative AI will create a one-of-a-kind image for your display. Or if you’re looking for something more sentimental, you can ask Google Assistant to display your favorite memories in Google Photos on your TV.

    Watch more of what you love

    Looking for somewhere to catch tonight’s game? The new sports page in the For You tab brings all of your sports content into one place. Quickly find live and upcoming games, catch sports commentary, browse YouTube highlights and get personalized recommendations to stay in the loop.

    And with all of the channels and subscription services out there, who couldn’t use some help deciding what to watch? Starting today, we’re bringing enhanced overviews of top movies and shows using Gemini technology. These overviews include full summaries, audience reviews and season-by-season breakdowns so you can make the perfect choice about what to watch.

    Last year, we made it even easier for you to watch live TV without breaking the bank with free built-in channels from Google TV — no downloads or subscriptions needed. Now with 150 channels to choose from, Google TV Freeplay is getting an updated channel guide so you can browse by genre and topic and quickly access free channels, including new additions like Heartland, The FBI Files and ION Plus.

    Get Google TV today

    Selection for Google TV devices is better than ever. In addition to the new Google TV Streamer, you can choose from new art TVs from Hisense and TCL and smart projectors from Vankyo, Epson and XGIMI. Google TV is also expanding to more countries including Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines. And we’re proud to be bringing better TV to 270 million monthly active Google TV and other Android TV OS devices.

    POSTED IN:

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Research Networks of Excellence in Women’s Heart and Brain Health

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Backgrounder

    The Canadian Institutes of Health Research’s Institute of Gender and Health and partners, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada (Heart & Stroke) and Brain Canada, are supporting two new Research Networks of Excellence in Women’s Heart and Brain Health with a total investment of $10M divided equally between the two. These networks will enable cutting-edge, intersectional and interdisciplinary research that addresses the most urgent research questions and significant gaps in practice for women’s heart and brain health.

    Principal Investigator Project Summary
    Dr. Amy Yu
    Sunnybrook Research Institute

    Forming the first formal research network in Canada dedicated to studying stroke in women, the team has designed a research program to understand why there are more women living with the consequences of stroke than men, and why stroke affects women and men differently. Answering these questions is critical for identifying treatments and therapies to help women recover their health and function after stroke. The studies will involve five hospitals in four provinces and will focus on:

    • Determining whether women and men with suspected mild strokes receive different tests and treatments, and whether there are differences in the long-term risk of eventually having a bigger stroke.
    • Evaluating whether women and men hospitalized with stroke experience differences in recovery in all aspects of health, including quality of life, mental health, sleep, memory, and loneliness.
    • Studying whether care and outcomes in First Nations patients hospitalized with stroke differ between women and men.
    • Examining whether women and men access and use rehabilitation services differently, whether they are paying out-of-pocket for treatments, and whether there are differences in their ability to return to work.
    • Testing strategies to improve the representation of women in stroke research.
    Dr. Rohan D’Souza
    McMaster University

    Heart-related conditions are among the leading causes of death and serious illness among pregnant individuals in most countries. At least 50% of these deaths and serious illnesses are preventable. Dr. D’Souza’s team will build a large network of clinicians, researchers, social scientists, economists and persons with lived experience from across Canada to work together towards reducing heart-related deaths and serious illness during and after pregnancy. They will:

    • Review all serious pregnancy-related cardiovascular events in Canada by gathering and sharing information in a sensitive and respectful way to learn how to prevent more deaths in the future.
    • Assess pregnant people with heart conditions after their pregnancies to ensure that they recover fully, so that they have fewer complications later in life.
    • Find ways for pregnant people with heart valve disease to receive specialized care when needed, to improve outcomes for them and their babies.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with New York State Governor Kathy Hochul

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Prime Minister of Canada – in French

    Yesterday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with New York State Governor Kathy Hochul on the margins of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

    Prime Minister Trudeau and Governor Hochul highlighted the economic and cultural ties between the people of Canada and New York State. In 2023, bilateral trade exceeded $50 billion and Canadian companies employed tens of thousands of people in New York State.

    The two leaders discussed their mutual interest in developing critical minerals value chains to support advanced manufacturing and clean energy projects. The Prime Minister highlighted Canada’s clean energy delivery to New York State through the Champlain Hudson Power Express transmission line, as well as through our partnership for the semiconductor manufacturing corridor between New York State and Bromont, Quebec. Both leaders stressed that governments and businesses must uphold the highest environmental and social standards, including by working with Indigenous partners on natural resource development projects.

    The Prime Minister and Governor discussed the housing crisis in both countries and the need to build more housing, and build it quickly, to meet the demand of growing communities. The Prime Minister highlighted the $4.4 billion Housing Accelerator Fund, which will cut red tape and build more than 100,000 new homes across the country over the next three years.

    The leaders welcomed opportunities for collaboration between the Government of Canada and the State of New York to achieve their shared goals of economic prosperity and environmental sustainability on both sides of the border.

    Prime Minister Trudeau and Governor Hochul agreed to remain in close and regular contact.

    Related links

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Networks of Excellence in Research on Women’s Heart and Brain Health

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French 2

    Information document

    The Canadian Institutes of Health Research’s Institute of Gender and Health and its partners, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and Brain Canada, are supporting two new Networks of Research Excellence with a total investment of $10 million, split equally between the two networks. These will foster cutting-edge intersectional and interdisciplinary research that addresses the most pressing questions and gaps in practice in women’s heart and brain health.

