NewzIntel.com

Category: Politics

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

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

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

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

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

    The themes of this year’s conference will include:

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

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

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

    Register for the conference here and follow DBS’ LinkedIn

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 September 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

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

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

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

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

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

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

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

    UK Defence Secretary John Healey said:

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

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

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

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

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

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 September 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

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

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    September 25, 2024

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

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

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

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Sabre rattling

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Christoph Bluth received funding from the Volkswagen Stiftung and the AHRC

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

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

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

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

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

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

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



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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Other plans (and priorities)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Will Zelensky be Trumped in November?

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

    Donald Trump takes aim at Volodymr Zelensky.

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

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    The psychology of nuclear threat

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

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

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

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

    ‘Fear propaganda’ and confirmation bias

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

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

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

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

    Putin the ‘madman’

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

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

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

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

    Source: Samsung

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Samsung Galaxy S24 FE Specifications

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

    MIL OSI Economics –

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

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 September 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

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

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Updates to this page

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

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

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

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

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

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

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

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

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Middle East and North Africa Programme: Drawing Together All Area-Related Initiatives

    Source: Universities – Science Po in English

    Sciences Po’s Middle East and North Africa (MENA) programme centralises initiatives relating to the study and research on this region. On 26 September, a one-day launching event was organised on the topic of the wars in the Middle East and their repercussions on the MENA societies.

    As an interdisciplinary and cross-cutting structure, the main mission of the MENA programme is to promote, coordinate, and enhance the institution’s activities relating to the Middle East and North Africa. By strengthening academic, scientific and cultural collaborations with partner universities, the programme supports student work at all levels (bachelor, master, doctorate), while creating a unique space for dialogue between researchers, artists and civil society members, thereby fostering an enriched understanding of the region.

    Interview with the programme’s two co-directors: Léa Albrieux, in charge of the Middle East, North Africa, Turkey, the Gulf, and Pakistan at the International Affairs Office, and Bayram Balci, researcher at the Center for International Studies (CERI).

    Can you tell us about your background and your interest in the Middle East and North Africa area?

    We both studied the Middle East and North Africa as part of our studies and spent many years there. Our interest also stems from the fact that this region, its conflicts, but also its culture – including its cuisine – are present in our daily lives in France and even in Europe. So the desire to understand this region, whose conflicts have repercussions that go far beyond its borders, played a central role in our decision to focus on it. This area also forms a bridge between several continents, which makes it all the more interesting to explore collaborations with Sciences Po’s other regional programmes, covering Africa and South Asia. 

    What are the major contemporary challenges facing the region, and how does the new programme intend to tackle them?

    The main challenge is to find a way back towards peace, stability, and democracy, which go hand in hand. As the cradle of three great religions, but also of several great cultures and civilisations, the region has been constantly confronted, since its emergence from colonial domination, with conflicts of varying intensity. Those security and political challenges regularly call into question the progress that has been made. Our programme is humble; it does not claim to resolve the tensions in the region concerned. Contributing to analyse and understand them, through research and teaching, would be our first step. 

    Can you explain your vision and ambitions as co-directors of the programme?

     This structure gathers the diverse people who study and work on the region within Sciences Po’s departments, research centres, campuses, as well as its undergraduate and graduate schools. Its mission is to support and highlight all the institution’s scientific and educational activities and partnerships relating to the MENA area. To this end, we plan to develop a variety of activities combining teaching, research, and partnerships, as well as actions relating to the arts and culture of this region. 

    What topics will be highlighted at the launch event on 26 September?

    Although the aim of our programme is not to comment on every event that shakes the region, the event on 26 September will be devoted essentially to the attack of 7 October 2023 and its effects on Middle Eastern societies. The unprecedented Hamas attack on Israel plunged the Middle East into a new phase of war. While this renewed violence is having profound effects on the regional balance, it is also having major consequences for local societies, in Israel and Palestine, but also in neighbouring countries. This conference will shed a light on this internal and local dimension of the ongoing conflict.

    Cover image caption: Doha, Qatar, mars 2019. (credits: Jaanus Jagomägi / Unsplash)

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: VA makes tele-emergency care available nationwide, offering Veterans more virtual care options

    Source: US Department of Veterans Affairs

    Skip to content

    WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced that tele-emergency care (tele-EC) is now available nationwide, a step that increases timely access to virtual emergency care options for Veterans enrolled in VA health care. This expansion of care — piloted in recent months — has already shown promise for Veterans, helping more than 61,182 callers with a 59.4% case resolution rate (meaning Veterans’ needs were resolved without having to travel from their homes to urgent care or an emergency department).

    Tele-emergency care is a part of VA Health Connect, a phone service that Veterans can call nationwide. Veterans who contact VA Health Connect will speak to a clinical triage nurse, who will connect them to tele-emergency care when clinically appropriate. Tele-EC providers will then evaluate the Veteran over the phone or on video and recommend treatment or follow-up, including if in-person care is needed. In life-threatening emergencies, the clinical triage nurse will call 911 and stay on the line until help arrives. It is important to note Veterans experiencing a life-threatening emergency should immediately contact 911, versus seeking support via tele-EC.

    This expansion is a part of VA and the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to expand access to timely, world-class care for Veterans. Veterans enrolled in VA health care can now access tele-EC nationwide by calling VA Health Connect, and through the VA Health Chat app. Veterans can find their local VA Health Connect number by searching for their facility.

    “Veterans can now be evaluated for possible emergencies from the comfort of their home,” said VA Under Secretary for Health Shereef Elnahal, M.D. “Sometimes, you’re not sure whether what you’re experiencing is a minor emergency or not — and tele-emergency care can help you resolve those questions. Veterans can get immediate, virtual triage with a VA medical provider who has direct access to their medical records. This avoids having to potentially drive to the nearest emergency department and wait to be evaluated, if appropriate.”

    Through VA’s tele-emergency care, Veterans now have increased and quicker access to timely emergency care from VA clinicians, helping them get the right care, at the right time, from the right place. While tele-EC does not replace the need for in-person emergency evaluation, for Veterans in rural areas or those with mobility and transportation challenges, in-person immediate care can be difficult to access. VA’s tele-EC helps bridge this gap through quick, virtual triage assessments.

    VA continues to increase Veterans’ access to VA health care through initiatives like tele-EC, access sprints, and by designing and implementing more virtual care options. Since President Biden signed the PACT Act into law, VA is delivering more care to more Veterans than ever before. Nearly 740,000 Veterans have enrolled in VA health care in the past two years.

    Veterans’ trust in VA is at an all-time high, with outpatient health care trust scores reaching 91.8% in the latest VA Trust Report. For the second consecutive year, VA outperformed non-VA hospitals in a major independent, nationwide review of care quality, with the majority of VA facilities receiving 4- and 5-star ratings. At the same time, 79% of VA facilities received 4- or 5-star ratings for patient satisfaction — the ninth consecutive quarter in which VA facilities have outperformed non-VA counterparts in this independent review.

    For more information about VA care, visit VA’s health care website. For more information about Veteran trust in VA, visit the VA trust website. To enroll in VA care, visit https://www.va.gov/health-care/how-to-apply/.

    Veterans should immediately seek care at the nearest medical facility if they are having a medical emergency. A medical emergency is an injury, illness, or symptom so severe that without immediate treatment, an individual believes his or her life or health is in danger. Examples include severe chest pain or shortness of breath, stroke-like symptoms, or excessive bleeding. If a Veteran believes their life or health is in danger or is experiencing a suicidal crisis, they should call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department right away.

    Reporters and media outlets with questions or comments should contact the Office of Media Relations at vapublicaffairs@va.gov

    Veterans with questions about their health care and benefits (including GI Bill). Questions, updates and documents can be submitted online.

    Contact us online through Ask VA

    Veterans can also use our chatbot to get information about VA benefits and services. The chatbot won’t connect you with a person, but it can show you where to go on VA.gov to find answers to some common questions.

    Learn about our chatbot and ask a question

    Subscribe today to receive these news releases in your inbox.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: “I refuse to play their game”: Hern statement on short-term spending bill

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Kevin Hern (OK-01)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Representative Kevin Hern (OK-01) released the following statement after voting in favor of H.R. 9747, a short-term government funding bill to maintain government funding levels through December.

