NewzIntel.com

Category: Politics

  • MIL-OSI USA: La Paradoja del Huerto de Calabazas

    Source: US National Oceanographic Data Center

    La estación del otoño se define meteorológicamente en el hemisferio norte como el período de tres meses de septiembre a noviembre y representa una estación de transición. El calor del verano se transforma en días frescos; los colores de las hojas cambian de verde a diferentes tonos de amarillo, naranja y rojo; la duración de la luz del día se acorta; y nuestro vestuario cambia de camisetas sin mangas y pantalones cortos a suéteres y pantalones largos. También comenzamos a notar calabazas que decoran muchos hogares en los EE. UU. durante esta época del año.

    Las calabazas son comunes durante la temporada de otoño y visitar fincas para escoger calabazas es una tradición que disfrutan muchas personas en los EE. UU. Decoramos nuestras casas con calabazas y flores de otoño como las crisantemos, creamos linternas de calabaza cuando se acerca Halloween y los alimentos de calabaza (por ejemplo, pasteles, café, sopas y muchos más) son abundantes y se pueden encontrar en cualquier lugar al que vayamos.

    Fig 1. Producción de calabaza por estado en el 2021. (Fuente: USDA Economic Research Service) 

    Las calabazas se producen en todos los estados. Sin embargo, según el Departamento de Agricultura de los Estados Unidos (conocido como USDA por sus siglas en inglés), Illinois es el principal estado productor de calabazas (Fig. 1), ya que cosecha cerca del 30% de todas las calabazas producidas en los Estados Unidos. Aunque Illinois produce la mayor cantidad de calabazas, cerca del 80% de las calabazas que se cosechan allí se procesan y se enlatan para productos como puré de calabaza, mientras que los otros estados venden principalmente calabazas frescas que se usan para decoración.

    El tiempo afecta la producción de calabazas

    Como cualquier otro cultivo, decidir cuándo empezar a sembrar calabazas puede ser complicado. Para tener calabazas en otoño, los agricultores suelen empezar a sembrar desde finales de mayo hasta principios de julio, dependiendo del lugar. Y 120 días después de sembrar las semillas, normalmente se cosechan las calabazas.

    A pesar de su duro exterior, las calabazas son muy sensibles a las condiciones del tiempo.

    Heladas: Si los agricultores siembran demasiado pronto en la primavera, cuando todavía pueden darse temperaturas bajo cero, existe la posibilidad de que la planta sea susceptible a las heladas, y esto podría provocar su muerte. Las heladas o episodios de congelación suelen ser menos preocupantes durante el otoño, cuando las temperaturas empiezan a bajar, ya que las plantas han alcanzado la madurez y el daño es mucho menor.

    Calor extremo: Si hace demasiado calor durante el verano, esto podría provocar que las plantas se marchiten o que las flores de la calabaza se caigan. Para que las plantas produzcan cosechas, es necesario que se produzca la polinización. Sin embargo, durante los días muy cálidos, las flores de la calabaza permanecen abiertas durante períodos de tiempo más cortos, lo que afecta a la eficacia de la polinización.

    Condiciones de humedad extrema: Si llueve demasiado y el suelo está extremadamente húmedo, esto podría provocar un retraso en la siembra durante la primavera o un retraso en la cosecha durante el otoño. Las condiciones muy húmedas también pueden provocar deficiencias de nutrientes, un retraso en la madurez de la planta y también aumentan la posibilidad de desarrollo de enfermedades de las plantas como el moho.

    Todos estos ejemplos pueden resultar en una cantidad significativamente menor de calabazas de lo normal. Sin embargo, las condiciones extremadamente húmedas tienen el mayor impacto en la producción de calabazas y son la principal preocupación de los agricultores de calabazas. Se ha informado de que durante los años muy húmedos, especialmente a fines del verano y principios del otoño, cuando las calabazas están alcanzando su madurez, los agricultores de calabazas tienden a ver que la calidad de la fruta disminuye, hay menos calabazas y se propagan más enfermedades en las plantas.

    Fig. 2. Disponibilidad de calabaza fresca per cápita durante el período 2000–2023. (Fuente: Servicio de Investigación Económica del USDA)

    Aunque la producción de calabazas puede fluctuar de un año a otro debido al tiempo, hubo una reducción visible en la disponibilidad de calabazas en el 2015 (Fig. 2). Esto se debió principalmente a las fuertes lluvias que afectaron la región del Medio Oeste durante el momento crucial para la siembra de calabazas.

    Los meses de mayo y julio fueron más húmedos de lo normal en Illinois y el mes de junio fue extremadamente húmedo (Fig. 3). Junio ​​del 2015 es el junio más húmedo registrado en Illinois con un total de 9.44 pulgadas de lluvia, que es 5.35 pulgadas más de lo normal. Junio ​​del 2015 también es el segundo mes más húmedo de Illinois de todos los meses registrados, detrás de septiembre del 1962 (9.62 pulgadas).

    Fig. 3. Mapa de las anomalías de precipitación en todo los estados para junio del 2015. (Fuente: NCEI Climate at a Glance)

    Durante el período de tres meses de mayo a julio del 2015, Illinois tuvo un promedio de 20.04 pulgadas de lluvia, que es 8.24 pulgadas más de lo normal, y se clasificó como el período de mayo a julio más húmedo en los 130 años de registro del estado.

    Las condiciones muy húmedas durante la temporada de siembra inundaron los campos y provocaron la propagación de enfermedades y moho. Finalmente, cuando regresaron las condiciones más secas, los agricultores volvieron a sembrar, pero el daño ya estaba hecho y la producción de calabazas fue mucho menor. En general, esto provocó una reducción de poco más del 50% en la producción de calabazas de Illinois (de 652 millones de libras a cerca de 318 millones de libras de calabazas).

    Fig. 4. Mapa de anomalías de precipitación a nivel estatal para el período de tres meses de mayo a julio del 2015. (Fuente: NCEI Climate at a Glance)

    El cambio climático y la producción de calabaza

    “Se proyecta que el cambio climático reducirá la disponibilidad y asequibilidad de alimentos nutritivos y que sus impactos se distribuyan de forma desigual en la sociedad”. – Quinta Evaluación Nacional del Clima

    El clima de la Tierra se está calentando y, a pesar de que el aumento general de la temperatura global parece ser pequeño, sus efectos pueden ser significativos a nivel local.

    Los Estados Unidos no está exento de los efectos del cambio climático. La temperatura media anual de los Estados Unidos contiguos ha aumentado 0.16°F por década desde 1895; Sin embargo, es casi tres veces más (0.46°F) desde 1981. Mientras tanto, los totales de precipitaciones a nivel nacional han aumentado a un ritmo de 0.17 pulgadas por década desde 1895 y no hay ningún aumento evidente desde 1981.

    Fig. 5. Anomalías anuales de (a) temperatura y (b) precipitación en EE. UU. durante el período de 1895 a 2023. (Fuente: NCEI Climate at a Glance)

    Un clima más cálido afectará la producción agrícola, incluyendo la de calabazas, en todo los EE. UU. a través de cambios en la frecuencia e intensidad de ciertos eventos extremos. El Medio Oeste, que es conocido por su producción agrícola, ya está viendo los efectos del cambio climático. La región ha observado un aumento de las temperaturas, temporadas de crecimiento más largas y una mayor intensidad y frecuencia de eventos de lluvias intensas que provocan inundaciones. El aumento de las temperaturas y el cambio de las temporadas de crecimiento también están generando poblaciones de plagas más grandes que pueden dañar los cultivos y afectar la producción.

    Se proyecta que los eventos extremos seguirán aumentando en intensidad y frecuencia, poniendo en mayor riesgo la producción y la disponibilidad agrícolas.

    Prácticas de adaptación agrícola

    Aunque el cambio climático está afectando muchos aspectos de nuestras vidas, incluyendo nuestra seguridad alimentaria, los agricultores se están preparando para los cambios mediante la adaptación agrícola. La adaptación agrícola es cuando los agricultores ajustan sus prácticas agrícolas para reducir los efectos del tiempo y el cambio climático durante la producción de cultivos.

    En el Medio Oeste, muchos productores de calabazas han implementado recursos hídricos adicionales (por ejemplo, estanques de almacenamiento, pozos, entre otros) para ayudar a mitigar los efectos de la sequía y proteger sus calabazas y otros cultivos. Algunos han implementado lo que se conoce como controles biológicos, que se refiere al uso de depredadores naturales (por ejemplo, arañas), parásitos u otros organismos vivos que se encuentran en el ecosistema para controlar ciertas plagas que dañan los cultivos.

    Aunque el cultivo de calabazas, así como otras prácticas agrícolas, enfrentan desafíos a medida que nuestro clima continúa calentándose, los agricultores y los científicos trabajan juntos continuamente para comprender mejor los impactos y cómo pueden abordarlos para continuar cultivando y produciendo calabazas (y otros cultivos) exitosamente para nuestra nación.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: OIP Now Accepting Nominations for the 2025 Sunshine Week FOIA Awards

    Source: United States Attorneys General 13

    The Department of Justice, Office of Information Policy (OIP) is pleased to announce that nominations are open for the 2025 Sunshine Week FOIA Awards, recognizing the contributions of FOIA professionals from around the government.  Each year, the number of nominations submitted to OIP to recognize the exceptional achievements of federal FOIA employees grows.  As such, OIP is opening the nomination window earlier this year than in previous years to allow more time for review of submissions.

    As the Attorney General recognized in his FOIA Guidelines issued in March 2022, “[t]he federal government could not process the hundreds of thousands of FOIA requests that are received every year without its dedicated FOIA professionals.”  Agency FOIA professionals are at the center of ensuring successful FOIA administration and we look forward to celebrating the work of these individuals from around the government.  For this year’s event, OIP is seeking nominations for five categories of awards:

    • Exceptional Service by a FOIA Professional or Team of FOIA Professionals
    • Outstanding Contributions by a New Employee
    • Exceptional Advancements in IT to Improve the Agency’s FOIA Administration
    • Exceptional Advancements in Proactive Disclosure of Information
    • Lifetime Service Award

    Nominations can be submitted by agencies or by a member of the public.  All nominations are due to OIP by Friday, December 6th, 2024. 

    Awardees will be recognized during the Department’s 2025 Sunshine Week event on March 17th, 2025.

    Submission Guidelines

    All agency personnel are eligible for the awards listed below. These personnel can include Government Information Specialists, supervisors, FOIA attorneys, FOIA administrative specialists, or other staff at the agency that meet the award category criteria.

    We invite nominations for these awards from agencies as well as members of the public. Agency submissions should be made by the agency’s principal FOIA contact or Chief FOIA Officer.

    Nominations must include:

    • The full name, title, agency (or organization if applicable), and contact information for the person submitting the nomination,
    • The name(s) of the individual(s) they are nominating,
    • The award category that best reflects the nominee(s)’ accomplishments,
    • A summary, not to exceed two single-spaced pages, that describes the nominee’s or group’s accomplishments, why the individual or group should receive the award, what they have done that sets them apart, and how their actions benefited FOIA administration, and
    • A short abstract (100 words or less) that briefly outlines the nominee’s accomplishments.

    Nominations must be submitted to DOJ.OIP.FOIA@usdoj.gov with the subject line “2025 Sunshine Week FOIA Award Nomination” by December 6, 2024.

    Award Categories

    Award for Exceptional Service by a FOIA Professional or Team of FOIA Professionals

    • Recognizing exemplary performance by a FOIA professional or team of FOIA professionals in carrying out the agency’s administration of the FOIA. This award recognizes those individuals or teams whose exceptional contributions have significantly benefited FOIA administration. These benefits could include increased efficiency, greater use of technology, reduced backlogs, improved timeliness, and increased proactive disclosures.

    Award for Outstanding Contributions by a New Employee

    • Recognizing exceptional performance and notable contributions in carrying out the agency’s FOIA responsibilities by a new employee with fewer than three years of work in FOIA.

    Exceptional Advancements in IT to Improve the Agency’s FOIA Administration

    • Recognizing exceptional achievements in making greater use of technology to make information more accessible.  These efforts could include the implementation of new and advanced technologies to increase efficiencies as well as to improve proactive disclosures and the online availability of information.

    Exceptional Advancements in Proactive Disclosure of Information

    • Recognizing exceptional achievements by an agency or team of professionals at the agency to proactively make more information available online.  These efforts can include both the posting of more information online and steps taken to make that information more useful to the public.

    Lifetime Service Award

    • Recognizing an agency FOIA professional with at least 20 years of work in FOIA administration who has demonstrated high standards of excellence and dedication in the administration of the FOIA throughout their career.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: TRM Labs and Flashpoint Join Forces to Enhance Visibility into Cyberattacks Involving Cryptocurrencies

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — TRM Labs, a global leader in blockchain intelligence, and Flashpoint, a global leader in threat intelligence, have joined forces to integrate their intelligence networks and give customers unprecedented visibility into cybercriminal activity on blockchain networks.

    Disrupting criminal networks is increasingly vital to keep the crypto ecosystem safe from illicit actors and allow it to grow for lawful users. According to a report from TRM Labs, in 2023, criminals handled over USD 34 billion in cryptocurrency. However, by leveraging advanced threat and blockchain intelligence tools, governments and law enforcement agencies have been able to heavily disrupt criminal networks.

    TRM Labs makes it easier for investigators to uncover connections between disparate data sources by reducing the need for manual intelligence checks across multiple platforms. Through this strategic partnership, TRM Labs has integrated Flashpoint’s data directly into its blockchain intelligence platform.

    Investigators that use TRM Labs will now benefit from Flashpoint’s threat intelligence data within TRM Forensics, including comprehensive details on threat actors, malicious content, illicit forum conversations, and both current and historical information from dark web and social media sources. Users with a Flashpoint license can dive deeper into these insights using Flashpoint’s Ignite Threat Intelligence Platform.

    “This integration enables investigators to quickly access TRM and Flashpoint’s threat intelligence in one place, accelerating their ability to detect illicit activity, identify threat actors, and recover stolen funds,” said Esteban Castaño, CEO of TRM Labs.

    “Our partnership with TRM Labs illustrates the remarkable potential of uniting blockchain intelligence and threat data to outmaneuver cyber adversaries,” said Josh Lefkowitz, CEO and founder of Flashpoint. “By integrating our industry-leading data into TRM Labs Forensics, investigators are equipped with deep insight into threat actors within the crypto ecosystem, enhancing their ability to detect and disrupt illicit activities within blockchain networks.”

    This partnership bolsters TRM Labs’ threat intelligence that includes Chainabuse, the largest crypto-related scam and fraud victim reporting platform.

    For more information about this partnership and how it can help enhance investigative outcomes, please visit TRM Labs at https://trmlabs.com.

    About TRM Labs

    TRM Labs provides blockchain intelligence to help government agencies investigate and build cases for digital asset fraud and financial crime. TRM’s blockchain intelligence platform includes solutions to follow the money, identify illicit actors, build cases, and construct an operating picture of threats. TRM is trusted by a growing number of leading agencies worldwide who rely on TRM for their blockchain intelligence needs. TRM is based in San Francisco, CA, and is hiring across engineering, product, sales, and data science. To learn more, visit www.trmlabs.com.

    About Flashpoint

    Flashpoint is the leader and largest private provider of threat data and intelligence. We empower mission-critical businesses and governments worldwide to decisively confront complex security challenges, reduce risk, and improve operational resilience amid fast-evolving threats. Through the Flashpoint Ignite platform, we deliver unparalleled depth, breadth and speed of data from highly relevant sources, enriched by human insights. Our solutions span cyber threat intelligence, vulnerability intelligence, geopolitical risk, physical security, fraud and brand protection. The result: our customers safeguard critical assets, avoid financial loss, and protect lives. Discover more at flashpoint.io.

    RedIron PR for Flashpoint
    Kari Ritacco, kari@redironpr.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Apple Products Less Likely to be Impacted by Outages, Kandji Data Reveals

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • 77% of IT professionals agree Apple products are easier to secure than Windows and Android
    • 72% believe that Apple products are more secure than other end-user devices
    • 59% report that Apple products are less likely to be impacted by widespread cyber outages

    SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — While cyberattacks continue to rise, the majority of IT professionals (72%) believe that Apple products are more secure than other end-user devices, according to a new survey released today by Kandji, the Apple endpoint management and security platform. Despite the growing threats, the security benefits of Apple products remain a contributing factor to Apple’s growth in the enterprise, with over three-fourths of IT professionals reporting that Apple products are easier to secure than other end-user devices, and the majority (59%) stating that they are less likely to be impacted by widespread cyber outages.

    The third annual “Apple in the Enterprise” survey explores Apple’s continued growth in the enterprise, the security and reliability benefits of Apple products, and how IT professionals feel about the use and regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace.

    Commissioned by Kandji and conducted by Dimensional Research, the global survey gathered insights from more than 300 IT professionals with responsibility for the management and delivery of Apple products to employees at a company with more than 1,000 employees and more than 500 end-user devices – including more than 100 C-level (CIO, CTO, CISO, etc.) executives. Key findings include:

    Increased iPad, iPhone, and Mac Use Adds to Continued Apple Product Growth in Enterprise

    • 73% of organizations report that the number of Apple products has increased over the last year, driven primarily by employee preference (76%), security (50%), and reliability (43%).
    • 80% of C-level executives report that Apple growth is driven by employee demand.
    • 69% of organizations report that use of iPhone has increased over the last year, driven primarily by employee preference (73%), reliability (56%), and security (56%).
    • 45% of organizations report that the use of iPad has increased over the last year, driven primarily by mobility needs (75%) and hybrid/remote work (61%).
    • 67% of IT professionals expect Apple Vision Pro to be a business productivity solution, not just a personal entertainment unit.

    Security Remains Key Benefit of Apple Device Use

    • 77% of IT professionals agree Apple products are easier to secure than Windows and Android.
    • 72% of IT professionals believe that Apple products are more secure than other end-user devices.
    • 59% of IT professionals report that Apple products are less likely to be impacted by widespread cyber outages.
    • 58% of IT professionals say security is a top benefit received from use of Apple products, a notable 10% increase from 2023.

    Despite Concerns About Artificial Intelligence Overall, IT Professionals Believe Apple Does More to Protect End-User Privacy

    • 92% of IT professionals have concerns about AI, citing worries about errors/inaccuracies (68%), privacy (66%), and security (64%).
    • 72% of C-level executives report concerns about AI causing errors.
    • 71% of IT professionals say when it comes to AI, Apple does more to protect end-user privacy than other vendors.
    • 67% of companies have implemented restrictions around the use of AI, including published policies (69%), access controls (65%), and user education (59%).
    • 54% of IT professionals say IT operations and security share the responsibility of managing restrictions on the use of AI.

    “It’s become abundantly clear that no business is immune to cyberattacks. But there are choices IT and security leaders can make that reduce the risk and impact these bad actors have on the overall organization, one of which is to expand their adoption of Apple products,” said Adam Pettit, CEO and co-founder of Kandji. “Amid the evolving threat landscape, the confidence IT professionals place in Apple products speaks volumes about their irrefutable advantages and resilience. Apple’s commitment to security remains a driving force behind its growth, especially as AI reshapes the workplace. I am excited to witness the limitless potential and business value Apple continues to bring to the enterprise.”

    To download a full copy of the report, please visit https://www.kandji.io/apple-in-the-enterprise-report/.

    Survey Methodology
    This survey was conducted by Dimensional Research and commissioned by Kandji. A total of 314 qualified participants completed the survey. All participants had direct responsibility for
    selection, delivery, or management of Apple devices to employees and worked at a company with more than 500 end-user devices and more than 1,000 employees. Participants represented a wide range of job levels, industries, and global regions. This survey included over 100 C-level (CIO, CTO, CISO, etc.) executives.

    Helpful Links

    About Kandji
    Kandji is the Apple endpoint management and security platform. Kandji empowers companies to manage and secure Apple devices in the enterprise and at scale. By centrally securing and managing your Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV devices, IT and InfoSec teams can save countless hours of manual, repetitive work with features like one-click compliance templates and more than 150 pre-built automations, apps, and workflows. Learn more at http://www.kandji.io.

    Media Contact
    Erica Anderson
    Offleash for Kandji
    pr@kandji.io

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Fortinet Delivers AI-Enhanced Data Protection and Insider Risk Management

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SUNNYVALE, Calif., Oct. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

    News Summary
    Fortinet® (NASDAQ: FTNT), the global cybersecurity leader driving the convergence of networking and security, today announced the general availability of FortiDLP, a next-generation data loss prevention (DLP) and insider risk management solution. Based on Next DLP’s innovative technology and integration into the Fortinet Security Fabric, the new solution bolsters Fortinet’s overall portfolio of DLP capabilities. FortiDLP enables effective management of data security, dynamic enforcement of data protection, and enhanced visibility of insider threats at scale for large enterprise customers.

    “In an era when data protection is paramount, FortiDLP offers a next-gen solution that combines AI-enhanced detection and insider risk management to secure sensitive information,” said John Maddison, chief marketing officer at Fortinet. “By leveraging an AI-powered data protection solution with the help of generative AI, security teams can anticipate risks, streamline incident response, and mitigate threats faster than legacy DLP solutions. Protecting your data from both internal and external threats starts with visibility and proactive prevention, and FortiDLP delivers that protection on day one.”

