Category: Politics

  • MIL-OSI USA: “Bang for the Buck”: Womack, Ciscomani Release Op-Ed on Benefits of Community Project Funding

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3)

    Washington, DC—September 16, 2024…Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3), Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD), released a joint op-ed with his colleague Congressman Juan Ciscomani (AZ-6) regarding the benefits of Community Project Funding, which both congressmen secured for their districts in the Fiscal Year 2025 THUD Appropriations Act.

    The full op-ed from Friday, September 13, 2024, is available here and below:

    OPINION | GUEST WRITERS: Bang for the buck

    Community Project Funding effective

    by Steve Womack AND Juan Ciscomani Special to the Democrat-Gazette

    The U.S. Constitution grants Congress the power of the purse. This power is exercised through the annual appropriations process, and the House Appropriations Committee leads the House’s power of the purse efforts.

    One of the more well-known elements of the annual appropriations process is Community Project Funding, also known as earmarks. Community projects are individual appropriations for specific projects that are requested by members of Congress through an open and public process. The requests are vetted by the House Appropriations Committee and projects are funded through the annual appropriations bills.

    Community Project Funding does not increase federal spending. Instead, the process allocates money that would be spent by federal agencies and uses it to address local needs.

    Usually, federal spending for projects such as fire station upgrades, water infrastructure construction, and road improvements are allocated by the Executive Branch through centrally managed grant processes. However, Community Project Funding helps restore the Legislative Branch’s power of the purse by empowering members–who are far more aware of local needs than Washington-based bureaucrats–to allocate funding to projects that will make significant impacts on their communities.

    Areas of our country that are rapidly growing can experience delays in substantial federal investment for large projects as federal funding is often targeted toward historically populated areas. Community Project Funding can help shift that paradigm. For example, a project included in this year’s Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) bill will complete the Springdale Northern Bypass, unleashing economic opportunity for the region and beyond while prioritizing travelers’ safety. In Oro Valley, Ariz., this funding package secured an investment to repair and maintain bridges to increase safety and enhance mobility in this bustling community.

    Smaller towns, which are often overlooked by the federal government, also see massive impacts from community projects. A $3 million investment for Huntsville’s water system will provide water to residents and ensure the fire department has an adequate supply to protect people from fires. A $1.9 million investment for Duncan, Ariz., a rural community with fewer than 1,000 residents, will maintain and revitalize roads which have not been repaired in over 45 years. Without Community Project Funding, projects of this magnitude for small communities may be a pipe dream.

    With our ballooning national debt, it’s understandable that government spending is under scrutiny. As appropriators, protecting taxpayer dollars and reining in wasteful spending remains our top priority. To reiterate, Community Project Funding does not increase federal spending. Instead, the process allocates money that would be spent by federal agencies and instead uses it to address local needs. Discretionary spending accounts for 26 percent of total federal spending that is appropriated by Congress each year, and of that 26 percent, the House of Representatives only uses 0.5 percent for community projects.

    Bottom line–Community Project Funding is a bang for the buck. The small yet effective amount of funding in the THUD bill for community projects delivers substantial impacts across the country. The projects allow legislators–who know the needs of their communities best–to target funds for critical projects to solve problems, create jobs, and boost the economy. We are sent to Washington, D.C., to deliver results that will have real impact on the daily lives of Americans. There is no better avenue to do so than through Community Project Funding.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: NCDHHS Urges Safety Measures for Heating Homes in Western NC as Temperatures Drop

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: NCDHHS Urges Safety Measures for Heating Homes in Western NC as Temperatures Drop

    NCDHHS Urges Safety Measures for Heating Homes in Western NC as Temperatures Drop
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    As cooler weather arrives in western North Carolina, the NC Department of Health and Human Services urges individuals, families and communities impacted by Hurricane Helene to take safety precautions when heating homes, buildings or other enclosed spaces.

    Using gas or wood-burning heat sources without proper safety measures can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning and other hazards, especially if fuel sources or appliances have been damaged by the storm.

    Safe Practices for Wood-Burning Stoves
    Properly installed, correctly used wood-burning appliances should generate very little smoke. If you regularly see or smell smoke, you may have a problem. Take the following steps to reduce smoke inside and outside your home: 

    • What NOT to burn: Do not burn household trash (including cardboard, plastics, foam, magazines, boxes and wrappers), coated wood, painted wood, pressure-treated wood, driftwood, plywood, particle board, wood with any glue on it, wet or green wood, rotted wood, moldy wood, asbestos, rubber, manure or animal remains. These materials can release toxic or harmful chemicals when burned and may also damage your stove.
    • What to burn: Try to burn mainly dry, split, well-seasoned wood. Properly seasoned wood is darker, weighs less and sounds hollow when hit against another piece of wood. You can also use branches, sticks or limbs from fallen trees that are off the ground. Do not use wet or green wood.
    • Use a starter: Start fires with newspaper, dry kindling or all-natural fire starters. Never start a fire in a wood-burning stove with gasoline, kerosene or charcoal starter.
    • Keep flammable items away: Maintain a safe distance between stoves and items like curtains, furniture, newspapers, books or paper. Regularly remove ashes into a covered, metal container, and store the container outdoors on a nonflammable surface.
    • Keep the fire hot and door closed: For most appliances, a smoldering fire is not safe or efficient. Build a hot fire and keep the doors of your wood-burning appliance closed unless loading or stoking the live fire. Harmful chemicals, like carbon monoxide, can be released into your home through an open stove door.
    • Keep a fire extinguisher handy: In case of a fire, have a fire extinguisher, fire blanket or ample sand or water on-hand to put it out before it can spread. 

    Safe Practices for Generators and Fuel-Burning Heat Sources
    In previous hurricanes in North Carolina, people have died from carbon monoxide poisoning caused by generators running indoors. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas produced whenever fuel is burned. In an enclosed space, such as a home, garage, car or camper, carbon monoxide can build up to deadly levels quickly. 

    High levels of carbon monoxide can be deadly within minutes. Carbon monoxide poisoning can be fatal to anyone, especially children, pregnant women, older adults and those with chronic illness. People who are sleeping can die from carbon monoxide poisoning without ever becoming aware of their symptoms. 

    Anyone testing or using a generator or other fuel burning device during should take proper safety precautions, including the following: 

    • Do not use gasoline-powered tools or engines in enclosed or partially enclosed spaces. Use them outdoors at least 20 feet from all doors, windows and air vents.
    • Do not use charcoal grills or propane stoves indoors, even in a fireplace.
    • Never use the kitchen stove or other gas appliances to heat your home.
    • Do not idle your car, truck or other vehicle in the garage, even if the garage door to the outside is open. Fumes can build up quickly in the garage and living area of your home.
    • Keep rooms well ventilated.
    • Read and follow all instructions that accompany fuel-burning devices. Use the proper fuel and make sure there is enough air for ventilation and fuel burning. 

    Even low levels of carbon monoxide can cause dizziness, fatigue, nausea, headaches, confusion or fainting. If you are experiencing these symptoms, get to fresh air immediately and seek medical attention as soon as possible.

    For additional questions on how to safely use woodstoves and generators and prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, contact the Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, NC Division of Public Health, NCDHHS, at 919-707-5900. For more information about Hurricane Helene and resources available for people who are impacted, please go to ncdhhs.gov/helene and ncdps.gov/helene. 

    A medida que el clima más frío llega al oeste de Carolina del Norte, el Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte pide a las personas, familias y comunidades afectadas por el huracán Helene que tomen precauciones de seguridad al calentar casas, edificios u otros espacios cerrados.

    El uso de fuentes de calor de gas o leña sin las medidas de seguridad adecuadas puede provocar intoxicación por monóxido de carbono y otros peligros, especialmente si las fuentes de combustible o los electrodomésticos han sido dañados por la tormenta.

    Prácticas seguras para estufas de leña
    Los electrodomésticos de leña correctamente instalados y utilizados de manera adecuada deben generar muy poco humo. Si ve u huele humo con regularidad, es posible que tenga un problema. Tome las siguientes medidas para reducir el humo dentro y fuera de su hogar: 

    • Qué NO quemar: No queme basura doméstica (incluyendo cartón, plásticos, espuma, revistas, cajas y envoltorios), madera revestida, madera pintada, madera tratada a presión, madera a la deriva, madera contrachapada, aglomerados de madera, madera con cualquier pegamento, madera húmeda o verde, madera podrida, madera mohosa, asbesto/amianto, caucho/goma, estiércol o restos de animales. Estos materiales pueden liberar productos químicos tóxicos o nocivos cuando se queman y también pueden dañar su estufa.
    • Qué SÍ quemar: Intente quemar principalmente madera seca, partida y bien curada. La madera correctamente curada es más oscura, pesa menos y suena hueca cuando se golpea contra otra pieza de madera. También puede usar ramas, palos o ramas de árboles caídos que están fuera del suelo. No utilice madera húmeda o verde.
    • Use un material de arranque: Inicie el fuego con periódicos, leña seca o iniciadores de fuego totalmente naturales. Nunca encienda un fuego en una estufa de leña con gasolina, queroseno o arrancador de carbón.
    • Mantenga los artículos inflamables alejados: Mantenga una distancia segura entre las estufas y artículos como cortinas, muebles, periódicos, libros o papel. Retire regularmente las cenizas en un recipiente de metal cubierto y guárdelo al aire libre en una superficie no inflamable.
    • Mantenga el fuego caliente y la puerta cerrada: Para la mayoría de los electrodomésticos, un fuego ardiente no es seguro ni eficiente. Logre un fuego caliente y mantenga las puertas de su electrodoméstico de leña cerradas a menos que cargue o alimente el fuego vivo. Los productos químicos nocivos, como el monóxido de carbono, pueden liberarse en su hogar a través de una puerta abierta de la estufa.
    • Tenga un extintor a mano: En caso de incendio, tenga a mano un extintor, una manta contra incendios o suficiente arena o agua para apagarlo antes de que se propague. 

    Prácticas seguras para generadores y fuentes de calor que queman combustible
    En huracanes anteriores en Carolina del Norte, las personas han muerto por envenenamiento por monóxido de carbono causado por generadores encendidos en interiores. El monóxido de carbono es un gas inodoro e incoloro que se produce cada vez que se quema combustible. En un espacio cerrado, como una casa, un garaje, un automóvil o una autocaravana, el monóxido de carbono puede acumularse a niveles mortales rápidamente. 

    Los altos niveles de monóxido de carbono pueden ser mortales en cuestión de minutos. La intoxicación por monóxido de carbono puede ser fatal para cualquier persona, especialmente niños, mujeres embarazadas, adultos mayores y personas con enfermedades crónicas. Las personas que duermen pueden morir por intoxicación por monóxido de carbono sin darse cuenta de sus síntomas. 

    Cualquier persona que pruebe o use un generador u otro dispositivo de combustión de combustible debe tomar las precauciones de seguridad adecuadas, incluidas las siguientes: 

    • No utilice herramientas o motores de gasolina en espacios cerrados o parcialmente cerrados. Úselos al aire libre al menos a 20 pies de distancia de todas las puertas, ventanas y salidas de aire.
    • No use parrillas de carbón o estufas de propano en interiores, incluso en una chimenea.
    • Nunca use la estufa de la cocina u otros electrodomésticos de gas para calentar su hogar.
    • No deje su coche, camión u otro vehículo encendido en el garaje, incluso si la puerta del garaje hacia el exterior está abierta. Los humos pueden acumularse rápidamente en el garaje y la sala de estar de su hogar.
    • Mantenga las habitaciones bien ventiladas.
    • Lea y siga todas las instrucciones que acompañan a los dispositivos de quema de combustible. Use el combustible adecuado y asegúrese de que haya suficiente aire para la ventilación y la quema de combustible. 

    Incluso los niveles bajos de monóxido de carbono pueden causar mareos, fatiga, náuseas, dolores de cabeza, confusión o desmayos. Si experimenta estos síntomas, salga al aire libre de inmediato y busque atención médica lo antes posible.

    Para preguntas adicionales sobre cómo usar estufas de leña y generadores de manera segura y prevenir la intoxicación por monóxido de carbono, comuníquese con la Sección de Epidemiología Ocupacional y Ambiental, División de Salud Pública de Carolina del Norte, Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte, al 919-707-5900. Para obtener más información sobre el huracán Helene y los recursos disponibles para las personas afectadas, visite ncdhhs.gov/helene ncdps.gov/helene

    Oct 15, 2024

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Canada to provide update on the National Action Plan on Combatting Auto Theft

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Members of the media are invited to join the Honourable Anita Anand, President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Transport, as she provides an update on the National Action Plan on combatting auto theft

    Oakville, Ontario – Members of the media are invited to join the Honourable Anita Anand, President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Transport, as she provides an update on the National Action Plan on combatting auto theft.