    “Democrats and their allies in the media would love to see a shutdown so close to Election Day,” said Rep. Hern. “They would falsely blame Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress for every problem that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris created, but I refuse to play their game. In the past, I have supported government shutdowns as an alternative to continuing the status quo in Congress of spending with no respect to the taxpayer. Today is not the day to do that.

    “Just last week, the House failed to pass a government funding bill that included the much-needed SAVE Act. I believe that if we had passed that bill, Republicans would dare the White House and Senate Democrats to shut down the government over their objections to ensuring only American citizens vote in our elections. The entire Oklahoma delegation supported this strategy, but unfortunately, the bill did not pass and we are now faced with a clean extension of funding through December or a shutdown.” 

    Rep. Hern continued, “I am confident that we will soon have majorities in the House and the Senate, along with President Trump in the White House, working together to cut spending and deliver results for the American people.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bonamici, Bacon, Valadao Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Connect People with Overdose, Detox Aid

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Suzanne Bonamici (1st District Oregon)

    WASHINGTON, DC [9/26/24] – This week Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Don Bacon (R-NE), and David Valadao (R-CA) introduced bipartisan legislation to provide transportation for people in need of overdose prevention, substance use disorder treatment, detoxification, and supportive services.

    The Connections to Health Infrastructure and Emergency Recovery Services (CHIERS) Act is inspired by the former long-running van service provided by the health and housing nonprofit Central City Concern that transported people in need to a sobering center in Portland, Oregon. The legislation would create a grant program to improve access to or expand services that provide transportation to connect people with sobering centers, behavioral health supports and supportive services including outpatient health services, case management, and mental health services.

    “People who are intoxicated or in danger of overdosing need a safe way to access care,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “Lack of transportation shouldn’t be a barrier to getting help. Central City Concern’s CHIERS van helped many people reach sobering centers in Portland. This bipartisan legislation will build on that model to create new transportation programs in Oregon and across the country.”

    “Everyone deserves a second chance,” said Rep. Bacon. “The CHIERS Act will improve access to developing services that provide individuals with transportation to and from substance use disorder treatments or support services. This program will help thousands of citizens get the help they need.”

    “Rural communities throughout the Central Valley have been impacted by the devastating effects of the opioid crisis,” said Congressman Valadao. “Those seeking treatment and services often face long travel times and high transportation costs to access the resources they need. I’m proud to cosponsor this legislation, which would eliminate many of these travel barriers and make it easier for folks to access the treatment they need.”

    Funding from the CHIERS Act could be used to train staff, purchase vehicles, and contract with ridesharing services to cover transportation. The grant program would be run jointly through the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Housing and Urban Development and eligible entities include community health centers, Continuum of Care Program participants, opioid recovery centers, state, Tribal and local governments, and nonprofit organizations.

    The legislation is endorsed by Central City Concern, Drug Policy Alliance, National Alliance on Mental Illness, National Association of Counties, National Health Care for the Homeless Council, Lyft, Uber, and the City of Portland.

    “Providing no cost critical ‘first and last mile’ transportation to the front door of recovery services for our most vulnerable neighbors is an essential part of the continuum of care,” says Brooke Goldberg, Director of Public Policy at Central City Concern. “We know from our years of experience of providing transport services that thousands benefitted from this simple act. And, it provided a critical public safety need in our community. We are grateful for Representative Bonamici’s continued efforts to enhance community services.”

    “In 2023, over 48 million Americans had a substance use disorder (SUD). Substance use treatment services save the lives of millions of Americans each year, but too many people struggle to find transportation to these life-saving services,” said Hannah Wesolowski, Chief Advocacy Officer at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). “Rep. Bonamici’s CHIERS Act would provide transportation to those with an SUD so that they can be connected to these life-changing services. NAMI is proud to support the CHIERS Act.”

    “Lyft is proud to support the CHIERS Act,” said Lyft VP of Healthcare Buck Poropatich. “This important bill will help people get rides to and from critical supportive services. Supporting this bill aligns with Lyft’s goal to be a force for good in communities across the country by removing transportation barriers. This legislation has the potential to greatly enhance public health, safety, and help those who need it most. We urge Congress to take it up.”

    “Uber is proud to support the Connections to Health Infrastructure and Emergency Recovery Services (CHIERS) Act,” said CR Wooters, Head of Federal Affairs at Uber. “Lack of transportation should not stand in the way of accessing care. Through Uber Health, community organizations and non-profits can help patients reach the services and care they need to aid recovery. We applaud Representatives Bonamici, Bacon, and Valadao for their leadership on this issue.”

    The legislative text of the CHIERS Act can be found here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Three Saskatchewan Agriculture Commodities Reach $1 Billion Mark in 2024

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on September 26, 2024

    Export Value of Three of Saskatchewan’s Agri-Food Commodities Have Each Surpassed $1 Billion Already in 2024

    Saskatchewan’s non-durum wheat exports have reached $1.7 billion for the current year, along with canola seed and canola oil reaching $1.3 billion $1.1 billion, respectively.  Several other agri-food exports are on track surpass the $1 billion export value mark for this year.

    “The global marketplace is increasingly recognizing Saskatchewan as not only a source of the agri-food products it needs, but also as a provider of the most sustainable products grown anywhere,” Agriculture Minister David Marit said. “Our research sector drives that innovation and our producers in the field continue to find ways to do it better than anyone, year after year. That’s what a competitive, profitable and world-leading agriculture industry looks like.”

    Results of research commissioned by the Global Institute for Food Security and announced earlier this year show that Saskatchewan’s net carbon footprint for production of major crops is significantly lower than that of other comparable jurisdictions studied. For example, Saskatchewan-produced non-durum wheat is 62 per cent lower while canola is 67 per cent lower.

    “Customers from around the world choose Saskatchewan for the sustainable, high-quality products they rely on, which is supported by our strong and stable business environment,” Trade and Export Development Minister Jeremy Harrison said. “Our government will continue to protect and promote key sectors, including agriculture, through international engagement, which is leading to Saskatchewan products reaching new markets. Saskatchewan’s historic growth in agri-food exports is providing new employment and economic opportunities for province’s strong and vibrant communities.”

    Saskatchewan’s 2030 Growth Plan target of $20 billion in annual agri-food exports was met in 2023 with total shipments of $20.2 billion, setting a new record for the fourth consecutive year.

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    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wenstrup Votes to Fund Military & Keep Government Operating

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brad Wenstrup (OH-02)

    Wenstrup Votes to Fund Military & Keep Government Operating

    Washington, September 25, 2024

    Today, Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) released the following statement after voting in favor of H.R. 9747 Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025, which passed the House in a vote of 341-82:

    “Today I voted to keep our military and border patrol agents paid. The Biden-Harris administration has emboldened America’s adversaries across the world, and created an unprecedented crisis at our border. I believe it is critical that in these particularly tumultuous times the government remains operating and Ohioans are able to access services including small business loans, tax returns, and assistance for farmers affected by the ongoing drought in Ohio. 

    “I’ve heard from many constituents concerned about the out-of-control Federal deficit spending, and I share these concerns. Last year, Republicans forced the White House to accept the most significant deficit reduction in a decade by passing the Fiscal Responsibility Act. This year, although the House has passed five fiscally conservative appropriations bills, the Democrat-controlled Senate has not passed a single Fiscal Year 2025 bill, necessitating a stop gap to prevent a lapse in government funding. Shutting down the government is costly and wasteful — and puts the Biden-Harris administration in the driver’s seat as to what cuts will be made. Although passing this stop gap measure is not ideal, it is the best choice for our national security and for Ohioans who rely on access to critical government programs.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Lamont Announces Changes to Connecticut’s Early Child Care and Education Programs That Will Enable More Children To Enroll and at Less Cost to Parents

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that his administration is making several changes to Connecticut’s early child care and education programs that will result in more children being able to receive access to these programs, while also lowering the associated costs to their parents.