    Traditional DLP Solutions Fall Short for CISOs
    Gartner® recently predicted in its latest Market Guide for Data Loss Prevention that, “By 2027, 70% of CISOs in larger enterprises will adopt a consolidated approach to address both insider risk and data exfiltration use cases.” However, CISOs and security teams continue to struggle with traditional DLP challenges, like managing data silos and dispersed data with a growing hybrid workforce, navigating cumbersome and rigid policies to classify data, slow performance of legacy tools, and the increasing risk posed by malicious insiders having access to sensitive data.

    What Sets FortiDLP Apart from Legacy DLP Solutions
    Fortinet’s answer to traditional DLP challenges is FortiDLP, an AI-enhanced, cloud-native endpoint data protection solution that enables customers to address all their data protection requirements with a single solution. With the recent acquisition of Next DLP, Fortinet adds a powerful data protection solution to the Fortinet Security Fabric, giving security teams a more effective way to prevent data leaks and loss, detect behavior-related threats, train employees to make risk-informed decisions and comply with security policies. The solution also addresses employees’ use of unsanctioned SaaS applications and guards against data leakage when employees use shadow AI (unapproved GenAI tools). Some of the key features that set FortiDLP apart from the competition include:

    • Shadow AI Data Protection: FortiDLP enables employees to safely use publicly available GenAI tools, such as OpenAI ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and others. Administrators can set policy actions to alert employees to proper data handling practices while allowing them to continue using these tools. The result is a balance between enabling greater productivity while securing the organization against sharing sensitive corporate data with these tools.
    • Day One Data Visibility and Protection: FortiDLP provides automated data movement visibility and protection from day one with out-of-the-box policies and machine learning embedded at the endpoint for baselining, with contextual and content inspection that works even if endpoints are disconnected from the network.
    • Insider Risk Protection: FortiDLP can identify actions, behaviors, and other indicators and apply appropriate policy actions to identify and stop insiders from disclosing sensitive data outside of the organization. Security teams can also monitor individual user risk with the solution by identifying, analyzing, and capturing employee activity when sensitive data is accessed and/or policies are violated.
    • SaaS Application Data Protection: FortiDLP provides comprehensive visibility into user interactions with data in the cloud and maintains protection as data moves out of the cloud. The solution builds a comprehensive risk-scored inventory of SaaS applications utilized across an organization, with insights into data ingress, egress, and credentials. It also fortifies defenses against potential data breaches from business data exposure via unauthorized application usage.
    • Origin-Based Data Protection: FortiDLP provides instant visibility into data exposure risk with Secure Data Flow, which complements traditional content and sensitivity classification-based approaches with origin-based data identification, manipulation detection, and data egress controls. Security teams can track and prevent data egress from endpoints and unmanaged mobile devices to USB drives, printers, and SaaS apps like Slack, Office 365, and Google Workspace.
    • Risk-Informed User Education: Administrators can configure policies and actions that include the presentation of customizable messages to educate users on the importance of safeguarding sensitive data while also enabling mechanisms that drive accountability for employee behavior.
    • AI-Powered Guidance: The FortiDLP AI-powered assistant enhances incident analysis by using FortiAI to summarize and contextualize data associated with observed high-risk activity, mapped to the MITRE Engenuity Insider Threat Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTP) Knowledge Base for easy consumption by analysts and peers.

    As part of its ongoing commitment to offering customers enterprise-grade data protection, Fortinet plans to sell FortiDLP as a stand-alone solution in addition to adding advanced AI-driven data loss prevention capabilities to its security service edge (SSE) offering and integrate additional insider risk and data protection capabilities across the Fortinet Security Fabric.

    FortiDLP is based on the next-generation, cloud-native SaaS data protection platform from Next DLP. Next DLP was recognized as a Representative Vendor in the 2023 Gartner Market Guide for Data Loss Prevention1 and the 2023 Gartner Market Guide for Insider Risk Management Solutions.2

    Additional Resources

    GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved.

    Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

    1Gartner Market Guide for Data Loss Prevention, Ravisha Chugh, Andrew Bales, 4 September 2023.

    2Gartner Market Guide for Insider Risk Management Solutions, Brent Predovich, 13 November 2023.

    About Fortinet
    Fortinet (NASDAQ: FTNT) is a driving force in the evolution of cybersecurity and the convergence of networking and security. Our mission is to secure people, devices, and data everywhere, and today we deliver cybersecurity everywhere you need it with the largest integrated portfolio of over 50 enterprise-grade products. Well over half a million customers trust Fortinet’s solutions, which are among the most deployed, most patented, and most validated in the industry. The Fortinet Training Institute, one of the largest and broadest training programs in the industry, is dedicated to making cybersecurity training and new career opportunities available to everyone. Collaboration with esteemed organizations from both the public and private sectors, including CERTs, government entities, and academia, is a fundamental aspect of Fortinet’s commitment to enhance cyber resilience globally. FortiGuard Labs, Fortinet’s elite threat intelligence and research organization, develops and utilizes leading-edge machine learning and AI technologies to provide customers with timely and consistently top-rated protection and actionable threat intelligence. Learn more at https://www.fortinet.com, the Fortinet Blog, and FortiGuard Labs. 

    Copyright © 2024 Fortinet, Inc. All rights reserved. The symbols ® and ™ denote respectively federally registered trademarks and common law trademarks of Fortinet, Inc., its subsidiaries and affiliates. Fortinet’s trademarks include, but are not limited to, the following: Fortinet, the Fortinet logo, FortiGate, FortiOS, FortiGuard, FortiCare, FortiAnalyzer, FortiManager, FortiASIC, FortiClient, FortiCloud, FortiMail, FortiSandbox, FortiADC, FortiAI, FortiAIOps, FortiAntenna, FortiAP, FortiAPCam, FortiAuthenticator, FortiCache, FortiCall, FortiCam, FortiCamera, FortiCarrier, FortiCASB, FortiCentral, FortiConnect, FortiController, FortiConverter, FortiCSPM, FortiCWP, FortDAST, FortiDB, FortiDDoS, FortiDeceptor, FortiDeploy, FortiDevSec, FortiEDR, FortiExplorer, FortiExtender, FortiFirewall, FortiFlex FortiFone, FortiGSLB, FortiGuest, FortiHypervisor, FortiInsight, FortiIsolator, FortiLAN, FortiLink, FortiMonitor, FortiNAC, FortiNDR, FortiPenTest, FortiPhish, FortiPoint, FortiPolicy, FortiPortal, FortiPresence, FortiProxy, FortiRecon, FortiRecorder, FortiSASE, FortiSDNConnector, FortiSEC, FortiSIEM, FortiSMS, FortiSOAR, FortiStack, FortiSwitch, FortiTester, FortiToken, FortiTrust, FortiVoice, FortiWAN, FortiWeb, FortiWiFi, FortiWLC, FortiWLM and FortiXDR. Other trademarks belong to their respective owners. Fortinet has not independently verified statements or certifications herein attributed to third parties and Fortinet does not independently endorse such statements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, nothing herein constitutes a warranty, guarantee, contract, binding specification or other binding commitment by Fortinet or any indication of intent related to a binding commitment, and performance and other specification information herein may be unique to certain environments.

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  • MIL-OSI: Summit State Bank Reports Net Income of $626,000 for Third Quarter 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SANTA ROSA, Calif., Oct. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Summit State Bank (the “Bank”) (Nasdaq: SSBI) today reported net income for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024 of $626,000, or $0.09 per diluted share, compared to net income of $1,821,000, or $0.27 per diluted share for the third quarter ended September 30, 2023. Net operating income before credit loss provision and income tax was $2,122,000 for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024 compared to $2,520,000 for the third quarter ended 2023.

    In September 2024 the Bank declared its eighty-third consecutive quarterly cash dividend.

    “In this time of economic uncertainty, the Board is focused on balancing its commitment to shareholders while also building capital, increasing liquidity and positioning the Bank to create long-term value,” said Brian Reed, President and CEO. “As such, the Bank is not announcing a dividend for the third quarter of 2024.”

    Third Quarter 2024 Financial Highlights (at or for the three months ended September 30, 2024)

    • Net operating income before credit loss provision and income tax increased quarter-to-date to $2,122,000 for Q3 2024 when compared to $1,955,000 in Q1 2024 to $1,267,000 in Q2 2024.
    • Operating expenses decreased in the third quarter of 2024 to $6,181,000 compared to $6,926,000 in the third quarter of 2023.
    • The improvement in net income for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024 was offset by a $1,320,000 provision for credit losses.
    • Net income for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024 was $626,000, or $0.09 per diluted share, compared to $1,821,000, or $0.27 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2023 and $928,000, or $0.14 per diluted share, for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024.
    • The allowance for credit losses to total loans was 1.66% on September 30, 2024 which is based on estimating credit losses for the life of the loans in the portfolio.
    • The Bank maintained strong total liquidity of $458,554,000, or 41.0% of total assets as of September 30, 2024. This includes on balance sheet liquidity (cash and equivalents and unpledged available-for-sale securities) of $148,499,000 or 13.3% of total assets, plus available borrowing capacity of $310,055,000 or 27.7% of total assets.
    • The Bank remains well-capitalized and all regulatory capital ratios were well above minimum requirements on September 30, 2024.
    • Net loans decreased $14,832,000 to $917,367,000 at September 30, 2024, compared to $932,199,000 one year earlier and increased $3,853,000 compared to $913,514,000 three months earlier.
    • Total deposits decreased 3% to $1,002,770,000 at September 30, 2024, compared to $1,030,836,000 at September 30, 2023, and increased 4% when compared to the prior quarter end of $966,587,000.
    • Book value was $14.85 per share, compared to $13.77 per share a year ago and $14.44 in the preceding quarter.

    Operating Results

    For the third quarter of 2024, the annualized return on average assets was 0.23% and the annualized return on average equity was 2.48%. This compared to an annualized return on average assets of 0.63% and an annualized return on average equity of 7.59%, respectively, for the third quarter of 2023.

    Summit’s net interest margin was 2.71% in the third quarter of 2024 and 2.80% in the third quarter of 2023. Interest and dividend income increased 0.3% to $14,977,000 in the third quarter of 2024 compared to $14,931,000 in the third quarter of 2023. The slight increase in interest income is attributable to a $763,000 increase in interest on loans offset by a decrease of $671,000 in interest on deposits with banks and a decrease in interest on investment securities of $45,000.

    “Our earnings have been substantially impacted by the high interest rate environment that continues to put upward pressure on our funding costs,” said Reed. “The cost of deposits was 3.05% during the third quarter, compared to 2.95% during the preceding quarter, as customers continue to focus on higher yields. The recent rate decrease by the Federal Reserve will help alleviate some of the pricing pressures, but rates remain elevated. We have been actively implementing programs to reduce cost of funds while preserving our local deposit relationships.”

    Noninterest income decreased in the third quarter of 2024 to $1,030,000 compared to $1,496,000 in the third quarter of 2023. The decrease is primarily attributed to the Bank recognizing $474,000 in gains on sales of SBA and USDA guaranteed loan balances in the third quarter of 2024 compared to $1,046,000 in gains on sales of SBA and USDA guaranteed loan balances in the third quarter of 2023.

    Operating expenses decreased in the third quarter of 2024 to $6,181,000 compared to $6,926,000 in the third quarter of 2023. The decrease is primarily due to a decrease in the accrual employee bonus expenses of $238,000, a reduction in stock appreciation rights expense of $179,000, a decrease in marketing expense of $113,000 and a decrease of $75,000 in legal expense.

    Balance Sheet Review

    Net loans decreased 2% to $917,367,000 at September 30, 2024, compared to $932,199,000 at September 30, 2023, and decreased 0.4% compared to June 30, 2024. The Bank’s largest loan types are commercial real estate loans which make up 78% of the portfolio, “secured by farmland” totaling 9% of the portfolio, and 8% in commercial and industrial loans. Of the commercial real estate total, approximately 32% or $235,000,000 is owner occupied and the remaining 68% or $491,000,000 is non-owner occupied. The portfolio is well diversified between industries with no significant concentrations, including office space which totals $116,300,000.

    Total deposits decreased 3% to $1,002,770,000 at September 30, 2024, compared to $1,030,836,000 at September 30, 2023, and increased 4% when compared to the prior quarter end. At September 30, 2024, noninterest bearing demand deposit accounts decreased 9% compared to a year ago and represented 19% of total deposits; savings, NOW and money market accounts increased 6% compared to a year ago and represented 48% of total deposits, and CDs decreased 10% compared to a year ago and comprised 33% of total deposits. The decrease in deposits is a result of the Bank managing its liquidity levels and asset growth. The average cost of deposits was 3.05% in the third quarter of 2024, compared to 2.63% in the third quarter of 2023.

    Shareholders’ equity was $100,662,000 at September 30, 2024, compared to $97,949,000 three months earlier and $93,439,000 a year earlier. The increase in shareholders’ equity compared to a year ago was primarily due to a reduction in accumulated other comprehensive loss on securities of $4,790,000 and an increase of $2,145,000 in retained earnings. At September 30, 2024 book value was $14.85 per share, compared to $14.44 three months earlier, and $13.77 at September 30, 2023.

    Summit State Bank continues to maintain capital levels in excess of the requirements to be categorized as “well-capitalized” with average equity to assets of 9.10% at September 30, 2024, compared to 9.04% at June 30, 2024, and 8.24% at September 30, 2023. The increase compared to September 2023 was due to the Bank’s retention of capital which is exceeding asset growth.

    Credit Quality

    “Our primary focus has been managing asset quality and reducing portfolio risk,” said Reed. “Our nonperforming loans, which are concentrated in the “secured by farmland” category, remain elevated as we work with our customers to cure or payoff these loans. The Bank is committed to acting so it can replace this segment of the portfolio with performing loans. Our commercial real estate portfolios continue to perform well.”

    Nonperforming assets were $41,971,000, or 3.75% of total assets, at September 30, 2024. This compared to $40,994,000 in nonperforming assets at June 30, 2024, and $35,267,000 in nonperforming assets at September 30, 2023. There are three specific relationships totaling $32,200,000, and one real estate owned for $5,130,000, that together make up 89% of nonperforming assets portfolio. These three relationships are “secured by farmland” and the Bank has specific reserves set aside based on current appraised values net of any costs.

    There were no net charge-offs during the three months ended September 30, 2024, compared to net charge-offs of $1,347,000 during the three months ended June 30, 2024 and net recoveries of $10,000 during the three months ended September 30, 2023. Net charge-offs for the three months ended June 30, 2024 were related to a loan taken into real estate owned.

    For the third quarter of 2024, consistent with factors within the allowance for credit losses, the Bank recorded a $1,320,000 provision for credit loss expense for loans, a $8,000 reversal of credit losses for unfunded loan commitments and a $19,000 reversal of credit losses on investments. This compared to a $27,000 reversal of credit loss expense on loans, a $5,000 reversal of credit losses on unfunded loan commitments and a $27,000 provision for credit losses on investments in the third quarter of 2023.

    The allowance for credit losses to total loans was 1.66% on September 30, 2024, and 1.61% on September 30, 2023. The increase is due to a provision for credit losses on loans of $1,320,000 recorded during the three months ended September 30, 2024. The provision covers a $1,000,000 specific loan reserve and $300,000 general pool loan reserve.

    About Summit State Bank

    Summit State Bank, a local community bank, has total assets of $1.1 billion and total equity of $101 million at September 30, 2024. Headquartered in Sonoma County, the Bank specializes in providing exceptional customer service and customized financial solutions to aid in the success of local small businesses and nonprofits throughout Sonoma County.

    Summit State Bank is committed to embracing the diverse backgrounds, cultures and talents of its employees to create high performance and support the evolving needs of its customers and community it serves. At the center of diversity is inclusion, collaboration, and a shared vision for delivering superior service to customers and results for shareholders. Presently, 60% of management are women and minorities with 60% represented on the Executive Management Team. Through the engagement of its team, Summit State Bank has received many esteemed awards including: Top Performing Community Bank by American Banker, Best Places to Work in the North Bay by North Bay Business Journal, Corporate Philanthropy Award by the San Francisco Business Times, Hall of Fame by North Bay Biz Magazine, and Diversity in Business. Summit State Bank’s stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol SSBI. Further information can be found at www.summitstatebank.com.

    Forward-looking Statements

    The financial results in this release are preliminary. Final financial results and other disclosures will be reported in Summit State Bank’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2024 and may differ materially from the results and disclosures in this release due to, among other things, the completion of final review procedures, the occurrence of subsequent events or the discovery of additional information.

    Except for historical information contained herein, the statements contained in this news release, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. This release may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Such risks and uncertainties may include but are not necessarily limited to fluctuations in interest rates, inflation, government regulations and general economic conditions, and competition within the business areas in which the Bank will be conducting its operations, including the real estate market in California and other factors beyond the Bank’s control. Such risks and uncertainties could cause results for subsequent interim periods or for the entire year to differ materially from those indicated. You should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which reflect management’s view only as of the date hereof. The Bank undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

    Contact: Brian Reed, President and CEO, Summit State Bank (707) 568-4908

                       
    SUMMIT STATE BANK
    STATEMENTS OF INCOME
    (In thousands except earnings per share data)
                       
                       
              Three Months Ended
              September 30, 2024   June 30, 2024   September 30, 2023
              (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)
                       
    Interest and dividend income:          
      Interest and fees on loans $ 13,594     $ 13,083     $ 12,831  
      Interest on deposits with banks   592       451       1,263  
      Interest on investment securities   663       709       708  
      Dividends on FHLB stock   128       128       129  
          Total interest and dividend income   14,977       14,371       14,931  
    Interest expense:          
      Deposits   7,563       7,046       6,895  
      Federal Home Loan Bank advances   4       137       10  
      Junior subordinated debt   138       94       94  
          Total interest expense   7,705       7,277       6,999  
          Net interest income before provision for credit losses   7,272       7,094       7,932  
    Provision for (reversal of) credit losses on loans   1,320       6       (27 )
    (Reversal of) credit losses on unfunded loan commitments   (8 )     (26 )     (5 )
    (Reversal of) provision for credit losses on investments   (19 )     4       27  
          Net interest income after provision for (reversal of) credit          
          losses on loans, unfunded loan commitments and investments   5,979       7,110       7,937  
    Non-interest income:          
      Service charges on deposit accounts   241       227       231  
      Rental income   60       60       61  
      Net gain on loan sales   474       270       1,046  
      Other income   255       244       158  
          Total non-interest income   1,030       801       1,496  
    Non-interest expense:          
      Salaries and employee benefits   3,988       4,039       4,362  
      Occupancy and equipment   420       443       432  
      Other expenses   1,773       2,145       2,132  
          Total non-interest expense   6,181       6,627       6,926  
          Income before provision for income taxes   828       1,284       2,507  
    Provision for income taxes   202       356       686  
          Net income $ 626     $ 928     $ 1,821  
                       
    Basic earnings per common share $ 0.09     $ 0.14     $ 0.27  
    Diluted earnings per common share $ 0.09     $ 0.14     $ 0.27  
                       
    Basic weighted average shares of common stock outstanding   6,719       6,719       6,697  
    Diluted weighted average shares of common stock outstanding   6,719       6,719       6,705  
                       
                     
    SUMMIT STATE BANK
    STATEMENTS OF INCOME
    (In thousands except earnings per share data)
                     
                     
              Nine Months Ended
              September 30, 2024     September 30, 2023
              (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)
                     
    Interest and dividend income:        
      Interest and fees on loans $ 39,952       $ 39,152  
      Interest on deposits with banks   1,405         3,618  
      Interest on investment securities   2,084         2,143  
      Dividends on FHLB stock   386         293  
          Total interest and dividend income   43,827         45,206  
    Interest expense:        
      Deposits   21,396         17,114  
      Federal Home Loan Bank advances   332         177  
      Junior Subordinated Debt   325         281  
          Total interest expense   22,053         17,572  
          Net interest income before provision for credit losses   21,774         27,634  
    Provision for credit losses on loans   1,311         373  
    (Reversal of) credit losses on unfunded loan commitments   (99 )       (3 )
    (Reversal of) provision for credit losses on investments   (20 )       27  
          Net interest income after provision for (reversal of) credit        
          losses on loans, unfunded loan commitments and investments   20,582         27,237  
    Non-interest income:        
      Service charges on deposit accounts   701         653  
      Rental income   180         139  
      Net gain on loan sales   1,257         2,481  
      Other income   641         1,630  
          Total non-interest income   2,779         4,903  
    Non-interest expense:        
      Salaries and employee benefits   12,210         12,354  
      Occupancy and equipment   1,348         1,326  
      Other expenses   5,651         5,886  
          Total non-interest expense   19,209         19,566  
          Income before provision for income taxes   4,152         12,574  
    Provision for income taxes   1,203         3,652  
          Net income $ 2,949       $ 8,922  
                     
    Basic earnings per common share $ 0.44       $ 1.33  
    Diluted earnings per common share $ 0.44       $ 1.33  
                     
    Basic weighted average shares of common stock outstanding   6,712         6,694  
    Diluted weighted average shares of common stock outstanding   6,712         6,697  
                     
                     
    SUMMIT STATE BANK
    BALANCE SHEETS
    (In thousands except share data)
                     
                     
            September 30, 2024   June 30, 2024   September 30, 2023
            (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)
                     
    ASSETS          
                     
    Cash and due from banks $ 80,928     $ 40,142     $ 86,604  
          Total cash and cash equivalents   80,928       40,142       86,604  
                     
    Investment securities:          
      Available-for-sale, less allowance for credit losses of $38, $57 and $0          
      (at fair value; amortized cost of $86,225, $96,407 and $97,099)   76,205       83,105       80,312  
                     