    Principal Investigator Project Summary
    Dr. Amy YuSunnybrook Research Institute

    For this first research network in Canada officially dedicated to the study of stroke in women, the team has designed a research program aimed at understanding why women are more likely than men to live with the consequences of stroke and why they are affected differently. Answering these questions is critical to determining the most effective treatments and therapies to help women recover and regain function after stroke. Five hospitals in four provinces will participate in the studies, which will focus on the following objectives:

    To determine whether women and men with suspected mild stroke receive the same tests and treatments, and whether they have the same long-term risk of having a more severe stroke. To assess whether women and men hospitalized for stroke recover differently across all aspects of health, including quality of life, mental health, sleep quality, memory, and isolation. To examine whether care and outcomes for First Nations patients hospitalized for stroke differ between women and men. To analyze whether men and women have different access to and use of rehabilitation services, whether they are required to pay for treatment themselves, and whether they have the same ability to return to work. To test strategies to improve the representation of women in stroke research.
    Dr. Rohan D’SouzaMcMaster University

    Heart disease is a leading cause of death and serious illness among pregnant women in most countries. At least 50% of these deaths and illnesses are preventable. Dr. D’Souza’s team will build a broad network of clinicians, researchers, social scientists, economists and people with lived experience from across Canada to focus on reducing death and serious illness from heart disease during and after pregnancy. Their goals are to:

    Review all serious cardiovascular events related to pregnancy in Canada by collecting and sharing data, with care and respect, to determine how to better prevent deaths in the future. Assess women with heart problems after pregnancy to ensure they recover fully and avoid future complications as much as possible. Enable pregnant women with valvular heart disease to receive the specialized care they need to improve their health and that of their babies.

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Closing the gap: Two national networks secure $10M in funding for women’s heart and brain health research

    Source: Government of Canada News

    News release

    Research will shed light on how to reduce and prevent death and serious illness from heart conditions and stroke in women

    September 23, 2024 | Ottawa, Ontario | Canadian Institutes of Health Research

    Women experience distinct heart disease and stroke symptoms and risk factors that remain under-researched and misunderstood. With these new investments, we’re closing the gap and moving toward a future where all women receive the high-quality heart and brain health care they need.

    Today, the Honourable Mark Holland, Minister of Health, announced that the Government of Canada and partners, Heart & Stroke and Brain Canada, are investing $10M to establish two new national research networks for women’s heart and brain health.

    The networks will be led by Dr. Rohan D’Souza at McMaster University, whose team will create a Canada-wide collaboration aimed at reducing deaths and serious illness from heart conditions during and between pregnancies, and Dr. Amy Yu at the Sunnybrook Research Institute whose team will work on improving evaluation, diagnosis, and outcomes of stroke in women across Canada.

    Each network will receive $5M in funding over five years to better understand women’s risk factors for heart and brain conditions and to improve the diagnosis and treatment of conditions more common among women or that are less well studied.

    Quotes

    “We know that women can have conditions that affect them disproportionately or differently, like heart disease and stroke, but these conditions remain under-researched and misunderstood. By investing in these research networks, we can fill persistent knowledge, practice and policy gaps in women’s heart and stroke health – so women across Canada can get the care they need.”

    The Honourable Mark Holland
    Minister of Health

    “A strength of the Research Networks of Excellence is the intersectional approach being used to examine how women’s heart and brain health differ by social factors including Indigeneity, race and sexual orientation, as well as how social processes like racism, sexism and homophobia may further shape risk and health outcomes. This type of research is necessary to inform precision medicine approaches to greatly improve women’s care and save lives.”

    Dr. Angela Kaida
    Scientific Director, CIHR Institute of Gender and Health

    “Heart & Stroke is proud to accelerate advances through these national networks to drive new knowledge and innovation in women’s heart and brain health. Certain types of heart and brain conditions are more common in women, and women can be impacted differently by heart disease and stroke. We are excited that this new research will reflect the various life stages women go through and will include additional considerations for gender and racial identity, disability and social economics. These new research networks will allow us to further develop and use research evidence in women’s heart and brain health, and ultimately help save more lives.”

    Doug Roth
    CEO, Heart & Stroke

    “As Canada’s only research funder focused exclusively on the brain, we are committed to advancing sex and gender science. Brain Canada is pleased to match the $2.4-million investment by Heart & Stroke in the first Canadian research network dedicated to the study of women and stroke. This research examines why stroke affects women differently than men, and identifies variations in treatment, access to rehabilitation, and risk of recurrent stroke. Findings will lead to new therapies and improved stroke recovery for women.”

    Dr. Viviane Poupon
    President and CEO, Brain Canada

    Quick facts

    • This type of research is crucial, as some risk factors for brain and heart conditions in women are under-recognized, not only by women themselves, but by health care professionals and the general public, including risk factors related to the use of oral contraceptives, gestational diabetes, disorders related to pregnancy, pre-term delivery, premature menopause, hormone replacement therapy and polycystic ovary syndrome, among others.

    • There is a persistent lack of awareness and understanding around the heart and brain health of women, transgender, non-binary, intersex, Two-Spirit and people marginalized on the basis of their gender, as historically most research has focused on men’s hearts and brains.

    • The use of the term “women’s health” reflects an evolving concept, broadly including the multidimensional concepts of sex and gender. It refers to physical, biological, reproductive, psychological, emotional, cultural, and spiritual health and wellness across the lifespan in the context of the unique intersecting concerns related to bodies, roles, social locations, and identities. This goes beyond sex and gender binaries and welcomes the experiences and needs of all people who identify as a woman, girl, intersex and/or under-represented gender identity, including but not limited to Two-Spirit, trans, non-binary, gender fluid and agender people.

    Related products

    Associated links

    Contacts

    Matthew Kronberg
    Press Secretary
    Office of the Honourable Mark Holland
    Minister of Health
    343-552-5654

    Media Relations
    Canadian Institutes of Health Research
    mediarelations@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

    Alicia D’Aguiar
    Heart & Stroke
    alicia.daguiar@heartandstroke.ca
    647-426-8410

    Kate Shingler
    Brain Canada
    kate.shingler@braincanada.ca
    514-550-8308

    At the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) we know that research has the power to change lives. As Canada’s health research investment agency, we collaborate with partners and researchers to support the discoveries and innovations that improve our health and strengthen our health care system.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Bridging the gaps: Two national networks get $10 million for women’s heart and brain health research

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French 1

    Press release

    Research will help reduce and prevent deaths and serious illnesses from heart disease and stroke in women

    September 23, 2024 | Ottawa, Ontario | Canadian Institutes of Health Research

    Heart disease and stroke are associated with unique symptoms and risk factors in women that are understudied and poorly understood. This is a significant gap, which is why the government is investing new funding in women’s heart and brain health to ensure women have access to the quality care they need.

    Today, the Honourable Mark Holland, Minister of Health, announced a $10 million investment from the Government of Canada and its partners, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and Brain Canada, to establish two national research networks in women’s heart and brain health.

    One network will be led by Dr. Rohan D’Souza of McMaster University, whose team will foster collaboration across Canada to reduce death and serious illness associated with heart conditions during and between pregnancies, and the other by Dr. Amy Yu of Sunnybrook Research Institute, whose team will work to improve stroke assessment, diagnosis and outcomes for women across the country.

    Each network will receive $5 million over five years to elucidate risk factors for heart and brain disorders in women and improve the diagnosis and treatment of conditions that affect women more than men or that are understudied.

    Quotes

    “We know that women are affected differently or disproportionately by certain health conditions like heart disease and stroke, but these conditions remain understudied and poorly understood. By investing in these research networks, we can address persistent gaps in knowledge, practice and policy related to women’s cardiovascular health, ensuring that women from coast to coast to coast have access to the care they need.”

    The Honourable Mark HollandMinister of Health

    “The intersectional approach taken by these Networks of Research Excellence is a real asset, as it will help to identify how women’s heart and brain health differs based on social factors, including Indigenous identity, race and sexual orientation, and how social processes, such as racism, sexism and homophobia, impact health risks and outcomes. This type of research is essential to informing precision medicine in a way that can actually improve women’s care and save lives.”

    Dr. Angela KaidaScientific Director, CIHR Institute of Gender and Health

    “Our Foundation is proud to encourage innovation and discovery in women’s heart and brain health by contributing to the work of these national networks. It is well known that some heart and brain conditions are more common in women than men, and heart disease and stroke can manifest differently in women and men. We are excited that this new research will look at the different stages of women’s lives and consider additional factors such as gender, racial identity, disability and social economy. These new research networks will add to the evidence base in this area, which we can then use to save lives.”

    Doug RothChief Executive Officer, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada

    “Brain Canada is Canada’s only research funding organization dedicated entirely to the brain, making its commitment to advancing the science of sex and gender a significant one. We are pleased to match the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada’s $2.4 million investment in Canada’s first research network dedicated to the study of women and cardiovascular health. This research aims to determine why stroke affects women differently than men, and to identify differences in treatment, access to rehabilitation care and risk of recurrence. The results will help inform the development of new therapies and improve women’s recovery after stroke.”

    Dr. Viviane PouponPresident and CEO, Brain Canada Foundation

    Quick Facts

    This type of research is essential because some risk factors associated with brain and heart disorders in women are poorly understood, not only by women themselves, but also by health professionals and the general population. Risk factors that deserve further study include those related to the use of oral contraceptives, gestational diabetes, pregnancy-related disorders, preterm birth, premature menopause, hormone replacement therapy and polycystic ovary syndrome.

    There is a persistent lack of knowledge and understanding regarding the heart and brain health of women, transgender, non-binary, intersex, two-spirited and gender-marginalized people, as most research has traditionally focused on the heart and brain of men.

    “Women’s health” is an evolving concept that broadly considers the multidimensional aspects of sex and gender. It refers to physical, biological, reproductive, psychological, emotional, cultural, and spiritual health and well-being across the life course, in the context of the unique concerns that affect our bodies, roles, social situations, and identities. Far from being limited to the binary conception of sex and gender, it considers the experiences and needs of all people who identify as women, girls, intersex, and/or underrepresented gender identities, including but not limited to Two-Spirit, trans, non-binary, gender fluid, and agender people.

    Related products

    Related links

    Contact persons

    Matthew KronbergPress SecretaryOffice of the Honourable Mark HollandMinister of Health343-552-5654

    Media RelationsCanadian Institutes of Health Researchmediarelations-relationsaveclesmedias@cihr-irsc.gc.ca

    Alicia D’AguiarHeart and Stroke Foundation of Canadaalicia.daguiar@heartandstroke.ca647-426-8410

    Kate ShinglerBrain Foundation Canadakate.shingler@braincanada.ca514-550-8308

    THECanadian Institutes of Health Research(CIHR) know that research has the power to change lives. As the federal agency responsible for investing in health research, they work with partners and researchers to support discoveries and innovations that improve the health of Canadians and Canada’s health care system.

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Statement from Minister Qualtrough to mark Concussion Awareness Week

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French 1

    The Government of Canada is committed to making sport, recreation and physical activities safer for everyone.

    GATINEAU, September 23, 2024

    Did you know that every year, thousands of Canadians are diagnosed with a concussion, making it the most common form of brain trauma?

    Furthermore, many concussions will never be detected or diagnosed, leaving Canadians exposed to their long-term effects. These injuries include impacts to the head, neck, face or body, and have both short- and long-term effects on brain health. We must do everything we can to prevent these injuries and ensure that sports, recreational and physical activities are as safe and welcoming as possible.

    The Government of Canada has made safety in sport a top priority. We have partnered with Parachute Canada to update the Canadian Guidelines on Concussions in Sport and to create awareness, prevention and detection tools. These resources will help reduce absences from school, play and work for those who have suffered a concussion.

    In addition, all national sport organizations receiving federal funding are required to have a concussion policy in place to receive their funding. The Government of Canada will continue to work with its partners, including provinces and territories, to further advance our efforts in concussion prevention and management.

    The Government of Canada also funds leading-edge concussion research through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). In the last 2 years alone, CIHR has funded 30 studies on concussions and post-concussion syndrome. This research helps us improve how we diagnose and treat concussions, particularly in young athletes, and informs national and international concussion protocols.

    During Concussion Awareness Week, let’s learn the facts, discover available resources, and work to make sport experiences safer for everyone in Canada.

    Resources

    Erik NosalukDirector of CommunicationsOffice of the Honourable Carla QualtroughMinister of Sport and Physical Activity613-790-0373

    Media RelationsCanadian Heritage819-994-91011-866-569-6155media@pch.gc.ca

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Winter Fuel Payment cut a shameful political choice

    Source: Scottish Greens

    23 Sep 2024 Economy Finance

    Maggie Chapman MSP reacts to Rachel Reeves’ conference speech

    More in Economy

    The Winter Fuel Payment cut is the political choice of a Labour Chancellor who is refusing to break from Tory economics, says the Scottish Greens social security spokesperson, Maggie Chapman MSP.

    This follows a Labour conference speech by Rachel Reeves that doubled down on the punishing cut.

    Ms Chapman said:

    “The Chancellor promised people across the UK that there would be no return to austerity, but having listened to her conference speech, I am not sure she knows what that means.

    “She said she had no choice except to cut the Winter Fuel Payment because there wasn’t enough money for it. But she could make different choices: she could raise taxes on the biggest corporations or the wealthiest people.

    “Only this morning, Labour doubled down on nuclear weapons. She could choose to use the billions she is spending on weapons of mass killing to support families being plunged into poverty. She could stop public subsidies going to arms companies to make bullets and bombs being used in genocide.

    “The cut is an entirely political choice, and so is the suffering and death that will be its consequence. The Chancellor would clearly rather punish pensioners than stand up to her wealthy donors. It was a shameful decision, and it was astonishing to hear Labour members and MPs applauding as she tried to defend it.

    “For 14 years, people all across our country have suffered through Tory austerity, and, in July, they were told that they were voting for change. Many hoped this would be the end of the pain. But in reality, it’s just the next chapter of austerity, this time being written by Rachel Reeves and Sir Keir Starmer.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Beyer To Honor Jennifer Wexton At Annual Women’s Conference

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Don Beyer (D-VA)

    Rep. Don Beyer today announced that Rep. Jennifer Wexton will receive the Clara Mortenson Beyer Women and Children First Award at his Eighth Annual Women’s Conference: The Time Is Now on September 26.

    Rep. Jennifer Wexton serves Virginia’s 10th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Prior to serving in the U.S. House, Wexton served the people of Northern Virginia for over two decades as a prosecutor, attorney, advocate for abused children, and state Senator. Throughout her legislative career, Wexton has been renowned for her success in working across the aisle to deliver results to better the lives of Virginians.

    In September 2023, Wexton announced that her previous Parkinson’s Disease diagnosis had been updated to Progressive Supranuclear Palsy – a kind of ‘Parkinson’s on steroids’ – and would not seek reelection. Following this diagnosis, Wexton used her platform and time in office to raise awareness for and champion passage of the Dr. Emmanuel Bilirakis and Honorable Jennifer Wexton National Plan to End Parkinson’s Act which was ultimately signed into law by President Biden. In July 2024, Wexton became the first member of the U.S. House to have a model of her voice generated by artificial intelligence speak for her on the House floor.