    “Access to child care and early education programs is massively important to the success of our state, not only because these programs provide valuable tools for children that will lead them to success in the future, but also because being able to enroll your child in care right now means that parents themselves can have an opportunity to obtain employment and earn an income that supports their family,” Governor Lamont said. “Right now, Connecticut is expanding access to child care for high-need communities to levels we’ve never experienced and I am determined to continue this trend. I appreciate the Biden-Harris administration for working with our state to make expanding access to child care a priority.”

    Effective January 1, 2025, family fees for Care 4 Kids – the state program that supports low to moderate-income families with some of the costs of paying for child care – will be capped at 7% of household income, which is down from the current rate of 10%. This means that the fees required to participate in Care 4 Kids will decrease for all participating families. On average, it is estimated that this change will save families about $200 per month.

    Additionally, effective October 1, 2024, in an effort to reduce the benefit cliff that families enrolled in Care 4 Kids can face, families participating in this program will be able to remain enrolled until their household income reaches 85% of the state median income, which is an increase from the current limit of 65%. This means that if a parent receives a promotion or pay raise from their employer, it is more likely they can accept the pay increase and not worry that it will prevent their child from continuing to receive this care.

    Both of these changes bring Connecticut in alignment with federal requirements and can be implemented using existing federal funds.

    An additional 1,500 children will be enrolled in Care 4 Kids, bringing the total number of children served under this program from 21,500 to 23,000, using existing state and federal funding.

    In addition to the Care 4 Kids changes, the state is adding 900 new state-funded early care and education spaces for young children through the School Readiness and Child Day Care program by maximizing existing state funds.

    These programs are administered by the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood.

    “Connecticut continues to look for ways to leverage state and federal resources to increase access to affordable child care for families,” Connecticut Early Childhood Commissioner Beth Bye said. “Today’s announcement is about adding capacity and affordability. It’s good for families, good for child care programs, and good for Connecticut’s economy.”

    This added capacity brings the total number of children receiving municipal, state, and federally funded early childhood programs in Connecticut to 62,400, which is well ahead of the Connecticut Blue Ribbon Panel on Child Care’s goal of 60,000 children being funded in these programs by fiscal year 2026. With these new investments, 29% of children under 5 years of age will be enrolled in more affordable early childhood education programs in the current fiscal year.

    “Child care is a necessity for Connecticut’s working families and the Biden-Harris administration commends the state for moving swiftly to implement a new federal rule to lower costs for families participating in the child care subsidy program,” Ruth Friedman, director of the Office of Child Care for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said.

    “Few things are more frustrating for parents than trying to find affordable child care,” U.S. Senator Chris Murphy said. “These new changes are going to make a big difference for thousands of families by lowering costs and opening up more spots in child care and early education programs. It’s a big deal for those kids’ development, but it will also give the state’s economy a boost. I’ll keep fighting to increase the federal government’s investment in child care in Connecticut.”

    “I am thrilled to see federal funding be used to take bold steps that will make more child care slots available in our state and lower costs by capping fees for low and middle-income families receiving assistance at 7% of their household income,” U.S. Congressman John B. Larson (CT-01) said. “Under Governor Lamont’s leadership, Connecticut is leading the nation to ensure working families can access the child care they need to make ends meet. I will continue to work with President Biden, Vice President Harris, and the entire Connecticut Congressional delegation to build on this progress in Washington so every family can afford high-quality child care.”

    “Affordable child care is essential for families to thrive,” U.S. Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) said. “And yet, they struggle with the high cost – making difficult decisions on their budget to ensure their children are cared for when they go to work. I am proud to have secured American Rescue Plan Act funding and Child Care and Development Fund dollars to help bring down the cost of childcare in Connecticut. Ensuring parents pay no more than seven percent of their income for childcare, will help families keep more of their hard-earned dollars.”

    Governor Lamont made these announcements today during a news conference at the Enfield Child Development Center.

    “We are very proud to serve families in our community who are working or attending training or college who are supported thorough the Care 4 Kids program,” Eileen Gardner, senior site manager for the Enfield Child Development Center, said. “These changes will help our families pay for child care and other critical household needs. We are also committed to partnering with the Office of Early Childhood to deliver state-funded high-quality early care and education services to our youngest children.”

    “I began working at the Enfield Child Development Center two years ago as a teacher’s aide in the toddler program,” Ashley Plaza Torres said. “I have two children, 8 years old and 2 years old, and I am thankful to have the support of Care 4 Kids because it gives me the opportunity to work and afford child care for two children.”

    These changes and their impacts on Connecticut’s workforce and its economy are projected to increase the state’s gross domestic product by $351 million and state revenue by $29.7 million. For every dollar invested in adding these child care slots, there is an expected one-year return of approximately $13.50 in total economic benefits. If it is assumed an additional slot enables on additional parent to join the workforce, even at minimum wage, this would add $33,000 in household earnings.

    For information on Care 4 Kids, visit ctcare4kids.com.

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Government of Canada investments in electric vehicles

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French 2

    The Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, announced a federal investment of $14.9 million in 20 projects to support infrastructure, awareness measures, and codes and standards for zero-emission vehicles.

    We all have a role to play in the fight against climate change. A broad shift to electric vehicles (EVs) is essential to decarbonizing road transportation, which accounts for 18% of Canada’s total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions—50% of which comes from light-duty vehicles or passenger cars.

    Additionally, clean fuels such as clean hydrogen, advanced biofuels, liquid synthetic fuels and renewable natural gas will play a critical role in hard-to-decarbonize sectors such as industry and medium- and heavy-duty freight transportation.

    The Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, today announced a federal investment of $14.9 million in 20 projects to support infrastructure, awareness measures, and codes and standards for zero-emission vehicles.

    Projects funded under the Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program

    Kang and Gill Construction, a limited liability company located in Victoria, British Columbia: an investment of $340,000 to install 68 EV charging stations by March 31, 2024. Halifax County Condominium Corporation No. 240, Halifax, Nova Scotia: an investment of $110,000 to install 22 EV charging stations by April 2023. Halifax International Airport, Goffs, Nova Scotia: an investment of $180,000 to install 37 EV charging stations by December 2024. Park Royal Shopping Centre Holdings, a limited liability company located in West Vancouver, North Vancouver and Whistler, British Columbia: an investment of $242,000 from NRCan to install 50 EV charging stations by November 2023. Concert Realty Services, a limited liability company located in Vancouver, British Columbia: an investment of $190,000 from NRCan to install 38 EV charging stations by January 2025. Westbank Projects, a company located in Toronto, Ontario and Vancouver, British Columbia: an investment of $4,914,660 to install 2,635 EV charging stations by May 2025. THE OWNERS, STRATA PLAN BCS4321, Vancouver, British Columbia: an investment of $150,000 to install 30 EV charging stations by June 2024. Austeville Properties, a limited liability company located in Vancouver, British Columbia: an investment of $250,000 to install 50 EV charging stations by October 2025. 2025. 1125 Denman Developments Limited Partnership through its general partner Denman Developments, in Vancouver, British Columbia: an investment of $500,000 for the installation of 16 EV charging stations by July 2025. The Owners Strata Plan LMS1108 “The National”, in Vancouver, British Columbia: an investment of $260,000 for the installation of 60 EV charging stations by May 2024. Strata Corporation LMS4255 “Marinaside Resort”, in Vancouver, British Columbia: an investment of $500,000 for the installation of 140 EV charging stations by May 2024. 1229488 BC, a limited liability company located in Vancouver, British Columbia: an investment of $99,999 for the installation of of 23 EV charging stations by March 2024.