    Loans, less allowance for credit losses of $15,466, $14,145 and $15,243   917,367       913,514       932,199  
    Bank premises and equipment, net   5,251       5,306       5,334  
    Investment in Federal Home Loan Bank stock (FHLB), at cost   5,889       5,889       5,541  
    Goodwill     4,119       4,119       4,119  
    Other Real Estate Owned   5,130       5,130       –  
    Affordable housing tax credit investments   7,698       7,942       8,360  
    Accrued interest receivable and other assets   16,204       16,898       19,705  
                     
          Total assets $ 1,118,791     $ 1,082,045     $ 1,142,174  
                     
    LIABILITIES AND          
    SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY          
                     
    Deposits:          
      Demand – non interest-bearing $ 192,371     $ 183,181     $ 210,258  
      Demand – interest-bearing   212,214       218,124       201,516  
      Savings   45,845       42,974       54,317  
      Money market   219,593       212,750       193,080  
      Time deposits that meet or exceed the FDIC insurance limit   80,801       74,744       72,836  
      Other time deposits   251,946       234,814       298,829  
          Total deposits   1,002,770       966,587       1,030,836  
                     
    Federal Home Loan Bank advances   –       3,500       –  
    Junior subordinated debt   5,931       5,927       5,916  
    Affordable housing commitment   4,061       4,061       4,435  
    Accrued interest payable and other liabilities   5,367       4,021       7,548  
                     
          Total liabilities   1,018,129       984,096       1,048,735  
                     
    Shareholders’ equity          
      Preferred stock, no par value; 20,000,000 shares authorized;          
      no shares issued and outstanding   –       –       –  
      Common stock, no par value; shares authorized – 30,000,000 shares;          
      issued and outstanding 6,776,563, 6,784,099 and 6,784,099   37,677       37,623       37,389  
      Retained earnings   70,012       69,651       67,867  
      Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net   (7,027 )     (9,325 )     (11,817 )
                     
          Total shareholders’ equity   100,662       97,949       93,439  
                     
          Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 1,118,791     $ 1,082,045     $ 1,142,174  
                     
    Financial Summary
    (Dollars in thousands except per share data)
                 
        As of and for the
        Three Months Ended
        September 30, 2024   June 30, 2024   September 30, 2023
        (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)
    Statement of Income Data:            
    Net interest income   $ 7,272     $ 7,094     $ 7,932  
    Provision for (reversal of) credit losses on loans     1,320       6       (27 )
    (Reversal of) credit losses on unfunded loan commitments   (8 )     (26 )     (5 )
    (Reversal of) provision for credit losses on investments   (19 )     4       27  
    Non-interest income     1,030       801       1,496  
    Non-interest expense     6,181       6,627       6,926  
    Provision for income taxes     202       356       686  
    Net income   $ 626     $ 928     $ 1,821  
                 
    Selected per Common Share Data:            
    Basic earnings per common share   $ 0.09     $ 0.14     $ 0.27  
    Diluted earnings per common share   $ 0.09     $ 0.14     $ 0.27  
    Dividend per share   $ 0.04     $ 0.12     $ 0.12  
    Book value per common share (1)   $ 14.85     $ 14.44     $ 13.77  
                 
    Selected Balance Sheet Data:            
    Assets   $ 1,118,791     $ 1,082,045     $ 1,142,174  
    Loans, net     917,367       913,514       932,199  
    Deposits     1,002,770       966,587       1,030,836  
    Average assets     1,098,469       1,078,700       1,155,007  
    Average earning assets     1,063,476       1,049,254       1,123,951  
    Average shareholders’ equity     99,962       97,548       95,180  
    Nonperforming loans     36,841       35,864       35,267  
    Net loans (charged-off) recovered     –       (1,067 )     10  
    Other real estate owned     5,130       5,130       –  
    Total nonperforming assets     41,971       40,994       35,267  
                 
    Selected Ratios:            
    Return on average assets (2)     0.23 %     0.35 %     0.63 %
    Return on average common shareholders’ equity (2)     2.48 %     3.82 %     7.59 %
    Efficiency ratio (3)     74.45 %     83.94 %     73.46 %
    Net interest margin (2)     2.71 %     2.71 %     2.80 %
    Common equity tier 1 capital ratio     9.94 %     10.22 %     9.65 %
    Tier 1 capital ratio     9.94 %     10.22 %     9.65 %
    Total capital ratio     11.66 %     12.08 %     11.49 %
    Tier 1 leverage ratio     9.18 %     9.31 %     8.47 %
    Common dividend payout ratio (4)     42.34 %     87.96 %     43.82 %
    Average shareholders’ equity to average assets     9.10 %     9.04 %     8.24 %
    Nonperforming loans to total loans     3.95 %     3.87 %     3.72 %
    Nonperforming assets to total assets     3.75 %     3.79 %     3.09 %
    Allowance for credit losses to total loans     1.66 %     1.52 %     1.61 %
    Allowance for credit losses to nonperforming loans     41.98 %     39.44 %     43.22 %
         
    (1) Total shareholders’ equity divided by total common shares outstanding.    
    (2) Annualized.    
    (3) Non-interest expenses to net interest and non-interest income, net of securities gains.        
    (4) Common dividends divided by net income available for common shareholders.    
         
                 
    Financial Summary
    (Dollars in thousands except per share data)
               
        As of and for the
        Nine Months Ended
        September 30, 2024     September 30, 2023
        (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)
    Statement of Income Data:          
    Net interest income   $ 21,774       $ 27,634  
    (Reversal of) provision for credit losses on loans     1,311         373  
    (Reversal of) provision for credit losses on unfunded loan commitments   (99 )       (3 )
    (Reversal of) provision for credit losses on investments   (20 )       27  
    Non-interest income     2,779         4,903  
    Non-interest expense     19,209         19,566  
    Provision for income taxes     1,203         3,652  
    Net income   $ 2,949       $ 8,922  
               
    Selected per Common Share Data:          
    Basic earnings per common share   $ 0.44       $ 1.33  
    Diluted earnings per common share   $ 0.44       $ 1.33  
    Dividend per share   $ 0.28       $ 0.36  
    Book value per common share (1)   $ 14.85       $ 13.77  
               
    Selected Balance Sheet Data:          
    Assets   $ 1,118,791       $ 1,142,174  
    Loans, net     917,367         932,199  
    Deposits     1,002,770         1,030,836  
    Average assets     1,088,413         1,149,441  
    Average earning assets     1,056,714         1,117,877  
    Average shareholders’ equity     98,333         93,461  
    Nonperforming loans     36,841         35,267  
    Net loans (charged-off) recovered     (1,066 )       31  
    Other real estate owned     5,130         –  
    Total nonperforming assets     41,971         35,267  
               
    Selected Ratios:          
    Return on average assets (2)     0.36 %       1.04 %
    Return on average common shareholders’ equity (2)     4.00 %       12.76 %
    Efficiency ratio (3)     78.23 %       60.13 %
    Net interest margin (2)     2.74 %       3.31 %
    Common equity tier 1 capital ratio     9.94 %       9.65 %
    Tier 1 capital ratio     9.94 %       9.65 %
    Total capital ratio     11.66 %       11.49 %
    Tier 1 leverage ratio     9.18 %       8.47 %
    Common dividend payout ratio (4)     64.23 %       27.36 %
    Average shareholders’ equity to average assets     9.03 %       8.13 %
    Nonperforming loans to total loans     3.95 %       3.72 %
    Nonperforming assets to total assets     3.75 %       3.09 %
    Allowance for credit losses to total loans     1.66 %       1.61 %
    Allowance for credit losses to nonperforming loans     41.98 %       43.22 %
         
    (1) Total shareholders’ equity divided by total common shares outstanding.    
    (2) Annualized.    
    (3) Non-interest expenses to net interest and non-interest income, net of securities gains.      
    (4) Common dividends divided by net income available for common shareholders.    

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Exciting Opportunity to Leverage Triller’s Underutilized Assets to Create Next-Gen Entertainment Platform

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, NY, Oct. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —  Triller Group Inc. (Nasdaq: ILLR) (“Triller Group” or “the Company”) today announced the release of its latest Fact Sheet, providing initial insights into the Company’s mission to become the next generation Entertainment Platform.

    “I could not be more excited about our future prospects, as an App, as a brand and as a group of leading-edge companies”, said Bob Diamond, Chairman of the Board. “We have the disruptive fighting brand in BKFC, the next generation streaming platform in TrillerTV, sophisticated AI tools helping Presidential candidates and NFL franchises find their audiences, and an App upon which we will build an integrated vertical video and connected TV multimedia entertainment platform.”

    With the creator economy valued at a massive $180 billion and experiencing robust growth, Triller Group is well positioned to address emerging issues driven by ongoing technological disruption. Issues such as creators or professional content providers struggling to protect, leverage, or monetize their content. Or users looking for better ways to discover and engage with exciting new content. These unmet needs of creators, brands and users create huge market opportunities for Triller Group.

    As the Company develops and implements strategies to meet these needs, Triller Group is not starting from scratch. The Company already has a strong foundation with powerful assets and brands in vertical video (Triller App), connected TV (TrillerTV) and content and events (BKFC) that foster passionate user engagement through authenticity and trust. The transformation journey has already started as evidenced by the fact that the Company has:

    • A content-rich Triller App, with 36% of users actively creating content.
    • A highly sophisticated, AI-driven suite of tools and services, currently serving top creators and leading brands globally on the Triller App and across the social media landscape.
    • More than 3,000 events live-streamed annually without a glitch through TrillerTV.
    • Proof of concept with BKFC, the world’s fastest-growing combat league, featuring highly successful events and unique content made accessible across all media distribution channels, including vertical video and connected TV, on a global scale.

    As Triller Group connects and integrates these underleveraged assets, Triller Group will start to occupy a truly unique position as an entertainment platform, translating into unparalleled value for all our stakeholders.

    Over the next few weeks, the Company will provide further updates as an experienced management team renowned for its execution and integrity is being put into place under the leadership of Kevin McGurn, the Company’s previously announced incoming CEO. More details on the transformation plan and associated business plan will also be provided during a planned investor and media day in November 2024.

    Triller Group is excited to embark on this journey to redefine entertainment and create unparalleled opportunities for creators, brands and audiences alike.

    The Fact Sheet is available on the Company’s Investor Relations page at the following address: https://trillercorp.com/ir/.

    About Triller Group Inc.

    Triller Group is a US-based company that operates two main businesses: the newly merged US-based social media operations (Triller Corp.), and the legacy operations of the Company in Hong Kong (“AGBA”).

    Triller Corp. is a next generation, AI-powered, social media and live-streaming event platform for creators. Pairing music culture with sports, fashion, entertainment, and influencers through a 360-degree view of content and technology, Triller Corp. uses proprietary AI technology to push and track content virally to affiliated and non-affiliated sites and networks, enabling them to reach millions of additional users. Triller Corp. additionally owns Triller Sports, Bare-Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC); Amplify.ai, a leading machine-learning, AI platform; and TrillerTV, a premier global PPV, AVOD, and SVOD streaming service. For more information, visit www.triller.co.

    Established in 1993, AGBA is a leading, multi-channel business platform that incorporates cutting edge machine-learning and offers a broad set of financial services and healthcare products to consumers through a tech-led ecosystem, enabling clients to unlock the choices that best suit their needs. Trusted by over 400,000 individual and corporate customers, the Group is organized into four market-leading businesses: Platform Business, Distribution Business, Healthcare Business, and Fintech Business. For more information, please visit www.agba.com.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements that are other than statements of historical facts. When the Company uses words such as “may,” “will,” “intend,” “should,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “project,” “estimate” or similar expressions that do not relate solely to historical matters, it is making forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations discussed in the forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, the following: the Company’s goals and strategies; the Company’s future business development; product and service demand and acceptance; changes in technology; economic conditions; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against us following the consummation of the business combination; expectations regarding our strategies and future financial performance, including its future business plans or objectives, prospective performance and opportunities and competitors, revenues, products, pricing, operating expenses, market trends, liquidity, cash flows and uses of cash, capital expenditures, and our ability to invest in growth initiatives and pursue acquisition opportunities; reputation and brand; the impact of competition and pricing; government regulations; fluctuations in general economic and business conditions in Hong Kong and the international markets the Company plans to serve and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing and other risks contained in reports filed by the Company with the SEC, the length and severity of the recent coronavirus outbreak, including its impacts across our business and operations. For these reasons, among others, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements in this press release. Additional factors are discussed in the Company’s filings with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward–looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date hereof.

    Investor & Media Relations: 

    Bethany Lai
    ir@triller.co
     investorrelations@triller.co

    Anthony Silverman
    ads@apellaadvisors.com

    # # #

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: FBS Research Examines Cryptocurrency’s Impact in Hyperinflated Economies

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, Oct. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FBS, a leading global broker, explores the essential role of cryptocurrencies in hyperinflated economies. In the recently published article, FBS experts analyze the benefits of digital currencies in countries like Venezuela, Argentina, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, and Brazil, where national currencies continue to suffer rapid devaluation.

    As inflation surges in these regions, digital currencies are recognized for their potential to preserve wealth and facilitate transactions outside traditional banking systems. According to FBS analysts, cryptocurrencies offer a flexible, accessible solution, particularly for those facing restrictions on foreign exchange. The adoption of cryptocurrencies — particularly Bitcoin and stablecoins — has increased as individuals, businesses, and governments seek alternatives to maintain financial stability and autonomy.

    FBS highlights how different economies leverage digital assets:

    • In Venezuela, where inflation has surged, Bitcoin is being used by individuals and enterprises as a store of value, providing stability amidst currency collapse.
    • In Argentina, stablecoins pegged to the US dollar offer residents a haven from the peso’s depreciation, especially as regulatory restrictions tighten.
    • Zimbabwe’s population similarly turns to Bitcoin and other cryptos to navigate financial instability driven by hyperinflation and limited access to global banking.
    • In Nigeria, digital currencies like Bitcoin provide a stable alternative to the naira, especially valuable as inflation and currency restrictions affect everyday transactions.
    • In Brazil, residents increasingly rely on stablecoins to secure assets against the volatile real, underscoring the value of digital currencies in Latin America.

    The FBS article underscores the transformative impact of cryptocurrencies on daily life and regional economies. It acknowledges, however, that while digital assets can provide temporary financial relief, they cannot resolve systemic issues alone. Sustainable economic recovery ultimately requires broad reforms, with cryptocurrencies serving as a critical tool in the meantime.

    To read more about the role of digital assets in hyperinflated economies and how they are reshaping financial survival strategies, users can explore the full article here.

    Disclaimer: This material does not constitute a call to trade, trading advice, or recommendation and is intended for informational purposes only.

    About FBS

    FBS is a licensed global broker with over 15 years of experience and more than 90 international awards. FBS is steadily developing as one of the market’s most trusted brokers, with its traders numbering more than 27,000,000 and its partners exceeding 700,000 around the globe. The annual trading volume of FBS clients is over $8.9 trillion. 

    Contact
    FBS Press Office
    FBS
    press@fbs.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Secretary-General’s message to the 2024 Global Education Meeting

    Source: United Nations – English

    s you gather for the 2024 Global Education Meeting, you confront a critical global challenge.

    Education is the key to unlocking opportunities, equality, prosperity and peace.

    But for millions of people around the world, that door remains shut tight.

    Seventy per cent of 10-year-olds are unable to understand a basic text, while 250 million children and young people are out of school altogether. This is worsened by a huge financing gap of $97 billion annually for education in low and middle income countries.  

    We don’t have a moment to lose. At the Transforming Education Summit in 2022, governments committed to ending the learning crisis, and boosting investment in quality education systems that can reach every learner, throughout their lives.

    Your meeting is an opportunity to measure how governments are — and are not — living up to this commitment.

    In particular, I welcome your focus on closing the financing gap for education through more effective resource mobilization and innovative financing initiatives. I call on governments to arrive at next year’s Conference on Financing for Development and the World Social Summit with concrete solutions that can deliver the education systems all people need and deserve. 

    Through the recently adopted Pact for the Future, governments committed to investing in accessible, safe, inclusive and equitable quality education for all.

    The United Nations is proud to stand with you in this essential global effort.

    ***
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Minister Peacock speech at Charities Aid Foundation’s Centenary Parliamentary Reception

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech delivered by the Minister for Civil Society, celebrating the significant role of the Charities Aid Foundation in the charity sector over the past 100 years.

    Location:
    Speaker’s House
    Delivered on:
    (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

    Thank you for the introduction, Sir James, and thank you Mr Speaker for hosting this event.

    Good evening everyone.

    It’s a pleasure to be here celebrating Charities Aid Foundation’s centenary. 

    This evening I will:

    • take this opportunity to thank CAF for your vital work over the past 100 years – in particular at this moment, as we have committed to reset government’s relationship with civil society as a whole; and

    • acknowledge the unique benefits of philanthropy to provide support for people across this country with funders, organisations like CAF, and government – including my department – working in partnership.

    Giving is a fundamental part of this country; it’s ingrained into our way of life and our communities, and has been for centuries. 

    CAF has shaped the culture of giving in this country over the past 100 years . 

    You have played a significant role across the whole of the charity sector in that time – from monthly donation agreements, to direct financial support for charities, to offering expertise – and you are a key stakeholder in my own department’s civil society work.  

    It is therefore fitting that as CAF turns 100, this government has announced a commitment to reset the relationship with civil society and work together to develop a new Civil Society Covenant. The Covenant will set out the terms of a new relationship between government and civil society and will symbolise recognition of the sector as a trusted and independent partner whose voice is heard. 

    Earlier this month the Prime Minister hosted a civil society reception to announce our ambitions and I was delighted that we were joined by Charities Aid Foundation’s Chief Executive, Neil Heslop. This event kicked off a new phase of engagement to gather ideas and views to shape the Covenant. I really want to hear your views and strongly encourage you to get involved. You can find out how to contribute on Gov.uk. 

    This country needs a thriving civil society, and for this, we need organisations like CAF, who can continue to support and innovate in the sector for decades to come.

    In my role as Minister for Civil Society, I recognise how giving can be used to shift the dial on local, national and global issues.

    For example, Barnsley Youth Choir is one of the best youth choirs in the world and that is largely thanks to the commitment and generosity of local people.

    Barnsley Youth Choir provides opportunities for young people in Barnsley. The choir offers bursaries for lower income families and subsidizes events to ensure that children and families can participate without financial strain. The community comes together year after year to provide much needed funds to enable the choir to continue.

    Local girl Lucy (Hoylandswaine) has just completed a 100k run over one week to raise over £1200 for Barnsley Youth Choir and this is just one of hundreds of fundraising efforts that take part each year for the Choir.

    The Liz and Terry Bramall Foundation offers grants of as much as £275,000 to certain charity projects in Yorkshire, such as those promoting the protection of the environment, and has funded projects with South Yorkshire’s Community Foundation.

    Philanthropy plays a key role in this. Philanthropists can take greater risks, allow more flexibility and pioneer real innovation. 

    It can be long term and strategic, and range from tackling the big issues of our time, such as by funding climate solutions, to supporting grassroot charities and building up local communities.

    CAF’s work is important to enabling and unlocking this type of funding. 

    Using your expertise from your work on growing place based giving schemes, you built extensive evidence for how funders, including philanthropists, can effectively contribute. 

    You found that funders can help stimulate giving by providing seed funding, that funding for core staffing costs is crucial, and that embracing flexibility is essential – all important lessons to take forward for work unlocking place based philanthropy.

    Of course, government also has a pivotal role in this ecosystem, complementing and working alongside other sources of funding.

    DCMS is focused on putting local people, communities and places first. As my department leads on philanthropy, this includes ensuring that the benefits of philanthropy can be felt in all communities. 

    So we want to ensure that the giving ecosystem connects philanthropic donations with the places where it is needed most.

    Together with my ministerial colleagues at DCMS, I will work with colleagues across government and with you and your sectors to make philanthropic giving as easy and compelling as possible across the country, in a renewed partnership.

    Congratulations again to Charities Aid Foundation for your 100 year milestone.

    I am happy to have had this chance:

    • to thank Charities Aid Foundation for your work;

    • to reiterate this government’s commitment to resetting the relationship with civil society, with the development of the new Civil Society Covenant; and 

    • to consider how we can come together to unlock the unique benefits of philanthropy in this country.

    Thank you again for inviting me to speak, and enjoy the rest of this evening’s event.

    Updates to this page

    Published 30 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Updated oil and gas guidance following Supreme Court ruling

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    The government will consult on updated environmental guidance for offshore oil and gas projects, following a Supreme Court ruling.

    • Government to consult with industry on updated environmental guidance
    • follows Supreme Court ruling requiring greenhouse gas emissions from the combustion of oil and gas to be assessed as part of Environmental Impact Assessments for oil and gas extraction projects
    • government committed to fair and prosperous transition in the North Sea that delivers stability, supports investment, protects jobs and meets climate obligations

    Updated environmental guidance for offshore oil and gas projects will provide greater certainty and stability for the industry in response to a Supreme Court ruling. It sets out the elements that must be considered by operators when assessing emissions from burning of the oil and gas they produce.

    The ruling in the Finch case on 20 June has required operators to consider the impact of burning oil and gas in Environmental Impact Assessments for oil and gas extraction projects. 

    The government has acted quickly and will now consult with stakeholders including the offshore industry on draft guidance, so it can be implemented from Spring.

    Separately, the government will consult before the end of the year on the implementation of its commitment not to issue new oil and gas licences to explore new fields, as part of its plan to ensure a fair and prosperous transition in the North Sea.