    “A neurodegenerative disease diagnosis is extremely difficult news for anyone to receive, but Jennifer has faced her diagnosis with extraordinary grace, strength, and courage,” said Rep. Don Beyer. “She has never wavered in her service to the American people and was instrumental in the enactment of the National Plan to End Parkinson’s Act, the most significant action Congress has taken in decades to combat Parkinson’s and related neurodegenerative diseases. I am so proud to know and serve with Jennifer and call her a friend.”

    Rep. Beyer created the Clara Mortenson Beyer Women and Children First Award while Ambassador to Switzerland in 2011.  It is named after his grandmother, who is credited with convincing the Roosevelt Administration to appoint Frances Perkins, the first female Cabinet Secretary in the United States. Clara Beyer served as Secretary Perkins’ right hand, working on child labor issues. She was the first woman appointed as US Representative to the International Labor Organization in Geneva. 

    The award is given annually to recognize exceptional work to empower women. Previous awardees include Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs Tanya J. Bradsher, Dr. Tahera Ahmadi, journalist Marie Ridder, gun violence prevention advocate Naomi Wadler, rock climber Sasha DiGiulian, diplomat Betty King, PeaceWomen founder Ruth Gaby Vermot, journalist Lisa Feldmann, Arlington community activist Portia Clark, and immigration advocate Ofelia Calderón.

    This year’s conference will be held at George Mason University’s Arlington Campus on the evening of Thursday, September 26. Registration and additional information are available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Speaker Johnson: SAVE Act is “One of the Most Important Votes Members of this Chamber Will Ever Take”

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)

    WASHINGTON — Utilizing his “magic minute,” Speaker Johnson argued today on the House floor for swift passage of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, legislation introduced by Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) that would increase protections against noncitizens and illegal aliens voting in U.S. elections.
     
    “This will be one of the most important votes that members of this chamber will ever take in their entire careers. And it’s an issue we never thought we would have to actually address, but that moment has come to us now,” Speaker Johnson said. “Should Americans and Americans alone determine the outcome of American elections? Or should we allow foreigners and illegal aliens to decide who sits in the White House and in the People’s House and in the Senate?”

    Click here to watch Speaker Johnson’s remarks from the House floor

    Below are excerpts from Speaker Johnson’s remarks.
     
    On the risks posed by noncitizen voting and illegal immigration:
     
    Americans all over the country understand what’s at stake here. They refuse to hand over our country to illegal aliens, cartels, traffickers and violent criminals and murderers. That’s what’s at stake. Now, look, I hate to say it, but we have so many noncitizens in the country right now. That if only one out of 100 of those illegal aliens voted, you’re talking about hundreds of 1000s of votes being cast.
     
    And remember, these aren’t huddled masses of frightened families yearning to be free. In January of this year, we took the largest delegation of members of Congress to the border. In January, we went to Eagle Pass, Texas, it was the epicenter of the open border crisis at the time, and we met with the Border Patrol agents and high of high officers in US Customs and Border Patrol and they told us the truth. 
     
    They said down there at Eagle Pass of all the many, many countless people who have come across that border illegally because Joe Biden and Secretary Mayorkas opened the border wide, they said you should know this members of Congress, they said 70%, 70% of the people who crossed illegally in Eagle Pass in the Del Rio sector are single adult males between the ages of 18 and 49. These are not huddled masses of people seeking refuge from persecution, you know seeking asylum here for just causes. These are people who do not have our best designs in mind. 
     
    Because of Joe Biden’s open border policies, we’ve got ISIS smuggling rings operating in our country. We have cartels. We have operational control of the border. We’ve got Chinese and Russian spies here in our midst roaming freely in our country. We’ve got murderers and rapists offending again and again across the country and they are never deported. These are people that Joe Biden and his administration are releasing into the country every day. The director of the FBI has testified multiple times now before this before Congress before our committees and said all the red lights are flashing. What is he referring to? The unprecedented dangerous situation. The enemy is here the enemy is in our country now… 
     
    We’re facing a dangerously high number of dangerous individuals who could actually change the outcome of our elections and thus determine the future of this great Republic.
     
    On addressing counter-arguments:  
      
    Now, some of our colleagues are arguing, some of the outside interest groups who want those open borders, the open borders crowd, they’re pointing out that it’s already illegal to vote and you don’t really need to do this. That’s true. It is illegal to vote under federal law.  Only US citizens are supposed to vote in a US election. But here’s the problem. The law is not being followed.
     
    Even though it’s already illegal, this is happening. Let me give a couple examples: in Georgia State election officials are catching 1000s of noncitizens who are trying to register to vote but they are one of only a few states that is making that effort right now to check the voter rolls on the front end before the disaster occurs. 
     
    In May, the state of Ohio, they had to remove 137 noncitizen voters from the rolls when they did a quick check. In May of last year, Virginia removed almost 1500 noncitizens from their voter rolls. But here’s the catch, only after more than 800 of those noncitizen ballots had been cast in 2019. They already participated in an election illegally.
     
    It shouldn’t surprise us that criminals who break our border laws my friends are also going to break our election laws. These are not paragons of virtue in all these cases, as the 70% of people who came across the border who are military aged males coming into our country without any deterrence at all. They’re not law abiding citizens my friends, they’re illegal aliens and they should not be participating in the election. Remember, if just a small percentage, a fraction of a fraction of all those illegals that Joe Biden is brought in here vote, if they do vote, it wouldn’t just change one race and it might it might potentially change all of our races.
     
    On the necessity of the SAVE Act:
     
    The Save Act is the bill before us. It’s not complicated. It’s written in very plain language so that everyone can read it and understand it.
     
    Everybody understands the SAVE Act. We’ll do several important things and all of them are obvious common-sense measures. Here’s the list: 1) It requires state election officials to ask about citizenship before providing voter registration forms. What a concept. 2) It requires an individual to provide proof of citizenship, if indeed he or she wants to register to vote in our federal elections. 3) Provide states with access to our federal agency databases. Why is that so important? Well, so they can remove noncitizens from voter rolls and confirm citizenship for individuals who lack that all important proof of citizenship. 4) It directs the Department of Homeland Security to determine whether to conduct removal proceedings if an illegal alien or noncitizen has been identified as having been registered to vote in federal elections.
     
    American citizens will be protected and in no way harmed by this bill. There is not a conceivable argument that the Democrats can make to oppose the commonsense measures that we’re putting before them today. Nothing changes the voter registration process in the states. The only people who will face hurdles here are those who are trying to break our federal laws.
     
    And that’s why it’s patently absurd that the White House issued a veto threat. They issued a veto threat. President Biden’s is going to veto the bill. And Democrat leadership right now is engaging in a very robust whipping operation to stop this bill from being passed. It is absolutely outrageous. And the American people need to know what’s happening here. It’s dangerous. It’s dangerous for the future of our country. It’s dangerous for the future of your family if you’re watching at home. 
     
    Joseph Story was the great American legal scholar and Supreme Court Justice and the author of the seminal commentaries on the constitution that we used to have to read in law school. And he said it this way on this subject this is very important. Listen to what he said. He said, “If aliens might be admitted indiscriminately to enjoy all the rights of citizens at the will of a single state, the Union might itself be endangered by an influx of foreigners, hostile to its institutions, ignorant of its powers and incapable of due estimate of its privileges.” 
     
    He said that so well, I wholeheartedly agree. I know everyone on our side of the aisle does. If we’re going to maintain this great American experiment, this grand experiment in self governance that we’ve now kept for 248 years, if we’re going to keep it for more than we have to ensure that the outcomes of our election remain in the hands of Americans alone. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Infrastructure Dividend Split Corp. Class A Distributions

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, Sept. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Infrastructure Dividend Split Corp. (TSX:IS) (the “Fund”) is pleased to announce that a distribution for September 2024 will be payable to Class A shareholders as follows:

    Record Date Payable Date Distribution Per
    Preferred Share
    September 30, 2024 October 15, 2024 $0.125
         

    The equity shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol IS.

    Middlefield

    Founded in 1979, Middlefield is a specialist equity income asset manager with offices in Toronto, Canada and London, England. Our investment team utilizes active management to select high-quality, global companies across a variety of sectors and themes. Our product offerings include proven dividend-focused strategies that span real estate, healthcare, innovation, infrastructure, energy, diversified income and more. We offer these solutions in a variety of product types including ETFs, Mutual Funds, Closed-End Funds, Split-Share Funds and Flow-through LPs.

    For further information, please visit our website at www.middlefield.com or contact Nancy Tham in our Sales and Marketing Department at 1.888.890.1868.

    This press release contains forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained in this press release is based on historical information concerning distributions and dividends paid on the securities of issuers historically included in the portfolio of the Fund. Actual future results, including the amount of distributions paid by the Fund, may differ from the monthly distribution amount. Specifically, the income from which distributions are paid may vary significantly due to: changes in portfolio composition; changes in distributions and dividends paid by issuers of securities included in the Fund’s portfolio from time to time; there being no assurance that those issuers will pay distributions or dividends on their securities; the declaration of distributions and dividends by issuers of securities included in the portfolio will generally depend upon various factors, including the financial condition of each issuer and general economic and stock market conditions; the level of borrowing by the Fund; and the uncertainty of realizing capital gains.  The risks, uncertainties and other factors that could influence actual results are described under “Risk Factors” in the Fund’s prospectus and other documents filed by the Fund with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities. The forward-looking information contained in this press release constitutes the Fund’s current estimate, as of the date of this press release, with respect to the matters covered hereby. Investors and others should not assume that any forward-looking statement contained in this press release represents the Fund’s estimate as of any date other than the date of this press release.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Tackling workforce challenges across the health and social care system

    Source: City of Plymouth

    Key representatives from Plymouth’s health and social care sector have met for the first time to share system-wide, collective workforce strategies across University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, Livewell Southwest and adult social care.

    The event hosted by Caring Plymouth, the city’s sector skills partnership for health and social care, brought together a range of stakeholders including adult social care providers, Plymouth City Council’s Commissioners, senior representatives from the NHS and Livewell Southwest, training providers including further and higher education, and representatives from Department for Work and Pensions.

    Councillor Mary Aspinall, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care, said: “We now have shared understanding about the demands for this critical workforce so that we can better prioritise the coordinated actions that we need to take to deliver a sustainable, system-wide skilled workforce for the future. We know that this sector has the highest overall demand for recruitment in Plymouth, with approximately 350 unique job vacancies a month with highest demands for care workers and home carers as well as nurses, and there is also significant need for managerial and administrative roles.”

    Speaking at the event, Darryn Allcorn, Chief Nurse & Director of Integrated Professions at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, said: “It is exceptionally positive that we can work collaboratively across the city in order to understand our collective workforce demands and challenges. There is so much more to our workforce than the traditional caring roles associated with health and social care. Through working together, we can ensure our local communities not only have employment opportunities but supported to develop lifelong careers.”

    Sharing their workforce strategy priorities, Nicky Varker, Assistant Director of Workforce at Livewell Southwest, said: “We share in the ambition to deliver the highest-quality health and care services to our population and to do this, we want to make sure Plymouth is the destination of choice for roles in the sector. This means creating attractive packages that bring the best people into the city and support them to unlock their potential. We’ve worked hard to open doors in recent years with new pathways into nursing that are helping people to achieve aspirations they had started to close a door on. The challenge is to spread this into our wider workforce to create clear development pathways to help people enter and grow within Livewell.”

    The event also marked the launch of the city’s first dedicated Skills and Training Directory for the Health and Social Care sector which provides access and improved information, advice and guidance for people new to the sector as well as helping the existing workforce with career progression.

    For further information email caringplymouth@plymouth.gov.uk

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Invesco Ltd: Form 8.3 – Anglogold Ashanti PLC; Public dealing disclosure

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FORM 8.3

    PUBLIC DEALING DISCLOSURE BY
    A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE
    Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the “Code”)

    1. KEY INFORMATION  
       
    (a) Full name of discloser: Invesco Ltd.  
    (b) Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a):
    The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named.    		    
    (c) Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates:
    Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree    		 AngloGold Ashanti PLC  
    (d) If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree:    
    (e) Date position held/dealing undertaken:
    For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure    		 20.09.2024  
    (f) In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer?
    If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”    		 Yes, Centamin PLC  
       
    2. POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE  
       
    If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security.  
    (a) Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any)  
       
    Class of relevant security: USD 1 ordinary GB00BRXH2664  
      Interests Short Positions  
      Number % Number %  
    (1) Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: 1,665,180* 0.39      
    (2) Cash-settled derivatives:          
    (3) Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell: 205,500 0.04 410,000 0.09  
      Total 1,870,680* 0.44 410,000 0.09  
    *The change in the holding of 2,154 shares since the last disclosure on 13.09.2024 is due to the transfer out of a discretionary holding.  
       
    All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.

    Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions).

    		  
       
       
    (b) Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors’ and other employee options)  
       
    Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists:    
    Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages:    
       
    3. DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE  
       
    Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in.

    The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated.

    		  
    (a) Purchases and sales  
       
    Class of relevant security Purchase/sale Number of securities Price per unit  
    USD 1 ordinary GB00BRXH2664 Sale 1,311 28.03 USD  
    USD 1 ordinary GB00BRXH2664 Sale 05 28.06 USD  
       
    (b) Cash-settled derivative transactions  
       
    Class of relevant security Product description e.g. CFD Nature of dealing e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position Number of reference securities Price per unit  
               
       
    (c) Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options)
     
    (i) Writing, selling, purchasing or varying
     
    Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc. Number of securities to which option relates Exercise price per unit Type e.g. American, European etc. Expiry date Option money paid/ received per unit
                   
       
    (ii) Exercise  
       
    Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Exercising/ exercised against Number of securities Exercise price per unit  
               
       
    (d) Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities)  
                 
    Class of relevant security Nature of dealing e.g. subscription, conversion Details Price per unit (if applicable)  
             
             
       
    4. OTHER INFORMATION  
       
    (a) Indemnity and other dealing arrangements  
       
    Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer:
    Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”    		  
    None  
       
    (b) Agreements, arrangements, or understandings relating to options or derivatives  
       
    Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to:
    (i) the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or
    (ii) the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced:
    If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”    		  
    None  
       
    (c) Attachments  
       
    Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached? YES  
       
    Date of disclosure 23.09.2024  
    Contact name Philippa Holmes  
    Telephone number +441491417447  
       

    Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service.

                                              SUPPLEMENTAL FORM 8 (OPEN POSITIONS)

    DETAILS OF OPEN STOCK-SETTLED DERIVATIVE (INCLUDING OPTION) POSITIONS, AGREEMENTS TO PURCHASE OR SELL ETC.

    Note 5(i) on Rule 8 of the Takeover Code (the “Code”)

    1.        KEY INFORMATION

    Full name of person making disclosure: Invesco Ltd.
    Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities the disclosure relates: AngloGold Ashanti PLC

    2.        STOCK-SETTLED DERIVATIVES (INCLUDING OPTIONS)

    Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Written or purchased Number of securities to which option or derivative relates Exercise price per unit Type

    e.g. American, European etc.

    		 Expiry date
    USD 1 ordinary GB00BRXH2664 Put Option Written 102,500 1.17 USD American 18/10/2024
    USD 1 ordinary GB00BRXH2664 Put Option Written 103,000 1.31 USD American 18/10/2024
    USD 1 ordinary GB00BRXH2664 Call Option Short Position Written -102,500 1.62 USD American 18/10/2024
    USD 1 ordinary GB00BRXH2664 Call Option Short Position Written -102,500 2.63 USD American 18/10/2024
    USD 1 ordinary GB00BRXH2664 Call Option Short Position Written -102,500 2.61 USD American 18/10/2024
    USD 1 ordinary GB00BRXH2664 Call Option Short Position Written -102,500 2.77 USD American 18/10/2024

    3.        AGREEMENTS TO PURCHASE OR SELL ETC.

    Full details should be given so that the nature of the interest or position can be fully understood:
     

    It is not necessary to provide details on a Supplemental Form (Open Positions) with regard to cash-settled derivatives.