    Zero Emission Vehicle Awareness Initiative

    Plug’N Drive, Toronto, Ontario: an investment of $1,560,633 to increase awareness of electric vehicles among Canadians through a comprehensive test-drive experimentation and awareness campaign targeting small and medium-sized communities with limited experience or exposure to EVs. Create Climate Equity Association, Coquitlam, British Columbia: an investment of $100,000 to consult with one or more underserved, low-income urban communities in the City of Vancouver on transportation needs and develop a model for developing equity-based zero-emission mobility solutions for participating communities. Steel River Group, a limited liability company located in Calgary, Alberta: an investment of $300,000 to empower and equip Indigenous youth with the knowledge, skills and confidence to lead sustainable transportation and clean energy projects in their communities. Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) in Edmonton, Alberta: an investment of $247,045 to develop non-credit courses on hydrogen fuel cell bus and heavy-duty vehicle maintenance to train fleet owners, drivers, heavy-duty mechanics and technicians on the operation and maintenance of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles and to increase public confidence and knowledge of these zero-emission vehicles. HUB Cycling in Vancouver, British Columbia: an investment of $241,545 to increase awareness and adoption of electric mobility in British Columbia.

    Minister Wilkinson also announced $3.6 million in funding for CSA Group to update codes and standards related to zero-emission vehicle infrastructure under the Energy Innovation Program:

    CSA Group, Toronto, Ontario: $3,616,373. The funded project aims to establish or update codes and standards, develop guidelines, manage committees, and conduct literature reviews on zero-emission transportation infrastructure, including advanced charging equipment, energy storage, management and various modes of transportation.

    Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada – Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program

    Finally, Minister Wilkinson announced a joint investment of more than $3.1 million through the Green Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program for two green infrastructure projects in British Columbia. The projects will improve access to clean transportation options, tap into the province’s clean electricity supply, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

    Public Electric Vehicle Charging Network Expansion – Phase 3 in Vancouver, British Columbia: o The federal government is investing $824,600 through the Green Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. The Government of British Columbia is investing $687,098 through the CleanBC Communities Fund. The City of Vancouver is providing $549,802. o The project involves installing approximately 15 Level 2 and 9 DC fast chargers near parks throughout the city, as well as upgrading electrical and mechanical systems. Public Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure in the District of North Vancouver, British Columbia: o The federal government is investing $217,447 through the Green Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. The Government of British Columbia is investing $579,821 through the CleanBC Communities Fund. Finally, the District of North Vancouver is providing $289,965. o The project involves the development of a public network of approximately ten Level 2 charging stations and two DC fast chargers along major roadways, in major buildings, and near multi-family and social housing units in the district.

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

    MIL Translation OSI

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

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: DHS Statement on Safety and Enforcement During Hurricane Helene

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

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

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FEMA Announces Nearly $1.9 Million to Help Communities in Region 3 Build Resilience to Flooding Disasters Through Investing in America Agenda

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: FEMA Announces Nearly $1.9 Million to Help Communities in Region 3 Build Resilience to Flooding Disasters Through Investing in America Agenda

    FEMA Announces Nearly $1.9 Million to Help Communities in Region 3 Build Resilience to Flooding Disasters Through Investing in America Agenda

    This funding announcement marks the 30th anniversary of the Flood Mitigation Assistance program, dedicated to addressing the nation’s costliest annual disaster

    PHILADELPHIA— Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and more severe due to climate change, leading to increased response and recovery missions across the nation. This week, FEMA announced nearly $1.9 million in new project selections to eliminate or reduce flood damage in Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

    The funding comes through the Flood Mitigation Assistance program to help communities across the nation enhance resilience to extreme weather events. This is the 30th anniversary of the Flood Mitigation Assistance program, created in 1994. Over the past 30 years, approximately $2 billion has been obligated by FEMA to address the nation’s costliest annual disaster. 

    Through this program, FEMA provides funding to states, local communities, Tribal Nations and territories to reduce or eliminate the risk of repetitive flood damage to buildings insured under the National Flood Insurance Program. 

    There are three categories of funding which include:

    • Capability and Capacity Building Activities, such as project scoping to develop project plans and designs.
    • Localized Flood Risk Reduction Projects, which help build resilience to flooding at the community level, including floodplain management, wetland, marsh, riverine and coastal restoration and protection.
    • Individual Flood Mitigation Projects, which protect individual homes and buildings from flooding, including by buying out or elevating properties above flood levels.
    This home in Hampton, Virginia was elevated through Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) funding. (Credit: Nicholas Monteleone/ FEMA)

    The announcement also aligns with FEMA’s 2024 Year of Resilience campaign, as well as the goals of the National Climate Resilience Framework, and will help build capacity to withstand tomorrow’s hazards. 

    “The projects selected in Region 3 are an example of the many different ways that FMA funding can be used to make communities more resilient to flooding,” said FEMA Region 3 Regional Administrator MaryAnn Tierney. “While we look forward at the impact these future projects will have, it is also important to take a moment and celebrate the 30th anniversary of the FMA program and the difference it has made for communities not just here in Region 3, but across the country.”

    Region 3 Flood Mitigation Assistance FY23 Selections:

    State

    Number of Selections

    Total Funding for Selections (rounded)
    Maryland

    2

    $851, 195
    Pennsylvania

    4

    $832,605
    West Virginia

    1

    $202,125

    West Virginia: Division of Emergency Management Strategic Flood Plan

    $202,125

    This project will develop a framework for long-term Flood Mitigation Assistance projects through the development of the state’s strategic flood mitigation plan. The plan aims to identify and profile flood hazards, analyze vulnerabilities, and implement capability assessment to address at-risk communities. It will focus on repetitive loss structures and aligns strategic mitigation actions with future grant funding opportunities. A key goal of the plan is to link grant funding to flood hazards identified in the State Hazard Mitigation Plan. The plan creation process includes setting goals, assessing existing mitigation actions, analyzing data, identifying new actions, and prioritizing grant submissions. 

    Projects in Maryland and Pennsylvania will include elevating and reconstructing homes to make them more resilient to flooding and creating engineering plans for future projects to protect communities from flooding. Additionally, FEMA is funding the voluntary acquisition of properties that have been flooded repeatedly.

    In total, FEMA selected 197 projects in National Flood Insurance Program-participating communities in 25 states. In addition to flood control activities, the selections will reduce risk to individual properties through actions like elevations, acquisitions and mitigation reconstruction of buildings insured by NFIP. 

    The selections complement a July announcement of $1 billion nationwide through FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program and the current $300 million funding opportunity through Flood Mitigation Assistance’s Swift Current—another important part of the President’s Investing in America Agenda—to make the nation more resilient to natural hazards. Both programs provide climate resilience funding to help address increased demand for federal funds to address the climate crisis. 

    If you have any questions, please contact FEMA Region 3 Office of External Affairs at femar3newsdesk@fema.dhs.gov.

    ###

    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 “X” at twitter.com/femaregion3 and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/femaregion3

    erika.osullivan

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Barr, Supporting Market Resilience and Financial Stability