    Energy Minister Michael Shanks said:

    We have already started plans to speed up the North Sea’s clean energy transition to protect jobs and investment, from pushing ahead with new industries such as carbon capture, to launching Great British Energy – headquartered in Aberdeen.  

    Now we are acting quickly to provide greater stability for our offshore industries, by consulting on new environmental guidance that complies with our legal obligations. We will continue to work closely with industry to ensure a prosperous future for the North Sea and our offshore workers.

    It follows action to accelerate the transition to the North Sea’s clean energy future to boost Britain’s energy security and ensure good, long-term jobs. This includes launching Great British Energy, headquartered in Aberdeen, and signing a new agreement with the Scottish Government to support investment in clean energy supply chains and infrastructure.

    Alongside this the government is speeding up a new skills passport to help oil and gas workers move into roles in offshore wind. The government has also announced the biggest ever investment in offshore wind and is moving ahead with new North Sea industries like carbon capture and storage and hydrogen.  

    Updates to this page

    Published 30 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Competition Bureau recommends increasing competition in the sale of pet medication

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    In recent years, more Canadians have brought pets into their homes. But Canadians’ choice of where to fill their pet’s prescriptions is often limited to veterinary offices – which can mean fewer options and higher prices.

    Mandating the supply of pet medication to pharmacists would improve competition and consumer choice.

    October 30, 2024 – GATINEAU (Québec), Competition Bureau

    In recent years, more Canadians have brought pets into their homes. But Canadians’ choice of where to fill their pet’s prescriptions is often limited to veterinary offices – which can mean fewer options and higher prices.

    Today, the Competition Bureau has published an analysis of the pet pharmaceutical sector, titled Pets, vets and meds: The case for more competition. It examines the business practice in Canada of “exclusive distribution,” where pharmaceutical manufacturers sell only to distributors, and distributors sell only to veterinarians.

    The Bureau’s analysis makes one recommendation: for provincial and territorial governments to consider mandating the supply of pet medications to pharmacists. Allowing pharmacists’ to enter the market has the potential to increase convenience and give Canadian pet owners more choice at competitive prices.

    The analysis is based on research and interviews with a wide range of industry stakeholders across Canada, including veterinarians, pharmacists, regulatory colleges, provincial agencies, professional associations and animal owners associations.

    The Competition Bureau is an independent law enforcement agency that protects and promotes competition for the benefit of Canadian consumers and businesses. Competition drives lower prices and innovation while fueling economic growth.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Speech by FS at breakfast meeting hosted by HKEX in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (English only) (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at a breakfast meeting hosted by the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, today (October 30):     Carlson (Chairman of HKEX, Mr Carlson Tong), Mohammed (CEO of Saudi Exchange, Mr Mohammed Al-Rumaih), Bill (Group Chief Executive of Standard Chartered PLC, Mr Bill Winters), Darryl (Deputy Chief Executive of HKMA, Mr Darryl Chan), Bonnie (CEO of HKEX, Ms Bonnie Chan), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,      Good morning, everyone. It is a great pleasure to join you today at this important breakfast session hosted by HKEX, right at the heart of the FII (Future Investment Initiative).     Before we begin, I want to extend my appreciation to HKEX for organising this session and to FII for providing a forum that brings global leaders together to address the future of investment. My special thanks to Mohammed, CEO of Saudi Exchange, and Bill, Global CEO of Standard Chartered, for joining this panel. A moment for co-operation     There couldn’t be a better time for us to gather and discuss how we can strengthen our capital market connectivity. The transformative agenda set forth by Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 seeks to foster a dynamic society through extensive infrastructure projects, green transition, and digitalisation. This ambitious vision is driving significant reforms across various sectors, positioning the Kingdom as a leader in economic diversification and innovation.     In light of the evolving geopolitical landscape and shifts in global economic gravity, Saudi Arabia and the broader Middle East are actively deploying their capital towards Asia. In this context, Hong Kong emerges as a pivotal player, serving as an international financial centre and a gateway to China and the wider Asian market. Hong Kong’s value proposition     Hong Kong’s unique strengths are anchored in the “one country, two systems” framework, which China has committed to maintain over the long term. This arrangement allows Hong Kong to benefit from both the advantages of being part of China and the defining characteristics as an international city. We enjoy convenient, and at times privileged, access to the Mainland market while retaining our distinctive features, including a common law system, a judiciary that exercises powers independently, the free flow of capital, goods, information, and talent, a low and simple tax regime, and a currency pegged to the US dollar.     Hong Kong is one of the top three international financial centres globally, alongside New York and London. We have also recently been recognised by the Fraser Institute as the freest economy in the world. Our world-class professional services adhere to the highest international standards, bolstered by a wealth of international experience and extensive connections.     In short, Hong Kong presents unique advantages that can create significant value for Middle Eastern investors and capital. Hong Kong is an attractive destination for investment and collaboration, particularly in such areas as fund-raising, asset and wealth management, and green and sustainable finance. Allow me to elaborate. Fund-raising markets     First, our fund-raising market. Carlson will provide a comprehensive overview of how Hong Kong serves as the prime connector between the capital markets of the Mainland and the rest of the world.      Our stock market has a capitalisation of over US$4.5 trillion, which is 12 times of our GDP. It went through some challenging times in 2023 and the earliest part of this. It is making a comeback, particularly following the recent announcement of a stimulus package by the central authorities, aimed at injecting liquidity into the banking sector and supporting the real estate market. Since then, the market has increased by about 15 per cent with high volume. We have seen strong buying interest from American and European investors, who accounted for approximately 85 per cent of the buy side by value. Notably, 90 per cent of these investors are long-term fund managers and investment banks.     Over the past few years, we have continuously reformed our listing regime. These reforms have broadened our market’s appeal and positioned Hong Kong as a leading listing hub for innovative enterprises. For example we are now the second-largest biotech fund-raising hub after the United States.     Our country, China, has consistently supported the development of Hong Kong’s stock market. Just this April, the China Securities Regulatory Commission announced five measures to bolster the development of Hong Kong’s capital markets, including, for example, expanding the Connect Schemes we have with the Mainland to cover more ETFs (exchange-traded funds) and REITs (real estate investment trusts), and facilitating the listing of more leading Mainland companies on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.     By the way, we are also actively enhancing our connectivity with new markets. Last year, we reached an agreement with the Saudi Exchange and Indonesia Stock Exchange to allow companies in these countries to secondary list on our Stock Exchange. As they come to Hong Kong, they are able to access both international capital and capital from the Mainland under the Connect Schemes.      The upcoming listing of two ETFs investing in Hong Kong stocks on the Saudi Exchange will be further reinforcing our links with Saudi Arabia.     Beyond stock market, we boast a vibrant private equity sector, which manages over US$230 billion in assets, making us number two in Asia, only after the Mainland. Indeed, Hong Kong has a comprehensive chain of funds supporting companies at various stages of growth.      Looking to the future, our stock market is poised to grow deeper and more robust. We are determined to attract more quality issuers from around the globe, and new capital sources, particularly Middle East and Asia.     Asset and wealth management hub     Second, asset and wealth management. Many Middle Eastern families and ultra-high-net-worth individuals are increasingly recognising the need to diversify their asset allocation and look beyond traditional American and European markets. They can certainly look to Hong Kong. We manage over US$4 trillion in assets, with more than half coming from outside Hong Kong and Mainland China. We are also home to 2 700 single-family offices. Beyond diversified investment offerings, we have established a robust network comprising private banks, accounting and legal firms, trusts, and other professional service providers, forming a strong nexus that caters to their needs. This is further complemented by our strong philanthropic culture and programmes for families to leave a lasting legacy, making a difference in the world and shaping a better future for generations to come.Green and sustainable finance     Finally, green and sustainable finance. As a key component of Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia has embarked on the Saudi Green Initiative, with clear targets to increase the share of renewable energy, reduce carbon emissions, and enhance land and sea protection. This vision resonates with us well, and we stand ready to contribute.     Hong Kong is Asia’s green finance capital, demonstrated by our leading position in arranging green and sustainable debt, averaging over $63 billion per year over the past three years, accounting for over one-third of Asia’s total. Beyond volume, we are committed to building a green reporting system that meets the highest international standards, by adopting taxonomies interoperable with other international classification frameworks, and adhering to global sustainable reporting standards. Clearly, Hong Kong is an ideal platform for Saudi and Middle Eastern green and sustainable projects looking to access funds in our part of the world.Concluding remarks     Ladies and gentlemen, I have just outlined some of the areas that Hong Kong can play in connecting capital, investments, and opportunities between our markets. I am eager to hear the valuable insights from our panelists this morning on how our capital markets can further collaborate and innovate.      I wish you all the best of health and business in the years to come. May our discussions today inspire new ideas and fruitful collaborations that lead to shared prosperity and growth for all.     Thank you!

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Chancellor chooses a Budget to rebuild Britain

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    Today, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves delivered a Budget to fix the foundations of our economy.

    • Chancellor protects public services as departments’ day-to-day spending set to grow by an average of 3.3% in real terms between 2023-24 and 2025-26, including increase of more than £22 billion for health to help bring down waiting lists.
    • Budget will restore economic stability and begin a decade of national renewal, providing a boost to public investment by over £100 billion over the next five years across roads, rail, schools and hospitals whilst keeping debt on a downward path.
    • No change to working people’s payslips as income tax, employee national insurance and VAT stay the same, but businesses and the wealthiest asked to pay more.

    The Chancellor has delivered a Budget to fix the foundations to deliver on the promise of change after a decade and a half of stagnation. She has set out plans to fix the NHS and rebuild Britain, while ensuring working people don’t face higher taxes in their payslips.

    The government was handed a challenging inheritance; £22 billion of unfunded in-year spending pressures, debt at its highest since the 1960s, unrealistic plans for departmental spending, and stagnating living standards.

    As a mission-led government, the Chancellor has today made clear the difficult choices this government will make to rebuild the country. This Budget takes the difficult decisions on tax, spending and welfare to restore economic and fiscal stability, so that the government can invest in the country’s future and achieve its mission for growth. This means hospital waiting lists will be cut with room to invest in Britain to rebuild our schools, hospitals and broken roads.

    The government is protecting working people’s living standards by raising the National Living Wage, cutting duty on draught pints, keeping bus fares down, and not increasing the main rates of income tax, employee national insurance, and VAT.

    The Budget will help rebuild Britain by boosting public investment by over £100 billion over the next five years while exceeding the manifesto commitment to fix an extra 1 million potholes per year with an additional £500 million for local road maintenance in 2025-26.

    Fixing the NHS and reforming public services

    By repairing the public finances and restoring economic stability, the Budget delivers on a new settlement for public services, increasing day to day spending for public services by 3.3% on average in real terms over this year and next to fix the NHS, boost the education system and repair the criminal justice system.

    This government has been clear from the start it will not tolerate wasteful spending – and that means treating taxpayers’ money with respect. For the next financial year, all government departments have a 2% productivity, efficiency, and savings target, that is expected to save billions of pounds.

    • The Chancellor has confirmed an additional £22.6 billion for day-to-day spending over two years for the Department of Health and Social care, supporting the NHS to deliver an extra 40,000 elective appointments per week, delivering on one of the Government’s first aims in office to reduce waiting times in the NHS.
    • The government is investing around £1.5 billion capital funding for new surgical hubs, diagnostic scanners and new beds across the NHS estate to create more treatment space in emergency departments, reduce waiting times and help shift more care into the community.
    • £100 million will be earmarked to carry out 200 GP estate upgrades across England, supporting improved use of existing buildings and space, boosting productivity and enabling delivery of more appointments.
    • The Chancellor has focused on improving education as part of her first Budget, with an additional £4 billion for the sector, including £2.3 billion into the core schools’ budget which increases per pupil spending in real terms.
    • This will allow 100 project plans to begin delivery across England next year and begin to tackle the crumbling school and college buildings across the country. This paves the way for a long-term strategy to improve schools nationwide so that students can learn in safe, state-of-the-art facilities, tailored to the needs of 21st-century education.
    • The Chancellor will provide £1.4 billion for the school rebuilding programme, including an increase of £550 million this year.

    In addition to these commitments, this government is securing our borders and taking back our streets.

    • The new Border Security Command will smash the organised criminal gangs by deploying 100 new NCA officers and increasing cooperation with European intelligence agencies and police forces.
    • Smashing gangs and boosting the processing of asylum claims forms a crucial part of the government’s plan to cut asylum support costs by more than £4bn over the next 2 years compared to the previous government’s spending trajectory.
    • The Home Office settlement will put us on track to start delivering the manifesto pledge to boost visible neighbourhood policing with 13,000 more neighbourhood officers and PCSOs.

    Protecting working people and living standards

    While fixing the inheritance requires tough decisions, the Chancellor has committed to protecting the living standards of working people. The decisions taken by the Chancellor to rebuild public finances enable the government to deliver on its pledge to not increase National Insurance, VAT, or Income Tax on working people, meaning they will not see higher taxes in their payslip. In addition:

    • The Chancellor has made the decision to protect working people from being dragged into higher tax brackets by confirming that Income Tax and National Insurance Contributions thresholds will be unfrozen from 2028-29 onwards.
    • The National Living Wage will increase from £11.44 to £12.21 an hour from April 2025, which means a pay boost for 3 million workers. The 6.7% increase – worth £1,400 a year for a full-time worker – is a significant move towards delivering a genuine living wage.  The National Minimum Wage for 18 to 20-year-olds will also rise from £8.60 to £10.00 an hour.
    • The Chancellor is also protecting motorists by freezing fuel duty for one year and extending the temporary 5p cut to 22 March 2026 – a tax cut worth £3 billion. This will save the average car driver £59, vans £126 and Heavy Goods Vehicles £1,079 next year.
    • To support the take-up of zero emission cars, Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) First Year Rates (FYRs) are changing from 2025-26. Rates for zero emission cars will be frozen at £10 until 2029-30 while rates for hybrid and petrol/diesel cars will rise from 1 April 2025.
    • The weekly earnings limit for Carer’s Allowance will be increased to 16 hours at the National Living Wage, worth an additional £45 a week from April next year, making over 60,000 carers eligible for support, and helping carers to balance work and caring responsibilities. This is the largest ever increase to the earnings limit and provides certainty for carers with a commitment that the earnings limit will increase with the National Living Wage in the future.
    • To help ensure pensioners are protected in their retirement, the Budget will also confirm a 4.1% increase to the basic and new State Pension as well as the standard minimum guarantee for Pension Credit, from April next year.
    • Over 12 million pensioners will benefit from this as the full new State Pension will rise from £221.20 to £230.25 a week, providing an additional £470 a year, while the full basic State Pension will increase from £169.50 to £176.45 per week, worth an extra £360 annually.
    • The Pension Credit Standard Minimum Guarantee will also increase by 4.1% from April 2025, meaning an annual increase of £465 in 2025-26 in the single pensioner guarantee and £710 in the couple guarantee.
    • The administration of Pension Credit and Housing Benefit will be brought together for new claimants from 2026. This is two years earlier than previously planned, and will support more people to receive the benefits that they are entitled to.
    • In addition, working-age benefits and the Additional State Pension will rise by 1.7% in April 2025, in line with inflation. This increase will see around 5.7 million families on Universal Credit gain an average of £150 annually.

    Rebuilding Britain

    This government will not make a return to austerity and will instead boost investment to rebuild Britain by investing in the fabric of the country, as well as supporting the industries of the future. This will go towards rebuilding our schools, hospitals and roads, turbocharging the delivery of 1.5 million homes, and unlocking long-term economic growth.

    This comes on top of action already taken under the government’s growth mission including establishing the National Wealth Fund, publishing the Industrial Strategy green paper, and hosting the International Investment Summit.

    • The government is exceeding its manifesto commitment to fix an extra 1 million potholes per year, with an additional £500 million for local road maintenance in 2025-26 – an almost 50% increase on the commitment made by the previous government for the current financial year.
    • This brings the total amount dedicated to fixing the roads in England over the next year to nearly £1.6 billion.
    • This government is growing day-to-day spending at an average of 2.0% per year in real terms between 2023-24 and 2029-30 to support public services.
    • This government is boosting public investment by over £100 billion over the next five years whilst keeping debt on a downward path, with a greater focus on value for money and delivery to help unlock long-term growth.
    • Capital investment will increase by £13 billion next year, taking total departmental capital spending to £131 billion in 2025-26. This includes increased investment in local roads maintenance and local transport, supporting everyday journeys, and driving growth in our regional towns and cities.
    • The government is also making the reforms needed to deliver sustained growth in the long-term. These include ambitious planning reforms to remove barriers to growth, the development of a 10-year infrastructure strategy to be published alongside Phase 2 of the Spending Review, the publication shortly of the Get Britain Working White Paper, and the establishment of Skills England to ensure we have the highly-trained workforce needed to deliver economic growth.
    • An extra £200 million will be given to Metro Mayors for local transport in 2025/26, bringing City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements to over £1.3 billion.
    • The government is also announcing over £650 million for improving transport in towns, villages, and rural areas alongside our city regions.
    • Single bus fares will be kept down at £3 until the end of 2025, as part of an over £1bn package to support bus services across the country.
    • To fully harness its potential and foster a dynamic investment economy, the government is protecting record levels of government R&D investment with £20.4 billion allocated in 2025-26.
    • To boost digital infrastructure in under-served areas across the UK and support growth in the digital and technology sectors, the government will invest over £500 million in Project Gigabit and the Shared Rural Network next year.
    • A new housing package will include £500 million in new funding for the Affordable Homes Programme, increasing it to £3.1 billion, the biggest annual budget for affordable housing in over a decade. This brings total investment in housing supply to over £5 billion and supports the delivery of tens of thousands of new homes.
    • £3 billion of additional support will be provided to SMEs and the Build to Rent sector by expanding existing housing guarantee schemes to support a strong and diverse private housing market.
    • The Budget also began the government’s reform of business rates to help level the playing field for high streets across the country as from 2026-27 permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality and leisure properties will be introduced. This will be funded sustainably by introducing a higher multiplier for the most valuable properties, including distribution warehouses used by online giants.
    • To support the transition, the Chancellor also announced a 40% relief for retail, hospitality and leisure, up to a cap of £110,000 per business. The small business multiplier will also be frozen next year to protect against inflationary increases. This support is worth almost £2.4 billion over the next five years. One third of business properties will continue to pay no business rates because of Small Business Rates Relief.

    Repairing public finances

    The Chancellor has made clear that, whilst protecting working people with measures to reduce the cost of living, there would be difficult decisions required on tax. The Budget will ask businesses and the wealthiest to pay their fair share while making taxes fairer. This will go directly towards fixing the foundations and funding public services such as the NHS and education.

    • The rate of employer National Insurance will increase by 1.2 percentage points, to 15% from 6 April 2025. The Secondary Threshold – the level at which employers become liable to pay national insurance on each employee’s salary – will reduce from £9,100 per year to £5,000 per year.
    • The smallest businesses will be protected as the Employment Allowance will increase to £10,500 from £5,000 and be extended to all eligible employers by removing the £100,000 cap, allowing firms to employ up to four National Living Wage workers full time without paying employer National Insurance on their wages.
    • Capital Gains Tax (CGT) will increase from 10% to 18% for those paying the lower rate, and 20% to 24% for those paying the higher rate. These new rates will match the residential property rates, which will unchanged at 18 for the lower rate and 24% for the higher rate.
    • To encourage entrepreneurs to invest in their businesses, Business Asset Disposal Relief (BADR) will remain at 10% this year, before rising to 14% on 6 April 2025 and 18% from 6 April 2026-27.
    • The OBR say changes to CGT will raise £2.5 billion by the end of the forecast and the UK will continue to have the lowest CGT rate of any European G7 country.
    • Inheritance tax thresholds will be fixed at their current levels for a further two years until April 2030. More than 90% of estates each year will not pay inheritance tax. From April 2027 inherited pension pots will be subject to inheritance tax. This removes a distortion which has led to pensions being used as a tax planning vehicle to transfer wealth rather than their original purpose to fund retirement.

    • From April 2026, agricultural property relief and business property relief will be reformed. The highest rate of relief will continue at 100% for the first £1 million of combined business and agricultural assets on top of the existing nil-rate bands, fully protecting the majority of businesses and farms. The rate of relief will reduce to 50% after the first £1 million. Reforms will affect the wealthiest 2,000 estates each year. Inheritance tax reforms are predicted by the OBR to raise £2 billion in total to support public services.

    • The government will also uprate alcohol duty in line with RPI, except for most drinks in pubs. To support British pubs, and brewers, the government is reducing duty on qualifying draught products, which represent approximately 3 in 5 alcoholic drinks sold in pubs.

    • This measure reduces duty bills by over £85 million a year, cutting duty on an average strength pint in a pub by a penny. The value of the relief available to small producers will also be increased to help smaller brewers and cidermakers.   

    • From 2026-27 Air Passenger Duty (APD) rates for short and long-haul flights will be adjusted to partially account for previous high inflation. For economy passengers, this is only a £1 increase for domestic flights, £2 extra for short haul, and £12 more for long-haul flights, with children under the age of 16 remaining exempt from APD. APD for larger private jets will be increased by a further 50%. These changes will help align with the government’s environmental objectives.