    The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated.

    The Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code’s disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.

    The Code can be viewed on the Panel’s website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Stoke-on-Trent families supported through school uniform campaign

    Source: City of Stoke-on-Trent

    Published: Monday, 23rd September 2024

    Parents in Stoke-on-Trent have been receiving extra support with finding free or affordable school uniforms with the help of a QR code

    VAST have collated a resource of school uniform banks, exchanges, swap shops and donation points.

    They are using this information to develop a toolkit to help communities find their nearest school uniform bank or find support with the huge cost of school uniform with the help of a QR code.

    The cost of living crisis has hit many families in Stoke-on-Trent hard and finding money for school uniform can feel impossible, which is why this work by VAST has been so helpful to many across the city.

    Faye Angus, Communications and Content Manager at VAST said: “As a parent, I am all too aware of the cost of school uniforms and how long they realistically last on growing children. It’s not as simple as popping to the local supermarket for the cheaper jumpers and cardigans, not when a lot of schools are insisting on branded blazers, ties, and sometimes even PE socks!”

    “We worked closely with the sector to develop a cost-of-living comms toolkit; a range of content for voluntary sector organisations to share information on free and/or affordable food within their local communities. But we wanted that content to reach as many people as possible with the information and support they need, and what they needed support with was accessible school wear.”

    “The survey responses we gathered meant we were able to connect communities with free or affordable second-hand school uniform. Whether it was a uniform exchange to take old and outgrown items and swap them for bigger ones, or it was a free bank for specific branded items – we were able to share where to access it.”

    “We’re very grateful to the groups who responded to our survey and were able to help local parents and carers to access the uniform they need for their children, either for free, by exchanging outgrown items, or at a fraction of the retail price.”

    Councillor Sarah Jane Colclough, cabinet member for Education and Anti-Poverty, said: “This has been a brilliant campaign that VAST have put together to help families across Stoke-on-Trent with the high cost of school uniforms.

    “With the cost of living crisis affecting so many and children growing out of school uniforms that then need replacing, it is a recurring cost that many find hard to afford.

    “I am so pleased that so many families have been helped by this across the city and urge anyone still struggling with school uniform costs to check out the resources VAST have put together for extra support.”

    Local organisations that are hosting a school uniform bank are urged to complete the simple online form. For more information visit: https://vast.org.uk/school-uniform-support-in-stoke-on-trent/

    VAST will be sharing the toolkit, so for further updates follow them on Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/VASTstaffordshire or sign up to their mailing list at https://mailchi.mp/8bd9c0db2e7f/vast-subscribe

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Real Estate Split Corp. Class A and Preferred Distributions

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, Sept. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Real Estate Split Corp. (TSX: RS and RS.PR.A) is pleased to announce that a distribution for September 2024 will be payable to Class A shareholders as follows:

    Record Date Payable Date Distribution Per Equity Share
    September 30, 2024 October 15, 2024 $0.13

    The Fund also announces that the third quarter distribution of 2024 will be payable to preferred shareholders as follows:

    Record Date Payable Date Distribution Per Preferred Share
    September 30, 2024 October 15, 2024 $0.13125


    The equity and preferred shares both trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the respective symbols RS and RS.PR.A.

    Middlefield

    Founded in 1979, Middlefield is a specialist equity income asset manager with offices in Toronto, Canada and London, England. Our investment team utilizes active management to select high-quality, global companies across a variety of sectors and themes. Our product offerings include proven dividend-focused strategies that span real estate, healthcare, innovation, infrastructure, energy, diversified income and more. We offer these solutions in a variety of product types including ETFs, Mutual Funds, Closed-End Funds, Split-Share Funds and Flow-through LPs.

    For further information, please visit our website at www.middlefield.com or contact Nancy Tham in our Sales and Marketing Department at 1.888.890.1868.

    This press release contains forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained in this press release is based on historical information concerning distributions and dividends paid on the securities of issuers historically included in the portfolio of the Fund. Actual future results, including the amount of distributions paid by the Fund, may differ from the monthly distribution amount. Specifically, the income from which distributions are paid may vary significantly due to: changes in portfolio composition; changes in distributions and dividends paid by issuers of securities included in the Fund’s portfolio from time to time; there being no assurance that those issuers will pay distributions or dividends on their securities; the declaration of distributions and dividends by issuers of securities included in the portfolio will generally depend upon various factors, including the financial condition of each issuer and general economic and stock market conditions; the level of borrowing by the Fund; and the uncertainty of realizing capital gains.  The risks, uncertainties and other factors that could influence actual results are described under “Risk Factors” in the Fund’s prospectus and other documents filed by the Fund with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities. The forward-looking information contained in this press release constitutes the Fund’s current estimate, as of the date of this press release, with respect to the matters covered hereby. Investors and others should not assume that any forward-looking statement contained in this press release represents the Fund’s estimate as of any date other than the date of this press release.

    The MIL Network –