    Source: US State of New York Federal Reserve

    Thank you, and thank you for the opportunity to speak to you today.1
    It is great to be here again, particularly because this year marks the 10th annual conference on the Treasury market, a milestone that is worth celebrating. I want to acknowledge the Federal Reserve Bank of New York for its leadership in this area, including the dedication and excellence it has brought to hosting this conference over the past decade, in collaboration with the Inter-Agency Working Group on Treasury Market Surveillance, led by the Treasury Department. The Treasury market is the means by which our government meets its financing needs in service to the American people, and it is also the bedrock of the financial system. Promoting the resilience of the Treasury market and ensuring it can continue to fulfill these roles requires the collaboration of agencies and individuals across the government along with the private sector.
    As others have pointed out today, we have made important progress since last year’s conference. The Securities and Exchange Commission has finalized a rule on central clearing of Treasury transactions, the Treasury Department has instituted a program for buying back less-liquid Treasury securities, and the Office of Financial Research is preparing for its permanent collection of data on non-centrally-cleared bilateral repurchase agreement (repo) transactions, which will support our understanding of this market segment as it evolves.
    I will share some thoughts with you on how I see the work of the Federal Reserve in supporting Treasury market resilience. Our capital and liquidity regulations, our supervision of the firms over which we have authority, and our liquidity facilities play important roles in supporting market resilience and financial stability. Earlier this month, I gave a speech where I reiterated the crucial role of capital in serving these objectives, and the need to balance resilience and efficiency in designing our rules. In that speech, I also outlined the elements of a capital re-proposal that I believe will have broad consensus at the Federal Reserve Board. The adjustments are in response to a robust public comment process, and some of them are designed to address interactions and market functioning concerns raised by commentators.
    In terms of rulemaking, today I will focus on some additional aspects of our regulatory framework—namely, enhancements to our liquidity regulations. I will share some perspective on how our liquidity regulations work together and are supportive of market functioning and the smooth implementation of monetary policy.
    The Intersection of Monetary Policy Tools and Supervision and RegulationWe consider how all of the Fed’s tools work together to support our objectives. In previous speeches, I have talked about the role of the discount window and the standing repo facility (SRF) in supporting both monetary policy implementation and financial stability, noting how important it is that eligible institutions be ready to use these facilities.2 Today I want to dig into this topic a bit more, including how these tools support monetary policy implementation through appropriate incorporation into liquidity regulations and supervisory practices.
    After the banking stress in March 2023, we saw a substantial improvement among banks of all sizes in their level of readiness to tap the discount window both in taking the necessary steps for set-up and in their pledging of collateral. Since that time, over $1 trillion in additional collateral has been pledged to the discount window, and additional banks have established access to the SRF. Both of these facilities are potential venues for monetizing assets and raising liquidity to address volatility in private funding market rates or gaps in the availability of private-market funding.
    We had been hearing that some were confused about how banks could incorporate ready access to the discount window and the SRF into their contingency funding plans and internal liquidity stress tests. Supervisors have a role in assessing the viability of large banks’ plans to meet stressed outflows in their stress scenarios, and we have been asked whether the discount window, the SRF, and also Federal Home Loan Bank advances can play a role in those scenarios. The answer to this question is “yes.”
    We provided clarity to the public in August on permissible assumptions for how firms can incorporate the discount window and the SRF into their internal liquidity stress-test scenarios. There are a couple of principles that underlie our response in the frequently asked questions we posted on the Board’s website.3 One principle is that our tools are readily available to firms. This means that we see it as acceptable and beneficial for firms to incorporate our facilities to meet liquidity needs in both planning and practice. If firms plan to use our facilities, we expect them to demonstrate ex ante that they are fully capable of doing so, including through test transactions. An additional principle underlying our approach is that, while firms should be ready to use a range of funding sources, firms need to hold sufficient highly liquid assets to meet their potential liquidity needs. That is, they need to self-insure against their own liquidity risks. A third principle is that firms should be ready and able to use private channels to turn these assets into cash, in addition to any public channels they may plan to use.
    I want to dig a bit deeper into the benefits to both individual firms and the financial system when firms incorporate Fed facilities into their stress preparedness planning. Again, a design feature of our liquidity regulations is that large banks must self-insure against major liquidity risks. Our regulations also provide flexibility in terms of the portfolio composition such banks use to do so. This flexibility allows them to adjust their portfolios based on market conditions and firm needs. A key component of this flexibility is that reserves and certain high-quality liquid assets (HQLA), such as Treasury securities, are equivalent in terms of being treated as the highest quality of liquid assets. This feature is important because, while it allows firms to manage their liquidity buffers more flexibly, it also allows for greater flexibility in our monetary policy implementation and it supports market functioning. We have heard over the years, however, that the degree of substitutability among these assets has been limited by concerns about capacity in stress for the market to turn securities into reserves immediately; these concerns are valid. This constraint can be addressed in part by the appropriate incorporation of Federal Reserve facilities into monetization plans in firms’ internal liquidity stress tests.
    When firms understand that they will not be fully constrained by the capacity of private markets or their individual credit lines to monetize HQLA immediately in stress, they can reduce their demand for reserves in favor of Treasury securities, all else being equal, for their stress planning purposes. This dynamic improves the substitutability of holding reserves and holding Treasury securities either outright or through repo transactions.
    When banks exhibit a high degree of substitutability of demand for these assets, money market functioning improves. Let me explain with an example. If a bank sees holding reserves and investing in Treasury repo as near substitutes in its liquidity portfolio, it should lend into Treasury repo markets when repo rates rise above the interest rate earned on reserves. When banks can nimbly adjust portfolios in response to price incentives, the efficiency of reserves redistribution through the system improves, and market functioning is enhanced.
    In aggregate, this activity can prevent rates from rising further, all else being equal. The point at which banks, in aggregate, have a relatively immutable demand for reserves, and are unwilling to lend them out, is evident when a small decrease in the supply of reserves results in a sharp increase in the cost to borrow them. Our monetary policy tools are well positioned to help us avoid this outcome. But, of course, greater willingness of banks to reallocate across close substitutes should help avoid the emergence of sudden pressures in money markets by reducing money market frictions.
    In 2021, the Federal Reserve launched the SRF, which, along with the discount window, should help cap upward pressure in repo markets that could spill over into the federal funds market. Use of these facilities also increases the supply of reserves in the system. The enhanced clarity for firms that Fed facilities are a fully acceptable venue to get same-day liquidity for their HQLA should help reassure firms about holding reserves and their close substitutes, such as Treasury securities, in their liquidity portfolios.
    Of course, as I stated earlier, for the largest banks, there is a requirement that they hold highly liquid assets to address their own liquidity risks. They must also be ready to use private markets to monetize these assets. It is also critical that banks recognize and manage the interest rate and liquidity risk of their securities portfolios to ensure those securities held for liquidity purposes can be monetized in stress without creating other adverse effects on a firm’s safety and soundness. In 2022 and 2023, certain large banks did not effectively manage the risks of rising rates, and suffered significant fair value losses on their securities holdings, including those in held-to-maturity (HTM) portfolios. These losses affected their ability to respond to liquidity stress, as monetizing the assets could result in realizing losses. When the banking stress hit in March 2023, these securities could not be sold to meet stressed outflows because large unrealized losses inhibited their sale without significant capital implications. This is further complicated in the case of HTM securities, which cannot be sold without risking revaluing a firm’s entire HTM portfolio. Selling HTM securities to generate liquidity would therefore have had a particularly large effect on these firms’ capital levels, likely increasing the stress on these firms. Further, some firms were unable to rely on private channels such as repo markets for monetization because they were not prepared, they were not regular participants in the market, and market participants were unwilling to lend because of counterparty credit concerns. This combination of factors meant that HTM securities that had been identified by banks as available to serve as a liquidity buffer of assets in stress could not effectively serve that function.
    Improvements to Our Liquidity RegulationsAs I have mentioned in previous speeches, to address the lessons about liquidity learned in the spring of 2023, we are exploring targeted adjustments to our current liquidity framework.4 Many firms have taken steps to improve their liquidity resilience, and the regulatory adjustments we are considering would ensure that large banks maintain better liquidity risk–management practices going forward. Improvements to our liquidity regulations will also complement the other components of our supervisory and regulatory regime by improving banks’ ability to respond to funding shocks.
    Specifically, we are exploring a requirement that larger banks maintain a minimum amount of readily available liquidity with a pool of reserves and pre-positioned collateral at the discount window, based on a fraction of their uninsured deposits. Community banks would not be covered, and we would take a tiered approach to the requirements. The collateral pre-positioned at the window could include both Treasury securities and the full range of assets eligible for pledging at the discount window. It is vital that uninsured depositors have confidence that their funds will be readily available for withdrawal, if needed, and this confidence would be enhanced by a requirement that larger banks have readily available liquidity to meet requests for withdrawal of these deposits. This requirement would be a complement to existing liquidity regulations such as those that require the internal liquidity stress tests (ILST) I described earlier as well as meeting the liquidity coverage ratio (LCR).5
    Incorporating the discount window into a readiness requirement would also reemphasize that supervisors and examiners view use of the discount window as appropriate under both normal and stressed market conditions.
    In addition, as I have discussed previously, we identified significant gaps in interest rate risk management in the March 2023 banking stress, including in portfolios of highly liquid securities. Relatedly, we saw that banks faced constraints in monetizing HTM assets with large unrealized losses in private markets because they were unable to repo these securities or sell these securities without realizing significant losses. To address these gaps, we are considering a partial limit on the extent of reliance on HTM assets in larger banks’ liquidity buffers, such as those held under the LCR and ILST requirements. These adjustments would address the known challenges of banks being able to use these assets in stress conditions.
    Finally, we are reviewing the treatment of a handful of types of deposits in the current liquidity framework. Observed behavior of different deposit types during times of stress suggests the need to recalibrate deposit outflow assumptions in our rules for certain types of depositors. We are also revisiting the scope of application of our current liquidity framework for large banks.
    These enhancements to our liquidity regulations will help bolster firms’ ability to manage liquidity shocks, and they will also be well integrated with our monetary policy tools and framework.
    Modernizing Our Tools to Meet Current and Future NeedsTurning back to the discount window, I also want to note that the discount window has served its role well in recent years, and that we are also engaging in ongoing work to improve its operations. Given the crucial role of the discount window in providing ready access to liquidity in a wide variety of market conditions, we continuously work to assess and improve its functionality while engaging with current and potential users of the window.
    Among the steps we have taken recently include that we now have an online portal, Discount Window Direct, that allows firms to request and prepay discount window loans in a more streamlined manner than was previously possible. We also recently published a request for information on discount window operations and daylight credit asking about key components of these functions. Feedback from the public will help us prioritize areas for improvement, so I strongly encourage anyone with an interest in this topic to weigh in during the comment period. Your feedback will help us ensure that the discount window continues to improve in its role of providing ready access to funding under a variety of market conditions.
    Thank you.