    To further support the government’s mission to fix the NHS, the Budget announces a package of measures that disincentivise activities that cause ill health, by:

    • Renewing the tobacco duty escalator which increases all tobacco duty rates by RPI+2% plus an above escalator increase to hand rolling tobacco (totalling RPI+12%).  
    • Introducing a new vaping duty at a flat rate of 22p/ml from October 2026, accompanied by a further one-off increase in tobacco duty to maintain financial incentive to choose vaping over smoking. 
    • To help tackle obesity and other harms caused by high sugar intake, the Soft Drinks Industry Levy will increase over the next five years to account for inflation since it was last updated in 2018, and the duty will also rise in line with inflation every year going forward.

    The government set out the next steps to deliver its tax manifesto commitments in the July Statement. Having consulted on the final policy details where appropriate, Budget delivers the government’s manifesto commitments to raise revenue to pay for first steps, with reforms that are underpinned by fairness, and tackle tax avoidance by:  

    • A new residence-based regime will replace the current non-dom regime from April 2025 and will be designed to attract investment and talent to the UK.
    • Offshore trusts will no longer be able to be used to shelter assets from Inheritance Tax, and there will be transitional arrangements in place for people who have made plans based on current rules.
    • The planned 50% reduction for foreign income in the first year of the new regime will be removed.

    • Reforms to the non-dom regime will raise a total of £12.7 billion according to the OBR.

    • The tax treatment of carried interest will be reformed by first increasing the Capital Gains Tax rates on carried interest to 32% and then, from April 2026, moving to a revised regime – with bespoke rules to reflect the characteristics of the reward.
    • The Higher Rate for Additional Dwellings surcharge of Stamp Duty Land Tax will rise from 3 to 5%, providing those looking to move home, or purchase their first property, with a comparative advantage over second home buyers, landlords, and businesses purchasing residential property.
    • To secure additional funding to help deliver commitments relating to education and young people, the government will introduce 20% VAT on education and boarding services provided for a charge by private schools from 1 January 2025. The government will also remove business rates charitable rate relief from private schools in England from April 2025. 
    • Over the next five years HMRC, will look to close the UK’s tax gap – the amount of uncollected tax owed to the UK – by bringing in an additional £6.5 billion per year. The revenue will go directly to funding UK public services and fixing the foundations of the economy.
    • The package to close the tax gap will include overhauling HMRC’s IT system to improve their debt management system to ensure tax debt enquiries can be dealt with faster, improving the productivity of the organisation. 5000 additional compliance staff will be recruited and 1,800 debt management staff will also be maintained and recruited. HMRC’s services will be also digitised to make it easier and simpler for taxpayers to self-serve and manage their tax affairs.

    The government has also published its Corporate Tax Roadmap alongside the Budget. This will offer the certainty that encourages investment and gives business the confidence to grow. The Roadmap includes commitments:

    • to cap the headline rate of Corporation Tax at 25%, which is the lowest in the G7;
    • to maintain our world leading capital allowances system (including permanent full expensing and the £1 million Annual Investment Allowance);
    • to preserve the generosity of our R&D reliefs; and
    • to develop a new process for increasing the tax certainty available in advance for major investments.

    Strengthening the fiscal framework

    The Chancellor has paved the way for growth while doubling down on fiscal responsibility by making reforms to the fiscal framework. This is based on two new fiscal rules: the stability rule and the investment rule.

    • The stability rule will balance the current budget, so day-to-day costs are met by revenues.
    • The investment rule will ensure that net financial debt is falling as a proportion of GDP. This rule keeps debt on a sustainable path whilst allowing the step change needed for investment.
    • Both of these rules will be met two years early in 2027-28.
    • This investment will be underpinned by clear guardrails to ensure it is high quality and well delivered.
    • Our ten-year infrastructure strategy will provide industry a vision of the government’s priorities and a credible delivery plan to encourage investment and supply chains.
    • NISTA will be the central body that brings strategy and delivery together under one roof to implement this strategy working across Whitehall and industry.
    • Further reforms will help deliver stability by holding Spending Reviews every two years, setting plans for at least three years to ensure public services are always planned and improve value for money. One major fiscal event per year will give families and businesses stability and certainty on tax and spending changes.
    • The Fiscal Lock will ensure no future government can sideline the OBR again, and we are committing to improving the transparency and consistency of the spending information shared with the OBR.
    • The government will also introduce new controls: that financial investments should by default target a return for the Exchequer that at least covers the government’s cost of borrowing, that all large-scale financial transactions will be managed by expert bodies like the National Wealth Fund, and that the government will publish an annual report on the performance and value of its financial assets based on accounts audited by the National Audit Office.

    Updates to this page

    Published 30 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: StoryCorps Unlawfully Retaliates Against Union Members with Layoffs

    Source: Communications Workers of America

    NEW YORK – Members of the Communications Workers of America (CWA) union are demanding that StoryCorps stop its unlawful retaliation against CWA Local 1180 members and reinstate employees who were laid off in retaliation for engaging in union activity.

    On October 22, StoryCorps announced layoffs of five union members without prior notice to the union, bypassing the notice period in the contract StoryCorps signed with CWA Local 1180. In a clear act of retaliation against an employee for protected union activity, management targeted a shop steward, citing “performance” as the reason for their selection. The union steward is the most senior person in their department and has a stellar performance record, no disciplinary marks, and years of dedicated service and contributions to StoryCorps’ mission. The steward has been an outspoken advocate for improving working conditions at StoryCorps for years.

    Other laid-off employees had recently filed grievances concerning discrimination in the workplace and being denied a contractual cost of living increase.

    “StoryCorps has disgraced itself by retaliating against loyal staff who have exercised their right to join together to improve their jobs,” said Shop Steward Ian Gonzalez. “Rather than engaging with their union employees in good faith, StoryCorps Management stonewalled, refused to provide requested information, and hurled insults at the bargaining representatives. This is unacceptable; we won’t stand for this treatment of our membership and our union.”

    Union members across the country have taken action on behalf of the laid-off StoryCorps members, sending messages to StoryCorps leadership to demand an end to the retaliation and good faith bargaining in adherence to the union contract. Staff unions at national nonprofits, including the National Audubon Society and the Trevor Project, have joined the effort.

    ###

    About CWA: The Communications Workers of America represents working people in telecommunications, customer service, media, airlines, health care, public service and education, manufacturing, tech, and other fields.

    cwa-union.org @cwaunion

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Father and Son from New Jersey Arrested for Actions During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

            WASHINGTON — Two men from New Jersey have been arrested on various felony and misdemeanor charges stemming from their alleged conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. Their alleged actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

            Richard Andrews, 72, of Brick, New Jersey, is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with a felony offense of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers and obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder. In addition to the felonies, Richard Andrews is charged with misdemeanor offenses of knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds and disorderly conduct in a capitol building.

            Also charged is Keith Andrews, 49, of Howell, New Jersey. Keith Andrews is charged with misdemeanor offenses of knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in any of the Capitol buildings.

            The FBI arrested the two men on Oct. 29, 2024, in New Jersey, and they will make their initial appearance in the District of New Jersey.

            According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, Richard and Keith Andrews attended the “Stop the Steal” rally at the Ellipse in Washington, D.C., before proceeding to the restricted Capitol grounds. Richard Andrews wore a black zip-up jacket, blue tee, and gray knit skull cap, while Keith Andrews was dressed in a dark gray hoodie, black tee with white lettering, jeans, dark sneakers, and a camouflage “Trump 2020” hat. Keith also carried a camouflage backpack.

            Upon arriving at the Capitol, the two men ascended the north scaffolding to reach the Upper West Terrace. At approximately 2:49 p.m., it is alleged that Keith Andrews entered the Capitol through a window near the Senate Wing Door as Capitol Police struggled to hold back the crowd. Keith then momentarily exited, encouraging others to enter, and reentered minutes later. While inside, Keith stayed in the Senate Wing hallway for ten minutes, encouraging additional rioters to come in before leaving the building himself temporarily.

            Keith Andrews then reentered the Capitol at about 3:01 p.m., making his way to the Crypt while using his phone. He allegedly remained inside for approximately twelve minutes before exiting at 3:13 p.m. Shortly after, police efforts to secure the Senate Wing intensified, including by closing the shutters on the window Keith had used to enter the building.

            Later, at about 3:16 p.m., it is alleged that Richard Andrews threw a chair through the closed shutters, reopening them and striking an officer in the process.

            Minutes later, Keith allegedly reentered the Capitol a third time, engaging in a brief dispute with officers trying to clear the building before exiting by 3:20 p.m. Later that afternoon, as officers tried to remove rioters from the Upper West Terrace, Richard Andrews shoved a police officer on the head. In response, officers deployed a chemical agent, causing Richard to retreat into the crowd.

            This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey.

            This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Newark and Washington Field Offices. Richard Andrews was identified as BOLO (Be on the Lookout) # 446 on the FBI’s seeking information images. Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

            In the 45 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,532 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 571 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

            Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.

            A complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Florida Company Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Sell Misbranded N95 Masks to Hospital in Early Months of COVID-19 Pandemic

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Two individuals also pleaded guilty to misbranding N95 masks and conspiracy to commit price gouging

    BOSTON – A Florida company, and two individuals associated with the company, have pleaded guilty to charges associated with shipping facemasks that were misbranded as N95 respirators, and price gouging hospitals, during the earliest phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

    JDM Supply LLC (JDM) pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to introduce misbranded devices into interstate commerce with intent to defraud or mislead, in violation of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Daniel Motha, 40, of Miami, Fla., and Jeffrey Motha, 36, of Norfolk, Mass., also pleaded guilty to one count of introduction of misbranded devices into interstate commerce and one count of conspiracy to commit price gouging in violation of the Defense Production Act. U.S. District Court Judge Myong J. Joun scheduled sentencing for Daniel Motha and Jeffrey Motha on March 4, 2025 and JDM on March 25, 2025. In August 2023, a third individual, Jason Colantuoni of Norfolk, Mass, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit price gouging in connection with this investigation.  

    In the spring of 2020, during the earliest phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, JDM and a company identified as “Company 1” conspired to ship facemasks that were misbranded as National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)-approved, N95 respirators. One hospital accepted and paid for hundreds of thousands of purported N95 masks that were manufactured by Company 1 and sold by JDM. Ultimately, the hospital did not use the masks, which were eventually returned to Company 1. JDM misled the hospital into believing that the Company 1 masks were NIOSH-approved N95s, when in fact they were not.

    In August 2020, a NIOSH lab tested a sample of the Company 1 masks that had been shipped to the hospital. The masks tested between 83.94% and 93.24% filtration efficiency, thus falling below the 95% minimum level of filtration efficiency required for N95 respirators.  

    Daniel Motha and Jeff Motha conspired to use JDM to exploit and profit off of the critical need of hospitals and healthcare workers for scarce N95 masks during the COVID-19 pandemic. They accumulated N95 masks from various sources and then sold the N95 masks through JDM to hospitals in Massachusetts, and elsewhere, at prices in excess of the prevailing market price.

    The charge of conspiracy to introduce or deliver for introduction into interstate commerce a misbranded device with intent to defraud or mislead, brought against JDM, provides for a fine of $500,000 or twice the pecuniary gain or loss of the offense, whichever is greater and up to five years of probation. The charge of introduction or delivery for introduction into interstate commerce a misbranded device provides for a sentence of up to one year in prison; up to one year of supervised release; and a fine of $100,000. The charge of conspiracy to commit price gouging in violation of the Defense Production Act provides for a sentence of up to one year in prison; up to one year of supervised release; and a fine of up to $10,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

    Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division; Fernando McMillan, Special Agent in Charge of the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations; Christopher Algieri, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, Northeast Field Office; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Michael J. Krol, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bill Brady and Howard Locker of the Health Care Fraud Unit are prosecuting the case.

    On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus and https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus/combatingfraud. 
        
    Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form.
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Justice Department Releases Information on Efforts to Protect the Right to Vote, Prosecute Election Fraud, and Secure Elections

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Consistent with longstanding Justice Department practices and procedures, the department today is providing information about its efforts, through the Civil Rights Division, Criminal Division, National Security Division (NSD), and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country, to ensure that all qualified voters have the opportunity to cast their ballots and have their votes counted free of discrimination, intimidation, or criminal activity in the election process, and to ensure that our elections are secure and free from foreign malign influence and interference.

    Civil Rights Division

    The department’s Civil Rights Division is responsible for ensuring compliance with the civil provisions of federal statutes that protect the right to vote and with the criminal provisions of federal statutes prohibiting discriminatory interference with that right. This work is often performed in partnership with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices.

    The Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section enforces the civil provisions of a wide range of federal statutes that protect the right to vote including: the Voting Rights Act; National Voter Registration Act; Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act; Help America Vote Act; and Civil Rights Acts. Among other things, collectively, these laws:

    • Prohibit election practices that have either a discriminatory purpose or a discriminatory result on account of race, color, or language minority status;
    • Prohibit intimidation of voters;
    • Allow voters who need assistance in voting because of disability or inability to read or write to receive assistance from a person of their choice (other than agents of their employer or union);
    • Require minority language election materials and assistance in certain jurisdictions;
    • Require accessible voting systems for voters with disabilities;
    • Require that provisional ballots be offered to voters who assert they are registered and eligible to vote in the jurisdiction, but whose names do not appear on poll books;
    • Require states to provide for absentee voting for uniformed service members serving away from home, their family members also away from home due to that service, and U.S. citizens living abroad; and
    • Require covered states to offer the opportunity to register to vote through offices that provide driver licenses, public assistance, and disability services, as well as through the mail, and to take steps regarding maintaining voter registration lists.

    The Civil Rights Division’s Disability Rights Section enforces the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits discrimination in voting based on disability. The ADA applies to all aspects of voting, including voter registration, selection and accessibility of voting facilities, and the casting of ballots on Election Day or during early voting, whether in-person or absentee.

    The Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section enforces federal criminal statutes that prohibit voter intimidation and voter interference based on race, color, national origin, or religion.

    • Throughout the election cycle, Civil Rights Division attorneys in the Voting, Disability Rights, and Criminal Sections in Washington, D.C., will be ready to receive complaints of potential violations of any of the statutes the Civil Rights Division enforces. The Civil Rights Division will work closely with counterparts at U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and other department components to review and take appropriate action concerning these complaints.
    • Individuals with complaints related to possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can call the Justice Department’s toll-free telephone line at 800-253-3931, and can also submit complaints at www.civilrights.justice.gov.
    • Individuals with questions or complaints related to the ADA may call the Justice Department’s toll-free ADA information line at 800-514-0301 or 833-610-1264 (TTY) or submit a complaint through a link on the department’s ADA website at www.ada.gov.

    Complaints related to violence, threats of violence, or intimidation at a polling place should always be reported immediately to local authorities by calling 911. They should also be reported to the department after local authorities are contacted.

    Criminal Division and the Department’s 94 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices

    The department’s Criminal Division oversees the enforcement of federal laws that criminalize certain forms of election fraud and vindicate the integrity of the federal election process.

    The Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices are responsible for enforcing the federal criminal laws that prohibit various forms of election crimes, such as destruction of ballots, vote-buying, multiple voting, submission of fraudulent ballots or registrations, alteration of votes, and malfeasance by postal or election officials and employees. See Justice Manual 9-85.210 (discussing requirements regarding election crime matters); 9-85.300 (discussing approach to ballot fraud); 9-85.400 (discussing application of 18 U.S.C. § 592); 9-85.500 (discussing timing of actions).

    The Criminal Division and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices are also responsible for enforcing federal criminal law prohibiting unlawful threats of violence against election workers, and prohibiting voter intimidation and voter suppression for reasons other than race, color, national origin, or religion (as noted above, voter intimidation and voter suppression that has a basis in race, color, national origin, or religion is addressed by the Civil Rights Division often in partnership with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices).

    U.S. Attorneys’ Offices around the country designate Assistant U.S. Attorneys who serve as District Election Officers (DEOs) in their respective districts. DEOs are responsible for overseeing potential election-crime matters in their districts, and for coordinating with the department’s election-crime experts in Washington, D.C.

    The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices work with specially trained FBI personnel in each district to ensure that complaints from the public involving possible election crimes are handled appropriately. Specifically:

    • In consultation with federal prosecutors at the Public Integrity Section in Washington, D.C., the DEOs in U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, FBI officials at headquarters in Washington, D.C., and FBI special agents serving as Election Crime Coordinators in the FBI’s 56 field offices will be on duty while polls are open to receive complaints from the public.
    • Election-crime complaints should be directed to the local U.S. Attorney’s Office or the local FBI field office. A list of U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and their telephone numbers can be found at www.justice.gov/usao/districts. A list of FBI field offices and accompanying telephone numbers can be found at www.fbi.gov/contact-us.
    • Public Integrity Section prosecutors are available to consult and coordinate with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the FBI regarding the handling of election-crime allegations.

    All complaints related to violence, threats of violence, or intimidation at a polling place should be reported first to local police authorities by calling 911. After alerting local law enforcement to such emergencies by calling 911, the public should contact the Justice Department.

    National Security Division

    The department’s National Security Division (NSD) supervises the investigation and prosecution of cases affecting or relating to national security, including any cases involving foreign malign influence and interference in elections or violent extremist threats to elections. In this context:

    • NSD oversees matters involving a range of malign influence activities that foreign governments may attempt.
    • NSD’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section oversees matters involving covert information operations (e.g., to promulgate disinformation through social media); covert efforts to support or denigrate political candidates or organizations; and other covert influence operations that might violate various criminal statutes.
    • NSD’s National Security Cyber Section oversees such matters when they are cyber-enabled (i.e., when online platforms, such as social media and other online services, are central to the commission of the offense), as well as those involving computer hacking of election or campaign infrastructure.
    • NSD’s Counterterrorism Section oversees matters involving international and domestic terrorism and supports law enforcement in preventing any acts of terrorism that impact Americans, including any violent extremism that might threaten election security.

    As in past elections, the National Security Division will work closely with counterparts at the FBI and our U.S. Attorneys’ Offices to protect our nation’s elections from any national security threats. Attorneys from National Security Division sections will be partnered with FBI Headquarters components to provide support to U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and FBI field offices to counter any such threats. The Department of Homeland Security also plays its own important role in safeguarding critical election infrastructure from cyber and other threats.

    Complaints related to violence, threats of violence, or intimidation at a polling place should always be reported immediately to local authorities by calling 911 and, after local authorities are contacted, then should be reported also to the department.

    Protecting the right to vote, prosecuting election crimes, and securing our elections are all essential to maintaining the confidence of all Americans in our democratic system of government. The department encourages anyone with information regarding concerns in these subject areas to contact the appropriate authorities.

    For more information about the department’s work to ensure compliance with federal civil and criminal laws related to voting, please visit www.justice.gov/voting and www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-pin/election-crimes-branch.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Africa’s flagship universities have a proud history – but are they serving local communities?

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By James Ransom, Researcher: societal challenges, UCL

    Universities play a number of crucial roles in society. They educate students, research solutions to problems and serve as spaces for national debate. This is especially true for large public institutions, often referred to as flagship universities. A number were launched with great fanfare around the time of a country’s independence from colonial rule. They were tasked with driving national development by training skilled graduates to fill workforce gaps and conducting applied research to address societal challenges. Many have done well in their historic national missions. But how are they performing today when it comes to serving their local communities?

    Higher education researcher James Ransom set out to answer this question in his new book, Revisiting Africa’s Flagship Universities: Local, National and International Dynamics. He analysed local engagement at ten African flagship universities: Ethiopia’s University of Addis Ababa; Makerere University in Uganda; the universities of Ghana, Namibia, Rwanda, Mauritius, Zambia and Zimbabwe; the University of Cape Town in South Africa and Nigeria’s University of Ibadan. He tells The Conversation Africa what he learned.

    What is a flagship university?

    They are pillars of the nation: their campuses are intertwined with history as sites of protest and revolution; their researchers lead the way in publications and research; their students are tomorrow’s leaders.

    Sometimes there is one flagship in a country. Sometimes a country will be home to several. In Nigeria, the University of Ibadan is joined by the University of Nigeria at Nsukka.

    A map showing the ten flagship universities the author studied. Dr James Ransom, Author provided (no reuse)

    Small, specialist institutions and private universities all play important roles in national higher education systems. But flagships are the trendsetters. They often mentor new universities by seconding senior staff to lead them, and helping design the curricula. Their staff sit on government committees. They have international partnerships and projects.

    The term “flagship” has been used elsewhere in the world, not just in post-colonial countries. In the book I focused on Anglophone sub-Saharan Africa, including countries that were not traditional colonial states, such as Ethiopia.

    Read more: The untold story of how Africa’s flagship universities have advanced

    What made you write this book and why now?

    In the UK, where I live, we have seen a shift in the expectations placed upon universities.

    The “redbrick” universities, such as Birmingham and Liverpool, are a good example. They were founded in the 19th century to meet local needs. Then they developed strong global ambitions over the next hundred years, excelling in world-leading research and innovation.

    During the past couple of decades, the local question returned: what are you doing to serve your local community? The redbricks (and many others) have responded – nudged along by national policies and frameworks – with serious programmes of civic engagement. These include projects designed with communities, seconding staff into local planning organisations, and opening up their campuses to communities – from 5-a-side football pitches to photography exhibitions.

    The shift I witnessed in the UK, and mirrored in my work across Europe and Canada, made me wonder: has a similar shift, from a historic national mission to a local one, taken place for African universities?

    The question is timely. Societal challenges may be national or global in scale. But they need local knowledge and local partnerships to solve at the local level. This means universities working with local government, which is a key focus of my work. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has calculated that 100 of the 169 UN Sustainable Development Goal targets can only be achieved if local governments are involved. Universities can play an important supporting role.

    What did you find?