    Date

    Wednesday, October 16, 2024

    Time 
    1:00 p.m. EDT

    Media representatives who wish to attend the event must register with Public Safety Canada by emailing media@ps-sp.gc.ca to obtain the event location.

    Gabriel Brunet
    Press Secretary
    Office of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc
    Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs
    819-665-6527
    Gabriel.Brunet@iga-aig.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Bennie G. Thompson Announces National Park Service Lower Mississippi Delta Initiative (LMDI) Grants for Mississippi Projects

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Bennie G Thompson (D-MS)

    CategoriesMIL OSI

    BOLTON, MS – Congressman Bennie G. Thompson is pleased to announce that the National Park Service (NPS), in partnership with the Jefferson National Parks Association (JNPA), has awarded $186,756 in Lower Mississippi Delta Initiative (LMDI) grants. These funds will support 11 projects aimed at preserving the rich cultural and historical heritage of the Delta Region across seven states, including Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee.

    This year, several key projects in Mississippi’s Second Congressional District have been selected for LMDI funding, including:

    • 100 Years Later: A Centennial Look at the Continuing Impact of the 1927 Flood on the Lower Mississippi Delta — A multi-state project including Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, which examines the lasting effects of the 1927 flood on the region.
    • The Clinton Riot Historical Site — A project focused on preserving and highlighting the historical significance of the Clinton Riot in Mississippi.
    • Unita Blackwell Houses’ Collection Conservation — A project dedicated to the conservation of collections related to the life and legacy of Unita Blackwell, a civil rights leader and the first Black woman to serve as mayor in Mississippi.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Canada announces funding to improve the sustainability and competitiveness of Canadian cereals

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    Cereal crops are a staple of Canada’s agricultural sector.

    October 15, 2024 – Winnipeg, Manitoba – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

    Cereal crops are a staple of Canada’s agricultural sector. Last year, we exported 29.8 million tonnes of wheat, barley and oats, valued at $13.8 billion, and demand continues to grow.

    To support the competitiveness and sustainability of Canadian cereals, today, Terry Duguid, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and Special Advisor for Water and Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South, on behalf of the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, announced up to $7.3 million in funding to Cereals Canada through the AgriMarketing Program and the AgriScience Program – Projects Component, two initiatives under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

    Cereals Canada is receiving up to $6,660,817 through the AgriMarketing Program to increase market access, improve customer support, and expand exports through initiatives like technical exchanges, market research, and knowledge sharing among stakeholders.

    Through the AgriScience Program – Projects Component, Cereals Canada is also receiving up to $674,249. This funding will support research on how environmental conditions impact cereal crop quality during the growing season. It will also expand milling expertise, establish oat quality standards, and compare Canadian wheat with international competitors to strengthen Canada’s place in the global market.

    By sharing key insights on the performance, functionality, and marketability of Canadian cereals with customers, producers, and partners, these projects will drive market growth. At the same time, by investing in research to help farmers adapt to environmental challenges, they will further build on Canada’s reputation as a reliable supplier of high-quality, sustainable cereal grains.

    “We are grateful for the support from the Government of Canada for applied research and market access initiatives that will benefit Canadian wheat, durum, barley, and oat growers, and the value chain as a whole. This funding enables us to amplify our resources, maintain and grow markets, and foster industry relationships and advocacy, helping to ensure the long-term competitiveness and sustainability of Canada’s cereals industry.”

    – Dean Dias, CEO, Cereals Canada

    • In the last five years, Canada exported wheat to almost 100 countries with some of the largest buyers being in the United States, Indonesia, China and Japan.

    • According to Statistics Canada, 2023 wheat exports were nearly $12 billion, and 2023 oat exports were $725 million.

    • Cereals Canada is a longstanding recipient of departmental funding, having most recently received over $3 million in funding through the AgriMaketing Program under the previous Canadian Agricultural Partnership framework.

    • Cereals Canada is a national, not-for-profit organization representing the cereal grains sector, focused on enhancing the competitiveness of Canadian cereals both domestically and internationally.

    • The Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) is a $3.5-billion, 5-year agreement (2023 to 2028), between the federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen the competitiveness, innovation, and resiliency of the agriculture, agri‐food and agri‐based products sector.

    • The AgriMarketing Program, under the Sustainable CAP, supports national agricultural sectors to increase and diversify exports to international markets and seize domestic market opportunities.

    • The AgriScience Program, under the Sustainable CAP, aims to accelerate innovation by providing funding and support for pre-commercial science activities and research that benefits the agriculture and agri-food sector, and Canadians.

    Annie Cullinan
    Director of Communications
    Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
    annie.cullinan@agr.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News

  • MIL-OSI Canada: October 15th Canada Carbon Rebate Delivers Support for Families in Hamilton, Ontario

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    Today, families across Canada will receive their Canada Carbon Rebate for individuals, a payment that is making life more affordable for Canadians.

    October 15, 2024 – Hamilton, Ontario

    Today, families across Canada will receive their Canada Carbon Rebate for individuals, a payment that is making life more affordable for Canadians. The Canada Carbon Rebate – alongside measures like dental care, childcare, and others – contribute to the Government of Canada’s plan to help Canadian families to get ahead while ensuring big polluters pay their fair share.

    Today, the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), was in Hamilton, Ontario, to announce the latest quarterly Canada Carbon Rebate payments are being delivered to their bank accounts and mailboxes. The Canada Carbon Rebate is helping households, small businesses, farmers and Indigenous communities across Canada to get ahead.

    A family of four residing in Hamilton will receive the Canada Carbon Rebate for individual payments every three months, meaning they will receive a quarterly cheque or deposit of $280. To discover more about how much your family could receive, please refer to the Canada Carbon Rebate amounts for 2024-25 for payment amounts applicable to your province.

    In addition to putting money in the pockets of families, the federal government announced the payment amounts for the new Canada Carbon Rebate for Small Businesses, which will deliver over $2.5 billion to about 600,000 Canadian businesses before the end of this year. This refundable tax credit will return a portion of the fuel charge proceeds from 2019-20 through 2023-24 to eligible small businesses, in jurisdictions where the federal fuel charge applies.

    The Canada Carbon Rebate is part of a suite of federal actions to help Canadians to get ahead, while simultaneously supporting holding the biggest polluters accountable in the fight against the climate crisis.

    Canada’s price on pollution is working.  When it comes to meeting Canada’s goals, emissions are down, and pollution pricing alone is delivering at least a third of the reductions needed, while delivering clean air and incentivizing job-creating greener investments in communities. As of today, emissions are down, while the economy grows and wages for Canadians are going up.

    Edward Hutchinson
    Press Secretary
    Office of the Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
    Edward.hutchinson@feddevontario.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Third-quarter physician growth: Minister LaGrange

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    “Growing Alberta’s physician numbers remains a top priority for our government, and I’m very pleased that the latest quarterly statistics from the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta show promising progress.   

    “At the end of September, there were 12,126 physicians registered in Alberta, an increase of 518 physicians, or 4.5 per cent, compared with the same time last year, with the greatest increase occurring in the Calgary area. We’ve also seen a net increase of 370 physicians since the end of the second quarter.

    “The data also reveals an almost five per cent increase in the number of family physicians over the same period last year, which is wonderful news for Albertans.

    “These record numbers reflect that there are more doctors registered in Alberta today than at any other time in the province’s history. The province has also seen its most significant third-quarter growth rate since before 2015. This demonstrates that our efforts to attract and retain physicians are paying off, but we recognize there is more to be done. We are committed to building on this momentum by strengthening primary health care, enhancing physician education and training, and advancing our Health Workforce Strategy to address physician supply challenges.

    “I want to thank physicians across Alberta for their expertise, dedication to providing exceptional care, and for the vital role they play in our health care system.”

    Related information

    • CPSA: Physician Resources in Alberta

    MIL OSI Canada News

  • MIL-OSI Global: In the age of supposed anti-ambition, is Kamala Harris’s pro-work message resonating?

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Scott Schieman, Professor of Sociology and Canada Research Chair, University of Toronto

    “Our ambition and aspiration should be baseline, and we should aspire and have the ambition and plan to do more … I want Americans and families to not just get by but to be able to get ahead.” United States Vice President Kamala Harris, outlining her plan to build an “opportunity economy” in a recent speech.

    As a sociologist who studies how people think and talk about getting ahead in life, I’ve been struck by the tsunami of anti-ambition rhetoric in recent years that seems at odds with Harris’s messaging.

    A prominent 2022 feature in The New York Times Magazine’s Future of Work issue, for example, proclaimed a new “Age of Anti-Ambition.”

    While many joined the “ambition is out” chorus, a softer refrain suggested that ambition had merely become quiet as Fortune magazine reported people were “no longer chasing achievement for achievements’ sake.”

    Given all the anti-ambition rhetoric, it’s reasonable to ask: is Harris’s message about ambition resonating with voters with less than a month until the presidential election? Does anyone still believe ambition is important for getting ahead?

    Shifts in sentiment

    Let’s look at some data. The General Social Survey (GSS) — the gold standard for tracking American attitudes and beliefs since the 1970s — asks a set of questions about the importance that people give to different ways of getting ahead in life.

    The list includes “ambition,” “hard work,” “a good education,” “coming from a wealthy family,” “knowing the right people,” etc. For each, respondents select from these response options: “essential,” “very important,” “fairly important,” “not very important” and “not at all important.”

    In 1987, the first time the GSS presented these questions, 43 per cent of American workers said that ambition was “essential” to getting ahead; 44 per cent said it was “very important;” 11 per cent said it was “fairly important;” and only two per cent said “not very/not at all important.”

    Most respondents to the GSS say ambition is important or very important to success, both years ago and more recently.
    (Mimi Thian/Unsplash)

    I didn’t believe that Americans had ditched ambition since then, but I needed data to test my hunch, so I solicited the research firm YouGov in 2023 and 2024 for two national surveys of 7,500 American workers. I call my study the MESSI (Measuring Employment Sentiments and Social Inequality).

    My 2024 survey finds that most American workers still believe in the importance of ambition, but sentiments have shifted.

    The share who now say ambition is “essential” dropped nine percentage points from 1987 to 34 per cent. While the share who said ambition was “very important” dipped by two points (now 42 per cent), the percentage who felt ambition was “fairly important” or “unimportant” increased by 11 points.

    This softening is noteworthy. But, then again, if we are truly in an anti-ambition era, would three-quarters of American workers still see ambition as very important or essential?

    Message falling flat?

    In her stump speeches, Harris often mentions the “dignity of work” and the power of “hard work.” But after years of anti-work rhetoric mixed with new anti-ambition language like “quiet quitting,” a message celebrating the importance of hard work to get ahead might fall flat.




    Read more:
    If companies want to stop quiet quitting they need to take burnout seriously


    Let’s return to the 1987 GSS. Back then, 91 per cent of working Americans said hard work was “very important” or “essential” to getting ahead.

    That dipped slightly to 89 per cent in 2021 and then dropped to 77 per cent by 2024.

    On one hand, an 11-point plunge might be seen as a concern. On the other hand, we could interpret the fact that almost eight in 10 American workers say that they still value hard work as a sign of its resilience — especially given the cultural onslaught against work’s reputation and the persistent narrative about employees being miserable in their jobs since 2021.




    Read more:
    New research debunks the ‘unhappy worker’ narrative, but finds most still believe it


    Willing to work harder

    According to a viral video on TikTok, quiet quitting is when you “quit the idea of going above and beyond.”

    Given quiet quitting’s popularity among anti-ambition/anti-work narratives, I wondered how Americans would respond to a GSS question that asks the extent of agreement or disagreement with the following: “I am willing to work harder than I have to in order to help the firm or organization I work for succeed.”

    If quiet quitting has truly reached astronomical levels, wouldn’t it make sense that most Americans would strongly disagree with that statement?

    Two GSS data points in 2006 and 2016, well before the COVID-19 pandemic, show that eight in 10 American workers said they were willing to work harder than necessary. In my 2023 and 2024 MESSI surveys, I found that dropped to six in 10. Now, a greater share neither endorses nor rejects giving a little extra. Ambivalence is a bit more of a standard response.