    1. The views I express here are my own and not necessarily those of my colleagues on the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or the Federal Open Market Committee. Return to text
    2. See Michael S. Barr (2023), “The 2023 U.S. Treasury Market Conference,” speech delivered at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, New York, November 16. Return to text
    3. See “Subparts D and O—Enhanced Prudential Standards” in Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (2024), “Frequently Asked Questions about Regulation YY,” webpage. Return to text
    4. See Michael S. Barr (2024), “On Building a Resilient Regulatory Framework,” speech delivered at Central Banking in the Post-Pandemic Financial System, 28th Annual Financial Markets Conference, the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Fernandina Beach, Fla., May 20. Return to text
    5. The LCR and ILST are two separate, but complementary, liquidity requirements. The LCR is a standardized liquidity measure across banks, meaning the outflow assumptions are the same for each bank. The ILST is a nonstandardized liquidity measure across banks, meaning each bank determines its own outflow assumptions, subject to supervisory input. Return to text

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Carter Statement on Government Funding Extension

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Troy A. Carter Sr. (LA-02)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter Sr. (D-LA) released the following statement on the continuing resolution passed in the U.S. House of Representatives to extend the government funding deadline:

    “Funding the government is a fundamental responsibility of elected officials. This extension safeguards important programs that people rely on, refills the Disaster Relief Fund, and renews the National Flood Insurance Program. This continuing resolution is now consistent with the spending levels agreed upon in the Bipartisan Fiscal Responsibility Act. I will continue fighting to put people over politics and solve problems for hardworking Louisianians.

    “While I am encouraged that the DRF has been replenished in a way that allows long-term recovery projects to restart, I am concerned that we may be right back here in December with projects throughout Louisiana paused. Congress must come back with a comprehensive disaster relief bill to ensure important recovery projects don’t continue being delayed.

    “We must find a bipartisan compromise to keep the government open at the end of the year. This short-term solution gives us time to find it.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Leicester libraries mark Black History Month

    Source: City of Leicester

    LEICESTER’S libraries are marking Black History Month this October with two free cultural events and plenty of suggestions for great books by Black authors.

    Grenadian author and poet Merle Collins will be at the Central Library on 15 October to talk about her life and work.

    Her latest book, Ocean Stirrings – which was shortlisted for the Orwell Prize for political fiction – will be available for sale after the event.

    In conversation with Merle Collins starts at 7pm on Tuesday 15 October.

    Also coming up at the Central Library on Bishop Street is an opportunity to meet the British Grammy-nominated singer Tippa Irie (pictured).

    The reggae pioneer will talk about his 40-year career and his 2023 autobiography, Stick To My Roots, on 30 October.

    In conversation with Tippa Irie gets under way at 7pm on Wednesday 30 October.

    Admission to both events is free of charge but places can be booked in advance by contacting the library on 0116 454 0290 or central-library@leicester.gov.uk

    Assistant city mayor Cllr Vi Dempster said: “Black History Month is a fantastic opportunity to learn more about Black history, music, culture and art.

    “Throughout October, our libraries will be celebrating the work of Black authors and helping to bring Black history to life for visitors for all ages.

    “There are lots of themed events taking place at our libraries, including crafts for children and a ‘Book Detectives’ treasure hunt.

    “Pop into your local library or download an eBook or audiobook from our OverDrive page and discover an author you’ve never discovered before – and mark Black History Month with a great book.”

    A list of titles suitable for children, teens and adults has been specially curated by library staff to mark Black History Month.

    David Olusoga’s Black and British and Barack Obama’s Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters are two of the books on the children’s list, while Kamala Harris’s autobiography The Truths We Hold: An American Journey and Troy Jackson’s biography of Martin Luther King, Becoming King, are on the list of suggested reading for adults.

    The list of themed titles for Black History Month can be viewed at Leicester Libraries’ OverDrive page at leicesteruk.overdrive.com

    Events and activities taking place at Leicester Libraries can be found here 

    Opal 22’s exhibition Black Lives is on display at Highfields Library until 31 October, while other events taking place in Leicester to mark Black History Month include an exhibition featuring portraits of 100 Black women with connections to Britain and Ireland, led by Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage, and an evening of live music at the African Caribbean Centre.

    100 Black Women Who Have Made A Mark opens at Leicester Gallery at De Montfort University on Tuesday 1 October.

    A Journey Through Black Music takes place on Friday 18 October and will feature both local and national artists. Tickets are £10.

    Listings for Black History Month events in Leicester are available at blackhistorymonth.org.uk/listings/region/east-midlands/leicester/

    More information about Black History Month is available at blackhistorymonth.org.uk

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The Russian Federation’s malign activities and interference: UK statement to the OSCE, September 2024

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Deputy Ambassador Brown condemns Russian disinformation and other forms of malign influence.

    Location:
    Vienna
    Delivered on:
    (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

    Thank you Madam Chair.     

    The United States has just informed this Council of steps it has taken to defend its democratic institutions in the face of a covert foreign influence operation by the Russian Federation. This follows other participating States’ interventions in this Council to highlight multiple forms of malign interference across our region in recent months.    

    Indeed the United Kingdom put Russia’s malign influence and interference onto the Permanent Council’s agenda in May and I thank the US for once again raising this matter.   

    All OSCE Participating States – including the UK – have made important commitments to uphold media freedom, including to foster “free, independent and pluralistic media” as part of open societies and accountable governments.   

    The United Kingdom will continue to uphold media freedom, learning from best practice – including that shared by the Office of the Representative for Freedom of the Media. And we again call on all other participating States – particularly Russia and Belarus – to uphold OSCE commitments on media freedom, safety of journalists and freedom of expression.  

    At the same time the United Kingdom will also take action to defend our national and regional security against the full spectrum of threats emanating from Russia, working in partnership with others. This has included sanctioning Russian media outlets like Rossiya Segodnya and TV Novosti (which controls Russia Today) which spread disinformation and propaganda designed to incite violence and hatred towards Ukraine and its people.     

    Madam Chair. Our message to Russia is clear: stop this illegal war; withdraw your troops from Ukraine; cease your malign activities including disinformation and information manipulation; and, respect the OSCE principles and commitments that keep us all safe.

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 September 2024

    Invasion of Ukraine

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: The Government of Canada announces the appointment of two new members to the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French 1

    The Government of Canada announces the appointment of two new members to the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada

    September 26, 2024 Gatineau, Quebec Parks Canada

    The Government of Canada, through Parks Canada and the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, helps connect Canadians to our shared history. Each designation of a person, place or event of national historic significance makes a unique contribution to the tapestry of stories that together shape our identity and our past.

    Today, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, announced the appointments of Mr. Michael Carroll as the Alberta representative and Ms. Karen Aird as the British Columbia representative to the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.