    It is clear that flagship universities’ local work is growing and will continue to grow. For instance, Addis Ababa University established a railway engineering centre to train engineers to maintain the city’s light rail transit system, with students employed by the Ethiopian Railway Corporation. The University of Ghana runs satellite campuses in all ten regional capitals. This allows it to reach remote areas and to establish a local presence in different regions.

    Successful projects often emerge from deep links with local communities. Ibadan has worked closely with a few communities over many decades. These “field laboratories” include a community health programme in the village of Ibarapa, which began in the early 1960s with funding from the Rockefeller Foundation and technical support from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

    The programme has trained hundreds of medical students in community medicine through practical work in rural areas, while also improving health services and conducting research on health issues in the Ibarapa community. An example is studying and addressing neglected tropical diseases such as onchocerciasis (river blindness) and guinea worm.

    In 2020 the University of Ibadan signed a memorandum of understanding with the local government on the Ibarapa programme. Over half a century after it began, local partnerships continue to sustain the programme.

    However, a national focus continues to dominate at all ten institutions I studied. This is perhaps best illustrated by the University of Rwanda. Local engagement activity is secondary to the nation’s development strategy spearheaded by its Vision 2050, an ambitious effort to become an upper-middle income country in the next 25 years.

    There is some local activity, of course. Students provide health services to the community, staff run community workshops on informal housing, and there are plans to open model farms to showcase irrigation and agricultural mechanisation. But all of this ultimately serves the national vision.

    Rwanda is a small country, but this finding – of national priorities dominating at the expense of local programmes – was consistent across all the flagships I studied, in large countries like Nigeria as well as in other small countries like Mauritius and Namibia.

    What can other universities on the continent learn from your findings?

    Flagships are complex institutions, with rich histories and often complicated relationships with government. They are survivors, skilled at balancing multiple roles. There is much that other universities can learn from flagships, and that flagships can learn from each other – and more of these partnerships are needed.

    But one senior staff member at a flagship university told me that many African university heads

    feel rather oppressed by the narratives from higher education leaders in other parts of the world

    They were talking about international benchmarking, unequal research partnerships, and models of “best practice”. These constrain the local role of flagships, creating identikit institutions. The result is a race to local irrelevance. Relevance can only emerge from an approach that reflects the local and national context.

    Universities that capture the work they do locally, effectively communicate this, and can demonstrate how it is relevant to society, will be in a good place to chart their own path as a pillar of the nation.

    – Africa’s flagship universities have a proud history – but are they serving local communities?
    – https://theconversation.com/africas-flagship-universities-have-a-proud-history-but-are-they-serving-local-communities-240813

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Africa’s flagship universities have a proud history – but are they serving local communities?

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By James Ransom, Researcher: societal challenges, UCL

    Students pictured in 1955 in a reading room at what is today the University of Ibadan. Flagship universities have long histories. Evans/Three Lions/Getty Images

    Universities play a number of crucial roles in society. They educate students, research solutions to problems and serve as spaces for national debate. This is especially true for large public institutions, often referred to as flagship universities. A number were launched with great fanfare around the time of a country’s independence from colonial rule. They were tasked with driving national development by training skilled graduates to fill workforce gaps and conducting applied research to address societal challenges. Many have done well in their historic national missions. But how are they performing today when it comes to serving their local communities?

    Higher education researcher James Ransom set out to answer this question in his new book, Revisiting Africa’s Flagship Universities: Local, National and International Dynamics. He analysed local engagement at ten African flagship universities: Ethiopia’s University of Addis Ababa; Makerere University in Uganda; the universities of Ghana, Namibia, Rwanda, Mauritius, Zambia and Zimbabwe; the University of Cape Town in South Africa and Nigeria’s University of Ibadan. He tells The Conversation Africa what he learned.

    What is a flagship university?

    They are pillars of the nation: their campuses are intertwined with history as sites of protest and revolution; their researchers lead the way in publications and research; their students are tomorrow’s leaders.

    Sometimes there is one flagship in a country. Sometimes a country will be home to several. In Nigeria, the University of Ibadan is joined by the University of Nigeria at Nsukka.

    Small, specialist institutions and private universities all play important roles in national higher education systems. But flagships are the trendsetters. They often mentor new universities by seconding senior staff to lead them, and helping design the curricula. Their staff sit on government committees. They have international partnerships and projects.

    The term “flagship” has been used elsewhere in the world, not just in post-colonial countries. In the book I focused on Anglophone sub-Saharan Africa, including countries that were not traditional colonial states, such as Ethiopia.



    Read more:
    The untold story of how Africa’s flagship universities have advanced

    What made you write this book and why now?

    In the UK, where I live, we have seen a shift in the expectations placed upon universities.

    The “redbrick” universities, such as Birmingham and Liverpool, are a good example. They were founded in the 19th century to meet local needs. Then they developed strong global ambitions over the next hundred years, excelling in world-leading research and innovation.

    During the past couple of decades, the local question returned: what are you doing to serve your local community? The redbricks (and many others) have responded – nudged along by national policies and frameworks – with serious programmes of civic engagement. These include projects designed with communities, seconding staff into local planning organisations, and opening up their campuses to communities – from 5-a-side football pitches to photography exhibitions.

    The shift I witnessed in the UK, and mirrored in my work across Europe and Canada, made me wonder: has a similar shift, from a historic national mission to a local one, taken place for African universities?

    The question is timely. Societal challenges may be national or global in scale. But they need local knowledge and local partnerships to solve at the local level. This means universities working with local government, which is a key focus of my work. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has calculated that 100 of the 169 UN Sustainable Development Goal targets can only be achieved if local governments are involved. Universities can play an important supporting role.

    What did you find?

    It is clear that flagship universities’ local work is growing and will continue to grow. For instance, Addis Ababa University established a railway engineering centre to train engineers to maintain the city’s light rail transit system, with students employed by the Ethiopian Railway Corporation. The University of Ghana runs satellite campuses in all ten regional capitals. This allows it to reach remote areas and to establish a local presence in different regions.

    Successful projects often emerge from deep links with local communities. Ibadan has worked closely with a few communities over many decades. These “field laboratories” include a community health programme in the village of Ibarapa, which began in the early 1960s with funding from the Rockefeller Foundation and technical support from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

    The programme has trained hundreds of medical students in community medicine through practical work in rural areas, while also improving health services and conducting research on health issues in the Ibarapa community. An example is studying and addressing neglected tropical diseases such as onchocerciasis (river blindness) and guinea worm.

    In 2020 the University of Ibadan signed a memorandum of understanding with the local government on the Ibarapa programme. Over half a century after it began, local partnerships continue to sustain the programme.

    However, a national focus continues to dominate at all ten institutions I studied. This is perhaps best illustrated by the University of Rwanda. Local engagement activity is secondary to the nation’s development strategy spearheaded by its Vision 2050, an ambitious effort to become an upper-middle income country in the next 25 years.

    There is some local activity, of course. Students provide health services to the community, staff run community workshops on informal housing, and there are plans to open model farms to showcase irrigation and agricultural mechanisation. But all of this ultimately serves the national vision.

    Rwanda is a small country, but this finding – of national priorities dominating at the expense of local programmes – was consistent across all the flagships I studied, in large countries like Nigeria as well as in other small countries like Mauritius and Namibia.

    What can other universities on the continent learn from your findings?

    Flagships are complex institutions, with rich histories and often complicated relationships with government. They are survivors, skilled at balancing multiple roles. There is much that other universities can learn from flagships, and that flagships can learn from each other – and more of these partnerships are needed.

    But one senior staff member at a flagship university told me that many African university heads

    feel rather oppressed by the narratives from higher education leaders in other parts of the world

    They were talking about international benchmarking, unequal research partnerships, and models of “best practice”. These constrain the local role of flagships, creating identikit institutions. The result is a race to local irrelevance. Relevance can only emerge from an approach that reflects the local and national context.

    Universities that capture the work they do locally, effectively communicate this, and can demonstrate how it is relevant to society, will be in a good place to chart their own path as a pillar of the nation.

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

    – ref. Africa’s flagship universities have a proud history – but are they serving local communities? – https://theconversation.com/africas-flagship-universities-have-a-proud-history-but-are-they-serving-local-communities-240813

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Steel Calls on Biden Administration to Hold North Korea Accountable for Human Rights Abuses

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Michelle Steel (CA-48)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Ahead of a coming United Nations review of the human rights situation in North Korea, U.S. Rep. Michelle Steel is calling on the Biden-Harris Administration to hold Kim Jong-un’s regime accountable for failing to respect human rights obligations under international law.

    Steel, a first-generation immigrant whose parents fled North Korea, wrote a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken highlighting a series of concerns including North Korea’s campaign of torture, unlawful detainment and improper refugee treatment, among other issues.

    The United States will have an opportunity to raise areas of concern as part of the United Nations Human Rights Council’s review process.

    “Decades after my parents fled following a communist takeover, North Korea’s government continues to abuse basic human rights and aggressively persecute its own citizens,” said Rep. Michelle Steel. “Innocent North Koreans, defectors, and detained foreign citizens need the United States’ help now more than ever. I will continue fighting for their freedoms while urging the Biden Administration to hold North Korea accountable for violating international human rights standards.”

    Steel’s letter calls on Secretary of State Blinken to address numerous issues as part of the UN review, including but not limited to:

    • Refugee repatriation from China back to North Korea
    • Citizens of America’s allies (South Korea and Japan) held against their will in North Korea
    • North Korea’s political prison camps
    • North Korea’s failure to ratify international treaties to prevent torture

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK budget: A drop in the ocean compared to the change needed

    Source: Scottish Greens

    30 Oct 2024 Finance

    Labour could have taxed the super rich to bring in the funding needed to undo cruel Tory policies and drop Labour’s own cuts

    More in Finance

    A response from Scottish Green finance spokesperson Ross Greer on the UK budget.

    Mr Greer said: “This timid budget is a drop in the ocean compared to the scale of change that is actually needed. Labour has under-promised and still somehow under-delivered. 

    “The failure to end the cruel two child cap or the Winter Fuel Payment cut will have dire consequences for vulnerable people and families across the UK. Children will continue to live in poverty and pensioners will die this winter, all entirely avoidably.

    “The Chancellor could have targeted the super rich to bring in the funding needed to undo cruel Tory policies and drop Labour’s own cuts. Instead she has chosen to hike up bus fares in England and pour £3 billion into keeping a climate-busting fuel duty freeze. 

    “A responsible government would invest in cheaper public transport and walking, wheeling and cycling infrastructure. The Scottish Greens did both of those during our time in government, delivering free bus travel for young people and removing peak rail fares. Labour have instead chosen to encourage even more car journeys while the climate crisis spirals out of control.

    “There are a few important steps in the right direction in this budget, such as the increase in tax on private jets. The Scottish Greens have led calls for this and whilst it doesn’t go as far as we would like, it is progress on one of the most incredibly polluting forms of travel.
     
    “What was missing was any confirmation from the Chancellor that she will take the necessary steps to finish the ten-year process of devolving Air Passenger Duty and allowing Scotland to make these decisions for ourselves.

    “There were also some deeply disappointing announcements. The social security section of the speech could have been lifted straight from the nastiest Tory conference speeches. Labour are continuing the Conservative tactic of punching down at vulnerable people when there is so much more money being lost through tax avoidance by the super-rich.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Yuri Trutnev got acquainted with the progress of construction of facilities within the framework of the Blagoveshchensk master plan and held a meeting with investors from the Amur Region

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

    Yuri Trutnev held a meeting on the implementation of investment projects in the region as part of a working visit to the Amur Region

    October 30, 2024

    Yuri Trutnev held a meeting on the implementation of investment projects in the Amur Region

    October 30, 2024

    Previous news Next news

    Yuri Trutnev held a meeting on the implementation of investment projects in the region as part of a working visit to the Amur Region

    During his working visit to the Amur Region, Deputy Prime Minister and Presidential Plenipotentiary Representative in the Far Eastern Federal District Yuri Trutnev got acquainted with the progress of construction of a number of facilities included in the Blagoveshchensk master plan. Among them are the cross-border cable car and the multifunctional pavilion “Tribuna Hall”. The Deputy Prime Minister also held a meeting on the implementation of investment projects in the Amur Region.

    Before inspecting the master plan facilities, Yuri Trutnev visited the site of the second stage of construction of engineering structures to protect against flood waters on the Zeya River in the Blagoveshchensk village of Vladimirovka and got acquainted with the progress of construction of the coastal protection structure. The dam is being built as part of the state program “Construction”. The structure will protect the territory, where more than 2 thousand people live, from floods. The site involves 210 people and 91 units of equipment. The work is ahead of schedule.

    The management of the contractor company has submitted an initiative to postpone the construction of the dam from 2027 to 2025 with the allocation of the necessary funding for this. Yuri Trutnev instructed the region to work on this issue together with the Ministry of Construction and submit relevant proposals to the Government of Russia.

    The Deputy Prime Minister got acquainted with the progress of construction of the Golden Mile facilities, a project within the framework of the integrated development of Blagoveshchensk. The first was the site of the cross-border cable car across the Amur. It will connect Blagoveshchensk and the Chinese city of Heihe. This will be the world’s first cable car between two countries. On the Russian side, a four-level passenger terminal with a total area of 26 thousand square meters will be built to accommodate the terminal station of the cable car, a platform and technological equipment for the cable car, a checkpoint across the state border of Russia, a duty-free shop, restaurants, shopping and entertainment facilities. Art spaces for passengers and city residents to relax will be created both inside the terminal and in the open air: on cascading terraces and observation decks. Work on the international facility is ongoing around the clock in two shifts.

    On the instructions of Russian President Vladimir Putin, a world-class Russian-Chinese business cooperation center is being created in the Amur Region. With the support of the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East and the Russian Government, a large city center, Tribuna Hall, is being built. Funds from the federal budget are being allocated through a single presidential subsidy. The construction of the facility has entered the home stretch. The building is 70% complete. The builders should complete the work by January, and the center will welcome its first visitors at the end of next year.

    The unique project on the Amur embankment includes a landscape park, a fountain complex, sports and children’s playgrounds. Next to the Tribuna Hall pavilion there is a square – an open space for holding mass events. In May of this year, the Fountain Alley began operating. It belongs to the Tribuna Hall cultural center and has become the largest light and music fountain complex in Eurasia.

    On the same day, the Deputy Prime Minister met with investors from the Amur Region. “The region occupies one of the leading places in the Far East in this indicator. At the same time, we must remember that a significant part of this flow is created by fulfilling direct instructions from the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin. This is the construction of the Vostochny Cosmodrome, the Amur Gas Processing Plant, and the Amur Gas Chemical Complex. Of course, investment activity is not limited to this. The activity of the head of the region in attracting investment for the Golden Mile projects deserves a positive assessment. These projects will benefit the Amur Region and the country. Federal measures to support projects in the Far East are working. In total, 51 investment projects with a total value of 2.3 trillion rubles are being implemented in the region. 16 projects have been implemented, about 12 thousand jobs have been created. It is important that this work does not stop, and investors come to the region to implement new projects. It is the attraction of investments that creates the conditions for all other work, for improvements in the social sphere, the improvement of cities and territories,” Yuri Trutnev opened the meeting.

    “Over the past five years, about 2.4 trillion rubles of investments have been attracted to the Amur Region. We reached a record volume of over 751 billion rubles last year. The main increase in funds attracted to the region was provided by the implementation of gas investment projects, the reconstruction of the Eastern Polygon of the BAM and the development of the construction industry. Today, 85 promising investment projects are being developed that will attract over 450 billion rubles and create 7.5 thousand jobs. Projects that involve the creation of manufacturing industries remain a priority for us. We are implementing the “turn to the East” concept, within the framework of which we plan to build a logistics complex and, in the future, a railway bridge across the Amur River in the Jalinda-Mohe area. We have developed and are constantly improving comprehensive support measures for investors,” said Vasily Orlov, Governor of the Amur Region.

    The new cross-border bridge between the Amur Region and China – Jalinda – Mohe will open a shorter exit to China and will reduce the route for transporting goods and raw materials by almost 2 thousand km. The new transport corridor will not only provide an alternative option for communication with Russia’s main trading partner and relieve the load on existing crossings, but will also speed up the delivery of raw materials from Yakutia and the north of the Amur Region to China. “A forecast for the cargo base has been formed for the Jalinda – Mohe project, the location and basic technical parameters of the future bridge have been agreed upon in the course of work with the Chinese side, and a joint conclusion has been made on the technical and economic feasibility of construction. The project has been included in the agenda of the Russian-Chinese subcommittee on cooperation in the field of transport, and there is an agreement to hold interstate consultations. Several models for implementing the project have been considered with the participation of the Russian Ministry of Transport and Russian Railways,” commented Vasily Orlov.

    The construction and launch of a mining and processing plant for processing nickel ore from the Kun-Manyo deposit was discussed. The investor will use the capabilities of the Amurskaya priority development area to build the plant. The project is at the stage of geological exploration and design and survey work. More than 1.7 thousand jobs will be created.

    Ogodzhinskaya Coal Company LLC presented a project for the development of the Sugodinsko-Ogodzhinskaya coal-bearing area in the Selemdzhinsky District. The investor has begun construction of a processing plant with a capacity of 2 million tons. Investments in the project will amount to about 100 billion rubles. Earthworks and concrete works have already been completed, the main frame of metal structures has been erected, and the completion of the main equipment of the plant is ongoing. The productivity of the complex of factories will be 30 million tons of coal per year. In total, it is planned to build seven processing plants. Construction of the first stage of the Ogodzhinskaya railway continues – 45 km of rails and sleepers out of 72 km have been laid. As a measure of state support, the investor plans to receive the status of a resident of the Amurskaya priority development area.

    A resident of the Amurskaya priority development area, the Far Eastern Agroterminal company, will invest more than 40 billion rubles in the framework of comprehensive business development in the Far East, including more than 26 billion rubles in the project to build an oil extraction plant as part of a production and logistics complex in the city of Belogorsk. At present, the site has already been prepared with landfill and water drainage. An industrial railway station with a capacity of 1.4 million tons of freight turnover per year is being built. The launch of production is scheduled for the end of 2026. The company also plans to develop the direction of a railway logistics operator with a fleet of wagons and tanks of 1.2 thousand units of rolling stock in the Far East to service the flow of finished products of the enterprise under construction.

    Lyubov Brish, CEO of Gazprom Helium Service, reported on the operation of the first small-tonnage natural gas liquefaction complex in the Amur Region in Svobodnensky District. The new production facility was built using tax breaks and preferences of the Amurskaya Priority Development Area. The natural gas liquefaction complex with a capacity of 1.5 tons of LNG per hour (12.6 thousand tons per year) was created to organize the infrastructure for autonomous gasification of socially significant facilities and to provide consumers in the Amur Region with gas motor fuel. “A comprehensive project has been implemented in the Far East using liquefied natural gas as a gas motor fuel and for autonomous gasification. This became possible thanks to the development of our own production and transportation capacities for LNG in the region – from Primorsky Krai to Amur Region – and successful experience in organizing LNG transportation routes,” Lyubov Brish said.

    In Blagoveshchensk, the Specialized Developer PIK Blagoveshchensk LLC is building housing as part of the Far Eastern Quarter program. 334 thousand square meters of housing will be built. In addition to residential development, the project provides for the construction of social infrastructure facilities – a school, kindergartens, and landscaping of courtyards. The total investment in the project will amount to 33.9 billion rubles. Construction and installation work is currently underway in six buildings, the arrangement of foundations and basements has been completed, and work is underway to install the monolithic frame of the buildings of the first stage, the total area of which will be 45.8 thousand square meters.

    “Today, the head of the region and I looked at the Golden Mile – work is in full swing there, Blagoveshchensk has begun to change. I always follow this very closely when I come. And I see that the ice has broken in Blagoveshchensk. The city is getting better. This is very important both for the mood and comfortable living of people, and for attracting Russian and foreign tourists,” said Yuri Trutnev.

    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.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Update following round 5 of negotiations on an enhanced Free Trade Agreement with Switzerland

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The fifth round of negotiations on an enhanced Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Switzerland took place in London between 14 and 18 October 2024

    The fifth round of negotiations on an enhanced Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Switzerland took place in London between 14 and 18 October 2024.

    The talks were the UK’s first with the Swiss since the Secretary of State for Business and Trade announced the government’s intention to deliver the UK’s FTA negotiations programme in July.  

    FTAs have an important role to play in achieving economic growth. A stronger trade relationship with Switzerland will contribute to growth, jobs and prosperity in the UK, providing long-term certainty on UK business travel to Switzerland and helping data and ideas flow seamlessly between two world-leading services powerhouses. Total trade between the UK and Switzerland was worth £50.8 billion in 2023.  

    UK negotiators made good progress in this round and covered almost all areas of the negotiation.

    Talks continue to be constructive, with both countries working towards agreeing ambitious outcomes in key areas, including services, investment and digital.

    Round 6 of negotiations is expected to take place in Switzerland in early 2025. The government will continue to work towards delivering outcomes in the FTA that secure economic growth for the UK. 

    The government will only ever sign a trade agreement which aligns with the UK’s national interests, upholding our high standards across a range of sectors, including protections for the National Health Service.   

    Any organisations or individuals interested in speaking to the Department for Business and Trade about negotiations with Switzerland should do so by emailing ch.fta.engagement@businessandtrade.gov.uk.

    Updates to this page

    Published 30 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Applications open for the Portsmouth Older Persons Energy Payment

    Source: City of Portsmouth

    Portsmouth pensioners can now apply for a payment from Portsmouth City Council which is open to some households who will miss out on the national Winter Fuel Payment.