    ‘Hard work is good work’

    What’s the takeaway? Sweeping sociological claims that we’re living in an age of anti-ambition and that most people are quiet quitting simply aren’t justified.

    Yes, sentiments about the importance of ambition and hard work — and going above and beyond — have shifted. And even though that shift is quieter than media discourse would have you believe, economic pessimism remains entrenched despite objective evidence to the contrary.

    Harris may therefore have her work cut out for her in selling an “opportunity economy” message as election day draws closer. But as she has said: “Hard work is good work.”

    Scott Schieman receives funding from Social Science and Humanities Research Council.

    ref. In the age of supposed anti-ambition, is Kamala Harris’s pro-work message resonating? – https://theconversation.com/in-the-age-of-supposed-anti-ambition-is-kamala-harriss-pro-work-message-resonating-240427

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. Department of Homeland Security Recognizes 320 Employees at Secretary’s Award Ceremony in Washington D.C.

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: U.S. Department of Homeland Security Recognizes 320 Employees at Secretary’s Award Ceremony in Washington D.C.

    “Every single day, with great determination, integrity, and skill, the 268,000 men and women of the Department of Homeland Security ensure the safety and security of the American people,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “Thanks to these extraordinary public servants, our shores, harbors, skies, cyberspace, and borders are protected; fentanyl and other deadly drugs are prevented from entering our country; communities are able to recover and rebuild after a natural disaster; the scourges of human trafficking, forced labor, and online exploitation are mitigated; and so much more. The individuals we recognize today with our Department’s highest honor, the Secretary’s Award, reflect the very best of DHS – and in their selfless dedication to mission, the very best of public service.” 

    The DHS Secretary’s Awards are an annual program that recognizes the extraordinary individual and collective achievements of the workforce. The 320 awardees recognized in today’s ceremony represent the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office (CWMD), the Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A), the Management Directorate (MGMT), the Office of Health Affairs (OHA), the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), the Office of Legislative Affairs (OLA), Office of Homeland Security Situational Awareness (OSA), the Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). 

     “In recognizing these outstanding DHS personnel with a Secretary’s Award, we recognize all our talented personnel; the achievements of one are not possible without the contributions of others,” added Secretary Mayorkas. “We also express our appreciation to their families and loved ones; when one serves, the family serves too.” 

    This year’s award recipients developed and issued policy and procedures associated with a whole-scale transition to a new pay system for TSA; launched a series of coordinated and collaborative initiatives, operations and investigations targeting Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) and national security threats operating and transiting through the Darien Gap region; arrested over 8,000 human smugglers, produced over 5,000 intelligence reports, and seized over $38M USD in real property; ensured over 2,300 vital alerts and warnings were provided to owners and operators of critical infrastructure to protect against cyberattacks; among many other achievements.  

    This year, DHS is holding nine Secretary’s Awards ceremonies across the country, honoring over 1,700 employees, the most annual awardees ever.  

    Last year, Secretary Mayorkas unveiled 12 priorities for the Department, including a commitment to champion the workforce and transform the employee experience. DHS has the third largest workforce of any federal department, behind the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs. The Department is home to more than 92,000 sworn law enforcement officers, the greatest number of law enforcement officers of any department in the federal government. DHS has committed to increasing the representation of women in law enforcement or related occupations at DHS to 30% by 2030. Over 54,000 veterans, or nearly 21% of the workforce, continue serving their country by working at DHS.  

    DHS operational components interact more frequently on a daily basis with the American public than any other federal department, from travelers moving through air, land, and sea ports of entry, to businesses importing goods into the country, to immigrants applying for services. To learn more about the impact DHS makes every day, visit: DHS.gov/TodayDHSWill. 

    Last year, DHS improved the efficiency of processing noncitizens at the Southwest Border, deployed across the country to respond to natural disasters, investigated cybercrimes, created a new streamlined process for adjudicating asylum applications, safely and securely resettled nearly 90,000 evacuated Afghans in the United States, provided resources for organizations to enhance their cybersecurity resilience, established a process for Ukrainian nationals seeking refuge, secured the 2022 midterm elections, and demonstrated heroism by acting quickly and courageously to save lives in harrowing circumstances.    

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: ERO Boston arrests Dominican national convicted of drug charges in Massachusetts

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    BOSTON — Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston apprehended an unlawfully present 33-year-old Dominican national charged with assault and battery on a household member, destruction of property, indecent exposure, carjacking, two counts of trafficking a controlled substance, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. Officers with ERO Boston arrested Luis Esmeraldo Rodriguez Aug. 12 in Roxbury. The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts arraigned Rodriguez Sept. 16 for unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed.

    “Not only has Luis Esmeraldo Rodriguez has displayed a complete disregard for U.S. immigration laws — he also attempted to use our Massachusetts neighborhoods to peddle poison to our residents,” said ERO Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde. “Now he has been charged with some much more severe offenses and clearly poses a threat to our community. ERO Boston will continue to prioritize the safety of our public by aggressively apprehending and removing egregious noncitizen offenders from New England.”

    U.S. Border Patrol apprehended Rodriguez Nov. 23, 2014, after he unlawfully entered the United States near Laredo, Texas, without inspection, admission or parole by a U.S. immigration official.

    On Jan. 16, 2015, ERO Batavia served Rodriguez with a notice to appear before a Department of Justice immigration judge.

    A Department of Justice immigration judge in Batavia, New York, granted Rodriguez an immigration bond Feb.18, 2015.

    On May 12, 2015, a Department of Justice immigration judge in Batavia ordered Rodriguez removed from the United States to the Dominican Republic.

    The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts arraigned Rodriguez on a charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute fentanyl and an additional charge of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. The court convicted Rodriguez of those charges Feb. 27, 2019, and sentenced him to 30 months in prison.

    ERO Philadelphia arrested Rodriguez Feb. 15, 2020, after his release from state prison and removed him from the United States to the Dominican Republic Feb. 18, 2024.

    Rodriguez unlawfully reentered the United States on an unknown date, at an unknown location, without inspection, admission or parole by a U.S. immigration official.

    The Roxbury District Court arraigned Rodriguez June 10 on charges of assault and battery of a household member, destruction of property, indecent exposure, carjacking, two counts of trafficking a controlled substance, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

    Later that day, ERO lodged an immigration detainer against Rodriguez with the Suffolk County House of Corrections in Boston.

    Officers with ERO Boston arrested Rodriguez Aug. 12 at the Roxbury District Court and served him with a notice of intent/decision to reinstate a prior removal order.

    The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts arraigned Rodriguez Sept. 16 on a charge of unlawful reentry into the United States after removal.

    As part of its mission to identify and arrest removable noncitizens, ERO lodges immigration detainers against noncitizens who have been arrested for criminal activity and taken into custody by state or local law enforcement. An immigration detainer is a request from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to state or local law enforcement agencies to notify ICE as early as possible before a removable noncitizen is released from their custody. Detainers request that state or local law enforcement agencies maintain custody of the noncitizen for a period not to exceed 48 hours beyond the time the individual would otherwise be released, allowing ERO to assume custody for removal purposes in accordance with federal law.

    Detainers are critical public safety tools because they focus enforcement resources on removable noncitizens who have been arrested for criminal activity. Detainers increase the safety of all parties involved — ERO personnel, law enforcement officials, the removable noncitizens and the public — by allowing an arrest to be made in a secure and controlled custodial setting as opposed to at-large within the community. Since detainers result in the direct transfer of a noncitizen from state or local custody to ERO custody, they also minimize the potential that an individual will reoffend. Additionally, detainers conserve scarce government resources by allowing ERO to take criminal noncitizens into custody directly rather than expending resources locating these individuals at-large.

    ERO conducts removals of individuals without a lawful basis to remain in the United States, including at the order of immigration judges with the Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review. The Executive Office for Immigration Review is a separate entity from the Department of Homeland Security and ICE. Immigration judges in these courts make decisions based on the merits of each individual case, determining if a noncitizen is subject to a final order of removal or eligible for certain forms of relief from removal.

    As one of ICE’s three operational directorates, ERO is the principal federal law enforcement authority in charge of domestic immigration enforcement. ERO’s mission is to protect the homeland through the arrest and removal of those who undermine the safety of U.S. communities and the integrity of U.S. immigration laws, and its primary areas of focus are interior enforcement operations, management of the agency’s detained and non-detained populations, and repatriation of noncitizens who have received final orders of removal. ERO’s workforce consists of more than 7,700 law enforcement and non-law enforcement support personnel across 25 domestic field offices and 208 locations nationwide, 30 overseas postings, and multiple temporary duty travel assignments along the border.

    Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

    Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in our New England communities on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @EROBoston.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Greens call for Labour to scrap ‘dehumanising’ weight-loss plans

    Source: Scottish Greens

    Scottish Greens criticise plans from Labour Health Secretary Wes Streeting

    Labour Health Secretary Wes Streeting’s plans to give unemployed people weight-loss jabs to improve the economy is “horrific and dehumanising” says Scottish Greens MSP Maggie Chapman.

    The Labour MP made the statement in an opinion piece for The Telegraph where he said “widening waistbands” were “holding back our economy”. This came alongside news that the UK government would invest nearly £300 million in the company which produces the weight-loss drug Tirzepatide.

    Maggie Chapman MSP said:

    “Treating a health issue as an economic burden that can be ‘fixed’ by medication is outrageous.
     

    “People are not just cogs to fit into the capitalist machine. Instead of short-term fixes, this Labour government needs to focus on tackling long-term systemic issues that lead to obesity and ill health in this country.

    “Suggesting that the only reason someone is unemployed is due to their weight sets a disturbing precedent for further division and shame. It deflects from the wider social inequalities that truly affect unemployment rates that the Labour government should spend more time pondering.

    “These horrific and dehumanising plans should be scrapped before they start. It is totally unacceptable for Mr Streeting to suggest this whilst ignoring the vast number of systematic faults and moral failings that need to be tackled in the UK.” 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI USA: McConnell Announces Nearly $2 Million for West Industrial Park in Russellville, Kentucky

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Mitch McConnell

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced today the Logan Industrial Development Authority, Inc., in collaboration with Logan Economic Alliance for Development (LEAD), will receive $1,920,000 in federal funding to support the construction of a new two-lane roadway at the West Industrial Park in Russellville, Kentucky.

    Funded by the Fiscal Year 2024 government funding bill, this federal grant is distributed through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA). Senator McConnell, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, contacted the EDA in support of LEAD’s competitive grant application and advocated for EDA funding during the annual appropriations process. 

    “Impactful organizations like LEAD – and their work to drive industry into the Commonwealth – form an integral part of Western Kentucky’s growing economy. I was proud to work with LEAD to help bring home today’s funding which will lay the groundwork for new jobs and economic opportunity in Logan County. I look forward to seeing these funds go to good use and I’ll continue to do what I can to ensure Western Kentucky is a place full of growth and opportunity,” said Senator McConnell.

    “We are deeply grateful to the EDA for this award, the Barren River Area Development District for their support throughout the application process, and Senator Mitch McConnell for his help directing these dollars toward Logan County,” said President and CEO of LEAD Brooke Waldrup. “These funds will significantly improve the infrastructure of the West Industrial Park, enhancing our community’s ability to attract new opportunities and create lasting economic benefits for Logan County. The EDA’s investment will help ensure that our region remains competitive and prepared for future growth.”

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Everything Liz Saville Roberts said in her speech to annual conference

    Source: Party of Wales

    Our Westminster parliamentary leader, Liz Saville Roberts, gave the closing speech to the annual conference.

    Diolch yn fawr, Gynhadledd.

    Mae’n bleser siarad efo chi ar derfyn deuddydd gwych o sgwrsio, o drafod syniadau, a chwrdd â ffrindiau hen a newydd.

    Dwi’n falch o’r cysylltiadau sydd ganddon ni fel plaid. Ro’n i’n falch o glywed Stephen Gethins ddoe o’r SNP – wrth gwrs mae hir draddodiad ganddon ni o gael rhywun o’n chwaer blaid yr SNP i’n cynhadledd.

    Ro’n i’n falch iawn o glywed John Finucane o Sinn Fein. Mae’n gysylltiad gweddol newydd rydyn ni’n ei gryfhau wrth ei gael yma yn siarad heddiw.

    A dwi’n meddwl ‘mod i’n siarad dros bawb pan dwi’n dweud bod yr anerchiad gan Lysgennad Palesteina, Husam Zomlot, yn un o’r pethau mwyaf grymus dwi erioed wedi ei glywed mewn cynhadledd Plaid Cymru.