    Each Board member brings a unique perspective to the Board’s long-standing mission to commemorate the people, places and events that have shaped Canada’s history. The Parks Canada Agency and the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada are committed to ensuring that national historic designations reflect the diverse stories of Canada’s history.

    Canadians value learning about their country’s past. This historical awareness fosters active citizenship, promotes critical thinking, encourages civic responsibility and supports a more inclusive society.

    Established in 1919, the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada advises the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada on the national historic significance of people, places and events that have marked Canada’s history. Parks Canada supports the work of the Board by providing professional and administrative services, including conducting the historical and archaeological research required to assess nominations.

    In collaboration with Parks Canada, the Commission ensures that elements of national historic significance are recognized and that these important stories are communicated to Canadians through the National Program of Historical Commemoration.

    -30-

    The Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada is composed of one representative from each province and territory, as well as the Librarian and Archivist of Canada, a representative from the Canadian Museum of History and a representative from Parks Canada.

    The Framework for History and Commemoration, introduced in 2019, supports the work of Parks Canada and the Board to designate persons, places and events of national historic significance, and encourages new, diverse, public designations. The Framework promotes a public-centred approach that is inclusive and reflects the diversity and complexity of Canada’s history, including the history of Indigenous peoples.

    To date, based on the Commission’s recommendations, the Government of Canada has designated more than 2,260 places, events and persons of national historic significance under the National Program of Historical Commemoration.

    In addition to making recommendations regarding designations of national historic significance, the Commission provides advice on heritage railway stations, heritage lighthouses and the National Program of Grave Sites of Prime Ministers of Canada.

    Most nominations submitted to the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada for consideration come from members of the public. For more information on how to submit a request to designate a person, place or event of historical significance, please visit the Parks Canada website: https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/culture/clmhc-hsmbc.

    The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring that the selection processes for Governor in Council appointees are open, transparent and merit-based in order to encourage public confidence in Canada’s democracy and ensure the integrity of its public institutions. The selection process reflects the fundamental role that Governor in Council appointees play in our democracy by serving on commissions, boards, Crown corporations, agencies and tribunals across the country.

    Oliver AndersonDirector of CommunicationsOffice of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change819-962-0686oliver.anderson@ec.gc.ca

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Two new representatives appointed to the CLMHC

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French 1

    On September 26, 2024, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, announced the appointment of two new representatives to the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada (HSMBC).

    BiographiesMr. Michael CarrollRepresentative for Alberta

    Dr. Michael Carroll is a historian of twentieth-century diplomacy, specializing in Canadian-American foreign relations, United Nations peacekeeping, and Canadian history. He holds a Master of Arts (History) from Carleton University and a PhD (History) from the University of Toronto. He has been Chair of the Department of Humanities at MacEwan University since 2019, where he has taught since 2007. He previously taught at the University of Victoria and Seiwa University in Japan.

    Dr. Carroll has a special interest in public history and has devoted over twenty years to the recording and preservation of oral histories. The collegial governance at MacEwan University has also afforded him the opportunity to participate actively on university and community committees, as well as on committees serving the broader historical profession. He is the author of numerous publications, including Pearson’s Peacekeepers: Canada and the United Nations Emergency Force, 1956-1967.

    “Canada’s history is anything but boring: from extraordinary exploits that inspire us to cases of collective shame from which we must learn, and everything in between. I am honoured to represent Alberta and excited to be part of the effort to make our nation’s history accessible and alive for all Canadians.”

    Mr. Michael CarrollMember, Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, Alberta

    Ms. Karen AirdRepresentative for British Columbia

    Ms. Aird is a member, through her mother, of the Saulteau First Nation in northeastern British Columbia, and now resides in Kamloops. Since 2018, she has been the Heritage Manager with the First Peoples Cultural Council, a program she developed from the ground up that provides grants, resources, research and training to First Nations in British Columbia.

    Ms. Aird began her career as an archaeologist, overseeing large-scale archaeological projects. She later owned a consulting firm specializing in cultural heritage management. In 2012, she co-founded the National Aboriginal Heritage Circle and served as its president for two terms.

    Her experience includes participation in national and international conferences, high-level government meetings and negotiations, and community-based cultural heritage research. She has served on several boards, such as the Royal BC Museum and the Parks Canada Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Advisory Circle.

    Ms. Aird holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Victoria and a master’s degree in cultural heritage management from Athabasca University.

    “Canada has a rich and varied history, etched in the landscapes, events and people of the past. As a representative of British Columbia, I am honoured to join the committee to support the recognition and commemoration of our collective heritage.”

    Ms. Karen AirdMember, Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, British Columbia

    -30-

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Canada announces the appointment of two new members to the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Government of Canada announces the appointment of two new members to the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada

    September 26, 2024                       Gatineau, Quebec                             Parks Canada

    The Government of Canada, through Parks Canada and the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, helps connect Canadians with our shared history. Every designation of a person, place, or event of national historic significance makes a unique addition to the tapestry of stories that collectively contribute to our identity and past.

    Today, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, announced the appointments of Dr. Michael Carroll as representative for Alberta and Ms. Karen Aird as representative for British Columbia to the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.

    Every Board member contributes their distinct perspective to the longstanding mission of the Board to commemorate the individuals, places, and events that have shaped Canada’s history. Parks Canada and the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada are committed to ensuring that national historic designations reflect the diverse narratives of the history of Canada.

    Canadians value learning more about the nation’s past. This historical awareness fosters active citizenship, promotes critical thinking, encourages civic responsibility, and supports a more inclusive society.

    Created in 1919, the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada advises the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada regarding the national significance of persons, places, and events that have marked history in Canada. Parks Canada supports the Board’s work with professional and administrative services, including the conduct of historical and archaeological research needed for evaluating nominations.

    Together, Parks Canada and the Board ensure that subjects of national historic significance are recognized, and these important stories are shared with Canadians under the National Program of Historical Commemoration.

                                                                                                             -30-

    • The Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada is composed of a representative from each province and territory, as well as the Librarian and Archivist of Canada, a representative of the Canadian Museum of History, and a representative of Parks Canada.

    • The Framework for History and Commemoration, introduced in 2019, supports the work of Parks Canada and the Board in designating places, persons, and events of national historic significance and encourages new and diverse types of public nominations. The Framework takes an audience-focused approach that is inclusive and presents the diversity and complexity of history in Canada, including the history of Indigenous Peoples.

    • To date, based on recommendations from the Board, the Government of Canada has designated over 2,260 national historic sites, events, and persons under the National Program of Historical Commemoration. 

    • In addition to making recommendations regarding designations of national historic significance, the Board provides advice on Heritage Railway Stations, Heritage Lighthouses, and the National Program for the Grave Sites of Canadian Prime Ministers.

    • Most nominations brought forward for the consideration of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada originate from members of the public. For more information on how to nominate a person, place or event of historic importance, please visit Parks Canada’s website: https://parks.canada.ca/culture/designation/proposer-nominate. 

    • The Government of Canada is committed to an open, transparent, and merit-based process for selecting Governor in Council’s appointees, to encourage continued trust in Canada’s democracy and ensure the integrity of its public institutions. The selection process reflects the fundamental role that Governor in Council’s appointees play in our democracy as they serve on commissions, boards, Crown corporations, agencies, and tribunals across the country.

    Oliver Anderson
    Director of Communications
    Office of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change
    819-962-0686
    oliver.anderson@ec.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: New HSMBC Appointed Representatives

    Source: Government of Canada News

    On September 26, 2024, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, announced the appointment of two new representatives to the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada (HSMBC). 

    Biographies
    Dr. Michael Carroll
    Representative for Alberta

    Dr. Michael Carroll is a 20th-century diplomatic historian specializing in Canadian and American foreign relations, United Nations peacekeeping and Canadian history. He holds a Master of Arts (History) from Carleton University and a Ph.D. (History) from the University of Toronto. He has been Chair of the Department of Humanities at MacEwan University since 2019, where he has taught since 2007. He previously taught at the University of Victoria and Seiwa University in Japan.