    The Portsmouth Older Persons Energy Payment offers a one-off £200 or £300 payment for this winter only, to pension-aged Portsmouth residents, who will be eligible if:

    • They receive Housing Benefit or Council Tax Support
    • They are not receiving any of the qualifying benefits for the Winter Fuel Payment – Pension Credit, Universal Credit, income-related Employment Support Allowance, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit.

    A £200 payment will be given to eligible pensioners under the age of 80, and £300 to those 80 or over.

    The scheme is live and applications can be made through the council’s website. Those who need help applying can call the council’s cost of living helpline 023 9284 1047 (open 9-5pm Monday-Friday, closes 4.30pm Friday).

    Portsmouth City Council Leader Cllr Steve Pitt said: “Older residents can now apply for our energy payment scheme. We have launched it to support around 2,000 households who we believe will be impacted most by their Winter Fuel Payment being stopped.

    “It will be a one-off support to help these people transition to no longer receiving the payment from government this year. We know a lot of people rely on that money each winter and they won’t have had time to budget for losing it.

    “We unfortunately don’t have the financial resources to make this scheme permanent or to help all 18,000 Portsmouth households who won’t get the payment after the government’s change this year. But a range of support is available for all ages this winter.”

     2,500 households missing out on Pension Credit

    It’s estimated that nearly 2,500 Portsmouth households aren’t claiming the Pension Credit they’re entitled to, and are missing out on an average of £3,900 per person a year, or £300 a month. People receiving Pension Credit will automatically receive the government’s Winter Fuel Payment.

    The council is urging everyone of pension age, their families and friends to check if they are eligible. You can find out if you are eligible and claim Pension Credit online on the government website or by phone on 0800 99 1234, where you can also request a form through the post. Check if you’re eligible using the online Pension Credit Calculator.

    Support for all ages

    Cost-of-living helpline and online information hub: For help around essential costs, health and wellbeing, jobs, money and housing, and hardship funding people can apply for. The helpline is open weekdays from 9am-5pm (closes 4.30pm Fridays) on 023 9284 1047, or visit: www.portsmouth.gov.uk/costofliving

    Switched On Portsmouth: For help reducing energy bills, including referring to energy saving schemes and offering free advice. Call on 0800 260 5907 or visit www.switchedonportsmouth.co.uk

    Household Support Fund: The council will continue to use government grants to support residents of all ages. Following the recent six-month extension of the grant, the team are setting up new schemes to assist people in need. Information on the help available will continue to be updated on the Household Support Fund webpages.

    Warm Spaces: Our libraries are again now offering hot drinks in all nine libraries over the winter, along with other community settings. Find the fantastic, free activities happening in our libraries on the website, on Facebook or by popping into your local library.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: A Budget to fix the foundations and deliver change for Northern Ireland

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The UK Chancellor delivered the Autumn Budget today (Wednesday 30 October 2024)

    Autumn Budget 2024

    • Chancellor takes long-term decisions to restore stability, rebuild the United Kingdom and protect working people across Northern Ireland.
    • No change to working people’s payslips as employee national insurance, income tax and VAT stay the same, but businesses and the wealthiest asked to pay their fair share.
    • Record £18.2 billion for the Northern Ireland Executive in 2025/26 including an additional £1.5 billion through the Barnett formula.
    • City and Growth Deals confirmed to continue to unlock growth and investment, while over £45 million is provided for counter-terrorism and security funding.

    The Chancellor has delivered a Budget to fix the foundations to deliver on the promise of change after a decade and a half of stagnation. She set out plans to rebuild the United Kingdom, while ensuring working people across Northern Ireland don’t face higher taxes in their payslips.

    The UK Government was handed a challenging inheritance; £22 billion of unfunded in-year spending pressures, debt at its highest since the 1960s, an unrealistic forecast for departmental spending, and stagnating living standards.

    This Budget takes difficult decisions to restore economic and fiscal stability, so that the UK Government can invest in the economic future of Northern Ireland and lay the foundations for growth across the UK as its number one mission.

    The Chancellor announced that the Northern Ireland Executive will be provided with a £18.2 billion settlement in 2025/26 – the largest in real terms in the history of devolution. This includes a £1.5 billion top-up through the Barnett formula, with £1.2 billion for day-to-day spending and £270 million for capital investment.

    Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn said:

    This is the biggest real terms settlement for Northern Ireland since devolution. 

    The Northern Ireland Executive will get an additional £640 million in Barnett consequentials this year, and an additional £1.5 billion next year. 

    This will provide  a strong foundation for stability and growth, and sees the UK Government delivering real change for the people of Northern Ireland.

    We have also confirmed the UK Government’s investment in Northern Ireland’s City and Growth deals, which is a huge boost to communities in both rural and urban areas. The Mid South West and Causeway Coast and Glens Deals alone will receive a combined investment from the UK Government of £162 million, and I look forward to seeing them progress and make a real impact now and in years to come. 

    Meanwhile, measures such as the Northern Ireland Enhanced Investment Zone, continuing support for Northern Ireland integrated schooling and the UK-wide investment of over £500m in digital infrastructure through Project Gigabit and the Shared Rural Network benefit people across Northern Ireland’s communities.

    The increase to £37.8 million in funding for the Police Service of Northern Ireland through the Additional Security Fund, combined with £8 million for the Executive Programme on Paramilitarism and Organised Crime, underscores the UK Government’s continuing and steadfast commitment to security.

    This budget is positive news for people across Northern Ireland, encouraging economic growth and enabling the conditions for a brighter future.

    Protecting working people and living standards

    While fixing the inheritance requires tough decisions, the Chancellor has committed to protecting the living standards of working people. The decisions taken by the Chancellor to rebuild public finances enable the UK Government to deliver on its pledge to not increase National Insurance, Income Tax or VAT on working people in Northern Ireland, meaning they will not see higher taxes in their payslip.

    • The National Living Wage will increase from £11.44 to £12.21 an hour from April 2025. The 6.7% increase – worth £1,400 a year for a full-time worker – is a significant move towards delivering a genuine living wage.
    • The National Minimum Wage for 18 to 20-year-olds will also see a record rise from £8.60 to £10 an hour.
    • Working people will benefit from these increases, with there estimated to be around 100,000 minimum wage workers in Northern Ireland in 2023.
    • The Chancellor has made the decision to protect working people in Northern Ireland from being dragged into higher tax brackets by confirming that Income Tax and National Insurance Contributions thresholds will be unfrozen from 2028-29 onwards. 
    • The Chancellor is also protecting motorists by freezing fuel duty for one year – a tax cut worth £3 billion, with the temporary 5p cut extended to 22 March 2026. This will benefit an estimated 1.3 million people in Northern Ireland, saving the average car driver £59, vans £126 and Heavy Goods Vehicles £1,079 next year.
    • To support pubs and smaller brewers in Northern Ireland, the UK Government is cutting duty on qualifying draught products by 1p, which represent approximately 3 in 5 alcoholic drinks sold in pubs. This measure reduces duty bills by over £70 million a year, cutting duty on an average strength pint in a pub by a penny. The relief available to small producers will be updated to help smaller brewers and cidermakers.  

    Rebuilding the United Kingdom

    This UK Government will not make a return to austerity and will instead boost investment to rebuild Britain and lay the foundations for growth in Northern Ireland. This includes £760 million of targeted funding for the Northern Ireland Executive, of which £662 million is as committed in the 2024 restoration financial package and £90 million is for capital investment.

    • The UK Government today confirmed that investment in the Mid South West and Causeway Coast and Glens City Deals will continue, supported by a value for money assessment as part of the review of the business cases for projects to ensure best value is being delivered. The Mid South West and Causeway Coast and Glens Deals deliver a combined investment from UK Government of £162 million over 15 years to rural areas in Northern Ireland.
    • The Chancellor committed the UK Government to working closely with the Northern Ireland Executive on the Industrial Strategy, 10-year infrastructure strategy and the National Wealth Fund – to ensure the benefits of these are felt UK-wide and as part of the relationship reset between governments. These will mobilise billions of pounds of investment in the UK’s world-leading clean energy and growth industries.
    • The UK Government has today reaffirmed its commitment to develop an Enhanced Investment Zone in Northern Ireland and will continue to work closely with the Northern Ireland Executive to develop proposals.
    • The UK Government has increased funding to £37.8 million for the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Additional Security Fund and confirmed £8 million for the Executive Programme on Paramilitarism and Organised Crime to ensure that people and communities are kept safe from violence and harm.
    • To support community cohesion the UK Government is providing £730,000 of additional funding in 2025-26 to support schools in Northern Ireland through the transformation process as they work towards integrated status.
    • Under-served parts of Northern Ireland will benefit from the rollout of digital infrastructure enabled by over £500 million of UK-wide investment in Project Gigabit and the Shared Rural Network.
    • A corporate tax roadmap will provide businesses with the stability and certainty they need to make long-term investment decisions and support our growth mission. It confirms our competitive offer, with the lowest Corporate Tax rate in the G7 and generous support for investment and innovation.
    • The UK Government will also proceed with implementing the 45%/40% rates of the theatre, orchestra, museum and galleries tax relief from 1 April 2025 to provide certainty to businesses in Northern Ireland’s thriving cultural sector.

    Repairing public finances

    The Chancellor has made clear that, whilst protecting working people with measures to reduce the cost of living, there would be difficult decisions required. The Budget will ask businesses and the wealthiest to pay their fair share while making taxes fairer. This will go directly towards fixing the foundations of the UK economy.

    • The rate of Employers’ National Insurance will increase by 1.2 percentage points, to 15%. The Secondary Threshold – the level at which employers start paying national insurance on each employee’s salary – will reduce from £9,100 per year to £5,000 per year.
    • The smallest businesses will be protected as the Employment Allowance will increase to £10,500 from £5,000, allowing firms in Northern Ireland to employ four National Living Wage workers full time without paying national insurance on their wages.
    • Capital Gains Tax will increase from 10% to 18% for those paying the lower rate, and 20% to 24% for those paying the higher rate.
    • To encourage entrepreneurs to invest in their businesses Business Asset Disposal Relief (BADR) will remain at 10% this year, before rising to 14% on 6 April 2025 and 18% from 6 April 2026-27.
    • The lifetime limit of BADR will be maintained at £1 million. The lifetime limit of Investors’ Relief will be reduced from £10 million to £1 million.
    • The OBR say changes to CGT will raise over £2.5 billion a year and the UK will continue to have the lowest CGT rate of any European G7 country.
    • Inheritance Tax thresholds will be fixed at their current levels for a further two years until April 2030. More than 90% of estates each year will be outside of its scope. From April 2027 inherited pensions will be subject to Inheritance Tax. This removes a distortion which has led to pensions being used as a tax planning vehicle to transfer wealth rather than their original purpose to fund retirement.
    • From April 2026, agricultural property relief and business property relief will be reformed. The highest rate of relief will continue at 100% for the first £1 million of combined business and agricultural assets, fully protecting the majority of businesses and farms. It will reduce to 50% after the first £1 million. Reforms will affect the wealthiest 2,000 estates each year. Inheritance Tax reforms in total are predicted by the OBR to raise £2 billion to support stability.

    The Budget also announced a package of measures that disincentivise activities that cause ill health, by:

    • Renewing the tobacco duty escalator which increases all tobacco duty rates by RPI+2% plus an above escalator increase to hand rolling tobacco (totalling RPI+12%).  
    • Introducing a new vaping duty at a flat rate of 22p/ml from October 2026, accompanied by a further one-off increase in tobacco duty to maintain financial incentive to choose vaping over smoking. 
    • To help tackle obesity and other harms caused by high sugar intake, the Soft Drinks Industry Levy will increase to account for inflation since it was last updated in 2018, and the duty will rise in line with inflation every year going forward.
    • The UK Government will also uprate alcohol duty in line with RPI on 1 February 2025, except for most drinks in pubs

    The UK Government has set out the next steps to deliver its tax manifesto commitments in the July Statement. Having consulted on the final policy details where appropriate, this Budget delivers the UK Government’s manifesto commitments to raise revenue to pay for First Steps, with reforms that are underpinned by fairness, and tackle tax avoidance by:  

    • A new residence-based regime will replace the current non-dom regime from April 2025 and will be designed to attract investment and talent to the UK.
    • Offshore trusts will no longer be able to be used to shelter assets from Inheritance Tax, and there will be transitional arrangement in place for people who have made plans based on current rules.
    • The planned 50% reduction for foreign income in the first year of the new regime will be removed.
    • Reforms to the non-dom regime will raise a total of £12.7 billion according to the OBR.

    • The tax treatment of carried interest will be reformed by first increasing the Capital Gains Tax rates on carried interest to 32% and then, from April 2026, moving to a revised regime – with bespoke rules to reflect the characteristics of the reward.

    • The Higher Rate for Additional Dwellings surcharge of Stamp Duty Land Tax will rise from 3 to 5%, providing those looking to move home, or purchase their first property, with a comparative advantage over second home buyers, landlords, and businesses purchasing residential property.

    • The UK Government will also introduce 20% VAT on education and boarding services provided for a charge by private schools from 1 January 2025.

    The Chancellor also doubled down on fiscal responsibility through two new fiscal rules that put the public finances on a sustainable path and prioritise investment to support long-term growth, and new principles of stability. Spending Reviews will be held every two years, setting plans for at least three years to ensure public services are always planned and improve value for money. 

    One major fiscal event per year will give families and businesses stability and certainty on tax and spending changes, while giving the Northern Ireland Executive greater clarity for in its own budget-setting.  A Fiscal Lock will also ensure no future government can sideline the OBR again.

    Updates to this page

    Published 30 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UKHSA detects first case of Clade Ib mpox

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has detected a single confirmed human case of Clade Ib mpox.

    The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has detected a single confirmed human case of Clade Ib mpox. The risk to the UK population remains low.

    This is the first detection of this Clade of mpox in the UK. It is different from mpox Clade II that has been circulating at low levels in the UK since 2022, primarily among gay, bisexual and other men-who-have-sex-with-men (GBMSM).

    UKHSA, the NHS and partner organisations have well tested capabilities to detect, contain and treat novel infectious diseases, and while this is the first confirmed case of mpox Clade Ib in the UK, there has been extensive planning underway to ensure healthcare professionals are equipped and prepared to respond to any confirmed cases.

    The case was detected in London and the individual has been transferred to the Royal Free Hospital High Consequence Infectious Diseases unit. They had recently travelled to countries in Africa that are seeing community cases of Clade Ib mpox. The UKHSA and NHS will not be disclosing any further details about the individual.

    Close contacts of the case are being followed up by UKHSA and partner organisations. Any contacts will be offered testing and vaccination as needed and advised on any necessary further care if they have symptoms or test positive.

    UKHSA is working closely with the NHS and academic partners to determine the characteristics of the pathogen and further assess the risk to human health. While the existing evidence suggests mpox Clade Ib causes more severe disease than Clade II, we will continue to monitor and learn more about the severity, transmission and control measures. We will initially manage Clade Ib as a high consequence infectious disease (HCID) whilst we are learning more about the virus.

    Professor Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Adviser at UKHSA, said:

    It is thanks to our surveillance that we have been able to detect this virus. This is the first time we have detected this Clade of mpox in the UK, though other cases have been confirmed abroad.

    The risk to the UK population remains low, and we are working rapidly to trace close contacts and reduce the risk of any potential spread. In accordance with established protocols, investigations are underway to learn how the individual acquired the infection and to assess whether there are any further associated cases.

    Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting, said:

    I am extremely grateful to the healthcare professionals who are carrying out incredible work to support and care for the patient affected.

    The overall risk to the UK population currently remains low and the government is working alongside UKHSA and the NHS to protect the public and prevent transmission.

    This includes securing vaccines and equipping healthcare professionals with the guidance and tools they need to respond to cases safely.

    We are also working with our international partners to support affected countries to prevent further outbreaks.

    Steve Russell, NHS national director for vaccination and screening, said:

    The NHS is fully prepared to respond to the first confirmed case of this clade of mpox.

    Since mpox first became present in England, local services have pulled out all the stops to vaccinate those eligible, with tens of thousands in priority groups having already come forward to get protected, and while the risk of catching mpox in the UK remains low, if required the NHS has plans in place to expand the roll out of vaccines quickly in line with supply.

    Clade Ib mpox has been widely circulating in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in recent months and there have been cases reported in Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Sweden, India and Germany.

    Clade Ib mpox was detected by UKHSA using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing.

    Common symptoms of mpox include a skin rash or pus-filled lesions which can last 2 to 4 weeks. It can also cause fever, headaches, muscle aches, back pain, low energy and swollen lymph nodes.

    The infection can be passed on through close person-to-person contact with someone who has the infection or with infected animals and through contact with contaminated materials. Anyone with symptoms should continue to avoid contact with other people while symptoms persist.

    The UK has an existing stock of mpox vaccines and last month announced further vaccines are being procured to support a routine immunisation programme to provide additional resilience in the UK. This is in line with more recent independent JCVI advice.

    Working alongside international partners, UKHSA has been monitoring Clade Ib mpox closely since the outbreak in DRC first emerged, publishing regular risk assessment updates.

    The wider risk to the UK population remains low.

    UKHSA has published its first technical briefing on clade I mpox which provides further information on the current situation and UK preparedness and response.

    Updates to this page

    Published 30 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The Secret of Creativity: What is Needed for Industry Development

    Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –

    On the first day of the conference, four thematic sessions were held. The first was dedicated to creative cities. “This is a complex topic, and now in Russia it is very acute, very relevant, popular. In 2020, this was completely different, four years have changed everything. Our measurements show that creative industries are incredibly unevenly distributed across regions and cities and are concentrated in certain places. That is, they are very selective. This is very important knowledge, and of course, I want to understand what kind of cities and spaces are that attract the creative industry, and what their secret is,” shared the session moderator, Director Center “Russian Cluster Observatory” Evgeny Kutsenko, Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge, National Research University Higher School of Economics.

    Head of Department “Creative Industries Research Laboratory” Victoria Boos, Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge, National Research University Higher School of Economics, presented Rating of innovative attractiveness of world citieswith an analysis of the distribution of creative industries around the world.

    “The key feature of our rating is that it provides an information base for making management decisions in the field of urban management. Another feature is a truly unique system of indicators: we do not use municipal statistics, we do not use expert assessments, we use data from independent platforms that aggregate information about the best representatives of creative industries, that is, about the leaders of creative industries,” she said.

    The study included eight industries that together account for about 90% of the income of the entire creative sector in the world. These are cinema and animation, computer games, music, fashion, advertising and PR, architecture, industrial design and art, which includes literature, performing arts and contemporary art.

    The top 5 cities with the highest concentration of creative industry leaders include London, New York, Tokyo, Los Angeles and Paris. “If we look at this rating, we will see that in the top twenty there is parity between the East and the West, and in the top thirty there are more Western cities. Accordingly, we can say that the East is declaring itself as a full-fledged participant in the creative industries market,” Victoria Boos noted.

    At the same time, the study showed that the top five cities are distinguished by a very large gap from all other cities. “You shouldn’t think that mega-creative cities only do what they do, pull creative leaders away from other settlements. The fact is that these mega-creative cities develop themselves and create creative leaders themselves,” the speaker emphasized.

    The researchers also noted that over the past two years, the proportion between developed countries and the Global South in terms of the number of creative industry representatives has changed. Today, every tenth artist who has released the most downloaded music tracks is a representative of Latin America, while 150 of the most popular fashion brands, designers, and architectural firms are concentrated in the countries of North Africa and West Asia.

    Creative industries are also developing in small towns – they have their own special style of creativity. It turned out that in some industries, more than 5% of stars are concentrated in cities with a population of less than 250 thousand people.

    Over the past year, many cities have shown impressive dynamics, the speaker noted. For example, Dubai rose from 76th to 38th place, and Tokyo entered the top three. Victoria Boos emphasized that creative support measures are needed to develop creative industries. For example, a special economic zone for creative industries is being developed in Dubai. Similar zones have recently begun to appear and develop in China. In Australia, there are three professional associations in the field of architecture and sustainable construction. In Chile, localized music streaming services are developing. Korea subsidizes cable TV prices. India and Russia are creating film cities.

    Also speaking at the session were the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Creative Initiatives and Cultural Heritage Foundation (Kazakhstan) Dina Abdrakhmet, the co-founder and Chairman of the Expert Council of the Agency for Strategic Development “CENTER” Sergey Georgievsky and the Chairman of RuGBC Guy Ims.

    The second session was devoted to the management of creative industries in Russia, the third to strategic planning of creative industries and best global practices, and the fourth to education and skills in this area.

    On the second day of the session, October 31, the IV International Forum of Young Researchers of the Creative Economy will take place. The authors of scientific papers that have passed the competitive selection will present their reports.

    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.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Biden-Harris Administration Announces Selections for Nearly $3 Billion of Investments in Clean Ports as Part of Investing in America Agenda

    Source: US State of New Jersey

    EPA’s Clean Ports Program to fund 55 zero-emission port equipment, infrastructure, and planning projects across the nation to tackle climate change, reduce air pollution, promote good jobs, and advance environmental justice

    WASHINGTON – Tuesday, as part of President Biden and Vice President Harris’ Investing in America agenda, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the selection of 55 applicants across 27 states and territories to receive nearly $3 billion through EPA’s Clean Ports Program. These grants will support the deployment of zero-emission equipment, as well as infrastructure and climate and air quality planning projects at ports across the country. The grants are funded by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act — the largest investment in combating climate change and promoting clean energy in history— and will advance environmental justice by reducing diesel air pollution in U.S. ports and surrounding communities while promoting good-paying and union jobs that help America’s ports thrive.

    Ports are vital to the U.S. economy and are responsible for moving goods and people throughout the country. At the same time, the port and freight equipment responsible for moving goods including trucks, locomotives, marine vessels, and cargo-handling equipment contribute to significant levels of diesel air pollution at and near port facilities. This pollution is especially harmful to nearby communities’ health and contributes to climate change. The funds announced Tuesday will improve air quality at ports across the country by installing clean, zero-emission freight and ferry technologies along with associated infrastructure, eliminating more than 3 million metric tons of carbon pollution, equivalent to 391,220 homes’ energy use for one year.

    “Our nation’s ports are critical to creating opportunity here in America, offering good-paying jobs, moving goods, and powering our economy,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Today’s historic $3 billion investment builds on President Biden’s vision of growing our economy while ensuring America leads in globally competitive solutions of the future. Delivering cleaner technologies and resources to U.S. ports will slash harmful air and climate pollution while protecting people who work in and live nearby ports communities.”

    “President Biden and Vice President Harris entered office with a vision to rebuild our nation’s infrastructure and tackle the climate crisis in a way that would create good-paying and union jobs and uplift the communities who’ve borne the brunt of pollution,” said John Podesta, Senior Advisor to the President for International Climate Policy. “The EPA Clean Ports program is one of the best examples of their vision come to life.”

    “Decarbonizing our nation’s ports is one of the many ways President Biden and Vice President Harris’s investment agenda is helping cut pollution and create good-paying union jobs,” said White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi. “The communities being uplifted by these grants provide proof points for how good environmental policy can be good economic policy. By advancing clean energy solutions in every sector of our growing economy, the Biden-Harris administration continues to position our nation to lead the global clean energy race, while protecting all communities — especially those on the front-line and the fence-line — from harmful pollution in the air we breathe and the water we drink.”

    “The Port of Baltimore is a vital economic engine for the state and a leader among the nation’s ports. As we work to improve the Port, it is essential that we build for the future. The projects supported by the Clean Ports Program will help reduce emissions, improve air quality in the Baltimore region and create more clean energy jobs,” said Senator Ben Cardin (MD). “The Biden-Harris administration’s bold investments in modernizing our infrastructure are driving our economy forward while enabling us to take on climate change in a meaningful way.”

     “The tremendous projects selected for these federal funding awards will improve air quality and combat climate change by dramatically diminishing the Port of Baltimore’s greenhouse gas and toxic pollutant emissions via installation of zero-emission cargo handling equipment and trucks, while also bolstering the Maryland Port Administration’s overall emissions reduction strategy. These extraordinary federal investments into our Port are consistent with our collective duty to preserve the planet – while also continuing to uplift the Port of Baltimore’s workforce and surrounding communities in the transition to a zero-emissions facility,” said Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07). “As exemplified by this compelling announcement, the historic Inflation Reduction Act continues to tackle the climate crisis with fierce urgency right here in Baltimore.” 

    In February 2024, EPA announced two separate funding opportunities for U.S. ports – a Zero-Emission Technology Deployment Competition to directly fund zero-emission equipment and infrastructure to reduce mobile source emissions and a Climate and Air Quality Planning Competition to fund climate and air quality planning activities. The competitions closed in May 2024 with over $8 billion in requests from applicants across the country seeking to advance next-generation, clean technologies at U.S. ports.

    After a thorough and rigorous grant application review process, EPA selected 55 applications to receive this historic investment. Applications to the Clean Ports Program were evaluated in part on their workforce development efforts, to ensure that projects will expand access to high-quality jobs. Grant selections also align with the Administration’s national goal for a zero-emission freight sector, the National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization, and the ‘all-of government’ National Zero-Emission Freight Corridor Strategy.

    Selected projects cover a wide range of human-operated and human-maintained equipment used at and around ports, with funds supporting the purchase of zero-emission equipment, including over 1,500 units of cargo handling equipment, 1,000 drayage trucks, 10 locomotives, and 20 vessels, as well as shore power systems, battery-electric and hydrogen vehicle charging and fueling infrastructure, and solar power generation.

    Initial estimates of tailpipe reductions from this new equipment are estimated to be over 3 million metric tons of CO2, 12 thousand short tons of NOx, and 200 short tons of PM2.5 in the first 10 years of operation.  These estimates are based on initial counts of proposed zero-emission equipment and shore power installations and do not consider benefits from retiring older vehicles, among other factors. These simplified estimates were prepared using national default emissions and activity factors and will be refined over time with more detailed information from selectees.

    Selected Zero-Emission Technology Deployment project examples include:

    The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) has been selected to receive an anticipated $344,138,135 to work with 5 collaborating partners to implement their proposed project, Catalyzing Change: Zero-Emissions NY-NJ Port Projects for a Greener Future. The proposed project includes the deployment of electric cargo handling equipment and drayage trucks with supporting charging infrastructure, including through a ZE Equipment for Ports (ZEEP) Voucher Incentive Program and Green Drayage Accelerator (GDA) program. PANYNJ commits to reducing the number of polluting vehicles at the port by scrapping a portion of the existing fleet. The project also includes the installation of vessel shore power infrastructure. As part of this project, PANYNJ will implement a comprehensive community engagement plan and train workers to operate and maintain new equipment and infrastructure.

    The Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority has been selected to receive an anticipated $21,905,782 to initiate the transition to a zero-emission future for the Port of Detroit in Michigan. The proposed project includes the acquisition and deployment of battery-electric cargo handling equipment, vessels, railcar movers, charging equipment, and solar arrays to support the electricity needs of the new equipment. The project also includes the scrappage of diesel cargo handling equipment, a vessel, and a railcar mover to reduce air pollution at the port and in the surrounding area. As part of this project, the applicant plans to develop a stakeholder engagement plan to facilitate community engagement and a guidebook for workforce development. 

    The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) has been selected to receive an anticipated $48,763,746 to upgrade the Port of Savannah and the Port of Brunswick with vessel shore power systems. These systems will allow ships to ‘plug-in’ to electric grid power and turn off auxiliary diesel engines while at port. In addition, the project includes the scrappage and replacement of diesel terminal tractors with new electric terminal tractors and the installation of electric charging infrastructure. GPA plans to engage with communities through their community advisory network and conduct classroom and on the job training for workers related to shore power, zero-emission vehicles, and charging stations.

    The Philadelphia Regional Port Authority has been selected to receive an anticipated $77,650,965 to deploy zero-emission port equipment across the Port of Philadelphia’s (PhilaPort) operations in Pennsylvania. The equipment slated for purchase under this project includes zero-emissions (ZE) cargo handling equipment and associated charging infrastructure. The project also includes the scrappage of a portion of the existing diesel fleet to reduce air pollution at the port and in the surrounding area. In addition to the deployment of zero-emission technology, the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority plans to conduct community engagement and workforce development through this project.

    The Port Department of the City of Oakland has been selected to receive an anticipated $322,167,584 to purchase and deploy zero-emission technology at the Port of Oakland in California. Project activities include the deployment of electric and hydrogen cargo handling equipment, drayage trucks, charging infrastructure, and a battery energy storage system, and the scrappage of a portion of the existing diesel fleet. The project includes community engagement activities, workforce training on zero-emission equipment, and efforts to expand access to high-quality jobs in near-port communities.

    Selected Climate and Air Quality Planning project examples include:

    The Port of Houston Authority in Texas, which has been selected to receive an anticipated $2,983,457 grant for the Port Houston’s PORT SHIFT (Ports Optimizing Resilient Transportation through Sustainable, Human, Innovative, and Forward-looking Technology), a comprehensive program designed to accelerate the introduction of zero-emissions technology into the Houston Port ecosystem. The project includes nine tasks: 1) greenhouse gas emissions inventory; 2) truck route analysis; 3) infrastructure cost assessment; 4) climate action plan; 5) performance measurement framework; 6) advisory council and community engagement forum; 7) trucking industry collaborative; 8) workforce planning and engagement; and 9) resiliency planning.

    The Puerto Rico Ports Authority has been selected to receive an anticipated $1,800,000 for planning activities including the development of a baseline air emissions inventory and two projected “business as usual” emissions inventories for 2030/2050, development of emissions reduction strategies, and stakeholder engagement. Reduction strategies will prioritize technologically and operationally feasible vehicles and equipment that can be integrated to reduce criteria, greenhouse gas, and toxic air emissions. The project also includes development of a resiliency plan to protect infrastructure from climate related vulnerabilities, such as hurricanes.

    The Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) has been selected to receive an anticipated $3,000,000 to conduct planning for a breakbulk cargo terminal at the Port of Tacoma in Washington. Expected activities include completing a baseline emissions inventory and feasibility analysis of ZE technology to inform the development of a plan to transition 40 pieces of CHE and light-duty vehicles to zero-emissions, and engineering and design for shore power. A workforce development and climate resilience needs assessment will be prepared as part of the planning process. Meaningful community is already a standard practice at NWSA, and the project is informed by community concerns.

    In addition to protecting human health and the environment, the program will protect and grow good-paying and union port jobs, create new good-paying and union jobs in the domestic clean energy sector, and enhance U.S. economic competitiveness through the innovation, installation, maintenance, and operation of zero-emissions equipment and infrastructure. The program’s historic investment in zero-emission port technology will also help promote and ensure the U.S. position as a global leader in clean technologies.

    EPA’s Clean Ports Program advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to deliver 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.  Disadvantaged communities will benefit from cleaner air and access to high quality jobs that will be created to operate zero emissions technologies at ports.

    EPA ensured that near-port community engagement and equity considerations were at the forefront of the Clean Ports Program’s design, including by evaluating applications on the extent and quality of their projects’ community engagement efforts. The program will also help to ensure that meaningful community engagement and emissions reduction planning become a part of port industry standard practices by building on the successes of EPA’s Ports Initiative and the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act programs. These programs have previously invested over $196 million to implement 207 diesel emissions reduction projects at ports with an additional $88 million to multi-sector projects that involve ports and have encouraged strong community-port collaboration.

    The agency anticipates making awards once all legal, statutory, and administrative requirements are satisfied. Selectees will work with EPA over the coming months to finalize project plans before receiving final awards and moving into the implementation phase. Project implementation will occur over the next three to four years depending on the scope of each project.

    To learn more about the Clean Ports Program tentatively selected applications, please visit the Clean Ports Program Selections webpage.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: $5 Million Investment to Expand Access to Behavioral Health Care in Primary Care Offices

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: $5 Million Investment to Expand Access to Behavioral Health Care in Primary Care Offices

    $5 Million Investment to Expand Access to Behavioral Health Care in Primary Care Offices
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    The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announces $5 million to help providers build capacity and implement the Collaborative Care Model in primary care offices across the state. Through the Collaborative Care Model, primary care providers work with an integrated behavioral health case manager and a psychiatric consultant to monitor and treat patients for mild to moderate behavioral health conditions. The need for integrated medical and behavioral health care is greater than ever as rates of anxiety and depression have substantially increased following the COVID-19 pandemic.

    “Too many individuals with mental health and substance use disorders delay the care they need because they struggle finding a provider,” said NC Health and Human Services Secretary Kody H. Kinsley. “Collaborative Care can serve more people earlier by supporting primary care providers in reaching people at the onset of behavioral health symptoms.”

    Collaborative Care is covered by NC Medicaid, Medicare and most commercial insurance plans in North Carolina, helping to break down barriers that separate how physical and behavioral health services are delivered and paid for. Patients are able to receive services through a provider, and in a setting, they already know and trust, which gives them easier access to the care they need. Collaborative Care improves patient outcomes, reduces health care costs and reduces stigma related to mental health and substance use disorders.

    NCDHHS’ investment is designed to help with the startup costs of implementing Collaborative Care, particularly for primary care providers in rural or high-need areas that have limited access to behavioral health services. The department is partnering with Community Care of North Carolina (CCNC) to select eligible provider applications and distribute funding to approximately 100 providers across the state.

    As of Oct. 10, providers can apply for up to $50,000 per site to help with hiring and start up costs. Primary care practices are encouraged to apply and can find more information through CCNC’s dedicated Collaborative Care website. Efforts will be made to ensure primary care practices in western North Carolina impacted by Hurricane Helene will have an opportunity to apply for inclusion in the program, even if they are unable to apply for funds at this time.

    “The need is greater than ever before,” said Dr. Carrie Brown, Chief Psychiatrist for NCDHHS. “From 2019 to 2021, the percentage of Americans reporting symptoms of anxiety and depression nearly quadrupled, from 11% to 41%. The Collaborative Care partnership between primary care and psychiatrists is one example of the department’s efforts to increase access to behavioral health care for those who need it as we focus on whole-person health.”

    Nationally, the Collaborative Care Model is a strategic response to the shortage of mental health care professionals across the country. Recent data show more than 123 million people in the U.S. live in a Federally Designated Mental Health Professional shortage area, including one in four North Carolina counties. In North Carolina, a recent study finds there are 28 counties without a practicing psychiatrist, and it can take weeks or even months to get an appointment with a mental health provider. 

    With the Collaborative Care Model, a behavioral health care manager is embedded within a primary care office and, through consultation with a psychiatrist, helps the primary care physician implement evidence-based interventions for patients who screen positive for targeted behavioral health conditions. In this model, one psychiatrist can reach far more North Carolinians with mild to moderate behavioral health needs than they could directly provide care for through traditional behavioral health services.

    “Through this partnership with primary care professionals, we are working to create a more accessible mental healthcare system,” said Kelly Crosbie, MSW, LCSW, Director of the NCDHHS Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services. “This ensures our community receives the mental health care they need and deserve, in a setting where they are most comfortable.”

    The $5 million investment in capacity building is made possible by the NC General Assembly through the signing bonus North Carolina received from the federal government when it approved Medicaid Expansion. The investment builds on the department’s strategic work to enhance access to the Collaborative Care Model, which has already resulted in a nearly 100% increase in utilization among NC Medicaid primary care providers between April 2023 and May 2024.

    NC Medicaid, in coordination with key stakeholders, has led a statewide effort over the past two years to align requirements and reimbursement for Collaborative Care across payors, increase NC Medicaid reimbursement for behavioral health services to 120% of Medicare rates and remove copays for Medicaid beneficiaries. Additionally, NC Medicaid has provided training and technical assistance to support model implementation through Area Health Education Centers, connected interested primary care practices with psychiatric consultants, and created a customized Collaborative Care registry for providers through CCNC. These efforts are outlined in detail in a white paper published by NC Medicaid in December 2023.   

    NCDHHS’ investment in the Collaborative Care Model is part of a broader commitment to build an integrated behavioral health system in North Carolina. The NC General Assembly last year allocated a historic $835 million to strengthen the behavioral health system, and millions of North Carolinians are already benefiting from the sweeping, systemic improvements these funds are making for their health, well-being and day-to-day lives. More information is available in the NCDHHS Transforming North Carolina’s Behavioral Health System white paper.

    El Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte anuncia $ 5 millones para ayudar a los proveedores a desarrollar capacidades e implementar el Modelo de Atención Colaborativa en las oficinas de atención médica primaria de todo el estado. A través del Modelo de Atención Colaborativa, los proveedores de atención médica primaria trabajan con un administrador de casos de salud conductual integrado y un consultor psiquiátrico para monitorear y tratar a los pacientes con condiciones de salud conductual de leves a moderadas. La necesidad de atención médica y de salud conductual integrada es mayor que nunca, ya que las tasas de ansiedad y depresión han aumentado sustancialmente después de la pandemia de COVID-19.

    “Demasiadas personas con trastornos de salud mental y uso de sustancias retrasan la atención que necesitan porque tienen dificultades para encontrar un proveedor”, dijo el secretario de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte, Kody H. Kinsley. “La Atención Colaborativa puede servir a más personas antes, al ayudar a los proveedores de atención médica primaria a llegar a las personas al inicio de los síntomas de salud conductual”.

    La Atención Colaborativa está cubierta por NC Medicaid, Medicare y la mayoría de los planes de seguros comerciales en Carolina del Norte, lo que ayuda a derribar las barreras que separan la forma en que se prestan y pagan los servicios de salud física y conductual. Los pacientes pueden recibir servicios a través de un proveedor y en un entorno que ya conocen y en el que confían, lo que les brinda un acceso más fácil a la atención que necesitan. La Atención Colaborativa mejora los resultados de los pacientes, reduce los costos de atención médica y reduce el estigma relacionado con la salud mental y los trastornos por uso de sustancias.

    La inversión del Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte (NCDHHS, por sus siglas en inglés) está diseñada para ayudar con los costos iniciales de la implementación de la Atención Colaborativa, particularmente para los proveedores de atención médica primaria en áreas rurales o de alta necesidad que tienen acceso limitado a los servicios de salud conductual. El departamento se está asociando con Atención Comunitaria de Carolina del Norte (Community Care of North Carolina, CCNC, por sus siglas en inglés) para seleccionar solicitudes de proveedores elegibles y distribuir fondos a aproximadamente 100 proveedores en todo el estado.

    A partir del 10 de octubre, los proveedores pueden solicitar hasta $50,000 por sitio para ayudar con los costos de contratación e iniciación. Se alienta a las prácticas de atención médica primaria a aplicar y encontrar más información a través del sitio web dedicado a la Atención Colaborativa de CCNC. Se harán esfuerzos para garantizar que las prácticas de atención médica primaria en el oeste de Carolina del Norte afectadas por el huracán Helene tengan la oportunidad de solicitar su inclusión en el programa, incluso si no pueden solicitar fondos en este momento.

    “La necesidad es mayor que nunca”, dijo la doctora Carrie Brown, directora psiquiatra del NCDHHS. “De 2019 a 2021, el porcentaje de estadounidenses que reportaron síntomas de ansiedad y depresión casi se cuadruplicó, del 11% al 41%. La asociación de Atención Colaborativa entre la atención médica primaria y los psiquiatras es un ejemplo de los esfuerzos del departamento para aumentar el acceso a la atención de salud conductual para quienes la necesitan, ya que nos centramos en la salud integral de la persona”.

    A nivel nacional, el Modelo de Atención Colaborativa es una respuesta estratégica a la escasez de profesionales de la salud mental en todo el país. Datos recientes muestran que más de 123 millones de personas en Estados Unidos viven en un área de escasez de profesionales de la salud mental designados por el gobierno federal, incluido uno de cada cuatro condados de Carolina del Norte. En Carolina del Norte, un estudio reciente encuentra que hay 28 condados sin un psiquiatra que ejerza, y puede tomar semanas o incluso meses obtener una cita con un proveedor de salud mental. 

    Con el Modelo de Atención Colaborativa, un administrador de atención de salud conductual está integrado en una oficina de atención médica primaria y, a través de la consulta con un psiquiatra, ayuda al médico de atención médica primaria a implementar intervenciones basadas en evidencia para pacientes que dan positivo para condiciones de salud conductual específicas. En este modelo, un psiquiatra puede llegar a muchos más habitantes de Carolina del Norte con necesidades de salud conductual de leves a moderadas de las que podrían atender directamente a través de los servicios tradicionales de salud conductual.

    “A través de esta asociación con profesionales de atención médica primaria, estamos trabajando para crear un sistema de salud mental más accesible”, dijo Kelly Crosbie, MSW, LCSW, directora de la División de Salud Mental, Discapacidades del Desarrollo y Servicios de Uso de Sustancias del NCDHHS. “Esto garantiza que nuestra comunidad reciba la atención de salud mental que necesita y merece, en un entorno más cómodo”.

    La inversión de $ 5 millones en el desarrollo de capacidades es posible gracias a la Asamblea General de Carolina del Norte a través del bono por contratación que Carolina del Norte recibió del gobierno federal cuando aprobó la Expansión de Medicaid. La inversión se basa en el trabajo estratégico del departamento para mejorar el acceso al Modelo de Atención Colaborativa, que ya ha resultado en un aumento de casi el 100% en la utilización entre los proveedores de atención médica primaria de Medicaid de Carolina del Norte entre abril de 2023 y mayo de 2024.

    NC Medicaid, en coordinación con las principales partes interesadas, ha liderado un esfuerzo estatal en los últimos dos años para alinear los requisitos y el reembolso de la Atención Colaborativa entre los contribuyentes, aumentar el reembolso de NC Medicaid por servicios de salud conductual al 120% de las tasas de Medicare y eliminar los copagos para los beneficiarios de Medicaid. Además, NC Medicaid ha brindado capacitación y asistencia técnica para apoyar la implementación del modelo a través de los Centros de Educación para la Salud del Área (Area Health Education Centers, AHEC, por sus siglas en inglés), ha conectado las prácticas de atención médica primaria interesadas con los consultores psiquiátricos y ha creado un registro personalizado de Atención Colaborativa para los proveedores a través de CCNC. Estos esfuerzos se describen en detalle en un libro blanco publicado por NC Medicaid en diciembre de 2023.   

    La inversión del NCDHHS en el Modelo de Atención Colaborativa es parte de un compromiso más amplio para construir un sistema integrado de salud conductual en Carolina del Norte. El año pasado, la Asamblea General de Carolina del Norte asignó $ 835 millones históricos para fortalecer el sistema de salud conductual, y millones de habitantes de Carolina del Norte ya se están beneficiando de las mejoras radicales y sistémicas que estos fondos están haciendo para su salud, bienestar y vida cotidiana. Para obtener más información, visite [$835 reporte]. 

    Oct 30, 2024

    MIL OSI USA News –