    A dwi’n falch hefyd o’ch annerch heddiw fel arweinydd y Grŵp cryfaf sydd gan Plaid Cymru erioed wedi bod yn San Steffan.

    Dani wedi cael cyfnod prysur a dweud y lleia.

    Er bod nifer ohonom wedi bod yn hir aros yr etholiad, roedd amseriad yr Etholiad Cyffredinol yn syndod i bron bob un ohonom – gan gynnwys Rishi Sunak yn hynny o beth!

    Ond, fe wnaethom ateb yr alwad fel plaid.

    Dwi’n hynod falch bod Plaid Cymru wedi sicrhau’r gyfran uchaf o’r bleidlais mewn Etholiad San Steffan yn hanes ein plaid!

    Mae’n rhaid i mi ddiolch i’r gwirfoddolwyr ar draws Cymru gyfan a’n helpodd i gnocio ar ddrysau a gyrru’r ymgyrch i lwyddiant.

    Rhaid i mi roi diolch arbennig i griw Dwyfor Meirionnydd, ac yn arbennig, arbennig, i fy asiant Arwyn Herald gyda’r gwaith arwrol, amyneddgar, lliwgar, ieithgar weithiau! A’r holl luniau yn ystod yr ymgyrch yn yr etholaeth newydd sbon – sydd gyda llaw yn fwy na Luxembourg!

    Ar y nodyn cychwynol yma hefyd – yn drist iawn, mi gollon ni un o’n cefnogwyr mwyaf brwd yn ddiweddar. Roedd Dewi Pws yn arwr cenedlaethol, ond i mi hefyd yn gymydog, yn ffrind ac yn ymgyrchydd brwd. Yr hyn roedd Dewi yn ei wneud yn unigryw oedd gyrru yr achos cenedlaethol, nid ag och a gwae ond â gwên ar ei wyneb.

    Daeth Dewi a Rhiannon lond trol o hapusrwydd i Nefyn.

    Roedd o’n genedlaethwr i’r carn, ac yn enghraifft i ni gyd.

    Diolch am bopeth, Dewi Pws.

    Roedden ni’n gwybod ein bod ni’n wynebu cyd-destun anodd wrth fynd i mewn i’r etholiad cyffredinol.

    Ond gyda’ch gwaith caled chi a’ch ymroddiad chi, mae gennym dîm cryf a phenderfynol newydd yn San Steffan.

    A dwi eisiau troi atyn nhw fesul un rwan.

    Mae’r ymryddawn Ben Lake wedi’i ddychwelyd gyda chyfran uwch o’r bleidlais – supermajority bron – yng Ngheredigion Preseli newydd.

    Arweiniodd Ann Davies ymgyrch gampus yng Nghaerfyrddin a phwy all anghofio’r ddelwedd eiconig o Ann yn cael ei chanu oddi ar y platfform i gyfeiliant Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau ar ei thrên cyntaf i Lundain?

    Mae etholiad Llinos Medi yn Ynys Môn yn profi bod pobl yn ysu am wleidyddion sy’n cael eu gyrru gan angerdd dros eu cymunedau ac ysfa i wella bywydau pobl.

    Y gair i ddisgrifio Llinos? Ysbrydoledig. Mae Ynys Môn yn mor lwcus o dy gael di.

    Nid yn unig enillon ni ein seddi targed ond cawsom ganlyniadau gwych ar hyd a lled Cymru – Caerdydd, Llanelli, Bangor Aberconwy. Diolch yn fawr i ymgeiswyr ar draws Gymru am ymgyrch ragorol.

    Rhan allweddol o’n llwyddiant yn yr etholiad oedd perfformiad ein harweinydd Rhun ap Iorwerth. Roedd o’n bwerdy yn y cyfryngau. Oherwydd Rhun, roedd llais Cymru i’w glywed yn yr etholiad. Mae o wedi codi proffil Plaid Cymru. Felly diolch yn fawr iti, Rhun.

    We have every reason therefore to be hopeful for the future.

    Another reason to be hopeful is that we played our part in kicking out the Tories out of Wales.

    They may still be the second largest party in Westminster, but they are a spent force in Wales.  

    Let us be clear:

    Plaid is the official opposition for Wales in Westminster. Not the Conservatives.

    We will do what the opposition are supposed to do – hold the Government of the day to account.

    As I speak with you today, it is UK Labour’s 100th day in office – and what have we seen so far?

    They have maintained the cruel two child benefit cap.

    Cut winter fuel payments for over half a million pensioners in Wales, just as energy prices have increased by 10%.

    Overseen the end of steelmaking in Wales despite claiming they had a plan to save it.

    Continued to give Israel a carte blanche for its actions in the Middle East in defiance of international law.

    From ‘Change’ to 100 days of continuity.

    We were promised the sunlit uplands of a UK Labour Government supposedly working in partnership with the Labour Government in Cardiff.

    The reality is much different, with Wales continuing to have a child-parent, supplicant-master, relationship with Westminster, with Labour in Wales following orders.

    Sue Gray has recently been appointed an ‘envoy for the nations and regions’ – a backwards term for an outdated way of governing.

    But she didn’t even bother to turn up to her first meeting in Edinburgh.

    Non-job. Non-starter. Labour have no understanding of Wales.

    Let me give you two examples.

     

    This month marks 5 years since the Thomas Commission report recommended the full-scale devolution of justice and policing to Wales.

    This isn’t a nice to have – this is fundamental if we want to make a fairer and healthier society.

    Due to the crisis in our prisons, prisoners are being released early, and yet some are re-offending to avoid being homeless.

    With a devolved system we could divert people away from prison ending Wales’ status as having the highest imprisonment rate in Western Europe.

    It would also be a way of ensuring that those who are released are fully supported by housing and health services – reducing the reoffending rate in the process.

    Yet UK Labour is not interested in allowing Wales to do this, despite a fully devolved justice system being the policy of the Welsh Labour Government.

    Labour in Wales also nominally want the Crown Estate devolved, yet Eluned Morgan isn’t even asking her boss Keir Starmer for these powers.

    It is left to Plaid Cymru to lead where Labour fail.

    We are campaigning to ensure that it is the people of Wales who benefit from the use of Welsh natural resources – not the Monarchy.

    The millions of pounds that could be generated from a devolved Crown Estate could be transformative for our communities.   

    Profit from the Scottish Crown Estate is directly transferred to Scottish councils to support community benefit projects.

    Last year £11.2 million was transferred to councils, with those in deprived areas such as the Highlands prioritised for funding.

    Conference. Let’s say it clearly: if Scotland can, so – can – Wales.

    UK Labour have brushed aside the idea of devolving the Crown Estate instead promising that GB Energy will solve Wales’ energy needs.

    But where is the evidence of HOW it will reduce bills?

    We can do so much better than this.

    Plaid Cymru’s plan for cheaper energy bills starts right here, in our communities. We would expand community energy projects – where the power generated locally is used locally, and it’s sold to our people at affordable prices.

    Just yesterday, Llinos Medi MP on this stage called for regional pricing – a bold idea that energy prices should reflect where it’s produced.

    Wales is an energy powerhouse, yet we’re paying the most!

    We in the north pay the highest standing charges in all of Britain.

    It’s outrageous. Plaid Cymru will scrap these unjust standing charges once and for all.

    Imagine the difference that would make in an energy-rich nation like ours.

    For our low-income families, we would also introduce a social tariff to protect them from skyrocketing prices. And we would fund it by making sure those with vast, unearned wealth finally pay their fair share.

    This is more than just lowering bills – this is about fairness, about justice, and about Wales taking charge of our future.

    No more empty promises – it’s time our communities see the REAL benefits of the energy we produce.

    Labour is tired and letting us down.

    They are continuing the failed status quo which people in Wales know isn’t working.

    Wales needs a fresh start, and Plaid Cymru are the Government in waiting ready to provide the bold change and vision our nation needs.

    In rural areas where young people are often forced to leave their communities to look for opportunities further afield.

    Plaid Cymru have already acted to address the problem of second homes but must do more to increase access to housing and jobs.

    Wales could draw on international examples where other countries are already acting such as in Western Australia where they run successful promotional campaign to draw workers to fill roles in public services, and regions of Spain which use their tax systems to incentivise people to stay in their communities.

    These are examples of creative ideas that Wales could emulate with the right powers and the right ambition.

    If we look at industrial areas, we see the managed decline of historic industries such as steel in Port Talbot.

    Whilst this is a complete economic misstep, there is an opportunity through the development of floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea for places like Port Talbot to thrive once again if we maximise the benefit by ensuring local supply chains are used.

    If we look at our valleys, there is a strong community spirit that is untapped.  We want to change that with an economic vision centred on community wealth building.

    Plaid Cymru is offering the bold ambitious vision for the whole of Wales – we are ready to be the change that Wales needs.

    As we look to the future, there are many challenges, but I am increasingly hopeful for the future of Wales.

    Plaid Cymru is offering the bold ambitious vision for the whole of Wales – we are ready to be the change that Wales needs.

    We will take this positive message forward into 2026.

    Conference lets go forward together, let’s bring about the change we want to see and bring the people of Wales on the journey with us.

    Ymlaen!

    Diolch yn fawr.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-Evening Report: Austerity and recession: 3 simple graphs that explain New Zealand’s economic crisis

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Geoff Bertram, Visiting Scholar, School of History, Philosophy, Political Science and International Relations, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington

    Getty Images

    Economists working on macroeconomic policy – things like taxes and spending, interest rates and border controls on flows of trade and money – often refer to a set of key relationships governments can influence. In the textbooks, each of those relationships is drawn as a curve in a graph.

    First is the IS (“investment–saving”) curve. This says that if everything else stays the same, the Reserve Bank can increase economic output and employment by lowering the interest rate. Or it can cause a recession by raising the interest rate. (For simplicity’s sake, the curves here are depicted as straight lines.)



    Second comes the Phillips Curve, which is usually drawn sloping upwards to suggest that if everything else stays the same, inflation will rise during economic booms and fall in recessions. In other words, the Reserve Bank or the government can apparently bring inflation down by causing a recession.



    Third comes the trade balance – the current account of the balance of payments (investment income and traded goods and services between New Zealand and the rest of the world).

    If everything else stays the same here, as the exchange rate of the dollar falls, the current account strengthens by moving towards or expanding a surplus. If the exchange rate rises, the current account weakens: exports fall and imports increase.



    However, it’s a mistake to suppose each of these relationships will stay where it is while the government and Reserve Bank each tinker with their own policy settings. So, what could go wrong?

    The effect of austerity

    Start with the IS curve – the way output and employment are affected by interest rates, assuming the government makes no big budgetary changes. But what if the government embarks on an austerity program, slashing its spending and cancelling projects, which shrinks the economy?



    At any given interest rate, output and employment will be lower, shifting the whole curve “leftwards” towards lower economic activity (see above).

    Even if the Reserve Bank lowers the interest rate, that won’t expand the economy because the government’s fiscal policy is killing off its expansionary effect. The recession created by the austerity program rolls on.

    Along the way, it increases costs to government from unemployment, paying other benefits, and lower tax revenue. If the government responds with further austerity, we enter a downward self-reinforcing spiral.

    Wages and inflation

    Second, take the Phillips Curve and ask what happens if inflation isn’t, in fact, sensitive to how the economy is doing.



    In this case, driving the economy into recession has no effect on the inflation rate. When the Reserve Bank changes the interest rate, inflation just stays where it is because the Phillips Curve is flat, not upward-sloping. Reducing inflation requires completely different policy interventions.

    Back when the Phillips Curve was invented, it was reasonable to think inflation fell during recessions because workers could get higher wage increases in booms than in slumps.

    Bringing on a recession would reduce the bargaining power of workers, result in slower wage growth, and thereby tame inflation (given that wages are an important part of the costs of production).

    But workers today have lost the bargaining power they used to have when unions were strong and welfare-state thinking prevailed.

    In a paper fellow economist Bill Rosenberg and I published this year, we show the bargaining power of labour was killed off in 1991 by the Employment Contracts Act and has not recovered since. Wages no longer drive inflation in contemporary New Zealand.

    Interest rates and inflation

    Could the Phillips Curve work because producers of goods and services push up prices and profits faster in booms and cut their margins in recessions?

    It’s possible: there’s plenty of evidence of big companies using their market power to price-gouge consumers. But it’s not clear this exercise of market power is greater in booms and lesser in slumps.

    In fact, the opposite could be true. Small businesses are most likely to be driven out of the market in recessions, leaving big companies with increased market share and less competitive pressure on their margins.

    Forces both locally and in international markets have clearly been pushing the Phillips Curve down, producing lower inflation. Local forces include the current government’s abrupt cancellation of major construction activities, dismissal of public servants, the constant negative messaging on the state of the economy, and rising outward migration as a consequence of all these.

    International markets, including falling prices for imports such as oil, have also clearly been pushing the Phillips Curve down. While the Reserve Bank will claim credit, it’s not at all clear the bank’s interest rate policy has made that much difference.

    Finally, what about the international balance of payments? One thing the Reserve Bank can do by changing the interest rate is change the exchange rate between the New Zealand dollar and other currencies.

    If New Zealand’s interest rates increase relative to elsewhere in the world, short-term money flows in to take advantage of the higher rates. This raises the exchange rate, and in turn weakens the external balance by cutting the return on exports and increasing the volume of cheaper imports.

    Producers of goods and services that face international competition are squeezed. Meanwhile, what used to be called the “sheltered” or “non-tradeable” industries – including the big banks, insurance companies, electricity suppliers, supermarkets, consultancies – are unscathed.

    Deeper recession

    The Reserve Bank may not have much effect on inflation, but it can certainly affect the structure of the economy. Using the interest rate as the weapon against inflation squeezes manufacturers, tourism and farmers, but leaves non-tradables largely untouched.

    Right now in New Zealand, the IS curve is remorselessly shifting left as the economy plunges into a deeper recession exacerbated by government austerity – an ideologically driven quest for instant fiscal surpluses, low public debt and a shrinking public sector relative to GDP.

    Falling interest rates will struggle to make expansionary headway against that austerity.

    Meanwhile, corporate profiteering and rising government charges continue to put upward pressure on the Phillips Curve, and the balance of payments is weakening. This means the country as a whole is piling up increasing debts to the rest of the world (largely through the Australian-owned banks).

    The question is, does the current government understand where its policies are taking us?

    Geoff Bertram 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. Austerity and recession: 3 simple graphs that explain New Zealand’s economic crisis – https://theconversation.com/austerity-and-recession-3-simple-graphs-that-explain-new-zealands-economic-crisis-241259

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI USA: Federal and state financial regulatory agencies issue interagency statement on supervisory practices regarding financial institutions affected by Hurricane Milton

    Source: US State of New York Federal Reserve

    The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board, the Florida Office of Financial Regulation, the National Credit Union Administration, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, collectively the agencies, recognize the serious impact of Hurricane Milton on the customers and operations of many financial institutions and will provide appropriate regulatory assistance to affected institutions subject to their supervision. The agencies encourage institutions operating in the affected areas to meet the financial services needs of their communities.
    A complete list of the current disaster areas can be found at https://www.fema.gov/disaster/declarations.
    Lending: The agencies encourage financial institutions to work constructively with borrowers in communities affected by Hurricane Milton. Prudent efforts to adjust or alter terms on existing loans in affected areas are supported by the agencies and should not be subject to examiner criticism. In accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, institutions should individually evaluate modifications of existing loans to determine whether they represent troubled debt restructurings or modifications to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty, as applicable. In making this evaluation, institutions should consider the facts and circumstances of each borrower and modification. In supervising institutions affected by Hurricane Milton, the agencies will consider the unusual circumstances these institutions face. The agencies recognize that efforts to work with borrowers in communities under stress can be consistent with safe-and-sound practices as well as in the public interest.
    Temporary Facilities: The agencies understand that many financial institutions face staffing, power, telecommunications, and other challenges in re-opening facilities after Hurricane Milton. In cases in which operational challenges persist, the primary federal and/or state regulator will expedite, as appropriate, any request to operate temporary facilities to provide more convenient availability of services to those affected by Hurricane Milton. In most cases, a telephone notice to the primary federal and/or state regulator will suffice initially to start the approval process, with necessary written notification being submitted shortly thereafter.
    Publishing Requirements: The agencies understand that the damage caused by Hurricane Milton may affect compliance with publishing and other requirements for branch closings, relocations, and temporary facilities under various laws and regulations. Institutions experiencing disaster-related difficulties in complying with any publishing or other requirements should contact their primary federal and/or state regulator.
    Regulatory Reporting Requirements: Institutions affected by Hurricane Milton that expect to encounter difficulty meeting the agencies’ reporting requirements should contact their primary federal and/or state regulator to discuss their situation. The agencies do not expect to assess penalties or take other supervisory action against institutions that take reasonable and prudent steps to comply with the agencies’ regulatory reporting requirements if those institutions are unable to fully satisfy those requirements because of Hurricane Milton.
    The agencies’ staffs stand ready to work with affected institutions that may be experiencing problems fulfilling their reporting responsibilities, taking into account each institution’s particular circumstances, including the status of its reporting and recordkeeping systems and the condition of its underlying financial records.
    Community Reinvestment Act (CRA): Financial institutions may receive CRA consideration for community development loans, investments, or services that revitalize or stabilize federally designated disaster areas in their assessment areas or in the states or regions that include their assessment areas. For additional information, refer to the Interagency Questions and Answers Regarding Community Reinvestment at https://www.ffiec.gov/cra/qnadoc.htm.
    Investments: Institutions are encouraged to monitor municipal securities and loans affected by Hurricane Milton. The agencies realize local government projects may be negatively affected by the disaster and encourage institutions to engage in appropriate monitoring and take prudent efforts to stabilize such investments.
    For more information, refer to the Interagency Supervisory Examiner Guidance for Institutions Affected by a Major Disaster, which is available as follows:
    FDIC: https://www.fdic.gov/news/disaster
    FRB: https://www.federalreserve.gov/supervisionreg/srletters/sr1714a1.pdf
    NCUA: https://www.ncua.gov/regulation-supervision/letters-credit-unions-other-guidance/examiner-guidance-institutions-affected-major-disaster
    OCC: https://www.occ.gov/news-issuances/bulletins/2017/bulletin-2017-61.html
    State financial regulators: https://www.csbs.org/interagency-supervisory-examiner-guidance-institutions-affected-major-disaster

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Joint Press Release: Federal and State Financial Regulatory Agencies Issue Interagency Statement on Supervisory Practices Regarding Financial Institutions Affected by Hurricane Milton

    Source: US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation FDIC

    Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
    Federal Reserve Board
    Florida Office of Financial Regulation
    National Credit Union Administration

    Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
    ________________________________________________________________

    The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board, the Florida Office of Financial Regulation, the National Credit Union Administration, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, collectively the agencies, recognize the serious impact of Hurricane Milton on the customers and operations of many financial institutions and will provide appropriate regulatory assistance to affected institutions subject to their supervision. The agencies encourage institutions operating in the affected areas to meet the financial services needs of their communities.

    A complete list of the current disaster areas can be found at https://www.fema.gov/disaster/declarations.

    Lending: The agencies encourage financial institutions to work constructively with borrowers in communities affected by Hurricane Milton. Prudent efforts to adjust or alter terms on existing loans in affected areas are supported by the agencies and should not be subject to examiner criticism. In accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, institutions should individually evaluate modifications of existing loans to determine whether they represent troubled debt restructurings or modifications to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty, as applicable. In making this evaluation, institutions should consider the facts and circumstances of each borrower and modification. In supervising institutions affected by Hurricane Milton, the agencies will consider the unusual circumstances these institutions face. The agencies recognize that efforts to work with borrowers in communities under stress can be consistent with safe-and-sound practices as well as in the public interest.

    Temporary Facilities: The agencies understand that many financial institutions face staffing, power, telecommunications, and other challenges in re-opening facilities after Hurricane Milton. In cases in which operational challenges persist, the primary federal and/or state regulator will expedite, as appropriate, any request to operate temporary facilities to provide more convenient availability of services to those affected by Hurricane Milton. In most cases, a telephone notice to the primary federal and/or state regulator will suffice initially to start the approval process, with necessary written notification being submitted shortly thereafter.

    Publishing Requirements: The agencies understand that the damage caused by Hurricane Milton may affect compliance with publishing and other requirements for branch closings, relocations, and temporary facilities under various laws and regulations. Institutions experiencing disaster-related difficulties in complying with any publishing or other requirements should contact their primary federal and/or state regulator.

    Regulatory Reporting Requirements: Institutions affected by Hurricane Milton that expect to encounter difficulty meeting the agencies’ reporting requirements should contact their primary federal and/or state regulator to discuss their situation. The agencies do not expect to assess penalties or take other supervisory action against institutions that take reasonable and prudent steps to comply with the agencies’ regulatory reporting requirements if those institutions are unable to fully satisfy those requirements because of Hurricane Milton.

    The agencies’ staffs stand ready to work with affected institutions that may be experiencing problems fulfilling their reporting responsibilities, taking into account each institution’s particular circumstances, including the status of its reporting and recordkeeping systems and the condition of its underlying financial records.

    Community Reinvestment Act (CRA): Financial institutions may receive CRA consideration for community development loans, investments, or services that revitalize or stabilize federally designated disaster areas in their assessment areas or in the states or regions that include their assessment areas. For additional information, refer to the Interagency Questions and Answers Regarding Community Reinvestment at https://www.ffiec.gov/cra/qnadoc.htm.

    Investments: Institutions are encouraged to monitor municipal securities and loans affected by Hurricane Milton. The agencies realize local government projects may be negatively affected by the disaster and encourage institutions to engage in appropriate monitoring and take prudent efforts to stabilize such investments.

    For more information, refer to the Interagency Supervisory Examiner Guidance for Institutions Affected by a Major Disaster, which is available as follows:

    FDIC:  https://www.fdic.gov/news/disaster

    FRB:  https://www.federalreserve.gov/supervisionreg/srletters/sr1714a1.pdf

    NCUA:  https://www.ncua.gov/regulation-supervision/letters-credit-unions-other-guidance/examiner-guidance-institutions-affected-major-disaster

    OCC:  https://www.occ.gov/news-issuances/bulletins/2017/bulletin-2017-61.html

    State Financial Regulators:  https://www.csbs.org/interagency-supervisory-examiner-guidance-institutions-affected-major-disaster

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: FEMA Provides $9.3 Million For Brigham City Water Line Upgrade Project

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: FEMA Provides $9.3 Million For Brigham City Water Line Upgrade Project

    FEMA Provides $9.3 Million For Brigham City Water Line Upgrade Project

    DENVER – FEMA has approved more than $9.3 million in hazard mitigation funding to improve stormwater drainage and flood diversion infrastructure along Box Elder Canyon between Mantua and Brigham City, Utah.

    This grant will fund eligible construction costs to upgrade concrete water mains and steel piping that are more than 50 years old. The stormwater piping system diverts floodwater away from public and private structures in Brigham City, which has experienced historic flooding events within the last two decades. Existing piping will be replaced with higher quality materials that promote more efficient water flow, and all piping will be buried underground. 

    FEMA is providing 90 percent of the water line upgrade project, a total of $9,327,150.00. Funding was provided through FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). The remaining 10% of project costs is the responsibility of the local community.

    FEMA’s HMGP provides funding to state, local, tribal and territorial governments so they can develop hazard mitigation plans and rebuild in a way that reduces future disaster losses in their communities. The program’s initiative supports communities in reducing disaster losses and creating more resilience against disaster-related hazards. 

    Additional information about FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program can be found at https://www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation/hazard-mitigation.

    morgan.dzakowic

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: FEMA to Evaluate Readiness of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: FEMA to Evaluate Readiness of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

    FEMA to Evaluate Readiness of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

    PHILADELPHIA – The Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will evaluate a Biennial Radiological Emergency Preparedness Exercise for communities around the Susquehanna Steam Electric Station. The exercise will occur during the week of October 21, 2024 to assess the ability of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to respond to an emergency at the nuclear facility. 

    “These drills are held every other year to evaluate government’s ability to protect public health and safety,” said MaryAnn Tierney, Regional Administrator for FEMA Region 3. “We will assess state and local government emergency response capabilities within the 10-mile Emergency Planning Zone within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania”

    Within 90 days, FEMA will send its evaluation to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for use in licensing decisions. The final report will be available to the public approximately 120 days after the exercise. 

    FEMA will present preliminary findings of the exercise during a public meeting at 4:00 p.m. on October 24, 2024. The meeting will be conducted at the Talen Energy East Mountain Business Center, 1190 East Mountain Boulevard, Wilkes-Barre PA. Planned speakers include representatives from FEMA and the NRC. 

    At the public meeting, FEMA may request that questions or comments be submitted in writing for review and response. Written comments may also be submitted after the meeting by emailing FEMAR3NewsDesk@fema.dhs.gov or by mail to:

    MaryAnn Tierney

    Regional Administrator

    FEMA Region 3

    615 Chestnut Street, 6th Floor

    Philadelphia, PA 19106

    FEMA created the Radiological Emergency Preparedness (REP) Program to (1) ensure the health and safety of citizens living around commercial nuclear power plants would be adequately protected in the event of a nuclear power plant accident and (2) inform and educate the public about radiological emergency preparedness.

    REP Program responsibilities cover only “offsite” activities, that is, state and local government emergency planning and preparedness activities that take place beyond the nuclear power plant boundaries. Onsite activities continue to be the responsibility of the NRC.

    Additional information on FEMA’s REP Program is available online at FEMA.gov/Radiological-Emergency-Preparedness-Program. 

    ###

    FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters. FEMA Region 3’s jurisdiction includes Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.

     Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/femaregion3 and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/femaregion3

    erika.osullivan

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: How a network is helping the UN recruit more women peacekeepers

    Source: United Nations – Peacekeeping

    Written by Bonnie Ewart-Fisher, a Strategic Communications Intern from the United States of America serving with the Department of Peace Operations. She has a background in public affairs and advocacy on gender-related issues. She is working to advance the women, peace, and security agenda in UN Peacekeeping.

    Women account for less than 10% of the military and police personnel deployed in missions. This is a huge increase from the 1% deployed in 1993, thanks to efforts from UN Peacekeeping and Member States who provide uniformed personnel to peace operations across the world. However, further improving gender parity in peacekeeping operations is a matter of both human rights and effectiveness.

    Women have the right to full, equal and meaningful participation in all areas of peacekeeping’s work, including those that have historically been male-dominated. The presence of women in all aspects of peacekeeping is also essential to establishing sustained peace: it makes UN peacekeeping missions more approachable to the communities they serve, equips them to better support survivors of gender-based violence, and improves decision-making by broadening the mission’s skillsets and perspectives.

    The Network for Uniformed Women Peacekeepers is one initiative launched by the UN Department of Peace Operations to increase the number of women peacekeepers on the ground, as well as the conditions of their deployment. Piloted in the mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), it is already showing results.

    The Network has brought together more than 400 uniformed women peacekeepers since its launch in 2023. It has empowered them to share their experiences, elevate the challenges they face to UNMISS leadership, and propose solutions that create a more respectful and supportive environment for women to thrive in. The Network will be expanded to the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) and the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) in the coming months.  

    “It’s important to ensure gender perspectives are built into planning, policy and decision-making processes. […] Leadership [must] be gender-responsive to be effective,” said Lieutenant General Mohan Subramanian, Force Commander of UNMISS, during a recent meeting with the Network’s members. “I encourage all uniformed women to speak up and use this Network,” he added. 

    Leaders in the mission have played an important role in championing gender equity across UN Peacekeeping — including by implementing targeted actions identified by the members of the Network. For example, as a result of feedback provided by Network participants, patrolling kits now include private, mobile toilet facilities that allow women to participate more easily in long-range patrols that are key to the mission’s protection of civilians work. Other issues being raised are how to create respectful working environments, break gender barriers and address women’s health in the field.

    Sergeant Epiphania Makaza, a police officer serving with UNMISS, noted that as the network helps more women to engage with challenges and take on leadership roles, it will improve conditions for all women peacekeepers: “women who become leaders can facilitate policies, guidelines, rules and regulations to support other female counterparts.” 

    The Network is just one way that UN Peacekeeping and its partners are working hard to adjust facilities, services, and practices to address the unique barriers faced by women peacekeepers. Continued support from Member States, mission leadership, and all UN peacekeepers will help empower more women to play critical roles in advancing peace worldwide.

    This story is part of the “Action for Peacekeeping” (A4P) story series, which reports on efforts by the UN, its Member States, and other partners to strengthen peacekeeping operations, and the impact they have for people living in conflict areas.

    Women, Peace and Security is a key area of the A4P agenda and its implementation strategy A4P+, which seeks to enhance accountability to our peacekeepers. Supporting women’s full, equal, and meaningful participation in peace and political processes is central to enhancing operational effectiveness in peacekeeping and sustaining peace.

    MIL OSI United Nations News

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to perspective piece discussing ultra-processed foods and public health warnings

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    A perspective piece published in PLOS Medicine looks at ultra-processed foods and public health warnings. 

    Dr Ian Johnson, Nutrition researcher and Emeritus Fellow, Quadram Institute, said:

    “The term “ultra-processed food” (UPF) encompasses a very broad and poorly defined category of manufactured food products ranging, for example, from canned soft drinks to highly processed breakfast cereals, cakes, and commercially prepared ready meals.  In recent years, many epidemiological studies conducted across the industrialised world have shown associations between high consumption of UPF and various adverse health outcomes, but the associations, though statistically significant, are often not particularly strong.  The broad and imprecise definition of UPF, coupled with the limitations of observational research, have so far made it extremely difficult to identify causal mechanisms associated with particular foods.  Having considered the current state of knowledge, which is based largely on observational studies, the authors of this timely and thoughtful opinion piece are right to draw attention to the current dearth of definitive mechanistic research on this topic, and to emphasise the difficulties and possible adverse consequences of issuing blanket advice to consumers to avoid such a wide range of foods.”

    Dr Hilda Mulrooney, Reader in Nutrition & Health, London Metropolitan University, said:

    “This is an important and timely paper, given the current level of interest in UPFs and their potential effects on health.  I think this is a reasonable and realistic perspective of where we are at the moment.  It summarises a lot of complex discussion and presents a rational and cautious viewpoint, in my opinion.  It is sensible not to rush to judgment on the basis of data which does not yet demonstrate causality.  It is important to acknowledge the fact that for some groups in particular, foods classed as UPFs make very significant contributions to nutrient intakes, and these would be difficult to achieve otherwise.

    “Much of the research available shows associations between UPFs and health outcomes and cannot demonstrate causality.  This distinction is important, given that many UPFs (e.g. breakfast cereals, breads) make substantial contributions to nutrient intakes in the UK population.  The contribution will be greater for some groups than others, and as the authors suggests, a group likely to be most affected by blanket advice to avoid UPFs is those on lower incomes, who are already at greater risk of poor health and health inequalities.

    “The potential mechanisms of action of UPFs in relation to ill health are unknown, although several have been suggested.  If causality between poor health outcomes and intake of UPFs is demonstrated – and it has not been so far – then understanding how this is happening will be an important aspect of the health messages crafted.  Much of the research on UPFs focuses on the NOVA classification, a system which has been criticised for failing to include or acknowledge the nutritional contributions of UPFs, focusing instead on the extent and type of processing involved.  This ignores the emerging evidence that different groups of processed foods may have different effects in the body.  There may well be stronger evidence in the future which will allow focused messages in relation to specific types of UPFs and health, but at the moment we do not have this information.  Given this, and the potential for harm to already vulnerable groups of a blanket message about UPFs, the balanced approach of these authors is sensible.  What we know now does not change the messages we have already had in place for some years – to cut down on the UPFs which are high fat, salt and sugar foods and drinks as much as possible and include whole foods in the diet where possible.  We need to understand what the effects of different groups of UPFs on health may be, whether relationships observed are causal or not, and how any relationships are mediated.  We are not there yet.”

    ‘Ultraprocessed food (UPF), health, and mechanistic uncertainty: What should we be advising the public to do about UPFs?’ by Eric Robinson and Alexandra Johnstone was published in PLOS Medicine at 19:00 UK time on Tuesday 15 October 2024.

    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1004439

    Declared interests

    Dr Ian Johnson: “I have no current conflicts of interest.  I have previously acted in an advisory capacity both to a leading food manufacturer (Barry Callebaut), and to government agencies including SACN, but I have received no funding of any kind from the food industry in the last 5 years.”

    Dr Hilda Mulrooney: “I have no conflicts of interest to declare.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Department of Homeland Security Recognizes 320 Employees at Secretary’s Award Ceremony in Washington D.C.

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    WASHINGTON – On October 15, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) held an awards ceremony hosted at DHS headquarters located at St. Elizabeths campus in Southeast Washington, D.C. where 350 employees received a Secretary’s Award in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the Department’s mission.  

    “Every single day, with great determination, integrity, and skill, the 268,000 men and women of the Department of Homeland Security ensure the safety and security of the American people,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “Thanks to these extraordinary public servants, our shores, harbors, skies, cyberspace, and borders are protected; fentanyl and other deadly drugs are prevented from entering our country; communities are able to recover and rebuild after a natural disaster; the scourges of human trafficking, forced labor, and online exploitation are mitigated; and so much more. The individuals we recognize today with our Department’s highest honor, the Secretary’s Award, reflect the very best of DHS – and in their selfless dedication to mission, the very best of public service.” 

    The DHS Secretary’s Awards are an annual program that recognizes the extraordinary individual and collective achievements of the workforce. The 320 awardees recognized in today’s ceremony represent the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office (CWMD), the Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A), the Management Directorate (MGMT), the Office of Health Affairs (OHA), the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), the Office of Legislative Affairs (OLA), Office of Homeland Security Situational Awareness (OSA), the Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). 

     “In recognizing these outstanding DHS personnel with a Secretary’s Award, we recognize all our talented personnel; the achievements of one are not possible without the contributions of others,” added Secretary Mayorkas. “We also express our appreciation to their families and loved ones; when one serves, the family serves too.” 

    This year’s award recipients developed and issued policy and procedures associated with a whole-scale transition to a new pay system for TSA; launched a series of coordinated and collaborative initiatives, operations and investigations targeting Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) and national security threats operating and transiting through the Darien Gap region; arrested over 8,000 human smugglers, produced over 5,000 intelligence reports, and seized over $38M USD in real property; ensured over 2,300 vital alerts and warnings were provided to owners and operators of critical infrastructure to protect against cyberattacks; among many other achievements.  

    This year, DHS is holding nine Secretary’s Awards ceremonies across the country, honoring over 1,700 employees, the most annual awardees ever.  

    Last year, Secretary Mayorkas unveiled 12 priorities for the Department, including a commitment to champion the workforce and transform the employee experience. DHS has the third largest workforce of any federal department, behind the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs. The Department is home to more than 92,000 sworn law enforcement officers, the greatest number of law enforcement officers of any department in the federal government. DHS has committed to increasing the representation of women in law enforcement or related occupations at DHS to 30% by 2030. Over 54,000 veterans, or nearly 21% of the workforce, continue serving their country by working at DHS.  

    DHS operational components interact more frequently on a daily basis with the American public than any other federal department, from travelers moving through air, land, and sea ports of entry, to businesses importing goods into the country, to immigrants applying for services. To learn more about the impact DHS makes every day, visit: DHS.gov/TodayDHSWill

    Last year, DHS improved the efficiency of processing noncitizens at the Southwest Border, deployed across the country to respond to natural disasters, investigated cybercrimes, created a new streamlined process for adjudicating asylum applications, safely and securely resettled nearly 90,000 evacuated Afghans in the United States, provided resources for organizations to enhance their cybersecurity resilience, established a process for Ukrainian nationals seeking refuge, secured the 2022 midterm elections, and demonstrated heroism by acting quickly and courageously to save lives in harrowing circumstances.    

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI: SAIC and Wind River Expand Strategic Partnership to Accelerate Development and Deployment of Mission-Critical Systems

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    RESTON, Va., Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Science Applications International Corp. (NASDAQ: SAIC) and Wind River® have announced an expanded strategic partnership to deliver industry-leading technologies to government customers by easing mission-oriented integration, speeding development and enhancing functionality in systems, for the U.S. Army and other government entities, including Cabinet-level departments and independent agencies.

    As part of the partnership, SAIC and Wind River will collaborate on product integration and joint go-to-market plans across the Wind River software portfolio, including digital engineering and digital twin, DevSecOps, Linux, safety certifiable products and certification services and cloud-based command and control operations.

    For more than a decade, Wind River has been a trusted SAIC partner supporting U.S. Army embedded software development at Redstone Arsenal. The expanded strategic partnership will enable acceleration of mission solutions and provide secure, safe and reliable mission-critical systems across a range of applications. Those include lifecycle systems, engineering and computer resource engineering support to systems, and activities necessary to define concepts and requirements, while also plan, manage, develop, sustain, modify, improve, test, train, field and retire systems and system computer resources in a time frame necessary to meet customer needs.

    “We are excited to expand our partnership with Wind River, which enables us to deliver cutting-edge solutions that accelerate the design and mission-oriented integration of complex weapons systems,” said Josh Jackson, executive vice president and manager, Army Business Group. “Together, we are poised to leverage a suite of cloud based digital engineering tools purposely designed to address the requirements in building the Army of 2030.”

    SAIC is uniquely focused on offering prebuilt, commercially integrated and configured products and services to customers, accelerating time to value for all parties. As a market leader, SAIC is helping accelerate Army modernization by empowering the Army with trusted services and cutting-edge technology-agnostic integrated solutions that provide accelerated Operational Outcomes for Multi-Domain Operations.

    “Wind River’s strategic partnership with SAIC represents a pivotal moment for our government customers, driving a transformational shift toward delivering comprehensive, end-to-end solutions that advance the software-defined future of mission-critical, AI-driven applications at the intelligent edge,” said Avijit Sinha, Wind River President. “Together, we will introduce innovative, highly capable joint solutions that provide transformative value across defense, space, civilian, and intelligence sectors, and beyond.”

    Wind River is a global leader in delivering software for mission-critical systems. With technology proven in over 750 safety programs and in more than 120 civilian and military aircraft, Wind River has over three decades of experience helping to build safe, secure, and reliable computing systems for demanding commercial aircraft, space exploration, and military operations. It is a leading supplier of real-time operating systems, Linux offerings, hypervisors, and simulation technology to the aerospace, government, and defense industries with its portfolio of product, including VxWorks®, Wind River Helix™ Virtualization Platform, Wind River Linux, Wind River Studio Developer, and the recently launched eLxr Pro.

    About SAIC
    SAIC® is a premier Fortune 500® technology integrator focused on advancing the power of technology and innovation to serve and protect our world. Our robust portfolio of offerings across the defense, space, civilian and intelligence markets includes secure high-end solutions in mission IT, enterprise IT, engineering services and professional services. We integrate emerging technology, rapidly and securely, into mission critical operations that modernize and enable critical national imperatives.

    We are approximately 24,000 strong; driven by mission, united by purpose, and inspired by opportunities. SAIC is an Equal Opportunity Employer, fostering a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion, which is core to our values and important to attract and retain exceptional talent. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, SAIC has annual revenues of approximately $7.4 billion. For more information, visit saic.com. For ongoing news, please visit our newsroom.

    About Wind River
    Wind River is a global leader in delivering software for the intelligent edge. For more than four decades, the company has been an innovator and pioneer, powering billions of devices and systems that require the highest levels of security, safety, and reliability. Wind River software and expertise are accelerating digital transformation across industries including automotive, aerospace, defense, industrial, medical, and telecommunications. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio supported by world-class global professional services and support and a broad partner ecosystem. To learn more, visit Wind River at http://www.windriver.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    Certain statements in this release contain or are based on “forward-looking” information within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by words such as “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “guidance,” and similar words or phrases. Forward-looking statements in this release may include, among others, estimates of future revenues, operating income, earnings, earnings per share, charges, total contract value, backlog, outstanding shares and cash flows, as well as statements about future dividends, share repurchases and other capital deployment plans. Such statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risk, uncertainties and assumptions, and actual results may differ materially from the guidance and other forward-looking statements made in this release as a result of various factors. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause or contribute to these material differences include those discussed in the “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Legal Proceedings” sections of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as updated in any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the SEC, which may be viewed or obtained through the Investor Relations section of our website at saic.com or on the SEC’s website at sec.gov. Due to such risks, uncertainties and assumptions you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. SAIC expressly disclaims any duty to update any forward-looking statement provided in this release to reflect subsequent events, actual results or changes in SAIC’s expectations. SAIC also disclaims any duty to comment upon or correct information that may be contained in reports published by investment analysts or others.

    Media Contact:
    Greg Hicks
    619.961.0075 | gregory.l.hicks@saic.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Security: Justice Department Secures $8M from Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation to Address Redlining in Black Communities in Birmingham, Alabama

    Source: United States Attorneys General 1

    Combating Redlining Initiative Surpasses $150M in Relief for Redlined Communities at its Third Anniversary

    The Justice Department and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced today that Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation (Fairway) has agreed to pay $8 million and a $1.9 million civil money penalty to resolve allegations that it engaged in a pattern or practice of lending discrimination by redlining predominantly Black neighborhoods in and around Birmingham, Alabama.

    Redlining is an illegal practice by which lenders avoid providing credit services to individuals living in communities of color because of the race, color, or national origin of residents in those communities.

    With this settlement, the Justice Department’s Combating Redlining Initiative surpassed $150 million in relief for communities of color nationwide that have experienced lending discrimination. This settlement marks the Justice Department’s 15th redlining settlement in three years. Under the Combating Redlining Initiative, the Department has secured a historic amount of relief that is expected to generate over $1 billion in investment in communities of color in places such as Houston; Memphis; Los Angeles; Philadelphia; and Birmingham.

    “This settlement, and the over $150 million in relief the Justice Department has secured for communities across the country through our Combating Redlining Initiative, will help to ensure that future generations of Americans inherit a legacy of home ownership that they too often have been denied,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This case is a reminder that redlining is not a relic of the past, and the Justice Department will continue to work urgently to combat lending discrimination wherever it arises and to secure relief for the communities harmed by it.”

    The Justice Department and CFPB allege that Fairway illegally redlined Black neighborhoods in Birmingham, including through its marketing and sales actions, and discouraged residents of those neighborhoods from applying for mortgage loans. The settlement announced today requires Fairway to provide $7 million for a loan subsidy program to offer affordable home purchase, refinance, and home improvement loans in Birmingham’s majority-Black neighborhoods, invest an additional $1 million in programs to support that loan subsidy fund, and pay a $1.9 million civil penalty to the CFPB’s victims relief fund.

    This case is the third redlining enforcement action brought jointly by the Justice Department and the CFPB under the initiative, highlighting the strong partnership between the agencies to root out and address lending discrimination.

    “Birmingham lies at the heart of our nation’s civil rights struggle but is also a community that bears the legacy of discriminatory redlining and other exclusionary policies,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This settlement will provide Birmingham’s Black neighborhoods with the access to credit they have long been denied and increase opportunities for homeownership and generational wealth. This settlement makes clear our intent to uproot modern-day redlining in every corner of the country, including in the deep South. With more than $150 million in total relief secured in three short years, our Combating Redlining Initiative is generating real economic opportunity for communities of color while sending a strong message to mortgage lenders, no matter their business model, that discriminatory lending will not be tolerated in America.”

    “The settlement reached with Fairway Mortgage is a win for communities of color here in Birmingham that have historically been denied access to vital economic resources,” said U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona for the Northern District of Alabama. “Our office is committed to ensuring that these communities have equal access to housing and credit resources.”

    “The CFPB and Justice Department are holding Fairway accountable for redlining Black neighborhoods,” said CFPB Director Rohit Chopra. “Fairway’s unlawful redlining discouraged families from seeking loans for homes in Birmingham’s Black neighborhoods.”

    Fairway is a non-depository mortgage company headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin. In 2022, Fairway was the nation’s fifth-largest lender by origination volume and ninth-largest by application volume. Fairway operates in the Birmingham area under the trade name MortgageBanc.

    The complaint describes how Fairway redlined majority-Black neighborhoods in the Birmingham Metropolitan Statistical Area (Birmingham MSA). During the period covered by the complaint, the Birmingham MSA included six counties in north central Alabama with a combined population of about 1.1 million. While Fairway claimed to serve the entire metropolitan area, it concentrated all its retail loan offices in majority-white areas, directed less than 3% of its direct mail advertising to consumers in majority-Black areas, and for years discouraged homeownership in majority-Black areas by generating loan applications at a rate far below its peer institutions.

    The Justice Department and CFPB allege that Fairway violated the Fair Housing Act, Equal Credit Opportunity Act, and Consumer Financial Protection Act. Specifically, the government alleges problematic conduct by Fairway including:

    • Failing to address known signs of discrimination: Fairway’s own data showed that, since at least 2017, it was failing to serve majority-Black neighborhoods in the Birmingham area, but before October 2022, it took no meaningful actions to address redlining risk. Between 2018 and 2022, only 3.7% of Fairway’s applications were for properties in majority-Black areas, compared to 12.2% for Fairway’s peer lenders. In other words, Fairway’s peer lenders generated applications for properties in majority-Black areas at over three times the rate of Fairway. This disparity was even higher in neighborhoods with 80% or more Black residents, where Fairway made loans at less than one-eighth of the rate of its peer lenders. Despite these figures, Fairway failed to adopt any written plan for marketing or growth to address the concern.
    • Redlining Black neighborhoods: From 2015 through 2022, Fairway operated three retail loan offices and three loan production desks within real estate offices in the Birmingham MSA, all of which were in majority-white areas. Fairway also relied on referrals from real estate professionals and its loan officers’ personal contacts to generate applications, and the vast majority of Fairway’s referral sources and referred consumers were located in majority-white areas. Fairway predominantly directed its marketing to majority-white areas and failed to train or incentivize its existing loan officers to better serve majority-Black areas. By taking these actions, Fairway discriminated against, and unlawfully discouraged mortgage loan applications for properties in, majority-Black neighborhoods.

    The proposed consent order, which awaits approval by the Federal District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, would require Fairway to:

    • Provide $7 million for a loan subsidy program: The order would require Fairway to offer home purchase, refinance, and home improvement loans on a more affordable basis than otherwise available in majority-Black neighborhoods in the Birmingham MSA. The program may provide lower interest rates, down payment assistance, closing cost assistance, or payment of initial mortgage insurance premiums.
    • Invest at least $1 million in redlined neighborhoods: Fairway would be required to open or acquire a new loan production office or full-service retail office in a majority-Black neighborhood in the Birmingham MSA. The company must also spend at least $500,000 on advertising and outreach, at least $250,000 on consumer financial education, and at least $250,000 on partnerships with one or more community-based or governmental organizations to serve the affected neighborhoods.
    • Pay a $1.9 million penalty: The proposed order imposes a $1.9 million civil penalty against Fairway, which would be paid into the CFPB’s Civil Penalty Fund, also referred to as the victims’ relief fund.

    Information about the Justice Department’s fair lending enforcement work can be found at http://www.justice.gov/fairhousing. Individuals may report lending discrimination by calling the Justice Department’s housing discrimination tip line at 1-833-591-0291 or submitting a report online.

    Consumers can submit complaints about financial products and services by visiting the CFPB’s website or by calling (855) 411-CFPB (2372).

    Employees who believe their company has violated federal consumer financial protection laws are encouraged to send information about what they know to whistleblower@cfpb.gov. To learn more about reporting potential industry misconduct, visit the CFPB’s website.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Scrap the Cap

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    [embedded content]

    Independent analysis by the Conference Board of Canada, Deloitte and S&P Global tell the same story: the federal government’s proposed cap would require oil and gas production cuts that would put people out of work and drain billions from Canada’s economy. Despite these reports and continued opposition from many provinces, industry, businesses, experts and Canadians, the federal government will soon release its draft regulations.

    The proposed emissions cap is a production cap. S&P Global Commodity Insights found that a 40 per cent emissions cap could lead to a reduction in oil and natural gas production of one million barrels per day by 2030 and a 2.1-million barrel reduction by 2035. According to the Conference Board of Canada and Deloitte, the cap could amount to a more than 10 per cent reduction in oil production and a 16 per cent reduction in conventional gas production in Alberta in 2030.

    Alberta’s government is launching a national advertising campaign to inform Canadians that this cap will lead our province and country into economic and societal decline. Alberta would be hit hardest and in 2040, the province’s GDP would shrink by 4.5 per cent. Canada’s would decline by 1 per cent. The cap would result in 150,000 Canadians losing their jobs and the loss of $14 billion a year from the economy. The average Canadian family would be left with up to $419 less per month to spend on groceries, housing or fuel, impacting the quality of life Canadians enjoy coast to coast to coast.

    All Canadians deserve to know the dangers of this cap, which will negatively impact their families without reducing global emissions whatsoever.

    “Once again, Ottawa is attempting to set policies that are shortsighted and reckless. We’re challenging proposed policy that would stifle our energy industry, kill jobs and ruin economies by launching a national campaign that tells Ottawa to “Scrap the Cap.” We’re telling the federal government to forget this reckless and extreme idea and get behind Alberta’s leadership by investing in real solutions that cut emissions, not Canada’s prosperity.”

    Danielle Smith, Premier

    The proposed cap will put safe, reliable and secure energy at risk while costing tens of thousands of jobs and billions in lost federal revenue that pays for important programs, services and infrastructure. This means lost jobs, hurt families shuttered businesses and less revenue going to the schools, hospitals, programs and services every Canadian relies on.

    If left unchanged, this cap would force Canada’s energy industry to curtail production at the expense of struggling Canadian families. When production is cut, jobs, tax revenues and the economy are cut too. It is, in effect, a cap on prosperity that would be felt across the country.

    Alberta is encouraging Canadians to visit the Scrap the Cap website and tell Ottawa they cannot and will not support a cap on energy production that leaves Canadians with a lower standard of living and reduced services. Print, television and social media advertisements will run nationwide from Oct. 15 to the end of November to urge Canadians to contact their member of parliament (MP) and share their thoughts. The Scrap the Cap website includes a letter that can be sent electronically.

    “We will not stand by while the federal government threatens tens of thousands of jobs. This production cap means billions in revenues down the drain, and we will not let our province’s – or our country’s – economic future be gutted by an out-of-touch federal government. There is a way to reduce emissions without killing the economy… but this unconstitutional production cap is not it.”

    Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas

    “A cap on oil and gas production will kill jobs and investment and adds to the growing list of federal programs that will kill investments in decarbonization. All Canadians need to let Ottawa know how this cap hurts Alberta and risks Canada’s energy security.”

    Brian Jean, Minister of Energy and Minerals

    Alberta is reducing emissions through common sense, incentives and technologies, not taxes or punitive regulations. The oil sands emissions intensity per barrel has fallen 23 per cent since 2009 and is expected to decline another 28 per cent by 2035. Alberta’s overall emissions, electricity emissions and methane emissions are all declining, even as energy demand rises and the economy grows.

    The province aspires to be carbon neutral by 2050 without cutting jobs or compromising affordable, reliable and secure energy for Albertans, Canadians and the world.

    Related information

    • Scrap the Cap website
    • Proposed federal oil and gas emissions cap regulatory framework: Government of Alberta technical submission
    • Deloitte: Potential Economic Impact of the Proposed Federal Oil and Gas Emissions Cap 
    • S&P Global Commodity Insights: Economic Impact Assessment of Canadian Conventional Oil and Gas
    • Conference Board of Canada: Economic Impacts of a Greenhouse Gas Emissions Cap on the Oil and Gas Sector
    • Alberta’s emissions reduction and energy development plan

    Related news

    • It’s time to scrap the cap: Joint statement (May 27, 2024)
    • Emissions keep declining in Alberta: Minister Schulz (May 3, 2024)
    • Federal emissions cap: Joint statement (Dec. 7, 2023)

    Multimedia

    • Watch the news conference

    MIL OSI Canada News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Chernyshenko: The “For Loyalty to Science” Award Helps Raise the Prestige of the Scientist Profession

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

    Award for Fidelity to Science

    The Expert Council determinedshortlist of the 10th All-Russian Prize “For Loyalty to Science”.

    The names of the winners will be announced at a ceremony on October 28. The organizer of the annual event is the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia.

    “In the Decade of Science and Technology, announced by President Vladimir Putin, the popularization of research and development is of particular importance. The “For Loyalty to Science” award helps to encourage journalists, bloggers, and popularizers, who, among other things, help to raise the prestige of the scientific profession and attract new personnel to the field for the technological leadership of our country. This year, more than 1.8 thousand applications from 80 regions of Russia were submitted for the award – almost 1.5 times more than last year. The most popular nomination was “Science for Children”. It was held for the first time and accepted applications from projects for the youngest. The emergence of such nominations and topics is an important trend, since the development of the country and our common future depend on what the younger generation will be interested in, what knowledge and skills they will develop,” emphasized Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko.

    The winners of the award will receive a cash reward and special prizes from the competition partners: a trip on a nuclear icebreaker, a trip to one of the Russian cosmodromes, an excursion to one of the high-tech facilities of PJSC Gazprom, a tour of an aircraft manufacturing plant with the opportunity to test their strength on the MC-21 pilot training complex.

    “In the last few years, our award has been breaking records in terms of the number of applications submitted. This year, the most popular nominations were: “Science for Children”, “Author of Digital Content”, “Recognition”, “Scientific Press Service of the Year”, “Work with Experience: Protecting Historical Truth”, “Russian Science for the World”. Such a wide range of applicants’ interests speaks of the great attention paid to the activities of scientists and researchers in completely different industries and spheres. Thanks to your work, dear participants, the number of people interested in Russian science is growing, especially among the younger generation, and this is especially valuable,” said Minister of Education and Science Valery Falkov.

    The applications received were evaluated by journalists who widely cover scientific topics, scientists, representatives of government authorities, private foundations, companies, non-profit organizations, press services of universities, and research institutes. The laureates and diploma winners will be determined by the prize organizing committee.

    The event’s partners are the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Kurchatov Institute National Research Center, and Lomonosov Moscow State University. For more than five years in a row, the award has been supported by the Art, Science, and Sport Charity Foundation. The award is held as part of the Decade of Science and Technology announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

    The founders of special prizes are traditionally the state corporations Roscosmos, Rostec, and Rosatom. Since 2024, PJSC Gazprom and PJSC VTB Bank have become the new partners of the award.

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

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

    http://government.ru/nevs/53001/

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Security: $5,000 Reward for Information Leading to Arrest of Man Wanted for Striking Officer With Vehicle and Fleeing

    Source: US Marshals Service

    Toledo, OH – The United States Marshals Service (USMS), Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force (NOVFTF) is seeking the public’s assistance in locating Benjamin Chapman, 32. Chapman is wanted in New York for assault, reckless endangerment, criminal possession of a controlled substance, resisting arrest, obstructing government officer, and fleeing an officer.

    Chapman is accused of striking an officer of the Town of Ulster, New York, Police Department with his vehicle on March 30, 2021. Chapman had been pulled over for a traffic violation and was found to be wanted on a warrant for criminal possession of a controlled substance issued by the Ulster Town Court. During the encounter, Chapman allegedly struck the officer with his vehicle and then fled the scene. The officer suffered injuries from the assault. Chapman has been on the run since this incident and has committed other violent offenses in other states.

    Chapman is described as a white male, standing 5-feet 7 inches tall and weighing approximately 190 lbs. Chapman has ties to Toledo, Ohio and Monroe, Michigan.

    Anyone with information concerning Chapman can contact the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at 1-866-4WANTED (1-866-492-6833), or you can submit a web tip. Reward money is available, and tipsters may remain anonymous.  Follow the U.S. Marshals on Twitter @USMSCleveland.  

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Communication of flood alerts to Member States under the Copernicus system – E-001874/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001874/2024/rev.1
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Patryk Jaki (ECR)

    In the debate on the impact of the flooding in central and eastern Europe that was held on 18 September 2024 during Parliament’s plenary session in Strasbourg, Janez Lenarčič, the EU Crisis Management Commissioner, said that the relevant EU bodies had already sent flood warnings to the governments of Member States at risk, including Poland, on 10 September 2024. Those alerts were issued through the Copernicus early warning system. In response to that statement, we have the following questions:

    • 1.When exactly did the Commission pass on the first alerts of a flood risk in Poland? On what date and at what time were those alerts relayed?
    • 2.Did the Polish Government react to those warnings?

    Submitted: 30.9.2024

    Last updated: 15 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Financing food security will yield high returns

    Source: European Investment Bank

    The problem is that countries with the highest levels of food insecurity often have the hardest time accessing financing. Among the biggest obstacles are high transaction costs, fragmented agriculture markets, insecure land rights, poor administrative capacity, weak governance, and political instability.

    One of the keys to overcoming these hurdles is to pursue stronger international partnerships. That is why the EIB, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and other international organizations are working together closely to promote food security, environmental sustainability, and climate resilience. By pooling resources and experience, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, we can overcome the chronic financing challenges.

    For example, by drawing on the expertise and convening power of FAO, we can provide more funding for agrifood and bioeconomy activities. In 2023 alone, the FAO Investment Centre helped mobilize $6.6 billion in new investment by designing 38 public investment projects backed by financing partners in 26 countries. And this came on top of implementation support to ongoing projects, representing a total of around $46.7 billion.

    But scaling up such financing requires the right kind of tools, not least financial products that reduce risk for the private sector. For example, blended finance – which combines public and private funds – and innovative financing mechanisms like climate bonds can make these investments more attractive to capital that is still sitting on the sidelines.

    Feeding the world is not just a moral responsibility; it is a strategic imperative. Hunger is an immediate global crisis that demands massive investments. Fortunately, the potential rewards are well worth it. Sustainable agrifood systems do far more than simply reduce poverty and hunger. They also create jobs, promote economic growth, reduce gender inequality, improve health, and build stronger communities. The return is enormous, and the cost of doing nothing is even greater.

    This article was originally published by Project Syndicate.

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Will the European quotas for Senegalese fishers also be applied to Europe’s digital giants? – E-001558/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The importance of safeguarding the most sensitive European data is widely recognised. President-elect’s political guidelines[1] and mission letters to the new College echo the Commission’s intention to pave the way towards a more resilient, competitive and harmonised European digital market , including through the development of a single EU-wide cloud policy for public administrations.

    The recent report titled ‘The future of European competitiveness’ further emphasises the need to continue these efforts[2].

    The draft European Cybersecurity Certification Scheme for Cloud Services (EUCS) is being developed by the EU Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA).

    The EUCS aims to provide a coherent set of security requirements and conformity assessment methodologies thus addressing the current market fragmentation and lowering the financial barriers for cloud providers to offer secure cloud solutions across the EU.

    This change will be particularly beneficial for small and medium-sized providers, the drivers of innovation.

    The draft EUCS candidate scheme will be further discussed among the Member States’ experts in the European Cybersecurity Certification Group.

    In accordance with Regulation (EU) 2019/881[3], once the draft scheme’s text has been stabilised, ENISA will transfer the candidate scheme to the Commission.

    The Commission will then be responsible for preparing an implementing act based on the scheme. The adoption of this act will be controlled by the Member States through the comitology procedure defined in Regulation (EU) No 182/2011[4].

    Last updated: 15 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Better fire protection in Greece – E-001485/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The primary responsibility for disaster risk management lies with Member States authorities. The Commission’s main role is to coordinate a quick and efficient response through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM)[1] when activated.

    The Commission also works with national civil protection authorities to support, complement and coordinate their efforts in managing wildfire risks.

    After the 2023 wildfire season, the General Secretariat for Civil Protection under the Ministry for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection of Greece requested a UCPM independent peer review of its wildfire risk management system.

    The result of this process is a report, published on 20 June 2024[2], which highlights the strengths of the current system and puts forward recommendations for reinforcing it.

    The report advocates for building a more integrated wildfire risk management system, with a whole-of-society and whole-of-government approach, and with a long-term dedicated wildfire prevention budget.

    Moreover, the Greek Recovery and Resilience Plan foresees actions to enforce Greece’s fire prevention efforts and at the same time to support forest restoration in areas affected by wildfires in the last years.

    In addition, as part of 2024 European Semester: Spring package[3], the Commission recommended to the Council to address a Country Specific Recommendation to Greece to take action in 2024 and 2025 to strengthen management of natural disasters by putting in place an effective early warning and risk prevention system.

    The Council addressed that recommendation to Greece in July 2024[4]. Greece can benefit in this regard from funding through two thematic programmes, the ‘Civil Protection’ programme[5] and the ‘Environment and Climate Change’ programme[6].

    • [1] https://civil-protection-humanitarian-aid.ec.europa.eu/what/civil-protection/eu-civil-protection-mechanism_en
    • [2] https://civil-protection-knowledge-network.europa.eu/news/ucpm-wildfire-peer-review-report-handed-over-greek-authorities
    • [3] https://commission.europa.eu/publications/2024-european-semester-spring-package_en
    • [4] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2024/07/16/european-semester-2024-council-agrees-on-country-specific-recommendations/
    • [5] https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/in-your-country/programmes/2021-2027/el/2021el16rfpr001_en
    • [6] https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/in-your-country/programmes/2021-2027/el/2021el16ffpr003_en

    MIL OSI Europe News