    Dr. Carroll has a special interest in public history and has been engaged in recording and preserving oral histories for over twenty years. Collegial governance at MacEwan has also provided him with the opportunity to serve extensively on academic and community committees, as well as those serving the wider historical profession. He is the author of numerous publications, including Pearson’s Peacekeepers: Canada and the United Nations Emergency Force, 1956-1967.

    “The history of Canada is anything but boring: from exploits of greatness that inspire to instances of collective shame from which we must learn, and everything in-between. I am honoured to represent Alberta and thrilled to be part of the efforts to help make our nation’s history accessible and come alive for all Canadians.”

    Dr. Michael Carroll
     Member, Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, Alberta


    Ms. Karen Aird
    Representative for British Columbia

    Ms. Karen Aird is a member of Saulteau First Nations in northeast B.C. through her mother and now resides in Kamloops. Since 2018, she has been the Heritage Manager with the First Peoples’ Cultural Council, a program she developed from the ground up that provides grants, resources, research and training for B.C. First Nations.

    Ms. Aird began her career as an archaeologist, overseeing large-scale archaeology projects. She then owned a consulting firm specializing in cultural heritage management. In 2012, she co-founded the National Indigenous Heritage Circle and served as president for two terms.

    Her experience includes participation in national and international conferences, high-level government meetings and negotiations, and community-based cultural heritage research. She has served on several boards, such as the Royal BC Museum and Parks Canada’s Cultural Heritage Indigenous Advisory Circle.

    Ms. Aird completed her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Victoria and has a Master’s Diploma in cultural heritage management from Athabasca University.

    “Canada has a rich and diverse history etched into the landscapes, events, and people of the past. As the B.C. representative, I am honoured to join the committee to support the recognition and commemoration of our collective heritage.”

    Ms. Karen Aird
     Member, Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, British Columbia

                                                                                                                -30-

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: 2024 National Cybersecurity Conference: focus on geopolitics and operational security

    Source: Switzerland – Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport

    Bern, 26.09.2024 – Cyberthreats play an important role in today’s tense geopolitical climate, but they have long been an everyday risk for businesses and governments. The National Cybersecurity Conference held today highlighted how a comprehensive approach can be taken to tackle cyberthreats. In her opening remarks, President Viola Amherd stated that the foundations for cybersecurity are now in place so that emphasis can now be placed on setting strategic priorities. The conference, organised by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and the Swiss Security Network (SSN), was attended by over 280 participants from business, science, and cantonal and federal offices.

    In an increasingly networked and digital world, the lines between national security and everyday operational security become blurred. Cyberattacks are criminal offences that must be countered through a combination of protective measures and law enforcement. At the same time, the significance of such attacks often extends beyond that of a criminal act, as cyberattacks are deliberately employed as a strategic instrument in conflicts.

    For this reason, the National Cyberstrategy (NCS) covers the entire spectrum of cyberthreats and their effects. It aims to strengthen protection against cyberthreats in Switzerland and promote cooperation between government institutions, the private sector and civil society. This strategy and its challenges were discussed at the 2024 National Cybersecurity Conference. The event was jointly organised by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and the Swiss Security Network (SSN) in Bern and was attended by leading experts from various areas of cybersecurity.

    Conference opened by President Amherd

    The conference was opened by President Amherd. In her speech, she emphasised that having a national cyberstrategy was a key element of national security policy and that it served as an opportunity to enhance Switzerland’s appeal as a location for business and research. With the National Cyberstrategy and the new structures put in place at the DDPS to address cyber-related matters, a solid foundation has been laid allowing greater attention to now be directed towards setting strategic priorities in cybersecurity. The independent steering committee established in June this year ensures that strategic responses to emerging threats are developed in a timely manner. The reporting requirement for critical infrastructures adopted by Parliament will also make it possible to better assess the threat situation and warn operators at an early stage.

    Talks with cybersecurity experts

    Maya Bundt, Chair of the newly formed NCS steering committee, presented the role and work of her committee. The coordination team then provided a progress report on the implementation of the National Cyberstrategy. The presentations were followed by a lively panel discussion with Pälvi Pulli, Deputy State Secretary for Security Policy, Hannes Gasser, Member of the Board of CH++, and Michel Bonsera of Cargologic AG. The discussion highlighted the importance of addressing cyberthreats both in day-to-day operations and at the security policy level.

    Practical tools and solutions

    In addition to high-level discussions, the 2024 National Cybersecurity Conference provided an insight into the work of the NCSC. Workshops on incident management, vulnerability management, reporting centres and awareness campaigns presented practical tools and solutions to help organisations become more resilient to cyberthreats. The workshops were designed to be interactive, giving participants the opportunity to share their experiences and challenges, and provide feedback on existing tools.

    Importance of cybersecurity training for governments

    Jen Ellis, founder of NextJenSecurity from the UK, closed the conference with a keynote speech. She spoke about the importance of training governments in cybersecurity and emphasised the need for continuous collaboration between external experts, researchers and government institutions to address the ever-changing threats in the digital space.

    The conference served as an important platform for exchanging ideas and strategies, and underlined Switzerland’s commitment to further strengthen its cybersecurity.

    Address for enquiries

    NCSC Communication
    +41 58 465 53 56
    media@ncsc.admin.ch

    Publisher

    National Cyber Security Centre
    https://www.ncsc.admin.ch/ncsc/en/home.html

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Improving the lives of Scotland’s Gypsy/Travellers

    Source: Scottish Government

    Voices of communities at the heart of plan to tackle discrimination and social exclusion.

    Improved access to housing, education and health services and tackling discrimination are at the heart of a new Gypsy/Traveller Action Plan agreed between the Scottish Government and COSLA.

    The voices of Gypsy/Travellers have helped shape the Plan, which acknowledges improvements in many of these areas, but recognises further progress needs to be made.  

    The Scottish Government and COSLA will work with stakeholders to take forward measures in the Plan.

    Key actions in the plan include:

    • Supporting Local Authorities to provide more and better accommodation, by taking steps for funding to be accessed under the Affordable Housing Supply Programme from 2026-27, and ensuring planners understand the needs of Gypsy/Traveller communities
    • Measures to remove barriers to education and improve educational outcomes for Gypsy/Traveller children and young people
    • Improving Gypsy/Travellers’ access to and experience of healthcare
    • Working to remove barriers to accessing benefits and build understanding among employers of the inequalities faced by Gypsy/Travellers, with practical tools to support recruitment and retention.
    • Challenging prejudice and discrimination and helping communities to influence decision-making

    Equalities Minister Kaukab Stewart said:

    “Improving the lives of Scotland’s Gypsy/Traveller communities is a significant human rights commitment and is crucial in helping us deliver the fairer Scotland we want to see.

    “The voices of Gypsy/Travellers across Scotland are at the centre of this second national joint action plan, and it is a testimony to the collaborative work of national and local government, third sector organisations, and most of all, the determination of Gypsy/Travellers to ensure better futures for their communities.

    “We know current initiatives are having a positive impact on the lives of Gypsy/Traveller communities across Scotland, like the Gypsy/Traveller Accommodation Fund and the success of the Community Health Worker project in overcoming barriers to accessing health and other statutory services.

    “However, there is still work to do. Through the actions in this plan we will build on the successes we have had to date and make further progress in many areas such as accommodation, health, education and combating discrimination.”

     Background:

    Improving the Lives of Scotland’s Gypsy/Travellers Action Plan 2024-2026

    The Ministerial Oversight Group on Gypsy/Travellers, co-chaired by the Minister for Equalities and COSLA’s Spokesperson for Community Wellbeing, will oversee the work of the action plan and provide a forum for members of Gypsy/Traveller communities and stakeholders to engage in the discussion.

    In the 2022 Census, 3,343 people in Scotland identified as belonging to the Gypsy/Traveller ethnic group, representing 0.06% of Scotland’s population.[1] However, organisations working with these communities estimate the true Gypsy/Traveller population size could be as high as 15,000 to 20,000.  

    Testimonies from Gypsy/Traveller communities shared with the Scottish Human Rights Commission in 2023 underlined experiences of racism and discrimination, challenges with accessing services and poor quality accommodation impacting their physical and mental health negatively.  

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –